We all broke up, getting our individual equipment together and leaving for the base air field. Our government plane looks more like a business man's jet, to hide us from the public. But, it had a few very special adaptions. Such as a reinforced steel cage in one corner, and a weapon storage area in another. Even a satellite linked computer for last minute research. It's always reminded me of a more luxurious, moving version of the library. Giles would hate it.
I sat down on one of the plump couches and tried to sleep. I knew I would need it in the long run. A few hours had passed when I finally gave up. I knew I wasn't getting any sleep that night. I was too wired by the thought of going back to Sunnydale.
Angel was the only other one awake. He brought me a cup of hot coffee and sat down on the opposite end of the couch I was sitting on. I was determined to ignore him, but when he began to speak, I found myself listening, hoping against hope that he would mention my friends. I wasn't disappointed.
"Willow and Oz got married." he began. "She's the new computer teacher, and he tests computer software for some big company. She's training to become a Watcher, believe it or not. Trying to convince Giles that the Watcher Dairies should be put onto a computer and indexed for easy access. Giles is fighting tooth and nail, of course."
"She'll make a great Watcher." I replied. "She always figured out prophecies before any of us. Sometimes, even Giles."
"Giles hasn't changed much. Still trying to convince Buffy to be more careful. And trying to get the new one, Amanda, to take a few more chances. Nice girl, but too cautious. Is usually afraid she'll break a nail."
The last Slayer, Lisa, had been killed on graduation night. Buffy had been right, she couldn't be trusted to not get herself killed.
"How do you know all of this?" I felt forced to ask.
"I go there from time to time, ask around. Just because you cut off all contact with another person doesn't mean you can't keep an eye out for them. I have a few friends who keep me informed."
"Buffy?"
"No. She doesn't even know I escaped from the void I was forced into. I would like to keep it that way, but Spike has made that impossible."
I gritted my teeth to prevent a crack from coming out. Who said the military doesn't teach diplomacy?
"She's doing OK, if that's what you are wondering. One of the most successful Slayers of all time. She'll become a legend. I should know, I am one."
I snorted. I had heard the story. The vamp who had a soul. The Team had argued about it for quite a long time. Most of them didn't believe it. And I never told them that it was indeed true.
" She went to the local college for a few years, but never got a degree. Now, when she's not on patrol or training, she writes fiction. Very successfully, I might add. All of her books have been number one on the New York Times Bestseller List. She writes under the name Angel Joyce.
I looked at him in surprise. Angel Joyce was Buffy? I had heard of her books, a cross between horror and comedy. I'd never read them, though, because of their subject. I had enough trouble with vampires without reading about them in my precious spare time.
"What about the Watchers? Aren't they afraid she'll give too much away?"
"They don't even know it's her. Very few people do, in fact. She never says anything about the Chosen One or the Hellmouth. Her main character simply found out vampires were real and enlisted the help a the local museum historian and some friends to kill them. She changes everything to make it seem just left of unbelievable. The truth would be inconceivable to most people."
I could hear the pride in his voice. He was still in love with her, even after everything that had happened.
"Cordelia-"
I cut him off with a cold, hard voice. "Don't even mention her name! If you do..." I left the threat hanging. I had no idea what I would do. Probably break down and cry.
I got up from the couch and sat in one of the reclining chairs. After a few minutes of staring into space, I decided to pretend to be asleep. As soon as I closed my eyes, memories swamped me once again.
I hadn't thought about that night this much in years. I usually avoided doing so. It hurt too much. But, I couldn't seem to stop the memories from coming now.
Cordy and I went for a walk along the beach, just silently holding hands. We stopped near a log and sat down. She laid her head on my shoulder and everything was perfect.
"Xander-"
"Cordy-" We spoke at the same time, then laughed. She indicated that I should go first.
"Cordy, I love you." I paused to take a deep breath. I was so nervous. "Will you-"
"Well, now, isn't this a touching scene." Spike said as he appeared before us with ten other vampires and Drusilla. "Look, Princess, I think we're interrupting."
"Can I keep the pretty one, Spike? He refused me once. Miss Edith would have someone to play with."
"I'm sorry, Love, but you can't have this particular one. He's the Slayer's friend. Have to kill him for that, if nothing else."
Cordy and I had stood up while he was talking and were looking for an escape route. None was to be had, the other vamps had formed a circle around us.
Spike grabbed Cordy and shoved her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the log. She didn't move after that.
I fought as best as I could, but twelve vampires against a normal human is not a fight. It's a slaughter, and I was the meat this time. The only thing that saved me was Lisa and Buffy showing up.
Spike finally decided that he had enough, and the remaining vamps fled. Dru was still squared off with Lisa, but Spike decided he couldn't risk Dru. He distracted Lisa just enough so that Dru could snap her neck. Lisa was dead before she hit the ground.
Cordy was another matter. She had hit her head, and there was a lot of blood coming from the wound. I picked her up, and Buffy and I rushed to my car, placing Cordy in the back seat. We didn't talk to whole trip. Maybe because Buffy didn't trust herself to talk while I was driving ninety miles an hour.
The Emergency Room immediately took Cordy, and they wheeled her towards a room. I tried to follow, but they wouldn't let me. Someone called her father, but I never knew who. I just remember him coming back from talking to the doctor and attacking me.
"You bastard! This is all your fault!"
Buffy tried to interrupt, but Mr. Chase is very similar to a freight train when he's angry.
"She's never going to wake up! Do you hear me? Never! She's going to be in a coma for the rest of her life!"
At this, I sunk down onto one of the waiting room chairs. Jesus, Cordy wasn't going to wake up? I should have protected her better. It was all my fault. I should have protected her.
Mr. Chase was driven out of the room by Buffy. I still don't know how she did it. I was in shock.
Close to dawn, I managed to sneak into Cordy's room. I had expected a bunch of machines to be monitoring her, but she wasn't even hooked up to an IV. She looked so pale, so delicate. It was all my fault.
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Cordy... I'm so sorry. I'll get the monster. I promise you. He'll die by my hand."
I turned to go, but couldn't force myself to do it. I had one thing left to do. I told her that I would always love her, and left.
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