TITLE: Stripped To The Bone
AUTHOR: LJSAngel
EMAIL: LJSAngel@supanet.com
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, blah blah bliddy blah I'm so stuffy give me a scone.
TIMELINE: AtS Season Two, BtVS Season Five.  After "Crush" but with the events of "Reprise" and "Epiphany."  Like Sunnydale stood still while the Angel gang got back together.
SPOILERS: Up to mentioned episodes.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Angel Investigations in all happy again.  Like nothing happened.
FEEDBACK: Yeah, I mean COME ON.  How many other people turn Buffy into a stripper-whore? *grin*  OK maybe there are some more sick twisted individuals who turn Buffy into a whore that I haven't seen of yet (you could always direct me that way..) but I really need feedback.  And who else makes Buffy into a lame Britney Spears Stripper-Whore?   HA I WIN!  So feedback?
RATING: R maybe
RELATIONSHIP: Buffy/Angel
CONTENT: Bad character swearing, images of a strip club, Cordelia bringing Buffy down

"Angel Investigations.  We help the helpless," Cordelia said brightly picking up the phone.  She listened intently.  "I see.  Sure... Description?..  Green?  Um there's a lot of demons wearing green this spring.  Can you remember anything else?  Large.. About seven foot three.  Bumpy..  Four eyes... OK.  If you come in tomorrow or later tonight, we'll discuss the case and payment.  OK, thanks."

"What was that?" Angel asked looking at the notepad Cordelia had scribbled notes down on.

"My guess?  That frolack demon that we've had three calls about this week.  It's major rampagey."

"I was gonna go see Meryl soon as the sun goes down.  He had a beat on where this demon's been.  What's the time?"

"Six thirty three," Wesley said walking past.

"I'll go now."

Meryl told Angel that the Frolack, known as Frank, had a share in a demon strip club down town.  Angel called in and told them where he what happened and then headed off.  He drove outside the club, pumping music eminating from the downstairs part.  Angel walked down the stairs and looked around.

It was like bondage fun strip club.  Cigarette smoke created a mist around the stage as the dancers, some of which were demons, dressed in black and red leather PVC outfits.  Angel went over to the bar.

"Hey, is Frank.,. here?" Angel asked over the music.  The bartender shrugged his shoulders and continued watching the entertainment on stage.  Then the lights dimmed and a voice came over the loudspeaker.

"Thanks to Cee Cee, Celly and Trix for that.  And now out main attraction gentlemen and demons.  It's the purest, sweetest chaste human and she wants to show you something.  A major couple audience.  It's the Slayer!" He announced sleazily.

Angel spun round and seen a girl come in.  The darkness was covering her face.  She was wearing a Britney Spears school girl outfit and her hair in a pigtails.  She was stalking on stage to some eerie music as a vampire came on stage.  Then she stopped and she pulled her stake out.  She traced it on his chest.  Then she licked the stake, stabbed the vamp with it and then threw him into the crowd where he disentegrated into dust over their heads.

Then she sat down on the chair centre stage.  She leant back sideways, almost tipping it over, and saved herself by placing a hand on the ground.  Staying there, she pulled out her pigtails and freed her hair.

There was no doubt who it was.

Buffy.

Angel couldn't move as she continued to move sexily over and under the chair.  She slowly peeled back her shirt that was knotted at the waist to reveal a black lace bra.  The punters, demon and human, lapped it up.

She ripped off her plaid skirt showing her matching underwear.

"Oops, i did it again," she purred sexily into the ear of a suited Poltay demon who liberated cash from his pocket, inserting it into her underwear.

She ripped the pole fixture from the ground and held it against the closest demons throat.  She leant forward, letting him see more clevage.  She raised an eyebrow and he obliged by sticking three hundred dollar bills in her bra.  Buffy walked backwards and looked round, her back facing the audience.  She unclipped her bra and slide off the straps.

Angel moved into action, shocked to life by what she was doing.  He was mesmorised by her.  In his mind, she was back in Sunnydale, in his mansion.  Where just they were.  Alone.  Intimately.

But now he realised that she was stripping half naked in a smoked filled room in front of strangers.

He leapt forward, only taking three strides to get to the stage.  He flicked his duster off and around her, much to the disgust of the paying customers.  He swept Buffy up in his arms and jumped off the stage and fled up the stairs.

He ran to his car and opened the door for her, putting her inside.  Angel went to his side and jumped over the door.  He sped away with a dazed Buffy just as a crowd of demons ran out after them in a rage.

Angel drove in silence and checked his rear view mirror for demons.

"What was that about?" Buffy asked staring out the window.

"We'll talk about it when we get to the hotel."

"Will we?  Who says i'm even going to the hotel?  You don't have any control over me."

"Maybe not.  But I have clothes.  At the moment, you seem to be lacking."

"Fuck you Angel.  you're nothing to do with my life anymore.  You made that decision when you walked out."

He was tempted to respond angrily to that but he stopped and continued to drive.  "We'll talk about it when we get to the hotel."

"Angel," Cordelia greeted leaning over the counter as he entered.  "Enjoy the strip club?  WOAH--" She said as Buffy walked in.  "What the Hell is she doing here?  I mean, hi Buffy."

"Cordelia," Buffy said back following Angel.

"So where'd you hook up?  The strip club?  Working as a stripper now Buffy?" Cordelia laughed flicking through files.

"Yes," Buffy said straight faced.  "You're still working for Angel Investgations then?"

"Looks like," Cordelia said studying a folder.  Then she looked up once she processed the information.  "Stripper?"

"Yeah," Angel said slamming the fridge door shut.  He pulled off the top of his blood and drank it straight from the bottle.

"I didn't ask you to take me off stage Angel.  Or even acknowledge my existence."

Angel ignored her and walked past.  He started climbing the stairs and Buffy watched him go.

"Stripper?" Cordelia repeated.  "But not the kind that does walls?"

"Quick Cordelia, figure it out or your brain might haemorrage," Buffy snapped and followed Angel.  She was still wearing only his duster.

She saw his disapear into a room and shut the door.  She knocked and then went in without waiting for an invite.  he was at the window with his back to her.

"Look Angel--" She started.  Angel turned around and threw the bottle against the wall causing it to shatter and create a blood explosion on the wall.  Buffy jumped back and looked at Angel's face as he turned round.

He was crying uncontrollably.  He was shaking and his eyes were red.

"How could you do that Buffy?  To yourself?  Why Buffy?  Why?" He pleaded with her.

"Angel.." She whispered reaching out to touch him.  He pulled away and growled.

"Don't TOUCH me!" He screamed turning away.  She put a hand on his shoulder and turned him round to face her.  She touched his face but he gripped her hand in mid air angrily.

"Everything we've been through.. all that you are.. Now you're some cheap, sleazy whore!"

Buffy freed her hand and then hit Angel's jaw sending him to the ground.  "God Angel, i'm sorry," she says bending down.

"Why Buffy?" He said, his eyes welling full of salty tears.

"I can't take it anymore Angel.  I needed to get lost."

"Because half naked on stage is such a great hide out."

"No," Buffy said gritting her teeth.  "I came here.  I was going to come to you.  But I couldn't swallow my pride because it'd probably get caught in my throat and I'd choke and die.  Which at the moment is a plus point.  Anyway.  I couldn't come to you because I couldn't let you see me the way I was.  So I stayed in this dingy motel room.  I found out about a demon, Frolack.  The only way i could even get close to it was undercover."

"Undercover.  What a choice of words."

"Yeah go on, Angel, stick the knife in that little bit more.  You think I'm proud of selling myself like that?  Think i enjoyed it?  Oh and before you *rescued* me the lights were about to dim.  It's not a reveal-all gig."

"Because I thought i dreamt the part where you stripped down to your underwear," Angel said bitterly.  "And what does *Riley* think?"

"I don't know and I really don't give a crap.  He left a few months back."

"So you run away because of him?"

"No.  He's nothing to do with it.  And i ran away because of *you*.  Back in Junior year."

Angel just glared at her.  "You know what touched me most about you Buffy?  Your innocence.  I'm not saying it was a.. turn on or anything but it touched me.  It was so sweet.  Like that night.  That night.  You had a cut.  And when I turned round to see it, you covered yourself with this white.. cardigan thing over your vest top.  It was sweet.  And pure and perfect.. And more than anything I wanted to protect you."

"That's right Angel.  That's the picture you have of me.  As the virginal heroine pure and chaste.  As Angelus did you get big hey fives from other vamps.  - Hey man, you deflowered the Slayerr.  Way to go!" Buffy spat.

"You know it wasn't like that."

"No.  I don't know.  Because I wasn't there."

"And you don't trust me?"

"No."

"Why the Hell not?  I wasn't the one up there in black lace underwear!"

"Because you've broke so many promises Angel!!  You promised you'd never leave!  You did!  You promised you'd never hurt me!  God Angel, never has anyone been hurt so much in the way you hurt me!  From loving me, to leaving me, to destroying yourself!" Buffy screamed.  "You ALWAYS hurt me!"

"Which is why I left.  Because I can't do it anymore!  I can't love you and always stay three steps back from you.  You're so within my reach but eluding my grasp."

"I'm right here.  I'm within your grasp right NOW.  So go on," she challenged setting her jaw.

Angel cracked and his expression softened.  He reached out and took her hand.  He pulled he closer to him and held her hand with both of his, bringing it up to their chests.  He leaned forward and kissed her softly.  Then he stopped and backed away.

"Happy?"

"How can you ask me that?  You know me and you know it's gotta be something huge for me to leave Sunnydale."

"Lemme guess was it... Riley?"

"How can you do that?!" Buffy asked turning away.  "Kiss me like that and think I'm stripping because Riley left me!!"

"Because the truth is, I DON'T know you anymore.  The Buffy I left in Sunnydale would never sell herself, even to get closer to this serial killing demon.  She would ask for help.  Then again, the Buffy I left, would have blanked Parker Abrams and Riley Finn."

Buffy just stared at him open mouthed because his words hit her like truth.

"She wouldn't leave her friends behind like this."

"Angel, I'm human!"

"Don't you think i know that?  You're not perfect.  You screw up.  But the thing was, that Buffy tried.  With everything she had.  And she loved me with everything she had."

"I still love you with everything!" She protested.

Angel reached out and softly touched her lips.  "I know you still do.  Willow told me.  About you and Riley in your freshman year.  You became this different person.  He was everything and nothing.  You stopped giving a crap.  And i know what happens at the end of that story.  When you lose your purpose..."

"What are you talking about?"

Angel walked to his wardrobe and took out a blue shirt and a pair of slacks.  He gave them to Buffy.

"The shower's in there.  Once you're ready, go home.  And I mean go home.  Do you have any comprehension of how much Giles and everyone are worrying about you?"

"What am I Angel?  Fourteen?  Why don't you lecture me now?"

"Buffy don't play games," Angel warned her.

"Why?  because you don't like the rules?  or because there are none?" She asked clutching his clothes to her chest.

Angel took one last look at her and then walked out of his door.  Away from Buffy and away from the blood smell currently staining his wall paper.

Buffy leant against Angels' cold tiles in his bathroom.  She scrubbed her face until the several top layers came off and they looked a deep flushed red.  She still didn't feel she had got the bright glare of the stage lighting off of her cheeks.

How did I get to be here? She thought.  She remembered the look on Angel's face.  The hurt, the disapointment.  The soul crushing was also a major part.  I did that.  I don't think he can look at me.  I don't think I can look at me.

Buffy dressed in the clothes Angel gave her and looked at her face colour in the mirror again.  It was dulling down.  She went over to the sink where she left the money she had made.

Five hundred dollars.  For ten minutes.

And for Angel's pain.

It wasn't worth it.  She stuck the money in her pocket.  Buffy left Angel's room and wen down the stairs.

"Where's Angel?" She asked Cordelia.

"Killing the Frolack.  Not by going 'undercover' by the way."

"Thanks Cordelia," Buffy sighed, sitting down and running her hands through her hair.

"He told me to call Sunnydale.  And Giles," Cordelia told her.

"What'd he say?"

"Giles?  He's angry but he's glad you're OK."

"You didn't mention the--"

"Taking your clothes off for money?  I thought you should handle it."

"Thanks."

"Don't."

"What?"

"Thank me.  Like you owe me.  Don't.  I hate you more than back in Sunnydale High.  I care about Angel.  Don't screw with him Buffy or I'll kill you."

Buffy looked at her, surprised by Cordelia's compassion for Angel.  "O--K."

"I'm serious Buffy.  I don't care about your super powers or anything else freaky.  I will make sure you die if you hurt him again."

"Cordelia--"

"Don't even try to explain to me what the fuck you were doing.  Leave that for someone who actually gives a crap.  Just get the Hell back to Sunnydale before I do kill you," Cordelia threatened in a low voice before walking away.

"You know what Cordelia?  At least I--I.." Buffy's mouth went dry and she couldn't think of a word to say.  A phrase to come out with, a funny quip.  Nothing.

Cordelia spun round and glared at the broken Slayer.  "You What?  What Buffy?  Come on this must be show stoppingly, heart attack inducing, jaw droppingly shocking.  Go on Buffy, you what?"

"I-I," Buffy stuttered closing her eyes.  "I can't take it anymore," she broke down in tears, hiccuping loudly, like she was five again.  Cordelia's face softened but she didn't move.

"Can't take what, Buffy?"

"This!  You know why I ran away?  A vampire.  I was fighting a vampire.  I was about to stake him when he knocked me out, spun my head.  I got all these images.. like back when Dracula let me... The vampire tried to turn me like Dracula wanted to...  I saw the blood, I felt my heart slowing.. My pulse ringing in my ears.  I saw Angel leaving and my heart stopped..  I hit him, the vamp, out the way and I ran.  I ran.  I freaked out.  I don't freak out!  I can't!  It's not something I do!"

"You're human Buffy, you freak out," Cordelia reminded her.

"But I shouldn't!" Buffy said shaking, more tears gushing from her eyes.  "Angel would never freak out.. When Angel was with me I wouldn't freak unless it was about him.. In that moment I saw everything we did.. everything we've done.  And I realised I was naked.  Half of the person I should be.  And I was going to die in Sunnydale.  So I ran.  I was scared."

"Buffy, you get scared, Angel gets scared."

"Not like this.  Cordelia I was at the end of my world I don't wanna let go yet."

"You won't Buffy.  You'll pick yourself up and dust yourself down.  You'll make it better.  You always do."

"That's what everyone expects.. I can't.."

"Killed that badass demon," Gunn announced spinning his axe in the air with Angel behind him.

"Buffy," Angel whispered, seeing her in tears.

"Angel," she whimpered.  She seemed as if he was about to faint when Angel rushed forward and grabbed her.

"Buffy, Buffy," he said to her gently.  "Wake up.  Come back to me.  Why were you crying?  What happened?"

"She's upset why she ran away," Cordelia put in.  "A vampire nearly turned her.  She saw all these things.  She felt she was going to die. She freaked and ran."

"You nearly died?" Angel asked her to confirm.  Buffy nodded biting her lip.  Angel swept up her legs and headed towards the stairs.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You need to sleep," Angel ordered.

Buffy pushed herself into his chest, covering her face with his jacket.  "I'm so humilated."

"Don't be.  Don't be Buffy.  Tell me why you ran."

"You.  I thought I was going to die without seeing you," Buffy said looking into his eyes.  Angel got to the top of the stairs and went to his room, kicking the door open a bit with his foot.

He laid her down on the bed and pulled the blankets down.  He helped her slip inside then he tucked them around her.

"I need to go home.  You told me to go home," Buffy swallowed.

"Not now.  You need to rest Buffy or you'll fall apart."

"You didn't notice my current state of fell apartness?" She bit back.

"Buffy.." Angel said looking at her to say Sleep.

"Lie beside me?  Please Angel."

Angel nodded and kicked off his boots.  He removed his jacket and shirt which was covered in demon blood and gore.  He lay beside her on top of his velvet and satin sheets in his slacks and white vest.  Buffy reached out of the blankets and took Angel's hand, bringing it up onto the pillows beside her head.

"You wanna know why I ran away?"

"We could talk about it later.  You need to sleep."

"I need to tell you.  It was you.  Again.  I was so terrified I'd die without telling you things and holding you one last time."

"So why didn't you come straight to me when you left Sunnydale?"

"I told you.  Pride.  In this town I could be a big nobody in a city of somebodies.  In Sunnydale I'm the Slayer.  I'm someone.  It's like Spike said... Every Slayer has a death wish."

"Spike's being spinning your head with death?" Angel said his voice rising.

"That and his little gross declaration of love before I left.  That freaked me almost as much as nearly dying."

"Spike.. thinks he's in love with you?"

"He's completely sure of it.  Being the vampire he is, he tied me and Dru up, threatened to stake Dru for me and then threatened to let Dru go all postal on me in chains."

"OK, so I need to rip his spinal cord out," Angel hissed.

"Not now.  Lie beside me for now.  Carnage of Spike later."

"OK," Angel nodded.  He watched Buffy close her eyes. He leant over and was about to kiss her forehead when she spoke softly.

"Angel.. will you come back with me... to Sunnydale?  I can't face it alone."

Angel nodded.  "I'll come Buffy."

"So continue with what you were doing," she teased, her eyes still shut.  Angel grinned and planted a soft kiss abover her eyebrow.  Buffy leaned slightly forward, relishing Angel's familar cool lips on her for the first time in a long while.

"I love you, Angel.  I wanted to make sure you know that," she said opening her eyes.

"I do know that.  You know I do."

"Even with Riley.. It was always you I was in love with."

Angel repressed a smirk and kept a fairly balanced smile.

"And you know in all my years, you're the only woman I've ever been in love with."

Buffy smiled warmly.  She needed to hear those words from him for so long now.  "And you still.. do.. right?"

"I still love you Buffy.  Whether you're doing a lame version of Britney Spears stripping or not."

Buffy smiled and then hit his arm a little too hard.  Angel yelped.

"Lame?  Lame?  LAME?!  I was not lame!  Do you wanna know how much I made in a week?"

"No.  I don't."

"Good.  And if it was just for you, privately, you wouldn't think it was so lame would you?" She grinned.

"Probably not."

"Good."

"Goodnight Buffy," Angel said with the sleep look on his face again.  Buffy sighed and burrowed herself deeper in his sheets.

"Love you Angel."

Angel kissed her hand in his.  "I love you too."
 
 

So in the end if was slightly mushy-fluff.  Send me feedback I was thinking of doing a sequel with Angel and Buffy going back to Sunnydale.  Let me know if that's stupid or if this whole fic was stupid.  Which was the intended aim (but it mutated from that so I guess it wasn't the aim towards the end).  I intended to have a stupid fic in which Buffy was stripping.  In turned into little fluffly anger thing and hey presto.

Feedback?  *Big Kiss*