Chapter 24: Feelings

*****The Next Day*****

Buffy's friends, mother, and Giles were all there to see her before her surgery. It wasn't until eight, but they pulled her out of her room to get ready at seven. Even Mr. Coulson, their teacher and mother's new beau, came to wish her good luck.

Matt squeezed her hand. "It is going to be fine," he said quietly.

Buffy felt good at the show of support. "Thanks," she said, returning his squeeze with a slight thumb caress as Faith pushed him aside. "My turn. Don't worry, B. Giles told me that Dr. Strange is nothing like his name. He's the best in the biz. You're going to be fine. I feel tons better already."

"Thanks, Faith," Buffy said.

"It's time," the nurse said. The orderly with her moved to disconnect her IV and pushed the bed out of the room. Her mother followed.

"I love you, Buffy," Joyce said, reaching down to plant a kiss on her cheek. Then she moved to Phil's side. His arm around her waist worked to calm her nerves. It was so nice to have someone there to support her.

"Am I too late?" a voice called. Buffy looked up and was surprised to see her dad, Hank, there.

"Daddy?" she asked.

"It's me!" he replied, smiling down at her as he approached the bed now in the hall. "When I got your mother's message, I hopped a plane from London where I was on business. I am sorry that I couldn't be here sooner."

Buffy sat up to accept his hug. "It's so good to see you," she said. "You'll have to meet all my friends."

"I will," he assured her as they wheeled her away.

"Hank, I'm glad you could make it," Joyce said.

"Did they catch the lunatic who shot her?" Hank asked.

"Actually, Buffy's best friend, Willow has a bodyguard, who happened to come out of the house the girls were running to," Joyce explained. "Ms. Rushman was able to shoot both of them."

"That's good," Hank said.

"Come into the waiting room. I'll introduce you to everywhere," Joyce said.

She was just glad that her ex had finally decided to show up for their daughter.

*****A Few Hours Later******

Everyone was waiting. Buffy's surgery went off without a hitch, and the good doctor, Dr. Strange, said he did not know if the damage to the spine was permanent or not.

"In my experience, though, this type of injury doesn't normally keep a person fully immobile. I did all I can, and the rest is up to the body. She will be moved back to her room in a half hour or so," he announced. Then he looked at his watch. "I have a plane to catch."

"I hope you will leave town before the sun goes down," Faith said.

"I will," Dr. Strange said, giving her a puzzled look.

"That's good 'cause this town is dangerous at night," Faith said. "We were just on our way to a school dance when we were gunned down."

"It is surprising for such as small town, but I am glad that I could help Miss Summers," Dr. Strange said.

On his way out of the hospital, the Chief of Surgery, Dr. Taub, echoed the young lady's words.

"Try to leave town before night fall," Dr. Taub advised.

"I'm leaving now," Dr. Strange replied.

"That's good," he said. "We appreciate you coming to help, but we don't want to be the cause of someone so gifted to be harm by the darkness of this town."

"It's a small suburban town. How dark can it be?" Dr. Strange asked.

"Let's just say it's got a really dark underbelly, and I'm glad I no longer live in the city limits," Dr. Taub said.

Dr. Strange shook his head as he walked out of the hospital. When he thought he saw a man with sagging skin wearing a hat, he decided that it must be exhaustion.

He called his assistant. "Clear my schedule for the next three days. I'm going to rest in Los Angeles before going back to work."

Back in Buffy's room, her friends and family were all there when her bed was wheeled into the room.

"Everyone is here," she said, looking at her watcher, parents, Mr. Coulson, her friends, and even Natalie. Only Tony and Pepper were missing.

"We just wanted to make sure you got through it okay," Willow said. "How do you feel?"

"A bit groggy still," Buffy said.

The nurse came in to hook up her IV. "There's too many people in here. Try to get it down to four or five," she said as they moved out of her way to work.

"We'll come see you this evening," Xander said.

"Feel better," Cordelia said as she left with Xander.

"Glad you're okay," Oz said.

Willow hugged her friend and left with him. Natalie smiled and turned to follow.

"Natalie, wait a minute," Buffy said. "Thank you for saving my life."

"Same," Faith added.

"I'm glad that I could be there for you both," Natalie said. It was wild to think that both these girls could be dead if Fury hadn't assigned her to Tony. Rarely as an Agent of Shield did she get to save lives, especially not so directly. It was a good feeling.

Her Sunnydale friends all said goodbye while her father, Matt, and Foggy stayed. It was nice to see him, so she chatted with him, telling him all about school and her friends without directly talking about her life as a slayer. She shared her summer adventure in New York and the schools she was thinking about applying to. Of course, she told him how the three of them met.

"These are the dates Tony set me up with for his Expo Gala," Buffy said, introducing him.

"Both of them?" Hank asked in surprise.

"Tony just wanted her to have fun since her boyfriend had died in May," Foggy explained.

"Oh, honey, I am so sorry," Hank said, reaching for her hand. "I am so out of the loop."

There was no way Buffy could explain her life, so she just squeezed his hand. "It's okay, Daddy." It was enough that he had shown up now, and she knew better than anyone how short life could be. There was no point in holding onto resentment.

"When do you guys have to leave?" Buffy asked Matt and Foggy.

"Our flight out of Los Angeles leaves at two, so we need to leave here shortly," Matt said. "Happy is taking us there."

"Why don't I go check into a hotel and let you guys say goodbye?" he suggested.

Buffy did not want her father staying at a hotel, but their headquarters had a certain vampire in one of the rooms. "I think you should stay with us at the house because the hotels in this town are crappy," Buffy said.

Foggy looked at his phone that beeped. "Tony wants me to tell you that he has reserved a room for your dad at a really nice bed and breakfast. Happy will run him there and then come back for us," Foggy said.

"That's perfect," Buffy said, smiling.

"Is Tony spying on us?" Foggy wondered.

"I think JARVIS is," Buffy said. "Willow told me that all cell phones can be turned into a microphone to listen to people."

"JARVIS, are you listening?" Foggy asked looking around.

"Who's JARVIS?" Hank asked.

"It's Tony's imaginary friend, who he calls his A. I.," Buffy explained with a grin.

Hank nodded in bemusement as Foggy read from his phone, "Sir requires me to monitor all of you whenever we are in town in case anyone needs anything."

"That's a bit intrusive," Hank said.

"That's Tony," Buffy said with a shrug. "JARVIS is like the best butler and brainiac you could imagine. He's also a good listener."

"Mr. Stark is so generous that I can't seem to be that upset," Foggy said. "He bought us tickets to fly here early in the morning yesterday. We're students at Columbia, so we have to head back."

"Okay, I'll be back in a few hours, honey," Hank said, kissing her cheek.

"I take it your dad doesn't know about your superpowers," Foggy said.

"No, he does not. I told him and my mother back in Los Angeles when I was called," Buffy shared for the first time. "They had me committed to an insane asylum until I took it back. Then Mom kicked me out of the house in May when I left to go fight Angelus."

"Shit," Foggy said, grimacing. "That sucks. Your life may be shittier than Matt's, but I am very happy to be a part of your secret club." He hugged her.

"I'm really glad you came," Buffy said, smiling up at him.

"Me, too. I'm sorry we have to leave before you walk again, but I hope you'll call us," Foggy said.

"I will," Buffy said.

"Give us a few minutes," Matt told him. Foggy grinned and nodded.

"Okay. Bye, Buffy," he said, waving as he headed out.

"Why don't you come on this side and sit in the chair?" Buffy suggested.

Matt agreed, using his stick to locate the chair and sit down.

"I am really sorry that you have had to go through all this," he said, reaching for hand.

"Did finding out about the monsters in this town freak you out?" she asked anxiously.

"Well, it's a lot to take in. I think there's enough evil men in this world without adding soulless demons to the mix," he said. "It makes me terribly sad and very scared for you."

"I have Faith here to back me up and my friends," she said.

"True, but it's really you they all look to," he said. "Right?"

"I guess that's true," she said. "I have something to tell you."

"Okay," he said.

"It may change the way you see me," she said. It was time to tell him about Angel.

"Since I don't actually see you, I wouldn't worry about that," he said with a teasing grin.

Buffy cringed. "I'm sorry. You know what I meant!"

"I do," he said. "I would hope that whatever you tell me will be received with the affection and respect I feel for you."

"Angel was a vampire with a soul," she said. "He had one moment of happiness with me and lost his soul. We didn't know about the curse that caused that to happen."

Matt grimaced as he fully understood what she was revealing. "So you went to bed lovers, and he basically died?"

Buffy nodded. "Yes. The next morning he was really callous, and it took me a bit to realize my Angel was gone. He spent months terrorizing me and my friends until he murdered Giles' girlfriend, one of our teachers. Then he pulled me away from the school while his vamp friends attacked my friends, killing Faith's predecessor, Kendra," she shared.

"That's horrible," he said. "I am so sorry."

"That's not everything," she said. "He started a ritual that was going to bring this very powerful demon to life. The demon would have brought hell on Earth. I had to kill him to stop it, but Willow did a magic spell and gave him back his soul. It was too late, however, and the ritual had started."

Matt's mind could picture it even though he didn't know exactly how her face looked, and he felt extreme sympathy for her. "You are incredibly strong," he said, his admiration obvious. "Tony told us that you had to kill him, but if he was back to the guy you loved, that had to have been very difficult."

"It was the hardest things that I have ever had to do," she admitted. "Now he's been sent back, but I don't know why. He was like a rabid animal. Faith and I trapped into the Hulk room Tony has, and we've been giving him blood. I don't know if it's Angel or Angelus."

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

Buffy shrugged. Then she scolded herself—she had to stop doing these visual cues. "I don't know. I think he was tormented for a very long time in the hell dimension he was sent to. Time doesn't move the same. Months here could have been years of torment there," she said. "He may never be the same. Even if he is Angel, we don't have a future."

"I am sorry," he said. "You have had too many things thrown at you."

Foggy opened the door. "Hey, Happy texted me. He is outside ready to take us," he said.

"Okay," Matt said. "Give us a minute."

"Bye, Foggy," Buffy said.

"Take care of yourself," he said. He couldn't believe the life Buffy had to live, and he felt very privileged to know her.

"Thanks for coming," Buffy said. "And thanks for listening to my disturbing life story."

Matt stood and leaned down. "I am very honored to know you," he said. He reached out and put his hand on the right side of her cheek, so he could guide his lips easily to hers. The kiss was light and quick. Her life was too complicated for anything else, but maybe someday.

"Call me when you make it home," she said.

"Hopefully, you'll have some good news," he said.

"I hope so," Buffy replied. She watched him leave with a happy sigh. It was crazy. She was a slayer, and he was a blind law student. He lived on the other side of the country, but she couldn't help but dream about a future with him.

Angel was a part of her, but she knew if he was back, he no longer had a place in her future.

******New York******

Hank McCoy, holder of six doctorates and one of the leading experts in biochemistry read the new email he got from one of the few intellectual equals he had, Dr. Bruce Banner. Banner had even more doctorates than he, one also in biochemistry.

"What brings such a smile on your face?" Professor Xavier asked as he wheeled into Hank's office.

"I received another email from Doctor Banner about the young werewolf he hopes to help," he shared.

"Ah, yes, lycanthropy is not just a myth," Professor Xavier said, smiling. "Isn't it a marvelous world we live in? Things can still surprise us."

"Doctor Banner's attempts to cure lycanthropy has failed," Hank shared. "He believes if we activate his mutant gene it would serve to give him control of his powers. The young man lives on an active hellmouth, and he aids a young woman who is charged with keeping the hellmouth closed. Supposedly, doorways to some hell dimensions actually exist—another new one for us. Banner also says the young man is quite brilliant, much different from most of his peers."

"I would like to meet this young man. We could offer him a spot here at the school," Professor Xavier said. He did not want to spend too much time dwelling on a hellmouth being a real place on their Earth.

"He is graduating this year, and his girlfriend is the newly revealed daughter of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's girlfriend and CEO," Hank shared. "Stark has been aiding the young children who reside at the hellmouth."

"It is fascinating the changes Mr. Stark has made since he was kidnapped," Professor Xavier said. "Do you think Dr. Banner's idea has merit?"

Hank nodded. "I do. Of course, it could give him some other kind of power, which is always the risk when altering the genes," he said.

"Maybe during Christmas break, his young friend can come to the school," Professor Xavier suggested.

"I will suggest that," Hank said. It was wonderful making new friends and possible future allies.

"I might be able to help Dr. Banner reconcile his alter-ego with himself," Professor Xavier said. "The Hulk is not a mindless beast as he believes. He's a part of Dr. Banner."

Hank nodded. "It's a fascinating case. A true Jekyll and Hyde," he said.

"Except Hulk seeks to protect Banner, and he doesn't try to murder," Professor Xavier stated. "Unfortunately, he damages a lot of property."

"So much," Hank said, grinning. Banner was one of the few of his acquaintance who understood what mutants went through except Banner mostly rejected that side of himself. "Perhaps he would benefit by your counsel."

Charles Xavier nodded. It was good to make new friends and help those who needed it. If the very wealthy Tony Stark wanted to support his school financially, all the better!

*****The Next Day*****

Faith gave her watcher a sullen look as she moved her luggage to the front door.

"Faith, I wish you would not be so angry with me," Diane said. "I cannot help that I am not as brave as Rupert."

Faith felt a pang of guilt as her watcher looked embarrassed at her confession. "You have faced both demons and vampires bravely, so that's bullshit," she said.

"A man with a gun and bear traps was just too much," Diane said sadly.

Sighing, Faith nodded. "I guess I can understand. You don't have my awesome healing ability," she said.

Diane moved and put her arm around Faith's shoulders. "I am going to miss you a great deal," she told her.

Faith battled the tears. This woman had pulled her out of extreme poverty and showed her she was worth something. There was not enough ways Faith could ever repay her. She should probably start with not being a bitch to her.

"Me, too," Faith admitted. "I can't ever repay you for saving me from the crap life I was living."

"It has been my pleasure," Diane said, smiling warmly at her young charge. She put her hand on Faith's chin and tilted her head up—the girl was trying to hide behind her hair. "You are every bit the slayer Buffy is, and don't let anyone ever make you feel any less. I am not leaving you because of you. I am leaving you because of me." It was important to her that Faith not feel rejected by her lack. The young woman had come so far, and she would hate to be the cause of her decline.

"Thanks for saying that," Faith replied even if she wasn't sure she believed it.

"Go see how your sister slayer is this morning. A cab is coming to take me to the airport. Your new watcher will arrive tomorrow," she shared.

"Great," Faith muttered.

"Give him a chance. He's young, so he won't be as stuck in his ways," Diane said, smiling.

Faith nodded. "I'll try," she said. "Good luck back in the land of tea and crumpets."

Diane grinned. She was going to miss her young charge. If only she wasn't such a coward. . .

*****At the Hospital*****

Buffy woke up on her side due to the incision on her back. Today was the day. She would soon find out if she was going to be a broken slayer forever or able to fight another day.

Carefully, she sat up in the bed and pulled back the covers to look at her legs. She willed her legs to work and tried to lift her right leg. It rose from the bed. Excited, she moved the other leg. Her eyes filled with tears as relief coursed through her. Her knees bent and feet touched so that she could put her hands on her calves. Buffy could feel the hands that rubbed them, and she wiped her face as happiness burst through her.

The door to her room opened, and Joyce popped in. "How—" she started to ask. Then she saw her daughter moving her legs. "You can move them?"

"I can!" Buffy exclaimed.

Joyce ran to her daughter and pulled in for a long hug. As much as she hated her daughter's calling, she couldn't help but be grateful for the healing powers that would allow her to already be recovering from the trauma her body had been through.

Soon, the news spread as her father and then friends all arrived to see her. Her friends had school, so they didn't stay long. However, they all were relieved to see her legs working again.

"I knew nothing would keep the Buffyster down for long!" Xander stated with a happy grin. He high-fived her before following his girlfriend out of the room.

"Glad you're not going to be a cripple, Buffy. See you later!" Cordelia called over her shoulder.

Willow glared at her retreating back. "I don't get her sometimes," she muttered.

"I think she means exactly what she says," Buffy said with a shrug. "She's glad that I'm not a cripple."

"We're not supposed to use that word," Willow said with a disapproving frown.

Buffy laughed while Oz gave her a fond look. "We should get to school," he told her. "Happy for you, Buffy."

"Thanks," Buffy said.

Hank came in, and she gave him a wide smile. "I can feel my legs!" she shared.

"That's wonderful!" he replied, moving to embrace her.

"The nurse said she is to wait until the doctor gets here to try and get out of the bed," Joyce informed him.

"I am just so relieved," he said. "I met your friend with the eyesight issue. I know it's possible to live a full life with a disability, especially nowadays. But I didn't want that for you."

"Me either," Buffy said.

They visited for a half hour, and Buffy was happy to see her parents share a room without any of the hurt and anger the last time they spent so much time together. Then the doctor arrived and gave the okay for her to get out of bed and go on a short walk. Her mother went to open the gallery since Hank was there.

Faith arrived as she was walking with her dad. "I see the bullets have slowed your ass down!" Faith exclaimed.

"Not for long," Buffy replied with a grin. "The doctor said I need to wait a full twenty-four hours. If I fall, I could reinjure myself."

Faith knew Hank didn't know the truth, so she just smirked without comment. Then she held up a bag. "I got you a blueberry muffin and that yogurt you like," she said.

"Great. Thanks," Buffy said.

Faith hung around an hour, and then Tony and Pepper came to visit. Buffy introduced her father to him.

"Wow. I wasn't very sure she wasn't pulling my leg when she said she knew you," Hank said as he shook Tony's hand.

"I told you about JARVIS," Buffy pointed out.

"You told me about his imaginary friend," Hank said.

Pepper laughed while Tony narrowed his eyes. "He is a very sophisticated computer system," Tony proclaimed. "Tell them, JARVIS."

"I am a very sophisticated computer system," JARVIS said from the smartwatch Tony wore.

Hank grinned in amusement. "That's impressive," he said.

"He is Iron Man," Buffy reminded him. "He does impressive all day."

"Very true," Pepper said, giving him a loving look. "We need to head back tomorrow. Tony's been cleared to go home."

"That's great," Buffy said. "So no more risk of your glowy battery poisoning you?"

Tony laughed, amused how she always managed to mangle anything technical. "I'm good to go," he said.

"What kind of law do you do?" Penny asked Hank.

"Real estate," Hank told her.

Tony's eyes lit up. "Really? We are rebuilding our house in Malibu after it was destroyed. My insurance company refused to insure the new house. They say I'm a security risk. Do you think you can get me a new company?" he asked.

Hank never dreamed that his visit to his daughter would give him such a huge financial opportunity, but he took it in stride. "Of course. Then maybe I will quit getting sent overseas!" he stated.

Buffy felt a real sense of contentment having her dad there. She and Matt were getting closer, and Giles wouldn't get too angry about Angel since she took a bullet recently. Things were looking up.

******Mayor's Office******

Clint sent the mayor's secretary home, so he could work the desk and easily listen in on the mayor's sundown meeting. It was probably a meeting with vampires as he knew there were a few that came regularly to the office.

He rose to his feet when a dark-skinned man in a nice suit came with a much larger and uglier light skinned man behind him.

"Mr. Trick and Kakistos to see Mayor Wilkins," Mr. Trick said.

"I believe he is expecting you. One moment," Clint said. He used the secretary's intercom to announce their arrival.

"Clint, you may leave after you send them in," Wilkins said.

"Yes, sir," Clint said. He waved the two vampires through while keeping the intercom on. His phone began to record the conversation.

"What can I do for you gentlemen," Mayor Wilkins asked after greeting the two visitors.

"We wish to spend more time in your dark city. The Slayerfest was quite fun even if both slayers survived," Mr. Trick announced.

"I heard that Faith took a bullet for sister slayer, but Miss Summers is paralyzed," Wilkins said.

"Your information is outdated. The slayer has already regained the use of her legs," Mr. Trick said. "The billionaire flew in a specialist."

"Iron Man flying in so often is not good for tourism," the Mayor said with a frown. "Of course, we mustn't do anything to draw more attention to our town, so I can't have him killed."

"How about we take the injured slayer off your hands?" Mr. Trick said. "Boss hasn't had a chance to taste the blood of a slayer in a very long time. We can make sure the injured blonde one never recovers to full strength."

The mayor grinned. "That sounds like a win-win for me," he said. "Do you need any muscle? I have more than enough guys on my payroll."

"So do I," Kakistos replied.

Clint frowned as he heard the plan to harm Buffy Summers. Quickly, he turned off the intercom and headed for the exit. Natasha always got to have all the fun. Now it was his turn to save the damsel in distress.

He grinned, imagining Natasha's elbow in his face if she heard his internal thoughts. Even injured, Buffy Summers was no damsel in distress. Nevertheless, he would try his hand at being the hero.

Sunnydale was turning out to be quite the fun place for a trained assassin-spy.

******To Be Continued******