Title: State of Mind Part 2
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Description: Angel returns to Sunnydale to warn Buffy of impending danger. When things go awry, he and Xander find themselves having to come to Buffy's rescue by entering her thoughts.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a sense of adventure and some stale cheese puffs. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Buffy and all related characters. It's their playground. I just like to slide!
*******************************************************************************
Xander glanced down the street to see if Angel was still behind him. The vampire was nearly thirty yards behind, making his way toward Joyce Summers' home. Xander turned his attention back to the road. No cars in this Sunnydale, he realized. He figured it was because Buffy didn't have a car. The town itself, however, looked more menacing than usual. He stopped and turned to look back at Angel.
"By the time you hear this, I'll be up the road, so don't bother responding," he said. "Have you noticed how everything looks creepier? This must be the way Buff sees Sunndydale. No wonder she feels trapped here. Thinking that this is all there is for you, would upset anyone. "
When Angel heard the message, he looked up and down the street. He knew Xander was right. Buffy was going to be a sophomore in college, carrying the weight that most Slayers, even the ones who hadn't lived on the Hellmouth, didn't live past the age of twenty-five. He had always wondered what that knowledge did to her inside. He had a feeling he would soon find out.
Xander knocked on the front door and, when no one answered, let himself in. "Buffy? Buffy, are you here?"
"Xander? Is that you?" The voice from the kitchen was a familiar one.
"Yes, Mrs. Summers. Is Buffy around?"
"No, dear. Would you like some cookies?"
Xander felt the strangeness in the air. He followed the voice to the kitchen and found her. Joyce Summers wore an evening gown with an apron tied about her waist. The kitchen was filled with ancient artifacts and food. Lots of food. She was baking. Brownies. Cookies.
Xander was caught up in the glorious smell and suddenly found himself wondering why Buffy and Willow had not come back from the library yet. "Do you mind if I wait here for Buffy and Will?" He asked. "And perhaps partake of a scrumptious brownie, Joyce.. er, uh.... Buffy's mom?"
"Don't eat the brownies," Angel said, half a moment later. "We have to find Buffy. You're buying into the fantasy. Buffy's mom, whatever she appears to be, is not the real thing. Put down the chocolate and let's search the house, before you get us both stuck in here."
Xander snapped back to reality and whispered, "Thanks for the Gene and Roger there, my fine fanged friend." He turned to Joyce and said, "If you don't mind, I'll wait for Buffy in her room."
"I don't think that would be proper at all, dear." Joyce shook her head as she spoke. "But you're welcome to wait in the den."
Xander excused himself and, when he was sure Joyce wasn't following him, he made his way through the house, room by room. He thought it strange that Buffy thought of her mom as the June Cleaver type. Then again, the way he saw Joyce wasn't that normal either. There was no sign of Buffy. He stopped in the hall and waited for Angel to catch up. "Okay, Deadboy. Where next? Her dorm room? Riley's? Willow's home?"
After the 28 second pause, Angel shook his head. "She could be any of those places and we're running out of time. We've gotta think this through. She's gotta be scared, disoriented. She probably knew the truth at first, but she may have already bought into this fantasy. Where would she feel most safe? Is it with the tin soldier?"
"Gee, jealous much?" Xander said with a wink. "I don't think it would be Riley's. He's too new to her world. Where would she go to feel safe? What would be her home away from home?"
"The Bronze?"
"No... Wait. I'm having a thought here. Oh, yeah. Good thought, too. The library."
"The library was destroyed."
"But maybe not here. Maybe she's been hanging on to the place. You know... Her own private..."
"Idaho?"
"Security blanket."
"Sounds likely. Let's go."
Giles, Tara and Willow continued with the spell, but they were tiring quickly. Xander had been in for nearly an hour. They would not last another. On the couch, Acricon screamed through Buffy's mouth. "You'll never find her," it said. "This form is mine now and forever." To their credit, the spellcasters paid the spirit no mind. Instead they redoubled their efforts hoping to buy Xander and Angel some more time.
Across the room, Angel's and Xander's bodies stood perfectly still. Still joined at the hands, they did not so much as sway. They were empty shells... devoid of heart and soul, except... something stirred inside Angel. His eyes opened slowly and gazed about the room. A grin crawled across his lips. He was free.
Sunnydale High had always been a bit different, but what Xander saw when he arrived at the campus was the pinnacle of strange. All around it, Sunndydale itself was dark and foreboding. Over the school, however, the sun was shining. No longer a charred ruin, it stood there as good as new, brimming with students. He was set to ask Angel a question when the bell rang.
"Crap. I'm gonna be late again." He took off running across the campus. Chemistry was his first class, so he headed for the lab. Cordy had saved him a seat.
"It's about time you showed up." She said with a half-smile.
He apologized just as Angel made his way into the room. "Uh-oh," Xander said. "Anyone mind telling me what Angel's doing walking around in daylight?"
"What are you talking about, feeb?" Cordelia gave him a strange look. "I don't see him anywhere."
"You don't?"
"No. Did you go on a chocolate binge or something, because you're acting a bit... No. I guess, for you, this is normal."
"Nobody sees me but you." Angel said flatly. "We're in Buffy's mindscape. Remember?"
"Mindsca...? Oh, yeah. Whew. That was close." Xander waited for Angel to catch up.
"You're telling me. All I see is blackness and you, and you practically disappeared on me."
"Sorry, man. Let's head to the library."
"Who are you talking to, Harris?" Cordelia demanded. "You're freaking me out. Why I ever..." She stopped herself and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Why I ever wrestle with you in the broom closet is beyond me."
Angel shot Xander a funny look. "Why are you pausing. Did someone say something?"
Xander grinned. "It's just that some things never change. That's all."
The library was perfect. Xander smiled at the sight of it. It was the Scooby Gang's Hall of Justice... their Batcave... their Fortress of Solitude. He had missed it. He also missed the person sitting at a table, flipping through a large dusty tome.
"Oz," he said, trying to remember that it wasn't the real Oz. "Good to see you man."
Oz shot him an odd look. His left eyebrow raised slightly. "Ditto."
"You seen Buffy around?"
"Earlier. Ms. Calendar's class. Wigged. Something up?"
"Just the usual world in peril stuff. Do you think she's still there?"
"Doubt it. She talked to Willow and Giles, then bolted."
"Where to?"
"Your guess. Giles seemed concerned."
"Okay, thanks." Xander turned to walk out, but then stopped and looked back at Oz. "Hey, Oz?"
"Yeah?"
"I hope I see you again."
Oz got that look on his face again. "Sure. We'll do lunch."
Xander stood still outside the door and waited for Angel to catch up.
"You miss him?" Angel said as he came out of the room.
"Yeah. Not maxing out with the guy friends, you know?"
"Buffy told me about him coming back. It's a shame he couldn't stay."
"Everything's changed. That's why this place looks like it does. These were the good old days for Buffy, too."
"So she came to school, talked to Giles and Willow, and went?"
"To your old place."
"You think?"
"I know. Let's get there before she disappears."
Angelus looked at the sheep around him, and his features became distorted and demonic. The Slayer appeared to be possessed, chained up and hurling profanity at the three others. "Interesting," he thought. "Very interesting." He looked at the one across from him. "I wonder what Angel and the boy are up to. Whatever it is, I'm certain I want no part of it."
He jerked his hands free and the link was severed. A shockwave rippled through the room and knocked the spellcasters down. They scrambled to regain their senses. Acricon laughed hysterically from inside Buffy's body. Xander's body lay lifeless on the floor, and Angelus, the dark warrior, was loosed.
Xander was at the entrance to the mansion on Crawford Street where Angel had once lived. Quietly, he made his way down the stairs leading into the courtyard and saw that the door was ajar. Then Angel screamed in agony. It was a blood-curdling scream of epic scale. He turned and saw the vampire writhing in pain. He ran to him, but it was too late. Angel simply blinked out of existence.
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Description: Angel returns to Sunnydale to warn Buffy of impending danger. When things go awry, he and Xander find themselves having to come to Buffy's rescue by entering her thoughts.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a sense of adventure and some stale cheese puffs. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Buffy and all related characters. It's their playground. I just like to slide!
*******************************************************************************
Xander glanced down the street to see if Angel was still behind him. The vampire was nearly thirty yards behind, making his way toward Joyce Summers' home. Xander turned his attention back to the road. No cars in this Sunnydale, he realized. He figured it was because Buffy didn't have a car. The town itself, however, looked more menacing than usual. He stopped and turned to look back at Angel.
"By the time you hear this, I'll be up the road, so don't bother responding," he said. "Have you noticed how everything looks creepier? This must be the way Buff sees Sunndydale. No wonder she feels trapped here. Thinking that this is all there is for you, would upset anyone. "
When Angel heard the message, he looked up and down the street. He knew Xander was right. Buffy was going to be a sophomore in college, carrying the weight that most Slayers, even the ones who hadn't lived on the Hellmouth, didn't live past the age of twenty-five. He had always wondered what that knowledge did to her inside. He had a feeling he would soon find out.
Xander knocked on the front door and, when no one answered, let himself in. "Buffy? Buffy, are you here?"
"Xander? Is that you?" The voice from the kitchen was a familiar one.
"Yes, Mrs. Summers. Is Buffy around?"
"No, dear. Would you like some cookies?"
Xander felt the strangeness in the air. He followed the voice to the kitchen and found her. Joyce Summers wore an evening gown with an apron tied about her waist. The kitchen was filled with ancient artifacts and food. Lots of food. She was baking. Brownies. Cookies.
Xander was caught up in the glorious smell and suddenly found himself wondering why Buffy and Willow had not come back from the library yet. "Do you mind if I wait here for Buffy and Will?" He asked. "And perhaps partake of a scrumptious brownie, Joyce.. er, uh.... Buffy's mom?"
"Don't eat the brownies," Angel said, half a moment later. "We have to find Buffy. You're buying into the fantasy. Buffy's mom, whatever she appears to be, is not the real thing. Put down the chocolate and let's search the house, before you get us both stuck in here."
Xander snapped back to reality and whispered, "Thanks for the Gene and Roger there, my fine fanged friend." He turned to Joyce and said, "If you don't mind, I'll wait for Buffy in her room."
"I don't think that would be proper at all, dear." Joyce shook her head as she spoke. "But you're welcome to wait in the den."
Xander excused himself and, when he was sure Joyce wasn't following him, he made his way through the house, room by room. He thought it strange that Buffy thought of her mom as the June Cleaver type. Then again, the way he saw Joyce wasn't that normal either. There was no sign of Buffy. He stopped in the hall and waited for Angel to catch up. "Okay, Deadboy. Where next? Her dorm room? Riley's? Willow's home?"
After the 28 second pause, Angel shook his head. "She could be any of those places and we're running out of time. We've gotta think this through. She's gotta be scared, disoriented. She probably knew the truth at first, but she may have already bought into this fantasy. Where would she feel most safe? Is it with the tin soldier?"
"Gee, jealous much?" Xander said with a wink. "I don't think it would be Riley's. He's too new to her world. Where would she go to feel safe? What would be her home away from home?"
"The Bronze?"
"No... Wait. I'm having a thought here. Oh, yeah. Good thought, too. The library."
"The library was destroyed."
"But maybe not here. Maybe she's been hanging on to the place. You know... Her own private..."
"Idaho?"
"Security blanket."
"Sounds likely. Let's go."
Giles, Tara and Willow continued with the spell, but they were tiring quickly. Xander had been in for nearly an hour. They would not last another. On the couch, Acricon screamed through Buffy's mouth. "You'll never find her," it said. "This form is mine now and forever." To their credit, the spellcasters paid the spirit no mind. Instead they redoubled their efforts hoping to buy Xander and Angel some more time.
Across the room, Angel's and Xander's bodies stood perfectly still. Still joined at the hands, they did not so much as sway. They were empty shells... devoid of heart and soul, except... something stirred inside Angel. His eyes opened slowly and gazed about the room. A grin crawled across his lips. He was free.
Sunnydale High had always been a bit different, but what Xander saw when he arrived at the campus was the pinnacle of strange. All around it, Sunndydale itself was dark and foreboding. Over the school, however, the sun was shining. No longer a charred ruin, it stood there as good as new, brimming with students. He was set to ask Angel a question when the bell rang.
"Crap. I'm gonna be late again." He took off running across the campus. Chemistry was his first class, so he headed for the lab. Cordy had saved him a seat.
"It's about time you showed up." She said with a half-smile.
He apologized just as Angel made his way into the room. "Uh-oh," Xander said. "Anyone mind telling me what Angel's doing walking around in daylight?"
"What are you talking about, feeb?" Cordelia gave him a strange look. "I don't see him anywhere."
"You don't?"
"No. Did you go on a chocolate binge or something, because you're acting a bit... No. I guess, for you, this is normal."
"Nobody sees me but you." Angel said flatly. "We're in Buffy's mindscape. Remember?"
"Mindsca...? Oh, yeah. Whew. That was close." Xander waited for Angel to catch up.
"You're telling me. All I see is blackness and you, and you practically disappeared on me."
"Sorry, man. Let's head to the library."
"Who are you talking to, Harris?" Cordelia demanded. "You're freaking me out. Why I ever..." She stopped herself and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Why I ever wrestle with you in the broom closet is beyond me."
Angel shot Xander a funny look. "Why are you pausing. Did someone say something?"
Xander grinned. "It's just that some things never change. That's all."
The library was perfect. Xander smiled at the sight of it. It was the Scooby Gang's Hall of Justice... their Batcave... their Fortress of Solitude. He had missed it. He also missed the person sitting at a table, flipping through a large dusty tome.
"Oz," he said, trying to remember that it wasn't the real Oz. "Good to see you man."
Oz shot him an odd look. His left eyebrow raised slightly. "Ditto."
"You seen Buffy around?"
"Earlier. Ms. Calendar's class. Wigged. Something up?"
"Just the usual world in peril stuff. Do you think she's still there?"
"Doubt it. She talked to Willow and Giles, then bolted."
"Where to?"
"Your guess. Giles seemed concerned."
"Okay, thanks." Xander turned to walk out, but then stopped and looked back at Oz. "Hey, Oz?"
"Yeah?"
"I hope I see you again."
Oz got that look on his face again. "Sure. We'll do lunch."
Xander stood still outside the door and waited for Angel to catch up.
"You miss him?" Angel said as he came out of the room.
"Yeah. Not maxing out with the guy friends, you know?"
"Buffy told me about him coming back. It's a shame he couldn't stay."
"Everything's changed. That's why this place looks like it does. These were the good old days for Buffy, too."
"So she came to school, talked to Giles and Willow, and went?"
"To your old place."
"You think?"
"I know. Let's get there before she disappears."
Angelus looked at the sheep around him, and his features became distorted and demonic. The Slayer appeared to be possessed, chained up and hurling profanity at the three others. "Interesting," he thought. "Very interesting." He looked at the one across from him. "I wonder what Angel and the boy are up to. Whatever it is, I'm certain I want no part of it."
He jerked his hands free and the link was severed. A shockwave rippled through the room and knocked the spellcasters down. They scrambled to regain their senses. Acricon laughed hysterically from inside Buffy's body. Xander's body lay lifeless on the floor, and Angelus, the dark warrior, was loosed.
Xander was at the entrance to the mansion on Crawford Street where Angel had once lived. Quietly, he made his way down the stairs leading into the courtyard and saw that the door was ajar. Then Angel screamed in agony. It was a blood-curdling scream of epic scale. He turned and saw the vampire writhing in pain. He ran to him, but it was too late. Angel simply blinked out of existence.