Part 12

"Wyndon-Price?" Giles eyes widened in surprise in seeing his fellow watcher standing in front of Buffy's house at nine o'clock in the morning.

"Mr. Giles," Wesley held out a hand and accepted the other man's invitation into the house. "It's good to see you, although I wished," he sighed, "that it would be under happier circumstances."

"Yes," Giles agreed and motioned the younger man to follow him into the living room where a pot of hot tea was standing in the middle of the table. "Would you like some?"

"That would be wonderful," Wesley gave him a grateful smile, then for the first time noticed the blond vampire who was already sitting in front of the television, completely engrossed in a new episode of Passions. He completely ignored the guest and so the former watcher decided he didn't need to acknowledge him either. "Some fresh, strong tea would be heavenly."

"Watchers," Spike snorted without looking away from the screen, "so easy to please."

Giles just rolled his eyes and huffed, then went for the kitchen and returned with a clean cup for Wesley. Pouring some tea he asked, "Is there a reason you came or did you just want to see Angel?"

"Both actually," the younger man replied, took the cup and settled into the sofa. "Faith had another run in with the Initiative or so to speak. They captured a demon she had been tracking for a while. Needless to say, she didn't like it. But that's not the reason I came. I need to talk to Angel and I didn't want to only go to the hospital. How is he?"

"Tired," Giles said with a concerned expression in his eyes. "This whole situation is very hard for him." He shook his head, and continued, "They really share a special bond. We all tried to ignore it for too long. Instead of helping them, we thought it was for the best they split up, never realizing we'd push them right into a downward spiral."

"I came to the same conclusion," Wesley admitted. "The whole disaster with Darla," he sighed deeply. "I wonder if she would have had the same power if Buffy had still been by his side."

"Certainly not," the older man sipped from his cup. "So what is the problem in L.A.?"

"You remember I told you about this law firm, the last time we met?"

"Wolfram & Hart," Giles nodded. "Yes. Angel gave me some more information during the last weeks. Interesting bunch of people."

"Oh yes." Wesley took a deep breath.

"You don't want to tell me they have some connection with the Initiative?" Giles sat straight up in his chair. From the corner of his eye he noticed that Spike had switched off the television and was listening intently.

"We're not sure, exactly, but the building the Initiative uses for their purpose in L.A. is right next door to them. And I have a hard time believing that this is just a coincidence."

****

"So this other vengeance demon you know said she'd help you alter the curse?" Willow eyed Anya expectantly. The former demon had arrived at her dorm five minutes ago, with a huge smile on her face.

"She promised," Anya replied. "And Carla never breaks a promise. She's a vengeance demon, the same kind I was," she smiled smugly. "I thought about it, you know. You asking me to help and all. It has a nice side effect. Xander really got really pale when he noticed I've still got good connections to others in the business."

The redhead suppressed a giggle, "I bet. But back to the curse. When is she going to do it?"

"She promised to do it immediately," Anya said and took an apple from the nightstand. She inspected it for a moment, then bit right into it. Chewing she looked back at Willow, "There's just a tiny, little catch."

"A catch?" the witch quirked a brow.

"Uh-huh," the former demon nodded, "Carla needs a favor... A spell. Nothing difficult, but she needs a witch or two to help her... Get something she's after for years. So it'll be some sort of exchange, rather than a favor."

"What spell?" Willow demanded, an uneasy feeling entering her gut. Anya's behavior was too casual, that never meant anything good.

"Nothing big. Just a location spell.  There's a certain piece of jewelry she's after... a necklace."

"I see," the redhead replied. "But it's nothing illegal, is it?"

In response, the former demon just smiled.

****

"Ri," Graham smiled when his friend entered the room they shared at the new Initiative headquarters in L.A. "Finally you're back."

"I am," the blonde commando shrugged off his jacked and with a sigh let himself fall down on his bed.

"I gather it wasn't what you expected."

"No," Riley shook his head in the negative and closed his eyes for a moment. "Buffy's mom died and she... She's in a coma. Some slayer-thing."

"Oh man," Graham sat down on his own bed and watched his friend's still form. "That's... I'm sorry. How is she? I mean, did you see her?"

The other man's eyes opened slowly, then he propped himself up on an elbow. "No, I didn't," he replied after a moment. "You won't believe it, but the vampire, you know, Buffy's ex, is back in Sunnydale and it seems he isn't only sitting by her bed all the time, but, he's somehow managed to convince everyone to see the savior in him too."

Graham stared at Riley with big eyes, "You can't be serious."

"Unfortunately, I am. Mr. Giles all but threw me out. Not literally, but you could feel it in the air. And even Xander..." he shook his head, still barely able to understand what had happened in Sunnydale. "They've all joined the Angel fan club, suddenly. If I only knew what happened to her," he sighed and let his head fall back into the cushions. "Mr. Giles warned me to see her on my own and I promised, but I doubt he'll be willing..." Suddenly a thought entered his mind and he shot upright on his bed, "Graham, when is your next day off?"

*****

"The building next to Wolfram & Hart?" Angel stared at the two men standing in front of him.

Wesley nodded, "Yes. Faith was absolutely positive about that," he assured the vampire, "Besides being absolutely furious, of course."

A hint of a grin crossed Angel's features, "I bet," he said, then turned towards the window where the heavy drapes prevented the sunlight from reducing him to dust. "Do you have any proof that they're connected?" he asked.

"No, none," the former watcher replied, exchanging a short glance with Giles who was standing beside him and watching the vampire from concerned eyes. Angel's whole body language cried of exhaustion and Wesley had to admit that he hadn't seen his boss that tired for a long time.

Angel ran a hand through his hair and exhaled unneeded air from his lungs, "Let's hope they aren't. Because if they are..." he trailed off, not even wanting to go there. A powerful firm like Wolfram & Hart in alliance with the likes of the shady government organization the Initiative was downright crying for trouble. The kind of trouble that starts with a big, shiny "T".

Wesley who was sharing his thoughts shuddered slightly, "Yes, let's just hope," he repeated the vampire's words. Looking for a way to change the subject and not to add to his friend's sorrows, he glanced at the sleeping slayer in the bed. "How is Buffy?" he asked and when Angel turned and cocked a brow at him, he explained, "Mr. Giles told me about your... er... dreams."

"She's... thinking," the vampire replied looking at Giles. "She's still scared though. I don't know. When I tried to talk to her about coming back, she retreated instantly. God, Giles," again he ran a hand through his hair, "when I left her two years ago I really thought I did the right thing. Now..." he shook his head, "I'm not sure anymore. And although the time in L.A. was important for me... Maybe we shouldn't have cut down our connection the way we did."

"Angel," the watcher said hesitantly, "you look tired."

"I am," the vampire admitted, sitting down and rubbing his eyes. "I sleep a lot," he explained, "but... the dreams we share... They are... I have to use a lot of my strength to stay with her that way. At first, I didn't realize how draining they were, but now... My knees feel like rubber, but I can't leave her now." He looked up at the two men and almost smiled at the concern that was shining from their eyes. "She's at a breaking point. I forced her into a decision and ... I fear it could be fatal to leave her now and to give in into a fitful slumber." He suddenly laughed without humor and added, "Not that I would be able to sleep anyway."

"Oh! I almost forgot," Giles grimaced, then reached into his pocket, producing a quarter of fresh pig's blood, and handed it to the vampire. "I thought you might need it," he said and suddenly grinned, "Spike sends his love."

Angel couldn't help but chuckle at the comment, "Yeah, sure," he replied and then without even thinking about embarrassment opened the cup and drank the nourishment with long, hungry gulps. He was feeling as if he'd been starved for days and the blood brought back the parts of his energy he so urgently needed.

"No, but honestly," the watcher exchanged a short glance with his former colleague, "if Spike had to choose between you and Riley, he'd take you in an instant."

"And that's supposed to be a compliment?" Angel asked sarcastically.

"Well, he could have chosen Riley," Wesley joked.

"Yes, sure," the vampire shot him a look and slightly shook his head, chuckling. "Anyway. Thank you for bringing the information and for coming," he now gazed at the younger of the two men. Taking a deep breath, he looked back at Giles, "If anything happens with... I'll call you as soon as possible."

"I know," the watcher said gently and put an arm on Angel's shoulder. "I can never thank you enough for what you do," he said honestly.

"No need to thank me," the vampire replied without looking up. He took Buffy's hand, pulled it to his mouth and kissed it. "I'm doing this for her." **For us**, he added silently.

"Yes, I'm aware of that," Giles squeezed his shoulder, and then let go. "But I'm grateful nevertheless."

Part 13 Three days later.

Willow and Tara exchanged nervous glances when after the second ring, a blond haired woman finally opened the door to a two story house just outside of Sunnydale. The woman was in her thirties - at least that was what she looked like. If she was a vengeance demon, she could be any age.

The woman looked at them for a moment, but then a wide smile spread across her features when she recognized Anya. "Anyanka!" she exclaimed and enveloped the former demon in a tight hug. "It is so good to see you. The sisters all thought you were lost."

Anya cleared her throat before she answered, "Well, I am... In a way."

"Nonsense," the woman made a dismissive gesture with her right hand and then focused her eyes on the two witches. "And you must be the ones who were seeking my assistance with a gypsy-course?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Um..." Willow cast her eyes to her toes for a moment, then forced them back to the vengeance demon that looked just like some normal Sunnydale woman. God, this world was weird. "I guess we are," she answered for herself and Tara. "So you must be Carla?"

"That I am," the blonde replied with a smile. "And now, come in my dears, come in." She waved them inside and Tara and Willow couldn't help to be stunned by the expensive interior. From the outside the house hadn't looked like anything special, but now their eyes fell on the old wooden furniture that might be English - **medieval**, Willow thought - or French.

"Now, tell me," Carla hooked a hand under Anya's elbow and led her towards what seemed to be the living room. "Is it really true that you're just a human being? How do you adjust, being mortal all of a sudden?" She wrinkled her nose a little bit, "And you're going to age now, aren't you?"

"But I discovered the advantages of being human too," Anya said with a smug look.

"You did?" Carla raised an eyebrow and gazed at her curiously.

"Uh huh," the former demon nodded. "Mortal sex is something not to be underestimated, you know."

"Well," the blonde shrugged, "it has been centuries since I had that particular experience, but as I recall, there were some really... disappointing encounters." "You never knew Xander," Anya replied, feeling utterly superior.

While Carla looked at the former demon with sudden interest, Tara and Willow just rolled their eyes and followed the two other women into the living room. This evening would get very interesting.

****

Angel rubbed his eyes and sighed while his eyes rested on the sleeping form of the slayer. He should feel rested, he should feel refreshed, and he should've slept. There hadn't been any connection from Buffy for 72 hours and although the vampire was exhausted, he hadn't found the peace to rest.

As he promised her he'd been in the dreamscape, but Buffy hadn't come. He had tried to reach her, tried to enter her thoughts, to understand what was going on inside her head, but nothing. Absolutely nothing.

He stood up and walked over to the window. Pulling back the drapes, he stared at the stars and the moon shining from a dark sky. He couldn't remember when he'd ever felt so helpless before. No, he sighed again, of course that wasn't true. There had been many times in his life where he had felt helpless. The moment he'd felt his soul being ripped from him had been one. Or when Drusilla had turned Darla into a vampire. Or... Yes, there had been many times. But right now, this felt like the only one that counted.

Closing the drapes, he turned back to the bed and stared at Buffy. What was going on in her head? He knew he'd given her a lot to think about, but he had hoped she'd let him help to come to a decision of what to do with this knowledge. Chuckling he ran a hand through his hair. Of course, he should've known. She was the most stubborn, headstrong girl - young woman - he knew.

Buffy wasn't a girl anymore. Besides the fact that she'd had more than one lover, that she'd probably be more experienced and... No, he shook his head. He wouldn't go there. This road only led to insanity. He couldn't afford to let his thoughts wander that way.

It wasn't important, he told himself firmly then instantly called himself a liar. Of course, it mattered. Not in the way of love. He loved her, he would always love her, no matter what, but there was still too much of an 18th century man in him to be happy about the fact that she'd had other lovers.

God, he was a hypocrite! He had left her. Hadn't he himself told her to find a nice human boy? And now, he was cursing the fact that she had. At least she hadn't loved them. That should give him satisfaction. Yet, it didn't. The mere thought that another man had touched her silken skin, that another man had seen every inch of her goddess-like body, that another man...

Disgusted with his own thoughts, Angel spun back to the window and closed his eyes for a moment. The demon inside of him raged like crazy and for a moment Angel even wished for Riley to enter the room this very moment to let the demon come out and play. Just for a few seconds, just let the beast play with that... scum. That boy who had used her, had enjoyed what had been denied to Angel, and then left her when she needed him most.

But of course he knew he couldn't do that. Beside the fact that his demon wouldn't stop with Riley, Buffy would certainly be his next target. That, he thought, really brought things back into perspective. Turning back to his beloved, he walked to the bed and sat. His jealousy really was disgusting and absolutely crazy.

Buffy loved him. She'd told him repeatedly in his dream. It couldn't matter, mustn't matter, what happened between her and that loser who had dumped her or between her and Riley. Angel took her hand and kissed it gently. Glancing at the clock, he put his head down on her stomach and closed his eyes. He needed to contact her, talk to her. He simply needed her.

*****

Willow wasn't so sure that this had been her brightest idea. It had all sounded so easy, so... intelligent. She would help Carla, or rather Tara and she would. In exchange, the vengeance demon would translate and alter the curse for them. Yes, it sounded really good.

Now it didn't. Not anymore. Glancing at her lover, she could see the same thoughts reflected in Tara's eyes. The blond witch was looking aggregately at a ruby stone lying in the center of the living-room table, where Carla had placed it just before. It was, so she had told them, the only piece of the necklace she was searching for.

What really bothered Willow was the fact the stone was humming with negative energy, that kind of energy that was crying out evil. The redheaded witch felt trapped. There she was. Sitting in the living room of a person who could make Angel's, and more importantly Buffy's, dreams come true, the solution for them right before her and yet far away.

"Wha-" she cleared her throat. "What do you want us to do?"

Anya shot Willow a look that clearly said "duh", but Carla just smiled and gazed at the two witches. "This necklace has been in my possession for centuries," she explained, her voice grave. "It was much treasured. I once received it from... a friend," she said cryptically, "and it was stolen from me. I know you can feel the negative energy coming from the stone. But that's only due to the fact that an evil witch is now in possession of the necklace."

She pointed at the stone on the table, "This tiny piece just reflects what the whole necklace experiences."

"L- like s-some indicator," Tara said, seemingly deep in thoughts.

"Exactly," Carla beamed at her. "The problem is that in the wrong hands this necklace can do a lot of damage. I would've taken it back a long time ago, but unfortunately," she sighed and combed her fingers through her long, shiny hair, "This witch has some powerful friends who helped her to hide it."

"Hide it?" Willow raised a questioning brow.

"Yes," the demon nodded. "In a safe in an office. And this office is safely guarded, heavily actually," she informed the others.

"So you already know where the necklace is," the redhead glanced shortly at Anya who just shrugged. "We were informed all you needed was a location spell."

"A location spell?" Carla seemed surprised and Willow fumed inwardly at Xander's girlfriend who had obviously tricked them into this mess. Because that it was a mess, the witch was already sure of. "No, I don't need a location spell," the demon went on, "what I need is some sort of disguise. Some kind of magic hood if you want to call it that. Something to make me invisible, so that I can go in and get what is mine."

"A..." Willow cleared her throat. "A disguise? Uh... well," she gazed helplessly at Tara and was surprised to see her lover deep in thoughts. "Tara?"

The blond witch snapped out of her trance, "S-sorry," she gave the others a sheepish smile. "T-there might b-be a way to h-help you," she then said and instantly had everybody's attention. 

 Part 14 Spike was silently discussing if he'd rather stake himself. He was a big, badass vampire, right? Right! Then why in hell was he going to the Sunnydale hospital at this time of the day, rather the night? Had he gone soft?

Angrily he tossed his half-burned cigarette away and opened the back entrance. The one his fellow vampires had sometimes used to steal the blood-bags. He of course had never done that. Well, not then anyway. He had been on his way to become a master vampire and where had he ended up?

A heavy sigh escaped his mouth. It was of course Captain Cornbread's fault. His and that of his Initiative buddies. God, if he'd ever get rid of this damned bloody chip... It was a pathetic existence these days. He found himself even wishing back those "good old" days with the bloody bugger Angelus, Darla and Drusilla. Sure, Angelus had mocked him and made him feel low but at least he'd been able to hunt for his own food.

Spike stopped for a moment. The runt was in her bed. Yes, the watcher was at home and... He closed his eyes for a moment and banged his forehead against the wall. He was really thinking about a human's well being. He really should stake himself. Hadn't he mocked Angel about being the slayer's lapdog? And now he wasn't any better and he didn't even the excuse of a soul.

Why on earth was he here? He wanted to see the slayer. Angel would be there of course, and he could imagine the angry growl coming from his grand-sire's mouth, but he didn't really mind. At least Angel wasn't ignoring him. And he could always try to make him a little jealous. Yes, that could be fun, he decided.

When he suddenly saw a movement at the other side of the hallway, Spike melted into the shadows of a door. Why was someone creeping through the hallways of the hospital at that time of night?

****

"Buffy?" Angel asked when his feet touched the grass of the meadow, but there was no answer. More urgently he called again, "Buffy!"

He was in this dreamscape for ten minutes already, but she wouldn't come. More than 72 hours and no sign of her. She was still breathing, her heart was beating, he was sure of it. The beeping noises coming from the several machines Buffy was hooked at told him so.

Why wouldn't she communicate with him?

His eyes darted around, trying to find a glimpse of her, searching for any movement behind the trees, and his ears were listening to any possible noise. But there was nothing. Still nothing. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, tried to tell himself that she might need more time and...

"Angel?" her voice was hesitant and weak, but Angel couldn't remember ever having felt so much relief in hearing it.

He spun around and there she was. "Buffy," he said softly and walked over to where she was standing, the bright light of the sun shining down on her features, creating highlights in her silky strands.

"Hi," she greeted him with uncertainty in her voice. "I almost didn't come," she told him.

"Why?" he asked, gently taking one of her hands in his. Her skin was cold and looking at her he could see a slight shiver running over her body. Fear gripped his stomach, knotting it into a tight fist. "Why?" he asked again.

"Because of the things you're going to say to me," she replied, casting her eyes down. "Because you'll try to persuade me to come back with you," she added in a whisper and Angel was glad about his vampire hearing.

"So you don't want to come back?" he asked. He felt cold sweat between his shoulder blades, the droplets running down his spine, and was cursing himself for telling her about the Forgotten Day. It was his fault. He should never...

"It's not that," her voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What?" "What you showed me," she said with a slight smile, reading his mind. "Actually that was the only good thing I heard. And your Shanshu, of course. But you still don't know when it's going to be, right?"

"No," he said, slowly shaking his head. "I'm not sure it was such a good idea telling you about it. Your mind is on a one-track-way. You were living your life here Buffy, without me. Why, all of a sudden, is it so important that I'm in it again? Why are you so focused on our relationship? I know you didn't like the separation. I didn't either. But you were doing... if not well, then at least alright."

"That's where you're wrong. Okay, I had my friends. I still have them. And I had Riley. But can't you see that it was just a way to lie to myself, that I tried to feel a vacuum in my life that can't be filled or, well... It can only be filled with the person who is missing. Angel I tried, I really tried to do what you wanted me to. It didn't work."

He looked at her for a long moment, and then pulled her into his arms. "I miss you every day, Buffy," he said hoarsely, feeling fear grip him like a tight fist. "But I can bear it as long as I know you're around. I can't go on without you."

"But you *are* without me already," she shouted, pulling back and looking at him with accusing eyes. "*You* left me! We lived without each other. You want to know why this is so important to me? Because my mom died. She died," she snapped her fingers, "just like that. And you know what? It told me that life is short." Seeing the expression in his eyes she nodded, "Yes, I know death is with me all the time. I know I'm the slayer, I've even accepted that I'm going to die. We all will... someday," she said with a pointed look at him.

"But although I've thought about death, a lot actually, it was still something foreign. It hadn't intruded in my family so far, but suddenly it did. Everyone of us can die in an instant and because of this and the fact that my life might be shorter than other peoples," she shrugged slightly and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Well, I'm through with trying to take the second best. I am the slayer, I save the world night after night and I've come to the conclusion that I deserve the best, not some 'try to be happy' shit, no," she shook her head emphatically, "oh, no, I want the best. But you won't give it to me and so there is no sense in returning to this, this so called life." Her face was flushed with anger when she finished and she was pacing the meadow in front of him. Suddenly she stopped and faced him again, "So, in a nutshell, either I get what I deserve or someone else can be a slayer and live a miserable life for a change." ****

The book in Giles's lap met the ground with a loud thump, when the watcher started from a light slumber in hearing the phone ringing. A little bit disoriented he pushed his glasses that had been hanging on his nose, back up and struggled to stand. He started again, when he realized that Wesley had beaten him to the phone.

"Yes, the Summers-residence," he heard his former colleague say.

He was really getting old, he thought. Wesley had been coming down the stairs and been faster. A heavy sigh escaped his mouth. Maybe he should think about retiring one of these days.

"What? " Wesley's voice had risen and he turned, casting his eyes, filled with a mixture of anger and worry, on the older Brit. "Are you sure?" he asked the person on the other end.

"What happened?" came Dawn's sleepy voice from the stairs. She was rubbing her eyes and looking at the two men in confusion. "Is something wrong with Buffy?" she asked.

Swearing under his breath Wesley threw the receiver down and his gaze darted between the slayer's sister and her watcher. "Not yet," he said, his teeth clenched in anger, "but there might be, if we're not going to prevent it."

****

Angel was speechless. That didn't happen often these days, after all there weren't a lot of things that surprised you after living 250 years on this earth, but he was, now. Who was this woman standing in front of him, her eyes blazing with anger, her whole body radiating with stubbornness? She had made up her mind, and he could see it in her hazel orbs. Nothing he could say would change that. She wanted everything, not only bits and pieces. No single kisses every other year in a graveyard.

This was a grown up woman looking at him, not the teenager he'd left. This Buffy knew what she wanted, she'd told him so. She wanted everything. And that meant him in her eyes. Casting his eyes to the blue sky, he had not the slightest idea what to do and ran a helpless hand through his hair. Was she right? Had he deprived them of something special? Sighing he knew the answer in an instant. The love between them was one in a million. Mortal enemies, separated by so many things he couldn't count and yet they'd found a way to be together.

Fear and something that resembled the faintest hope crawled up his spine. Could it really work? Was there a chance to be together, no matter what it would look like? And more importantly did he even have a chance to decide differently? She had made up her terms and all he could do was accept them or- No, there wasn't really a choice. Rejecting her would mean she'd retreat into the shell of her sleeping body forever or, possibly, even worse.

After all they'd been together for almost a year after knowing about his curse. Okay, so there had been ups and down, but after a while they'd come to terms with facts that couldn't be denied. Very vividly the picture of a kiss in front of a cinema sprang into his mind. He had been in control. And another morning, when she'd woken up in his arms shortly before the Prom.

It hadn't been too bad then, had it? Had it been the images created by The First that had initiated his doubts? Or had it been the mayor, or Joyce? No, he told himself, Joyce hadn't been the reason. When she'd come to the mansion he'd already made up his mind. Cordelia had once said he would always think of other people and never of himself. Was Buffy right? Was this the time to think about themselves, for a change? To finally forget about the world, and the friends who were afraid of their union? Had they earned this? Looking back at her he saw her standing, her eyes watching him, her body language impatient. She was waiting for his answer. And there was only one he could give her, only one that made sense all of a sudden. It was so clear and he couldn't believe he'd been blind for so long. They belonged to each other. And somehow they would find a way. A smile crept across his face and he reached out to take her hands, but the moment he tried to speak he felt two strong hands grabbing his shoulders, pulling him out of the dreamscape. Away from her. He struggled and tried to stay, but he was too weak. The nights had taken their toll and there wasn't enough strength left. "Buffy," he looked at her with panic in his eyes and saw the expression mirrored in hers.

"ANGEL!" her frantic shout was the last thing he heard before he lost the connection. 

 Part 15 "I don't understand why we had to get Xander first," Dawn shot a glare at the two men in the front through the rear mirror.

"Hey!" the young man at her side shouted and looked at her accusingly.

"Dawn," Giles' voice was stern. "I already explained to you, that we might need some more help."

"But I thought Wesley was saying this was urgent business," she replied. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, and leaned back in the seat. The men surrounding her made her want to scream. There was obvious danger at the hospital, Buffy's hospital, and they took the time to get Xander.

"It is," the former watcher turned slightly and gave her a tight smile. "And still, even urgent business needs some planning."

"Planning," she echoed and rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. I can see your planning. You're going to plan, and plan, and plan until there's nothing left to execute your great plan."

"Don't forget that Angel is a vampire, he knows how to fight and he's very strong," Xander tried to soothe her.

"He's tired," she said not looking at him but at Wesley. "You said he was tired."

"He... uh... yes, I admit he is. Exhausted actually," the younger Brit's eyes wore a worried expression.

"See," Dawn turned her head with a "duh"-look on her face directed at Xander. "And it's not like Spike could do anything. Or did you all forget about his little problem?"

*****

The hands on his shoulders pulled him backwards. Angel tried to struggle but the combination of exhaustion from the new dream and the disorientation from being violently torn from the dreamscape made him almost as weak as he'd felt when coming back from hell. Helplessly he felt the chair dropping back and with him crushing on the floor.

His thoughts still of Buffy and her frantic shout, his eyes popped open only to fall on the faces of two angry men who were towering above him, their orbs shooting daggers at him.

"Keep your filthy hands off her," Riley shouted.

**If looks could kill**, Angel thought and tried to get a grip on the things happening in the real world.

"Riley," he gazed at the tall, blond human while he was struggling to get up.

"Stay down, vampire," Graham hissed, raising his hand, which was holding an immobilizing weapon.

Angel turned to look at the young man straight in the eye and without saying a word he got to his feet. If the situation hadn't been so precarious, he would've chuckled seeing Graham's hand tremble. Obviously, it was different hunting vampires and demons in the night than it was standing right in front of one in a lightened hospital room. "Stay away," Graham hissed again, and backed away until his back met the wall. It wasn't that the sight of a vampire frightened him. Not really. But this hostile had an air about it... Involuntary shivers ran down his spine and he tightened his hold on the gun.

Angel raised both his hands in a gesture of showing he wasn't going to fight, then looked at Riley, "You did something really stupid, *boy*," he growled at Buffy's former boyfriend.

"Oh, did I?" the blond raised a brow, a cold smile playing on his lips. "And pray, what was so stupid? Because all I saw was that, we saved the slayer from a vicious, evil hostile.

"Hostile?" now it was Angel's time to raise a brow. "Interesting choice of words," he mused. "Why did you come back?" he glared at the human. "To find another vampire to fulfill your, ... er ... unusual, desires?"

Riley's eyes widened in surprise. Had Buffy told him? Had she trusted this creature with her most important secrets? He could feel disgust creeping up his spine and his stomach clenched painfully, the sudden, unexpected jealousy almost eating him up. She trusted this - thing when she'd never trusted him in all the time they'd been together. Not really, anyway.

"That's none of your business," he shot back, glad that he managed to stay calm on the outside. Then it suddenly hit him. No, Buffy couldn't have been the one to tell him. She was in a coma, wasn't she? But what if she'd told him earlier. That meant the vampire'd been in Sunnydale, that they had talked, maybe even more...

Angel eyed the chair beside Buffy's bed. He felt so weak, all he wanted was to sit down and rest. He was glad that he hadn't started to sway on his feet. In addition, the thought of Buffy alone and panicked in the dreamscape, not understanding what was happening, made him feel sick inside. He closed his eyes wearily for a moment and grabbed the back of the chair with one hand.

That had been wrong he knew the second he reopened his eyes and saw Riley looking at him with a smile on his lips and a superior expression in his eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be some strong, evil vampire," he taunted and approached the man - **no, not man**, he reminded himself - who had been his rival for so long. Who had held Buffy's heart although having left her years ago.

"It seems," Riley grinned and raised his gun, "that today you aren't in the position to kick my ass. On the contrary," he advanced another step, "it seems the tables are turned today."

****

Buffy's eyes darted around on the meadow in search for Angel. What had happened? Why had he left their private sphere so quickly? And there had been that expression in his eyes. There was surprise, fear, even panic.

Where was he?

Spinning around she couldn't find him. She called his name again and again, but he wouldn't answer. Maybe... couldn't?

"Angel?" this time her voice was barely above a whisper and she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. There had been something in his eyes, before they'd been so abruptly interrupted. And she could remember the smile on his face. He had been about to say something and the expression in his dark orbs... Had it been happiness? Had he decided ...?

Her thoughts began to run wild, her heart beating a mile a minute, as she tried to understand what had happened. She closed her eyes and tried to reach out for him, tried to hear his voice as she'd done before he'd ever entered the dreamscape they'd been sharing for over a week.

Then she heard it. There were voices. Not only his, but another and... a third! What was going on around her? Then suddenly there was a noise, like a fist connecting with, flesh... **Oh God, was there a fight? Angel!** His name shot into her head and her stomach felt as if a fist had connected with it.

What was happening, damn it?!

Then she heard a grunt. Angel! That sound was definitely coming from him. A groan. She could almost feel his weakness, his struggle, his... pain?! He was in danger. And suddenly she recognized the second voice reaching her subconscious. He was going to hurt Angel.

Her eyes snapped open. She didn't care why he was obviously not fighting back. She didn't care why they were fighting. Only one thought was imprinted in her head. Angel was being beaten up and he needed her.

There was no time left to think things through. She had to act and soon. Glancing at the green meadow for a last time, Buffy began to run. ****

When Riley's fist connected with his face, Angel stumbled backwards against the wall. No longer able to stand upright his body was gliding down. Looking at the commando, he saw the rage in the other man's eyes and the hatred that was created by a combination of the things he'd learned at the Initiative and the fact that he'd lived under the image of the vampire all the time he'd shared with Buffy.

"Why don't you fight back?" he demanded, towering over the vampire who crouched on the floor. "Does your precious little soul prevent you from hurting humans?"

Angel closed his eyes for a moment, cursing his weakness and collecting all his remaining strength, picturing Riley betraying Buffy with vampire-whores, then suddenly his foot shot out, met Riley's stomach with quite some force and had the blond flying at the opposite wall. **Maybe that'll keep him away for a moment**, he was sure he wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer. The dream was more draining than any of the others. And there was still the worry what would happen to Buffy over there.

Was she frightened? Was she searching for him? Worse, would she think he'd abandoned her and was now retreating from this world forever?

Opening his eyes again he saw Riley groaning and holding his midsection. At least he hadn't lost his touch completely, Angel thought with a little satisfaction. Exhausted or not, he was still a vampire and he wouldn't surrender to this two stupid humans without a fight.

A sudden movement had him turning his head only to see another fist flying towards his face and connecting with it at the same spot where he'd been hit before. "You damned hostile," Graham hissed, rising his fist again, when suddenly the door opened and Spike appeared in the doorway.

"Hey, you bloody wanker," he shouted and slipped into his game-face. "Keep your hands off my grand-sire."

Graham jumped back with horror in his eyes in seeing the other vampire entering, but when Riley looked and said, "Spike, what the hell are you doing here?" Graham remembered that this was hostile 17 and that he, hopefully had still the chip in his head.

Grinning, mostly relieved that he wouldn't end up as a vampires midnight meal he went for Angel again, who's breath was ragged by now, and who was trying everything to keep himself from fainting.

"What the hell did you do to him?" Spike demanded, crouching down beside his grand-sire. "I asked, what you did to him, you bloody idiots?" he shouted casting his accusing glare at Riley and Graham, at the same time asking himself what was wrong with him that he was caring for Angel. Glancing at the commandos for a second time, he had his answer.

"Just push him away," Riley groaned again, getting back on his feet and looked at his friend. "He can't hurt you."

"I know," Graham replied, but hesitated. What was happening here? A vampire was caring for another? Then there was still this picture in his mind where the dark-haired vampire had been resting his head on the slayer's stomach. And for the hell of it, he couldn't find anything evil in it. On the contrary, it had looked perfectly peaceful.

"What is the matter with you?" the blond commando glared at his friend who had lowered his weapon.

"Ri," the other man said, "Maybe we should just listen to them for a moment."

"Listen to them?" Riley raised an incredulous brow. "Are you mad? They're hostiles. One of them might have a chip, but the other sure as hell doesn't." Shaking his head in disbelief, he turned towards the two vampires. "Oh well. I might also do this all myself." And with that he raised his gun and pointed it towards Angel. Again, a smile crept over his lips. "And now, my friend, you will learn what it means to cross the Initiative's path."

However, before he could fire his weapon, a foot connected with his back and had him flying through the room again, while an angry voice came from behind, "How often do I have to say this? Nobody messes with my boyfriend."

Angel's and Spike's heads snapped up, the dark-haired vampire instantly awake and his eyes wide open and alert, while he managed to stutter, "B-Buffy?"

"Bloody hell," his blond grand-childe muttered under his breath.

Dark-haired vampire's and slayer's eyes met and held, while silent communication passed between them. Then Buffy smiled, when she said, "You are my boyfriend, right?"

It wasn't really a question and Angel felt a smile creeping up his face as well. "Right," he replied, his gaze never leaving hers.

"Oh bloody hell," Spike muttered again and rolled his eyes. "Now it starts with the googely eyes again."

The same moment the door was pushed open and revealed Giles, Wesley, Xander and Dawn, their faces wearing either angry or frightened expressions. When the watcher's eyes fell first on the groaning commando, then on the sitting vampire and finally on his **awake??** slayer, he shouted, "Can anybody please explain what the bloody hell is going on here?"

Go to the Part 16