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Protector By Tango E-MAIL: Tangofic@hotmail.com PAIRING: B/A, of course! FEEDBACK: Thank you to everyone who has given me such wonderful feedback and thank you to everyone who has asked me for more of this. Please let me know what you think of this next part. LYRICS: All lyrics are from the Counting Crows RATING: NC-17 AN: This is a challenge from Eleni Angel. The full challenge will be at the end of the fic. DEDICATION: For Eleni Angel ** well, i'm all messed up After Angel hung up the phone, he stayed sitting on the side of the bed with his head hanging, simultaneously wishing that Buffy wasn't there and thanking the powers that she was. After a moment or two of silence, she whispered his name in askance and waited as he slowly turned around to face her. "I have to go in for questioning again," he explained, watching the look of sadness that had been poised on her face fully present itself. "But you didn't do anything wrong," she protested, scooting closer to him, forgetting entirely that she was still nude. She remembered quickly when his eyes raked over her skin, taking in each inch of her body. Even in the midst of a crisis, he couldn't help but notice her bare flesh. She blushed as she followed his gaze and felt the dull ache between her thighs reminding her that she had finally become his lover. "They obviously don't agree," he said, "I have to go meet with my lawyer and then I'll go in and talk to them." "I want to go with you," she said quietly. "No, baby. You can't go," he said softly, rising from his bed and crossing the room in several long strides. Scooping up the shirt she shed the night before, she slipped it on before taking on the task of following her stubborn lover around the room as he dressed. "You can't go alone," she retorted, "They'll say you're guilty and you'll be thick headed enough to agree with them. This all my fault anyway. I'm going with you!" "No, Buffy," he said, turning on her as he donned a pair of black slacks, "This is not your fault and you aren't going to be a part of anymore of this ugliness. Lindsey will come with me and he'll do what he can." "I'm coming with you!" she shouted, as if she either hadn't heard what he said or didn't care. Angel correctly believed the latter. "No," he answered, in a low, serious voice that would have made anyone else, except for his sister and his lover, back away, "You aren't." Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and met his glare, forced to tilt her head up to meet his eyes. Even as the showdown began, she knew he would leave without her. *** i don't know if i'm wide awake or dreaming Buffy took a deep breath outside out Cordelia's room. Standing there freshly showered, in Angel's shirt, with nothing else to put on, she felt incredibly naked and nervous, but she really had no other choice. Her only saving grace was the knowledge that Xander had already left and wouldn't witness anymore of her nakedness today. She knocked firmly on the wooden door and wasn't at all surprised when Cordelia made her wait for several long minutes before she whipped it open, just as Buffy was preparing to knock again. "What do you want?" Cordelia said, "I know you think I'm some saint for all the help I gave you, but the charity's over. Now that you're screwing my brother, I think you should be able to take care of things from here." "Cordelia," Buffy said, trying to interrupt the tirade, "Cordelia! This isn't about that. Just listen to me. The phone call this morning was some official police guy." "So? Angel's a cop," she mustered, "Cops call here all the time." "No," Buffy explained, "I think he was the district attorney or something. Angel called his lawyer after he got off the phone. Cordy, he's in trouble. They're gonna prosecute him for saving us." "They can't arrest him," Cordy maintained, crossing her arms, "He's a detective, not a criminal." "They can and they will, if you don't help me." *** and there are people who will say they knew me so well Cordelia Chase and Buffy Summers sauntered into the Police Department, both dressed in business attire, their faces somber and determined. They strode confidently past all of the officers and staff, ignoring anyone who spoke to them or had the audacity to ask them where they were going. They nearly made it to the Chief's door, when a uniformed officer stepped into their path, looking formidable and slightly intimidating. "Can I help you ladies?" he asked politely, as if he were not silently threatening them. "We're here to see the Chief," Buffy said, leaning in to read his nametag, "Officer Finn." "You'll need to make an appointment," he answered, trying to keep his good-natured smile firmly in place. "I'm sure exceptions can be made," Buffy said, returning the smile, although hers was a bit more forced than his, "Why don't you stick your head in and see when we can have a chat?" "No can do," he answered, "Now, if you'll speak to the desk attendant, I'm sure we can set something up for a later date." "We're not leaving and we're not making an appointment with the fashion crisis at the front desk," Cordelia spat, "Now move out of our way." "I'm sorry, ma'am," Finn replied, losing his smile, "Please see yourself out before I have to have you escorted out." "You're gonna have to drag us out, cause we're not leaving," Buffy answered sweetly, while clenching her fists. If there was anything Buffy was certain of, it was that she was not leaving the building until she talked to the chief. She didn't give a damn if she had to wait all day. *** we have begun to change into the worst kind of people Buffy had been certain that the escort threat was just that - a threat, until the officer signaled to a couple of his polyester clad friends. If Angel's new partner, Charles Gunn, had not come to their rescue, they might have been tossed from the building, but with some eye batting on Cordy's part and pleading on Buffy's, they managed to worm their way into the Chief's office. Buffy tried not to look as nervous as she was as she looked over the small, bald man behind the large wooden desk. For such a small person, he had an air of cold, menacing power that was unnerving. "I understand the two of you are causing quite a scene," Chief Snyder said, eyeing them sternly, "Is there a reason you are interrupting my officers, not to mention myself?" "Yes," Buffy said, settling into one of the chairs across from him, knowing without looking that Cordelia had mirrored her movements, "My name is Buffy Summers. My father was-" "Hank Summers," Snyder said, nodding curtly, "I know who you are, Miss Summers. And this must be Angelus' sister. Now that we've met, both of you hormonal time bombs can see yourselves out. I know at least one of you will be seeing the insides of a jail cell sooner or later, but if you don't want it to be sooner, I suggest leaving. Now." "We're here to set the record straight on what happened with Mayor Wilkins," Buffy started, "We know Detective Angelus was called in this morning." "You have already given your statements," he answered with a dark smile, "There's nothing else you can do here, although you may be called in to testify at a later date." "I see," Buffy said, standing up and smoothing her skirt, before stepping closer to the desk that separated them, "I've grown up as the daughter of a cop. I know what goes on here and I've heard more than once what kind of person you are." "You're skating on thin ice, young lady," Snyder sneered, rising to his feet as well, "It doesn't matter what you think. Angelus has proven to be too much of a liability for this department." "You never ever got a single date in high school did you?" Buffy tossed at him spitefully. "Your point being?" "You're too much of an idiot to understand the power we have over you," Buffy said, shaking her head calmly, "The Mayor is a very powerful man and if it had been anyone else in that room, trying to rape us before he sold us on some black market, Detective Angelus would be free right now. But since you're a power hungry-" "Measly little freak," Cordelia interjected, earning a dark glare from Buffy. "You think that tossing him to the wolves will keep you in the Mayor's good graces," Buffy continued, "We just wanted to make one little thing clear before you finish this investigation." "You have no proof of any of those accusations," Snyder said through gritted teeth, "And if you haven't noticed, the officials of this city are deeply stupid." "Nevertheless," Buffy said, "We will have the ear of every reporter and news caster. If Angelus is not safely home-" "And reinstated to his full position," Cordelia added. "By this evening," Buffy said, keeping the careful timbre of her woods, "Cordelia and I will tell everything we know, about what happened to us, about the Mayor's involvement and your unwillingness to hear the truth." "Do that and Angelus will never see the light of day again," Snyder blurted angrily. "Guess we'll just have to see who has more to lose," Buffy retorted. "And we think it's you," Cordelia said. "Get out of my office and my building before I-" "What?" Queen C said, stepping forward boldly, "Rip out my innards, play with my eyeballs, boil my brain and eat it for lunch? Listen up, needle brain. Buffy and I are the daughter and sister of two of the most respected detectives on your force. We're innocent girls. Don't you think the public will believe us when we tell them that we were attacked?" "Don't threaten-" "I'm going to do more than that," Cordelia snarled, leaning over the desk, "I've grown up in a very wealthy family. No one intimidates me, certainly not a tiny, impotent Nazi with a bug up his butt the size of an emu, like you. Angel and I have more money than we need to attack you without breaking a sweat. We have limitless resources at our disposal and all you have is a badge. What do you think I'm gonna do to you if I don't get my brother back?" *** did you want to dance with me? "Riley Finn," Angel growled, stepping out of Snyder's office with an odd feeling of contentment filling him, even though he wasn't entirely certain what had happened. He knew when Cordy and Buffy stormed into Snyder's office, they probably threatened him with everything in the book. Knowing his sister, she probably threw a couple of other things too. Even though he bristled at the idea of them risking themselves for him, he still was proud that they had rushed to his defense. "Angelus," Finn said, clenching his jaw tightly at the impending attack. "I heard about your welcoming committee for my sister and my girlfriend earlier today," he said, unable to keep the darkness from flooding his brain. When Gunn mentioned that they were nearly dragged out the building, Angel found out Finn was responsible for it. Not that he was surprised. Finn had always been Snyder's faithful flunky, no doubt covering for the little man's numerous shady deals. "Way I heard it, you were supposed to be locked in a little cell until you couldn't remember what breathing free air felt like." "Don't push me, boy." "Now I wonder what kind of blackmail your little girls used to save you," Riley replied, "Couldn't defend yourself, huh?" "Let me make something clear," Angel said, stepping closer to the blonde officer, "You ever touch either one of them again and I'll forget you're a police officer. Got it?" "You really think that threatening me is the way to go right now?" Riley asked, allowing a smug smile to cover his face, "You're not even on the force anymore, are you Angelus?" "Where I work has nothing to do with your well-being, Finn." *** Part Ten FEEDBACK: Thank you to everyone who has given me such wonderful feedback and thank you to everyone who has asked me for more of this. Please let me know what you think of the last part! LYRICS: All lyrics are from the Counting Crows RATING: NC-17 AN: This is a challenge from Eleni Angel. The full challenge is at the end of the fic. DEDICATION: For Eleni Angel. I really hope you like this! *** it's the breathing Instead of heading home from the police station, Angel went directly to Buffy's. Some things had to be said and done before another moment was wasted. He wasn't going to admit to her that he had once again thought of letting her go while he was being interrogated. She would never understand it, even if he explained that she couldn't lose her youth waiting for him while he rotted in prison. It was curious that one of the things that had turned everything around completely was Riley Finn. The boy looked hungry when he had spoken to him and Angel was sure that the rumbling wasn't in the blonde officer's belly. Finn had seen his sister and his lover and had no doubt thought about taking one or both of them into his bed. The idea sent Angel into a frenzy of emotions. He had known since the day he met the little blonde whirlwind that was Buffy Summers that he would never be able to love another. He knew that she was everything he had ever wanted and much more. The mere fleeting idea of her in the arms of someone like Finn or one of those frat boys made his organs twist in protest. When he reached the Summers' house, he knocked rather than just walking in, as he would have when Hank was still alive. He swallowed harshly as he thought of his late partner and the argument they had had over Buffy. Dismissing the memory of Hank's vow to keep her from his life, he looked up and met with the kind green eyes of an older gentleman he vaguely remembered being at Hank's funeral. "Um...is Buffy here?" Angel inquired, looking over the man with curiosity. "No," he answered in a smooth, British voice, "You must be Angel." "Yes." "I'm Rupert Giles," he said, holding his hand out, "Librarian at Buffy's school and an old acquaintance of Joyce's. "Buffy mentioned you," Angel said, stepping in as Giles' stepped aside, "Is Joyce here?" "Kitchen," Giles answered, nodding in the general direction even though he was sure the young man was fully aware of where it was. Angel led the way, moving through the house and finding his love's mother gingerly pulling open a bag of microwave popcorn. "Hello Joyce," Angel said in greeting, keeping his face as devoid of emotion as his voice. His skin felt tight with the reigning in of his explosive and slightly panicked feelings and he knew he wouldn't be able to keep it in check for long, especially if Joyce refused to allow him to be a part of Buffy's life. "Hi Angel," she said, "Buffy's not here, but I would like to speak with you." "I have some things to discuss with you as well," Angel said, taking the seat at the table that was offered and declining a drink even though his throat was dry. He was relieved when Giles made a feeble excuse to dismiss himself and quickly strode from the room. It would be hard enough to go through this without Buffy's mentor and her mother's new...old...lover standing there, looking on. "Buffy told me what happened," she began in a kinder voice than he had expected. Angel's eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't expecting that. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but that sentence wasn't it and his mind began to wander to the memory of his little goddess in his bed, her creamy skin meshing with his in the heat of passion. He snapped out of his reverie as her mother continued, "And I'm a bit overwhelmed with everything that I've missed lately." "Understandable," Angel managed to mumble. "I need to know what your intentions are," she said, not touching the drink in front of her or the bowl of quickly cooling popcorn. "That's the reason I came by," he said quickly, taking his cue before he lost it, or the nerve he had been trying to work up, "I want to marry Buffy and I was hoping for your blessing." "You realize that my husband did not approve of your...feelings for our daughter." "Yes," Angel said, nodding slowly, "He told me he never would approve of my being with her." "And I'm sure you're also aware that I don't want Buffy to be with a police officer," Joyce continued. She was shocked that Angel admitted that Hank had ordered him away, "I don't want her up nights wondering if you're going to come home, only to find out that you aren't. I can't have her go through losing someone else like that." "I'm no longer with the force," he said, "All charges against me were dropped but it was recommended that I resign, which I gladly did." Sighing heavily, Joyce eyed the man her daughter loved. He was attractive and obviously loved her, but disaster and sadness had followed him all his life. She feared that the same would happen to Buffy if she married him, but she couldn't say no with a clear conscious. Taking a deep breath, she said, "You have my blessing to marry her...but Angel...you hurt my little girl and I will beat you to death with a shovel." Seeing the simultaneous happiness and shock in Angel's eyes, she pushed her chair back from the table and stood. Smiling down on him she added, "A vague disclaimer's nobody's friend." *** start turning the girl into the ground Angel's house was filled with giggles as he entered and he followed the sounds to the kitchen where he found his wife-to-be (hopefully) as well as his sister and her boyfriend, Xander Harris. Considering the benefit of the doubt he was just given by Joyce, he could hardly eject the boy from his property, as much as he wanted to. "Xander!" Buffy giggled in protest as the dark haired lout filled up taco shells with ground beef, muttering something unintelligible. The sounds of her giggling his name reminded him of the first day he met her and he smiled in spite of himself. He leaned against the doorway and watched as they made plates of food. Buffy and Cordelia had both changed into jeans and t-shirts, which actually surprised Angel. His sister rarely wore jeans, but on occasion did don them when she was sure there would be no visitors. Looking over Harris, he grunted soundlessly. Guess the boy didn't need impressing anyway. He looked more rumpled that Cordelia ever would. As if she had heard his soundless protest of the boy, Buffy looked up and shot a beaming smile in his direction, making him almost forget Xander's presence entirely. "Angel!" Buffy shouted, running over and wrapping her arms around him, "Where have you been? You should have been back hours ago!" "Had to make a couple of stops first," he said, sending a look of gracious thanks to his sister and then refocusing on the warm body in his arms. Leaning down, he kissed her lightly and then took her hand, "Come on." "Where are we going?" she asked, gesturing to the load of taco fillings scattered on the counter, "We made dinner." "I'll buy you dinner," he said, tugging her toward the door. Shrugging in defeat, she went ahead of him and Angel stopped in the doorway, looking back at his sister. "I don't like him," Angel said, as if Xander weren't even there, "But I trust you." "Good," she said, crossing her arms across her chest as she awaited the rest of his statement, "Cause it's not your decision." "I know," he said, nodding, "If he hurts you..." "Angel," Cordelia said with a hardened tone and then a second later, smiled brilliantly at him, "Shut up." *** it's almost everything i need Buffy stepped out of the car, holding their bag of Italian take out and looked around her. The ride had been longer than she had expected and as she looked around her at the field of nothing but grass and hills, she was befuddled with confusion. "Angel?" she asked, knowing he knew the unasked question. He pulled a blanket from the trunk and then took her hand, leading her into the field in silence. This ranked up there with a horror movie or a ritual sacrifice or an execution or something. She couldn't, for the life of her - no pun intended - figure out what they were doing there. Angel spread the blanket out and sat down on it with Buffy, silently doling out their food before beginning his explanation. Buffy stared the container of pasta before her, wondering how he expected her to eat when he was being so cryptic. "All of the money in my family came from my mother's side," he began, "My father's family didn't have much to speak of, except for this land." Gesturing, he took a second to admire the barren property as if it had oil wells beneath the soil, "When he died, he left this to me. I've always wanted to build a house and raise a family here." Meeting Buffy's eyes, he saw a slight look of hopefulness there, that seemed tamped down. She didn't want to hope to hard that he was saying what she thought he was going to say. Smiling, he continued, "I want to build a house here for you and raise a family with you, Buffy." Squealing, she tossed her pasta aside and launched herself into his arms. As he saw her coming, he moved his own food out of the way before they were both covered in marinara sauce. She kissed him soundly, pressing him into the blanket, cushioned by soft grass. "I didn't even get to the proposal part," he murmured, kissing her lightly, nipping at her pink lips with delight. "Yes, you did," she whispered back, rubbing her body against his in invitation, "I'm sure I heard you." "And?" Angel asked, rolling them over and watching as her hair fanned around her, contrasting wonderfully with the multicolored Mexican blanket. "And?" she echoed playfully. "I love you," he said seriously, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you be my wife, Buffy Summers?" "As if there were anything else to be," she whispered, tears gleaming in her eyes. Breathing out life and love, she added, "Yes, I'll marry you." Angel kissed her again, sealing the proposal and then started to pull away to retrieve the ring from his pocket, fulling intending on pummeling himself later for doing this all wrong, but she pulled him back against her until his weight was fully on top of her once more. Wrapping her legs around his waist and smoothing her hands over his back, she attacked his lips, nursing his tongue into her mouth hungrily. Somewhere in their kisses, she whispered, "Later." He wasn't sure if it meant the food or the ring, but he didn't care. He completely agreed. They fought their way out of their clothes, while keeping as much contact as possible until they were both nude under a blanket of warm, twinkling stars. Finding her moist and ready for him, he entered her slowly knowing she was still sore from the previous night and that morning. Even as her breasts pressed against his chest and her slick channel stretched around him, even as her tiny hands threaded through his hair and her hips rose to meet his thrusts, even as her tongue lapped at his skin and her teeth scraped over his shoulder, he still couldn't believe that she was his. He couldn't fathom that this beautiful, perfect and pure creature had consented to be his wife, to be with him always. As he felt her first orgasm rising quickly to the surface, he forgot about the impossibility of his current reality and lost himself in her, driving harder inside her as her inner muscles clenched around him in release. Angel found he couldn't hold on any longer as she panted and screamed in ecstasy. Groaning her name, he too careened over the edge of oblivion buried inside his lover and future wife. Covered in fine sheen of sweat and mutual lust, they lay together and looked up at the stars, forgetting their cold food. The night there, mere miles from the city limits, seemed so much more mystical and full, as if it could swoop down and suck them into the vast vacuum of space. The heavens smiled down, twinkling with billions of stars and it didn't seem to compare to what they held in each other's arms. "If my name is going to be Buffy Angelus," she mused, pressing her face against his bare chest, "Guess I get to be an Angel too, huh?" "You've always been an angel, my love," he answered hoarsely, kidding the top of her head. "So have you," she whispered back. *** The End! How's that for sappy? *G* Please let me know what you thought. *** The Challenge from Eleni Angel: [Note: You'll see that I am not good with following instructions.
*G* I changed the challenge for the death to be her father's rather
than her husband's. Hey guys! I'm utterly lost and bored with Buffy right now. There's
been a lack of engaging fiction out there that appeals to me. I've
had this idea for a while, but never had the time to write it. Right
now I'm wrapped up in finishing the last part of Hero and making
a shrine website to Tango and all of her wonderful fics. Whomever
writes this will have my eternal gratitude. The idea: Buffy is the
wife of a cop. One night, she's up late worrying and waiting when
she gets a dreaded knock on the door. It's Angel, her husband's partner
on the force, and he's bearing bad news: her husband of five years
is dead. Peace and Butterfingers |
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