3rd Person's POV

His black leather jacket hung from a hook on a coat hanger that sat in the corner of the room.

Why did he help?

Is the main question running through Laney's head.

He helped when the others didn't.

Couldn't...

Wouldn't...

You don't know that.

Laney scoffs at her good conscience before running her hands down her face groaning in frustration.

She was over it. Completely. She was tired of coming in second place. She was tired of being right but feeling like she was the one in the wrong.

So many things were running through her mind. So many questions. She was so lost. So confused.

So done...

Sighing Laney slowly pushes the covers off her and takes her time slightly limping to the bathroom. Looking down at her foot which was still in a cast, Laney frowns then slowly lifts her head up to look at herself in the mirror.

She didn't even look like herself. She didn't know who she was looking at. Who the reflection was. Looking at all the bruises around her neck, arms, chest, and eye made her gulp slightly. As she stared into her eyes they just reflected back nothing. She just felt numb.

Bringing her hand up to her neck, she slowly peels back a piece of gauze that covered the bite mark left by Angelus. Breathing in slowly, she stares at the bite and her fingers softly graze it making her wince away and clear her throat.

As she completely focuses in on the other gauze on the opposite side of her neck, she balls up her free hand by her side in anger. She breathes in deeply and flinches harshly as she feels a hand graze her arm.

"Ah!"

"Hey... I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. It's okay... it's just me..." Colby holds his hands up to her with a soft warm reassuring smile, "You're okay..."

Laney grimaces trying to smile as she scratches her arm, "Okay... s-sorry..."

Colby stands up straight and shakes his head taking a step away from her, "Don't be sorry, Lane. You're fine. I'm sorry I scared you."

Laney nods then bites her lip, "Um, I-I-I'm happy you're b-back."

Colby watches her pull at the gauze wrapped around her wrists. Then one of her hands move to her hospital gown. She tugged at it softly then bunched it up before letting go and repeating the cycle. He mentally takes note of this being one of her new tells of uncomfortableness.

"Me too, beautiful. You sure you're okay? Wanna talk-"

"No!" Laney chuckles uncomfortably while shaking her head frantically, "S-sorry. Sorry, I mean no. N-no thank you. I'm sorry."

Colby smiles softly slowly moving towards Laney as much as she'd allow him to. He didn't know what happened to her in that house. No one knew. But only thing everybody did know was that she would only talk to Colby. She didn't even allow anyone else other than nurses or doctors in her room for two days now.

"Stop saying sorry." Colby places his hand softly on the back of her head and kisses her hair before stepping away once more giving her space, "You're fine baby I promise."

Laney nods and takes in a deep breath. She didn't want Colby to be upset with her. She didn't want him to leave her again.

"It's Monday tomorrow. The nurse said if you feel up to it, you can be released. You can go to school if you want."

Laney cracks a genuine smile making Colby bite his lip trying not to grin.

"I can go to school? Yay..."

Colby laughs at her sarcasm, "Hey I'm just relaying the message."

Nodding once more, Laney peeks over at the other room seeing all the balloons and cards on the table near the door.

Did she want to go back yet?

Did she want to see everyone?

Did she want to hear Giles voice and instantly be brought back into her personal hell?

"I-I don't think I feel comfortable leaving yet..."

Colby nods, "Of course. I'll tell your mom..." Colby receives a look from Laney and clears his throat, "Sheila. I'll tell Sheila."

As Colby walks out the bathroom, Laney starts to scratch at her arms once more feeling her nerves start to hike up once more.

"Are you coming back?"

"Of course."

"Promise?"

"I swear beautiful."

Laney nods watching him disappear out the room after giving her another look over. She turns back to the bathroom mirror feeling her eyes fill up with tears. Her throat starts to feel dry as she chokes out a sob. Her back slides down the wall behind her as she falls to the ground crying. Flashes of the other night go off in her head as she pulls at her hair screaming for it to stop.

"No! Stop!" She rocks back and forth sobbing and flinching as if she could hear the screams once more, "Giles! Stop it! Please don't hurt him!"

Arms wrap around her making her scream once more in fright while fighting to get out of the persons grip.

"It's alright Laney... it's over now. I'm alright."

Opening her eyes and going still instantly, Laney looks up to see Giles holding her arms stopping her from harming herself anymore than she has. Looking down at her bloody nails she then gazes down to see scratches up and down her entire arm.

"You're alright, Laney."

Laney cries once more throwing herself into Giles arms. He holds her tightly and rocks them both as Colby stands at the room door. Colby knew she had to see Giles soon. The two were both taken and tortured. Who else better to help than the one person who was there with Laney?

"Everything will be alright..."

...

At Sunnydale High, Xander and Giles walk up to Oz pushing Willow in a wheelchair with Cordelia at their side. Giles' walk is a bit unsteady but he doesn't let that stop him from continuing on with his life and job.

"Willow, are you sure you should be out of bed?"

Willow nods to him, "Look who's talking."

Giles smiles, "Yes."

Cordelia looks between the two and frowns. Half the group was hurt. Because of Angelus. Because of Buffy not listening to Laney. She really wished the blonde would stay far away until the group had healed. But the group thought otherwise.

Where was Buffy?

Why hadn't she called?

Always the heroine... Well what about Laney? Her best friend took her and did who knows what to her. Someone she put her full complete trust into. He killed someone close to her, hurt her mentor/parental figure, hurt her, and only a few of them cared. It wasn't right.

It wasn't fair.

Willow sighs, "Any word?"

Xander frowns, "You guys haven't seen her either?"

"No." Cordelia says plainly while texting Colby hoping to receive any information on Laney. She still hasn't seen the girl. She didn't feel upset about it. She hoped her friend would get better any way she needed to. She just wasn't sure why she wasn't allowed to see her yet.

"But we know the world didn't end, 'cause..." Oz looks around happily, "check it out."

Giles takes off his glasses and squints, "Well, we, uh... we went back to the mansion. I-it was empty, um... and Acathla was, was... dormant."

Willow nods, "I think the spell worked. I felt something go through me."

Cordelia shrugs still texting, "Plus the Orb did that cool glow thing."

"Well, maybe it wasn't in time. Maybe she had to kill him before the cure could work." Xander bites his lip looking away from Cordelia who peeks over at him.

"Well, then, she'd wanna be alone, I guess."

Willow shrugs, "Or maybe Angel was saved, and they want to be alone together."

Giles nods, "Perhaps."

"Well, she's gotta show up sooner or later. We still have school." Cordelia says pointed before walking up the stairs into the front of the building.

"Yeah..." Willow looks around for her, "She'll be here in a while."

The rest of them all turn and head into the school. Nearby Buffy looks at the school from behind a tree. She watches them as they go in looking sadly at the school. A light breeze sweeps her hair back. She turns around and walks away down the street without looking back.

Moments later, Buffy sits inside a bus that drives away from the school. Buffy looks out the window calmly as the bus drives on past her house. The one lane cuts to a two-lane road leading out of town. The bus passes a sign that reads:

NOW LEAVING SUNNYDALE
come back soon!

...

Cordelia could read her like a book. That's why Laney had tried so hard to only allow Giles and Colby and Willow's mom into her hospital room. The girl was her best friend. She was there for her since they were young kids. She knew what happened to her freshman year... if she took one look at her now...

She'd know.

But the girl couldn't wait any longer.

"Colby I swear to god if you don't move out of my way in zero point two seconds I will cut your hair off in your sleep and glue it to your back!"

Colby raises an eyebrow at the girl, "Creative."

Laney smiles softly shaking her head, "Colby... it's fine. You can let her in."

Colby chuckles moving to the side as Cordelia quickly struts into the hospital room.

"Thank you!"

"I'll leave you both to it."

Laney watches Colby leave. As she opens her mouth to say something he quickly turns around and holds up his pointer finger and middle finger crossed together as if gesturing promise.

Laney nods and watches him close the door while letting out a shaky breath. She turns her attention to Cordelia who slowly walks over to the bed. She doesn't even try to sit in the chair beside the bed but instead sits on the covers and pulls Laney into a hug.

Laney freezes hearing Cordelia start to cry.

"Why are you crying?"

"What did he do?"

"What?"

"What did he do, Laney?"

"I d-don't-"

"Don't do that! You know exactly what I'm talking about. It's why you wouldn't let me see you. I know you, Laney. Like the back of my hand. You're my best friend." Cordelia shakes her head looking at Laney before whispering, "What did he do?"

Laney bites the inside of her cheek looking away from Cordelia.

"He didn't..." Cordelia's eyes water immediately but she doesn't finish her sentence. Only does she pull Laney into another hug this time rubbing her back reassuringly. "That won't ever happen again. Ever."

Laney frowns shaking her head, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You remember when your brainless ex 'cheated' with me while you were in Paris with your mom?"

Laney nods confused, "What does that have to do with-"

"Laney I know what he did to you. He told me. He threatened me that if I told anyone, went to the police that he would do everything in his being to make sure you would never be happy again. And I thought that by giving him what he wanted at the time that he would leave you alone... it didn't. It just allowed him to have us both."

Laney stares at Cordelia with wide eyes. All this time she thought Cordelia had slept with her ex because she was a bad friend.

"H-he... oh god... why didn't you tell me? I hated you for so long."

"Because the thought was there. Before I knew what he did. I felt like such a horrible friend to even think of cheating with your ex. I felt like I deserved it. And if it kept you safe then so be it."

Laney pulls Cordelia into a hug, "Never do that ever again! Are you crazy?"

"Laney I'm fine now. But the question is, are you?"

Laney sniffles shaking her head as she looks at her best friend, "Cordy I'm so not okay. He did it. He finally ruined me."

"Don't let him win, Laney."

"He's already won!"

"No he hasn't. You're still here. You're still human. And you still have your friends. I'd say he failed. He may have taken something from you and hurt you deeply. Even almost ruined... but he did not win. You're the strongest person I know, Laney. It's time you see it too."

...

Laney has been thinking a lot about her talk with Cordelia. To find out that her best friend would do something so brave yet so stupid meant everything to her. Cordy was her friend for life. She was family. However it hurt that she couldn't say the same for her actual one.

She had to of course lie and say that she was attacked in an alley and she didn't see who it was. But Sheila hadn't really been at the hospital that much anyways to ask questions. Willow hadn't been there at all minus when she was in there herself. Willow hadn't asked Cordelia or Colby how Laney was.

The Scooby Gang was fake.

The only ones who cared was her best friend, her boyfriend, her mentor, and her bandmate. The other three... for all Laney cared, they could go to hell.

KNOCK KNOCK

Laney doesn't say anything as the door slightly opens. She watches as Xander wheels Willow into the room. The two stand there awkward and quiet.

"Where's the other one?"

The two look at Laney slightly confused.

"The third musketeer.. duh..."

Willow nods, "Oh. We don't know. We've been looking around town but haven't gotten anything."

"Hm..." Laney gazes at the gauze taped to Willow's forehead then purses her lips, "How are you?"

Willow smiles lightly. She was glad her sister wasn't mad at her. Of course she had put most of her time into finding Buffy but that was because that was her best friend and Sunnydale needed her. Willow needed her.

"I'm okay. Just a bump. You?"

Laney chuckles humorlessly, "I'm fantastic."

Xander frowns hearing the sarcasm and flinches as her blank stare reaches his figure, "That's good-"

"Actually you know what... I'm done pretending like it doesn't hurt. Like I don't care. Because I do."

"What do you mean?"

"That night... Buffy was fighting... Giles was saved by you Xander... so who saved me?"

Willow and Xander stay quiet as they try to figure out what to say next.

"Do you even know?"

Willow sniffles making Laney scoff, "Tears really Willow? How do you think I feel knowing my own blood cares more about some random girl than she does me? And a boy that I've known most of my life just forgets about me when a new blonde chew toy shows up."

"Laney-"

"Shut up! You wanna know how I got out? I'll tell you! Someone who you would think is our enemy. Someone who should be against all of us. How does Spike help me? He helped me!! Do you not understand the absolute insanity that revolves around that statement. A vampire with no soul helped me when you guys couldn't!"

"Laney we tried-"

"Tried? Tried what?! Tried when? Tried how?! Explain it to me because I'm lost entirely."

Nothing.

"Did you even look for me?" Laney says to Xander

Xander sighs, "Laney I went back and you weren't there-"

"Thank god I wasn't. What if things went left? What if he stopped Buffy? What if one of his little minions went to go rip my throat out while you were lollygaggjng doing who knows what? What if I bled out and just died in that house... Tell me this Xander. When did you go back? After you got Giles? After ten minutes? Maybe an hour?"

Xander shakes his head looking down at his shoes, "I'm sorry."

"A day!" Laney yells while slamming her hand on the table beside her making the two jump in fright, "It took you a goddamn day!"

"Laney, I'm so sorry. I will continue to apologize every day that I live. I just got so focused on getting Giles out at the time. He said your name then he passed out. Once I got him far away I called an ambulance and I totally-"

"Forgot me? Oh wow... that's your excuse? I would've never!! Ever!! Done this to you. Either of you!" Laney looks at Willow shaking her head, "What about you? Did you even care to ask where I was?"

Nothing.

"Or were you all too busy looking for Buffy? The slayer..." Laney giggles shaking her head, "Oh please. She lost the love of her life? Cry me a fucking river."

Xander and Willow both freeze as Laney becomes dead serious. The smile leaves her face and her eyes hold nothing but anger and hatred.

"All my life has been full of pain, abuse, sadness, and loss. Until I met-" Laney thought about him and she couldn't say his name. She wouldn't. It hurt too bad. He was long gone. He would never be back. And things would never be like they were once before.

"Well now that's ruined... I truly only have three people who care about me and my well being. I know their feelings of love and protection has never swayed. Ever..."

"We do love you."

Laney chuckles, "Couldn't tell... When school starts back after the summer... how about we go back to how it was before? Pretend like we don't know each other. Because looking at you both right now I have no idea who you are. I just see two sad pathetic little people who shadow behind a girl who only cares about herself. She didn't even say goodbye for crying out loud." Laney full on laughs as Xander looks to the window and frowns. Willow feels a tear slide down her cheek, "She left you both. You think she cares? No."

Laney stops laughing and stares at them blankly. She looks them both up and down before scoffing.

"Funny... I don't either. Now get out."

😮‍💨👀 Laney is over it and she is about to become a total badass. I'm so excited for next season y'all have no idea!!!

What do you think about how Laney was feeling?

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