Chapter 21 Knocking on Heaven's Door

A/N: I changed the title of this chapter on a dime why? Seems more fitting to the events that have happened so far and what everything is leading up to. This is a short chapter the shortest of the entire book actually. But I think it's one of the more important chapters we have. One down one more to go. Happy reading.

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Knocking on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan

Dawn sat in a chair tied up. Glory teleported them here and now the entire world was in danger. They would be at Glory' place but Angel blew it up so they were in another place, the place where the world will end the old Sunnydale High school. Dawn has never actually set foot on these grounds before and the place still threatens to crumble to the ground.

"Finally I have the key I can end this stupid planet and move on took me long enough." Glory then sat down next to Dawn. "You excited little girl?" She asked Dawn and Dawn said nothing.

Out at gas station Angel was brought back inside still motionless. Everyone was trying get him to snap out of it but he gave no response.

"Maybe you should flash him Buffy." Xander suggested but there was no time to joke and for that Anya slapped him. Giles was sitting up a little but they had no transportation at the moment. The map on the wall suggested they had about a ten-mile walk to the last gas station they were at.

"Well all in favor in start walking?" Doyle asked and everyone raised their hands.

"Hello nimrods, there's dozens of cars outside, just take a few of them." Spike reminded them so no walking they can get back into town a little faster.

"What about Angel?" Willow asked.

"He'll come out of this right?" Cordelia asked.

"Angel?" Spike asked as he paced in front of the slayer. "He can't be brain dead right?"

"We got to get out of here or we'll never get Dawn back." Doyle was saying they needed to leave now.

"We won't get Dawn back regardless without the slayer so he needs to snap out of it." Spike then got closer to Angel. "Hey, pretty boy wake up." Spike then shook him and then punched him across the face.

"Hey!" Xander reached for Spike pulling him away. "You insane you know what kind of damage that can cause?"

"He's endowed with slayer strength we don't need to get all dainty." Spike justified his actions. The tension in the room, the weight on their shoulders just felt like too much.

"How much time do you think we have?" Doyle asked as they were all sitting around. Giles was half in this but still in pain. Time wasn't on their side at all they knew that. Asking about it made it worse.

"Not much but we better start thinking of something, start thinking of a way." Buffy jumped in and looked to Angel as he was off somewhere else. Right now Angel was gone and they can't look to him for any help.

"Think of what?" Xander asked. "We're screwed right now! Nothing can stop this hell god and now she has the key!"

"Shut up!" Spike jumped in.

"Make me!" Xander challenged him and Spike made his way over to him but Willow held out her hand and the two went flying back in opposite directions.

"That's enough!" The redhead witch was serious. "Angel isn't with us right now and Glory has Dawn. Real soon Glory's going to use Dawn to open the Gates of Hell so we need to pull it together and stop it even if it means we all die. Now if you two want to fight fine go ahead but that happens after the world ends. Right now I need you both understood?" Willow asked and both Spike and Xander nodded.

"We get back to Sunnydale and go from there." Giles slowly got to the ground. "Then look through those notes see if Glory has a weak spot." He finished with the most logical plan as they all looked at each other.

"So why they hell are we standing around, let's move it! Assess and elbows!" Doyle called out and everyone started to move.

"One question," Spike spoke up and they looked to him as he was about to help Doyle get Angel up. "What if we run across Ben?" Everyone then looked confused.

"Why would he show?" Willow asked.

"You know Ben is Glory?" Spike asked and then Buffy's eyes widen.

"So I'm not crazy?" Buffy asked feeling relieved but everyone looked confused. "He is, that's how he got here. Ben was here and then he morphed into Glory." Again everyone looked confused. Buffy and Spike looked to each other wondering why they couldn't understand it.

"It's the goddness part, puts the whammy on you guys it's her cloak." Spike went on. "Except it doesn't work on the undead like yours truly and Buffy." Still everyone looked lost.

"So, Ben and Glory, they know each other?" Xander asked and Spike rolled his eyes.

"Are you guys stoned?" He asked and wondered how he can make this make sense. "Ben is Glory, Glory is Ben." Spike added and they all confused. "Ben! Glory! Same!" Spike made it sound so simple.

"That's right," Xander had an epiphany. "It makes sense now and we forget when it happens that makes so much more sense." Spike rolled his eyes and helped Buffy to get Angel up.

"How has the world not ended yet?" Spike asked as they began to take the long walk.

Dawn sat on the ground with her knife she was slowly working the rope off of her. Glory came back into the old broken down classroom as more was being done. Dawn had to be very careful in what she did and how she did it. One she had to break free and not lose the knife for that was her only weapon. Also when she was brought back here she was very keen on where the exits were and different obstacles. Angel taught her to always be aware even the smallest things.

"You getting excited?" Glory asked and sat in front of Dawn. "I mean the places we will go after this, the dimensions." Dawn continued to sit there.

"I just want to go home." Dawn stated and Glory smiled.

"That's not home Dawnie home is with me. Don't worry I'll free you from this human meat suit and you'll be happy." Glory smiled and reached out touching Dawn's face. "It'll all be over soon I promise."

"It will." Dawn agreed but not for the same reason. "Angel's going to find me and he's going to kill you." Glory smiled thinking it was cute but she wasn't ready when Dawn stood up and slammed the knife into Glory's shoulder. Dawn took the knife out and started to run. She heard Glory screaming and Dawn knew one safe place to go and that was the church from earlier this morning.

Dawn made it out the front doors of the old school but Glory appeared right in front of her no longer smiling. Dawn knew she was in trouble.

The sun had finally rose to another day as the A-Team made it back to the mansion. There was so much to be done in so little time. Buffy knew Angel was now down to four days, just four. His current state didn't help him as he was just not there. There was a body but nothing more. Angel was cationic because of everything. He has lost so much and has been through so much it has finally taken its toll on him. But what are they going to do?

Three Days Left

The mansion felt different and the sunrise this morning was dark with lots of cloud cover. Giles needed to hit the notes and see what can be done after he sees a doctor.

After a day spending it at the hospital Giles refused to stay any longer and decided to leave. The doctor said he lost a lot of blood but there shouldn't be an permit damage so the Watcher left. Xander and Doyle remained at the hospital and saw Giles in a sling walking slowly as the medications made him a little loopy.

"What was the story you gave them?" Xander asked as they got either side of the Watcher to help him walk and not fall.

"We had a party, got carried away, was table top dancing and fell." Giles answered and the three looked at each other.

"Not sure if I can see you dancing on a table top but sure whatever works." Doyle added.

"We need to get to the notes and start, we're running out of time." Giles had to refocus as the three left the hospital.

At the mansion Willow gave Oz some medications to knock him out as she couldn't deal with him right now. Cordelia had stayed with Oz to make sure he fell asleep while Spike was downstairs in the basement getting some rest. They should all rest but with the world about to end at any given point there really was no time to rest. Anya sat in the kitchen waiting for everyone to gather in.

Cordelia left the room Oz was in and walked down the hall to Angel and Buffy's room where Angel sat on the bed still not moving. Willow was setting up a spell. Angel was basically in a coma and maybe he needed to be awoken from the inside. Angel sat in a chair in the master room of the mansion as Willow lit some candles.

"Will this work?" Buffy asked as she stood next to Angel.

"Maybe, I don't know but we have to try something." Willow answered and then sat down on the bed.

"Wait," Buffy stopped Willow before this could start. "Let me do it." She insisted. "Please." Willow nodded and Buffy sat on the bed in front of Angel. Willow took in a deep breath and chanted as Buffy looked to Angel as he sat there not moving.

Buffy blinked and then looked around. She was no longer in their room anymore but somewhere else. It was an apartment, a nice big one to. She looked around the place and started to walk around. The place was warm with the colors. Buffy looked around and then her eye caught something and she walked over to it and smiled. It was a picture of Joyce and Angel's father at their wedding. Buffy continued to walk around and came to a wall of paintings recognizing them. They were at Angel's old apartment now.

"Hi Buffy," A little voice greeted her and Buffy turned around. A little boy of six years old stood there. He had those brown eyes, short brown hair and even at five he wore a leather jacket but the shirt was less imposing. Apparently the little boy wuvs hugs. Buffy smiled at the little boy. She squatted down to be at his level.

"Hi Angel." She greeted back and then the phone rang and Buffy looked up seeing Joyce. Buffy had the urge to run and hug her but Joyce looked upset as she answered the phone.

"Dad's not coming home tonight." This time the voice was deeper and Buffy turned slightly seeing the real Angel. She watched fiver year old Angel walking to his mom. "This was the first time I saw the problems between them and he wasn't even here." Buffy watched as Joyce hung up the phone and the young Angel told his mom that he'll be here for her always. Buffy went to talk to the real Angel but he was gone. Just then there was crying and young Angel headed up the stairs and Buffy followed.

Little Angel opened the door to a room and Buffy looked in and there was a crib as Angel took the small stool and set beside the crib and leaned in.

"It's ok Dawnie, big brother is here." Angel started to sooth the baby and Buffy smiled. The little baby's cries became coos and she even smiled at Angel.

At the mansion Giles was reading and both Doyle and Xander came back.

"Glory's place is empty." Doyle stated.

"And the mental ward is empty too." Xander added.

"Not good." Cordelia added.

"Angel doing ok?" Xander asked as Spike came in. He couldn't rest and went upstairs to see what was going on.

"Willow and Buffy are on it maybe. Plan is to go in psychedelic." Spike explained and that worried Giles but it's all they have at the moment.

Shop for Glory was now at the old Sunnydale High School. That's where the Hell Mouth is. They don't need to be directly over it just close enough. But Glory looked like she was having some issues.

"This feels…wrong." Glory paced around. "Ben, I can feel everything about him. The people he's met, the feelings." She didn't look happy. "Why am I feeling this!" She yelled to Dawn. Dawn had a black eye and a busted lip. After her small escape attempted Glory wanted the key to know who was boss. "Why?"

"I, I don't know." And it was true Dawn didn't know why.

"I hate this feeling of feeling." Glory looked like she was going to cry. "How do humans do it? How do live like this?" Dawn continued to sit there. "How can live like puppets, slaves to your own passions."

"Because we're human." Dawn answered and Glory looked to her. "You're not human even sharing Ben's body."

"So the cloak is fading." Glory muttered.

"That's why you're going to lose." Dawn wasn't bluffing either and that statement caught Glory's attention. "It's because we feel, because we care and don't is why we'll win."

"You believe that?" Glory asked and she smiled. "Humans are just dumb animals. Name one human who can live in this world and survive it without losing their mind."

"My brother." Dawn was quick with that answer.

Buffy looked around as she was out near a wooded area and it was nighttime too. She was at a park and across the way she saw two people and walked to them. There was music playing as a little boom box was on the ground playing Knocking on Heaven's Door and the two people were Angel and Dawn. Angel looked to be fourteen and Buffy smiled, he was so cute when he was young. Dawn was nine wearing a cute red, white and blue dress. She was dancing to the song as Angel had a huge box full of fireworks. He then took out his zippo. Buffy recognized the zippo, he still has it to this day.

"Ready?" Angel asked and Dawn came over nodding as Angel gave her a roman candle and he took one himself. "Hold it like this you might feel a small kick but don't let go Kiwi." Angel instructed her and the little girl nodded. Angel lit the wick on Dawn's candle and then Angel lit his and the lights shot out. Dawn's eyes lit up seeing the colors. Buffy smiled seeing the moment. The little girl was in complete aw.

"This is so cool!" Little Dawn squealed and Buffy smiled bigger. Once those were done Angel reached for the box and pulled out what's called a Saturn Missile Launcher that launches twenty-five little rockets. Angel lit it up and stood back and the missiles started to go up. "You're the best Angel." Dawn wrapped her arms around her brother and he picked her up and held her in his arms. Dawn started to sway to the song and Angel swayed with her.

Buffy realized Angel was reliving his memories, probably the best memories of him and Dawn. She watched big brother and little sister dance and a small tear fell. No matter how this ends Angel will die but she can see why these were his happiest moments no matter how real or unreal they were.

But he can't stay here she needed to get him out. Buffy noticed she somewhere else now. She was standing on the Santa Monica pier. It was a bright sunny day and the water looked so calm and refreshing as the waves washed up. She remembers this but not because she was ever here but she's seen it in a picture. Buffy looked over and saw two more people a seventeen-year-old Angel and a twelve-year-old Dawn walking together.

Now she knows why she remembers this. Angel had just returned from LA after he sent her to Hell and now he was taking Dawn to a place he would go sometimes. But they both grew up in LA so they've been to the Santa Monica pier all the time but now with Angel back Dawn was happy again. Buffy watched them walk together hand in hand with Dawn eating cotton candy. She was so young and so was Angel and yet he was forced to grow up so fast.

She watched the two stop at the edge off the pier as Dawn climbed the railing and Angel behind her holding as the breeze kept the cool while sun shined on them. Buffy stood there watching it and it was perfect but it had to stop. Just then she felt something and turned around seeing the real Angel before her.

"Angel," Buffy had to get him to wake up. "Listen I know these are some of your best memories but we have to go." She was trying to snap him out of this.

"I don't want to leave." Angel was honest. "I can't do this anymore."

"It's not about you now it's about Dawn." Buffy had to try something.

"I can't beat Glory, we're all dead." Angel sounded calm saying it like it really was over.

"But you can push her into Hell, you've got to something Angel you're the slayer." Buffy begged him.

"Buffy," Angel looked to him. "I'm tired, I'm burned out, I'm done." Buffy started to cry. "I feel it, the weight. I know I told you once that I don't have a death wish, that I didn't want to die but,"

"No," Buffy demanded. "No, no you don't."

"I've already failed." Angel continued on.

"No, failing is giving up. Failing is walking away from this." Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing this wasn't coming from Angel. It can't come from him. "You're the one who told me strong it fighting."

"And you are strong, I know it's over for me I can feel it Buffy. I've felt it for a while now. Death is my gift." Angel paused for a moment. "I know it's going to happen."

"Ok, then it happens but if you give up right now then not only will Dawn die but so will I, the gang and everyone in this world." Buffy reminded him.

"Buffy," Angel got closer to her as tears fell from her eyes. "I'm tired, I want this to be over. I've done this for five years but it feels longer than that I can't remember anything else. I can't do this anymore I don't want to." Buffy started to cry and Angel hugged her. "I wanted to tell you for so long but I couldn't, I was too afraid too. I would wake up wanting to tell you and I couldn't do it because you were happy."

"I understand." And she did as she rested her forehead on his chest shedding some tears. "You've carried so much weight since high school and I wanted to help take it off. I know you never wanted it because I never wanted it for you." Buffy pulled away looking up at him. "But it's not over, it's never over. You need to make one last stand."

"And if I die?" Angel asked and Buffy nodded.

"Then you die fighting like you always have and I'll be right there like I always have." Angel leaned in for a kiss and she pulled him closer as it was filled with passion. They pulled away and Buffy looked over his shoulder where a clock hung on the wall and the time read seven thirty. "Wake up."

Angel blinked and looked around. Buffy sat up a little and Willow stood up from the chair in the corner. The last thing Angel remembered being was at the broken down gas station and now he was home. He looked to Buffy as she scooted closer to him. He fought the tears as Buffy wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her. Buffy then looked to the time, a whole and half has passed, time was running out.

One Day Left

Everyone was around the kitchen table. Giles had made a phone call to Wesley asking for help and Wesley said he'll have the help tomorrow night ready to go. Tomorrow was going to be the night because it was the full moon and the ritual needed to be done on a full moon.

"You guys are slacking." A voice greeted them and everyone looked up and Giles smiled.

"Angel," Giles felt relieved seeing Angel was back.

"Thought you were dead." Doyle commented.

"I get that a lot." Angel added and Xander smiled.

"He's back, now we can kick some ass." Xander sounded excited again.

"What do we know?" Angel asked as he got to the table and Buffy took a seat next to him.

"Well, called in Wesley, he and Gunn are going to get all the hunters in LA plus any others in California to join us, we need the numbers. I have come to what looks like the ritual plan." Giles answered as his notes were on the table. "It'll be done tomorrow night on a full moon." Angel folded his arms across his chest standing there. An army was coming to help and Angel felt a little relief knowing it won't just be him and his people. "Glory plans on opening the Hell Mouth by a ritual bloodletting."

"Dawn," Angel commented and Giles nodded.

"Now, this powerful wizard said we can push Glory into Hell thus sealing her in." Giles paused for a moment. "It's the closing of the Hell Mouth is what concerns me. Also you have to get close to the opening to get her in and if she takes you down you go down with her. You go to Hell with her." Angel nodded understanding the consequences but something had to happen or they all die. They couldn't just stop the ritual and flee with Dawn either because Glory will just follow. "If Glory escapes to another dimension with Dawn we can't close the Hell Mouth then its over, the world ends as Hell's army comes on earth."

"Fuck," Spike commented lighting up a cigarette. It was crunch time now, they were down to the wire.

"There is no way to close the Hell Mouth once it's open?" Cordelia asked because the Hell Mouth wasn't closed at all there was just a bind on it at the moment. "So, say Angel pushes Glory in then what?"

"There is one way and one way only." The tone Giles had meant it wasn't good. "The only way for Hell's Gates to close is to kill Dawn, when the blood stops flowing." The air in the room was sucked out as Angel stood there. Regardless what happens Dawn had to die.

That's it we're down to the wire now people, one day left. One day, twenty-four hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds and then we're done. How nervous are you guys? How is it all going to end? So far there are three most common scenarios that have been sent to me one is the book ends like the series, Angel jumps. The second is Dawn jumps and the third is Angel stops Glory from opening Hell. So which of the three will happen? You'll see soon.

There will be a review of this chapter in the forum and why I changed the cationic dream sequence because that reveals a big part of Angel like it did for Buffy in the show. Got a sneak peek of the finale here and in the forum so check that out. Don't forget about the polls on my bio page. Comments and reviews are always and forever welcomed. Thank you guys for reading you're all super awesome.

Chapter 22 Either Ever nor Never

"I'm nervous," Buffy admitted to him and he was nervous too. "If,"

"Buffy," Angel interrupted her. "If I go down into Hell with Glory, I die in anyway you promise me you don't come looking for me, you leave whatever happens be. Regardless where I go you don't bring me back." Buffy fought the tears but she nodded understanding as Angel pulled her in for a hug. "I should have told you a long time ago how I felt."

"It's ok," She assured him and pulled away. "Let's just get Dawn back." Angel nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Downstairs the hunters, Gunn, Wesley, the A-Team all waited. Father Michael gave some hunters blessings to help. Everyone was nervous as the end was very well knocking on their doorstep. No one knows the outcome of tonight but no matter what lives will be lost.