Buffy walked quietly into the mansion to make sure Angel didn't see her.
She had taken a nasty blow to the head that had left her with a serious
cut. Not to mention that Forrest, Riley's best friend, was dead. They had
had a face off with Adam and Buffy had narrowly gotten away. Forrest had
taken a skewer to the chest. Buffy had just gotten back from telling
Riley. He hadn't taken it well. Actually, he had walked out and left her
staring after him.
Sighing, Buffy walked to the bedroom door quietly and started to open it when she noticed the letter stuck to the door. She plucked it off and opened it. Angel's beautiful handwriting that she had once came to hate, was scrawled on it.
Buffy, Giles called and said that Willow had some disks that Spike brought her from the Initiative. I don't know where you've been all day, so instead of going out and trying to hunt you down, I went on ahead. If you want, come by.
Now I know this isn't exactly the best way to ask you, but is there something wrong? Things have seemed so strained lately between us. And it's not JUST us. It's everybody. You and Willow and Xander and Giles. Actually, I'm a little worried about something and it's going to make me sound like an inconsiderate prick, but I need to talk to you about it. I won't go into it in this letter, there's not enough paper in the house to say what I need to say. We'll talk later.
No matter what, I love you.
Angel
Buffy folded the letter and tossed it on the coffee table as she headed out the door. She was going to have to face Angel with this cut one way or the other, might as well be now. But, he was right. Things had been strained between her and her friends lately. Things were falling apart. Apparently with Angel too. Buffy hadn't seen that coming. The whole walk to Giles was giving her a headache. She kept trying to figure out what was going on with Angel and her friends. Why Angel had been so compelled to leave her a note with such a cryptic message. Usually he was open with her. The letter had left her worrying.
Buffy walked into Giles' apartment. Everyone was there. Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, and Angel. The second Angel got a good look at her forehead, he had freaked. Buffy waved it off and went to stand by Tara behind Willow.
"How's it going, Will?" Buffy asked.
"It's still encrypted." Willow said.
"Well, Willow's working really hard on it." Tara told her.
"Okay, well, how long before you.. un-crypt it?" Buffy asked.
"Hours. Days maybe. Anyone suggesting months would not be accused of crazy talk." Willow sighed.
"What ever happened to Latin? At least when that made no sense, the church approved." Giles said as he poured a drink.
"I can't just wait around, Will. The disk is no good to me unless you crack it soon." Buffy walked over to the back of the couch.
"Hey! We worked really hard getting that. Xander delivered clothing." Anya said.
"Church approved." Giles said.
"Sorry, you guys, but we're on a clock here. Okay, Adam was at that cave so maybe he was there for a reason? I-I can.. I can go back, scope it out, track him if I have to."
"Right." Willow stood and moved to the living room. "And then maybe you'll get lucky and he'll still be there and he can rip your arms off for you? Buffy, you can't go back alone."
"She's right." Angel said.
"You never train with me anymore. He's gonna kick your ass." Giles said drunkenly.
"Giles!" Buffy said, shocked.
"Sorry. Was it a bit honest? Terribly sorry."
"So she doesn't go alone. Giles, weapons all around." Xander said.
"You're not going, Xander." Buffy said sternly. "Y-you'd get hurt."
"Oh. Okay. You and Willow go do the superpower thing, I'll stay behind and putt around the Batcave with crusty old Alfred here."
"Ah-ah, no. I am no Alfred, sir. No, you forget. Alfred had a job." Giles said.
"Willow and Angel aren't going either. I'm doing it alone." Buffy said.
"Oh, great. And then when you have your new 'no arms' we can all say 'Gee, it's a good thing we weren't there getting in the way of that!'" Willow said.
"Right! Maybe we can help in other ways? Want some fighting pants, Buff? I can get ya some new fighting pants!" Xander said.
"You guys, this isn't helping." Buffy said.
"Oh, wow! We're already getting in the way. We're pretty good at this, Xander, huh?" Willow asked.
"Right. I'm so good at it you might have to ship me off to the Army to get me out of the way!" Xander said.
"The Army?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"You didn't think I knew about that, did you? You three talking about me behind my back?"
"Us talking about you?"
"And besides, when is there any "us three?" You three are the three who are the three. I'm the other one." Willow said.
"Uh-huh. But maybe that all changes when I'm doing sit-ups over at Fort Dix?" Xander said.
"Fort Dix?" Giles asked, bursting out with laughter.
"Are you drunk?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. Quite a bit, actually."
"Well, stop it! This is stupid."
"Stupid? So you finally have the guts to say it to my face?" Xander said.
"I didn't say you were stupid! So stop being an idiot and let me fix this! Okay, I need you. I need all of you. All the time! Just not now. Adam is very dangerous."
"Buffy, you can't do this alone! He'll rip you apart." Angel said.
"Wait. How do you need me, really?" Willow asked.
"You're good with the computer stuff. Usually. And-and there's the witch stuff." Buffy said.
"Witch stuff? What exactly do you mean by 'witch stuff?'"
"You guys, what is happening? This is crazy!"
"Oh, no, it's not." Giles said, moving to his desk. "It's all finally making perfect sense and I'm not going to miss a moment of it." He set his drink down and tried to sit, but his aim was off and his ass didn't come close to hitting the chair and he dropped to the floor.
"Giles!" Angel said.
"Leave him alone Angel. He's too drunk." Buffy snapped.
"I was just trying to help."
"I know. But I'm just a little busy. I don't have time for a lay about drunk guy right now."
"Then you don't have time for me."
"What? You're not.. Oh. Angel, that's not you. Not anymore."
"It was still a part of who I was once, when I was human."
"Well, you're not. Get over it."
"Buffy that hurts."
"Well, life hurts. You want one, learn it."
"Oh, wanna talk about life's lessons? Fine. How about what you learn when the man you love finds out that the woman he loves is with another guy?"
"What? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know WHO I'm talking about."
"Are you, like, mentally insane here? Oh wait, I guess you are. I mean, duh, you've been so guilt ridden from all those murders you committed it's driven you crazy. Right? Is that it?"
"Damn it Buffy, what the hell is your problem lately?"
As Buffy and Angel continued to bicker, so did Willow and Xander.
"And if I did join the Army, I'd be great! You know why? 'Cause they might give me a job that couldn't be done by any well-trained border collie." Xander said.
"That's it. I'm going to bed." Giles struggled to pull his sweater over his head as he stomped up the stairs. Willow stood beside Xander.
"No, you'd do wonderful in the Army. Hey, do you think the umbilical cord between you and Anya can stretch that far?" Willow asked.
"I knew it! I knew you hated her!" Xander said as Giles' sweater dropped down from the loft above and fell on him, covering his face. Xander yanked it off his head.
"Look, I'm not the one being judgmental here. I'll leave that territory to you and Buffy."
Buffy stopped fighting and turned to Willow. "Judgmental? If I was anymore open-minded about the choices you two make my whole brain would fall out!"
"Oh! And superior. Don't forget that." Xander turned to Buffy. "Just because you're better than us doesn't mean that you can be all superior!"
"You guys, stop this! What happened to you today?"
"It's not today! Buffy, things have been wrong for a while! Don't you see that?" Willow asked.
"What do you mean wrong?"
"Well, they certainly haven't been right, since Tara. We have to face it. You can't handle Tara being my girlfriend."
"No! It was bad before that! Since you two went off to college and forgot about me! Just left me in the basement to.." Xander turned on Willow in shock and he and Angel said simultaneously, "Tara's your girlfriend?"
"Bloody hell!" Giles called from upstairs.
"Enough! All I know is you want to help, right? Be part of the team?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know anymore." Willow said the same time Xander said, "Really not wanted."
"No! No, you said you wanted to go. So let's go! All of us. We'll walk into that cave with you three attacking me and the funny drunk drooling on my shoe! Hey! Hey, maybe that's the secret way of killing Adam?!"
"Buffy.." Angel started.
"Is that it? Is that how you can help? You're not answering me! How can you possibly help? So, I guess I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One and her friends." Buffy glared at Angel as she grabbed her coat and headed for the door. "If I need help, I'll go to someone I can count on."
Angel stared after her. He couldn't believe what had just happened between them. After a few minutes of silence, Angel picked up his duster and headed for the door.
"Where ya goin Dead Boy?" Xander asked. "You don't wanna try and start something with us?"
"Of course not. You're not important enough right now. All I'm worried about now is Buffy." Angel said.
"Oh fine! Does that exclude me?" Willow asked. "Am I now important?"
"I didn't mean.. Never mind. I have a girlfriend who's probably locked me out of the mansion and thrown my stuff on the street. Good night." Angel walked out and slammed the door.
He stalked all the way back to the mansion to try to talk to Buffy, maybe even apologize. Angel practiced what he was going to say all the way there, but unfortunately when he got there, she wasn't there. She had been because his clothes were sitting outside the bedroom door.
"Damn it." Angel cursed.
Where had she gone to? Some of her clothes were missing and one of her smaller bags were gone. Then it hit him: her mother's. Buffy had said she was going to someone she could count on. Angel took off running towards Mrs. Summer's house. He knew it was late, but Joyce stayed up out of habit to make sure her daughter was still alive. When he arrived, all the lights were on and he could see Joyce moving about in the living room. Angel climbed up to Buffy's bedroom window and peered in. It was dark and the door was shut, but Angel could tell she wasn't in there. Sighing, he headed to the front door and knocked. Mrs. Summers opened up after the second knock.
"Angel!" Joyce said.
"Hello Mrs. Summers. Is Buffy here?"
"No. I haven't seen her. You wanna come in?"
"Uh, sure." Angel stepped over the threshold and Joyce shut the door.
"Is everything ok?"
"Well, something happened between Buffy, me, and her friends. She stormed out and now I can't find her."
"Oh dear. I hope she hasn't done anything rash. You know how Buffy is."
"Yeah, I do. She said she was going to someone she could count on. I figured that she meant you. Are you sure you haven't talked to her?"
"Positive."
"Thank you. Will you let me know if she contacts you?"
"Of course."
"Thanks." Angel walked out and headed back to the mansion. Again, Buffy wasn't there. However, the answering machine blinked the number one. Angel walked over to it and pressed play. It was Buffy.
"Angel? If you're there pick up." A pause. "Ok, I guess you're really pissed off at me for some of the stuff I said at Giles. Well, anyway, I went to Riley's to see if he could help me out with Adam, you know, info and stuff. That was a no go. Riley is nowhere to be found. I went back to the caves and found Spike lurking. I think he's up to something. Anyway, can you meet me on campus tomorrow morning? Around ten? I've called Willow, Xander, and Giles too." There was an even longer pause than before and he heard Buffy breath into the phone as if she were going to say something else, but then there was a click and the message machine cut off.
Angel sighed. No word as to where she was, just where she was going to be. It was already seven in the morning and Angel was starting to feel tired. He decided that the best thing to do right then was sleep. He fell on the couch and sprawled out, letting sleep come. He still had three hours until he had to meet Buffy and the others.
Sighing, Buffy walked to the bedroom door quietly and started to open it when she noticed the letter stuck to the door. She plucked it off and opened it. Angel's beautiful handwriting that she had once came to hate, was scrawled on it.
Buffy, Giles called and said that Willow had some disks that Spike brought her from the Initiative. I don't know where you've been all day, so instead of going out and trying to hunt you down, I went on ahead. If you want, come by.
Now I know this isn't exactly the best way to ask you, but is there something wrong? Things have seemed so strained lately between us. And it's not JUST us. It's everybody. You and Willow and Xander and Giles. Actually, I'm a little worried about something and it's going to make me sound like an inconsiderate prick, but I need to talk to you about it. I won't go into it in this letter, there's not enough paper in the house to say what I need to say. We'll talk later.
No matter what, I love you.
Angel
Buffy folded the letter and tossed it on the coffee table as she headed out the door. She was going to have to face Angel with this cut one way or the other, might as well be now. But, he was right. Things had been strained between her and her friends lately. Things were falling apart. Apparently with Angel too. Buffy hadn't seen that coming. The whole walk to Giles was giving her a headache. She kept trying to figure out what was going on with Angel and her friends. Why Angel had been so compelled to leave her a note with such a cryptic message. Usually he was open with her. The letter had left her worrying.
Buffy walked into Giles' apartment. Everyone was there. Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, and Angel. The second Angel got a good look at her forehead, he had freaked. Buffy waved it off and went to stand by Tara behind Willow.
"How's it going, Will?" Buffy asked.
"It's still encrypted." Willow said.
"Well, Willow's working really hard on it." Tara told her.
"Okay, well, how long before you.. un-crypt it?" Buffy asked.
"Hours. Days maybe. Anyone suggesting months would not be accused of crazy talk." Willow sighed.
"What ever happened to Latin? At least when that made no sense, the church approved." Giles said as he poured a drink.
"I can't just wait around, Will. The disk is no good to me unless you crack it soon." Buffy walked over to the back of the couch.
"Hey! We worked really hard getting that. Xander delivered clothing." Anya said.
"Church approved." Giles said.
"Sorry, you guys, but we're on a clock here. Okay, Adam was at that cave so maybe he was there for a reason? I-I can.. I can go back, scope it out, track him if I have to."
"Right." Willow stood and moved to the living room. "And then maybe you'll get lucky and he'll still be there and he can rip your arms off for you? Buffy, you can't go back alone."
"She's right." Angel said.
"You never train with me anymore. He's gonna kick your ass." Giles said drunkenly.
"Giles!" Buffy said, shocked.
"Sorry. Was it a bit honest? Terribly sorry."
"So she doesn't go alone. Giles, weapons all around." Xander said.
"You're not going, Xander." Buffy said sternly. "Y-you'd get hurt."
"Oh. Okay. You and Willow go do the superpower thing, I'll stay behind and putt around the Batcave with crusty old Alfred here."
"Ah-ah, no. I am no Alfred, sir. No, you forget. Alfred had a job." Giles said.
"Willow and Angel aren't going either. I'm doing it alone." Buffy said.
"Oh, great. And then when you have your new 'no arms' we can all say 'Gee, it's a good thing we weren't there getting in the way of that!'" Willow said.
"Right! Maybe we can help in other ways? Want some fighting pants, Buff? I can get ya some new fighting pants!" Xander said.
"You guys, this isn't helping." Buffy said.
"Oh, wow! We're already getting in the way. We're pretty good at this, Xander, huh?" Willow asked.
"Right. I'm so good at it you might have to ship me off to the Army to get me out of the way!" Xander said.
"The Army?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"You didn't think I knew about that, did you? You three talking about me behind my back?"
"Us talking about you?"
"And besides, when is there any "us three?" You three are the three who are the three. I'm the other one." Willow said.
"Uh-huh. But maybe that all changes when I'm doing sit-ups over at Fort Dix?" Xander said.
"Fort Dix?" Giles asked, bursting out with laughter.
"Are you drunk?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. Quite a bit, actually."
"Well, stop it! This is stupid."
"Stupid? So you finally have the guts to say it to my face?" Xander said.
"I didn't say you were stupid! So stop being an idiot and let me fix this! Okay, I need you. I need all of you. All the time! Just not now. Adam is very dangerous."
"Buffy, you can't do this alone! He'll rip you apart." Angel said.
"Wait. How do you need me, really?" Willow asked.
"You're good with the computer stuff. Usually. And-and there's the witch stuff." Buffy said.
"Witch stuff? What exactly do you mean by 'witch stuff?'"
"You guys, what is happening? This is crazy!"
"Oh, no, it's not." Giles said, moving to his desk. "It's all finally making perfect sense and I'm not going to miss a moment of it." He set his drink down and tried to sit, but his aim was off and his ass didn't come close to hitting the chair and he dropped to the floor.
"Giles!" Angel said.
"Leave him alone Angel. He's too drunk." Buffy snapped.
"I was just trying to help."
"I know. But I'm just a little busy. I don't have time for a lay about drunk guy right now."
"Then you don't have time for me."
"What? You're not.. Oh. Angel, that's not you. Not anymore."
"It was still a part of who I was once, when I was human."
"Well, you're not. Get over it."
"Buffy that hurts."
"Well, life hurts. You want one, learn it."
"Oh, wanna talk about life's lessons? Fine. How about what you learn when the man you love finds out that the woman he loves is with another guy?"
"What? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You know WHO I'm talking about."
"Are you, like, mentally insane here? Oh wait, I guess you are. I mean, duh, you've been so guilt ridden from all those murders you committed it's driven you crazy. Right? Is that it?"
"Damn it Buffy, what the hell is your problem lately?"
As Buffy and Angel continued to bicker, so did Willow and Xander.
"And if I did join the Army, I'd be great! You know why? 'Cause they might give me a job that couldn't be done by any well-trained border collie." Xander said.
"That's it. I'm going to bed." Giles struggled to pull his sweater over his head as he stomped up the stairs. Willow stood beside Xander.
"No, you'd do wonderful in the Army. Hey, do you think the umbilical cord between you and Anya can stretch that far?" Willow asked.
"I knew it! I knew you hated her!" Xander said as Giles' sweater dropped down from the loft above and fell on him, covering his face. Xander yanked it off his head.
"Look, I'm not the one being judgmental here. I'll leave that territory to you and Buffy."
Buffy stopped fighting and turned to Willow. "Judgmental? If I was anymore open-minded about the choices you two make my whole brain would fall out!"
"Oh! And superior. Don't forget that." Xander turned to Buffy. "Just because you're better than us doesn't mean that you can be all superior!"
"You guys, stop this! What happened to you today?"
"It's not today! Buffy, things have been wrong for a while! Don't you see that?" Willow asked.
"What do you mean wrong?"
"Well, they certainly haven't been right, since Tara. We have to face it. You can't handle Tara being my girlfriend."
"No! It was bad before that! Since you two went off to college and forgot about me! Just left me in the basement to.." Xander turned on Willow in shock and he and Angel said simultaneously, "Tara's your girlfriend?"
"Bloody hell!" Giles called from upstairs.
"Enough! All I know is you want to help, right? Be part of the team?" Buffy asked.
"I don't know anymore." Willow said the same time Xander said, "Really not wanted."
"No! No, you said you wanted to go. So let's go! All of us. We'll walk into that cave with you three attacking me and the funny drunk drooling on my shoe! Hey! Hey, maybe that's the secret way of killing Adam?!"
"Buffy.." Angel started.
"Is that it? Is that how you can help? You're not answering me! How can you possibly help? So, I guess I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One and her friends." Buffy glared at Angel as she grabbed her coat and headed for the door. "If I need help, I'll go to someone I can count on."
Angel stared after her. He couldn't believe what had just happened between them. After a few minutes of silence, Angel picked up his duster and headed for the door.
"Where ya goin Dead Boy?" Xander asked. "You don't wanna try and start something with us?"
"Of course not. You're not important enough right now. All I'm worried about now is Buffy." Angel said.
"Oh fine! Does that exclude me?" Willow asked. "Am I now important?"
"I didn't mean.. Never mind. I have a girlfriend who's probably locked me out of the mansion and thrown my stuff on the street. Good night." Angel walked out and slammed the door.
He stalked all the way back to the mansion to try to talk to Buffy, maybe even apologize. Angel practiced what he was going to say all the way there, but unfortunately when he got there, she wasn't there. She had been because his clothes were sitting outside the bedroom door.
"Damn it." Angel cursed.
Where had she gone to? Some of her clothes were missing and one of her smaller bags were gone. Then it hit him: her mother's. Buffy had said she was going to someone she could count on. Angel took off running towards Mrs. Summer's house. He knew it was late, but Joyce stayed up out of habit to make sure her daughter was still alive. When he arrived, all the lights were on and he could see Joyce moving about in the living room. Angel climbed up to Buffy's bedroom window and peered in. It was dark and the door was shut, but Angel could tell she wasn't in there. Sighing, he headed to the front door and knocked. Mrs. Summers opened up after the second knock.
"Angel!" Joyce said.
"Hello Mrs. Summers. Is Buffy here?"
"No. I haven't seen her. You wanna come in?"
"Uh, sure." Angel stepped over the threshold and Joyce shut the door.
"Is everything ok?"
"Well, something happened between Buffy, me, and her friends. She stormed out and now I can't find her."
"Oh dear. I hope she hasn't done anything rash. You know how Buffy is."
"Yeah, I do. She said she was going to someone she could count on. I figured that she meant you. Are you sure you haven't talked to her?"
"Positive."
"Thank you. Will you let me know if she contacts you?"
"Of course."
"Thanks." Angel walked out and headed back to the mansion. Again, Buffy wasn't there. However, the answering machine blinked the number one. Angel walked over to it and pressed play. It was Buffy.
"Angel? If you're there pick up." A pause. "Ok, I guess you're really pissed off at me for some of the stuff I said at Giles. Well, anyway, I went to Riley's to see if he could help me out with Adam, you know, info and stuff. That was a no go. Riley is nowhere to be found. I went back to the caves and found Spike lurking. I think he's up to something. Anyway, can you meet me on campus tomorrow morning? Around ten? I've called Willow, Xander, and Giles too." There was an even longer pause than before and he heard Buffy breath into the phone as if she were going to say something else, but then there was a click and the message machine cut off.
Angel sighed. No word as to where she was, just where she was going to be. It was already seven in the morning and Angel was starting to feel tired. He decided that the best thing to do right then was sleep. He fell on the couch and sprawled out, letting sleep come. He still had three hours until he had to meet Buffy and the others.