Chapter 25

Buffy awoke the next morning in Angel’s embrace. They were both fully clothed having fallen asleep as soon as they got back.

The events of the night before came back to her. Her inability to help Angel, her paralysis. She swore silently at herself, wondering what kind of a slayer she thought she was.

Angels arms tightened around her and she looked up into his eyes.

“Hey.” He said.

“Hey.”

“How do you feel today?”

“Kinda foolish.”

“Don’t. What you’re doing is perfectly natural. Don’t berate yourself for it, you’ll only feel worse.”

“I cant help it. He almost got you Angel and I did nothing.”

“You killed him and saved me, how is that nothing?”

“I… I should have done more. I should have helped from the start.”

Angel took hold of her hand and kissed the back. “You’ll get better, I promise. It just takes time. Can you do that? Can you give yourself time?”

Buffy nodded but sighed. “I guess.” She offered reluctantly.

Angel smiled and kissed her hand again. “Try.”

He pulled her closer and Buffy settled into him.

She lay there thinking. It was her turn to brood these days.


Later everyone assembled at the Summers home for Sunday lunch. Will, Tara, Xander, Anya, Giles, Cordie and Wes all turned up, invited, it appeared, by Buffy’s Mom.

Buffy wasn’t scared of these people any more though. Crowds made her uncomfortable but these were friends; she could deal with that.

Buffy brushed off questions about her patrol the night before, preferring to focus on their lives instead. No one had any real news that she hadn’t heard before but they managed to chat about something.

As the plates were being cleared Cordelia cried out and grabbed her head.

Angel rushed to her side as the others looked on, shocked.

“What’s wrong?” asked Xander. Anya hit him in the ribs for asking about his ex. He shot her a glare back.

“Visions.” Wes explained. “They are quite painful for her.”

Cordie slowly recovered and Angel sat her upright on her chair again.

“The Fox Hole club, there’s going to be a pack of vamps there tonight.” She said, still holding her head.

“What time?” asked Angel.

“After sunset I guess, I didn’t get a time, just a day.”

“Tonight?”

“Yeah.”

Angel checked his watch, it was now 3.55pm. They had better get back since LA was a 2 hour drive away. He looked over to Buffy. The look on her face told him she knew he was leaving. He walked over to her and gently led her out to the hallway so they could talk.

“I’m sorry.” He said.

“No, I knew this would happen. You have to go.”

Angel gave an unnecessary sigh. “Yeah.”

“Can I come? I might be of some help.”

Angel looked sceptically at her. If she was anything like last night he would just be spending more time protecting her than killing the vampires. “I think it’s best if you don’t.” he said, trying to be gentle.

Buffy nodded, realising she was a liability these days, not a help.

“Are you coming back?” she asked.

Angel kissed her forehead. “Always.”

Cordie and Wes came out into the hallway, ready to go.

“Angel.” Wes began. “We should make a move.”

Angel nodded, planted another kiss on Buffy’s forehead and stepped backwards towards the door. “Don’t patrol without me.” He cautioned Buffy. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”


Angel waited in the club for the vampires to show. It was 8pm already and still nothing. He was worried about Buffy. He should be there with her. He wanted to be there with her but he knew his duty right now was here.

Cordie nudged Wes in the ribs. “Is it me.” She whispered, “or is he even more broody tonight?”

“It’s not you.” Wes whispered back then looked back out, scanning the crowd for vampire activity.

“Where are they?” Angel growled.

Cordie looked at him warily. “Angel, chill. She’ll be fine and getting all worked up isn’t going to help you.”

Angel knew she was right, he took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Of course Buffy was OK, she had her mother and her friends with her and she wasn’t patrolling. She was fine. She was.

But it didn’t feel like she was fine.

Thirty minutes later the vampires showed themselves, walking in, shoving people out of the way. There were at least 15 of them. The head vampire climbed up onto a table.

“Boys,” he called, addressing other vamps. “Drinks are on the house.” He vamped out as did the other vampires and Angel, Wes and Cordie leapt into action.

Angel began fighting them, taking out as many as he could. Wes did his best as well, pretty much holding his own. Cordie played the victim, getting them to grab her as she brought her stake out to stab them in the back. She took out three that way.

Eventually the din died down and only Cordie, Wes and Angel were left standing. The crowd cheered them.

“Lets go.” Said Angel, storming away.

Buffy paced up and down the living room. Her fiends had gone home at her insistence. Now all she needed was to decide what she was going to do. As the sun went down she grew more and more agitated. She should be out there, fighting. Not in here pacing waiting for Angel.

It was her job to protect. She was being weak just sitting here, or rather, walking here.

She glanced at the clock again. It read 10:04.

She looked over to her backpack again, filled with stakes and crosses and decided to go for it. She had to do this sometime.

Grabbing the bag she headed for the door.