Chapter Six
Angel and Spike headed back into the club to listen to the rest of the bands, well in theory but Angel noticed that Spike had disappeared into the gaming areas as soon as his back was turned. He figured it didn't really matter. He trusted Lindsey not to run though he couldn't say why. Wesley had gone with the women to get rooms at the first available no-name hotel near the casino. He didn't relish their options though. Curtains in hotels never seemed to close all the way so that left him and Spike sleeping in the tubs or under the beds. He had no desire to find out what was under a hotel bed. That left sleeping again in the RV for him and Spike. At least neither of them breathed so there was no snoring.
Angel spotted Lindsey near the bar. The lawyer hoisted a beer mug at him with a smirk that made Angel doubt for a moment that help was forthcoming. He actually scouted the room for Wolfram and Hart thugs. Spike eventually rolled back in and parked himself at the bar. Angel figured he had either won more or stolen enough to actually buy himself drinks. Lindsey didn't shrink away from the other vampire despite only being two stools away. Angel gave him credit. Then again, it could be Lindsey had no idea of William the Bloody's reputation. The longer Angel watched Lindsey the harder it was to see the lawyer overwhelmed by the cowboy image he was putting forth.
It was nearing one in the morning when the winners of the battle of the bands were announced. Lindsey and Passing the Bar collected their accolades and good for his word, the lawyer made his way over to Angel with Spike trailing him.
"Meet me at the Stumble Inn downtown tomorrow and I'll have the temporary guardianship paperwork ready for you," Lindsey said.
"I'm afraid to ask about this place," Spike muttered ignoring Angel's glare.
"It's a country bar where they ride live bulls on the weekend. We have a gig there," Lindsey offered.
"What are you doing here, Lindsey? Looking for your big break into Nashville?" Angel asked.
"What do you care? I figured you'd be happy enough that I'm out of Wolfram and Hart."
"I really don't care what you do, Lindsey. For once it looks like you aren't doing things that are putting people at risk. I'd probably like you better as a country singer than a lawyer," Angel said.
Lindsey snorted. "I'll pretend that matters. Just meet me tomorrow at the bar. I'll have to get back to you on permanent guardianship."
"Thanks. And Lindsey I do appreciate all your help. This could save Dawn's life," Angel said.
Lindsey nodded. "Just don't think I've forgotten about that sign you hung on my truck." He headed off with the rest of his band.
Spike lit up. "So, Peaches, what did you put on the back of his truck that's got him so ticked?"
Angel smirked. "A sign reading 'cops suck'."
Spike laughed. "Every once in awhile I like your style."
* * *
"Are you sure?" Dawn asked looking at the Stumble Inn.
"This is the place," Wesley said.
"But it's a bar. Can I go in?" Dawn asked.
"It has a restaurant too so probably you can. We can try," Cordelia said.
The whole group went up to the restaurant. Country music rattled through the wooden structure. There was a corral out back that it was beginning to fill with people in the stands. The sweet-spicy scent of barbeque floated on the night air.
"That smell is making me so hungry." Dawn rubbed her belly.
The music is making me nuts." Spike grumbled.
Dawn slapped his arm. "You'll live.sort of. I think I kind of like it."
"Don't make me want to stake myself," Spike shot back.
"I vote we play country music all the way back home," Cordy piped up.
Spike's lips peeled back. "Chase, I ought to-"
"What? Give me a hickey? It's not like you can bite me." She cocked an eyebrow at him and he grumbled.
"Spike." Angel let the threat drop. "Let's get something for the others to eat. We have time before we need to meet Lindsey."
They went in and had to take a seat in the smoking section if they didn't want an hour wait for a table. They forced Spike into a promise he wouldn't smoke at the table. There was little left but rib and chicken bones on the plates when Lindsey found them.
"Got good barbeque here don't they?" he asked, crowding onto the table.
"Yes." Dawn bubbled, sauce still rouging her lips.
"Did you get the paperwork?" Angel asked.
"And good evening to you, too, Mr. One Track Mind," Lindsey said wryly handing over the paperwork. "Just needs your signature."
Angel took the paperwork and looked at Lindsey for several long moments. "Thanks Lindsey. This means a lot."
"In the end it may not change things. There's no way you can go to court to get permanent custody."
Angel nodded. "This is enough for now. It has to be."
"I'd have a fall back plan if I were you," Lindsey replied.
"Fair enough. Lindsey, there's one more thing," Angel said.
The lawyer rolled his eyes. "I knew this was coming."
"It'll afford you the chance to get a little of your own back from your old employers," Wesley said.
Lindsey snorted. "It may come as a surprise but I'm not really in a hurry to irritate Wolfram and Hart."
"This is just a minor irritation. Wolfram and Hart are trying to buy the hotel I'm renting. They can't wait to put me out," Angel said.
"There's nothing illegal about that," Lindsey said.
"Knowing Wolfram and Hart I'm not so sure about that. But what we're hoping for is a way to block them or buy the Hyperion for ourselves," Angel said.
"You have that kind of money?" Lindsey asked.
"I have money," Angel said.
Cordy folded her arms. "We are so talking raises when we get home."
Angel rolled his eyes. "We might be able to work out something with the hotel but it's also a good idea to have a lawyer on our side for this."
"That's a given but I don't see why it should be me. Go look in the yellow pages."
"You know Wolfram and Hart from the inside out. You know ways of hurting them," Angel said.
"You're asking me to paint a very big bulls eye on my forehead."
"You did that when you walked away from them," Angel retorted.
"Could you at least look into it? There may be ways of doing this without directly attacking Wolfram and Hart and that would leave you out of it," Wesley said.
Before Lindsey could answer - and the look on his face gave them little hope - screams echoed from outside. Lindsey got to his feet.
"The bulls," he hissed.
"Bulls?" Spike asked.
"There's live bull riding tonight," Lindsey said, scrambling to his feet, heading for the exit to the corral area. People spilled through desperately trying to get into the building.
Angel followed not really sure he knew how to handle a raging bull. His companions went with him used to following his lead. The bulls, however, weren't the problem.
"What's with the guys in armor?" Lindsey asked, watching several men riding next to the corral on horseback.
"Armor?" Dawn shrank against Spike.
"Angel, those are the knights of Byzantium. They're the ones trying to kill the Key," Spike snapped.
"How do you kill a key? They aren't alive?" Lindsey pointed out.
"I'm the Key," Dawn said softly.
"We can't let those bullies hurt her," Cordy said.
"No worries there," Angel said, taking a few steps in the knights' direction.
"Um, Peaches, these guys are deadly serious and I can't help fight them. They're human," Spike said.
"Might I suggest we run then," Wesley said.
"Way ahead of you." Cordy grabbed Dawn's hand and started back toward the front of the restaurant.
An arrow winged past them. Cordy shrieked and ducked, losing her footing. Spike snatched Dawn away from her and pushed the teen ahead of him. Grunting in pain, Spike nearly went to his knees as two arrows sprouted from his back. Dawn screamed. Spike staggered back up, putting his body between Dawn and the archer again.
"Angel, could you please take care of the wanker with the bow?" Spike snarled then howled again as an arrow slammed into him, the point of it scratching Dawn where she huddled against his chest. "Watch the heart, you bloody idiot!"
Angel snagged balls from the pool table and threw one, taking out one of the knights with the eight ball. He staggered back into another of his companions, both of them falling with a clatter of metal. Another ball struck a knight in the chest plate, denting the armor. He kept coming, swinging his sword. Angel threw another ball and charged in, too close for the knight to use his weapon.
Lindsey yelped as an arrow whizzed by him. "Knowing you damn vampires is going to get me killed," he raged.
"At least they're trying to help," Cordy yelled, sliding under a table seeing the doorway was still blocked with stampeding patrons.
"Angel can handle a half dozen men. Maybe we ought to make sure they don't have an easy way out of here," Wesley said, pointing out the back door to where the knights' abandoned horses were.
Lindsey nodded and raced along the wall away from the sword bearing men and out into the corral. He did a dangerous dance with a nervous gelding before snagging the reins. He called to the local cowboy types who hovered around the corral, some trying to calm the bulls, others too stunned to run. They helped him control the horses and with some less than subtle suggestions from Lindsey, put the horses into the trailers recently vacated by the penned bulls.
One of the knights peeled off from the group, trying to get past Angel and took after Lindsey. With a startled cry, Lindsey dodged the sword swing putting the last horse he had the reins to between him and the swordsman. The horse panicked and kicked the knight straight into the railing. He didn't get back up. Against his better judgment, Lindsey didn't flee. He didn't like the idea of leaving a kid to the mercy of these men. He ran inside where Angel was still facing off with three of the knights. The vampire had on his game face and blood flowed from several wounds.
One of the knights whirled, heading straight for Lindsey. Lindsey grabbed the only weapon at hand, a chair, and used it to block the sword swing resulting in large hunks of wood going flying.
"Why are you trying to kill me? I'm not with these guys!" Lindsey shouted.
"Yes he is. He's our lawyer," Spike called dragging the man's attention to him. "I bet you know what Shakespeare said about what should be done with lawyers."
"What are you trying to do?" Lindsey asked, swinging the remains of the chair like a Louisville Slugger, knocking the man out cold. "Get me killed?"
"No, just distract him long enough for you to do something," Spike said as Cordy scrambled in to do what she and Wesley had been doing, disarming and tying up all the men Angel knocked unconscious.
"That's the last of them," Angel said, still holding onto an unconscious knight.
Spike disengaged himself from Dawn and examined her arm where the arrow had gashed her. "You okay, little bit?"
She nodded her head. "It's shallow. Why are they still after me?" Her voice was brittle.
"Power. It's always about power," Spike said, snapping off the arrow points. "A little help here someone?"
Dawn grimaced and went behind him to try and pull the arrow out feeling it grind against bone and tissue. She stopped, gagging. "I'm sorry."
"Let me," Wesley said, taking over the job.
"These jokers are the reasons you wanted custody of Dawn?" Lindsey asked.
Angel nodded. "Among others."
"Now I see why." Lindsey sagged into a chair.
"Talk to me," Angel said to the man he held, shaking him to try and rouse him. The man's eyes opened. "Why were you trying to kill this young lady?" Angel thrust a hand at Dawn.
"She's the Key," the man said.
"How can you be so sure?" Dawn cried.
"The clerics' magic shared your image with us all. You fools do not know what you've done. This Key must be destroyed before it can be used."
"It's too late," Dawn shrieked, losing all composure as she stomped over to him. "I've been used! The gates opened and my sister died to close them. Do you understand? It's over. Glory is dead and so is my sister. There's no more to this story."
"The beast is dead?" the man said slowly in shock.
"Bloody right. She's dead. Her scabby little helpers are gone and the gateway is closed," Spike said.
"That-that cannot be."
"It can. Glory's gone. Just leave me alone. I'm so tired of running from you. There's no need for me to keep running," Dawn said tiredly. She nearly went to the ground as nerves got the better of her. Cordy raced over to steady her.
"Dead," the man whispered, sinking to his knees as his whole purpose for existing evaporated.
The sounds of multiple police sirens reached everyone's ears.
"Call me crazy but I don't want to be here when the police arrive," Spike said.
"For once we agree," Wesley said.
They abandoned the knights in the restaurant as they hustled for the RV. Angel caught Lindsey as the lawyer tried to part company. He dragged the smaller man kicking and fighting to the RV. Wesley slid into the driver's seat and got the thing moving.
"Why did you bring me here?" Lindsey snapped.
"You can get back to your truck later," Angel said.
"I'm not keen about leaving my truck there with the cops swarming around."
"You were supposed to be there," Cordy reminded him.
Lindsey snorted. "Those guys tried to kill me."
"That's why we felt it was so necessary to get custody of Dawn," Angel said.
"And you got it but I can't think of way for you to get past the court date for permanent custody like I said earlier. You'd be better off having Wesley try for it." He waved a hand at Cordelia. "Or her."
"We'll take it under advisement," Angel said.
"Dawny, you're covered in blood," Cordy squeaked, noticing the girl's condition for the first time.
Dawn looked at her shirt with a grimace. "It's mostly Spike's. I just got a little cut. Are we going back to the hotel or should I shower in the RV?"
"We have no one following us," Wesley said checking the mirrors. "But we probably shouldn't risk staying in town."
"Showering in a closet it is." Dawn sighed.
"And I guess I'll be fine just in case anyone cares," Spike grumbled, stripping off his ruined jacket.
"Caring about evil vampires isn't high on our to-do list," Cordy said.
"And since you didn't turn into a pile of dust we know you'll be fine," Wesley added.
"Thanks for the concern." Spike removed the bloody remains of his shirt. His pale chest was dotted with three ugly wounds.
"I hope you are planning on putting on another shirt. I don't want to look at those gross things." Cordy pointed to the arrow tracks. "That goes for you, too, Angel," she added seeing her friend had similarly stripped to the waist to gauge his wounds.
Spike glared. "When they stop oozing, I will."
Angel dug out the first aid kit and started bandaging Spike's back.
"Little bit, I think you should try a new look when you get back to L.A.," Spike said.
"What do you mean?"
"If those clerics beamed your faced to all their brethren, it might help to look a little less like you. Maybe a hair cut and change of color," Spike said.
"I'm sure Spike knows where you can get it bleached," Cordy said.
Spike shot her a two-fingered salute. "And I'd raid Miss Priss' wardrobe, too."
"Hey, hands off my clothes," Cordy snapped. "Angel spent good money on the wardrobe."
"Do you plan on dropping me off before we leave the city limits?" Lindsey asked.
Before anyone could answer Angel's cell phone jangled. While he answered it, Dawn took over bandaging up Spike.
"Hang on Willow," Angel barked into the phone. "Wesley, pull this thing over. It's ruining my reception."
"Are you sure?" Wesley asked, though he guided the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, raising a cloud of red dust.
Angel jumped out of the door, jamming a finger in his ear to blot out the road sounds around him. "Okay, Willow, I can hear you now."
Dawn stood in the doorway, hanging on to the metal lip, her mouth open to ask questions. Angel shook his head at her, mouthing the word, 'Wait.'
"Angel? Can you hear me?" Willow's voice came clearly through the receiver.
"Just fine. What is it? Nothing else has happened, has it?" He hoped not, though he wasn't sure why Willow might be calling.
"I came to your hotel looking for you and your friends, Gunn and Fred, gave me your cell phone number. Where are you? They said you were going to Oklahoma. What's in Oklahoma?"
Lindsey and Spike both peered out at him, Spike laying a hand on Dawn's shoulder. Angel flicked a glance at them. "A lawyer I know, so I could see about getting custody of Dawn."
"Custody?" Willow paused. "Angel, you might not need to do that."
"Why? Has her father shown up?" Angel thought that might be likely, though he knew Dawn would rather not be with the man.
"No. I told you Giles was going to England, to see the Watchers' Council, right?"
Angel could almost hear Willow dancing in place, her voice was so excited. "Yeah," he said, warily.
"No new Slayer has been called, Angel."
"What?" Angel clutched the telephone tightly, reaching out for the side of the motor home to brace himself. He faintly heard Dawn asking what was wrong. "B-but Faith," he said, "couldn't her still being alive cause that?"
"They aren't sure, Angel. Someone found another old prophecy about a Slayer dying but not and there was more about her traveling between worlds. Giles thinks the prophecy is about Buffy." Willow practically beamed through the connection. "Angel, you need to get to Sunnydale right now. You and Dawn both. We need to go after Buffy. Giles thinks she's in Glory's dimension and we've got to go find her."
"We'll be there in a day and a half, Willow," Angel said firmly. "We'll talk then." He met Dawn's curious eyes.
"Bye Angel. Give Dawn our love."
"Bye, Willow." He folded up the phone and tucked it into a pocket.
"Spill it," Spike said. "Something bad's happened in Sunnydale, hasn't it?"
"Oh, god, no," Cordelia moaned from her open passenger door.
"Get inside. Wes, get this thing moving. We're going back to California," Angel said, motioning the others back into the vehicle.
"Whoa up, Angel. Nobody said anything about me signing up to go to L.A.," Lindsey said, holding up his hands, not letting the vampire pass.
"What did Willow have to say?" Dawn asked, shifting from one foot to the other. "Glory isn't back, is she?"
"No, Glory isn't back." Angel felt an emotion bubbling up within him, the first hope he'd felt since he'd seen Willow in the lobby of the Hyperion.
"You look happy," Cordelia said suspiciously, then her eyes widened as she put pieces together. "Is it?"
"Buffy. It's about Buffy," Dawn whispered.
Angel took her shoulders. "Giles isn't for sure," he said to her softly. "But she might be alive."
Her mouth trembled and her eyes filled. "A-alive?"
"We shouldn't get our hopes up," Angel said gently, "if she is alive, she's in another dimension."
"But you went and found Cordy," Dawn said, biting her lip. "We can find Buffy." The tears broke and rolled down her cheeks. She wiped at them quickly. "We can." Her voice firmed up. "We can, Angel. You and me and Spike and Willow and Xander and Giles and Anya. We can find her!"
"What are we, chopped liver?" Cordy asked, under her breath.
"Shh," Wesley said, piloting the huge vehicle to the road leading to the interstate. He glanced in the mirror, seeing Dawn's joy and the strangeness of her hugging first one, then another person who didn't reflect in the glass. Lindsey leaned against the countertop, his arms folded as he watched the scene play out in front of him. Dawn turned to him, surprising him as she threw her arms around his waist as well. Lindsey didn't seem sure how to react, finally returning her hug tentatively. Dawn turned her attention to Cordelia.
"She's alive," Dawn said, flinging her arms around the young woman's neck. Cordelia held her close, looking over her head at Angel and Spike, who looked as excited and hopeful as Dawn. Cordelia pressed her cheek against the crown of Dawn's head, hoping, after all this, Buffy was alive and this wasn't some stupid new torture her friends had to go through.
"I'm sorry, Lindsey," Wesley said. "Did you want to get out here?"
"Yes."
"Wait," Angel demanded.
Lindsey's face puckered. "What?"
"We still need you."
"I can help with your hotel problem from here."
"No. We need to get across dimensions. We did it recently to rescue Cordy but the spell might have been specific for that dimension. We did pick up three very interesting texts there each bound with a different animal a wolf, ram and hart," Angel explained.
"I haven't had a chance to translate any of them yet," Wesley put in.
"What's this have to do with me?" Lindsey asked suspiciously.
"If we don't have the spell to get across to Glory's dimension we'll have to find another way short of bleeding Dawn again. Wolfram and Hart has repositories of arcane items if our past dealings are any indication. You would be our best bet in finding the right tome or scroll. You've cast spells with them in the past," Angel said.
Lindsey gave a bitter laugh. "And it cost me my hand. No way. I am not showing you where the firm stores things like that."
"Then you do know where it is," Wesley said.
Lindsey made a face at his slip up. "Some of it. I'm not helping you find it. Let me out of this thing."
"No!" Dawn shrieked. "You can't let him go."
"Little bit, kidnapping a lawyer really isn't our best bet," Spike said.
"But he has to help. We have to get Buffy back." Dawn went to Lindsey, taking his hand. "My sister might be alive. Please, you have to help us find her. She could be hurt. She needs our help. If you don't help us find the right books, we might not ever get her back. When we came here, I had lost all hope. I didn't even really care if you helped Angel get custody of me or not." She swiveled her head to look at Angel. "No offense. But now there's hope. Please don't take that from me."
Lindsey dropped his gaze. "You don't know what you're asking."
"Think of what happens to this world if there's no Slayer, Lindsey. What kind of hell will this turn into if you turn down the chance to help us?" Angel asked.
"Please, I want my sister back," Dawn said, squeezing his hand.
Lindsey looked over her shoulder at Angel. "You do realize you're asking me to commit suicide here, if Wolfram and Hart figures it out."
"We'll be as careful as we can," Angel promised.
Lindsey looked into Dawn's open, anxious face. "All right. I can tell my new employers I had a family emergency back in California. Hopefully I won't be let go." He rubbed his face. "I came to Oklahoma to simplify my life."
"There are some things you just can't walk away from, Lindsey," Angel said.
The lawyer settled back on the bench seat. "Which one of you is footing my bill?"
"Bill?" Wesley asked, starting up the vehicle again.
"I have no clothes. Someone has to buy me a new wardrobe."
"Borrow Spike's. You're small enough," Cordy piped up and both men glared at her. "What? He's short, too."
"I'm not short," Lindsey snarled.
"You are so lucky you aren't dinner, Chase," Spike added.
"We'll get you some clothes, Lindsey," Angel said before they could start sniping worse.
"Thank you for doing this." Dawn kissed Lindsey's cheek.
"Wesley, let me drive. If we're going to drive all day to get back to California, you and Cordy need to catch some sleep since Spike and I aren't going to be of much help in the day," Angel said and Wesley didn't argue.
Angel started the RV down the road as Spike dropped into the shotgun seat. Lindsey sidled up and turned on the radio, quickly tuning it to a country station. Bubba Shot the Jukebox rattled through the vehicle. Spike turned the radio off in disgust.
"I don't think so, blood bag."
"Hey, I kinda liked the beat in that," Dawn said.
Lindsey turned to her, "I'll teach you how to line dance later when they're asleep." He jerked a thumb at the vampires and Dawn beamed.
"Just do me the favor of opening the blinds and letting the sun get me first," Spike shot back.
"This is going to be a long trip," Angel muttered to no one in particular but he found he really didn't care. Dawn had said it best. They had come to Oklahoma, defeated, trying to make the best of a horrible situation but they were going home feeling hope for the first time. If Buffy was alive in Glory's dimension nothing would stop them from finding her. Angel stomped on the accelerated and the RV roared across the dark, flat Oklahoma prairie.
Angel and Spike headed back into the club to listen to the rest of the bands, well in theory but Angel noticed that Spike had disappeared into the gaming areas as soon as his back was turned. He figured it didn't really matter. He trusted Lindsey not to run though he couldn't say why. Wesley had gone with the women to get rooms at the first available no-name hotel near the casino. He didn't relish their options though. Curtains in hotels never seemed to close all the way so that left him and Spike sleeping in the tubs or under the beds. He had no desire to find out what was under a hotel bed. That left sleeping again in the RV for him and Spike. At least neither of them breathed so there was no snoring.
Angel spotted Lindsey near the bar. The lawyer hoisted a beer mug at him with a smirk that made Angel doubt for a moment that help was forthcoming. He actually scouted the room for Wolfram and Hart thugs. Spike eventually rolled back in and parked himself at the bar. Angel figured he had either won more or stolen enough to actually buy himself drinks. Lindsey didn't shrink away from the other vampire despite only being two stools away. Angel gave him credit. Then again, it could be Lindsey had no idea of William the Bloody's reputation. The longer Angel watched Lindsey the harder it was to see the lawyer overwhelmed by the cowboy image he was putting forth.
It was nearing one in the morning when the winners of the battle of the bands were announced. Lindsey and Passing the Bar collected their accolades and good for his word, the lawyer made his way over to Angel with Spike trailing him.
"Meet me at the Stumble Inn downtown tomorrow and I'll have the temporary guardianship paperwork ready for you," Lindsey said.
"I'm afraid to ask about this place," Spike muttered ignoring Angel's glare.
"It's a country bar where they ride live bulls on the weekend. We have a gig there," Lindsey offered.
"What are you doing here, Lindsey? Looking for your big break into Nashville?" Angel asked.
"What do you care? I figured you'd be happy enough that I'm out of Wolfram and Hart."
"I really don't care what you do, Lindsey. For once it looks like you aren't doing things that are putting people at risk. I'd probably like you better as a country singer than a lawyer," Angel said.
Lindsey snorted. "I'll pretend that matters. Just meet me tomorrow at the bar. I'll have to get back to you on permanent guardianship."
"Thanks. And Lindsey I do appreciate all your help. This could save Dawn's life," Angel said.
Lindsey nodded. "Just don't think I've forgotten about that sign you hung on my truck." He headed off with the rest of his band.
Spike lit up. "So, Peaches, what did you put on the back of his truck that's got him so ticked?"
Angel smirked. "A sign reading 'cops suck'."
Spike laughed. "Every once in awhile I like your style."
* * *
"Are you sure?" Dawn asked looking at the Stumble Inn.
"This is the place," Wesley said.
"But it's a bar. Can I go in?" Dawn asked.
"It has a restaurant too so probably you can. We can try," Cordelia said.
The whole group went up to the restaurant. Country music rattled through the wooden structure. There was a corral out back that it was beginning to fill with people in the stands. The sweet-spicy scent of barbeque floated on the night air.
"That smell is making me so hungry." Dawn rubbed her belly.
The music is making me nuts." Spike grumbled.
Dawn slapped his arm. "You'll live.sort of. I think I kind of like it."
"Don't make me want to stake myself," Spike shot back.
"I vote we play country music all the way back home," Cordy piped up.
Spike's lips peeled back. "Chase, I ought to-"
"What? Give me a hickey? It's not like you can bite me." She cocked an eyebrow at him and he grumbled.
"Spike." Angel let the threat drop. "Let's get something for the others to eat. We have time before we need to meet Lindsey."
They went in and had to take a seat in the smoking section if they didn't want an hour wait for a table. They forced Spike into a promise he wouldn't smoke at the table. There was little left but rib and chicken bones on the plates when Lindsey found them.
"Got good barbeque here don't they?" he asked, crowding onto the table.
"Yes." Dawn bubbled, sauce still rouging her lips.
"Did you get the paperwork?" Angel asked.
"And good evening to you, too, Mr. One Track Mind," Lindsey said wryly handing over the paperwork. "Just needs your signature."
Angel took the paperwork and looked at Lindsey for several long moments. "Thanks Lindsey. This means a lot."
"In the end it may not change things. There's no way you can go to court to get permanent custody."
Angel nodded. "This is enough for now. It has to be."
"I'd have a fall back plan if I were you," Lindsey replied.
"Fair enough. Lindsey, there's one more thing," Angel said.
The lawyer rolled his eyes. "I knew this was coming."
"It'll afford you the chance to get a little of your own back from your old employers," Wesley said.
Lindsey snorted. "It may come as a surprise but I'm not really in a hurry to irritate Wolfram and Hart."
"This is just a minor irritation. Wolfram and Hart are trying to buy the hotel I'm renting. They can't wait to put me out," Angel said.
"There's nothing illegal about that," Lindsey said.
"Knowing Wolfram and Hart I'm not so sure about that. But what we're hoping for is a way to block them or buy the Hyperion for ourselves," Angel said.
"You have that kind of money?" Lindsey asked.
"I have money," Angel said.
Cordy folded her arms. "We are so talking raises when we get home."
Angel rolled his eyes. "We might be able to work out something with the hotel but it's also a good idea to have a lawyer on our side for this."
"That's a given but I don't see why it should be me. Go look in the yellow pages."
"You know Wolfram and Hart from the inside out. You know ways of hurting them," Angel said.
"You're asking me to paint a very big bulls eye on my forehead."
"You did that when you walked away from them," Angel retorted.
"Could you at least look into it? There may be ways of doing this without directly attacking Wolfram and Hart and that would leave you out of it," Wesley said.
Before Lindsey could answer - and the look on his face gave them little hope - screams echoed from outside. Lindsey got to his feet.
"The bulls," he hissed.
"Bulls?" Spike asked.
"There's live bull riding tonight," Lindsey said, scrambling to his feet, heading for the exit to the corral area. People spilled through desperately trying to get into the building.
Angel followed not really sure he knew how to handle a raging bull. His companions went with him used to following his lead. The bulls, however, weren't the problem.
"What's with the guys in armor?" Lindsey asked, watching several men riding next to the corral on horseback.
"Armor?" Dawn shrank against Spike.
"Angel, those are the knights of Byzantium. They're the ones trying to kill the Key," Spike snapped.
"How do you kill a key? They aren't alive?" Lindsey pointed out.
"I'm the Key," Dawn said softly.
"We can't let those bullies hurt her," Cordy said.
"No worries there," Angel said, taking a few steps in the knights' direction.
"Um, Peaches, these guys are deadly serious and I can't help fight them. They're human," Spike said.
"Might I suggest we run then," Wesley said.
"Way ahead of you." Cordy grabbed Dawn's hand and started back toward the front of the restaurant.
An arrow winged past them. Cordy shrieked and ducked, losing her footing. Spike snatched Dawn away from her and pushed the teen ahead of him. Grunting in pain, Spike nearly went to his knees as two arrows sprouted from his back. Dawn screamed. Spike staggered back up, putting his body between Dawn and the archer again.
"Angel, could you please take care of the wanker with the bow?" Spike snarled then howled again as an arrow slammed into him, the point of it scratching Dawn where she huddled against his chest. "Watch the heart, you bloody idiot!"
Angel snagged balls from the pool table and threw one, taking out one of the knights with the eight ball. He staggered back into another of his companions, both of them falling with a clatter of metal. Another ball struck a knight in the chest plate, denting the armor. He kept coming, swinging his sword. Angel threw another ball and charged in, too close for the knight to use his weapon.
Lindsey yelped as an arrow whizzed by him. "Knowing you damn vampires is going to get me killed," he raged.
"At least they're trying to help," Cordy yelled, sliding under a table seeing the doorway was still blocked with stampeding patrons.
"Angel can handle a half dozen men. Maybe we ought to make sure they don't have an easy way out of here," Wesley said, pointing out the back door to where the knights' abandoned horses were.
Lindsey nodded and raced along the wall away from the sword bearing men and out into the corral. He did a dangerous dance with a nervous gelding before snagging the reins. He called to the local cowboy types who hovered around the corral, some trying to calm the bulls, others too stunned to run. They helped him control the horses and with some less than subtle suggestions from Lindsey, put the horses into the trailers recently vacated by the penned bulls.
One of the knights peeled off from the group, trying to get past Angel and took after Lindsey. With a startled cry, Lindsey dodged the sword swing putting the last horse he had the reins to between him and the swordsman. The horse panicked and kicked the knight straight into the railing. He didn't get back up. Against his better judgment, Lindsey didn't flee. He didn't like the idea of leaving a kid to the mercy of these men. He ran inside where Angel was still facing off with three of the knights. The vampire had on his game face and blood flowed from several wounds.
One of the knights whirled, heading straight for Lindsey. Lindsey grabbed the only weapon at hand, a chair, and used it to block the sword swing resulting in large hunks of wood going flying.
"Why are you trying to kill me? I'm not with these guys!" Lindsey shouted.
"Yes he is. He's our lawyer," Spike called dragging the man's attention to him. "I bet you know what Shakespeare said about what should be done with lawyers."
"What are you trying to do?" Lindsey asked, swinging the remains of the chair like a Louisville Slugger, knocking the man out cold. "Get me killed?"
"No, just distract him long enough for you to do something," Spike said as Cordy scrambled in to do what she and Wesley had been doing, disarming and tying up all the men Angel knocked unconscious.
"That's the last of them," Angel said, still holding onto an unconscious knight.
Spike disengaged himself from Dawn and examined her arm where the arrow had gashed her. "You okay, little bit?"
She nodded her head. "It's shallow. Why are they still after me?" Her voice was brittle.
"Power. It's always about power," Spike said, snapping off the arrow points. "A little help here someone?"
Dawn grimaced and went behind him to try and pull the arrow out feeling it grind against bone and tissue. She stopped, gagging. "I'm sorry."
"Let me," Wesley said, taking over the job.
"These jokers are the reasons you wanted custody of Dawn?" Lindsey asked.
Angel nodded. "Among others."
"Now I see why." Lindsey sagged into a chair.
"Talk to me," Angel said to the man he held, shaking him to try and rouse him. The man's eyes opened. "Why were you trying to kill this young lady?" Angel thrust a hand at Dawn.
"She's the Key," the man said.
"How can you be so sure?" Dawn cried.
"The clerics' magic shared your image with us all. You fools do not know what you've done. This Key must be destroyed before it can be used."
"It's too late," Dawn shrieked, losing all composure as she stomped over to him. "I've been used! The gates opened and my sister died to close them. Do you understand? It's over. Glory is dead and so is my sister. There's no more to this story."
"The beast is dead?" the man said slowly in shock.
"Bloody right. She's dead. Her scabby little helpers are gone and the gateway is closed," Spike said.
"That-that cannot be."
"It can. Glory's gone. Just leave me alone. I'm so tired of running from you. There's no need for me to keep running," Dawn said tiredly. She nearly went to the ground as nerves got the better of her. Cordy raced over to steady her.
"Dead," the man whispered, sinking to his knees as his whole purpose for existing evaporated.
The sounds of multiple police sirens reached everyone's ears.
"Call me crazy but I don't want to be here when the police arrive," Spike said.
"For once we agree," Wesley said.
They abandoned the knights in the restaurant as they hustled for the RV. Angel caught Lindsey as the lawyer tried to part company. He dragged the smaller man kicking and fighting to the RV. Wesley slid into the driver's seat and got the thing moving.
"Why did you bring me here?" Lindsey snapped.
"You can get back to your truck later," Angel said.
"I'm not keen about leaving my truck there with the cops swarming around."
"You were supposed to be there," Cordy reminded him.
Lindsey snorted. "Those guys tried to kill me."
"That's why we felt it was so necessary to get custody of Dawn," Angel said.
"And you got it but I can't think of way for you to get past the court date for permanent custody like I said earlier. You'd be better off having Wesley try for it." He waved a hand at Cordelia. "Or her."
"We'll take it under advisement," Angel said.
"Dawny, you're covered in blood," Cordy squeaked, noticing the girl's condition for the first time.
Dawn looked at her shirt with a grimace. "It's mostly Spike's. I just got a little cut. Are we going back to the hotel or should I shower in the RV?"
"We have no one following us," Wesley said checking the mirrors. "But we probably shouldn't risk staying in town."
"Showering in a closet it is." Dawn sighed.
"And I guess I'll be fine just in case anyone cares," Spike grumbled, stripping off his ruined jacket.
"Caring about evil vampires isn't high on our to-do list," Cordy said.
"And since you didn't turn into a pile of dust we know you'll be fine," Wesley added.
"Thanks for the concern." Spike removed the bloody remains of his shirt. His pale chest was dotted with three ugly wounds.
"I hope you are planning on putting on another shirt. I don't want to look at those gross things." Cordy pointed to the arrow tracks. "That goes for you, too, Angel," she added seeing her friend had similarly stripped to the waist to gauge his wounds.
Spike glared. "When they stop oozing, I will."
Angel dug out the first aid kit and started bandaging Spike's back.
"Little bit, I think you should try a new look when you get back to L.A.," Spike said.
"What do you mean?"
"If those clerics beamed your faced to all their brethren, it might help to look a little less like you. Maybe a hair cut and change of color," Spike said.
"I'm sure Spike knows where you can get it bleached," Cordy said.
Spike shot her a two-fingered salute. "And I'd raid Miss Priss' wardrobe, too."
"Hey, hands off my clothes," Cordy snapped. "Angel spent good money on the wardrobe."
"Do you plan on dropping me off before we leave the city limits?" Lindsey asked.
Before anyone could answer Angel's cell phone jangled. While he answered it, Dawn took over bandaging up Spike.
"Hang on Willow," Angel barked into the phone. "Wesley, pull this thing over. It's ruining my reception."
"Are you sure?" Wesley asked, though he guided the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, raising a cloud of red dust.
Angel jumped out of the door, jamming a finger in his ear to blot out the road sounds around him. "Okay, Willow, I can hear you now."
Dawn stood in the doorway, hanging on to the metal lip, her mouth open to ask questions. Angel shook his head at her, mouthing the word, 'Wait.'
"Angel? Can you hear me?" Willow's voice came clearly through the receiver.
"Just fine. What is it? Nothing else has happened, has it?" He hoped not, though he wasn't sure why Willow might be calling.
"I came to your hotel looking for you and your friends, Gunn and Fred, gave me your cell phone number. Where are you? They said you were going to Oklahoma. What's in Oklahoma?"
Lindsey and Spike both peered out at him, Spike laying a hand on Dawn's shoulder. Angel flicked a glance at them. "A lawyer I know, so I could see about getting custody of Dawn."
"Custody?" Willow paused. "Angel, you might not need to do that."
"Why? Has her father shown up?" Angel thought that might be likely, though he knew Dawn would rather not be with the man.
"No. I told you Giles was going to England, to see the Watchers' Council, right?"
Angel could almost hear Willow dancing in place, her voice was so excited. "Yeah," he said, warily.
"No new Slayer has been called, Angel."
"What?" Angel clutched the telephone tightly, reaching out for the side of the motor home to brace himself. He faintly heard Dawn asking what was wrong. "B-but Faith," he said, "couldn't her still being alive cause that?"
"They aren't sure, Angel. Someone found another old prophecy about a Slayer dying but not and there was more about her traveling between worlds. Giles thinks the prophecy is about Buffy." Willow practically beamed through the connection. "Angel, you need to get to Sunnydale right now. You and Dawn both. We need to go after Buffy. Giles thinks she's in Glory's dimension and we've got to go find her."
"We'll be there in a day and a half, Willow," Angel said firmly. "We'll talk then." He met Dawn's curious eyes.
"Bye Angel. Give Dawn our love."
"Bye, Willow." He folded up the phone and tucked it into a pocket.
"Spill it," Spike said. "Something bad's happened in Sunnydale, hasn't it?"
"Oh, god, no," Cordelia moaned from her open passenger door.
"Get inside. Wes, get this thing moving. We're going back to California," Angel said, motioning the others back into the vehicle.
"Whoa up, Angel. Nobody said anything about me signing up to go to L.A.," Lindsey said, holding up his hands, not letting the vampire pass.
"What did Willow have to say?" Dawn asked, shifting from one foot to the other. "Glory isn't back, is she?"
"No, Glory isn't back." Angel felt an emotion bubbling up within him, the first hope he'd felt since he'd seen Willow in the lobby of the Hyperion.
"You look happy," Cordelia said suspiciously, then her eyes widened as she put pieces together. "Is it?"
"Buffy. It's about Buffy," Dawn whispered.
Angel took her shoulders. "Giles isn't for sure," he said to her softly. "But she might be alive."
Her mouth trembled and her eyes filled. "A-alive?"
"We shouldn't get our hopes up," Angel said gently, "if she is alive, she's in another dimension."
"But you went and found Cordy," Dawn said, biting her lip. "We can find Buffy." The tears broke and rolled down her cheeks. She wiped at them quickly. "We can." Her voice firmed up. "We can, Angel. You and me and Spike and Willow and Xander and Giles and Anya. We can find her!"
"What are we, chopped liver?" Cordy asked, under her breath.
"Shh," Wesley said, piloting the huge vehicle to the road leading to the interstate. He glanced in the mirror, seeing Dawn's joy and the strangeness of her hugging first one, then another person who didn't reflect in the glass. Lindsey leaned against the countertop, his arms folded as he watched the scene play out in front of him. Dawn turned to him, surprising him as she threw her arms around his waist as well. Lindsey didn't seem sure how to react, finally returning her hug tentatively. Dawn turned her attention to Cordelia.
"She's alive," Dawn said, flinging her arms around the young woman's neck. Cordelia held her close, looking over her head at Angel and Spike, who looked as excited and hopeful as Dawn. Cordelia pressed her cheek against the crown of Dawn's head, hoping, after all this, Buffy was alive and this wasn't some stupid new torture her friends had to go through.
"I'm sorry, Lindsey," Wesley said. "Did you want to get out here?"
"Yes."
"Wait," Angel demanded.
Lindsey's face puckered. "What?"
"We still need you."
"I can help with your hotel problem from here."
"No. We need to get across dimensions. We did it recently to rescue Cordy but the spell might have been specific for that dimension. We did pick up three very interesting texts there each bound with a different animal a wolf, ram and hart," Angel explained.
"I haven't had a chance to translate any of them yet," Wesley put in.
"What's this have to do with me?" Lindsey asked suspiciously.
"If we don't have the spell to get across to Glory's dimension we'll have to find another way short of bleeding Dawn again. Wolfram and Hart has repositories of arcane items if our past dealings are any indication. You would be our best bet in finding the right tome or scroll. You've cast spells with them in the past," Angel said.
Lindsey gave a bitter laugh. "And it cost me my hand. No way. I am not showing you where the firm stores things like that."
"Then you do know where it is," Wesley said.
Lindsey made a face at his slip up. "Some of it. I'm not helping you find it. Let me out of this thing."
"No!" Dawn shrieked. "You can't let him go."
"Little bit, kidnapping a lawyer really isn't our best bet," Spike said.
"But he has to help. We have to get Buffy back." Dawn went to Lindsey, taking his hand. "My sister might be alive. Please, you have to help us find her. She could be hurt. She needs our help. If you don't help us find the right books, we might not ever get her back. When we came here, I had lost all hope. I didn't even really care if you helped Angel get custody of me or not." She swiveled her head to look at Angel. "No offense. But now there's hope. Please don't take that from me."
Lindsey dropped his gaze. "You don't know what you're asking."
"Think of what happens to this world if there's no Slayer, Lindsey. What kind of hell will this turn into if you turn down the chance to help us?" Angel asked.
"Please, I want my sister back," Dawn said, squeezing his hand.
Lindsey looked over her shoulder at Angel. "You do realize you're asking me to commit suicide here, if Wolfram and Hart figures it out."
"We'll be as careful as we can," Angel promised.
Lindsey looked into Dawn's open, anxious face. "All right. I can tell my new employers I had a family emergency back in California. Hopefully I won't be let go." He rubbed his face. "I came to Oklahoma to simplify my life."
"There are some things you just can't walk away from, Lindsey," Angel said.
The lawyer settled back on the bench seat. "Which one of you is footing my bill?"
"Bill?" Wesley asked, starting up the vehicle again.
"I have no clothes. Someone has to buy me a new wardrobe."
"Borrow Spike's. You're small enough," Cordy piped up and both men glared at her. "What? He's short, too."
"I'm not short," Lindsey snarled.
"You are so lucky you aren't dinner, Chase," Spike added.
"We'll get you some clothes, Lindsey," Angel said before they could start sniping worse.
"Thank you for doing this." Dawn kissed Lindsey's cheek.
"Wesley, let me drive. If we're going to drive all day to get back to California, you and Cordy need to catch some sleep since Spike and I aren't going to be of much help in the day," Angel said and Wesley didn't argue.
Angel started the RV down the road as Spike dropped into the shotgun seat. Lindsey sidled up and turned on the radio, quickly tuning it to a country station. Bubba Shot the Jukebox rattled through the vehicle. Spike turned the radio off in disgust.
"I don't think so, blood bag."
"Hey, I kinda liked the beat in that," Dawn said.
Lindsey turned to her, "I'll teach you how to line dance later when they're asleep." He jerked a thumb at the vampires and Dawn beamed.
"Just do me the favor of opening the blinds and letting the sun get me first," Spike shot back.
"This is going to be a long trip," Angel muttered to no one in particular but he found he really didn't care. Dawn had said it best. They had come to Oklahoma, defeated, trying to make the best of a horrible situation but they were going home feeling hope for the first time. If Buffy was alive in Glory's dimension nothing would stop them from finding her. Angel stomped on the accelerated and the RV roared across the dark, flat Oklahoma prairie.
