Title: Not Even Death
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Just borrowing.
Rating: PG-13, i guess, maybe just PG. If you can watch the show you can read this.
Notes: I have several. First, there are spoilers for the Angel episode 'Birthday', second, this is based on challenge #11 on Kelley Rowe's site, 'Welcome to Always', third, the song is the Corrs' "So Young" from the album "Talk on Corners," fourth, my apologies to all those who can read Spanish for my grammar, I was working from a dictionary, and finally, if you want to e-mail me to compliment, complain, question, or harass, my address is scwlc@yahoo.ca.
Part One
New York
"Come on Marianne! We're not even going that far. It's just a little car ride." her boyfriend grinned like an adorable little boy as she reluctantly got into the car.
"I just think you ought to pay more attention to the road. You've already got like, twenty moving violations Jerry."
*We are taking it easy
Bright and breezy
We are living it up
Just fine and dandy, yeah*
Sunnydale
Buffy didn't even pause, just walked right past the demon, giving him a push as she went. She didn't even notice when he went flying off to his death. "Here." she said as she untied her baby sister.
Dawn sobbed from the pain, "Buffy, it hurts." the blood dripped down to her feet from the two shallow slashes the demon had made.
*And it really doesn't matter if we don't eat
And it really doesn't matter if we never sleep*
New York
Buckled in, the youthful couple pulled away from the curb laughing. Supposed to be home hours ago, but it didn't matter, because they were in university, and they didn't have parents breathing down their necks. They could stay out all night, and that's what they'd done. The radio played the Corrs as they drove into the morning light.
*It really doesn't matter, really doesn't matter at all*
Sunnydale
Buffy finished freeing her sister, "I got it. Come here. You're gonna be okay." A few drops of the younger girl's blood dripped over the edge of the tower. In midair they met something, and a small circle of light appeared. Buffy lead Dawn limping across the platform to the tower entrance.
*'Cause we are so young now, we are so young, so young now
And when tomorrow comes, we can do it all again*
New York
Jerry smiled at his girlfriend. She was the best thing in his life. Everything that didn't revolve around her was kinda hazy. Like she was the only real thing in his world. "Hey. You wanna head home now? We could try to catch some sleep before classes start."
"I could really go for that." she smiled back at him and he wondered again how he'd gotten so lucky. She was so full of life, potential and love.
*We are chasing the moon
Just running wild and free*
Sunnydale
"Go!" Buffy cried as she chivvied her younger sister off the platform. Dawn refused to go, staring behind the Slayer with a look Buffy wasn't certain she wanted to recognize.
Dawn spoke. "Buffy, it's started," she said almost calmly. Buffy slowly turned to face the portal as it grew, crackling and sending out lightning. Watched as a bolt of that lightning struck a low rise apartment building and turned it into a ruin filled with howling demons.
*We are following through
Every dream, and every need*
New York
The were at a stop light and paused to kiss. They didn't surface until the cars behind them honked angrily at the two young people delaying them on their way to work. Somewhat dazed Jerry started out into the intersection.
*And it really doesn't matter if we don't eat
And it really doesn't matter if we never sleep
It really doesn't matter, really doesn't matter at all*
Sunnydale
Beneath her, Buffy saw Anya push Xander out of the way of falling debris, heard him call out her name as it landed on her. Saw the 1120 year old ex-demon lying unmoving amongst the wreckage looking even younger than her physical age of 21.
*'Cause we are so young now, we are so young, so young now
And when tomorrow comes, we can do it all again*
New York
Marianne saw the truck coming and tried to haul the wheel around even as the out of control truck driver slewed sideways and, instead of hitting the small car itself, the truckload slammed through the windshield and the young couple in the car couldn't avoid the flying debris
*Yeah we are so young now, we are so young, so young now
And when tomorrow comes, we'll just do it all again*
Sunnydale
Buffy turned back to the other girl as she stared into the portal, tearfully saying, "I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter." Buffy replied. Dawn tried to run past but Buffy grabbed her, demanding "What are you doing?"
"I have to jump. The energy." Dawn struggled to do what she knew had to be done. What they both knew had to be done.
Buffy stared at her sister, her earlier resolution clear in her mind. *I won't kill my sister* "It'll kill you."
"I know." Dawn was suddenly calm, and Buffy knew where she knew that facial expression from. She had felt it on her own face when she went to fight the Master, when she sent Angel to Hell, when she'd tried to send Faith there, and when she had made Angel drink from her. "Buffy, I know about the ritual. I have to stop it." Dawn had that look now. Someone too young to die, but with the assurance of knowing it was the right thing to do.
"No." The tower shook beneath them, making them both stumble.
"I have to. Look at what's happening." Dawn was right, this couldn't go on.
*All again...*
New York
"Jerry? Jerry please wake up. Please? I need you." Marianne had never felt so faint. Not even when she'd dropped her family like a tube sock full of manure. Not when she'd been in the hospital with a 110 degree fever and thought she saw death coming for her. Not even when her cousin Xander had saved her from the vampire she, to this day, insisted was a really deranged mugger.
There was just so much blood, and Jerry was so still. She had to get him to wake up. He'd make everything better. He always did. He was so smart for such a young guy. It was why she fell in love with him.
*Yeah yeah yeah so young now, we are so young, so young now*
Sunnydale
More lightning crackled, even greater than before. As Buffy stared up a huge dragon flew out of the portal and buzzed the tower, flying away while they watched. Dawn was crying again, "Buffy, you have to let me go. Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing, it'll never stop." She'd promised her mother she would be a good sister and protect Dawn. Dawn was too young for this.
"You know you have to let me. It has to have the blood." Dawn was sobbing as she tried to make her sister understand. Buffy came to an understanding all her own.
*'Cause it's always got to be blood.* Spike's voiced lanced through her mind.
*It's Summers blood. It's just like mine.* That day in the hospital.
*She's me. The monks made her out of me.* Had it been only that morning?
*Death is your gift.* The First Slayer's soft words penetrating Buffy's hazy thoughts.
"Death..." Buffy whispered, understanding.
*And when tomorrow comes, we'll just do it all again*
New York
The ambulance workers had pulled Marianne out of the car wreck. All over blood, the couldn't even tell how much was hers and how much was from her dead boyfriend, who had haemorrhaged to death within minutes of the crash, if he hadn't been killed instantly from the broken neck he had. She was no longer conscious, and her heartbeat and lungs were failing.
*Yeah we are so young now, we are so young, so young now*
Sunnydale
"Buffy ... no!" Dawn cried with sudden horror at the realisation.
Buffy looked compassionately at her sister knowing exactly how hard this was for her. "Dawnie, I have to."
"No!" and now it was Dawn's turn to deny the truth. To pretend it could go differently.
Buffy turned to her sister again and spoke, "Listen to me. Please, there's not a lot of time, listen." She grasped Dawn by the upper arms as the girl began to cry. Lightning continuing to crackle behind them.
"Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will *always* love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles ... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world ... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me." She stroked the side of Dawn's face, then kissed her on the cheek.
*And when tomorrow comes, we'll just do it all again*
New York
"We're losing her!" shouted the paramedic as they rushed the young woman to the hospital. Not that it mattered, her heart and her breathing had stopped completely, "Come on!" he cried as he tried desperately to revive her.
*We are so young*
Sunnydale
Buffy turned. Almost in slow-motion, she ran down the platform as Dawn stood there crying. She dove off the end of the platform and into the portal, her younger sister watching, sobbing. Buffy fell into the portal, hung there motionless, as the lightning whirled around her. She didn't feel the landing.
*We are so young*
New York
The young woman jerked and took in a breath as the CPR kicked in. The paramedic gave a deep heaving breath of relief that he'd saved the life of one Marianne Harris.
*We are so young*
The first thing Marianne noticed about the place was that it was so bright and warm. It was perfect. And Jerry was waiting for her.
There were voices telling her things, and scenes playing in her mind, which the Slayer immediately forgot as she settled into the soft blackness. Buffy wondered deep in her unconscious, why, if she was dead, there was so much pain.
*Let's do it all again...*
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Just borrowing.
Rating: PG-13, i guess, maybe just PG. If you can watch the show you can read this.
Notes: I have several. First, there are spoilers for the Angel episode 'Birthday', second, this is based on challenge #11 on Kelley Rowe's site, 'Welcome to Always', third, the song is the Corrs' "So Young" from the album "Talk on Corners," fourth, my apologies to all those who can read Spanish for my grammar, I was working from a dictionary, and finally, if you want to e-mail me to compliment, complain, question, or harass, my address is scwlc@yahoo.ca.
Part One
New York
"Come on Marianne! We're not even going that far. It's just a little car ride." her boyfriend grinned like an adorable little boy as she reluctantly got into the car.
"I just think you ought to pay more attention to the road. You've already got like, twenty moving violations Jerry."
*We are taking it easy
Bright and breezy
We are living it up
Just fine and dandy, yeah*
Sunnydale
Buffy didn't even pause, just walked right past the demon, giving him a push as she went. She didn't even notice when he went flying off to his death. "Here." she said as she untied her baby sister.
Dawn sobbed from the pain, "Buffy, it hurts." the blood dripped down to her feet from the two shallow slashes the demon had made.
*And it really doesn't matter if we don't eat
And it really doesn't matter if we never sleep*
New York
Buckled in, the youthful couple pulled away from the curb laughing. Supposed to be home hours ago, but it didn't matter, because they were in university, and they didn't have parents breathing down their necks. They could stay out all night, and that's what they'd done. The radio played the Corrs as they drove into the morning light.
*It really doesn't matter, really doesn't matter at all*
Sunnydale
Buffy finished freeing her sister, "I got it. Come here. You're gonna be okay." A few drops of the younger girl's blood dripped over the edge of the tower. In midair they met something, and a small circle of light appeared. Buffy lead Dawn limping across the platform to the tower entrance.
*'Cause we are so young now, we are so young, so young now
And when tomorrow comes, we can do it all again*
New York
Jerry smiled at his girlfriend. She was the best thing in his life. Everything that didn't revolve around her was kinda hazy. Like she was the only real thing in his world. "Hey. You wanna head home now? We could try to catch some sleep before classes start."
"I could really go for that." she smiled back at him and he wondered again how he'd gotten so lucky. She was so full of life, potential and love.
*We are chasing the moon
Just running wild and free*
Sunnydale
"Go!" Buffy cried as she chivvied her younger sister off the platform. Dawn refused to go, staring behind the Slayer with a look Buffy wasn't certain she wanted to recognize.
Dawn spoke. "Buffy, it's started," she said almost calmly. Buffy slowly turned to face the portal as it grew, crackling and sending out lightning. Watched as a bolt of that lightning struck a low rise apartment building and turned it into a ruin filled with howling demons.
*We are following through
Every dream, and every need*
New York
The were at a stop light and paused to kiss. They didn't surface until the cars behind them honked angrily at the two young people delaying them on their way to work. Somewhat dazed Jerry started out into the intersection.
*And it really doesn't matter if we don't eat
And it really doesn't matter if we never sleep
It really doesn't matter, really doesn't matter at all*
Sunnydale
Beneath her, Buffy saw Anya push Xander out of the way of falling debris, heard him call out her name as it landed on her. Saw the 1120 year old ex-demon lying unmoving amongst the wreckage looking even younger than her physical age of 21.
*'Cause we are so young now, we are so young, so young now
And when tomorrow comes, we can do it all again*
New York
Marianne saw the truck coming and tried to haul the wheel around even as the out of control truck driver slewed sideways and, instead of hitting the small car itself, the truckload slammed through the windshield and the young couple in the car couldn't avoid the flying debris
*Yeah we are so young now, we are so young, so young now
And when tomorrow comes, we'll just do it all again*
Sunnydale
Buffy turned back to the other girl as she stared into the portal, tearfully saying, "I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter." Buffy replied. Dawn tried to run past but Buffy grabbed her, demanding "What are you doing?"
"I have to jump. The energy." Dawn struggled to do what she knew had to be done. What they both knew had to be done.
Buffy stared at her sister, her earlier resolution clear in her mind. *I won't kill my sister* "It'll kill you."
"I know." Dawn was suddenly calm, and Buffy knew where she knew that facial expression from. She had felt it on her own face when she went to fight the Master, when she sent Angel to Hell, when she'd tried to send Faith there, and when she had made Angel drink from her. "Buffy, I know about the ritual. I have to stop it." Dawn had that look now. Someone too young to die, but with the assurance of knowing it was the right thing to do.
"No." The tower shook beneath them, making them both stumble.
"I have to. Look at what's happening." Dawn was right, this couldn't go on.
*All again...*
New York
"Jerry? Jerry please wake up. Please? I need you." Marianne had never felt so faint. Not even when she'd dropped her family like a tube sock full of manure. Not when she'd been in the hospital with a 110 degree fever and thought she saw death coming for her. Not even when her cousin Xander had saved her from the vampire she, to this day, insisted was a really deranged mugger.
There was just so much blood, and Jerry was so still. She had to get him to wake up. He'd make everything better. He always did. He was so smart for such a young guy. It was why she fell in love with him.
*Yeah yeah yeah so young now, we are so young, so young now*
Sunnydale
More lightning crackled, even greater than before. As Buffy stared up a huge dragon flew out of the portal and buzzed the tower, flying away while they watched. Dawn was crying again, "Buffy, you have to let me go. Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing, it'll never stop." She'd promised her mother she would be a good sister and protect Dawn. Dawn was too young for this.
"You know you have to let me. It has to have the blood." Dawn was sobbing as she tried to make her sister understand. Buffy came to an understanding all her own.
*'Cause it's always got to be blood.* Spike's voiced lanced through her mind.
*It's Summers blood. It's just like mine.* That day in the hospital.
*She's me. The monks made her out of me.* Had it been only that morning?
*Death is your gift.* The First Slayer's soft words penetrating Buffy's hazy thoughts.
"Death..." Buffy whispered, understanding.
*And when tomorrow comes, we'll just do it all again*
New York
The ambulance workers had pulled Marianne out of the car wreck. All over blood, the couldn't even tell how much was hers and how much was from her dead boyfriend, who had haemorrhaged to death within minutes of the crash, if he hadn't been killed instantly from the broken neck he had. She was no longer conscious, and her heartbeat and lungs were failing.
*Yeah we are so young now, we are so young, so young now*
Sunnydale
"Buffy ... no!" Dawn cried with sudden horror at the realisation.
Buffy looked compassionately at her sister knowing exactly how hard this was for her. "Dawnie, I have to."
"No!" and now it was Dawn's turn to deny the truth. To pretend it could go differently.
Buffy turned to her sister again and spoke, "Listen to me. Please, there's not a lot of time, listen." She grasped Dawn by the upper arms as the girl began to cry. Lightning continuing to crackle behind them.
"Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will *always* love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles ... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world ... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me." She stroked the side of Dawn's face, then kissed her on the cheek.
*And when tomorrow comes, we'll just do it all again*
New York
"We're losing her!" shouted the paramedic as they rushed the young woman to the hospital. Not that it mattered, her heart and her breathing had stopped completely, "Come on!" he cried as he tried desperately to revive her.
*We are so young*
Sunnydale
Buffy turned. Almost in slow-motion, she ran down the platform as Dawn stood there crying. She dove off the end of the platform and into the portal, her younger sister watching, sobbing. Buffy fell into the portal, hung there motionless, as the lightning whirled around her. She didn't feel the landing.
*We are so young*
New York
The young woman jerked and took in a breath as the CPR kicked in. The paramedic gave a deep heaving breath of relief that he'd saved the life of one Marianne Harris.
*We are so young*
The first thing Marianne noticed about the place was that it was so bright and warm. It was perfect. And Jerry was waiting for her.
There were voices telling her things, and scenes playing in her mind, which the Slayer immediately forgot as she settled into the soft blackness. Buffy wondered deep in her unconscious, why, if she was dead, there was so much pain.
*Let's do it all again...*