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Abused By Tango i
can't smile A week went by and Buffy managed to avoid getting into a fight with Riley, stayed away from Angel when she was in the mansion and was able to have a whole interrupted night of fun with Willow and Xander. Those things alone should have made her feel better, but they didn't even come close. When Angel entered her life, her perceptions of what was happy and good in the world slowly began to change. What had been enough before wasn't even slightly sating these days and the simple pleasures she had afforded herself seemed to become less fulfilling. He had a way of looking at her, even when he didn't speak, that made her feel like she was doing something wrong. Being friends with him was making her miserable and just when she thought her inner turmoil had reached its peak, she started dreaming about him. She started waking up in cold sweats, panting, nipples so erect she had to touch them to keep them from aching, with a fire in her veins that she couldn't even identify. The dreams were as unfulfilling as everything else, especially since she could barely remember what had happened in them. She kept bits and pieces, emotions, waves of pleasure. Several times it happened when she was in bed with Riley, just down the hall from the man in her dreams and she fought the urge to panic when she woke up with the wrong person's arms around her. She couldn't believe it when the thought first entered her mind that her boyfriend's bed was the wrong one to be in. Dangerous ideas started to creep into her mind. What if she could escape Riley? What if Angel really could help her? The problem with those thoughts is that they always ended up with someone hurt or even dead at the end of the tale and she was left shuddering until the next dream when she forgot about the horrible possibilities and saw a different future than she had before. *** you can close your eyes but you can't make it go away "You must be Riley," Spike said, from his slouching position on the couch. He loved that he was back in the mansion with his pockets filled with Angelus' money. Drusilla's devotion to Angel was his only problem and not a large one. Soddin' ponce treated her like a princess and he had a sneaking suspicion that she had been in his bed at least once before they were married. "I don't think we've met," Riley said good naturedly, which is how he usually came across to people who didn't know him. His eyes always seemed to twinkle with a charm and happiness that drew people in, made them trust him. Course Spike wasn't the sort of sap who would've bought that even if he didn't know what a wanker the boy was. He watched as the larger man lowered himself into a chair on the other side of the coffee table. "I'm Spike," he said, sizing the boy up. He could take him. Any man who beat on a woman wasn't used to fighting someone who hit back. Spike couldn't wait for that to change. "Angel's stepbrother...and the future brother-in-law to your girl, I'm sure." "What are you talking about?" Riley said, his formerly casual voice trembling in anger. "Oh, I'm not saying anything," Spike said casually, lighting a cigarette and smiling happily at Riley's true colors waving in front of him, "It's just that my brother, the pansy that he is, happens to be very good at seducing women and he has his eye on that little blonde thing that's been climbing in and out of your bed." "I'll fucking kill Angel if he touches my girl!" Riley answered, pulling himself back to his feet. "Suit yourself, frat boy," Spike shrugged, exhaling a puff of smoke in Riley's direction, "You kill him, I inherit the Angelus fortune. Works for me on all sides, really." "Are you trying to provoke me into killing your brother?" Riley sneered. "No, mate," Spike said, laughing, "Just making conversation." "I think I'm done participating in this one," Riley snapped, heading for the door. Visions of Buffy in bed with that arrogant, rich asshole made his blood boil. He had thought that moving into Angel's mansion was the perfect way to threaten Buffy and keep an eye on Angel at the same time. Suddenly, the plan was starting to wither before his eyes. "Sure, mate," Spike answered, "Don't want to keep you. Piece of advice though?" "What?" Riley said, turning full circle to face the bleach blonde British opposite of his landlord. "You keep beating your bint the way you are and Angel will have her in his bed by the end of the month. And that's not a bloody threat, it's a promise. He's all but told me he's planning on fucking her hot little brains out and he could give a rat's ass that you're down the hall." "Why are you telling me this?" Riley asked, stepping closer to the couch Spike was sprawled on. "Because I like conflict," Spike said, grinning broadly, "And I'm effin' bored. Besides, I'd like to see Angel get knocked down a notch and if you're smart, you'll pull it off." *** she said, "i'm okay. don't worry about me." "Will," Buffy said, perching on the edge of her friend's bed. Willow was buried in her Psychology textbook and damn if she didn't look like she was enjoying what she was reading. Buffy knew as a good friend she had to put a stop to that insanity, so she didn't feel at all sorry for interrupting her, "I need to talk to you." "‘Kay," Willow said, setting her book aside, "I was just reading ahead in the book anyway." "You're a peculiar person, Will." "That's why you love me," Willow beamed. She was thrilled that Riley and Buffy hadn't had any bloody or damaging fights lately and Angel's name was starting to come up more and more in casual conversation. She definitely took that as a good sign. "I...I don't know what to do," Buffy said, biting her lower lip in an attempt to reign in her emotions. Lowering her voice, she whispered, "I think I might have...feelings for Angel." "That's great!" Willow responded, fighting the urge to bounce happily on the bed, "Do you want to call Riley right now to break up with him or should we write him a letter instead? Maybe a singing telegram is the way to go. What rhymes with ‘poophead'?" "Willow," Buffy warned. "Sorry. What are you doing to do?" "I don't know," Buffy admitted, "I've been dreaming about him at night and when he looks at me...Will, I know what you're thinking but I can't break up with Riley." "WHY?" Willow wailed, slumping on the bed looking like the wind had just been blown out of her sails, "Buffy, I don't know why you're doing this to yourself." "Because I have to," Buffy said sadly. She never wanted to have this conversation with Willow, but she knew it was time. If something happened, Willow had to be prepared to protect herself...or find out the worst when something really bad happened. "Why?" Willow repeated, "I've really tried to understand...Okay, we both know that's a big fib, but no matter how much I think about this - all hottie Angel thoughts aside - I don't see why you would ever let anyone treat you that way. Even you said that the first time he hit you." "I've been trying to keep you out of this," Buffy said, "Will, the reason I can't leave Riley is because he threatened to hurt me and the people I love if I did. No one is safe if I leave him. At least this way I'm the only one being hurt." "He's bluffing," Willow said, managing to sound slightly convincing. "We both know he's not," Buffy said, "No one's safe - my mom, Xander, even you!" "We'll go to the police," Willow answered, "Tell them he's threatened us!" "I can't," Buffy said, "I know you think he's some horrible person, but he's really not. He's sick. He needs professional help." "Oh, yeah," Willow blurted bitterly, "I can just see him strolling in the mental hospital and checking himself in! Buff, he's going to really hurt you one of these days, kill you even and your whole life will be wasted!" "I know," Buffy whispered, "But I can't risk it. Not for your life or anyone else's." "What about yours?" *** i
dream of the time when i can make you mine It was all an accident really. Innocent. Buffy decided not to panic. And then she panicked anyway. She hadn't really done anything wrong anyway. She was too short to reach the book that Angel had probably left on top of the bookshelf so, she asked him to get it down for her, which he did, of course. While handing it her, he managed to drop it and they both bent over to get it. When their fingers brushed, they glanced at each other, meeting eyes while bent over, each with a hand on the dusty volume. He leaned in and she knew what was going to happen. Her brain asked her body politely and then with more force to turn away, to back up, to run in any direction that didn't contain those soft lips and dark, piercing eyes. Her body promptly refused to follow a direct order and soon she found herself opening her mouth to his tongue, allowing herself to be pulled in his arms and as he nipped gently at her mouth, holding her close to his chest and as he kissed her, her mind remembered what her dreams had been about. He tasted clean and sweet, smelled like leather and felt like safety, passion and a mix of emotions that wouldn't allow her to pull away. She felt one of his large, elegant hands resting on the small of her back and another threading through her hair and somewhere in the middle of it, she began to cry. "I'm sorry, Buffy," he gasped, breaking away from her sweet mouth as much as he didn't want to. She was breathing heavily and nearly hysterical as she backed away, thankful Giles wasn't in his office. As he looked over her pain stricken face, he was tempted to scoop her up and carry her far away from this town and her abusive boyfriend. Instead, he continue to apologize. "I'm sorry, please don't cry." "I can't...we shouldn't...I have to go," Buffy stammered, wiping away hot tears from her cheeks as she backed away from him. "It's just that-" he said, searching for the right words and coming up short. How could he say all the things that were running through his mind? I love you. I want you. I can't resist you. I'd give anything to pull you into my arms and never let you go. I can't stand that there's someone hurting you and I can't stop it. I think I'm going insane. An epic of emotions and sweet words ran through his mind and he kept silent as she ran out. Buffy was halfway to the parking lot before it occurred to her to stop running. She missed the strange looks from other students as she hurried away and was actually glad she had. She wiped away the tears, but they kept falling in an endless flood. Her hands were nearly as wet as her face as she tried to brush away the most involuntary tears she had ever cried. Why did he feel so perfect? Why were his arms so warm and strong and safe as if nothing could ever hurt her there? Why did he have to have that look in his eyes, that constant mixture of worship and concern and anguish? She headed for her room and for the first time in a long time, her pain was a different kind and her tears didn't seem to even come from the same well inside her. She pulled her stuffed pig close to her chest and curled up on her bed, sobbing for the love she hadn't had and was sure that she already lost. *** i
hate the way i am around you Later that same evening, after a pleasant night, Riley sat up in bed and looked down at the little body sleeping beside him. She was curled up and in her sleep had scooted away from him, so she was nearly teetering on the edge of the bed. He reached out and shifted her a bit, so she wasn't so close to falling and brushed her hair away from her lovely face. He had noticed since he moved into the mansion, that when they spent the night together, she was more reluctant to have sex with him and more emphatic about not sleeping over. More often than not, he was able to convince her to stay and when she did, she slept more peacefully than she ever had before. He looked down at her dreamy smile and wondered what she was dreaming about, what happy thoughts were going through her mind. She looked so inviting that he pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her, filling with pride that she was his. Holding her right then, he knew that his fears about Angel taking her away were ridiculous. That was the face of a woman in love, a woman in his bed, not anyone else's. He grinned joyfully when she turned over and tossed one of her slender legs over him, resting her cheek on his chest. He rubbed down her back and over her tight little ass, giving her a squeeze and was rewarded with a breathy moan. Encouraged, he slid his hands over her body, caressing her through her silk pajamas and then moving under them as she responded in her sleep. Risking her being upset with him, he moved a hand between her thighs and groaned when he felt how wet she was. He slipped a finger inside her slick passage and knew he was going to have to wake her. She seemed more aroused than he ever remembered her being and she moved against his invasion, mewling in pleasure in her sleep. "Wake up, Buffy," he whispered, rolling her over on her back, swiftly unbuttoning the buttons on her top. "I want you." "Yes," she whispered, keeping her eyes closed but pressing herself against him, "Yes, please." "Buffy, wake up," he whispered again as he lowered his head to suck one of her erect nipples into his mouth. She responded immediately, arching her back to press herself against his mouth and releasing a shuddering moan that made his cock jump to full tumescence. Pulling away from her breasts, he whispered again, "Buffy!" "Don't stop, Angel," she whispered, threading her fingers through his hair, "Don't ever stop touching me." *** i
hear her calling my name "Angel," Gunn said, calling through the door quietly, "Angel, are you awake?" Rapping more soundly and calling out for several minutes, Gunn decided to take his life into his hands and pulled out his key to let himself in. He knew Angel would be alone. Ever since that little blonde entered his life, he hadn't let another woman climb into his bed. Which worked out well for Gunn and the others. The girls were so heartbroken by Angel's rejections that they needed comfort and there were plenty of arms ready for the task in the mansion. Leaning over the bed, Gunn shook his friend, "Angel. Wake up, man." His last word was garbled when Angel's shot up and gripped his throat, squeezing before he even had a chance to open his eyes. Blinking awake, Angel released Gunn and frowned. Panic hit him seconds later and he sat up so quickly, he nearly bumped foreheads with his intruder who was still bent over him. "What's wrong?" Angel demanded, throwing the covers back and climbing to his feet. Gunn backpedaled several steps to give him room and then answered. "Buffy ran out of here like ten minutes ago." "Is she okay?" "She...she was bleeding and barefoot," Gunn said, "Three of the guys saw her, including Spike. Her pajamas were ripped and she was limping. Man, it looked really bad." "Bleeding? She was bleeding?" Angel roared, storming across his room to pull on the pants he had shed the night before. "I'll kill that piece of shit. I'm going to torture that son of a bitch until he can't remember his fucking name." "Hey, calm down," Gunn advised, and ignoring Angel's next outburst of profanity, "Doyle followed her out and is taking her home. Spike is on Riley patrol. I just wanted to let you know what's going on." Gunn followed Angel out of his room and Angel made it to Riley's door in seconds. He turned the knob and found the door locked. Taking no time to think about it, he slammed his shoulder into the solid door and pulled back to do it again. "He's not here," Gunn said, grabbing him and pulling him back, "He ran after her and Doyle and Spike are making sure the happy couple don't cross paths again tonight." Gunn followed Angel back to his room and watched in silence as he put on a shirt and shoes with deft efficiency. They were both running as they reached the front door, but Angel stopped and grabbed his coat, checking for his cell phone. "Stay here," he ordered, "If Buffy, Riley, Spike or Doyle come back, call me." "Angel, I think you should really consider-" Gunn said gently, trying to keep his voice low as the great room filled with curious onlookers. "No," Angel answered through gritted teeth. "I won't stand for this for one more fucking day! Not in my house, not anywhere else! That bastard is going to pay for every tear she's shed since he darkened her life and I'm going to make sure he knows what it's like to feel pain." *** Part
Four FEEDBACK: THANK YOU AGAIN to everyone who gave me such fantastic feedback and encouraged me to continue! Please let me know what you think of this part. LYRICS: All lyrics are from Everclear RATING: NC-17 AN: I've been out of town for several days but I worked on part 4 when my family gave me a few minutes here and there. *G* If I haven't responded to your feedback yet, I will. I really appreciate everyone's comments! Thank you! *** maybe
i went too far this time "Where is she?" Riley demanded of Willow. He had easily ditched Spike at the local pub by pretending to go to the restroom and headed right over to the dorms where he was sure that Buffy would be. Now the little redheaded bitch was trying to lie to him. He wrapped his hand tighter around her pale throat and squeezed, repeating his question more forcefully. "I don't know," Willow croaked, trying to keep the tears from squeezing from her eyes. "Thought she was with you." "You know damn well she's not with me!" Riley shouted, slamming her head against the wall. "I swear I don't know," she answered and then her eyes flashed angrily. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you, you big, dumb bully!" Raising her knee, she slammed it in his groin as hard as she could. With a loud groan, he fell to his knees before her and she took the opportunity to run. Sprinting down the hallway, she ducked into a friend's room at the end of the hallway and called Oz. *** the scary things you see from the corner of your eyes Angel looked everywhere for Buffy. He spent hours scouring Sunnydale before he came back home and started calling everyone that knew Buffy and everyone that might possibly know her. He had just resorted to calling hospitals when Riley stumbled through the front door with Spike in tow. Much to Riley's frustration, Spike had caught up with him at the dorms and had not let him out of his sight since then. Rushing across the room, Angel knocked his brother aside trying to get to Riley Finn. He punched Riley once and then again, before swinging his leg up in a roundhouse kick, connecting with Riley's face and knocking him to the ground. Angel pounced on him and threw another round of punches, delighting in the blood that spurted from Buffy's boyfriend's face. His mouth twisted in a cold grin, as he pounded into the only person he ever remembered hating. If Riley hit him back he didn't feel it, just as he didn't feel the damage he was causing to his own fists. He just kept slamming into Riley's face until Gunn and two of the other guys intervened, grabbing him and dragging him away. "LET ME GO!" Angel roared, lunging forward toward Riley again and managing to pull his friends several feet with him. "Angel, calm down," Gunn said. "Killing him and going to jail isn't going to help her." "Won't it?" Angel growled, struggling to free himself. "I think his death would improve her life quite a bit. I'll be glad to do it for her!" "You can't protect her from me! She isn't yours to protect!" Riley choked, taking several seconds to pull himself to his feet. He didn't bother wiping the blood from his nose or his mouth as he met the glare of landlord. Riley could still hear Buffy whispering Angel's name in the dark, her body begging for his touch. It made him sick to think about it. Stepping forward, he prepared to fight back even though Angel was restrained. He almost landed a punch but Spike held him back. "Sticking up for your brother after all?" Riley hissed. "I'm all for violence, but Peaches can't fight back," Spike said, yanking him further away. "That's poor form, mate." "Let him go, Spike," Angel spat, still struggling to break free from his three tenant's hold, "The more I hate him the easier it'll be to kill him." "You arrogant-" Riley began but the front door opening turned all heads in that direction. Doyle came in first and behind him was the crooning sound of Drusilla's voice as she led a still bleeding and injured Buffy inside the house. Angel's whole body shook as he looked over the woman he loved. Her mouth was split and swollen, trails of dried blood came from her nose and mouth and bruises had already formed over her jaw. Her pajamas were ripped so violently that her body was barely covered and he could see clearly that her arms and legs were bruised and bleeding. "Buffy!" Riley shouted, trying to pull himself free from Spike's hold. Doyle and one of the other tenants jumped in to keep him from approaching her. Buffy cringed and stepped back, her eyes covered in terror, but Dru wrapped an arm around her and whispered in her ear to keep her from fleeing. "She's going to be in my rooms with me," Drusilla announced, looking deliberately from Riley to Angel and back again. "The only person allowed in or out is my husband." "You can't keep her hostage in your little apartment," Riley sneered, "When I'm free I'm coming up there to get her!" "I'll have to hurt you then. No hard feelings of course," Dru said, whisking Buffy toward the stairs. Something in her half mad dark eyes kept Riley from saying more. The glint of danger on Spike's face told him that what she said was the truth. "Buffy," Angel said softly. "Are you okay?" "No," Dru answered. Buffy hadn't even uttered a syllable since she came in and her eyes looked glassy and far away. She kept her gaze shifted away from everyone in the room, casting her eyes on the wall or the floor. She looked…broken. "Buffy," Angel repeated, "Please, love, look at me." "Angel," Dru said, shaking her head while she answered for Buffy once more, "Just stay away for a while, alright? I'll take care of the poor little girl." *** i
can see it in your eyes A whole day and night passed with no emergence of Buffy. Angel wasted no time booting Riley permanently from his home and informing his friends and residents that the first person to let him through the door was out as well. According to Angel's demands, the guys gathered Riley's belongings and tossed them out the front door to decorate the lawn. After he had taken his stuff back to Lowell house, Finn stayed close to the mansion, sitting in his car in front, waiting for her to come out. Angel was determined to make sure that she wouldn't – at least not alone. On the second night, Angel, having stayed awake the whole night before in restlessness and worry, fell into a troubled sleep. When he woke up a couple of hours later, he found a little visitor sitting on the edge of his bed. "Buffy," he said hoarsely. He couldn't believe that she was even there. From the looks of it, Dru had been able to clean her wounds, but she still wore those dirty and torn pajamas. She didn't say a word or even acknowledge that he had spoken. Slowly, she laid down in bed. Much to his surprise, she tugged him to lay back down and pulled his arm around her, encouraging him to hold her. He obliged, molding himself around her tiny frame and kissed the top of her golden head. She held onto to the arm slung around her waist tightly, almost cutting off his circulation, as if she was afraid he would escape if she let him go. "I'll take care of you," he whispered. "I won't let him hurt you again, Buffy. I promise." He waited for a long time for her to speak, but she kept silent. After several minutes, her breathing evened and she was fast asleep, but her little hand had not released its hold on him. She clung tightly even in her sleep. *** need
to know if you were really gone Spike woke up in the middle of the night in a panic. He rose from his chair and slowly opened the door to the bedroom where Buffy had been sleeping only to find her gone. Rushing around his suite of rooms, he found Dru soundly asleep in the bedroom, but no sign of Buffy anywhere. Cursing, he ran out into the hallway and searched through the open parts of the mansion before knocking on bedroom doors. The last door he faced was Angel's and he stood there staring at the wooden doorframe for long minutes before he knocked. He couldn't believe he had fallen asleep. He and Dru had been taking turns watching Buffy since she came back. Since she hadn't slept at all, they thought it best to have one of them alert at all times. Hell, he hadn't even drank at all. He had been so worried with her curled up in the chair in the corner of the spare bedroom looking like she thought the ceiling would fall in on her at any moment. Spike hadn't remembered caring about anyone that much since he met Dru. Part of him really did care about the golden girl that had captured his brother's heart, even thought initially he had thought he could use her as leverage against him. When he saw just how much Angel loved her, he couldn't seem to gather up the necessary evil to do a thing against either of them. Although he never would have admitted that to anyone other than Drusilla. When he finally knocked on Angel's door, he knocked so lightly his brother wouldn't have heard unless he was awake and sitting in total silence. He didn't want to tell him he had lost her, that he had failed him, that he hadn't been able to do the only thing Angel had ever counted on him for. Fishing his keys from his pocket, he inserted the key in the lock as quietly as he could and took his time opening the door. When he made it to the bedroom door, he let out a sigh of relief. Buffy was lying in bed with Angel, his large frame curled around her protectively. Her eyes flew open when he made it to the bedroom, wide open in fear. He saw her frantically moving back in bed, only to be stopped by the broad chest behind her. "Shhhh, pet," Spike whispered. "It's just me. It's Spike. Remember, ducks?" She calmed and Angel pulled her against him more tightly, still fast asleep. She said nothing, didn't even nod her head, but the fear was gone as a look of relief covered her face. "You took off without so much as a goodbye, love," Spike whispered. "I was worried. Checkin' on you is all. I'll go." He backed up and prepared to leave but looked back at her watching him depart, gripping Angel's big arm tensely. "If you need me, I'll be around," he said quietly and with a nod of his head, he was gone. *** that
is where i first saw her Willow stormed into the mansion with Oz on one side and Xander on the other the following morning. Buffy had been gone for almost three days and she was terrified that something horrible had happened, especially after her violent visit from Riley. After numerous calls the following day to the mansion and getting no information from the tight lipped inhabitants, she decided that she was going to have to make a personal appearance. "Alright," Willow said with her hands on her slim hips, surveying a room of college men, "I want to know where Buffy is and I wanna know now." "Hey Red, calm down," Spike said, pulling himself up from the couch. "My name is Willow," she said, "Not ‘Red.' I'm Buffy's best friend and she's been gone for too long. Something bad happened, didn't it?" "Yeah and why is her asshole boyfriend is parked outside like he's on a stakeout or something?" Xander muttered. "She's with Angel," Spike answered, "but I'm not sure you wanna go up there, kids." "Who are you supposed to be with the condescension?" Xander asked irritably. "Spike," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "Who else?" He led them up the stairs to Angel's door and knocked firmly, only to be met with a harsh yelling voice, "Go away!" "Angel, I've got three of your girl's friends out here demanding to see her," Spike answered. "Angel, it's Willow!" she shouted, "Is Buffy in there with you?" *** dull,
damaged and blind "Oh my gosh," Willow repeated for the third time, sipping a glass of tea on the sofa in Angel's living room. After seeing Buffy and hearing from both Angel and Spike about what had happened, she was still shocked. "Yeah," Xander agreed. "Second that," Oz said, rubbing Willow's hand in his comfortingly. "I knew something like this would happen," Willow whispered, "But I really hoped it wouldn't." "Well, the problem is that she won't talk," Angel said, "I can't get her to say anything and I think she might be going through shock of some kind." "At least she's sleeping," Spike offered. "She didn't sleep before?" Angel asked in surprise. She had done nothing else since she climbed in bed with him. "No," Spike said, shaking his head, "She wouldn't sleep a wink while she was in with us. Guess she was still too afraid." "Well, I think I'll have to take her to the hospital," Angel said sadly. He had been hoping that she would snap out of it before he had to take her anywhere but she didn't seem any closer to being okay. "I'm not even sure how badly she's hurt." "Don't say that too loudly," Willow whispered, "She's terrified of hospitals. She'll freak out if you take her there." "This just keeps getting better and better," Angel muttered. They all looked up as the door opened and Buffy shuffled out, still in her torn pajamas looking battered and exhausted. She scanned the room briefly, showing no emotion to the people present and then trudged over to where Angel sat in his armchair. Everyone, including Angel, was surprised when she climbed in his lap, laid her head on his chest and promptly went back to sleep without so much as a syllable to anyone. "That's it," Angel said, looking down at his little love tucked against his chest, "I'm taking her now." No one argued as he stood and carried her to the bedroom, emerging a moment later with her in one of his shirts, which looked to be just put on over her pajamas. The group followed behind him as he left the room. *** i'm
not responsible for your life falling apart Angel was well aware that Riley was following him and Buffy to the hospital. If only he had known that the idiot had been outside of his home the whole time, he would have gone out to beat him again. Now he was just trying to avoid conflict with Buffy. The last thing she needed was something else to freak her out. He only hoped Riley was smart enough to stay out of his sight. Angel paced out in the hallway while the doctors examined her, going back and forth in front of the rows of chairs where Xander, Willow, Oz, Spike and Drusilla sat waiting. A sound from the right made him turn to look and saw Riley marching proudly down the hallway. Spike and Xander stood up when they heard Angel make a low warning sound that sounded suspiciously like a growl. "Finn," Angel said, narrowing his eyes at his intended prey, "Don't come a step closer to me if you don't want to check in here." "I'm here to see my girl," he answered, stopping several feet from the group. "You're the reason she's here," Angel answered, "So in my book that means she's no longer your girl. You've lost all Buffy privileges, boy." They turned as the doctor entered the hallway and they looked expectantly at the woman who would be pleasant if she didn't have a disgusted look across her face. As the doctor prepared to speak, Joyce Summers jogged down the hallway frantically. "I'm Mrs. Summers," she said, glancing over the group before turning to the doctor, out of breath and concerned. "My daughter, Buffy, was checked in here today." "Mrs. Summers," the doctor answered, "I'm Dr. Philips. May I speak with you in private?" "Please just tell me if she's okay," Joyce answered, becoming more worried by the minute. When Willow called, she was so evasive about what was wrong. The ride over had been a maternal nightmare. A thousand images of what could possibly be wrong had gone through her mind. "Your daughter appears to have been raped, Mrs. Summers," Dr. Philips answered, "Her body is battered severely and she has gone into shock." "Oh my God," Joyce gasped, raising her hand to her mouth, "Who did this to her?" Joyce turned around and looked at Buffy's friends standing around her in the hallway. No one answered, but all eyes shot down the hallway at Riley. He withstood almost thirty seconds of their glares before turning and running away. Home - Navigation - Affiliates - Random - Fanfiction - Links - Updates - About Tango |
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