The drive to the old base brought cold memories to my mind. Almost everyone was killed.
Sam had died. Although we didn't really get along when we first met, we soon began to get really close. He was like a brother to me, he'd show me in a million ways that he cared.
Alex had left him in charge when he'd left. Which was quite an honor if you worked under Alex. It meant he trusted you not to make any stupid decisions, but of course Sam had his own ways of dealing with things.
It was the last time he ever saw Alex.
It was the last time anyone had ever seen Alex, besides Seb and I of course.
Alex and I didn't talk much on the way over there. I think he's mentally preparing himself for what he was about to see.
Hours passed. He looked so tense and so serious...it was heartbreaking.
"Alex? Maybe you should take a break. Do you want me to drive?" I asked. I was hoping he would say yes, that he did in fact needed a break, but he didn't say anything along those lines.
"No. The faster I get there, the faster I can deal with it."
"Alex, please."
"No, thanks though."
I tried one last time. "Alex, you've been driving for hours. This isn't good for you. I can drive, or if you don't want me to drive, pull over and take a break."
He shrugged. "Yeah, right, because breaks are exactly what I need." I sighed. I gently touched his shoulder. I could feel how tense he was. He sighed. "Sorry."
"I understand...just take a quick break? Please." I pleaded.
"Alright...not too long though. I've got to see it...I've got to see what those bastards did to my team."
He pulled up on the side of the road, as I looked around I could tell we weren't too far from the base. I didn't want him to see it, it would be too much pain. But I knew nothing I said would ever stop him. He's too determined.
He sat on the ground, I went and sat beside him.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice rough.
"What do you mean?"
"At the base...what happened?"
"The angels attacked." I said, seeing the images in my head.
"That's not what I meant. Seb told me you tried to run into the final fray," he said quietly. I froze, I didn't tell Alex that. I didn't say anything. He looked up at me. "Why?" he asked, as I looked into his eyes I could see hints of sadness.
"What was I suppose to do? You were gone! You weren't there! I didn't want to live without you - I didn't -" I was close to tears.
He cut me off, but his voice was gentle. "Stop it. I can't imagine my life without you either, but please, never hurt yourself in anyway. You have to promise me that."
I started to say something, then stopped. He had promised me that he would tell me if he was in danger...but he didn't. But we had already discussed this and made it all okay. It didn't make any sense to bring it up now.
"I promise," I said softly. He smiled at me and then kissed my cheek. "Good," he said.
"So...I'm guessing you want to drive the rest of the way. Right?" I asked, hoping he would stay for a few more minutes, but I knowing him, that would't happen.
He kissed me softly. Then he added, "You know me so well."
I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face into his strong shoulders. "Just please don't blame yourself," I whispered softly. I felt as if tears were about to form. I felt his arms wrap tightly against me, "I'll try."
We stayed holding each other close for a few endless minutes. Then we shifted apart. He got up first and stretched out his hand to help me out.
Just like in New Mexico, I thought. Back in New Mexico when we were trapped, my angel lifted both Alex and I to safety. When we fell on the grass he reached out his hand to help me up...except back then, I didn't take his hand. I was worried I was causing him angel burn, which thank God I wasn't.
This time as he reached his hand out to me, I took it. I was up on my feet in no time. He smiled. "You didn't reject me this time. Phew." he joked, pretending to wipe sweat of his forehead. "Hey...it was for your health."
"My health would have gone down because you weren't with me."
"Is that so?"
"Positive."
"Well in that case," I started, tracing a finger over his chest on top of his shirt. "I should probably stick around."
He gave me a wink. "You probably should."
...
It was a mess when they got there.
There was dry blood on the walls that remained shattered on the ground. And Willow could have died here.
Trinkets that once belonged to the angel killers were on the ground, untouched.
Bullet holes everywhere.
This was your team. Look at all this! Your team! Every single one of them you have worked with. And none of them got the reward of an angel free world. You didn't train them enough...you didn't train them enough. No! Stop! They were a great team...they were ready. They were ready. They made you proud...dozens of times.
"You all deserve this angel free world guys." he said, he felt as if he were talking to the air. Willow didn't say anything, she just looked up at him with deep compassion, her love for him clear, even during hard times.
"Alex..." she started to say something, then stopped. What could she even say? He didn't want sympathy. He just turned to her and hugged her, there was nothing else but this hug that said it all.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear. Willow hugged him even harder. "I love you too."
Both of them jumped as they heard footsteps.
"Hey! What are you doing here? Back away from the scene!" asked a familiar voice.
Alex turned around with Willow at his side.
Both parties froze.
"Alex?"
"Kara? Liz?"
