Buffy was still in shock from the punch to her stomach
to register the open hand to her cheekbone. He'd
actually swung on her. Sweet, humble Riley had actually
hit her. She was too stunned to form a coherent thought
past the fact that Riley really hurt her.Riley’s
anger finally simmered to a low boil. He blinked and
focused on Buffy. His vision took in her huddled and
shaking form. He saw the bruise forming on her cheek and
couldn’t believe he had done such a thing. What had
gotten into him? It was like a single thought of any
other guy touching her made him crazy.
He held her face between his mammoth hands and kissed
her all over. “I’m sorry, Buffy. I didn’t mean to lash
out like that. Please forgive me, honey,” Riley pleaded.
She looked up at him in disbelief that he had struck
her. Tears began to form in her eyes all over again,
threatening to burst down her cheeks. She shuddered and
nodded. “It’s ok, Riley. It’s just the strain of my
mother’s condition. It’s doing a number on both of us.”
Riley nodded in agreement. He helped Buffy to stand
and walked with her to the bathroom. He sat her on the
toilet lid, pivoting to turn on the bath for her.
While waiting for the tub to fill, he helped her
disrobe and touched the bruising marks on her body.
Riley was still in a dazed shock that he had lashed out
at Buffy. But it drove him crazy that he couldn’t touch
her, couldn’t get close to her like the Scoobies were.
He always remained the outsider of the group. He felt
like an interloper, or third wheel, that shouldn’t be
witnessing their private Scoobie meetings.
Buffy looked down at her hands resting in her lap.
Her body was sore all over. Her shoulder hurt from the
jarring it took when Riley pushed her against the wall.
There was an aching pain in her stomach from Riley’s
knee. Muscles she never even knew she had ached so much.
Riley turned the water off, and tested the
temperature with his fingers. He stood up and went over
to Buffy. He picked her up in his arms and settled her
into the warm water. He grabbed the sponge, soaped it up
and lathered her neck, shoulders and arms. He didn’t
look at her as he helped her wash. He couldn’t look at
the hurt and accusation in her eyes. He kept his eyes
averted from her face and tried not to see the bruises
he’d inflicted on her body.
Buffy laid back and let the warm soapy water soothe
her body. She couldn’t even look at Riley. She didn’t
think she ever would be able to look him in the eye
again after tonight. All she’d see was the silent
accusation of betrayal that was never committed. She
just wanted to patrol and then go to sleep.
“Buffy. You shouldn’t make me mad. I just go crazy. I
can see why Angel lost his soul with you. You’re
beautiful and caring. The thought that he has a part of
you, and the fact that you won't let me even touch you
makes it worse..." Riley whispered.
Buffy was jolted out of her thoughts by Riley as if
he had shouted at her. She looked around like a deer in
headlights before finally settling into a tense state.
She couldn’t even pinpoint where her relationship with
Riley had gone wrong. It was like one day it was
wonderful and new. The next it was going downhill like a
huge avalanche.
Riley stood up to get a towel for her, indicating
that she should rise from the tub. Buffy stood in the
middle of the water, waiting quietly. He dried her off
and helped her to step out of the tub onto the rug that
covered the cold tile floor.
“Now, you’re going to get dressed, go patrol and come
home to bed.” Riley said, as he wrapped the towel around
her.
Buffy shivered, not knowing if it was from the air in
the room or the ice in his voice. The tone he had meant
that there would be no arguing her side anymore. He was
no longer her easy-going friend. She felt nervous around
him. She nodded in agreement and went to find something
to wear for patrol.
