������ "That's murder!" �Buffy pushed her way in front of Angel and yanked at the arm of the woman detective who'd not only arrested him but had just threatened him with sunlight. �How did she know what Angel was, she wondered in a back corner of her mind.
������ Forced to halt in her headlong rush to book the vampire, Kate's eyes were cold. �"Really? �How can I murder someone who's already dead?" �The policeman behind Angel gave her a look that suggested he couldn't believe what he'd just heard, but Kate ignored him, speaking directly to Buffy.
������ "I don't know who you are, lady, but I suggest that you let go of me this minute if you don't want to be run in for obstructing a police officer in the performance of her duty."
������ Buffy released her arm but stood her ground. �Before she could reply, however, a movement in the room beyond caught her attention. �Her eyes widened; at the same instant Angel drew in a quick, surprised (and totally unnecessary) breath. �Kate spun around.
������ A young woman in her teens rose from the chair where she'd been sitting, turning to face the group who'd just entered, all equally dumbfounded at seeing her there in the police station when half the LAPD were out searching for her. �It was Faith. �Even though her hands were cuffed her dark eyes held a look of serenity Buffy couldn't remember ever seeing there before. �"I've come to confess." �
������ After a moment Kate rallied. �"Right. �Charteris, take her to the interrogation room, please. �I'll be with you in a minute." �As Faith and the remaining detective walked out she turned to the policeman holding Angel by one arm. �The vampire's hands were also cuffed. �"Serrano, take him to the holding cells. �We'll book him in the morning." Her look at Angel held vicious triumph.
������ "What?" Buffy exclaimed as Angel looked sharply at Kate. �"Why? �You've got Faith now!"
������ Kate's expression didn't change. �"He still knowingly harbored a fugitive."
������ "If he hadn't she'd be in Mexico by now and you know it! �It's only because of Angel that Faith turned herself in. �He talked her into it." �Buffy didn't know this for a fact but she figured it was a safe assumption. �What in the world was with this lady cop that she had such a grudge against Angel?
������ Kate shrugged. �"Maybe. �That'll be for the judge to decide. �Tomorrow." �She smiled. �"Oh, Serrano, make sure they put him on the east side. �I want him to be able to enjoy the sunrise."
������ �Buffy's blood ran cold. �"You can't do that; it'll kill him." �She stared at Kate and realized from the look on her face that was exactly what she intended. �The revelation brought her to her senses. �Calmness descended like a mantle. �She straightened.
������ "I'm not letting you lock Angel up to die." �Her voice was quiet, flat. �Any number of deceased vampires and other demon types could have told the police detective that this wasn't a good sign. �The Slayer was ready for action.
������ Behind her Angel grew alert, also recognizing the danger. �"Buffy, stop." �He was ignored by both women.
������ "Is that right?" �Kate's voice was soft, her faint smile chilling. �"How do you propose to stop me?"
������ "Any way I have to," Buffy said simply. �"This is your last warning."
������ Kate's eyes narrowed. �"Take him," she said again to the cop.
������ Officer Serrano stirred uneasily. �"Detective Lockley, if this guy really does have some kind of allergy to the sun - "
������ Kate turned her icy gaze on the officer. �"Is there something wrong with your hearing, officer? �I said take him downstairs."
������ At the menace in her tone the cop swallowed. �"Yes, ma'am." �He looked at Buffy apologetically. �"The detective says take him, I hafta take him. �Let's go." �He tugged on his prisoner's arm.
������ Not budging, Angel stared at Kate. �"Kate, what the hell is all this about? �After all the times we helped each other, why are you doing this?"
������ Kate transferred her glare to him. �"Because your kind killed my father." �Again the policeman gave her a baffled look.
������ For the first time Angel showed signs of anger. �" �My kind.' �You know, I'm more than a little sick of hearing that, Kate. �If you remember, I was the one who tried to save your father. �Not to mention that I helped you find the ones who did kill him."
������ "Serrano!" �Kate glared at the young cop, who shook his head with disapproval and once more pulled on Angel, this time more forcefully. �There was a blur of motion from Buffy, and Serrano went flying through the air, landing with a grunt on his back a good thirty feet away from his prisoner. �He slid into the wall at the end of the corridor, hitting it with a loud thump, and stayed there, shaking his head, dazed.
������ Kate gaped in disbelief, then belatedly snatched at her gun. �Before she could aim it, Buffy grabbed it out of her hand. �Staring Kate straight in the eyes she bent the muzzle until it turned at a right angle, then tossed the gun onto a nearby desk. �Kate's jaw dropped even more.
������ "I told you I wouldn't let you kill him," Buffy said to the stunned detective. �Going to Angel she grabbed his wrists and with one hard jerk snapped the links between the handcuffs.
������ "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
������ "I think I'm getting you out of here before Psycho Cop over there turns you into toast," Buffy retorted.
������ Angel stayed put. �"Buffy, this is crazy. �We're in a police station! �There are video cameras everywhere! �This place will be swarming with cops any minute now." For the first time Buffy noticed the security cameras bolted into the walls. �Her heart sank.
������ Kate had been edging over toward the nearest desk. �Yanking at the drawer she grabbed at the gun inside. �At the sound, Buffy whirled to face her, but it was too late. �Kate had the gun and was aiming it right at her.
������ "Put your hands behind your heads!" she yelled . �"Both of you!" �Buffy glared at her then reluctantly obeyed. �With a loud sigh of exasperation Angel did the same. �Kate raised her voice. �"Okay, guys. �You can come in now."
������ Buffy peered over her shoulder as at least six cops entered the hallway, guns at the ready. �Two came over to her, one of them holding a gun on her while the other cuffed her hands behind her back. �The same was being done to Angel.
������ Kate walked up. �"I don't know who or what you are, but you just made a big mistake, Muffy or Buffy or whatever the name is. �Assault of a police officer - two police officers, in fact." �She stared at the young Slayer coldly. �"Big trouble."
������ Buffy remained silent as she and Angel were led down a short flight of stairs and through several corridors to the jail. �Kate followed behind. �As the convoy entered the holding tank she looked around at the empty cells. �"There's no one here?"
������ The guard shook his head in bafflement. �"Hard to believe, isn't it? �The last group was transferred less than an hour ago. �I'm enjoying it while I can; it sure as hell won't last long."
������ The first cell was unlocked, and after his cuffs were removed Angel was pushed inside. �When the guard started to close the door Kate stopped him. �"Put her in too."
������ The man frowned. �"You know that's against regulations. �Men and women can't be in the same cell."
������ "Do it," Kate replied. �"Tomorrow morning you can separate them. �If you need to." �She laughed a little, and Buffy clenched her teeth against the emotion surging through her. �The fury she cherished for Faith paled in comparison to the utter hatred she now felt for this woman. �
������ She glanced at the convoy of cops guarding them and knew there was no way she could get Angel out of this place alive. �Tears threatened, but she refused to break down in front of that woman. �Angel stood in the middle of the cell, his gaze still fixed on Kate. �His dark eyes were unreadable, but his stance was one of dignified challenge, not pleading. �Even in prison, with the strain of the past hours visible on his face, he radiated strength and �- well - nobility. �There was no other word for it, Buffy thought, swallowing the lump in her throat.
������ Buffy didn't say a word as her cuffs were removed and she entered the cell, wrinkling her nose involuntarily at the faint but lingering miasma of sweat, urine, and disinfectant. Several feet above her, long rectangles of dark sky were revealed in the windows of each cell. She estimated there were about five on each side of the large room. The door clanged shut behind her and their guards left. Except for one.
������ Kate lingered after the others were gone. Her cold, angry gaze went from Angel to Buffy, where it lingered a moment with speculation, and back again. "Sunrise is in about three hours. When the sun comes up it shines straight in through these windows. The prisoners are always complaining about it because it wakes them up."
������ Her fingers, hooked through the belt loops, beat a faint tattoo on the worn leather. "I think I'll come back and watch it with you. I think I'd enjoy that a lot."
������ "Aren't we allowed a phone call?" Buffy asked, her voice even.
������ Kate shook her head. "You're not under arrest yet. By law we can hold you for twenty-four hours before making a charge. Of course, for your vampire friend the whole question will be moot, won't it?" Then, grinning, she too left.
������ As her footsteps faded and the thud of the outside door sounded, Buffy looked at Angel. "What is her trauma?" Her hair clip had fallen out at some point that night, and she smoothed the untidy strands back with her hands.
������ "It's a long story." Angel glared at her. "What the hell were you thinking, Buffy?"
������ Buffy stiffened; suddenly the urge to cry wasn't nearly as hard to resist. "I wasn't thinking. I just had to try to get you out of there."
������ "Out of the middle of a police station with maybe a hundred cops around?" Angel was still angry. "Do you know how lucky you are that you didn't get shot? You could have been killed."
������ She glared at him, then pointedly withdrew her gaze without answering. Going over to the door she gave it a shake - or tried to. There was very little "give" in the massive lock. Experimentally she tried to pull the bars apart, with no success. They were too heavy. Turning, she tilted her head to study the window, and saw what she had expected: the glass in it was not only very thick, it was heavily reinforced with wires throughout, impossible to break.
������ "Buffy." Angel came up beside her. Ignoring the fluttering of her stomach that always attended his close proximity, she also ignored him and went back to examine the cell door again. He followed. "Buffy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I know you were only trying to help."
������ Her anger at him faded in an instant, replaced by bitterness. "For all the good I've been here I might as well have stayed home. I come to warn you about Faith, and find you giving her hug therapy. I try to help you escape from Psycho Lady and end up getting you arrested." Buffy rested her head against the bars and closed her eyes.
������ Angel took her by the shoulders and gently turned her to face him. "I was already under arrest," he reminded her. "And without your help the Council assassins would have Faith now. I leave you to guess whether they would have actually taken her to England or whether they'd have just put a bullet through her head."
�����"If you're expecting me to feel sorry for her, you can think again," Buffy snapped. "I hope she rots in prison for the rest of her life. Do you have any idea what she did to me this time, Angel?" She looked him in the eye. "Do you even care?"
������ "I care," he replied quietly. And he did; she could read it in his eyes.
������ The anger she'd been holding onto since walking into Angel's apartment and seeing Faith there, being comforted by him, spilled out. "She switched bodies with me. She became me, and I was first arrested by the police and then captured by those Council goons because everyone thought I was Faith. She was wearing my clothes and living in my house and sleeping with my boyfriend!" The last words were shouted, and with them came the tears.
������ Angel said nothing, only held her while she cried out her rage and bitterness toward the rogue Slayer. "I'm sorry," she sniffled, after a time. "I didn't mean for you to find out that way. About Riley, I mean."
������ Angel dug a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. "I already knew." His voice was flat.
������ "You did?" Mopping at her nose, Buffy raised her head to see his face. "How?"
������ "Faith accidentally let it slip."
������ Buffy gritted her teeth. "I'll just bet she did. And it was no accident. She did it deliberately." Folding the handkerchief, she stuck it in her back pocket.
������ "Buffy, you weren't there. I was." The firmness of his tone surprised Buffy. "It was an accident. She thought I already knew about - Riley." He released her and took a couple of steps back. "I'm - I'm glad you've found someone to have a normal relationship with."
������ If the lack of conviction in his voice hadn't already told Buffy that his heart wasn't in his words, the way he avoided her eyes was a dead giveaway.
������ "Well," she said after a moment's deliberation, "I guess that depends on what your definition of normal is. Riley's a demon hunter too."
������ "What?" Angel looked aghast. "Buffy, I didn't leave so you could hook up with another demon killer!"
������ That did it. "Excuse me?" She took a step toward him; something flickered in his eyes. "So now I'm supposed to get your permission? What did you want me to do, drag guys over here so you could look them over first and decide whether or not they were normal enough? Like hell!"
������ Buffy was seething. "I've got a newsflash for you, Angel. You lost the right to interfere in my life the night you walked out of it!"
������ "I know." The admission was so quiet Buffy wasn't sure she'd heard it. "I'm sorry. I had no right to say that. You've found someone else to - " Angel stumbled over the word. "You've found someone else. That's . . . good. I'm sure he's a nice person."
������ "Yes, he is." Buffy refused to calm down. "And he doesn't lie to me either."
������ "What do you mean?" Angel gave her a blank look. "I never lied to you."
������ "Oh, really? How many times did you tell me that we'd make it work? What about this whole �leaving me so I can have a normal relationship' garbage?"
������ "That wasn't a lie," Angel was quick to say. "It's the truth."
������ Buffy took a deep breath. "Bull. That was just an excuse; it's not why you left. You left because you were afraid of losing your soul again."
������ Angel ignored that. "Buffy, you deserve to have - "
������ She cut him off with a yell. "Aahhh! I am so sick of hearing that! Just how normal a life do you think a Slayer can have, Angel? Most of us don't live to see our twenty-fifth birthday! How many �normal' guys do you think want to have a relationship with someone who shows up for a date covered in vampire dust or demon goo? Damn few of them, I can tell you!"
������ Advancing on him, Buffy continued her attack. Angel backed away, a shocked expression on his face. "You were afraid you'd lose your soul again and go evil. Do you think I don't understand that, Angel? No one wants to see Angelus back. Of course you were afraid; so was I. But you just couldn't admit that, could you?"
������ Tears shone in her eyes. Angel stood gawking at her, nonplused. "No. Instead you came up with this excuse of leaving so I could have a �normal' life. That sounded a whole lot better, didn't it? Instead of being scared, you were being noble and self-sacrificing."
������ Her tone turned saccharine. " �Poor Angel,' everybody said. �He's given up the only girl he ever loved so she could have a normal life, even though he can never be happy without her'."
������ "What a crock." Buffy had Angel backed into a corner. She stabbed a finger at his chest. "Admit it, Angel. For once tell the truth and admit that you left Sunnydale because you were scared to stay with me." She glared up at him.
������ Angel looked suddenly haggard, his eyes dark and haunted. "I was terrified," he whispered. "Buffy, I remember every last, tiny detail of what I did to you, and Giles, and Willow. And Jenny.
������ "If I'd stayed in Sunnydale it would have happened again." His voice shook with emotion. "I love you so much, Buffy, and it was killing me. I'd look at you and start to feel happy - and then the memories would come crashing down. I couldn't take it anymore."
������ Suddenly his eyes bored into hers. "You felt it too; I know you did. Every time we kissed or held each other, I could see it in your eyes - the fear, the questions: Will this moment be the one that's too happy? Will the demon be set free this time?"
������ "Yes," Buffy admitted, quiet again. "I told you I understood your fear, that I shared it. But do you have any idea how it felt to have you tell me that you were leaving because it was better for me that way - how demeaning that was, like I couldn't possibly understand that the risk for you was too great if you stayed? That's what hurt the most, Angel. You treated me like a stupid little schoolgirl . . . like a child."
������ Angel swallowed. "I'm sorry. I was afraid that . . . that if you begged me to stay I wouldn't be able to leave." He looked away, taking a deep breath. "But it worked out for the best, didn't it? If I hadn't left, you wouldn't have found - Riley."
������ As before, he faltered over the name. "Now you can fall asleep in the arms of your normal boyfriend, just like you always dreamed of doing. Just like a normal girl." His voice cracked and abruptly he shouldered his way past her.
������ After a moment Buffy followed him to the door, where he stood with hunched shoulders, hands clenched tight on the bars.
������ "You know," she told him softly, "I've learned a lot this year, since you left. I learned that it's possible to go on with your life even though you're hurting so much you feel like you can't breathe. I learned that it's terribly easy to forget how important your friends are. But one of the most important things I found out is that normal is way overrated."
������ Angel turned his head slowly; his eyes searched her face. She continued, "I like Riley, yes. He's a really nice, decent guy, with a great sense of humor. And I think maybe he loves me." She sighed. "But how could you think for one minute that he's replaced you in my heart?
������ "Don't you know that I love you? That I will always love you?"
������ "Really?" Angel asked, and Buffy would have smiled if he hadn't sounded so lost and vulnerable. As it was, the simple, childish question brought moisture to her eyes.
������ "Why is that so hard to believe, Angel?" she asked gently.
������ He made no reply, only shook his head helplessly, his eyes tormented yet slowly filling with hope. Slowly he straightened up, turning to face her. Buffy walked into his arms; as they folded around her it felt like coming home again.
������ "Buffy." His deep, shuddering sigh ruffled her hair; he spoke in a broken whisper. "God. I've missed you so much."
������ "Me too," she replied, simply, and closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his solid body against hers. It had been so long.
������ They stood like that for long minutes, motionless, locked together in a close embrace. Remembering. Renewing. Finally Angel stirred and his arms loosened their hold on her. Buffy looked up. Their eyes met.
������ "I love you," Angel said.
������ "I love you."
������ He bent toward her and Buffy rose on tiptoe. Their lips met. After so long a separation, their kisses were soft and gentle, even tentative; but even so it didn't take more than a couple of minutes for their long-banked passion to begin smoldering anew. Buffy felt its warmth rising through her, felt it too in Angel, in the increased pressure of his lips and arms, and in the yielding of his body as it molded against her.
������ They drew apart. Even now, Buffy realized with impotent fury (and knew Angel shared it), now, in what might be their last few hours together, they had to be wary of expressing their love. Angelus could still make an appearance and spend the last few moments of his existence making her life hell. Or doing his best to end it.
������ She supressed a sob. "Angel, we've got to do something. Maybe we can break the window somehow." She looked around the cell, went over to the bench bisecting one wall and began examining it. "Damn, it's bolted to the wall." She pushed down on the long seat with all her strength, trying to break it off, to no avail.
������ "I know," said Angel quietly. "I checked it out earlier."
������ "Maybe if we both try, together, we can break it free." When Angel didn't respond she turned on him fiercely. "At least try! Or do you want to get toasted?"
������ "Buffy. Maybe together we could get the bench free, and then maybe together we could break the window with it." He indicated a security camera. "But what do you think the guard is going to do while all this is going on? Just sit there playing cards?"
������ Before she could respond, he added, "No, he'll call for backup, and long before we could escape he'd be in here with his gun drawn. Buffy, I don't want you to get hurt because of me, not ever again."
������ Buffy gazed wildly at the camera, then at Angel. "And I don't want you to get dead!"
������ Sobs choked her throat. Angel wrapped his arms around her, then lifted her and carried her over to the bench and sat down, holding her as she cried. His shirt grew wet from her tears and still she wept. At long last Buffy sobbed herself out, resting limply against his chest, feeling hollow inside.
������ For a long time they just sat there, holding each other, talking occasionally of past events . . . remembering . . . but just as often simply cuddling in silence and trying not to think of the coming dawn.
������ "Angel," Buffy finally said. "There's something I have to know." He cocked his head inquiringly. "The night that we - " Her voice faded, and she stopped to clear her throat. " - that we made love. My birthday." She grimaced to herself. Like she needed to remind Angel which night it was.
������ Angel pressed a kiss on the top of her head. "Yes?"
������ "The next day, when I went back to the apartment, he was there. Angelus." Busily smoothing a nonexistent wrinkle out of his shirt, Buffy missed the spasm of anguish that crossed Angel's face. "He . . . uh . . . he said some things about . . . that night."
������ Angel put his finger under Buffy's chin and gently tilted her head up, but Buffy refused to meet his gaze. "Buffy, look at me. Please." Slowly, reluctantly she did so.
������ "Buffy, what I said that day - "
������ Buffy stopped him with her finger on his lips. "What he said. It wasn't you, Angel; I know that."
������ Angel skirted around that point. "Everything that was said the next day was a lie, Buffy. I wanted to hurt - " At her mock-threatening gesture he smiled faintly and capitulated. "Okay. He wanted to hurt you, and he knew how to do it."
������ She nodded, her face clouding with the recollection of Angelus' mocking words. ("Like I'd want to hang around after that." "You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro.") "Yes," she agreed somberly. "He knew."
������ "Buffy, that night with you was the most beautiful night of my life." His eyes filled with tears; Buffy brushed them away. "I'll never forget it, not because of what happened afterward - but because we were together."
������ "I was so scared." Her smile was tremulous.
������ "So was I," admitted Angel. Buffy was so surprised she pulled away so she could see his face. "What? Why would you be scared?"
������ "Because I'd never made love to anyone before," he told her softly, with simple truth.
������ Buffy frowned, puzzled. "But - "
������ He interrupted. "I've had sex with hundreds of women, Buffy, before I met you, but that's all it was: just sex. I never knew what it was to make love with someone, until we were together."
������ It was Buffy's turn to have tears wiped away. "Thank you," she whispered. They kissed again, longingly. "How much time do we have?" she asked quietly, her head on his shoulder. She was afraid to look at the window behind her; afraid that the rectangle would no longer be dark but lightening to an ominous blue . . . the first harbinger of the dawn.
������ "About an hour and a half," was all he said.
������ Buffy shuddered. "This can't be happening. Why does that woman hate you so much, Angel? What happened to her father?"
������ A sad, weary look appeared on Angel's face. "Kate's father was a cop too; he retired last year. Kate idolized him. Shortly after Kate found out I was a vampire our paths crossed on a case she was investigating that turned out to involve demons. She's . . . having trouble with the vampire thing."
������ Buffy laughed shortly. "No joke. Tell me something that's not obvious. But what turned her into Psycho Bitch? Or was she always like that? Excuse me, I need to stretch my legs a bit." Giving Angel a quick kiss, she got off his lap, and began walking around the cell.
������ "No." Angel rested his head against the wall, staring into space. "She's always been aggressive and blunt, but she was basically a good person as well as a good cop. It was her father's death that sent her over the edge."
������ Looking at his sorrowful expression, Buffy recalled the words Angel had spoken earlier that night to Kate. "He was killed by vamps, wasn't he?" Angel nodded. "And she blames you." Again he nodded.
������ Buffy frowned. "But why? She has to know that you're different, that you had nothing to do with his death. And didn't you say that you had helped her hunt down the vamps that did kill him?"
������ "I was there when her father was killed," Angel sighed. "I'd found out that he was involved in an illegal operation that was being run by demons, so I called Kate to let her know he was in danger and then I went to warn her father. The vampires were already in his apartment when I got there. I begged him to invite me in . . . but he wouldn't. They drained him right in front of my eyes, and escaped out the window before he was quite dead."
������ Buffy nodded slowly in realization. "And you couldn't enter uninvited until he was dead. So I'm guessing Kate showed up just after it all happened?"
������ A third nod from Angel. "She knows I wasn't the one who caused her father's death, but . . ." He shrugged wearily. "She hadn't been very fond of me ever since finding out what I am, but since that night she's hated me."
������ Buffy sat on the floor in front of him to do some stretching exercises. "So she's really gone completely wacko - Ohmigod!"
������ At her screech, Angel jerked upright. "What?" He looked around wildly.
������ Buffy scooted away as fast as she could. "There's a cockroach the size of a pit bull under there!"
������ "A - roach?" Angel stared at her, then, closing his eyes briefly, leaned over and gazed under the seat. "Where?"
������ Buffy pointed. "There! Right below where you're sitting." Hurriedly she removed one of her shoes. Getting to her feet in case she needed to make a fast getaway, she crept over and -
������ Splat!
������ "Got him!" she declared with satisfaction, getting up and scraping the mangled corpse off her shoe onto the opposite wall.
������ "I'm glad," Angel said drily. Then, as she returned and continued to peer beneath him, added, "Now what are you doing?"
������ "I'm seeing if there are any more," she stated, giving him a "Duh" look. "There could be an army of them hidden - " She stopped abruptly.
������ "What?" asked Angel when she didn't continue. "Did you find more?"
������ "Angel." Buffy stared at him wide-eyed. "I have an idea how to protect you from the sun." She nodded at the space beneath the bench. "When it starts coming up, you get under there next to the wall."
������ Instantly Angel joined her on the floor, squinting at the space below. "I don't know; there's not much room." He sounded doubtful.
������ Buffy gave an exasperated sigh. "You have to. It's the only way. Come on, try it on for size."
������ Angel lay down on his back and scooted underneath the bench. It wasn't very deep and a significant portion of him remained unprotected by the overhang. "Try lying on your side," Buffy suggested, "and scrunch up as close as you can to the wall."
������ Angel complied, not without difficulty. "It's a tight fit," he gasped, "but I can do it." He blinked as Buffy unexpectedly joined him in the confined space. Her more petite form allowed her to snuggle comfortably against him.
������ "See?"she said triumphantly. "I can lie in front of you and block any stray rays."
������ They struggled out and Angel instantly caught Buffy up in a bear hug, heedless of the dust covering them both.. "Buffy, you're amazing. It'll work!"
������ "And if you take your coat off you'll have a bit more room and won't feel so squashed!" Buffy pulled his head down and proceeded to kiss him with great enthusiasm, which he fully returned.
������ God, it was like heaven being with him again, holding him, kissing him. She'd forgotten the fire his cool lips could ignite in her; a fire that Riley couldn't begin to inspire, even though she'd always enjoyed having sex with him. Well, almost always. Angel's tongue brushed hers, and she gasped at the spark that swept through her in response. She pressed closer, then suddenly snapped to her senses.
������ "Angel, stop!" she gasped. "Don't get too happy!"
������ He groaned, and she realized he was actually breathing . . . hard, deep gasps. "Angel?" She stepped back, confused. "What . . . ?"
������ "It focuses my mind," he gasped, "because I have to consciously think about doing it. Breathing's not easy when it isn't a reflex. And that takes my mind off . . . other things." The deep breaths slowed.
������ "Like me," Buffy gave him an impish grin, euphoric now that their immediate problem had been solved. They weren't out of the woods yet, she knew that. Kate no doubt had other unpleasant experiences planned for them, but they'd cross that bridge when they came to it. She looked down at the shoe she'd dropped and maneuvered it with her toes until it was the right way up.
������ "Like you," Angel agreed huskily. "Like wanting to hold you and kiss you and caress you until you're dripping wet." Buffy's mouth dropped open; the foot she'd been ready to insert back into its shoe remained frozen in place above it. "Like wanting to bury myself in you and make love with you until we're both exhausted. Like never wanting to be apart from you again - "
������ He stopped suddenly. "I'm sorry."
������ Buffy blinked back tears. "It's okay," she said, although her throat was aching - and her heart. "I feel the same way. But, please, let's not go there right now. There'll be plenty of time later for . . . angsty stuff. Right now let's just celebrate that we've outsmarted Psycho Cop." Looking down, she thrust her foot into the shoe as if it were Kate's face. Firmly and without hesitation.
������ Angel managed a smile, of sorts. "Right. So . . ."
������ "So . . ." Buffy cleared her throat.
������ "Why don't you . . . uh . . . fill me in on the Sunnydale gossip," Angel suggested.
������ "Right. Uh. . . ." Buffy wracked her brains, trying to ignore the clamor of her body and the pain threatening to overwhelm her, trying to remember some gossip. "Oh, I know! You'll never guess who Willow's dating now - it's a girl. Her name is Tara."
������ Angel blinked. "Willow has a girlfriend? What happened to Oz? I really thought they would last."
������ "Yeah, so did I. So did Willow and Oz, for that matter." Buffy wandered aimlessly around the cell; Angel returned to the bench and sat down. "But something happened last fall; it was really sad."
������ She briefly told him of their encounter with the female werewolf and how it ended with Oz believing he had to understand his wolf nature better. "I don't know; I guess he was afraid he'd end up like Veruca, or something. Anyway, he decided the only way to find himself was to go away - alone, of course."
������ She shot him a glance slightly tinged with resentment. "Must be a guy thing."
������ "Buffy," Angel said patiently.
������ "Sorry," she mumbled. After a moment's struggle with her emotions, she went on, "Willow met this girl, Tara, who's also a witch. They fell in love." She shrugged, a "that's all" gesture.
������ "I see." Angel digested that for a bit, then gave her a pretend-wary look. "I'm almost afraid to ask about Xander and Giles."
������ Buffy chuckled a bit in spite of herself. "Xander is . . . Xander. He and Anya are still together. You met Anya when you were there at Thanksgiving, didn't you?"
������ Angel's mouth curled up on one side, remembering. "I certainly did. She said I was �large and glowery'."
������ Buffy laughed outright. "Well, she got that right anyway. Yeah, that's our former vengeance demon, all hormones and even less tact than Cordelia." She paused. "Speaking of Queen C, how is she these days? And Wesley. I couldn't believe it when I heard he was part of your group."
������ "Wesley's changed a lot," said Angel. Buffy nodded. "I could tell," she agreed. "The Wesley I knew would never have fought against those assassins like that - well, not without hurting himself more than he did them."
������ "He's a valuable member of the team. So is Cordelia."
������ Buffy's brows went up. "Has she changed too? I hope."
������ "She's different now," Angel nodded. "But I think it's more that she's finally letting out the softer, gentler side of her that she always kept hidden before."
������ Buffy nodded also. "Yeah, every once in a while we'd catch a glimpse that there was more to Cordy than just being a bitca." Angel smiled at this unexpected example of Scooby-speak, and Buffy came over and sat down beside him. A rather awkward silence followed, as each tried to repress their rising emotions.
������ Suddenly Angel slid down onto the floor, kneeling before Buffy. Without even thinking she made room for him between her legs. He put his arms around her, his face burrowing into her neck, and she held him close. "I love you," he murmured, his breath cold against her skin. He tightened his arms until she could hardly breathe.
������ Her heart ached. "I know. I love you, Angel."
������ "When you walked into my apartment this evening, all I could think about was how beautiful you are, and how much I've missed you." His lips touched her neck.
������ Buffy swallowed. "When I saw you, even though I was totally in shock because of Faith, I had to fight not to go over to you and throw myself in your arms. It's like that every time I see you, Angel." Then, after a short silence, she whispered, "The sky's getting lighter." She felt his head nodding.
������ "False dawn," he mumbled, his voice muffled.
������ "But the sun will come up soon," she persisted.
������ He raised his head. "Not for a while yet. We have a few minutes." The look on his face told her what he wanted to do during that short time.
������ "Angel," she whispered, clinging to his shoulders, suddenly fearful again. "This is going to work, isn't it? The bench?"
������ "It'll work," Angel said firmly, cupping her head with his hands. She knew then that he shared her apprehension that, somehow, something would go wrong. The oblong of the window was now gray.
������ "Angel . . ." Her voice trembled just a little.
������ "Yes." Angel got to his feet and pulled her to hers. She helped him take off his long duster and, folding it, placed it on the seat.
������ "Okay," she began, but suddenly Angel pulled her into his arms and kissed her, hard, almost with desperation. She returned his kiss, on the verge of tears, then broke away. "Now, Angel," she gasped, staring beseechingly into his eyes.
������ He nodded silently, and released her, dropping to his knees.
������ "I don't think so," drawled a familiar voice. Buffy stared in disbelief. Unheard by either of them, Kate had entered the holding tank and was casually leaning against the cell across from theirs. Her gun was drawn, and it was pointed right at Buffy.
������ The blonde detective smiled. "Thought you had it figured out, didn't you? No way, Angel. You're not escaping your fate. You make one move to get under that bench and your sickening little girlfriend here gets it."
������ "Don't listen to her, Angel," Buffy insisted. She threw a panicked glance at the window, where the sky now displayed a pearly cast.
������ "Aren't you the noble one?" Kate's face hardened. "I've been watching you two on the security monitor. Looks like you have quite a history together." Her lips worked as she glared at Buffy. "In love with a vampire. That is so disgusting. I suppose you've even slept with him."
������ "That's none of your business," Buffy said quietly, moving to place herself in front of her lover. "Angel, get under the seat."
������ Kate waggled the gun. "Don't do it, Angel. Not unless you want her full of holes. Oh, I won't kill her. Not right away, at least. No, the first shot will be the left kneecap, I think. Very painful, as I'm sure you know. Then the right knee . . . "
������ "Stop." Angel's voice was tight, his face as hard as Kate's. "You win, Kate." A few rosy streaks were beginning to show in the window. Buffy whirled toward him, but he silenced her furious protest. "Buffy, I'm not going to let you get hurt by this nutcase."
������ "No!" Buffy threw herself at Angel, clinging to him desperately, sobbing out loud. Choking back his own sobs, Angel gave her one last kiss then disengaged himself, thrusting her away from him so roughly that she fell to the floor.
������ "That's right," purred Kate. "Damn, I wish I'd brought my video camera. Ah, the sun's almost up."
������ Angel looked at Buffy through a film of tears. "I'm sorry. Tell Cordelia and Wesley goodbye, and that I thank them for being there for me. I love you, Buffy. I never stopped loving you, not for one second." Kate's lip curled back in a sneer.
������ "No!" As Buffy scrambled to her feet the room grew suddenly black as midnight. Three sets of eyes flew to the window of their cell. Kate straightened with a jerk. The brightening patch of sky was gone; in its place, dark gray storm clouds swirled past the opening. Outside, lightning flashed, followed a second later by the loud crack of thunder.