Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the almighty Joss. Nothing is mine.
A.N. This story picks up where Line of Succession left off. Please read that before you start this one. It will make more sense.
Dark Horizons
Prelude to Darkness
As Angel and his crew take over Wolfram and Hart Spike comes back as a ghost that haunts Angel and amuses the rest of his crew. Spike is soon confronted by a necromancer by the name of Magnus Hainsley, who offers to put Spike into Angel's body and get rid of Angel. This plan thankfully falls through. The Order has no interest in having Spike as a leader in Angel's body. The Order is confident that Wolfram and Hart will make Angelus reappear again. Spike is also later confronted by Pavayne, who wants to send Spike to Hell so that he can stay the way he is, out of Hell. Pavayne is later defeated and Spike becomes corporeal again.
This sets things off balance because there are two vampires with souls when there should be only one vampire champion. Spike and Angel fight and Spike prevails only to find out that he hasn't really won anything. In the eyes of Angel's crew Angel is still the champion that will fulfill the Shanshu prophecy. The only thing that the fight has really accomplished is the doubt that it set in Angel. This doubt is later used when Angel becomes ill and with nightmares, hallucinations, and fever dreams that point to Spike as the true champion that should have everything that Angel has including his job, friends, and destiny. This is further proved when Spike shows up and saves Angel. Lindsey McDonald makes a reappearance and works behind the scenes to topple Angel from his powerful position at Wolfram and Hart. The Order is pleased that he has showed up again. Lindsey seems even better candidate than he had been when he left. An insane slayer makes her presence know and The Council sends Andrew and a group of slayers to retrieve her after Wolfram and Hart capture her. Andrew also tells the group, most importantly Angel, that no one on their team trusts him anymore.
With doubts weighing heavily on his mind Angel decides to quit Wolfram and Hart leaving to try and go back to his roots; helping the helpless when Cordelia wakes up in a last ditch effort to get Angel back on track and to make him believe that he is the champion of the Powers. With her departure she leaves Angel with one last vision that set Angel back on the path, much to The Order's dismay. They thought that with Angel doubt it would be a way for them to confront him.
Soon after that Fred was taken over by the god-king, Illyria. After Angel tries to get help from Giles that is met with strict refusal. With the death of Fred the group splits apart. A contact informs Angel of Buffy's current whereabouts and situation and leaves immediately, with Spike in tow, to Italy. Angel and Spike is confronted once again by Andrew who tells them to move on because Buffy is over them and no longer needs them. Upon their return to Los Angeles Angel seems to turn even darker and starts to alienate his group. This allows him access to The Circle of the Black Thorn and everything falls into place. Angel's plan is soon revealed and the gang, with Lindsey, takes out The Circle of the Black Thorn and go up against the Senior Partners. Lorne leaves after shooting Lindsey and completing his task. Wesley dies and Gunn is mortally wounded. In an alley the four remaining members of the team come face to face with the army of demons of the Senior Partners and the final fight for Angel Investigations begins.
TBC
A.N. Look for my next update sometime next week where we find out what happens to the group. Please read and review.