Goodbye
by Debbie Nockels
([email protected])
COPYRIGHT: August 2001
RATING: G
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters from BTVS or ANGEL. They're owned by Joss Whedon (who ought to treat them nicer), MutantEnemy, Kuzui, Sandollar, David Greenwalt, the WB, Fox, etc. Oh, and I guess UPN now.
SUMMARY: An alternate ending to "Into the Woods."
NOTES: This came to me after reading Holli's fic "She Can't Be Really Gone." I'd mentioned in my feedback to her that I have this knee-jerk reaction to the scene in "Woods" where Buffy runs after Riley (which is a big fat "Blecchh!") even though I liked Riley, and suddenly the idea "What if Buffy *hadn't* been too late?" came to me. I wrote it in about fifteen minutes, so it's not very good, just something I would have liked to see. Something I would have *loved* to see, actually. :-)
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������ The deafening chop-chop-chop of the helicopter blades sounded like a death knell to my heavy heart. I knew we'd be lifting soon, and there was still no sign of her. Had I really believed she'd come after me?
������ Well, yes - at least, I'd hoped she would. Even after all the hot words that had passed between us earlier that evening, ever since I'd issued my ultimatum - "I'm leaving tonight, unless you give me a reason to stay" - and walked away, I'd been waiting for her. As I packed my kit my ears had been pricked for the chime of the doorbell or the ring of the phone. As I made my way to the rendezvous point my eyes searched everywhere for her slight figure. Even after I'd stowed my gear and everyone else had climbed aboard the chopper I waited at the edge of the clearing, straining my eyes, hoping, praying to see her appear.
������ "Finn!"
������ It was Graham, waving me to join them. It was time. Disappointment felt like lead in my veins. I turned and started walking, then halted. Had I heard a voice?
������ "Riley!"
������ Heart thumping, I swung around. Buffy sprinted across the road. She came to a stop a few feet away, gasping for breath, her cheeks flushed, a light sheen of perspiration on her forehead. She must have run the whole way. I suddenly felt fifty pounds lighter.
������ "Buffy."
������ "I'm glad I - got here - in time." She was still catching her breath.
������ Hope blossomed again. I couldn't speak, only searched her eyes, seeing the emotion suffusing them. But what emotion was it? She came closer, put her hand on my arm.
������ "Riley - I had to let you know that - I'm sorry."
������ She was sorry? Hope became joy. I took a step forward, only to be halted by her next words.
������ "You were right - I didn't let you in. I couldn't." Sincerity and sorrow gleamed in the haunting eyes staring up into mine. "Riley . . . there's a part of my heart that still belongs to Angel, that I think will always belong to him. I tried, I really did, to put you there instead, but I couldn't."
������ Once again my body felt leaden. I listened silently. What was there to say?
������ Tears glistened in her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't understand it sooner, before - all this happened. I never wanted to hurt you. Riley, you're a wonderful guy." She reached up and kissed me, on the mouth, briefly. "Please, be careful."
������ I couldn't speak, could only watch as she turned and walked away. Numbly I trudged over to the 'copter and climbed in. Seconds later we were rising upward. I caught a glimpse of a tiny figure walking back toward town. It stopped and I thought I saw her look up to follow our progress, but I couldn't be certain. One thing I did know for sure, though. Buffy Summers might be out of my life, but it would be a long time before she was out of my heart.
������ If ever.
THE END
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