Once again Callista woke in pain. She shuddered in fear of the memory of The Masters visit. When he was trying to scare the pants off her (and doing a great job at that) she had felt Angel. The Master was playing with them.. He had then blocked the connection and thrown her into the corner. Now she was chained hands and feet to the wall. The thing she prayed for and dreaded most was happening. She could feel it with all of her being... Angel was coming.
"How are you holding up?"
She lifted her head and saw The Master in the doorway. "Great. Never felt better."
"Then this should make you feel really good." He laughed as he back handed her across the face and kicked her repeatedly. He didn't stop until she nearly unconscious. He then took out a vile which she had seen too many times during the last couple days. He grabbed her hair and forced her to drink the whole bottle. "We have visitors. The Slayer and your Angel. The fun's about to begin." He turned to await his guests.
"Wait!" she called her eyes rolling back in her head. "What do you want?"
"Well that is easy child, I want Angelus and you back and the Slayer dead."
Angel and Buffy wreaked havoc as they tore through the underground tunnels. They both cared about Callista and it made them stronger. Buffy stayed to battle some vamps while Angel went for Callista. What he saw broke his heart. She was dangling from her chains barely concious. The Master came out of the shadows and stood between him and Callista. Buffy chose that moment to join the party.
"Angel, get her out of here as soon as you get an opening. I'll deal with fang face."
"Do you think I'm just going to let you leave? You must be wondering how I'm alive. I would love to tell you. Well that spell I hear you stopped was tried again and here I am. Now where were we? Oh, yes."
He kicked Buffy in the stomach.
Angel and Buffy worked together and finally Angel was able to get behind the Master and to Callista. He broke the chains easily and lifted her into his arms. He turned to look at Buffy and it seemed she had things under controll so he ran with Callista. As he was leaving Buffy called to him.
"Angel start running and don't stop. I'll be right behind you." She had found explosives in the corner and some idiot had left the detinator and matches right there.
Angel saw what she intended and ran. He was almost out when he heard the explosions. He ran out into the night Buffy soon followed and they watched as the tunnel entrance collapsed.
There was no time to stand there in shock. The tranquilizer they had given her was too massive a dose. Callista was barely breathing. But they couldn't take her to the hospital.
"Come on," Buffy panted. "We'll take her to the library."
They made it right before sunrise. There was nothing they could do but wait and see if Callista could beat it. She slept for two weeks on the ghosts edge of death. Then she woke up and saw Angel standing over her.
She looked at him and curled on the bed sobbing. He climbed in bed next to her and gathered her into his arms.
"Sshh. It's all right you're safe. From now on we're staying in Sunnydale. We can't escape destiny."
"He's alive isn't he?" she asked shuddering.
"Yes."
She looked at him smiling. "You're right," she whispered. "This is where we belong. At least it will never get boring." She looked in his eyes and he kissed her making the pain leave and making her whole.
Buffy watched them kiss. It was like something was tearing her apart. She still loved him so much. But she could never compete with Callie. Oddly she liked the young Vampire. She seemed sweet and for her hundred years of life, she was still very much a kid. Now things were so much more complicated. The Master was still alive and would continue to stalk Callista, Angel and her. And probably her friends.
Callie pulled away and layed her head on Angels' shoulder. "Please take me out into the library."
"No way."
She wrapped her arms around his neck "Pretty please." She asked batting her eyes.
"Nope" He sat her back on the bed.
"Fine." She jumped off the bed, made it two steps before the world started to spin. She staggered back into Angels' waiting arms.
He smiled smugly at her and she wanted to hit him. "See, you got what you deserved. Still he swept her feet out from under her and carried her to the library. He sat her in a chair at 'Willows Computer' as it was known. The group of teenagers watched in shock as Callie turned it on and her fingers flew across the keyboard. She groaned. "Shoot! You can tell I haven't been online in a while......over 150 emails."
Giles stammered "Y-You know how to use that dread machine?"
"Yes, Giles. Just because I'm over 100 years old doesn't mean I'm not versed in current technology."
Willow thought it was great. "Oh good. This is good. A fellow computer nerd! Oops! Thats not what I meant!"
Callie laughed. "It's okay Willow. I even call myself a computer nerd. But you know what? Angel as much as he hides it can use the net pretty well himself. I've been teaching him over the last couple months."
Buffy was shocked "YOU ANGEL?"
"DEAD BOY!" Xander couldn't believe it.
Angel opened his mouth to give the famouse 'Could you not call me that' line but Callie raised her hand and stopped it. "Yes even Dead Boy" she returned smiling at Angel. Ha. Teach him to laugh at her.
He groaned. "Okay shorty you've made your point. You hate being laughed at."
"Thank you precious."
Giles may have actually smiled at the exchange, but covered it well. By getting down to business. "Well, Callista, I have arranged for you to be enrolled in the school. As soon as your recovered you may start."
"Hey Callista are you sure you wanna do the school thing? I mean, do you remember what its like? Maybe your still delirious."
Callista laughed until tears streamed down her face. "Xander, I will enjoy every minute of it. It's been so long since I've been able to be a kid. This gives me a shot at a somewhat normal life."
Angel stoked her hair as she joked with Xander. None of them realized just how fragile she still was. If she had her way they would never find out. He was glad she was going to the school. She could help the others more that way, when she was stronger. Actually he was overprotecting her just a little. In another week she would be strong enough to start school, but not up to full strength. Angel looked at Buffy. He would always care about her, but so much had happened. He realized that she was having a hard time letting go of him.
But they all needed each other. With the Master back, they had to rely on each other. Angel was jarred out of his thoughts by a excited Cordielia running into the room. She looked like the cat that swallowed the Cannary. "Hey, Callie, I heard laughing and you up! How do you feel.?"
"Well, I feel a lot better, but what I wouldn't give for a change of clothes."
Cordielia smiled and lifted the bag she held in her hand. "Taken care of."
"Cordy! Thanks!"
"Come on lets get you up and into the room. I brought over a few outfits so that you can choose." Cordielia put Callistas' arm over her shoulder and helped her up and across the room. They continued to talk excitedly.
Angel just laughed. "She loves being able to act like a kid. It's been a while since I've seen her that excited."
Cordy and Callie had acted like they were just going to the girl bathroom so Callie could clean up. But no, they got in Cordy's car and went to McDonalds and got actual food and then went to Cordielias' house where they gave Callie a complete makeover. Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Giles knew where the girls had gone, but Angel was clueless.
The look on his face was priceless when Callie walked in, without assistance (though Cordielia was close behind) dressed in lightfitting, wide leg jeans topped off by a emerald green, v-neck skin tight top. Her hair stood out and her eyes flashed with fire. He was even more astonisshed to see her keeping her balance while wearing a pair of boots with two inch heels.
"Callie.......you look........terrific. What's the occasion?"
"We're going bronzing."
"Wait a minute....."
"I'm not taking no for an answer. None of us are."
"None of you? I was set up!" He smacked his forehead.
"Yep no come on our limo awaits."
She grabbed his arm and pulled in the direction of the exit.
They stopped by Ozs' house and picked him up and went to the bronze. Giles couldn't be persuaded to come, he had prophecys to up. The driver opened the door and Angel stepped out and extended his hand for Callie. She took it and swept out of the limo and onto the sidewalk followed by the rest of the slayerettes. Angel didn't miss the looks thtat the boys at the Bronze gave Callie and she didn't miss the envious looks of the girls. She drug Angel right out onto the dance floor for a slow dance.
"You know you should be taking it easy." He brushed a stray hair out of her eyes.
"No I shouldn't. I should be living a little. So to speak." She looked into his eyes. "Please, Angel, just hold me. Lets just dance and forget everything else for a little while."
He looked down into those pleading eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He leaned down and kissed her lips passionately. He always had had a really hard time telling her no. Unless it was really important. The kiss ended and she leaned her head against his shoulder. Right now she just needed to forget everything that she had been through and concentrate on being happy. A crowd had gathered to watch them dance. They just looked so content. A few noticed that this was Buffys ex boy toy. The song ended and he took her hand and guided her to a table. Held out a seat for her then seated himself. They laughed and talked for a long time. Sometimes seriously, sometimes acting like complete goofs. But they had fun.
Suddenly Angel stood up and took her hand. He led her over to Cordy. "Tell everyone we went for a walk but we will meet them at the library later."
He turned and dragged Callie out of the Bronze leaving behind a smiling and stunned Cordy. Callie held his hand following him without even asking where they were going. She was shocked when he put her gently up against a tree and kissed her deeply, passionately. She moaned softly wrapping her arms around his neck. For that moment, vampires, slayers, monsters were a myth. Everything was perfect.
The End
K before anyone spazes about the ending, I'll be making this into a series. Which will continute the story from where I left off. It should be out in a few weeks.
© 1997 buffy589@aol.com
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