Chapter 19

The Hyperion had been deserted for quite a while. Dust covered every surface, and cobwebs crept up the banisters and stairwells. The place seemed long abandoned, and it's ghostlike appearance made Buffy nervous. Was this the right place? It didn't feel like home. It felt empty and dark.

She waited for some time. At first she couldn't sit still, so she explored the old hotel's rooms. How many people had slept here? What had their lives been like? Did they know that monsters walked amongst them? Did they fear the shadows and the darkness, knowing that evil lurked there? The villains seemed to outnumber the heroes at every turn. Buffy shivered at the dark and lonely memories that kept pervading her mind.

Finally, her explorations came to an end, and she holed herself up in one of the old offices near the front lobby. She sat on an old wooden desk in what seemed like the main office area facing the front entrance. She was sure she was alone, but she hoped she wouldn't be for long. She waited anxiously for his arrival. She prayed he would come.

He did. The morning sun wasn't yet high when he came through the front doors. He was being cautious as well. His body gave her all the signs that he was alert for any sudden movement or attack. He had pushed open the doors slowly, and only when he felt it was safe did he enter fully, the front doors closing solidly behind him.

"Hello?"

His voice was just as she remembered it. Soft, gentle, cultured and accented with that British clip. Her heart warmed at his rumbled greeting. She got off the desk and slowly approached him from behind the counter. His eyes found her immediately, and she saw the hope and love and concern flood his face. "Buffy?"

She ran to him then, and jumped into his arms. "Buffy," he whispered again, holding her tight. She hugged him so fiercely, he thought his ribs might break, and he didn't care. He was just so glad to have her in his arms again.

For the first time since this awful nightmare had happened, when she had awakened in that unknown hospital…for the first time since then, she felt safe.

Finally she released him, pulled back, and ran her hand down his cheek. Tears shown in his eyes. "I know your face," she whispered. "I've been dreaming of you." She smiled at him.

Concern covered his features again. "Buffy, do you know who I am?"

She looked at him, and a shadow filled her gaze. "I think you are my Watcher. Is that right?"

He nodded, the smile completely gone now. He was frozen in time, afraid for her. But she tried to reassure him. "It's okay. I know you are more than just my Watcher. I…I…I don't know everything yet, but I have these visions…I am remembering slowly. I know you keep me safe, and that you can help me, and that we are supposed to be together. I know it's going to be alright now, isn't it?"

He hugged her to his chest again. "Yes, my love. Everything will be okay now. And I'll help you in every way that I can."

Her eyes had closed at his hug, and she again began to smile, at peace in his arms. But when she opened her eyes, still in his arms, she saw the two men standing in the shadows. She stiffened, and pulled back, out of his embrace.

"Those two men. I've seen them in my dreams too. They're vampires!" She immediately shielded her Watcher, stepping between him and them, instinct again taking over and controlling her every action. She flipped her foot up in front of her causing her stiletto shoe to fly up over her head. She reached out with her right hand and caught the shoe, taking aim to use it as a deadly weapon, poised to throw it at the dark vampire's chest.

"No, Buffy." Her Watcher steadied her arm. Buffy was confused, but she lowered her weapon, not quite dismissing the threat.

"They are friends, Buffy. Don't you remember?" The two vampires slowly approached her from the shadows, stepping out into the middle of the room. The dark haired vampire had his arms out, palms up. "It's me, Buffy. Angel." All Buffy could see in her mind's eye was a sword she had killed him with, over and over again.

Then the bleached blonde man approached. He wore a black leather jacket, and his hands were shoved down into deep pockets. "Hey, Slayer, you have to remember me?" He winked at her, quirking up that right eyebrow. Another vision flooded her brain. This one was of this vampire tied to a chair, arrows poking out of him. The vision almost made her smile. Before she could ask any more questions, however, there was a loud boom, and the window from the office behind them shattered.

They all fell to the floor, and another shot rang out. This one whizzed by Buffy's head. Angel and Giles had both seen the muzzle shot from the upstairs banister. As the gun fired again, Spike dove over on top of Buffy, to cover her from any more bullets. Angel and Giles leapt towards the stairs to try and capture the gunman.

As Buffy lay beneath the vampire, she began to struggle, as realization of another memory hit her. This one was of a bathroom, her bathroom. Spike was going to try and hurt her. She didn't want him there. She didn't want him anymore. The more she fought him, the harder he held her down. "Lie still, Buffy!" He growled. Bullets were still whizzing down from above. One punched through the sleeve of Spike's jacket. "Bugger, that hurts." He moaned in pain as the bullet wounded his arm.

"No, Spike, get off me. I said NO!" She clawed at him, finally kicking him off of her. He saw the look in her eyes, and tried to calm her down. "No, Buffy. It's okay. Look? It's okay." She looked at him with clarity then. She saw the blood dripping from his arm, running down his fingers, and on to the tiled floor. And she remembered. He had a soul now.

At that moment, Riley jumped down from the banister with Graham, Giles, and Angel, falling right behind them. Angel and Riley fought blow for blow, as did Giles and Graham. Giles seemed to get the upper hand, finally knocking Graham out cold. The soldier slumped to the ground, his back against the hotel's counter.

Giles saw that Angel was struggling with Riley. The young man threw a powerful punch that connected to Angel's chin, sending him flying across the room. Riley didn't possess the strength of a normal man. It seemed magnified as before when he was being poisoned by Maggie in the Initiative.

Giles saw Riley glare at Buffy and Spike. The two were on the other side of the room from Riley, facing him. Buffy was torn between engaging in the fight with Riley, or helping Spike in some way. Her mind was a mass of confusion. Was this vampire a friend who was trying to protect her, or was he working with Riley, the man she had recently known as Fox? For the first time, her instincts left her.

Giles looked again towards Riley, and saw him pull a small version of a crossbow from behind his back. He pointed it at Spike and fired. The aim was true, and would pierce Spike's heart, turning him to dust. Giles jumped in front of Spike, the arrow piercing his shoulder, saving the blonde vampire from certain death. Buffy screamed. In that instant, all her memories flooded back. "Giles!" She cried out, falling down to comfort him. Blood was pouring out of his wound, and he was losing consciousness quickly. Buffy came undone, and wept uncontrollably.

Riley smiled smugly. True, the arrow hadn't killed Spike as he had intended, but it hit a mark that left him satisfied. He never saw Angel come up behind him, swinging a potted plant, knocking him out cold. Riley fell to a heap along side his friend, Graham.

Chapter 20

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