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The vampire growled, just as a fist crashed into his face. He reeled back, as Spike followed up with another punch, before kicking the vampire behind him. The first vampire punched Spike, as the second vampire shoved him to the ground. The couple were standing near the wall, watching in fear as Spike flipped up onto his feet, kicking the first vampire. The second vampire leapt onto the car roof, aiming to get leverage, but Spike kicked his legs out from underneath him, then turning back to the first vampire, just as he swung his fist. Ducking, Spike dropped to the ground, sweeping his legs out from underneath him, then stood up, checking the vampires. They both growled and got to their feet, before charging at Spike from both sides. Flicking his wrists behind his back, Spike brought his arms out to his sides, staking both vampires at once. Grinning at the retractable stakes, Spike waved to the couple, before heading off into the night
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"What's going on here?" Angel asked, walking into the dark room
"Shh, the Apocalypse is just starting," Gunn replied, eating popcorn
Angel turned towards the window, seeing the buildings outside on fire, while the sky was completely dark. He turned back to the others, seeing that they were all seated, eating popcorn like they were in a cinema
"I have to get out there," Angel said, "I have to help people"
"Oh don't worry, Spike's out there," Cordelia said, "He's saving the day"
"Angelcakes, reckon you could get out of the way, please?" Lorne asked, "You're blocking the view. Also, you know you've got something on you?"
Angel looked down at himself, seeing something small, squishy and blue attached to his torso. He touched it, feeling a surge of pain coursing through his body. Once again, everything changed. He was back in bed, still in his pyjamas, as a stage light appeared on him
"Gonna sing us a tune, Angelwings?" came a southern voice
Angel looked to his right, seeing Lorne sitting at a piano. He was dressed up as an old western piano player, complete with a large moustache and suspenders, while Harmony stood nearby, dressed as a Copacabana woman
"Lorne?" Angel questioned
"Oh ho, call me Honky Tonk," Lorne replied, "So, gonna sing something for us? Come on, the crowd is getting restless"
Angel looked to the end of his bed, seeing Wesley, Connor, Gunn, Cordelia and Fred all seated around a small table, like they were all in a booth
"Sing for us, Dad," Connor called, "Come on"
"This is quite boring," Wesley said, "Boo?"
"What's wrong with you, Angel?" Cordelia asked, "Before, we couldn't get you to stop singing. Now you won't?"
Gunn's eyes became cat-like and he hissed at Angel
"By the way," Lorne said, "You know you've got something on you?"
Angel groaned as he thrashed in bed, finally opening his eyes, seeing the object on his torso. Angrily, Angel grabbed the parasite, ignoring its squealing, before crushing it in his hand. Dropping the body, Angel looked up, seeing Eve at the end of his bed, holding a box, as she slowly opened it. Still weak from the parasite, Angel could only watch as a larger parasite leapt out of the box, attaching itself to him, injecting the toxin into his bloodstream and Angel passed out again
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"Hm, nice place," Spike said, looking around
He and Lindsey were in a comfy, one-bedroom apartment. The walls had been painted blue, as a small lounge rested against one wall, facing the TV stand
"Got TV, cable and X-Box for you," Lindsey said, "Also, got beer in here"
"And you managed to dig this up? all for me?" Spike asked
"Wasn't that hard. Just had to contact a few friends"
"Wouldn't mind meeting these friends of yours"
"Another time, I suppose," Lindsey said, "Well, I hope you enjoy your new home"
"Suppose it's comfy. It'll have to do," Spike said
He sat down on the couch, as Lindsey opened the fridge, reaching in for a beer. However, he then stopped and groaned in pain, clutching his forehead, as Spike rolled his eyes. He had wanted to try out the X-Box. Guess it'll have to wait until later
"Let me guess, another one of your visions? Don't tell me I gotta jump up and get going every time you get one of those?"
"Oh, I think you might like this one," Lindsey groaned
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Angel opened his eyes, greeting the sunlight. However, he didn't try to shy away from it. He enjoyed it. He embraced it. Looking around, Angel saw he was sitting in a comfy armchair out in the middle of nowhere, the sun beaming down upon him
"You don't have to go"
Angel looked to his right, seeing Cordelia walking towards him. She was wearing a dress and with the sun shining behind her, she looked like a goddess. But she wasn't alone. Wesley, Gunn, Connor and Fred joined the couple, as Ashleigh appeared, climbing up onto her father's lap
"I don't have to go?" Angel repeated
"You can stay here," Wesley replied, "With us. Forever"
Angel liked the sound of that. It was very appealing to him. Staying out in the sun in a beautiful field with his beautiful wife, children and friends
"So, I can stay here, with you?" Angel asked Cordelia
She smiled her 100-watt smile and nodded
"It'll be great, Dad," Connor said, "We can hang out together in the sun all day"
Cordelia was about to say something, but she threw her head back and let out a high-pitched, blood-curling scream. Fred, Connor, Gunn, Wesley and Ashleigh all followed suit, metaphorically screaming their lungs out, as Angel felt pain…
He fell to the floor, gasping in pain, checking his torso and finding that the parasite wasn't there. Someone else had found him and removed the parasite
"Nasty little bugger," Spike said, throwing the parasite against the wall, killing it, "No need to thank me. Just helping the helpless"
He left the room, leaving Angel lying on the floor
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"Angel, you're up and about," Eve cried, "Good to see. We were just won-"
"Can it, Eve, I don't care what you've got to say," Angel snapped
"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this afternoon," Cordelia noted
Angel dropped the dead parasite on Wesley's desk, causing him to frown
"Uh, Angel? Why do you have a Selminth parasite? A dead one too"
"What's a Selminth parasite?" Fred asked
"Its teeth inject an anaesthetic, making the host oblivious to its presence. You'd never know you had it on you. Pumps neurotoxins into the body causing paralysis, hallucinations, fever dreams"
"It seemed so real. All of it," Angel said, drinking a glass of blood
"Well, what did you see?" Cordelia asked
"Lorne called himself Honky Tonk, Fred dissected me and Gunn's a heckler"
"Uh, sorry?" Gunn said
"Wes, what would've happened if the parasite was there for longer?" Angel asked
"You would have ended up in a permanent vegetative state," Wesley replied
"Well, good thing Spike saved the day," Lorne said, "How'd he know?"
"More importantly, how did that thing get in here?" Fred asked
"It was you," Angel said to Eve, "You were there"
"I was in your dreams?" Eve asked, "How sweet"
"You changed your clothes, but you didn't change your earrings. And I haven't seen you for days"
"Yeah, I haven't seen those earrings before today either," Cordelia said
"So, you're upset and you're taking it out on someone who's not part of the inner circle," Eve said
"I don't think the Senior Partners would give me this place just to turn me into a vegetable. Running your own little game, Eve?" Angel asked
"Well, instead of looking outwards, maybe you should look inwards"
Eve smiled sweetly and left the office, as Angel glared at her retreating back, everyone else all shooting the liaison suspicious looks
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