Chapter 8
"What's your real reason for being here Spike? What did you do to that girl?"
"What's the third degree for mate? We're in the same boat. Don't forget you went Angelus on them before." Spike had been expecting sympathy from Angel and was surprised at the hypocritical vampire.
"We were never in the same boat Spike."
"She's her ya know."
"I know." Angel looked away, and Spike could see tears in his eyes.
"So that's it. Can't stand her liking me now, not you."
"You idiot Spike. It was never about that."
"No? That's a surprise. I seem to remember your vicious jealousy over what I had with Dru and then when Darla liked me for a time."
"Don't mess with me boy." Angel growled, on edge.
"Hit a nerve did I Old man?"
"Don't start with me."
"This started a long time ago and you know it. That day with Acathla, you knew that I was falling for her. But Angelus didn't care. But Angel did. You only left because you thought I was gone for good. Admit it. There was always something between us."
"Why am I even arguing with you? Buffy's dead Spike, and you're just tarnishing her memory."
"No mate, I think we need to have this out, here and now."
"No." They both turned their heads. Elizabeth was standing in the doorway. "Look, I don't know much about Buffy, but since I am her, I think I know what she would say to this. And she wouldn't want you to fight each other. She would feel honored that you both love her so much, but now it's time to put the past aside and work together. Isn't that what she did when she fought by your side to stop Angelus and then Glory? She understands needing allies and both of you should too." She crossed her arms, expectant, waiting for the results."
"You loved her as Angelus. That's why you never killed her, can't I love her as Spike?" Spike offered his peace.
"Make sure you never hurt her." It was Angel making peace, conceding. They left the practice room and found Willow jumping around, hyper.
"I got it! The poison! We can do it. We can wipe 'em out. Once we test it in Sunnydale we can get started on the rest of the world." The phone rang as she explained how it would work, and Anya answered the phone.
"That's great that we can wipe out some vampires. Maybe even a lot. But it isn't going to cut it if the key is going to open up the portals again."
"What?" They all asked in unison.
"The knights of Byzantium. They figured out how to extract the energy and destroy it for good. Because we know that killing Dawn may stop it from flowing but the energy is still there. And they are on their way, along with-"
"Isn't that against the laws of physics?" Angel asked.
"I didn't finish. Doc has been spotted in the US, he isn't dead. The Council wanted to warn us that another cycle has started and he might try to do it again. And they also want the poison as soon as you're done Will, seeing as you're the only person who can make it." Anya was unnervingly calm, serving the information.
"No one is going to touch her." Spike growled, immediately taking his old role back.
"Dear Spike." Dawn looked at him, with the wisdom of a grown woman, no longer his Little Bit. "I've lasted this long. I'll be ok."
"This sounds serious. I don't want to take any chances if this is the scenario of Buffy's death." Angel spoke up.
"I agree. History repeats itself." Elizabeth added with a grimace.
"Call Xander." Willow said to Anya. Everyone's faces morphed. They were a unit, a force against darkness. They would win. They always won, sometimes at great costs.
"What's your real reason for being here Spike? What did you do to that girl?"
"What's the third degree for mate? We're in the same boat. Don't forget you went Angelus on them before." Spike had been expecting sympathy from Angel and was surprised at the hypocritical vampire.
"We were never in the same boat Spike."
"She's her ya know."
"I know." Angel looked away, and Spike could see tears in his eyes.
"So that's it. Can't stand her liking me now, not you."
"You idiot Spike. It was never about that."
"No? That's a surprise. I seem to remember your vicious jealousy over what I had with Dru and then when Darla liked me for a time."
"Don't mess with me boy." Angel growled, on edge.
"Hit a nerve did I Old man?"
"Don't start with me."
"This started a long time ago and you know it. That day with Acathla, you knew that I was falling for her. But Angelus didn't care. But Angel did. You only left because you thought I was gone for good. Admit it. There was always something between us."
"Why am I even arguing with you? Buffy's dead Spike, and you're just tarnishing her memory."
"No mate, I think we need to have this out, here and now."
"No." They both turned their heads. Elizabeth was standing in the doorway. "Look, I don't know much about Buffy, but since I am her, I think I know what she would say to this. And she wouldn't want you to fight each other. She would feel honored that you both love her so much, but now it's time to put the past aside and work together. Isn't that what she did when she fought by your side to stop Angelus and then Glory? She understands needing allies and both of you should too." She crossed her arms, expectant, waiting for the results."
"You loved her as Angelus. That's why you never killed her, can't I love her as Spike?" Spike offered his peace.
"Make sure you never hurt her." It was Angel making peace, conceding. They left the practice room and found Willow jumping around, hyper.
"I got it! The poison! We can do it. We can wipe 'em out. Once we test it in Sunnydale we can get started on the rest of the world." The phone rang as she explained how it would work, and Anya answered the phone.
"That's great that we can wipe out some vampires. Maybe even a lot. But it isn't going to cut it if the key is going to open up the portals again."
"What?" They all asked in unison.
"The knights of Byzantium. They figured out how to extract the energy and destroy it for good. Because we know that killing Dawn may stop it from flowing but the energy is still there. And they are on their way, along with-"
"Isn't that against the laws of physics?" Angel asked.
"I didn't finish. Doc has been spotted in the US, he isn't dead. The Council wanted to warn us that another cycle has started and he might try to do it again. And they also want the poison as soon as you're done Will, seeing as you're the only person who can make it." Anya was unnervingly calm, serving the information.
"No one is going to touch her." Spike growled, immediately taking his old role back.
"Dear Spike." Dawn looked at him, with the wisdom of a grown woman, no longer his Little Bit. "I've lasted this long. I'll be ok."
"This sounds serious. I don't want to take any chances if this is the scenario of Buffy's death." Angel spoke up.
"I agree. History repeats itself." Elizabeth added with a grimace.
"Call Xander." Willow said to Anya. Everyone's faces morphed. They were a unit, a force against darkness. They would win. They always won, sometimes at great costs.