And now, the conclusion of Changes…
"Lorne?" Tecothra called softly, opening the door a crack.
"I'm awake, Precious." he replied feebly, turning his head. His brow creased at the vibe she was giving off. Lorne sat up too quickly, making his head spin.
Tecothra was at his side immediately, one hand on his shoulder and the other on his cheek. "You okay?" she asked worriedly.
"Yeah," he murmured, opening his eyes. "Are you?" She looked away. "Tec - "
"I've been thinking, Lorne. That I should go."
"What do you mean, 'go'? Go where?"
"Away. As far away as possible. It's too dangerous for me to stay here now that Noktwar knows I'm in L.A."
Lorne was perplexed. "But I want you to stay." he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
She half-smiled. "I know you do. I'll come back, I promise, as soon as I throw the Scourge of my trail."
"What if they catch you while you're out on your own? W - Angel can protect you here." Lorne felt like he was grasping at straws under the look Tecothra had fixed him with.
"Maybe," she agreed with a shrug, but he can only protect me for so long, Lorne. And he has enough other things with which to occupy his time."
"He won't mind one more,"
"Lorne, please don't,"
The demon averted his gaze. The silence that followed her final statement weighed down heavily on both of them. Lorne sighed, taking her hands in his. "Do one thing for me?"
Her expression softened. She knew what that one thing was. "Alright, I'll sing."
* * *
Tecothra had been gone for thirty minutes. Lorne paced the space in front of Angel's desk, which the vampire sat behind. He had never seen the Pylean so nervous or antsy about anything, but here he was, pacing and explaining hurriedly.
Angel was puzzled. He had not known Lorne for very long, nor did he know him very well, but the demon had never lied to someone before today. Not that he knew of, anyhow. "Let me get this straight; you told her she'd be fine?"
Lorne nodded. "And that I'd see her in a couple of weeks."
"But in actual fact, the Scourge are going to find her and kill her unless we go after her." it was not a question, but a summation of what the Pylean had already told him.
"I know exactly where and when, which is odd 'cause it doesn't usually work like that, but the point is that I do and we have one hour to get to her before the Scourge does." Lorne stopped pacing, and looked at Angel for a decision. "Oh please don't fix me with that look. She was gonna leave anyway. She had both feet out the door. I just - "
"Wanted her to feel safe?" Lorne nodded reluctantly. "You don't think she'll be some upset when she finds us waiting for her?"
Lorne's brow creased as he sighed, glowering at the floor.
"Well, Ah think it was sweet of ya, Lorne." Fred spoke up from the doorway.
Lorne managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Sweetie,"
She smiled in return.
"What's up, Fred?" Angel queried.
"Oh, Ah just heard you guys talkin' and decided to eavesdrop." she shrugged sheepishly. "An hour ain't very long. We should get goin'."
"We?" the vampire countered.
Fred nodded. "The two of you can't go alone. Angel, both of us have seen Lorne fight--or should I say no one has ever seen Lorne fight."
"I don't believe in violence, okay?" the Pylean defended himself.
"And we all respect that, Lorne." Angel replied condescendingly.
The demon shook his head, knowing that this was an argument not worth getting into since he would not win it. "So, are we going or what?"
"Fred, tell Gunn and Wes to meet us at the car." Angel got up from his chair.
It began to rain as Tecothra exited the convenience store. Her car was parked at the inside gas pump farthest from the building. The overhead lights blinked, then went out altogether. She knitted her eyebrows in confusion, but assumed the power failure was due to the rainstorm.
Tires squealed as a car raced around the corner of the building. Tecothra squinted in the sudden bright, then realized that the oncoming vehicle was not going to stop. She ran in the direction she knew her car to be. As she neared her mode of transportation, the headlights from behind her revealed four Scourge standing beside it. "Oh, no," she gasped. She was trapped.
The car stopped just short of hitting her. Noktwar stepped out of the passenger side. "So, we meet again. And without any dead present this time. Where's your Pylean?"
"What do you want, Noktwar?" she demanded.
He walked toward her, his hands clasped behind his back innocently. "Why, Tecothra, I want what I've always wanted." he smiled at her. "I want you to join us."
"Join you?"
"Yes, become a Scourge. Your unique talents would be quite beneficial to us."
Tecothra shook her head. "Never,"
Noktwar snatched a handful of her hair. "That's too bad,"
Another set of headlights pulled up to the outside pump, parallel to Tecothra's car. Four figures got out, each carrying a weapon. The fifth remained behind the wheel.
"Is this a private party, or can anyone crash it?" Angel inquired.
"As a matter of fact, Angel, I'm glad you decided to show up," Noktwar tugged Tecothra's hair.
"Oh, well, it's nice to be wanted," the vampire returned. "So are you gonna let her go, or does this have to get ugly?"
One of the Scourge unsheathed a long sword. Gunn shot him neatly in the neck with his crossbow.
"Kill them," Noktwar ordered, pulling Tecothra to the car.
She tried to wrench his fingers from her hair. "Let me go!"
Angel moved to go after Tecothra, but a Scourge stepped in front of him, fists flying. The vampire caught the demon's left hand, then twisted until the bones cracked. The Scourge did not make a sound. Angel punched the demon in the face repeatedly, then threw the stunned creature aside.
Gunn fell to his knees under the barrage of blows the Scourge sent his way. Gunn sought his crossbow, which had been kicked from his grasp. The Scourge kicked him in the face, and he slumped to the side. As Gunn forced himself to his knees, he spotted his weapon, lying beside the gas pump, the arrow lodged in the hose. He clamored on all fours, pulled the arrowhead free, then turned on the Scourge. The demon did not have the opportunity to dodge as the arrow pierced his heart. Gunn sighed, rubbing his head gingerly.
Wesley found himself in an identical scenario, except that he could see where his crossbow was: in the hands of the Scourge he was fighting. The demon grinned maniacally, sending shivers down the other's spine. Wesley closed his eyes and waited for the trigger to be pulled.
The Scourge howled suddenly, so he opened his eyes.
"Here ya go," Angel handed Wesley his weapon back.
"Oh," the surprised man adjusted the arrow. "Thank you."
"Anytime."
"Help!" Tecothra hollered.
Lorne looked up from the now-dead Scourge he was fighting. "Angel!"
Noktwar unsheathed a dagger from his belt. "Not another step, Vampire, or I will kill her."
"No, you won't," Tecothra scoffed.
"You're not in the position," he pressed the blade against her throat, "to be using such a tone." Noktwar addressed the others. "All of you back off. Denattar, get in the car. We're leaving. And as for you, my dear Tecothra," he snarled in her ear. "You're coming with us."
By this time, the only other Scourge still living was conscious enough to stand, though not very straight. He smelled the leaking gas from the pump to his left. The Scourge made hand gestures at his commander, asking if he should light it. Noktwar nodded.
Tecothra's eyes widened as she realized what the demon was about to do. She opened her mouth to speak, but Noktwar hissed, "Not a word."
"Let her go now," Lorne ordered from behind. The Pylean had snuck around them in the cover of the almost absolute darkness, and now held his crossbow to the Scourge's head.
"Interesting predicament we now find ourselves in," Noktwar stated.
"I said let her go."
The Scourge murmured, "Looks like your Pylean has come for you."
Denattar got in the car without anyone noticing. He realized that this was one of those defining moments when you choose your side and suffered the consequences of your actions.
If he hit the Pylean, Noktwar could smuggle Tecothra into the car and they could escape. If he hit Noktwar, Tecothra would be knocked into the pumps, distracting the others long enough for the Scourge commander and the other demon to get in the car and escape.
Escape was optimal, Denattar decided. If the Scourge took the woman with them, then Angel would come after them. This was undesirable.
The flicker of flames caught his eye. Corrill had set the pump on fire. The vampire and his two lackeys moved away quickly. Now was Denattar's chance. He stepped on the gas, aiming for Noktwar and Tecothra. The Scourge commander shoved Tecothra towards the spreading flames, then rolled out of the way himself. Corrill was already to the car.
"Tec!" Lorne exclaimed, the car between them.
Noktwar threw himself at Lorne, knocking the crossbow from his grasp. He punched the Pylean repeatedly, stunning him. Blood oozed from Lorne's nose. Remembering the last time they met, the Scourge took hold of Lorne's horn, and took out his dagger at the same time. "We have unfinished business to take care of."
The Pylean's eyes widened in horror.
Angel grabbed Tecothra, who was barely holding onto consciousness after hitting her head on the gas terminal. He pulled her away, then handed her off to Wesley. She let Wesley guide her toward the car, until Lorne's cry cut through the night.
Tecothra snapped back to reality at the sound, the haze suddenly lifted. "Lorne!" she shrieked. It took all of Wesley's strength to hold her back.
Angel spun around to help the Pylean. As he was running, the car sped off, plowing over Lorne. The sound of bones crunching was drowned out only by Tecothra's screams.
***
She lay on her side on the bed that Lorne had occupied earlier. She had been lying there for what seemed like forever, but to those waiting outside it had only been three hours. None of them knew what to do, as they were all in shock also.
Lorne was dead. Really dead. Splattered-all-over-the-pavement dead.
Cordelia had tried to offer her comfort, but Tecothra had turned her away. Of everyone, she and Doyle were most concerned for her, it seemed.
Akishya watched Tecothra in silence. She stood behind her, unnoticed. The Oracle was not sure if she should speak up or depart. The woman before her was devastated - a state Akishya had never seen her in before.
Hearing the single voice of the collective Oracles, Akishya finally said softly, "We are apologetic for your loss, Tecothra."
"You don't know how to be apologetic," she shot back.
The Oracle did not take offence at the other's statement. Oracles did not have emotions, such was their superiority. They had learned millennia ago that emotions were not assets by any means. "We only wish to express sentiments to comfort you. We wish also that there was more that we could do, however as you know we have surpassed grief and no longer understand the needs of one who has not."
"More you could do," Tecothra repeated chillingly. She sat bolt upright suddenly. "Aki, you can take back the day!"
The Oracle furrowed her brow, shaking her head. "This, we cannot do."
"Why not? I'd be the only one carrying the memory of this day; I could direct events so that they transpire the same way. Except that Lorne won't..."
"It does not work that way, as you well know."
"But, Aki, Lorne is important to guide Angel through his prophecy and-"
"Tecothra, this is a purely selfish request. Do not bring our Champion into this."
She turned away, flustered and frustrated. Tecothra knew that arguing with the Oracle was useless; she would never win. A long silence befell them, neither of them wanting to bend towards the other's side.
Finally, after several minutes, Akishya stated in an even tone, "Tecothra, you have spent many years in our service. You have always succeeded in your tasks to a commendable degree. You have never requested payment for your work, thus we grant you this: Five hours and forty-six minutes previous a grievous mistake was made. We will turn the day back this far in order for the error to be rectified."
Tecothra turned slowly, not quite believing what she was hearing. Her jaw hung open.
"In return for a lifetime of handing back second chances," Akishya continued, "we will allow you a second chance."
She closed her eyes, forcing out the tears. "They won't find you there," Lorne said, brushing the hair out of her face.
Tecothra's eyes flew open. In only the span of a second, the hours had rewound back to when Lorne had told her that she would be safe if she left immediately for San Francisco.
She worked her jaw, trying to form words, but no sound would come out. Lorne did not hide his concern well. "What's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost." A smile crept across her lips. Lorne huffed. "You know what I mean."
Tecothra nodded, tracing the lines on his face. He put his hand on her cheek, and she held it there. "Something's different. Your aura's different." Lorne shook his head. "How can that-"
She put a finger to his lips. "How's your horn?"
"Throbbing, but it'll be alright. What does-" he stopped himself when she shook her head.
"You have pretty eyes."
Lorne smiled at her. "Why thank you."
"I meant to tell you before, but I didn't."
He sensed that she meant something deeper when she said 'before'. "Before what?"
Tecothra shook her head again.
"You're not giving me much to go on here, Honey."
She smiled, meeting his gaze. They leaned in closer. She brushed her nose against his, then kissed him softly. They kissed again, deeper this time.
Akishya watched them, invisible to both, a smile on her face.
Doyle swept Cordelia up in his arms. She laughed happily, putting her arms around his neck. "My hero," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice as she recalled the last time she had used the word 'hero' in his presence. "God, I missed you."
Doyle smiled, lowering her to the floor. He shifted to his Brakkin demon self. "Did ya miss this, too?"
Cordelia nodded, touching the prickles that stood out on his cheek and chin. "I missed all your faces."
They kissed passionately, as they had on that fateful night. Both felt the transfer of power, Doyle reclaiming the visions from the Powers That Be.
"Lucky me," he murmured against her lips.
"Well, I'm sure glad to be rid of them," she returned.
Angel, Fred, Wesley and Gunn hovered around the bottom of the staircase in the lobby, trying not to watch Cordelia and Doyle too closely.
"They're kinda cute," Fred pointed out.
"They always were," Angel replied.
"And what is to become of Tecothra?" Wesley inquired. "Is she to stay here as well?"
"She said she wanted to leave before the Scourge found her here," the vampire said.
"She changed her mind," Lorne grinned. The pair was holding hands.
Fred grinned from ear to ear. "Well, that's great! And look at you two, all in love - like these two!" she pointed at Cordelia and Doyle, who were still kissing in the centre of the foyer. Lorne glanced over his shoulder at them, and nodded.
Akishya appeared behind everyone, only for Tecothra to see. Tec smiled, a mental projection flashing through her mind. "Lorne, come with me." To the others, she said, "We'll be back in a little bit."
"What's up?" Gunn asked.
Tecothra looked at Lorne, saying, "It's a surprise."
***
Tecothra parked in front of the back entrance to Caritas. Lorne fished the keys out of his pocket as they ascended the five steps to the door. Just inside, she instructed him to keep his eyes closed until she told him he could open them. Reluctantly he obeyed, but warned her that patience was not his strongest point. She laughed it off, then turned on all the lights.
"Alright, open."
Lorne did as instructed, and his eyes widened in disbelief. "My club! It's-" he went further inside and ran his finger along the bar top. "It's like new!" he marveled. The Pylean turned to Tecothra. "How did - who did - wh-" he stopped trying.
"The Powers That Be decided you were doing a good thing here, so Aki says."
"Holy jumping jellyfish," Lorne said in awe.
Tecothra put her arm around him. "Glad you like it. Now, let's go kick some Scourge ass and be done with them."
He smiled, then kissed her. "If anyone can do that, it's Angel."
She nodded in agreement, and then they returned to the hotel.
THE END
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