Cool Reception

Cool Reception

Angel paused on the sidewalk in front of Redello Drive, he glanced at the tree beneath Buffy's window with a faint smile.  Then he shook his head ruefully and walked up to the front door and knocked.

"Coming!" Willow yelled.  "Angel, thank the goddess.  Dawn and Will are both missing, Buffy's going nuts…"

"What do you need me to do?"  Angel asked.

They both turned to see Xander running up the street.  "Deamora… has house… north edge… Restfield," he panted.

"Get in the car, I'm driving," Angel said including both of them in his glance.

"Tara!" Willow called hurrying down the walk.

"Nice car, the color really suits you," Xander said climbing in the back of the pale pink convertible.

"I'm getting it painted," Angel growled reving the engine.

A moment later Tara spilled out of the door and slamming it behind her raced out to the care and jumped in.

As Angel drove Tara gave him a concerned look.  "You need your arm fixed," she said.  "Before you fight."

"His arm?"  Willow stammered.  "How'd I miss that?"  Leaning over the seat she put her hand on Angel's shoulder and muttered a few words.

Angel shivered at the magic coursing through him.  Willow moved her hand down to the cast, whispered another phrase and it peeled away leaving his arm whole beneath it.

"Buffy'll probably beat us there," Xadner said.  "She killed two of his minions before she got the hang of torturing them.  The third one spilled the beans.  Buffy wouldn't wait for a calvary collection."

Angel nodded and pushed harder on the accelorator.

"That's the place," Xander said pointing to a house half-way down the street with the front door wide open, swinging crookedly on one hinge.

Angel pulled the car to a screeching hault and raced through the door, the other three just a few steps behind him.

Deamora stood at the far end of the dinning area, laughing.  Four of his minions struggled to keep Buffy pinned to the opposite wall as a fifth advanced on her with a knife.

Angel grabbed the knife wielding minions and spun him away from Buffy.  She twisted and kicked free of her surprised captures.

"Just like old times," Angel said as they fell into sync with each other.

"Xander find Dawn and Will," Buffy yelled.

"On it," he replied.

Willow and Tara used their magic to clear a path for Xander through Deamora's minions then turned to help Buffy and Angel; not that they needed it.  Together, the souled vampire and the slayer were cutting a swath through the various creatures allied with the demon lord.

Seeing the tide of the battle turning against him, Deamora began to dematierialize.

"On no you don't!" Willow cried, stretching out her hand toward the demon lord.  A cloud of red sparkles surrounded Deamora and he regained solidity.

"Thanks Wills," Buffy called as Angel offered her his cupped hands.  He catapulted her over Deamora's final line of defense, giving Buffy the chance to confront Deamora before the demon overcame Willow's spell.

Standing confidently before Deamora Buffy stretched up her hand.  Tara made a quick gesture and one of Buffy's swords materialized in the slayer's hand.

Hissing angrily Deamora lifted his own weapon, a long halbarer.

Angel continued working his way through the remaining minions.

Xander and Dawn appeared in the doorway then hurried to join Willow and Tara.

Buffy summersaulted over Deamora's head then stabbed her sword back, under her arm, impaling the Demon Lord before he could turn to defend himself.

"Dawn!" Buffy exclaimed running to embrace her younger sister.  "You're safe, you're safe.  I didn't loose you."

Across the room Angel began walking hesitantly toward the sisters.  As the adrenline faded he looked increasingly bewildered.

Buffy noticed Angel and gave him a quick distracted smile.  "All these years and we're still an unstoppable team," she said.  "Thanks for coming.  Xander did you find Will?"

"He wasn't with me when I was taken," Dawn said.

"Then where the hell is he?" Buffy demanded, worry warring with anger in her voice.

"Did you check his crypt?" Dawn asked irritably.  "He moved back there after you screamed at him."

"What?"  Buffy exclaimed.

"Buffy?" Angel said, uncertainly he reached out to touch her but stopped without completing the gesture.

For the first time Buffy really looked at her first love.  "I'm here Angel," she told him catching his hand between hers.  "I'm real."

Angel sighed as the tension drained out of his body and his face lit up with a warm smile.  "You didn't vanish," he said wonderingly.  "You really are here."