Spoilers: Post "Waiting In the Wings".. right after Groo arrives. Everything after that? Didn't happen.
For the Buffy characters, besides the ones in the past (season 2), it's right before the episode "Dead Things".
Rating: R.. starting this chapter, just to be safe.
Distribution: Ask me. I'd probably be flattered. :P
Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, Greenwolf, and UPN own the shows and it's characters.. all that jazz.
Summary: Angel Investigations is lead to investigate a strange vision; Cordy and Angel are inadvertently effected.
Feedback: I welcome constructive criticism. And any other sort of comment, if any. :P
Notes: I don't have the locations down for season 2, I'm afraid. So I'm not sure about the specifics of Angel's apartment or mansion.
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---Angelus' Masion | March 1998---
Daylight pours through the orifices of the concrete building, and Spike maneuvers his wheelchair around the bright obstacles to reach the side of Drusilla's bed. He tilts his head and smiles a bit.
Spike: "She sleeps."
The sound of a metal door latching open is heard as Angelus trots in. Not surprisingly, he dons a maroon silk shirt coupled with leather pants.
Angelus: "Oh happy day. Don't suppose you'll grace us with another one of your choice poems, eh William?"
Spike rolls his eyes as his smile fades away. He wheels around to see his grand dad.
Spike: "Shouldn't you be off worshipping the slayer or something? That's the personification of poetic, mate."
Angelus: "I don't have time to insult you right now, wheel boy. Wake our seer up, there's news."
Drusilla's eyes dart open, and she rises up giggling.
Drusilla: "Morning daddy. I trust you've heard of the arrival? The pixies bring tidings of the fresh augur..."
Angelus: "Hush for now. Let me tell the story."
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---Hyperion Hotel | Lobby---
Lorne sits with a tiny jar of squashed carrots in one hand, and a spoonful of the stuff in the other. He swerves the spoon around and sings a quiet lullaby.
Lorne: "Day is done..."
Conner giggles and accepts the helping. Lorne refills the spoon and continues his song, a bit morose the next line.
Lorne: "Gone the sun.."
The host forces the food into the mouth of the unconscious Cordelia, as Conner's giggles disappear. Lorne summons a cheerful smile for the child as he pours a cup for something else.
Lorne: "From the lake... from the hills... from the sky..."
He pours the pig's blood into Angel's gapped mouth, and closes it for his swallow.
Lorne: "All is well.. safely--"
Lorne curses under his breath as the blood spills. Then his eyes grow wide as he sees why. The time travelers' bodies convulse wildly, and Lorne quickly grabs Conner off the couch before he's hit by a flying limb. The boy cries, and Lorne yells.
Lorne: "Wesley! You better get in here!"
Wesley hangs up the phone and rushes to aid, hearing the baby's wails and the demon's call.
Wesley: "Oh my lord! It's happening..."
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---Sunnydale High Library | March 1998---
Brown eyes peer through the door's window, a mischievous glint painted on them. Behind the doors, faint mumbling is exchanged until the door swings open. Two figures waltz inside.
Cordelia: "No need to brag! So you could pick the lock? Big whoop!"
He replies with a whisper.
Angel: "Shh! You're sure no one's in here?"
Cordelia: "Yeah.. Giles usually doesn't come till seven. And you could take off those glasses now. You look like a blues brother."
He does so, but not without a comment.
Angel: "I'd choose that any day over this.."
He gestures to his clothing.
Angel: "..dumb jock look."
Cordelia: "Don't worry, it fits you perfectly."
Angel: "Oh, oka-- hey!"
Cordelia: "See what I mean? Alright so.. which books should we start with?"
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---Raffles L'Ermitage Hotel | Parking Lot---
Gunn pulls up the black convertible into the dimly lit lot, turns off the engine, and whispers out the plan. Groo, now wearing Gunn's loaned clothes and his hair in the ponytail, schooches up from the backseat to listen in concentration.
Gunn: "Aight.. we have to make sure we got this down. Wesley said told us bind his hands together as fast as possible, or else we're through. He'll be fast, so no small talk... we're not undercover. Keep the talisman necklaces out of his grasp, and he can't quantum leap us."
Groo: "Will he harbor strength?"
Fred: "I don't think he would. He's immortal, but he's not built for battle. Monrazetro.. he's an artist... sculpting lives like that..."
Gunn: "After breaking them first.. not exactly admirable."
Groo: "Enough. Are you prepared?"
Gunn nods...
Gunn: "Let's do it. ...er uh, let's get out now and go find the God in the hotel."
Groo: "Ah yes, my friend! You lead the way!"
He slaps him on the back, and they exit the car. A girl calls out from the inside of a car nearby.
Willow: "Gunn?! Fred?!"
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---Sunnydale High Library | March 1998---
Angel: "That's probably all that we could use."
He stuffs a thick book into a backpack, which already held several other texts. Cordelia lifts her own similarly packed pack, and groans.
Cordelia: "Well.. we certainly have some homework to do."
Oz: "Is someone there?"
Oz walks up the stairs and looks behind a bookcase, but not before Cordelia grabs Angel and makes him pin her against it. She makes sure it looks genuine, with her hands clenched in his hair and his hands around her waist.
Cordelia: "Do you mind!?"
Oz: "Oh. Sorry.."
He walks back down the stairs, and scratches his head. Cordelia drops her hands, but a dazed Angel doesn't budge. Intoxicated by her Cordy smell, he just whispers.
Angel: "Do you think he knew it was me?"
Cordelia is all too aware of Angel's hands gripping her waist, and his breath on the nape of her neck. She flusters as the memories of the ballet flood her mind, and of the young lovers' tryst.
Cordelia: "He couldn't see your face."
Angel: "Nice move."
Cordelia: "You too..."
Their lips are inches apart now, as they face each other. Cordelia forces herself to snap out of it, pushing him away.
Cordelia: "Er.. uh.. I meant... w-- we have to.. go. It's close to seven, and we don't want to see Giles on the way out either."
She keeps busy, and puts the other backpack in Angel's arms.
Angel: "Right."
Cordelia: "Yeah.. so.. we go now."
It takes him longer, but Angel snaps out of it too. He has too, since Cordelia obviously doesn't see him that way. Obviously.
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---Raffles L'Ermitage Hotel | First Floor---
Groo, Gunn, Fred, Anya, Willow, and Xander run frantically through the halls.. searching for the right room number. They pant and call out the numbers as they pass.
Gunn: "118!"
Xander: "That way-- it should be-- toward 137!"
They make a sharp turn, the odd group does. They all lag behind Gunn, and he reaches the door first. He come to a quick stop, and catches his breath as he knocks on the door.
Gunn: "Room [gasp] Service."
Groo reaches it next, and shakes his head at Gunn as he pushes the door open. It was gaped a bit already, no key was needed. They enter as the rest arrive at the room as well. The room is dark, save a glow from the city lights. Willow switches a lamp on, and they see that they're too late.
Fred: "Oh no.."
Xander: "Buffy..."
Willow: "...Spike."
They laid unconscious, with their backs against the wall. Again, there was no trace of the god.
Xander: "Oh boy."
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---Hyperion Hotel | Lobby---
Wesley: "..and once they begin to physically manifest their angst, reaching across into this dimension..."
Lorne: "..we begin to be screwed, and their bodies go jive?"
Wesley: "Well.. yes. In minute factions.. until Monrazetro reaches the brim of blank dimensions..."
Groo bursts through the door, with a flank of Scoobies and Fang Gang premium members behind him.
Wesley: "Oh thank.. wait. Where is Monrazetro?"
..
Wesley: "Willow? Xander? What are you doing here?"
Xander: "Nice to see you too, 007."
Gunn: "They were at the hotel too.. tracing the god from Sunnydale."
Wesley directs his attention to the new guests.
Wesley: "I'd hate to discourage you all.. but you're underestimating his power. You should've brought Buf--"
Xander: "We did."
Wesley: "Oh dear."
Willow: "Yeah... and um.. [cough] Spike."
Lorne: "What was that, strawberry?"
She was surprised enough to see the strange green man, so Anya filled them in.
Anya: "She said Spike. I believe she wasn't too keen on mentioning him, and this was why she embedded his name in a cough."
Submerged into their thoughts, they all took a seat on the couch.
...
Wesley: "Why didn't you come to see us first?"
Willow: "..well.. we.. figured we could handle it. I mean.. we had Spike and all.."
Wesley: "This is not good for our time restraints."
Groo laughs a hearty laugh.
Groo: "Oh, you are clever! Time!"
Willow and Xander reel at the sight of the strange fellow's guffaws, disbelieving the entire situation.
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---Angelus' Masion | March 1998---
Spike: "Oh, what's the fuss about? So some local boy happens to have a Neanderthal forehead like the likes of you.. I don't--"
Angelus: "He posed as me.. he knew who I was."
Dru: "He stole daddy's face... he's not the same inside.."
Her hands pass over Angelus' features, which happen to currently express that of extreme irritation. He snaps away.
Angelus: "We find him. This is more than you'd think Spike. Then again.. there's a lot of things bigger than your capacity of thought."
Spike: "Oh come on! What do you expect him to be? A clone?! Or an enemy in a disguise? Ooo.. or let me guess.. long lost twin.. born just a tad bit later than his big bro? Yes, that must be the one. Let's get to it then, a family reunion must be in order!"
He clenches his teeth and wheels furiously away, muttering under his breath.
Spike: "I had it with the lot of you.. bloody narcissistic poofs."