The silence in the room was deafening. Silent tears were running down Buffy's face and Giles was just staring at his notepad, not writing or moving. The minutes continued ticking by, the large clock on the wall ticking so loudly that each click of the second hand sounded like glass shattering.
Angel just sat there watching the two waiting for a response until he couldn't take it any longer and stood to leave the room.
Seeing that Angel was leaving the room Giles stood, "Angel why…"
"Don't," he whispered harshly before continuing out of the room and collapsing on the guest room bed. He was drained and before he could even remove his shoes he was fast asleep.
Buffy wiped at the wetness on her cheeks and looked at Giles, "That was intense. I mean we deal with demons Giles but angels? Angels that kill other angels?"
Giles smiled sadly, "Way past our pay grade I'm afraid but it seems Liam needs our help."
She nodded distractedly, "I better head home, mom's probably wondering where I am."
"Yes of course. Goodnight Buffy."
Three days later when everyone entered the library Buffy immediately looked around and frowned when she saw Giles who had been absent since the weekend. While everyone else walked over to the table to get out their books she walked over to her watcher and spoke in a low voice. "Where's Angel? Did you leave him at your house?"
Giles shook his head, "He's sleeping in the stacks, I didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone in the house all day. There's something wrong with him but I'm not sure what it is. He's been sleeping for hours."
"What do you mean something's wrong with him?"
Giles sighed and removed his glasses before cleaning them, "He's sleeping too much and seems to be extremely weak. I believe he's having adverse affects being away from heaven. He hasn't eaten since the last time you saw him. He's not adjusting to being human very well and I'm afraid it's slowly beginning to kill him. He's barely spoken a word to me and he's not near as intimidating or um… intense as he was when we found him."
Buffy frowned heavily, "What are we going to do about this Giles? We can't let him die we have to help him."
He opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the sound a book being dropped loudly onto the table. "Yo Buffster what are you and the G man whispering about?" Xander shouted causing Buffy to cringe at the loud noise.
Giles sighed, "Must I remind you that this is a library and you are to speak softly?" He and Buffy moved towards the table but Buffy paused when she noticed Angel lurking quietly in the shadows and eyeing everyone with slight unease. She smiled encouragingly and beckoned him forward with a wave of her tiny hand. He looked weary but still moved quietly towards her until he was standing next to her, his large form towering over hers.
She withheld a gasp at the sight of him. Gone was the imposing force that had crashed into her life and in its place was a pale gaunt form with red rimmed eyes, hunched shoulders, and shaking hands. His hair was sticking up at random angles and he looked like he was having trouble just standing, exhaustion obvious in his heavy lidded expression. "Are you ok?" she whispered.
He turned his gaze towards her and frowned when he softly shook his head.
No one noticed the new person in the room until Willow looked up and squeaked causing Xander and Cordelia to look over. The three looked him over before Buffy took the lead, "Guys this is Angel."
Xander of course spoke first, "Is he the angel? Is he dangerous? Why would you bring him here?"
Seeing Angel's narrowed eyes directed at Xander Giles jumped in, "Yes he's the angel and as far as everything else goes you'll have to ask him. He's a person Xander you can speak directly to him."
Cordelia rolled her eyes and stood before straightening her skirt and walking over with a huge smile. "Hi I'm Cordelia, you'll have to excuse our idiot."
Angel's lips twitched and he shook her offered hand before stepping behind Buffy slightly. Seeing the children were making this awkward Giles motioned for Buffy to come over and take a seat. "Angel I don't have anymore chairs so you can either have mine or take a seat on the stairs."
He glanced at the stairs before sitting down and watching everyone waiting to see what was going to happen. His eyes drifted to Xander who was completely turned around in his chair still staring at him, "You're not quite human are you?"
Buffy leaned over and smacked his head, which caused Giles to sigh heavily and Willow to giggle. Angel just continued staring at Xander until he finally turned around trying to get away from the angel's intense stare.
"So what's the meeting about today?" Willow asked hesitantly.
Buffy looked over to Angel, "Can we tell them what you told Giles and I?"
He shook his head instantly but didn't speak. Giles frowned wondering why and Buffy tilted her head in confusion. He sighed before giving an explanation softly, "No, they shouldn't even know what I am but it's too late for that. If anyone finds out I'm here it could cause problems of biblical proportions."
Xander looked offended, "We know Buffy's the slayer and it hasn't caused problems of 'biblical proportions'. What's so special about you anyway, you look like Buffy could take you."
Ignoring the jab about his appearance he answered, "I'm a little higher on the totem poll boy." He looked at Buffy and offered a sympathetic expression, "No offense."
She smiled, "None taken." Her attention returned to the scoobies, "Ok so no talk of angels ok? On to our current vampire problem…"
Angel tuned out everyone's voices and rubbed his eyes tiredly, he was exhausted. Being here on earth was more draining than he realized but that also probably had to do with the fact that his wings were gone. Missing. Because they had been brutally ripped from him by the person he trusted the most. His dark thoughts were interrupted when his ears began to ring, the noise rising in pitch and volume until it was unbearable.
Buffy looked over and frowned at Angel's confused expression and began moving towards him when he raised his hands to cover his ears. "Angel, are you ok?"
Giles and everyone turned just in time to see Angel collapse on the stairs, his hands pushed to his head over his ears and his eyes and jaw clenched shut. He looked like he was in intense pain and blood soon began gushing from his ears and nose, flowing over his hands and dripping off his face.
Buffy looked at Giles for help but just like everyone else he was at a loss for what to do. "Angel what's wrong?" she asked frantically.
Then suddenly as quickly as it started it stopped. Angel gasped as his eyes snapped open. He shakily pulled himself into a sitting position and looked up only to see everyone staring down at shaking form. His eyes narrowed and red started to creep in along the edges of his black eyes. Pain was flowing through his head blocking his thoughts and quickly overwhelming him to the point that instinct took over.
Giles frowned heavily when he saw Angel look at everyone standing over him and his eyes begin to turn red. The angel's shoulders lifted and it took Giles a moment to figure out what was happening. Angel was posturing. He was sure if he had his wings they would be splayed wide to intimidate the potential threats. He was weakened and was reacting instinctually. Giles knew he was extremely weak but he could still easily harm everyone before Buffy could stop him and Giles wasn't positive that Angel had divulged all his powers and strengths to them. "Everyone step back and sit on the floor. Don't ask questions."
They all frowned but did as told except Buffy who moved forward causing Angel to lower his head and lift his shoulders higher, his eyes almost completely red as his lips curled back to reveal clenched teeth with extended razor sharp canines. Hs eyes widened at the teeth and he lowered himself to the ground, "Buffy step away and sit down. He's seeing you as a threat. Everyone avoid eye contact."
She finally listened and a few tense moments later his eyes returned to black and his posture relaxed. Buffy wanted to go over to him but stayed on the floor. "Angel are you ok? You're bleeding."
He looked confused at what had just happened before he reached up and felt his ear and looked at his hand which was covered in blood. "Son of a bitch," he mumbled.
Giles approached cautiously and handed him a handkerchief, relief flowing over him when his teeth appeared normal again. "What just happened?"
Angel rubbed his ears and nose before shaking his head, "He knows I'm here. He has eyes everywhere and he already knows I'm here." He cursed under his breath and shook his head in disbelief.
"I'm afraid we don't understand, who knows you're here?"
He clenched his jaw and glared at everyone. "That's no concern of yours," he bit out.
Everyone just watched as he sat there looking much less intimidating than he did a few minutes ago. His posture was slumped and he looked like he might get sick, his head was obviously still hurting and his eyes had slid shut.
Buffy stood and walked over to Angel, dropping down on the step next to him. He didn't move or acknowledge her and when she figured out why she looked at her friends and subtly pointed to the door. He wouldn't seek comfort because it was a sign of weakness. Willow got the hint first and grabbed Xander's arm, "We should get back to class, come on guys."
Everyone shuffled away and Giles reluctantly walked to his office where he could still see and hear the pair but wouldn't be in plain sight.
Seeing everyone had left Angel fell to the side and laid his head on the petite slayer's lap and snuggled into her when she began to gently rub his head. Hoping he would share now that they were alone she spoke. "What was that Angel?"
He released a sigh, "Angels communicate telepathically, it's normally quick and easy but I seem to be too mortal, too weak to receive the messages or reply."
She nodded thoughtfully, "Who was trying to talk to you?"
He stilled and tensed, "It's not important."
She sighed and continued running her fingers through his thick black hair. It was strange to think that the giant of a man resting on her was an extremely powerful angel of the Lord. Except he wasn't powerful right now, he was weak and hurting and she wanted to understand why. "Please tell me."
"Lucifer," was the barely heard response.
Buffy froze and waited for him to turn his head in her lap to make eye contact. "How can he talk to you?"
His black depthless eyes watched her carefully, "Lucifer is an angel, regardless if you fall you're still an angel. Many cannot receive messages from him but higher ups can, and apparently he can still speak to me in my weakened form. I'm lucky my head didn't explode. He know I'm here and he'll come for me when the time is right."
"Is he going to try to kill you?"
To her surprise he let out a soft and bitter laugh, "I think you're failing to grasp just how valuable I am. He wants me to lead hell's army and he'll stop at nothing to get to me."
She nervously bit her lip, "You'd never do that though right?"
He stayed silent before eventually sitting up and rubbing a hand up and down his face, "I'm not sure where my alliances lie right now."
Buffy looked flabbergasted, "What, why would you…"
A thin red halo appeared around his eyes as he stood and glared at her, "You have no idea what it feels like to have your wings ripped off of you. To have the person who you look at with pure love and adoration take everything from you. You have no idea what it's like to love someone for two thousand years only to have them hate you for the same reason they love you. He made me what I am and he punished me for it. Now tell me why I should continue to follow him blindly? Why wouldn't I go somewhere where I'll be rewarded for what I do instead of punished?"
She opened and closed her mouth a few times trying to come up with an answer. "Good argument slayer," he sneered before walking out of the library.
Giles emerged out of his office and approached Buffy a few minutes after the library doors swung shut. "I heard everything, should we go after him? He's not completely human but he's still extremely weak."
Buffy nodded and stood but paused as she looked at her watcher, "Giles do you think he's evil?"
"I don't know and as much as it fears me to say this I don't think he knows either."