Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Characters don't belong to me. They belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement intended.
Distribution: Angel of Mine; TPWFLD; otherwise please ask.
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Willow sat on the ground, cradling her injured friend. Both of them were bloody and dirty, the result of the most recent attack.
"I'm going to get help, Buffy. You're going to be fine."
"No, I'm not Will. I'm dying, and we both know it."
Buffy's body was wracked with coughs. "Will, you have to run. They'll be after you now."
"I'm not leaving you alone, Buffy."
Buffy gripped Willow's hand. "Willow, listen to me. You're the only one left here, and they know you survived. You have to get out of town."
"NO! I won't leave you."
"Willow, there's nothing you can do for me here. You need to get to safety, and let the Council know what happened. We were betrayed, and they need to know who's responsible. Don't let him win." Buffy said.
"I can't do this alone, Buffy. I'm not strong like you."
Buffy looked sadly at her friend. She'd lost so many people in the past couple weeks, and now she would be the only survivor....and the prime target.
"You don't have to do this alone, Will. Go to Angel. Tell him what happened, and he'll help you."
"How can you be so sure? He didn't ocme when we called him for help."
Buffy wasn't sure how to respond. Two weeks ago, their lives had begun spinning out of control when Giles was murdered. The realization that someone they trusted had betrayed them had prompted them to contact Angel for help.....but he'd never come. And now she and Willow were the only ones left.
"Will, I have to believe that he never got our message. I know he would've come if he'd known we needed him. He wouldn't have abadoned us."
"Who are you trying to convince, Buffy? Me or yourself?" Willow asked, then gasped in pain.
Buffy was silent for a moment. She knew Willow was hurt badly, and prayed her friend could make it safely out of town....and to Angel. Buffy had to hold on to the hope that she was right about Angel.
"Both of us, I guess. I have to trust that he's the same man I fell in love with, Willow. And right now, he's your only hope."
Willow wanted to argue, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. And she knew it didn't matter too much anyway. "Fine, I'll go to L.A."
The sound of approaching people in the background reached them. "Will, there's no time left. You have to go....NOW!"
"What about you?"
"I'm already dead, Willow. Help me."
Willow helped Buffy into a leaning position against a tree, then handed Buffy her crossbow. Buffy would keep them occupied for as long as she could, while Willow got away.
"I love you, Will. You were always my best friend."
"I love you too."
The two embraced then Buffy pushed Willow away. "GO!!"
Willow stood and looked behind her, then back to Buffy. Buffy's face, though filled with pain, was also determined. "I'll make sure the Council knows what happened here, Buffy."
Buffy nodded. "Stay safe, Willow."
Willow gave her friend a small smile, then ran. Buffy watched Willow leave, then turned towards the approaching enemy. She'd try to give Willow as much of a head start as possible.
{Please let me right about Angel. Let him be the same man I remember. I won't believe he left us here to die. God, please let him protect Willow.}
The enemy approached and Buffy fought with everything she had until her body finally gave out. Her last thought was of her best friend.....she prayed it had been long enough for Willow to get out of town.
Willow sat on the bus, ignoring the looks of people around her. The jacket she'd put on hid the blood stains, but she hadn't taken time to clean up. She sank in the seat and prayed she wasn't making a mistake. They'd all made the mistake of trusting someone before.....and it had cost her friends their lives.
End Part 1
Willow stood wearily outside the abadoned building. It was the last address they'd had for Angel, but she couldn't bring herself to go inside. Gripping her stomach, she leaned against the building and slid to the ground. She knew her injuries were life-threatening, maybe even fatal, but she wouldn't go to the hospital. It was too dangerous. Besides, she had accomplished what she needed to do. Upon arriving in L.A., Willow had contacted the Watcher's Council, and told them the events of the past two weeks. She let them know about the traitor they had in their midsts, and his plans to take control of the Council. They'd offered to come for her, but she denied. They had their own problems to deal with, and she had one more thing she wanted to do......confront Angel.
After making the call to the Council, and assuring herself that they would do what was necessary to avenge the deaths of her friends, Willow had made her way to Angel's apartment. She wanted to know whether or not he'd gotten their message for help. She wanted to know why he'd left them when they needed him the most.
But now, sitting outside his building, Willow wasn't sure she wanted to know the answers. For years she'd always thought of Angel as a friend, and trusted him, especially after the numerous times he'd saved her life. But then, after graduation, he walked away from all of them.....without even saying goodbye. And as she'd watched her friends die one by one, her anger became directed at Angel. They had sent him word that they were in trouble, and he hadn't come. Buffy hadn't wanted to believe that Angel had changed, but Willow knew people changed. Hadn't she changed a lot in the years since graduation? But, now she was so tired, and the pain she was experiencing was becoming overwhelming. Willow leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
Angel didn't immediately spot the person outside his building, but when he did, he knew it wasn't just an ordinary street person. As he moved closer, he could smell blood. Angel knelt down in front of the person and gently lifted their head. He gasped in shock as he saw the woman's face. Her red hair was pulled up under a baseball cap, and her face was dirty and bruised, but he recognized her immediately.
"Willow?"
Her eyes fluttered but she didn't open them. Angel gently lifted her into his arms, and heard her gasp in pain. He gentled his hold and carried her into his apartment. He laid her on the bed and began cleaning her off.
Angel ran to bathroom and got wet towels. Although she had some gashes, he knew the majority of the blood on her had to be someone else's, but who? As he cleaned her off, he couldn't help but notice the bruises and the way she flinched when he touched her stomach. Angel knew it was probable that she had internal injuries.
"What the hell happened to you, Willow?"
Angel covered her up, and called a doctor friend of his to come check on Willow. Because until he knew what was going on, he couldn't take the chance of someone finding out she was there.
Angel sat in the living room as the doctor was examining Willow. He'd tried calling the library but had gotten no answer. He debated calling Buffy, but decided not to do anything until he talked to Willow. Angel jumped to his feet when the doctor came out. The look on his face was not reassuring.
"How is she?"
"Angel, I don't know what happened to that young woman, and I don't want to know. But, her internal injuries are massive. Her only chance to survive is emergency surgery, but she refuses to go to the hospital. Without the surgery, your friend is going to die."
Angel ran his fingers through his hair. "Isn't there something you can do for her?"
"I gave her some pills to help with the pain, but that's all I can do."
Angel thanked his friend and saw him out. Then he went into the bedroom to talk to a woman he hadn't spoken to in five years.
Willow reluctantly opened her eyes when she heard the door open again, and she saw Angel walk in and sit on the edge of the bed. Willow just stared at him, not trusting herself to be the first one to speak.
"Willow, you need to let me take you to the hospital." Willow shook her head.
"If you don't have surgery, you're going to die." Angel said.
"I'd die anyway. They won't let me live." Willow replied calmly.
"Who won't? Willow, tell me what happened."
"Our enemies want me dead. I'm the only one left." Willow said.
Angel couldn't believe that this woman was the same girl he'd met all those years ago. Here she was, bleeding to death, and talking about dying as calmly as she'd talk about the weather.
"Willow, where are the others?"
Angel saw Willow's eyes narrow, and saw traces of tears in her eyes. "They're dead, Angel. All of them.....Giles, Xander, Oz.......and Buffy. So is anyone who tried to help us."
"Did Spike and Dru....." Angel began.
"They're dead too. Betrayed by the same enemy that betrayed us. He played us against each other, then killed us one by one."
Angel dropped his head as he thought about the people he'd last seen over five years ago. He was so wrapped up in the memories of the past, he didn't hear Willow's whispered words.
"What did you say?" Angel asked.
"I asked why you left us to die. Why didn't you come when we needed you the most?"
"I would have come if I knew you were in trouble, Willow. Why didn't you try to contact me?" Angel wanted to know.
"We did, Angel. Repeatedly, we tried to get through to you. We left messages for you at the number you'd given us.....but you never came!" Willow yelled angrily.
Angel watched as Willow gripped her stomach and reached for her, but she pulled away from him. Angel sat back as he realized that she believed he'd ignored their pleas for help. {How could they think I'd abadoned them? Maybe because that's exactly what I did five years ago.}
"Willow, you have to believe me. I never got any of the messages, I swear. If I'd known what was going on, I would've been there. You were my friends, Willow."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Angel. It's too late......too late for all of us."
"It doesn't have to be, Willow. Let me get you to the hospital." Angel said.
Willow shook her head sadly. "No, Angel. I've done what I set out to do. Let me die in peace."
Willow turned her head, and drifted into sleep. Angel knew he could take her to the hospital now, but he didn't. He had no choice but to honor Willow's decision. He pulled a chair up next to her, and vowed to stay by her side.
End Part 2
The hours seemed to crawl by for Angel as he sat by Willow's bedside, holding her hand. She had been asleep for hours, and her faint pulse and breathing were his only indications that she was still with him. He couldn't believe that he was sitting there, watching a friend slowly die. A part of him told him to take her to the hospital and damn the consequences, but he couldn't.
"Angel?"
Angel looked at Willow, and moved closer to her. "I'm here, Willow. How do you feel?"
"Tired....I'm dying, Angel."
"I know. Are you sure you won't let me get you help?" Angel asked.
Willow nodded. "Angel....be careful......they may come after you too."
"Who, Willow? Tell me what happened."
Willow looked at him then closed her eyes. "You really didn't know, did you? They.......they somehow intercepted our messages."
"I swear I never knew you guys were in trouble."
"I believe you.....Watcher's Council sent an advisor.....we all trusted him......it was trap. He betrayed us......killed Giles......We tried calling you.....tried contacting Council......killed Buffy's mom."
Angel moved onto the bed and gently pulled her into his arms when Willow began coughing, and several drops of blood began spilling from her mouth. They both knew she didn't have much time.
"We went to Spike......figured the advisor had betrayed all of us......Dru was killed......Spike went nuts and took off alone and was killed......tried to use computer in library to contact Council......Xander was killed protecting me......Buffy and I tried to escape, to get help......attacked in park......Buffy left to cover my escape.....she died there.......she told me to come to you....."
Angel tightened his hold on Willow's trembling body. "I'm so sorry, Willow. I should've been there."
"Not your fault......"
"You all must've thought I'd betrayed you too." Angel stated.
"So much happened.....needed someone to blame.....but not your fault Angel......you never knew......Buffy never believed you'd abadoned us.....don't blame yourself......beware this man......"
Angel listened as Willow described the man who had betrayed them.......then murdered them. If he ever saw the man, he would pay with a slow, painful death!
"Be cautious of new Slayer......might be trick of his......he has powerful contacts within Council......don't know who to trust anymore." Willow said.
"I'll be careful, Willow. I always am. And I'll make him pay for what he did to you.....to all of you." Angel vowed.
Willow smiled slightly, and reached for Angel's hand. "I've missed you.......forgive me for doubting you....."
Angel pressed a finger against her lips. "Shhh, you don't need forgiveness, Willow. You didn't do anything wrong. And, I've missed you too."
"Thank you, Angel........so tired......" Willow said, then closed her eyes for the last time.
Angel leaned his forehead against the top of Willow's head, as tears ran down his face. "Your welcome, Willow........You're safe now."
Angel stood in the middle of Sunnydale's park, and closed his eyes. It had taken him several months to track down the traitor, but he had been determined to find the person who had killed his friends. Although the man had never come after him, their enemy was his enemy.
After finding the man, he'd succeeded in revealing the man's secret agenda and allies, and the Council began to act against those individuals, but Angel had gone after the man who had betrayed Willow and the others. And he made good on his promise......he made the man pay, with a painful and slow death.
He'd come back to Sunnydale to help set up the new Watcher and Slayer, but he remembered Willow's warnings, and wouldn't allow himself to fully trust either of them. The Council had gone through extensive internal 'cleaning' to try to expose all the traitors, but no one was sure who they could trust.
Angel had brought Willow's body back to Sunnydale, to be buried with her friends. Angel hadn't had regrets about leaving Sunnydale, but after seeing Willow, he began regretting that decision. She had grown into a beautiful woman, and he would've liked to get to know her better.
And despite Willow's reassurances that she didn't blame him for not coming to help them, Angel blamed himself. He should've kept in closer contact with them over the years. If he had, he would've realized that they were in danger. And that guilt was just one more regret he'd have to live with for the rest of his immortal life......that, and the memory of Willow dying in his arms. That was something he'd never forget.
The End