4

"God... I thought I was gonna be the next Helen Keller..." Buffy moaned as she took a glass of water in the Hotel's kitchen.

"We were worried sick about you. Why did you run?" Xander asked.

"Who's Helen Keller?" riley asked, confused.

"I'm sorry I didn't contact you sooner... I was so afraid... I thought I'd hurt you." Buffy said, looking at riley's bandaged hand.

"We can't let you stay here. You need to be home, we'll help you." Xander said.

"I really think we should wait for Angel... I can't just leave without at least thanking him," Buffy said.

"Leave a note." riley said, looking over at Xander.

"Why did you come here anyway?" Xander shrugged.

"Guys..." Buffy was getting impatient.

"Buffy, come on, let's go home." riley took her hand leading her out of the hotel.

"That's really a cool place." Xander said, giving the Hyperion one last admiring look.

They walked to riley's car that was parked nearby. Buffy suddenly crouched. "No..." She whispered.

"What's wrong?" riley stopped and grabbed her. Buffy rubbed her eyes.

"It's all fuzzy... I can't see..." She tried looking around.

"Buffy, stop fooling around, let's go..." riley gripped her hand.

"riley..." Buffy clung onto him.

"Hey, look out!" She heard Xander yell, then she felt the big claws ripping through her back, throwing her away from riley.

She felt her body hitting the ground and rolled. She looked up, but everything was black again.

She scouted around with her hands. She heard Xander or riley calling her name.

She could still feel the claws of the demon in her back. .

"riley..." She whispered. Xander and riley had no chance without her. She got up.

"Buffy!" She heard Angel's voice from afar.

She wasn't ready for the blow she then received from the demon, sending her to the ground again. She felt the demon's slick and slimy hands on her chest, crushing her lungs with heavy pressure. Suddenly the weight of the demon was lifted from her. She heard Angel's roar.

She closed her eyes, trying to take a deep breath and ignore the pain in her ribs.

She didn't know how long it was until she heard the demon screeching in pain.

"Buffy..." She heard Angel's getting closer. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head, and wiped her eyes that started welling. Her vision was now blurry again, but not all black. She saw Angel's figure sending a hand to her and reached for his hand. He helped her get up.

"Are you okay?" He asked again, she felt his hand touching her face, cleaning the dirt from her skin.

"Where's Xander and riley?" She tried to look around as her vision returned.

"They're over there... they'll be fine." He said quietly, leading her back to the Hotel.

"You're hurt." Buffy said, noticing he was limping and bleeding too.

"I'm fine." He said quietly. "Just got my knee screwed a little..."

She touched his torn shirt, feeling the cold liquid that soaked his shirt from the wound. "You got a nasty cut there."

"It will close soon. I heal fast."

Buffy smiled, leaning her head into the crook of his arm. "We have that in common."

Cordelia finished bandaging Angel's wounds and his leg. She looked over at Xander and riley as they slowly started to wake up.

"How's Buffy?" He asked when she clapped her hands, admiring her nursing job.

"She's okay. She has a few cuts and bruises... but luckily she didn't break anything."

"You better see if those idiots broke anything." Angel looked over at Xander and riley and got up, limping away.

"Angel," He heard riley calling him and turned around. The ex-soldier faced him, his face all wounded and bruised.

"What right do you have, doing this?" The boy gritted his teeth.

"I just saved your life." Angel folded his arms, looking at riley.

"I meant holding Buffy here."

"You better watch your mouth, boy. This is *my* house here." Angel said coldly.

"I'm taking her back."

"If you take her you'll get her killed."

"What is it to you? She's no longer your girlfriend."

"I left her so she could live, I will not let her die."

"I won't let her die either." riley raised his voice.

"Like you did with the demon out there?"

"I was trying to protect her!"

"And she nearly died!" Angel yelled back at him.

"Boys... calm down..." Cordelia said, while bandaging Xander's head.

"I'm taking her with me." riley pushed Angel.

Angel grabbed his arm and twisted it. "You're not taking her. She needs a cure. And until we find it, she's safer here."

riley drew out a stake and pointed it at Angel's chest.

"Hey!" Cordelia got up and ran over to stop riley from staking Angel.

Angel smirked down at riley. "Are you going to stake me?"

"I don't see why not. You're a vampire."

"Get away from him!" Cordy called and broke a wine bottle she grabbed from the desk on riley's head. He turned to her surprised and Angel quickly knocked the stake away from his hand.

"You're leaving now. You're not welcome here!" Cordelia pointed at the door.

"I'm taking Buffy with me." riley folded his arms and stood still.

Cordelia turned to Xander. "Xander, is that a friend of yours?" She asked in a tone equivalent to mockery.

Xander pointed at his bandage. "Severe brain damage here."

"Well, yeah, I've been saying that for years."

Xander smirked. "Good ole Cordy. I missed you."

Cordy smirked back and pointed at riley. "Now go and take this clown with you."

Xander got up, looking at riley. "Come on, riley. We better go."

"I'm not going without Buffy."

"Look..." Cordy searched for a nice word, then sighed and waved her hand. "Just look. Buffy is our client now. We're helping her because she's dying..."

"Dying?" Xander's expression turned serious.

"Cordelia..." They all turned to see Buffy standing on the stairs.

She walked down the steps slowly.

"Is it true?" riley asked.

"She's not gonna die." Angel said, clenching his teeth.

"riley, it's sweet that you came, and that you're worried about me," Buffy said quietly when she reached Angel and riley.

She took riley's hands, looking at him.

"Is that your *boyfriend*?" Cordelia asked surprised.

"Go home with Xander," Buffy asked him, ignoring Cordelia. "I don't need you here, I need you at home taking care of mom and Dawn."

"You sure?"

"Yes." She said, glancing over at Angel. She pulled back her hands.

"Why don't you go home and let Giles cure you from... whatever you have?" riley asked.

"Because I'm here now. Angel and Wesley are helping me." She looked over at Cordelia. "And Cordelia."

"But we can help you a lot better at home. He's a vampire-" riley pointed at Angel. Buffy rolled her eyes. "God, riley, don't be such a retard! Just go, okay??" She got impatient.

"Okay, we're going, but you're gonna be fine, okay?" Xander said walking toward Buffy, then turned to Angel. "If you need anything, call Giles." He said calmly. "And take care of her." He said.

Angel was a little surprised but didn't say a word.

Xander pulled Buffy into a hug. "Don't leave us alone on the Hellmouth," He whispered in her ear and then walked away. riley pecked a kiss on her lips before walking away. "I still think I can protect you just the same." He insisted.

"Go." Buffy asked him again.

"How's your leg?" Buffy turned to Angel.

"How's your back?"

"It'll be fine, I heal fast." She smiled at him softly.

He smiled back, "Well, we have that in common."

Her smile widened, but then she looked at the door and got serious again. "I'm so sorry for all these troubles."

"Don't worry about it, you should go back to sleep."

"Angel, I-" She started saying but silenced. "Never mind..." She walked up the stairs and disappeared.

"Some things never change." Cordelia hummed.

"What?" He turned to her.

"You two lovebirds for one thing."

"We're not, she has a boyfriend."

"Oh puh-lease. And out of the two of you who's left with her now?"

"You really think she still loves me?" He asked looking up at where Buffy disappeared.

"I don't think, I know. It's obvious. That's not the problem."

He looked back at her, waiting for more.

"The problem is that she needs to realize she can't have you *and* save the world. I mean, you two get groiny and it's the end of the world as we know it." Cordelia said matter of factly.

Angel sighed looking down. "I know... Believe me, I know."

Cordelia's features softened. "I know you do. The problem is her. I think she came here to die and I don't want you to do something stupid like granting her wish to be with you one last time before she dies or something like that."

"Cordelia, she's *not* gonna die." He gripped her arm.

Cordelia looked down at his hand. "Denial is a nice place, isn't it? And you're hurting me." She waved him off her.

"Sorry..." He whispered and walked away.

She tapped on the desk. "Buffy is going to a dark place..." She whispered to herself.

5

Wesley returned to the Hyperion, carrying books.

"Did you talk to Giles?" Cordelia greeted him.

"Yes. It's settled. Giles will handle it. You better get some sleep now." Wesley looked over her.

"Yeah. I'm worried about Angel though." Cordelia said. "He's in the basement. Buffy was attacked earlier."

"Dear God.. is she all right?" Wesley's eyes widened.

"Yeah. well, don't tell Angel, but." Cordelia lowered her voice and got closer to Wesley. "I had a vision. Buffy is losing her sight. I dunno, I felt she was in total darkness. Doesn't look good." She whispered.

Wesley pondered for a moment what Cordelia had told him. "Go home, Cordelia. I'll talk to Angel, but I'm afraid, things aren't looking good for us." He said.

"Angel?" Wesley asked, walking down to the basement.

Angel was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and he was hitting the boxing bag mercilessly. Wesley guessed he's probably been doing it for quite some time now.

Angel stopped pounding on the sack, grabbed it and looked over at Wesley.

"Well, what did he say?" He asked.

"He will talk to his replacement. He'll do his best to get him to send the book as soon as possible." Wesley nodded.

"Good. When can we expect it to arrive?"

"Angel, there's still one problem." Wesley cleared his throat.

Angel looked at him, waiting for explanation.

"Giles confirmed my fears about the book."

Angel was still looking at Wesley, arching his eyebrow.

"Well." Wesley searched for words. "The book has never been translated. Apart from a few known subjects the book covers, familiar words and demons species. it is said that the book deals with powerful black magic. Giles said the only person that ever tried to translate this book went insane. The book and its contents are very dangerous." Wesley looked away from Angel's stern face.

"If it holds the cure for Buffy, it's the only way." Angel finally said. He ran his hand through his hair. "I'll get it translated. I don't want to risk your life."

"The problem is not risking our lives, Angel." Wesley emphasized. "There is no translation."

"We'll find one. Go to sleep Wesley." Angel said and focused his attention back on punching the bag.

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

"I can't." Angel said without stopping his thrusts. Wesley, understanding Angel was not going to say anything further on the subject, left.

"Buffy?" Angel spotted Buffy's small figure at the far end of the hall. She was just standing there, looking lost.

"Help me." She whispered, but her lips didn't move. He started to move in her direction. He walked fast, then faster, but as fast as he walked he couldn't reach her.

"Buffy!" He yelled.

The lights dimmed as he continued to run in the hall, she was still far from him, protected by the sunlight that seemed to come from within her. She was the only source of light in the hallway.

He stopped running and leaned on his knees.

"It's no use," He told her. "I can never reach you."

"Yes, you can Angel." She called to him in the darkness. "Don't give up now."

He let out a bitter smile. "Even if I reached you, I'll burn. I'm a creature of the night. I don't belong in the light with you. I only fooled myself to think I was."

He saw her reaching out for him, he could feel the flame, the heat, and walked back into the darkness.

"I won't let you burn." He heard her whisper as if she was standing near him, then he saw her burning in the flames. He covered his eyes from the bright light of the fire. "Buffy." He looked ahead as the fire consumed her until there was nothing left but darkness.

The tears burned his throat. "No!" He yelled.

Angel woke up panting hard. He touched his forehead and looked around.

Outside it was already daylight. He got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen taking a blood bag from the fridge.

Walking stealthily into his room, his eyes wandered to his bed, expecting to see Buffy sleeping safely between his sheets.

When he didn't see her, he became alarmed.

"Buffy?" He asked cautiously, taking a hesitant step towards the balcony that was now bathed in sunlight.

He pulled aside the curtains, keeping himself away from the direct beams. "Buffy?" He asked again before closing the curtains again.

He walked to the bathroom but she wasn't there either. The door was wide open, and Angel could swear that his unbeating heart was racing in his chest.

He ran outside of the room.

"Buffy!!" He called.

6

Angel ran out to the hallway, and just when he was about to go down the stairs, the familiar overwhelming feeling of her essence washed through him. He turned around and followed his feeling.

He entered a room close to his. He was standing at the doorway and saw Buffy's small figure crouched next to the shabby mattress that was leaning on the wall. Her eyes were closed, her hand touched the mattress slightly. The sunshine kissed her hair, giving it a special golden shade which he remembered accurately from the glimpses of her in the sun before and mostly from the one day he spent with her as human.

Whenever he had a glimpse of her in the sunlight he drank down every small detail, engraving it in his memory.

"Angel." Buffy whispered, turning her head in his direction. Although he didn't make a sound, she could feel his presence.

He walked over to her, but she was surrounded with too much sunlight he stopped half way through.

He knew something was awfully wrong. It was the way she was looking at him, but her eyes were void, looking through him as though his body was transparent.

"Buffy." His voice was so full of pain he didn't recognize it.

"I couldn't find the way." Her voice trembled.

"We'll fix it, Giles is taking care of that. We found a book.." He told her.

"It's permanent now. it's gone." Buffy cried covering her face in the old dusty mattress, folding her legs tighter to her chest.

"Buffy, come here. I. I can't reach you there." He said softly, pleading.

She covered her face with her gloved hands. "I don't want you to see me like that. just let me die." She cried and buried her face in her knees.

"Buffy." Angel made a step towards her, but hissed when he felt the pain of the sun exposure.

He clasped his hand. "You leave me no choice. If you don't come to me I'll come to you." He said firmly. ".And get myself into ashes." He added quietly.

Buffy didn't respond.

"All right." Angel stepped into the direct light and his skin started to sizzle.

"No. geez! Are you crazy?!" Buffy quickly jumped from her sitting position and pushed Angel away to safety in full power.

He rubbed his head, getting up from the floor. "Buffy." He called for her.

She knew where he was, but scouted for him. He took her hand and brought her over to him.

She started crying into his chest and he just wrapped his arms around her, tears starting to well in his eyes. "I'll get you out of this mess. If I have to give away my soul, I'll get you out of this." He whispered.

Angel glanced at Buffy while he was on the phone with Wesley. He didn't want her to be out of his sight, but he didn't want her to know how worried he was.

"Did you get the book yet?" He asked quietly into the phone, keeping his tone calm.

"Not yet. It's still early. I think it will only arrive tomorrow morning." Wesley told him.

"That's not soon enough." Angel hissed.

"How's Buffy?" Wesley asked.

Angel looked again at Buffy, stepping out of her earshot.

"She's. she can't see. She told me she was having blackouts all day. and now her sight is gone." Angel whispered.

"She doesn't have much time left. I think she has a week or two tops."

"Angel?" Buffy got up of the couch, trying to guide herself to Angel.

"I gotta close now Wesley. Don't come here without this book." Angel said, hanging up.

"I'm here." He walked over to her. She stumbled against the table and he grabbed her before she hit the floor.

"I'm feeling so helpless. I hate it!" She moaned, clinging to him.

He wrapped his arms around her.

"I can't do anything. It's so lonely and dark here." She whispered.

"You're not alone in this, you hear me?" Angel gripped her arms, shaking her a little bit, she didn't raise her face, but released her hand from his hold. She touched his face.

"I can't even feel. not even Braille could help me.." She took away her hand.

"I'll help you, can you feel this?" He asked and wiped her tears gently, holding his thumb on her cheek.

"Yes." She smiled slightly.

"And this?" He leaned down and kissed her gently on her lips. She responded to his kiss- softly at first, then with all her hunger and yearning for him. The kiss grew more and more passionate, and Angel brought her body closer to him, holding her tight.

"What are you doing?" They broke the kiss hearing Cordelia's voice. Angel looked at Cordy, a guilt-ridden expression on his face.

"You're not allowed to suck face. You had your time, we saw the outcome. We don't want that again." She said strictly.

"Cordelia, calm down." Angel said quietly in a menacing tone.

"Whatever. Just remember what I told you."

Buffy was quiet, keeping herself close to Angel's protective body.

"Anyway, Buffy, I brought you breakfast," Cordelia motioned on the paper bag she was holding.

"Thank you." Angel thanked her. She walked over to the table and put the bag there.

"You should go help Wesley with the book." Angel told her, hoping she would get the hint.

"I thought we didn't have it-" Cordelia was hushed with Angel's stern face. "Here. because it's at Wesley's place. Right. And I'm supposed to be there helping him." She flashed a wide smile.

"You kids behave." She said before walking out.

"I'm sorry." Buffy said quietly.

"No I'm sorry. I was out of line." He took her hand and led her to the sofa.

"Angel." She started saying then changed her mind and remained silent.

He leaned and took the paper bag Cordy brought. "Cheese sandwich." He said cheerfully.

"Mmm gotta love cheese." Buffy smiled hearing the liveliness in his voice.

"And chocolate. I love chocolate!"

"How would you know what's chocolate tastes like?" Buffy questioned him, surprised.

"Oh." Angel licked his lips, remembering the only time he tasted chocolate was the one day that never existed. For the rest of the world, anyway.

"We uh.. had chocolate.. in the. you know, 18th century. It was a delicacy..." He said clumsily.

"Really? Nice. I didn't know that."

"Yeah. Just don't write that in your History exam." He put the sandwich in her hand.

"Too bad they didn't have peanut butter back in your days. Now *that's* a delicacy!"

"Yeah." Angel sighed, nostalgic. "I mean I suppose."

Buffy took a bite from the cheese sandwich. "Hmmm that's." Her amused expression disappeared. "Yummy."

"What's wrong?" Angel asked.

"Nothing. I'm just. not hungry." Buffy put down the sandwich.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm tired. can you take me to your room?" She got up.

7

Another day passed until Wesley set his foot in the Hyperion. Angel was pacing back and forth in the lobby, while Cordelia was going through a pile of books.

Angel hunted the English man with his eyes. "You got it?" He grabbed his shoulder.

"Yes," Wesley gasped. He walked to the desk and laid his bag on it. He took out the book that was covered with rags.

Angel looked at the book with shining eyes. "Cordelia, call Nabbit and tell him to transfer the money to the British Museum as we agreed." He looked at the book, trailing his hands on the carved letters. "There is blood on this book." He said quietly. "Old blood."

"Ewww gross." Cordelia looked down at the decorated ancient book.

"Not just human blood. Also demonic." Angel opened the book looking at the brown fading pages.

"How are we going to translate it?" Wesley asked.

"I'm giving you unlimited resources to get whatever information you need," Angel flipped through the book. "You just get it translated as soon as possible. Buffy's running out of time."

"I'll try my best."

"No, not your best, more than that." Angel put his hand on Wesley's shoulder. "You're going to translate what we need for Buffy's cure."

Angel said quietly and went away up to his room.

He stopped in his track in the hallway when he heard a sound coming from his room.

It was a lullaby. The sweetest voice he ever heard. He stood silently in the doorway and watched his beloved, sitting curled up in a chair, her face was pale and she was looking blankly in the direction of the window. Her slim body was covered in a blanket. She finished her little song and sighed.

"My mom used to sing me this song when I was little," She told him without moving her head to him.

"We have the book." Angel told her, stepping closer.

"I hope mom isn't too upset I'm gone. I didn't even say goodbye. And Dawn. I didn't say goodbye to anyone."

"You'll see them soon, love. I'll get you home."

"I'm living on borrowed time. only one human sense left and what's keeping me alive is just my supernatural slayer essence." She whispered.

"You'll be all right. We're working on a cure." He said reassuringly.

"Angel, come here," She motioned to him, reaching out her hand for him.

He took her hand, standing above her.

"I love you," She said simply, squeezing his hand.

"I love you," He whispered back, almost choking on tears.

She put a genuine smile on her weary face. "Nothing can change that. Not even death." She quoted his own words from long ago.

"Don't say that, love. You know I'm not going to let you die." He kneeled in front of her, still holding her hand. He brought her palm to his mouth, kissing it.

"Angel, you gave me something so precious, and I didn't completely deserve that."

"You deserve my every drop of happiness, you deserve everything that I could give you. Buffy, you brought sunshine to my life. You set me on my path, you made me." A tear started rolling on his cheek, he took Buffy's hand, taking off her glove, and put her burnt hand on his face. "My redemption is worth nothing without you." He whispered.

"Redemption?" She asked. He sighed, closing his eyes. That's right, she doesn't know. He was afraid she would drop all her life and waste it waiting for the day he received his shanshu.

"You can take comfort in the fact that a slayer's shelf life is 25 tops, so I'm almost all the way through." She smiled. "Or actually right in the middle." Her smiled faded.

"You'll be the longest living slayer. I gave away everything so you could live longer, this is not going to be in vain. I'll get you back home safe, to your mother, your sister and." He stopped, looking at her. "And your boyfriend. Even though I really don't like him."

Buffy smiled. "He's okay. On occasions. Not big with the brain, but he's normal. more or less." She laughed. He looked at her in admiration.

Wesley walked into Angel's room, finding his boss fully clothed, lying in bed with Buffy cuddled in his arms. Angel had one arm around her and with his other hand he stroke her hair and face gently and lovingly. He kissed the top of her head and slid her slowly away from his arm and onto the bed. He got up and walked over to Wesley, leading him out of the room.

"Tell me what you found." He demanded.

Wesley fixed his glasses on his nose. "Not much. I think I got the right chapter. I recognized some words, including the demon's species. The rest is just guesses-"

"Look, Wesley." Angel cut him out. "I don't think you understood what I meant earlier. I give you unlimited resources to find information. I don't care if you bribe every single demon in Caritas to find." Angel started saying, then looked at Wesley.

"Caritas! That's it." He hummed.

"You're going to sing?" Wesley raised his eyebrow.

"No, I'll take Buffy to sing! The Host could read her soul and guide us the way!"

"You think he will?"

"Of course. He helped me with the pregnant woman, didn't he? We should have gone there sooner!" Angel walked back into his room to wake Buffy up.

"I'm not going to sing!"

"Buffy, come on. This demon can help us only if you sing." Angel tried to convince her.

"No, I'm a terrible singer."

"Well, it's only karaoke, you don't need to be good."

"And I look terrible, I can't even see what I look like." She groaned.

"You look as pretty as always."

"You're a terrible liar."

"Honestly, you always look perfect to me."

"Keyword- to you. But I'm not gonna show myself in front of people." She shook her head.

"Well you see. they're not people."

"I don't understand."

"It's a demon club." He explained.

"Oh that's even better. NO."

"Buffy, please. It might be the only way."

"Maybe after I lose my hearing, so I don't have to listen."

"That's not funny." Angel put his arms on her shoulder. "Come on, Buffy. Please."

"I'm not going to sing, Angel!"

"Do it for me, then. Please?" He covered her cheek with his big hand. "For me, okay?" He leaned and kissed her softly.

8

"It's closed," Wesley said when they reached the entrance to the Caritas.

"Closed? How can it be closed?" Angel asked, surprised.

"Good, it's closed. Let's go." Buffy turned to walk away but Angel pulled her back.

"It's not closed. Come on." Angel knocked on the door.

"We're closed!" They heard a call coming from inside.

"You heard that? Let's go." Buffy tugged on Angel's sleeve.

Angel pummeled on the door, and then stepped back and kicked the door open. The barman, who was busy cleaning his bar, looked at them surprised. "I said it's closed."

Angel looked at him sporting his game face. "We're here for the late show."

The MC walked over to them. "Hey big fella, you missed one hell of a performance tonight." The green demon said cheerfully.

Buffy scouted for someone to hold on to and found Wesley's arm. Angel grabbed the Host's lapels, bringing him close to his vampiric threatening face. "I need you to do some reading," He hissed.

"This is not MTV's Total Requests Live here, we do things in order, there's a show." The Anagogic tried to explain and release himself from Angel's grip.

Angel snarled, baring his fangs. "I don't think you understand. I need you to do a reading." He said, emphasizing each word. "And I need it now."

"Angel, let's go." Buffy called still holding onto Wesley.

"I already packed for tonight. the staff are gone. Just me and beer here." The host said.

"Look, I'm losing my patience here. I don't believe I introduced myself properly-" Angel started saying, tightening his hold.

"Okay, okay, start singing." The Host raised his hands in surrender.

"Not me, her." Angel reverted back to his human face and looked over at Buffy.

"Lovely girl, a little pale." The Host scanned Buffy's body and stopped when Angel gave him a stern look.

"She's sick and we need a cure." Angel explained briefly.

"Well, cupcake, hit the stage." The Host motioned to Buffy.

Buffy kept clinging to Wesley's arm.

"Come on, Buffy," Angel walked over to her and took her hand. "You just need to sing one song."

"That makes me feel so much better."

"Stage fright?" The demon asked.

"I fear I'll fall from the stage." Buffy muttered, still clinging to Wesley.

Angel went over to Buffy and took her hand. "Trust me," He said softly. She walked hesitantly after him, her fingers intertwined with his.

He looked over at the disassembled karaoke machine. "Is there a song you know by heart?" He asked.

Buffy smiled shyly. "A few."

The Host struggled with the wires but eventually managed to hook up the machine. And music filled the quiet air.

"The stage is all yours, gorgeous." He hummed.

Buffy coughed, holding the mike. "So. I'm just gonna pretend you're all naked." She smiled mischievously. The Host turned off the music.

"Slayer!" They heard someone roar before Buffy got to start her song. Everyone but Buffy stared at the group of demons and vampires in game faces that flowed into the club.

They threw Wesley away and he hit a table, knocking the chairs to the floor.

Angel jumped off the stage, facing the demons that tried to get to the stage.

"Hey, hey! No violence allowed in this club!" The Host called. "And it's closed."

One of the vampires smirked. "Then why are they here?"

They pulled the chairs off the tables and sat down. "We'll wait for the slayer when the show's over."

"Oh great. I got groupies." Buffy whispered into the mike. Wesley got up, rubbing the back of his head.

The Host looked at the demons settling down in the chairs and gave up. he looked gloomily at Angel. "What's a slayer anyway?"

"I'd like to dedicate the next song to a very special someone. They know who they are." She said professionally and closed her eyes.

"Love of my life you've hurt me." Buffy started singing softly. Her voice was sweet and tender. Everyone went quiet and looked at her.

"You've broken my heart and now you leave me." The Host fell down to his knees, but everyone else was mesmerized.

"Love of my life can't you see. Bring it back bring it back.." Buffy's voice cracked a little when tears started to well in her throat. "Don't take it away from me.Because you don't know. What it means to me." She put aside the microphone. "I'm sorry I can't." She whispered.

"That was great!" One of the vampires said. The others clapped their hands.

Angel took Buffy's hand. "It's okay, I think it was enough." He kissed her forehead reassuringly.

He glanced over at the Host and saw him lying on the floor. "Hold on." He told Buffy and jumped from the stage, walking over to the Host.

"Buffy, look out!" Wesley yelped spotting the demons herding the stage. Angel just reached the Host, looked behind him and received a blow from a vampire, sending him across the room.

"Guys. autographs later." Buffy said and kicked away one of the demons. She started to fight them blindly, relying only on her slayer sense.

The demons were thirsty for slayers blood.

"Remember me?" One of the vampires grabbed her. "You tried to fight me almost 6 years ago. I killed your best friends and you tried to set us all on fire in the gym. I thought you died. haven't seen you in L.A since then." He smirked.

"Your friends tasted nice."

Angel released himself from one of the demons' grip and walked to the stage, staking 2 vampires on his way.

"And your boyfriend Tyler. wanna know what happened to him? Or would you rather know how we turned Pike into a vampire?" the vampire continued. "I always wanted to taste a slayer."

"Try this instead." Angel said behind him and staked him.

"Wesley get the Host out!" He called over to Wesley. The British man grabbed the Host from the floor and started dragging him towards the exit.

Buffy was standing still, frozen. "Buffy, come on." He pulled her hand. The demons started to approach them again. Angel lifted Buffy, kicking away the demons and ran, carrying Buffy in his arms.

"Jump in!" Wesley yelled, starting the engine. Angel gently put Buffy in the backseat and jumped in the passenger seat next to Wesley.

"Buffy, talk to me." Angel whispered. They were at the Hyperion's lobby. Buffy sat frozen on the couch.

"She's in shock." Wesley stated, walking over.

"You don't think she lost anything else?" Cordelia asked.

Wesley pondered for a minute, brushing his fingers over his lips. "I don't know." He looked over at the Host. "The Host still hasn't woken up. nothing seems to wake him."

"Buffy." Angel whispered again, touching her face. "Buffy, please."

"It's him." Buffy whispered, shuddering. "He killed them. all of them."

"What is she talking about?" Cordy asked.

Angel cupped Buffy's face. "He's dead now. Don't worry about it." He looked up at Cordy.

"When she was just called to her duty as a slayer, she was living in L.A. and she was still weak and this vampire and his gang killed her friends. she set the gym of her school on fire and then afterwards her mom moved to Sunnydale." He explained.

"He was the one that killed Merrick, then." Wesley hummed.

"Yes."

"Merrick." Buffy covered her face with her hands. "He's dead."

"Oww." They heard the Host moaning. He slowly got up from the floor.

"What happened?" Wesley asked him.

"I know what's a slayer. more than I wished." He rubbed his head.

"How can we help her?" Angel asked, letting go of Buffy and getting up.

"There's no future for her. I'm sorry. It's such a pity, she's really a cutie pie".

"That's not what I wanted to hear." Angel gritted his teeth approaching the host.

"That's the reading. She's in the dark. I was knocked out from what I saw. There's nothing you can do to help her. Her destiny leads her to death. Only then will she know peace." The Host said. "Death is her reward. I really need something to drink."

The room was quiet. Buffy was still sobbing quietly, whispering her dead watcher's name. She was lost in her own world.

"I don't accept that." Angel said, grabbing the ancient book from the desk. "This book holds her cure. Tell us how to translate it." He shoved it into the Host's hands.

The Host looked at the book. "I'm not familiar with the language." He replied, handing the book back to Angel. "I better go now, before it's day and people start asking me if I'm from Star Trek.." He looked at Angel. "I'm sorry."

Angel rubbed his forehead, frustrated.

The Host turned to go, then looked at Buffy. "It's amazing how with all the darkness in her, so much beauty still remains inside. The big guys sure know who to pick."

Angel kicked his desk in temper. All the papers scattered around in a mess. He slammed his fist into the wall, and then just leaned on the wall with his arms, without turning around. Cordelia and Wesley watched their friend bowing down his head. His shoulders shaking slightly.

They exchanged stares. They've never seen Angel break down like this.

"Angel." Cordelia said quietly, walking over to him.

"Go away." Angel said quietly without turning around.

"There's nothing you can do." She tried to comfort him.

"There must be something." He said huskily. He turned around, his eyes glistening with tears.

"I'll just use the darkness to get her out of the dark." He said, clasping his hand tight.

"What do you mean?" Wesley asked.

"Take care of her." He said, turning to leave.

"What are you going to do? sell your soul?" Cordelia huffed mockingly. Angel just stared at her, deadpan.

"You can't be serious. Angel." Her expression turned to horror.

"Stake me." He said quietly and walked out of the Hyperion.

"Angel, this is insane!" Wesley called behind him. But nothing could set Angel away from his path.

On to Part Nine