Chapter 25 Together
A/N: Ok this is by far the tenses chapter and that's hard to believe because chapters 21 until now were nail biting right? Those were all building up to the end but this chapter isn't the end. It continues the build up and oh does this add to the high level of tension. My heart was racing when I typed this chapter up and still races when I read it. Oooo so get ready, take a deep breath and enjoy.
Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together
If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together
I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba)
Buffy slowly opened her eyes and it was fuzzy at the moment as she looked around. Her vision started to clear and she had no idea where she was. It looked like a factory. She then pulled on her ropes as her hands were tied behind her in a chair and she had tape on her mouth. She could panic, try to scream maybe even cry but what was that going to do? Nothing. The night before all this happened when she and Angel talked they talked about this.
'"If you get taken you don't scream, you stay calm the worst thing you can do is panic. Study your surroundings, take in the details just in case you can get word out. The more you describe it the better. You hold out as long as possible. If you can break free you run, you run and you don't look back."'
Those were Angel's words to her and right now it was time to think and figure out how she can get out. She had no idea where Angelus was and by the looks of it she hadn't been out for that long. It was still dark out. Buffy pulled on the ropes and knew if she worked slowly she might be able to slip out of them.
At the police station in the conference room a meeting was going on. Cops were being told to search everywhere and a few would be going to the old barn. This was a small town but Angelus knew how to hide in plain sight. Cops would be scanning the town while Angel had the S.W.A.T team do more of the dirty jobs. The FBI was also on their way to recover Angelus and Rick and Shane would extradite him back to New York that is if Angel doesn't kill him. Angel was in the back of the room while Sweets gave a quick profile of Angelus and Spike came up to Angel.
Spike motioned for Angel to leave the room. This was going to be a long night into an even longer day. Angel followed Spike to a desk and Spike picked up a phone and pressed a button and handed it to him. Angel took the phone wondering who was calling him at this time of night.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Angel? Angel its Willow," Angel let out a sigh and sat at the chair next to the desk and Spike left to give him some privacy. "Angel…"
"He has her right now." Angel confirmed the worse and there was silence on the phone. "Is Connor ok?"
"Yes, Oz is waking him so you two talk, do want to talk to him?" Willow asked.
"Yes," Angel needed to hear his little voice. There was a moment of silence on the phone and then he heard something.
"Hi daddy, hi daddy," Angel's heart sank and he fought the urge to break down. He needed to stay strong for Connor.
"Hey Connor," Angel just needed to hear his voice. "What have you been up to?" He asked.
"I went fishin," Connor answered.
"Really, did you catch anything?" Angel asked.
"No," Connor sounded disappointed. "We, we go fishin?" He asked.
"We will." Angel assured him.
"Where mommy?" Connor asked and Angel felt like he was kicked in the stomach. "She sleepin?" Connor asked and Angel nodded but knew Connor couldn't see the nod.
"Yeah, she's sleeping but she misses you." Angel could tell him what was happening. He was too young for this. After a few more minutes of talking he needed to talk to Gunn. Connor told Angel he loved him and Angel returned that love.
"Angel?" It was Gunn. "Are you ok?" Angel didn't say anything and he heard Gunn sigh. "Its been quiet here."
"Good, don't let him out of your sight Gunn." Angel insisted.
"I won't, you have my word." Gunn assured him and Angel knew he would protect Connor. They all loved Connor.
Once Angel was done talking he looked up and saw Joyce and she rushed to him. Angel stood up and hugged her as she sobbed. Giles came over looking white with fear. Right now not much could be done. Angel held his future mother-in-law doing his best to comfort her. This was Joyce's worst nightmare. Her daughter was taken, that's any parents worst fear no matter how old your child it.
The cops left the conference room and now it was time for more of a private meeting as Rick and Shane stayed behind. Joyce came in with Angel and she hugged the two cops. She wished they were here on better circumstances. Joyce sat down with Giles next to her and he took her hand into his. Angel sat down and they had to get this started right away. They were losing time.
"Alright, we need every second." Spike sat down as plans were being made.
"I don't think Angelus will kill Buffy, he wants to but he won't." Sweets started.
"Why not?" Joyce asked looking confused.
"She symbolizes something to him an innocence he wants and if he takes it away then he'll have nothing. He's placing all his anger actually on Connor saying that's what he wants. But really he wants Buffy." Sweets explained. "He won't kill her not on purpose and if she does die for whatever reason he'll probably kill himself. He does love her, it's sick and twisted but he does love her." That was somewhat comforting to know but they had to assume that Angelus was ready to pull the trigger. "He's going to use her to get to you." Sweets pointed to Angel. "He wants you because you represent everything he wants to be. In his mind you and him can not exist together so one of you has to go."
"What about the rest of them?" Rick asked. "Doyle? Claire?"
"If he can kill Angel and have Buffy then I believe I truly believe he'll disappear. Taking Connor will be the cherry on top but he wants Buffy more than anything. He's obsessed with her." Sweets answered. "She's rather safe, now she can upset him and he may go violent but I don't think he'll purposely with intention hurt her. He'll hurt her but it'll be out off blind rage not calculated."
"Doesn't make me feel better." Angel added and everyone in the room agreed.
"Alright we got the shrink stuff but where do we look?" Spike jumped in.
"He wants Angel to find her and then have duel." Gordon didn't answer the question but explained why this was happening.
"So in the end it's going to be the ultimate sibling rivalry? Angel and Angelus what duke it out, the one who wins gets to keep Buffy?" Shane asked and Sweets nodded.
"That's how he's seeing this." Sweet answered and Angel leaned back into his chair. "He wants this to play out as long as possible too. He wants control and be the puppet master." Angel then sat up and pulled something out of his pocket and put it on the table. It was a GPS and they looked to it.
"Too bad it's Buffy pulling on the strings." Angel said looking around the table. "I know where she is."
'After a rather few intense love making sessions Angel and Buffy were laying in bed together talking about the next move. To beat Angelus you had play his game.
"Angelus like a few things, attention, control and power," Buffy explained to Angel. "He has a huge ego and if you feed into it's gets bigger but it's what will trip him up. His ego got so big that he was killing in the middle of the day where people can see." Angel nodded listening. "So I say let's give him the attention, the control and the power."
"How?" Angel asked.
"We give him me." Buffy answered and Angel's eyes widen.
"I'm not doing that," Angel was about to protest.
"You trust me?" She asked and Angel nodded as she placed a hand on his cheek. "Sweets is convinced that Angelus will not kill me and I know he won't. He'll talk big but he doesn't have it in him. We'll let him think he's winning."
"What's the plan?" Angel asked.
"Let your guard down, let him think he can come in here and take me. Let him think he can have control and then you pull the trigger." That was the plan. "He'll take me but you put a tracker on me. You come in blowing the situation up. He'll want this to happen over a few days, ask for ransoms, make everyone sweat. But you come in just maybe an hour or two after the fact it'll catch him off guard and he doesn't plan ahead like that." Buffy laid out the plans and Angel didn't like it.
"You're crazy Buffy." He was shocked that she was willing to put herself in the line of fire.
"I know but that's why you love me right?" She asked with a smile and he had smile too. "Are you with me on this?" Angel then reached out and took her hand into his.
"Always," He answered and leaned in for a kiss to seal the deal.'
Everyone at the table looked in shock at what Angel had said as he finished telling them the plan.
"So this was a huge act?" Shane asked and Angel nodded as Shane leaned back in his chair with a smile and looked to Rick. "I say you deserve an Oscar."
"Buffy's good." Rick added.
"That's my girl." Angel looked at the GPS with the coordinates.
"So what's the plan?" Spike asked.
"Taking the best guys, we don't want to scare him." Angel began.
"You sent the cops out making it seem like he's playing us." Spike added and Angel nodded.
"You guys here along with a few other men will surround the building. I'm going in, it's me he wants," Angel started.
"You're going to play Cain and Able?" Rick asked and Angel nodded.
"Buffy will have already escaped from him and will be throwing him off." Angel explained the plan. "I go in, blow a hole in his plan. Once Buffy has the chance she will leave and you guys see to it she gets to a safe place." They all nodded. "I'll do my best to keep Angelus alive but not making any promises."
"Don't worry about it." Rick assured him and Angel stood up.
"It's game time people, let's get this son of a bitch." Angel declared and they all smiled and left the conference room.
At the factory Buffy was slowly wiggling her wrist out of the ropes when the door opened and she looked up and there he was. It felt like it's been a life time since she last saw him. Angelus walked in smiling and took a beat up chair and placed it in front of her and sat down. He leaned forwards and took the tape off her mouth.
"Sorry about this," Angelus started. "But it's necessary." She could tell Angelus was getting a huge high off of this. "You know I never did think about using rope and chains on each other, probably should have right?" Buffy said nothing to him. "No hi?" He asked with a creepy smile. "So, nice little town you found Lizzy."
He was trying to make small talk but Buffy was still studying the room and slowly but surely breaking free from her ropes. She had it in her mind when she would come face to face with Angelus. She knew this day was bound to happen and knew she couldn't run from it. She had to face her fears and she was staring down her fear now. He's been on her heels for so long now that this moment wasn't what she expected, she was not afraid. Why was she not afraid of this man? She should be everyone else was. She pictured meeting him, crying, fearing for her life but not now. There was no fear as she sat there.
"You know Lizzy," Angelus started. "I really and truly believed you and I were going to be happy together. We were going to raise our son together and be that perfect couple. I was so close to giving up the mob life for you until you turned me in. Now look where that's gotten you." Angelus was lying and she knew it. He was trying to put ideas in her head telling her that this was her fault. "And then you find my brother a brother I knew nothing about. Maybe you found him because he is like me."
Again Buffy ignored him he was just twisting things around. Buffy can see passed that. At one point she might have believed this but being with Angel, living here she knew who her ex-husband is. She wasn't the woman he married nearly four years ago.
"Go to hell Angelus." Buffy finally said something and that's not what he wanted to hear. "I'm not yours anymore, Connor isn't yours. You've lost that right to be a father. You're nothing but a monster, you where never a man. Oh, and I faked it every time." Buffy finished and Angelus' face twisted in anger as he got up and went to hit her but instead flipped a table over. Buffy looked up to him staying calm as he started to pace.
"You're not going anywhere Lizzy," Angelus declared. "Once I bring Angel in I'll kill him in front of you and then I'll kill you." He threatened and Buffy nodded and he got closer to her so they were inches a part from each other. "Damn, I forgot how beautiful you are." He was trying to soften her up but she was long past that. "You're stuck here, I'll find Aiden even if I have to beat it out of you." Buffy smiled at him.
"I won't be here for long." She stated and Angelus cocked his head and took a step back.
"Really? How so?" He asked.
"First, I'm going to punch you in the face, maybe even kick you down." She started to explain. "Then that pipe right there," She looked to a single lead pipe. "I'm going to smash your face in with it." Angelus smiled a huge smile at her.
"Nice plan but how?" Meaning she was bound right now.
"Remember the ropes?" She asked and he nodded and she pulled her hands in front of her and Angelus eyes went wide and he was in disbelief. "Magic," Buffy then got up quickly and punched him hard in the face. And then kicked him as she said she would. She quickly reached over and picked up the pipe just as Angelus was about to grab her and she swung at him and he went down to the floor with a broken nose gushing of blood. He let out a cry of pain and Buffy looked to her handy work. "I'm good," She smiled as he looked up to her and she looked to him with look that meant 'suck it'. "You date and have sex with a cop you pick up a thing or two." She then could help herself and slammed her foot down onto his crotch and this time he went into a fetal position. "Asshole," She muttered and ran out of the room.
Buffy has never been in this factory let alone seen it and it was pitch black so she barely could see as she ran. She had to keep him here and busy knowing Angel was on his way. Angel was bringing the best of his team plus she knew the FBI would be here at some point. If she could keep Angelus here and focus on her then he'll never see Angel coming.
In the room Angelus rolled over trying to shake the pain of his face and in his crotch away. He felt the blood on his face and tried to wipe it off but he would just have to let it stop bleeding on its own. He sat up holding his nose trying to stop the bleeding but it hurt to touch his nose as she broke it.
"Women," He commented as he got up but was wobbly from being kicked in down where men feel the most pain. He stood there trying to shake it all off and saw the lead pipe she used on him and now he would return the favor. He picked it up and limped out using the wall still shaking the pain off. She did a number on him but for Buffy she's been wanting to do that for a long time now. Angelus then turned back to the room and saw the rifle and went to get it. He also had a hand gun on his belt and he had enough of her little game. Angelus used the lead pipe more like a cane as he walked out.
Buffy stayed low to the ground and then heard gunfire go off. She quickly got down making sure to dodge any bullets but they sounded a little ways away. It didn't matter and now the real fun was about to begin. Buffy crawled on the ground knew she couldn't hide the whole time. She had to keep him moving to keep him here until Angel and the other's arrived. Buffy then hid behind a conveyor belt to catch her breath and refocus.
Angelus walked around but with it being close to one in the morning and this factory being old and long out of business he couldn't see much. The pain between his legs was subsiding as he walked and she was going to pay for that. He had to use his hearing to try and find Elizabeth but this was not in his plans so he had to decide should he catch her or kill her?
"Elizabeth!" He screamed out and Buffy heard it as she was about to move but stayed still. "I love you! Please don't do this!" He begged but she didn't know if he meant or not. "Please, come out and we can run away together!" He was offering up a truce but she wasn't going to take it. "I want you! I've always wanted you! Please come back!" Angelus looked around but nothing. "Fine, I gave one last chance!" He then fired around the place and Buffy didn't move. He let up and threw the pipe away and started walking.
"Imagine me and you, I do," He started to sing. "I think about you day and night, it's only right," Buffy had think on her next move as he was getting closer. "To think about the girl you love," Buffy then heard his foot steps and sunk lower to the ground seeing his feet on the other side of the conveyor belt. "And hold her tight." She had a plan and slowly crawled under the conveyor belt. "So happy together," She counted in her head and knew if she did this she would have to get away and fast.
Buffy reached out and grabbed both his feet and yank them towards her. Angelus fell backwards on to the hard ground. Buffy crawled back under and started to run. Angelus got up shaking it off as he hit his head on the ground. He saw her and then started to fire at her. Buffy jumped to the ground and started to crawl away. Angelus grunted in pain as he laid back on the ground for a moment. He never though she could attack him like this.
Buffy got up slowly and started to quietly sneak around. Angelus got up and looked around trying to listen and then heard something as walked to it. Buffy could hear him but also could hear the pounding of her own heart. She wasn't going to go down not without a fight. If she was going to be one of his victims than the would be his worst one. This was for Faith and Fred, for Riley and his wife, for all the people he killed in cold blood. She was fighting for them, she had always been fighting for them.
Buffy then got to the floor to lay low and then looked up and saw chains and hooks. 'What kind of factory was this?' She asked herself but it didn't matter. She had to get him over here and then saw what looked like a potbelly stove and the door was opened. She crawled over to it and kicked it shut with her foot. Angelus heard it and made his way over as Buffy got up quietly and hid within the chains and grabbed hold. She took in a deep breath trying to calm herself, hold out that's all she had to do.
Angelus found his way to where she was and she could see him, barely but he was there. 'Come on, come on,' She said to herself and he was right where she wanted him. Buffy then threw the chains and Angelus turned towards them they slammed into him. Buffy took off running as Angelus swatted the chains away. There was one chain with a hook on it that was just inches from his face. He then saw the direction she went and followed.
Buffy kept running and had to stay two steps ahead. She was unarmed and he wasn't. She had to use what was around her to survive. Buffy then got back to the ground and picked up a piece of metal that was broken off from something but it was broken such away that it had a pointed edge. Buffy then crawled into a small hole in the wall and climbed in further. She looked up saw what looked like a shaft that she could wedge herself in and climb up. She did just that and worked her way up. Get to the high ground.
Angel was driving his SUV to the factory but would park just outside the zone of vision. They had to set up a safe zone where no line of fire would come across. Angelus was armed and extremely dangerous. Usually in this situation there would be a helicopter coming in but Angel gave the order to stand down. This had to be done quietly because they might lose him or worse he ends up hurting Buffy.
Angel parked his SUV as a S.W.A.T truck pulled up next to it. Spike, Rick and Shane also got out of the SUV as they headed to the back and Angel opened up the trunk. Angel was packing a lot of heat tonight. The four grabbed bullet proof vest and started to suit up. Angel's best men came out of the S.W.A.T truck as Angel put in an ear piece to keep in contact with everyone.
Then one of his men came over to him with a radio. This would be Angel's constant line of communication between the other cops of Sunnydale and the FBI. Angel hooked together his vest and he was full S.W.A.T gear head to toe. Rick and Shane put on the gear too even though they weren't going in you couldn't take any chances on this. They were given name tags so they can be identified when more people arrived.
"O'Brien," The communicator officer came over and Angel looked up as he was making sure his pockets had ammo, knives, everything. "The FBI team is on their way, E.T.A one hour." Angel nodded as his team finished up gathering their items. They all then gathered around holding their rifles. Sweets and Gordon were here for the emotional support also to talk to Angel to help give him insight once inside.
As Rick and Shane gathered in the circle they looked to each as they were never dressed like this before. Of course they've worn vest before but nothing like this.
"I like this," Shane commented softly and Rick agreed as the team was in a circle as Angel slung his rifle over his shoulder and held out the GPS and Spike had a thermo reader.
"Ok, I'm the only one to engage unless I give you the distress call. That call will be Irene," Angel began and they nodded. "Everyone here is to keep Angelus inside once the FBI comes in any clear shot of him you take it. I'll let you know when Buffy is one her way out and whoever is closes to her get her out of the hot zone. We've got one hour to lock this place down before the FBI gets here." Angel looked around at the best of the best. "Angelus does not leave this building unless he is in cuffs or he's dead, understood?"
"Yes sir," They all agreed.
"The green light is on, he poses any threat, fails to follow commands he goes down." Angel gave the ok to take out his brother. "Keep the chatter down I just need an update every five minutes unless something changes."
"We have a thermo reader that will be set up," Spike jumped in. "We'll will be able to track them on that and talk O'Brien through it. Buffy will most likely be the smaller of the thermo readings."
"Any questions?" Angel asked but this was a clear mission with a clear objective. "Alright, let's move," Everyone broke and went to where they were assigned. They had an hour to keep this quiet before the FBI arrives and once they arrive the media will be on this. They wanted to avoid that as much as possible because Angelus could disappear into the night using the media as cover. The factory also laid right on the edge of the woods and he could run there and hide. There were ten men on this mission as they fanned out. Angel trained them and they were a very tight unit. Everyone was getting into position as Angel ran to the entrance of the building.
It would be nice to know the lay of the land but Angel wasn't only just a trained sniper but an infiltrator too. He knew how to go into a building and clear it without ever stepping foot inside. Angel went in and checked left and checked right and started to move as the mission time started. This was going to be his biggest and most dangerous mission ever. A life he cared so much for, would die for was on the line. And that life was at the mercy of his own blood.
Cue some creepy and intense music and wow, what a chapter right? So what did you guys think? There will be a chapter in review for this one because there is so much in this chapter that I can't sort out in my little end notes. But Buffy kicked ass didn't she? So I'm looking at two chapters left maybe three when I re-read the last chapter, I might split it into two, debating. But the next chapter is the climax and it's been building and building really since chapter one. So how does it end? Can't tell you that it would ruin it completely.
So check out the forum, TheBuffyAngelWhedonVerse A Life to Live Up Until Chapter 13 (obviously we're passed 13) for a deeper look into Angelus' madness. He's losing it isn't he? So what's next? Oh and I hope I added some creepiness as he sung Happy Together to Buffy. I love the song and I was listening to a few days before typing this chapter and after I typed it up I re-listen to the song it really adds an eerie effect to this chapter even though it's a love song. Anyways more in the forum about that. Hang tight as we go to the climax of this story.
More on the way, comments and reviews are welcomed and thank you for reading.
Happy Together by The Turtles