The band of energy expanded dumping the seventy six slayers and a powerful witch and warlock onto the pavement. They can hear the sounds of battle just a block away from them. Jumping to their feet they form the battle formation that they have trained so hard for. Giles and Willow look at each other feeling a little uneasy. Unnoticed by anyone Giles takes her hand. Sparks fly. Drawing Kennedy’s attention. Willow sighs now is not the time.
A sharp squeal and popping noise comes from their belts. “Testing... one...two... three... Testing... one...two... three... sibilance...” The unmistakable sound of Andrew coming in loud and clear.
Buffy depressed her button. “We hear you Andrew and so does everything else for miles around.”
“Affirmative. Hey do you guys know that you just teleported a block away from where you were standing?”
“I guess the great and all powerful Giles doesn’t believe in walking...” Kennedy started laughing meanly. Giles and Willow blushed.
Buffy annoyed said, “Put Xander on the line.” They had determined before that there was only going to be one person talking from command central that way they couldn’t get confused with too many directions. Military Xander is just what they needed.
“Xander how it look?”
“Umm... Buf... not so good...”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fang gang is surrounded and getting desperate... Spike & Illyria are pushing themselves to the limit trying to keep Gunn and Wesley safe and alive.
The demons are coming at them from the side. Wesley and Gunn are ready. Gunn delivers a blow to one of the demons in front of him that caves in his face. He had picked up a trash can lid for a shield of sorts. It was battered and beaten practically useless. Gunn’s bat is about to splinter in half from all of the chopping blows he has taken from the swords. Leaning over he grabs a sword from one of the fallen demons that Spike has killed. Bringing what was left of his shield up and over him to cover him. He picks up the sword and continues to fight...
Wesley using the sword that Illyria had picked up from a fallen demon and tossed to him, slashes and pivots. The answering blow harmlessly passes by him. Moving swiftly he is able to dodge most of the blows that had fallen his way. One had snuck in catching him in the shoulder and his shirt was now stained red. He felt exhausted. After being killed by Vail and resurrected in the arms of the woman he had loved he was now fighting off a never ending wave of demons. If his father could see him now...
Somewhere inside of him a part wailed about how stupid he was in not letting Buffy know he was alive and that he loved her. To at least have taken the chance. It would have killed him if she had rejected him but at least he wouldn’t be standing here now regretting the fact that he never tried. All of the fears that he had about calling her about confronting her about the Immortal seemed ridiculous now... Being in the center of an immense battle always did give him a fresh perspective. His heart longed for her. To just see her again. He would give anything to just see her again.
Where the hell did Angel go? They needed him. The demons kept coming in closer and closer... The bloody wanker. Figures he would bail on us when we need him the most. Not big on sticking around for too long...
Spike knows that this is hopeless... They weren’t going to get out of this alive. He hears screaming only to realize that it is coming from him. All the rage and fear he has kept inside him has been released. He is wild. Unleashed. Anything that get too near him is hacked into. He strikes out blindly. His back to Gunns. Got to save them. I am not going to lose another one. He glances at Blue...
She is in shambles. Numerous wounds cover her. She had taken up a sword and was using a knife in her other hand. She would catch the incoming blows and interlock the blades effectively trapping the opponents blade. Yanking back hard the demons would inevitably drop the weapon. Left standing there with no weapon he would try to flee. Illyria would unlock the weapons and reach out and skewer the victim in front of her. The demon split in two covering the ground with its blood.
He had glimpsed many different variations of the same thing. The pile of weapons just kept growing in front of her. Bodies had piled up in front of them. Giving the enemy a slight advantage as they had the leverage on them when they were standing on the dead. She stepped forward. Her foot connected with the mass of bodies. Bodies flew everywhere causing the encroaching enemy to be momentarily confused and they backed away. Giving the group a much needed breather...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Uhhh. Buf... There are thousands of them... I can see that there is a small alley way south of your position. Send in some of your girls from that direction. While you attack from the rear. Y’know like a two pronged attack. And there is a dragon out there people... It hasn’t been flying and it looks like it has been injured somehow. Wait I think I see someone... These night vision binoculars are sooo cool. Hey it’s Angel... He’s going up against the dragon. You guys better get in there quick... I can’t see from my position where the others are but if Angel is off on his own that isn’t a good sign. Focus on the plan. Get Giles and Willow to the center of the throng. I am going to send Andrew to the building kitty corner to this one and try to get a better vantage point from that angle. Be careful I want you guys to come out of this in one piece. Move out.”
“Gotcha. Thanks Xander.”
Buffy took all of this in and was motioning to Faith that she should take her group of girls and do what Xander had suggested. When they had been training they had prepared to break off into smaller fighting groups. Faith had control of Group A and Buffy’s group was called Group B. How Faith had set her up for that one was beyond her. Every time anyone mentioned it she would get this stupid grin on her face. “Faith take Group A over to the alleyway Xander will let me know when you are in position. Group B will be ready,” purposely mentioning it to bring the grin to her face. There it is...
Faith grabbed her gear. ‘Shit that’s why I am doing this. Buffy is so great. The fact that she can joke like that.. when her man’s out there. Hell she’s stronger than I guessed.’ She gave Buffy a reassuring pat as she headed out. Almost inaudibly she whispered, “We’ll find him B.” And then she was gone. Group A and her at a dead run.
‘Where is he? Oh, God. I’ve got to get in there. I have to find him.’ Panic had set in. She felt numbing fear descend upon her. ‘What if he is hurt? I have to find him. I will not think about anything bad happening to him... I have to focus.’ Lifting up the scythe that had gotten her through the last battle of Sunnydale she motioned the others forward with one fluid movement. Her face grim, set and determined, Group B waited in position for Xander’s call to action.
Willow and Giles were positioned in the center of the Slayers. Hands never straying away from each other. Giles worried that this wasn’t normal. He felt filled with power. Even more so than the time he had been sent by the Coven to reign in bad Willow. He glanced at her. She had been avoiding his gaze. He knew exactly how she was feeling. The thoughts that had been going through his mind. Well, if they had been back in Sunnydale High, he would have been arrested. He tried to focus on the facts of the matter. He shouldn’t be getting such a jolt every time their hands touched. There was a thrumming passing back and forth between the clasped hands. He had a deep reluctance to let go of her hand. No this was definitely not normal...
Willow had been staring at anything but Giles. She felt herself blush. The intimate feeling that she was having towards... Giles? That was NEVER supposed to happen. She would never had any such thoughts, if it wasn’t for the fact, that the hands that were clasped together were pulsating and throbbing in all the right ways. It was weird that his touch could set off such fireworks behind her eyes. ‘I mean I’m GAY? Right? And there’s Kennedy... And feelings like this with Giles was big on the WRONG... But how could something that felt this good be bad for you? I mean it must be the magic. White magic.’ She thought to reassure herself. She gripped his hand tighter. Intensifying the feeling between them. She heard Giles gasp faintly realizing that it matched her own. ‘Note to self... NO squeezies... Focus... Center...’ She felt her heart slow down a little. She knew that she was all flushed and her breathing was irregular coming in soft pants. ‘Think about the training...’
Giles thought about football... about cricket... about the primeval demonic alphabet and slowly recited it to himself forwards and then backwards. He was doing everything thing in his control not to turn to Willow and crush her into his embrace and lower his lips upon hers. ‘What was wrong with me?’
He had watched this girl grow up! Well he never had the fatherly feeling that he had for Buffy and was more often than not exasperated with her. She was a woman now. There was no denying that. His body had more than recognized the fact way before it had ever reached his brain. She had brought him back to a part of himself that he thought better left hidden. The power that had laid dormant had just grown. Now his body was rejoicing that he was back to a whole person. That this would pass was his only hope. He couldn’t be forcing himself upon poor Willow. She had gone through enough already. He mentally reviewed the spells that they had memorized during their training sessions. Trying desperately to ignore the beauty by his side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel had started to sprint through the enemy to get to the dragon. That wasn’t his brightest idea. Quickly he was engulfed by them and there was no turning back. He thought that he heard Spike screaming his name... He would come back for them. They could hold their own. The dragon was the real threat. He could feel the power contained within the blood flowing through him. Looking forward to the challenge the dragon presented. He knew that he could stop it. He was so strong now. All of the power of his victims pooled together. His demon was relishing every drop. Angel was reveling in it against his conscience. It had been so long since he had drank from a human let alone a champion. And Marcus... all of the dark blood had been infused with power. Hell, even Gunn’s blood added to it.
He kicked out at the nearest demon and it crashed into its brethren the force knocking them to the ground. With the way cleared Angel was able to take a flying leap further into the oncoming army. Halfway to his goal Angel wasted no time. The enemy was surprised. He had come crashing down full force. The demon he had landed on had its spine broke. Angel laughed hearing the scream of agony. His sword came in to play. Working swiftly all the extra strength behind his swing he loped off heads left and right before launching himself in the air again.
He caught hold of a fire escape and pulled himself up on it. A few of the marauders had sense enough to follow what he was doing and tried to stop him. He dodged the few spears that came his way and was gone before another volley could reach him. Spotting his target he put everything into the next jump. He landed near the dragon who was more interested in causing destruction of the demons it was supposed to be aiding to notice him.
The dragon was tearing into the army in front of him. The blood lust making it ferocious. It loved blood and carnage and was turning upon its original goal to punish the infidels. Its loyalties were at best chaotic. It had wiped out a half of the army in the half hour it had been on the ground. Numerous wounds weeped caustic blood upon the ground. The smell of it was putrid.
Angel smiled. The smell of spilt blood was overpowering. Not his type, of course, but still there was an intoxicating feel to it Gripping the sword tighter he launched himself at his target.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hit it Buf!” Xander yelled into his two-way. They watched as the two teams entered the fray.
Dawn was nervously fidgeting near him. At every blow she would wince. What was Buffy thinking bringing her here? He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Dawn shot him a grateful smile, “I’m okay... I have been through worse.”
“It’s different being on this side of the fighting Dawnie. I know, remember? YOU are used to being the center of the fight. I am the bystander. I know how hard it is.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You keep and eye on Buffy’s team... I know you would be checking up on her anyways if I assigned you to Group A. So, I’ll watch Faith’s...”
He saw the Group A’s front line crumble when they met face to face with the enemy. He saw Faith right in the middle of things screaming something to the girls. They renewed their efforts. The demons realizing the they were being attacked started to swarm in three different directions. With most going towards Faith’s group and Spike’s direction. No demon really wanted to go back toward the dragon.
Buffy’s Group waded into a panicked and disorganized lot of demons. They were desperately trying to get away from the dragon. Buffy watched with dread as the Dragon’s head came down and snapped up a fleeing demon not five feet from her. She slashed her way through a demon... This dragon had to be taken out. I thought that Angel was around here somewhere?... She focused on fighting desperate demons as they broke and ran away from the dragon. Wave after wave engulfed them. The slayers around her started to get isolated and cut off from one another. Exactly the opposite of what they wanted to happen. Buffy signaled the girls she had left. They tightened ranks around Giles and Willow. All of this happened in under five minutes. Things weren’t going so good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel landed on the dragons back right above where it had been wounded by Illyria earlier. He saw the damage she had done and grimaced. He had called it. There was nothing that he could do about it now. He might as well take advantage of the situation. The heavily scaled dragon had some of its scales torn off right by the wound that had been inflicted. Angel balanced himself perfectly and rammed the sword down through the opening down to its hilt. Through its spine and straight to its heart. The dragon screamed in pain thrashing and tossing its body. Angel found himself flying through the air landing directly in front of the dragon.The dragon catching sight of his attacker drew in a deep breath. Letting his dying breath come out in flame the dragon tried to kill his foe.
Angel rolled to the side trying to dodge the flame. His whole left side went up. He could feel the flames licking all over his body. The pain was indescribable. It was if each cell of his body was tinder just waiting for the spark to ignite it...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel rolled over and over landing in a puddle of water several demons falling on top of him as he knocked their legs out from under them. Rona saw him go down. She had been separated from the group and she knew that Buffy would kill her if she didn’t do something to help him. This dude was a good guy and all. She made her way over to where smoke was drifting out from under the tangled pile.
The demons snarling and thrashing about. Half burned they were trying to get away from the source of their pain. She hauled one of them up and ran it through with her sword. Tossing it away she reached for the next. This one was ready for her and landed a solid kick to her stomach. She fell back after bouncing off of another demon that had survived the deadly fire blast. She rolled away from it curling her legs under her and launching herself at its legs. They fell to the ground. She reached in the leather belt that was around her enemy's waist gripping a dagger she started to stab him repeatedly. Blood shot all over her. She used her forearm to wipe away the gunk from the face.
The demon that had kicked her had snuck up behind her. She felt the danger from behind and tried to throw herself flat. The sword that had been aimed at her neck glanced off of her skull. Seeing stars she threw the dagger with full force praying that it would find its target. She heard a satisfying thunk as it embedded itself in the demons chest. Blind luck. She shook her head dazedly. She needed to find a weapon fast... She crawled toward the heap of bodies where Angel had went down. Looking for a sword she leaned forward to pull off one of the bodies. She scanned the area quickly noticing that a swath had been cut in the army. Flaming bodies were everywhere. She was at the edge of the destruction. Rona figured that she better make sure that the vampire was dead or Buffy would have her hide.
After pulling off the last of the demon bodies she wrinkled her nose in disgust. The smell of burning hair and flesh brought a different kind of revulsion to her. The blood and gore she was almost immune to after Sunnydale but this was a whole different kind of gross. She looked at the body in front of her one side of it was completely charred. The skin blackened and flaking away in spots revealing a deep red underneath. She grimaced. Great she was going to have to tell Buffy about this. The blood from the head wound had slowed down a little bit. The front of her shirt was coated in it though. Thank God for slayer healing... She turned feeling that she was threatened.
A blackened claw shot up and reached around her throat yanking her back into his embrace. She felt his fangs slice down into her neck gouging and tearing at her jugular. Blood was leaving her at an alarming rate. She could feel the long pulls he was taking from her. She bucked backwards trying to dislodge him. It only served to drive the fangs deeper. She felt pure panic. This was the moment that any slayer feared above all else. ‘What the hell! This guy is supposed to be good...’ She rammed a elbow into the jagoff’s side. She felt the outrush of breath against her neck as the only reaction. She had to get him off of her! He was clinging... All of his limbs snaked around her like some kind of parasite. She could feel herself getting weaker her heart was fluttering. Tears streaked down from her eyes. She reached up and raked the side of his face her nails going deep. He backed off a bit, then attacked with even more ferocity. Her neck snapped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel had lain there in a feral state. The pain driving him insane. The only thought that he had was to put out the flames. The demons that had toppled down on top of him combined with the wet weather snuffed out the flame. Feeling a moment of relief he was grateful to the demons that had put him out. For one second... Reality and the intense pain set in. He sunk his teeth in the demon above him.
The demons beady eyes grew huge in shock. This never happened. Vampires NEVER feasted on another demon. It was taboo. The demon tried to tear free but the jaws locked around his throat were snapped shut.
The blood that flowed down his throat gagged him. It was like spinach... ‘I remember spinach... good for you but it made you want to vomit.’
Angel was never more grateful when the wretch on top of him was still. He reached for another one of its companions that had witnessed the whole act but, had been too burned to get away. Angel felt such satisfaction in tearing into his defenseless neck. Just watching the demons eyes plead with him before he had sunk his teeth in. Too soon he was dry. The pain was coming in waves. He couldn’t stand it.
Then the husks were pulled off him and he could smell it. Blood. Slayer’s blood... The heady, strong aroma of it was making him crazy. He had only had a taste of it once before... He pushed away the thought. The pain.
Then she was standing there in front of him. Leaning over. He could see her look of revulsion. ‘What did the bitch think? He was dead?’
A single solitary drop of blood feel on the cracked and broken skin. That was the breaking point for him. She had turned around as if expecting to be caught from behind. He lunged up grabbing her and sank his teeth in. She WAS caught. The spurt of blood filling his mouth made him delirious. He entwined his limbs with hers. There was no way he could let her go. The elbow jab didn’t even phase him. He could tell he was getting close...
‘The bitch clawed him?’ His teeth ground down pushing so hard that he felt her neck break...
He started. ‘What the hell? How could he have let this happen?’ Remorse for the girl lying dead in his arms filled him. She had a head wound that looked pretty fierce. The edges had started to pull together and a small trail of blood leaked from it. The blood... He could feel the powerful Slayer blood get to work inside of him. The charred skin on his left side fleshed out and became a light pink. His face barely showed the trail of scratch marks that recently been made upon it. He heard the sound of battle getting closer. The flames had started to die down. He had just killed. A Slayer... Which meant the Buffy would be in the mix. What was he going to tell her?
He tried to tell himself that Rona was probably going to die anyway. Her wound was severe. Mentally upgrading the severity of it to critical. Her heard them getting even closer...
He made his decision. Standing up he tossed off his overcoat that had practically been reduced to tatters and leaned over to the dead slayer. Gently lifting her up he laved her wound with his tongue. The brutal wound started closing like magic. After a couple seconds the wound was nothing but a memory. Any vampire could do this... This was a secret that he had never told anyone. Not even Buffy. A vampire could disguise his wounds. He only left a mark if he wanted to make a claim on someone. How else could they have stayed pretty much a secret from the general populace. Just how many attacked and killed by a rabid dog stories could go around?
He grabbed a sword off the ground satisfied that the wound was healed and swung the it down as hard as he could. She was cleaved almost in two. What little that was left of her blood was washed away. He looked down dispassionately. That was a pity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew burst through the rooftop door. Finally! He stashes the screwdriver in his fashionable hip sack. Making sure that it is properly zipped up. His shoulder still hurt from his first attempt to get through the door. He sighs what he wouldn’t do for a sonic screwdriver. That door would have posed no threat then! Or maybe if he had K-9... The council had to have money lying around for research and development... Ahhh... good ole K-9! He unzipped his hipsack and rummaged through it snatching up a sugar baby and munching on it thoughtfully. This watcher stuff was way more dangerous than being evil. Outside of veiny Willow...
That thought snaps him back to the here and now.
He sprints over to the edge of the rooftop and peer over the side. He sees utter chaos. There’s flames coming from the rear of the battle. Faith had drawn half of the army in towards her. Her girls were in tight formation. Working like a well oiled machine. They made a sizeable dent in the demon army. The slayers still were in pretty good shape.
He saw one of the girls fall and another reach down and try to pull her back. Out of harms way. The second slayer, he was pretty sure it was Vi, took a sword blow to the arm for her efforts. It looked like the battle gear that they wore took the brunt of it but he could tell that she was hurt pretty bad. Faith stepped in and rammed the hilt of her sword down on the demons skull. While he was bent over she kneed him in the face. Now completely prone she drove the sword down and twisted it to inflict the most damage. She motioned the two injured girls to the back of the formation. Reassuring himself that they are doing alright. He scans the crowd for any other signs of battle...
He almost missed them. He zeroed in on the small group. There was no doubt that this was the people he had been searching for. The platinum blonde head a beacon. He tried to look them over for damages but the fighting was too fierce. It was enough to know that they were alive... Not that he had ever doubted the fact that Spike would pull through... With his superior strength, cunning mind and catlike reflexes...
Spike's head disappeared. He had been engulfed by demons...
‘Xander! I’ve found Spike! They are alive! They’re by the southern most part of the alley... Actually the alley ends there... Umm... He... They need help! Tell Buffy!”
Xander was never more angry than he was right now, “Andrew... Remember when you left and and I told you to contact me through channel 12 and you said ‘Affirmative captain?’ Will you look down at your two-way and tell me what channel it is on now?” Andrew looked down. It was on the universal channel 5. He was in big trouble...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy urged the slayers on at a frantic pace. She had to get to the center and get Giles and Willow in position. Anything that came her was was mowed down. She had to find Spike. She became mindless just thinking over and over again. Spike. Slash. Spike. Stab. Backflip. Underhand chop. Spike. They were almost to the center...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew scanned the crowd with an increased interest... If he could find out something of importance and relay it on channel 12 Xander MIGHT forgive him. It wasn’t fair! Xander had Dawn helping him and she was REALLY organized. The girl even color coded her underwear. That thought just made him feel even more guilty... It’s not my fault I tipped over her laundry basket and ruined that color coded splendor. He sighed. This battle was confusing and scary and in such a bigger scale than he had ever imagined. Like the Ewok battle in Endor but with no log traps or C3PO. Buffy’s scythe was almost as cool as a lightsaber but...
Hey what was that? He had been so focused on finding Spike that he didn’t look in the other direction. Xander’s direction... He snorted. Was that Angel? What the frell was that thing? That fahrbot vampire was going to fight a dragon? He watched the Angel vs. dragon scene play out with one eye peeking out from under his hand the other clenched around the binoculars. His high pitch scream was lost in the sound of the battle below as Angel was blasted by a fireburst. He looked down and made sure that the channel was on 12 or was it supposed to be 5? He switched it to 5 and then back to 12 again... He double checked to see that Angel was down. Well, if he was going to possibly broadcast this to all he better double check.
Then he saw Rona. Ohhhh... Rona. The sweet, sweet slayerette. She was all crusty on the outside but he knew she melted like butter for him on the inside. She too must have seen Angel fall... She pulled the demons off the pile. Then he caught movement a demon had kicked her into another. Why hadn’t he warned her? Those damned binoculars were zoomed in all the way! He leaned over the roof ledge so he could see better. Ahhhh... Sigh of relief. She had taken good care of herself he took the two-way in his hand just so he would be ready if there was a next time. She had returned to the pile pulling off corpses... She froze and whirled around in a crouched fighting stance. In slow motion Andrew watched this thing lunge at her and attach itself to her neck. It was hideous... all burned on the left side. Then he recognized the right side. The two-way slipped out of his sweaty palm falling over the edge of the rooftop wall and shattering on the ground. He spun around fully intending to run straight to Xander and Dawn when his feet got tied up in the emergency weapon pack that he kept for himself. He went down hard. It happened so fast that he had almost no time to brace himself for impact. His head hit the corner of the brick wall and everything was black...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her breath was coming harsher now. Her arm felt like lead. Each swing was getting slower and slower. She pictured him then... bathed in a glowing white light. Glowing from within. His soul exposed shining on them all. She relived that horrible moment when she realized that he was staying behind. Her words hanging on the air. Her hand burning within his grasp. The look of wonder that had flashed in his eyes for a second. Doubt and confusion following. Then cold certainty that her words offered nothing more than comfort...
She felt her determination harden. Nothing would stand between them this time. She could do this. No fears. No mixed messages. It took her losing him once to find out what her truly meant to her and she wasn’t going to waste anymore time... She couldn’t live her life to make others happy. At least she couldn’t sacrifice her personal happiness just because they were unhappy with her choices...
The tender moments between Spike and her were all that she had to hold on to and those were precious few. She swung harder. She had so much to make up to him for... She knew that they were on borrowed time now... Feeling the scythe tear through flesh like paper she half turned. Right into a fist. She was knocked back into Giles who caught her and stumbled... A quick motion from him and one word, “censum..” set the offender on fire.
Willow who was taken aback by Giles use of power stepped in and chastised HIM for once, “Giles... Y’know that we are conserving our powers till we are in position. Could you please learn some control?” She smiled to take the sting out of her words and bounced on her feet. Giles suddenly felt like control with Willow was the most important thing he could focus on. He reached for his glasses... rubbing them in a swift circular motion. Willow’s eyes strayed to his hands her mouth parted slightly. He could see the tip of her tongue dart across her pink lips.
Buffy glanced at them in confusion... What was going on? Well there was no time to figure it out. They were almost through the area that had been burned by the dragon when Willow spotted her... Rona was laying on the ground split in two. Willow started to cry knowing that there was nothing that she could do to help. Giles put a comforting hand around her shoulders. Buffy wanted to turn to him but knew the moment that she turned they would be set upon again. There were less demons now but they kept coming. One of the girls called out a warning. She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. She swung the scythe up high trying to catch the opponent unaware. The scythe cut though the sword with a loud twang. She whirled.
There holding a half of a sword was Angel...
Buffy flung herself in his arms. Grateful that he was still alive. He returned the hug squeezing the breath out of her lungs. He leaned over her swooping down to kiss her on the lips. Buffy put a finger up to his lips to stop him.
“I am sooo glad you are alright... Ummm... have you seen the others? Wesley... Gunn... Spike...” Her scythe flew through the air and buried itself in the chest of a demon.
Angel’s face had gone cold at the mention of his name. “I lost them...” His fist shot out and he broke a demons nose. Followed by a kick that sent him flying.
Buffy’s face fell. Two rabbit punches followed but an uppercut leading into a low arc of the scythe that cut the demon in two.
“Well Buffy... I HAVE been kinda busy here. Killing dragons?!” He flung his arm out to point out his latest conquest. Also nailing another opponent.
Like she could have missed it. Inwardly rolling her eyes, she thought, ‘Hello... My tally has demon god... AND I helped Spike with the first... Also giant snaky mayor, who in my book, equals a dragon.
Giles had been trying unsuccessfully to get Buffy’s attention for a minute. Willow stepped closer and shouted, “BUFFY!” practically in her ear. Buffy swung around stunned. Willow’s mouth scrunched to the side and she lifted her shoulder up in a way of an apology. “Ummm... Buffy... Ummm... Giles and I are ready to start. W-we need you to guard us as we complete the spell. Is that, okay?”
Buffy nodded and signaled the slayers to get into defense mode.
Angel watched all this with a calculating eye. “Buffy? Where should I go?”
“Right by me will be fine...”
Angel stood rigidly beside her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stood in the center of the battle rain now misting down on them. Entwining both of their hands they felt the power expand. Rushing over boundaries and spilling into each other. Travelling back and forth until it burst free full of power. Both lips moved in unison, “Motus terrae imprecor nostras adgredior cessare...” The ground shifted and buckled knocking back the horde surrounding the group. Travelling outward. They saw Faith and Group A hanging in there not far from where they were at. Buffy waved sassily. Faith blew her a kiss. Farther away at the end of the battle Buffy swore that she could see a flash of white. Her hopes skyrocketed.
Angel could hear her heartbeat accelerate and her breathing hitch. He knew then that there was no hope left for him. He felt bitter and wanted to smash something preferably Spikes face. The slayer blood was now a secret that he kind of relished. It would hurt Buffy to know that he had done that just like it hurt him to finally realize that she was gone. Out of his reach. He didn’t REALLY want her to know and would do anything to keep the secret... But he liked the fact that he could replay the moment of sinking his teeth into a slayers neck and drawing her life out. Right next to the Slayer that broke his heart.
The demons brushed themselves off and half of the resumed the attack on the survivors. The other smarter half started to rush toward the opening in the alley way. Trying to escape. They knew now that they were dealing with major magick. Giles and Willow smiled they were ready. This was the focusing spell that they had practiced on at the Coven. Now it was gametime.
Giles took Willow by the hand and turns her so that her back is up against his chest. She felt all barriers go down between them. He had seen her at her worst and he finally just let go of his past and focused on the now. She leans back into him as close as she can get. He takes her hand and lays his own above it. His finger is pointed out and underneath his is Willows. The rest of their hand is fused together. Power glyphs appear over them as they trace them into the air “diluvium...” a blue glyph appears. “procella...” Another one. “tempestas...” this one is black rimmed in white. “ignis...” Silver. “censum...” Red. “deflagration...” Bright orange. The last word were spoken and triggered the glyphs, “imprecor nostras adgredior cessare morbundum hoadie...” Giles and Willow suspended in the air arms wrapped around each other in bliss felt only release.
Glowing energy shoots out over the whole battlefield. Each demon is targeted by a single ball of energy bringing with it its own special brand of death. By water, flame or lighting the huge horde was reduced to none. Buffy watched the demon in front of her explode from a lightning strike that came out of nowhere... ‘Hey! that was close!’ The battlefield cleared Buffy drops the scythe and starts to run in the direction that she thinks Spike is in. Angel is completely ignored...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
He stood there surrounded by slayers as he watched her try to pick her way through the corpse ridden alley. Body parts and flaming bodies lying everywhere. The building next to him was practically reduced to rubble. The dragon destroyed part of the block when it came crashing down. Once on the ground it’s threat had been reduced and it had caused chaos in the demon ranks. The horde had panicked but hadn’t broken and run. Most of them continued to fight.
The fact that it was such a compact space had worked against the legion. On an open playing field they would have slaughtered everyone just by sheer numbers alone. But in this terrain the enemy had to fight them in smaller packs... and on more even terms. He hadn’t really thought that they would make it through but she came in saving everyone as always. ‘For him...’ he thought bitterly.
‘Why would she chose him? There was nothing good about him. Nothing special. Nothing redeeming. He didn’t dwell on what he had done in his past! And he had done some really despicable things... Maybe he should let Buffy know about some of them.’
‘No. He would just tell her some of the even more creative ways that I tortured people in MY past. See just another point that he will always be second best to me. I was more evil. But I repented more. He just went crazy in a basement or something like that...’
‘Plus The Powers That Be chose ME to wear the amulet... He wore it by default. I am the champion...’ His thoughts flitted back to Rona and what he had done. He felt shame fill him but it was tinged with a healthy dose of satisfaction mixed with hopelessness.
Why bother? Nothing was ever going to redeem him in the eyes of others and in his own eyes. He had to make different plans now. It was clear that the path to redemption was gone for him. He had killed over and over and even the presence of his soul couldn’t stop it. His soul liked it... Craved it. The feeling of power and control it gave to him. To make another feel the pain that he lived with everyday. He felt euphoric and then it would come creeping in the thoughts of guilt and remorse and they made him hurt more until he lashed out and did it again.
‘I was the champion... now I am my own man. I am going to make my own destiny. I refuse to be a pawn piece anymore. Now that the board has been wiped clean I will be crowned king.’
He was so tired of trying to fight his nature. He wanted to rip out the throat of everyone standing around him. Everyday at Angel Investigations and even at Wolfram & Hart he had wanted to bash someone's brains in. The people that he was surrounded by were so stupid. They never saw the big picture. They were so wrapped up in the here and now of their pathetic lives that they never saw that nothing they did would matter.
The only thing that mattered was power. Power that they had help make a vacuum for him to fill. There was nothing left for him. Nothing that made him want to fight against what he was anymore. It wouldn’t matter in the end anyways. He was a sinner and he would go to hell. If that is where he was bound he would make hell wait as long as he could and not go without some kind of power to be wielded there too.
The thought of Buffy and Spike together sent white hot jolt of rage pouring through him. After all he had given up for her best interest. He had let her go so she could have a normal life and she was going to throw it all away. Waste it on him. He could tell what was coming. It made him sick. He was all but choking on his anger. He was going to make them pay...
His pact was made. It was made the moment he accepted the reigns at Wolfram and Hart and he had known then what he was giving up. That really didn’t matter to him. He had a son and he was going to do anything to keep him happy and safe. He was the only thing left that he cared about. And Connor was gone from him now too. Out of his reach. Everything that he touched was tainted and fell apart. There would be no redemption in the future. But it would hold joy of its own kind. He could remember the things that he had done. The things that he had denied himself for so long. The taste of blood he had already reacquainted himself to. It was time to plan something grand. Something fitting for the Slayer. She was Buffy to him no more.
The slayers around him paid him little attention. They would send questioning glances at him but they were more full of awe than anything else. They had heard all of the whispered stories about him. Most of it was probably true... The fact that he had taken on the dragon and barely had a scratch elevated him instantly to Oh my God status and the girls were embarrassed and didn’t know what to say to him. His normal broody demeanor just added to his mystique.
They helped the wounded and moved Rona the only casualty of the fight. Angel almost snorted out loud. The only one down is because of me. I guess Wolfram & Hart really knew what they were doing when they put me in charge. Faith’s group had meandered toward them most of them wound free. When they found out about Rona they gathered around and started to cry. A couple of girls kicked the dead bodies of the demons that were scattered around them. Angel watched all of this inwardly amused. Outwardly broody.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willow and Giles had slid to the ground. The after effects of the spell were lingering and once in a while a glimmer of energy would outline their bodies. Willow’s eyes were shut and her arms had snaked around Giles shoulders and he cradled her in his lap. Everyone in the group left them alone too uncomfortable to break up something that was so obviously tender and intimate. The outpouring of energy should have left them exhausted but Willow felt full of energy. The good kind. It was just... right. She couldn’t understand it. It was so weird the feelings she was having and what was going on with her powers. She opened her eyes and saw Giles looking down at her with such wonder in his eyes that her heart skipped a beat.
“Is this normal?” she asked in a small voice. Relying on him to know the answers. For reassurance.
“Most definitely not...” The shaken tone of his voice sent an answering thrill down her spine. It made her realize that maybe this meant something to him too. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. She knew that normally she would have been all awkward around him and anything that resembled physical contact would have sent them both running in the other direction. But after what they had both gone through. What they had both shared there was nothing to feel embarrassed about. No barriers. They felt so comfortable in each others arms like it was natural.
Willow felt hands clamp down on her shoulder and haul up and off of Giles’ lap. Shocked wasn’t the right word for it. Appalled was the look that she saw on Giles’ face and she was sure reflected in her own. Kennedy stood holding Willow up by the back of her collar and demanded, “What the hell is going on with you? You two? What gives huh?”
Willow looked around embarrassed but all of the other slayers pretended not to be hanging on their every word. “Uhh... Kennedy can we talk about this somewhere a little more private?”
“Well privacy wasn’t first and foremost on your mind when you and Grandpa were spooning over there. Was it?”
Giles had risen to his feet and looked at Willow in askance. Willow barely shook her head no. At her insistence he backed down allowing her to handle this as she saw fit. It really wasn’t any of his business. He rationalized. While trying to not make a move on the irritating chit who had ahold of his Willow.
Willow felt bad for hurting Kennedy’s feeling and tried to apologize, “Kennedy... I am so sorry. I just don’t know what’s going on. The magic. It was the magic. I felt something... I’m sorry but I couldn’t help myself.” Willow saw the crestfallen look on Giles face and felt even worse. The great feeling was gone leaving only an echo in its place. She looked at Giles with tears brimming in her eyes hoping that he would understand.
Kennedy looked at Giles with hate burning in her eyes. She had caught the look that Willow had shot at Giles. She brought her hand up and was about to smash his face in when he uttered one word. “desino.” Her hand froze in midair. All of the slayers that had pretended not to be listening shot angry looks in Giles direction not sure if they should stand up for Kennedy or not. Giles could sense the tension in the air and sidestepped the blow and muttered, “dissolvo.” Her hand continued in its path but with nothing solid to connect with she lost her balance and stumbled.
Giles looked at her and with a carefully controlled voice told her, “Kennedy, you foolish girl, if you ever try something so stupid again I may be forced to hurt you.” He stalked off trying to regain his composure. Trying not to let what Willow had said affect him in any way.
Willow was left with one pissed off slayer and no real way to explain what had happened since she didn’t understand it herself.
Angel looked on very satisfied with today's events. Who knew Giles had a pair? And Willow... She must be amazing if she had them fighting over her like this. Maybe she would give him a moment of happiness before he killed her... Inwardly he grinned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A loud static noise filled the air followed by, “That was frickin’ awesome guys! Great fight! And fireworks like that! Giles old boy I didn’t know you had it in you! And Will you are the best! Dawnie and I are on our way down to congratulate you in person! Hey, has anyone heard from Andrew?”
Dawn’s loud voice filled the air, “Has anyone found him? Buffy is he okay?” In her anxiety Dawn forgets to let go of the button.
“Dawnie I thought that you aren’t supposed to be the one talking... Are you usurping my authority?”
“Xander the battle is over... Duh! I am so not waiting till I get over there to find out what’s going on...”
“Dawn if there was anything to tell I am sure you would hear right away... Your sister would let you know. It’s not a good sign that you haven’t heard anything...”
“Don’t say that! You don’t know anything like that. Why isn’t anyone answering me? Oh shit I was holding the button down... Ooooppps! Sorry guys.”
Faith pressed the button, “Hey Dawn, Your sis is looking for him now so chill. Why don’t you and the hunk get your asses down here and help out.”
Xander nudged Dawn in the ribs, “Did you hear that? She called me a hunk... We really should be getting down there to help out.” He groaned and slapped his forehead. “Wait! I better go check up on Andrew. I mean he should have checked in by now. He would have definitely checked in cause he sooo loves the 007 like two-way action.”
He reached for his two-way depressing the button, “Umm... Faith, Dawn and I are going to go check up on Andrew... It really isn’t like him to not be playing around with his shiny new gadget...”
Faith started to laugh and told him exactly what she thought he was playing with. Faith needled him about his concern over his special friend and Dawn saw Xander blush and stammer until Faith let him off the hook and laughed her ass of at him. “Go and check up on the chump and then get your sorry ass down here for clean up. We have wounded down here y’know?!”
Xander found himself saying that he would hurry up and get down there. Dawn was looking at him with something like pity. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Dawn just shook her head and started to grab her gear. A few seconds later they were on their way to the building kitty corner to them. Xander didn’t let the subject die and had hammered Dawn until she finally ground out... “You like her don’t you?”
“Well yeah... She’s nice.”
“No I mean like - like...”
Xander looked at her with a dull look in his eyes, “Well I already told you that I like, like her, whatever that means...”
Dawn rolled her eyes , “Are you always this dense? Do ... You... Have... Romantic... Feelings... For ... Faith? Does that spell it out for you enough?
Xander blushed and shuffled his feet a little. Sure sign Dawn thought. She looked down at his feet trying to think of a way to try and warn him off Faith and saw the shattered two-way. Panic shot through her. “Oh shit...”
Xander thought, ‘She’s becoming a regular little potty mouth. I guess I can’t really say anything to her anymore. Dawnie’s almost all grown up and all.’ Then he registered the pale face and scared eyes and looked at what she was staring at. The two-way. Andrew’s most treasured item of this excursion. It had been his brain child to use them in training and for him to drop it on his first real trial run was a bad sign.
“Oh shit...” The two of them looked at each other and bolted for the stairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy tried to maneuver her way through the dead while keeping her eyes peeled for Spike. She was feeling desperate and listening to Xander and Dawn bicker had done nothing to alleviate her fears. Then all at once she spotted him. He was leaning against the wall one of his arms was in a curled position like he had been hurt. She started to scramble over there going as fast as she could. She was about fifteen feet away from him when he turned and opened his eyes and saw her standing there. It was like time had stopped.
She didn’t notice the others around them. Wesley had been hurt and the woman there was holding him and Gunn was making a bandage for him.
Spike saw her and didn’t dare blink. He felt the same overpowering joy he always felt when he saw her. When that shockwave had hit the enemy - and only the enemy - he should have known it was her. Bringing the big guns to come save... Angel. She hadn’t known he was here so she had come for him as always. He tried hard not to let it bother him. The history that they had shared was so tangled.
It was so good just to see her again. It didn’t matter.
She took another step towards him. Afraid to say anything. Afraid that whatever she said would be wrong. Every time she opened her mouth around him she just screwed things up. Taking a deep breath she closed the space in between them and put her hands on either side of his face. Kissing him with every tender emotion that she possessed.
She heard him groan against her mouth and couldn’t help but deepen the kiss and press her body in tighter against him. He groaned again this time in pain. She backed up and he tried to recapture her. She ducked away.
“Are you hurt? Please tell me you aren’t hurt...”
Spike grimaced and pulled away his hand from his side a deep gash ran round his ribs. If he had needed to breath he would have been dead a long time ago. Since he was already dead it just curtailed his need for unnecessary breaths.
She took one look at him and all color left her face. “No... No! You aren’t going to leave me again!” She shoved him against the wall her hands buried in his shirt. Her palms flat against his chest. Her grief and sorrow plain to see.
He put one finger to the tears that had started to trail down and asked, “Buffy?” The one word echoing all of the need and longing that he had for her. He started to hope that maybe she had some feeling for him. That what had started between them during the battle with the First had left his mark upon her. That it had meant something to her as well.
“Oh God, Spike. I can’t believe that you are here. That I can... That we can... I want to...” She leaned in again and started kissing him fervently.
He groaned again. She stilled instantly mistaking it for pain and looked at him with big glowing eyes.
“Will you.. Will...” Not being able to express how she felt she just lifted her hair and unbuttoned her collar revealing the tan column of her neck to him.
He watched the blood pump in her neck for a second and was tempted by her offer. Realizing everything that she was offering in that gesture. Trust. Compassion. Love. He leaned back and removed himself from the temptation a little. “I’m sorry luv. I can’t do that to you.” Every fibre of his being wanted to.
Her eyes narrowed. “You listen to me. I will NOT lose you again! I need you. You are not going to suffer when you don’t need to. I know that this will help you. Take it and take me.” She reached down into her belt and brought up a small knife and ran it across her neck. Blood started to flow immediately.
He was furious. She could have killed herself. What if she had nicked her jugular. He vamped out intending to lick her wound closed. She grasped the back of his head and guided him down to where she had cut herself. The old scar where the Master and then Angel had drank from her. He felt something in him responded to this. He wanted to taste her. To mark her as his. His fangs sunk in...
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