3rd Person's POV
Laney's hand knocks quickly on the hard door as she stands and waits in worry.
"Angel! Open up!"
The door swings open and Laney pushes past Angel and walks inside. Angel closes the door and crosses his arms over his chest as he watches Laney pace around.
"Alright now I know this is gonna sound crazy but-"
She looks up and stops immediately. Her words are caught in the back of her throat as she looks at the half clothed Angel. Of course he was attractive and of course this time he didn't have a shirt on she was alone with him. Her heart beats fast against her chest as she tries to think of words in her head. Angel can almost hear the speed of Laney's heart as she stands in front of him.
Laney shakes her head and takes a deep breathe, "Do you own a shirt?"
There's knocking at the door and Angel glances at Laney in confusion then back at the door. He makes his way over wondering who it could be.
Angel sighs as he holds the door open, "Oh. Look who's here."
Xander comes in like he's on a mission.
"Mind if I come in?"
Angel closes the door and replies sarcastically, "Make yourself at home."
Xander glances over at Laney then does a double take. Laney smiles sheepishly.
"What are you doing here?"
He looks from Laney to Angel's bare chest then back to Laney who was now blushing.
"It's not what you think." Angel says with a calm blank face.
"Yeah like at all." Laney shakes her head quickly.
Xander rolls his eyes, "Whatever. Look she's gone."
Angel frowns in confusion, "Whadaya mean?"
"Buffy, she's gone to fight the Master."
Laney gasps, "Oh yeah! That's what I was trying to say."
Xander glares at Laney as she grimaces, "You've been here for who knows how long and that wasn't the first thing you said?"
Laney glares back, "Well I'm sorry. Excuse me for being a teenage girl-"
Xander points at her, "Aha! Do you admit you do have a crush!?"
"No! Wh-"
Angel whistles making the two look at him, " Guys! He'll kill her."
Xander nods, "Rumor has it. Only we're not gonna let it happen."
Laney crosses her arms over her chest, "Well, what do you propose we do about it?"
Xander looks at Angel, "Look, I know you can find this Master guy. He's underground, right? Take me to him."
Angel shakes his head, "You're way outta your league, kid. The Master'll kill you before you can even breathe. If you're lucky."
"How can I say this clearly?"
Xander holds up a cross. Angel growls as Xander advances toward him, and he backs off until he falls onto the couch.
Laney scoffs and takes a step forward, "Xander what are you doing?"
Xander moves the cross more towards Angel while giving Laney a look. Laney freezes in her spot and glares at Xander as he looks back at Angel.
"Look I don't like you. At the end of the day, I pretty much think you're a vampire. But Buffy's got this big old yen for you. She thinks you're a real person. And right now I need you to prove her right."
Angel glances at Laney who is frowning with a far off look and glossy eyes. His eyebrows furrow as he looks from her to Xander who stares at him with determination. It's almost like a light bulb goes off in his head before he figures out what is happening.
"You're in love with her."
Xander scoffs, "Aren't you?"
"We're not talking about me..."
Xander sighs and stands up straight, "Look just help. For her."
Angel nods and gets up. Out the corner of his eye he sees Laney wipe something off her cheek. Shaking his head, he walks over to his bed and grabs a shirt and jacket. Then he walks over to the two who are standing a good distance away from each other. It was kind of weird to see them this way. Angel has gotten used to them all cuddled up.
"Let's get this over with please." Laney storms out and slams the door.
Angel looks over at Xander and slaps his head. Xander says ow and looks at him in surprise.
"You need to figure things out and fast."
In the tunnels, Laney, Xander, and Angel reach an intersection and stop. Angel looks in both directions, trying to remember the way. He remembers and walks past Xander.
He whispers quietly, "This way."
He looks at Xander who is looking at him in horror, "What?"
"You were looking at my neck."
"What?"
"You were checking out my neck! I saw that!"
Xander starts following but walks behind Laney. Laney rolls her eyes as the two argue.
"No, I wasn't!"
Xander shakes his head and holds up his hands up, "Just keep your distance, pal."
Laney groans, "Would you two stop acting like children?"
It's quiet for a second.
Angel shrugs, "I wasn't looking at your neck."
Xander scoffs, "I told you to eat before we left."
Laney sees a light coming out of an adjoining tunnel.
"What is that?"
Angel shakes his head, "It's too late. He's gone up."
They break into a run for the Master's lair. Angel gets there first, looks around and spots Buffy. He scrambles down to the floor and rushes to her as Xander reaches the lair's entrance. Xander stops and stares at Buffy in the pool. Laney stops dead in her tracks and stands beside Xander. She gasps lowly and covers her mouth with her hand. Angel reaches Buffy and quickly pulls her out of the water. He holds her and tries to listen for breathing.
Nothing.
He looks up at Xander and Laney.
"She's dead!"
Xander looks down at them and swallows hard. He shakes his head angrily.
"No. She's not dead."
"She's not breathing."
Laney hurries beside Angel and kneels down, "But if she drowned, uh, there's a shot! CPR!"
Angel sighs, "One if you have to do it. I have no breath."
Xander takes off his jacket and lays it over Buffy. He kneels down by her face and looks at her a moment, then puts his mouth on hers and blows into her lungs. He lets go and begins to pump her chest.
"C'mon. C'mon!"
Xander breathes into her lungs again and continues to pump her chest.
"C'mon! Breathe! Breathe!"
Angel looks down in sorrow, then looks back up. He glances at Laney who stares at her hands. Xander keeps pumping.
"C'mon!"
After another moment Xander stops pumping. Angel believes her lost. A second later, Buffy opens her eyes wide and draws a breath. She lies still for a moment as she looks around with her eyes.
Xander yells in joy, "Buffy!"
She turns her head to the side and coughs out a bunch of water. Xander and Angel look at each other and smile. Laney looks at Buffy with a small grin then loses it immediately. Xander puts his hand on Buffy's forehead and strokes it gently. She looks up at him, surprised to see him.
"Buffy."
Buffy looks up confused, "Xander?"
Xander nods, "Welcome back."
Laney can't help but feel tears fall down her face. The sparkle in Xander's eyes tell her all she needs to know. She believes that he liked Buffy and Angel says Xander loves her. Now here he is stroking her face looking at her like she's the only person in the world. She had lost him. Again she was second choice.
Xander helps Buffy sit up. Buffy looks at Laney and frowns.
"You okay Laney?"
Laney shakes her head to come out of her thoughts and frowns in confusion. Angel nudges her and points to her eyes and cheeks. Laney touches her face lightly feeling tears still fall down her face.
"Oh yeah I'm fine!! I'm just so glad you're okay!"
Laney leaps into Buffy's arms and hugs her. Buffy hugs back tightly. Laney glances over at Xander who had still not taken his eyes off of Buffy. She lets out a sob and grips onto Buffy tighter.
"It's okay Laney... I'm okay now."
Buffy may have been okay... but Laney wasn't.