Summary: As before.

Chapter 3

Neither slept well that night.

Buffy eventually drifted off into a restless sleep but she frequently woke up. Angel also couldn’t sleep, his thoughts were filled with revenge and every sound Buffy made brought him out of his shallow slumber.

It seemed they almost took turns in dosing. Angel would lie there, staring at Buffy’s sleeping eyes. She didn’t look peaceful even in sleep any more. His mind raced with thoughts and plans for who had done this. Angel wanted nothing more than to sweep her in his arms and carry her away from here. Of course she didn’t want him touching her so sweeping was out. And anywhere he took her the problem would follow.

Buffy too gazed at Angel when she couldn’t sleep. She noticed that although his slumber was light his face kept changing. Almost like a battle was raging within him.

Strangely this didn’t frighten Buffy. She knew Angel would never hurt her and it comforted her to see signs of his demon emerging. His anger would help them when the time came to face her fear.

Buffy woke from another nightmare at about 5am. She didn’t want to sleep again and subject herself to the nightmares. She sat up, trying not to wake Angel. He was already awake though and immediately sat up when he heard her move.

“What is it?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“Nothing. I want to get up.”

Angel nodded. “I’ll make some coffee.”

“Thanks.”

Buffy wanted to head for the bathroom but it was no longer a good place for her. Instead she retrieved her toothbrush and paste and went to use the kitchen sink. Her body was full of aches and pains. She grabbed some Tylenol from the bathroom cabinet too. She had a feeling she was going to need it today.

Angel looked up questioningly when he saw her. She flashed the toothbrush at him and he nodded his understanding.

“Eggs?” he asked.

“OK.”

“How do you want them?”

“Cooked. Preferably.”

Angel smiled. A flicker of his Buffy was returning. He didn’t expect it to last but it was a start. She was strong, he new she’d get through this.

Buffy cleaned her teeth while Angel made scrambled eggs and toast. The only background noise was the coffee maker bubbling away.

Buffy sat at the table and drank from the glass of orange juice Angel had put out for her.

He didn’t want to ask the next few questions, so he didn’t. It was daylight so there wasn’t much he could do anyway. He decided to let Buffy enjoy breakfast as much as she could before he questioned her.

Buffy ate in almost silence, seemingly hypnotised by the eggs.

“They OK?” angel asked her.

Buffy looked up. “Yeah, their fine. Thanks.”

Angel decided to leave her to it for a while.

Buffy sat there trying to think of her day. She had no intention of going to class today but it helped keep her thoughts off recent events.

The phone rang. She heard Angel answer it.

She hoped it wasn’t her friends, hoped they wouldn’t come over. Buffy was glad Angel was here but she didn’t think she could handle more than one person at a time right now. And explaining to them what had happened… Well she didn’t know how to. The words wouldn’t come.

She couldn’t hear what Angel said but she heard him hang up the phone. Buffy finished her eggs and went to get changed. She couldn’t stay in her robe all day.

She opted for sweat pants and a baggy, lumberjack type shirt. It was probably one of Riley’s.

Buffy's heart sank when she through of him. How could she tell him? How could she keep their relationship going if she couldn’t bear to be touched by him? He would probably understand but it Buffy felt guilty about not wanting him to touch her. It wasn’t his fault but he would be the one to pay the price.

She changed deciding that was something to be dealt with when it happened.

She went down stairs again to see Angel in the living room. He looked grave. Buffy didn’t want to face his questions but she knew she’d have to. And of all people Angel would be her choice.

She sat down, the other end of the sofa from him and took a sip of the coffee he had placed there for her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Sore, ashamed, depressed, embarrassed.” She paused. “Want me to go on?” her words were bordering on playful but her tone was hollow and lifeless.

“I know you don’t want to do this but we have to.”

Buffy nodded. “I know.”

Angle waited for her to continue but she didn’t. “Who did it?” he asked.

“A vamp. Called himself Leonard.”

“How?”

Buffy took a deep breath. “I don’t know how. I was on parole, hadn’t found anything all night. Not much all week actually. It’s been really quiet lately.” She knew she was avoiding the subject so she took a deep breath and continued. “Anyway. I came across him.” She paused, her eyes were not focused on the here and now but rather on the events of last night. “It was weird. Like he knew he would over power me.” Another pause. “I… I just didn’t have my usual strength. He… He got the upper hand.” Another pause. Her face was a canvas of pain. “Then, after, he thanked me for the…The… Ride of his life. He said he’d be seeing me again.” Tears began to spring from Buffy’s eyes. “I can’t go out there again Angel. I cant.”

Unthinkingly she leaned into Angel who hugged her and tried to comfort her, strokin her hair and talking softly to her.

“Shh, you wont have to go out there. Not until we find out why you were so weak and you wont be alone. Not ever again.”

Buffy cried for along time, sometimes relating facts to him, sometimes speaking things he didn’t understand. Sometimes just sobbing.

While Angel tried to comfort her he thought of Leonard. He knew him, he was another of the Masters children, sired a few decade after Angelus was. He was strong being from the same lineage. He was also cockey. He always fancied himself as another Master but he was too quick to run head long into situations to gain any real power or respect.

Angel wondered just what he wanted to do with Buffy. He had killed one slayer but that had been a clean kill, no games since that had been a matter of life and death. Why he would come after Buffy and then leave her alive was a mystery.

Eventually Buffy stopped crying and sat up, wiping her eyes.

A shiver ran through her.

“Are you cold?”

“No. Just scared.”

Angel nodded. “We need to find out why you’re weaker.”

Buffy nodded. “But I’m not up to any sparing. And tests will have to be low on the exertion meter.”

Angel nodded. “I was thinking a blood test to start.”

Buffy nodded.

“I’ll call Willow, see if she can do some research for us.”

Fear briefly passed over Buffy’s face at the thought of facing someone else.

“Don’t worry.” Angel reassured her. “I’ll be with you.”

Buffy took a deep breath. She had nothing to fear from Willow. She was being silly.

As though reading her mind Angel said. “It’s not silly, it’s perfectly natural. Don’t worry, she’ll understand.”

Willow was the better choice since she had the science brain. Giles would have to be told eventually, but not for a while. Not until Buffy was ready.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“If it isn’t Willow send them away.”

Angel nodded and answered the door.