Yadda Yadda Yadda.....As much as each and every one of would love to say, "Yes, THEY'RE MINE!! ALL MINE!!" We all regretfully admit that all of the characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer DO NOT belong to anyone other than 'the one, the only, the great....Joss Whedon'!!! So, just for good, but very honest, measure....I have to admit that I've been selling my stories and making billions and billions of dollars off of a bunch of great characters that I made up all on my own.
No, I'm only kidding...and contrary to popular belief, I regrettfully admit, too, that I'm not REALLY a sane....I mean, crazy person. Anyway, I'd really appreciate FEEDBACK!!! (of any kind) Constructive criticism, or helpful hints. OOOORRRRR, if you just don't like my story, then please, don't hesitate in telling me so. However, if you read my story, and thoroughly enjoy it.....I'd like to know that too!
THANKS.....
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Part Eleven
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It had been a month since the night when everyone had come over to Buffy’s house to watch TV. Things within the group had seemed to be much better now that things were out in the open. Of course, there would still be tension and times when awkward moments would arise, but it didn’t take much time to get past them like it had before. Although she wasn’t quite back to her normal self, Buffy was finally laughing and smiling with her friends again. At the moment, everyone was sitting in the library, again. Giles had gone down the hall to speak with another teacher so they all took the opportunity to take another quick break from reading.
“So...guys, what are we doin tonight?” Xander asked. “Quick patrol, swing by the Bronze...what’s the plan?”
“The ‘plan’ is...Xander...me and Faith are gonna do a quick patrol through the cemetery and we’ll meet you guys at the Bronze later tonight. Mom’s doing the ‘mom-thing’ again, so I have to be in by eleven. Great, huh!” Buffy said, rolling her eyes.” I hate it when she does the ‘mom-thing’, she starts to act like Giles, only worse. No slack at all! Besides, Giles doesn’t think much will be going on tonight anyway. Must mean something big is headed the Hellmouth way!”
They all rolled their eyes, knowing just how much truth was in those last two sentences. They never knew what to expect next. Of course, there were times when they just happen to come across a prophecy or two before it happened, but they were always prepared to handle certain things when it came right down to it.
“That appears to be very true, for the most part Buffy. Something big is coming, I just don’t have all the details quite yet.” Giles said. None of them had heard him come back into the library and it startled them all when he had spoken.” It’s actually rather confusing. I’ll let you all know when I have all the information. It’s quite all right if you’re all ready to leave. I’ll see you later.”
Everyone said their good-byes and goodnights to Giles then headed outside. For the most part they were all standing around discussing their plans. Mostly stalling and killing time before Buffy and Faith had to patrol.
“So, we’ll meet you guys at the Bronze, in let’s say...an hour. That should be enough time for us to run through a couple graveyards.....Anyway, we’ll see you guys later!” Buffy said as she and Faith were turning to leave.
The walk to the cemetery was unusually quiet and so far they hadn’t been jumped by any vampires what-so-ever. On any other night they would have at least staked three by now, but so far all was quiet.
“Buff...you just hear that?” Faith asked, looking around to see who, or what, was there.
“Yeah, if I heard what you heard...we got company.” Buffy whispered. Just as she turned around she ran headfirst into a very broad yet familiar set of shoulders. When she looked up, she was more relieved than aggravated. ‘Angel, my God, you gave us both a heart attack. Don’t do that!”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to sneak up like that. I just didn’t want to make a lot of noise in case there was anyone else around or something. I was out, so I thought I’d walk this way... see what you were up to.” Angel said. “No surprises yet? You definitely don’t look like you’ve seen any action. I mean, tonight...nevermind.” He said, shaking his head. They had both heard Faith laugh, although she tried to stifle it. By then they had started walking again.
“So, are you gonna go to the Bronze with me? We’re meeting the gang there. You should go...” Buffy said. She turned around and was walking backwards talking to Angel....she put her arms around his neck to stop him from walking. “And we could dance...it could be fun.” She finished in a low voice. Faith had gone a few feet ahead, so it wasn’t like she was worrying whether or not she could hear them talking, she just didn’t want to be too loud.
“Umm Buffy, you should probably give Faith a hand over there...” Angel said.
When she turned around she saw that faith was surrounded by three vampires. She was too far away to make out what snide remarks they were throwing at each other, but she was close enough to hear Faith yell at her.
“Yo, B, care to help me out? Looks like we got some wise guys on our hands!” Faith said.
Buffy, always up for a good fight, walked over. “Faith, is there a problem?” She said sarcastically. “Looks to me like these guys were just about to leave. How bout you? Think it’s time they hit the road?”
Faith looked around at the three vamps. “Why not...? I didn’t think they were that cute anyway!” Finally, they started fighting. Buffy seemed to be having a bit of a problem with the two smaller of the three, so she yelled at Angel for help.
As Angel was walking over he was shaking his head. “Ladies? Are these guys bothering you?” he said. Then, he looked over at the three they were still fighting. “Guys, didn’t your mothers ever teach you not to hit women? You need to learn some manners. I think we might be able to help you out in that department.” As he finished, he jumped forward and grabbed one of the vamps. It didn’t take long before the young vampire slipped up and when he did, Angel dusted him. At about the same time, the two girls staked the others that they had been fighting.
“Well, that was fun!” Buffy said, rolling her eyes. Both of the Slayers stood there for a moment wiping themselves free of the dust from the exploded vampires.
“No kidding...you know, I’ve met some smart ass vamps in my time, but these guys were really dishing it out tonight. Said something about how we’d all get what was coming to us, something about the spawn of hell ending us all.” Faith said shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “You know, they can never just show up and die. They’ve always got some wise-ass remarks to make.”
“Yeah...sure” Buffy said. For some reason, that didn’t go unnoticed, she was speaking in a monotone voice, flat, dull, and no emotion at all was present on her face.
“Everything okay? You look like you saw a ghost...” Angel said. But before he could say anymore he was cut off.
“It may be more than just a remark. I mean, think about it, it’s been more than dull around here for once. No vampire activity at all, until tonight. We’ve been lucky to get at least one a night for the past three days and all of the sudden, Faith gets jumped by three vamps at once. It may be what Giles was talking about...” Buffy said.
“Buff, what are you thinking? What’s this got to do with anything? Yeah, it doesn’t make sense,” Angel said, “but what would it have to do with anything Giles found?”
“Maybe we should check back in with Giles, B. I think it’ll be okay, for now, around here...you think?” Faith asked.
“Let’s go.” The other Slayer said. “Maybe he has more info than he did when we left. If so, and if this ties in with his stuff, maybe it’ll help.” She said...trying to reassure herself that it had nothing to do with her. She prayed that this one had nothing to do with her.
On the way back to the library they didn’t do much talking at all. The walk back to the school was going to be at least fifteen minutes. Angel walked with his arm placed protectively around his girlfriends shoulder. Ever since they had left the cemetery she hadn’t said a word, much less even looked any direction other than straight ahead. He didn’t have any clue as to what was wrong and had no idea of what to say. There were alot of times when he wasn’t sure of what to say and the times when he did ask, it never came out right. In the time Angel was walking along thinking about all of this, when he stopped, he realized they were just outside of the school. When they got inside, Faith went on to the library, but Angel stopped.
“Buffy...as well as I like to think I know you, I never know how to tell what’s wrong. I can never read your expressions quite right and when something’s wrong, unless you come right out and tell me...I never know what to say. Like on the way here, for example. You didn’t turn your head once. I was actually surprised the one time I saw you blink. One thing I have learned is that, well, being a vampire I can sense fear. You were scared. When Faith was talking about those creeps, you were scared. What’s going on Buffy? You’ve got to talk to me...” Angel said.
“What do you want me to say? I just get so tired of the same routine. I can’t even have a break for one night, and now this. There’s no telling what’s going to happen this week. I’m gonna go in there, Giles is gonna tell us about the brush with death were about to have, then I’ll be thinking, well, me and Faith are going to save the world again. Blah, blah, blah. It’s always the same. Don’t you ever get tired? Of all of this?” Buffy finished.
“Don’t have time to get tired. Sometimes I wish that I was like everyone else...that I didn’t have to be who I am....but....” Angel said.
“But if you were like everyone else, then you wouldn’t be you and then we wouldn’t be here together, talking. We wouldn’t be in a relationship...we wouldn’t be us...” Buffy said, trailing off. She didn’t want to think about what life was like without him. She knew the pain all too well, and even though he was here now, she could never get past the fear...afraid that, at any given moment, he could be gone again. It had been almost three months now that they had been back together, but the insecurities were always there.
“Hey, don’t talk like that. We may not be together every day, every minute...but I’m always here. I’m not going anywhere, that is, unless you ask me to.” Angel said. He was trying to calm the girl down long enough to get her to the library. It never took much for her to work herself up over the smallest things. “Come on, let’s get to the library before Giles starts to worry or something.”
For the most part, they took their time getting to the library, just walking, holding hands and every now and then saying a word or two. When they came to the library doors, they both saw that Faith was standing there talking to Giles. Hopefully she had already gone ahead and told Giles the story before they got in there. They appeared to be having a serious conversation and Giles looked as though he was in deep thought at the moment.
Walking in, Buffy spoke. “So, what’s the story? Faith, you already told him what the guy said, right?” She looked at Giles. “Giles what’s going on? What are we up against here?” He didn’t say anything right away, but stood there, still apparently reading the book he had in his hand. “Giles? Earth to Giles...Come in Gi...”
“Buffy, could you please...? I’m sorry, it’s just, ca...can I see you alone for a moment? In my office.” Giles snapped.
Buffy just stared after him in complete shock. She hadn’t expected him to snap at her like that. He’d never done that before. Then she walked over to his office, and stopped just inside the doorway. She saw that he was sitting on the edge of his desk rubbing at the bridge of his nose like he does more often than not, when he gets stressed out about something.
“Giles, what’s happening? It’s something bad isn’t it? Well, it’s nothing we can handle right...right?” Buffy asked. Giles’ unresponsiveness was beginning to worry her. She wasn’t sure if there was something wrong with him or something to do with the Hellmouth.
“Right...” was all Giles said.
“Is everything okay? You’re not mad at me about something are you? Because I promise, I didn’t do anyth.....”
“Buffy, I’m sorry. I...I didn’t mean to lash out at you out there. I haven’t had any sleep at all. I’m just tired. You’re free to leave if you want.” Giles said.
As she turned to leave the office, she turned one last time to look at Giles. He had stood up and was standing there, shaking his head. She wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but she knew that there was something Giles wasn’t telling her and it wasn’t like him to keep things from her, especially when it came to things concerning the Hellmouth.
“Is everything okay? I can’t believe he jumped on you like that! He’s never done that before has he?” Faith asked.
“No...let’s just go. I think there’s something he’s not telling me or anyone else.” The other Slayer said. When she looked at her watch, she realized that it was already eight and they were supposed to be at the Bronze right now. “You guys, we’re already late. We better hurry.”
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