Welcome to my World
Author: Angel's blue eyed girl
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own none of them... Though I swear I wish I did!
A/N.. You know it's so funny... I have gotten so many responses to the Angelus/Dawn pairing. Many good and almost as many bad!! Okay, so here's your chance guys... Let me know which ending YOU prefer. Angelus... OR Angel.
Chappie... Ending One.
The basement of Angelus' hideout...
Spike felt Angel as soon as he entered the house. He raised his head and knew Dru had felt him too by the look on her face.
"The Angel beast is here," she whispered with a strange, mad grin. She danced around the room. "Now the time is here for daddy to finally get rid of the curse forever Spike. It's a beautiful trap daddy has set."
Spike opened his mouth to reply, but she put her hand over his mouth. "Ssshh... Don't speak my love. They're here... Miss Edith told me in secret that the warm daddy would come and he's here... The moon...It talks to the stars and the Slayer will lose. Her heart will break and daddy will win."
She giggled and clapped her hands in a frightening type of maddening glee. Her dark indigo eyes showed her madness as she twirled around the room.
"See my love... I told you he would win my Spike." She gripped his chin in a grip that belied her thin stature. "Do you want to die Spike?"
Spike shook his head. "No pet, I don't want ta die...Dru, luv listen to me. The Slayer won't lose. She's the..."
Dru slapped him...Hard. "Stop it! I won't hear another word. The wolf is in the house my Spike and he's gonna eat the Slayer all up. She will lose what she treasures..."
Spike raised a brow, "Oh and what does she treasure luv?"
Drusilla grinned, "Her sister... She loves daddy and she wants to run away with him... We are going to be a family again once daddy makes her our mommy!"
Spike's blue eyes widened. He should have known what Angelus was up to. He just never thought Dawn would actually give herself to his demonic Sire.
He was speechless and had a hard time focusing when Dru gripped his face and whispered to him, "Come away with us... My beautiful Spike I forgive you for being the tool of the beast...Come with me."
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Booth heard the sound of the crazy vampiress talking to whom he hoped was Spike as he silently crept down the stairs. He looked over his shoulder at Bones who was right behind him. "Okay, we go on three.." he hissed to her.
They took a deep breath in unison, both eager, yet scared at what they might find below. Booth gripped the piece of wood he had tighter. He looked back again at Bones. They both had stakes in their hands.
Booth felt weird with the long piece of wood instead of his gun, but when in Rome... The stake was what he needed to kill the crazy bitch below, so that's what he had.
He paused at he end of the steps and took a deep another deep breath, it was now or.. he looked over his shoulder at Bones, her face was a picture of shock, he turned and suddenly Dru was right there in front of him.
"Shit!" He exclaimed and flung his 200 lb. body at the slim vampiress.
They wrestled on the ground for a few moments before Booth felt himself flung off and away from her.
'Damn she's strong,' he thought right before he slammed into the concrete wall of the basement.
Brennan saw Booth tackle the dark haired vampire. She knew he'd be no match for the deceptively skinny demon. Vampires had preternatural strength and though Booth was much bigger than the vampiress, Drusilla was still much stronger.
She froze for a second as Booth was thrown across the room. When Dru stood and giggled, Tempe made her move. Rushing up behind the distracted brunette, she wrapped her left arm around the slim, swan like neck of Dru and with her right hand she reached around and plunged the stake into the chest of the female vampire.
Brennan fell forward and landed on her hands and knees as Drusilla screamed in agony. Tempe had missed the heart by an inch, but the stake was lodged firmly in Dru's chest.
Tempe stood quickly and flipped the thin vampire over her shoulder. Dru landed with a thud, her head slamming against the cement ground of the basement, knocking her out.
Seeing the dark haired vampiress go down, Booth stood and rushed to Spike, "Can you walk?" The dark haired agent asked the blond vampire.
Spike nodded, "I bloody well 'ave to now don't I?"
Booth scowled at him fiercely, quickly remembering that he really didn't like this platinum headed childe of Angel's. "Hey if you want to be a jackass you can just get yourself outta those chains hmmm?"
Spike shot him an unrepentant smirk, then sighed, "Bloody hell! Fine, jus get me the soddin' hell outta here."
Temperance hurried over to them and helped get Spike free. The three of them eyed an unconscious Drusilla.
Booth gazed at the stake still sticking out of the thin chest. "We shouldn't just leave her like that..You must have missed her heart... We need to take her out or else.."
Spike growled, "Yer not killin 'er."
Booth shot him an angry glare. "And why the hell not? She's a killler. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pull that stake out and ram it right back into her heart?"
Spike shook his head, he knew rationally they should dust Dru, but he just couldn't. "'Cause I love 'er and no one's gonna dust 'er. I won't let ya."
Booth frowned, "Why am I suddenly wishing we hadn't rescued you?"
The two faced off... Spike weak and swaying on his feet, yet determined that no one hurt Dru and Booth, hands on his hips glaring at the vampire that was really becoming a pain in his ass!
He pointed a finger at Spike. "Fine, but if she comes after us again I'm going to take out my gun and shoot you, then I'm handing your ass over to her and your on your own. Got it?"
Spike openly glared at Booth for a few seconds. He thought about tellin' the Agent to just sod off, but the bloody git had a look on his face that Angel got when he was really serious and though Spike knew a gun shot wouldn't kill him at this point it would bloody well hurt and he'd had enough pain to last him a life or unlife time, thank you very much.
'Bloody hell! Why do I always have ta be bleedin tied to some rendition of the poof?' he thought with more than a bit of exasperation.
"Fine..." he said with a nod.
At Spike's acquiesce, Booth turned to Brennan, "C'mon Bones, let's get the hell out of here." Looking around at the chains and obvious instruments of torture, Booth grimaced, "This place gives me the creeps."
Walking up the steps, Spike stumbled and fell to his knees twice. Even though his vampire healing was already starting to help, he was still weak...He needed blood. "I'm weak...I.." He stumbled and Booth grabbed him around the waist and kept him on his feet.
Helping him walk up the stairs, Booth asked the blond vampire, "What's wrong with you? I thought you vamps had this super strength or something like that?"
Spike eyed him with a slight scowl, "I need blood ya bleedin nitwit!"
Booth scowled back and almost let the blond vampire fall back down the stairs. "Hey I told you, don't get all name calling on me or else I'm just gonna leave your ass here to deal with your crazy girlfriend when she comes to, alright?"
Spike sighed, really hating to be dependent on Angel's poncey twin. "Fine, but I can't heal properly... I need blood if I'm gonna heal. Get me upstairs, maybe Angelus has some blood in the fridge, though I doubt it, the soddin' prick never eats the frozen stuff. Prefers his fresh from the tap he does."
Booth grimaced in distaste at the meaning of that, but he and Brennan helped Spike up the rest of the stairs and out of the basement.
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Upstairs...
Angelus watched as she became aware of her surroundings. "I'm sorry baby, but they burst in here like the calvary, ready to dust me and save you from my wicked clutches!"
He chuckled softly as he turned to Angel and Buffy, "Does she look like she's been mistreated?"
Buffy raised a shocked brow, "Okay, color me clueless, but why is my sister in bed with you again?"
He almost laughed and told the Slayer just how WELL he WAS treating her sister, when he stopped himself, realizing that would embarrass Dawn and he wanted Dawn to love him, turn on Buffy and not feel like he was using her.
Dawn saw her sister's horrified face and flushed bright red at how they had found her. Her embarrassed shock lasted all of a few moments before her eyes met and held Angelus' golden gaze. She felt his strength flow through her and held out her hand to him.
Angelus kept the sword in one hand and with the other he helped Dawn out of the bed and to her feet...Directly in front of him.
Angelus grinned arrogantly at Angel and Buffy. "She's mine Slayer. I won't let you take her. I love her."
Angelus felt bile raise in his throat as he said those words. Even though he knew he DID have very strong feelings for Dawn, the "L" word made him sick. He shuddered in revulsion at the knowledge that he might be speaking the truth.
Dawn heard those words and her blue eyes shot to his saffron golden gaze. Ironically, Angelus' own confusion and fear that he WAS speaking the truth cemented Dawn's love for him and it was with her whole heart that she responded to him.
"Angelus..." she breathed, before turning to face Buffy and Angel. "I don't want to go with you Buffy, I want to stay with him so please, just leave us alone."
Angel growled softly, anger warred with disbelief at whatever Angelus had done to the girl in the last four days to make her turn against Buffy like this.
"Dawn listen to me.." he said softly, trying to inch closer to his demon and his hostage?... He really wasn't sure what Dawn was anymore.
"Whatever he's done to you...it's not real. He's brainwashing you. He doesn't really love you. He CAN'T love, don't you see? He's a demon... Evil. He has no soul, therefor he can't love. Believe me, I lived with his feelings for a very long time. Angelus doesn't love. He possesses, he enthralls, he seduces, then he kills!"
Angel's deep brown eyes entreated Dawn to believe him, "Please Dawn, don't fall for his lines, he doesn't love you. He'll only bring you pain."
Dawn turned cold blue eyes to Angel. "You don't know him as well as you think Angel. And..." She narrowed her eyes and looked from Buffy to Angel again, "You don't know my sister as well as you think either, huh Buffy?" Her eyes went to Buffy's as she made a sarcastic smirk.
Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Did you ever tell Angel that you wanted him as Angelus? That you were with him? Huh? Or did you keep that from him just like you kept us all in the dark when you were doing it with Spike?"
Buffy felt the air leave her just as if Dawn had forcibly punched her in the stomach! Hearing that same thing from Angelus had been bad enough, but hearing Dawn throw it in her face hurt far worse. "Dawn...I..."
Dawn stopped her with a shake of her head. "Save it Buffy. I know what you're going to say... It wasn't like that. We just don't understand how hard it was for you, being the Slayer and all, huh? Isn't that your pat line for excusing your behavior?"
Buffy felt tears gather in her eyes, she tried to make her sister see the truth. "Dawn he's twisting everything, can't you see that? He's trying to make you think I did something wrong to him...I didn't. Please... you have to listen to me, he only wants to use you to hurt me."
Dawn rolled her eyes and lifted her chin stubbornly. "Oh my God! That is so typical Buffy. It just always has to be about you, doesn't it? You. You. You!" Dawn said, her past resentment of Buffy coming out finally. "It's just too hard for you to admit that maybe it's just me he wants and not as a way to get to you, isn't it?"
Angel stepped forward, drawing Dawn's eyes to him. "Yeah, it IS too difficult Dawn, because you don't know him as well as you think. If you'd listen... I can tell you for he does have an ulterior motive for keeping you...and it IS to hurt Buffy and me."
Angelus wrapped a strong arm around Dawn's trim waist and pulled her back against his muscled chest. "See that's where you and the Slayer are wrong Soul Boy!" he smiled seductively, and nuzzled Dawn's cheek. Looking up he smirked, "Yeah, I admit, I DID have an ulterior motive when I first took her. She knows that. But..." he stopped and allowed some of his own confused feeling for Dawn show through, knowing it would make him more believable.
"Well... after I had her for a day or two, she started to make me feel things..." He grimaced, it was perfect and convincing as to the truth of his words.
Dawn saw it and smiled.
Angelus shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, "Things I haven't felt since before Darla sired me, believe me I don't want to or like what I'm feeling, but I can't stop it... I want her and no one is taking her from me. Got it? She's mine..."
He took Dawn's chin in his hand gently and turned her head so both Buffy and Angel could see his mark on her throat. "See...She's mine and I keep what's mine."
Angel recognized it immediately as a permanent mark. That was not just a bite. No, Angelus had marked Dawn as his mate.
Buffy gasped, and started forward. "You BIT her, you bastard!!"
Angel's eyes glowed yellow as he grabbed Buffy's arm and stopped her from rushing Angelus. His demon still had Dawn right in front of him. Angel still didn't believe Angelus wouldn't use dawn as a shield to escape.
"He didn't just bite her Buffy..." Angel said quietly.
Angelus smirked as his knuckles rubbed along Dawn's cheek softly, "No I didn't Buff. I marked her... as my mate."
He heard Dawn's gasp, then met her blue eyes with a small smile and a shrug, "I did. I told you lover that I was never letting you go once you gave yourself to me. You ARE mine. That's what this..." His finger touched the bite gently, "..mark means. It tells everyone that you belong to me. It's the same one Angel gave your sister all those years ago."
At Buffy's gasp Angelus grinned, "Isn't that right Soul Boy?"
He saw Buffy's eyes widen at that and he wanted to laugh with delight when he saw the Slayer's wide green eyes turn to Angel.
Angelus let a smirk grace his beautiful face as he asked Buffy innocently, "What Buff? Didn't oh so perfect Angel here tell you that he marked you years ago as his mate?" He turned to Angel, "Damn Soul Boy, I would've thought that would be the first thing you'd have told her as soon as you two got back together. I mean that mark is the proof you've always loved her isn't it?"
He snapped his fingers and smiled sarcastically as he said mockingly, "Oh that's right...You left her though didn't you? Well I guess maybe it doesn't mean the same thing to you as it does to me. Huh?"
Angel wanted to rip the arrogant bastards head off for his hurtful words. He had never told Buffy what the mark meant because at that time Buffy had appeared to have moved on. What point would there have been in it. And Angelus was right, he had left her, but what the hateful demon wasn't saying, (which he damned well knew) was how leaving her had devastated Angel.
Angelus looked down at his dark haired lover and smiled with as much tenderness as he could force on to his features, "I will never leave you anamchara."
"What does onumkorah mean?" Dawn asked, entranced with his beautiful words and the look of tenderness on his face.
Angel rolled his eyes at the absolute insanity of Angelus calling Dawn his soulmate when the bastard didn't even have a soul! "Oh give me a break.." he muttered angrily.
Angelus winked at Angel and flashed Buffy a cocky smirk as he whispered softly into Dawn's ear, "It means you're my soulmate."
Dawn sighed, lost in him, his words, his beauty and the spell he was still weaving around her and her emotions.
Buffy; who was tired of listening to his deceitful words took a small step forward, "Your soulmate?!! How can that be Angelus, when you don't have a soul?"
Angelus flashed her an arrogant smirk, she'd just given him the perfect opening to stroke Dawn's insecure ego some more and drive the wedge further between the two sisters. "Dawn makes me feel like I do, that's how." He said with an audacious smile.
Buffy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. She realized to late she'd given him another perfect opportunity to tell Dawn something she wanted to hear, dammit!
She looked at Angel and her eyes asked what they were going to do. Dawn was in fact shielding Angelus by clinging to him and Angelus; who was no fool, was keeping her there, knowing Buffy and Angel couldn't attack with her in front of his body.
Just then things went a little goofy...
Booth, Brennan and Spike flew into the room as if tossed by some huge giant hand. Their bodies were followed by a tall, lanky man with red thinning hair and a long hooked nose. He was dressed in a dark blue robe and his black beady eyes and bird like features were tightly drawn into a scowl.
Angelus glowered at his sorcerer, "Tristan," he said, "About time you showed up... I was wondering where the fuck you were!" Angelus' tone was pissed and Tristan shrugged.
"Master Angelus, I got here as soon as I could...I believe that is something that belongs to you?" he pointed a long, bony finger to Spike who was struggling to get to his feet.
Angel, Buffy and Dawn all gasped in horror at the sight of Spike, still bloody from the days of torture, both at the hands of Angelus, then Drusilla.
Angelus had two seconds to decide how to play this. He knew Dawn would be upset that he'd had Spike tortured, but he also knew that to pretend like he didn't know it had happened made him appear inept and more likely a liar. So he made the split second decision to be honest here.
He looked down at Spike and sighed, "He betrayed me." Angelus made eye contact with Angel, then Buffy and lastly Dawn. He raised a dark, slashing brow in sardonic question, "Did you honestly think I would just say, 'Gee Spikey, I know you sent me to Hell and all, but hey, no hard feelings, okay?' Is that what you expected? Well..." He made a sound of a buzzer. "Not gonna happen."
His eyes flashed yellow as he glanced down at Dawn. "He's my childe. He betrayed me with your sister, I had to punish him or every childe, minion or associate of mine would see me as weak. It's Vampire Hierarchy love. To betray your sire is a cause for death in Vampire lore. For what Spike did to me I had every right to kill him, but I didn't. I punished him instead."
When Dawn seemed to accept that answer, Buffy was shocked. "Dawn! Please you have to snap out of this!!" Buffy went towards her sister, she held out her hands in a pleading gesture, "Can you honestly say you think what he did to Spike was alright?"
Buffy eyed Angelus, "I swear I'm gonna dust you and dance in your ashes for this."
While Angelus was focused on Buffy, Angel attacked. He pulled Dawn kicking and screaming away from the dark haired demon, which gave Buffy time to rush Angelus.
It was then that all hell broke loose...
Booth and Brennan got to their feet just as Buffy spun and kicked Angelus in the chest.
The Agent and his partner had barely got to their feet when the tall red haired sorcerer began to levitate. His thin lips began to chant something that appeared to be Latin, though Buffy wasn't sure.
The Warlock waved a thin, long nailed hand and Buffy was thrown away from where she and Angelus were trading blows. He turned and made a fist at Angel and suddenly the souled vampire felt his throat close up, his body felt like it was filled with lead. He couldn't move, couldn't speak...To his horror he could do nothing as he watched Buffy fly across the room and smash against the wall.
Angelus turned and grinned at his sorcerer. "Nice, but still what the fuck took you so long? Soul Boy and his Slayer were ready to dust my ass long before you showed up."
"I told you I got here as soon as I could. I was following these two," he signaled to Booth and Brennan. "They attacked Drusilla and were in the process of helping your blond haired childe escape, when I found them."
Angelus shot Booth a surprised look. "Well, you've got balls I'll give you that pip squeek. Not a lot of brains obviously since you're still here, but a set of big brass ones you do have, so I promise to kill you quickly." He flashed Booth a smile that didn't reach the darkness of his eyes.
Booth felt a chill race through him, he'd seen a lot of evil in the world. He'd met child murderers, serial killers, terrorists and men who killed for money or pleasure, but he'd never really experienced true evil like the sensation he had looking into the burning eyes of the demon known as the 'Scourge of Europe'.
Angelus didn't just look evil, he exuded it, it surrounded him like a aura or a mist and it traveled to the observer. It was so palpable, Booth couldn't control the shivers that wracked his body. He barely restrained the urge to cross himself.
Angelus laughed as he watched the Agent, "Go ahead clutch your little crucifix brother, it won't save you. God's not here Seeley and even if he was, he won't save you."
Angelus smirked with pleasure as he saw the pain in Booth's dark eyes. 'Shit, he's as easy as Soul Boy!' he thought as he went on, enjoying the scent of Booth's agony.
"See God doesn't want you. Just because Soul Boy over there made a deal with the devil to give you a new life doesn't mean God forgot or forgave you... God never forgets...Isn't that what you're taught? When you were a good little boy in Sunday school didn't they teach you that a sinner went to hell. Well look at me... I AM sin brother... I made you, you are a creation of sin, so where do you think you're going brother?..."
He flashed Booth an almost teasing grin, "Let's just put it this way, don't dress to warmly, it'll be hot enough!!"
Angel growled, finally breaking free of the magical hold the sorcerer had him in, "Shut the fuck up Angelus. He's nothing like you or me for that matter. He's good and he'll never go where you're going..."
Angelus just laughed, and gave an exaggerated shiver. "Ooooh and who's gonna send me there? You? Please..." he rolled his eyes, keeping a wary eye on Buffy.
She was the one fly in this lovely agonizing ointment, she could and would take him out if given the chance. Tristan's magic still kept her at bay, which gave Angelus time to run his mouth, which he thoroughly took advantage of. Nothing like spreading some more pain to make him feel better since they had all crashed his bedroom party.
"You don't have it in you Soul, Boy. Without me you ARE nothing, hell you wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me. You'd have probably died of syphilis or drank yourself to death, so spare me any of your pious bullshit, you're no better than me, you may kill for the sake of good now, but the fact is you're still a killer Angel..."
Buffy tried to scream at Angelus to shut up, but nothing came out. The Warlock had taken away her voice. She fought his magic, but he was very powerful. Again she wished Willow was here, she was probably the only person she knew strong enough to fight Angelus' warlock.
Angel pulled his sword and went after Angelus. Everything kind of went in slow motion at that point. Angelus and Angel, squaring off finally. Swords clanged and everyone watched in a kind of morbid fascination as vampire against vampire...Soul against demon fought with every ounce of their strength against each other.
It was Booth that turned the tide, He pulled his gun and went to shoot the Warlock, Tristan seeing the very real danger of a gun, had to refocus his magic at Booth, therefor letting Buffy go.
Buffy wasted no time in jumping into the fight between Angelus and Angel. Within moments Angelus was against the wall a stake about to be rammed into his heart.
Everything was as silent as a tomb, until Dawn's voice broke the silence just as Buffy went to ram the stake home, killing the demon known as Angelus forever.
"If you kill him...I'll die seconds later. I swear I will!!"
All eyes went to the young woman still clutching a sheet to her naked body. Only now she also clutched a dagger...and it was pointed right to her heart.
"Dawnie, you can't mean that..." Buffy started.
"Dawn..." Angel said, still keeping Angelus pinned against the wall.
Angelus surprisingly remained silent. Whether it was from shock or just amusement was anyone's guess.
Spike saw her and tried to reason with her. It took most of his strength to get to his feet again. He was so bleedin tired, but he managed it. "Niblet...Please. Ya don't wanna do that. The soddin pillock isn't worth all this. Believe me...I know..."
Dawn shook her head. "I'm sorry Spike..I love him." She looked from her sister to Angel. "Now... Everyone step away from him..."
Angel shook his head, "I can't do that Dawn...I'm sorry, but Angelus isn't leaving this room alive."
dawn felt a tear slide down her cheek as she whispered, "Well then neither am I..." She put the sharp tip of the dagger to her chest.
"NO!!" Buffy shouted and pulleed Angel back and away. At first Angel struggled with her, but seeing his lover's face...he stopped. If Buffy lost dawn like that, Angel knew she'd never get over it. He remembered what he'd said about making decisions that hurt, but it was better knowing the one you loved was at least still there...Alive and not dead and lost to you forever.
He glared at Angelus as he backed off. "Don't think you've won."
Angelus patted Angel on the cheek and leaned forward to whisper softly. "I don't think...I KNOW I've won Soul Boy!" He wiped the smirk off his face when he glanced at Dawn. He was still damned surprised she'd been willing to die for him, but then again this WAS what he'd planned, he just couldn't believe just how successful he'd been.
Angelus went to Dawn. He held out his hand to her and took the knife. "Tristan...get us the fuck outta here...Oh and bring my childer with us...Don't forget Dru either.."
Angel heard Angelus' order and had barely a second to move for Spike, but then there was a huge burst of white light. The air crackled and a gust of wind and the bright flashing lights made it impossible to see what was happening even a foot in front of his face. The air seemed to explode and everyone was thrown back and away from the swirling white light in the center of the room.
Then just a suddenly it all was sucked into a tiny portal and was gone...
Booth jumped to his feet and gripped his gun tightly with two hands as he spun in a small circle around the room. "What the hell just happened?" he asked in an amazed tone. His eyes darted frantically around the room until he saw Bones get to her feet.
"Would someone please tell me what the fuck just happened?" Booth asked again, relieved to see Bones, but still frazzled and pissed.
Angel got to his feet and looked around the room. They were gone. He growled deeply. "The sorcerer, he took them away... They got Dawn and Spike too... FUCK!!" Angel howled in frustration at Angelus' escape with his childe and Dawn.
Buffy too got to her feet and trembled in shocked horror. Her sister was gone and the worst part was; Dawn had gone willingly. Not just willingly, no she had threatened suicide to get Angelus freed. How did you rescue someone who didn't want to be rescued?
Brennan narrowed her eyes as she focused on Angel, then Buffy, "Well I don't like to ever jump to conclusions, but she's obviously been brainwashed. It appears to be a classic case of Stockholm syndrome."
When Buffy just stared at her, she said, "It's a phenomenon where the captive becomes involved with and even defends their captors. They will even go to such lengths as to defend their abductors with violence when threatened to be taken away from them... I'm just saying..." Brennan looked at Buffy, "Your sister appears to have the symptoms so anything she might say or in this case do, has to be questioned as to her state of mind at the time..."
Tempe went to Buffy when the petite blond seemed to just look right through her. She took Buffy by the shoulders and made the younger woman look at her.
Buffy appeared to be in a state of shock, which was amazing really, considering how much she had already been through in her short life, but this appeared to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Buffy appeared broken, defeated even as she stared vacantly at Brennan.
"Buffy... Look at me. You can't give up... Not now." Tempe said, trying to get through to the tiny blond Slayer.
Buffy raised deep green eyes, "What's the point Tempe, she hates me. She'd rather be with a cold blooded murderer than me... She was going to...kill herself for him." she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.
Brennan wasn't going to allow Buffy to fall into a bout of pity. "Stop it. Your sister needs you. Angelus has brainwashed her and you can save her, we just have to find her..."
Angel was suddenly there to take his lover into his arms. His eyes thanked Tempe as he cuddled Buffy's trembling form into his embrace. He began whispering soothing noises to the suddenly sobbing Slayer. He just held her, allowing her this moment of weakness. She needed it. No one could be strong all the time and Buffy had been strong for way too long.
No one had ever been there to just hold her and not ask her to have a solution to the problem they were facing. Angel did that. He just held his tiny love in his strong arms and told her together they would save Dawn and Spike. He whispered his undying love to her. He told her he'd never leave her again and he told her that together they were strong. Together they could do anything.
"I love you Buffy..." he told her again and again...
Until she raised her beautiful tear streaked face and smiled through her sorrow. "I love you too Angel...thank you." she said so softly even Angel barely heard her, she snuggled into his strong arms and said into his chest, "Were going after them aren't we?"
Angel chuckled glad to see her spirit returning. "Does this mean you're okay to go looking for them?"
She raised her face and smiled despite her tears, "That would be a big yeah! Are you up for it?"
Angel smiled, hugged her to him and nodded his head, "That would be a big yeah!"
Booth; who had been checking Brennan over, much to her annoyance suddenly heard Angel and Buffy's conversation. He turned to Angel and smiled, "So I take it your off to follow Angelus?"
Angel felt a nervousness come over him again. "Um..Well yeah I wish there was another way Seeley but..."
Booth shook his head, "hey, I fully understand...After what I've seen here... He is one twisted sick bastard." he looked at Buffy, "I'm sorry about your sister Buffy...I..." He stopped, "I wish there was something I could say, but anything I can think of just doesn't seem enough. I hope you find her and if there's any way me or Bones can help just let us know okay?"
Buffy nodded, then went to him and hugged him. "Thank you Seeley," she whispered very softly. "For everything and I don't just mean with this case. Thank you for giving you and Angel a chance...He deserves it and it means so much to him...So thank you."
Booth nodded, he didn't know what to say and his voice seemed clogged up right then so he just nodded and hugged her back.
He looked at Ange4l after Buffy had went to hug Brennan. "I just have one question...Is the trouble over... here, I mean in Washington D.C?"
Angel nodded, "The ritual of the Gathering is long over and any hope the underground demonic world had in getting Angelus to lead them is gone, so I think you'll be okay. The Hellmouth is still here, but the window to open it has passed, so it'll just be your average run of the mill demon activity."
Booth raised both brows. "Oh great and just what the hell does that mean?" he asked with a frown.
Angel shrugged and flashed him a half smile, "I guess it would mean about the same as before which you never knew about, but now you do."
Booth scowled, "Not helping me here Angel. What does that mean?"
Buffy went to the tall Agent again. "It means you won't see any new demonic activity. You'll only see what is the norm and only because now you know it exists. You'll need a Slayer here."
Buffy looked at Angel, "We need to call Faith, see if either her or one of the others can come here."
Angel nodded and had to suppress the grin at the thought of Faith meeting Seeley and Temperance.
Buffy turned back to Booth, "I think the real question is can you live with what you now know about demons and things that really do go bump in the night, because after this you can never go back to your 'normal' life"
Tempe shook her head, "I don't see that as a rational possibility. I mean everything I've ever believed in..Knew as a fact has been shattered because of what I've seen in this case. I know I can never just look at a crime scene or a set of bones and not wonder if it was a human or a demon who did it. My perception of the truth has been changed forever."
Booth nodded, "Yeah, this case has been more than just strange it's been like a real life trip to Elm St. only Angelus is a hell of a lot scarier than Freddy ever was."
He looked at Buffy and Angel. "Well since we're still gonna have this...uh... Hellmouth thing here I guess that means you'll just have to visit and help us out with the really weird cases huh?"
Angel smiled, "Yeah... I guess we will."
Buffy grinned, "That would be a definite yes. But something tells me you and Tempe will be able to handle most of them on your own...You two make a helluva team."
Booth grinned as he looked at his lover and partner. "Yeah.." he said softly, catching her eye and smiling that smile of his, "We do, don't we?"
Booth sighed and turned back to Angel, "Hey and remember, if there's anything we can do to help you track down Angelus just let us know. I know I'm not familiar with the demonic underground thing, but Angelus doesn't hang out in underground demon bars anyways..."
Angel nodded, "No he likes the finer things in life or unlife as the case may be."
Booth nodded and quirked a brow, "And that requires paperwork and I'm great at following the paper trail."
Angel and Buffy stayed for a little bit until they realized it was time to go, they needed to catch up with Angelus. Not that either of them thought Spike or Dawn was in any immediate danger, but the facts were they couldn't afford to let Angelus get too much of a head start on them. It was bad enough he'd used magic to escape, that means he could be anywhere and they were going to be hard pressed to figure out where he'd go, and the longer they waited to colder his trail would get.
Booth hugged Angel. "I don't know what to say, so I'm just gonna say I'll see you when you come back alright?" he whispered feeling more awkward than he'd ever felt in his life.
Angel wanted to hang on to him, but he didn't. "I'll come back.." he said softly. "And when I do... can we?..."
Booth nodded with a silent understanding that Angel was asking if they could develop a relationship as brothers. "Yeah. I'd like that," he said softly.
Brothers met each others' dark eyes and smiled the same beautiful smile. "Okay then..." they both said in unison and smiled bigger because of it.
"O---kay..." Booth said, looking at Buffy. "You'll find them..." he said with a small smile.
Buffy smiled softly in return, "Yeah...Thank you." she whispered. "You've made him whole and I can't tell you how much that means to me. We'll be back Seeley."
Booth felt tears in his eyes and blinked them away. "He's filled a hole in me too Buffy. I didn't even know I was missing something until I met him.. So you two take care of each other okay."
Brennan took that time to hug Angel. She'd felt a deep sense of connection to him throughout this whole case and she wanted to tell him that he had deeply affected her life.
Angel pulled her into his arms. "You're an amazing woman Temperance." Angel said not quite comfortable, but not uncomfortable either. Just Angel like.
Tempe turned her head to the side and studied him for a moment. She still wasn't sure what drew her to him. It wasn't just his resemblance to Booth either, though of course she recognized her attraction as more than a bit because of that, but it was more.
No Angel reminded her of a boy she'd met while working a case with Booth. The boy's name was Shawn. He was a foster child and he'd had a part in getting his little brother Charlie killed. Shawn was tough on the outside but so vulnerable inside... Angel had the same vulnerability.
She hugged him tightly. Then released him and smiled at the embarrassed look on the handsome vampire's face.
"You are a good man Angel. I hope you always remember that. Just because you have a soul doesn't make you good. I've seen men who are considered souled beings make the choice to be evil. They choose to kill, torture, and hurt others. A soul doesn't make you decide to do the right thing... You do that, just like Booth does. It's who you both are. I want you to know I see it in you."
Angel smiled that same small half smile that Tempe so loved of Booth. "Thank you Temperance. My brother is a lucky man."
Brennan nodded, "Yeah well I think we balance each other out, since Booth tends to be a reactionary, almost neanderthal in his belief in something he can't see hear or touch and I tend to be neholistic in the belief that if I can't see it and measure it it doesn't exist."
Angel flashed her a teasing grin. "Well maybe now you two can meet in the middle huh?"
Her eyes met Booth's and she smiled, feeling a rush of love for him. He had blown into her life and literally tossed her and her beliefs on their respective ear. Now she was even wondering if maybe...Just maybe there was a God after all. Because she sure would like to thank someone for sending Seeley Booth into her life and God seemed as good a place to start as anywhere. Though she wasn't sure if she was ready to admit that to Booth yet... Maybe someday.
"Yeah...maybe we can at that..."
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Glenveagh Castle, Co. Donegal
North Western Ireland...
Angelus looked out the window to the lush, incredible Gardens below. He watched the beautiful young woman as she wandered through the rows upon rows of flowers and tall hedges. She was happy here. He knew that. She was happy with him, he knew that too. Her cries of pleasure every night and day since they arrived at the castle three days ago told him how much she wanted him, how much she loved and desired him, but what the hell did he feel?
He refused to call it love... That just made him feel ill all over.
He just knew wasn't sure what the hell he felt and he sure as hell wasn't sure he wanted to know either! He shook his head, disgusted with himself.
"Fuck!!" he grumbled, "A little more thoughts like these and I'll be as bad as Spike. What's next?...Will I start writing bad poetry and sonnets bespeaking her beauty!"
Angelus grimaced and shivered in horror at the thought. "Not fucking likely. She's a means to an end boyo!" He said aloud to himself. "Nothing more nothing less...Yeah she's a great fuck, but that's it!"
But as soon as he said that, he knew she was more than that to him. "Dammit!!" he swore not sure who he was angrier at him for feeling all these...Uck! Emotions or her for making him feel them!!
He was interrupted from his disturbing musings by Tristan.
"What?" He demanded, his anger rolling off him in waves.
The tall red headed warlock's small black eyes met the flashing eyes of his employer. "Uh... I've been told they've finally found the witch..."
Angelus grinned, finally something else for him to focus on besides his relationship or whatever it was with Dawn. "So they've gotten to Red have they... Okay Tristan. Let the new games begin..."
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A/N... Okay, so I left this with a definite possibility for a sequel. This is for all you Angelus fans who have pmed me or reviewed to egg me on towards one... I've left it open for that possibility. I know I didn't do the whole Angelus loves Dawn ending. I just didn't think he'd do that. I wanted to keep him true to form. But, I did want to give him a bit more complexity and human emotions than cannon did. I hope I succeeded. Angelus is a tricky character, I didn't want him sappy, but I didn't want him completely evil like he was in both Ats and BtVS... So I hope I found a good balance between the two. Please let me know what you guys think.
Oh and BTW... Thank you to ALL of you who have taken the time to R&R this fic. I have so enjoyed writing it. I hope you all enjoyed reading it half as much as I enjoyed creating it. Musie is finally satisfied with this fic. :)
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and an awesome New Year:) :)
Jenna