Second chapter!

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Angel was sitting on his bed having a hard time of it. He reached his hands up and back to take off the collar for the seventh time, but once again stopped. He didn't know what was comelling him to keep it on. Logically, he knew that keeping it on wouldn't make Buffy trust him or make him any less a demon. It wouldn't help him protect her in any way. And yet he felt that if he took it off, he would be betraying her. He stared at the wall brooding over his predicament.

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"Buffy, what's wrong?"

"There's more of them, Giles. A lot more!"

"Well I- I don't know why they would be gathering tonight, it's- it's not any kind of special day as far as-"

"Giles!! RUN!"

Punch kick, adjust balance,get the spare stake out of the bag, kick, slay, kick...

Buffy was all Slayer focus and will to survive the mob. There were around ten, maybe more, but they weren't fighting lik they normally would. They were getting too close to be effective individuallly, crowding her and smothering her even as she picked them off. Somewhere in the small part of her mind not focusing not slaying and staying alive, she heard a tinkling bell.

Angel dropped out of a tree and took three of the close circle around Buffy down to the ground. He was bigger and more powerful than any one of the other vampires here but they weren't afraid. Angel had no stakes. He doled out damage to as many of them as he could before they ran back to their little mob, but he couldn't kill them. He roared and Buffy finally recognized the sound of the bell as she saw Angel clear a gap in the ring of vampires around her.

"Angel!"

"I don't have a stake!"

"Find a branch!"

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When there were only four left, they tried to flee and of them, only two managed to escape. Giles came running back, Willow on his heels.

"Thank heavens you're all right."

"Hi Angel! ...Um. Why are you wearing a...?" Willow asked haltingly, touching her throat for clarity.

Angel's eyes went wide and he covered the collar with his hand as best he could, more embarrassed than he'd thought it was possible for him to be.

"I need to talk to Buffy alone," he muttered darkly. Buffy glared at him and Giles looked taken aback.

"Now," Angel snarled. He still had his "game face" on and the vampiric anger that had fueled him through the fight was still ebbing away. Plenty of it left to hide his embarrassment.

Willow backed away and Giles confusedly followed her, uncertain about Angel's current state.

"I'm taking it off," Angel snarled afer Willow and Giles were out of earshot.

"Why didn't you already?" Buffy's soft voice took the edge off his anger.

"I...I don't know!" Utterly confused, frustrated, worried and guilty, Angel whirled around, putting his back to Buffy as if that could protect him from the emotional assault Buffy and her little bell were wreaking on him.

"Is it because you love me?" Buffy pouted, suddenly lively. He turned around. His hurt, puppy eyes bore into hers and she could feel her resolve dissolving.

"I have to go."

Angel's mouth opened in protest but he didn't even know what to say. It was a slap in the face to say the least.

Buffy walked away.