Part 17

"Where are they?" Angel yelled as he looked towards the path he knew Xander and the rest would have to walk down to get to the clearing.

"For god's sake Angel! They need and deserve some time alone," Cordelia replied, exasperated with Angel's growing impatience. "You got what you wanted."

Angel could detect the anger in Cordelia's voice. But she was also right. He had gotten what he wanted. "He may not have much time."

Cordelia came up behind Angel and spun him around sharply so that he was looking straight at her. "No, he may not. But you know what, so what. I can tell part of him would rather stay here, and take his chances. Have you forgotten what that sort of love is?"

"No," Angel replied. "Why do you think I'm doing all of this? This is for Buffy."

"This isn't love, Angel." Cordelia knew Buffy would've wanted none of this, but it was further proof to her that Angel had become fixated on one thing and one thing alone. "Have you forgotten the one part of your plan you didn't tell us about? The part where we all cease to exist if Xander goes back."

Angel hadn't forgotten that, but to him it was irrelevant. The new time stream had to be better. Buffy had to live, and Xander going back, even under these circumstances was a chance Angel was prepared to take. "So why are you helping?"

"Because I can't sentence Xander to death." Cordelia replied. "But don't think for one minute I'm supporting you."

Angel couldn't hide his contempt. "I'd never make that mistake. It's not like you really liked Buffy anyway."

"My god! What's happened to you?' Cordelia asked, startled as each new bit of evidence that the Angel she knew and loved no longer existed. "You better not be an asshole, in the new timeline," she muttered to herself, not caring if he heard at all.

"Whoa, what's going on here," Xander said as Dawn and him entered the clearing. They'd heard some of what Cordelia and Angel were saying to each other as they were walking through the woods, but couldn't hear all of it.

"Angel's just giving me more reasons to dislike him," Cordelia said backing away from her former boss.

Xander took a look around the clearing, noticing that next to where he had disappeared and appeared previously, the Orb was beginning to shine brightly. Then around the clearing at four different points, crystals, as big as a fully-grown man's hands were sitting on the ground.

Cordelia looked over the shoulder of Xander and Dawn and was worried that she didn't see Wesley there. "Where's Wes?"

"He'll be here in time. He found some new books that he wanted to check through before coming." Xander looked apologetically at Cordelia. "I'm sorry, we should've made him come."

"It's okay," Cordelia replied. She knew Wesley would stay till he had no chance. It was the sort of person he was. The sort of person she loved.

"What new books?" Angel asked, a slight panic in his voice.

Cordelia noticed that Angel had suddenly become agitated. It didn't make sense to her. Wesley wasn't needed for the ceremony. "What do you care? It's not like you need him for this." Turning to Xander she added. "I hope he gets here soon."

"Give him a call, Cordy. Tell him to stop what he's doing and get here. I don't want him to stay there any longer."

Cordelia knew what Xander was asking, and silently thanked him for it. She took her mobile phone out of her pocket and dialed Wesley's number. Lifting it to her ear all she heard however, was static. "I've got no reception."

"We're not that far from the city central. There shouldn't be any problem out here." Xander replied.

"There must be some sort of interference," Cordelia replied, looking at the orb and crystals that were set up around them, but not noticing the look of relief that washed over Angel's face.

***************

Wesley had been going back and forth between his book and the ones he found in Giles's collection. There was just the nagging feeling in the back of his head that something wasn't exactly right. He was about to right it off as wishful thinking, when he noticed that one of the books Giles had left was the same as one of the ones, he had brought up from LA. For no other reason, than just a whim, he opened it and checked out a few things.

It didn't take him long to see some of the differences between the two. But they needed to be translated, and even though that was taking up time, he knew in his heart, he had to work it out.

As he read on, the picture was becoming clearer, and as it did, Wesley couldn't contain his hatred for he believed Angel had done.

"That bastard," he cursed under his breath as he reached for the phone, still reading while trying to call Cordelia. When he received the automated message telling him that the mobile phone couldn't be reached he slammed the phone down hard.

"Shit," he yelled as he did so. He ran quickly out the door, grabbing they car keys as he did. He didn't bother to lock up. If what he suspected was true, locking the house was a moment he couldn't afford to lose.

Angel had lied to them. Wesley had proof of that. The thought that drove Wesley on was what else Angel had lied about.

************

"It's ready," Angel announced, noticing that the rest of them weren't taking any notice of what he was doing.

Cordelia didn't want it to go any further without Wesley present and his continued absence did nothing to improve her mood.

"Back off," Xander told Angel in no uncertain terms.

"Fine," Angel retorted, "if we're too late and you disappear, this time for good, you can be safe in the knowledge you told me to back off."

The three of them turned to look at Angel in disgust. But beyond that he was right. None of them wanted to risk Xander disappearing again. They looked at each other and knew it was time. Cordelia knew she would have to say goodbye first, just do Dawn and Xander could have some time to themselves.

She gave him a warm hug. "When you get back there, don't be a stranger to us in LA."

Xander knew she meant Wesley and herself, when she said that, so he didn't say anything about Angel. He had no idea how he would be able to face Angel in the past.

"I will."

Cordelia gave him one last smile, before taking a few paces away. As she did Dawn came up to him and took his hand, clutching it over her heart. "We're meant to be together, Xan. Believe that. This last year's not an accident in fate. I'll always love you."

"And I'll be there when you work that out again," Xander replied with a small smile, before he kissed her gently. They had already had a long talk, more than once in the last few hours, and there wasn't much more to say. Xander gave Dawn a last kiss, before walking away to where he had to stand. He only got a little distance, as Dawn refused to let go of his hand. He turned and with one look into her eyes, his composure evaporated and he pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I've gotta go, sweetie," he said after a moment, his voice still breaking up as he spoke.

"No, I won't let you go," Dawn replied.

It was six little words, but they cut through Xander's heart like a blade. It was killing him inside to do this, but they had decided earlier that this is what needed to be done. The emotions they were feeling now, while not unexpected, couldn't stop Xander from doing what had already been decided. "We have no choice," he told her gently as he slowly disengaged himself and started to walk away. The hands remained interlocked, stretching out till their arms could go no further. Then one by one, each of the fingers that had been clasped together, came undone until there was just the index fingers of each hand touching, then a fraction of a second later, they too lost contact, causing Dawn to let out an anguished cry.

"No!"

Xander wanted to rush over and take her in his arms, but he also knew that if he did that, he would be writing his own death sentence. There was no way he could go through the ordeal of letting go of her again. He was glad when Cordelia took Dawn in her arms to comfort her.

Angel had watched in silence while they said their good-byes. He could feel part of his being screaming inside at them to hurry up, while another part felt sympathy for the trio. He would've liked them to understand his actions, but it wasn't necessary and now it wasn't even relevant.

Xander moved over to the Orb and readied himself for what was to come. If it was anything like his previous trip through time, he would just wake up in the year 2001. At least that was the best case scenario. He may not like Angel, but Xander did believe him when Angel said he would go back to 2001. Angel was so set on saving Buffy that, it was the one thing Xander counted on.

As Angel started to chant, Dawn looked on as Orb and crystals, which had been gathering power over the last twenty minutes pulsed and sent out threads of light energy. The threads came together and started to surround Xander. If she had just been a spectator, she may have appreciated the beauty of the white light with orange shards, flowing around the clearing.

But she wasn't just a spectator. The man she loved with all of her heart was being surrounded by the pulsating energy. She locked her eyes on his, forming a connection that only two people in love can truly understand. She may not be able to hold his hand while he went through this ritual, but Dawn was going to make sure he didn't feel alone.

Xander could feel himself gaining strength, at least mentally from Dawn's loving gaze. He knew in his heart it wouldn't be long now.

"Angel, stop the spell!"

Wesley's voice cut through the air, before anyone could see him. Then running at full speed, Wesley ran straight past Cordelia and Dawn and up to Angel. Part of him wanted to lay him out, but he needed Angel conscious to stop the ritual.

"Stop it now!" he yelled only inches from Angel's face.

"I can't," Angel replied, glad that he had gotten this far, before Wesley arrived. "It's too late."

"Undo it, then," Wesley pleaded.

"It'll kill him," Angel answered.

Wesley could tell that Angel was not only, not going to budge, but by the satisfied look on his face, he was no doubt telling the truth. Whatever Angel had done to make sure there was no interference, had worked.

He turned to look at Xander, and then to Dawn, his head trying to work out how to tell them what he had found out. Judging by the rotation speed of the energy ribbons, Wesley judged they had only a couple of minutes till the Time Winds reached full power.

"Can't we pull him out of there. Xander did that to Buffy," he asked Angel, hoping against hope there was something they could do.

Angel just shook his head. Having now completed his task, the one task that had become his reason for living the last five years, he felt mentally exhausted and sank to the ground.

Wesley's feelings of disgust at Angel were forgotten as he spun around to face Xander. He could tell by the look on Xander's face that he knew something had gone wrong. He didn't know how to tell him this news. Tears filled Wesley's eyes as he simply told him. "I'm sorry."

"Wes, you've nothing to be sorry for," Xander replied wondering what exactly was going on.

Wesley motioned for Dawn to come over to where he was. When she did he grabbed her hand and made sure both of them could here what he was about to say. "Angel lied to us. I think he's been responsible for the attacks on you. There was no need for you to go back."

Xander and Dawn both immediately knew the ramifications of Wesley's words. Angel had taken away their lives, their happiness.

"There's more," Wesley started, wondering if he really had the heart to take away their hope as well. "You won't remember any of this last year," Wesley said without much emotion. If he had let any emotion in, it was doubtful he could've finished.

The shock of what Wesley had just told them, didn't take long to sink in. But Xander could feel there was no time to be upset.

"I love you," he told her, wanting nothing more than to give her one last kiss. "My heart won't forget."

"Xander," Dawn started, but then there was blinding flash of light, and when they regained their sight, Xander had disappeared.

Dawn just collapsed where she had stood. What had happened was something she couldn't comprehend for the moment, and at that precise time, she didn't care if the world ended around her.

Cordelia ran at Wesley, grabbing on to him and tightly.

Angel, however looked like a man you had a huge weight lifted of his shoulders. He started smiling at the sky.

The silence was broken, when Dawn started screaming, "Why! Why! Why! Why!"

She was still screaming it, when she got up and ran at Angel, lashing out at him, with both her fists and feet. Angel didn't fight back, didn't even try to defend himself. He just sat there as Dawn continued to lay into him.

Cordelia saw Dawn run at Angel and disengaged herself from Wesley and went over to grab her. "Dawn leave him. He's not worth it," she said quietly but determined. Cordelia refused to look at the man she once considered a brother. He was dead to her now.

"He took Xander away," Dawn cried. "Why?"

"I don't know." Cordelia said as comforting as she could. "But there isn't anything we can do, to change that. I wish we could." She pulled Dawn into a hug and then motioned for Wesley to join her.

They all knew that if Xander successfully arrived back in time, then this time line was already dying. They didn't know how long it would take for the end to reach them, but they would give each other as much support as they could until it did.

It was Wesley that noticed first. The landscape around them had started to fade away. The night sky had become white, and everything started to dissipate to a whitely nothing.

"It's starting," he simply said before grabbing hold of Cordelia and Dawn tighter, a small piece of hope filling his heart. "He made it"

It was a small comfort to Dawn. They were all alive in 2001, but from there anything could happen. She cast a last look at where Xander had disappeared from, before looking back at Angel who was sitting by himself, just waiting for the end.

"Why?" she asked, needing to know how someone, especially someone who at one time had been close to all of them, could so callously sacrifice them all for his own needs.

The void slowly descended upon them all, enveloping them. Dawn turned away from Angel, not having enough energy now to feel hatred. She just wanted to look at her friends, let her minds fill with the image of the people she cared about. Which she did as they started to fade away. It was in those last moments, that she heard a whisper, almost like the wind was speaking in Angel's voice.

It simply told her,

"It was what I had to do."

The End