Part 20
Stepping
into Darkness
Part 20
~~~~~*****~~~~~
There was a stunned silence as the
blue light suddenly disappeared. All remaining vampires fled as
Willow and Amy fell to the floor, exhausted, and the others
surrounded them. Fliq and Buffy stood at a distance, both staring
at the crumpled forms in front of them. Angel stirred, but Buffy's
eyes were fixated on Riley's unmoving form as Fliq and Cordelia
ran to Wesley's aid. After unchaining him and pulling him to his
feet, Giles moved to help them, freeing Cordelia to move to Angel.
Angel groaned and sat up, rubbing
his eyes. He looked up at Cordelia who was helping him sit and
started to speak but she motioned him to look at Buffy. He turned
and saw her eyes fixated on the floor next to him. He turned and
looked at what he knew would be there.
"Buffy..."
"Don't," Buffy looked at
him. "Just don't say anything."
~~~~~*****~~~~~
The group had congregated back at
Giles' apartment. They sat in an uncomfortable silence, no one
willing to speak.
"So, do stakes kill you?"
Buffy asked Fliq, breaking the silence. "I mean, what's the
deal?"
Fliq sighed, "I have all the
strengths of a vampire and only some of the weaknesses. I need
blood to survive, I have no reflection, an aversion to crosses
and holy water stings like hell, sunlight burns me to a crisp,
always has, only now I think I'd end up a pile of dust. I don't
have a heartbeat and as for stakes, I don't know, but that's not
something I particularly want to find out."
Buffy cleared her throat, already
knowing the answer, she continued, needing the conversation,
"But when I was in your body, I had a reflection. I wasn't
in the position to see about anything else, thank God, but I'm
sure I would remember not having a reflection."
"The mirror reflected you
because you were inside, I had no idea what you looked
like until we switched back. The only reason I knew I wasn't in
my body is because there was no demon fighting me out."
"So that's what I was feeling
pushing me out?"
"Yes." Silence engulfed
the room again.
"So, everything's all right now,
is that it?" Xander shouted, standing up. "He gets his
soul back and we're just supposed to forgive and forget? Well, I
don't think so. It could happen again and you're just going to
let him leave."
"Xander..."
"No, Amy, you don't understand!
It's not..."
"Shut up!" Everyone turned
to Willow, surprised at her tone of voice. "You're not the
only one who lost someone they loved!" She took a deep
breath and continued, "Everyone has their demons Xander,
Angel's just happens to exist apart from him. It's not his fault,
Angel would never have killed Anya." Xander wouldn't meet
her eyes. "Xander, everyone's hurting, but don't take it out
on Angel, he couldn't do anything to stop it."
Xander looked at Angel but said
nothing further. He turned and walked to the kitchen. Willow
sighed and turned to Angel, "It'll take time." Angel
nodded.
"Well, although Angelus may be
gone, I don't think we've seen the last of Willow's Vampire
double and Tara," Giles sighed.
"I hate to say so, but I think
Giles is right."
"Why, thank you Wesley,"
Giles said, turning to look at the other ex-Watcher, before
sighing. "I think that without a doubt they will resurface."
He looked again at the ex-watcher who, after a quick visit to the
hospital, had insisted he be released. He couldn't help but feel
a twinge of nausea as he recalled his own torture by Angelus, and
it looked like Wesley had received far more than Giles ever had.
"She'll want to regroup first,"
Angel said as everyone turned to him, "She'll need some
minions, she likes other people to do the rough stuff for her,
she'll only do that if she has to. Besides, she doesn't like to
work alone."
Another uncomfortable silence filled
the air until Amy, looking confused, asked Spike, "Why are
you still here?"
Spike shifted. "What? I might
have all my evil back but I don't think running out to play demon
torch is first on my agenda." he replied, motioning to the
sunlight that was peeking through a crack in the curtains.
"Oh."
Giles glanced around the room and,
sighing, he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"It's going to be a long day," he muttered.
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Buffy stood at the door, watching as
Angel began to pound the wall, the moonlight dancing off his
white skin. She walked out and grabbed his fists before he could
hit it again. "You might break the wall," she said
simply. Angel looked into her eyes and she quickly averted her
gaze. He sat down on the step in silence and closed his eyes.
"You know what I realized when
I looked into his eyes. I realized how much I had missed him."
He felt her sit down opposite him, "I missed being with
someone, but I also realized that although I cared for him so
much that it hurt, I never loved him like I loved you. And I
allowed him to waste his life with me..."
Angel turned to her, resisting the
urge to grab her arms as she began to cry, "Don't say that,
Buffy. I didn't like him, but I know that he loved you. I could
see that the first time I saw him. And it doesn't matter whether
or not you loved him, you allowed him to love you. And sometimes
that's enough." Buffy looked into his eyes, pulling away
before she allowed herself to be pulled into his arms as she
cried. After a few minutes, she dried her eyes, knowing that she
would have plenty time to cry later.
"Why didn't you tell me it was
real?"
"What?" Angel asked,
confused.
"You becoming human. I had a
dream, but I thought that was all it was. A dream."
"I'm sorry," he sighed.
Buffy frowned, "Couldn't you
have at least told me the part with the ice cream?" Angel
smiled and looked at her when suddenly her face got serious again,
"This isn't over and things aren't alright between
us,"
Angel closed his eyes and pulled his
arms onto his knees, "I know, and I won't try to pretend
otherwise."
"Do you love Cordelia?"
Angel looked up at her wide-eyed and she retreated, "I'm
sorry, I shouldn't pry." There was a moments silence before
she stood, and Angel watched her walk back inside the house,
brushing past Wesley as she did.
Angel watched as the younger man
walked tenderly towards him, not allowing the crutches to slow
him down. Angel wanted to rise and help him, but remained where
he was, waiting for Wesley to sit and talk to him.
"I don't want an apology."
He said hoarsely, his throat still raw from coughing up blood.
"I wouldn't patronize you by
offering one."
"You are not him, Angel."
Wesley started as both men continued to stare straight ahead,
"I watched him and I went througheverything,"
Angel winced, lowering his head, as Wesley continued, "but
not once did I see you in that demon. He might be a part of who
you are, Angel, but remember that he does not rule you."
"I'll try."
"No!" Angel's head shot up
as he stared at Wesley in confusion, "You'd bloody better do
more than try. I did not survive this, I did not stand up to him,
only to have you try."
Angel nodded, "I won't let him
rule me, I promise."
Wesley nodded and stood, starting to
walk towards the door. Half way there he stopped but didn't turn
around, "Things won't be the same, Angel, not for a long
time. Possibly never."
"I know," he replied,
watching Wesley enter the house again, and whispered, "I
know."
Angel sat, staring at the sky as
time passed him by. He had no idea how long he had been sitting
when he heard movement. He didn't open his eyes, but he knew she
was there. He felt her brush his leg as she sat next to him and
after a few moments Angel sighed.
"I'm so sorry, Cordelia,"
he said sadly, "I'd never want to hurt you. Ever."
"I know," she looked
straight ahead as he turned to look at her. "You know what
really hit me when I realized what you were saying?" She
didn't wait for him to answer because she knew he wouldn't.
"I realized that I wanted to hear it. I wanted to be that
close to you, I wanted to hear you call me precious or lover or
gorgeous." He turned to look at her, not knowing what to say.
She turned to him and kissed him
lingeringly on the lips, sending a shiver down his spine. She
pulled back and smiled before standing to leave, "I hope
that equipment still works." She said smirking, "I
never know when I might want to use it." she paused, "You
should come inside," She smiled, reaching out her hand to
help him up. He took her hand, nodded and smiled at her before
following her back into the house.
~~~~~*****~~~~~
"So, where are they?"
Buffy asked as Cordelia and Angel entered the lounge.
"Where are who?" Cordelia
asked, letting go of Angel's hand before sitting next to Xander.
"Fliq, Will and Amy, they're at
the Sanctuary, aren't they? And why are you reading Harry Potter?"
She asked suddenly turning to Giles.
"What? I'm not all demons and
Hellmouths you know."
"No, but apparently you're
wizards and flying cars," Buffy answered. "So are they
at the Sanctuary?" she asked aiming the question at Cordelia.
"Why are you looking at me? I've
been sitting outside with Angel," she replied, ignoring the
look on Buffy's face and turning to Xander, who had spoken very
little since they had returned.
"Yes, they went to the
Sanctuary, and they had plans to get pissed from what I heard,"
Spike said, coming from the kitchen with a mug of blood.
"What're you still doing here?"
"Oh, I like that. I offer you
information and you treat me like that," Spike looked at the
Slayer's raised eyebrows and exhaled unneedingly. "My crypt
got destroyedagain"
"Oh, yeah, sorry about that,"
Angel said, smirking.
Buffy smiled. "Okay, now shoo,"
she said pushing them to the door.
"What are you doing?"
Spike asked, putting down his mug as he and Angel grabbed their
coats.
"You're going to get them, and
I don't care how angry they get, you bring them back," Buffy
nodded decidedly and pushed them out the door not noticing
Cordelia's glare.
Spike growled as he and Angel pulled
on their dusters, "Oh yeah, three drunken, pissed off
Wiccans, this ought to be fun."
~~~~~*****~~~~~
"Spikey, are you all mean now?"
Willow asked as Spike pulled her from the club.
"Yes, pet, I'm all mean that's
why I'm taking you home."
"No, you're taking me home 'cause
Buff...hic...y sent you," Suddenly Willow grinned evilly and
Spike smirked at her resemblance to her Vampire double.
"You know, Red, if you keep
wearing those leather outfits and grinning at me like that, I
might just have to jump you."
Willow's eyebrows flashed up and
down. "Promise?" she asked, grinning again, surprising
the vampire. Suddenly she pulled Spike's head down and kissed him
passionately, pulling away before the vampire could react at all.
She smiled at him and walked away only to be pulled back into
Spike's embrace.
"You don't think you can do
that and leave, now do you, pet?" he whispered, his breath
tickling her face.
Willow smiled, "Angel, Spikey's
being mean."
"Spike, let her go and help me
find Fliq. Amy says she's with Jeff."
Spike, however, simply stared after
the red headed vixen, who was wiggling rather sexily in her
leather pants, "And I'm the evil one."
~~~~~*****~~~~~
"Will, sit down before you fall
down," Buffy chided, steering Willow into a seat next to
Spike. Willow grinned at the vampire next to her and shifted in
her seat, causing her leg to rub against him. Spike growled at
her and she smiled back innocently. Dawn giggled as she watched,
Willow was funny when she was drunk, she was glad that Buffy, in
her own body, had collected her in time to witness iteven
if she had given Mrs. Henderson the shock of her life.
Suddenly Cordelia collapsed in pain
and Angel and Fliq rushed to her side as Wesley cursed his aching
body as he tried to move. Cordelia thrashed about unseeing and
they exchanged worried glances, this had to stop. A few moments
later she took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
"We have to get back to LA.
Gunn and Lindsay are in trouble. Wolfram and Heart."
Angel growled and stood up. "We
have to leave," he said to everyone, but he looked straight
at Buffy, who nodded.
Fliq sighed, "Oh well, it was
fun while it lasted." She stood up, swaying slightly at her
proximity to Dawn and Buffy grabbed her arm to steady her.
"What do you mean? You can't be
leaving." Dawn said standing up suddenly
Fliq looked at the girl and smiled,
"Dawn, I have to leave."
"Why?"
"Because I can't stay here,
there's too much I still need to do."
"But..." Dawn looked at
the girl, feeling tears in her eyes. She had so many questions.
Fliq was the only sane person who could truly see her, and she
needed answers. But Buffy had asked, no begged, her not to ask
any questions, none at all, not till she could explain everything
and Dawn had done as she asked, but was getting impatient. She
wanted to go see Anya, wherever she was, and thank her properly
for bringing her sister back.
"It's not that simple. There
are some things that I just can't tell you yet. And until I can
be completely honest with you, I shouldn't be around you. I won't
put you in danger Dawn."
"Can I come visit?" she
asked, looking at Angel as Cordelia helped Wesley from the couch.
"You're always welcome,
Princess." Angel said softly as Dawn walked over and wrapped
him into a tight hug. It didn't matter what had happened, he was
always Angel. She had seen Angelus before, had been scared by his
presence, but this was Angel.
"Promise?"
"I promise," Angel replied,
hugging her tightly, knowing that this was the only person he
could be close to, the only person that didn't yet know what had
happened. Angel held her for a long time, knowing that the minute
Dawn found out the truth, she wouldn't let him near her.
"Well get out the violins, I
think my heart's breaking. Oomph." Everyone turned to look
at a grinning Willow as Spike clutched his chest.
Buffy frowned, "You sure we
brought back the right one?"
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Everyone watched as Angel's car
drove away, Buffy still clutching Dawn tightly before sighing as
they turned to walk back to the house, knowing that she would
have to give the girl an explanation soon. She gave Xander's hand
a squeeze, knowing that, although his long talk with Cordelia had
helped, there was a long way for both of them to go before they
came to terms with the week's events.
Spike sighed, "Oh well, looks
like I'll need to annoy the poof long distance again."
"Yeah," Xander replied.
"And when you do, ask him who he thinks his love is, 'cause
from where I was standing, there were four people holding on to
him."
Spike allowed the boy to ignore
everything for an ounce of normalcy and smiled, "My money's
on the Watcher. Ouch...you better stop hitting me, Red."
"Why, what're you gonna do,"
Xander asked sarcastically, "talk her to death?"
Spike growled and Buffy sighed and
placed a hand on his shoulder, "You know it's quite common,
it could happen to any guy." Dawn giggled as Spike lunged at
Buffy before he grabbed hold of his head as he nearly collapsed
in pain.
"Spike, leave Buffy alone, it'll
only give you a headache," Willow chided. "Buffy, leave
Spikey alone, you know how frustrated he gets."
"Yeah, I've heard that can be a
cause," Buffy sighed.
"Well, if worst comes to worst,"
Dawn said, "there's always Viagra."
"I am not bloody impotent!"
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Slowly she made her way through the
dingy alleys, the foul stench of the dirty streets following her.
She shivered as the cold wind stung her bare skin and she
listened with dread as the sky threatened rain.
As she turned into another alley,
she felt his presence. She quickly stepped into stealth mode,
which was as natural to her as it was unnatural to others. She
knew he was alone, slowly she turned the corner into the alleyway,
to catch him by surprise...
"That's not gonna work you know."
Fliq grinned, "Just testing
your reflexes."
"I'm more than meets the eye."
"I'll bet," Fliq's smile
faded. "You were right about the blonde witch. But they
suspect something, you have to tell them."
"I know," he sighed,
scratching his forehead.
"They're not stupid, they'll
work it out."
"I know. And I promise I'll
tell them," he gestured.
"Good," Fliq sighed,
" 'cause if you don't, Doyle, I will."
~~~~~*****~~~~~
THE END
AND IT'S OVER!
There is a sequel
planned, cuz I had much fun with some of those characters...guess
which ones! ;) It won't be written for a while as the Heliona and
I are collaborating and she's away sailing all summer! The
prequel is finished and will be uploaded tomorrow.
I LOVE FEEDBACK!!!
You can reach me at fliq@gothgrrl.co.uk or Kyizi@lineone.net or just leave me a nice reveiw!!!! ;)
If there's anything
that didn't make sense AT ALL let me know that too!!!