A/N: (Runs around with hands thrown up in the air, doing a very, very odd, creepy happy dance that's just meant to make people laugh at you)
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Here we are folks! The episode I think we've all been waiting for! This chapter is what spawned this entire story in the first place, and it practically killed me not to write this chapter and then write the rest of the story, but I have to do everything in order, so I had to suffer through the first 19 chapters waiting to get to this one. (I didn't really suffer, per say...it was more like I knew it would be better to wait, but I really, really, really, really didn't want to). lol
Because of the fact that during this time Angel is saving Cordy, I went ahead and skipped to the end of the episode. I didn't think you guys would like me basically writing out the beginning of the episode if Angel wasn't going to be there. So I just skipped ahead to the action!
I'm just going to tell you this. I wrote this with a goal in mind. I want to make you cry...or at least depressed...just a warning...
Soooooo...on that happy note...let's get on with it, shall we? :)
Random Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy. BUT if I did...Angel would have punched Xander more, had more lines, and would have never left; Smurfs are really green; Harry Potter trumps Twilight ANY day; One time I dreamed I was being chased by donuts; Seeley Booth = HOTNESS; Severus Snape is awesome; I am Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod...yeah, no I'm not; Jack Sparrow hides in my closet; I refuse to believe that Harry Potter has come to an end; I want a tiger named Brumhilda; "Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die!"; "Dammit Jim! I'm a doctor, not a miracle worker!"; I can quote Robin Hood: Men in Tights word for word; Butterflies make the best spies; Timon and Pumbaa will ALWAYS be the best dynamic duo; Mufasa learned how to be a father from Booth; Snorks are really dorks that evolved underwater; "My favorite character from Aladdin was the flying carpet and I wanted to be it."; Those that say nothing's impossible have never tried slamming a revolving door; I always wanted to be a procrastinator, but I never got around to it; Going back and reading this I question my sanity; St. Mungo's is real...I'm there now; I walked into a bank and yelled out "Gringotts Rules!" Only to be chased off by a goblin of a security guard; I am batman!; Anytime someone on the golf course yells "Four!" I yell "Five!"; I think HH has something against everyone's favorite interns (VNM and Zack) on BONES; The sun goes Kikakapia; I'm not dramatic at all, but school is the ultimate place of boredom and despair; Those who say I'm a nerd, don't know half of it...still think I own Buffy?
The Gift Part One
It was quiet. So very quiet in the Summers house. The lights were off, darkness shrouding the cozy home. A shrill noise suddenly pierced the silence. It continued to call. One. Two. Three. Four. It called four times and no one answered.
A soft red light on the telephone began to blink.
"Hi, it's Buffy. Sorry I missed your call. I'm probably beating someone up, so please leave a message after the beep. Beep!"
Buffy, it's me. Cordy went through this portal and I've got to go after her. It's another dimension and you know how those things work. I have no idea when I'll be back. Say hi to Dawn for me. I love you.
It was a silent procession that walked along the street. Oz was leading, looking so lost, yet never faltering in his chosen direction. Willow followed him a few feet back, trying to be strong and hold back her tears. After all, she was the big gun this time. She had to be ready—is this how Buffy felt all the time?
Xander and Anya walked behind Willow, both of them filled with nervous thoughts. Anya kept remembering Xander's proposal and the bunny she'd found in the storeroom of the Magic Box. Anya was an ex-demon. She knew the truth of omens. She couldn't believe it was just coincidence. Something bad was going to happen tonight. She just hoped that Xander would be okay.
Giles and Spike were a few steps behind Xander and Anya. Neither said a word. They were both clear on what they had to do. Giles was filled with worry. For Buffy, for Dawn, for the world…for all the Scoobies that had become his surrogate children somewhere along the line. Giles wished that he knew Buffy was strong enough to do what had to be done if the need arose. As a Watcher, he had sworn an oath to protect the world. He would honor that.
Spike himself was feeling mildly excited at the prospect of a good battle. Yeah, he knew he would probably die, but at least he'd go out in style, right? All the honor and glory that everyone always went on about. Shouldn't be so bad. Spike thought back to the promise he'd made to Buffy—to watch out for Dawn. He figured that was more Angel's job, but Spike liked the little nibblet, and besides if she had two vampires protecting her, what could happen to her? Of course, that was if they survived the night.
That was a big 'if.'
Buffy didn't know how she felt. Too many emotions were roiling through her to settle on one in particular. She felt a stony determination to succeed. She would save Dawn. She would stop Glory. That wasn't up for debate.
Buffy also felt a clear sense of longing. Angel had been in another dimension for who knew how long. She wanted him here, with her. In fact, she'd almost missed the message completely. If she hadn't gone home to get some of her favorite weapons, she would never have heard it. She'd seen the date on the message—she'd been in her coma when he'd called.
Buffy knew if she died tonight, she'd only have one regret—not being able to answer that call.
She didn't want the last time for Angel to hear her voice to be on an answering machine. She didn't want to die before she was able to say, "I love you, too." She wanted to talk to him, face to face, tell him everything he meant to her...even though it was probably impossible to put into words.
She wished she'd been able to answer the phone.
Angel pushed on the accelerator another half inch, sending the car shooting forward. Wes and Gunn were holding on to anything available, and Cordy was yelling at Angel about manic driving, but her words went unheeded.
Buffy needed him. He just knew it, and he'd been around far too long not to listen to his instincts, especially when they were screaming at him.
He needed to get to Sunnydale.
"Are you sure?" Wesley asked again.
Angel growled, his eyes flashing yellow. "Yeah, I'm pretty damn sure."
"Man, I know you've been talking about this Glory chick and Dawn and Keys, but are you sure you're not overreacting?" Gunn asked. "I mean, just cause she didn't return your call doesn't mean something's wrong…maybe she's mad at you. You didn't forget her birthday or something, did you?"
"No," Angel snapped. "Something is wrong. Something bad is gonna happen, and I need to be there."
"So we're going with you because?" Cordy asked. "I mean, I don't know if you can get jet lag from going through a portal, but…"
"Cordy!" Angel interrupted with a sharp growl. "Buffy needs me, 'kay? Trust me."
With that thought, Angel gave the Plymouth a little bit more gas.
Buffy and the gang all stopped walking once they rounded the final corner. All of them stood and gawked at the tall, scaffolding tower. Only faintly visible was what seemed like a plank that extended out over the open air.
"Shpandoinkle," Xander mumbled.
"What is that?" Anya asked quietly, staring at the structure.
"The portal must open up there," Giles theorized aloud.
"Will, you're up," Buffy said in full Slayer-mode.
Willow swallowed convulsively as she fought the flutter of nerves in her stomach. Her knees were beginning to shake and she was surprised she hadn't fallen over yet. She was just the smart girl. The nerd. Good with computers and books. Sure, she was a witch, but could she do this? Willow thought of Oz. She had to do this. For Oz. For everyone.
"Need anything?" Giles asked quietly.
"Could use a little courage," Willow smiled nervously.
Spike, ever reliable in a situation such as this, produced a flask and held it to her.
Willow looked at it with a faint smile. "The real kind…but thanks."
Spike nodded, and put the flask away, fighting the urge to down it all before the battle began.
"Okay, we all good with the plan?" Buffy asked seriously. Her eyes looked past Willow to Oz who was getting closer to the workers. "Go get your wolfboy back, Wills."
Willow nodded and followed Oz. She watched as he immediately took off his cast and began to pick up a brick. Then she appeared, and grabbed Oz's shoulder and spun him around.
"You! What are you doing here?" Glory asked and Willow suddenly lost all her nerves the moment she touched Oz.
Fearlessly, she left her hiding place. "He's with me," she said before grabbing both Glory and Oz's heads in each of her hands.
Oz and Glory both screamed, and then a blue, flickering energy seemed to go from Glory's head to Oz's. Suddenly, a force of unseen energy blew all three of them back, sending them in opposite directions. Willow landed in a pile of wood, and right before she drifted off into unconsciousness, she saw Oz a few feet away from her. She prayed the spell had worked.
"What the freakin' hell did that bitch do to me?" Glory screeched, a hand rubbing her forehead.
"You look fine, truly," one of the minions said anxiously.
"She made me a little…she made a hole," Glory muttered, before growing frustrated. "Ugh! I need a brain to eat!"
"Take mine, oh groove-tastic one!" the minion cried as he bowed before her.
"I said a brain, you worthless dirt!" Glory shouted as she moved away, her minions following her as she continued to clutch her head, muttering distractedly. "Big day, today's a big day. Lots of stuff to do. Big day…need a brain."
Glory looked up from her mutterings and scoffed at the person in front of her. "I suppose I could always use yours."
"Okay then," Buffy said casually, her hands clasped behind her back. "Come and get it."
Glory smiled, but then gasped in pain, holding her head.
"You don't look very well," Buffy said innocently.
"Your little witch bitch…" Glory paused to wince. "Gave me a little headache here," she said as she shrugged off her ceremonial robe to reveal a black dress. "But if you think this is gonna last more than eight seconds—"
"I noticed you were talking," Buffy stated. "Whereas in your position, I would be attacking me."
Buffy cocked her head to the side, "It's strange. You're not as blurry with speed as you usually are either."
"The witch…" Glory began, but Buffy interrupted.
"It's not her." Buffy took out the Dragon Sphere from behind her and held it up for Glory to see. "Might be this, though," she explained as Glory looked at the object in alarm. "I heard it's supposed to repel you…so my guess is it's probably not a good idea to hold it," she said as she tossed the Sphere in Glory's direction.
Glory caught the Sphere instinctively, and Buffy watched as the sphere lit up, a bright white light pouring from it, seeming to warp the air around Glory. Pain was evident on Glory's face as she brought the hand clutching the sphere down to her side. Slowly, she crushed the sphere and then the light was gone.
"You're gonna wish you—"
However, she didn't get to finish as Buffy punched her in the face, sending her stumbling back. Buffy wasted no time in immediately kicking Glory in the chest, sending her even further back. Then she punched Glory, again and again and again.
Vaguely, Buffy heard the sounds of the fight to her right. She heard Spike give a battle cry. She heard the minions fighting. But all of this was catalogued in the back of her mind as she sent combination after combination at Glory.
Buffy flipped Glory over her shoulder and slammed her down into a pile of bricks. She tried to capitalize on Glory's current position, but Glory rolled away just in time to avoid Buffy's fist. Buffy tried to punch Glory again, but the hell god grabbed her arms and threw her across the room.
"You know what?" Glory asked, standing straight up as she approached Buffy.
Buffy went to punch her, but Glory grabbed her fist.
"I'm feeling a little better. And now…I'm a little bored," Glory smirked.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Cause you're about—"
Buffy didn't get to finish as Glory kicked her in the face, sending her head flying off, and revealing tons of little sparking wires on her neck. Glory looked at the wires in bewilderment, "Hey! Wow! The Slayer's a robot!" Glory looked around. "The Slayer's a robot!"
Glory smiled in triumph, until she heard a voice behind her.
"Glory?" Buffy hit her in the face with Olaf's hammer, sending Glory flying across the room and crashing into the wall. "You're not the brightest god in the heavens, are you?"
"Buffy! I'm up here!" Dawn screamed, causing Buffy to look up at the top of the tower where she could just make out Dawn's silhouette.
Instantly, Buffy was running towards the tower, leaping over a pile of bricks and hitting the stairs at a full out sprint.
"Where is she?" Cordy wondered as they came out of the Summers house. "She's not here. She's not at the mansion."
"I don't know," Angel said softly.
"What about Giles's shop?" Wesley suggested. "They often plan there, yes?"
"Yeah," Angel said as he slid into the driver's seat. "Yeah, they do."
"Buffy!" Dawn screamed again, as Buffy was slowly making her way up to her.
Both she and Glory were half way up the scaffolding. Buffy had lost Olaf's hammer and was currently trying to retrieve it, but Glory was having none of it. She kicked Buffy in the leg, causing the Slayer to gasp in pain. They continued to exchange blows, throwing punches and landing kicks, but neither seemed to really be making much headway.
Buffy finally managed to get free and tried to climb the scaffolding, but Glory kicked the pipe she was climbing, causing her to fall down to a lower level of the tower. However, this wasn't so bad considering that Buffy managed to reach her lost hammer, and just in time to swing it in Glory's face.
Glory ducked the next swing, and punched Buffy in the face, causing her to lose her balance and fall back but not before taking Glory with her. Together, the two fell off the tower and landed at the bottom with a thud.
Buffy groaned, seeing the hammer a few feet away from her. She got to her feet slowly, glancing over at Glory who was also getting to her feet. Buffy grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her away.
"You lost your hammer, sweetcheeks," Glory smirked. "What are you going to hit me with now?"
Suddenly, a wrecking ball broke through the wall Glory was standing by and careened into her, sending her flying.
"Whatever's handy," Buffy replied shooting a look in the wrecking ball's direction, seeing Xander at the helm.
Buffy glanced back at Glory who was still on the ground before running towards the tower, grabbing the hammer as she ran past.
"Has anyone noticed that we're going backwards?" Anya asked from behind the machinery she, Giles, and Spike had taken refuge behind.
Spike straightened up to look over the machine, only to have a brick hit him in the head. "Yeah, it's crossed my mind," he muttered annoyed.
"As long as…Buffy can keep Glory down…long enough, it doesn't matter." Giles said panting from the exertion of the battle. "There's only a few minutes left to start the ritual."
Xander hopped over the fence then, and joined them. "So how're we doing?"
"So far it's a tie," Anya answered.
"We haven't gotten up to Dawn, but then neither has anyone else," Giles explained.
"What if you had more people?" a familiar voice said from behind them, causing the battle-weary Scoobies to spin around to face the newcomers: Gunn, Wesley, Cordelia, and Angel.
"What are those things?" Cordy asked as she looked at the ugly hobbit-like minions. "And where's Buffy?"
"Where's Dawn?" Angel asked immediately, knowing that she wasn't at the house, the mansion, or the Magic Box.
Everyone looked up at the tower, and Angel was just able to see Dawn and someone else.
"Someone's up there," Spike murmured.
"Go," Angel ordered Spike.
"What?" Spike asked, looking pointedly over at the small army guarding the stairs.
"We'll clear the way," Angel said looking at Gunn and Wesley who nodded.
"Don't forget us girls," Cordy said, stooping down to grab a pipe as Anya picked up her baseball bat.
"Oh yeah, we can do this," Xander said with growing enthusasim.
Giles loaded his crossbow, and nodded.
"This'll be fun man," Gunn smiled.
"Get up there," Angel ordered Spike. "Now!"
Angel leaped out from behind the Scoobies hiding place, Gunn and Wesley right behind him, leading the charge. Xander, Anya, and Giles followed, all of them with a renewed sense of strength. Spike went with them too, fighting beside Angel as he cleared the way. Finally, there was a break in the crowd, and Angel shoved him through it.
"Go!"
"Stop it!" Glory screeched as Buffy hit her again with the hammer.
No longer was she looking immaculate. Her hair was dirty, her dress was torn. Blood poured from her nose.
"You're a god," Buffy shrugged. "Make it stop," she challenged before hitting Glory over and over with the hammer.
Buffy continued to hit her until Glory's face transformed into Ben's.
"I'm sorry," Ben said immediately.
"Tell her it's over," Buffy ordered. "She missed her shot. She goes. She ever, ever comes near me and what's mine…"
"We won't, I swear," Ben promised quickly.
Buffy knew she should kill him. She knew that he would morph back into Glory, and then the hell god would make her pay for her mercy. However, Buffy couldn't bring herself to kill him. Instead, she dropped the hammer and ran towards the tower to save her sister.
Buffy ran harder than she ever had before. Somehow she knew she was running out of time. She had to get to Dawn. She had to. It was now or never. She jumped over anything in her way as she ran up the seemingly never ending stairs. Once the stairs were no longer an option she climbed up the ladders to the top of the tower.
When she reached the top of the tower her eyes widened in horror as she saw Dawn crying, being cut by a long knife, wielded by a weasel of a demon. "Dawn!"
"Buffy!" Dawn cried, hope creeping into her eyes.
"This should be interesting," the Doc said, but Buffy didn't pay him any mind and pushed him off the scaffold.
Buffy immediately went to Dawn, who was still crying. "Buffy, it hurts," Dawn sobbed.
"I got it," Buffy soothed. "It's going to be okay. Come here."
Buffy slowly led Dawn away from the edge of the tower and towards the entrance, but Dawn stopped and turned to Buffy.
"Go!" Buffy ordered.
Dawn shook her head, looking down. "It's started."
Buffy turned and saw the light of the portal. Intense bolts of lightning streaked across the sky and stuck the ground, seeming to obliterate everything in sight. Thunder rolled in the air, and everything seemed to have an ominous feel as the portal steadily grew larger.
"I'm sorry," Dawn whispered.
"It doesn't matter," Buffy shook her head, and Dawn tried to run past her, but Buffy managed to grab her. "What are you doing?" Buffy cried.
"I have to jump! The energy…" Dawn explained tearfully.
"It'll kill you!" Buffy argued.
"I know," Dawn said softly. "Buffy, I know about the ritual. I have to stop it."
"No," Buffy argued as the tower shook underneath their feet, causing them both to stumble.
"I have to!" Dawn cried. "Look what's happening!"
Buffy looked up at the crackling sky to see a dragon flying through the portal. She looked back at Dawn anguished as her sister continued. "Buffy, you have to let me go. Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing it will never stop!"
"You know you have to let me," Dawn said softly. "It has to be the blood."
"Buffy!"
Buffy and Dawn turned to see Angel striding towards them. "Angel take Dawn," Buffy ordered.
"What? No! You can't!" Dawn cried. "I have to do it!"
"No." Buffy said softly, realizing what she had to do. "You don't."
Angel grabbed Dawn's arm, "Come on gréine."
"Dawn, I love you," Buffy said as Angel began to lead her away. "So much…but it's my job."
Angel looked at Buffy puzzled, but nevertheless he lead Dawn off the platform. Once Dawn was on her way down, sure that he was right behind her, Angel turned back towards Buffy. He hadn't liked the look in her eye.
When he was back on the platform, he saw Buffy standing on the edge.
"Buffy!"
"Angel," Buffy breathed as she turned around to face him. Why did he have to come? Why? Why now? She should have already jumped...
"Buffy," Angel immediately closed the distance between them, his hands immediately settling on her waist.
The portal opened even more then, terrible beasts and gut wrenching sounds filling the air. It was exactly how Buffy had always pictured the end of the world. All that was missing was the fire burning.
Angel looked up and at the portal, his eyes following the dragon still circling in the sky. He'd always wanted to kill a dragon...
"Come back down, we can figure this out," Angel implored. "Wes and Cordy and Gunn are down there. We'll figure this out…"
Buffy placed a loving hand on his cheek, studying his face. He was so beautiful. He'd always had her attention, from the moment they'd met. She loved his eyes the most—his warm, chocolate brown eyes that could melt her to the core. They smoldered when they made love. They laughed when she did something silly. They danced. But most of all his eyes held so much love and compassion that it nearly overwhelmed her at times. She would never forget his eyes.
"Angel, my gift is death—."
"Don't say that," Angel begged. "Please, please, Buffy, don't."
"I have to," Buffy caressed his face so lightly he could barely feel it.
"No!" Angel said so firmly and so determinedly that if Buffy didn't know in her heart that she had to do this, she would have believed him. "No! There has got to be another way."
"There isn't," Buffy said softly. "Angel, I love you so much—."
"Don't talk like that," Angel pleaded, shaking his head. "Please, Buffy. Don't talk like that."
"I've always loved you—."
"Please…"
"Always, Angel, always…I'll always be your girl."
"Please don't! It's not enough time!" Angel cried, silent tears sliding down his face. "It's not enough time," he repeated in a whisper.
Angel was breaking inside. His heart was slowly being ripped out of him, inch by agonizing inch. So much pain—pain he'd never felt before. He stared into her eyes. Her beautiful, ever loving, green eyes. Eyes that had never judged him. Eyes that had accepted him. Eyes that had loved him.
He seemed to be seeing her for the first time all over again. Her golden blonde hair that smelled like honey, her cute little nose, her eyes, her lips, every little detail that made her Buffy, he memorized again. It wasn't enough time.
"It's not enough time," he repeated, his voice cracking in a way Buffy had never heard and she felt her heart shatter. "Please, I-I c-cant…"
"Angel," Buffy's voice broke, hearing her words from what seemed like so long ago repeated back to her. "I have to. It's the only way."
Angel was shaking his head the entire time. "No, no, no, no…" he repeated. "No."
Buffy placed both her hands on either side of his face, memorizing it. "Angel, everything we did, every moment we were together, those were the happiest moments of my life. You made me feel so alive, you taught me so much. You taught me how to love, how to fight…"
"Then fight!" Angel begged. "Fight, dammit! Please, Buffy, Muirnín, please!"
Buffy couldn't hold back the sob that escaped her. "Angel, I have to do this! Now, before it's too late..."
"Please," Angel pleaded, so softly it was barely a whisper. "Buffy, I can't lose you. I'm not strong enough, I can't…"
"You are," Buffy said with tears rolling down her face. "You are so, so strong."
"I love you so much." Angel pulled her close, burying his face in her air, inhaling her scent and committing it for the millionth time to memory. "So, so, so much," he murmured before his lips captured hers in a kiss that went beyond anything she'd ever experienced. So much anguish, so much desperation, so much turmoil, but more than anything a passionate love that was so consuming it hurt.
When Buffy was finally able to breathe, she rested her forehead against his before beginning to slowly back away. His head snapped up, and immediately he began to follow her.
"You can't follow me this time, Angel," Buffy shook her head, trying to get her tears under control.
"I'd follow you anywhere."
"I know," Buffy smiled softly, and miraculously she found that she no longer had to cry. Her tears dried up of her own accord. She was ready.
Angel noticed.
He closed the distance between them and once again pulled her to him, hugging her tightly, muttering nonsense love words in her ear, switching between Gaelic and English so randomly that it was in no way coherent, yet Buffy managed to understand every word.
"Promise me something," Buffy said seriously, whispering his ear. "Take care of Dawn for me, make sure she does everything she's supposed to. But more than anything Angel, I need you to promise me that you'll go back to L.A., that you'll continue your mission. Make sure you get that Shanshu."
"I don't want it if I can't share it with you," Angel whispered brokenly.
"Angel, I'll be with you always," Buffy said as she pulled away again, placing her hand on his heart.
"Please," Angel begged, a sob escaping him. "Please, don't leave me..."
"I could never truly leave you, I love you too much," Buffy said with a small smile. She glanced at the portal that was slowly growing. "You're the only person I ever loved, Angel, my first and my one and only," she whispered, kissing him softly, wiping away some of his tears. "Never forget that."
And then Buffy turned—ran to the end of the platform—and jumped.
Angel stood there staring at the space in front of him, where she had only just been. The portal closed and the night was quiet. His girl had saved the day, again.
"I'll never forget," he whispered.
Well...did I make you cry? This sounds terrible, but I hope I did...or at least a slight depressed feeling...
I cried...though I think that has more to do with the fact that aside from loving Buffy and Angelt to death...my heart breaks at imagining DB crying and looking all anguished...
Sooooooo...do not fret my lovlies, there's still like five or six more chapters after this...
Reviews give Angel a big hug (he deserves one, don't ya think?),
ArthursCamelot