The Lame Shall Walk, The Dead Shall Live Again...


Title:- see above
Rating:-PG13
Distribution:- ask first.
Ownership:- Joss is God. I am me. Enough said.
Feedback :- would be appreciated.



The merry-go-round turned with the breeze, and the wind whistled through the swings. The moon cast an eerie glow over the children's playground as she sat on a tyre-swing, swinging her legs and humming an Irish tune her Childe had taught her. She missed him and she regretted the day she offered him the girl. He'd accepted her willingly, not knowing she was the key to his undoing. Her Childe. She'd lost him now, he'd never return to her. Not after their last aqquaintance, where was it? A club. She'd tried to show him his true self, it had ended in her destruction.
She stopped the swing as she placed her feet firmly on the ground and smiled as a human bolted past the gates in terror. A vampire followed closely behind, his intention to eat as much as possible. His joy was shortlived, however. A dark figure - also a vampire - sent the other flying across the road into the playground. She allowed herself to be seen by them, but didn't help the demon sprawled on the floor. The two male vampires fought it out, the darkhaired one, being the tallest and better-built, came through easily. He stood for a moment, dusting the ahes from his black attire, then realised he was being watched and looked up. He saw her. She wanted him to. She stood up and they approached eachother. She smiled fondly at him,
"Angel."
He didn't return the affection,
"Darla."
Angel tightened his grip on the stake in his hand. She raised her eyebrows,
"Can't do it can you?" She cooed. "Not again."
"Don't bet on it."
She backed away slightly, not out of fear, just to see him more clearly. He stepped back also, he wasn't in the mood for her games. Smiling playfully, she twirled, arms outstretched,
"Isn't it wonderful, Angel? An eternity of darkness."
"No. It isn't, now if you'll excuse me, I have more *important* matters to attend to."
The emphasis on the word "important" cut his Sire like a knife, and she showed it. Her face fell, and she looked up at him with big, round eyes. There was a time when Angel would forgive her anything when she looked at him that way, but that was then, this was now. No melting. He hardened his heart towards her and headed for Cordelia's house. She followed him. He'd expect her to stalk him, or just leave him be, not follow in plain view. Turning swiftly, he confronted her angrily,
"What?!"
"What's the matter? Getting to old for your Mommy to take you to school?"
"No. You're bugging me. Go away."
"I have nowhere to go."
"What about your humans? They resurrected you, they can look after you too."
"I was hungry."
Angel looked at her in disbelief. Her expression told it all, her predatorial charm and sweetness confirmed it. He turned his back on her and kept going,
"Unbelievable."
"What? That a vampire should feed? *You're* the unbelievable one here, Angel."
They rounded the corner, just 300metres away from Cordy's house. Angel could see his car parked outside. Wesley wa already there.
"I don't have time for you now."
"Then I'll *make* time."
"No. No you won't. You'll go away and not come back."
Darla stood her ground defiantly,
"Make me."
They were just a couple of feet away from the black car when Angel heard something. Whatever it was, was whistling. A high pitched shriek almost. Definately *not* human. Not good. They stopped and pressed their hands to their ears as it grew louder, and what looked like a ray of light pierced through Darla's body. Unable to move his feet to help her, Angel quickly looked around. Time stood still, and the ray of light disappeared the way it came. It came from nowhere and went back again, leaving the vampiress's body slumped on the sidewalk like a ragdoll. The vampire went to lift his Sire to her feet, but jerked back as his skin touched hers. She was warm. He took her wrist, she had a pulse. Hurriedly, Angel picked her up, hanging her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. He rushed to Cordelia's house, and thumped on the door,
"Let us in!"
Inside Cordy and Wesley were sat on the sofa,
Wesley went to answer the door,
"That'll be Angel."
Cordy looked puzzled,
"Yeah, but what did he mean, "us"?"
Wesley opened the door to see Angel stood there with Darla slung over his shoulder. The vampire pushed past, and lay his human Sire on the rug. His human companions stayed silent as the vampire attempted to revive her. Cordy took a jar of smelling salts from Dennis' invisible hand,
"Thanks."
She handed them to Angel and he waved the open jar under Darla's nose. She stirred and all except Angel held their breath as she opened her eyes and looked at her Childe in confusion,
"Angel?" Her voice was soft and whispery with a tinge of fear. Fear, something the blonde hadn't known since the night she was reborn as a vampire.
"I'm here."
He squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, smiling for a moment. She smiled until her whole life as a coldhearted killer flooded her mind. She was struck dumb. The horrific deaths, the tortures, everything her life had consisted of had payed its toll. Her body went rigid and Angel recognised instantly the expression of total despair. Despair knew him by name. He lifted her to her feet and sat her down on the sofa. She said nothing. Cordelia took the opportunity to practise her sympathy skills,
"I'll go run her a hot bath."
Wesley saw the look angel gave him - he wanted to be alone with her,
"I'll..um...make some coffee. Yes."
Angel went to shut the doors to increase their privacy. When he turned back to her, Darla was running towards the door trying to get away. She opened it and ran blind through the door, running straight into Angel. She looked up at him and began to cry uncontrollably. Angel found himself holding her close and swaying gently, the way his mother had done when he was a boy,
"Shhh....it's okay, I'm here."
He lifted her off her feet and carried her back to the house.
When Cordy and Wesley came back, Angel was sitting on the sofa with Darla sitting on his knee. Her face was emotionless and streaked with tears. Wesley handed Angel a cup of coffee,
"Just in case."
Angel nodded gratefully and kissed his Sire lightly on the forehead. Her head was rested against his shoulder and she sighed deeply, silent tears welling in her eyes.

The vampire stepped away from the sofa. where Darla lay fast asleep. He placed his coat over her then picked up the coffe mug she'd drank from. He took a sip the smiled at Wesley,
"Sleeping pills. Thanks, she needs rest."
Wesley looked slightly puzzled,
"But now you'll - "
"No I won't. Human sleeping tablets have no effect."
Cordy sighed,
"I guess I'll have that bath then."
She retired to the bathroom and Angel sat on the floor within arms reach of Darla should she need him. She wouldn't. The girl was out cold and wouldn't wake for several hours. Wesley smiled,
"She looks so angelic when she sleeps."