Second Chances

A fic by: Angel's blue eyed girl

Rating: M

A/N: Thanks to my beta-Red. Love ya darling. Also, I want to Thank all of you who have been fans of this fic since I started it and those who have just started reading it. I still love this and I'm going to update this once a month kind of like an episodic fic. You guys and your reviews have kept this fic alive. Thank you! You're the best!

Also a little shout out to Kay8abc and her new fic "With or Without" and as always Elaine 451 has some awesome fics. My bud; Vixangel's "Broken" just totally rocks and Brandi Rochon's "Vampire FairyTale", BuffyAngel-17's "My saving Grace and Helmi 1's fics are always really cool. Check them out, yeah…love ya guys! Oh and to Summer--Love ya bunches, my lovely! SELS unite!! lol!

xoxoxoxoxo

Jenna

Chappie 26

Studio City: Underground:

"Angel—look out!" Spike yelled and tackled the bigger vampire to the ground.

Angel let out a loud "Oomph!" as he and Spike went tumbling to the ground. A minute later Spike hadn't moved and Angel began to squirm. He pushed at Spike's chest. "Dammit, get off me!" he growled.

Spike climbed off his Sire. "Ya know? A thank you would be nice, ya soddin' git, considerin' I did just save your bloody hide!"

Angel gave a dramatic eye roll. "Saved my…? Did you just call me a tit?" He shook his head in aggravation. "Whatever, Spike, you didn't save anything," he snapped dusting himself off. "Why the hell did you jump me anyway? Didn't you see I was going after the snake daddy?"

Spike's jaw dropped. "You mean the snake daddy was going after you, don't you?"

Angel glared at him. "No, you moron, I was going after the snake and if you ever thought before you just acted you'd have figured that out."

"Bloody ungrateful poncey bastard is what you are—you were almost dinner and yet you're pissed?!"

"No," Angel said as if speaking to a child. "I'm not pissed. I'm irritated that I even have to talk to you. I was going after the snake that was about to make you dinner, stupid."

Spike scoffed, "Stupid? I'm stupid? Well, what does that make you, Capt. Forehead? You didn't—" he stopped when Angel's eyes narrowed and focused on a spot right behind him. "What?"

Angel rolled his eyes, glanced over his shoulder and saw the glowing eyes and surmised there was more than one big snake. "Great, just how many parents do these puppies have?" he muttered. "Spike, step this way and don't look back…"

Spike screwed his face up in a scowl and scoffed. "What? Why should I listen to you? You think I'm stupid and I think you're a big ape!"

Angel gave a low growl as he motioned to the other holes, all of which had glowing eyes... "Spike, for once, would you just listen and shut your trap?" he said as he stepped closer and began to decide how they were going to get out of this. "There's more than—"

Buffy and Gunn suddenly landed at his feet, breaking Angel's train of thought.

"Buffy!" he gasped and reached down to help her up. "Baby, are you alright? I thought you'd decided to stay up top."

Getting to her feet, Buffy rubbed her butt. "Ouch," she muttered. "Sore, but yeah, I'm okay. As if I'd let you—wait, what do you mean; you thought I'd stayed up top? We jumped down the hole just a few seconds after you did."

Angel frowned and shook his head. "No baby, that was a few minutes ago."

Buffy looked at Gunn, who shrugged and spoke for both of them. "Okay, weird, 'cause seriously, we just jumped, bro."

Buffy glanced up at her lover. "Well, I guess we took the same trip through never-never land that you took." She dusted herself off. "Okay, so we know this little hole takes a hell of a lot longer to land than it looks, but what's the sitch on big papa?"

Angel pointed to the many holes in the walls of the cavern they were in. Glowing orange eyes began to show themselves in each one.

Gunn hefted his axe over his shoulder. "So, we're lookin' at more than one, huh?" He looked at Buffy who clutched her stake in her hand. "Hope ya got something more than that little piece of wood, girl, 'cuz right now, I'm thinkin' we need steel and lots of it!"

Buffy looked around as the sound of snakes got louder and louder as the creatures closed in on them. The hiss was almost deafening. Buffy bit her lip. "This is SO…not good."

She gripped her stake tighter, "Okay, so you want the right?" Buffy asked looking at Angel. "And, I'll take the left…"

Angel put his back to hers. "Stay close to me. We'll wait for them to come out of their hiding places—then we take out as many as we can." He reached behind him and pulled out his spare sword. "Take this, it may not be as handy as your stake, but it'll chop off a snake's head easier."

She took the sword and circled the area with him, back to back. "So, do we know which of these big uglies is the proud papa?" she whispered.

Suddenly a huge copper headed snake burst out of a tunnel and was in Buffy's face before she could get out of the way. "I'm thinking maybe this one," Buffy said as the huge head bumped into her, almost knocking her off her feet, before Angel spun and stabbed it through the head, pinning it to the ground with his sword.

The snake writhed. "I wish no harm on the Sssslayer…" the snake hissed, trying to tear its head free.

Angel laughed and dug his sword in more. "Oh and I'm just going to take your word for that?" Angel rolled his eyes. "Well jeez, why didn't I think of that? Maybe I should just start asking every demon looking for my wife if they're really trying to kill her? What do you think they'd say? No?" He gave a buzzer sound. "Sorry—that's just stupid." He dug the sword in harder and the snake hissed. "Now, tell me what they have planned for her or get ready to be a $500 purse on Rodeo Dr." He smirked. "Your choice, snake man."

The snake turned his eyes on Buffy. "Sssslayer…I'm here to warn you. There isss great magic and evil plotting againssst you. I wassss sssssent to kill you…"

Angel snarled in rage and pushed Buffy back as he dug the sword deeper. "What do you know? Who's after her and why?"

With a bust of strength the big beast yanked it's head free and sent Angel flying. "Sssstupid vampire—doessssn't ssssee the truth in front of hisssss face," it hissed, turning back to Buffy.

She was waiting for it and put the tip of her sword to the snake's eye. "I'm so not in the mood for cryptic, so either spill what you know or wear an eye patch for the rest of your very short life!"

The snakes tongue slithered out. "Sssslayer, we've been waiting for you…"

"Really?" Buffy asked. "Well, my invitation must have got lost in the mail then."

"The prophecssssie….it issssss a fake. If you releassssse the beassssst, it will kill your child."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Release the beast? What Beast?" Fear for her child drove her to put the tip of her sword at the snake's neck. "Who are you and what do you know about my son?"

The snake looked her in the eye. "My name issss Menoahssss and I wassss ssssent to give you thissss messssage…Beware of Sssssahjhon and the prophecssie…Your son is the Destroyer and he will kill Ssssahjhon. I cannot tell you more—it will be what it isssss…"

Just then a huge blast came from the tunnels. The snake reared up and its fanged mouth opened in a scream as it watched its lair being attacked. "You musssst leave thissss placssse now! Sahjhon knowssssss…he can travel through time, he hassssss changed thingsssss. Go—go now!"

Angel rushed to Buffy's side and went to kill the snake. Buffy grabbed his arm. "NO!" she yelled. "He's—he's on our side." When Angel opened his mouth to argue Buffy held up a hand. "Don't ask—I just know. We have to help them—something evil is here."

Menoahs nodded. "Your woman isssss sssssmarter than you are, vampire, you didn't ssssee the evil and it wasssss right under your nosssse…" The snake looked at Buffy. "Take care Ssssslayer. I musssst try and ssssave my people. Leave thisss placssse, now!" Then it was gone, heading back into the tunnel it had appeared out of.

Spike stepped forward. "While I agree with the big scaly demon about her…" He nodded his head to Buffy, "being smarter than you… Surely we aren't really going to save these things?"

Buffy shot him a look. "He wasn't trying to hurt us."

Spike snorted. "Yeah almost bitin' me in half was just a friendly way of sayin' hi!" He shook his head. "Slayer, you heard the big slithery—we need to get out of here and I say we do that now!" he said, looking back towards the caves behind them.

Buffy shook her head. "No! We have to find this Sahjhon. He wants to hurt my—our son." She glanced at Angel. "Ready?"

Angel didn't hesitate. "Always—I trust your instincts, baby."

Buffy gave him a grateful look for his blind faith in her. "I feel something here, Angel."

He nodded. "I know. I feel it too." He looked at Spike and Gunn. "Okay, you take that tunnel…me and Buffy got this one." He nodded towards a tunnel to the right. "We meet back here, got it?"

Gunn gripped his battle ax. "Got it." Spike smirked. "Yeah, mate, I'll handle your demon problem, but do I get the girl after?"

Angel growled at him and he and Gunn headed down the tunnel on the left.

Buffy and Angel walked, back to back, down the dark cave like tunnel that led deeper into the snake demon's lair. "So what do you think made that blast?"Angel asked, as they entered a huge cavern. It almost looked like an arena with a dirt floor and high stone walls. Large openings in the walls reminded Angel of an Opera house.

Buffy turned with Angel, keeping her back to his. "I'd like to say this might be the laser show at the Griffith Observatory, but I doubt it. So I'm thinkin' something evil…" she replied.

Angel chuckled as his eyes darted this way and that, looking for movement. "Always with the snappy comebacks," he teased.

Buffy looked over her shoulder and tried to see his face, but all she could see were huge broad shoulders. "Well, you know me—Buffy, queen of the pun!"

His laugh was cut short when a huge snake suddenly flew out of one of the tunnels. It hit the ground and skidded across the floor, stopping a few feet from Buffy's feet. The snake writhed and shuddered, its scales moving as it hissed in obvious pain. With a low quivering sigh, it turned its massive head to look at them.

"Ssssslayer…I failed…" it said.

"No," Buffy gasped and rushed over to it and knelt down next to it.

"Meno--" she stopped. "Sorry, not so good with names," she explained, looking over the snake's heaving body. "You have to be still,' she said softly. There were jagged tears all along its coppery hide and Buffy bit her lip at the pale pink blood. The wounds were mortal and they both knew it.

The snake choked and spit up more pink blood. "I told you, you musssst leave thisssss placssse. The Evil…it isssss here and it wantssssss you and your vampire. He issssss the Champion…you are the light. You mussssst sssssurvive. Go…now," the snake said, struggling for every breath.

Angel was at Buffy's side and he stared down at the huge snake with sympathy. He knew sometimes warnings came from every sector of the universe and he believed this snake was on their side. He knelt down too. "What's coming?"

"Eeevilll…Sssssahjhon is just the beginning…" the snake hissed. "True evil issssss here and it wantssss you…"

"You know what it is. Tell us—we need to—" Angel stopped as tingles raced up his spine and his senses went haywire. "We need to go. Something is here, Buffy. Something we're not prepared to fight. Let's go!"

Buffy struggled for a second, hesitant to leave the big snake to die alone, but then as insidious sense of evil swept through her consciousness and her Slayer senses went into hyper-drive. She shivered and goose-bumps broke out all over. "What's happening?"

Angel growled. "No time for explanations, we gotta get out!" he snapped and started to drag her.

Buffy didn't fight. "Got it—the Big Bad is here—run!" she said and headed at super speed towards the tunnel that would lead her back to the hole.

Buffy and Angel came rushing through the tunnel. Spike and Gunn were there waiting. Spike was still shivering. "Was it just me or did any of you feel that?"

Angel gritted his teeth and nodded. "Likje someone was pulling my bones from my body!"

Spike nodded, "And that's putting it nicely, mate!"

Gunn gritted his teeth. "I feel like my hair is growing. Can we just get the hell up on out of here—this place is like seriously giving me the creeps!"

Angel looked at Spike. "We can't climb out…we have to jump. I think we should all go together. Everybody join hands, we're out of here."

For once Spike didn't give a smart assed comment. "I'm more than ready…this place—bad—really bad, let's go."

Angel took Buffy's hand. "Ready, baby?"

She nodded. "With you…? Always," she said as she took Gunn's other hand.

Gunn grabbed Spike's hand at the same time.

Spike looked down at their joined hands and raised a brow. Gunn rolled his eyes. "Don't even go there Billy. Just don't want you left here, a'wright?"

Spike gave him a cheeky grin. "Now ya've broken me heart, Charlie boy!" Gunn snorted and Spike laughed too. "Okay, so let's blow this place!"

Buffy squeezed Angel's hand. "Okay, so on three, we all jump…"

The evil was rushing up fast—faster than they were moving.

Angel shuddered and his eyes went gold. "No time for three—go!!"

They jumped…Spike, Angel and Buffy all using their preternatural powers to spring them up…and up…and up…

They sprang from the hole and went a good twenty feet higher than necessary, landing with a thud.

"Well, that hurt…" Spike muttered some twenty feet away from Buffy.

Gunn groaned as he tried to sit up. "Did anyone get the name of the truck that hit us?"

Buffy sat up groggily and rubbed her back. "Ow," she gasped and winced in pain. She got to her knees and looked around "Okay, can anyone tell me why that jump seemed so much shorter this time?" Just then she noticed the hole was gone. "Oh, that's so not good."

Angel had landed about ten feet away. "Buffy." He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted her, but her small cry of pain sent him crawling to her. "Are you okay?" He frowned at the smooth ground where the cavern used to be. It was disturbing, but right then he was more worried about Buffy.

She nodded, but her eyes were huge as she sat up and grabbed his shirt. The snake's words were suddenly burning a hole in her consciousness. Just then Angel's cell phone rang.

He glanced from Buffy to the phone as if unsure what to do. On instinct he picked up the phone. Doyle was on the line.

'Angel man, you and your pretty wife need ta get back here and I mean pronto. I had a vision— I'll explain when ya get here and that means now boyo."

Angel hadn't even hung up the phone before Buffy grabbed his shirt and started to shake him. "Angel," she said, as shivers of dread raced through her and she trembled violently. "The snake—he said the Beast would…" She stopped and her mouth dropped open and she began to whimper. "We have to get back to the hotel…NOW!!" she cried, right before she went stiff, flung her head back and fainted.

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A little Magic shop in Hollywood.

Darla tucked the vial into the pocket of her coat. "And this won't wear off right away?"

The witch shook her head. "The effects last approximately 48 hours. Remember, you only need a few drops. Anything more will make him go mad."

Darla nodded, already planning how she'd get Angel to drink it. Her body shuddered as she thought of having him inside her again. "Now, what about the love spell?"

"You must say it at the exact moment he is—um…involved in his pleasure. His mind will be open for suggestion. THAT will never wear off, unless a counter spell is done."

Darla's brow raised and a cunning smile spread across her face. "Oh, I'll make sure that never happens," she said. "Thank you." She turned to Lindsey. "Pay the woman, will you, darling?"

Lindsey gritted his teeth, but Darla gave him that bewitching smile of hers and he caved. With a sigh, he got out his wallet and handed the witch several hundred dollar bills along with his business card. "If this works, you can expect a lot more work from Wolfram & Hart."

The witch glanced at Darla. The blonde vampire had already dismissed the closing of the deal and had her back to them while she browsed the black magical arts section. "Oh, it'll work." Her knowing eyes caught and held Lindsey's. "But are you sure you really want it to?"

Lindsey hesitated. His eyes followed Darla for several moments before he answered. "Not really," he answered. "But, I can't—I want her to be happy."

The witch shrugged. "She still won't love you."

At that moment Darla rejoined them. The vampire's blue eyes narrowed as she felt the tension between the two. "Is there a problem, Lindsey?"

"No, no problem. You got everything you need?"

Darla looped her arm through his and gave him a mysterious smile. "Not yet, but soon—very soon…"

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Lobby, Hyperion Hotel:

Giles was huddled over a large book, researching, while Fred and Dawn worked on the computer. Evan was in a bassinet behind the counter. Doyle paced behind the counter. He could feel something coming, but the PTB weren't sending him anything…

He looked up at the ceiling and blew out a frustrated breath. "Hey, at least give me a damned vision, so I can warn them of any big uglies that come after the son!"

Doyle went over to Giles. "Have ya found anything that can lead us to the big bad that wants Angel and Buffy dead?"

Giles looked up. "I promise, you'll be the first to know."

Doyle rolled his eyes. "Why am I not believin' that!"

Wesley came out of of the office right then. "Rupert, you need to look at this," he said, setting the book on the counter. "I've found something quite compelling in the Artemanian texts."

Doyle rushed over. "Well that looks promising. What is it?"

Giles looked up, took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Do you think it has something to do with the prophecy?"

Wes pointed to a text. "It says; The Destroyer will bring about Armageddon. If good wins—a thousand years of peace will ensue, but…"

"If evil wins—the world has no idea what kind of chaos may transpire..." Giles supplied.

Wes nodded. "I'm sorry, I can't find more in that test. Maybe in the Codex?"

Doyle moved closer to the counter. "Great, just what I need—more cryptic. Like sending them on all these missions wasn't enough…now we have prophecies that just make less sense of the situation!"

Wes cleared his throat. "No, Doyle, I think this one makes perfect sense." He unrolled a scroll in front of Giles. "Rupert, I believe this one warns us NOT to believe the prophecy…"

Doyle rolled his eyes. "Um—think the blinding headache I got, kinda pointed us there!"

Giles gave the Irish man a scowl. "Are you sure?" he asked and leaned over the book intently. "Do we have any proof the prophecy is a fraud? I mean besides the pictures in his head…" he said, pointing at Doyle.

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Los Angeles:

The Plymouth careened around the corner, tires squealing and fishtailing when Angel gunned the big engine again before getting the car completely under control.

"Hey bro, I get your need for speed, but if we all die on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride here, then you ain't helpin' your girl or any of us who wanna live past today," he yelled, grabbing hold of the door when Angel took another corner way too fast.

Angel ignored him as he got the big car under control again. He glanced at Buffy, begging her with his eyes to wake up. "I don't get what happened to her—why hasn't she woken up yet?"

Spike leaned forward. "I didn't have the answer ta that question the first twenty times ya asked it, Peaches…but Charlie here is right. If ya kill the chit before we get—"

Angel yanked the wheel to the right; tires screeched as the big car lurched and took the corner wildly, sending Spike flying across the seat.

"Bloody hell, Angel! I'm getting tired of getting tossed about like a soddin' ping-pong ball, ya git! Slow the hell down so we can get—" The car skidded to a stop in front of the hotel. "To the Hotel," Spike finished with a roll of his eyes.

Angel ignored him and sprang out of the car, running to the passenger side in a flash. "Hand her to me," he told Gunn, opening the door and tenderly taking his lover in his arms. Without a word to Spike or Gunn, he rushed up the walk. At the gates, he turned and pushed the gates open with his back. "You're gonna be okay—you're gonna be okay…" It was a mantra he repeated over and over as he hurried up the walk and burst into the Hotel.

Buffy gasped as Angel barreled through the doors, carrying her body. She floated over the scene. "Oh God, I'M a ghost," she whispered.

The doors to the kitchen banged off the walls, and everyone's head snapped up as Dawn rushed across the lobby.

Dawn too one look at her sister and her face paled. "Oh no," she cried, her hand covering her mouth. "Is she…? She can't be—no!"

Angel strode across the lobby "No, she's not dead—she fainted."

Buffy's head snapped up as she floated to the floor—she crumpled and fell to her knees. "I'm not—?" She got to her feet and looked up. "Okay, this isn't funny anymore. Just what the hell is going on?" she asked as she noticed no one could see or hear her.

"Something evil was there and she got—we don't know what it was, but the snake said it was bad and it wanted Evan…" Angel's words were jumbled and he looked like he was about to collapse from stress and worry as his eyes met Giles'. "Help her—I can't—I need her. Please."

Tears sprang to Buffy's eyes as she watched her love. "Oh, baby, I'm right here. Can't you feel me?"

Angel looked up. "I—I can feel her. I'm telling you, she's still here. We just need to…find her," he whispered, holding her hand and kissing it.

Seeing Buffy like that stunned Giles. Wes was the first one to move. "Angel, bring her over here," he said, getting his books out of the way.

Angel picked her up like fine china and carried her across the room. "Do something," he whispered, and set her down.

Wes checked her pulse. It was strong and steady. "Well, she's alive…very much so."

Buffy rolled her eyes as she watched the whole thing from across the room. "Hello—I'm right here!"

Regaining his composure, Giles checked on Buffy himself before turning to Angel. "What exactly happened and please…start at the beginning, any detail might be a clue."

"It's the Senior Partners," Doyle said softly from the stairs.

All eyes turned to him.

"What do you mean, Doyle?" Angel growled. "Wolfram & Hart are behind this?"

"Yes and no—the Senior Partners want you and the Slayer outta the game. When Cordy didn't—couldn't lead ya down the wrong path, they took Buffy, knowin' it'd drive ya mad." He gave Giles a glare. "I tried ta tell ya something was wrong!"

'Fucking pricks!' Angelus grumbled as he began plotting how Wolfram & Hart would pay for this.

For once Angel was in complete agreement and he actually enjoyed the visuals of the horrible tortures his demon wanted inflict on the lawyers at W&H until a thought came to him. He glanced at Giles. The Watcher looked sick. "It's not your fault, Rupert. I'ts Wolfram & Hart's!" He went to his weapons chest aqnd started getting out a massive amount of swords and axe's. "Are you saying they have, Buffy?" he asked Doyle.

Doyle shook his head and glanced over at Buffy. "Um…no—well not quite, Angel." Doyle glanced at Buffy. "Actually…she's right here."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Can you see me, Doyle?" she asked, making her way over to him.

He winked at her. "Aye lass," before he turned back to Angel. "Buffy is right here Angel—she's just been knocked outta her body, so ta speak."

Giles looked around the room, searching for a glimpse—a spark of light, something, but he couldn't see her. "Are you telling me that Buffy—is here—in this room with us now?"

Doyle nodded and grinned. "She's standin' right here," he said reaching out to take Buffy's hand.

Buffy was stunned when she felt his fingers entwine with hers. She could feel him—actually FEEL his hand. "Why?" she asked. "How come you can see me and they can't?"

"I'm the Seer, I see more that I want sometimes, but…" He shrugged. "Well, at times like these, it comes in handy, it does."

Angel didn't know whether to leave the body of his mate or rush over to Doyle who appeared to be actually talking to her. "Doyle, why can't I see her? I've always been able to FEEL Buffy…"

"And ya still do, don'tcha?"

Angel closed his eyes and let his gut and senses feel her. Buffy saw what he was doing and moved closer to him. "Do you feel me, Angel?" she asked as she reached out to him.

Angel tensed up as his hand clenched and twitched. "I feel her—she's..." He grinned suddenly as Buffy's presence flooded his senses. "She standing next to me, isn't she?"

Buffy wrapped her arms around his waist. "Yeah, baby, I am. I knew you'd find me."

Angel's arms came around and it appeared he was hugging himself as he whispered. "I'll always find you—I love you."

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Later Hyperion:

The entire gang was in full research mode, attempting to figure out how to get Buffy back in her body. "Buffy" sat next to her body. "Why can't I get back?" she whined. She'd tried everything from jumping back into her body, to laying back into it, nothing worked!

Dawn re-read what she'd just found. "I got it—I think she's in a kind of astral-projection mode."

Giles harrumphed. "We're well aware of that fact, Dawn, what we need to discover is how to get her—"

"Un-astralized," Dawn supplied with a small smile.

Wes shook his head. "Well, I suppose that's a way to put it, yes."

Buffy glanced at Doyle. "Why can't we find out what's happening to me? Can't you go see those Oreo guys and ask them?"

Doyle chuckled. "Oracles, Buffy, and no, I can't because this has nothing to do with the Powers That Be, lass. This is the Senior Partners trying to make you lose your way."

Buffy pouted. "Fine, well, I'm going to make my way upstairs and go sit with Angel and my…" She paused and grimaced. "Body, call for me if we learn anything new, okay?"

Doyle turned to the group researching. "Buffy wants to go upstairs, I'm going with her…if ya learn of anything, let us know," he said, following Buffy.

Buffy gave him a wry look. "So are you my shadow now?"

He chuckled. "I'm your link to the Powers, just like I'm Angel's. The last time this happened, Cordy—well, she got led down the wrong path."

Buffy nodded. "I know," she said taking his hand and squeezing it. "I'm sorry, Doyle. I really am. Me and Cordy may have never really been friends, but…"

"Ya wouldn't have wished this upon her, right?"

"No, I wouldn't have, even if I didn't like the way she went after Angel."

He sighed. "Yeah, that bugged me too."

Buffy nodded. "I know you loved her, but—"

"It hurts that Cordy took the visions and abused them." Doyle's blue/green eyes were sad. "It hurts worse that she loved Angel, even if I can understand WHY she fell for Angel. He's the hero. Every girl wants a hero, right?"

Buffy studied him. "But so are you. Angel told me what you did. You're a warrior and a hero, Doyle, and don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't. You sacrificed your life…take it from someone who knows—no matter how prepared you are—it's still…"

"Scary enough ta make ya wanna cry?"

Buffy giggled. "Well, I was gonna say frightening, but yep, that actually covers it better!"

They headed for Buffy and Angel's room in silence after that, but it was a comfortable, easy silence and Buffy was glad someone could hear her and understand what she was going through…

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Darla entered the Hotel a while later to find Angel and Buffy's crew scurrying from book to book, going over texts, internet data bases and whatnot.

"Oh, goody, is the Apocalypse finally happening?" she muttered as she took her jacket off and draped it over the couch.

Giles glared at her. "You know we could use your help—You have a soul now and considering it is the child you carried for nine months that's in danger here, you might want to consider lending a hand!"

Darla rolled her eyes. "Oh, no, Watcher, you can't have it both ways. Your little Slayer says Evan is NOT mine, so don't use him to make me feel bad. If Angel…" She stopped. "Well, if things were different—" She shook herself. "Never mind, so what's with the emergency? Buffy stub a toe?"

The doors to the Hotel opened and Spike and Gunn came in.

"Did you learn anything?" Wes asked.

"Well, word on the street is the Slayer came back wrong…" Gunn stopped as noticed Darla. The blond vampire smiled wickedly. Gunn sighed and looked at Wes. "Why do I get the feeling I shouldn't have said that in front of Cruella over there?"

"Came back wrong?" Darla asked sweetly. "Whatever could that mean?" She made her way over to Spike. "William, would you care to explain what the meathead is talking about?" she asked taking hold of his arm in a punishing grip.

"Ow, ya soddin'—" She dug her nails in. "Bloody hell, are ya tryin' ta rip me bleedin' arm off, ya bitch?"

She shrugged and just dug her nails deeper as her eyes went golden. "Possibly, but I can make that a lot worse and you know it. Now tell me, childe—what the hell is he talking about? How did the little cheerleader come back wrong?"

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Upstairs:

Angel sat next to the bed, holding the hand of Buffy's form with "astral Buffy" on his lap. He smiled at Doyle. "She's right here isn't she?"

Doyle chuckled. "Uh, she's on your lap, boyo."

He purred and seemed to just wrap his arms around himself, holding Buffy close. "Baby…I love you, we're going to figure this out, I promise."

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Okay, click the button and feed the musie, please. She won't feed my brain if she doesn't get fed!! ;) :) ;) :)