Immortal: the Virtual Series
Episode 1.21: Hidden Desires
Written by the Main Slayer & Anne
Original airdate: January 6, 2005
Alternate episode airdate: May 23, 2007
Episode rating: MA

-Part 1-

Connor sat in front of his father as he watched him slumber. Angelus had been out cold for days now. But he wasn't the only one. Buffy, herself, was out. She had been out as long as Angelus had. So far all attempts at waking them didn't work. Jenny and Willow had spent countless hours on trying to resolve the issue. Buffy had made small noises in her sleep and she had said Angel's name several times. It pained Willow to see her friend the way that she was. Buffy had been through so much and she had lost Angel on more than one occasion and now was another one to add to the list. Willow sat with Buffy as she slept and waited for Jenny to come up with a plan. Willow had tried several times to enter Buffy's mind to contact her in the dream realm, but so far she hadn't had any luck. It was like Buffy and Angelus were on a totally different plane. They were dreaming, yet they were not in a normal dream state. Silently, Willow closed her eyes and silenced her mind. She was going to try one more time to wake them. She focused her attention on Buffy. Cleared her mind of everything and everyone surrounding her and focused entirely on her friend. Looking deeper, Willow attempted to reach Buffy at the dream state. Opening her eyes slowly, Willow found that she stood in a dark room with only a single candle lighting her way. Willow approached the candle and picked it up. Directly in front of her was a large wooden door. Around the door was ivy and the thorns seemed to grow as she drew closer. Willow stopped and the ivy stopped growing. It was like the ivy was keeping her from entering the room behind the door. She slowly looked closer at the carving on the door. She wasn't sure where she had seen the symbol before but it meant something. It was a bird, or a lion with wings. There was a large 'A' situated underneath it. 'A' for Angelus, Willow assumed. This had something to do with Angelus. Buffy and Angelus were having the same dream. Or they were being sucked into a surreal state of mind that had them trapped. Willow moved a step closer and a large booming voice sounded in her head that nearly knocked her off her seat.

"This is none of your concern! Leave now before it is too late for you as well!" Willow's eyes snapped open as she breathed heavily. She let go of Buffy's hand and headed out of the room. Jenny and Giles were sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of tea when she came out. Jenny stood automatically at the look that was etched on Willow's face.

"Willow," She said, "What is it? What did you see?" At that Giles stood along side her.

"Did you contact Buffy?" Willow shook her head.

"No. But I did see something. It is like Angelus and Buffy have been pulled into a different state of mind. They are in the same place interacting with each other we just can't see what is going on. I got a little farther this time. I was in a corridor or a dark room. And there was a candle in the middle. At the one end was a large wooden door with ivy surrounding it. The thorns grew as I approached them so I stopped moving and focused on the design in the center," Willow took a breath, "Giles do you have a book that can tell me what Angel's tattoo looks like?"

"Yes I do." Giles stood and went to his bag on the floor. He took out a Watchers diary and read aloud from it.

"There is only one Watcher, other than myself and Wesley, that have lived to tell of Angelus. He documented his tattoo so that others would know the mark of his Master," Giles flipped threw the pages and landed on the page containing the image of Angel's tattoo, "Here. It is a Celtic Griffin. An ancient symbol found in 17th century Ireland. The 'A' stands for either his own name or Aruilieus. The head of his Order."

"That is what I saw. That mark on the door. What does that mean?" Willow asked.

"It means that Buffy is not the one in control of the dream. Angelus is. He is manipulating her and moving the dream state to what he wants." Jenny was sure that Angelus would get what he wants from Buffy if it were the last thing he did. Suddenly Jenny rushed from where she was standing.

"Jenny," Giles asked, "What is it?"

"We have been going about this all the wrong way!" She yelled to him.

"Come again." Connor replied from his seat in front of Angelus.

"We have been trying to contact Buffy. But from what Willow has said, we can't. So," She said entering the room once more, "We have to contact Angelus. We have to get him to let go of his hold on Buffy. And I know who can help us." Jenny opened the spare room door and grabbed the Receiver.

Angelus watched her as she tried to escape from her chains. This dream world was actually kind of fun. He had complete control over her. Just like he wanted. He knew that her friends were trying to save her because of Willow attempting to enter the domain. Angelus simply laughed it off. There was no way that they would get in. He had complete control. As he observed the Slayer sag against her restraints he laughed. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. A white light approaching him.

"Oh, no you don't. I'm enjoying this way to much to have it end!" Angelus screamed at the light. He knew it was Jenny. They had figured out how to save their friend. Angelus ran towards Buffy in hopes that he could do a little more damage before it was all over.

"You are mine! Do you hear me! Mine! Angel is nothing compared to what I can give you! Nothing! You will come to me when this is all over and you will be mine! Do you hear me!" The light encroached on him faster and faster. It took al his might to yell out in pain once more.

"Nooooooooooo!"

Angelus' eyes snapped open as he was torn from his dream. Standing before him was Connor, Jenny and Willow. Angelus' head sagged as he realized that once again, this pathetic group of people had foiled his plans again. Willow left the group and opened the door to Buffy's bedroom. Buffy was sitting up right as tears flowed down her face. Willow ran to her friend. She threw her arms around Buffy and held her.

"Oh my god! Buffy, are you okay?" She asked. Buffy nodded slowly unable to move.

"Angelus?" She asked.

"He is still tied up and awake too." Willow replied. Buffy got up off her bed and grabbed her robe. Buffy walked to the mirror and straightened her hair. Buffy was about to ask Willow if everyone else was okay when they heard struggling coming from the living room. Buffy attempted to run out the bedroom door with a weapon only to find that there were none in sight. She tore out of the bedroom and headed for the closet. Buffy grabbed her axe and headed to the living room. When she arrived she saw the Receiver with Connor's neck in his grasp. Connor was attempting to break free but all the struggling only made it worse.

"Let him go!" Faith yelled.

"Never!" The Receiver yelled back, "He is my ticket out of here. Now all of you are going to let me leave or Connor's soul will be mine so is his fathers." The group backed off as the Receiver headed for the door.

"Connor has nothing to do with this," Buffy said to him, "Please just let him go."

"No. I may be an Immortal and you may not have the ability to kill me, but you will. You know how to kill me you just need the means. Connor is my currency. He is how I am going to get out of town." The Receiver motioned to open the door when a shrill growl sounded through the house. The Lyphan was standing at the door to the spare room where Willow was standing. Buffy motioned for Willow to come near her as the Lyphan prepared to jump.

"He can't get out Buffy," Willow said slowly moving towards her friend, "There is a spell that keeps him bound to it. He isn't going anywhere."

"Oh yes he is," The Receiver replied, "On second thought Slayer, I will give Connor back to you as soon as you release my dog." Buffy slowly nodded to Willow when Angelus spoke his first words since waking up.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Shut up!" Buffy yelled back. Willow shut her eyes and chanted a few sayings and the barrier came down. The Lyphan slowly exited the spare room and stood by its master.

"Very good Buffy." The Receiver replied. Without warning he drew a sword and jammed it into Connor's side.

"No!" Buffy yelled as Connor slumped to the ground. The Receiver raced out the door and was down the hall before anyone could blink.

"Faith!" Willow screamed, "After him!" Faith nodded and took the axe from Buffy. She tore down the hallway with Giles and Sean in tow. Jenny and Willow knelt beside Buffy as she held Connor. She looked up at Angelus and saw the smug smile on his face.

"I told you not to let him out." He said simply. Buffy stood and struck Angel across the face.

"And I told you to shut up!" Buffy yelled back. She turned to Jenny and Willow.

"Buffy, he needs a doctor, now." Willow said to her.

"Okay. Dawn! Kathy!" the two girls emerged from their rooms and looked at Buffy. Buffy threw Dawn the keys to the car and gave her direct orders. "You two take Connor back to the hospital and call me the minute that he is okay." Dawn nodded and she and Kathy hoisted Connor up off the ground and headed for the elevator. "Willow, you and Jenny find a way to contact Cordelia and kill that son of a bitch Receiver. I think that will be the only way that we can save Angel and the world at the moment." Willow nodded and moved to get her and Jenny's things.

"Are you going to be okay?" Jenny asked nodding towards Angelus.

"I'll be fine." She replied simply. Jenny nodded and left the apartment with Willow in tow.

"Alone at last." Angelus quipped as Buffy stared at him. Alone at last. Buffy thought back.

WARNING: Adult content to follow

-Part 2-

Standing only a mere couple of feet away from him, Buffy was overcome with bundles of thoughts and emotions. Angelus immediately sensed and took notice of this.

"If you'd just untie me," Angelus said persuasively, "We could have a lot more fun."

"Or maybe I could have a lot more fun," Buffy said flirtingly, "If I just kept you tied up." She sauntered over to him and slowly began unbuttoning each button on his black shirt.

"Didn't know you were into bondage, lover," Angelus watched her very closely.

"You'd be surprised to see what I like nowadays," Buffy said, capturing his lips in a rough but deep kiss.

--

Willow stood, pacing in the waiting room with Jenny just staring at the floor, "Willow, calm down. Buffy wouldn't want to see you like this."

"It's not that," Willow said, "Buffy's alone with Angelus right now."

"He's tied up, Willow, he can't do anything," Jenny reminded her.

"It's not what he could do to her," Willow explained to her, "It's what she could do to him."

"What do you mean by that?" Jenny asked her.

"Something doesn't feel right," Willow said, putting her hand on her stomach, "There's something…different between Buffy and Angel."

"Like…"

--

REWRITE written by The Main Slayer

Buffy's head was spinning. She was so unsure about what she was doing. She felt like she was out of her body. She could see everything that was happening as she made love to Angelus. Her number one enemy, the man she hated more than anything in the world. There she was, sleeping with him. What am I doing? Buffy watched helplessly as they moved together; as they cried together; as she allowed herself to feel with that man. Angelus smiled as he kissed Buffy's neck. Buffy knew that this was more entertaining for Angelus than it was for herself. Buffy tried to force herself to wake up from this nightmare she was watching. Nothing but heartbreak and damage lies down this path! What are you doing! Buffy screamed inside her head. Pushing her thoughts and warnings from her mind, Buffy released her body and allowed herself to feel this. To be with Angel, even if he was just an animal.

"I…I…" Buffy started. Angelus looked into her blue eyes and smiled.

"What, lover? What are you trying to say to me?" Angelus kissed her neck and waited.

"I…I love you." She said as she held his head in her hands. Growling, Angelus gripped her hair. Buffy cried out in pain.

"You, love him. Not me. So shut up, and finish what you started." Gripping her hair tighter Angelus pulled her head down and took hold of her mouth. Buffy allowed tears to fall down her face. She had started something there was no way for her to go back on now. Crying Buffy closed her eyes and prayed. Angel forgive me.

--

"She wouldn't actually…do it," a bedded Connor asked Willow, "…with him…she'd be nuts!"

"She may not be able to help it…she may be under a spell…" Willow explained to him.

"Willow…" Jenny choked out, "I don't think it's a spell…the effects have released their deepest desires…"

"What?!" Connor and Willow both yelled at the same time.

"Buffy hates Angelus…she wouldn't actually want to be with him…" the thought made Willow cringe in disgust.

"Well, why isn't somebody going to check on them?" Connor asked.

"We need to stay here with you, Connor, just for precaution," Jenny said nervously. She did not want to go back to the apartment and find Buffy and Angel doing…doing God knows what.

--

REWRITE written by The Main Slayer

Buffy stood. And walked towards the bathroom. Slowly she shut the door, putting her back to the door she slid down crumpling on the floor. Tears fell down her face as she tried relentlessly to calm her breathing. She could hear Angelus laughing in the other room.

"Come on lover, we are not done yet." Buffy picked herself up off the floor and looked in the mirror. Her face was flushed, sweat poured down her face, and her makeup smeared. She turned herself towards the shower and turned on the water. Stepping into the steaming water she allowed the heat to cleanse her body. Her tears continued to fall down her face as she tried to erase what she had done. When her body couldn't take the heat any longer she turned the water off. Standing still, Buffy knew that Angelus had broken his bonds. She slowly opened the shower curtain to find him standing in the bathroom waiting for her. Angelus took hold of her hand and spun her around.

"I said, we are not done yet." Buffy cried out as he pushed against her. Angelus moved his head to whisper into her ear. Buffy tilted her head to listen:

"This has been really fun. However, I have places to go and people to kill. I don't need you in my way. So lover, without any more beating around the bush…I hope everything turns out for you."

"Angel, I love you."

"Awww, love ya too. I'll call ya." Angelus allowed Buffy to fall to the ground. Turning on the cold water, he left the Slayer there. Crumpled on the shower floor with cold water spraying on her heated body. Laughing, Angelus left.

--

After a long talk, Willow had finally agreed to go back to the apartment. She prayed to whatever power that was listening that Buffy and Angelus weren't inside doing…who knows what. She put her ear up to the door and heard sobbing sounds. Quickly opening the door, she heard the shower running.

"Buffy?" Willow called her name, "Buffy?" Willow walked into the bedroom and noticed that Angelus was gone. Rushing into the bathroom, Willow saw Buffy balled into the corner of the shower. Willow looked onto her friend as she saw her body turning blue from the cold water. Willow turned off the water and took Buffy's hands. Rubbing them, attempting warm her friend. Willow pulled her friend to her feet and moved her towards the bedroom where she wrapped a warm towel around her cold body.

"Buffy, what happened? Where's Angelus?"

"What did I do wrong?" Buffy wailed, "I mean, he just…he just stopped and left…was I that bad?"

"Angelus is gone?" Willow squeaked, "Where did he go?"

"He just left…just said it was great and that he'd call me…" Buffy wept.

Willow whipped out her cell phone and called the hospital, asking for Jennifer Calendar. Jenny immediately came on the phone and asked what was up.

"Angelus is gone," Willow quickly said, "He left Buffy here crying, but he's gone…he somehow got out of the spell…"

"He what?!" Jenny yelled.

"You need to come back here quick…get Faith…She, Sean, and Giles are still probably trying to track down the Receiver…tell Dawn and Kathy to stay at the hospital…you need to contact Cordelia…find a way…I don't care if the powers will kill us for it…"

"Angelus," Buffy closed her eyes and spoke her thoughts aloud, "Come back for me."

And a voice whispered in her head, "I will my love, just give me time."