Author: Babywillow
Disclaimer: All the characters in Buffy and Angel belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB.
Summery: The story takes place after "Till life do us part."
Rating: PG
Feedback: any time...
E-mail: babywillow@caramail.com
Authors note: My story is written as a script. Enjoy...
WEBSITE URL: http://www.dromadaire.com/babywillow/scoobies



TEASER:

1753, Galway, Ireland
Camera pans slowly on the dark alley where Darla is about to sire Angel. She caresses his face and approaches him for the bite.
Angel voiceover: "Eternity...wishful gift...painful curse. It comes to you uninvited. You long for it, tempted, till it chokes, hurts and controls you."
Darla feeds off him as Angel falls to his knees. She cuts a bloody line on her chest and brings his face to it. Angel begins to drink.
Angel VO: "Banished from hell, you walk the dark alleys and watch the world crumble into dust."
The camera goes up from Angel to Darla, smiling evilly at him.
Angel VO: "Then you discover that all creatures earns their redemption and die, all of them (whispers)... but you."

Fade to the federal prison.
We can hear an ambulance siren in the background. Paramedics are running through a corridor. There are two guards sitting on the floor next to a woman's motionless body. One of the paramedics checks on the woman's pulse. Prisoners are watching the scene from their cells. The guards stare as the doctor tries to reanimate the woman, in vain. After a few attempts, the doc gets up and looks at the guards.
Doc: "She's gone."
One of the guards, a woman, approaches the body on the floor and looks at it sadly.
Doc: "Time of death...8:23 p.m."
He gestures to the paramedics to take the body away.
Female guard: "She was fine two hours ago."
Doc: "She was dead before we even got here."
Female guard (whispers): "She was only twenty."
The doc follows the gurney where the woman is lying. The paramedics open the ambulance door and push the gurney inside.
Slow motion as the camera focuses on the woman's face. It's Faith.


-OPENING CREDITS-

-SCENE 1-

Streets of Los Angeles, night.
The camera pans on a taxi parking on a sidewalk. A door opens and an old monk exits. He looks around fearfully as the taxi drives away. He starts to walk through a crowded alley. Everybody's staring at him. He glances at all the faces. Suddenly he recognizes someone standing on the other side of the street.
The monk starts to run, his hand on his heart. He pulls something out of his pocket and looks at it. It's a business card. Three men are chasing him now. In his run, the card falls out of his hand and lands on the floor.
Camera focuses on the card on which is written: "Angel Investigations."

Cut to:
The ambulance is leaving the prison property. The doc is sitting beside Faith at the back. The camera pans to Gunn who's driving the ambulance.
Gunn: "Now!"
Angel is sitting next to Gunn in front. He jumps to the back of the vehicle and joins Wesley and Cordy who are sitting beside the doc.
Wesley: "We have to do it fast."
Wesley grabs a book and hands Angel a bag full of blue powder.
Wesley reads from the book while Angel sprinkles the powder all over Faith's body.
Gunn glances back from time to time at the back to see what's going on.
Angel and Wes look very tense. Cordy stares at Gunn.
Faith is not moving.
Angel: "Wes, it's not working."
Wes reads faster and grabs a handful of powder and throws it on Faith's face.
The powder starts to illuminate the body and a blue light envelopes Faith completely.
She's shaking. Her head is moving from side to side.
Gunn stops the ambulance and gets in the back with the others.
Angel caresses her hair. Her eyes pop open and she starts to cough.
The doc puts an oxygen mask on her mouth. She lies on the gurney, looking at all the faces around her.
The doc looks as relieved as the gang. He comes to shake Angel's hand.
Doc: "Tough girl you got there."
Angel: "It would take more than that to kill *that* bird."
Wesley and Gunn smile.
Angel: "I owe you, Jerry."
Doc: "No way, Angel. Now we're even. You saved my life more than once."
Angel nods.
Doc: "I made all the arrangements. I'll take care of the paperwork. Just... make sure that she rests for a few days."
They all look at Faith who puts the oxygen mask aside and takes Angel's hand in hers.
Cordy goes to sit in the passenger sit next to Gunn, who drives away.
Cordy: "I can't believe we pulled that off."
Cordy looks at the back at Angel who's talking to the doc. Suddenly she closes her eyes and starts to scream.
She gets hit by a vision. She falls back on Gunn's shoulder.
Gunn: "Guys, vision!"
Wes and Angel rush to them.
Gunn takes Cordy in his arms and looks at Angel.
Gunn: "*Painful* one."
Wesley: "Cordelia?"
We are plunged inside Cordy's vision. We can see the monk. He is running. Three men are chasing him.
Angel stares at Cordy who opens her eyes slowly.
Cordy: "Near Caritas...A monk." Cordy tries to catch her breath and closes her eyes to rest. Gunn turns the ambulance around and drives off.


-SCENE 2-

Cut to a dark alley. The monk is at a dead end. The three men are catching up with him.
They change into demon face and walk slowly to him. The monk talks in Latin. He's trying to find a way out. One demon grabs a sword. Suddenly a baseball bat comes crushing down on his neck. Angel is standing behind him as he falls to the ground. Gunn and Wesley join the fight. Cordy exits the ambulance, still dazed. She rushes to the monk and takes him aside. Angel is biting the crap out of a demon. Wes and Gunn fight together against the two others. One of them sees the monk getting away. He makes his way to Cordy and hits her violently on the face. She falls down. The demon takes something from the monk's pocket and runs away.
Gunn: "Cordy!"
Gunn grabs the sword lying on the ground and jumps on a demon. He cuts his head off. The other demon watches in dismay and runs off.
Angel goes to Cordy and the monk. Wes helps Cordy get up.
Wes: "You're all right?"
Cordy: "No I'm not! I'm so tired of playing the punching bag." She puts her hand on her wounded face. Angel holds Cordy in his arms.
The monk addresses Angel.
The monk: "Angel." He has a weird accent.
They all look at him, surprised.
The monk is trembling. Wes takes his jacket off and puts it on the monk's shoulders.
Wesley: "You can trust us."
The monk speaks in a foreign language. Wesley listens carefully.
Wesley: "It's an ancient dialect...a bit like Latin."
Angel: "What did he say?"
Wes listens to the old man.
Wesley: "He came to give you something. But the demons took it away."
Angel lowers his head. The monk takes Wesley's hand. Wesley stares at him, startled.
Wesley: "Oh...Angel...He's the monk who protected the seer's children."
Angel tries to remember.
Angel: "The blind kids?"
Wesley nods. Angel looks at the monk, thoughtfully.


Cut to Caritas.
Lindsey is sitting at the bar. There's an empty bottle next to him. He gestures to the bartender to bring him a new one. He is talking to someone who's sitting by his side.
Lindsey: "She just left..."
The camera pans slowly to the other guy who's drinking with Lindsey.
It's Spike.
Lindsey grabs the new bottle and serves himself another drink.
Spike: "Bloody women...but mine's not like all the other dolls...she's different."
Lindsey: "They all are..."
Spike: "Women...what a pain."
Lindsey and Spike clink drinks.
Spike: "Maybe it was the whole blond-babe-who-likes-to-kill-stuff part that caught me."
Lindsey: "Exactly! The tough but vulnerable kind of girl..."
They both look bummed.
The host arrives and joins them.
Host: "Problems with the ladies? Can't live with them and yet can't live with them...I ate mine."
Spike lifts his drink and smiles.
Lindsey and the host grin.
Host: "I was just kidding." Spike nods his head.
Spike: "What's the deal with them, anyway? Never happy with what they have."
Host: "Exactly. Mine ran out with a human...A HUMAN!"
Spike: "Ouch! That hurts."
Host: "Tell me about it. When he found out she was half demon, he put her in a zoo."
The three laugh.
Lindsey: "What a world?"
Lindsey puts down his drink. He looks at the host.
Host: "No, boy. Stop looking at me with your puppy eyes. I really can't tell you anything about your future."
Lindsey takes back the drink.
Host: "Oh, come on. Forget the chick. She's got trouble written all over her forehead."
Lindsey finishes his glass.
Spike gets up and takes the host aside.
Spike: "I'm looking for a guy named Angel, tall, pointy teeth, pathetically helpful?"
The Host looks at him for a while.
Host: "I'm sure you're a singer."
Spike: "What?"
Host: "Well, the Billy Idol style getup makes you wonder."
The Host frowns suddenly. He becomes serious.
Host: "Don't stay too long in this town, kiddo. I know you have somewhere else to be."
Spike doesn't understand.
He hands him one of Angel's business cards.
Host: "You'll find him at the Hyperion Hotel."
Spike goes back to Lindsey. He takes a last drink.
Spike: "I have to move...other doll to see."
Lindsey: "There you go, mate."
Spike pats his shoulder and looks at the Host one last time before exiting the bar.
Host: "May the force be with you."
The Host laughs and watches him leave. Then he goes to Lindsey.
Host: "So...feel like singing tonight?"
Lindsey keeps looking at his drink. The Host grins.
Host: "Kids!"
The Host whispers to the bartender.
Host: "Cut the juice to mister put-a-gun-to-my-throat over here."
The bartender nods.


-SCENE 3-

Cut to Wolfram and Hart.
Lilah is holding a talisman. She looks at it carefully.
She is sitting in her office with Nathan Reed.
Reed: "This is the Aberjian's talisman."
Lilah: "Powerful, sir?"
Reed: Enough to stop the big battle against the hellgods."
Lilah smiles and stares at the talisman.
Reed: "Wouldn't want it to fall into Angel's hands."
Lilah: "Of course not."
Reed walks around the office. He stops to face Lilah.
Reed: "We know that you've been working with Drusilla, Miss Morgan."
Lilah's face turns pale. She looks at him, head down.
Reed: "It's quite all right. We are going to need her help if things turn bad."
Lilah nods, relieved.
Reed: "Now that Lindsey McDonald is on their side, we're going to have to be careful."
Lilah: "Why not kill him, sir?"
He walks to the window and looks outside.
Reed: "Already tried. Now the Senior Partners ordered us to find him and separate him from Angel. He's an important piece of the puzzle."
Lilah stares at him in disbelief.
Lilah: "Lindsey?"
Reed nods as he approaches and takes the talisman in his hand.
Reed: "There are some things that you are not supposed to know, Miss Morgan?"
Lilah gets up to leave.
Reed: "One more thing..."
She turns to face him.
Reed: "No more working behind our back...remember that *you* are still
expendable."
Lilah exits, unnerved.


Cut to later, at the Hyperion.
Angel is in a room with Faith. She is lying in bed. Angel is sitting beside her. He smiles widely.
Angel: "I guess that's it...now you're officially dead."
Faith: "Yeah...bring on the margaritas!" She closes her eyes sadly. Angel loses the smile.
Angel: "Hey, come on. You are out of there now."
Faith: "I know... I'm just... tired."
Angel nods.
Faith: "Yesterday I was biting the crap out of some blond bitch who stole my bread, and now I'm in a fancy (she looks aside)... deserted hotel."
Angel: "Room with a view."
Faith glances at him.
Faith: "I wish I didn't feel this...dead. I feel like it's the end..."
Angel takes her hand in his.
Angel: "You've got it all backwards...Faith, it's not the end...it's just the beginning."
He leans to kiss her on the forehead and gets up to leave.
Angel: "You've got to rest now."
Faith nods and closes her eyes. Angel exits the room. He walks down to the lobby where Gunn and Cordy are sitting with the monk. Angel looks at Gunn.
Angel: "He's all right?"
Gunn: "Yeah."
Wesley appears with a scroll in his hand. Angel recognizes the document.
Wesley shows the scroll to the monk. There's a picture of the talisman.
The monk nods and points at the picture.
Wesley: "He was sent to bring you the Aberjian's talisman."
Cordy: "Isn't that the scroll that talked about Angel? You know, the shanshu thing?"
Wesley: "Yes. I never got the chance to work a lot on it since…but...here it's says that the talisman is very powerful."
The monk talks again.
They all look at Wesley. Wesley keeps talking to the monk.
Gunn: "Hey, what is he saying?"
Wesley glances at all of them.
Wesley: "He wants to see the boy who saved the children."
Angel stares at the monk silently.
Cordy: "But it was Angel who saved the children. You know when Lindsey...oh, I get it."
Angel gets up and approaches the monk.
Angel: "Lindsey...What can you tell me about him?"
Wesley translates to the old man. The old man looks at Angel.
Wesley: "Everything is foretold..."
Angel: "Is he really protected?"
The monk nods and keeps talking very fast. He's repeating the same thing.
Wesley: "He...he just keep saying that it's foretold."
Angel considers. He grabs his coat and walks to the door.
Cordy: "Where are you going?"
Angel: "I have to find him."


-SCENE 4-

Dark alley. A woman is screaming. Camera pans on the woman's face as she falls to the ground, unconscious.
Drusilla looks at the body and licks her bloody fingers. She smells something and turns to find Spike standing behind her.
Spike: "Hello, beauty."
Dru smiles widely and jumps on him.
Drusilla: "You're back."
Spike: "Came to see you, pet."
Dru steps back and punches him very hard on the face.
Spike: "Ouch! What are you doing?"
Drusilla: "Hurt you like you hurt me."
Spike looks down.
Spike: "I'm sorry, darling."
Dru sulks and nods her head.
Dru: "All full of the Slayer...blinded..."
Dru comes to hold him in her arms. She puts her hand on his chest.
Dru: "I'll take the pain away..."
Spike hugs her.
Dru: "When I kill her."
Spike's eyes pop open. He looks aside, thoughtfully.


CUT TO:
Angel enters what used to be Darla's apartment.
He looks around. There is some new furniture. He walks to the bedroom.
Angel: "Lindsey?"
He searches for him in every room. Suddenly a bottle comes crashing on the back of his head.
Lindsey jumps on him and hits him as hard as he can. Angel throws him aside and punches him in the stomach. They continue to exchange punches until Lindsey falls back on the floor.
Lindsey gets up and charges Angel, making them both crash against the glass wall that shatters in a million pieces. They land on the ground in the garden.
They lay there, motionless, both breathing hard.
Lindsey calms down. He doesn't look upset anymore.
Lindsey: "Can't move."
Angel: "Next time, don't jump on me."
They stare at the sky above them.
Lindsey: "The sun will be up soon."
Angel: "Yeah."
Angel sits up and glances at Lindsey.
Lindsey: "Why did you come here, Angel?"
Angel: "We need to talk."

Angel and Lindsey are sitting in the living room.
Lindsey: "He asked for me?"
Angel: "Yeah...guess it was written that you would save the seer's kids."
Lindsey: "This is B.S. After saving them, I rejoined Wolfram and Hart. Where's the good part in all that?"
Angel: "Hey, don't ask me...I still need to be convinced that you are a good guy."
Lindsey: "So now what?"
Angel: "Meet the monk. Let's see what he wants from you."
Angel puts his coat on. Lindsey looks aside for a while. After a bit…
Angel: "Darla never came back?"
Lindsey glances at him. He shakes his head.
Lindsey: "Nope. I guess I really lost her this time...She left."
Angel: "She tends to do that when things get bad."
They look at each other.

Flashback of Angel's past. 1898 Romania.
Angel is hiding behind trees looking at Darla who's speaking to the gypsy. He sees Drusilla walking to her.
Drusilla: "Angelus is gone away. Where is he?"
Darla grabs the gypsy by the neck.
Darla: "Drusilla, the camp...go on...kill things."
Drusilla: "He shall be very cross if he finds we had a lovely mass slaughter without him."
Darla: "He'll join us soon. Now do as you're told."
Drusilla: "Okay."
Angel approaches silently, wanting to reach Darla. He keeps listening to the conversation between Darla and the gypsy. Darla is trying to convince the man to take Angel's soul away in exchange of the safety of his family. Angel is relieved to see that the gypsy considers.
Suddenly Spike steps out of a wagon after feeding off the gypsy's family and burps. Angel looks down.
He just lost his chance and he's condemned to live with a soul.
He sees Darla snapping the gypsy's neck as he falls to the ground.
Drusilla: "They cry out for mercy. They cry out for mercy."
Darla glances at the forest and sees Angel standing there, watching her.
Darla: "Show none."
They look at each other for a while. Then Darla steps back to join Dru and Spike.
Darla: "Come on, kids. Let's get out of here."
Angel watches them go. He wants to scream but no voice comes out of his mouth.
Angel voiceover: "Condemned to spend Eternity all alone. No one to ease your suffering and walk by your side. An infinite life of despair... "
He stares at them, in pain, and closes his eyes.


-SCENE 5-

Hyperion Hotel.
Faith is sitting in the garden with Wesley.
Faith: "Then the girl sort of jumped on me. So I kicked her ass and dropped her to the floor."
Wesley nods. He looks distant.
Faith: "Well, she was a major bitch."
Wes is still not responsive. Faith looks down. Awkward silence.
Faith: "I owe you a lot, Wesley."
He stares at her, silently.
Faith: "I'm sure you thought that being a Watcher was gonna be this great job where you got to feel important and be respected. You know, share your wisdom and stuff...But I made it hard on you."
Wesley doesn't say a word.
Faith: "I know I was probably the worst Slayer ever...you know, the kind that kills and hurts the wrong folks...But I've changed. I mean, I want to. I know I screwed up. And the fact that you came to save me from prisonland means a lot to me."
Wesley looks aside. Faith feels very uncomfortable.
Faith: "And I know I hurt you..."
Wesley: "I feel responsible for what happened to you. I feel like I failed you..."
Faith: "No way! *I'm* the big disappointment here...I did horrible things to everybody."
Wesley breathes deeply.
Faith: "Damn it, I almost killed you...How can you still look at me?"
He puts his hands on hers.
Wesley: "A lot happened, indeed...but I still think that you are not a bad person, Faith."
She puts her hands on her face trying to hide her tears.
Wesley comes to hug her. She puts her head on his shoulder.
Wesley: "We could start over."
She nods slightly.
Faith: "Yeah."
They shake hands.
Wesley: "Wesley Windom-Price."
She grins.
Faith: "Faith."
Wesley smiles and gets up to leave. Just before he disappears behind the door…
Faith: "Wesley?"
He turns to face her.
Faith: "Does that mean that you agree to be my Watcher again?"
Wesley considers a moment.
Wesley: "It would be an honor."
Faith nods. Wesley walks out.


Cut to a very nice apartment. Night.
Drusilla and Spike are at the balcony.
Spike: "So you're making Angel's life a living hell...that sounds fun."
Drusilla: "It is. I like playing with him."
Spike: "Where is Darla?"
Drusilla: "Little soldier went on a mission."
Spike: "And she left you here all alone, princess?"
Drusilla: "I found myself a new toy."
Dru giggles.
Drusilla: "She's all evil on the inside...loved her since the first time we met."
Spike: "New companion?"
Drusilla considers.
Drusilla: "Not yet..." Dru walks slowly to the window.
Drusilla: "She's as dark and bad as your princess. She's got the brain...A lawyer she is."
Spike: "So it's a girl." Spike laughs a bit and approaches Dru. She licks his neck.
Drusilla: "Did you come to stay with me, my William?"
Spike: "I don't know, my love."
Lilah appears at the door and finds Drusilla and Spike at the balcony. They are snuggling.
Dru kisses Spike's neck and as she looks aside she sees Lilah. She smiles to her, evilly.
Drusilla (to Spike): "I'll be right back."
Lilah and Spike stare at each other as Dru follows Lilah to the living room.
Lilah whispers to her.
Lilah: "They got the talisman. They took it from the monk just like you said."
Dru nods, satisfied.
Drusilla: "There's going to be a big battle."
Lilah nods.
Lilah: "The Senior Partners seem to think that Lindsey's got something to do with the battle. Apparently, he has joined forces with Angel."
Drusilla: "Angelus can't win without the talisman. It's sacred...it's powerful."
Lilah: "I know."
Spike approaches the room as he is listening to the conversation.
Lilah: "They hid the talisman in the vault, guarded by two Klogen demons. No one gets in or out."
Dru: "Good. They'll die soon...Hell will eat them up. All of them... and the Slayer..."
Dru laughs.
Spike looks at them, frustrated and upset.
Lilah glances at the balcony without noticing that Spike is not there anymore.
Lilah: "Who is the guy?"
Drusilla: "It's my William."
Lilah: "Can we trust him?"
Drusilla nods her head from side to side and stares at her.
Drusilla (whispers): "No. Can't trust a fool in love."
Camera pans on the deserted balcony.



-SCENE 6-

Angel and Lindsey are sitting in Angel's office with Wesley and Cordelia.
Cordy: "Are you sure it's Wolfram and Hart?"
Angel: "I'm pretty sure. They tried to kill the seer's kids the last time. They didn't want us to get the talisman."
Gunn: "At least we know who we're dealing with."
Angel: "Yeah, but it still doesn't help us much. They could've put it anywhere."
Lindsey: "I would say the vault...but it would be guarded."
Spike: "Two Klogen demons."
Spike enters the office. The four of them look at him, startled.
Angel: "Spike?"
Spike: "The lawyer chick said that it was powerful."
Angel (upset): "What are you doing here?"
Lindsey recognizes him from the bar.
Spike nods slightly to Lindsey.
Spike: "Oh, come on. Give me a break. I came here to tell you that Buffy's in trouble."
Angel: "What's going on?"
Spike: "Darla paid a little visit to Sunnydale. Well, actually she went to see Glory. I saw them making a pact. Darla told her that Dru and her wanted to have a part in the battle. They are joining forces with the hellgods."
Angel: "Just great... How's Buffy doing?"
Spike: "She totally lost it. Too much on her mind now with the Wicca chick being brain-sucked, her mom dying and having to hide Dawnster away from the bitchy goddess..."
Angel: "Dawnster?"
Spike: "You know...the brat. The point is, things look bad, and I thought to myself: This sounds like a big mess coming on. Maybe I should go get Soul Boy to tag along."
Angel stares at him.
Spike: "Well, you see it's pretty serious. So if you don't mind, we should move quickly."
Angel: "Maybe that's the fight the monk was talking about."
Angel turns to Wesley who leaves the room to go and get the monk.
Angel: "Spike, did Buffy ever talk about a talisman?"
Spike: "Nope. But Dru knew that it's got to do with the Slayer."
Angel grins.
Angel: "We have to get inside Wolfram and Hart."
Wesley comes back with the monk.
The monk sees Lindsey and goes to him, speaking in his foreign language.
Lindsey seems to understand every word.
All the others look at them. Wesley translates to the gang.
Wesley: "He's talking about the war that the hellgods won...chaos and destruction...children dying of insanity."
The monk draws a symbol on Lindsey's hand. Lindsey asks him something.
Angel: "What he is saying?"
Wesley: "Lindsey asked about the symbol. He answered him that he was the guardian of the talisman..."
Lindsey stares at the monk almost as if he were possessed.
Finally, after the monk finishes speaking, Lindsey turns to face Angel.
Lindsey: "If we don't have it for the battle...we'll all die."
Everybody looks at Lindsey fearfully.
Wesley: "How do we get inside Wolfram and Hart?"
Angel: "By the front door."
Angel and Lindsey exchange a look. Lindsey nods.
Cordy: "Well, what about the demons?"
Wesley: "Klogen demons, Angel. You know what it means."
Wesley goes to pick up a book in his library and shows a picture to the others. It's a big demon that looks a lot like a dragon.
Cordy: "Ugly much?"
Gunn: "And how do we get past two demons like that?"
Angel: "They don't look that big."
Wesley: "Right. Klogen demons have very sensitive eyes. We have to work with that."
Wesley goes to pack a spell book. Faith enters the room.
Faith: "Having a party and I'm not invited?"
Angel: "Faith. You'd better stay."
Faith: "And miss all the fun? No way."
Angel nods and looks at all of them.
Angel: "All right. Let's go."


Cut to Lilah's office at Wolfram and Hart.
Drusilla is standing at the window.
Drusilla: "I love the stars...they dance in the dark."
Lilah is sitting at her desk, staring at her.
Lilah: "How is it to see the future?"
Drusilla: "Beautiful. It's painted in red and black."
Lilah considers.
Lilah: "But what if Angel gets the talisman and stops the battle?"
Drusilla: "No one can stop the battle. It's going to be a bloody one...where lots of people are going to die."
Lilah is a bit anxious.
Lilah: "Angel must be on his way by now."
Dru nods.
Drusilla: "He's already here."
Lilah gets up and goes to the window. She sees Angel and all the gang walking to the building, powerfully armed.




-SCENE 7-



Wolfram and Hart entrance.
Angel enters the building followed by Lindsey, Spike, Gunn, Wesley, Faith and Cordelia.
They look around them. The building seems deserted.
Gunn: "What's going on?"
Lindsey: "I bet they are waiting for us at the vault."
Angel grabs his sword and walks to the stairs.
Angel: "We don't want to keep them waiting, now, do we?"
They all move along and get to the first floor. Still no sign of anybody in the building.
As they arrive to the corridor leading to the vault, they see an entire team of vampires waiting for them. There are at least thirty of them.
Spike: "Great...a surprise party."
Angel: "They shouldn't have."
Drusilla steps out of the mass and faces Angel's gang.
Drusilla: "You're all here."
She sees Spike and nods slightly to him. Lilah joins her.
Lilah: "You were right. He couldn't be trusted."
Drusilla: "Bad William..."
Lindsey turns to Angel.
Lindsey: "We have to separate."
Angel: "Right. Guys, Lindsey, Wes and I are moving to the vault. You have to keep them away."
They all look at the vampires ready for action.
Camera pans on the two groups as Angel approaches them and the fight starts.
Spike grabs two vamps and knocks their heads one against the other.
Lindsey moves forward to the vault with Wesley who is carrying a spell book.
Faith stakes a vamp lying on the floor. Cordy jumps on a vamp's back while Gunn stakes him.
Another one sees Lindsey and Wes and runs their way but Lilah stops him.
Lindsey notices it and looks oddly at a smiling Lilah.
Wesley opens the vault's door as he and Lindsey stares in horror at the two gigantic demons howling at them.
Lindsey (whispering): "Damn you, Lilah."
Wesley turns to look at Angel.
Wesley: "Angel!...The pictures didn't do them justice."
Angel decapitates a vamp and follows Wesley inside the vault. He sees the demons and grins.
Angel: "Oh...right. Well at least we know how to kill them."
Wesley nods and opens the book.
Lindsey glances at the talisman lying in a glass box behind the two demons.
Lindsey: "OK, there it is."
Angel looks at Wesley who's starting the incantation.
Angel: "Now it's you and me, Lindsey."
Lindsey nods as they walk to the demons, swords in hands.

Back to Gunn fighting beside Faith. He punches a vamp, throwing him against another one as Faith launches a very long stake through both vamps' hearts. They turn to dust as the camera pans on Spike looking at Drusilla while an angry vamp is punching him. He falls down. He starts to get up as Cordy gives him a hand to help him up.
Lilah is on the phone with a Senior Partner.
Lilah: "We need backup, sir."
Dru looks at the fight and glances at the vault to see what's happening there.

Cut to the vault.
Lindsey falls to the floor. Angel rushes to him.
Wesley is trying to hurry. He lights a candle and moves it side to side. The smoke changes colors.
It's yellow, than blue, than it turns to red.
Wesley faces Angel.
Wesley: "Now, Angel."
Wesley walks around the demons very carefully while Lindsey and Angel try to get their attention. The smoke becomes heavier until soon it's taking over the entire room.
The demons howl in pain. They are blinded by it.
Angel throws his sword through one of the demon's hearts and watches as it screams and falls, crawling on the ground.
Angel: "Lindsey... the talisman. Go!"
Lindsey makes his way to the glass box and uses his sword to shatter it. It explodes and Lindsey grabs the talisman with his right hand.
He sees that the vamps outside have managed to get in the vault. He takes the talisman and puts it around his neck.
He returns quickly to the fight.

Faith enters the vault and faces Drusilla who is standing close to Cordelia.
She takes a stake and jumps on her. Dru is startled. She didn't see her coming.
Faith: "Say your prayers."
She lifts her stake but suddenly she is grabbed by a very strong hand that pulls her off Dru.
It's Spike. He helps Dru get up.
Faith: "What are you doing?"
Spike: "Not this one."
Faith stares at him, stunned.
Spike leads Dru aside.
Spike: "Not ready to lose you, pet. Get out this way." He shows her a back door.
Dru glances at him, still dazed. They face each other for a few seconds.
Dru: "This is just a fight...Wait till it gets to the war... "
Dru steps back.
Drusilla: "I'll see you then."
She turns away and leaves. Spike watches her disappear, not sure of what she meant.

Angel kills the second demon with Gunn and Faith's help. They all head outside. There are a dozen guards waiting for them.
Angel: "Guys. We have what we want. Let's get out of here."
They hurry down the stairs to get out of the building. Lilah and the guards follow them.
Lindsey watches as the others walk out and run to the cars. The guards are now firing at them.
Angel sees Lindsey and Faith getting out and heading to them. Lindsey glances at Lilah who's leading the guards.
The guards stop firing when they see Lindsey's with them.
Lilah: "Shoot! What are you waiting for?"
Guard: "It's Mister McDonald..."
She stares viciously at Lindsey and hits the guard, taking the gun away from his hand. She points it at Lindsey.
Angel runs to him.
Angel: "Lindsey!"
Lindsey turns and looks at Lilah as she shoots him straight in the heart. She stares at him as he puts his hand on his heart and falls on his knees.
Lindsey looks at her, a bit dazed. Angel rushes to his side.
All the guards watch the scene in shock.
Lindsey and Angel look at each other. Lindsey moves his hand away from his heart, very slowly.
Angel looks at it in disbelief.
Angel: "OK!(laughs) so I'm convinced."
They both turn to look at Lilah, whose face has turned pale.
Lindsey glances at the talisman and smiles. The bullet was stopped by it.
Lilah: "What the hell?!"
Angel helps Lindsey up.
Lindsey (to Lilah): "Maybe next time."
They get in the cars and drive off.
Lilah stares in rage at the cars that disappear into the night.
Her cell phone rings. She lowers her head.



-SCENE 8-


Lindsey's apartment
Lindsey's packing his things in a suitcase. He stares at the empty room, thoughtfully.
Suddenly he hears steps and turns to face the person standing at the door, watching him.
Darla: "I knew I'd find you here."
Lindsey: "Darla?"
Darla: "Did you miss me, Lindsey?"
She comes closer and brings her hand to his face, caressing it.
Lindsey looks at her tenderly. She smiles and puts her head against his shoulder.
He breathes deeply, kisses her forehead and whispers in her ear.
Lindsey: "I know what you're up to, Darla."
She steps back, slowly, still smiling.
Darla: "Then you know that if you follow Angel, you're running to your grave."
Lindsey: "Maybe."
She stares at him, wondering.
Darla: "Aren't you at all afraid to die?"
He doesn't respond. She walks to the window and looks at the summer night.
Darla: "I met death...It's mysterious and dark. It knows no limit...But do you know what's even stronger?"
She turns to face him.
Darla: "Eternity, Lindsey...I tried to offer it to you..."
Lindsey: "It wasn't meant to be."
She leans against the window.
Darla: "You might be protected, my love. But this is a war that none of you is going to survive."
Lindsey closes the suitcase, ready to leave.
Darla comes behind him and puts her arms around his waist.
Darla: "And if you leave, you know what it means...we'll have to fight each other."
Lindsey: "I guess so."
Lindsey is acting very cold, but Darla feels his heart beating very fast.
Darla: "I'm not ready to kill you yet, Lindsey."
Lindsey stares at her arms surrounding him and turns to look at her.
Darla: "Would be such a waste."
She leans closer to him and puts her hand on his heart. Lindsey grabs her and kisses her passionately. She pushes him against the wall as their embrace becomes even more intense.


Cut to the Hyperion Hotel
Spike is sitting in the living room with the gang watching Angel packing all his best weapons.
Faith comes to join them.
Faith: "You're not going alone."
Angel faces her.
Angel: "I won't be alone. Lindsey is coming with me."
Spike lifts his right hand to get noticed. Angel grins.
Angel: "Yeah, and Spike."
Faith looks determined.
Faith: "Angel, you know that I owe that to Buffy."
Angel: "You don't owe anything to anyone."
Faith: "Well, I kind of think I do. End of discussion...I'm coming."
She suddenly turns to look at Wesley with a sorry face.
Faith: "I mean, if that's OK with you, Wes?"
They all stare at Wesley.
Wesley: "I believe she might be useful to you Angel."
Faith smiles. Angel gives up.
Angel: "OK."
Lindsey appears at the door, bag in hand.
Lindsey: "We'd better go."
Spike gets up and heads to the door. Faith waves to all of them.
Wesley (to Faith): "Be careful. Don't do anything stupid..."
Faith: "Been there, done that."
Angel approaches Wes, Gunn and Cordy.
Gunn: "I don't understand why you don't want us with you."
Angel: 'Cause I need to know that you're far away from this mess."
Cordy: "You'll keep us informed, right?"
Angel: "of course."
He takes Cordy in his arms. Wes comes to hold them and Gunn joins the group hug.
Faith watches them, moved, and follows Lindsey outside.
Spike looks at them, annoyed.
Spike: "Oh, come on..."
Angel backs off and grabs his bag.
Angel: "Take care."
They all nod. Spike exits as Angel turns to look at his friends one last time.
Angel voiceover: "Eternity...You walk down a blurred path with no ending, and watch how your dear ones disappear and leave you behind..."
Angel walks to the car and sits at the front beside Lindsey.
Wes, Gunn and Cordy watch and wave to them.
Angel voiceover: "But you can't stop...you have to go on, invaded by the fear of losing it all..."
The gang looks at the car that disappear around the corner.
Cordy breathes deeply.
Cordy (whispering): "I have a bad feeling about this..."
Wes and Gunn look at her.
Fade to black.