All The White Circles (Part 3)
Jennifer
Part Three: Buffy
Before leaving the hospital, we designate Giles' apartment as the meeting place. Angel agrees to meet us there as well. Although I can't imagine he knows we're looking for a guy who had been on his way to becoming my boyfriend. And it hits me that I have to tell him. One way or another I have to allow myself to be alone with Angel and tell him about Riley.
Once at Giles' place, we start to brainstorm what could be up with Riley. In the midst of my confusion and emotional distraction due to Angel's unannounced visit, I had forgotten completely about Riley's job. That government thingy he's got going. I pull Willow aside and tell her that I'm going to campus for a while.
"Why? What's up?"
"I think I may know what happened to Riley?"
"What?"
"I can't explain it now. I just want to check a couple things out. I'm going to sneak out the back, okay?"
"Yeah sure."
"Thanks Will,"
"No problem."
I smile at my friend. "Before things get icky, Will, someone also better tell Angel about Spike..."
Once on campus, I head straight for Lowell House. I take the stairs, in my usual fashion, two at a time and commence my pounding on the door. I pound furiously until it finally opens. I step inside, without waiting for an invitation and then start calling for Forrest.
"FORREST! FORREST!"
"He's not here, Miss-"
"It's Buffy."
"Miss Buffy,"
"No, just Buffy. I know he's here. Just tell him to get his ass down or up here. FORREST!"
"Look, Buffy, I... he's... he's really not here. I'll tell him to call you."
"Tell him I'm not leaving here until I see him. Or better yet, until I see Riley. FORREST!"
I can see the guy get nervous and it's what I want. So I continue calling for him. And after a few minutes and several very rude complaints about the noise, Forrest magically appears.
"What are you doing?" He asks pulling me aside so that no one can hear us.
"Where is Riley?"
"He's at the hospital where you-"
My anger suddenly gets the best of me and I gather my strength and shove this fairly large man against the wall. "Don't play games with me. I told you where he was and your people did something with him. Now I want to know what."
"My people? What is that, a racial remark?"
I can feel my cheeks burning and I want to hit him so bad it takes all of my will power to hold off. "I'm talking about this military thing Riley's involved with. What have you done with him?"
Forrest, stronger than I think, turns the tables and shoves me against the wall. "I don't know what you know, but I suggest you don't let it leave with you when you walk out that door. He told me to tell you he's safe and that he'll talk to you as soon as he can. Now, this is bigger than you. It's bigger than me. And bigger than Riley. You leave it at that and you walk out."
He let go slowly and I try to compose myself but I'm shaking so badly I can't. "Will you give him a message?"
"Yeah, what?"
"Tell him... tell him that I'll be waiting for him."
"Sure thing."
I stare at Forrest for a moment longer hoping for something more. When I don't get it, I start for the door. But then I stop and look to Riley's friend one more time. "He's okay, right. Really okay?"
He nods and I take that as all I can get and leave the house. I walk down the stairs slowly wishing I had gotten more. When I take the last step down, I look ahead of me to see Angel there waiting for me.
"You okay Buffy?" Angel asks meeting me halfway.
I'm still shaking and it seems that Angel just makes it worse. Sensing my agitation, he embraces me strongly. I hold on to him and I start to sob.
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