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[destructo_gal]

I left Angel's office as quickly as I could. It was too hard to see that, him and her and the shared looks. Maybe if I'd been just a little bit prepaired for it everything would have been ok, but I wasn't prepaired. I mean I'd heard, things but I hadn't seen anything to confirm those things first hand. And then there she was and the look on his

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[_fred_burkle_]

I was on my way back to the lab when I'd seen that girl that was here to see Angel, his ex with the funny name, dart into the bathroom as fast as her feet would carry her.

Which was actually amazingly fast, but that makes sense, being a slayer and all. Speed is useful in fighting the nasties of this world.

I went into the bathroom slowly, in case she was just pacing back and forth or something, didn't want to startle her.

"Buffy?" I start gently when I realise she's locked herself in one of the stalls, "I don't want to intrude, but you seemed a little upset, so I just wanted to make sure you were okay..." I explained, but even as I did I couldn't help but feel I had no right to be checking on her. We didn't know each other at all, but I didn't like the idea of her being in here all by herself, hiding from Angel, from whatever it was he had said or done to cause her to lock herself in a public bathroom.

[knew_no_fear]

I heard the bathroom door open and I cringed but didn't move to make it so I couldn't be seen. Or rather my leather boots seen sticking out from the stall

[_fred_burkle_]

"Um, Buffy..." I started again, "If you don't mind me saying, that wasn't really all that convincing."

I sighed slightly, for someone who was so strong, been through so much, she seemed positively broken right now. It was almost painful to see the devastation and loss etched all over her face.

"Look, I know you don't know me, and therefore really have no reason to even have answered me in the first place, but is their anything I can do to help?" I offered, "Even just getting you a cup of coffee or something?"

[destructo_gal]

I smiled despite myself at her comment, I wasn't very convincing. That wasn't a huge shocker. I almost wished no one had seen me, but here I was faced with one of Angel's best friends, someone who'd gotten to be near him the past few years. Near Cordelia as well, someone who'd seen them together.

I looked at her, "I really need to get out of here to tell you the truth. Coffee is good, but I don't want to put you out. I'm sure you have work to do."

I looked down at my hands, "Besides I don't know you but you know Angel, friends with him, it kind of gives you a free book of trust with me."

[_fred_burkle_]

"My work'll keep for however long it'll take us to get you a cup of coffee, I promise." I smiled warmly to her, trying to reassure her that I wouldn't have offered to get her any if I didn't have the time.

There wasn't a single thing in the lab that I could think of that needed me down there right this second, and if their was, someone else was just going to have to deal with it right now.

"What do you say will kill two birds with one stone and go to the cafe on the corner? Gets you out of the building, and the coffee's much better." I suggested, hoping that maybe getting her out of what she considered to be Angel's domain might help just a little. I wasn't sure if she'd want to, but she said she trusted me, so it seemed worth a shot.

[superhero_grrl]

I smiled at her warmly, too nice. Why were people who didn't know me always either way too nice or way too mean?

I mean, she had to know of me, she was around when I died and came back so it's safe to assume the Buffy history has been rehashed at least a little bit. I appreciated her offer more than I could express.

"That sounds like an offer I'd be stupid to refuse. I just have to get out of here, it's choking me."

I wasn't going to elaborate on exactly what it was that was doing the choking but that wasn't needed anyway. Right? I really didn't want to make someone hate me because I couldn't get over some bit of jealousy and hurt I felt.

[_fred_burkle_]

"Let's get out of here then." I smiled to her again.

I kind of wondered if she knew I didn't care in the slightest who said what or why she was this upset. All I knew is that she was hurting and it felt wrong not to do something about that.

"I'll even buy, since it was my idea in the first place." I added, as I started to head from the room.

[knew_no_fear]

"Thanks."

I followed her out into the maze of offices and tried not to notice the stares, why the hell were people looking at me. Was there a memo "slayer in the building?" Or? Ew, tell me somehow that this place doesn't have some file on me.

"Uh, Fred? Why are the evil drones all staring at me?"

[_fred_burkle_]

"'Cause most of 'em know who you are. Either by reputation or because they know Angel's, I'm sure." I told her, "I mean, come on...you've stopped the world from ending how many times? How could they not know who you are?" I questioned.

I knew the last thing she probably wanted right now was a bunch of office workers and legal aides gawking at her.

"Don't worry about, really, they all stop talking completely when I walk into a room most of the time. Kinda a hazard of being one of the higher-ups, I think. Or in your case practically famous." I babbled. "And I should really just stop talking, shouldn't I?"

[superhero_grrl]

Gee, and I thought being popular would be less creepy. I guess it's that gift horse thing. With the gifts and the horses and the weirdness. Where would a horse put such a gift anyway?

"I stopped counting at 7, it just seemed a little redundant."

I smiled at her.

"You don't have to stop talking, believe me, I'm pretty much with the good of listening and being talked to. And I'm sure the reason you get dropping jaws in your labs has more to do with the hottness of you than the higher up thing."

[_fred_burkle_]

"Right." I rolled my eyes slightly when she said the reason people freeze up when I walk into a room was my looks. She was just being nice, which was, well, nice, but wasn't I supposed to be cheering her up? Making her feel better? "Little mousy me? Somehow I doubt it, but thank you."

"Let me know if I'm talking your ear off a little too much, 'cause I have this tendency to yammer endlessly. I'm really surprised more people don't get completely annoyed with me." I told her smiling softly.

[superhero_grrl]

I couldn't help but grin.

"Yeah well you've met Willow once or twice right? She's the babble queen, totally puts me to shame and I babble like there is no tommorrow, usually when I'm uncomfortable and trying to explain something I don't really get."

And usually with Angel, he always brings out the babble in me.

"And you are far from mousy Fred. Trust me when I say heartbeats go up a notch when you walk by. I may not have that nifty vampire hearing like Angel but I do have some heighten senses and you're being crunched on."

Plus I'd heard our dear old Wesley was more than a little enamored with Ms. Burkle, but that wasn't the point.

[_fred_burkle_]

"I think I'm just gonna have to take your word for it there." I smiled to her, still a little unbelieving, but having a feeling that she wasn't exactly going to let me get away with telling her otherwise again. "Fair compromise, right?"

"And yeah, Willow and I seem to have bonded over our mutual babble issue." I laughed softly. "Good to know that I won't drive you crazy with it though, 'cause being crazy isn't exactly as much fun as you might think it'd be." I added. "I babble pretty much all the time, just the speed varies depending on circumstances."

[superhero_grrl]

"No, I bet being kinda crazy would be a bummer." I said lamely. Well what the hell did you say to that kind of comment? No I totally want to try on some crazy shoes and see how they fit? Please, I'm not Cordelia, I actually think before I speak, ok sometimes I think before I speak.

"I've been known to babble myself. Ask Angel, his little amused look when I'm in the middle of a good ramble totally piss me off, just want to smack the smirk off his face."

Granted I haven't had such opportunities in a while, but I'm sure she'd know exactly what I was talking about. Unless of course his amused little smile was something reserved for me. Which hey, who knew?