Part 16

Dr. Backer walked into the children's ward. He passed various beds of sick children, until he came to one particularly sick boy, he pulled a syringe out of his pocket, and injects it into the boys IV . He pulled the needle out, to put it back in his pocket. Dr. Backer jumped when he heard a muffled laugh from behind, he turned to look but no one was there. When his attention was focused back on the boy, suddenly he was hit in the back, the blow causing him to keel over. Dr. Backer groaned in pain as another blow was struck in his chest, by something unseen.

Two beds down Ryan awakens, he sees what is happening and cowers in fear.

Dr. Backer started to breath hard as if trying to keep air in his lungs, he yelled in agony, when four slashes rip through him going so deep the blood spilled profusely. On the wall a shadow can be seen swinging its arm for another slice at the doctor, and blood sprays onto the wall.

Buffy came toward the children's rooms, wanting to check on Ryan and the other kids, as she reaches the door, Dr. Backer comes flying out the door, and onto the floor. Buffy comes to his aid trying to help him, but something pushes her way, causing her to hit the wall hard, knocking her unconscious. Dr. Backer's arms are lifted by the unseen being, and his body is pulled around down the hall, a stream of blood following him.

The next day, Buffy informed everyone what had happened to Dr. Backer, now that they knew he wasn't involved with the children's death, they were trying to find out what the monster was, and why it was killing the children, one by one. Buffy listened as Giles and Cordelia explained, what they had found out, with the help of a picture Buffy took from one of the kids.

"We know what it is?" Cordelia said, over the phone. "It's called Der Kindestod, the name means 'child death'. This book says that he feeds off of children by sucking the life out of them. But anyway, afterwards, it looks like they died because they were sick.

"So it killed the little girl." Buffy stated.

"Yeah, that's my take" Cordelia replied."'Cause it would be looking at the children's ward as basically an all-you-can-eat kind of thing, y'know."

"Backer was curing the kids and taking away the Kindestod's food." Buffy realized.

Buffy overheard Giles, say that he knew how it kills the children and took the phone from Cordelia. "Um, Buffy, the Kindestod gorges by sitting atop it's prey, pinning it down, then slowly draws out the life; must be horrifying for the victim.

But is was just as horrifying as the on looker, Buffy froze in place, her mid going back to a long ago memory. She remembered the screams, and the terror of that memory, it was so vivid in her mind as if it just happened. Willow saw the paleness in Buffy's face, and took the phone from her.

Buffy slowly came out of her daze. "It killed Celia."

"Your cousin?" Willow said confused.

"We have to get this thing, Willow, before it gets any more kids."

Willow saw her determination. "You will. We will."

"But how? I-I can't even see it." Buffy asked

"You saw it once."

Buffy shook her head confusingly. "Did I? Uh, maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. I mean, I was crazed with that fever. Who knows..." She stopped for a second, when she realized that she had the fever when she saw it. Buffy grabbed Willow's hand and dragged her in Dr. Backer's office.

They went straight to his refrigerator, she began looking for the serum that held the virus, that everyone had. Willow began to get worried. "Buffy, think about this."

"I have." She said sternly. Buffy searched through the test tubes on the shelf. "The fever, that's how you see the Kindestod. That's why Celia could see it. That's why Ryan still can. It's the only way."

Willow got frantic, and tried to make Buffy see what she was doing. "How are you gonna fight this thing with 107 degree temperature?

Buffy shrugged. "I guess we'll find out."

She uncapped the tube and raises it to drink the serum. Willow quickly stopped her. "Buffy!"

Buffy sighed. "Willow, I'm going to do this." "Buffy, that's 100% pure. It'll kill you in an instant."

"Oh." Buffy mumbled. "They really should put that on the label."

Willow quickly reaches into the refrigerator for a bottle of drinking water and grabbed a beaker that was sitting on top of the desk. "It needs to be diluted." She takes the test-tube and draws some of the serum into a dropper. She holds it over the beaker and lets a single drop fall in.

"More." Buffy replied

Willow looks up at her, worried, but gives in and puts another drop into the water. Buffy takes the beaker, she exhaled slowly. "Here's to my health." Buffy quickly downed the glass. She could already feel the virus taking affect, as they walked toward the children's ward. Buffy froze when they got to the double doors, she saw that the kids were not there.

"They're gone." She said, before stumbling into Willow. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Slowly with the help of Willow, they began to search the hospital.

The kids were hiding in the boiler room, led by Ryan. Hoping and praying that the monster would not find them, Ryan tried to soothe a frightened girl, until a clawed hand grabbed him. The other kids began screaming. Kindestod held Ryan down to the ground, the boy's eyes widened in fear as the monster's eyes bulged out, and extended toward Ryan's forehead. He screamed in agony as he felt his energy being drained.

Suddenly Kindestod took a blow to the head causing his eyes to snap back into their sockets. It turned, and saw Buffy standing there with a lead pipe in her hand.

"You make me sick." Buffy said, pun intended. She lunged at the monster, using the pipe in her hand, as a fierce weapon.

Xander, who had came with her rushed to get the kids out of danger. He was a little stunned at the sight of Buffy fighting something he could not see.

Buffy fought as best she could, knowing that the fever was affecting her badly. After a while, the sound of a snap could be heard vibrating in the room. Xander ran over to help her. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She stumbled in his arms, but he held her tightly as the made there way up the steps.

Xander kept looking behind him. "He's dead right? I mean, I heard something snap."

Chuckling "That would be his neck."

**************************

At the Summers home; Buffy, Willow, and Xander were lounging in Buffy's bedroom. Willow and Xander came over to keep a still sick Buffy company, and she enjoyed every minute of it. She loved being spoiled, especially Angel; he kept sending balloons, and flowers, her room was littered with all of it. The trio were watching a movie when Joyce came in.

"Here you go, honey. Peanut butter and jelly, without the crust, just the way you like it."

She sits on the bed next to Buffy and puts the glass on the nightstand. Buffy was lying back comfortably.

"And the juice?" Buffy asked.

Joyce smiles. "Two parts orange, one part grapefruit." She got up from the bed, and started to walk out.

"That's my drink."

Buffy examines the sandwich and frowns. "Oh, Mom?"

Joyce turned back to her daughter "Mm-hm?"

"I wanted crunchy peanut butter."

"Oh, sorry." Joyce walks back to get the plate. "Anything to help my daughter get well." She said, the tone in her voice, meant getting well soon. Before she could leave, Xander and Willow began making orders as if it was a restaurant, Joyce reminded herself that they were here for Buffy and they were guests in her home. She nodded, and started to leave. Coming back quickly, holding an envelope. "Oh this came in the mail."

Buffy took the letter, and smiled. "It's from Ryan."

"The boy from the hospital?"

Buffy takes out the paper inside and unfolds it. Joyce looks down at it.

"Oh, he drew you a picture."

Getting a closer look of the picture, it showed a blond standing over a monster with her foot up on its chest. The monster's neck is split open and blood is gushing out. Buffy, and Xander smiled.

While Joyce was little taken back. "How ... nice."

Part 17

At the Bronze, Buffy leaned against the railing above, watching the band play. She sighed heavily, it was evident on her face that she was not having a good time, no matter how much she tried to hide it. Buffy gave up and turned around, surprised to see him standing so close to her.

"Hi, I'm Ben." He introduced. When he noticed that she didn't remember him, he spoke again. "We had Algebra II last year."

Buffy was a little shocked for words. "Sorry, I..um."

Ben shook his head. "It's OK. So I was wondering, you know the dance tomorrow, are you going?"

"You mean the Sadie Hawkins thing? The deal where the girls ask the boys?"

"Yeah." Ben answered. "I thought, maybe you know, if you're free, you might ask me..."

Surprised. "Oh, I..." She was not expecting this. "I'm sorry, you seem like a really great guy, I'm sort of seeing somebody."

Ben sighed defeatedly. "Ok, well I better..." He indicated that he was going to go , and quickly left.

Buffy watched him go for a moment, before glancing sadly down at the band. The song was making her even more depressed. Lately she'd been getting that way ever since she got out of the hospital. She didn't know where it came from, but it was like everything that has been happening, with Angelus, Jenny's murder; was weighing on her. Buffy couldn't seen to escape the thought that this was her fault, no matter what Angel, Willow or Giles said to her, she didn't do her job to protect the innocent, and people died because of it. She took one more glance at the band and headed for the stairs.

When Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs, Willow approached her.

"Hey! You're bailing?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna stop by the library and see if Giles wants me to patrol, then I'm gonna sack it."

Willow looked at her sadly. "You've been doing that a lot. Patrolling and sacking. In fact you've kind of been all-work-and no-play-Buffy."

"I have big fun, I came tonight, didn't I?"

"But you're still broody, you need to loosen up, be impulsive like before."

Buffy looked at her friend like she was crazy. "Impulsive? Do you remember my boyfriend, the vampire? I slept with him, he lost his demon, and the demon who wears his face is killing my friends. The next impulsive thing I make will involve my choice of dentures."

Willow sighed, getting just a bit depressed herself. "Ok, the Angel thing went a little badly, but that's not your fault."

Buffy held up her hand to stop her from talking. "Look, I'm gonna go, you have fun." She walked away quickly before Willow had a chance to respond.

*************************************

At Sunnydale High, screams could be heard vibrating the halls. A boy chased his girlfriend as she walked away from him determinedly.

"Come back here!! Were not finished!!" He yelled angrily, grabbing her by the arm, and turned her around to face him. "You don't care is that it?"

The girl continued to sob. "No, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter what I feel."

Shaking her. "Then tell me you don't love me. Say it!!"

"Will that help?" She asked. "Is that what you need to hear? I don't. I don't! Now let me go." She pulled to get away, but he kept his grip on her.

"No! A person doesn't just wake up and stop loving somebody!!"

Shakingly he takes a step back, and raises his hand that held a revolver. He pulls the hammer back, and aims it at his girlfriend.

She looks at the gun, and back at him frightened.

His hand trembling. "Love is forever. I'm not afraid to use it I swear!! If I can't be with you...."

Buffy unknowingly turned the corner, heading towards the library, and saw the couple arguing; her eyes widened when she saw the gun. "Hey!!"

The girl was panting with hear. "Oh my god!"

Buffy starts running toward them, she knocked the boy down, making him drop the gun.

A janitor came running when he heard the scuffle, he runs to the girl who seemed to be in a comatose state.

Buffy grabbed the boy by his collar, his shock expression wasn't registered to Buffy.

"What happened??" He asked.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "What happened? You just went O.J on your girlfriend."

The boy shook his head. "This is nuts!! I... I don't know why I got so mad."

"Because you're a jerk?" Buffy said sarcastically, she couldn't believe the sob story he was trying to push on her.

"He's not." His girlfriend said, coming out of her shocked state. "We weren't fighting a few minutes ago."

"If you weren't fighting, then why'd you have a gun?" Buffy asked.

The janitor looked around. "I don't see a gun."

Buffy looked at him, and a confused look settled on her face.

PART 18

"Are you okay?" Angel asked. Buffy had shown up at the apartment, she seemed confused and a little depressed. Buffy looked at him, but didn't answer, and that worried him. He sat down beside her, hoping he could help. Angel touched her hand lightly, and tried not to let the confusion flash in his eyes when she moved her hand away. She never cringed from his touch, she always said that his touch was the only thing that gave her comfort.

"Don't." Buffy said. "I'm not your problem to solve, Angel."

Angel couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What?"

Buffy sighed and grabbed her jacket. "I don't know why I came here." She headed for the door, until Angel stepped in front of her.

"We need to talk, now." Angel demanded.

Knowing he wouldn't let her leave, Buffy reluctantly went back to the couch and flopped down. Angel followed her, but made sure to give her enough personal space. "What's going on?" He replied softly. "You used to tell me everything."

She raked her hand through her hair and looked at him. "Maybe I want to keep some things to myself."

"Then why did you come here?"

She hesitated. "I don't know."

"Maybe you were hoping I'd give you a better state of mind."

Buffy glanced down. "I don't know what you mean."

Angel titled her head up to face him. "I think you do." He paused for a moment. "It's not your fault, Buffy."

Buffy snapped her head towards him, she was about to deny it, but he knew her better than anyone,so lying would be futile. "Yes, it is." She whispered.

"Buffy, no..."

Buffy jumped up from the couch and started pacing. "Angel everything that has happened wouldn't be if I hadn't pushed you that night. And I made it worse the night it Jenny died." She took a breath. "I can't help but feel bad because I don't regret what we did."

"I don't regret it either Buffy, but we couldn't have known what would happen when we made love for the first time. And we couldn't have possibly known that he was going after Jenny." Angel explained.

Buffy leaned against the wall. "I'm sorry, for everything." She had completely blocked out everything he said to her. Buffy felt so depressed, she couldn't even cry.

Angel got up to comfort her, she was so distraught she let him. He'd never seen her like this before, the past few months had been eating away at her. "Buffy, it's not your fault."

"How can you be so calm about this?" Buffy asked suddenly. "All I've done is add on to your guilt. How can you forgive me for the pain I've caused you,and everyone else?"

Angel clutched her head with both his hands, his fingers massaging her scalp. "There is nothing to forgive." When she lowered her eyes, he raised her head again. "It's not your fault." He said, sternly.

Sighing, no matter what he said, a part of her was going to remember, and it would plague her. "How do you deal with it. The guilt?"

Angel looked at her lovingly. "I have you."

~*~*~

The next day at school, Buffy and Xander stormed into the library. Xander's shirt was torn, nearly ripped to shreds.

"I'll have you know that I was just nearly ripped to shreds by some kind of locker monster." Xander said, trying to figure out, what to do with the rest of his shirt.

Giles looked up from what he was doing. "Loch ness monster?" He asked confused.

"Locker monster is what he said." Buffy corrected. "It was more like a big arm came out of the locker, but then we opened it again and it was gone. Nothing."

"This was right after Buffy's history teacher starts doing some freaky channeling thing in class." Xander informed.

"Oh." Giles stood up. "Sounds like paranormal phenomenon."

Willow suddenly got giddy. "A ghost? Cool!!"

"So we have a bad boo on our hands." Buffy analyzed. "What does it want?"

"That's the trouble. The spirit is plagued by all manner of wordly troubles, it has no way to make peace, so it lashes out, growing more angry and confused."

"What can we do?" Willow asked.

"Find out what unresolved issues keep it there, and resolve it."

Sighing heavily. "Great." Buffy replied sarcastically. "Now we're Dr. Laura for the deceased." It's bad enough she had her own personal problems to deal with, this ghost just added on to it. What else is new?"

*****************

That night, Angelus led Drusilla, and Spike to a deserted mansion, there new home. Angelus wrapped his arms around Drusilla's waist. "Do you like it, baby."

Drusilla spun around in excitement. "Oh, Angelus, it's fairyland."

Spike rolled his eyes while rolling himself further into the room. "It's paradise. Big windows, lovely gardens. It'll be perfect when we want the sunlight to kill us."

Walking behind Drusilla. "If you don't like it Spike, roll out."

"Well our other place was bloody fine til you went and got it burned down."

Chuckling. "Things change Spikey. You gotta roll with the punches, well you pretty much got that part down."

Spike looked at him coldly. "Very funny, mate."

"What can I say?" Angelus grabs Drusilla from behind. "I just love to see you smile." He held up a flower, picked from the garden and brushed it across Drusilla's cheek as he purred into her ear.

"Yeah." Spike muttered, and rolled out of there view.

At Sunnydale High; Buffy, Willow and Xander walked into Jenny's old classroom. They had just came back from the library, where Giles had explained another incident that had happened last night. Especially his belief that Jenny's spirit was haunting the school, that her spirit could not rest. His refusal to believe anything else had the rest of the gang worried.

Willow sat at the desk and began typing at her laptop. "I've never seen Giles be this weird."

"He misses her." Buffy replied sadly. "He can't think."

"Well this ghost stuff is something else. Let me check the school's history." After a little while of searching, Willow scrolled to a newspaper article. "Found something. Student murdered a teacher on the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance. The rumor was they were having an affair, she tried to break it off, so he killed her. After he killed her, he went to the music room and shot himself." Willow thought for a second. "It makes sense, the gun, the Sadie Hawkins dance."

"Which is tonight." Buffy muttered, she ran out the room,when she returned she placed a 1955 Sunnydale high yearbook on the desk and flipped through it. "I dreamt about this woman." Pointing to a picture. "Grace Newman, and ..." Flips through a few more pages. "And this guy."

"James Stanley?" Willow replied. "He did it?"

Buffy stared at his picture. "He couldn't make her love him, so he killed her." She looked up from his picture.

Willow sighed. "He looked so normal, he was smart too."

Xander rolled his eyes. "He killed a person and killed himself. Those are pretty much the two dumbest things you could do."

"I know." Willow responded. "But, don't you feel kind of sorry for them?" She looked at Buffy.

Buffy looked at Willow and the look in her eyes did not hold a drop of sympathy. "He's a murderer and he should pay for it, considering how violent these acts have been, I'd say it's his ghost."

"Maybe we can find a way to communicate with him, find out what he wants." Willow suggested.

"Who cares what he wants." Buffy snapped. "We need to shut him down, before some innocent guy goes and kills some poor nice girls and then blows his brains out all over the music room wall."

Her tone had scared Willow, it wasn't the normal Buffy speaking, something was wrong.

Part 19

The gang retreated to Buffy's house that night, the school was shut down. The mayhem that occurred earlier was the cause, during lunch the entire cafeteria was covered with snakes. And the students fled the building, and no one could explain it. Buffy and the other attempted to stop the spirit that was raging against the school, but they were driven out by a swarm of wasps. That now surrounded the school.

Now the gang was seated around the coffee table, trying to decide what they could do about the spirit.

"So what do you we do, Giles?" Willow asked, before sipping the tea he poured for her.

Before Giles could answer, a knock at the door interrupted him. Buffy, who was leaning against the door answered the door. "Hey." She said, to Angel.

Angel had come as soon as he could, he had heard about the incident at the school. "I heard about what happened. Are you guys alright?" He asked. walking into the room.

Hurt flashed in Giles' eyes, but he hid the expression. "Yes, we're fine Angel, thank you." Giles knew the difference between the Angel and Angelus; but it still hurt to see Angel. And he tried not to let it come between their friendship.

Buffy closed the door and leaned back up against the wall.

"What's happening with this spirit? Buffy told me what happened." Angel asked, leaning next to her.

Giles cleared his throat. "He's trying to resolve whatever issues that are keeping him in limbo. What they are, I don't..."

"He wants forgiveness." Buffy interrupted.

Giles nodded. "Yes, I imagine he does. He's doomed to kill his lover over and over; forgiveness is impossible."

"Good. He doesn't deserve it." Buffy said coldly.

Her response startled Angel, he never expected words like that to come from her mouth.

Giles didn't expect it as well. "Buffy to forgive is an act of compassion, it's not because people deserve it. It's because people need it."

Buffy pushed away from the wall. "No." Her voice held so much anger, it sounded like she was choking. "James destroyed the one person he loved the most in a moment of blind passion. That's not something you just forgive, no matter his reasons. And he's gonna have to live with it."

She looked at the expressions they gave her, and stormed into the kitchen.

Angel watched her go. He didn't follow, he felt that she needed to be by herself. Angel hoped she would get over whatever was troubling her, because it was seriously affecting her. Those words were not hers, and he knew in his heart that she did not mean them; if she did than it meant that she had no compassion and no forgiveness for everything he did in the past, and all her words to him would be a lie.

Buffy walked into the kitchen, shoving her hands in her pocket in frustration. She felt a piece of paper in her pocket and unfolded it. Buffy wobbled on her feet, her eyes rolled in the back of her head, she could feel something flow through her body, and she could hear it. "I need you." It whispered. Buffy opened her eyes, slowly. She dropped the piece of paper and walked out the kitchen door.

A few minutes later, Willow came into the kitchen, to see if Buffy was ok. "Buffy are you..." She didn't see Buffy, but she saw the piece of paper on the table. It read: 'Class of 55 Sadie Hawkins Dance.'

"Giles!!"

Giles ran into the kitchen.

"She went back." Willow said.

Everyone took off to the school. When they got there, the swarm of wasps still surrounded the building. It was impossible to get in.

Catching her breath, Cordelia spoke. "I don't get it, why did she go in there?"

"She's under the spirit's control. He's calling her." Giles replied. "He needs her to re-enact everything that happened that night, he wants to change things, make a happy ending."

"But it always ends the same, Buffy just went in there to get shot."

Angel stared at the building, he was bout to rationalize what Willow said, that Buffy would be ok, but when he saw his demon go in from the side door, he took off running; with Buffy under the spirits control she couldn't fight.

"Angel, no!!" Giles yelled, his scream did not register, and Angel went in, leaving the others outside to wait.

Angel got in easily, the wasps had let him in. He obviously didn't notice it, he stormed through the school, letting his bond lead him to her. Angel could feel her, her presence got stronger and stronger. He breathed a small sigh, Angel saw her walking idly down the hall.

"Buffy..." He ran towards her, until he was right behind her. "Buffy."

She stopped by the trophy case, and turned around; with tears in her eyes. "You're the only one. The only person I can talk to." She said quietly.

Angel reached his hand out to her, forgetting she was still possessed by the spirit. Angel thought it was her, speaking to him. "Buffy, it's ok."

She stared him in the eyes. "You can't make me disappear just because you say it's over."

Her words made Angel shake his head, he opened his mouth to speak, but all that came was a deep gasp. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, when he focused them, tears were falling. "I just want you to have a normal life. We can never have that, don't you see??"

"I don't give a damn about a normal life!" Buffy yelled back. "I'm going crazy not seeing you. I think about you every minute."

Angel raised his hand...

*****************

Grace stroked her hand along James' cheek. They looked sadly at each other. "I know. But it's over." She took a step back. "It has to be." She turned around and started to leave. James looked up, angry, and chased after her.

*************

"Come back here! We're not finished!" Buffy screamed. She grabbed Angel by the arm, and turned him around to face her. "You don't care anymore, is that it?" Angel sobbed in her arms. "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter what I feel."

"Then tell me you don't love me!" She asked desperately.

*********

"Say it!"

Sniffing. "Is that what you need to hear? Will it help? I don't." She choked, wishing things were different.

**********

"I don't" He repeated. "Now let me go." Angel tried to pull away.

Buffy tightened her grip. "No. A person doesn't just wake up and stop loving somebody!"

She stepped away, and raised a revolver. Buffy shakingly aimed it at Angel. "Love is forever. I'm not afraid to use it I swear!!" She started crying again. "If I can't be with you...."

Angel stared at her frightened. "Oh my god!" He turned around and started running, fear radiated off his body.

***************

James held the gun up higher. "Don't walk away from me..."

**************************

"BITCH!" Buffy raced after him, they both run through the double doors that led to the balcony.

"Stop it! Stop it! Don't make me!!" Buffy ordered.

Angel stopped next to the balcony railing, trembling with fear, he turned around. "All right..."

****************************

Grace took a deep breath, she had to be rational with him, not hysterical. "You know you don't want to do this. Let's both, just calm down." She held out her hand. "Now give me the gun."

Angrily James shook his head. "Don't, don't do that damn it!!"

************************

"Don't talk to me like I'm some stupid...." She didn't release she was squeezing the trigger until the gun went off.

Angel stumbled from the force of the bullet, his hand clutched his chest, blood began to seep through his silk shirt. He looked up at Buffy in agony. "James."

Buffy stared back at him, in shock at what she just did.

Angel stumbled some more, and fell over the balcony. Buffy walked to the balcony, and saw Angel lying at the bottom; dead. Slowly she turned and went back into the hall, she ended up in the music room. Buffy walked to the record player, and turned it on, and music emanated through the room.

Buffy looked at herself in the mirror; James looked back at her. Her eyes are filled with tears as he looks at himself, she glanced down at the gun, and tightened her hand around it. Slowly, Buffy raised the gun to her head. But a hand took it and pushed it back down. Buffy turned to find Angel in front of her. "Grace!!"

"Don't do this" He pleaded.

Buffy shook her head. "It's my fault. How could I..."

Angel placed a finger over her lips. "Shh, I'm the one who should be sorry, James. You thought I stopped loving you. But I never did, I loved you with my last breath."

Buffy couldn't help but sob.

He stroked her cheek. "Shh, no more tears." Angel pulled her to him, and they kissed passionately, holding each other tightly. A light appeared above the lovers, an aura could be seen leaving both Buffy and Angel as they continued to kiss. Suddenly the light was gone, and Buffy and Angel gently broke off their sensual kiss, and opened their eyes.

"Angel" Buffy said quietly.

A growl vibrated and Buffy flew into a table, hitting her head.

"You two make me sick!!" Angelus snarled, he had saw the whole thing, it made him feel nothing but disgust. He kicked Angel in the chest causing him to fall back.

Both were still a little weak from the possession.

Angelus stormed over to Buffy, she was still a little dazed, especially from the blow she took to the head. He grabbed her by the collar. "I was hoping you'd just kill yourself." He tossed her into the mirror, the glass shattered over her. "But now I think I want to." He started towards her, until Angel grabbed his demon by the neck.

Both vampires vamped out, and attacked. Angel pushed his demon into the wall, and Angelus landed on the floor with a thud. When Angel stormed toward him, Angelus let out a kick to his midsection, and leaped up to head-but Angel.

Angel pulled a stake from his pocket, and lunged at him. Angelus stopped Angel in mid-thrust, they were fighting for control of the stake.

Angelus was obviously losing, the stake was getting closer and closer to his heart. He started to chuckle. "Maybe you should check on your girl, she doesn't look so good."

Angel turned to see that Buffy still had not gotten up from the glass.

That distraction was all Angelus needed. He punch Angel in the jaw, and moved away. "Until next time..." He ran from the room.

Angel ran over to Buffy, he kneeled down beside her, carefully moving the pieces of the glass away from her face, and out of her hair. "Buffy."

She moaned a bit, Buffy raised her hand to the knot she felt coming on her head. Slowly she raised her head, and tried to sit up.

Angel helped her, he pulled her into his arms, and got her up on her feet. He held her as they made there way to the library, he heard the others calling for them through the halls.

Everyone gathered in the library, they were all seated around the table, except for Buffy who was resting in Giles' office; and Angel was fixing an ice pack.

"Everything seems fine, school can open now." Willow said.

Angel nodded, and went back into the Giles' office. He sat beside Buffy, who was sitting on the couch, and placed the ice pack on the back of her head. "Feeling better?"

Buffy ignored his question. "James picked me. Why?"

"I think he could relate to you." Angel replied. "The both of you wouldn't be at peace until you came to terms with things that happened."

She looked at him.

"He couldn't rest knowing that he killed the person he loved, that wasn't really his fault." Angel pushed a strand of hair out of her face, with his other hand. "And you couldn't deal with the fact that things that have been happening wasn't your fault, and you felt they were."

Buffy leaned into him. "I thought I was over it, but when Jenny died. I couldn't help but feel that way. I should have protected her, I should have spared Giles from the agony of losing someone he loved dearly." She raised her head to look at Angel. "I should have spared you anymore guilt and torment."

Angel nodded, he understood everything now, a bit more clearly than before. "Buffy, you did the best you could, there are gonna be times when you can't save everyone, it'll hurt. But you have to try to move on, and not let it hurt you so much, if you do it will affect you helping someone else."

Buffy let out a little smirk. "How did you get so wise?" She joked.

"Sorry, those wise words belonged to you." He said, kissing her forehead. He repeated the same words, Buffy said to him long ago. When he was feeling really down, she helped him realize that if he dwelled on the past it would always haunt him, and it would prevent him from things that were good.

Buffy remembered, and nodded. She leaned back against his chest, she stroked her hand against his heart, and felt the hole. "I've got to stop shooting you, it ruins my favorite of your wardrobe."

Angel couldn't help but chuckle.

Across town, in the abandoned mansion. Someone didn't find anything very funny. Angelus grabbed Drusilla around the waist, he was ranting on about how he needed a vile kill. The love in the air was making him nauseous.

"We'll find you a nice toddler." She replied, trying to make her daddy feel better. She moved over to Spike, sitting in his wheel chair. "Want to come, Pet?"

Angelus squeezed her waist tighter. "No can do, Dru. I'm sure he'll be hell on wheels, but we don't have much time, gotta travel light." He chuckled. "Try to have fun without me."

He and Drusilla hurried toward the steps, and left.

Spike watched them go with an pissed look on his face. "Oh, I will." He put his foot on the ground, and slowly got up from the chair. Growling he kicks the wheelchair back, Spike looked back up at the steps, fuming. "Sooner than you think."

Go to Part 20