Room 406, Wednesday evening.

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had gotten back to her room after her adventure in the sewers and immediately left a message for Ronan telling him not to expect her for her usual visit. After this afternoon, being out after dark didn't seem like the wisest thing.

She wasn't sure she she'd been thinking going out like that. It was stupid in retrospect. Hell, she knew it was stupid even as she walked through the dark tunnels. But despite last night's conversation with Bel, she still wasn't certain sticking a soul back into Angel was the right thing to do. Just because they wanted their friend back, was it fair to saddle Angel with a new burden of guilt because of the people Angelus had hurt?

Still frustrated with herself for not keeping the promise she'd made to Angel so long ago, and feeling slightly guilty for being relieved that she didn't because it still meant there was a chance to get her friend back even if it wasn't fair to him, Isabel scooped up Annie and cuddled her on the bed, watching as the last of the afternoon light faded. She hoped tomorrow she wouldn't have a reason to regret what she didn't do today.

[ooc: Door's closed, post is open]

Comments

[blessed_twice]

"Love you, too," Wyatt said, then smiled. "Obviously."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Lucky me." She brushed a kiss against his cheek, then snuggled back down.

Unfortunately all too quickly her thoughts drifted back to the events of the afternoon. "I had a chance to stake him," Isabel admitted quietly. "I couldn't do it."

[blessed_twice]

"Why not?" Wyatt asked, gently touching his hand to her cheek. Then again, he had seen what Phoebe went through when they had to vanquish the Source.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Because my friend is still in there," Isabel explained, closing her eyes and leaning into his hand. "And I guess I'm not ruthless enough to kill him. Even if I did promise."

"If someone winds up dead tonight. I don't know that I'll be able to live with myself."

[blessed_twice]

"Are you so sure he's still there?" Wyatt asked. "His soul's gone, isn't it?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It is. I never met Angelus before today. The difference between them...god," Isabel shuddered. "Angel can be a dork. But Angelus, he's just cruel. I guess, I don't know. I look at it as a kind of multiple personality. And if we can get the soul back, then we get Angel back."

"Of course then Angel gets burdened with the guilt about everything that's happened. Which isn't particularly fair." Sighing, she snuggled even closer, trying to hide from her thoughts. "I'm conflicted, can you tell?"

[blessed_twice]

"He . . . said things about you to me," Wyatt said quietly. "Trying to rile me up, I guess, but it made me worried about you. I want to kill him for hurting you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that's what he does. Words as weapons." She ran her hand slowly up and down his arm, finding the motion comforting. "You can't kill him. If it comes down to that, it needs to be someone that cares. Does that make sense? He, Angel, deserves that."

[blessed_twice]

"But you couldn't," Wyatt pointed out. "So maybe it should be someone who doesn't have an emotional connection to him."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. Maybe," Isabel admitted. "The whole situation has my head all twisted up. Life's a lot easier when it's just black and white."

[blessed_twice]

"Well, we can talk about that later," Wyatt said, kissing her temple. "You've had a rough day and should get some rest."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You'll stay?" And not go out hunting for the psychotic vamp.

[blessed_twice]

"Not going anywhere," Wyatt said, wrapping his arms around her.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Given the way Isabel clutched at his arms, he wasn't going to be able to. At least not without her knowing about it. "I'm glad you're here."

[blessed_twice]

"Me, too," Wyatt said. "Wish I was with you earlier, though. . . ."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know," she said, slowly relaxing against him. "I was dumb."

Isabel yawned and closed her eyes. "Won't happen again."

[blessed_twice]

"Better not," Wyatt said gruffly, stroking her hair as she rested her head on his shoulder.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Love you," she murmured as she fell into an uneasy sleep.

[blessed_twice]

"Love you," he echoed, his arms never leaving her as they slept through the night.