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Synopsis: Trouble on Earth leads to help from Heaven.
Spoilers - Season
2, before Surprise/Innocence.
Timeline - before Surprise/Innocence but my
own universe!
Rating - if you can watch the show you can read this - no smut
or bad language here.
Author's notes: my first fanfic, am trying to do my
next one but real life interferes.
The angel slowly closed her eyes as her tears began falling. "Now what do we
do?" she wondered. Behind her there was a cough. Katherine turned round to see
Michael and Gabriel. Both were as sad as she was. Gabriel stepped forward and
hugged her, knowing that the events that they had just witnessed were bringing
back terrible memories.
"Someone is going to have to go down to Earth and help the Slayer", said
Michael slowly. "The others in her group will need to know what has happened
too. I'll try and find Whistler".
Katherine stepped out of Gabriel's embrace and sighed. "Looks like I'll be
going back again, doesn't it?"she sighed. He nodded. "But you know that that's
what you've been training for over the centuries. Your fate was different to the
other Slayers because it was known that your particular skills would be needed
again. Come on, let's get your things packed". Katherine looked at him. "I can't
wear what I wore when I was mortal - everything has changed so much over the
past several centuries. And what about documents, money, and things like that?"
"That's all been taken care of" replied Michael, who had returned with
Whistler. "Katherine, it's going to be tough down there but you know that we'll
come and help if you need us to. Take care and God Bless. He wants you to pay
Him a visit before your departure - I think He wants to give you a special
Blessing".
The three angels and Whistler made their way to the eternal audience chamber,
where those who were newly arrived in heaven were formally received by their
loved ones who had gone before them. He was also there and the four knelt in
prayer before He smiled at Katherine and gave her a very special Blessing.
Leaving the chamber, Michael and Gabriel gave Katherine a last hug before
sending her on her way to Earth with Whistler to explain why an angel was going
to the Hellmouth.
****
Rupert Giles had just made himself a cup of tea and was settling down to a
quiet evening's read in the library of Sunnydale High when Buffy and Angel
walked in from patrol. Both looked puzzled.
"What's the matter?" demanded Giles.
"We're not sure", replied Angel as Buffy went to the cage and proceeded to
replace her worn down stake supply. "We staked a number of vamps but they seemed
to think that something funny was going to happen".
"Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?"asked Willow who had just come in with Xander
and Cordelia from the Bronze. Angel looked thoughtful. "Funny peculiar, as
though they knew something we don't and that we won't like it when we do." His
voice trailed off and he began pacing up and down the library floor".
"When have we ever liked what they've pulled?" sighed Willow.
A knock on the library door brought them all to their feet. Buffy selected a
stake and began moving towards it, Angel vamped out into his game face and the
others all picked up something that they could use against vampires. To
everyone's surprise, Whistler walked in with a small woman, about Buffy's
height. Angel winced on seeing the woman who looked at him very intently and
then smiled.
"Peace, Angelus I'm not after you".
"Katie, Angel, remember?" Whistler looked upset at the angel's use of the
demon's name and then reminded himself all over again that one of the reasons
why she would be undertaking this mission was her attention to detail.
"Whistler, don't ever abbreviate my name again. Do you want to go another
bout with my friends?" she asked him as she gave him a stern look. He shook his
head and then began the introductions.
"Guys, this is Katherine who's an angel. She's here to help." he mumbled as
he caught the look on Angel's face.
"I think you'd all better sit down," said Katherine, seeing the bemused looks
on people's faces. "Whistler, scoot. I'll do the explaining. And stay out of
trouble this time, d'you hear?"
The group sat down where they could find seats. Katherine looked round at
each of the faces, identifying each of them by face, name and the background
data she had picked up during her research prior to transfer to Earth. "Yes, I
am an angel and my name is Katherine. I have both good and bad news for you
all."
Xander looked apprehensive at this point. Buffy and Angel's fingers were
entwined and both Willow and Cordelia looked upset. Katherine's face turned to
Giles. "Two new vampires have been sired. They are not ordinary vampires. Two
hours ago they were the girl who would have been the next Slayer and her
Watcher. A group of vampires found them where they were living in secret and
decided to mess things up for all of you."
Xander looked confused. "Excuse me, but I don't see why that would bring an
angel here".
"Let me finish my story, please" replied Katherine. Angel was on his feet by
this time and pacing up and down. He could see what she was getting at and by
the look of him Giles was getting the picture too. "What we have now are two
vampires who will be even more deadly than the usual ones you deal with. The
girl is the worst as she combines both the strength and skills of a Slayer with
the venom of a vampire and the woman knows much of the Watchers' Council and the
training of Slayers along with whatever else she acquires as a vampire. But
that's not all. Their deaths have left a huge gap in the training of the next
Slayer, who is far too young to do the job yet. I am here to help defeat those
vampires and to help protect Buffy. Her life means more than ever now."
"But how can you do that?" demanded Cordelia. "I mean, do you have special
powers or something, being an angel?"
"Well yes I do", replied Katherine. "But I have another advantage - I was a
mortal once and when I was mortal I was a Slayer myself". Her words caused a
collective gasp. Giles went straight to his office where he found and returned
with a list of all the Slayers that there had been since the Chosen One had
first existed. Angel was beginning to appreciate the situation that Katherine
was talking about. He gave the very strong impression that he could be relied on
for help here which, although it tallied with everything that she had learned
about him since Buffy's arrival in Sunnydale, still made Katherine feel strange
inside. Giles, somewhat diffidently, asked Katherine to indicate where she was
on the list.
Flipping back towards the early Middle Ages, Katherine stopped the pages at
the middle of the twelfth century. "That's me," she said with a slight smile as
she pointed to her own name on the list. "Wait a minute", said Buffy "You mean
you're over eight centuries old?" Katherine laughed.
"I've been an angel for over eight centuries, yes. My Watcher and I were
approached one day by a messenger from the Council who said that they had
received word from heaven that the Slayer of the moment - me - would be needed
later on as I have special abilities that would come in useful and that
therefore I was going to officially "die" and that a new Slayer would be
activated. Michael and Gabriel came down and took me up to heaven and I've been
working with them on this project ever since." She stopped, on seeing the looks
of amazement on her hearers' faces. "Michael and Gabriel - the Archangels?"
wondered Xander. Katherine nodded.
"So why can't I just take these vamps out like I usually do?" demanded Buffy.
Angel laid a hand on her shoulder. "It sounds to me like they will be too strong
for you Buffy- which is why we need angelic help, right?" Again, Katherine
nodded. He continued "Do you know when they will get here?" Katherine thought
for a moment.
"They won't be in a hurry to get here. Whistler thinks that their plan is for
them to get as strong as possible beforehand. They know that the Slayer will not
be an easy option - but they are also aware of the problems that will ensue from
Buffy's death. Which I am here to try to prevent."
"Can you tell us about these special abilities?" Giles asked her. He had been
very badly shocked by what the angel had told them but was beginning to feel the
stirrings of hope.
Katherine rose and walked around the group before answering. She was still
coming to terms with having been unable to prevent the deaths of the two women
and their rising as vampires. She looked straight at Giles as she answered.
"Think of me as a Slayer who can neither die nor be sired. I'm also proficient
in a number of spells although your library probably has ones I can learn. Plus,
your average vampire is going to have problems getting anywhere near me to
attack. That's something I can extend to Buffy. It won't make her invulnerable
but it could make the difference between life and death. One more thing - if
Buffy is killed I am under orders to protect the rest of you if I can. That
includes Angel." With a smile she turned and walked up to the vampire holding
her hand out. "Truce?"
Angel touched her hand hesitantly. She didn't burn him. This surprised the
others, but Katherine's smile deepened. "When you are the way you are now I can
let you touch me but I will have no hesitation in destroying Angelus should he
control your body. I'm still mortal in some ways and I have control over how
powerfully I can use my angelic powers so being around Angel here should not be
a problem."
Drawing back a little, Katherine surveyed the group thoughtfully. "Where's
Oz, the werewolf?" she asked Willow. Upon being told that he was at home because
it was his equivalent of the time of the month she nodded and carefully avoided
further mention of him so as to not hurt Willow's feelings. "Shouldn't you lot
be going to your respective homes?" she continued.
"Where is Katherine going to stay?" asked Xander. Katherine shrugged. "It
doesn't really matter where I stay tonight, I can get myself a place of my own
soon."
"That won't be necessary", replied Giles. "There is a spare room in my
apartment which you are very welcome to make use of".
"Right, it's about time we were all heading off now" sighed Cordelia. "It's
been a long week". It was arranged that Angel and Buffy would see the others
home whilst Giles drove Katherine to his home. She grinned a little at this. "No
vampire will come near the car while I am in it - I'll be like a dose of holy
water or something!" Angel smiled somewhat ruefully at that comment and the two
groups separated.
After arriving safely at his apartment, Katherine unpacked one of her bags
and then went to talk to Giles. "There are things we have to discuss. I will get
a place of my own - you need your privacy." Rupert reluctantly agreed to this.
"If things get messy around the vampires I can always take up residence in one
of the churches - no one would realise that I was there and no vampire would
risk an attack in a church where I could call upon help or use crosses or holy
water etcetera. Seriously, there may be some difficult times ahead and I may not
be able to help with them - I don't know exactly what will happen but I believe
that the vampires that we are after may not come to Sunnydale for years - or
they could turn up next week. I'll be around in the background but the less that
your group think about me the better. The last thing you need is the vampires
being alerted to my presence - I am not going to be used as a bargaining tool".
Giles looked at her, appreciating her honesty. "I also think that it is best if
you don't see me that often either. I'll float around and keep an eye on things
and will help where I can. Angel's soul is very difficult but I may be able to
sort things out there too - but don't say anything to anyone about this"
"You're saying that you could help with Angel's soul? How? It would mean so
much to Buffy to be able to have a proper relationship with him." Rupert's voice
trailed off and he coloured as he spoke. Katherine took pity on him. "There may
be ways round that but I'm leaving that option open for the moment. I think I
might move into one of the churches anyway, less awkward all round. Am I right
in thinking that one of the Catholic chapels has a shrine to St Catherine?"
Rupert nodded. "Very appropriate. I may take up residence there or I might still
get a place of my own. Above ground level."
Several weeks later Katherine arrived at the library prior to Buffy going on
patrol. The entire group was in residence and looked up as the angel appeared
among them. She had kept herself to herself most of the time, occasionally
helping Giles with research or providing a sounding board for his worries.
Katherine had been on patrol every night since her arrival and had managed to
weaken some of the vampires prior to Buffy and Angel staking them. Now she had
bad news for them all.
"They've arrived". No one asked whom she meant by "they". "I wasn't expecting
them so soon but I gather that they've been on a killing spree from Florida all
the way to California and that they have acquired their own group of vampiric
helpers. There are about thirty new vampires in town now and all of them have
one aim in mind - kill the Slayer".
"How do you know all of this?" asked Willow who was at the computer as usual.
"I've been staying in the Cathedral for about a week now, and about
eleven-thirty last night I saw a group of vampires pass by on the other side of
the street heading towards one of the old warehouses. They had found a victim or
two and were having "fun" with the poor soul. One or two of them were being
fairly loud about what was going on. And, before you can ask, I couldn't have
saved those people from that many vampires all by myself. Tania and Vicky were
among them - I could take Tania out by myself but not all of the others put
together as well".
"Do you think we'll face all thirty at once?" demanded Angel, who was looking
extremely distressed by Katherine's account.
Katherine said that she understood that this group did everything together
and she thought that that was quite likely. What concerned her was the
possibility of Spike and Drusilla's group getting involved as well with the
Slayer and her friends as piggy in the middle. Buffy said that in that case they
would just get rid of all the vampires at once. Katherine shook her head.
"If it is going to get that messy then I am going to ask for some help. I
very much doubt that those vampires will survive if Michael and Gabriel lend a
helping sword or two".
Angel stepped forward, a little hesitantly. "What is it that you're not
telling us?" he demanded.
The angel sighed. "Vicky is trying to raise more demons to help stop the
Slayer. I don't know if my spells will work and I think I'm going to need any
spells that Rupert and Willow can come up with - primarily offensive spells. I
can take care of defensive ones."
The group collected together all the bits and pieces they thought they would
need for the upcoming battle. Katherine prayed before they left the library,
calling on Heaven for blessing and protection as well as reminding her friends
of their promise to help if she needed them. Rupert was amused as the last part
of the prayer consisted more of insistence than pleading - Katherine was more or
less ordering the two Archangels to help her tonight or else.
"I can feel them" breathed Buffy as they approached the cemetery. Katherine
could feel the evil too and decided to pull no punches. As the Slayer and her
friends arranged themselves to take on the approaching group of vampires,
Katherine blazed forth in pure angelic light with her sword in her hand and
clothed in brilliant white. She had cast a special spell on Angel before leaving
the library that would give any angelic helper the power to aid him or work
around him without Angel being affected. The vampires screamed and rushed
forward as a group.
The former Slayer-in-training and her former Watcher were in the middle of
the group and were being protected by the other vampires. Katherine was aware of
more trouble coming up behind them and shouted "Now!" The two Archangels
suddenly appeared and took up positions behind Buffy and her friends and in
front of Spike and Drusilla's vampires. Angel was feeling uncomfortable. The
demon inside really did not appreciate all this holy stuff around and was trying
to get out and do some damage. Katherine saw that he was having problems and
uttered a warding spell that would ensure that the demon would stay put and that
Angel could continue the fight.
The leading members of the first group of vampires were nothing more than
piles of dust by this time, thanks to quick work by Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander
and Rupert. Cordelia took one down and Katherine moved in for the kill. She
advised the mortals to stay back and for Willow and Rupert to cast as many
offensive spells towards the middle of the group as they could. A vampire tried
to grab hold of Katherine, only to crumble to dust as her sword found its heart.
Most of the other vampires were having a really bad night. The Slayer having
mortal help as well as that of Angel was bad enough, but now she rated angelic
help too? This sucked. Some of the vampires tried to run away but fell, trapped
by the spells that Willow and Giles were invoking.
Katherine rose slightly over the mortals that she was protecting, aiming
directly for the two vampires in the middle of the group ahead of her. Behind
her, she was aware that her friends were wreaking havoc with Spike and
Drusilla's friends and was glad of this. A space cleared around the two vampires
as the angel approached, her sword bright and her clothing being bright enough
to burn any vampire who was stupid enough to get too close to her. The former
Watcher, Vicky, began throwing spells at the angel but none of them could do her
any damage. Katherine smiled.
Buffy and her friends worked their way through another dozen vampires before
getting to the space where Katherine stood in front of the two she sought.
Tania, who would have been Buffy's successor, snarled as she saw the Slayer and
moved forward to attack. A warding spell from Katherine prevented this. Buffy
and Tania would not be allowed to fight until Katherine had vanquished the
vampiric Watcher whose eyes could not meet hers. Vicky produced a sword of her
own and the fight between the angel and the demon began in earnest.
In some respects, the outcome of the fight was a foregone conclusion.
Katherine could not be killed by a vampire although she could be hurt by one.
Both fighters had taken a nasty number of injuries and had numerous sword cuts
and broken bones. Katherine struggled to her feet and swung her sword at Vicky,
finally managing to push the weapon into the demon's heart. The former Watcher
exploded into dust and Katherine suddenly became aware of the extent of her
injuries. Xander and Giles both stepped forward and gently lifted her away from
the fight so that her injuries could be attended to. Katherine refused their
attentions. "I can heal myself" she gasped. "Never mind me, watch Buffy".
As Vicky had exploded into dust, Tania had screamed and launched herself at
Buffy. The Slayer had evaded the vampire and had thrown a couple of punches, one
of which knocked the vampire back a little. The other vampires in her group were
watching in terror. The destruction of Vicky had upset some of their plans and
there was no way that they were going anywhere near the two Archangels ahead of
them who were merrily destroying Spike and Drusilla's coven. Closing her eyes
for a moment, Katherine uttered a powerful spell that destroyed all the vampires
that Tania and Vicky had collected together. But she had had enough for the
night. Even angels needed to rest and heal. She continued to glow and to hold
her sword steady even as she observed the battles going on around them.
Finally Buffy managed to stake Tania but was badly wounded herself. Katherine
floated over to her and extended her own shield to protect the injured Slayer.
Of the other vampires in the coven led by Angel's children, only Spike and
Drusilla were left and as Katherine watched they tried to run away. The two
Archangels were having none of it. Instead, they caught hold of the two vampires
and escorted them to their sire, who had been examining Buffy worriedly. "She
will be fine, Angel" smiled Katherine.
Angel turned towards his children, aware that he had to kill them both now.
There was no other way and, as their sire, it would be appropriate for him to do
the killing. Spike crumbled to dust first, and then Drusilla. The ground where
their dust had been changed suddenly and there, in the cemetery, lay the mortal
bodies of Spike and Drusilla. They would be buried together quietly by the two
Archangels after various injuries had been healed.
Michael knelt by Buffy and gently passed his hand lightly above her body. All
her injuries faded and she opened her eyes. Michael grinned. It was good to heal
a Slayer, especially this one. After all, He talked about her fairly constantly
these days and that was a good sign. Gabriel had done the same for Katherine who
leaned into his arms and hugged him once she felt her strength restored.
The three angels looked at each other and then exchanged nods. The two
archangels went to dig the grave for Spike and Drusilla and Katherine went to
Angel and Buffy. "How deep is your love for Buffy, Angel?" she asked him.
"I would do anything for her" he replied. Katherine asked Buffy the same
question and got the same answer. She smiled. Common sense told her that that
was love talking since it was unlikely that Buffy would agree to Angel turning
her into a vampire. However, the reverse was possible.
"Just the answers I wanted" she grinned at them. "You two done yet?" she
called to the other angels who had finished burying the former vampiric couple.
Casually the two walked over to her and then the three of them linked hands.
Then Katherine turned to Angel and Buffy who were looking somewhat confused as
to what was going on. Giles was smiling, so it had to be a good thing.
"Angel, come here" Katherine said gently. "We won't hurt him, Buffy". Angel
moved over to where the three angels were standing. "If you could have one wish
in all the world granted, what would it be?"
Angel stared at her, stunned. What he wanted was to be human, to be with
Buffy all the time. "To be human again" he whispered, but she heard him.
Katherine grinned at him.
"Lie down". He lay down and the three angels moved to cover him, bringing
Buffy in too. Buffy stood at his head and Katherine at his feet with the two
archangels at either side. Then Katherine prayed.
"Lord, we beseech Thee to look down on Thy humble servants. We ask that Thou
wouldst banish the demon from this body and restore the man to mortal life. We
ask this that Thy servant, Thy Chosen One, may have his love and support for the
rest of her life without fear of the return of Angelus. We ask in Jesus' name.
Amen".
A curious light surrounded Angel and he screamed. Then Buffy screamed too,
falling to her knees beside her love. The three angels waited, tense, as the
demon emerged from the body it had inhabited for over two hundred years.
Katherine passed Buffy her sword and told her to remove the head of the demon.
Buffy swung the sword and the demon - still looking like Angelus - vanished into
thin air with a wail. Michael knelt by Angel and examined him. He gave Buffy a
huge grin as he rose to his feet. "There you go, one mortal by the name of
Angel. He'll still heal fast and have all his vampiric strength but the demon
has gone for good. " Turning serious he looked at Katherine. "We'll have to go
and you'll be coming home soon too, won't you?" Katherine nodded as she looked
at the young couple beside her.
Angel slowly got to his feet, impeded by Buffy hanging onto him for dear
life. He gradually became aware of the fact that he was actually breathing and
that his heart was beating. Buffy could feel the pulse in his neck and there was
actual warmth to his body now. She burst into tears and Angel just hugged her
with tears in his own eyes. He didn't think that he deserved this blessing but
he was very grateful to everyone for their help.
The two archangels left a blessing with the group as they vanished back to
Heaven. Katherine was delighted with what had happened but a little sad as she
realised that she would have to leave her friends soon.
After having a little chat with Buffy, Angel turned to Katherine. "How can I
ever thank you?"
Katherine grinned at him warmly and then hugged him. Winking at Buffy she
said, "Just invite me to the wedding".
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