Title: Loose Ends
Author: Jane McCartney
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize belong to Joss & co. (all hail the crackhead). I'm just fooling around with his universe, with no intention of making money or anything.
Classification: Buffy-Angel crossover
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Yes, please! Doesn't everyone want it?
Email: janemccartney@bol.com.br
Distribution: Anywhere, I don't mind, just credit me and inform me where it's at.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Theo, who actually made this project a viable one with his amazing and wonderful work - I'm truly grateful for your help with the English grammar and all the necessary adaptations. You're my savior.
Note: This is my very first attempt at fan fiction, and English is definitely not my native language, so I'd be happy if you guys didn't go too hard on me - please. I'm just doing the best I can here.
Summary: [Buffy-Angel Crossover] Xander shows up in Los Angeles, and brings with him a secret that'll lead him into dangerous territory. Can he cope with that? And his friends, will they be there for him?
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: FROM NOW ON, THIS STORY'S BEING WRITTEN BY JANE MCCARTNEY AND STAIRWAY MAN. In the abandoned basement where 'Neil Diamond' a.k.a. Lance Randolph had been murdered, the Kohra demon was in a foul temper.
In fact, it was so completely and thoroughly pissed that it was trashing the place; smashing its fists against the walls, yelling and screaming obscenities in a language that none of the three vampires present had any possible hope of ever identifying.
"What's crawled up his ass?" Gerard, the youngest bloodsucker, asked no one in particular.
Luke, his sire, just sighed in boredom and stared at his lover Isabelle, who was once again filing her nails. That bitch can't think of anything better to do right now?
"Vampires!" the demon suddenly howled, as it turned to face them.
Luke hurried forward, "Yes, master?"
"The plans have been changed," it snarled at them. "The trap that was planned for the boy - it is useless now! The Promised One is in danger. He must be protected! The Slayer and her companion must die!"
It screamed out that last word, with a strange percussive force; the vamps could *feel* the magical blast emanating from its mouth, and could almost see the disturbance in the air as it travelled forth.
It was way wiggy, in the undead Gerard's humble opinion.
Not for the first time, the soulless bloodsucker wondered just what his sire had dragged him into. At first, of course, the undead guy had to admit that this had seemed like a fun gig; a bit of killing, a bit of feeding, possibly watching the world going up in smoke, yeah a real 'wow' kind of blast.
But now "Johnny", as Isabelle loved to call him, had the feeling that his ass was on the line here. And Gerard didn't like their odds of getting away clean, not at all. Funny thing was, Luke was feeling the same way; but he quickly and thoroughly buried those treacherous and dangerous feelings to his immortal health, as he paid attention to the new orders the demon overlord started giving.
Isabelle, on the other hand, was rapidly getting absolutely bored again. The red-haired vampiress was seriously thinking of just walking out on the whole thing, and finding some Happy Meals with legs; but then she spied Luke's well-built and incredibly toned physique once again, and decided she wasn't quite ready to forever abandon the incredible orgasms her lover could dish out.
The Kohra demon was, however, not interested in the musings of any of these three (to him) disgusting half-breeds. All it cared about was the success of the plan, to unleash Angelus onto the world.
And to be horribly, painfully, honest - the plan was proceeding very nicely, almost right on schedule.
The only hope was two loose ends, that the demons intended to take care of soon.
***
The next morning at the Hyperion hotel, Wesley and Giles did *not* tell everyone what they had learned the previous night.
They had pleaded with Cordelia, when they'd realized she was eavesdropping and before everyone came running downstairs to see what was wrong, not to say anything just yet - as they'd decided no one else needed to know the full, awful truth right now.
It was a little presumptuous on their part, maybe, but prophecy is a deliciously wicked and evilly tricky thing - as Buffy Summers would have been the first to tell you, given what had happened with the Master that night of the Prom. And you never *really* know just when the fat lady's gonna start singin'.
After breakfast, an important meeting was held; in which it was decided Buffy, at least, had to go back home at once.
"What?" the blonde Slayer demanded, obviously not happy with the idea. "Why?"
"Need I remind you about the Hellmouth, and all the demons there who would just love to open it and destroy the world?" Wesley snapped, a little tired and grouchy after spending the whole night wide awake looking for answers.
"Huh, somebody's got his knickers in a right twist this morning, don't they?" Spike smirked.
"Shut up, Spike," Buffy said absently, her attention focused on her former librarian. "Giles, what do you think?"
The other British man rubbed his eyes, a sure sign of weariness that nobody present missed. "I-I think Wesley's right, Buffy," he said eventually. "We, we were researching all last night-"
"Ha, I knew it! Pay up!" Anya said triumphantly to Dawn, who scowled over the bet she had lost and miserably handed over five bucks.
"If I could continue?" Giles sighed, getting a very familiar and pestilential headache because of the youngsters. Everybody nodded. "Thank you. Now, as far as we can tell, there's nothing we can really do until the time comes for Angel, Faith and Xander to show up again..."
"What?" cried Willow. "You can't mean that! We can't give up and just kill Angel - we gotta do something!"
"We will," the older ex-Watcher assured her. "For now though, all we can do is try to generate ideas; but more importantly, the Hellmouth needs its guardian back. God only knows what's happened back home, since yesterday..."
"Fine, fine," Buffy sulked. She then turned to her little sister, "Dawn? Meet you at the car in five minutes..."
"Buffy!" the former Key looked upset.
"Hey! It's still a school day, and you can't help here," the blonde girl said firmly. She looked around at the rest of the Slayerettes. "Who else is coming?"
"I am," Spike spoke up at once. "Think I wanna stay around 'ere any longer than I got to? I'd rather watch Drusilla get it on with Angelus or something!" Everyone glared at the soulless vampire, who too late realized the horrifying and torturous implications of what he'd just said. "Well, uh, so to speak..."
Anya decided to let everyone know of her plans, "If any of you think I'm leaving here before I get Xander back? You're nuts!"
Giles looked at her for a moment, amazed as always at her bluntness. I wonder if she and Cordelia are, are related somehow? "I, um, I guess I'll be heading off as well - there are books and reference materials back in Sunnydale, that I simply must check out..."
"Really?" Cordy's sharp, miserable voice spoke up for the first time. "And just what do you think you'll find in them?"
All the present ones turned to look at the seer, not understanding the complete and utter hopelessness in her voice; as they had no idea about the new prophecy in the Codex, that had been discovered the previous night.
"Hope, Cordelia," Giles answered her softly. "I'm looking for hope..."
***
The Scoobies soon left for home, with a grumbling Spike put into the boot of the car this time to make room for a vast number of borrowed research materials. "I'm gonna suffocate in 'ere!" he yelled.
"But you don't breathe!" Dawn yelled back.
"It's the bloody thought that counts," his voice could be heard, as the car roared off. And Anya then went off to buy some supplies, magical and otherwise, for her upcoming extended stay.
Strangely enough, Tara had decided not to go home either; Willow had wanted her to, of course, but the older witch had simply told her lover that she had the funny feeling she would be needed here, and that they would see each other again soon.
And as soon as the Slayer and her pals were gone, Cordelia came to a decision. This whole mess had arisen because of idiotic and needless secrecy and lies, and she was damned if she would let it go on any longer. "Tell them," Cordy said harshly to the British man, as soon as all the Fang Gang was together. "Either you tell 'em, or I will!"
Fred and Gunn looked at her, then at Wesley; and realizing that the jig was up, the ex-Watcher just sighed in defeat and told them about the prophecy.
"No way!" Fred screamed in horror.
Gunn looked no less shocked, as Wes told them the whole story. "This is friggin' insane..."
Tara was the only one left, with any semblance of remaining calm. "I-I've heard what happened with Buffy, all those years ago," she stammered. "But d- didn't she manage to get around this sort of prophecy, back then?"
"No," Wesley sighed. "According to Rupert, it truly was inevitable - Buffy died like she was destined to. It was just that - that Xander was there, to bring her back..."
"So, so, we just gotta find some way to bring Angel back as well?" Fred asked.
"I don't think it's that simple," Wesley insisted. "The prophecy was clear, that Angel will become dust after losing his soul..."
"Then, we find a way so that he *doesn't* lose his soul!" Cordelia looked like she'd had some sort of epiphany. "Couldn't we just, y'know, sort of put it into safe storage, like the Hope diamond or something?"
"You mean transfer it, before it's lost? Get around the prophecy, like before, somehow..." Wesley scratched his head, and had the surprised and confused appearance of a man who could not believe he had never even considered that particular course of action.
"Yes!" most of the Angelites chorused.
Their leader shrugged. "Right then. What do we have to lose, by trying?"
***
Author: Jane McCartney
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize belong to Joss & co. (all hail the crackhead). I'm just fooling around with his universe, with no intention of making money or anything.
Classification: Buffy-Angel crossover
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Yes, please! Doesn't everyone want it?
Email: janemccartney@bol.com.br
Distribution: Anywhere, I don't mind, just credit me and inform me where it's at.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Theo, who actually made this project a viable one with his amazing and wonderful work - I'm truly grateful for your help with the English grammar and all the necessary adaptations. You're my savior.
Note: This is my very first attempt at fan fiction, and English is definitely not my native language, so I'd be happy if you guys didn't go too hard on me - please. I'm just doing the best I can here.
Summary: [Buffy-Angel Crossover] Xander shows up in Los Angeles, and brings with him a secret that'll lead him into dangerous territory. Can he cope with that? And his friends, will they be there for him?
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: FROM NOW ON, THIS STORY'S BEING WRITTEN BY JANE MCCARTNEY AND STAIRWAY MAN. In the abandoned basement where 'Neil Diamond' a.k.a. Lance Randolph had been murdered, the Kohra demon was in a foul temper.
In fact, it was so completely and thoroughly pissed that it was trashing the place; smashing its fists against the walls, yelling and screaming obscenities in a language that none of the three vampires present had any possible hope of ever identifying.
"What's crawled up his ass?" Gerard, the youngest bloodsucker, asked no one in particular.
Luke, his sire, just sighed in boredom and stared at his lover Isabelle, who was once again filing her nails. That bitch can't think of anything better to do right now?
"Vampires!" the demon suddenly howled, as it turned to face them.
Luke hurried forward, "Yes, master?"
"The plans have been changed," it snarled at them. "The trap that was planned for the boy - it is useless now! The Promised One is in danger. He must be protected! The Slayer and her companion must die!"
It screamed out that last word, with a strange percussive force; the vamps could *feel* the magical blast emanating from its mouth, and could almost see the disturbance in the air as it travelled forth.
It was way wiggy, in the undead Gerard's humble opinion.
Not for the first time, the soulless bloodsucker wondered just what his sire had dragged him into. At first, of course, the undead guy had to admit that this had seemed like a fun gig; a bit of killing, a bit of feeding, possibly watching the world going up in smoke, yeah a real 'wow' kind of blast.
But now "Johnny", as Isabelle loved to call him, had the feeling that his ass was on the line here. And Gerard didn't like their odds of getting away clean, not at all. Funny thing was, Luke was feeling the same way; but he quickly and thoroughly buried those treacherous and dangerous feelings to his immortal health, as he paid attention to the new orders the demon overlord started giving.
Isabelle, on the other hand, was rapidly getting absolutely bored again. The red-haired vampiress was seriously thinking of just walking out on the whole thing, and finding some Happy Meals with legs; but then she spied Luke's well-built and incredibly toned physique once again, and decided she wasn't quite ready to forever abandon the incredible orgasms her lover could dish out.
The Kohra demon was, however, not interested in the musings of any of these three (to him) disgusting half-breeds. All it cared about was the success of the plan, to unleash Angelus onto the world.
And to be horribly, painfully, honest - the plan was proceeding very nicely, almost right on schedule.
The only hope was two loose ends, that the demons intended to take care of soon.
***
The next morning at the Hyperion hotel, Wesley and Giles did *not* tell everyone what they had learned the previous night.
They had pleaded with Cordelia, when they'd realized she was eavesdropping and before everyone came running downstairs to see what was wrong, not to say anything just yet - as they'd decided no one else needed to know the full, awful truth right now.
It was a little presumptuous on their part, maybe, but prophecy is a deliciously wicked and evilly tricky thing - as Buffy Summers would have been the first to tell you, given what had happened with the Master that night of the Prom. And you never *really* know just when the fat lady's gonna start singin'.
After breakfast, an important meeting was held; in which it was decided Buffy, at least, had to go back home at once.
"What?" the blonde Slayer demanded, obviously not happy with the idea. "Why?"
"Need I remind you about the Hellmouth, and all the demons there who would just love to open it and destroy the world?" Wesley snapped, a little tired and grouchy after spending the whole night wide awake looking for answers.
"Huh, somebody's got his knickers in a right twist this morning, don't they?" Spike smirked.
"Shut up, Spike," Buffy said absently, her attention focused on her former librarian. "Giles, what do you think?"
The other British man rubbed his eyes, a sure sign of weariness that nobody present missed. "I-I think Wesley's right, Buffy," he said eventually. "We, we were researching all last night-"
"Ha, I knew it! Pay up!" Anya said triumphantly to Dawn, who scowled over the bet she had lost and miserably handed over five bucks.
"If I could continue?" Giles sighed, getting a very familiar and pestilential headache because of the youngsters. Everybody nodded. "Thank you. Now, as far as we can tell, there's nothing we can really do until the time comes for Angel, Faith and Xander to show up again..."
"What?" cried Willow. "You can't mean that! We can't give up and just kill Angel - we gotta do something!"
"We will," the older ex-Watcher assured her. "For now though, all we can do is try to generate ideas; but more importantly, the Hellmouth needs its guardian back. God only knows what's happened back home, since yesterday..."
"Fine, fine," Buffy sulked. She then turned to her little sister, "Dawn? Meet you at the car in five minutes..."
"Buffy!" the former Key looked upset.
"Hey! It's still a school day, and you can't help here," the blonde girl said firmly. She looked around at the rest of the Slayerettes. "Who else is coming?"
"I am," Spike spoke up at once. "Think I wanna stay around 'ere any longer than I got to? I'd rather watch Drusilla get it on with Angelus or something!" Everyone glared at the soulless vampire, who too late realized the horrifying and torturous implications of what he'd just said. "Well, uh, so to speak..."
Anya decided to let everyone know of her plans, "If any of you think I'm leaving here before I get Xander back? You're nuts!"
Giles looked at her for a moment, amazed as always at her bluntness. I wonder if she and Cordelia are, are related somehow? "I, um, I guess I'll be heading off as well - there are books and reference materials back in Sunnydale, that I simply must check out..."
"Really?" Cordy's sharp, miserable voice spoke up for the first time. "And just what do you think you'll find in them?"
All the present ones turned to look at the seer, not understanding the complete and utter hopelessness in her voice; as they had no idea about the new prophecy in the Codex, that had been discovered the previous night.
"Hope, Cordelia," Giles answered her softly. "I'm looking for hope..."
***
The Scoobies soon left for home, with a grumbling Spike put into the boot of the car this time to make room for a vast number of borrowed research materials. "I'm gonna suffocate in 'ere!" he yelled.
"But you don't breathe!" Dawn yelled back.
"It's the bloody thought that counts," his voice could be heard, as the car roared off. And Anya then went off to buy some supplies, magical and otherwise, for her upcoming extended stay.
Strangely enough, Tara had decided not to go home either; Willow had wanted her to, of course, but the older witch had simply told her lover that she had the funny feeling she would be needed here, and that they would see each other again soon.
And as soon as the Slayer and her pals were gone, Cordelia came to a decision. This whole mess had arisen because of idiotic and needless secrecy and lies, and she was damned if she would let it go on any longer. "Tell them," Cordy said harshly to the British man, as soon as all the Fang Gang was together. "Either you tell 'em, or I will!"
Fred and Gunn looked at her, then at Wesley; and realizing that the jig was up, the ex-Watcher just sighed in defeat and told them about the prophecy.
"No way!" Fred screamed in horror.
Gunn looked no less shocked, as Wes told them the whole story. "This is friggin' insane..."
Tara was the only one left, with any semblance of remaining calm. "I-I've heard what happened with Buffy, all those years ago," she stammered. "But d- didn't she manage to get around this sort of prophecy, back then?"
"No," Wesley sighed. "According to Rupert, it truly was inevitable - Buffy died like she was destined to. It was just that - that Xander was there, to bring her back..."
"So, so, we just gotta find some way to bring Angel back as well?" Fred asked.
"I don't think it's that simple," Wesley insisted. "The prophecy was clear, that Angel will become dust after losing his soul..."
"Then, we find a way so that he *doesn't* lose his soul!" Cordelia looked like she'd had some sort of epiphany. "Couldn't we just, y'know, sort of put it into safe storage, like the Hope diamond or something?"
"You mean transfer it, before it's lost? Get around the prophecy, like before, somehow..." Wesley scratched his head, and had the surprised and confused appearance of a man who could not believe he had never even considered that particular course of action.
"Yes!" most of the Angelites chorused.
Their leader shrugged. "Right then. What do we have to lose, by trying?"
***