Title: Music for the Soul: conclusion
Author: Katherine Eve
Summary: Just a few end notes with Doyle and Angel
Characters: Angel and Doyle
Disclaimer: Angel and Doyle belong to Joss Whedon, but he's such a nice fellow that he doesn't get mad when other people borrow them.
Note: Ah, the end of my first posted fanfiction!! Thank you so much to all those that actually read it (I'm happy if just one person got through the whole thing). A special thanks to Renee (for letting me know that someone was still reading) and Sarr Chasm (for the most detailed critique I received).
Conclusion
The night was peaceful as the car sped through the blackness, heading back toward the city that Angel now called home. The air seemed lighter, and the stars shone brighter than they had the past few years.
Doyle sat quietly in the driver seat, afraid his friend's feelings were still sensitive after everything they'd been through that night. He was dying to know what Angel was thinking, but he didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"I guess you heard a story of mine after all." Doyle shook with surprise at Angel's unexpected comment. "Will you return the favor?"
"I don't know. All my stories would be pretty dull compared to yours. The past few days have been way more interesting than anything else that's happened to me." Doyle shook his head. "The Powers-That-Be are some pretty crazy guys, aren't they. But, we won through as usual. Rescued the damsel in distress, killed the evil demon. And you certainly got a great bonus!"
"Bonus?" Angel inquired.
"Well, yeah. You said earlier you regretted what you'd done to the girl. Maybe the boys upstairs figured you've been working so hard for them, they'd let you put in some personal hours. Another burdened lifted from you tortured soul on your way to redemption. Maybe this whole thing was for you," Doyle sat up straighter as the thought came to him.
"What? You think all this was so I could feel better about myself?" Angel sighed. "No. This was for Eve. She's more important than you realize."
"Nah. I think *you're* more important than you realize. The good guys need you. Why else were you brought back? The demon said so himself. There's something protecting you. Some force. I'm thinking maybe all my visions and all the people we help, are really to help you," Doyle smiled. The thought of helping his friend made him feel better than helping the strangers they'd saved. In Doyle's mind, Angel's salvation was worth everything.
"I think you're getting carried away, Doyle. There was one bonus, though, that I don't think the Powers-That-Be had anything to do with." Angel turned his head to look at his friend.
"What's that?"
"Us," Angel replied. Doyle took his eyes off the road for a brief moment and studied Angel's face. Their eyes locked and a new understanding came over both of them. They were in this together. There would be no more secrets, just friendship.
Doyle grinned as he turned his attention back to the road. "I'm sure we would have worked things out eventually. I know I'm a lot to take. My friends don't seem to stick around very long. Maybe it's the accent. Some people don't find us Irish guys as charming as you'd think."
"I didn't say I found you charming." Angel let his long forgotten brogue creep into his voice as he spoke. It amazed him just how much the two had in common with each other.
In the distance, Angel's keen vampire eyes focused on the glow of the City of Angels. Sunnydale was now miles behind them, and once again Angel left behind a girl close to his heart. This time, however, it was a happy ending.
THE END (that was a little longer than I had planned on!!)
Author: Katherine Eve
Summary: Just a few end notes with Doyle and Angel
Characters: Angel and Doyle
Disclaimer: Angel and Doyle belong to Joss Whedon, but he's such a nice fellow that he doesn't get mad when other people borrow them.
Note: Ah, the end of my first posted fanfiction!! Thank you so much to all those that actually read it (I'm happy if just one person got through the whole thing). A special thanks to Renee (for letting me know that someone was still reading) and Sarr Chasm (for the most detailed critique I received).
Conclusion
The night was peaceful as the car sped through the blackness, heading back toward the city that Angel now called home. The air seemed lighter, and the stars shone brighter than they had the past few years.
Doyle sat quietly in the driver seat, afraid his friend's feelings were still sensitive after everything they'd been through that night. He was dying to know what Angel was thinking, but he didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"I guess you heard a story of mine after all." Doyle shook with surprise at Angel's unexpected comment. "Will you return the favor?"
"I don't know. All my stories would be pretty dull compared to yours. The past few days have been way more interesting than anything else that's happened to me." Doyle shook his head. "The Powers-That-Be are some pretty crazy guys, aren't they. But, we won through as usual. Rescued the damsel in distress, killed the evil demon. And you certainly got a great bonus!"
"Bonus?" Angel inquired.
"Well, yeah. You said earlier you regretted what you'd done to the girl. Maybe the boys upstairs figured you've been working so hard for them, they'd let you put in some personal hours. Another burdened lifted from you tortured soul on your way to redemption. Maybe this whole thing was for you," Doyle sat up straighter as the thought came to him.
"What? You think all this was so I could feel better about myself?" Angel sighed. "No. This was for Eve. She's more important than you realize."
"Nah. I think *you're* more important than you realize. The good guys need you. Why else were you brought back? The demon said so himself. There's something protecting you. Some force. I'm thinking maybe all my visions and all the people we help, are really to help you," Doyle smiled. The thought of helping his friend made him feel better than helping the strangers they'd saved. In Doyle's mind, Angel's salvation was worth everything.
"I think you're getting carried away, Doyle. There was one bonus, though, that I don't think the Powers-That-Be had anything to do with." Angel turned his head to look at his friend.
"What's that?"
"Us," Angel replied. Doyle took his eyes off the road for a brief moment and studied Angel's face. Their eyes locked and a new understanding came over both of them. They were in this together. There would be no more secrets, just friendship.
Doyle grinned as he turned his attention back to the road. "I'm sure we would have worked things out eventually. I know I'm a lot to take. My friends don't seem to stick around very long. Maybe it's the accent. Some people don't find us Irish guys as charming as you'd think."
"I didn't say I found you charming." Angel let his long forgotten brogue creep into his voice as he spoke. It amazed him just how much the two had in common with each other.
In the distance, Angel's keen vampire eyes focused on the glow of the City of Angels. Sunnydale was now miles behind them, and once again Angel left behind a girl close to his heart. This time, however, it was a happy ending.
THE END (that was a little longer than I had planned on!!)