Angel sat beside Buffy on the couch of her living room. He held her hand tightly, refusing to ease up on his grip. He had offered to get her some clothes, but she'd just looked at him silently, no expression on her face, no emotion.

Since then, they had moved to the couch, where she'd sat, unmoving as she stared aimlessly at nothing in particular, while she protectively clutched her towel to her chest.

"Buffy?" Angel spoke softly, turning to her. He touched her arm gently, trying to snap her out of her motionless, silent state.

She noticeably flinched, pulling her arm away from him. She looked up at him and saw his hurt expression, "Angel, I'm sorry…I…. uh…. didn't mean…. I just…."

"Buffy, are you okay? Talk to me" Angel said, masking his sadness at seeing her like this.

He had never seen her like this before. She was so vulnerable. So hurt. So lost. It pained him to see her in so much pain and to be so close in proximity to her, yet unable to reach her, to save her.

"Angel? What are you doing here?" Buffy asked him.

Angel attempted to formulate an explanation to give her, but was rescued from that fate by Xander's sudden entrance into the house. He looked at Angel and Buffy sitting on the couch, then directly in front of him, to see Spike's leather coat hanging off the banister, then back towards the couch again. Without saying anything, he walked closer to them. It was then that he saw Buffy's reddened eyes and the distinct bruises on her leg and neck.

"What the hell happened here?" he asked, incredulously. All he could determine was that Spike had a part to play in all of this, and knowing that, he knew something awful had happened.

"Xander," Buffy said, surprised, quickly covering her leg. She let go of Angel's hand and put it to her neck, to hide her bruise from Xander's view.

Xander turned to focus on Angel, "Angel."

"Xander," Angel responded, as kindly as he could manage.

"So, Mr. Undead Headcase was here, huh?" Xander asked Angel.

Angel nodded.

"What did he do, Buffy?" Xander asked, concerned at seeing her in such a dishevelled state.

"He tried to…but he didn't. Angel showed up."

"He tried to what? Rape you?" Xander realized suddenly.

"Xander…. just don't, okay?"

Xander turned and paced the living room, throwing his hands in the air. He slammed his fist against the banister where Spike's coat laid, "That sick son of a bitch! He thinks he can waltz in here and attack you? Well, he's out of here. He's out of this town, Buffy! Anyone disagreeing with me here?"

"Just leave it, Xander," Buffy said, starting to get up.

"You have got to be kidding me. You still won't kill him even after what he's done now? What is wrong with you?"

"Okay, okay! That's enough, for tonight," Angel said, commandingly, rising quickly to his feet.

"Alright," Xander sighed, "I'm sorry, Buffy. It's just…'

"I know," Buffy said, sorrowfully.

Standing just behind her, Angel put his hands comfortingly on her shoulders and she flinched again. Xander and he exchanged a look of concern at her reaction.

"I'm going to get some sleep," Buffy told them.

She walked past Xander to the staircase. As she started to climb the stairs she stopped and turned back to them, "Angel?" she said.

Xander glanced at Angel, and as Angel passed him, he whispered to him, "Take care of her. We'll deal with this tomorrow, after the sun goes down, of course."

Angel discretely nodded in response and followed Buffy up the staircase.

Xander watched them go, then let out a profound sigh. He paused, considering for a moment, if he should stay in the house with Buffy. Then he realized that Angel was probably the best person to be with her, comforting and protecting her at this time. Trusting in that, he headed home.

#

Streets of Sunnydale

As Xander made his way home, he couldn't help feeling as though it was partly his fault that this had occurred. After all, if he had been more observant, he would have noticed just how much pain Buffy had been in, how far she really had slipped. His best friend had been barely hanging on, and he hadn't even seen it. This wasn't like him. He had always been the one who had observed everything. He had seen Buffy and Riley's relationship collapsing a year ago. He had seen the turmoil she had been in after the Master had killed her, albeit for a couple of minutes. And, he wished he had seen this thing with Spike. He loved Buffy with all his heart. The three of them; Buffy, Willow and he; had been through so much together. They had faced things beyond most people's comprehension and they'd had always had each other's backs. It saddened him that, this time, he had been too late.

He vowed to himself, as he continued on his way home, that the damage Spike had caused would be the final act of evil that he would ever commit. It would be the last thing he ever did.

#

Buffy's Bedroom, Five Minutes Later

Angel had his back to Buffy, as she changed into her nightclothes, while talking to him.

"Thanks for coming all the way down here, Angel. You really didn't need to. I can take on Spike."

"That's not why I came here…well, not the only reason." He moved to turn around, but quickly caught himself, "Can I…?"

"Yeah, sure," Buffy said, barely paying attention.

Angel turned around and immediately realized he had turned around a little too soon. He shunned the amorous thoughts that came to mind upon seeing her half-nude form mere meters in front of him. He knew it was merely a natural instinct, because he would never stop loving her, however, he reprimanded himself nevertheless. Now was not the time, nor would there ever be any such time.

Buffy moved to sit on the edge of her bed, "Try to get some sleep, I'll be downstairs if you need me. You're safe," Angel told her.

He turned to go, having decided that it would be best to continue their conversation in the morning, when she had had a little time to recover from the shock of tonight's events and was a little more lucid. But, as he turned to leave, she called to him.

"Don't," she spoke softly.

Angel spun around to face her again, "Don't what?" he asked her gently.

"Will you stay with me tonight…. here? I don't want to be alone, Angel."

Angel hesitated for a moment, comprehending the implications of such a situation of closeness between them. Then, he thought better of it. She needed him, and after all, that was why he was here, to help her, like she had helped him when he'd been brought back from Hell. He couldn't deny her that.

He eased into the bed, beside her. She moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. In response, Angel slowly moved to envelope her in his arms. This time she didn't flinch at all. He could feel her heart beating gently against his chest as she lay, sheltered in his strong embrace. He didn't say anything, as he stroked her hair, urging her to sleep.

After a few moments, she spoke, "Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"I feel like I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I'm so lost. I don't know why I've done certain things. I knew they wrong, but…. I just…. I don't feel anything."

"Give yourself time. It will come back. It's a huge shock being brought back from the grave," Angel told her, knowing that feeling all too well.

"But, there has been a lot of time. It's just, I don't understand why I'm back. I served my calling as the Slayer. I was done. Finished. And, now...I'm back. And…never mind…." Buffy struggled.

"And, what, Buffy?" Angel pressed her.

"And…. I don't want to be here. I was happy, Angel. How can I go on with my life, knowing what has been taken away from me…what I had?"

Tears welled in her eyes, and she fought to force them back, to compose herself. But, she couldn't and they slowly began rolling down her cheeks.

Angel rolled to face her, and held her by her shoulders, "Buffy, look at me."

Silently, Buffy looked at him.

"I've been re-born two times, Buffy. I understand what you're going through. You saw the state I was in when I came back from Hell. I didn't understand why I was back either. But, the fact is that I was sent back. We have a higher purpose, Buffy. We are needed here. Our time is never truly over. That's what being a champion means. And now, I'll tell you what you told me, when I couldn't find my strength. Sometimes life is fighting, Buffy; making it through the ups and downs. You have to fight this now. Yeah it seems hard right now, but you have the strength. I know you. I know you will get through this. And, until you do, I will be here with you."

"Thank you," Buffy said, with a smile of gratitude.

There was a long pause and then Angel spoke again, "And, as for Spike, well, that's the easy part. I'll take care of…" Angel began, but as he talked he looked down at Buffy and noticed that she had fallen asleep. He didn't say another word, and he dared not move, in fear of waking her. Instead, he just watched her sleep.