Survival of the Sickest
Chapter 1: Everything Broken Isn't Lost
By: Rogue-Slayer13
Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon, not myself (despite how much I'd like for Spike to be mine, LOL). Also, you might recognize some of the dialogue for being exactly (or as close as it can be) what was on the show and not my own words, this is because I looked at the transcripts available at Buffy-vs-Angel. com and used them to help make the dialogue in this story (although I have added in a few extra comments here and there).
Summary: AU. What if Angel and Spike took Fred and the sarcophagus with them to the Deeper Well?
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"It's called Illyria, a great monarch and warrior of the demon age murdered by rivals and left adrift in the Deeper Well."
"Which is what?" Angel asked.
"A burial ground, a resting place of all the remaining old ones," Wesley explained.
"This one ain't restin'," Spike commented.
The group was currently gathered in Wesley's office, while the rogue demon hunter explained what he was able to uncover about Fred's condition. "No. I don't think this is merely an infection. Fred's skin is . . . hardening like a shell. I think she's being hollowed out so this thing can use her to gestate, to claw its way back into the world. That's speculation. Either way, she dies."
"You're awfully optimistic," Spike remarked.
"Do we have any chance of finding this Deeper Well?" Angel asked.
"I already have. It's in England, in the Cotswolds. That's the location to the inch."
"Lorne, tell Harmony to prep the jet, we can be there in ten hours," Angel said.
"You can be there in four."
Everyone turned to look at Knox.
"We have really good jets," Knox added.
"It will have a guardian, maybe several," Wesley said.
"Let 'em send an army," Spike said.
"How do we know goin' there's gonna do squat?" Gunn asked.
"The Deeper Well is almost like a prison for the dead. If something get's out, it's written that it can be drawn back from the source," Wesley said.
"That's our shot," Angel commented.
"We'll keep working here, but, yes, I think it is." Wesley examined some of the papers strewn across his desk.
"If nobody thinks it's too ridiculous, I'm going to pray," Lorne said.
"No, it's appreciated. Time is not on our side."
"Nobody's on our side," Spike remarked.
"Come on. Let's save the day," Angel said as he got to his feet.
"I think you should take Fred and the sarcophagus with you," Wesley stated from his spot at his desk.
"Is she in any condition to fly?" Angel looked over at Wesley.
"No, but if Illyria really can be called back from the source, god knows what damage it could leave in its wake. The closer Fred and the sarcophagus are to the Deeper Well, the better," Wesley replied.
"Call the medical ward and have them get her ready." Angel walked out of Wesley's office followed by Spike.
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"Is she ready?" Spike walked into the medical ward.
"Yes, but, need I remind you, that this is strictly against medical advice," replied the middle-aged nurse as she lead Spike to Fred.
"So I've been told," Spike commented, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"If the poor dear dies, just remember that both Mr. Whyndam-Pryce and Mr. Angel were warned."
Spike mumbled something that sounded like evil old hag under his breath as the nurse walked away.
"It's nice to know that people are routing for you when you're feeling under the weather," Fred said quietly.
"Don't mind her Luv, she's just a cold old woman sensing that the end is near," replied Spike.
Fred smiled. "Is the jet ready?"
"Yeah, I take it you're ready to get outta 'ere?"
"Yes, I can't stand that old woman. All she does is circle the medical ward waiting for someone to die. She's like a vulture," Fred remarked as she stood up.
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Spike and Angel sat on opposite sides of the aisle on one of Wolfram & Hart's private jets, while Fred was sleeping in a chair further down. Angel firmly gripped the armrests of his chair, while Spike obsessively fingered his seatbelt.
"I've never flown before," Spike sighed as he crossed his arms.
"I've been in a helicopter. They don't . . ." Angel looked out the window of the plane. "Go this high."
"Back to the mother country. Hey, after we save Fred, the three of us should hit the West End, take in a show."
"I've never seen Les Mis," Angel commented.
"Trust me, half way through the first act, you'll be drinking humans again," Spike scoffed.
"Can't lose her, Spike." Angel looked over to where Fred was sleeping peacefully.
"We won't."
"I lost Cordy."
"That was way out of your hands, Mate. She chose that path and accepted the consequences."
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Angel lead the way through the grove of trees with Spike following closely behind him, with Fred leaning against him for support.
"When is a door not a door? When it's not soddin'-well there," Spike remarked.
"Right there," Angel pointed over at a large tree. "You wanna bet that's the entrance to the Deeper Well?"
"Either that, or Christmas land. Do you ever 'ave any fun?" Spike asked.
There was a flash of light and armored men wielding swords rushed out of the tree. Spike quickly pushed Fred gently out of the way.
"I'm about to," Angel stated with a ghost of a grin on his face.
"And they even brought us weapons. Strategy?" Spike glanced over at Angel.
"Just hold my hand."
Spike raised an eyebrow, but reached out and took Angel's hand anyway.
"St. Petersburg," Spike said with a nod.
"Thought you'd forgotten."
Spike let go of Angel's hand, dropping a length of wire between the two. The two waited until the creature's were fairly close, before stepping apart and pulling the wire taut. The demons ran into the wire, which clothes lined and decapitated them at the same time. The two vampires then picked up the fallen swords and used them to fight off the next bunch of demons to leave the tree.
As Angel finished off the last demon, he looked up at the sky. "Is that all? We haven't even started!"
A man appeared in front of the tree and walked toward Angel.
"I'd say that's enough."
"Drogyn," Angel stated.
"Angel," the man replied.
Spike headed over to make sure that Fred was okay.
"You're the keeper of the well," Angel commented.
"Have been for decades," Drogyn replied with a curt nod.
"Well, who in the bloody . . ."
"Do not ask me a question," Drogyn interrupted angrily as he got up in Spike's face. "If you ever ask me a single question, I will kill you outright. Don't think for a moment that I can't."
"He can. He would," Angel commented.
"Eh?" Spike raised an eyebrow.
"You're here about Illyria," Drogyn stated.
"Yes," Angel replied.
"Walk in."
"But how . . . ?" Spike asked looking at the entrance to the Deeper Well.
"I just said, not a moment ago, don't ask." Drogyn walked toward the tree.
"Seriously. He doesn't like questions," Angel said quietly.
"Why not?" Fred asked.
"He can't lie."
Spike and Fred followed Angel, who was following Drogyn though the Deeper Well.
"I would have never thought that you'd end up here, Angel," Drogyn stated.
"I could say the same," replied the vampire.
"So, you two know each other?" Drogyn glared at Spike. "That was a statement; I already know that you do."
"You shouldn't try to make him mad," Fred whispered.
"But that's half the fun Luv." Spike grinned at Fred, causing her to roll her eyes, but smile none the less.
"I tell you all that I can. The old ones were demons pure. They warred as we would breathe . . . endlessly. The greater ones were interred, for death was not always their end. Illyria was feared and beloved as few are. It was laid to death in the very depth of the well . . . until it disappeared a month ago."
"Someone took it from under your nose a month ago, and you don't miss it 'til now? That makes you quite the crap jailer, doesn't it," Spike commented, receiving another glare from Drogyn. "Also a statement."
Drogyn stopped walking and looked at Angel. "Your friend likes to talk."
"So much, he's even right sometimes," Angel replied. "The man I remember couldn't be stolen from so easily."
"The tomb was not stolen. It disappeared. I believe it was predestined to as part of Illyria's escape plan. And as for my not noticing," Drogyn put out his torch in a tub of water. "Well, my charges are not few."
Spike, Fred, and Angel followed Drogyn into the chamber and onto a bridge. The three leaned over the edge of the bridge to see and endless pit, lined with sarcophaguses.
"Bloody 'ell."
"How far does this go down?" Angel asked.
"All the way. All the way through the Earth."
"I'm getting dizzy," Fred said quietly as she stepped away from the edge of the bridge.
"So, the coffin disappeared, teleported, but it was brought to us," Angel stated.
"Illyria was a great power . . . so great that, after millions of years dead, somewhere on this Earth still has acolytes." Drogyn turned to Spike and Angel. "It's been freed . . . the demon's essence."
"Yeah, it's been freed. Why do you think we're here?" Drogyn glared at Spike, which made him angry and he started an endless line of questions. "And what's your favorite color? What's your favorite song? Who's the goalkeeper for Manchester United? And how many fingers am I holdin' up?" Spike made a rude gesture with his index and middle fingers, which looked like a backwards peace sign. "You wanna kill me? Try. But I don't have time for your quirks."
Drogyn looked at Angel. "The power to draw back Illyria lies in there. It requires a champion who has traveled from where it lies, to where it belongs."
"You've got two of those right here," Angel commented.
"If we bring the sarcophagus back to the well, it will draw Illyria out of your friend . . . and into every single person between here and there."
"Wait a minute, we have the sarcophagus with us," Spike said.
"You do?" Drogyn asked.
"Yes, Wesley thought that it would be wise to bring it with us along with Fred," Angel replied.
"Well then let's bring it back here. If there's nothing standing between your friend and the sarcophagus, Illyria should be safely drawn out of her."
"Can you do a teleportation spell?" Angel asked.
"Of course, let me go gather the ingredients." Drogyn turned and set off to gather the required ingredients for the spell.
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To Be Continued . . .
I know it's a lot of straight from the show dialogue, but I really need that, so the story has a good strong foundation. Please review and tell me what you think, I know it's been awhile since my last two fics.
Love it? Hate it? Tell me what you think!