A/N: So here it is: the Final Chapter. Okay, besides the epilogue but. oh
well. Anyway, I'm sorry it took so long. I've been super busy and plus it
is the final chapter; I had to get in what last surprises I could. Enjoy!
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter Twelve~
The soft light of dawn crept across the sheets, turning them a soft gray. Deep rifts of black formed in flawless plain when the body beneath the sheets shifted slightly.
"Faith's going to be fine, Spike," Anya said, resting a hand on his shoulder, "just like that nice doctor said earlier.
They were both surprised to find a hospital so easily. Of course, by hospital that meant a few cots in various rooms, even fewer doctors, and barely any medical supplies. But it was pretty nice as far as the hospitals went those days. Crowded but nice. The doctors found a cot for the unconscious Faith pretty quickly. Then after a brief examination, the doctor left Spike and Anya in the small room filled with sleeping people.
"I know," Spike muttered as Anya turned down the shades, "but I still feel guilty."
"If it weren't for you, Faith wouldn't just need a few hours of rest," Anya pointed out.
She settled onto Spike's lap and slipped an arm around him and ran her fingers up and down his back. His gaze shifted from Faith to Anya's eyes and a half smile spread across his face.
"We're just both very tense right now," Anya said softly and kissed Spike lightly behind his ear.
"Tense." Spike agreed, his voice husky.
"I bet there are some empty cots somewhere where we could-"
Spike cut her off by catching her mouth with his. They kissed long and hard. They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't even hear the door open.
"There's a welcoming sight."
Spike pulled his hand out of Anya's shirt and she reached back to re- hook her bra.
"Have you ever heard of-" Spike turned around and stopped abruptly. He attempted to regain himself and think of something witty to say but Anya spoke first.
"Don't I know you?"
"Duh, we only hung out in high school," replied one of the new arrivals.
"Oh right, the wish chick," Anya observed with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah, I guess," Cordelia said. "Hey Spike, fancy seeing you here."
Spike's mouth opened then closed again. Then he finally said, "Hello Cordelia, Angel."
His grand sire nodded in recognition.
It wasn't until now that Spike noticed that Cordelia was leaning on Angel as if she couldn't stand on her own. She also had a poorly covered scar running diagonally down her chest.
"How's Faith?" Angel broke his stony silence to say.
Spike motioned to the sleeping form and Anya said, "They said she'd be fine enough to take home after some rest. I think they just don't want us taking up one of their cots."
Angel walked closer to Faith. Cordelia limped alongside him. With a soft, concerned gaze, Angel studied the Slayer. Finally, after a moment of silence, Angel reached down and ran his fingers through her hair.
"So what are you guys doing here?" Anya finally asked the question Spike had wanted to ask.
"Let's go out into the hall," Angel said when he noticed a few of the patients stirring in the cots near them.
When they'd all filed out into the hall, they followed Angel to the small and empty waiting room. Angel helped Cordelia into a chair, something, Spike thought, that the Cordelia he'd known would be too proud to allow. Anya and Spike settled onto the couch across from them.
"So?" Anya prodded after a moment.
Cordelia sighed and said, "I had a vision."
"About Faith?" Spike questioned.
"About Drusilla," Cordelia said. "And I could tell it was in New York. Faith was in it too and she was in danger."
"Brilliant timing," Spike muttered.
"We were all the way across the country," Angel said angrily.
"So why are you two here?" Cordelia intervened quickly.
"Long story," Spike muttered.
"Did you come here together or." Cordelia prompted.
"Oh, no," Anya answered, "We had extremely favorable luck."
"Oh, cool," Cordelia said dully.
They all shifted uncomfortably in the silence. It seemed like they should have a million things to say but couldn't think of one. Anya wasn't a fan of silence but also didn't know what to say so she occupied herself by studying the affectionate dedication Angel and Cordelia had for each other. It appeared to her that while they didn't really have a physical relationship, they cared about each other steadfastly. Anya had gotten good at reading people in her days as a demon. She could point out a couple on the verge of a break-up in a heartbeat.
"So, uh, did you have a vision before the Final Battle?" Spike meant for it to sound casual but it came out like an accusation.
Cordelia seemed sheepish but before Angel could stand up for her, she said, "yes but we couldn't help. There was no way."
"Were there demons in Los Angeles also?" Anya asked.
Averting her gaze, Cordelia nodded softly. When Spike got another look at her scar, he felt ashamed. She probably got that around the same time of the Final Battle.
"We went to Sunnydale as soon as we could but everyone was gone." Angel stopped abruptly. It was obvious he'd amended the last word just before he said it.
"Did anyone else survive?" Anya asked.
"Wesley is finding a hotel right now," Cordelia answered the question in the easiest way.
"You probably won't be needing a hotel," Spike said. "If your vision didn't show it, Drusilla is after you too, Angel."
"But she left the city or at least we didn't see her at the nest," Angel protested.
"Wait, if you went to the vampire nest, how did you end up here?" Anya wondered aloud.
"I had another vision when we got there and so we rushed here," Cordelia answered.
"Did you see the fight or just the outcome?" Spike asked.
"The outcome," Angel answered for her. "So Drusilla is alive?"
"And after her Daddy," Spike informed them. "I think we're getting out of here as soon as we can. You guys probably shouldn't stay and sightsee either."
"And don't go back to. wherever your former residence was," Anya added.
"We didn't really have one," Angel said.
"We were kinda floaters," Cordelia added.
"Seems to be a popular occupation," Spike muttered.
"We do what we can," Cordelia said.
"But somehow it never seems like enough," Angel said mostly to himself.
Again they all knew they had so many things to say or ask but couldn't think of what. Finally, a nurse came and broke the awkward silence.
"Excuse me," she said to Anya and Spike, "your friend Faith is awake and asking for you."
"Thank you," Spike mumbled.
"Just try to keep the volume down when you're in her room," the nurse reminded them.
"Of course."
After the nurse had gone, Anya and Spike followed by Cordelia and Angel returned to Faith's room.
"Thank god you're here, Spike! You gotta convince those doctors that I heal really quickly and shouldn't have to stay cooped up here so-"
Like Spike had, Faith became speechless when she noticed Angel looming behind the others.
"Hello Faith," Angel said.
"So you are alive," she murmured.
"Yup," Cordelia chimed in, "for once Drusilla knew what she was talking about."
"But how did you-"
"How are you feeling?" Angel cut Faith off and kneeled down beside her cot.
"You know me, five by five," Faith said with a smile. "When did you get here?"
"Just a little while ago," Angel informed her. "Cordelia had a vision about you being in trouble so we came."
"Aw, for me? You shouldn't have," Faith smiled, "but it's pretty cool you did. What a crazy reunion, huh?"
"And it's all because of Drusilla," Cordelia observed.
"And she's not even apart of it. She would be so disappointed," Spike added.
"Speaking of the insanely departed, shouldn't we be hightailing it out of here before she catches on?" Faith questioned.
"Probably," Spike agreed, "Anya and I will go sign you out while you guys get to catch up."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Now are you sure, sir, that you want to take her out of here so soon?" the nurse at the counter questioned with wide eyes.
"The doctor said she only had to stay a few hours," Spike pointed out.
"Well by that I'm sure he meant four or five hours not just one-"
"And a half," Spike added. "You don't know our little Faith; she's as strong as an ox and persistent as hell when it comes to getting her way."
"I'm still not so sure."
"Lady, you don't want to incur his," Anya pointed to Spike, "wrath, do you? Cause believe me, as compact as he may look, he is very well muscled."
Spike and Anya smiled brightly at the frightened nurse.
"Here's the release, just sign here and you can take Faith out of here right now," the nurse said hurriedly.
"Dandy," Spike said as he laid some money down on the counter. "Thank you for your services."
When they returned to Faith's room, they found Faith already out of bed and fully dressed.
"We ready to go?" Faith asked impatiently.
"We had to threaten the counter lady but she finally said we could take you home," Anya said cheerfully.
Angel shoot Spike a dark look.
"Speaking of home," Faith started as they filed out of her room, "I want to go with Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley. They already said I could."
She sounded like a teenager begging to sleepover at her friend's house. It made Spike realize that he hadn't really thought about what would happen to Faith, whether she would stay with him and Anya or not.
"That's fine," Spike said.
Faith smiled and looked at Angel who was helping Cordelia through the hospital doors. He carefully stood out of the sunlight though as Cordelia went outside and greeted Wesley who'd just arrived.
"That was fast," Wesley observed.
"Anya and Spike threatened the nurse," Cordelia informed him as she fished a blanket out of the car's backseat.
"Who?" Wesley asked.
"It's a long story."
Wesley nodded and followed Cordelia inside.
"There's been a change of plans," she said as Wesley greeted everyone. "Spike says that Drusilla is after Angel as well so we aren't going to need a hotel. Oh, and Faith is joining us."
Faith's broad smile made her ex-watcher fall back into his old British ways and blush slightly
"Let's skip the pleasantries for now," Cordelia said quickly. "We should take Anya and Spike back to. wherever first and then get out of here as quickly as possible."
* * * * * * * * * *
TBC
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter Twelve~
The soft light of dawn crept across the sheets, turning them a soft gray. Deep rifts of black formed in flawless plain when the body beneath the sheets shifted slightly.
"Faith's going to be fine, Spike," Anya said, resting a hand on his shoulder, "just like that nice doctor said earlier.
They were both surprised to find a hospital so easily. Of course, by hospital that meant a few cots in various rooms, even fewer doctors, and barely any medical supplies. But it was pretty nice as far as the hospitals went those days. Crowded but nice. The doctors found a cot for the unconscious Faith pretty quickly. Then after a brief examination, the doctor left Spike and Anya in the small room filled with sleeping people.
"I know," Spike muttered as Anya turned down the shades, "but I still feel guilty."
"If it weren't for you, Faith wouldn't just need a few hours of rest," Anya pointed out.
She settled onto Spike's lap and slipped an arm around him and ran her fingers up and down his back. His gaze shifted from Faith to Anya's eyes and a half smile spread across his face.
"We're just both very tense right now," Anya said softly and kissed Spike lightly behind his ear.
"Tense." Spike agreed, his voice husky.
"I bet there are some empty cots somewhere where we could-"
Spike cut her off by catching her mouth with his. They kissed long and hard. They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't even hear the door open.
"There's a welcoming sight."
Spike pulled his hand out of Anya's shirt and she reached back to re- hook her bra.
"Have you ever heard of-" Spike turned around and stopped abruptly. He attempted to regain himself and think of something witty to say but Anya spoke first.
"Don't I know you?"
"Duh, we only hung out in high school," replied one of the new arrivals.
"Oh right, the wish chick," Anya observed with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah, I guess," Cordelia said. "Hey Spike, fancy seeing you here."
Spike's mouth opened then closed again. Then he finally said, "Hello Cordelia, Angel."
His grand sire nodded in recognition.
It wasn't until now that Spike noticed that Cordelia was leaning on Angel as if she couldn't stand on her own. She also had a poorly covered scar running diagonally down her chest.
"How's Faith?" Angel broke his stony silence to say.
Spike motioned to the sleeping form and Anya said, "They said she'd be fine enough to take home after some rest. I think they just don't want us taking up one of their cots."
Angel walked closer to Faith. Cordelia limped alongside him. With a soft, concerned gaze, Angel studied the Slayer. Finally, after a moment of silence, Angel reached down and ran his fingers through her hair.
"So what are you guys doing here?" Anya finally asked the question Spike had wanted to ask.
"Let's go out into the hall," Angel said when he noticed a few of the patients stirring in the cots near them.
When they'd all filed out into the hall, they followed Angel to the small and empty waiting room. Angel helped Cordelia into a chair, something, Spike thought, that the Cordelia he'd known would be too proud to allow. Anya and Spike settled onto the couch across from them.
"So?" Anya prodded after a moment.
Cordelia sighed and said, "I had a vision."
"About Faith?" Spike questioned.
"About Drusilla," Cordelia said. "And I could tell it was in New York. Faith was in it too and she was in danger."
"Brilliant timing," Spike muttered.
"We were all the way across the country," Angel said angrily.
"So why are you two here?" Cordelia intervened quickly.
"Long story," Spike muttered.
"Did you come here together or." Cordelia prompted.
"Oh, no," Anya answered, "We had extremely favorable luck."
"Oh, cool," Cordelia said dully.
They all shifted uncomfortably in the silence. It seemed like they should have a million things to say but couldn't think of one. Anya wasn't a fan of silence but also didn't know what to say so she occupied herself by studying the affectionate dedication Angel and Cordelia had for each other. It appeared to her that while they didn't really have a physical relationship, they cared about each other steadfastly. Anya had gotten good at reading people in her days as a demon. She could point out a couple on the verge of a break-up in a heartbeat.
"So, uh, did you have a vision before the Final Battle?" Spike meant for it to sound casual but it came out like an accusation.
Cordelia seemed sheepish but before Angel could stand up for her, she said, "yes but we couldn't help. There was no way."
"Were there demons in Los Angeles also?" Anya asked.
Averting her gaze, Cordelia nodded softly. When Spike got another look at her scar, he felt ashamed. She probably got that around the same time of the Final Battle.
"We went to Sunnydale as soon as we could but everyone was gone." Angel stopped abruptly. It was obvious he'd amended the last word just before he said it.
"Did anyone else survive?" Anya asked.
"Wesley is finding a hotel right now," Cordelia answered the question in the easiest way.
"You probably won't be needing a hotel," Spike said. "If your vision didn't show it, Drusilla is after you too, Angel."
"But she left the city or at least we didn't see her at the nest," Angel protested.
"Wait, if you went to the vampire nest, how did you end up here?" Anya wondered aloud.
"I had another vision when we got there and so we rushed here," Cordelia answered.
"Did you see the fight or just the outcome?" Spike asked.
"The outcome," Angel answered for her. "So Drusilla is alive?"
"And after her Daddy," Spike informed them. "I think we're getting out of here as soon as we can. You guys probably shouldn't stay and sightsee either."
"And don't go back to. wherever your former residence was," Anya added.
"We didn't really have one," Angel said.
"We were kinda floaters," Cordelia added.
"Seems to be a popular occupation," Spike muttered.
"We do what we can," Cordelia said.
"But somehow it never seems like enough," Angel said mostly to himself.
Again they all knew they had so many things to say or ask but couldn't think of what. Finally, a nurse came and broke the awkward silence.
"Excuse me," she said to Anya and Spike, "your friend Faith is awake and asking for you."
"Thank you," Spike mumbled.
"Just try to keep the volume down when you're in her room," the nurse reminded them.
"Of course."
After the nurse had gone, Anya and Spike followed by Cordelia and Angel returned to Faith's room.
"Thank god you're here, Spike! You gotta convince those doctors that I heal really quickly and shouldn't have to stay cooped up here so-"
Like Spike had, Faith became speechless when she noticed Angel looming behind the others.
"Hello Faith," Angel said.
"So you are alive," she murmured.
"Yup," Cordelia chimed in, "for once Drusilla knew what she was talking about."
"But how did you-"
"How are you feeling?" Angel cut Faith off and kneeled down beside her cot.
"You know me, five by five," Faith said with a smile. "When did you get here?"
"Just a little while ago," Angel informed her. "Cordelia had a vision about you being in trouble so we came."
"Aw, for me? You shouldn't have," Faith smiled, "but it's pretty cool you did. What a crazy reunion, huh?"
"And it's all because of Drusilla," Cordelia observed.
"And she's not even apart of it. She would be so disappointed," Spike added.
"Speaking of the insanely departed, shouldn't we be hightailing it out of here before she catches on?" Faith questioned.
"Probably," Spike agreed, "Anya and I will go sign you out while you guys get to catch up."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Now are you sure, sir, that you want to take her out of here so soon?" the nurse at the counter questioned with wide eyes.
"The doctor said she only had to stay a few hours," Spike pointed out.
"Well by that I'm sure he meant four or five hours not just one-"
"And a half," Spike added. "You don't know our little Faith; she's as strong as an ox and persistent as hell when it comes to getting her way."
"I'm still not so sure."
"Lady, you don't want to incur his," Anya pointed to Spike, "wrath, do you? Cause believe me, as compact as he may look, he is very well muscled."
Spike and Anya smiled brightly at the frightened nurse.
"Here's the release, just sign here and you can take Faith out of here right now," the nurse said hurriedly.
"Dandy," Spike said as he laid some money down on the counter. "Thank you for your services."
When they returned to Faith's room, they found Faith already out of bed and fully dressed.
"We ready to go?" Faith asked impatiently.
"We had to threaten the counter lady but she finally said we could take you home," Anya said cheerfully.
Angel shoot Spike a dark look.
"Speaking of home," Faith started as they filed out of her room, "I want to go with Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley. They already said I could."
She sounded like a teenager begging to sleepover at her friend's house. It made Spike realize that he hadn't really thought about what would happen to Faith, whether she would stay with him and Anya or not.
"That's fine," Spike said.
Faith smiled and looked at Angel who was helping Cordelia through the hospital doors. He carefully stood out of the sunlight though as Cordelia went outside and greeted Wesley who'd just arrived.
"That was fast," Wesley observed.
"Anya and Spike threatened the nurse," Cordelia informed him as she fished a blanket out of the car's backseat.
"Who?" Wesley asked.
"It's a long story."
Wesley nodded and followed Cordelia inside.
"There's been a change of plans," she said as Wesley greeted everyone. "Spike says that Drusilla is after Angel as well so we aren't going to need a hotel. Oh, and Faith is joining us."
Faith's broad smile made her ex-watcher fall back into his old British ways and blush slightly
"Let's skip the pleasantries for now," Cordelia said quickly. "We should take Anya and Spike back to. wherever first and then get out of here as quickly as possible."
* * * * * * * * * *
TBC