Callista walked through the Graveyard. This was the first she had hunted alone. She had slipped away when the others were distracted. Her senses were at full alert and she soon found what she was looking for. Many of those things. There were at least 17 of them. She knew instantly that she was in trouble. But she was not going down without a fight. She had managed to take out three when the other four pulled her to the ground and began to kick and beat her without mercy.
She just wanted it to stop. She was beyond fighting back. She was startled when she heard a growl and the vampires were pulled off of her. By the time she was able to turn to see what was happening they were all dead. In their place stood Spike. She was more than a little surpised. Ever since Angels' soul had been restored and the Master returned, Spike had disappeared. Now he was back. Seeing Spike brought back so many memories. Days long gone when Angelus, Darla, Dru, Spike and she had traveled together. There had been some good times.
Spike knelt and assessed her injures. "Well luv, you're in bad shape."
"Finish it Spike. Don't play games."
If she had been surprise before, now she was dumbfounded. Spike gathered her into his arms and stood. "Now, luv. I don't want to hurt you. I need your help and you need mine. I've had to hide since the Master came back. We've had good times in the past. And this is for old times. Now relax and let me help you."
She put her arm around his neck and finally gave into unconciousness, her head falling against his shoulder. Spike turned toward his next destination. The library.
Nobody so much as turned their head when the library doors swung open. It was just Callie and oh was she in trouble. Angel was mad. He turned to glare at her and his eyes widened when he saw Spike standing there holding Callista in his arms. "Hello Angelus."
Everyone spun around to face Spike. Then the noticed what he was holding in his arms. A bloody and battered Callie.
Angel growled. "Spike. I didn't expect even you to do this to her. You two used to be close. I'm going to rip your throat out."
"Whoa, Angelus. I didn't hurt her. I saved her pretty butt. You can ask her when she wakes up. What were you people thinking? Letting hergo out on the hunt alone when the Master has put out a contract on her life!"
"We didn't *let* her. She went." Angel replied. "Give her to me."
Spike did as he was told, Angel took her into the back room and laid her on a cot while Giles went to get the First Aide kit. Giles called Buffy and Willow into the room and chased Spike, Angel, Oz, and Xander out. About an hour later Giles came out followed by the girls. "She'll be fine in a couple days. You four can stop pacing before you put a hole in my floor." Giles said, with what might have been called a smile. If Giles actually did those things. "You can go see her now."
Both vampires walked into the room where Callie lay sleeping. Angel knelt beside the bed and took her hand. "Oh Callie, what were you thinking!" He remembered Spike standing behind him. "All right Spike tell me whats going on."
"What's going on friend, is that this time I'm on your side. You know I always had a soft spot for Callie."
"Yeah, I do."
Just then they heard a soft moan and turned to see Callista open her eyes. Angel was at her side immediately. "Callie, what were you thinking or were you even thinking at all!"
"Angel, please don't yell at me right now. Okay? Please?"
Spike took this moment to exit the room.
Angel couldn't believe how much Callie sounded like a little girl. A little girl in a lot of pain. "Okay. Not now, but later. All right?"
"Okay. Angel please just hold me." Unable to deny such a simple request he climbed into bed next to her and held her.
Buffy walked to the door to find Angel asleep next to Callie. She loved him so much. But he had moved on. She'd had no right kissing him after she had knocked him out. He belonged to Callista. She needed to move on too. But part of her would always love him.
She returned her mind to what she was supposed to be doing. Getting Callie to drink some water. Angel opened his eyes as she entered the room.. Buffy spoke quickly, afraid of what he might say. "Uh, Giles said it's important that Callie drink plenty of liquids because of the blood loss."
"I'll make sure she gets it."
"Okay" she turned to go.
"Buffy."
She stopped and turned slowly, but didn't speak.
"I'm sorry for what happened."
"I know." She left.
Angel turned his attention to Callie, gently lifting her head so that he could get her to drink a little water. Her eyes opened and she looked at him questionly. "It's just water. Giles said it was important that you drink plenty of water."
She nodded and obediently sipped the water. She sank back on to bed feeling slightly better. "Hey Angel?"
"Yeah?"
"Take me out into the library. I don't like being stuck in here. It's the weekend no one's in the school. You can move the whole cot out if you want but please?"
"I'll ask Giles what he thinks. I'll be right back." He kissed her forehead and left.
After a few minutes he returned. "Giles said it would be all right as long as you sat still. Promise?"
"I promise as long as you let me check my email and my webpage."
"Deal." He gathered her into his arms. (for those who have their minds in the gutter, she was dressed in a long long night shirt that went down to her knees) He carried her out into the library and settled her in the chair in front of the computer, which she eagerly turned on. A few minutes later she groaned. "Oh! This is what I get for not checking my mail! 120 emails. Well there goes the next three days getting caught up." She began her mail checking duties. After about an hour. Angel came out pushing the cot.
"All right thats enough for right now. You need to rest."
She crossed her arms and pouted. "I'm fine right where I am."
"See the one beautiful thing about you being weak is that for once I can make you listen." He laughed picking her up once more and depositing her on the cot. As much as she protested, she was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Angel pulled the sheets around her and sat back to watch her sleep.
Spike came out of the stacks. "She never did like to listen. She always gave you the run around Angelus." He walked to where Angel stood. "She's a vampire, but still so much like a angelic child who gets in a lot of trouble." Spikes soft laugh and smile were actually sincere.
Willow walked up to the two vampires. "Hey Spike what's with the nice stuff? I thought you liked being bad. Not that I'm complaining. I don't want two little holes in my neck. Big no to that. But what's going on?"
"One the Masters hunting me. He's not too happy about me roasting the Annoying one. Two I like Callie. She was always good to me and fun to be around. I'm not about to let some idiots kick her around."
Buffy laughed. "You expect us to believe that?"
"I do." Everyone stared at Angel as if he had grown another head. "Spike and Callie were always close. She trusted him with her life. If she did, so do I."
Three hours later Callie opened her eyes and looked around. Everyone was busy and paying no attention to her. She quietly got up and managed to get to the phone without being caught. She dialed Cordielias' phone number. "Hey Cordy. Could you do me a favor and bring me some clothes? You know like my normals style. Tight jeans, my boots, tank top?"
"Sure be there in a few."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye"
Callie quietly crept back into the library and to bed without being seen. She sat with her legs swinging in the air waiting for Cordy. When Cordielia walked in carrying a bag of clothes everyone turned to look at the smirking Callista. "Hi Cordielia! Thanks alot. You know you guys aren't real observant." With that she went in the back room to dress. She came back. and all Angel could do was shake is head.
"I can't believe you can stand in those shoes! The heel is two inches high. Your balance isn't that great yet. You-"
Callie had heard more than enough. She walked up to him, and grabbed his face, kissing him passionately. Now that Angel was subdued she turned to a laughing Spike. "Well, Spike I guess I owe you a thank you."
Spike continued to laugh. "No, I think you more than paid me back. Putting Angel in his place. Best thing I ever saw." Spike dissolved into hysterics again.
"I always was good at that huh?"
"You were the best love."
Callista laughed and launched herself at Spike, who easily caught her and spun her in a circle. She saw the astonished faces of her friends. (Not Angel, he was still in stunned mode.) "Hey, I told you guys that there were some good times. It wasn't all blood and murder. Spike actually has a great sense of humor. You might try giving him a little more credit." Sobering she turned to Spike. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean it. I was just so out of it. I....."
Spike hugged her again. "I know love don't worry about it."
All the attention Spike was giving to Callie finally woke Angel up. He walked up and took Callistas' hand. She squeezed his hand gently telling him he had nothing to worry about.
Xander decided to go with this having fun thing. "Hey, since Callie is doing okay, why don't we go to the Bronze?"
Callie loved the idea. "Sounds great Xander. Having fun always helps me feel better."
"Callie are you sure you're up to this?" Once again Angel was being a mother hen..
"Angel, look at my face. You know what this expression means. I'm going. I'm going to have to face the Master soon, so I'm going to have as much fun as I can until then. All right?"
"Okay. Just be careful. You know I love you."
"I know. I love you too."
Buffy choked. It had taken Angel two years to say that too her. Callista and Angel had been involved a few months and look! She told herself that she wasn't being rational. Callie and Angel had actually been together for over a hundred years. But she really didn't care.
am."
Callista was having fun. She had danced with Oz, Xander, then Angel, and was now dancing with Spike. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much. And now she realized she was ready to face the Master. Tomorrow night. She knew she could die and that was why she was determined to enjoy tonight. After finishing the night off with a dance with Angel, they decided to leave. *Well, I might as well let them know about tomorrow.* Callie turned towards her friends. "Guys. Theres something I need to tell you. I'm ending it tomorrow. I'm going to challenge him tomorrow."
Surprisingly nobody argue they just said that they would meet her in the library tomorrow morning to work out a plan. Angel would get there by sewer. Angel and Callie turned for home. (She was living with him. Where else is she supposed to go. oh and by the way. Get your heads out of the gutters.)
Angel was very quiet the whole way. They stopped outside the door. Angel looked like he was going to say something but changed his mind. He opened the door and walked in. Callie followed him wrapping her arms around him from behind. He turned and looked into her emerald eyes. "Callie, I'm worried. The Master isn't going to go down easy. I just don't want to loose you."
"I know and I don't want to loose you either. But with all of us working together, we can win. Angel, I just don't want to be afraid anymore. Of him. Of what he might do." Tears fell from her eyes as she remembered the night when the Master had changed everything.
It tore Angel apart to see her in pain. He did the only thing he could. He pulled her close and kissed her promising to stay with her to the end. The kiss deepened and they were pulled together by their desperation. Angel began kissing her shoulders and her neck. Then her lips again. After an eternity they broke apart. Callie leaned into Angels' strength. She need all the support she could get for tomorrow night. He kissed the top of her head. "You need to rest. Go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay. Good night." She turned towards her bedroom. She stopped. "Angel? I'm scared, could you......please?"
"All right. Get dressed and I'll be in."
"Thank you." She quickly changed and told Angel it was okay to come in now. He came in and found her staring at her bed like it would bite her. He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "It's all right. I'm here. I'll be here the whole night. You're safe." She leaned weakly against him and he lifted her into his arms and placed her on the bed. He crawled to the other side and put her head on his shoulder and held her, hoping to give her some peace.
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