Part 4

When Buffy returned to her dorm room after she in due course managed to break away from the clutches of Lorne, the over- sociable host, she found that something had been shoved under her door. She looked at it and found it was a handout publicizing a frat party at Lowell House, she was so busy looking she didn't hear her irritating neighbour come within reach of until it was too late to run.

"Hi Beth," Jemmie said smiling. "You gonna go to the party... Sounds like fun!"

Buffy shook her head, "No. I'm not exactly a party girl."

"It'll be fun," Jemmie tried to convince her; "You could go with me and some of the gang."

Buffy smiled at her, "Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll pass."

"Okay, but if you change your mind..."

"I know where to find you," Buffy replied echoing the words spoken to her only hours previously by Angel.

"Goodnight then."

"'Goodnight," Buffy said going inside her room and shutting the door before someone else accosted her.

Once Buffy had done that she took a seat on her bed and heaved a sigh, too much had gone on for her to pay no attention to. And she had a troublesome feeling that although he'd given up chasing her today; Angel would be back on her trail tomorrow.

How was she supposed to do her job when he was around persistently? When all she really wanted to do was run into his arms, or beat his head in... She couldn't genuinely make a decision as to which one would beyond doubt make her happy. She knew that she wasn't going to come to any deductions right then, so she changed into her FBI issued pyjamas and climbed into the bed, and hastily fell into a agitated sleep.

In Angel’s small apartment across town, Faith looked across the kitchen table at the man in question and wondered what was going on. He'd called her and asked her to come over as soon as was achievable and obviously she'd expected some considerable bedroom action - as an alternative he'd been sitting across the table from her staring into space for the past two hours.

"What in the hell is wrong with you?" she asked ultimately snapping at him. "You ask me to come over and then you stare at me. Why don’t you talk to me?"

"I think we should stop seeing each other," he said without warning.

Faith paled in shock, "What?"

"After seeing Buffy again... even if it isn't in actual fact her. I realise that I love her and not you."

"Let me get this straight. You’re dumping me over a girl who ditched you a decade ago and who may or may not be disguised and hiding out in one of your classes."

"Yes," when it was said like that it sounded preposterous, but somehow he knew that it was Buffy.

Faith stood up, "You're a fucking idiot and I hope that it isn't her, so that you spend the rest of your wretched life alone, because I won't be waiting for you to change your mind."

"I didn't expect that you would."

Faith went to leave, but at the last second turned back. "You know what the nastiest thing about this is?"

"What?" he asked already knowing the answer that she would give him.

"That I've been in love with you for years, while you loved her and that I was stupid enough to think that I could change your mind,” Faith told him as she walked out of the door.

Angel just stared at the now closed door and whispered, "I'm sorry."

When Buffy woke up the next morning she realised that she was running tremendously behind schedule for her meeting with Dave and she hurried to get over to the motor inn. When she arrived she saw a squad car leaving and headed as without delay towards Dave's room. She banged on the door and when no one answered, she tried the door and found it open. Once inside she found Dave packing up his equipment and other delicate objects.

"What's going on?" she asked him enquiringly.

Dave looked up at her, "The locals have arrested a suspect."

"So?"

"They requested that I leave their jurisdiction," Dave told her.

"*We're* leaving?"

"No, *I'm* leaving. The locals don't know about you or your assignment and the bureau have decided to leave you in place... just in case," Dave said packing the last of his belongings and shutting his case.

"Wait a second. You're leaving me here alone without back up?" Buffy question in disbelief, how was it even possible, it was totally against policy.

Dave sighed and looked at her, "It’s okay Buff. You can call the LA office if you need something."

"The LA office is at least two hours away. What if I need help without delay?"

"You'll be fine," Dave said checking that he had gotten everything.

Buffy looked at him and knew something was up, "What aren't you telling me?"

"The orders didn't come from Parks," he whispered.

"Who?"

"The director."

Buffy stared at Dave, "The director is going against policy. What is going on?"

"I don't know," Dave said hugging her, "But be careful."

"I will," she promised as she watched him go.

End Part