Something You Can't Forgive By Tango Disclaimer: All the characters are based on the television shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I do not own them, get money for writing about them and have no permission from Joss Whedon or anyone else who might care. Alrighty? Rating: This fiction is rated NC-17, so anyone who is too young, impressionable or otherwise easily offended, please read no further. Spoiler: When Riley finds out Buffy is The Slayer, she is taken into The Initiative and Angel has to save her. Moving right along. . . . ***
Slayer comma The. Look it up. Her words rang in his head. She was the slayer. The Slayer. Riley
felt more than a little torn about how to proceed. On the one
hand, she was his girlfriend and he cared about her. He thought
he might be falling in love with her. On the other hand, she
was The Slayer, a co-worker of sorts or actually a conflict to
his work, depending on how you looked at it. Professor Walsh
would be very interested in studying her if she knew who Buffy
was and what she was capable of. Hell, he didn't even know just
what she was capable of. He walked slowly toward Psych 101, where he was the resident TA. Should he tell Walsh? Should he keep Buffy's secret? Technically, it was his job to report this sort of activity to The Initiative. He couldn't decide if he should be disloyal to Buffy by telling them or if he should compromise his career to protect her? By
the time he reached the auditorium style classroom he had already
decided that he couldn't betray the government for a girl he barely
knew. He was going to meet with Walsh immediately following class
to report the recent knowledge he acquired regarding The Slayer. "So, Ms. Summers is The Slayer?" Walsh said reflectively, leaning back in her desk chair, placing her hands in a condescending temple. "Yes,"
Riley answered, sitting on the edge of his chair, feeling more than
a little guilty, more than a little anxious and very
worried about what actions Professor Walsh would suggest he take. "And
how long have you known this?" "A
few days, I found out during the crisis last week when all of our
voices were stolen." "I
see," she said, revealing nothing, which was one of the things
she did well, "And she willingly gave you this information
as a personal confidence?" "Yes.
Well I found out about her strength and skill when I saw her fighting.
Later she told me why she had those abilities. She is...well..magnificent,
actually. She has strength and skill that is unbelievable in any
person but in a girl as small as she is... I couldn't even describe
it to you. I got my ass kicked- sorry ma'am- What I mean is, she's
really strong. Like spider man strong," Riley looked directly
at her as he spoke. He knew he had already betrayed his feelings
for her and his nervous chatter was making him sound stupid. "I
was under the impression that she was a myth. Apparently, not only
is she not a myth, neither are her abilities." "No,
ma'am. She's real. I've seen it myself." "I
am going to need a few days to mull this over but Riley, it is imperative
that you treat this assignment with the ultimate care. Now that
she knows that you are part of The Initiative, it is imperative
that you keep her in the dark as you can about our projects. I can
see that you have feelings for the girl but as of now, she is a
part of your mission. This could be mean great things for your career,
Riley. Make sure you don't throw that away." "No
ma'am. I won't." "Very good. Dismissed," she announced and sat up to begin going through papers on her desk. Riley headed out of the building and onto campus wondering how Walsh was going to incorporate Buffy in future Initiative work. He silently prayed that Buffy wouldn't get hurt, that Walsh wouldn't hurt her or try to experiment on her. Although Walsh was a brilliant woman, she was also cold, unfeeling and a lab rat in every sense. *** Spike
stood in the shadows watching Buffy & Riley patrolling together
through the cemetery. "Bloody hell," he thought with annoyance, "I'd rather see her with the great, friggin' Poof than Captain Courageous over there." Spike
wasn't sure what it was about the soldier boy but he didn't trust
him. Riley looked a little too innocent, a little too wholesome.
Something wasn't right. He decided to keep spying on them for the
time being. Since he was so rudely neutered, he couldn't even jump
in and drain the stupid commando if Buffy was in danger. He brushed
that thought from his mind. If worse came to worse, he'd call in
Peaches as reinforcements. He'd rather see Angel kill Riley and
admit weakness than see Buffy die. "Women," he muttered, heading behind them in the cemetery. What he would give to shag her or feed off of her or...something dammit! *** Buffy
was nearly as close to gleeful as she got on Friday night as she
patrolled with Riley after their romantic dinner. She didn't even
think to feel irritated that their stroll was interrupted by a thoughtless
vamp. It was nice to be on a real date with a human man who didn't
know that there was always another catastrophe or apocalypse around
the corner. I mean, sure, he was in a secret government program
that hunted demons and vampires but his job was different. He was
still innocent enough not to know all the horrible things that could
wipe out the world tomorrow. He was young and warm and unaware that
everything he did and said was constantly compared to Angel. Buffy
tried everyday not to compare Riley to Angel, just as she had tried
not to compare Parker to Angel. Angel was the pinnacle of everything
that love was about in her life. But Riley wasn't Angel. She knew
that. She didn't want him to be Angel - she just wished he was sometimes,
that's all. Every night they got a little closer to sleeping together
and she was sure that tonight would be the night that he tried to
take that next step. She told herself that she wanted to but after
her experience with Angel and Parker, she wasn't sure that sex was
ever the answer to a long, healthy relationship. She was more than
a little frightened about the prospect of this nice, normal relationship
becoming something twisted and ugly and, well, over. She
didn't have long to think about it, though, because he started to
kiss her as they reached his house. Long, deep kisses began that
trailed from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. He was
passionate and made her feel beautiful and healthy and above all,
normal. His hands were covering her back as he backed into the house,
unable to turn from her lips. The
house was dark as they kissed their way in. Riley bumped into the
couch and they tumbled over and down but even as they fell, they
only momentarily separated their lips. Buffy suddenly felt a sharp
pain in her arm and broke their kiss. "Ouch,"
she said, rubbing her arm and looking at him. "What?"
he asked innocently. "I
think that something just poked me in the arm," she said, "It
almost felt like-" Her sentence was cut off when she collapsed
on his chest. Hefting her over his shoulder, he headed across the
room where Forrest was standing in the dark, waiting. "Those
must have been really strong drugs," Riley said to his friend.
"Yeah, she put enough meds in that syringe to put two grown
men out for an entire day," Forrest answered with a smile. "Think
she'll be ok?" Riley asked with a worried look on his face,
as they stood in front of the mirror. The bright green light from
behind the mirror flashed over their eyes, brightening the room
momentarily and then the room darkened once more. "Retinal
scan complete. Finn, Riley," a computerized female voice stated
as the mirror slid aside to reveal the hospital white elevator.
Stepping inside with Buffy tossed, unconscious over his shoulder,
he looked over at Forrest who stepped inside behind him. "I'm
sure she'll be fine. Shoulda waited a little longer though. She's
one hot girl. I think she was about to give in," Forrest said,
ticking his head to the side to admire her body. "Shut
up, Forrest," Riley said, irritably, "She a mission, not
a lay." "Girls
are girls. Especially tepid ones like your little slayer."
Shaking his head, Riley leaned over to the panel by the door. "You
are just wrong," he said to his friend. "Vocal initialization complete. Finn, Riley," the female computerized voice announced. Riley shifted Buffy's weight on his shoulder and sighed. He wasn't sure this was the right thing to do but he was past the point of no return. The doors opened and he followed Forrest down the stairs to where Professor Walsh was waiting. ***
Spike stood in the shadows watching Riley and Buffy kissing as they
made their way into the house. "I'm
one obessessed bloody bastard," he mumbled as he made his way
around the house to peer in the living room window, "but I
might get to see a bit 'o skin." He watched with severe arousal
and glorious jealousy as the blonde pair kissed and groped on the
couch. The ugly thoughts he already had toward Finn were multiplied
by the thousand when he saw him reach in the drawer behind him.
At first he thought that the boy was already reaching for the condom
and Spike found that bold as hell, but when he saw him take out
a syringe, he gasped an unnecessary gulp of air and ran toward the
stairs, then to the door when he realized it was a house. No need
to finish his trek to the door. Wouldn't be able to get in anyway. "Holy
shit," he said, watching helpless as Finn threw her lithe body
over his shoulder and carried her away to where he couldn't follow.
Spike turned on his heel, in a not un-military about face, and sprinted
with the aide of vampire speed to the nearest pay phone. There he
dialed the number to Angel Investigations, which he had memorized,
but would never admit. Had to know where to reach the nearest sane
sire, right? Right? "Angel
Investigations. We help the hopeless," Cordelia's voice said
over the line. "Cordelia.
It's Spike. I need-" "Spike!" "Yeah,
listen, dammit. I need to talk to the poof. Is Angel there?" "Well,
he's been in a horrible mood all day and I'm not sure I want to
jeopardize myself just because you want to-" "Bloody
hell, woman! It's an emergency for crying out loud. Buffy is in
trouble. Now put the pansy on the bloody phone!" "Fine.
Geez, you don't have to yell at me. Freak," she said and set
down the phone with a clink. "Spike?"
Angel said, sounding alarmed, "What's wrong with Buffy?" "I saw her and her commando boyfriend getting ready to bump uglies when he pulled a syringe out and injected with something. Whatever it was it knocked the Slayer out. He carried her somewhere and I couldn't get in cause of the whole invisible door thing." "I'm
coming now. Go to Giles and tell him what happened. I'll be there
soon," He growled. He turned and ran to his car, grabbing his
jacket on the way out. Not only did he allow that little ass to
touch his mate but the bastard had the nerve to drug her? What the
hell was the little asshole doing? Angel was going to find out and
soon. Angel
drove like a mad man to Sunnydale, making it in half the time. He
jumped out of his car in front of Giles' flat and burst in the door,
not bothering to knock. "Spike!"
He yelled as he burst in on a room of shocked Scoobies. Spike looked
up from the refrigerator with a plastic bag of blood in his hand. "That
was speedy. Thought you wouldn't be here for an hour mate,"
he said, strolling around the island, trying to hide his own desperation.
The bloody chip kept him from saving the woman he loved and forced
him to call the one person who actually could take her away from
him. He hoped the pansy poof flipped to Angelus and killed the whole
lot of them. Bloody wankers. "You're
going to show me the house where they are keeping Buffy," Angel
said, his handsome faced marred by furious anger and worry. The
group shrunk back from him as if he were physically attacking them.
He was more calm than that when he was beating someone up. "Love
to, Peaches, but the whole physical barrier thing will get in the
way. Are you going to yell that them and demand that they invite
you in?" Spike said casually. "Actually,"
Giles said reflectively, "Since they very certainly took her
into the Initiative itself, there is no reason why you would have
to seek access through the house. You can take him through the cave
entrance, Spike. Although you will most definitely be caught when
you enter, you can get in that way. Angel, I do suggest that we
wait until we have a better formed plan. We need a way to get you
in undetected." "Giles,
you are a man that I truly respect...but I can't wait. I can't think
logically right now. She's in pain. I feel it. I can't stand it.
I have to get to her and if I have to kill every government boy
in my path, I'm bringing her out." "Angel,"
Giles said gently, "Are you sure this is the wisest course
of action?" "Of course not," Angel said, "But they're hurting her. She's scared and she's clawing at my insides. She calling me to her and I can't turn away." With that, he grabbed Spike and turned away. *** Buffy
was drowning in the monochrome walls of the Initiative. She knew
she had been given at least three types of drugs. The first Riley,
her supposed boyfriend, had given her was just a very strong sedative
and the second counteracted the first. Something else was in her
system too. Something she couldn't quite identify. She had been
forced into a cell with a starved vampire and they observed her
closely as she fought and killed him. "Impressive,"
Walsh said through the glass containment field. "Screw
you," Buffy replied, "Let me out of here." "I'm
sorry, Buffy, but that isn't possible. You see, first of all we
brought you here for a reason and secondly, we cannot just let you
walk out of here. You know too much. Surely you know that you are
expendable?" "Not
as expendable as you, bitch," Buffy spat, "Surely you
don't think you're going to get away with this?" "Why
not?" Walsh said casually, looking down at her clipboard and
jotting a note. "Because
I am a human being, not one of your recruits or one of your pet
demons." "Doesn't
matter," Walsh said with a chilling smile, "See, no one
knows you're here. Very few people know this facility even exists.
I'm quite sure that we can expect to get away with this and much
more." Buffy
leaned against the wall for a second as they went to get the next
vampire for her to slay. She knew Angel was coming. He had been
coming long before she began calling for him and knew where she
was - or he would figure it out. She prayed that her selfish need
of him didn't put him in more danger but she knew it did. Walsh
came to the glass as the second vampire was thrown in with her. "This
one volunteered," Walsh said smiling, "And there are more.
In fact, ever since one of them volunteered, they all want their
chance at The Slayer. They say you are the most extraordinary slayer
to ever live- the strongest." "You'll
find out if I can get out of here," Buffy said with disdain,
"You have no idea what I am capable of." "That's
why we brought you in." Buffy
dispatched the second vampire quickly and turned back to Walsh,
"Where's Riley? Too much of a weasel to face me?" "He
is monitoring your progress. There is no reason for him to be here
with you now. You are no longer his mission. You have been captured.
Mission completed." "All
I was to him was his mission?" Buffy asked, trying not to show
her hurt but knew the question revealed all. "Not initially, if you must know, but when you revealed you were The Slayer, I made you his mission. It doesn't matter how he feels about you, or rather, how he felt about you. He's a soldier. He did his job. Now that job has ended." ***
Buffy was on her sixth vampire, slaying under close observation
when Angel and Spike arrived at the mouth of the cave. Spike took
him as far as the entrance and stopped. "I'm
not going back in there. Those people put the bloody chip in my
head. The next time, I might not get out. You'll have to find the
little bint on your own from here. Hope they don't put a chip in
your bloody head, mate. Guess it wouldn't matter much to you though." "You'd
be surprised out handy it is to be able to hit humans. Tonight,
for example," Angel said as he made his way into the walls
where the Initiative could be breached. "It's better you stay
behind anyway. If I don't come out, you'll have to work with the
gang on trying to get Buffy out another way." "What
you don't think they'll rescue you too?" Spike said with a
smirk. "Either
I'll be with Buffy or I'll be dead," Angel said, stone faced
and turned again to go. Buffy
was easy to find. All of the inhabitants of the Initiative knew
where she was. Unfortunately, it took less than five minutes from
the time he reached the main compound for everyone to know where
he was too. Angel soon found himself in the midst of an army attack.
He was trying to fight without killing and he really regretted for
the first time since his soul was restored that he felt the need
to preserve human life. It would have been much easier if he wasn't
purposely trying not to kill the soldiers he was fighting. Buffy
was close. He could feel her and it made his skin burn. He battled
through the hard human bodies blocking his way. He was shot at least
twice that he was sure of but his rage and desperation to get to
his love kept him from feeling the stings of the bullets or the
strikes that the men were able to land on him, which were few. The
troops inside the Initiative were desperately trying to take Angel
down without killing him. Professor Walsh was intrigued that such
a strong, virile and obviously old vampire would break into the
compound. Finally they were able to corner him just three or four
rooms from Buffy's holding cell. He knew that she was exhausted
and hurt. He could smell her blood and her fear. "I
came for The Slayer," Angel said between menacing growls. "You
broke into our complex just to get at The Slayer?" Walsh asked
stepping forward, frankly dumbfounded by even the idea that her
death, or rather his, would be that important to him. "Yes,"
Angel hissed, his eyes golden and full of more anger than he could
remember having since being in possession of his soul. "You
do realize that all of the vampires in the complex want her too?" "Yes." "And
you also realize that she has killed many of them in the one evening
she has been in our custody?" "I
have no doubt of that." "And
yet you wish to be locked in the cell of an armed slayer, which
to our understanding is the strongest Slayer to have lived so far
in our recorded history of the subject?" "Yes." "May
I ask why you broke into this complex to get to her?" "Yes,"
Angel said, his conscience growing thin. "Well,
vampire, why did you?" "She
is mine," he said growling deep in his chest with his words. "She
is yours?" "Yes,"
he answered simply, "And I wish to be taken to her." Walsh
stood there looking at the demon before her, unable to comprehend
why exactly he came into a complex that was feared by all of his
kind just to get at The Slayer. Why wasn't he out taking advantage
of her absence? She couldn't pass up this opportunity to see a weakened
slayer against a beast of his strength and speed. He had already
taken out three of full teams. Her scientific mind took no pity
on The Slayer as she nodded for them to take Angel to her. His mind
took note of her coldness and thought about killing her as he passed
by but instead waited to be led to his love. She
was crouched in the corner near tears, weak and bleeding. She stood
when she heard them coming and sensed Angel's presence. He appeared
in game face, escorted by men and he growled loudly at her, signaling
that she wasn't to reveal that he posed no threat. She stood on
shaky legs as they opened the door. Her stake was clutched tightly
in her bloody hand. She was sure that she would collapse if they
didn't let him in soon but their movements seemed so slow to her
muddled mind. It occurred to her then that she was sure they gave
her something in the drugs that was disorienting her. The only thing
that she was sure of was Angel. They
pushed Angel into the cell and Buffy allowed tears to squeeze from
her eyes. She took a shaky step towards him. As she began to fall,
he closed the distance between them with vampiric speed to catch
her in his arms. She sobbed in his arms, leaning against his broad
frame. He held her so tightly that her toes barely touched the floor
as she buried her face in his black shirt, seeming not to notice
his ridged face. Walsh and the team that trapped Angel stood outside
of the cell, looking in with their faces covered with nothing less
than complete shock. Angel kissed her blonde head and whispered
lovingly to her, "Shhh, baby. It's okay, love. You're safe
now." Despite
his sweet words, anger rumbled in his chest for his mate's treatment.
His game face remained intact as he held her. She lifted her tear
stained face to look into his flashing golden eyes, "I love
you, Angel. I never stopped loving you." "I
love you, Buffy. Always, love," he whispered, before capturing
her trembling lips with his. Kissing passionately around his sharp
fangs, they deepened the kiss and he felt himself falling into her
just as he had dreamed for so long. His anger forgotten against
her lips, his face resumed its human form and sighing against her
mouth, his kissed her harder, with more bottled up passion without
the impediment of his fangs. As the kiss deepened he tasted the
blood from her split lip and he broke the kiss, feeling strange
for a second while the incredibly strong mixture of drugs shot through
his body. "They
drugged you," he said, his eyes flashing golden with anger.
She nodded, borrowing in his chest again. His head snapped up from
his love to the people gawking outside the glass. "You
drugged her," he shouted at the onlookers, uncontrollable possession
and love and hate and anger forcing him to shift back into demon
form. "Yes,"
Walsh said nodding slowly with apparent awe of what she was witnessing. "You
dare touch what is mine again and I will rip your throat out, bitch.
How dare you take the Slayer into captivity and drug her,"
he said, nearly snarling at her, all the while holding Buffy gently
in his arms, close to his chest, "What did you give her?" "Not
that it is of any consequence but a simple adrenaline inhibitor
and a sort of wake up call after Agent Finn gave her the sedative.
There is a trace of a depressant in the mix as well, to reaffirm
our suspicions that state of mind has everything to do with strength."
Buffy looked up at Angel then because he started to shake even as
he growled vibrating his broad chest while anger and jealousy coursing
through his veins. She reached up and caressed his ridged face as
she felt his anger begin to spin out of control. "Angel,"
she whispered, moving his eyes to hers, "Angel, I'm okay. It's
okay, baby." He took a deep unnecessary breath and allowed
his sanity to take over as he pulled her more tightly against his
chest. He tried to look at Walsh but Buffy held his face fast. "Angel,
look at me. I love you and we're together. Nothing can hurt us now.
I'm okay. I really am." His face shifted again back to his
handsome human planes and she kissed him gently. Catching his gaze
for a second more before he turn his head to look again through
the glass at his enemies. The control The Slayer had over the vampire
did not go unnoticed among any of them. "Why
an adrenaline inhibitor? If you wished the Slayer dead, why drug
her and put her in harm's way? Why not just kill her to begin with?" "We
do not wish the Slayer dead and oddly neither do you. Why is that
by the way?" "Answer
my question," Angel snapped. "In
order to fully calculate the Slayer's strength, it is important
to take the natural rush of adrenaline out of the equation." "And
you call yourselves scientists," Angel hissed, "I'm amazed
you've made it this far. You do realize of course, that adrenaline
is an integral part of the body's natural defense system and without
it, a person would be weakened considerably in a perilous situation." "Of
course. We wanted to know how much of her superior strength had
to do with accelerated adrenaline supplies," Walsh stated blankly. "I
see, so what? You're trying to develop Slayer kryptonite or something?
You want the demons to crawl the earth unstopped by the one girl
chosen to defeat them?" "I
don't need to answer your questions. But of course not. This is
simply a study." "On
a live human being!" Angel shouted, a roar issuing from deep
in his chest. "One
which you happen to love despite your nature. Why is that? You aren't
even alive." "What can I say? I never followed the crowd," Angel said dismissively and began to turn away, but then turned back, "The Slayer is precious to the fate of the world and to me. I will not allow any demon who enters this cell to leave alive. I will not have her drugged again. I don't wish to take human lives but if you try to separate us, I will kill anything and everything to keep her safe." With that, he turned and escorted Buffy to a corner where he lowered both of them to the floor. Pulling Buffy into his lap, he held her, letting his time without her float away, his anger to die and his love for her overwhelm him again. He was doomed this time and he knew it. After what happened with Parker and then Riley, he knew that he would not be able to leave her again. He cuddled her in his arms and ignored the people outside of the cell who began to wander off when they saw the excitement was over. Buffy, finally feeling safe, fell asleep against Angel's chest. *** "She
called him Angel," Walsh said to her aid as they headed back
toward the lab, "Find out everything you can about the vampire
known as Angel. Send a demon in there with them. I will overlook
the results from the monitors in the lab." "A
vampire or another sort of demon?" The lab rat asked. "A vampire," she said without hesitation, "I want to see what he does to one of his own kind." ***
Angel stayed alert and watchful as his love slumbered against his
chest. The picture he had stored in his mind of his mate was never
fitting for her true beauty. He was taken aback every time he saw
her. She was so much more beautiful than the time before. God, and
her smell. If he could bottle up her smell, he knew that it would
feed the frenzy of a thousand lost souls. He inhaled her scent,
inspecting each part of her. Light vanilla perfume always struck
him first, then the smell of her shampoo scenting her blonde hair,
soap, sweat and blood. Mix that with her arousal and he was a lost
man. Wait, arousal? He looked down at her and she was shifting in her sleep and murmured his name in a barely audible sleepy voice. Her hot little hand was resting on his chest and he felt his own arousal rise beneath her weight. He could smell her wetness and daydreamed about reaching between her muscular thighs to feel the honey that waited there. He would slip his fingers inside her while he rubbed her swollen clit until she was trembling on his lap, climaxing and grinding her hips against him. He could take her right there on the sterile white floor... He
brushed his thoughts away, knowing that he couldn't make love to
her after all this time there in that cell. He would wait to tell
her that he was permanently ensouled. When they escaped, he would
make love to her until they were both screaming with pleasure. Kissing
her golden halo of hair he shifted her to his side, closest to the
wall and laid her gently there. He wanted to be on his guard for
whomever entered the cell which he was sure would happen soon and
he couldn't have a raging hard on when it happened. He closed his
eyes and eased himself into mediation, calming his nearly uncontrollable
lust and replacing it with the anger he harbored toward the captors
of his beloved. He
opened his eyes and looked down at her. She had scooted over in
her sleep to find him and while meditating, he didn't even notice
that her hand was on his thigh, tightly holding him there with her.
He smiled with the realization that she holding him protectively.
If she could touch him, she knew he was still by her side and nothing
was hurting him. Still The Slayer, no matter what, she felt his
safety was her concern, just as he felt her safety was his. He didn't
know how the whole world wasn't in love with this remarkable woman. He
heard the footsteps long before Buffy would have and jerked his
head to look out into the hallway through their glass encased prison.
Two fatigue clad men held a vampire who was struggling like a mad
undead man, trying to escape their grasp. He did not want to go
into that cell. Angel jumped to his feet, his boots making a loud
thump as they landed on the white tile. Scooping up Buffy's stake,
he stood in a defensive stance as they shoved the poor soulless
beast in with him. "Angelus,"
the red headed vampire whimpered. "Aye,
Patrick," Angel answered, falling into his Irish brogue. "I
wish you and your Slayer no harm," he whimpered again, maintaining
his distance, unmoving on the other side of the cell. "You
don't? Look at yourself," Angel said, nodding at the vampire's
bared fangs. "I'm-
I'm sorry. I can smell her blood. The Slayer's blood. It's so strong,"
he stammered looking at the sleeping girl with longing. "Weakling,"
Angel said with a smirk. "How
can you resist?" Patrick said, looking over at her again, "I
know you've tasted her blood and you've fucked her. You
have an unending well of sex and blood and you walk away?"
Angel leaned casually against the wall, keeping his calm. "You
fell in love with our kind's greatest enemy," Patrick continued,
"I don't think I'm the weakling here. Maybe I should take that
stake away from you and watch your ashes settle as I take your Slayer
and show her what a real vampire is capable of." Angel
let out a loud laugh, "You underestimate the Slayer, Patrick
and even if you were able to kill me, which makes me want to laugh
again, you would never take her. She would dance in your dust." "As
Angelus, you were a master and one to be feared. Now you're a neutered
puppy. The lap dog of a mortal woman! The Slayer no less. I'm not
afraid of you anymore," He announced bravely, puffing out his
chest. "Then
you're a fool," Angel said, pulling himself away from the wall
and engaging his foe as languidly as he would sit down for tea.
Keeping his human face with a cocky grin intact, Angel strolled
across the room to where Patrick stood, parried his expected blow,
swept his feet out from under him and plunged the stake in his heart. "Idiot,"
Angel muttered as he turned back to Buffy, who was sitting up and
quite awake. "I
don't think he can hear you," Buffy said, "and even if
he could, I don't think you could expect a snappy come back." "Yeah,
well, I get plenty of those from you anyway," he said crossing
the room, smiling. "Yeah,
well, usually, you deserve them," she retorted, smiling back. "Thanks
for dispatching of the living dead over there," She said, snuggling
into him again as he sat down next to her. "You're
welcome. Didn't want to wake you for insignificant verbal bashings." "Thanks honey," she said. Honey.
The word jolted him. It had been years since she called him that.
Silence covered them for a few moments and then she looked up at
him and waited for him to meet her gaze. "There
are just three words, I want to hear from you before we plan our
escape," she announced. "I
love you," Angel said, looking intently in her eyes. "No,"
Buffy said, shaking her head, "I'm not leaving.'" "Buffy-"
Angel began. "Angel,
if you start with Buffy,' that's fine as long as the rest
of the sentence is I'm not leaving' and you can even add something
at the end like ever again.'" "I'm
not leaving you," He said, his eyes brimming with long forgotten
tears, forced to the forefront by not so forgotten emotion, "ever
again." "Promise?"
She said, searching his eyes for a sign of the truth that she so
desperately wanted to find there. "I
promise," he whispered, claiming her lips in the first kiss
of millions he hoped they had together. "I
have something else to tell you before we plan our escape,"
he said. "I
love you?" "Well,
there is that, of course and that my soul is permanent now." "What?
How? Why?" "Three
excellent questions, love. Willow didn't add the extra clause when
she cursed me again. She freed me." Squealing with delight,
Buffy dove against him, knocking him to the floor and devouring
his lips with the passion of the lost days behind them. "I
don't think we should do it right here, love," he whispered
huskily in her ear as he kissed her bare throat, wrapping his arms
tightly around her. "I'm
sure the scientists would love to study the coupling," she
whispered, biting his neck and illiciting a low growl from him.
He settled on his mark on her neck and sucked at it roughly, pressing
her body against his. Feeling his arousal against her she laid her
head on his chest and sighed. "We've gotta get out of here before I rip all your clothes off," Buffy said, her voice muffled against his hard chest. *** "What have you found out?" Walsh asked looking at the agent. Riley
stood tensely by her side waiting. I mean, sure, Buffy was a mission
but she was still his girlfriend. How could she not have told him
that she was in love with a damn vampire? Seems like a pretty important
detail to overlook. He hated to admit it but he was angry and jealous.
He was supposed to be detached and military but he cared for the
little blonde slayer. He was actually hoping they could get through
all this without her finding out that he was involved. What a foolish
pipe dream that was. She knew he drugged her and there was no way
she would ever come back to him. Damn it. He
turned intently toward the agent, who began to speak, "Well,
she called him Angel, so our sources looked around for awhile until
we found him under 'Angelus - the demon with the face of an angel.'
He has also been known as 'The Scourge of Europe.' He was sired
by a vampire named Darla in Galway, Ireland in the 1700s, who was
sired by the Master himself. Apparently, Angelus, also known as
Angel, was one of the most dangerous, ruthless and all around evil
vampires in history. In fact, other vampires were afraid of him
because he was so powerful and evil. Then in the 1800s he was cursed
by the Romany." "Romany?"
Riley asked. "Gypsies." "Cursed?"
Walsh said quizzically. "Yes,"
the agent replied, nodding, "They restored his soul. His punishment
for hurting their people was to be a demon with a soul, to live
in eternal torment with the remorse of the things he had done. In
1997, he moved to Sunnydale and met The Slayer. It is rumored that
he moved here just for her and for no other reason, but her. It
has almost become legendary already how The Scourge of Europe fell
in love with The Slayer. They fought side by side and they repeatedly
risked their lives for the other's safety. On her 17th birthday,
they had sex and he reverted to his former self. It was then that
they found out that if Angel experienced one moment of true happiness,
he would lose his soul. During that time, Angel sought out his children,
one of which is Hostile 17 and proceeded to call upon dangerous
powers which would suck the world into hell. It is rumored that
his actions were solely prodded by his desire to destroy The Slayer." "Interesting,"
said Walsh nodding, "But he did get his soul back, then?" "Yes.
A young witch, Willow Rosenberg, who is the best friend of The Slayer,
performed the Romany ritual and re-cursed Angel with his soul. Unfortunately,
it was not in time to stop the ritual that Angel's alter ego had
started, so in order to save the world, Buffy sent Angel to hell." "He
was sent to hell with a soul?" Walsh asked, shocked. "He
was there for about 4 months, which, in the demon dimension, was
approximately 400 years. After that, The Slayer ran away from Sunnydale
and spent the summer in Los Angeles, where there were suggestions
that she too spent short time in hell. He was released from hell
shortly after Buffy's return to Sunnydale. No one knows for sure
how he was released, but it has been speculated that she had something
to do with it. They were reunited until he left her and moved to
Los Angeles at the end of the summer after the Mayor was destroyed.
He has not returned, to the best of our knowledge, until tonight." "Hmmm,
strange," Walsh said thoughtfully, "He appears to still
love her. I wonder why he left." "The
rumors indicate that he left because he couldn't give her a normal
life. And there's more. One of my sources said that before he left
the other Slayer, Faith, poisoned Angel in an attempt to hurt Buffy
and distract her from the mayor's Ascension. The only cure was the
blood of a slayer. Buffy put Faith in a coma trying to take her
to Angel. In the end, she not only let him drain her but made him
drain her." "The
Slayer forced a vampire to feed off of her?" Walsh asked incredulously. "It
seems so, yes," the agent replied, getting more excited about
his story by the second, "He fed off her and rushed her to
the hospital. She checked out of the hospital within 8 hours and
stopped the mayor's Ascension!" "That's
pretty significant information," Walsh said, looking off in
the distance, "We need to find out how he knew to come and
save her tonight." "Hostile
17," Riley said piping up, "He was following us all night.
Buffy even mentioned it earlier on the date. If he was a childe
of Angel's, I'm sure he's the one to called him. There's also something
else you should know, Professor." "What's
that?" "Angel
did kill the other vampire that you put in cell. He didn't even
wake up Buffy. Just let her sleep there while he was fighting. You
should probably watch the footage. It was artful and there are conversation
clips that I think you will find useful in your research,"
he said before turning in a crisp about face and heading towards
the door. "So,
Agent Finn," Walsh said, "Seems the vampire isn't the
only one that has fallen in love with the girl." "No,"
Riley said, clenching his jaw, "Hostile 17 is in love with
her too, as well as her closest male friend, Alexander Harris." "And
you," she said. "Am
I excused?" he said, angrily. If asked he wouldn't have been
able to explain why he was so angry except that he could see her
in his arms on the monitor. His Buffy in the arms of that...that
demon! "Of
course," she said with a smile. With that he nearly stopped
out of the lab like a twelve year old *** Buffy was so exhausted that even as she kissed Angel, she fell asleep. Laying on top of him, she went slack and began to make the cute little purring noise she always made when she slept with him. He laid still, enjoying the feel of her weight on him. I wonder if she makes that sound when she's sleeping without me, he mused. He didn't think so but he didn't often see her when she wasn't in his arms. He thought about the times he climbed into her window and watched her sleep. No,
he thought, she only made
that sound for him. He smiled broadly at his love's sleeping form.
Every time he saw her, he found another reason to love her just
a little bit more. Boots
clomped down the hall again and he shifted her off of him and against
the far wall once more. Damn them, he thought, reaching into his
pocket and feeling for the stake, he waited. This time, they threw
a rather burly demon in with them. The demon was obviously starved.
Angel knew that he wouldn't eat a vampire. Most demons who were
so hungry they were insane would never eat a vampire. Dead flesh
was distasteful to everyone. But he would eat Buffy. Angel
moved into fighting stance, hoping that the hunger had weakened
the beast. Their species, whose name escaped him, were very strong. "I
have no quarrel with you vampire. I only want the human," he
said in English but his words were almost indecipherable with his
heavy jaw and large mouth of teeth. "Oh
yes you do," Angel said, reverting to game face, "If you
want her, you gotta get through me first." "No
problem vampire," he growled. The demon moved quickly for his
size, closing the space between him and Angel. The demon immediately
swung a large arm toward Angel's face, attempting to close line
him. Sidestepping, Angel easily moved from the path of his swing.
Buffy slept fitfully against the wall as Angel and the demon traded
almost equally devastating blows. At one point, Angel actually flew
across the cell, landing with a loud thud against the wall, inches
from Buffy, who simply murmured his name and continued to sleep
- although she no longer purred, having lost his touch against her
body. If
the demon was weakened with hunger, he couldn't tell. He felt as
if he had been fighting him for half the night when he was finally
able to jump high upon the beast's back and break his thick neck.
Angel hurried over to Buffy and began to shake her gently. "Buffy,"
he whispered, "Wake up, love." She
groaned and scooted closer to him, burying her face into his thigh. "Baby,
you have to wake up. There isn't much time." She groggily sat
up and looked at him with droopy eyes. He pulled her into his embrace
and began kissing her neck and then he whispered in her ear, "Moan
like you're turned on and listen to what I have to say. " "That'll
be easy," she said huskily and then began to moan as he kissed
her. "They're
recording our conversations," he whispered in between caresses
and kisses too passionate to be fake, "I'm hoping they will
come to get the demon's body. When they do, we're going to escape.
Either way, no one who comes in here is going to leave. Okay?" "Yes,"
she hissed into his ear, running her hands over his broad back,
as he moved to her lips. Like clockwork, three of them entered,
heavily armed to get the demon. Angel kept kissing her, pretending
not to notice the men. As they picked up the demon's body, all three
of them struggled to lift him. Angel and Buffy bolted for them,
managing to knock all three of them out before they could reach
for their weapons. Stripping them quickly of weapons and IDs, Angel
opened the door and escorted Buffy out. Slinging the extra gun across
his back, Angel moved along with Buffy, both cautiously moved forward,
using their enhanced abilities to listen for possible attack. "They're
not going to let us just walk out of here," Buffy said, moving
sluggishly next to Angel. "I know, love," he whispered, "But a vampire can hope," he said, smiling. He led her through the complex to the place in the caves where Spike showed him in. They made it without incident but both had the nagging feeling that they were being watched. Once in the cave, Buffy sighed in relief and began leaning heavily on Angel as they walked. Darkness swallowed them and they utilized Angel's superior eyesight to guide them through. Angel began to worry as Buffy stumbled along with him. Finally, he swung all three guns over his shoulder and lifted her into his arms. Her Slayer strength should have knocked the drugs out of her system by then but they hadn't. He headed straight for Giles' house. ***
They needed to perform some tests and find out why she wasn't better
yet - why she was actually worse. Giles answered the door in a panic
as Angel carried Buffy in and laid her on the couch that Xander,
Anya and Willow had just stood up from. Buffy was unconscious as
he laid her down. Spike was there waiting in the shadows, smoking
next to the window. Tara stood behind Willow like a timid shadow. "Willow,
could you take a blood sample and see what is in her blood? I tasted
the drugs and they made me feel funny but I'm not sure what they
are. That Walsh woman said he put adrenaline inhibitors, a light
depressant and a upper to counteract the sedative Riley injected
her with but there has to be "You
fed off her!" Xander shouted with a voice filled with as much
anger as any of them had ever heard. "No,"
Angel said, shaking his head and pointing to Buffy mouth, "She
split her lip in a staged scientific fight with a vampire while
she was in her cell. I kissed her and tasted the blood." "Well,"
Xander said, sitting down, "I guess that's okay then." "So
glad you approve," Angel said sarcastically and then proceeded
to tell everyone the events that had transpired to fill the void
of panicked silence while they waited for Buffy's prognosis. Willow
was working fast but it took hours for her to come up with an answer
and Angel was a step away from full blown hysteria. "Okay,"
Willow said with a sigh coming out to face the crowd, "The
drugs they used to knock her out and the drug they used to wake
her up were both compounds that work well on demons but have adverse
effects on humans. I think they probably thought that since Buffy
is The Slayer, her blood would combat the drugs the same way that
demons do but she isn't a demon. The drugs are killing her. Her
body just can't fight it." "Then
is there an antidote?" Giles questioned. "Well,
there could have been if we had known about this a long time ago
but not now. Basically, the only way to get the drugs out is to
take the blood out and that of course will kill her." "Maybe
not," Angel said. "If
you think that -" Xander started. "Wait,
Xander, Angel is right. When he fed off her before, she healed quickly.
He could partially drain her and then we could take her to the hospital
for a transfusion like before." "Yes,"
Angel said nodding, "And my body can fight the drugs."
Angel walked over to where Buffy lay and gently revived her back
to consciousness. "Wake
up, love," he whispered, "Open your eyes." After
several minutes of prodding, her eyes fluttered open. "Angel,"
she gasped, as if surprised to see him there, "Hold me. I'm
cold. I can't get warm." "He'll
only make you colder, Buff," Xander said snidely. "No,"
Buffy said, not looking away from him, "He always makes me
warm. I think...I think there's something wrong with me. I'm so
tired." "Buffy,
listen baby, the drugs they gave you have made you sick. The only
way to save you is for me to feed off you and take the blood from
your body into mine. Then we'll take you for a transfusion, like
before." "But
they'll make you sick too," Buffy said, her eyes tearing up,
"I can't lose you again." "No,
sweetheart, they won't. I'm a demon remember? The drugs won't effect
me the same way they effect you." She
squeezed his hand, smiling as her eyes started to droop again, "You're
my demon." "Stay
awake, baby, stay with me. I need you to be conscious when I feed
off of you." "Why?" "Because
you can fight death if you're conscious." "Handy
boyfriend," Xander muttered under breath. Angel didn't bother
shooting an annoyed glance at Xander - he was too involved with
Buffy, but Giles did it for him. Buffy was desperately trying to
keep her eyes open but they were so heavy. Angel hauled her to a
sitting position and shook her gently. This wasn't working. He decided
to try another tactic. "I
fucked Darla," he said, his voice cold and serious. Her eyes
flew open with hurt and anger and shock. It worked. He could barely
contain his smile. "You
what!?" "In
a moment of pure despair, I took all of my aggression out on her." "How
could you?" Buffy said, her eyes tearing up. The rest of the
group were just as shocked as Buffy, with the exception of Spike,
of course, who grinned freely. "I
don't love her. I never did. I was at the bottom and I needed something,
anything to take me away from the cold." "If
you needed someone, why didn't you call me? You could have lost
your soul! And everything would be lost on that demonic whore!" "If
I had come to you, I would have lost my soul. Well, that's what
I thought. I didn't know my soul was intact as the time. But that's
beside the point - It was pure despair. Emptiness. Nothing like
what I share with you," Angel said, cupping her cheek. "You
should have staked her instead," Buffy said, nearly wide awake. "I
fucked her," Angel said again, "And I wanted you to know.
And," he said, grinning, "I wanted to piss you off, so
you would stay awake." "Well,
it worked. You pissed me off." "Forgive
me, baby?" He said, searching her eyes and caressing her hand. "When
this is all over, you owe me big time, mister," Buffy said
with sexy half smile even while her eyes were starting to droop
again. "Agreed,"
he said, smiling a knowing smile back, "I'll make it up to
you again and again." Buffy then noticed her room of friends
and blushed. "Okay,
love, are you ready?" He said, making her look at him. "I
think so. I'm so tired, Angel," she said. "Just
a little bit longer. Just stay with me a little bit longer." "I
can't hit you this time. I don't have the strength," she said
weakly. "That's
okay. I can do it on my own this time. Trust me?" "Always."
With that he vamped, his face ridging and fangs materializing before
the group's eyes. Gripping the lapels of his coat, Buffy whispered,
"I love you." "I
love you," he said, his hands beginning to shake, terrified
of hurting her, terrified that this wouldn't work. She pulled him
to her and kissed him deeply, maneuvering around his fangs. As she
kissed him, the whole group seemed to take in a shocked gasp at
once - even Spike. Ending the kiss, Buffy pushed her long blonde
hair aside and pulled her shirt over to reveal the scar where he
had fed off of her before. "My
love," he whispered as he bit down. Buffy's eyes flipped wide
open as he sunk his teeth in, breaking her delicate skin again.
Sucking The Slayer's tainted life blood away from her, Angel held
his hand on the small of her back, supporting her weight as she
began to lean away. She reached back and placed a hand on the couch,
her other hand holding on to Angel. Splinters flew as Buffy pushed
the arm off the end of Giles' couch, the arm making a loud thud
as it hit the floor. Pulling
away, Angel lifted his beloved's nearly lifeless body and ran out
the front door - the rest of the group in close pursuit. Placing
her in the seat of his car, he took one vampiric jump over her and
into the driver's seat and took off before the rest of them could
climb in. They all piled in Giles car and followed to the hospital.
"Somebody
help!" Angel cried as he ran through the doors, his human face
back in place and covered with panic. "She
needs a transfusion. She's lost a lot of blood." Those were
the last words he remembered speaking, although he knew the hospital
staff asked him many questions, which he tried to answer. They pushed
him from the room as they began to work and he stood at the glass
doors watching them rush around with confusion. The drugs hit him
as he stood there and as Giles, Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara &
Spike walked up to him, he fell hitting the ground with a hard,
dead thud. The
group rushed over to him and the medical staff did too. Spike whipped
around and glared at the hospital staff and hie eyes were flashing
golden, "No one touches him." Spike,
as Angel's grande childe, had not felt protective of him in over
a hundred years. Today, he protected him. He would have answered
that it was for Buffy or that he didn't want to reveal himself to
the staff by them finding out what Angel was. He was truly protecting
his mentor, simple as that. "But
sir, he is in need of medical attention. He appears to be bleeding
from several places. They look like gunshot wounds," the intern
stated with confusion, "And he's very pale." "He bloody fainted. He's worried about his mate in there. No worries," Spike said flippantly, "He'll be fine." Spike's
vampire strength aided him in tossing Angel's body over his shoulder
easily and he pivoted, despite the shock of a much smaller man easily
picking up a much larger man and strolling toward the rows of waiting
chairs. Tossing him none too gently on the first blue chair, Spike
righted Angel's body before he fell over and plopped into the seat
next to him. The rest of the group followed suit, sitting next to
Spike and doing the only thing they could - they waited. "Powerful
shit, eh mate?" Spike said. "Oh
yeah," Angel said, wincing at the sound of his own voice, "Effects
demons a bit differently. More like a sledgehammer, I think." "Heard
anything about Buffy?" Angel asked, looking over the faces
of the group, searching for answers. "Well,"
Giles said, slowly, "They came out a bit ago and said they
had performed the transfusion but that's all they will tell us.
Alas, we are forced to wait longer." "If
she dies," Angel said, his eyes bright yellow, speaking through
clenched teeth. "Don't
worry mate. She dies and I'll be right by your side. The whole Initiative
will burn - Angelus style." "Thank
you, Will." "Shut
up, Peaches. You go all misty and it'll streak your eyeliner." "Angel,"
Giles said, quietly after several moments of deafening silence,
"I wanted to ask you a question." "Sure,"
Angel said, looking a little worried. "Buffy
said she couldn't hit you like last time. What did she mean by that?" Angel
sighed, "When I was poisoned, I had resigned to die. I was
just waiting for Buffy so I could say goodbye. She told me to feed
off of her so I'd live. I gathered what strength I had left to push
her aside and I ran from the room, telling her that I wouldn't drink
her. She followed me and punched me in the face until I changed
my mind." "Ah," Giles stammered. Xander sank back in his chair remembering what he had said to Angel that day - It's good to know that when the chips are down, you'll feed off the girl who loves you to save your own ass. Guilt shadowed his face. He had been wrong about Angel - but just about that one thing. *** The second Angel was able to get into Buffy's room, he refused to leave. His body was shaking from the overdose of drugs mixed with Slayer blood in his system. He sat down in the chair beside the bed and took her tiny hand in his. There he waited with vigilance and love. His mate lay unconscious and he checked her over thoroughly, not trusting the medical staff. Her pulse was strong and steady, most of her natural color had returned to her face and she was warm. He began to relax as he realized that she would be okay.
The
nurse's station was a buzz about the very ill man who would not
leave his love's side. Two nurses stood near Buffy's door and looked
in at them. The girl was still unconscious and the man was now unconscious
as well. "We
should have him moved," one nurse said to the other, "What
if he is infecting the patient with whatever illness he's carrying?" "You're
right," said the second nurse, "I'll call security and
have him escorted out of the room when visiting hours end in an
hour." "Wouldn't
recommend that," Spike said, materializing from the wall he
had been nonchalantly leaning against, pretending not to be watching
over The Slayer and his Grande Sire. "He
could be infecting the patient," the nurse said snappishly,
"besides, visiting hours will be over soon." "You
two lovelies have to do your job, of course, but I have to tell
you," Spike said, pulling his cigarettes out of his leather
duster pocket, "He's going to put up a fight and I'll wager
you won't be able to get him out." "You
really think that security couldn't remove him?" The nurse
asked, her voice becoming more brittle. "No,
I'm positive that security couldn't remove him. And since he's family
and all, they'll have to remove me first before they try to take
Nancy boy over there out of that room." He smiled broadly and
lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke at the no smoking sign that was
posted across the room. The nurses stared in shock and utter disbelief
at his behavior. He was blatantly breaking the rules! And they were
terrified that they couldn't stop him. Giles strolled up covered
in responsibility and tweed and took off his glasses. "My
apologies," he said nodding at the nurses, "for his behavior.
We're all very concerned for our friends' welfare." Looking
over to Spike he said, "Spike, do stop being tiresome. Put
out that..that death stick. You're in a hospital for crying out
loud." "Fine
Giles," Spike said with disgust as he dropped the cigarette
and crushed it out, "But I'm staying her until Peaches or the
little bint wakes up." "Very
well, but try to stay out of the way." Giles nodded with his
usual gentlemanly style at the nurses once more. "I would appreciate it," he said quietly, "If you would allow Angel there to stay with Buffy until she regains consciousness. I'm afraid even I would not be able to convince him to leave the room if I tried." The
nurses nodded with shock and amazement at the two Englishmen. The
older handsome man, the one that was called Giles, seemed to have
a fatherly sort of control for everyone in the group. They all listened
and respected him when he spoke, even the rude blonde one. They
could tell that none of them were actually his children and they
were forced to wonder how he was involved with all those kids. And
which one of them could get him to ask them out before he left the
hospital. Buffy
woke up in a daze, feeling a bit disoriented. Looking down, she
saw Angel trembling violently in his sleep. Reaching down to touch
him, she felt his clammy skin and began to panic. Looking up and
out the door, she spotted Spike in the hallway. "Spike!"
she yelled out at him. "Jesus
Slayer," Spike said strolling in the room, "Startled me." "Get
Giles," she commanded, "Something is really wrong with
Angel." Giles and the group came running in without the benefit
of Spike's message. He had already sauntered into the room and was
standing by her bed, on the opposite side as Angel. "It's
like this, Pet," Spike started, "Drugs are too much for
Nancy Boy's system. He probably won't die but he may not recover
for a couple of decades if they are as strong as I think they are.
From what I understood while I was inside that commando hellhole,
these drugs have offed more than one vamp and disabled couple more
demons as well." "Why
didn't you say something before Angel fed off me?" Buffy screamed. "Because,
love, I knew that you would choose to die instead of Angel and I
just couldn't have that. Besides, now that you're all healthy again,
I can take half of it out of his system and by then it will have
been diluted three times." Giles
looked at Buffy and nodded, "I think it may be the only way,
if what Spike says is true. They need to dilute the blood."
Buffy took one deep, shaky breath and looked down at Angel's sleeping
form. "Angel," she said quietly while touching his shoulder with the hand that wasn't tightly intertwined with his, "Angel, honey wake up." He
raised his head and wearily looked at Buffy. Seeing her healthy
face radiating above him, he jumped up and crushed her into his
arms. "Thank God," he whispered into her hair. Breathing her in, he held her tightly for several minutes before releasing her and looking into her eyes, "You're okay?" "I
am," she said and reached out to touch his face, "But
you're not." "I'll
be okay," he lied, trying desperately to hide the tremors in
his hands. "Yes,
you will," Buffy said with fierce determination, "You
and Spike are going to feed off of each other and split the drugs.
Don't argue. You won't be able to live with this much in your system."
Willow
walked over and shut the door to the view of the nurses who were
huddled in the hallway again, watching the show. Xander closed the
blinds and joined Willow as both of them leaned against the door
in case someone should try to enter. "I
don't know if this is a good idea," Angel said, perching on
Buffy's sterile bed, "What if it just ends up killing us both?
I think we should research this a bit more first." "Angel,
you're fading. I don't think there's time for research. You two
do the whole exchange of blood thing and then we will research.
If we need to, we'll find an antidote for both of you. But you can't
tell me that you don't feel this killing you." "Buffy-"
he started but just looked at her with a pained expression on his
face. "Please
Angel," she said mirroring his expression. Spike walked across
the room with his normal cockiness and temerity but when he stepped
in front of Angel, he became the submissive childe before the astounded
audience. "Sire,"
Spike said, leaning his head to the side and baring his neck. "Childe,"
Angel said growling as he grabbed Spike roughly by the leather lapels
of his coat, rapidly changed to his vampire visage and sunk into
his neck, not a fraction as gently as he had bitten Buffy. Spike
actually audibly groaned with pleasure as Angel bit in, lolling
his head to the side with his arms hanging loosely at his sides.
Silence blanketed the room as the sheer macabre and erotic action
unfolded before their eyes. Grande Sire and Grande Childe intertwined
in taking and giving of life's blood, The Slayer's drugged essence
preparing to travel through them both. Angel released his Grande
Childe, almost unwilling to give him his blood - Buffy's blood -
it was killing him and yet he didn't want to share it. Even the
death that approached seemed almost beautiful in his weakened state. Spike
shuddered for a moment from the loss of contact and then grabbed
Angel's lapels in a kinder but mirrored movement. He sunk in and
felt the inaudible growl rumble through Angel's body. The demon
in him loved this act even though he would never admit it. Didn't
matter. Spike already knew. It was sheer ecstasy as the poisoned
blood violently left his system, forced away by Spike's cool, sucking
mouth. When he was finished, Spike stumbled back, both stood facing
each other swaying for a moment until both fell to the floor. Spike
shook his head, "Powerful shit, that stuff." "No
kidding," Angel said, more than a little ashamed that the whole
Scooby Gang, along with Buffy, witnessed the purest carnal act that
vampires partake in, that vampires live for. Until he made love
to Buffy, nothing could compare to it. "How
do you guys feel?" Willow said, piping up from the door. "Like
shit," both of them said at once, much to the shock of the
room. Laughing they both stood. "I
think we're going to live," Angel said, smiling at Buffy, who
was smiling at him. "Thanks
again Will," Angel said turning to Spike. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, mate. Did it more for your little pet than I did for you," Spike said flippantly but facing only Angel,
no one could see the look in his eyes, where the truth lay. "When
can I leave?" Buffy said, pulling her IV roughly from her arm
and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "Whoa,
sweetie," Angel said, standing in front of her, "You're
not leaving until a doctor approves it." "Angel,
you know how I feel about hospitals," Buffy whined. "Buffy,
we have to make sure that you have a clean bill of health before
you leave. We want to be able to catch any adverse affects before
it is too late," Giles said stepping up from the corner of
the room. "Can
we hurry?" Buffy said, becoming more and more antsy. "I'll go get a nurse," Xander said opening the door and Willow moved to open the shades once more. *** "Doctor,
really, I feel great. Never been better. I have to leave this place
now," Buffy whined. Even though she killed the Kinderstod all
those years ago, hospitals still gave her a wiggins. "Young
lady," the doctor admonished, taking a second to glance over
at Angel, who refused to leave her side, "You were very badly
in need of blood when you came in and there is some sort of unidentified
chemical substance in your bloodstream that is very detrimental
to your health. I'm afraid I find it in your best interest to stay
the night here for observation. We also need to take a few blood
tests to make sure that the drug is properly cycling out of your
system." "Doctor,
really. This isn't a big deal. I'm just fine." "I'm
sorry young lady but I am recommending that you stay another night." "I
can't stay here! I have to-" "Buffy,"
Angel said in a low serious voice, "You have to stay." "Whose
side are you on anyway?" She snapped. "I'm
on the side where you live for a long, healthy life with no complications
because you didn't want to spend the night here. I know you hate
hospitals but I promise that I will not leave until you leave. I
will stay right here with you, but you have to stay." "Promise
you'll stay?" Buffy said, her eyes filling with tears for the
millionth time in the past 24 hours. "Of
course," Angel said, a slow, sexy smile melting over his handsome
face. "Okay,
you guys win," Buffy said folding her arms and plopping down
in bed, "But I'm not happy about it." "Thank
you," the doctor said before turning and leaving the room.
"Um,
doctor?" Buffy said timidly. "Yes?" "Could
I borrow a pair of tweezers? I need to pluck my eyebrows."
Shaking
his head, the doctor left the room. "What
for?" Angel asked. "There's
a bullet in your arm and one in your lower back, dummy. Xander ripped
off some bandages earlier. I have them here," She said pulling
them from under her pillow, wagging them at him. "Ah."
He said smiling and shaking his head. A nurse came in a few minutes
later with the tweezers and a confused look on her face. "Here
you are, young lady." "Thanks,"
Buffy said cheerily, "Can't neglect my eyebrows, even when
I'm not at my best." "Um,
sure," the nurse said before turning on her heel and leaving
the room. Turning back to Angel, Buffy said, "Ok, Mister, take
off your shirt." Baring
his muscled chest, she sucked in her breath as she gently plunged
into his arm with the tweezers, pulling out the lodged bullet. After
bandaging his arm, she ordered him to lay on his stomach while she
fished the second bullet out of his lower back. Bandaging the second
wound, she beamed at him. "Thanks
baby." "Don't
mention it." Pulling
Angel into her, his large frame spooned around her tiny one. Turning
so that they were both facing the door, she snuggled against him.
A warrior never kept his or her back to the door in a strange place. "We
shouldn't be here," Buffy huffed. "Are
you saying you don't think I will protect you? You don't feel safe?" "No,
that's not it. Of course, I never feel safer than when I'm with
you." "Then
what?" "I
want to be somewhere where I can kiss you and make love to you.
It's been so long," she whispered, turning over in his arms
so she was facing him. Pulling his lower lip into her mouth, she
gently bit him, forcing a low growl that never failed to turn her
on. Plunging into his mouth, she kissed him deeply and reached down
to caress his already growing arousal. "Not
here baby. Not like this. Tomorrow," He said, pulling her into
his bare chest. Whimpering she turned away from him and pressed
her firm ass against his arousal. "You're
the one who's going to suffer," she said, pressing harder against
him. "I know, baby, believe me, I know." Despite the need that was pressing them both, seconds later they were in an exhausted sleep. ***
At dusk, Buffy and Angel left the hospital before all of the paperwork
was completed, per Buffy's insistence. Happy that Buffy had permitted
all of the tests and had stayed the extra night, Angel didn't argue
with her as they dressed quickly and left. Angel
steered his car toward the mansion, pulling in front of the hulking
building and guiding Buffy in with them. They were both still weakened
from the drugs but well on their way to full recovery as they walked
slowly inside. Once inside the building, Angel crushed his beloved
into his arms, delving between her full lips. Scooping her into
his arms, he hurried to the bedroom and lowered her onto the dusty
comforter, settling on top of her. He took his time exploring her
mouth, then her neck and delicate collarbone. "Angel,"
she moaned running her fingers through his hair as he lifted her
camisole and covered her braless breast with his hands and lips
and tongue. She arched into him, running her nails lightly over
his back. He pulled her up suddenly and lifted the shirt over her
head, tossing it away as she nimbly unbuttoned his black shirt and
peeled it from his body. The rest of their clothes followed suit
until they were nude in the arms of their lover. He
kissed a sweet trail down her body and settled between her muscular
thighs with a sigh. "Mmmmm,"
he moaned as he tasted her for the first time in what seemed like
centuries, "You taste so good." His voice was husky and
muffled as he sucked her clit between his lips. "God
Angel," Buffy moaned, twisting and arching against him, "You
feel..." She
exploded into an orgasm as he licked and sucked her into oblivion. "Angel
please," she moaned, still shaking and pulling him up her body,
"Please." Her strong legs hook around his waist, locking
him there poised at her entrance. "Please
what, love?" He asked with a crooked smile. "Fuck
me," she growled and tried to pull him closer. "I'll
never fuck you, love," he whispered rubbing his cock against
her clit, gritting his teeth from the pleasure he felt. "You feel so good," he whispered against her neck as he began to move inside her, "Perfect." Relenting
to his need, he moved faster within her, pounding against her tiny
body. She rose up to meet him and they crashed together with bone
crushing fierceness that would have shattered the pelvis of a normal
woman. Burying himself deeper into her with each thrust, they dripped
with the need of lovers too long parted. Reaching
between them, he sought out her clit, rubbing in circles that matched
their thrusts. "Come
with me, love," he grunted, holding back for her to join him.
As if responding directly to his request, she came violently against
him. Releasing control, he joined her in rolling waves of ecstasy.
"Love
you," she whispered as she snuggled in close to him, feeling
the sleep come over her. "Love you," he whispered back waiting for the sleep to overtake her. Once her breathing evened out, he disentangled himself from her and quietly dressed. Stalking out of the mansion, he hurried to the UC Sunnydale campus. Riley Finn was going to pay for the pain of his mate tonight. ~~FIN~~ |