Disclaimer: All characters and basic concepts used in this story are the property of their respective owners. I own nothing; they are used solely for entertainment purposes. Any copyright infringement is not intended or implied.
Credit: A special thanks goes to pink chocolate unicorn—without you it would not have been possible. Thank you for always standing behind me; for everything you do for me :)
Note: Connor does not exist in this story :-) Otherwise, everything is open here - Cordelia is here and still some others. I'm not really sure when I've started writing that story; it was sometime in 2009 - so it is already an old baby.
Chapter 1
The Scoobies and the new slayerettes were on their way to Los Angeles.
Buffy sat at the window and looked out, her thoughts miles away. She thought of Angel, whom she sent out of the City to have a second team in Los Angeles when she and her friends failed. She really loved him, her dark-haired vampire.
But her thoughts played a trick on her: she had the face of the platinum-blond vampire in the mix, as well. She had a long, complicated history with him too. Just a few days ago, she had been thrown out of her own house. Buffy was no longer angry with her friends. Too much had happened to let anger separate them all.
That was why she and Spike had a wonderful—and memorable—night together. Those hours had been so different from all their previous encounters. She was sure now: She loved Spike as much as Angel, only in different ways. Angel was her first great love and would always be... And Spike. But he meant no less to her. She loved both of her Vampires.
Willow sat quietly beside her best friend. Buffy looked so... absent.
"Hey, what do you think?" Willow asked quietly. Buffy was very much lost in her own thoughts and did not react. She stared at Buffy, eyes narrowed a little. "What are you thinking about?" she repeated nudging Buffy until her friend blinked a few times and looked at her.
Buffy tried to smile. "Angel and Spike..." she murmured, trailing off. The lump in her throat almost prevented her from talking. She looked away.
Willow gently clasped her friend's arm. "Hey, it'll be alright," she tried to sooth Buffy, knowing Buffy had feelings for Spike. But she didn't know whether it was friendship or love? Willow didn't know. But one thing she knew for sure: Spike was important to her best friend. And it was terrible for her to see just how fragile Buffy was in that moment. Usually Buffy didn't show anything about her feelings like that. But in this moment, she looked fragile and small.
Giles, fingers tightly gripping the steering wheel, shouted, "It does not take long until Wolfram and Hart!"
After some discussion, they agreed that this should be their goal.
Although Giles had an aversion to this law firm, he was ready to teach himself something good and hoped that the injured ones would be helped there.
And he could keep an eye on the whole bus. He glanced into the large rear-view mirror and he carefully looked over the slayers and Scoobies—one after the other—gaze lingering on Robin Wood. It had hit him particularly badly.
Xander sat alone on his bench seat. He did not want to be near anyone right now and he ignored any attempts at conversation until the others got the message and left him alone. It still hurt him deeply. Why had Anya died for that fool Andrew? He loved her so much, his little, crazy Anya. And her phobia of bunnies.
Eventually, even the awkward small talk had trailed off into thick silence as everyone was lost to their own thoughts. Who knew what to expect in the future?
Finally, the bus stopped at Wolfram and Hart. "We're here," Giles said superfluously, everyone already getting to their feet, some staring out the windows at the awe-inspiring building..
Buffy looked up, thoughts drifting away as he realized they'd stopped. "What, now? Already?" she muttered. Nerves were prickling along her body; she would see Angel again. Angel, who didn't know she was coming.
The bus quickly emptied. Everyone was glad to be able to stand again, stretch their legs and to breathe relatively fresh air. Robin and some other slayers were taken and supported by the others. Together they entered the building. It was impressive and they all looked around with open mouths. Countless attorneys and customers walked around the huge entrance hall, getting in and coming out of the large bank of elevators, the echoes of many conversations. It took a moment for them to shake their awe and get moving.
A number of security guards approached them before they could get further, though, standing in front of the group and subtly barring their entrance.
Buffy stepped forward as a spokeswoman for the Scoobies and slayers.
"Excuse me, please, I do not suppose you are registered," one of the guards asked, attention mostly on Buffy standing front and center. When she did not react, he added, "You can't just walk in here without an appointment. I have to call my boss."
The Security guard took his radio from the clip on his belt and called for the new CEO of the law firm. He knew the new rules; only after an OK from the head boss would he provide for the injured.
A short burst of static before it clicked in the line and a low voice announced, "Angel here."
"Excuse me, please, if I'm disturbing you, Mr. Angel," the guard started, wincing at the annoyed tone. "But there are a few people who have come without an appointment."
When Buffy heard the 'Mr. Angel', a smile spread across her face. "Man, you'll get a lot of trouble if you treat us as if we were criminals," she muttered.
There was a short pause. "Yes, a moment. I'll be right there," came from the radio. The line went dead since the boss had finished the conversation.
Angel sorted some things before he headed downstairs to the lobby. He couldn't help a little burst of excitement that he might be able to kick something in the butt. He could only imagine it would be a bunch of demons down there waiting... Who else would dare to walk, unannounced, into the most powerful law firm on the American continent?
To be Continued?
