DISCLAIMER: none of these characters belong to me
SPOILERS: season 2...takes place right after "What's My Line" part 2
FEEDBACK: please?
A/N: thank you so much for your feedback: Christine, Sarah, Zetnnik, Ruth, and Angelbabs

Giles' old Citroen groaned its way to Angel's house. Buffy was seated in the back with Angel's head cradled in her lap, worry clouding her features.

A quick 'thank you' to Giles and the couple finally staggered into his house.

Buffy gently placed Angel on the bed before disappearing. She returned a moment later with a bowl of warm water and a clean towel. Silence hung in the air, neither sure of what to say. She removed the makeshift bandage from his wounded hand and winced. The bleeding had stopped but there was a deep gash.

Tenderly, she began to wipe it clean. The water in the bowl swirled into crimson.

So much blood, Angel clenched his jaw against the pain. Her delicate fingers nimbly applied the gauze. The hand finished, she turned her attention to his chest. Angry slashes of red met her gaze.

Buffy bit her lip andreached out to touch him. He hissed in agony. She quickly drew away. "I don't...I don't have anything for...holy water."

He pointed towards a cabinet on the far side of the room. "There."

His gaze followed the lithe figure travel across the room. He sighed. She seemed to fit so perfectly here, in his room, in his life.

A pungent odor of herbs wafted from the jar. Buffy trembled as she applied the salve onto his burns. He caught her hand. "Hey."

She stared at their clasped hands before he tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. Tears shimmered in her own.

"I'm right here. Everything is going to be ok."

In a faint whisper she answered. "Will it?"

Closing her eyes she flashed back to moments earlier. Bursting into that church ...her heart had stilled in fear. Seeing him hanging there, close to unconsciousness, the dagger going straight through his hand, the marks of holy water on his chest, it had been too much. The lingering feelings of terror remained. "What if...what if I lost you?"

He pulled her into his embrace. "You didn't."

She was quiet then tentatively asked; "Can I stay tonight? Just...to make me feel better I suppose."

"Of course." He softly replied as he drew the velvet coverlet over them both. She sank deeper into his arms. He pressed a kiss to her hair before curling his body around hers.

Hours later he was still awake, savoring the warmth he held. Red satin sheets framed her golden hair and he touched her smooth cheek with his fingertips. Steady breathing assured him of her slumber.

He murmured, "I love you." Then Angel drifted into the land of dreams, wishing desperately that he could say it to her face without fear of what lay after.

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