Angel just barely managed to sidestep the stake that was charging at him in
the hands of the Slayer.  She fell to the dirty floor of the warehouse and
flipped up into a fighting stance.  They circled each other, waiting for the
opportunity to strike.

"Buffy!  What's going on?"  Angel pleaded, not wanting to fight her,
especially after what happened in his apartment not too long ago.

"How do you know my name, Vampire?"

"What are you talking about?"  Angel was so confused; he didn't know what to
do.  Just yesterday, he and Buffy were talking and getting along.  But now,
she didn't know him?  It just didn't make sense.  "Are you alright?  Did
something happen to you?"

"Why should you care?  You're just gonna be a pile of dust in about a minute
anyway."  With that, Buffy lunged at the vampire again, this time knocking
him down.  Pinning him to the ground, she positioned her stake directly
above his heart.

As he felt the wood pierce his skin, Angel began to struggle.  She obviously
meant business.  "Buffy, think about what you are doing.  You don't want to
do this!"

"I don't?  Let's see.you're a vampire; I'm a Slayer.  Where's the wrong side
to this?"  She pressed the stake a little more into his chest, eliciting a
loud groan from her victim.  He was just so intriguing with the way he was
trying to stop her that Buffy decided to drag out the pain just a little
before she dusted him.

"Buffy,"

"Oh, this better be good.  It'll probably be the last thing you ever say. 
In this dimension anyway."

"I love you."  Angel's voice was full of love and pain, as he uttered the
words he had wanted to say since the day he left.

"Well, isn't that sweet?  A soulless demon capable of love?  That's a new
approach."  Looking down at the vampire pinned beneath her, Buffy noticed
that his eyes were not filled with the fear of death as most of her kills
are, but instead, they were filled with loss, so deep that it struck her to
the soul.  How was it that a demon was able to feel anything, much less loss
or love?

Angel saw the determination and lack of feeling in the eyes of his soul
mate.  This was really the end.  And how fitting it was.  The irony behind
living for more that 250 years and then be killed by the only person you
ever loved was just too much.  The Powers were probably laughing at him from
above right now.  Closing his eyes, the souled vampire stopped struggling
and prepared for the inevitable.

* * *

Buffy walked out of the Initiative with her friends and her boyfriend, never
having felt so tired in her whole life.  The spell they performed was more
intense than she had expected, and it drained her a great deal.  The fight
was brutal, and many lives were lost, both demon and human.  In the end,
however, the Scooby Gang and its groupies remained for the most part
unharmed.

For some reason, that night felt strange to the Slayer.  There was something
in the air, but she couldn't decide what.  It was like magic and love and
fear and a million other things she couldn't even begin to describe.  The
one thing she did know is that everything felt so wrong.  Being in
Sunnydale, with her friends, with Riley, felt wrong.  Almost as if she was
betraying someone.

As the group walked back towards Buffy's house, they noticed her strange
actions.  She stopped holding onto Riley altogether, and instead wrapped her
arms around her waist.  Even though he tried to get near her, the blonde
just brushed him off, although nicely.  She stayed away from her friends,
and kept glancing around them, especially at the sky.

When they walked into the house, Giles decided to speak up.  "Buffy, is
something wrong?  You seem.I don't know, preoccupied?"

"Oh, no, Giles.  I'm fine.  I just think that the spell must have left me
kinda out of it.  I'm just really tired."

"Well, that's completely understandable.  It's been quite a long day."

"It has."  Willow agreed.  She noticed the difference in her friend too, but
bought Buffy's explanation of fatigue.

"Want me to walk you upstairs?"  Riley asked, trying to have an excuse to be
alone with his girlfriend.

"Sure.  Whatever."  She answered, nonchalantly.  Leading the way, Buffy
walked slowly up to her room, feeling her boyfriend's hand on her waist as
she moved.  When they entered the room, Riley stepped forward to kiss her. 
She let him for a moment or two, but then broke it off.  When he gave her a
confused look, she explained, "I'm sorry, Ri.  It's just that I'm so
exhausted.  Can we do this another time?"

"Sure," he replied, not knowing how to take the latest brush off.  He could
tell that there was something not right with his girlfriend, but decided not
to push it.  He knew very well what could happen when you piss her off.  And
needless to say, it isn't pretty.  Giving him a light kiss on the cheek,
Buffy led him to her door, and said good night.

* * *

Angel stayed there, frozen in his despair, for a couple of more minutes
before opening his eyes.  He wondered if she was going to wait for him to
look at her before dusting him.  But the moment he opened his eyes, he
realized that he was alone.  Buffy was gone, and he was still in the
warehouse.  Alive.  Now more confused then ever, Angel stood up and headed
back home.

* * *

The Slayer walked the streets of Los Angeles, extremely confused.  She
actually left that demon alive.  Even though, she tried to figure out why,
nothing came to her.  She never met him before, but for some reason she knew
him.  But she NEVER associated with vampires.  That would be ludicrous.  So,
she continued to walk around, hoping for another fight.  Maybe that would
get rid of the bizarre tingling sensation that had been running through her
since she crossed paths with that creature.

* * *

When Angel reached his apartment a few minutes later, he went immediately
for his first aid kit, after noticing the large blood stain on his shirt. 
He removed the article and glanced down at his wounded chest.  "Damn!"  The
cut was deep, leaving only a few inches between him and death.  Angel
patched himself up quickly and moved over to sit in his leather chair.  'Why
would Buffy do that to me?' he brooded, sitting and staring at the picture
of her he left on the table only hours ago.  'I thought we had worked things
out.  Now she doesn't even remember me?  Or at least didn't want to?'

Getting up, Angel took a few strides over to where his phone sat.  He
decided to call Giles.  Something was definitely wrong with her, even if he
didn't know what it was.  Either way, her Watcher needed to know what
happened tonight.

* * *

Buffy stood at her window, looking out at the starry sky.  There was
something wrong.  She just wished she knew what it was.  There was a strange
tugging sensation at her soul, but why?  The only time that happened was
when Angel was in trouble, and his soul called out for her.  Not even
thinking twice, she threw on some clean clothes and ran downstairs. 
Scribbling a quick note for her mother, Buffy grabbed the keys to her SUV
and headed out to LA.

* * *

The Englishman wandered down the stairs after being rudely awakened by the
telephone.  Glancing over at the clock, he saw that it was almost 2am. 
"Hello?"

"Giles?"

"Angel?  Is something wrong?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so.  Is Buffy there?"

"No.  Well, yes, she's at home.  Why?  What's going on?"  He didn't like the
tone in the vampire's voice, which had a hint of fear in it.  A rarity for
any such creature, even Angel.

"Um, I'm not sure how to say this, but she was here tonight."

"What?  But that's impossible."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she was averting an apocalypse of sorts tonight."

"Then, what.?"  Angel was more confused than ever at this point.  Not only
was Buffy in Sunnydale all night, but that also left a big unanswerable
question: who or what was with him in that warehouse?

"What happened to you tonight?"

"I really don't know, Giles.  I was going over to raid a nest of vampires in
a warehouse.  When I showed up, Buffy was there and had already dusted most
of them.  Then, she started to fight me as well.  Almost as if she didn't
know me."

"Well, that's certainly unprecedented.  How could a Slayer be in two places
at once, doing two different activities?"

"I wish I knew."

"It was most likely a side effect of a spell that we did tonight.  I'll
consult some of my books, but I wouldn't fret about it.  It was probably
nothing."

"Yeah, you're probably right.  Just to be safe though, could you call Buffy
and make sure she's alright?"

"Of course.  Goodnight, Angel."

"Goodnight."

Giles hung up the phone, and removed his glasses.  'What the Hell was that
all about?'  He picked up the phone again, and dialed the number to the
Summers' house.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Joyce.  It's Rupert."

"Mr. Giles?  What is going on?  It's two o'clock in the morning."

"Yes, yes, I know.  I'm sorry to have to disturb you at such a late hour,
but is Buffy home?"

"Why, of course!  Where would she be?"  Joyce couldn't believe this
conversation.  Why would he think that she wouldn't be at home and sleeping
in her bed at that hour?

"Could you please check for me anyway?"  Giles just needed to be sure that
there was no way she could have been in LA tonight.

"Sure."  Joyce walked over from her room to Buffy's.  Opening the door, she
saw the bed was made and no one was in the room.  It looked as if Buffy had
never been there.  "Oh my God."

"What?  What is it, Joyce?"

"She's gone!"  Running done the stairs, Buffy's mother ran to the door,
hoping to see her daughter outside or something.  That's when she noticed
the car was missing.  "And my car's gone too.  Rupert, what's going on?!!!"

"Please calm down.  I'm sure it's nothing."

"It's not nothing.  My daughter is missing with my car, which she can't even
drive safely, and you want me to calm down!!!"

"Yes, I understand.  Look, everything is alright.  I think she's in LA."

"LA?   Why would she be there?"

"I'm not entirely certain, but it seems that there was a run-in tonight with
an old friend of hers, who called me just a while ago.  So, she's alright."

"Thank God.  Just please tell her to come home!"

"I will.  Thank you, Joyce.  Good night.

"Good night, Mr. Giles."

When Giles hung up the phone this time, he was really beginning to worry. 
At first he thought Angel was just being paranoid, which was common for the
souled vampire.  However, with Buffy missing, and the car gone, there could
be serious trouble ahead.  So, as a Watcher usually does, Giles put on a pot
of tea, and began his research.

* * *

Buffy looked around, once she reached the building of Angel's apartment. 
The strange feelings she had had still felt the same, except stronger. 
There was something definitely wrong here, if only she could figure out
what.  Just as she was about to open the door, there was a pinching
sensation in her throat.  Looking down, Buffy saw a tranquilizer dart
sticking out of her.

"ANGEL!!"  She screamed.  Then, suddenly, she passed out.

Part 4

"ANGEL!"

 

The vampire sat up in his leather chair, hearing the fear-filled scream of his mate.  He rushed out of the apartment, not even bothering to grab a shirt in the process.  When he reached the steps, Angel looked around, yet he saw nothing.  But she had been there, he knew that much.  Her scent of vanilla still lingered in the air.  There was something mixed in it though.  Fear?  Worry?  Panic rose inside him, knowing that something wasn't right with her.  After their previous encounter in the warehouse, and then her strange but obviously recent appearance, Angel was certain that she was in some kind of danger.  Taking a deep breath into the night, the dark vampire started to follow his keen sense of his lover's unique scent down the dimly lit street.

 

* * *

 

The Slayer was prowling the streets, itching for a fight.  Even though she just gave that drunk the best ride of his life, something just didn't feel right.  She almost felt bad about fucking the guy.  Like she was being unfaithful to someone.  Shaking her head, Buffy headed for the nearest graveyard.  She just needed to kick some demon ass to get those disturbing thoughts out of her head.  Then everything would be fine, right?

 

* * *

 

Angel wandered into the cemetery near his apartment.  His senses were on full alert, as he scanned the surrounding woods.  Her scent was close, but still he couldn't see her.  He kept walking through the mausoleums and headstones.  Then, suddenly, she came into view under a lamppost.  Buffy's hair was longer than he remembered, and she had it pulled back in a braid.  Her makeup was much darker than usual, and her clothes were looser, but she was still gorgeous.  Angel quickened his pace and approached her silently.

 

"Buffy."

 

She whipped around, stake raised high in her hand, at the sound of his voice.  "You again?  Why am I suddenly beginning to regret my previous generosity?"  Her gaze wandered over his body, taking in the broad shoulders, sculpted chest, tight stomach, strong legs, and large feet.  She could already feel the wetness seeping between her thighs.  'He's a vampire, Buffy,' she reminded herself.  'You're the Slayer.  That means dead vampire.'

 

"Oh, my God!  You're mouth!"  Angel reached out and ran his fingers in a whisper-light caress over the scar across her full lips.  Buffy closed her eyes, savoring his cold touch.  "When did this happen, love?"  He asked in a deep, throaty voice that made her head spin.

 

After a brief moment, her eyes snapped open, and she shoved him away.  "Why do you care?  You're a vampire."  She said, the word sounding like a curse, as it left her beautiful mouth.

 

"Of course I care, Buffy.  What's wrong?  I know something's bothering you."  He moved up closer to her again, invading her personal space.

 

"Right now, you're bothering me!" She spat, turning away from him and starting to walk away.  Angel took only a couple of long strides to reach her.  He grabbed her arm, spinning her around.

 

"What the-"

 

But she never got to finish, because Angel closed his mouth possessively over hers in a hot, demanding kiss.

 

* * *

 

When Buffy woke up, her head was pounding.  Opening her eyes, she had to blink several times against the bright light.  She looked around the room, finding herself in a cell, similar to what you would find in a jail.  There was a small bucket in the far corner, but that was it.  When she tried to get up, a stabbing pain shot through her arm.  Glancing down, she noticed the unnatural position of her shoulder.  'Damn!'  She thought.  They must have dislocated the joint when getting her here.  Whoever they are.  Scooting her body over to the bars on the side of the cell, Buffy painfully lifted her arm and grabbed the bar.  Gritting her teeth, she maneuvered her body up and heard the popping sound when her shoulder sank bank into its place. 

 

She was panting heavily, when she turned around and saw the medium-sized, fairly sexy man watching her from the far wall.

 

"Miss Summers, what a pleasure it is to see you've paid us a visit."  The cocky man said.

 

"Where am I?"  She screamed, standing up and stalking her way to the door of the cell.

 

"The basement of a well-hidden building, if you really want to know.  Don't worry, no one's going to find you here.  Not even Angel."

 

"What do you know about Angel?"  He smiled.  He actually smiled at her question.  Walking over to the door, Lindsey reached his hand in and trailed a finger down the Slayer's face.

 

"He's getting reacquainted with an old friend."  When his finger reached her mouth, Buffy turned her head and bit down hard on the digit.

 

"Dammit!!"  He yelped, as he held on to the bloody finger.  Then he began to chuckle.  "Well, it's nice to see you've still got spunk.  Unfortunately that won't last long.  In fact, not much about you will.  That's the great part about my job, Buff.  Do you mind if I call you Buff?"  He didn't even wait for her answer, as he started to back up.  "I can make anything happen.  Your partial memory loss will seem so insignificant to the senior partners when Angelus returns to the fold."  His evil laugh continued as he walked into the black hallway.

 

'Angelus,' she wondered.  'Did his guy have some way to remove Angel's soul?'   She had to get out of there, and soon.  Whatever these people, the senior partners, had planned, it had to be stopped.  The true Angelus if let out would cause a chaos Buffy wasn't sure she could stop again.  Killing her only love was hard enough the first time around, but the second.

 

No, she wouldn't think like that.  She was the Slayer.  So, assess the situation, and form a practical plan.  That's what Giles always did.  Okay, they were going to take away her memory.  But how?  If she didn't know how they were going to do it, what could she do to prevent it.

 

Just then, a strange yellow demon with spiny projections on his head came in to the room.  Again, from that pitch black hallway.  'That must be the way out.'  He carried a small tray of sorts with him.  Food.  Well, if she didn't know what they planned, Buffy decided to assume everything was perilous. 

 

So, when the demon slid the tray into the small hole in the cell, the Slayer grabbed his wrists and yanked him towards her.  The force at which his head hit the metal bars was enough to knock him out.  But there was one small problem.  He fell backwards.  'Great.'   Dropping to the ground, she took a hold of his scaly feet and pulled them in through the bars.  When he was close enough to her, she felt around on his body, in hopes of finding keys to her prison.  As she brushed his pocket, a jingling sound was heard.  Reaching inside, she pulled out the keys and tried each one until the lock released. 

 

Buffy rushed out of the cell and then dragged the demon's prone form into the small space.  She shut the door, locked it, and took a look around.  There was a staircase that led up, and there was also the dark hallway where the demon and the other man came from.  Taking a deep breath, the Slayer took her chances and make her way down the small, dark corridor.

 

TBC.