I pulled Angel's arm around my shoulder, and started walking. The trip that had taken five minutes by car would take us a half-hour. Plenty of time for the rest to pick up something to eat.
"Why are you doing this?"
Even his voice was still weak. That was not a good sign. At least he didn't sound like he was in pain anymore. I was now carrying Spike's ashes. Angel hadn't been steady enough not to spill them.
"How many times have you saved me and my friends, Angel? Too many times to count. Unless I'm wrong, you're also the one who sent George after me. If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead long before now."
"I didn't tell George about you. He came to me after your encounter in New York and asked me if I had heard of any rogue vampires or a man with a thirst for vengeance. Anyone who would have a reason for killing vampires. I asked him to describe you. I didn't even realize it was you until I saw you for myself.
"We had put out feelers throughout the city, and got a bite from a rather sleazy bar. George and I went in, and luckily, you weren't in any condition to see us. If you had been, you would have seen me right away.
"As soon as I saw you, I knew you were the person who had helped the Team. I had managed to track you a few months after you had left, but as you got better at killing vampires, you got better at hiding your trail. By the time I had found your last known location, you had been gone for a month. I never found a sign of you after that.
"I told George that you would be a good member for the Team if you could learn discipline. He suggested the military. Now, all we had to do was get you to agree.
"I should have realized you would be lonely at that point. I expected you to fight with all you had. And you did, that first night. After that, though... The Team gave you a purpose you had lost with Cordelia."
"Why didn't you tell me she was alright?"
"I didn't know that you thought she was in a coma. After I escaped from Hell, I avoided Sunnydale. That's why I wasn't there to help. I was busy setting up the Team at the time. I didn't even know what had happened until a month later."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For helping me. Even when you knew I would have killed you without a second thought."
"No, you wouldn't have. You're not a cold blooded killer, Xander. We both know that. Even in those two years you roamed, you never did anything that would be considered unhonorable."
We remained quiet until we reached the library access. Luckily, Angel had installed steps there, and I didn't have to lift him out of the sewer.
Everyone was gathered around the middle table, pulling pizza slices from three different boxes. The smell of pepperoni and cheese drifted to us, and my stomach rumbled.
We made our way down to the main floor of the library. Everyone was silently staring at us. I lowered my burden into one of the chairs, and grabbed a slice of pizza, putting the chalice down on the table at the same time. "Ohhh... God bless the Italians!"
Buffy moved to hover over Angel and Cordy rushed around the table and grabbed me up into a big bear hug.
"Hey! Watch the pizza, babe! You can't let me starve to death, you know."
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