Bonded

Chapter Nineteen

 

AN: I am not a nurse or doctor. I have attempted to get advice on the subject matter but have only gotten the sketchiest of help. So if I make any errors, I am sorry. I have done the best I can to be realistic.

 

 

 

Buffy looks down at the head lying on her chest and she feels his cool tongue teasing her nipple. She sighs and runs her fingers through his tousled locks.

Buffy: You tired?

Angel draws her sensitive bud into his mouth for a moment before answering. Her moan makes him smile as he replies.

Angel: You think you can sleep now?

Buffy: Maybe.

He shifts his body up and pulls her into his arms.

Angel: We both need to rest before morning.

Buffy: Uh huh.

She runs her finger tips gently over his bare chest. Angel sighs as she buries her face in his shoulder.

Buffy: Angel?

Angel: Yes love.

Buffy: You know I have read a lot about vampires and well their relationships.

Angel: Yes.

Buffy: Well you know a lot about making everything feel so good.

Angel: Hey, please don’t think anyone has made me feel like you do.

Buffy: Oh. Sorry, I’m not jealous.

Angel: Then what?

Buffy: Just wondering what kinds of experiences you have had.

He strokes her hair as he tries to decipher her cryptic question.

Buffy: I mean I know about sires and shows of power.

Angel stops his hand as he realizes what she is asking. He closes his eyes and tries to quickly organize his thoughts. Buffy stiffens at his silence.

Buffy: Forget it. I shouldn’t….

Angel: No. I am glad you want to know. I am just trying to figure out how to answer you.

Buffy: You don’t have to.

Angel takes his hand and tips her face toward his.

Angel: Buffy, I want you to know everything.

He smiles at her.

Angel: You want to know if I ever had sex with a male.

Buffy looks at his mouth and avoids his eyes.

Angel: The answer is yes.

Buffy: Oh.

She tips her head back down against his shoulder.

Angel: But it was not for pleasure. It was a show of power.

Buffy: To show you were the master?

Angel: No. The opposite. To show I was inferior.

She tips her head back and looks at him in horror.

Buffy: But your sire was female.

Angel: Ye, but hers wasn’t.

Buffy: But I thought her sire was…………..oh the master.

Angel: When Darla took me to meet him months after I was turned, he despised me on sight. He actually made her choose between us.

Buffy: And she chose you?

Angel: She did but before he let us leave he had to show me who had the power.

Buffy: Oh god.

Angel: Buffy, that was long ago and hey you killed him.

Buffy smiles.

Buffy: I did.

She snuggles back against him.

Angel: But that was not the only time.

Buffy stops moving and listens to him.

Angel: It was about 1805 I think. Darla got mad because she had no idea where I was and I came home drunk and passed out. And when I woke up I was stripped naked and chained to the bed.

He pauses a moment as he feels Buffy begin to gently caress his hip.

Angel: She was furious and began going on and on about how was I going to learn who was in charge. I remember just laughing at her. But as I sobered up more I began to get afraid. She was out of control.

Buffy shivered slightly and Angel pulled the blanket over their bodies before continuing.

Angel: By the next nightfall I realized what she was waiting for. A movement in the corner revealed a newly turned vampire. He was the most hideous pimple faced creature I had ever seen. I could not begin to understand why Darla had drank him much less turned him.

Buffy: You vampires do like a pretty face.

Angel: Well if you have to see something for eternity looks do matter.

Buffy: Okay so it is not about vanity.

Angel: No. Now do you want me to finish?

Buffy: Sorry. Go ahead.

Angel: Well the newbie rose up and I was shocked until Darla looked at me and smiled. I knew then and there she wanted to do more than just punish me. She wanted to humiliate me completely and show her power over me.

Buffy: She had him rape you.

Angel: All night and into the next day.

Buffy: And Darla?

Angel: She watched it all and laughed. And when she felt I was suitably punished she handed me a key to release myself.

Buffy: And you staked the guy.

Angel: No, she did it before I could get free.

Buffy: Oh.

Angel: She would never have left me that satisfaction.

Buffy: So did you get her back.

Angel: No.

Buffy: Really?

Angel: But I did leave her for almost a year.

Buffy: But she found you?

Angel: No I went back to her. Like I always did.

Buffy: Oh.

Angel: Buffy, my demon never knew love but he knew obsession.

Buffy: Like Druscilla?

Angel: And you.

Buffy threw her head back again and looked at him in shock.

Angel: Yes he is as obsessed with you as I am in love with you.

Buffy swallows hard before choking out an oh.

Angel: Sorry.

Buffy: No, don’t be.

Angel: What can I say. You are simply irresistible.

He gently rolls over on top of her and eases her legs apart with his knees. His mouth latches onto hers as he slides his throbbing erection deep into her willing channel. Her hands grip his shoulders as her legs move at their own volition around his waist. His hand slips between their bodies to caress and tease her swollen clit. Although both are near exhaustion and fear for their son plagues their thoughts, they find solace in the natural act of love making. The intensity of their desire is fueled by their shared emotions. There was no way they would lose their family now. His thrusts became hard and fast as they try to lose themselves in each other. His mouth effectively muffles her near screams as she climaxes hard around his invading shaft. The muscles contracting send him careening to join her.

His arms collapse and he sprawls over her prone form. Her hands stroke his back as he nestles his face in her shoulder. Gathering the last of his waning energy he rolls off and she takes in a full lung of oxygen before seeking out the security of his body. Only moments pass before both are able to fall into a troubled sleep. Their bodies are sated while their hearts and minds ache.

The numbers on the clock flip in a slow countdown to the moment that they both fear and anticipate. Minutes before they must rise and face the morning, Angel awakens. His eyes graze over the inert form beside him before he slips from the bed. He slides on his silk pajama bottoms and checks on the sleeping baby. He pulls up the covers and heads for the bathroom.

The near scalding water flows over his cool flesh as he begins to lather his chest. He pauses and cracks a small smile as he feels the cool breeze from the curtain opening.

Angel: I wanted you to sleep more.

Buffy: Like you?

Angel: Come here.

He guides her in front of him and under the strong torrent of water and begins to gently wash her silky skin. The unbridled passion that ruled them just hours ago is replaced by a sedate fear. She relaxes against his chest as he deftly cleanses both their bodies. When he begins to work the shampoo into her long tresses, he feels her body shake with silent sobs. His fingers massage her scalp and try to give her quiet comfort. She eventually sighs and turns around. The water cascades over her head as she rinses the soap away. She opens her eyes to see him washing his own hair. Her hands slide up and push his away as her lips seek their mates. The kiss is soft and sensual. His hand snakes around her waist and draws her close for a moment until they break apart.

She rinses the last of the suds from her body an exits the shower. When he steps out a minute later she is wrapped in a thick towel and staring into the mirror. He moves behind her and even with no reflection she knows he is there. She reaches for her toothbrush as the faint rustling of sheets is heard from the third occupant. Angel kisses the top of her head and moves toward his son.

Angel: Morning tiger.

He scoops the child up before he can cry and takes him into the kitchen for a bottle. Buffy takes the time to get dressed and brush out her damp hair. As she secures it with a scrunchie, the men return and she reaches for the baby.

Buffy: You get dressed and I will get him ready.

 

 

It is less than an hour later when the trio enter the medical center and follow the directions to the lab. The nurse takes the young boy from his father as Buffy turns her back. She can not watch him being taken from her so soon after the kidnapping. She lets Angel guide her to a waiting area and into a hard orange chair. He pulls her close and she rests her head on his shoulder. He kisses the top of her head before resting his cheek upon it. Her fingers unconsciously fiddle with a button of his long overcoat.

Seconds turn into minutes and minutes build into and hour before they hear the soft squeaking of rubber soles. Angel looks up into the kind brown eyes.

Dr. Henry: Hello.

Buffy glances up with red rimmed eyes.

Dr. Henry: Mr. O’Hara? Ms Summers?

They couple nod.

Dr. Henry: Why don’t we go see your son?

Buffy and Angel eagerly follow him. As they enter the room, they are confronted by Connor’s sleeping form. His thumb is firmly planted in his tiny mouth. Buffy moves quickly to him and strokes his back.

Dr. Henry: He’s just a little tired from all the activity.

Buffy looks at him cautiously.

Dr. Henry: Well I can tell you his liver is not damaged.

Buffy: So he can go home?

Dr. Henry: No. There is still a potential problem.

Angel slides up behind Buffy and wraps his arm around her waist.

Dr. Henry: He has excessive amounts of acetaminophen in his blood stream.

Buffy: Tylenol? We’ve never given him any.

She pauses as she comprehends who.

Dr. Henry: You haven’t?

Buffy glances up at Angel.

Angel: Doctor, we just got him back. He was taken by someone and missing for over a week.

Dr. Henry: Kidnapped? There was nothing in the chart.

Angel: We are not going to report it. The man who took him blames me for his children’s death and I….

Dr. Henry: I see.

Angel: He has lost enough.

Dr. Henry: But if he is responsible.

Angel: Then it was an accident. He didn’t want to harm him.

Dr. Henry: You believe that?

Buffy: We do.

She looks down at the child as he begins to stir slightly.

Buffy: So what do we do?

Dr. Henry: The Tylenol is as acting as a poison and it can eventually damage his liver.

Buffy: An antidote?

Dr. Henry: No. The best solutions is transfusions.

Buffy: Then do it.

Dr. Henry: We will. But first we need the blood. Your son is A negative and that is the least common. After the pile up on the interstate, there is none in the blood bank.

Buffy reaches for Connor as he begins to cry.

Dr. Henry: You both should be tested.

Angel glances up from watching Connor scramble toward them.

Buffy: Uh, well Angel has a rare blood disease.

Dr. Henry: Oh I am sorry. What is it?

Angel: Porphyria.

Dr. Henry: Vampirism? That is genetic.

Angel: Connor doesn’t have it.

Dr. Henry: I see. Well Ms Summers, do you know your type?

Buffy: Uh no but…………

Dr. Henry: We are talking your child’s life. And besides if the liver becomes damaged he may need a transplant.

Buffy: Oh god.

Angel lifts Connor from Buffy’s arms.

Angel: Go, baby. I will call the others. We will find a blood donor.

Buffy numbly follows the doctor knowing that Connor has no living relative to donate. A volunteer guides her to the lab and she stares at the wall as they take the sample. Silent tears threaten as the volunteer leads her back to the room. Buffy walks in a trance and only breaks down as she slides back into Angel’s embrace. Connor tugs at her hair as she tries to gather her courage.

Angel: I called the hotel and the house. Everyone is on their way. The doctor is confident we will find a match.

Buffy just nods as she disentangles the tiny appendage from her hair. She brings it to her lips and gently kisses it.

Buffy: We will find a match and he will be okay.

Angel: He will.

They are still standing in a cluster when the doctor enters.

Dr. Henry: Ms Summers, we need you back in the lab.

Buffy: What?

Dr. Henry: You are a blood match.

Buffy: Oh god.

She quickly kisses Angel and Connor before rushing back to the blood bank. New tears surface as they wrap the rubber around her arm.

Technician: Does that hurt?

Buffy: No. Not at all.

The technician quickly inserts the needle and the dark red liquid flows into the bag.

 

When she is allowed to return to the room, Angel is outside the door.

Buffy: Why are you out here?

Angel: They are doing the exchange.

Buffy: Already?

Angel glances ups and watches the entourage approach.

Cordelia: Where is he?

Angel: He is inside. They are exchanging his blood for Buffy’s.

Fred: Buffy was a match?

Angel nods.

Fred: Do they need more.

Angel again nods as Buffy turns around.

Buffy: Please will you get tested?

Fred: Of course but I know I won’t match.

Gunn: Tell us where.

Angel calls the volunteer over and she escorts Cordelia and Gunn to the lab. Fred joins Buffy and Angel in their wait. As Cordelia and Gunn return, the Sunnydale group converge. Xander, Willow, Tara, Giles, Anya, and Dawn. Buffy accepts each of their hugs until the doctor emerges.

Dr. Henry: Okay, we are done.

He glances around.

Dr. Henry: Is this your family?

Buffy: And friends.

Dr. Henry: Are they willing to be tested.

Dawn: Oh yeah. Show me where.

Buffy: Yes, yes. My sister. If I match, she should, right?

Dr. Henry: She may but how old is she?

Buffy: She just turned sixteen.

The doctor shakes his head.

Dr. Henry: I am sorry California law requires a donor be no younger than seventeen.

Buffy: But I am her guardian.

Dr. Henry: I am sorry.

Dawn flops into the nearest chair and frowns. Anya sits beside her.

Anya: Buck up. Next year you can give tons of blood.

Dawn just stares at her.

Anya: I mean well if he needs it next year. Cause well he might.

Willow interrupts the dialogue.

Willow: Where do we go?

The volunteer moves closer and leads the brigade away. Dawn watches as Angel and Buffy slip into the room. She stands up and glances into the glass window a moment before heading down the hall.