Disclaimer: I don't own anything, please don't sue me, I have no money. Some of the dialog is from Angel episode I Fall to Pieces written by David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon.

Chapter 3: Piece of me

Buffy groaned as she packed her school bag but soon it changed into a satisfied hum as she felt strong arms circling her body and soft lips pressing a kiss to her neck, just above the mark. She turned in his arms and pulled him into a short but passionate kiss. “I'm going up. Are you coming?” she asked but he shook his head.

“I'll be up in a minute”, he promised and with another quick kiss, she made her way up the stairs and headed to the office as she heard the voices coming from there.

“...I’m not saying I’M attracted. I’m just saying he’s projecting a certain kind of image and asking for money isn’t part of it. He’s sensitive about that”, she heard Doyle saying as she stepped into the room.

“Morning”, she said and the others turned to look at her.

“Mornin' Buffy”, Doyle answered giving her a smile, Cordelia just acknowledged her with a absent wave of her hand. Buffy headed to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup before lifting it to her lips and scrunching her nose at the smell. She took a small sip and made a face. She turned to Cordelia raising her eyebrows in question.

“What is this?” she asked and Cordelia just shrugged.

“Last weeks coffee. Think of it as espresso”, Cordelia answered and turned to the door when she saw Angel stepping out of the apartment door, Buffy used her moment of distraction to pour the coffee back to the pot. Cordelia turned to Doyle with determent look on her face.

“Okay, he's coming. We're going to stand up to him, be fierce and not give in”, she said and Doyle nodded his agreement.

“Yes, not giving an inch”, he said and Buffy looked at the couple in question, she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

“Morning, boss”, Cordelia chirped and with a good morning, Angel headed to the coffee maker.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you”, Buffy warned before he could pour it into his cup.

“Sure been making us proud these last few weeks fighting the evil and all that”, Doyle piped up.

“Yeah, you've been fantastic! Saving people left and right…” Cordelia added.

“I’m not comfortable asking people for money”, Angel interrupted them frowning.

“Then get over it!” Cordelia commanded but softened at the looks Angel and Buffy were giving her. “I mean that in a sensitive way. We have bills, electricity, phone...” she added but when Angel didn't show any signs of wavering, she turned to Buffy. “Help us out here, Buffy, talk to him.”

“Sorry, Cordy. But I'm not all that comfortable with the asking for money thing either. You know, I'm the slayer, I'm not used to being rewarded from saving everyone“, Buffy said with a apologetic shrug.

“Look, bud, I know it’s not your favorite thing, but you’ve got to do what’s right”, Doyle said directing the conversation back to Angel.

“You think it’s right to ask people in trouble for money?”

“No”, Doyle answered.

“So we agree”, Angel stated and seeing the annoyed look on Cordelia's face Doyle was quick to correct: “No.”

“We don’t agree?”

“Make up your mind, will you?” Cordelia sniped and Doyle doubled over in pain.

“Pen, paper”, he said to Cordelia and then addressed to Angel: “Single malt scotch.”

“What did you see?” Buffy asked as Angel poured the scotch into a coffee cup and handed it to Doyle.

“Melissa Burns, works at Pardell paper products”, Doyle answered and Cordelia started flipping through a phone book. “This isn't single malt”, Doyle said looking at the cup and making a face. “This is poly malt”, he stated but drank it anyway.

“Okay, Pardell paper products, 200 Wilshire boulevard”, Cordelia said and Angel grabbed his coat.

“I'll come with”, Buffy stated but Angel gave her a knowing smile.

“You are going to class”, he stated and gave her a quick kiss before making his way to the door, pulling his long coat on. Doyle looked after him head slightly tilted to the side and stated: “Maybe I'm little attracted.” Buffy turned to look at him with a strange look.

“What exactly were you two talking about before I came here?” she questioned with eyebrow raised and then shook her head. “Maybe it's better that I don't know. I'll see you guys later”, she said and grabbed her bag, leaving the room.

Buffy managed to get through the first classes and by the end of her psych class, she was convinced the professor was evil. She flung her bag over her shoulder and headed towards the door. She froze as she felt and arm grabbing her shoulder and she managed to resist the urge to throw, who ever it belonged to, over her shoulder. She turned around and saw three girls her age that she immediately recognized.

“It is you! Buffy!” the girl shouted loudly and Buffy couldn't help but feel uncomfortable after a lot of attention had been drawn to her.

“Hey September”, she answered somewhat awkwardly, she hadn't spoken to the girl, now a young woman, in many years, since she had been abandoned by her friends after she became the slayer.

“Wow, what it's been, four years since we last saw”, September said with fake enthusiasm.

“Give or take”, was Buffy's answer.

“Wow, you actually graduated from high school. You remember Jo and Marissa?” September continued ignoring what Buffy said, not even trying to hide her small jab about high school.

“Yeah, I remember. Hey”, she answered giving a small wave to the others and they gave ones back.

“So you moved back from Sunnyville? It must have been a drag to live in there.”

“Sunnydale”, Buffy corrected. “Yeah, I moved back here with my boyfriend”, she added, feeling she needed to say something to her tormentor.

“Let me guess, high school sweethearts”, September asked with a fake smile, everything about her seemed to be fake and the fact that her bust had grown three cup sizes told Buffy that she was as fake inside as outside.

“Something like that”, Buffy answered, it wasn't like she could just tell what it really had been.

“Yeah, well, you have to come with us to this club, we'll show you all the in places here, you've been away so long that you must be clueless what's the best places to go here”, September said dismissively.

“I can't...”, Buffy protested trying to sound like she was sorry about it but truthfully she'd rather face a pack of demons than September and her entourage on her turf.

“You have to, I take no excuses. We've got class so see you at eight thirty in front of The Lodge, it's a club”, September said and with a wave of a hand, she left the room, Jo and Marissa following dutifully. As soon as they were out of, what they though was, the hearing range, they burst into giggles. Buffy frowned and sighed deeply, this wasn't high school, so why was she feeling like she had stepped back there.

Angel had tried to talk to Melissa with no results but he had managed to give her the business card. Now he was sitting with Cordelia and Doyle at the office.

“I think I scared her”, Angel stated.

“Sounds like she was already scared”, Cordelia said and everyone turned to look as Buffy walk into the office giving a tired wave and sitting into a chair next to Cordelia.

“Do I look intimidating?” Angel asked and Buffy couldn't help but smile at the question.

“The whole following girl into a dark alley did make me a little suspicious of you, also the cryptic act isn't helping”, Buffy answered and gave him a comforting smile.

“Or the black on black look. But as far as vampires go, you’re pretty cuddly”, Cordelia added helpfully.

“Maybe one of you could talk to her, make her feel safer”, Angel suggested but Cordelia shook her head.

“Nope, I'm not getting involved before she hires us”, she said.

“Cordelia is right”, Doyle said but this time it was Angel who shook his head.

“I don’t think so. I’ve got a bad feeling that we need get involved now. And this shouldn’t be about money.”

“It isn’t”, Doyle assured him.

“Yeah, you should listen to...” Cordelia started and then realizing what he had said, turned to look at Doyle with a hard look. “It isn’t?!” she questioned.

“No, it’s about doing what’s best for the people you’ve helped. People get attached to a mysterious savior, and can you blame them? But as long as you’re just a man who’s doing a job, and getting paid, they can feel like they’ve paid their debt to you and they can move on, independent like”, he explained.

“You are a lot smarter than you look... Of course you look like a retard”, Cordelia said to Doyle. No one had time to say anything as the phone rang and Cordelia went to answer it.

“Angel Investigation. We help the hopeless... Well, I’d say right a way”, Cordelia said to the phone and hung up, turning to look at th others. “She’s coming in”, she told them and Angel looked down at his black sweater.

“I’ve got to change my shirt”, he stated and made his way down to the apartment, Buffy following few minutes later. She found him shirtless in the bedroom, going through the closet desperately trying to find something other than dark clothes. Buffy admired the view till he pulled out a ivory shirt and put it on. Angel turned around to look at Buffy with a smirk on his face.

“How was your day?” he asked, even though he wanted to say something else, they didn't have the time to go down that road.

“Not all that bad. But I'm suspecting that professor Clift is evil, it's not like I can just go out there and ask 'you wouldn't happen to be evil by any chance cause on my luck, you are trying to build some Frankenstein monster made of demon bits and I'm going to fail this class”, she said with a sigh and Angel gave a small chuckle, pulling her into his arms.

“I'm sure your professor isn't evil, just strict”, he assured her but she didn't seem too convinced.

“He gives me the wiggings. Maybe we should go back up, I'm sure your client will be here soon”, she changed the subject and gave him a brief kiss before pulling him towards the stairs with her. They went to the office and it didn't take long for Melissa to arrive. Angel introduced everyone, then offered her a seat and Cordelia got her a cup of coffee.

“It’s been going on for about 7 months now. It wasn’t so bad at first”, Melissa told them somewhat uncomfortably.

“What’s his name?” Angel asked tentatively.

“Dr. Ronald Meltzer. He’s a neurosurgeon, I had an infected nerve behind my right eye. He operated, saved my sight. Afterwards he asked me out. I didn’t really want to, but..”, Melissa answered and stopped, not knowing how to continue.

“He helped you, you felt obligated”, Cordelia assisted and at Melissa's nod, she added like it was obvious: ”Plus, a doctor.”

“So we had ONE drink, ONE time, and afterwards he started calling me, a lot. Then he started showing up at my work, my apartment, saying that we had something special, that we should get married.”

“And then it got worse?” Buffy said sympathetically.

“I know it sounds stupid, but I can feel him watching me. All the time. Today at work, he knew I took my Xanitab when I was alone in the bathroom. I mean, how did he see that? He is just everywhere. I don’t think I can take much more of this”, Melissa continued with a weary sigh.

“Well, we’re going to help you”, Angel assured her and send a slight glare at Cordelia as she added: “Big time, and for a reasonable fee.”

“I have to ask this, but have you handled a lot of cases like this?” Melissa asked awkwardly.

“Don't worry, our Buffy here has a lot of experience in psychopathic murderer stalkers”, Cordelia answered and got glares from Buffy and Angel. “What!? No need to start brooding on me, I mean it in a good reassuring way”, she said seeing the glares and the quickly falling look on Angel's face.

“What happened to him?” Melissa asked tentatively, not sure if Buffy wanted to share her experience with her.

“He's in a cage...” Buffy answered then corrected: “In prison, no chance for parole.”

“Doyle will make sure that you get home safely”, Angel changed the subject, knowing how hard it was to remember Angelus, to him as it was to Buffy.

“Thanks. You guy’s have been very kind, listening to me”, Melissa thanked while raising from her chair and taking a sip from the coffee cup.

“It’s terrible”, she added and placed the coffee cup to the table.

“Yeah, we’re going to take care of it”, Doyle assured her but she shook her head.

“No, I mean the coffee.” She walked to the door but stopped walking, turning to look at Angel. “Angel, how did you know that I needed help?” she asked but she didn't sound suspicious.

“I have a friend in the police department”, Angel answered and Buffy cast an unnoticed glance at him, knowing who that friend was.

“I’ll see you later”, Doyle said from the door, pulling Buffy out of her jealous thoughts.

“Can you imagine? A doctor, they examine your body, they know every inch of you”, Cordelia said what could have passed as thoughtfully and then she shuddered letting out a disgusted sound.

“How is he doing it? How does he see her when she’s alone, in private? Is he invisible?” Angel thought out loud.

“Maybe he can astral project?” Angel suggested, turning to look at Buffy.

“Maybe he has an accomplice, or a hidden camera. Not everything has to be creepy and supernatural, you know”, Cordelia said to the couple.

“Not everything, but Doyle had a vision”, Angel reminded her.

“Which last time led to a 'sex changing body switching tear your innards out' demon, right. I guess they don’t call you for their every day cases.”

“He sees her when he is nowhere around... How?” Angel continued his musings.

“Okay, flesh, anytime you want to stop crawling is okay with me”, Cordelia said to herself and walked out the office. Buffy looked as Cordelia walked out the door and then turned to Angel.

“You'll need me to help tonight, right?” she asked hoping that he would say yes.

“Not really. Why?” he answered, lifting his gaze to her face, knowing from the sound of her voice that she had been hoping for a different answer.

“Just some people I used to know in high school asked me out to a club. Are you sure you don't need help?” she answered and practically pleaded him with her eyes.

“I'm sure. I'm going to ask Kate if she knows anything about Melissa's situation. I think you should go out, have some fun and get to know your old friends again.”

Buffy grimaced. “But I don't really want to, they weren't all that nice back when I was friends with them and what I gathered today, they haven't changed all that much.”

“Then why did you say you'd go?” Angel asked.

“Have you ever tried to say 'no' to September Collins-Winthrop? It is just as impossible as you getting a tan”, she answered sarcastically without the sting. Angel gave her a small comforting smile and pulled her to sit on his lap, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a lingering kiss.

“Maybe it won't be so bad. And if it is, just give me a call and I'll come and get you”, he said and earned a small smile from Buffy.

“I'm gonna hold you to it, my very own knight in a shining armor”, she answered with a smirk and pulled him into another kiss.

Angel walked into the police station and made his way towards the desk that Kate was working on. “Hello, Kate”, he greeted and Kate lifted her gaze, seeing Angel, she got up and folded her arms in front of herself trying to not look nervous.

“Angel. Um, hi. It’s good to see you”, she said and Angel nodded courtly.

“You too.”

“So judging by how uncomfortable you are, I’d say you either about to ask me out on a date, or you need a favor”, she said hoping that it would be the first one. Angel looked at her awkwardly, twisting the Claddagh ring in his finger, Kate noticed the look on his face and saw the movement.

“And I’m going to go with favor”, she stated, keeping the disappointment out of her voice, she had also noticed that the ring was in his left hand.

“So ask, and I’ll see if I can do”, she said sitting down behind her desk and signed Angel to do the same.

“Girl, a client. She’s being stalked, and I think it could get ugly” Angel started.

“She’s being stalked? Then it's already ugly. What’s her name?” Kate answered.

“Melissa Burns.”

Kate typed the name to her computer and waited for results. She got up from the chair and disappeared into another room, returning ten minutes later with a file. “Your girl did file a report two months ago. The doctor responded and denied everything. His lawyers made a lot of noise”, she said and sat down behind her desk.

“What happened?” Angel asked.

“His lawyers. Wolfram and Hart. You know the name?”

“I’ve heard of them”, Angel answered shortly, remembering the day he had thrown Russell out of the window.

“Yeah. They’re the law firm that Johnny Cochran is too ethical to join. They actually filed a restraining order against HER. Very cute. Still no record of violence for the doctor”, Kate explained.

“Yet”, Angel said solemnly.

“You think he’s going to blow?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll put a uniform on her building. But I can probably not spare one for more than a day or two”, Kate promised.

“Thanks. That’ll help.”

“So how long have you and your hubby been together?” September asked, not really interested but she needed something she could throw snipe remarks at.

“About three years”, Buffy asked, it wasn't really a lie, right.

“Oh God! Let me guess, after you became a reject in social life, you took in one of those geeks that couldn't get a real date”, September sniped and then turned to smile widely at the figure that had made his way to the table. “Hey honey”, she said in a sugary voice and the man stepped into view, giving September a kiss. Buffy instantly recognized him, it was Tyler, her ex from the time she lived in LA. He hadn't changed much, he looked more like a man than the boy he had then but other than that, not many changes.

“You remember Buffy, don't you”, September said and signed to Buffy.

“Yeah, I remember Buffy. We used to date in high school”, Tyler answered and eyed at her in a way that made Buffy nervous.

“Oh right. I completely forgot about that”, September said but her voice revealed that it was just an act.

“So you moved back here?” Tyler asked and sat next to September who was now clinging to his side.

“Yeah, me and Angel...” she started to say when she was interrupted by the giggles coming from September and Tyler.

“Angel”, September laughed.

“That's really a girly name”, Tyler added.

“Well, that's the only 'girly' thing you'll ever find in him, he's ALL man”, Buffy shot back giving a double meaning she would never have dared before, they could mock her all they wanted but nobody trashed her boyfriend. Few short moments later she got up from the table. “I'm gonna go get a drink”, she stated and left, she was too pissed to ask politely if anyone else wanted anything. She passed the bar and went to the phones, quickly dialing the number.

“Angel Investigations...” Cordelia's cheery voice started but Buffy didn't let her finish.

“Hey Cordy. Is Angel there?” she asked hoping that he was, she didn't know how long she could take this anymore.

“Yeah, he's here”, Cordelia answered and covered the phone with her hand. “Angel! Phone!” she yelled and Buffy had to pull the phone away from her ear cause it was almost like she had screamed directly to the phone.

“He's coming. So how is the club?” Cordelia said to the phone and took a relaxed position on the chair behind her desk.

“I guess it's fine. Big, noisy, the usual”, Buffy answered.

“And your friends?”

“They're not my friends. They haven't changed since high school, except for the nose jobs and silicones”, Buffy answered absently, hoping that Angel would pick up soon so she could get out of the club.

“What is it?” she heard Angel's voice on the other end.

“Buffy”, Cordelia shortly answered and handed the phone to Angel.

“Hey, are you okay?” Angel asked trying to keep the worry out of his voice.

“I'm fine. But I'm gonna need my prince to save the damsel in distress”, she assured him with a small smile playing on her lips.

“Is it really that bad?” Angel asked.

“How fast can you get here?” Buffy answered pointedly.

“Okay, I'll come right away”, Angel promised and grabbed his jacket from a chair, pulling it on while holding the phone in the crook of his neck.

“Thanks, I'll see you soon”, Buffy said, relief showing in her voice. They said their goodbyes and Buffy hung up, she turned around to leave but found herself trapped between two arms as Tyler leaned to the wall behind her.

“You know, you're hotter now than you were back when we were together. You have really filled up in all the right places”, Tyler said as his eyes scanned her body all over making her feel disgusted.

“Could you move, please”, Buffy asked as politely as she could without throwing him across the room.

“Oh come on, you don't want me to. I thought we could have some fun, fresh up some old memories”, he suggested and let his hand move to her arm, sliding up and down her bare skin. Buffy looked at his hand and then lifted her gaze to his eyes.

“If you don't want a broken arm, I suggest you remove it”, she said her voice cool and serious, leaving no doubt that she would follow through her threat.

“Come on, Buffy, don't be that way. We could have some fun together”, Tyler whined and Buffy couldn't help but have a unpleasant flashback to the time when Parker tried to come on to her. She shuddered in disgust.

“You have a girlfriend. And more importantly, I have a boyfriend”, Buffy said sternly and flashed the Claddagh ring.

“Come on, just because the guy gave you an ugly ring doesn't mean...” Tyler started to say but decided to cut short when he saw the look on Buffy's face, he was one step away from being slapped across the face.

“I'm going back to the table”, she stated and shoved him from her way, walking back to the table.

“Didn't get the drink after all?” September said and from her tone, Buffy could tell that she knew all about where Tyler had gone.

“I don't think I could swallow anything without puking”, Buffy muttered, she couldn't remember why she had been friends with these people and what had she ever seen in Tyler. Buffy could see just by the look that September was about to say something bitchy to her but suddenly, her gaze strayed and she started looking at something with lusty eyes.

“Well, girls, that boy is mine, he's not gonna even know what hit him”, she said and stood up ready to jump the guy she saw. Buffy turned to look and saw Angel nearing the table.

“Hey”, he said softly as he reached the table.

“Hey”, cooed September certain the hunk was talking to him.

“Hey”, Buffy whispered back and pulled him into a passionate kiss, as soon as their lips met, all the people in the room seemed to disappear. Angel pulled back with a crooked smile playing on his lips, he leaned closer to her ear, giving it a small nip.

“I take it you missed me”, he huskily whispered to her ear, he wasn't usually comfortable showing affection in public but seeing all the men around her, looking at her like she was available, made him want to mark his territory.

“Come on, Buffy, could you be anymore of a slut. What happened to the boyfriend of three years?” September sniped, pulling Angel out of his musings. Angel pulled back to look who was insulting his girlfriend but first his eyes landed on the young man who was seething in jealousy and he couldn't help but feel his own possessiveness take over, that boy had no right look at his Buffy that way.

“Hi, I'm Angel, Buffy's boyfriend”, Angel introduced himself and offered his hand, giving the boy a hard measuring look.

“Hi, I'm September”, September said seductively but Angel didn't seem to pay any attention to the sound of her voice.

“Sorry, but I have to steal my Buffy from you”, Angel said but he didn't sound at all sorry about it, the sooner he got her away from the little snot-nose that was drooling after her, the better. He knew he was being like a adolescent but when it was about Buffy, he couldn't help himself and that had been established several times already.

“You could stay with us”, September cooed, not ready to give up, even though her boyfriend was standing behind her.

“We have more important things to do”, Angel stated to Buffy's shock, he didn't just like the girl that had insulted his Buffy.

“Come on, you could do so much better than her”, September whined, she wasn't used to being turned down, what she wanted, she got.

“I don't think so”, Angel just said and helped Buffy into her jacket. Buffy turned to look at her one time friend who wasn't even trying to disguise her lust towards Angel, she knew Angel wouldn't fall for someone like September but that didn't make her any less jealous.

“September, grow up. We're not in high school anymore so just get over it”, she said to September and took a hold of Angel's hand, trying to get some courage from knowing he was there. The group looked at her shocked as she walked out with Angel. Neither of them said anything till they reached his car.

“Thanks, for coming, I really needed to get out of there”, she said with a smile and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

“You're welcome”, he answered and tried to continue casually: “So who was the boy?” For a moment Buffy was confused but then it dawned to her.

“Tyler?”

“Your ex?!” Angel asked feeling the jealousy grow and his brows furrow together ready for a good brooding.

“How did you know that? Never mind... Are you jealous?” she asked raising her eyebrows in amusement.

“I'm not jealous, I just didn't like the way he was looking at you”, Angel denied. Buffy giggled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“You're jealous”, she accused with a grin playing on her lips.

“You know I find it kind of cute when you get all possessive but you really need to get a grip. I don't want anyone else but you, and if Tyler was the last guy on earth, I'd let the human race extinct, he's a major sleaze”, Buffy assured him.

“Did he try something?” Angel asked now suspicious.

“Let's not talk about them, I want to forget all about this evening. So why don't we just go home”, she cut him off and raised her eyebrow suggestively. Angel nodded, giving in but that didn't stop the gnawing jealousy inside him.

The next day, Angel went to the hospital. He found Meltzer's office easily and with a quick look around him, he forcefully broke the lock and stepped inside. Angel looked around the office, certificates on the wall, picture of Melissa on the table and bookshelf full of books. He saw Meltzer on the other room talking to someone, Angel went to the bookshelf and pulled out a book with description on it. He heard Meltzer walk into the room, so he quickly he slipped the book into his jacket pocket.

“What are you doing in here?” Meltzer asked and Angel turned around, pulling a calling card out of his jacket pocket.

“Name's Jensen, I need to talk to you”, Angel said and handed the card to him.

“You can't just barge in, you need to make an appointment”, Meltzer said while glancing at the card.

“I don’t have time for appointments. I’m told that you can do things no one else can.” Meltzer went to the phone, already pushing the numbers.

“You’ll never find out. I’m calling security”, he said but Angel interrupted him.

“My wife has a malignant tumor that’s pressing on her ocular cavity. She’ going to die unless someone has the nerve to operate”, he said putting as much emotion into his voice as he could, succeeding by thinking Buffy.

“What you are talking about is a very difficult and dangerous procedure. I could lose my license. Now, I understand your situation, but I can’t help you”, Meltzer said hanging up the phone and turning to Angel. Angel glanced at the table before grabbing the picture of Melissa and holding it for Meltzer to see.

“What does she mean to you?” Angel asked.

“What?” Meltzer asked seemingly not getting where he was going with it.

“What is she, your wife, your girlfriend? What?”

“She’s my fiancée”, Meltzer answered

“Nice. Set a date yet?” Angel kept the conversation going.

“We’re working that out”, Meltzer answered first unsure.

“Did you know right away? That she was the one?”

“I don’t see how this has anything”, Meltzer protested.

“I tell you how, do you know what it’s like to be so much a part of someone that you don’t know where they end and you begin? Would you die for her?” Angel continued, showing the picture to him pointedly.

“Yes.”

“Then you understand that I’m not willing to make any compromises. I’m not willing to watch her suffer and die while the law catches up with science. What I’m willing to do, is pay you what ever it takes. Think about it. Please”, Angel said, placed the picture back to the desk and walked away.

Angel walked into the office, ready to pour some coffee but thought better of it at the last minute. “Hey, where you been all day?” he heard Buffy's voice, he turned around and saw her sitting on the desk.

“I talked to Vinpur Natpudan.”

“Who?” Buffy asked scrunching her face in confusion.

“The writer of the book I took from Meltzer's office”, Angel answered with a small smile, he couldn't help but think how cute she looked, not that it was unusual thought for him.

“For someone who's allergic to sun, you sure move around a lot during the daylight. What did this Vinpur guy say?” she said starting with playful tone but soon switched back into business mode.

“He told me about the conferences he used to hold, Meltzer attended to them. And it seems that Meltzer can separate himself, that's how he can be in many places at once.”

Again Buffy crunched her face. “As in body parts?” she asked with a frown and it only deepened as Angel nodded. “Okay, bad flashbacks... I need to call back to Sunnydale, but after that I'm heading out for a quick patrol. Wanna join me?” she changed the subject.

“What if I just go for the patrol, you've got classes tomorrow”, Angel suggested.

“You sure?” Buffy asked raising her eyebrows. Angel gave her an assuring smile and a nod before planting a soft kiss to her lips.

“Yes, I'm sure.”

On his way home, Angel stopped at Melissa's house, finding her running from the house in near panic after Meltzer had come after her. Angel called the police and Doyle, he had a quick talk with Kate about the situation while Doyle comforted Melissa. He headed towards them but Doyle met him in half way.

“How is she doing?” Angel asked nodding towards Melissa.

“Numb. Did they get any prints?” Doyle answered and Angel nodded in conformation.

“Good. So we can put him behind bars... for about 90 seconds until he skitters through ‘em... Not a lot of things that make me shudder but this guy crawling around under the covers”, Doyle said and gave a short pause before continuing. “At least it was just his hands down there. Wish I hadn’t even thought that.” He scrunched his face at the thought.

“He’s coming undone”, Angel stated.

“I’ll say.”

“No, I mean he’s out of control. He’s killing now”, Angel clarified.

“Anyone that comes between him and his obsession”, Doyle said and then seemed to think of something. “Don’t we stand between him and his obsession? I’m not putting too cowardly a point on it but if this guy can’t be contained and he can’t be killed, what are we going to do about it?”

“If his body parts go long enough without any blood and oxygen, they’re going to deteriorate, he’s not gonna be able to put himself back together no matter how much psychic surgery he knows.”

“So what are you saying? Break him down and box him up?”

“Of course that’s just a theory.” Angel said shrugging his shoulders.

“What do we do in the mean time?”

“Protect her”, Angel answered simply, glancing at where Melissa was standing.

After the cops left, Angel made a call to Buffy and Cordelia before taking Melissa back to the apartment and as soon as they arrived, Doyle started blocking every way into the apartment.

“That should do it, he's not going to come crawling in here”, Doyle announced and threw the duck tape to the table.

“This is all so weird, for him to be able to do that... If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. It's still hard to believe”, Melissa said shuddering at the memory.

“Don't worry. We're going to handle this, he's not going to hurt you anymore”, Angel assured her.

“Yeah, there's no need to worry, Angel has lots of experience in stalking”, Cordelia started but seeing the looks everyone were giving her, she finished differently than she intended. “...cases.” Buffy rolled her eyes and handed Melissa another cup of coffee.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Cordelia asked Angel and signed to the elevator. Angel nodded and they made their way upstairs.

“Okay Melissa stays here with us that makes sense, since we have the slay-girl and the super-vamp, but the part about you taking care of the doctor. This guy is really dangerous”, Cordelia started as soon as they stepped into the office. She looked in question as Angel started flipping through the phone book not really paying attention to her. “What are you doing?” she asked little annoyed.

“Seeing where I can get some steel boxes at this hour of the night”, was the simple answer from Angel.

“Steel boxes? Why would you want...” Cordelia started incredulously till the realization hit her. “Oh! For packing up people parts... You know this job, don’t get me wrong I’m grateful to have it. God knows it’s educational, but sometimes...” she started to say but the phone ringing interrupted her.

“God who’s calling at this...” she leaned over the phone and saw the line 3 light flashing. “It’s the special line”, she stated.

“Answer it”, Angel told her.

“Right. Now, who are we again? Johnson International Holdings?” Cordelia asked turning to him.

“Jensen”, he corrected her.

“Jensen. Got it. Jensen, now does that sound like an international name?” she kept on talking.

“Cordelia”, Angel sighed tiredly and Cordelia answered the phone.

“Jensen International Holdings. How may I direct your call? Please hold.” She put the call on hold and stated: “It’s him.”

“Brian Jensen”, Angel answered to the phone. “Down side of being global... I do, thank you... Are you in your office? - I’ll bring it to you tonight”, Angel said to the phone and hung up.

“You’re going over there? What if he comes apart on you?” Cordelia asked.

“If he comes apart on me, he’s going to stay that way”, Angel stated and got up from the desk.

“I'm coming with you”, Buffy said from the door, she had sneaked upstairs during the phone call.

“No, I need you to stay here”, Angel answered but Buffy wasn't going to give up so easily.

“You need help, I'm coming with you.”

Angel sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Buffy, I need you to stay here with Melissa, if he comes here, you are the only one strong enough to fight him”, he explained and went to her.

“Fine, I understand what you mean but take note that I don't like you going there alone”, she gave in and looked at him with a slight pout, making him smile at her expression.

“Note taken. I'll see you later”, he said with a small smile and kissed her before making his way out the door.

Angel walked into Meltzer's office, Meltzer was sitting behind his desk, looking very collected. “That’s a big box. You didn’t have to bring it in small bills Mr. Jensen”, he stated. Angel placed the steel box to the desk and fixed his eyes on Meltzer.

“Actually I didn’t bring...“ he started to say but Meltzer finished fort him. “...Any money at all? No, I didn’t think you would. Though the safety deposit box is a nice touch. I mean your name is not really Jensen. You don’t have a wife”, Meltzer said.

“Not in the legal sense”, Angel stated and instinctively glanced at the Claddagh ring in his finger. Meltzer placed his hand on the table, drawing Angel's eyes to it while he shot Angel with a tranquilizer gun with his other.

“I developed this injector while working with animals”, Meltzer said as Angel pulled out the dart from his neck and let it fall to the floor. “They don’t like their limbs cut off any more than we do and they can hurt you if you get to close. You’ll feel a slight sinking sensation, that’s your heart slowing down as the paralytic takes effect. Eventually it’ll stop all together”, Meltzer explained and got up from behind the desk.

“I just can’t get over the audacity to think that you could take her from me? I saw you, I saw you holding her”, he continued vehemently and Angel fell down to his knees gasping for breath.

“Nobody can break the bond between us. Nobody”, Meltzer kept on going, getting angry. He picked up a scalpel and started pacing the office. “Clearly even she can’t accept that. If tried so hard to show her in so many ways. I’ve taken care of her, been there for her, even when she didn’t know it.”

Angel fell down to the floor, rolling to his back.

“If that isn’t devotion. And what do I get for my trouble? She lies, she cheats. But no more. I won’t be made a fool of”, Meltzer kept on ranting, his voice getting more angrier. “She would have made a beautiful bride”, he stated before he left the office.

Buffy sighed deeply and looked at the clock once more, she was getting restless, she had never been one to sit around and wait. She placed her psych book down as she heard sounds from another room. She got up from the chair and after stating that Melissa was sleeping and Doyle and Cordelia seemed to be having the usual argument but they stopped as they heard the noise as well.

“Grab some weapons”, she whispered and headed to the other room with a crossbow in her hands. Cordelia and Doyle took weapons from the wall and went to the trap door on the floor where a hand was trying to open the bolt. Doyle yanked the lid open but he didn't see anything, at the same time, Meltzer walked behind Cordelia and wrapped his hand on her mouth before slamming her to the wall. He threw her into a closet as his hand pulled Doyle down the trap door, the lid slamming behind. Buffy stepped into the room and pointed her crossbow at Meltzer who looked at her in slight amusement.

“You people really are something. I bet you don't even know how to use that toy”, he stated.

“Well, you'd loose that bet”, Buffy shot back, she glanced up and down the man in front of her, noticing the missing hand.

“Loose a hand?” she asked, she noticed that Melissa had awakened but she didn't shift her gaze from Meltzer.

“Stupid little girl”, he spat and at the same time the hand jumped at Buffy, wrapping its fingers around her throat. He slammed her against the brick wall and she slumped down to the floor. Melissa watched in horror as the hand crawled back to Meltzer and settled back into its place.

“What are you?” she managed to choke out.

“I’m more than meets the eye. But you never bothered to find out, did you? You just took advantage of my kindness”, he started and pulled out the scalpel. “Led me on until you could find yourself a vacuous LA pretty boy”, he accused and Melissa tried to run past him but he grabbed her and cornered her against a wall.

“I’m very disappointed in you Melissa”, he chided her.

“I know... I didn’t mean...” she stammered staring at the scalpel in his hand.

“No, no, no. no. Stop now. You’re babbling.”

“I think... I think you disappoint yourself. I think you gave up on being loved a long time ago and now you’re just another creep who gets off on pain.”

“Now don’t try your little childish...”, Meltzer started to cut her off. Buffy started to get off the floor and help Melissa but stopped as she heard what Melissa was saying.

“I think you know that I would be crazy to want to touch you, to wake up next to little pieces of what ever you are”, Melissa continued getting her courage back.

“Shut up”, Meltzer commanded getting angry and loosing his cool.

“You turned yourself into a freak, Ronald, a vile, repulsive freak. And I’m done being afraid of you. You can cut me and you can kill me, but it still won’t change what you are”, she said getting more and more confident. She saw his neck bulging, moving like something was under the skin. “Angel was right. You’re weak!” she accused and that was the last straw for him.

“I’m weak? Then how was it that I killed him?” he spat vehemently and spun around as the door slid open and Angel stepped inside.

“Inefficiently” he stated.

“You can’t be alive. You... you’re not human!” Meltzer accused surprised of seeing Angel. Angel glanced quickly at Buffy noticing the red marks on her neck, an involuntary growl escaping from his throat. Meltzer's eyes darkened and he lunged at Melissa but Buffy and Angel went after him. He spun around and spat his teeth at Angel, they grabbed him by his arm but Angel smashed his arm against the doorframe.

As Angel closed in on him, he stabbed the scalpel into Angel chest and he went staggering backwards. Meltzer threw his other hand at Angel, the fingers wrapping around his throat, choking him as he kept advancing on Melissa. Buffy grabbed his arm as he kept walking but it cut off from him, as she saw the stub, she threw it across the room.

“Eww.”

Meanwhile, Angel managed to pry the other hand off his neck and as it tried to attack him again, he stabbed it with the scalpel he pulled off his chest. He got up and went to the other room. “We could have been so happy together”, Meltzer said to Melissa as his other ear fell off.

“Hey doc”, Buffy said drawing Meltzer's attention right before she threw a roundhouse kick at him, his head flying off across the room. Angel pulled Melissa against his chest to keep her from looking at the body but he kept his eyes fixed on Buffy who gave him a reassuring smile.

Buffy and Angel stepped into the office as Cordelia was making coffee, or more likely just adding more into the previous grounds.

“Maybe I should take the coffee making duties from now on”, Buffy stated as Cordelia switched the machine on.

“Fine by me as long as I get paid”, Cordelia answered flippantly, then she turned and looked at the couple with her head tilted to the side. “So. He's not coming into one full stalker skittering pieces psycho again, is he?” she asked little more seriously.

“No, he's packed away in boxes below the new subway station”, Angel answered.

“What is it with you and body parts in boxes?” Cordelia said directing to Buffy. Buffy just shrugged innocently as she noticed that Melissa walked into the office carrying a plant in her hands.

“Morning”, she greeted and received a chorus of good mornings. “I brought this for you guys”, she said and handed Angel the green plant.

“I hope it doesn’t need light?” Angel stated looking at the plant in his hands.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine in here.”

“Can I offer you some coffee?” Cordelia asked but Melissa shook her head, grimacing at the thought.

“Coffee, no thanks. I can only stay a minute. Places to go, people to see. Thanks to you”, Melissa said with a slight smile and Doyle and Cordelia started fake coughing as sign to Angel.

“Ah...there..” he tried to say awkwardly. p> “What?”

“There is... ah... there is a... bill?” he tried to say barely managing.

“Bill who?” Melissa asked. “A bill for my services”, Angel clarified feeling even worse than before.

“Of course. That’s the other reason I came”, Melissa said and pulled out a check from her purse, handing it to Angel but it was Cordelia who jumped between and grabbed it.

“I’ll take that thank you”, she stated.

“I mean, I didn’t do it for money”, Angel tried to explain but Melissa stopped him.

“Oh, please you earned it. Well, hope I never see you again”, she said and shook Angel's hand.

“Me too. Good luck.”

Melissa gave a slight smile to the others before she left the room.

“Well, that didn't go so badly, did it”, Doyle said from his place next to Cordelia.

“See, you can save damsel and make decent money. Is this a great country or what?!” Cordelia said enthusiastically, beaming at the check in her hands.

“Let’s march down to the bank and deposit this beauty”, Doyle suggested.

“You guys go ahead. I think I’ll stay here and not burst into flames”, Angel said to them and placed the plant to the table.

“Oh, right, you’re pretty much the night deposit guy. Still, cause to celebrate.”

“You think everything’s a cause to celebrate”, Cordelia stated patting Doyle in the back before picking up her purse and they made their way out the office. Buffy turned to Angel and gave him a smile before walking across the room in front of him.

“Was it as bad as it seemed?” she asked and Angel gave her a small smile.

“Worse.”

“Well, I need to go to class but I'll comfort you when I get back. Tell Doyle not to have any visions without me”, she said and pulled Angel into a lingering kiss.

“I'll see you later”, she said with a real smile and picked up her bag before leaving. Angel watched as she went and then turned to the table as the phone started ringing.

“Angel investigations... Hello Giles... You just missed her, she went to class... Yes, I know, she said she'll come there this weekend... Everything is fine... Yes, I'll tell her... And to call her mother... I know... Okay, have a nice day”, he said to the phone and hung up sighing deeply. In few days Buffy would be going back to Sunnydale, it wasn't like she hadn't gone there many times during the summer but every time the visits seemed longer, or at least felt longer.

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