Reactions and Admissions
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 17
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Xander was released the next day. We were seated in the library, but it was nighttime. Buffy told me that nothing eventful had happened last night. I knew she was lying though. The big cut above her eye said otherwise, but I remained quiet. I trusted her to tell me, when she wanted to. I wouldn't press her into telling me everything that went on. Joyce did that enough for the both of us. Giles was busy looking over books, trying to find out anything on Angel that he could get his hands on. He had contacted The Council, but they hadn't given us anything really useful. They gave us information, but it was stuff we had already read about. A big help they were. I sighed and rested my chin on the palms of my hands. Buffy was rubbing my back. I smiled at her, and she returned it.
"U-Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything, erm, new on Angel. His Vampiric side, Angelus that is, was the one who terrorized. I haven't found anything about Angel himself, um, doing such things," Giles stammered. I closed my eyes, weariness growing.
"Why don't we just go after him?" Xander asked. I looked at him. I wanted to, and I'm pretty sure we all did. Buffy said he had left his old haunt though. She had no idea where he was.
"I want to Xander. If we did that though, he would have the advantage. We need to let him come to us. He's not stupid though. We can't just use somebody as bait and lure him in, since he would never fall for that," Buffy stated. Xander sighed, and let out a low growl of frustration. I understood his frustration, but Buffy was right. He's had the advantage for far too long. We can't just go after him and get ourselves killed.
"You're right, Buffy. I wouldn't fall for that, but I'm glad you thought that anyway," said Angel. He was standing in front of the library doors. I immediately moved behind Buffy. Giles stood up in front of Jenny, still confined to her wheelchair, and not exactly in any condition to fight.
"Angel," hissed Giles. He looked...scary. He rivaled Angel actually, in terms of anger at least. As far as I know, Giles had never killed anyone, I hope.
"Just stopped by. I'm itching for a fight. Going around, killing, and injuring is fun but it gets tedious after a while. Anybody want to indulge me?" Angel asked, a smirk on his face. I glared. I can't believe I can hate somebody this much. I didn't even hate Cordelia or Harmony this much! Buffy stepped forward. I placed a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged me off. I frowned, not happy at the gesture.
Angel charged first. Buffy delivered a sidekick, bending Angel over. A right hand was blocked and Angel delivered a hard backhand. I winced, hoping Buffy wasn't badly hurt. Dumb hope, I know. Xander had shifted over to the weapons cage. I stayed frozen.
"Put up a fight Buffy. Are you lacking in reasoning? How about the fact that I killed Willow's parents? Injured Jenny?" asked Angel, taunting her. Buffy snarled. Xander had now opened the cage. Buffy charged, but Angel snapped her head back with a left jab. He blocked a high kick, and lifted Buffy up, slamming her to the ground. Angel's back was to me now. I did the dumbest thing I could possibly do. I leaped onto his back, trying to choke him. My mind was filled with my nightmares. More specifically, the nightmare of Buffy getting changed and...well, I never knew if she got changed, but I didn't want to get that far. Angel was spinning wildly, grabbed me by the hair, and threw me against the cage. I groaned in pain, falling to the ground. Xander exited the weapons cage, axe in hand. He charged at Angel, and promptly got tossed onto the table. It didn't splinter, and Xander just slid off. I stood up, but stayed where I was. Giles emerged from his office, crossbow in hand.
"Giles, don't fire," I shouted. Angel turned his attention to Giles, allowing Buffy time to execute a snap kick to Angel's jaw. Angel staggered backwards. I looked on in worry and fear. Buffy hit a hard right, and pulled a stake from her pocket. She went for the drive, but Angel clutched her wrist, and bent it hard enough to sprain it. Buffy grunted in pain, and dropped the stake to the floor. He kicked Buffy hard in the chest, and sent Buffy to the floor. Giles fired, catching Angel in the shoulder with his bolt. Angel snarled at him, and turned to me. I paled, wondering if he'd kill me. Buffy got up, charged, and got thrown into Giles. Both sprawled to the ground. Xander was finally getting up. Angel crept up to me, and leaned forward. I waited for the bite, but it never came.
"They tasted good Willow. The time for fun and games is over. I had a good time here. Tell your girl; I want her alone in Restfield Cemetery, tomorrow night. I see or even sense any of you, and I walk," Angel whispered in my ear. I closed my eyes as he kissed me on the forehead, and sauntered out of the room. I slumped to the floor. I think my heart's stopped, or if it hasn't, it's really close to doing so. I felt Buffy's hand checking my face for injuries. I leaned into the touch, and smiled.
"I'm fine Buffy. He wants to meet you, alone, in Restfield Cemetery tomorrow night," I said. Buffy frowned, as Xander stepped forward.
"We'll back up Buffy," he said, but I shook my head.
"No! Uh, I mean, he said that if he saw us or even sensed us, he'd walk away," I added. Xander kept the angry look, but turned to stare at the table instead. I looked at Buffy, and tried to express my fear and concern in words but they fail me. Buffy got it though.
"I love you too Willow. Don't worry about me, okay? I can handle myself. Angel's too pompous to enlist help. He wants to kill me himself," Buffy said. I shook my head, as I felt sadness overwhelming me now.
"He wants to change you Buffy. He knows that making you or I into a vampire would be far more devastating than just killing us," I whispered. She sighed, and nuzzled her head against the crook of my neck.
"He'll never change me Willow. I won't let him. I promise you," she said. I looked into her eyes, and I could see that she intended to keep her promise. It's a determination she had when she killed The Master. I smiled, glad that she can do what she does. Without her, well, I'd have been dead much earlier.