Guardian Angel II


A Buffy/Dawson Crossover Continued

For a long time Buffy just stared, watching transfixed asAngel pulled away from the girl. She felt some small amount of relief in that, maybe if she was lucky the attraction only went one way. They began to speak to one another, and Buffy was tempted to try and get closer, to listen to every word her love uttered to this young girl. She managed to stop herself, however, as she didn't want Angel to know she was around. Not yet, anyway. She had to think of what to say to him, and how to bring up this latest issue.
With a heavy sigh Buffy turned and left the hotel, and just walked around Capeside for awhile, deep in thought. She couldn't believe what she had just seen, and she was trying to convince herself that she was delusional, that it hadn't really happened, or that perhaps there was someone inCapeside who just happened to look exactly like Angel. She knew she was deluding herself, however, and she sat down on a bench nearby with a sigh. After thinking for at least twenty minutes, she decided the only thing she could do was speak with the strange girl she'd just seen with him. Maybe she could find out just exactly what was going on between the two of them through the girl, she knew Angel wouldn't tell her anything, considering how open and sharing a guy he was.
Buffy sighed again as she tried to think of a way to track the girl down. She'd looked to be around her age, so it made sense that she would go to the local high school. If she could just figure out where that was. Happy that she now had a plan, she rose from the park bench and began to walk some more in the hopes of accidentally stumbling upon the school.
As she did so she bumped into someone accidentally. She looked up, hoping against hope that it might be Angel. But she realized that the sun was coming up, so it wouldn't be him. Instead, however, she saw a guy around her age with blond hair and a cute little-boy type face. "You lost?" the guy asked, looking at her and smiling.
Buffy smiled back at him. "Yeah, I don't really have a place to stay," she answered.
"Your parents kick you out or something?" the guy queried.
Buffy shook her head. "Nope, just visiting," she replied."I don't suppose you know where the local high school is, do you?" she asked.
"Yup, since I go there everyday," he answered. "I'm Dawson, by the way," he added, holding out his hand.
"Buffy Summers," Buffy told him, shaking his hand. She suddenly looked uncomfortable for some reason. "Look," she started, "if you're like, trying to pick me up or something .. ."
"No worries there," Dawson replied, shaking his head. "I have more than enough women in my life."
"Yeah, I sensed that about you. So can you take me to the school? I'm kind of looking for someone."
"Oh yeah? Who? Maybe I can help."
"Well, I don't know her name. All I know is what she looks like."
"That narrows our search a little. Come on, I'll show you."

Angel pulled away from Joey. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not. But I'm sure you're going to tell me about how wrong this is and everything."
"Actually, I was going to tell you I was tired. Been up all night."
Joey looked at her watch. "Wow, I got school in a few. So what happens now?"
"What do you want?"
"Well I'm sure that since you are the answer to my prayers that things aren't going to work between us. Besides, you've said that your not staying here very long. And that's the typical story of my life. But I'd like to, you know, hangout while you're still here. Maybe talk some more?"
Angel smiled. "I'd like that. Tonight?"
"Yeah, that would be nice. I'll come by around, what,seven?"
"How about a little later. Ten?"
Joey thought for a minute. "I forgot I have to work tonight. Why don't you meet me at the Icehouse at ten-thirty? That okay?"
"Sure."
"You know where it is?"
"I'll find it. Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"How did you know all that stuff? What you said?"
"Why, was I right?"
"Close."
"Instinct I guess. And some hard thinking."
"Can I ask you something else?"
"I guess..."
"Why are you so interested in me?"
Joey thought. "Well, first of all you saved my life. Second, for the first time in months I forgot about my problems. So I guess we're helping each other out."
Angel kissed her once more. "See you tonight."
"Yeah, later." Joey watched as he entered the elevator. "Why is my life so complicated!"

"I don't see her here. Are you sure this is the only school?"
"Trust me, I've lived here long enough to know." They had wandered around the school for two hours looking in classrooms. "Maybe whoever you're looking for didn't come intoday."
"That could be."
Buffy sighed in frustration. "Guess it's not as easy as I thought it would be."
"How about we forget about this for a while? You keep wandering around, let me finish my classes. We'll check everyone out again when school's over as their leaving. If that doesn't work, we'll check out the Icehouse later."
"What's that?"
"Kind of a fast food joint my friend Joey works at. Most of the school kids go there."
"Okay, you're right. I'll meet you here after school."
"Great." Dawson took off down the hall leaving Buffy by herself.

Joey decided to ditch school today. She went home and got some sleep before she had to work. While she slept she dreamt of Angel, the kiss they shared. And the odd sound of a phone ringing in the background.
Joey woke up and grabbed the phone. "Jo, are you coming to work today?"
Joey looked at her watch. Six o'clock. "Sorry, Bess. I'm on my way." She hung up the phone, changed her clothes, and ran to work.

Around ten fifteen Joey started looking for Angel. She didn't see him, but Joey noticed Dawson and some girl sitting at a corner table. "Hey Dawson!"
"Joey, are you okay? Why didn't you go to school?"
"I was tired. Probably from the other night."
Dawson laughed. "Any excuse to stay home, huh? Joey, this is Buffy. She's in town for a few days. She'll be staying at my house."
Joey smiled. "Hey."
Buffy just stared. So I finally find you mystery woman. "Hey."
"Well Dawson, just came by to say hi. I gotta start cleaningup."
"You coming over after?"
"Not tonight, sorry. Got plans."
She began to walk away. "Plans with who?" Dawson yelled.
"See you later Dawson!"
Buffy spoke up. "So who's she? Your girlfriend?"
"Joey? No, we're just friends. Been friends since we were kids."
"What's she like?"
"She's kind of quiet actually. She's got a lot going on in her head half the time but she'll never tell you what it is."
Sounds like her and Angel are perfect for each other."Does she have a boyfriend?"
"No. She did see this one guy for a couple of days. Lately her and I've been talking about a relationship, but nothing serious has come up yet. Joey's had a rough life, I'd hate to add to it."
"Rough life, huh? How so?"
"You sure ask a lot of questions."
"Well if I talk to her I don't want to say the wrong thing. Like how's your parents if their both dead. You know, stuff like that. And if you two are thinking of getting serious, I'd hate for her to be jealous."
"Joey's jealous if I talk to my mom. Let's see. Joey's mom died of cancer, her dad is in jail. She lives with her sister and her sisters boyfriend and their new baby. They own this place. Joey also just got jumped in the street theother day, that's why I figured she'd stay home today."
"Jumped? By who?"
"Some guy. We don't know who he was. But Joey kind of had a hero that night. Some guy Angel saved her."
So that's how they met? The damsel in distress syndrome. Angel knows it well."What a name, Angel."
"Yeah, weird huh. Hey, there he is...wanna meet him?"
Buffy followed Dawson's gaze. There was Angel, talking to Joey. "Nah. Can we go?"
"Sure. Let me say good-bye to Joey."
"She's busy. I'm sure she doesn't want you butting in."
"Probably not. They seem a little cozy together, huh?"
Buffy refused to look. "Let's just leave."

Angel and Joey walked around for part of the night. They talked about Joey's family, Dawson, things going on in Joey's life. Joey did most of the talking, Angel just listened.They went back to the hotel and up to Angels room. Joey sat on the bed. "You want something to drink?"
"No, I'm fine. So you want to share anymore information as to why you're here?"
Angel sat down next to her. "The past few months I've not really been myself. I've lashed out at the people that care about me. Or did care about me."
Joey looked at him with concern. "I'm sure they still care about you. Have you spoken with any of them?"
"Not really. Didn't think they'd want to see me."
"Angel, if you just go to them and talk it out I'm sure everything would be fine."
"You don't know Joey. There's so much you don't know about me. And I can't explain it to you. I like things the way they are between us."
"What, me not knowing? You don't have to keep protecting me Angel. I don't see how you're all that bad."
"Exactly. You don't know. I'd rather keep it that way."
"So these people you've hurt, it does involve a girl right?"
Angel looked away.
"It's okay if you tell me. It's not like we're married or anything. I just met you a few days ago. And when you leave here you'll probably never come back, right?"
"Probably not."
"And we'll never see each other again, right?"
"Truth?"
"Of course."
Angel looked at her. "No, probably not."
"So what's the harm if I try to help you out with this girl?You have nothing to lose."
"You wouldn't feel weird if I talked about her?"
"Why should I feel weird? I understand that this relationship, whatever it is we have, is only going to last about a week. And then you'll be gone, back to her and your life. I can accept that. But if I can help you, repay the kindness you've shown me, then what's the problem? Unless you don't want to talk about it."
Angel got up and paced the room. "It's hard to explain. Events took place and I wasn't exactly myself."
"Temporary insanity? Or amnesia."
"A little of both. I took it out on her. Said and didt things that are unforgivable."
"Says you. What does she say?"
"I haven't seen her."
"So you haven't spoken to her about this? You never told her everything you just told me?"
"No. I left."
"No offense Angel, but that was kind of stupid. You should have at least talked to her. Maybe she would have forgiven you."
"I was pretty hard on her."
"So what? Everyone has their ups and downs. I'm sure she understands that. You'll never know if you don't talk to her."
"I think it might be too late. I can't take back the things I've done."
"No, you can't. But you can live up to your mistakes and apologize for them. If she loves you, she'll forgive you. Do you love her?"
Angel sat back down. "Yes."
"Have you told her?"
"I told her once. Seems like a lifetime ago."
"Maybe you should tell her again."
Angel kissed Joey. She responded, hoping it wasn't for the last time.

The next morning...

Joey woke up and for a moment was disoriented. She wasn't waking up in her own house or Dawson's. She was still in Angel's hotel room. She turned over and looked at Angel. He was sound asleep. She stayed there for a few moments, watching him sleep. Then she quietly got out of bed, picked up her things, and left.
She welcomed the sunlight as she left the hotel. She went back to her house. She took a shower, put on some clothes,and went to the kitchen to get something to eat.
There was a knock at the door. No one else was home, so Joey answered it. It was Buffy. .

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