Chapter 10

The group that met at the Sixth Street Bridge was quite different from the group of twenty-four hours earlier. For one thing, it was bigger. So big, in fact, that it had required crowding into two vehicles; Angel's convertible and Buffy's SUV. There was also an undertone of suspicion and distrust, caused by the inclusion of Justine and Spike, and anxiety caused by Cordelia's vision, which weren't present at the previous attempt.

As everybody piled out of the cars, Spike and Buffy kept a firm grip on Dawn, while Groo brought up the rear. Gunn and Fred escorted Justine, making sure she had no chance to contact anybody. And so far, there was no sign of any of Holtz' old crew or any of Wolfram and Hart's commandos, so all was well.

Once again, Angel, Gunn and Groo said their good-byes to their friends and lovers, and prepared for an excursion into the unknown. At the last minute, Angel turned to Spike and called out, "Spike. Would you like to come? We can always use more muscle."

Spike stepped forward eagerly, but then stopped. With real regret in his voice he said, "I'd really love to, mate. New climes, a chance to fight. Sounds fun. But I can't. You have your priority, gettin' your son back, and I wish you luck with that. I really do. But I have my priorities too, and they're right here," he indicated Dawn and Buffy, "And since this may be a one way trip, I have to say no. Sorry."

Angel stared at the other vampire for a moment, thoughtfully, but there was no time for discussion, so he just nodded, and signaled to Dawn to begin.

Dawn held up the paper that Cordelia had given her and read the words aloud in a clear voice, "Lekko Najine Forkahdio!"

They waited. There was no green glow from Dawn and no rending of the sky. She tried again, even louder, but again the sky remained indifferent.

"Do you feel anything, Dawn?" Buffy asked, "any tingling, or feeling of power? Anything?"

Dawn looked like she was about to cry, but answered, "Nothing." She looked at Angel, "I'm sorry, Angel. I guess I don't have any power left. Or I'm not the key any more." She burst into tears, "I'm so sorry."

Buffy put her arms around her sister, "Dawn. It's not your fault. You tried. Angel, are you sure these words are right?"

"As sure as we are about any of this. They are the words that Sahjhan used when he opened the portal. And this is the place. But don't worry Dawn. Buffy's right, it's not your fault."

"Maybe," Dawn's voice was practically a whisper; "Maybe I could give just a little blood."

"No!" thundered Buffy and Spike. Buffy continued, "I honestly don't think it will help. You don't feel anything here."

"Buffy's right. It was just a futile hope at best."

"Well, isn't this interesting," Sahjhan was suddenly among them, standing on the little rise where he had last opened the portal. He looked at the crowd, and especially at Dawn. "Angel. I have to give you credit for ingenuity. Bringing a key here. Very clever."

Dawn looked at the scarred demon, her voice shaking, "D-do you see me as a k-key?"

"Of course. Green and glowing. Do you have another form?"

"Then why couldn't I open the portal?"

"Because it's not here, of course. Did you all think I would just leave it lying about? Only I can summon it." He muttered to himself, "Not that it does me any good," once again his voice rose, "and I will not. Therefore, once again your efforts are in vain, Angel. I've won. You may go back to your mourning, now!" Sahjhan laughed, and prepared to make his exit.

"Wait a minute." The voice came from Spike, "So that's it? You get us all here and then you just leave? Without even givin' us The Speech?"

Sahjhan stopped waving his arms around and looked at Spike, "What speech?"

Spike laughed contemptuously, "What speech? Bloody hell. Haven't you seen any movies? You've got us all where you want us, right? You've won, We've lost. So this is your cue to give us the big speech, all about how clever you've been and why you did what you did. All the villains do it. I've done it myself. C'mon, you know you want to."

Sahjhan moved closer to the blonde vampire studying him carefully, "I know you, " he said.

"What?" Spike spoke hastily, "No you don't. Not me. Listen, forget what I said about the speech. Off with you, now." He tried to shoo the demon away. But Sahjhan stood his ground.

"You were shorter. No, not shorter. In a wheelchair. And there was a woman too, a vampire, with dark hair and prominent eyes."

"I have no idea who you're talkin' about."

"Drusilla," said Angel in wonder.

Spike rolled his eyes, "Thanks ever so, Angel, I must of forgotten her name!"

"The three of you, together. You summoned Acathla."

"Acathla?" said Spike, "Well, funny about that. Actually, I had nothin' to do with that whole Acathla thing. Didn't support the whole idea at all, innit that right Buffy?"

Sahjhan followed Spike's line of sight to Buffy, "And you. You were there too."

"Oh shit!" said Spike, realizing his mistake. He looked guiltily at Buffy. She rolled her eyes at him, turned and stared defiantly at Sahjhan.

"What has Acathla got to do with any of this?" challenged Angel. "I thought your quarrel was with me."

"Acathla is the gatekeeper, for want of a better word, of the Quortoth."

"Hell," said Angel simply, "I know. I was there."

"Well, you may call it Hell," said Sahjhan, "but to me it was home. The portal that I summoned the other night that was a small thing, capable of swallowing up a few people, a minor township at most, but Acathla…Acathla was capable of swallowing the whole world! And you promised us the world, Angelus."

Spike snorted, "I told you and Dru that summoning Acathla was a big mistake, but did you listen to me?"

"Shut up, Spike," snapped Buffy and Angel together.

Sahjhan turned to Buffy, "You closed the portal with Angel's blood and instead of the world, all we got was one pathetic vampire. With a soul yet. The Rulers of my world were not pleased." He turned to Angel; "They imprisoned you, and sentenced you to eternal torment."

"I really don't remember much about that time," said Angel.

"Apparently not, since you claim to not remember me. I was your jailer."

"Okay, now I'm confused. Shouldn't I have a grudge against you?"

"Let me finish, since your friend here wanted to hear my Big Speech. Do you have any idea what a bore it is to torment somebody eternally? After a few decades, you just run out of ideas. Moreover, you were so pathetic. I started to feel sorry for you, and kind of tapered off the torture after a while. Eventually, we mostly talked. Played the occasional game of Iklat, which is something like chess. We became friends. At least I thought so."

"I honestly don't remember any of this."

"I do. But it seems that you were just biding your time. You had scrounged a piece of metal, I don't know from where and honed it into a weapon. One day over a game of Iklat, you made your move. I fought you, but you gave me this," Shajhjan indicated his scar, "and made your escape. Not knowing our world, you stupidly fled into the fire swamp, the worst place on our not so pleasant world. We all assumed you were dead, since nobody had ever made it out of those swamps alive…or sane. But it didn't matter. I had failed in guarding you. In showing you compassion, I had allowed you to escape. The rulers of my world punished me. They killed my family and exiled me. They robbed me of my corporeal form so that I could no longer be a part of my world, or any other. I was forced to wander through time and space for centuries."

"Three years," this was from Buffy.

"Excuse me?"

"I hate to poop your self-pity party here, but it's only been three years or so. Since all this happened. Hardly centuries."

"Oh. Well, it seems like centuries when you go back and forth in time like I do. It's very confusing. At any rate, the first thing I discovered was that Angel wasn't dead, but had been brought back to Earth, by some means or other."

Buffy and Angel looked at each other, "The First Evil? The Powers that Be?" suggested Angel.

Buffy shrugged, "One of them. We're not too sure."

"Well, I watched you, and plotted my revenge. I wanted to destroy you. But like you, I bided my time. I waited for you to be happy. Long wait as it turns out. Talk about seeming like centuries…but finally you had Connor. And you were happy. So I plotted and planned, which thanks to you is all I can do. I brought back Holtz to kill you before you even got to see your son, but he failed me. So I went back a few centuries and had an associate create a prophecy that you would kill your son, and had it fall into your friend Wesley's hands. I even contrived for a wizard friend of his to verify it. Oh that was quite a scene. Sorry you missed it. The final confirmation of the prophecy with the earthquake and all, that was just a matter of knowing the future. You know the rest."

"So, you were the one behind Wesley's actions. A regular puppet master. But how do you get people to work for you? What can you possible offer them?"

"Winning horses, Stock market tips, lottery numbers, depending on the century. Moving through time has its rewards, you know."

"Look, Sahjhan. I appreciate you telling me all this. I really wish I remembered what happened to me in your dimension, but my experience in the swamps must have wiped my mind of it. I know that I was in pretty bad shape when Buffy found me, and I had no desire to remember. I'm more sorry than I can say to have repaid your kindness that way, but I must have been desperate to escape. And I had no idea what would happen to your family or you. Can't you see my side of it?"

"Believe it or not, I actually can. But the fact remains, that I am still like this," Sahjhan passed his hand through Angel's face. "If I could regain my form, I could return to the Quortoth and plead my case again before my Rulers. New ones have come into power; perhaps I would have a chance at forgiveness. But I cannot, and therefore you must continue to suffer. And so I must bid you adieu."

"Wait a minute," the small voice belonged to Dawn. "You're the only one here who can see me as a key." Dawn walked over to the demon; "I feel power when I am near you. I wonder if I can touch you. "

She reached out her hand towards the scarred demon and placed it on his shoulder. A green glow suddenly enveloped her and Sahjhan. Buffy and Spike moved forward to pull her away, but she waved them back. A shudder passed through the demon, and the glow dissipated. Dawn took his hand, now as solid as her own.

Sahjhan stared at her in wonder, "You did it. You restored me to my original form. Oh and look at you, you're a young girl. Thank you, my dear."

Angel stepped up. "You can go home now, and plead your case. Can't you help us?"

"You sure you don't remember me? That really hurts."

"I'm sorry, Sahjhan. I'm sure that I enjoyed those Iklat games. Maybe you could come back and play chess with me now and then. I play with Fred, but she beats me too often."

"Speakin' of chess, " Fred came forward, "if you can see the future, did you see this? Dawn comin' here and all? Was this all part of your plan?"

"Well, I haven't seen all of the future. Only selected bits. You have to know where to look, but yes, I confess, I did see this." He winked at Dawn. "Lekko Najine Forkahdio!"

The skies opened up and the flaming portal filled the moonlit sky. Sahjhan gave then all an ironic salute and leaped into the opening. As suddenly as it had opened, the portal closed with a kind of swooping sound, and the sky was empty once again.

Angel and the others stood there in shock. "That bastard! He left us! Dawn, quick, before he moves the portal again!"

Unfortunately, Dawn had dropped the piece of paper with the incantation on it. As she fumbled on the ground, looking for it, the skies opened up again. Everybody looked in amazement as two people fell onto the street in a ball of fire. The skies closed again and Angel and the others ran to help them. Spike whipped off his duster and used it to help smother the flames. There was an old man, badly burned, and a boy about sixteen years old. He didn't look too badly hurt, though most of his ragged clothing had been burned away. He had apparently tried to smother the old man's flames with his body. Cordelia felt the man's pulse, but it was too late for him. He was dead.

"These are the people from my vision. They appear to be human," said Cordelia, examining the old man's body. The boy stood up shivering from shock.

"Can you speak English?" asked Buffy of the shivering boy as Gunn gave him a jacket to put on.

"English. Yes. My father… spoke to me in English. We were running…away. We were forced into the fire swamp. The demons there burn. My Father tried to...protect me. But the demon…"The boy began to sob.

"I'm sorry, but your father is dead," said Cordelia gently, "But you can come home with us, and we will take care of you. Have you any other family? A mother?"

"No. It was only my father. We were…different from the others. Sometimes they…tolerated us, but other times they…tried to kill us." He looked around, "What...uh, where am I? This place is different."

"We will explain all of that later, after we get you back to the hotel, and get you cleaned up and fed. What is your name?" Cordelia asked him kindly.

"Connor. Connor Holtz."

A loud cry startled them as the realization sunk in. Justine, who had been watching with the others, suddenly ran up to the body of the old man, and crouched over his body, sobbing. "Holtz. Oh Holtz, why did you leave me?"

Angel joined her and they examined the old man together. Holtz hadn't been a young man when he had taken Connor into Quortoth, and the years he had spent there in the last forty-eight hours had not been easy ones. Not much was left of their foe and friend. Angel patted Justine on the shoulder and stood up, leaving her with the remains of the man who had been her watcher, for lack of a better word, and went to see Connor, his son.

Angel was amazed looking at Connor. He would be a fine boy when cleaned up. All those years in a hostile environment had made him strong and muscular. His scraggly hair hung in his face, but he appeared to be a good looking kid under all that filth, not surprising with Darla for a mother. It was all a bit overwhelming. How could he possible explain this? Best not to try, at least for the time being.

Buffy gave Dawn a big hug, "Dawn you did it! Do you understand? You brought Angel's son back to him!"

"That's Connor? I thought Connor was a baby."

"He was. But time passed differently in that other place. Remember when Angel went to Hell, that demon said he was there for decades, but for us it was just a few months."

"I don't understand."

"Me neither, really. But you did it."

"Good job, Bit," said Spike. "See, being a non-human glowy type thing isn't all bad."

There seemed to be no good reason to continue to hang around the Sixth Street Bridge any longer. Gunn used his cel phone to call for an ambulance for Holtz and Justine elected to wait with the body. She and Angel seemed to have come to an understanding in those few minutes over Holtz' burned corpse. Angel didn't think she would be trying to harm him or Connor again.

Connor was terribly confused and disoriented, but Cordelia and Angel did everything they could to ease him into the convertible and get him back to the hotel without shocking him too much.

Once there, Cordelia ushered Connor into the lobby, where Lorne was waiting anxiously. He was astounded by the developments, as were they all. It would take some time to sink in. Angel finally found a chance to thank Dawn. He gave her a big hug, and Cordelia promised her a celebratory feast. "We'll order anything you like."

But Dawn was mostly fascinated by Connor. She stared at him, watching him eat some soup that Cordelia had rustled up for him. She caught Angel looking at the bassinet in the corner. She was kind of sorry that she had never gotten to meet the baby Connor. But this one was pretty cool, too. She wished she could be around to help him learn about his new family. But no, tomorrow she had to go back to Sunnyhell, as Spike sometimes called it.

"Oh my goodness, "cried Lorne suddenly, "Buffy, you had a phone call while you were gone. I completely forgot in all the excitement."

"Who was it?" asked Buffy with a sinking feeling.

"Somebody named Zander. He said it was important."

"Thank you. Where is a phone I can use?" She disappeared into Wesley's office.

Spike walked over to Dawn, "What do you bet we have to head back?"

Sure enough, a few minutes later Buffy came out, her face grim. "Sorry, everybody, but we have to get back tonight." She looked at Spike; "According to Xander, Warren and his pals have resurfaced. We can't wait until tomorrow night to go back. Sorry Dawn."

"Great, " said Dawn sarcastically "Now we can even be home in time for school tomorrow."

Buffy smiled, "Well, we already sent in the note, so you might as well stay home."

Dawn lit up, "Cool."

The good-byes were brief. Cordelia and Buffy promised to keep in touch, and Cordelia invited Dawn to come and stay at the hotel some weekend, soon. "Connor is going to have to get to know some people his own age, when he feels a little better."

Angle hugged Buffy, "I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to catch up. You look much better then you did the last time I saw you. And I really like your haircut. That Dawn is a great kid."

Buffy smiled, "Isn't she? Well, we will really keep in touch, this time."

"Uh, so what's the deal with Spike? I'm not sure I trust him, even with that government chip of his."

"It's complicated. But nothing you have to worry about. Really. He's okay. Very protective, as you can see."

"Well, if you say so."

Angel regarded Spike thoughtfully, "Thank you for bringing Dawn and Buffy here, and for getting Sahjhan to talk. I never could. Uh…take care of Buffy for me."

"Well, she won't let me do much, but I do what I can."

"Yeah, I know."

Cordelia came over, "Goodbye Spike"

"Take care, Princess."

The gang from Sunnydale was gone.

"We can use one of those made up rooms for Connor." Cordelia said to Angel after Buffy had gone, and the others were sitting around talking over the events of the evening. "Maybe you'd better take him upstairs and get him cleaned up and put him to bed. He's probably too old for me to do it. Look at him, he's practically falling asleep in his soup."

"I'll take him. But Cordy?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you so much for everything you've done…getting Buffy here, everything. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

"Angel," she leaned over and kissed him, "It was no problem at all."

As Angel helped the exhausted boy up the stairs, he suddenly turned to Cordelia who was clearing off the table, "Cordy?"

She looked up.

"Do you think visiting hours at the hospital are over?"

"It's after midnight, Angel, so yeah, but we'll all go first thing tomorrow. Maybe we can get you in through the tunnels. We'll work out something."

"Thanks."

Angel and his son went up the stairs.

The End