1 Title: The Walking Wounded

2 Author: Spike 'n Cordy

Summary: When Angel's soul becomes permanent but he neglects to tell the group and they hear it from Spike. How will they react?

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Authors notes: I wasn't sure who the PTB should be. Originally it was a unicorn, but that just seemed beyond stupid. So here it is.

Authors notes: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Enjoy and please review.

Timeline: Set after Reunion and Crush.



Chapter Six - Meeting the PTB

Two Months Later

Spike and Cordelia exit the alley, where they just dusted a group of vampires, laughing.

"I.I swear they just keep getting stupider," Cordelia was holding on to the walls for balance.

Spike was doubled over, "We're in hicksville, those guys were stupid even as human."

She was panting trying to catch her breath, "They attacked us with sharp pointed sticks. Vampires attacked us with the most popular weapon used to kill them."

"Well I guess it wasn't that dumb. I mean I'm a vampire," he drawled standing up straight.

"Oh," Cordelia composed herself, "Right, not that dumb."

They fell into step beside each other as they headed to the car. Spike slipped his arm over her shoulder and they walked in comfortable silence. Anyone on the street would have thought they were just a normal urban couple. The lack of denim and excess of leather made them look a little less then local. Unlike the demon leaning against the car that looked a lot less then local.

"Are you Cordelia and Spike?" the blue demon with, what looked like a spiky dog collar or perhaps just spikes around it's neck, asked.

"Who wants to know?" Spike stepped protectively in front of Cordelia.

The demon pushed himself off the hood of the car, "My name is of no importance, the message I was sent to deliver is vital."

"So what's the message then?" Spike was getting into his fighting stance expecting a blow.

"I've been sent by the Powers That Be. They request an audience with the both of you. Here's the address," he handed them a piece of paper, "Parking is a bitch, so I'd try to get their early if I were you. Have a nice day." The demon turned, went to another car, smiled and waved as he drove away.

"He seemed friendly," Cordelia commented and looked at the address.

Spike looked after the car suspiciously, "A little too friendly, if you ask me."

"Well, I didn't. We should try and get there before sunrise."

"I don't trust him."

"We'll go check the place out. The last thing I need is a vision of a pissed of PTB employee. That is bound to be a hell of a lot more painful then my ordinary visions. So let's go. You can worry all the way there." She flashed her hundred-watt smile.

Spike smirked at her, "Just remember you said that. I don't want you to tell me to shut up."

Sliding into the passenger seat she said to him with mock horror, "I would never."

They arrived at the under ground parking structure forty-five minutes before sunrise. The parking attendant, a demon of some sort said, "Please don't forget to validate your ticket."

"What is this place?" Cordelia asked.

"Your messenger didn't tell you?" They shook their heads, "You must have had Earl. Blue guy, looks like he's into S and M?" They nodded, "Yeah, he's a pain in the ass. He thinks he's so important just because he's a messenger. I could be a messenger if I wanted to. It's not."

Cordelia and Spike glanced at each other. Obviously Earl and this guy had issues. Spike interrupted, "That's great guy, but what are we doing here?"

"You are here to meet with the Powers That Be. Find a parking space, be sure to write down where it is. You may be here for a while and forget where your car is. That happened last week, and the Diswa demon went berserk. Have you ever seen a Diswa demon? Scary as all hell when they get angry, that's why I'm glad she's on our side. Any way she was picking up and throwing cars left and right until she found hers. Oh, the mess. We had good witches and wizards working round the clock to clean up that mess. I'm telling you right now, don't say I didn't, write down the parking level and section. If not for your sake, then for everyone who works here. After that take the elevator to the bottom level, someone will direct you from there." He hit a button and the yellow and black arm raised for them to pass.

They gave each other a confused look. They found a parking space on sub level 6 section G. Cordelia wrote the number/letter combination on an old receipt and put it in her purse.

They step onto the elevator and Spike hits the button for the bottom floor. Cordelia reached over and grabbed his hand. He squeezes hers back.

When the doors open they are blinded by the light. Their eyes adjust and they see an attractive Asian woman dressed in a white silk robe. She smiled at them, "Hello, my name is Melina and I will be escorting you for the duration of your stay, however long that may be."

"What do you mean by that? I thought we were just coming for a meet and greet and would be on our way soon." Spike questioned their hostess.

"That is entirely possible sir. The last group I accompanied were here for three hours. But I've also had a group for almost twenty years. It depends on what the Powers need of you."

"Great this is all we need. Me growing old below a parking garage," Cordelia tightened her grip on Spike.

Melina started to walk away from them, but called over her shoulder, "This way please."

They reluctantly followed her down the hallway. The demons that they passed smiled and gave them friendly greetings.

"This is beyond weird," Cordelia whispered through her teeth as she smiled and nodded at a red snake-like creature.

Spike's arm was wrapped protectively around Cordelia's waste, "You're telling me. I think we're in the twilight zone."

"Here we go," Melina stopped before a set of gold double doors. "If you have a seat they will be with you shortly."

They did as they were told. "I will leave you now. When you are done I will show you where to go. Good luck."

They sat in silence for five minutes, Cordelia's grip on Spike's hands continued to get tighter the longer they waited. He could smell the fear coming off her in waves.

"Hey luv, calm down. It's not going to be that bad."

"This place is full of demons, how do we know if they're good or evil. They could be sacrificing us to their god or something. And here we are just sitting on our asses about to die." She drew in a shaky breath.

"Cordelia, look at me," she made eye contact, "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. They'll have to kill me first."

"That's what they're going to do. They're going to kill you then me. Were both going to die," her voice had raised a few octal levels with her panic.

Spike was still trying to calm her down when the doors opened letting out a cloud of smoke and a small scary looking demon. They reminded Cordelia of the monsters she had under her bed growing up.

"They are ready to see you now," his deep voice surprised both of them.

They exchanged one last nervous look then rose and walked through the door.

Cordelia and Spike only took a few steps into the room and stopped. The doors behind them closed with what seemed like a defining click. Their grip on each other tightened.

"Come closer," the voice came from behind a boulder. They slowly stepped forward. The voice came again, "I'm not going to bite you. But I'm not sure you can say the same."

"Show yourself, and then we'll decide how close we want to be," Spike bargained.

Slowly the green creature stepped forward, "Not what you were expecting?" it asked.

"What the hell." Cordelia gawked, "The Host. What are you doing here?"

"I'm the Powers That Be. I just give out fortunes for fun. That and I love music." The Host countered. "Sweetheart you guys can call me Lorne. Why are we here again? Oh yes, we are here to talk about why you abandoned your warrior, Miss. Chase."

"Me? What did I do?"

"You are the seer for the vampire with a soul. You have not been helping him on his mission for months now. Why is that?"

"I didn't do anything, Angel severed our connection I merely kept it that way," She said getting defensive.

Lorne pondered this, "So the vampire with a soul does not wish for redemption?"

"No, he just had a dark period, and hurt my feeling so I didn't go back."

"So you let the people in your visions suffer because your feelings were hurt?"

"No. Myself and others have fought the things in my visions."

"Spike is one of these people?"

"Yes," they said together.

"So he is now your warrior?"

Together again, "Yes."

"So he should become the vampire with a soul."

"Hell no!" they both shouted.

"You do not wish to have a soul?"

"Bloody hell, no. I don't want to be the poof," Spike was out raged at the suggestion.

"What Spike means is that it took Angel a hundred years to start trying to redeem himself. And there's no way I can wait that long."

"I beg to differ but continue," Lorne interrupted.

"What do you mean, 'you beg to differ'?" Cordelia questioned.

"You destiny is to be with the vampire with a soul. If you don't want Spike to have the soul then your going to be with Angel."

"Huh?"

"As long as Angel is a vampire, you will be invincible. You will never age or die. But if Angel dies or reaches his redemption and becomes human, so do you."

"Oh. So I'll be alive to have the visions for as long as he needs them."

Nonchalantly Lorne says, "Exactly. That and together you will create a child who will be the last slayer."

"What!" is yelled in unison.

"The last slayer. It is quite an honor that has been bestowed upon you. Of course if anyone knows of this prophecy your life will be in constant danger," he looks up and smiles at them, "But isn't it always in this line of work?"

"Wait if she gives birth to the last slayer does that mean I'll die," Spike looked at Cordelia concerned.

"Every vampire in the world, will die including you."

"Maybe I should get the soul," Spike suggested.

Cordelia snorted, "And be all 'Nancy Boy'. Spike you'd still die even with the soul. You'd just die human."

"Man this sucks. Do you know what it's like to find out that one day you're going to die?"

"I've been dying since the day I way born. I just found out I might live longer then I expected or possibly die tomorrow because I might eventually have a child that will kill all the vampires of the world," Cordelia was hyperventilating.

"Sweetheart are you okay," Lorne started rubbing Cordelia's back. "Oh, I always do that. I give out too much vital information and someone starts vomiting or choking." He made a sweeping motion with his arm, "Forget."

Cordelia stood up confused. "So I'm never going to die. Spike, you and I are going to fight evil together forever."

Spike shook the fogginess out of his head. "Sounds cool, luv. When can we start?"

Lorne looked a little worried. Thinking he should give them more information to keep them safe, but if he gave them more he'd be right back where he started. He'd send them more information via visions later. "I'd really like to train you guys a little more before you go back to earth. Teach defense, weapons and how to fight even with a sword through your stomach."

"Sound like fun," Spike said sarcastically. "But I've been alive for over one hundred years I can take care of myself."

"Yes you can, but can you take care of both of you. Training Cordelia will increase your chances of survival." He noticed their hesitation, "You both will live for an eternity, and one year in this dimension is one month on Earth. You won't be gone long. Plus, no visions."

Cordelia was sold, Spike still a little upset that his competence was questioned agreed also.

Lorne walks them out of the room to find Melina waiting for them.

"They're going to be staying with us for a while Melina, so please find them a couple of rooms. Bye dears." He retreated back to his room.

"So, Melanie," Spike turned the accent on stronger, causing Cordelia to roll her eyes.

"Melina," she corrected as she led them back down a hallway.

"Melina. Since we're going to be here awhile, how about you and I hook up."

"I am not aloud to date the help," she stated.

Spike was outraged, "I am not the help. I am a warrior for the Powers That Be. I'm the genuine article luv, you don't want to pass me up."

Melina faced him then pointed to a demon walking behind him, "Warrior, warrior, warrior." She continued to point at other demons around him. "In this place you are not so rare, you should save your lines until you get back to your world. This is your room."

"I'll ware you down pet, you can count on it," Spike stepped into his room and closed the door.

"Is he always so-"

"Egotistical?" Melina nodded, "Oh yeah. He's a pain in the ass, but you gotta love him. This my room?" Cordelia pointed to the door next to Spike's, Melina nodded again, "Thanks." Cordelia closed the door.