TITLE:  A Reason to Drown

AUTHOR:  Yseult deBreton (yseultdb@yahoo.com)

RATING:  NC-17 (sexual situations)

PAIRING:  B/A, hints of B/R

TIMELINE:  Sometime in BtVS S5 and AtS S2.  If you can pretend that Buffy and Angel got together before “Forever”, you can pretend that Dawn is not in my universe.

DISCLAIMER:  Mine.  Angel’s all mine.  You can’t have him.  Oh, whoops.  Sorry about that.  That was my evil twin.  Let me beat her into submission.

SUMMARY:  A chance encounter between Angel and Buffy raises old ghosts.

AUTHOR’S NOTES (1):  Angel’s thoughts are in italics.

AUTHOR'S NOTES (2):  If you want to see the formatting, go to my website (http://yseultspassion.com).

DISTRIBUTION:  Yseult’s Passion (http://yseultspassion.com) and Starkitty (if she wants it).  All others, please ask first.

FEEDBACK:  Almost as good as sex!  Send it to yseultdb@yahoo.com

Part I

It was a fact.  Angel was getting his ass royally kicked by four fledgling vampires who all happened to be members of a martial arts school.  Their attack was coordinated and disciplined, and they were hungry.  That last detail was always a big motivator in these types of fights.  Angel stood between them and a complete dinner – appetizer, entrée, and dessert dressed in three delicious human bodies.

Angel looked around for Wesley.  He was still lying senseless on the ground in front of the would-be meal selections.  If Angel could hold the fledglings off until Gunn arrived, everything would be fine.

They were in a filthy alley behind a seedy bar that was conveniently located across the street from a cemetery.  The bar supplied lots of easy meals for new vampires.  It may as well have a flashing neon sign that says, “Vampires eat here.”  Angel staggered under the onslaught of kidney punches.  At that moment, the vampire to his left dissolved into a fine dust.  Finally. 

“What the hell took you so long?” Angel snarled before he neckchopped and staked the second vampire.

“What can I say?” Gunn drawled.  “Parking in LA’s a bitch.  Did English forget to duck again?”  The third vampire was decapitated with the sharp edge of an axe.

“No,” replied Angel as he chased the last vampire into a wall and staked him just to be sure.  “He forgot to run.”

Gunn herded the stunned humans into his truck and returned to Wesley’s side.  The former rogue demon hunter was shakily sitting up.  Even in the dimly lit alley Gunn could see the egg-shaped lump on Wesley’s head.  That was going to be one hell of a headache tomorrow.

“What did I miss?” croaked Wesley as he attempted to stand.  Gunn flashed him a shit-eating grin.  “An Angel ass-whuppin’!”  Angel growled threateningly.  “Don’t you be pullin’ any of your evil Angelus bullshit with me.  I know ass-whuppin’ when I see it an’ that was your sorry undead ass gettin’ beat.”  It sure as hell felt like it.

Angel’s cell phone rang.  “And that would be Cordy wondering where in hell we are,” added Gunn.  As he helped Wesley into the truck, he continued his play-by-play colour commentary on the evening’s fight.  Angel answered the phone.

“Tell me you love me.”  A woman’s trembling voice pleaded in his ear.  It was not Cordelia.  “Buffy?” What’s wrong?

“Tell me you love me.  Please.”  Something was off.  What’s going on?

“Buffy, what’s wrong?  Where are you?”  Angel could hear the tears in her voice and it scared him.  “Tell me where you are,” he commanded.  “I’ll come and get you.”  Gunn stepped out of the truck.  Angel’s body language screamed “trouble”, but the man couldn’t see anything.

“Buffy, please.  Tell me what’s wrong,” Angel repeated frantically. He could hear murmuring voices in the background.  Then his lover screamed and the phone was disconnected.  Angel’s primal roar echoed through the alley.

Part II

Too late.  I was too late.  Again.  Angel paced the perimeter of Giles’ living room.  Giles had thrown him out of the loft bedroom after the vampire had growled at him “once too many bloody times.”  He couldn’t help it.  His mate had been injured; she could have died.  And I was too goddamn late again.

He had spent the day pacing a trench in the lobby of the Hyperion.  Willow’s desperate call had arrived just after the sun edged into the easten sky.  Wesley was speaking to the excitable witch when Angel and Gunn emerged from the cellar.  Wesley waved his hand to get their attention.

“Willow, slow down.   Yes, I’m sure we have that book.  Do you want me to fax the page?  I see.  How much time?”  Wesley’s frown deepened.  “Right.  Yes, I’ll tell Angel.”  He turned the cordless phone off and stared at the floor.

“How bad is it?” Angel choked out.  The former Watcher looked at his friend.  The already pale vampire had lost the little colour he normally had.  Wesley put a hand on his forearm.  “She’s been injured, but Willow assures me it’s not life threatening.”

The vampire looked at him with a mixture of relief and surprise.  “I’m going to Sunnydale,” he announced anyway.  Wesley had never doubted that he wouldn’t, but it seemed prudent not to say that.

Angel hastily packed a bag and grabbed the information Willow needed.  He was about to leave the hotel when Cordelia leaned over the banister and asked him if he’d packed sunscreen.  He had looked up at her with “Huh?” written all over his face.  She had pointed to the sunlight streaming through the window and then watched him crumble into a chair.  The ex-cheerleader had sat with him through the day and tried to distract him with descriptions of her latest round of auditions.  When the sun finally set, Angel exited the lobby so quickly, he honestly couldn’t say if it was to see Buffy or escape Cordelia.

He arrived in Sunnydale a scarce ninety minutes after leaving LA.  He parked on the street outside of Giles’ home and raced to the door.  Willow must have been watching for him because she opened the door before he had a chance to knock.  They hugged briefly.  When Angel entered, he saw Xander, Anya, and some other woman sitting in the living room surrounded by stacks of books.  Willow’s computer was on the desk.  An angry man sat at the keyboard determinedly ignoring the new arrival.  Willow took his hand and pulled him further into the living room.

”Angel, I want you to meet my friend, Tara.  She’s a witch like me.”  From the loving gaze Willow bestowed on the blonde-haired woman, Angel knew this was no ordinary friend.  The two women were clearly attracted to each other.  Called that one right.  Wonder how long this has been going on.  Xander mumbled a “Hey, Angel.”  Anya gave him an appreciative appraisal again.  Riley Finn still ignored him.  That’s just too damn bad.

“Here,” said Angel, and he thrust Wesley’s book at Willow.  “This is the one you needed, right?”

“Yeah, thanks, but you didn’t need to bring it.”  Willow took the book and blushed when she realized why he’d made the trip.  “So.  Angel.  How are you?  Is business going well?  You must have lots of clients.”  She was babbling and everyone knew it.  An awkward silence descended on the room after Angel answered her questions.  “Why don’t you go on up?” Willow finally suggested quietly.  “She’s in Giles’s room.”

Angel ran up the stairs, paused outside of the closed door, and knocked gently.  Giles opened the door.  He had been expecting to see Riley again.  Instead a brooding vampire loomed in the doorway and asked, “Can I come in?”

Giles never thought he would be so relieved to see this vampire. “Angel.  I’m glad you’re here.  Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”  He stepped aside, and Angel walked into the claustrophobic room.  Buffy lay on Giles’s bed.  A thin film of sweat covered her face and she looked unusually pale.  A field dressing bandage was taped just above her right hip.

“I thought it wasn’t life threatening,” Angel whispered to Giles as he looked at a feverish Buffy.  She was still dressed in her blood-stained patrol clothes.  Angel approached the bed and touched a cool hand on her forehead.  She moaned his name in her sleep.  Buffy, what the hell happened?  Angel turned to the ex-Watcher. “What happened?  Why isn’t she at the hospital?”

“Well,” began Giles. “You know how she feels about hospitals.  Beyond putting that giant Band-Aid on, I haven’t actually seen the wound.  And she’s been rather taciturn about who or what did the damage.”  He didn’t want to admit to Angel that old-fashioned morality had prevented him from stripping the clothing from Buffy’s body and making a thorough investigation of the injury site.  Angel mentally smiled as he realized why Giles hadn’t examined Buffy’s wound.  But Riley…

“Did Riley look?  He has some basic medical training.”  And he’s seen Buffy without her clothes.  He really didn’t want to think about Riley’s hands on Buffy’s body, but it was logical that the solider would have checked her injury.  And why is she injured anyway?  Isn’t he supposed to be watching her back?  Angel’s jaw clenched in fury.

“Yes, well,” stammered Giles.  He removed his glasses and cleaned the lenses.  “Buffy has sort of been drifting in and out of consciousness.  When she’s coherent, she refuses to go the hospital.”

“And when she’s not?”  Angel wondered what the British man was trying not to say.

“When she’s incoherent, she keeps asking for you.”  Giles put his glasses back on and stared pointedly at Buffy’s ex-lover.  “Under the circumstances,” he continued.  “I thought it best if Riley did not hear that.”  Angel grinned in spite of himself.

He looked down at the beautiful woman that did and did not belong to him.  If the wound was infected, she needed antibiotics and maybe hospitalization.  He could forcibly take her to the hospital.  There was only so much yelling she could do.  Angel gathered her up in his arms and prepared to lift her off the bed.  Buffy opened her eyes.

“Angel?  Are you really here?”  He couldn’t help it.  He had to gently kiss her forehead.  This is trouble.

“I’m here.  I’m going to take you to the hospital.”  She dug her fingernails into his arms.  Her head rested on his chest.  She tilted it up to look into his eyes.  Her face was so close, it would be nothing to bend his head and capture her pouty lips in his own.  Forget it.  She’s not yours.

“Please, Angel, please don’t take me there.”  She pleaded with her whole body.  Unconsciously he tightened his grip on her.

“Buffy, you’re hurt.  We need to know how badly.”  He whispered the words into her ear and his mouth automatically kissed her earlobe.  She shivered in his arms.

“No.  I won’t go.”  God, she could be stubborn!  “You look.”  Her hot lips pressed against his cool mouth and she gently moaned.  Behind them, Giles loudly cleared his throat.  He was beginning to think that Angel’s presence was not a good idea.

Angel lay Buffy on the bed and unwound her arms from his neck.  “Giles, do you want to stay?”  I don’t want you to stay.  But if you do, I won’t have to worry about my soul.  Giles felt trapped.  The old spark between Angel and Buffy had burst into flame before his eyes.  He didn’t want to intrude on his Slayer’s privacy, but if he left the room, Riley would be here in an instant.

“I’ll make some hot tea for Buffy,” replied Giles.  “And a bloody stiff drink for me,” he muttered under his breath. He turned the lock in the door before he closed it behind him.  It wasn’t much, but it would give them some warning before Riley interrupted them.

Part III

Angel gazed at his lover.  It didn’t matter who she was with, he would always think of Buffy as his lover.  Present tense.  No ex.  The last time he had seen her, he had apologized for his behavior, but not for fighting Riley.  Why apologize for something I’d happily do again?  He brushed her hair off her face.  She opened her eyes.

“You Superman now?” she asked wearily.

“What?”  Is she hallucinating?  Her eyes looked clear and focused.  She didn’t seem to be delirious.

“Superman had x-ray vision,” she answered.  He still didn’t get it.  She suppressed a giggle at his confused facial expression.  “Are you going to tell me how bad it is?”  Her eyes lowered to the bandage on her hip.

Oh, right.  He would have to undo her pants and lift her shirt.  “Buffy, are you sure you want me to do this?  Shouldn’t Riley—” She cut him off with a shake of her head.  “Riley will make me go to the hospital.”  And that’s a bad thing? 

His fingers tentatively brushed the button at the waistband of her jeans.  His pants bulged noticeably.  Damn.  “Maybe I should ask Willow to come in and—” She put a single finger to his lips to quiet him.  “No Willow.  No Riley.  No Giles.  Only you,” she whispered.  Buffy slid her finger back and forth along his lower lip begging entry into his cool mouth.  He parted his lips, and her finger slipped in.  He sucked it slowly tasting the salt and sweat.  Angel closed his eyes and savoured the feeling.  When he opened his eyes, Buffy was smiling at him.  “You should probably look sooner rather than later,” she said.

Looking isn’t the problem.  It’s wanting that’s the problem.  Angel mentally slapped himself and matter-of-factly undid the button and pulled down the zipper on her jeans.  Did she pour these on?  “Buffy, can you lift your hips?”

She groaned.  “Yes, but it hurts like hell.”  Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Well, it’s that or I cut them off you,” suggested Angel.  He got the reaction he wanted.

“Are you nuts?  Do you have any idea how much these jeans cost?   Don’t even think about it, mister.”  She lifted her hips without flinching and pushed her jeans down to her knees.  Angel slid them off her feet and dropped them on the floor with a grimace.  Does she really think the bloodstains are gonna come out?  He made an effort not to look at Buffy’s underwear.  When he was dating her, she wore simple cotton hipsters that would absorb her juices.  He adored that unique smell.  On the day only he remembered she had worn a thong; clothes had become irrelevant after the kitchen table broke.  He really didn’t want to know what her preferred underwear was with Riley.

He kept his eyes on her face as he hesitantly lifted her t-shirt.  Apparently she preferred not to wear underwear.   Fuck.  No.  Not fuck.  Not allowed to fuck.  He closed his eyes and heard her stifled giggle.  “It’s not like you’ve never seen me before,” Buffy said coyly.  “Angel, open your eyes.”  Angel refused to open his eyes. “You’re not helping,” he growled.

“Angel, open your eyes.  Please.”  Her voice persuaded him.  He opened his eyes and looked deeply into hers.  “This is a dangerous game for us,” he warned.  He spotted a blanket at the foot of the bed and covered her with it.  When she was decent, he walked to the window and stared into the courtyard below.  What is she playing at?  Did something happen with Riley?  He could see her reflection in the window.  She was struggling to sit up.

“You’re brooding.”  She threw the accusation at him.  It stung.  Yes, I’m brooding.  You’re half naked and I’m supposed to do the “look but don’t touch” routine.  And I can, I think.  But I don’t want to.  The need to be with her was rapidly drowning out any other rational thought.

“Look, I’m sorry.  I didn’t plan this.  And I know it’s awkward.”  Her voice trailed into the tense silence.  She removed the bandage and sucked in a breath through clenched teeth.  He was at her side in an instant.  The wound wasn’t very deep.  Some disinfectant, some butterfly bandages, and a couple bottles of Motrin tablets would get her through the next few days.  Angel tenderly cleaned the wound and applied a fresh dressing.  His hand rested on her hip bone, his fingers brushed her triangle of curls.

“Buffy,” he breathed her name and then he was kissing her deeply, thoroughly, seeking solace in her mouth.  When he surfaced, the blanket had been pushed to the floor and she was naked before him.    “Just for tonight, Angel,” she whispered.  “Please.”

I’ll just hold her.  Nothing else.  As the mattress sunk beneath his weight, Angel silently acknowledged the lie.

Part IV

Buffy turned her body to Angel and nestled into his embrace.  His hands smoothed her hair as his mouth left butterfly kisses on her hairline.

“Close your eyes, Buffy.  Try to get some sleep.”  Please.  And then I can sneak out of here before I stray into non-ex-boyfriend territory.  She lifted one eyebrow and smiled at him.

“You, of all people, should not be telling me to close my eyes.  Bad things happen when eyes are closed.”  A single tear spilled onto her cheek and rolled onto his chest.  I know.  I remember.

Angel hugged her closer.  “I know.  But you still need to sleep.”  He felt her fingers slip beneath his shirt and splay across his chest.  “Buffy?” he whispered hoarsely.

“I can remember the last time I touched your chest.”  Her voice was mesmerizing.  Angel closed his eyes.  A day that wasn’t.  “Graduation Day,” she continued.  Buffy lifted his shirt and pressed her warm lips to the cool bare skin.  Chocolate and peanut butter.  “I never thought I’d feel your skin again.”  Her lips moved over Angel’s ribcage.   “When I close my eyes,” Buffy whispered against his skin, “I can still feel the silkiness beneath my fingers.”  Her tongue swirled over his nipple.  Warm tongue on warm skin licking cold ice cream.

Angel stifled his moan.  “Buffy, we can’t do this,” he pleaded.  He pulled her hands out from under his shirt and released them.  Then he dazedly watched his hands encircle her breasts.  His fingers kneaded their firmness; his thumbs traced lazy circles around each nipple until she arched in his hands.

“Please, Angel,” Buffy begged.  He couldn’t deny her.  He bent his head and laved one bud until it pebbled beneath his tongue.  Her hands kept his head at her breast as his tongue sucked and swirled, nipped and tasted, until her body exploded in ecstasy.  Without allowing her pause, Angel tilted his head to reach her other nipple.  As Buffy careened through her second orgasm, his fingers slipped to the apex of her legs.

He thought about asking for permission, but if I don’t ask, she can’t say no.  His fingers slipped between her legs and she moaned his name. What pulled him back to reality was Buffy’s sudden yelp of pain.  Oh, right, that would be the knife wound on her hip, you idiot.

“Buffy, I’m sorry.  I didn’t think.”  I am so not thinking.  Angel shifted his body weight off her and let her settle against him.  Buffy shivered and he noticed the goosebumps on her skin.  Okay.  First I try to kill her pain and then I try to freeze her.  I used to be so good at this lover stuff.  “You’re freezing.”  He covered her with the bedclothes.  The better to take the temptation away.  Angel started to sit up and was stopped by Buffy’s hand pressing onto his abdomen.

“Angel?  Stay until I go to sleep.”  All of a sudden, she didn’t look like a Slayer, just a scared young woman.

He relaxed his body.  “Okay.  But only if you go to sleep.”  Buffy nodded her head closed her eyes.

“Angel?” she whispered drowsily, “Thank you.”  For what, love?  For leaving you?  For loving you?

“You ‘re welcome,” he whispered in return.  But she had already drifted into sleep.  One arm was thrown over his chest and a soft snore filled the room.

Part V

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as that. Giles knocked on the door minutes later with tea for Buffy and blood for Angel.  He just happened to have this lying around?  Giles merely said, “Willow,” and handed him the mug of microwaved fluid.

The ex-Watcher entered the room and set the cups on the nightstand.  He glanced at his Slayer and noted that she was asleep.  Then he noticed her crumbled t-shirt and stained jeans.

“I take it we’re not going to the hospital tonight,” he observed.  Angel managed to look embarrassed.

“It’s not deep.  It’s already starting to knit together.”   The vampire returned to the window.  “Giles, what the hell is going on?”

Giles removed his glasses.  “An explanation.  Right.”  There was an explanation, a pathetic excuse for an explanation, but an explanation nonetheless.  Giles cleaned his glasses and weighed his options.  If he told Angel the truth, Xander would likely die in the next ten minutes.  If he lied about how Buffy was injured, it would give Riley a couple of hours to get out of town before Angel killed him.  If he refused to answer, Spike would be only too happy to fill in the blanks.

“Long or short?”  The ex-Watcher avoided the vampire’s glare and replaced his glasses.

“You tell me.  How many people am I not killing with the short version?”  Angel knew Giles was dancing around an ugly story.  Just tell me.  He looked at Buffy sleeping peacefully on the bed.  “Just tell me, Giles.”

The tired man picked up Buffy’s untouched tea and took a sip.  He grimaced at the excess sugar.  “She was patrolling and was ambushed.”

Angel turned his head and stared incredulously at Giles.  “And the long version?”

Giles sat on the bed and brushed the hair from Buffy’s face.  “She was patrolling with Riley.  They were ambushed and got separated in the fighting.  Riley tried to call for backup, but Xander had forgotten to turn his cell phone on.  Buffy had her phone and I gather that she called you. She was about to be dragged off when Spike rescued her and brought her here.”  He glanced at Angel.  “Angel, I know you care deeply for Buffy.  But she’s been hurt worse than this before.  She will recover from these injuries.”

The ex-Watcher blanched as Angel began to growl menacingly.

“Isn’t Riley supposed to watch her back?”  The words were spat out with disdain.  “What the hell was he doing?”  Why is she with him if he can’t even watch her back?  The man’s worse than useless.  He growled again.  “I can ask you Giles or I can go down there and pound it out of him.  What was Riley doing?”

“Buffy doesn’t like to patrol with him.”  Giles spoke matter-of-factly.

Angel waited.  Spit it out, Giles.

“She doesn’t think he can hold his own.”  There was no point in hiding this truth from Angel.  If he stayed in Sunnydale long enough, he’d either figure it out himself or Willow or Xander or Anya would let it slip.

Angel growled again.  “So, you’re telling me she’s out there on her own again?”

Giles removed his glasses and pinched his nose.  “Angel, she’s the Slayer.  She’s supposed to do it on her own.”

 

Angel’s next growl was beside Giles’ ear.  “And we both know how successful that plan’s been!”  Angel walked the length of the bedroom.  “Giles, she’s covered in bruises.  As bad as things were when I was here, she never looked like that.  She’s getting hammered.  She needs—“

“I need you.”  Buffy’s voice caused both men to turn back to the bed.  “I need you, Angel.  I need you fighting beside me as an equal.  Not someone I gotta worry about like Xander or Riley.”

Angel glanced at Giles and shook his head.  “Buffy, I can’t.  You know I can’t.”  Please.  Let’s not do this right now.

Buffy sat up and wrapped the sheet around her body.  Giles was frozen in place, an unwilling eyewitness to a heartwrenching scene.  “You can’t or you won’t, Angel?  You can’t be with me but you can get your butt here from LA when I’m hurt or need to be saved?  Why the hell can’t you?  Tell me.  Please.  I’m dying to know why you can’t be with me?”  The pain rolled off her body.

“Buffy, maybe you should have this conversation when you’re feeling stronger.”  Giles attempted to interevene.

I don’t know.  She looks stronger to me already.  Actually she looks pretty good with that sheet.  Angel gave himself another mental backhand.  “Giles is right.  We can talk about this later.”

“Oh, you mean you’ll be here later when I wake up?  That’s gotta be a first.”  She was angry and upset and physically weak.  Angel wanted nothing more than to lie with her again.

“Buffy, please.  You need to rest.”  He placed one hand on her shoulder and tried to gently push her back onto the mattress.  Maybe if I say it softly she’ll calm down.  Angel watched the tactic misfire splendidly.

“NO, Angel.  I want to know NOW!”  She used one arm to knock his hand off her shoulder and then she pushed him away.  Angel fell against the nightstand and knocked the lamp to the floor.

When he sat up, he was in gameface and he was growling.  Angel grabbed Buffy’s upper arms with his hands and squeezed tightly.  He pushed his face close to hers and snarled harshly, “BECAUSE IT HURTS TOO MUCH TO BE WITH YOU AND NOT HAVE YOU.”

He released Buffy when Giles said softly, “Angel, why don’t you wait downstairs.”  He could see the tears pooling in her eyes.  What have I done?

Part VI 

Giles slowly walked down the stairs and glanced around his home.  It was a mess.  Papers and books were piled on end tables, chairs, and even the floor.  Willow’s computer was no longer on the table.  He looked around and noticed that everyone had left except for Riley and Angel.  The two men sat glaring at each other.

He had had a difficult conversation with Buffy.  He had been unable to calm her down.  With Angel’s departure from the room, she had dissolved into a sobbing heaving mass.  Giles now had the uncomfortable task of asking Riley to leave.

Giles fussed in the kitchen and made a fresh cup of tea for Buffy.  He took the cup into the living room and silently handed it to Angel along with a bottle of Motrin.  Then he turned to Riley.  “Riley, why don’t you go home and get some rest.  Come back tomorrow.”

Riley stood up.  “But, Buffy—“ he protested.

Giles looked at him tiredly.  “Go home, Riley.”  He watched the soldier shake his head in disbelief, gather his belongings, and head out the door.  Giles turned to Angel.  “See if you can get her to go back to sleep.  If you need anything, I’ll be down here on the couch.”

It was Angel’s turn to disbelieve.  “Giles, are you sure this is a good idea?”

Giles yawned.  “No, I’m not sure.  But it’s not my decision, is it?  Go on.  I’ll see you both in the morning.”

Angel took the teacup and medicine up to Giles’ room.  When he entered the room, Buffy’s back was towards the doorway.  “Buffy?” he whispered.  “Are you awake?  Giles made you some tea.”  He turned and closed the door.  When he turned back, she was facing him.  Her face was splotchy and tear-streaked.  Her chest still heaved quietly.

He placed the cup on the nightstand and opened the medicine bottle.   Angel deposited three tablets beside the teacup.  “Here.  Take these.”

She reached for the tablets and washed them down with the tea.  Buffy replaced the teacup on the nightstand and raised clear eyes to Angel.  She lifted the sheets aways from the bed and patted the space beside her.

“Come to bed, Angel.”  This is going to be a very long night.

Part VII

His eyes adjusted to the darkness.  She had left space on the bed in case he changed his mind.  Angel stared at her silent form for several minutes.  Then he returned the blanket to the foot of the bed and picked up the empty teacup and the Motrin.  He was at the door when he heard her speak.