Fallen AngelsBy Kristi
Escape
@--Buffy--@
Angel stares hard at me. I know he’s got a plan. I’m not sure what it is yet. Lilah is talking but I’m focused on Angel. When we move it’s in perfect synch. The thrill of fighting beside him overtakes me. I remember how much I used to miss this when he went away. Angel drops to the floor and sweeps his feet behind him, taking out the three men behind him at once. At the same time, I kick one guy in the back of the knee and catch another with an elbow to the face. He drops his spear and howls, covering his broken nose with his hands. I catch the spear and use it like a staff, knocking another guy several feet into the air and across Lilah’s desk.
Angel is working over his three guys with a series of punches and elbows to the face. He gets his three guys down. I knee the one I’m fighting with in the groin. He goes down.
“Buffy! Come on!” He holds out a hand and I grab it. He pulls me tightly into his body, wrapping his duster around me and picking me literally off my feet. “Lilah has called more security; they’ll be here any minute. Hang on tight.” He runs head first for the big glass window, shattering it with his shoulder.
I keep my eyes closed. It feels like we’re falling forever. It feels like I’m jumping from the tower again. At least if I die this time it will be in Angel’s arms. Angel hits the ground first and I swear I can hear the crack of bones. The air is knocked completely out of me and I don’t remember anything hurting this much.
“Get up!” He yells at me. We both roll to our feet. He has a firm grip on my wrist. He’s pulling us back into the ruined lobby of Wolfram and Hart. “Buffy, you’re going to have to drive. I broke a lot of ribs and I dislocated my shoulder.”
We get in the Angelmobile and I throw it in reverse. It’s like driving a tank. Could he not have gone for one of those cute little Mini Coopers? The thought of Angel in a mini cooper makes me giggle. I back into the information desk and throw the car into drive. The wheels spin on the marble. The smell of burning rubber is nauseating. People everywhere are screaming. We shoot out of the lobby and onto the road. Angel keeps looking over his shoulder to make sure they aren’t giving chase. Several blocks from the law firm he finally relaxes.
“Angel, are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m fine. It’s not the first time I jumped out the window there. The last time was from the top floor. Are you okay? That was a long fall.” He’s having a hard time talking. He’s definitely got broken ribs, quite possibly other broken parts.
“Yeah, I think I sprained my ankle somehow and everything hurts, but it was nice of you to cushion my fall with your body.” I look over him. I’m worried. I make really lame jokes when I’m worried.
“That was sort of the idea.” He says painfully and manages a small grin.
“It was a dumb idea! Did I mention that or was I too caught up in the Thank God we’re not dead aspect of things?”
“Buffy, if we hadn’t have gotten out of there they would have locked us up somewhere or killed us and then we’d be no good to Dawn.” He tries to get me to see the reason behind our very unreasonable actions.
“Well, there is that.” I say quietly. I pull the Angelmobile up to the hotel and run over the curb. I help him out of the car, we’re both in pretty bad shape and we limp-struggle for the front door. Giles opens it and I want to pass out and cry. I know that reaction doesn’t make sense but there it is.
“Dear Lord, what happened?” He asks, slipping an arm under Angel and helping me get him to the couch. Fred runs for the first aid kit.
“Buffy!” Willow exclaims, looking up from her research.
“Good Lord,” Wes says disappearing into the kitchen. I’m pretty sure he’s getting Angel some blood. He’s seen him hurt often enough to know that’s really what he needs to heal.
“We jumped out of a window from the twentieth floor.” I say, sitting down on the round couch beside Angel.
“Buffy, now is really not the time for exaggerating.” Giles says as he examines the cuts from glass on my arms.
“She’s not exaggerating.” Angel manages to get out.
“Oh my,” Giles breathes. Fred kneels between Angel and me with the first aid kit.
“Giles, I dislocated my shoulder when we landed. Normally I’d do this myself but I’m pretty sure I broke all the ribs on my left side.”
“Oh, of course.”
There is a loud crack as Angel’s shoulder slips back into place. He bites off a curse. The entire scene is just beginning to catch up with me. Angel could have been staked if there had been one wrong move on my part or his. I fight back the tears that threaten to spill out.
Fred is wrapping my ankle. I look over at Angel. He looks awful, like he’s in pain which is not an expression I’m used to seeing on his face. I get the anti-bacterial cream out of the first aid kit and dab at the cuts on his face.
“Buffy, I’m fine. Vampires don’t really get infections.” He says indicating the cream.
“And your point?” I snap, biting back tears.
He looks into my eyes and nods slightly. “No point. Band aids are in the first aid kit.”
Most of the cuts are shallow and tiny, already scabbing over but there is one on his cheek that is at least two inches long and cut almost to the cheekbone. I put a lot of cream on it and carefully smooth a band aid on it. I kiss the spot very lightly.
“There, all better.” My voice is shaky and hardly above a whisper. He puts one hand on the back of my neck and pulls me closer for a gentle soft kiss.
“I’m going to be fine, Buffy. Nothing a little blood and some sleep won’t cure.” His voice is tender and for a moment the world fades away but it’s only a moment and then the world snaps back into place. Wesley appears from the kitchen with a warm mug of blood. He holds it out to Angel.
“Thanks Wes. Wolfram and Hart has them. Lilah didn’t even try to deny it. Wes, Giles look at some astrological charts. See if there’s a night that’s going to be better for opening a portal to Hell then any other. They won’t wait very long though.” Angel says.“Willow, we need a locator spell, maybe an amulet or charm that will glow when we get close to Dawn. We know Wolfram and Hart have her, but we don’t where.” I start issuing my own orders.
Angel nods in agreement. He drains the mug of blood and sits it on the floor beside the couch “Buffy and I both need some sleep. Let us know if you find anything at all.”
We hobble-limp up the stairs and collapse on the bed inside the sanctity of our own room. It’s amazing how good your own bed feels after a trip. I don’t think I even finished the thought before I drifted off to sleep.