Buffy smiled as he pulled up a stool next to her. Ordering himself a beer, they sat in silence for what seemed like forever. Just looking each other over. Finally it was Buffy who said something: “So, Angel how are you?”
“Doing ok, I guess. As well as any one would in a time like this. How are you, I heard about Parker, what happened?”
“Spike would be my guess.”
“Oh yeah, well dad told me you said he was back in the states. Is that why you left New York to get away from him?”
“Yes and No.”
“No?”
“Well I guess I needed to get away, but I also came to find you. I also need to get away from Parker. Guess I wont be needing to get away from him any time soon.”
“Yeah sorry about that. Were there problems in the marriage?”
“Yeah nothing I want to talk about, please.”
They started talking about Buffy’s new book, and just how she was really doing through all these problems. Before they knew it the clock said 2am.
“Closing time you guys got to get out.” The bartender told them.
“Come back to my hotel with me, we can talk some more.”
“Can’t need to get home before Cordelia wakes up to find me gone.”
“New girl in your life?”
“Yeah. Hey dad says you will be here till Friday, I will stop by and see you before you go. Promise.”
Angel paid his tab and walked out again. This time Buffy healed her tears until she was alone in her car. She let them fall as she drove back to the hotel. She went strait up to her room and in to the shower. Sitting there under the hot water as it ran on to her she cried tears she never knew she had left in her.
Spending two years of her life with a man she trusted and loved more then anything, Buffy was not going to give up on him now. Something was wrong and she was pretty sure it was not anything she had done. But she was about to get to the bottom of this. This past year had been a living hell for Buffy, she was not going to take it another day with out Angel.
Angel leaving her, her second book being postponed. Marring the biggest ass in New York, Spike and Riley, now add in Parkers death and you got Hell with a cherry on top. Buffy was heading to the edge and it was some ones fault. But who?
Angel pulled in to his drive way. Seeing Cordelia’s car in the back, he knew she would be sleeping by now. Creeping in he slept on the couch. Seeing Buffy had not been a good idea. Now that he had begun to deal with his actions, there she was. Maybe this was his punishment for running out on her when he did. But he had to, that night could have been her last.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ONE YEAR AGO!
The phone ran and it startled Angel taking his attention away from his work. Buffy would not be calling, she was in a meeting with her publishers. He answered it any ways.
“Hello?”
“Hello Angel having fun with your work?”
“Who is this?”
“Don’t ask me questions. You can’t recognize my voice its your fault. And pal its just about the same as yours if I am not mistaken.”
“OH GOD! I though you were, I thought you were…”
“Dead, no pal you left me there to die. But some nice people saved me.”
“What do you want?”
“Your little blonde whore of a girl. And your life to go along with it. A nice job, a great wife, and a kid of the way who would not want that.”
“No I wont let you fucking have her. You step one foot near hear and I will shoot you. Again.”
“Well if I can’t have her, then she will be dead before morning.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He had run, getting out of there. Going after him. But at lest Buffy had been safe when he left. Closing his eyes, he could only see Buffy clear as day in his mind. The day he saved her, how scared she had been. When they had been on the run together that had been so wonderful even if they were so scared. He now knew what it was like to be scared, and he now knew what he had to do.
Morning came and Angel watched Cordelia leave for work. He decided to call an old friend on a favor.
“Hi, Faith. Hey honey its Angel, how you doing?”
“Five by Five, Angel long time no see. What’s up?”
“I need you to follow some one, make sure she is completely safe from every one and every thing. “
“Yeah sure, hey no problem babe. Just who is this girl I am following?”
“Buffy Summers-Smith.”
“Oh the writer. Why?”
“Just do it, no questions please Faith.”
“Ok. Ok. But you will owe me for this one.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. See ya.”
Angel went to his dad’s house to start working. Getting there Willow was sitting on the front porch holding a frame in her hand.
She was crying so hard.
“What’s wrong Willow?”
“Doyle, he is dead. Somebody killed him.”
“Angelus.” Angel whispered under his breath.
Angel turned and looked at Willow. "Doyle, but who would kill him?" he asked almost knowing the answer.
"The cops said it was Spike. They think he is getting rid of every one in Buffy’s life. Is he?" Willow started to cry, afraid of what would happen to her if Spike every did do that.
"I don’t know but I think it would be best if you, dad, and Connar got out of town for a while."
"Dad is inside already packing, he is scared for you though. He has been mumbling all morning."
"Dad is inside?"
Willow nodded. Angel went in to the farm house in search of his father. Finding Mr. McGeorge in his son’s room packing up. Angel watched him pack Connar’s clothes and a few toys. Angel could not help but hate himself at this point. He had put his family in this position, and even got one killed.
"Dad, willow told me. What can I do to help?" Angel asked.
"Take that girl you so loved and get the hell out of town. Keep her safe. You know that I loved your mother with all my heart, and if I could have kept her safe I would have. But now you need to keep the one you love safe. SO DO IT."
"Dad I think there is something you need to know."
"What you going to tell me you killed Doyle?"
"Well not me but Angelus. He’s is alive."
"What the FUCK?" He was killed in that gang fight years ago. You saw him die, you did see him die right? RIGHT?"
"I though he was dead, but well he is the reason I left Buffy. Now that she’s back around looking for me. He will want her again?"
"Why?"
"Because I wont let him be with her. He is evil dad. Kills. I think it could be Angelus or Spike or Both for all I know."
"Fuck. Get Buffy some where safe now."
"One step ahead of you dad. Love you take care I will be in touch real soon."
Grabbing something from his old room, he speed out of the drive and down the road. Needing to get to Buffy before Angelus or Spike did. He knew faith was watching her but still she was not safe. Calling Faith up, she said Buffy was shopping at the mall. Speeding there he ran in looking all over. He found her standing outside the records store.
"Buffy!" Angel shouted across the mall.
"Angel, what are you doing here."
"BUFFY! Its not really Angel!" Some one shouted from the other end of the mall.
Angels eyes grew wide , it was like looking in to a mirror. Angelus was right behind her.
"Buffy, its me Angel. I love you honey!" Angelus shouted at her.
Buffy turned to come face to face with an Angel look alike, but she of all people knew the difference. She was still scared having no idea who this man was. He grabbed her as she screamed and kissed her. Letting her go as Angel was running for them, he took of running down the mall. Faith went after him.
"Angel" Buffy screamed.
Angel came up behind her, and put her in his arms. Faith came running up to see what had happened.
"I lost him in JCPennys, Angel. Who was he?"
"Its a long story."
tbc..