Damaged
By: spoiledsquish
Disclaimer: Not mine. If you don’t believe me, then watch Waiting In The Wings or A Hole In World for further indication that I don’t, nor never will, own them!
Author's Note: The title is from a Plumb song on the Brokedown Palace Soundtrack. I've only wrote the first chapter out so I won't be updating for another week. This story is another of those Sarah's-B/A-fics-that- never-seem-to-get-finished-because-part-of-her-can't-seem-to-finish-them. Anyway onto the story. Here's the lowdown. It's a Post-Chosen fic. In my world, Buffy sacrificed herself in "Chosen. Angel never took the job at Wolfram & Hart, he & Cordy never got together until three years *after* Buffy died. Connor never hated his father, blah, blah, blah. The AI team stayed for the End of Days. Even though Buffy did tell Spike she loved him, she meant it as brotherly love and he thought she meant it as romantic love so that's why he said "No you don't, but thanks for saying it. "
Distribution: My site, Seductive Web, PPA, Enchanting Place, Fanfiction.net, WTTS, PFYL, TEF, Sempiternal Beloved...If you host my fics regularly, feel free. If you don’t, just ask and most likely you shall receive.
Summary: Buffy has been dead for five years by being defeated by the First. She comes back, and chaos ensues.
Pairings: B/S friendship, A/C (make me yack already), B/A tension (for now) and C/D friendship.
Rating: PG-13 to R for language. Could eventually turn into NC-17.
Spoilers: Most of Season 2, I Will Remember You and Chosen. That about covers it. This fic takes place five years after Chosen ended.
Dedication: To all the true B/A'ers out there that never stopped believing. Here we are, guys. And we're about to get our wish within the next year or two...And to Baby Blues, the fanfiction.net writer who taught me to keep believing in the ship. This one's for you, B!
Chapter 1
~Los Angeles, 2008~
"Have a good time at the party with Dawn?" Angel asked Connor as he walked into the Hyperion.
"Except for the string of guys that were trying to get in her pants, yeah." Connor nodded. "Amazing how she knew how to handle herself."
"What do you mean?" Angel asked.
"Well, for a girl who has zero superpowers and whose sister was a vampire slayer, she sure can hit." Connor chuckled. "Man, that girl's got major grip."
"So, I don't have to beat anyone senseless?" Angel smiled.
"Not yet." Connor shook his head. "Where's Cordelia? And why are you all dressed up in a tux?"
"I--uh-- " Angel stuttered. " I'm taking Cordelia out. You know, a no demons or vampires kind of thing. Could you try and hold down the fort while we're gone?"
Before Connor can answer, in walks Spike. He's looking seriously shocked.
"We have a problem, Angel." Spike sighed as he barged in.
"Spike, I told you--" Angel started to growl.
"You have bigger problems at the moment than dinner, mate." Spike said. "I did recon at the old warehouse on 18th and Main. Found a girl there. Funny thing is--"
"Angel." Cordelia took his arm as she walked down the stairs. "I thought we were off-duty tonight."
"We are." Angel sighed. "Spike, we can."
"Your car's about to die out there, William." A figure stated as she walked into the Hyperion. "Probably should take it to get it fixed."
"Oh my God." Cordelia mumbled. "Buffy?"
"Who's Buffy?" the blonde asked. "I don't know any Buffy."
"Spike. My office. Now." Angel pushed him in there and ushered him to a chair. "How did--Where did--"
"It's Buffy, Angel." Spike explained. "She doesn't know who we are, much less who she is. She has amnesia."
"You're telling me that that girl in there is the body of my--of Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Yes." Spike answered.
"That's impossible, Spike." Angel shook his head. "She died. We both saw it. She put on the amulet and it burned her flesh until it killed her. This girl is not Buffy, Spike."
"She has a scar on her neck." Spike admitted. "You and I both know that mark. How do you explain it?"
"Barbecue fork? Coincidence, Spike." Angel sighed. "I would know if it was Buffy. We have a connection. I don't have a connection with that girl, Spike."
"Fine." Spike nodded. "If she loved me like she loves you...God knows I'd leave Cordelia Chase for Buffy Summers any day."
"Well, you're not me, Spike." Angel shot back. "Do you have any idea what it was like to watch her do that? I wanted to die with her, Spike. God, how I wanted to. But Cordelia...Cordelia convinced me to do the right thing. To move on. She taught me how to survive."
"You don't want her back, do you?" Spike spat out. "It'd not only cause problems between you and the missus but it'd make you rethink your whole relationship with your seer. You want everything to be easy. But here's an interesting fact. Everything's not easy, Angel. Buffy loved you until the day she died, and most likely even after. That girl out there is Buffy Summers, whether you like it or not. She's not going anywhere."
Spike walks out of the office to where Buffy is. The blonde is laughing and talking with Connor. Cordelia is staring at them intently, her aura giving off enormous jealous signals.
"Hey." Angel kissed Cordelia on her forehead.
"It's so weird." Cordelia whispered, staring at Buffy. "She talks, moves and has all of Buffy's personality, but she's not. Angel, I feel like the Powers sent her back to punish me."
"What?" Angel asked. "Why would you think that?"
"For me being with you." Cordelia answered. "I know it's silly, really. Is she really Buffy?"
"Fraid so." Angel confirmed. "She has amnesia, Cor. She has no idea who any of us are. She doesn't know she's a Slayer or that she died." "Angel.." Cordelia sighed.
"Mate, I'm gonna take off." Spike took Buffy's hand. "We'll talk later."
"Actually." Angel started to say.
"It was nice to meet you, Miss."Cordelia stated, searching for an answer.
"Oh. The name's Joyce. Joyce Madison." Buffy turned to Spike. "William, I think you should call a cab. Your car's really not safe to drive."
"Luv, please." Spike scoffed. "My baby's fine. Look I could call you a cab if you don't feel safe riding in my car."
"I could call Dawn." Connor suggested. "She could come take you."
"No!" Spike, Cordelia and Angel yelled.
"Dawn." Buffy murmured silently and closed her eyes. And then her memory of the brunette came flooding back into her brain.