Gift From The Past

Chapter Five

Having waited for Buffy to fall asleep, Angel walks in and glances around at the various occupants. Each one is immersed in his or her own world of study. Willow glances up and smiles.

Willow: Where’s Buffy?

Angel: Sleeping.

Willow: Good.

Angel: I just came up for something to read.

Xander glances up from his spot behind Angel’s desk.

Xander: Helping with your own research?

Angel: Of course.

Wesley hands him two volumes and he moves back down the stairs.

Cordelia: He won’t leave her for a minute.

Willow: I think he has left her for too long already.

Quiet descends upon the space once more.

 

Later.

Cordelia stands up and stretches her arms above her head before walking over and picking up another text. She turns as the door opens.

Cordelia: Hello. Can we help you?

Riley: Angel Investigations?

Willow and Xander look up from their spots in Angel’s office.

Cordelia: Yes, you‘ve come to the right place.

Willow: Riley? What are you doing here?

Cordelia glances from Riley to Willow and back again.

Cordelia: You know each other?

They both ignore her.

Riley: I was about to ask you that same question. Where’s Buffy?

Xander: Hi Riley. I thought I told you she would call you later.

Riley: Well you see I get concerned when I find out my girlfriend is suddenly missing again.

Xander: Missing? She’s not missing.

Cordelia watches with a smile on her face.

Riley: Then where in blazes is she.

Willow: Riley, calm down. Buffy is okay. Nothing has happen to her. She’s fine.

Riley: I will ask again. Where is she?

Cordelia: What’s the problem? She’s right downstairs.

Riley: Thank you.

He glances around and looks at the elevator.

Cordelia: There are stairs down the hall.

Riley: Thank you again. He moves toward the hall and Willow steps into his path.

Willow: Riley.

Riley: Listen, I just want to see Buffy.

Willow: I understand you were worried but she is fine. I promise.

Riley: I need to see for myself if that is okay.

Willow: She’s asleep right now.

Riley: Asleep? What is going on?

Willow: Why don’t I have her call you when she wakes up.

Riley: No.

He moves to walk past Willow and as he enters the hallway he confronts the dark masculine form.

Riley: Excuse me.

Angel: Where do you think you are going?

Riley: What is this? All I want to do is see Buffy.

He moves to push past but is shoved harshly back.

Angel: I think I heard Willow say she was asleep. And no one is waking her up. No one.

Cordelia: He’s her boyfriend.

Angel: I know who Riley Finn is. But he is still not waking her up.

Riley: And you are going to stop me?

Angel: I am.

Riley moves closer and glares at the slightly shorter male.

Riley: You will move or I will move you.

Angel smirks in a dare to try. The two males stand sizing up the competition.

Buffy: Angel.

He looks over as her hand lands on his arm. He turns and looks into soft green eyes.

Angel: You are suppose to be sleeping.

Buffy: I know.

Angel: Let me take you back down.

Buffy: Not yet, okay.

She looks over at Riley and back at Angel.

Buffy: I need to talk to Riley for one minute.

Angel: You sure.

Buffy: Yes.

She moves around Angel and faces off with Riley.

Riley: Are you okay?

Buffy: Fine, lets step outside.

They walk past the others and move outdoors. Angel closes his eyes and leans against the wall. Cordy walks up.

Angel: Not one word.

Cordy: But.

Angel: Not now.

Cordy walks away shaking her head. Willow walks up.

Willow: She loves you.

He opens his eyes.

Angel: I know. And it is my fault she has to go through any of this.

Willow: She wants the baby.

Angel: I meant I left so she could be with someone just like him and now she is and I ruin it for her.

Willow: You didn’t ruin anything. He never made her truly happy. He never could. He wasn’t you.

She walks back into the office and picks up her book.

 

Outside

Buffy sits down on the steps and Riley lowers beside her.

Riley: So you want to tell me what is going on?

Buffy: Truthfully no. But I guess you deserve something.

Riley: I see.

Buffy: I’m sorry.

Riley: Sorry? For what?

Buffy: For hurting you.

They both look up as Giles approaches carrying a box.

Buffy: Giles?

Giles: Hello Buffy, uh, Riley. I guess I found the right place.

Riley stands up and reaches for the box.

Giles: That’s okay but if you wouldn’t mind getting the door it would be most appreciative.

Riley opens the outer and inner office doors before returning to Buffy. He stands over her looking down.

Riley: Ready to talk.

Buffy: I never should have started seeing you. I knew it was wrong. I knew it wasn’t fair to you.

Riley: I don’t understand. Are you breaking up with me?

Buffy nods.

Riley: That’s it?

Buffy: I’m sorry.

Riley: I can’t believe this.

Xander walks out and down the stairs.

Buffy: Xander?

Xander: Giles has another box in the car.

Buffy: Why is Giles here?

Xander: You need to ask Angel.

He heads down the street to Giles car. Buffy turns back to Riley to see him walking across the street to his own car. She sighs and sits staring at the steps until Xander walks back up.

Xander: Riley leave?

She nods.

Xander: You ready to go inside?

She nods and stands up and opens the doors. They walk in the office.

Buffy: Where’s Angel?

Cordelia: What are you doing? You bring your boyfriend here to see if Angel will fight over you. You are so pathetic. Can you rip the guy open anymore?

Buffy: Where did he go?

Willow: He went downstairs I think.

Buffy: Thanks.

Buffy moves down the stairs and enters the apartment. She looks around and sees him sunk in his leather arm chair. She walks up slowly and he looks up at her.

Buffy: He’s gone. It’s over.

Angel: You okay?

Buffy: I don’t know how he knew where I was. I didn’t tell him.

Angel: I’m sorry we woke you up.

Buffy: Not important. I just need you to know I had nothing to do with him coming here.

Angel: I believe you.

He reaches up and takes her hand.

Angel: I trust you.

Buffy: Good. Now want to tell me what‘s with the big research party?

Angel tugs her into his lap. She falls with a surprised look on her face.

Buffy: What?

Angel: You need to stay off your feet.

Buffy: I do?

Angel: Uh huh.

Buffy: Oh okay. So about the research?

Angel: Do you trust me?

Buffy: Of course I do.

Angel: Then can you trust me to tell you when I’m ready?

Buffy: Huh?

Angel: Well?

Buffy: It has nothing to do with the baby?

Angel: No. The baby is fine.

Buffy: You will tell me?

Angel: Yes.

Buffy: Why the secrecy?

Angel: Trust?

Buffy: Fine.

Angel: Now are you going to go back to sleep?

Buffy: Maybe.

Angel: Huh?

Buffy: That bed is big and cold. I like it right here.

She snuggles her head against his chest. Angel brushes her hair away from her face and she sighs.

Angel: You can’t sleep in this chair.

Buffy: I can sleep wherever you are.

He stands up with her in his arms.

Buffy: Hey.

Angel: Shh.

He walks over and lays her on the bed and curls up next her small form. She sighs.

Angel: Now sleep.

He pulls the throw over her form and closes his eyes taking in the scent that is distinctly hers.

 

Office

Giles: So is someone going to tell me why the sudden need to find a way to bind his soul?

Willow: I’m sorry Giles, but I think you need to wait to talk to Angel.

Giles: So where is he?

Xander: I guess you could say he is helping her with her issues.

Giles: Pardon.

Willow: He is trying to get her to catch up on all her lost sleep. It was working until Riley showed up.

Wesley: I am sorry we are not more forthcoming about matters but we feel it is not our place.

Giles: Oh.

Willow: I am sure he will explain everything soon.

Giles nods cautiously and picks up a heavy tome.

 

Later

Angel steps into the office.

Willow: Did she get back to sleep?

Angel: Yes. She’s exhausted.

He looks over at Giles.

Angel: Giles, thank you agreeing to help.

Giles: I am not sure why the sudden need.

Angel: It is very complicated.

Giles: I imagine it must be but I still need to know. Particularly if it involves Buffy.

Angel: I understand and we will explain. My problem is Buffy does not know what is going on and I don’t want to get her hopes up in case we fail.

Willow: She is not asking questions?

Angel: She is but she has agreed to let me tell her later.

Xander: You are talking Buffy right?

Willow: I think she has a little bit more on her mind right now besides our little research fest.

Giles: May I reiterate my question? Why the sudden need to find a solution.

Angel: Giles all I can say is some information has come to light that I fear puts my soul at jeopardy and before that happens I want to try and prevent it.

Giles: I see. And I assume this will affect Buffy in some way.

Angel: I’m sorry Giles but I can not say more until Buffy is here.

Giles: So Buffy does not know what we are researching and I am not allowed to know why. You are walking a fine line of subterfuge and it may not end well.

Angel: I am aware of that but I am doing it to protect Buffy and that is my only concern.

Giles: Is that your sole motive?

Angel: Yes.

Giles: I see.

Angel: I need to get back downstairs. Giles, we will talk more once she awakens.

Giles: I will hold you to that.

Angel: I understand.

 

 

 

Later

Buffy slowly opens her eyes and spreads her arm out beside her. She clutches at the cool silk of his shirt.

Angel: You awake?

Buffy cracks her eye open and glares up at his face. He smiles down into her petulant expression.

Angel: Still tired?

Buffy: No.

Angel: Hungry?

Buffy: Maybe.

Angel: Xander left you some pizza in the kitchen.

Buffy: Yum.

She levers her self up beside him.

Buffy: Are you still researching?

Angel: No, I am not going to tell you why.

Buffy: You are trying to drive me nuts.

Angel: Not my intent. Why don’t you go eat and then you can tell Giles about the baby.

Buffy: Maybe I should just go back to sleep.

Angel: He will still be waiting whenever you do get up.

Buffy: I know.

She wiggles down and off the foot of the bed. He listens as her feet pad their way to the bathroom. He close his book and enters the kitchen. After starting the pizza in the microwave, he climbs the stairs to get Giles.