Buffy was about early the next morning but was strangely quiet.

“What is it?” angel eventually asked.

“Nothing.”

Angel tried again but she wasn’t telling.

Giles and Willow arrived a bit later.

Angel told everyone what he had learnt from Wesley earlier.

“John Raymond is listed as renting a property just outside Sunnydale on Valley Road It’s a large, 6 bedroom house. He had a two week let on the property.” Said Angel.

“Two weeks.” Said Giles. “In a 6 bed house with the prime views on that road for $400?”

“He probably has a vampire discount Giles.” Explained Angel. Giles looked at his quizzically. “You threaten to kill someone, they tend to give you a discount.” He clarified.

“Ahh, I see. So what now?” he asked.

Angel sighed. “We watch him. Make sure he stays put. Then…” he turned to Buffy. “We start training again.”

Buffy looked at him, a mix of fear, anger and sadness in her eyes.

“You know we have to.” Angel said softly.

Buffy left her seat in the kitchen and went through to the living room. Angel followed.

“You can’t run away from this.” Angel said.

Buffy turned to face him. “What would you know? Have you ever been through this?”

“No. But I wont let you run from it either.”

Giles and Willow crept from the kitchen to hear the exchange. It was becoming an argument.

“Run? RUN?” Buffy shouted. “How dare you!”

“How dare I? What about you Buffy? You wont even go for a walk alone!”

Angel hated saying these things but he felt he needed to awaken the anger in Buffy. If he did that she could find the strength to fight Leonard. And if he had to be the target of that anger for now… Well, so be it.

Buffy’s eyes narrowed at that last remark. “What did you say?” she asked quietly, her voice filled with venom.

“You heard me. You’re a slayer for god’s sake. Act like one.”

From nowhere Buffy struck Angel. “Don’t ever talk to me like that again.”

Willow went to intervene but Giles held her back. He wasn’t sure if what Angel was doing was right but it could work.

“Like what? The truth?” asked Angel.

She hit him again.

“Your weak Buffy. Face it!”

Buffy reigned down three more blows on Angel before he began to block them. She was angry now but she also needed someone who could fight back. Being just a target wouldn’t help her.

He began to fight back. His blows nowhere near as hard as hers but they were at least something she could block and practice with.

Angel was soon weakening though. He wasn’t sure if Buffy knew the force she was putting into each blow. He guessed she didn’t, she was just angry.

Buffy fought Angel with all she had, trying to make him pay for what he had said. Soon he wasn’t putting up a fight any more but she didn’t stop. She pounded him to the floor.

“BUFFY!”

Buffy looked towards the voice. Giles stood in the doorway looking sternly at her. Willow was beside him looking at Angel’s form lying on the floor, concerned.

Suddenly Buffy realised what she’d done. In a fit of rage she had hurt the one person who had always been there for her.

Angel saw Buffy look towards Giles. It hurt like hell but he stood up.

“Oh god Angel. I… I…”

“I’m fine,” he smiled at her. “It’s good to have you back.”

Buffy’s mouth dropped open as she realised what he had done. He had tricked her into fighting.

“Let me get you some ice for that.” She said running out of the room.

Angel immediately slipped into a chair.

“Are you OK?” asked Giles.

“No. I feel like I’ve been run over with a dump truck. But it’s OK. And don’t tell Buffy.”

Giles shook his head to say he wouldn’t just as Buffy returned with some ice in a tea towel.

“I’m sorry. Though you deserved it.” She said sitting on the arm of the chair and applying the ice to the bruises forming on his face.

“It’s OK,” he smiled. It wasn’t though. She had hurt him badly but if he told her that it might give her another reason not to fight. She would feel bad and she didn’t need that right now.

“Maybe you and Giles could do some more training while nurse my wounds?” Angel suggested with a smile.

Buffy had to admit his ploy had worked. The adrenalin was still in her system and she felt like a caged animal. She needed to work her rage out.

“OK. Good idea. Just let me finish here.”

Angel took her hand, lowering the ice from his face. “I’m fine.” He insisted.

Buffy nodded. “OK. Lets do it.” She gave the ice to Angel and walked out with Giles wollowing.

Angel lay back once they had gone and applied the ice to the bump on his head. Willow came over.

“Are you really OK? ‘Cos that looked like it hurt. A lot.”

Angel opened his eyes and smiled reassuringly at her. “It was worth it.”