Angel and Lindsey stood before a highly polished chrome counter in the
reception of the Savage Associates building. So far Angel had counted half
a dozen security staff roaming the lobby and manning the entrance. In a
way he was flattered by all the fuss his presence had created, even though
the men could prove to be a problem.
"But Mr Savage said you would be alone." The disgruntled security guard on reception repeated.
"I didn't think he would object to me bringing along some legal council." Angel stated, eyeing the man with cold consideration, his voice indicating he didn't give a damn if Savage objected or not.
The guard stared at Lindsey's bruised and cut face then back to Angel, warily. Before he could debate the subject further the telephone on his desk buzzed.
"Yes, sir." The guard nodded as though the person on the other end could see him. "Mr Savage will see you now."
"See, that wasn't so hard, now was it." Angel mocked before he and Lindsey made their way in the direction the guard had pointed. They were faced with a long wall of mirrors, only the fact that four of the panels were recessed, indicating there were elevators present.
Lindsey considered his reflection as he stood there, apparently alone. "I don't think I'd ever get used to that."
"If I had a face like yours I'd actually look forward to never seeing it again. Takes all kinds I suppose." Angel shrugged and held his hands together in front of him smirking at his own wit. The elevator doors slid open without a sound, its interior was lined from top to bottom in red velvet.
"I don't think much of this, it feels like walking into someone's heart." Lindsey grimaced looking around him with distaste.
"Do that often, do you?" Whispered Spike in his ear, scaring him.
"We know what we're doing here don't we?" Angel uttered, hoping Spike took the hint and started searching the building for Ariane rather than hanging around just to annoy Lindsey. He couldn't take the risk of speaking to Spike directly, he had the feeling their every move was being monitored.
"Get over yourself, you bloody big poof. I'm waiting to see where he takes you before I start. If she's here, I'm guessing she won't be far from him." Spike's voice was projected from only inches away and Angel could hear the smirk in his voice. Knowing he could pretty much say or do anything and Angel couldn't react proving to be a temptation Spike found impossible to resist.
"How do you do that?" Spike whispered, close to his ear. " I know it's pointless but it's quite a trick, how you mange to make that little blue vein pulse like that." Angel felt a tiny pressure by his right temple as Spike indicated exactly which vein he was referring to. Angel's teeth clenched and his hands balled into fists almost without his knowledge.
"Don't worry mate, I'll do my job. Just thought I'd give your pent up aggressions a boost before I go save the girl, the day, and all that."
"Bite me." Angel sighed almost inaudibly as the elevator door glided open. He could hear Spike sniggering as he and Lindsey strode out of the scarlet cell to face a gargantuan man who stood across the corridor on in front of them.
"This way." David growled without waiting for Angel to introduce himself. Angel noticed the man's gait was ungainly and awkward, probably due to his massive thighs that seemed to actively hinder his movements. Whatever the reason Angel wasn't looking forward to dealing with him, though he believed it would prove inevitable.
The three men followed the brute to a set of oak doors. Angel felt something squeeze his shoulder before the doors opened. That was the sign telling him Spike was on the move.
The doors closed behind them without a sound and the big man took up a place across them, essentially cutting off their escape route. Automatically Angel scanned the room for alternative exits and found none. His attention was captivated by his surroundings. Had things not been so serious he would have found the sight comical.
Savage was sitting behind an unbelievably vast desk, which would have been completely clear if not for the telephone. Angel thought of his desk, which was perpetually cluttered and piled high with paperwork.
The over sized cream leather chair Savage sat on, coupled with the rest of the office furniture all in similar light colours, gave the office a clinical and anaemic look, spoiled only by the symbolic altar, which was the dark marble desktop. It looked like a black chasm, ready to swallow anyone foolish enough to venture too close.
There seemed to be no personal touches in the space giving it a soulless atmosphere. Not even the art on the walls (which included some renaissance originals that appeared to have been mounted with precision rather than care) could inject any warmth into the room.
Savage himself was staring back at Angel with cool grey eyes devoid of any emotion and impossible to read. His light grey business suit, which was an almost perfect match with his eyes, was in pristine condition even thought it was after midnight. Not one strand of his expertly styled blonde hair had dared to stray out of place. Even his fingernails gleamed with what could only be a professional manicure. Savage seemed to be the living embodiment of Angel's complete opposite.
He looked at the younger man over the curiously large expanse of desk; he couldn't help but wonder if he was compensating for something. The thought brought a smile and Angel didn't even try to disguise it.
"Something amuses you Mister Angel?" The man enquired
"Its just Angel, but then you know that." Anyone who knew anything about him knew that and Savage had made it pretty clear he had more than a casual knowledge of him. Angel's passionless smile dissolved, leaving cold curiosity in its place,
"Hmm, yes. We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Mark Savage." Savage stood and walked around his desk, his right hand outstretched. His movements were stiff and graceless.
Angel made a show of putting his hands in his pockets and couldn't help himself from tunelessly whistling and gazing at the ceiling until the proffered hand was returned to the man's side untouched.
"Lindsey McDonald, I didn't expect to see you here." Savage sneered, covering the awkwardness, "You look rather the worst for wear, but then I hear you are working with a lower class of clientele lately."
"True, but I'm still one step above the cast-offs and B-class wannabes who come to you because they can't afford to pay Wolfram and Hart." Lindsey smiled as best he could and Angel saluted him for his well placed comeback.
"I don't think we're here to discuss our respective client lists Savage. Why don't we get down to business, these are kind of my peak working hours and we're burning moonlight." Angel tried to relax, to retain at least the pretence that this was a business negotiation. What he really wanted to do was walk over to the Armani wearing, smug assed son of a bitch and send him to hell with his perfect nose occupying a space where his right ear used to be. Unfortunately that would have to wait, he had to focus, this wasn't just about getting his own back. He wanted answers and he wanted Ariane, she had some explaining to do.
"Very good, Angel. I'll gladly turn to the matter of your young charge." Savage returned to his chair and attempted to resume command of the proceedings. He was furious with himself for allowing the situation to degenerate into nothing better than petty mud slinging. After all this was his territory and his negotiation, why should he feel as though he were on the defensive? Never the less that was exactly how he felt and he detested the sensation. "Please sit down." He indicated two chairs opposite his desk.
"No thanks." Angel glanced over his shoulder to confirm the guards whereabouts then returned his attention to Savage, there seemed to be some internal war going on behind those colourless eyes. It was exactly the reaction he had hoped for when he'd forced Lindsey to join him.
"She's not here." Spikes whispering voice broke through his thoughts. "She was though, less than an hour ago, the blood's still wet. I tracked her from this office to the parking lot in the basement."
"Where is she now?" Savage's face registered surprise, though it was quickly concealed. He was shocked by Angels pointed question, it appeared the vampire was in no doubt that the girl was not with him.
Angel wasn't in the mood for tiptoeing around; he wanted out of here as soon as possible. The more time he spent in Mark Savages company the less he liked it. There seemed to be something unhinged about this guy, he was wound way too tight and guys like that were too unpredictable.
"In spite of myself, I like you, Angel." Savage grinned covering his initial alarm with a maniacal laugh.
"I can't say the same." Angel's tone was caustic. "Are you going to answer the question, I'm getting bored with this?" Angel turned around and glared at David again, who still stood by the door. If he hadn't known better he could have mistaken the man for a statue.
"I apologise, I was not aware I was here to keep you entertained. Perhaps I should have kept the girl here, she could have filled you with joy I'm sure." He sneered.
"I'm curious Savage, did you really think one little girl could rock Wolfram & Hart?" Angel displayed a casual interest.
"Not Wolfram & Hart, Angel, just you. Without you to lead them, the company would be in a state of disarray, temporarily of course. I noticed when the previous management, eh stepped down shall we say, there was a period of instability among the clients. I was not in a position to take advantage of the situation at that time. However I considered, if similar circumstances could be orchestrated then similar uncertainty would follow, and I would be in a position to capitalise."
"What exactly was Ariane's role in your scheme?" Angel probed never one to sugar coat his questions.
"I applaud your directness, Angel. The girl was a diversion. I knew you relied heavily upon visions to, what was your motto? Oh yes, "Help the helpless". It also common knowledge you were not adjusting well to life behind a desk. So Meenotuk's offer of her somewhat limited powers, appeared to be something you could not refuse. Her main function as far as my plan was concerned was to divide your team. Meenotuk had informed me the girl was a conduit, an emotional transmitter if you like. He assured me she would spread feelings of distrust, fear and tension, just as she had in his court. Having spent some time in her company I have reviewed that opinion. It seems she absorbs the feelings of those around her then transmits her emotions in return. The effect isn't all together unpleasant, but then you will be aware of that." Savages eyes gleamed as he watched Angel absorb his comments. He wondered exactly what emotions the girl had spread through Wolfram & Hart.
"So she was just as clueless about this whole plot as I was?" Lindsey's eyes betrayed his fury, though he managed to keep his voice low.
"Clueless." Savage breathed a mocking chuckle. "Yes that describes it rather well."
The two lawyers were locked in an unspoken duel Angel was reluctant to disrupt. "Pretty elaborate plan, there were so many things that could go wrong. Knowing what I do of you I would have expected better." Angel countered. His demeanour remained crisp and business like, though inside he was seething. He had all the answers he needed from this sanctimonious bastard, all except one.
"What makes you think something went wrong? Are you so sure this wasn't exactly what I had in mind? True, it would have been much simpler if Lindsey had dispatched you this morning, but then I would have been denied the chance to meet you face to face, and take your life myself." Savage ripped open his desk drawer and pulled out the jet crystal. Without waiting he began the ritual, "Ra un shi, ram un ka, me en kat un ra vay."
Angel was frozen where he stood, his eyes seemed to be the only things he could move and they locked on the grey orbs of Mark Savage with a rage so deep it seemed primeval. He could feel a burning sensation growing inside him like a murderous pregnancy. "This must be what it feels like to spontaneously combust." The insane thought passed through his mind unsolicited and unchecked. The pain was incredible; he could almost feel his organs blistering in side his chest.
Lindsey read the situation in seconds, what ever Savage was muttering, it was meant to kill Angel. He ran at Savage picking up a chair as he went, hoisting it to his side and swinging it at the murmuring man like a baseball bat. He heard a sickening crack as Savage's left arm broke. His scream of surprise and pain brought a grin to Lindsey's face. The crystal, which had been spinning in his outstretched palm, flew across the room, smashing into dust against the wall opposite.
There was an odd flash of purple light, followed by a strange strobe effect casting them all in flat mauve effulgence. The effect was short lived and no one had time to pay much attention.
Spike yelled from across the room, "Hey, Mickey Mantle, watch your back." Seconds later Lindsey was lifted from the floor, his feet dangling and kicking at fresh air. The huge man had him by the upper arms and threw him onto the desk cracking his head on the marble top. The world seemed to slow and Lindsey watched, morbidly fascinated as the lumbering ogre landed on him and began throttling the life out of him.
Angel shook his head in an effort to clear it. The burning sensation had ceased instantly when Lindsey had knocked the crystal out of Savage's hand. He ignored the lingering pain and made for the struggling pair on the desk, landing a double fisted blow on the back of the black suited mans head producing a satisfying groan. Lindsey took advantage of the loosening of David's grip to slip out from under him. He lay gasping on the floor clawing at his already bruising throat and trying to catch his breath.
"Where do you think you're going, dickhead?" Spike enquired running toward Savage who was trying to sneak out of the office unnoticed. He was cradling his broken arm, the slightest movement causing waves of nausea. His previously impassive face was a study in anguish. Tears coursed down his cheeks and there was an odd mewling sound issuing from him. Spike could only pick out a few words from the feeble wankers' unintelligible mutterings.
"Please .. don't kill me." Savage pleaded, cringing as Spike approached him.
He had never imagined the scheme to rid himself of this stupid vampire could have been foiled so effortlessly. And that the end should be decided by violence, against him, was unthinkable. He was Mark Savage for God's sake; he could and would have anything he wanted. He had underestimated the demon, that much was clear, but what now? He would be lucky to escape this night with his life. How could it be that just a few hours ago he was imagining his ascension to his rightful place?
"Where's the girl, prick?" Spike questioned, Savage seemed totally unaware of his incorporeality. A fact Spike didn't see any need to enlighten him with.
"Please?" Was the only word he could decipher between sobs.
"Tell me where she is and I'll think about sparing you." Spike prompted with no intention of allowing Angel to let the man live.
Before Savage could reply the colossal, hulking figure of David stumbled across the room toward them. Angel, in game face and with vampiric agility and speed reined blows on the fat body guard from every conceivable angle. David fell into Savage who shrieked like a maiden aunt as the two tumbled to the floor in a graceless heap of arms and legs.
"Nice one, Angel. That gibbering geek was just about to tell me where he's keeping Ari. Oh, yes, that's just brilliant. Look at him now, he's passed out. I don't know which one of you I'd rather slap." Spike knelt on the floor beside the unconscious attorney, the urge to smack the guy was irresistible. He drew his fist back and steadied himself to keep from falling over then let fly. Spike was gob smacked when first he heard, then felt the satisfying reverberation as the blow hit home.
"Bloody hell." Spike gasped staring at his stinging hand in astonishment.
"What the?" Angel was at his side and couldn't halt his own hand from reaching out to prod Spikes shoulder just to prove it was solid.
"You beauty." Spike leapt from the floor, dancing a queerly elegant dance. An odd cross between Fred Astaire and James Brown.
"Hey, Ginger, you might want to quit that before you do yourself and injury, any way you look like a prat, it's embarrassing." Angel smiled in spite of himself. He walked over to the man as though to shake his hand. Instead he landed a swift right hook, square on his jaw. "I promised myself I'd do that the minute I got the chance." Angel explained gleefully.
"I had it coming, but I don't think it'll happen again." Spike replied as he rubbed at the rising knot on his chin. "I don't think anything could spoil this moment, not even you. You still hit like a girl."
"Tell me that tomorrow when you can't open your mouth." The two vampires appeared to be chatting casually, paying absolutely no attention to the crumpled heap of tangled body parts on the office floor. The crumpled heap, which was separating its knotted limbs and rising to its collective feet.
David ran at them, his fuzzy head filled with fury and humiliation, an unintentional battle cry issuing from his gaping, blood smeared mouth.
Without missing a beat in their conversation, Spike and Angel shot expertly timed fists to the meaty face of David, one of the fists driving his already broken nose into what passed for his brain. Later they would argue over which of them had dealt the killing blow.
"Timbre!" Spike hollered at the top of his lungs as the man fell stiffly to the floor.
Lindsey had caught Savage by his broken arm, which he held twisted at a grotesque angle behind his back. "I hoped I'd live long enough to see you reduced to the snivelling little cockroach I always new was hiding under the five thousand dollar suits, Savage." The viciousness in Lindsey's voice could not have been clearer. "If you have questions for this piece of scum, I suggest you ask them now before I kill him." Lindsey advised Angel as he pushed him roughly to sit on the only remaining chair still on its feet in the office.
This was more like the Lindsey Angel remembered, his cocky arrogance camouflaging something much more sadistic and brutal.
"Tell me where she is." Angel growled.
"Let me live and I'll tell you everything." Savage retorted, his voice returning to its previous overconfident tone, negotiations were his speciality after all.
"I'll promise to kill you quickly if you tell me. If not, I'll let Lindsey here have his fun, I might even let Spike dance on your face just for laughs." Angel spoke slowly and quietly, his hands on the arms of the chair and his face leaning menacingly close to Savage's tear streaked face. Savage imagined he could see ice crystals form as the air escaped his lips.
"She died before I called you." He spat.
"You're lying." Angel wandered across the room and stooped, touching the carpet. He returned to Savage's side and smeared some of the sticky fluid from his fingers on to his left cheek.
"This blood belongs to Ariane, I know because I was wearing some of it this morning. Blood's a funny thing, vampires can tell if it's come from a living being, it smells spicy." Angel switched to vampire form, "Want me to prove it?" His tone declared his sincerity.
"Sun Valley, I sent her to Brace Canyon, I have a lodge out there, but I wouldn't bother if I were you. She'll be dead before she reaches it." Savage lied, it was an old, well-practised habit and the tale flowed, flawless from his deceitful lips.
"You better hope not." Spike shot back. Angel stuck his arm out to stop Spike from launching himself at the man.
"You promised to kill me quickly." Savage looked squarely at Angel.
"I lied. I thought we could arrange for a nice long vacation, how about a hell dimension? Lindsey tells me there's one where the inhabitants have a real "taste" for lawyers." Angel beamed at the look of terror on Savage's face. Being exiled to a hell dimension had obviously never entered his thoughts.
"You're not just going to banish him? Jeez, Angel, that's just not bloody well on." Spike yelled, furious at the thought of Savage, even in part getting away with what he'd done."
"I lived up to my side of this bargain, Angel, now I want something in return." Lindsey stated boldly, his intentions obvious.
"I've got somewhere else to be." Angel strode toward the door slipping his cell phone from his pocket. He halted and turned toward Lindsey and Spike who were standing with a rather less smug and self-righteous Savage than he had viewed at the start of this meeting. "Pick him up Lindsey, it's time to go."
"Where are you taking me?" Savage was franticly looking around him, trying to find a way out.
"Don't panic just yet, Sniveller ." Spike teased. "We're just going to take a walk outside."
"I won't go?" Savage sounded like a child having a tantrum.
"Oh yes you will, if you don't want a broken leg to go with that arm." Lindsey pushed the man roughly out of the chair toward his office door.
They stepped into the elevator, Angel pressing the button for the parking level. Lindsey held Savage tightly by his right arm, unwilling to let the man loose even for a second.
"My security personnel won't let you set foot outside of this building." Savage continued to try and make them see sense. His warped and distorted version of sense at least.
"Why do you think we didn't kill you up there." Lindsey asked with menace written all over his bruised features. "When are you going to realise your life is over?"
"Never." He shot back.
"Then you're a bigger fool than I thought. Savage, you're already dead, you just haven't stopped breathing yet."
"I've got the cure for that." Spike grinned, prodding Savage with his finger for emphasis. He was obviously overjoyed by his return to solid form.
"You don't make those kind of decisions." Savage looked to Angel for confirmation.
"My work here is done." He smiled pleasantly as the elevator came to a halt. He started walking toward his car as four, armed security men trotted toward them.
"Call them off, Savage." Lindsey whispered into his ear. "Or I'll snap your neck right here."
"St, stand down." He stammered. The men replaced their weapons in their holsters and waited, unsure of how to proceed.
Angel continued to make his way to his car without a backward glance.
"Are you just going to leave me here with these two animals?" Savage yelled, his voice cracking with panic.
"I can't think of two people better equipped to deal with a waste of humanity like you." He replied pulling open the car door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gunn manoeuvred the MPV expertly through the night quiet streets, following the Mercedes at a distance so as not to alert the driver to their presence. Either the guy driving the s-class was a complete moron or he had been told to drive around the city for a while before going where ever he was supposed to go. Right now he was roaring up the Golden State Freeway but that could change.
"I'm only seeing one human heat signature in the car." Wesley informed him from behind.
"Great, we picked the wrong damned car. We've just spent an hour chasing this dumb ass for no reason." Gunn slammed his hand on the steering wheel just for emphasis.
"At least we know she's not in this one, that's something. Fred will have a trace on the other car." Wesley tried to look on the bright side.
"Do we turn around?" Gunn asked, unsure of what to do next.
"No, we wait for Angel to contact us, that was the plan after all." Wesley stated wisely.
Gunn's cell phone rang and he cringed with embarrassment, the A-team ring tone had seemed a good idea at the time. "Tell me you got her already." He yelled unnecessarily into the concealed mic.
"When were we ever that lucky?" Angel spoke more quietly as he sped away from the offices underground parking lot. "Where are you?"
"Golden State heading toward Sun Valley." He informed Angel.
"Then you should have her, Savage told me he was sending her to Brace Canyon." Angel was doing his best not to get his hopes up.
"Angel, I only detected one person in the car, one living person that is." Wesley's voice was grave, it was a possibility no one seemed willing to express let alone admit.
"What about the other Merc?" Gunn enquired.
"I'm tracking it." Fred replied sitting beside Angel, smiling hopefully. "It's on the Santa Monica Freeway. We should be .."
She clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle a scream as they heard the unmistakable sounds of an explosion and then the squeal of tyres on tarmac. "Charles? .. Wesley?" This time she did scream, the silence on the line was deafening.
"Holy shit, what the hell was... Oh Jesus, we lost the Merc, Angel. It just exploded right in front of us." Gunn sounded stunned.
Fred picked up the portable receiver unit she had dropped and stared at its screen. She pressed several buttons then looked anxiously toward Angel.
"We lost the signal from the other car." It was a statement, not a question. Fred only nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A young, scrawny, red headed man sits on a curb, his face ash grey in the flickering light. He sits, watching, as what remains of the car he had been driving only moments earlier lies scattered in more than a dozen twisted and burning pieces across the blacktop.
He looks to the sky and begins to count the stars, thanking every one in turn. He gives each of them the same name, Ariane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The End?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, I've given you some answers, and probably left you with more questions. This was the most Whedon-esk ending I could come up with, I hope you approve.
I am willing to leave Angel's Gift right here, what I would like to know is, are you prepared to let me?
If so then I will bid you adieux and thank you most graciously for your company on this enlightening journey. It has been a pleasure to write for you and I am grateful beyond measure. If on the other hand you would like to hear more of my rantings, my imagination is running riot with possibilities. I'll leave the decision in your capable hands.
If you were disappointed, I apologise unreservedly.
Just Another Angel
"But Mr Savage said you would be alone." The disgruntled security guard on reception repeated.
"I didn't think he would object to me bringing along some legal council." Angel stated, eyeing the man with cold consideration, his voice indicating he didn't give a damn if Savage objected or not.
The guard stared at Lindsey's bruised and cut face then back to Angel, warily. Before he could debate the subject further the telephone on his desk buzzed.
"Yes, sir." The guard nodded as though the person on the other end could see him. "Mr Savage will see you now."
"See, that wasn't so hard, now was it." Angel mocked before he and Lindsey made their way in the direction the guard had pointed. They were faced with a long wall of mirrors, only the fact that four of the panels were recessed, indicating there were elevators present.
Lindsey considered his reflection as he stood there, apparently alone. "I don't think I'd ever get used to that."
"If I had a face like yours I'd actually look forward to never seeing it again. Takes all kinds I suppose." Angel shrugged and held his hands together in front of him smirking at his own wit. The elevator doors slid open without a sound, its interior was lined from top to bottom in red velvet.
"I don't think much of this, it feels like walking into someone's heart." Lindsey grimaced looking around him with distaste.
"Do that often, do you?" Whispered Spike in his ear, scaring him.
"We know what we're doing here don't we?" Angel uttered, hoping Spike took the hint and started searching the building for Ariane rather than hanging around just to annoy Lindsey. He couldn't take the risk of speaking to Spike directly, he had the feeling their every move was being monitored.
"Get over yourself, you bloody big poof. I'm waiting to see where he takes you before I start. If she's here, I'm guessing she won't be far from him." Spike's voice was projected from only inches away and Angel could hear the smirk in his voice. Knowing he could pretty much say or do anything and Angel couldn't react proving to be a temptation Spike found impossible to resist.
"How do you do that?" Spike whispered, close to his ear. " I know it's pointless but it's quite a trick, how you mange to make that little blue vein pulse like that." Angel felt a tiny pressure by his right temple as Spike indicated exactly which vein he was referring to. Angel's teeth clenched and his hands balled into fists almost without his knowledge.
"Don't worry mate, I'll do my job. Just thought I'd give your pent up aggressions a boost before I go save the girl, the day, and all that."
"Bite me." Angel sighed almost inaudibly as the elevator door glided open. He could hear Spike sniggering as he and Lindsey strode out of the scarlet cell to face a gargantuan man who stood across the corridor on in front of them.
"This way." David growled without waiting for Angel to introduce himself. Angel noticed the man's gait was ungainly and awkward, probably due to his massive thighs that seemed to actively hinder his movements. Whatever the reason Angel wasn't looking forward to dealing with him, though he believed it would prove inevitable.
The three men followed the brute to a set of oak doors. Angel felt something squeeze his shoulder before the doors opened. That was the sign telling him Spike was on the move.
The doors closed behind them without a sound and the big man took up a place across them, essentially cutting off their escape route. Automatically Angel scanned the room for alternative exits and found none. His attention was captivated by his surroundings. Had things not been so serious he would have found the sight comical.
Savage was sitting behind an unbelievably vast desk, which would have been completely clear if not for the telephone. Angel thought of his desk, which was perpetually cluttered and piled high with paperwork.
The over sized cream leather chair Savage sat on, coupled with the rest of the office furniture all in similar light colours, gave the office a clinical and anaemic look, spoiled only by the symbolic altar, which was the dark marble desktop. It looked like a black chasm, ready to swallow anyone foolish enough to venture too close.
There seemed to be no personal touches in the space giving it a soulless atmosphere. Not even the art on the walls (which included some renaissance originals that appeared to have been mounted with precision rather than care) could inject any warmth into the room.
Savage himself was staring back at Angel with cool grey eyes devoid of any emotion and impossible to read. His light grey business suit, which was an almost perfect match with his eyes, was in pristine condition even thought it was after midnight. Not one strand of his expertly styled blonde hair had dared to stray out of place. Even his fingernails gleamed with what could only be a professional manicure. Savage seemed to be the living embodiment of Angel's complete opposite.
He looked at the younger man over the curiously large expanse of desk; he couldn't help but wonder if he was compensating for something. The thought brought a smile and Angel didn't even try to disguise it.
"Something amuses you Mister Angel?" The man enquired
"Its just Angel, but then you know that." Anyone who knew anything about him knew that and Savage had made it pretty clear he had more than a casual knowledge of him. Angel's passionless smile dissolved, leaving cold curiosity in its place,
"Hmm, yes. We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Mark Savage." Savage stood and walked around his desk, his right hand outstretched. His movements were stiff and graceless.
Angel made a show of putting his hands in his pockets and couldn't help himself from tunelessly whistling and gazing at the ceiling until the proffered hand was returned to the man's side untouched.
"Lindsey McDonald, I didn't expect to see you here." Savage sneered, covering the awkwardness, "You look rather the worst for wear, but then I hear you are working with a lower class of clientele lately."
"True, but I'm still one step above the cast-offs and B-class wannabes who come to you because they can't afford to pay Wolfram and Hart." Lindsey smiled as best he could and Angel saluted him for his well placed comeback.
"I don't think we're here to discuss our respective client lists Savage. Why don't we get down to business, these are kind of my peak working hours and we're burning moonlight." Angel tried to relax, to retain at least the pretence that this was a business negotiation. What he really wanted to do was walk over to the Armani wearing, smug assed son of a bitch and send him to hell with his perfect nose occupying a space where his right ear used to be. Unfortunately that would have to wait, he had to focus, this wasn't just about getting his own back. He wanted answers and he wanted Ariane, she had some explaining to do.
"Very good, Angel. I'll gladly turn to the matter of your young charge." Savage returned to his chair and attempted to resume command of the proceedings. He was furious with himself for allowing the situation to degenerate into nothing better than petty mud slinging. After all this was his territory and his negotiation, why should he feel as though he were on the defensive? Never the less that was exactly how he felt and he detested the sensation. "Please sit down." He indicated two chairs opposite his desk.
"No thanks." Angel glanced over his shoulder to confirm the guards whereabouts then returned his attention to Savage, there seemed to be some internal war going on behind those colourless eyes. It was exactly the reaction he had hoped for when he'd forced Lindsey to join him.
"She's not here." Spikes whispering voice broke through his thoughts. "She was though, less than an hour ago, the blood's still wet. I tracked her from this office to the parking lot in the basement."
"Where is she now?" Savage's face registered surprise, though it was quickly concealed. He was shocked by Angels pointed question, it appeared the vampire was in no doubt that the girl was not with him.
Angel wasn't in the mood for tiptoeing around; he wanted out of here as soon as possible. The more time he spent in Mark Savages company the less he liked it. There seemed to be something unhinged about this guy, he was wound way too tight and guys like that were too unpredictable.
"In spite of myself, I like you, Angel." Savage grinned covering his initial alarm with a maniacal laugh.
"I can't say the same." Angel's tone was caustic. "Are you going to answer the question, I'm getting bored with this?" Angel turned around and glared at David again, who still stood by the door. If he hadn't known better he could have mistaken the man for a statue.
"I apologise, I was not aware I was here to keep you entertained. Perhaps I should have kept the girl here, she could have filled you with joy I'm sure." He sneered.
"I'm curious Savage, did you really think one little girl could rock Wolfram & Hart?" Angel displayed a casual interest.
"Not Wolfram & Hart, Angel, just you. Without you to lead them, the company would be in a state of disarray, temporarily of course. I noticed when the previous management, eh stepped down shall we say, there was a period of instability among the clients. I was not in a position to take advantage of the situation at that time. However I considered, if similar circumstances could be orchestrated then similar uncertainty would follow, and I would be in a position to capitalise."
"What exactly was Ariane's role in your scheme?" Angel probed never one to sugar coat his questions.
"I applaud your directness, Angel. The girl was a diversion. I knew you relied heavily upon visions to, what was your motto? Oh yes, "Help the helpless". It also common knowledge you were not adjusting well to life behind a desk. So Meenotuk's offer of her somewhat limited powers, appeared to be something you could not refuse. Her main function as far as my plan was concerned was to divide your team. Meenotuk had informed me the girl was a conduit, an emotional transmitter if you like. He assured me she would spread feelings of distrust, fear and tension, just as she had in his court. Having spent some time in her company I have reviewed that opinion. It seems she absorbs the feelings of those around her then transmits her emotions in return. The effect isn't all together unpleasant, but then you will be aware of that." Savages eyes gleamed as he watched Angel absorb his comments. He wondered exactly what emotions the girl had spread through Wolfram & Hart.
"So she was just as clueless about this whole plot as I was?" Lindsey's eyes betrayed his fury, though he managed to keep his voice low.
"Clueless." Savage breathed a mocking chuckle. "Yes that describes it rather well."
The two lawyers were locked in an unspoken duel Angel was reluctant to disrupt. "Pretty elaborate plan, there were so many things that could go wrong. Knowing what I do of you I would have expected better." Angel countered. His demeanour remained crisp and business like, though inside he was seething. He had all the answers he needed from this sanctimonious bastard, all except one.
"What makes you think something went wrong? Are you so sure this wasn't exactly what I had in mind? True, it would have been much simpler if Lindsey had dispatched you this morning, but then I would have been denied the chance to meet you face to face, and take your life myself." Savage ripped open his desk drawer and pulled out the jet crystal. Without waiting he began the ritual, "Ra un shi, ram un ka, me en kat un ra vay."
Angel was frozen where he stood, his eyes seemed to be the only things he could move and they locked on the grey orbs of Mark Savage with a rage so deep it seemed primeval. He could feel a burning sensation growing inside him like a murderous pregnancy. "This must be what it feels like to spontaneously combust." The insane thought passed through his mind unsolicited and unchecked. The pain was incredible; he could almost feel his organs blistering in side his chest.
Lindsey read the situation in seconds, what ever Savage was muttering, it was meant to kill Angel. He ran at Savage picking up a chair as he went, hoisting it to his side and swinging it at the murmuring man like a baseball bat. He heard a sickening crack as Savage's left arm broke. His scream of surprise and pain brought a grin to Lindsey's face. The crystal, which had been spinning in his outstretched palm, flew across the room, smashing into dust against the wall opposite.
There was an odd flash of purple light, followed by a strange strobe effect casting them all in flat mauve effulgence. The effect was short lived and no one had time to pay much attention.
Spike yelled from across the room, "Hey, Mickey Mantle, watch your back." Seconds later Lindsey was lifted from the floor, his feet dangling and kicking at fresh air. The huge man had him by the upper arms and threw him onto the desk cracking his head on the marble top. The world seemed to slow and Lindsey watched, morbidly fascinated as the lumbering ogre landed on him and began throttling the life out of him.
Angel shook his head in an effort to clear it. The burning sensation had ceased instantly when Lindsey had knocked the crystal out of Savage's hand. He ignored the lingering pain and made for the struggling pair on the desk, landing a double fisted blow on the back of the black suited mans head producing a satisfying groan. Lindsey took advantage of the loosening of David's grip to slip out from under him. He lay gasping on the floor clawing at his already bruising throat and trying to catch his breath.
"Where do you think you're going, dickhead?" Spike enquired running toward Savage who was trying to sneak out of the office unnoticed. He was cradling his broken arm, the slightest movement causing waves of nausea. His previously impassive face was a study in anguish. Tears coursed down his cheeks and there was an odd mewling sound issuing from him. Spike could only pick out a few words from the feeble wankers' unintelligible mutterings.
"Please .. don't kill me." Savage pleaded, cringing as Spike approached him.
He had never imagined the scheme to rid himself of this stupid vampire could have been foiled so effortlessly. And that the end should be decided by violence, against him, was unthinkable. He was Mark Savage for God's sake; he could and would have anything he wanted. He had underestimated the demon, that much was clear, but what now? He would be lucky to escape this night with his life. How could it be that just a few hours ago he was imagining his ascension to his rightful place?
"Where's the girl, prick?" Spike questioned, Savage seemed totally unaware of his incorporeality. A fact Spike didn't see any need to enlighten him with.
"Please?" Was the only word he could decipher between sobs.
"Tell me where she is and I'll think about sparing you." Spike prompted with no intention of allowing Angel to let the man live.
Before Savage could reply the colossal, hulking figure of David stumbled across the room toward them. Angel, in game face and with vampiric agility and speed reined blows on the fat body guard from every conceivable angle. David fell into Savage who shrieked like a maiden aunt as the two tumbled to the floor in a graceless heap of arms and legs.
"Nice one, Angel. That gibbering geek was just about to tell me where he's keeping Ari. Oh, yes, that's just brilliant. Look at him now, he's passed out. I don't know which one of you I'd rather slap." Spike knelt on the floor beside the unconscious attorney, the urge to smack the guy was irresistible. He drew his fist back and steadied himself to keep from falling over then let fly. Spike was gob smacked when first he heard, then felt the satisfying reverberation as the blow hit home.
"Bloody hell." Spike gasped staring at his stinging hand in astonishment.
"What the?" Angel was at his side and couldn't halt his own hand from reaching out to prod Spikes shoulder just to prove it was solid.
"You beauty." Spike leapt from the floor, dancing a queerly elegant dance. An odd cross between Fred Astaire and James Brown.
"Hey, Ginger, you might want to quit that before you do yourself and injury, any way you look like a prat, it's embarrassing." Angel smiled in spite of himself. He walked over to the man as though to shake his hand. Instead he landed a swift right hook, square on his jaw. "I promised myself I'd do that the minute I got the chance." Angel explained gleefully.
"I had it coming, but I don't think it'll happen again." Spike replied as he rubbed at the rising knot on his chin. "I don't think anything could spoil this moment, not even you. You still hit like a girl."
"Tell me that tomorrow when you can't open your mouth." The two vampires appeared to be chatting casually, paying absolutely no attention to the crumpled heap of tangled body parts on the office floor. The crumpled heap, which was separating its knotted limbs and rising to its collective feet.
David ran at them, his fuzzy head filled with fury and humiliation, an unintentional battle cry issuing from his gaping, blood smeared mouth.
Without missing a beat in their conversation, Spike and Angel shot expertly timed fists to the meaty face of David, one of the fists driving his already broken nose into what passed for his brain. Later they would argue over which of them had dealt the killing blow.
"Timbre!" Spike hollered at the top of his lungs as the man fell stiffly to the floor.
Lindsey had caught Savage by his broken arm, which he held twisted at a grotesque angle behind his back. "I hoped I'd live long enough to see you reduced to the snivelling little cockroach I always new was hiding under the five thousand dollar suits, Savage." The viciousness in Lindsey's voice could not have been clearer. "If you have questions for this piece of scum, I suggest you ask them now before I kill him." Lindsey advised Angel as he pushed him roughly to sit on the only remaining chair still on its feet in the office.
This was more like the Lindsey Angel remembered, his cocky arrogance camouflaging something much more sadistic and brutal.
"Tell me where she is." Angel growled.
"Let me live and I'll tell you everything." Savage retorted, his voice returning to its previous overconfident tone, negotiations were his speciality after all.
"I'll promise to kill you quickly if you tell me. If not, I'll let Lindsey here have his fun, I might even let Spike dance on your face just for laughs." Angel spoke slowly and quietly, his hands on the arms of the chair and his face leaning menacingly close to Savage's tear streaked face. Savage imagined he could see ice crystals form as the air escaped his lips.
"She died before I called you." He spat.
"You're lying." Angel wandered across the room and stooped, touching the carpet. He returned to Savage's side and smeared some of the sticky fluid from his fingers on to his left cheek.
"This blood belongs to Ariane, I know because I was wearing some of it this morning. Blood's a funny thing, vampires can tell if it's come from a living being, it smells spicy." Angel switched to vampire form, "Want me to prove it?" His tone declared his sincerity.
"Sun Valley, I sent her to Brace Canyon, I have a lodge out there, but I wouldn't bother if I were you. She'll be dead before she reaches it." Savage lied, it was an old, well-practised habit and the tale flowed, flawless from his deceitful lips.
"You better hope not." Spike shot back. Angel stuck his arm out to stop Spike from launching himself at the man.
"You promised to kill me quickly." Savage looked squarely at Angel.
"I lied. I thought we could arrange for a nice long vacation, how about a hell dimension? Lindsey tells me there's one where the inhabitants have a real "taste" for lawyers." Angel beamed at the look of terror on Savage's face. Being exiled to a hell dimension had obviously never entered his thoughts.
"You're not just going to banish him? Jeez, Angel, that's just not bloody well on." Spike yelled, furious at the thought of Savage, even in part getting away with what he'd done."
"I lived up to my side of this bargain, Angel, now I want something in return." Lindsey stated boldly, his intentions obvious.
"I've got somewhere else to be." Angel strode toward the door slipping his cell phone from his pocket. He halted and turned toward Lindsey and Spike who were standing with a rather less smug and self-righteous Savage than he had viewed at the start of this meeting. "Pick him up Lindsey, it's time to go."
"Where are you taking me?" Savage was franticly looking around him, trying to find a way out.
"Don't panic just yet, Sniveller ." Spike teased. "We're just going to take a walk outside."
"I won't go?" Savage sounded like a child having a tantrum.
"Oh yes you will, if you don't want a broken leg to go with that arm." Lindsey pushed the man roughly out of the chair toward his office door.
They stepped into the elevator, Angel pressing the button for the parking level. Lindsey held Savage tightly by his right arm, unwilling to let the man loose even for a second.
"My security personnel won't let you set foot outside of this building." Savage continued to try and make them see sense. His warped and distorted version of sense at least.
"Why do you think we didn't kill you up there." Lindsey asked with menace written all over his bruised features. "When are you going to realise your life is over?"
"Never." He shot back.
"Then you're a bigger fool than I thought. Savage, you're already dead, you just haven't stopped breathing yet."
"I've got the cure for that." Spike grinned, prodding Savage with his finger for emphasis. He was obviously overjoyed by his return to solid form.
"You don't make those kind of decisions." Savage looked to Angel for confirmation.
"My work here is done." He smiled pleasantly as the elevator came to a halt. He started walking toward his car as four, armed security men trotted toward them.
"Call them off, Savage." Lindsey whispered into his ear. "Or I'll snap your neck right here."
"St, stand down." He stammered. The men replaced their weapons in their holsters and waited, unsure of how to proceed.
Angel continued to make his way to his car without a backward glance.
"Are you just going to leave me here with these two animals?" Savage yelled, his voice cracking with panic.
"I can't think of two people better equipped to deal with a waste of humanity like you." He replied pulling open the car door.
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Gunn manoeuvred the MPV expertly through the night quiet streets, following the Mercedes at a distance so as not to alert the driver to their presence. Either the guy driving the s-class was a complete moron or he had been told to drive around the city for a while before going where ever he was supposed to go. Right now he was roaring up the Golden State Freeway but that could change.
"I'm only seeing one human heat signature in the car." Wesley informed him from behind.
"Great, we picked the wrong damned car. We've just spent an hour chasing this dumb ass for no reason." Gunn slammed his hand on the steering wheel just for emphasis.
"At least we know she's not in this one, that's something. Fred will have a trace on the other car." Wesley tried to look on the bright side.
"Do we turn around?" Gunn asked, unsure of what to do next.
"No, we wait for Angel to contact us, that was the plan after all." Wesley stated wisely.
Gunn's cell phone rang and he cringed with embarrassment, the A-team ring tone had seemed a good idea at the time. "Tell me you got her already." He yelled unnecessarily into the concealed mic.
"When were we ever that lucky?" Angel spoke more quietly as he sped away from the offices underground parking lot. "Where are you?"
"Golden State heading toward Sun Valley." He informed Angel.
"Then you should have her, Savage told me he was sending her to Brace Canyon." Angel was doing his best not to get his hopes up.
"Angel, I only detected one person in the car, one living person that is." Wesley's voice was grave, it was a possibility no one seemed willing to express let alone admit.
"What about the other Merc?" Gunn enquired.
"I'm tracking it." Fred replied sitting beside Angel, smiling hopefully. "It's on the Santa Monica Freeway. We should be .."
She clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle a scream as they heard the unmistakable sounds of an explosion and then the squeal of tyres on tarmac. "Charles? .. Wesley?" This time she did scream, the silence on the line was deafening.
"Holy shit, what the hell was... Oh Jesus, we lost the Merc, Angel. It just exploded right in front of us." Gunn sounded stunned.
Fred picked up the portable receiver unit she had dropped and stared at its screen. She pressed several buttons then looked anxiously toward Angel.
"We lost the signal from the other car." It was a statement, not a question. Fred only nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A young, scrawny, red headed man sits on a curb, his face ash grey in the flickering light. He sits, watching, as what remains of the car he had been driving only moments earlier lies scattered in more than a dozen twisted and burning pieces across the blacktop.
He looks to the sky and begins to count the stars, thanking every one in turn. He gives each of them the same name, Ariane.
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The End?
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Well, I've given you some answers, and probably left you with more questions. This was the most Whedon-esk ending I could come up with, I hope you approve.
I am willing to leave Angel's Gift right here, what I would like to know is, are you prepared to let me?
If so then I will bid you adieux and thank you most graciously for your company on this enlightening journey. It has been a pleasure to write for you and I am grateful beyond measure. If on the other hand you would like to hear more of my rantings, my imagination is running riot with possibilities. I'll leave the decision in your capable hands.
If you were disappointed, I apologise unreservedly.
Just Another Angel