DestinyBy PSUBrat
Interrogation
A sense of urgency surrounded them in the hallway. Dawn backed up against the cream-colored wall. If she could have become one with the plaster, she would have, gladly. The girl with the southern accent recognized her from the portal. So many thoughts raced through her mind…she kept hearing this name, Connor. She had no idea who that was. Could it be Steven? No, it couldn't be. She looked nervously from Fred to Angel who was now staring at her intently.
"Dawn, how do you know Connor?" Angel demanded as he grabbed her by her shoulders.
She tried to shake him free but his hold on her was strong. "Let go Angel! I don't know anyone named Connor!"
Still holding onto Dawn, Angel whipped his head around and looked pleadingly at Fred. "Are you sure, Fred?"
Fred nodded her head. "Angel, you know I never forget a face."
He began shaking Dawn, not hard but not gently either. "Dawn you have to tell me. Where is Connor?"
"Angel I already told you! I don't know anyone named Connor!" She was becoming very frightened of him. The look in his eyes was overwhelming pain. She wished she could tell him what he needed to know, but she couldn't tell him what she didn't know. She closed her eyes and began thinking about Sunnydale, hoping a portal would open. Dawn felt the electricity flow through her but something was wrong, terribly wrong.
Angel dropped his hands as the electricity began to crackle and pop around the teen. He took a step back and pulled Fred behind him to protect her from whatever it was Buffy's sister was doing.
"Angel," Fred said softly putting her hand on Angel's shoulder, "You're scaring her. This isn't going to get Connor back."
Suddenly, Dawn slumped against the wall. She was exhausted. Why? Maybe she couldn't open more than one portal a day? Her head hurt, not to mention every inch of her body.
"I'm sorry," Angel said running to her and helping her to her feet. "It's just that we've been looking everywhere…"
"Who is Connor?" Dawn asked weakly.
Realizing that no one from Sunnydale knew anything about his tryst with Darla, let alone his son, Angel just shook his head. "We'll talk about that later. Why don't you get some sleep?"
Dawn let Angel lead her into the room next to Fred's. "I'm sorry if you're missing someone you love. I wish I could help you." She collapsed on the bed and pulled the covers over herself.
"Thanks. If you need anything, just yell. Goodnight, Dawn."
"Goodnight, Angel." She fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. All memories of school starting the next day were gone, along with her worries of contacting Buffy.
***
Buffy and William lay together in the afterglow of their lovemaking. She was resting against him with her head on his chest while he slowly ran his hand up and down her arm. He couldn't believe that she was still here with him; she hadn't gotten up and left immediately afterward. This had to be a dream it just had to be. How else could he explain it?
Buffy let her mind wander over the last hour. She never thought, in a million years, that this would happen. Feelings of safety, contentment and love washed through her. She felt complete, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
"Spike?" Buffy asked gently.
"Yes, luv?"
"Is this for real?"
He kissed the top of her head and held her close. "I was just asking myself the same thing."
"Can I ask you something else?"
"Sure can."
"What do you want me to call you? I mean, to me you're always going to be Spike, no matter what."
He looked down at her. She was lazily running her finger in circles on his chest. He thought about the answer for a moment and then, giving her head another kiss, responded. "Luv, I would rather you call me William. My mum gave me that name. It's a good name. Spike is a monster's name."
Buffy sat up quickly and looked him in the eyes. "You're not a monster Spike."
"But I was. What I did to you…" He choked back the tears. Even now, he couldn't keep the images of that night from flooding his mind.
"Spike, listen to me, please. What happened that night…you just tried to reach out to me. I shut you out and I shut myself down. I was scared…"
He was about to say something, but she quieted him by brining her finger to his lips.
"Shhhhh. Just listen. I was scared of my feelings for you. What you tried to do was wrong. It was, but I knew you didn't mean it, not in that way, not after I saw the look in your eyes after I kicked you across the room. It took me a long time to come to that realization. I forgave you, almost immediately, but it took me longer to forgive myself for driving you to that point and for doing the things that I did to you."
He couldn't believe his ears. She was giving him absolution. "Pet, you didn't deserve that, not from me, not from anyone. I'm thankful that you're forgiving me." He said sitting up and pulling her to him tightly.
She smiled warmly at him and then got a twinkle in her eyes. "I'm so still calling you Spike, but promise me no more bleach. Ever."
He growled at her and she giggled. It was the first real laugh he had heard from her in a long time, and he was the cause of it. He pulled her down to him for a passionate kiss. Immediately, it turned to more.
***
Angel closed the door slowly after he turned off the light. He walked down the hall to where Fred was still standing, her arms folded across her chest.
"Angel, I know that was her with Connor."
"I'm sure you're right, Fred."
Suddenly a thought occurred to her. "What if she doesn't know him by Connor? What if he goes by Steven there?"
Angel's face became dark at the thought. "Go get some sleep Fred. When Cordy gets here, I'll have her talk to Dawn. I'm sure she'll be able to get through to her."
"What are you thinking Angel?" She was concerned that his brooding mood was back. She understood that they needed to find Connor; after all, the boy did try to kill him.
"Say that he is going by Steven, say that Dawn knows him. Why is he in Sunnydale? Something had to lead him there. He wouldn't just go there."
Fred nodded her head in agreement; the boy had to have a reason. "I'm sure we'll figure it out in the morning Angel. Cordelia will talk to her and we'll find Connor."
"I hope you're right. Otherwise, I have this feeling that someone's going to get hurt." He looked over and caught Fred's gaze. He could tell that his friend was concerned for him. "I'm fine, Fred."
She glared at him.
"I am. Go to bed. We'll talk in the morning."
Reluctantly, Fred turned and went into her room, closing the door behind her.
Angel leaned up against the wall and hung his head. Good thing he didn't sleep at night, there's no way he could now even if he wanted to.
***
The phone at the Summers' house continued to ring off the hook. Angel looked at the phone intently. Where could Buffy be, especially at this hour and with her sister missing? Maybe she was still out looking for her. In that case, at some point, she would probably meet up with the others at the Magic Box. He would try there next. He pulled out his phone book and dialed the number. After a few rings, the machine picked up.
"Hello," a cheery female voice greeted him, "You have reached the Magic Box, the finest and most extensive magic shop in Sunnydale. If we don't have what you need, we'll get it for you! Our hours are Monday through Friday, nine a.m. until six p.m., unless we're out averting an apocalypse. Please call back during regular business hours or better yet, visit the shop and spend lots of money!"
Angel smiled to himself. He had heard quite a bit about the former vengeance demon and about her penchant for money. Nice message. As soon as the beep ended, he began leaving his own.
"Hi…uh…this is Angel. I just wanted to let Buffy know that Dawn is here with me, in L.A. I guess you guys are out looking for her. Well you can relax because she's safe and sound. She, uhm, opened a portal or something and then got stuck here. She's sleeping in one of the guest rooms right now and I'll bring her down tomorrow night. Give me a call to let me know you got this message. Bye."
He hung up the phone and stared at it. Did he just sound like a fool? Why did he always seem to get all worked up whenever he thought about Buffy? His thoughts drifted to Cordelia. How was he going to explain his relationship with one of Buffy's not-so-close friends, especially after he had given Buffy the excuse that he was leaving because he wanted her to have a normal life? He knew that Riley had left her, she had told him that herself. It was right before her mother had passed away. But he hadn't heard a thing about any new men in her life; so telling her about Cordelia was going to be even harder. He wouldn't be at all surprised if she tried to stake him afterwards.
Oh well. He knew he was going to have to tell her at some point, about everything, so it was going to be a little sooner than he had anticipated. He sighed. This was going to be one hell of a trip.
***
Buffy stood in the desert feeling sand beneath her bare feet. The sun was shinning brightly and a slight breeze was blowing. She was dressed in a white flowing tunic, same as in her previous dreams. Instead of walking alone, she was walking hand in hand with William. They were both silent as they wandered the dunes, not really knowing what they were searching for but knowing that they had to be somewhere important. Suddenly, Joyce appeared before them.
"Mom!" Buffy cried as she ran towards her.
William stayed back to let the mother and daughter have their reunion.
"Buffy sweetheart! It's so good to see you!" Joyce threw her arms around her daughter and hugged her tightly.
"Mom what are you doing here?"
She ignored Buffy's question and turned her attention to her daughter's companion. "Hello William," Joyce said with a bright smile as she motioned for him to come over to her.
William walked over to Joyce and let her hug him.
"It's so good to see you two together. I'm so proud of you Buffy…"
"Don't be proud of me mom. I've lost Dawn…" Buffy's tears began to stream down her face.
"Shhhhh," Joyce comforted, "Dawn is fine. She's with Angel in L.A."
"With Angel? How?"
"Buffy, I don't have much time. Just know that she is safe. You have bigger problems to deal with now. You must listen to me carefully."
Buffy nodded as she pulled William's arms around her.
"You already know who is coming, don't you?"
"Yes. The Master."
Joyce closed her eyes and nodded, then continued. "Buffy he's going to be stronger than anything you've ever faced, maybe even Glory. The Last Judgment is coming. Once that happens, he's going to be virtually indestructible; but you must have faith. You can defeat him, but it will take everything you and the others have to do it."
"Do you know how we can defeat him?" William asked.
"I have to go! Take care of my Buffy for me William! I love you sweetheart!"
"Mom! No!" Buffy yelled, as she reached out to grab her mother's arm, but it was too late. Joyce had disappeared.
Their surroundings suddenly changed. They were back in the cave and the Master was waiting for them in the shadows.
A voice from behind startled them. "Come to visit me, have you? Ah, killing you the second time is going to be such sweet victory."
William pulled Buffy to him. "You'll never touch her, not with me around."
The Master laughed at him, but soon the laughing stopped and the Master took on a serious tone. "I know you, don't I?"
William shook his head.
"I do. I'm sure of it," he said, springing out of the shadows and grabbing William's shoulders.
"Buffy run!"
"Spike," he hissed. "It's you! Welcome back to the order!" The master tilted William's head and began to feed from him.
"Spike! No!" Buffy screamed as she saw the fear in her lover's eyes. She ran forward but tripped over something on the ground. The world went dark.
***
Both Buffy and William woke up with a start, breathing rapidly. Buffy sat bolt upright as the first rays of morning light were peaking through the window. She looked over her shoulder at him, to make sure that it was just a dream. Her cheeks were tear-stained and she was shaking. William sat up next to her; a look of confusion, mixed with pain, covered his face. He pulled her close, realizing they had just shared the same vision. She went limp in his arms. He could feel the wetness of her tears against his chest.
"Luv, it's okay. I'm here," he soothed, trying to calm her as much as himself. "I'm never leaving you. I promise."