Buffy sat quietly and waited as Angel took the call from his mother, she could see a range of emotions rush through his dark eyes as he listened to what she was saying to him. His jaw clenched tight before he sighed and stalked off towards the officer who was waiting in the hall.
Following him quickly she saw the officer now listen to his mother and waited, almost holding her breath as the call continued. The officer nodded and thanked her for calling, he turned to face Angel and quirked his eyebrow at him.
Angel rubbed his jaw and scratched at the stubble that still hadn't been removed, he let out a breath of a laugh "Can we go?" He tipped his head towards Buffy and gripped her hand when the officer nodded.
"Just before you run off, you'll have to fill in some paperwork…" Angel halted in his tracks and sighed in frustration. The pair of them followed the officer down the hall and into an office to do as requested. Buffy remained silent as Angel scribbled away on the sheets of paper, hoping that he would fill her in on what was going on.
As they exited the building, Buffy tugged gently on his hand to get his attention "What's going on, Angel?" She saw his shoulders slump before he rotated them, making them crack loudly "Angel?"
"Mom's on her way…"
Buffy watched as he looked almost afraid of the notion of his mother coming out here, from what they had discussed of his parents, he always spoke fondly of her and said that he loved her, so why this awkwardness? "…and that's a bad thing?"
Angel rolled his eyes "Buffy, I love my mom but I don't want her involved in any of my business, shes the one that bank rolls me being here, if she doesn't like what she sees then I'll end up in deep shit"
Seeing him emphasise his words, she frowned, that feeling of insecurity crash right over her "…You mean she'll take one look at me and decide I'm not good enough for you?" Her big doe eyes locked with his dark saddened ones.
He enveloped her in his arms, pulling her tight "No, no" his fingers traced her jawline softly "Buffy, this isn't some movie where the rich parents disapprove and stop us from seeing each other" he leaned down to kiss her when a smile tugged at her lips "Me and him…"
When Angel flicked his head back to the building where his brother was still being detained, she clenched onto his shirt "She's always wanted us to get over our trauma… and I don't know if we ever will" he rested his cheek on top of her head and breathed in her scent as he closed his eyes.
Oooooooooooooooo
Buffy sat nervously on the corner of the sofa as she heard Angel greet his mom and dad who had arrived not long before. Since this morning they had swung by her dorm for a change of clothes and a quick debrief with Willow before coming back here and doing the same with Lindsay.
He had only mentioned once they had landed that they were here, when she asked how they had managed to get here so fast, he quirked his eyebrow at her. Of course, they were loaded, they had the means to travel at the drop of a hat.
She looked over at the older couple and could see the striking resemblance between Angel and his dad. They looked almost identical, only the silver shine to the older mans hair set them apart "Mom, Dad, this is Buffy"
Smoothing down her top, Buffy made her way over to them and smiled brightly, extending her good hand out "Mr and Mrs O'Connor, its so nice to meet you" as his mother scrutinised the gesture, her nerves began to take over and she snatched her hand back to her side.
"Oh Liam, isn't she just darling?" Her eyes snapped to the older woman then looked in shock as she wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close "It's nice to meet you too Buffy and you can call me Elena" she spun around and excitedly smiled to her son "She is even more pretty than you said!"
Buffy felt her cheeks flame at the compliment but before she could do anything else his father came over and pulled her into a bear hug. The older man smiled kindly as he spoke, his Irish brogue making her want to swoon "and you little one can call me Colin"
Taking pity on her, Angel extracted her from his fathers embrace and pulled her against him, entwining their fingers. He looked back to his parents in annoyance, knowing fully well they chose to act this way in front of people he cared about just to embarrass him "Not that I don't mind a visit, but you didn't say why you were coming here"
Elena tutted and slid her jacket off her shoulders and handed it towards him, waiting for him to take it "All this nonsense with Damien, I mean, Angel, a fight? Haven't we always taught you fight with your words, not your fists? He is your brother, you should get along"
Feeling the anger rise, he let go of Buffy's hand carefully and stalked over to hang his mothers jacket up on a hook "Mom…" He counted backwards from ten to quell his rage "Why can't you accept that we will never get along, my bond with him died the day Kathy died"
Colin shook his head "That should be a reason as to why you should keep your bond, what if something happens to us? He's all you'll have" he saw his sons mood darken further "Liam, make peace with him"
Angel slammed his hand off the door beside him "No, because of him I almost lost what I have with Buffy and because of him Buffy ended up in the hospital last night!" His deep pants as he finished his sentence filled the silent room. His parents looked between each other in shock then back at him in question.
With a snort he continued "Yeah, your precious son who can do no wrong hurt her last night" they looked back to the young girl to see her hand bandaged up and although she was trying to cover it, a nasty bump on the head.
Buffy shook her head and stammered as she spoke "I- I, it was my fault" she patted her chest "I got in the way and he pushed me" when Angel glared at her she shrunk back for a moment then eased off when he came over and pulled her into his embrace.
Elena cleared her throat "Accident or not Buffy, he should never have put his hands on you…" she looked back to her husband who was barely containing his anger, his rigid form and bulging neck vein giving it away. She came over and pulled Buffy away from her son and into her arms, she grimaced when she felt Buffy flinch when her hand ran over her hair.
Colin arched his back, letting out a ricochet of cracks and he tilted his head. Getting older wasn't fun, each time he tensed, especially in anger at his wayward son, he found his stance taut "Stay here, I'm going down to have a word with Damien" he eyed his wife who stared him out, daring him to tell her to stay too.
Letting go of Buffy and patting her son on the shoulder, Elena smiled kindly at the pair "Your fathers right, we have much to discuss… when we're ready, we shall call you, my Angel" immediately, she followed her husband downstairs and out to their hire car.
Letting out a deep breath Angel closed his eyes, his hand automatically seeking out Buffy's and pulling her back against him. Within seconds Buffy nuzzled against his chest, her injured hand snaking its way up and around his neck, pulling him closer.
"…They're sweet" when Angel peeked one eye down at her, she flushed, thinking at his mothers reaction to her… odd but happy "What do you think will happen when they go down there?" She could feel how angry they were, which was a complete change to the relaxed couple that swanned in earlier.
Angel shrugged sadly "He'll manipulate them into paying his bail and nothing will change"
His sad tone cut right through her "I'm sorry" shifting from foot to foot, she gathered up the courage to ask her next question "I understand about what happened with your sister but what else has he done to you?"
Feeling the hate rise up, he shook his head "Buffy…" seeing her look at him expectantly, he sighed. It took him a few moments to piece together the shit show that was their broken connection before he began.
Oooooooooooooooo
Damien sort of got his way, he got them to post bail and Buffy didn't press charges but it came with a stipulation. One that he wasn't too happy with, his foot shook impatiently as he looked over at his brother then back at the damn Shrink that his parents requested the pair of them to see.
Jenny observed the brothers as she had done for the past four weeks and noted each time Angel would shut himself off and each time that Damien would run his mouth, being cocky and arrogant in his replies to her. She had discussed their childhood, their teenage years and their most recent escapades in some detail.
She couldn't call it sibling rivalry, whatever their issues were, it ran deep. This wasn't just the standard lashing out for attention. For the most part Angel seemed level headed where as Damien could become unhinged over the smallest of things.
Angel brought up repeatedly that Damien would try to sabotage his happiness, when younger he would purposely fail tests and plagiarise Angels signature. He had pretended to be his brother to rudely break up with Angels girlfriends and he had also ruined job opportunities too, once again playing as Angel and being rude as hell until Angel was fired.
Damiens response was always a wry twist of the lips and some smart ass reply of why not? He had also stressed that no one took him seriously and that he didn't get the same respect or attention that his twin got, he deserved some too!
Setting her pen on the notepad in front of her she smiled "I'd like to take this time to discuss Kathy and the accident"
Both brothers bristled at the suggestion, before Angel could speak Damien but in "uh huh, been there, done that. Déjà vu just isn't what it used to be…" he leaned leisurely in the chair and rolled his eyes "You're wasting my weekend digging up the past" he saw Jenny calmly look at him then switch to Angel as he slammed his fist on the armrest of the chair.
"Waste your weekend? I'm the one that's having to fly home every single weekend because of you, don't you realise that once again, I'm the one that's getting the shit end of this?!" He stared down his brother who only smirked cruelly at him.
Damien leaned back and snorted "What, not being able to see her for three days is a bad thing? Not able to keep her attention?" He lowered his voice suggestively "Who do you think shes with right now, think she'll be spreading her legs for them as easily as she did for you"
Angel roared deep within his chest and vaulted out of the chair towards his brother. Before he could get to him Jenny stood in his way, despite her being slender and shorter than him, her presence was dominating "Angel!"
Damien chuckled with glee, delighted that once again he could rile up his brother so. When Jenny shot him a warning glance he pretended to look embarrassed and sat up straight in the chair "What were you asking us again?"
Jenny arched her brow at him, she'd learned very quickly at what a smooth talker he was and that he had the ability to manipulate and suggest to his hearts content "Kathy" she caressed Angels shoulder and motioned for him to sit down.
Angel reluctantly sat back down, he wanted nothing more than to get his hands on his brother but that would just lead to more sessions with Jenny and more time being plucked away from him and Buffy.
They tried to spend as much time as possible with each other during the week but with the Fall final exams looming, studying was taking precedent. It pained him to see her less but each night whilst out here they would video call for hours before wishing each other goodnight.
Damien shrugged "She died"
Jenny waited for him to continue but he didn't, she cleared her throat "and how does that make you feel" he shrugged again in response. Shaking her head she looked at Angel who looked so upset at the mention of their baby sister.
Clearing his throat, Angel turned fully to face his brother, hoping that he finally would get the answers he had been waiting on for all these year "How can you not feel? Sadness, grief, responsibility?"
Damien raised his eyebrow "Responsibility? Why should I"
Angel clenched his jaw so tight that his full face began to throb "She would never have been up on that roof if it wasn't for you, she died because of you!"
Only the darkness in his eyes gave away his response, Damien paused for a beat, his voice a harsh whisper "No dear brother she died because of you…" Angel blinked heavily as he listened to his brother "You were left in charge, oh special one, you let her out of your sight and she fell on your watch"
Angel felt his heart race, the blood rushing around his body increased painfully, his head throbbed and he felt a wave of nausea engulf him. For years he had always lay the blame partly with himself, he had been in charge but Damien was just as much, if not more to blame for what happened too. He wanted to lay the blame with Damien, to try not to let his dark thoughts consume him.
Damien leaned in closer, his voice thick with emotion "She was my baby sister too, Liam. Everyone acts like you're some saint, like you really are an Angel… you're just as mortal as the rest of us who sin" sitting back in the chair he fixed his gaze on Jenny "I choose not to feel, if I do, the hate would consume"
For the first time, Jenny could feel the sincerity of his words, she had been given access to their years old files from after the incident and knew what the boys had been feeling back then and back then, Damien had gave exemplar answers to get out of requiring more therapy.
Turning to Angel her heart lurched, he looked defeated, hearing first hand his brothers long awaited truth, he was visibly pale and shaken "Thank you for being honest, Damien but don't you think that the blame can't be solely left with Angel?"
Damien kept his even stare on her, although he was trying his best to remain calm, the usual snark was gone and the pain could be heard as clear as day "Why? He blames me and only me"
Angel felt his bottom lip tremble, he did blame Damien but deep down he knew that they were both at fault and had said as such, back then and even now. He had even said it straight to Damiens face. It just seemed his brother didn't care at all.
Jenny sighed "You know he doesn't, I can go back through all those files, back to your first session with my predecessor and tell you Angel's exact words" she looked to the paper where she had scribbled verbatim in preparation for today:
"Damien should have told her to stay inside, she would have listened to him. I wasn't there but she should have been by my side, especially when I knew he had his girlfriend over. I took my eyes off her for five minutes"
Angel wiped the tears roughly away from his face, recalling that day, reliving what had happened flipped his head upside down. He always felt a jumbled mess and hated it, if only he could go back and make sure she was still following him downstairs to call takeout, she would still be alive.
"What I hate is your ability to act like she never existed" he looked over to his brother with fresh tears in his eyes, pleading for, well, anything.
Damien kept a level gaze "You grieve in your way… I grieve in mine" he then turned away and looked out the window as a means to end the conversation.
Angel shook his head in anger, pain, grief, and whatever other emotion wanted to come by and sledgehammer his head and his heart "We'll never get on, she died and we died and that's it"
Jenny watched as Angel turned his back and faced the opposite way to his brother, she wished she could take a photo of this moment to show them that they were both miserable together. Although they looked almost exactly alike, their personalities were vastly different but in this moment they both were identical in their grief for their little sister, who would never grow up.
