She looked so vulnerable, lying there in the white sheeted bed. The heart meter beeped with her pulse. He slowly walked to the bed and took her hand in his while pulling up a chair from behind him. Doctor Archamees was checking on Buffy's IV, making sure it was dripping properly. She came around the bed and stood at the foot, watching him.

Angel continued to clutch her hand in both of his, chanting to himself in desperation. "Me' fiafraigh do luach beannaght chun brat ceisd gra`." Angel looked at his love and placed a hand on her forehead, rubbing her skin with his thumb. He sat there watching her sleep. Looking so helpless. Open to the world even when she was closed behind doors. Even with her secret still intact. With her infant like position, Angel felt as if his Achilles heel was up for grabs. With this thought in his head Angel tightened his grip in her hand.

The doctor still stood, watching the two. Watching him will his love awake. Begging the Goddess' blessings that Buffy lived. Asking her to cloak his soulmate from harm. His Gaelic was rusty, it was intended to meet the goddess herself with her born tongue, the only way he remembered how. Doctor Virgo Archamees', although did not admit to it, understood every word he said. A tear had sneaked past her and begun it's travel down her cheek. She quickly wiped at it and took in a deep breath to try and dry the rest of them that she could feel attacking her eyes.

She turned and headed for the door. "I'll go tell them how she is doing," She pulled the door open.

"Doctor?!" Angel called softly, so as not to disrupt Buffy. She turned from the threshold and waited for him to speak. Angel turned his head over his shoulder. "Please, don't tell them about the abortion and surgery. I need to tell Buffy first." He turned back to Buffy.

"I can't keep that from them if they want to know." She tried to argue with him.

"You support confidentiality is that right?" He lavished the sight of Buffy's breathing.

"Yes...But-" Angel turned back to look at her fully now.

"This is between Buffy and I at the moment. At least until she knows. I would appreciate it if you kept this to yourself." Angel was very sincere and yet entirely professional.

She complied and nodded, then turned to leave for the waiting room.

"Doctor?" He now stood at the doorway, calling for her again. She swirled around on the balls of her feet, listening for his reasons for demanding her attention once again. "Are you able to tell about when she had the abortion done?" His voice was rasped and shaky.

Her brow furrowed in misunderstanding. She was obviously lost. "You mean you don't know?" She moved closer to make their voices lower. He just shook his head, no explanation. The doctor thought for a moment. Running things in her head for a little bit.

"I'd say about a month and a half, give or take a week or two." She wanted him to know that she was somewhat guessing. She saw Angel nod and walk back to sit with Buffy. The doctor's eyes followed him in, sensing that he wasn't in the mood, nor the emotional state to further question his reasons for not knowing that his girlfriend was pregnant and had an abortion. She suddenly had regret and the worst guilt trip ever. She had accused this man of things he obviously had no fault in. She cursed herself under her breath and turned down the hall and out to the waiting room. Like they had done before, everyone stood up at the same time, searching for details. This time Hank was in the front, panic stricken.

"Doctor, tell me about my daughter, Buffy. Buffy Summers. Is she okay?"

Dr. Archamees nodded at first and remembering what Angel had asked of her, gave him what he wanted, what they ALL wanted.

"She's fine. She'll be a little sore in the abdominal area." She gave a sweet smile with the sight of her patient's father's relief.

"Can I see her?" Hank quickly asked, looking as if he could kiss the doctor right then and there for the good health she stowed upon his "little girl." But he held himself back.

"Well, right now she's with her fiance'," She considered the situation over again. "But I guess you can go on ahead in." She smiled again.

"Fiance'?" Hank looked greatly concerned and confused.

Willow and Caela's eyes went wide immediately. The word slipped by them fine, because they understood that that was possibly the only thing Angel could think of in order to see Buffy. But Hank didn't comprehend that just yet.

Willow spoke up before the man could blow Angel's cover. "Yeah, Mr. Summers!" Making it sound as if he were acting crazy. "Angel went in earlier to check on her."

Hank's brow furrowed with lack of clues until he saw the look of "go with it" on Willow's face. "Yes, I forgot. They just got engaged a week ago. Silly me..." Playing it off as best he could. Which wouldn't have passed for the acting business, but snuck by the doctor easily.

"Oh." She gave a short laugh and then returned to her serious face. "You ready?" She gestured towards the door.

"Yes, thank you." She opened and held the door. The rest felt relief flush through them. All the breath being held was finally released together.

Part Twenty-One

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