Chapter 47: Choices.
Title: Reunion time.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that *English is not my native tongue* so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.
Author's remark: My chapters as of ch 12 will no longer be reproof by Sigma due to the fact that I have no internet and I'm asking someone else to post the remaining chapters for me. I want to take this opportunity and thank sigma for all the help. And I hope you will continue reading my story even without the excellent work sigma has done. Thank you again sigma for all your great work.
***
She looked at her watch. It was already 19:00. Hours have past since she had the vision of the Dorkanious coming to town. The details were vague, but from what she saw and understood, it is meant to posses the body of someone, probably one of them, so he can get the book. They're primary goal of finding a way to destroy the book wasn't they're only one, Now they had to watch each other, never leave the book alone with someone, keep all eyes open. She sat on the couch reading the same book she started reading an hour ago, her mind was drifting. She was waiting for the next clue to appear, for her moment to shine. Skip told her she will have to make a choice, but so far all the choices were made for her. She looked around the room, to see that it was fairly empty. And then she remembered they all went out to get something to eat, due to the fact that Buffy refrigerator was empty. She decided to stay behind, not wanting to leave the book alone. Wesley and Giles felt the same way and decided to stay. And since Angel didn't want to leave Cordy behind and really didn't need the food, he stayed as well.
"Albright!" Wesley said out loud as he shut the book. I'm going to make myself a marvelous and well deserved cup of tea, anyone care to join me?" He looked around to see Giles smiling and getting up. "Wonderful. Anyone else?" This time he stared at Cordy and Angel who each seemed preoccupied with they're reading.
"No thanks." Cordy mumbled not taking her eyes off the book she was not-really-reading. And Angel declined also.
**Okay Cor, concentrate. Start reading and stop daydreaming. When they contact you, or should I say when they contact you, you'll deal. But till then you have to read** she said to herself. **Great you really lot it, talking to yourself, and your still doing it. Just...** Suddenly she felt a sharp and familiar pain. She closed her eyes and was just about to grab her head and scream when suddenly the pain stopped. Instead, flashes appeared before her eyes, flashes of her self holding the book and carrying it somewhere. Another image flashed before her, it was of her standing in an ally, a very familiar ally. And then she opened her eyes. She looked at Angel who didn't seem to notice she had a vision. "Angel?" He looked up at her and saw her one million dollar smile. "I changed my mind, I am kind of hungry, is there any chance you can go to the kitchen and see if you can make something."
"I don't think she has much left, why don't I order you some pizza, just the way you like it he offered and got up towards the phone.
"No." She stopped him half way. "I can't eat and entire pizza, I just want something small like a sandwich or something, please?" She smiled again knowing he couldn't resist her smile.
"Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do." He turned around and headed for the kitchen.
"Angel." She reached out and grabbed his arm. "Thank you." She smiled.
"You're welcome." He smiled backed.
"Come here." She said to him softly and pulled him down towards her lips. She kissed him slowly and passionately. She knew she had little time and that in any moment Wesley and Giles will return and her plan will be destroyed, but she had to say goodbye, she had to kiss him one last time. He was the love of her life. She knew that now. He was always there for her, always her friend. She held back the tears knowing it would only make him suspicious. As she pulled back she whispered in his ear; "I'm sorry."
"What for?" he asked with a smile.
"Uh... for making you make me dinner." She smiled hoping he'll believe her.
"Well it's not like I haven't done this before." He smiled and turned around and disappeared into the corridor. The minute he was out of sight she got up grabbed the book and her jacket and walked out, carefully closing the door behind her.
***
"Hi." Angel greeted the two men who sat on the kitchen stools enjoying tea and bisects.
"Hello." Wesley greeted him back. "Decided to join us after all."
"No, actually Cordy felt hungry and asked me to make her a sandwich." Angel said and opened the refrigerator door. "Wow, she wasn't kidding when she said she had nothing left to eat." He closed the door and turned around. "I better tell Cordy we'll have to order in, there's nothing here to eat."
"Yes, well that's a good idea considering we cannot leave the book alone with one person for too long." Giles said.
"Relax Giles, Cordy won't take the book besides, if she had left I think I would have heard her." Angel said in response.
"Still, we cannot be too careful." Giles kept on.
"Fine." Angel brushed him off and headed out of the kitchen. "Cordy." He called out. "There's no food here what so ever, so I think we should just order in." He walked into the empty living room. "Cor?" He looked around confused. At that moment Giles walked in followed by Wesley.
"Where is she?" Wesley asked confused.
"The book!" Giles cried out as they all looked at the spot where the book was only a few minutes ago.
"Maybe she's upstairs." Angel said and quickly ran up the stairs while Wesley and Giles searched the rest of the house and the back and front yard. After a few minutes they reconvened in the living room.
"Well?" Giles asked worriedly.
"Didn't find her. And you?" Both Wesley and Giles nodded they're heads. "Great. That means, she has the book and she took it somewhere."
"Maybe the Dorkanious possessed her." Wesley hypnotizes.
"I don't think so." Angel disagreed. "I saw her seconds before I came to the kitchen she didn't look possessed or dazed, she looked normal. And it couldn't have been more than 5 minutes for us to discover she was gone."
"So what do you propose Angel? That she took the book on her own?" Wesley wasn't sure why she would do such a thing.
"I think, Cordy's been hiding things from us and it's time we find out what those things are.
***
A few minutes later the door opened and everyone came walking in, laughing and talking. Buffy was the first to notice something wasn't right. The rest soon caught on.
"What happened?" She asked Giles who was sitting on the sofa looking very depressed.
"Cordelia took the book and ran off." Giles explained.
"What? How can it be? Was she possessed?" Willow asked all at once.
"We don't know for sure..." Wesley began to explain when Angel interrupted him.
"She's not possessed, but she knows something the rest of us don't."
"How can you be sure?" Tara asked when she saw Giles and Wesley didn't agree with him completely.
"I saw her minutes before she took off, she looked normal, and I don't think there was anytime..." This time it was Anya who cut him off.
"Actually the possession can happen in an instant." She corrected angel.
"Still I don't think that's what happened. I know Cordy, she would have fought him, she would have screamed or something." Angel kept on.
"But this happened to her before, right?" Xander asked. "She was possessed before and in both times she didn't put much of a fight."
"I'm telling you there's more to it than that. She's been keeping something from us, something that made her take the book and ran off." Angel knew he was right he just had to convince the others.
"Look, it doesn't it matter why she took it. She took it and that's it." Buffy had a good point.
"But if we know why she took it maybe we can find her. Cause right now we have nothing to go on." Gunn also had a good point.
"So which is it? Possessed or whim of the moment?" Anya asked.
"Not a whim, a reason." Angel persisted.
"Angel I'm sorry, but if we have nothing to go on by, we'll have to assume she is possessed and in that case we'll..."
"She's not possessed." Everyone turned to look at Spike who stood in the back of the room.
"What did you say?" Buffy asked confused.
"Angel's right, she's not possessed she has been keeping something from you, all of you."
"What do you know?" Angel looked at Spike with fury in his eyes.
"She asked me not to tell, I wasn't suppose to know either." Spike tried to explain, but before he could Angel leaped to where he stood and grabbed him by the troth pinning him to the wall.
"What do you know?" Angel asked again.
"Back off." Spike yelled and pushed Angel away. "I can still hurt demons you know." Spike reminded him.
"Just tell him Spike." Buffy said after having enough. "And no stalling, whatever it is, it's more important than anything else right now.
***
Spike looked at everyone and knew he had to tell them, that or Angel will beat it out of him. "In her vision, the one she went back to. In the end she went inside the other Cordelia's head to find answers to things she didn't understand." Spike paused for a moment.
"And..." Angel was losing his patience.
"And she saw what will happen in her future, she saw how she stopped the Dorkanious." He stopped for a moment long enough for Fred to step in.
"I was right wasn't I? About the sacrifice, I was right?" She looked at Spike who nodded his head in conformation. "Oh god, I'm so stupid, so very stupid."
"Baby what did you know?" Gunn asked her.
"I asked her and she brushed it off, she told me I was way wrong. And I believed her, stupid me, I believed her."
"Fred!" Buffy snapped at her. "We don't have time for your guilt trip. We need to find her, so tell us, both of you?" Buffy looked at Spike as well. What did she see? What is she planning on doing?"
"She's going to sacrifice herself to save us all, she's the sacrifice. That's the only way to defeat the Dorkanious." Spike words echoed in the room.
***
Everyone looked at him shocked, not believing. Angel stared at the floor unable to accept what he heard.
"No." He nodded his head. "You must have gotten it wrong. No, she would have told me."
"She wouldn't Angel." Fred tried to explain. "She knew if any of us knew we would try to stop her."
"And she couldn't let that happen." Spike completed the explanation, as Angel jumped on him again, chocking him.
"You knew, you bastard you knew and said nothing." Angel throw him to the floor sat on him and punched him in the face. Spike tried to fight back but Angel was like a beast on the kill, he was unstoppable. "You could have said something, you should have said something." Angel kept pounding him.
"Angel let him go." Buffy ran towards him and tried to pull him back. "Angel, it's not his fault stop it, or I'll have to make you stop." She tried again pulling him away, but when Angel paid no attention to her, she pulled out a cross and aimed it to his face. He jumped back growling, his face changed. "Now clam down." She said to him still pointing the cross at his direction. A few moments past when Angel finally calmed down and his face changed back again. "This is helping no one." She yelled at Angel. "Maybe Spike should have told us, but he didn't. He respected Cordelia's wishes."
"I won't let her die, Buffy. I won't." Angel said.
"I know that's why we have to find her. We'll spread out in teams of two."
"Sunnydale is small, but not that small." Xander said.
"I know that, but this is our only chance."
***
"Oh god what was I thinking, this is ridiculous." She said to herself as she walked the streets. She could see the ally she saw in her vision. It looked like every other ally, just behind the old post office. She recognized it, cause of its neon sign that flutter above. This wasn't the nice part of Sunnydale, but as a child it was, till the sleazy motels and demons inhabited the area. "Okay, I'm here now what." She said out loud hoping someone will respond.
"Now you decide." She turned around to see Doyle.
"Now you decide to show up?" She asked sarcastically.
"Had to see the curtain goes down." He smiled a bitter smile.
""As you can see I took the easy and cowardly way, I ran off. They won't find me, not till it's all over." Cordy explained. Doyle just smiled. "Any advices, things I need to know?" She asked knowing inside there was really nothing else to know."
"Trust the powers, trust your heart, and above all trust yourself. You'll know what to do when the moment comes. Just decide that's all." He paused for a moment. "Uh and sorry about that."
"About what..." Before she could finish the sentence a sharp pain hit her. She fell to the ground holding her head. She writhed for a few moments and then it was done. "Oh no, they can't be..."
"But they are and you need to be prepared." Doyle reached into his pocked and took out a piece of paper. "Here." He handed it to her.
"What is it?" She looked at the words, she could read them but not understand them.
"A little gift from the powers, letting you know they haven't forsaken you." He smiled.
"What am I suppose to do?" Cordy asked confused.
"Choose a point of no return, then stand on its other side facing the dead end road and say the words. Line will form which once you'll go past it, no one else will be able to."
"Except my long awaited visitor." Cordy smiled. "But Willow...?"
"She won't be able to break through, at least not in time." Doyle explained.
"Neither will your friend. You do understand that" He stopped knowing she got the message.
"Thank you." She said not sure if she should thank him for that.
"You never know what may happened, so... good luck." He signed off.
"Will I see you again?" She asked him before he left.
"Maybe, who knows? Like I said you never know what may happen." And with that he disappeared.
***
"Xander, I know I'm the last person you wanted to team up with." Xander didn't look at her; he stared at the other side of the road. "But I thought we should have this time to talk, we need to talk about this."
"I don't know what to say, I don't know how to accept this." He said quietly.
"I just want you to be my friend, no matter what." Buffy stopped and reached out to held his hand. "Xander, please? Just be my friend, love me for who I am and not what I do."
"I never loved you cause you're the slayer." He looked at her. "I loved you for being Buffy." He chuckled. "I always loved you, you know that. And I've learned to accept through the years that you and I will only be friends and that's okay. But it doesn't mean I'll stop caring for you, or worrying for you."
"I never wanted you to stop, but you need to realize that my life is my own. And I'm initialed to make my own mistakes and choices. Just like you."
"If you mean Anya, tats' different..."
"Anya, mummy girl, reptile lady, faith... I never judged. You should either."
"I know Buffy, it's hard, but I know." He leaned over and hugged her. She hugged him back. They stood there hugging for a while, when suddenly a little bright light, like a firefly flow around them.
"What is it?" Buffy tried chasing it away.
"No, wait! I know this light, it's Willow, and she's calling us. Come on." Xander started running after the light and Buffy followed.
A few minutes later they reached the magic box where they saw Willow, Tara and all the rest.
"Good you're all here." Willow said in satisfaction.
"Willow why did you brought us here, we don't have much time." Angel said nervously.
"Cause me and Tara are going to try a locator spell for Cordelia." Willow explained.
"But we tried it back in the house and it failed." Wesley said confused.
"That's because we were blocked, but now, we think the barrier that kept us from finding her has been lifted." Tara explained.
"And don't ask how or why? Cause we haven't got the answer." Willow added.
"Fine. Do it." Angel was losing her patience.
"We need to get inside the shop." Willow said and Giles quickly opened the door. Willow spread pink powder on the floor in the shape of a circle. They both sat inside her, holding hands as they whispered a spell in Latin. Then the circle started to light up. The pink powder turned to littlie spots of light that started rising from the floor and headed for the door. And that point Willow and Tara stopped chanting and got up. "Quickly follow the light." Willow said as the group headed out the door running after the bright light. To an outsider it really looked funny as a group of grown people looking at what seemed like firefly and running around town.
***
She stood in the dark ally holding on to the book like it was her lifeline. She kept looking over her shoulder almost expecting him to pop up behind her. She knew whom she was waiting for; right now it was only a mater of when it'll show up. And right then when she was all prepared she heard footsteps coming form behind her. She quickly turned to see the whole gang string at her.
"Cordy?" Angel asked wanting to make sure it was her.
"Go away angel, all of you." She started walking backwards.
"Cordy we know what you saw in your vision Spike told us, and it's okay, we can handle this together." Angel took a few steps forward, small steps not to alarm her. He knew she wouldn't hurt him, but still he didn't wasn't her to run off again.
"Angel no..." her voice cracked. "You can't help me; I have to do this on my own. Now go away before he comes." She took another step backwards.
"Cordelia." Willow tired reasoning with her. "If you're right and the Dorkanious is coming don't you think it would be best to take the book away from here."
"No, I saw it in my vision the book is the key." Cordelia held the book tight. "Please just go, it's too late, don't do this to me."
"Do it you?" Fred yelled out. "You're doing this to us. You decided all by yourself, what has to be done and we have to go along with it. We won't let you do it."
"I know that's why I didn't tell you." Cordelia stopped just before the threshold. "Please leave?" She asked one last time.
"We can't do that Cordelia." Buffy replied. "We're coming to take the book, if you want to, you can't fight us." Buffy said and walked straight towards her. Cordelia quickly took a step backwards, knowing there was no return. As Buffy was just a few steps from her she stopped, something was blocking her way.
"You're not the only one who knows a few tricks. And mine are coming from a reliable source." Cordy said as she looked at Buffy trying to break through.
"Willow, Tara try and break it." Buffy ordered and Willow and Tar started working. A few moments past and nothing happened. "Willow what's going on?" Buffy asked impatiently.
"Cordelia what did you do? This is strong magic, black magic." Tara looked at her in sadness.
"I'm vision girl remember, I knew what would happen, I came prepared. I'm sorry."
"Cordy Come out of there right now." Angel yelled at her as he walked towards her.
"I'm sorry Angel, but I can't." Soft tears started running down her chick. "I hoped they were wrong, I hoped the you wouldn't come, but you did."
"And is that so bad." He placed his hand on the invisible wall between them.
She walked towards him placing her hand where his hand was. "I never wanted you to witness this, I don't want this to be your last memory of me." The tears came pouring down.
"Cordelia, please?" He begged her, his voice cracked. "Don't leave me."
"I have to. It's my job, my calling." She tried keeping it together, but it was too much. She couldn't hold back the tears.
"No." He bashed at the wall, startling her.
"Baby, please stop it. It won't do any good. You're safe there, and it's time." She turned around her back facing him.
"No! Nooooooo." He yelled but she didn't turn around. "Cordy? Cor? Don't do this. C-O-R-D-E-L-I-A" He yelled but she didn't turn. Suddenly bright lights appeared in front of her. Wind started to blow. He knew what it was, so did the rest of the A.I.
"A portal." Fred said as she moved closer. The rest joined her. They stood there on the other side of the invisible wall, watching as the portal opened and Cordy walked towards it.
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
I know I said I'll keep writing this story till the end, no matter if anyone is reading it or not... Well I kind of lied. I need to hear from you people, knowing I'm not just writing it to my own amusement, although it's fun. The end is always difficult and that's way it's taking me longer, but if no one is reading it anyway... Well you know the rest. So we're near the end as you can see, so please review and let me know if you still want me to finish it.
Thanks Nikka.
Title: Reunion time.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that *English is not my native tongue* so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.
Author's remark: My chapters as of ch 12 will no longer be reproof by Sigma due to the fact that I have no internet and I'm asking someone else to post the remaining chapters for me. I want to take this opportunity and thank sigma for all the help. And I hope you will continue reading my story even without the excellent work sigma has done. Thank you again sigma for all your great work.
***
She looked at her watch. It was already 19:00. Hours have past since she had the vision of the Dorkanious coming to town. The details were vague, but from what she saw and understood, it is meant to posses the body of someone, probably one of them, so he can get the book. They're primary goal of finding a way to destroy the book wasn't they're only one, Now they had to watch each other, never leave the book alone with someone, keep all eyes open. She sat on the couch reading the same book she started reading an hour ago, her mind was drifting. She was waiting for the next clue to appear, for her moment to shine. Skip told her she will have to make a choice, but so far all the choices were made for her. She looked around the room, to see that it was fairly empty. And then she remembered they all went out to get something to eat, due to the fact that Buffy refrigerator was empty. She decided to stay behind, not wanting to leave the book alone. Wesley and Giles felt the same way and decided to stay. And since Angel didn't want to leave Cordy behind and really didn't need the food, he stayed as well.
"Albright!" Wesley said out loud as he shut the book. I'm going to make myself a marvelous and well deserved cup of tea, anyone care to join me?" He looked around to see Giles smiling and getting up. "Wonderful. Anyone else?" This time he stared at Cordy and Angel who each seemed preoccupied with they're reading.
"No thanks." Cordy mumbled not taking her eyes off the book she was not-really-reading. And Angel declined also.
**Okay Cor, concentrate. Start reading and stop daydreaming. When they contact you, or should I say when they contact you, you'll deal. But till then you have to read** she said to herself. **Great you really lot it, talking to yourself, and your still doing it. Just...** Suddenly she felt a sharp and familiar pain. She closed her eyes and was just about to grab her head and scream when suddenly the pain stopped. Instead, flashes appeared before her eyes, flashes of her self holding the book and carrying it somewhere. Another image flashed before her, it was of her standing in an ally, a very familiar ally. And then she opened her eyes. She looked at Angel who didn't seem to notice she had a vision. "Angel?" He looked up at her and saw her one million dollar smile. "I changed my mind, I am kind of hungry, is there any chance you can go to the kitchen and see if you can make something."
"I don't think she has much left, why don't I order you some pizza, just the way you like it he offered and got up towards the phone.
"No." She stopped him half way. "I can't eat and entire pizza, I just want something small like a sandwich or something, please?" She smiled again knowing he couldn't resist her smile.
"Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do." He turned around and headed for the kitchen.
"Angel." She reached out and grabbed his arm. "Thank you." She smiled.
"You're welcome." He smiled backed.
"Come here." She said to him softly and pulled him down towards her lips. She kissed him slowly and passionately. She knew she had little time and that in any moment Wesley and Giles will return and her plan will be destroyed, but she had to say goodbye, she had to kiss him one last time. He was the love of her life. She knew that now. He was always there for her, always her friend. She held back the tears knowing it would only make him suspicious. As she pulled back she whispered in his ear; "I'm sorry."
"What for?" he asked with a smile.
"Uh... for making you make me dinner." She smiled hoping he'll believe her.
"Well it's not like I haven't done this before." He smiled and turned around and disappeared into the corridor. The minute he was out of sight she got up grabbed the book and her jacket and walked out, carefully closing the door behind her.
***
"Hi." Angel greeted the two men who sat on the kitchen stools enjoying tea and bisects.
"Hello." Wesley greeted him back. "Decided to join us after all."
"No, actually Cordy felt hungry and asked me to make her a sandwich." Angel said and opened the refrigerator door. "Wow, she wasn't kidding when she said she had nothing left to eat." He closed the door and turned around. "I better tell Cordy we'll have to order in, there's nothing here to eat."
"Yes, well that's a good idea considering we cannot leave the book alone with one person for too long." Giles said.
"Relax Giles, Cordy won't take the book besides, if she had left I think I would have heard her." Angel said in response.
"Still, we cannot be too careful." Giles kept on.
"Fine." Angel brushed him off and headed out of the kitchen. "Cordy." He called out. "There's no food here what so ever, so I think we should just order in." He walked into the empty living room. "Cor?" He looked around confused. At that moment Giles walked in followed by Wesley.
"Where is she?" Wesley asked confused.
"The book!" Giles cried out as they all looked at the spot where the book was only a few minutes ago.
"Maybe she's upstairs." Angel said and quickly ran up the stairs while Wesley and Giles searched the rest of the house and the back and front yard. After a few minutes they reconvened in the living room.
"Well?" Giles asked worriedly.
"Didn't find her. And you?" Both Wesley and Giles nodded they're heads. "Great. That means, she has the book and she took it somewhere."
"Maybe the Dorkanious possessed her." Wesley hypnotizes.
"I don't think so." Angel disagreed. "I saw her seconds before I came to the kitchen she didn't look possessed or dazed, she looked normal. And it couldn't have been more than 5 minutes for us to discover she was gone."
"So what do you propose Angel? That she took the book on her own?" Wesley wasn't sure why she would do such a thing.
"I think, Cordy's been hiding things from us and it's time we find out what those things are.
***
A few minutes later the door opened and everyone came walking in, laughing and talking. Buffy was the first to notice something wasn't right. The rest soon caught on.
"What happened?" She asked Giles who was sitting on the sofa looking very depressed.
"Cordelia took the book and ran off." Giles explained.
"What? How can it be? Was she possessed?" Willow asked all at once.
"We don't know for sure..." Wesley began to explain when Angel interrupted him.
"She's not possessed, but she knows something the rest of us don't."
"How can you be sure?" Tara asked when she saw Giles and Wesley didn't agree with him completely.
"I saw her minutes before she took off, she looked normal, and I don't think there was anytime..." This time it was Anya who cut him off.
"Actually the possession can happen in an instant." She corrected angel.
"Still I don't think that's what happened. I know Cordy, she would have fought him, she would have screamed or something." Angel kept on.
"But this happened to her before, right?" Xander asked. "She was possessed before and in both times she didn't put much of a fight."
"I'm telling you there's more to it than that. She's been keeping something from us, something that made her take the book and ran off." Angel knew he was right he just had to convince the others.
"Look, it doesn't it matter why she took it. She took it and that's it." Buffy had a good point.
"But if we know why she took it maybe we can find her. Cause right now we have nothing to go on." Gunn also had a good point.
"So which is it? Possessed or whim of the moment?" Anya asked.
"Not a whim, a reason." Angel persisted.
"Angel I'm sorry, but if we have nothing to go on by, we'll have to assume she is possessed and in that case we'll..."
"She's not possessed." Everyone turned to look at Spike who stood in the back of the room.
"What did you say?" Buffy asked confused.
"Angel's right, she's not possessed she has been keeping something from you, all of you."
"What do you know?" Angel looked at Spike with fury in his eyes.
"She asked me not to tell, I wasn't suppose to know either." Spike tried to explain, but before he could Angel leaped to where he stood and grabbed him by the troth pinning him to the wall.
"What do you know?" Angel asked again.
"Back off." Spike yelled and pushed Angel away. "I can still hurt demons you know." Spike reminded him.
"Just tell him Spike." Buffy said after having enough. "And no stalling, whatever it is, it's more important than anything else right now.
***
Spike looked at everyone and knew he had to tell them, that or Angel will beat it out of him. "In her vision, the one she went back to. In the end she went inside the other Cordelia's head to find answers to things she didn't understand." Spike paused for a moment.
"And..." Angel was losing his patience.
"And she saw what will happen in her future, she saw how she stopped the Dorkanious." He stopped for a moment long enough for Fred to step in.
"I was right wasn't I? About the sacrifice, I was right?" She looked at Spike who nodded his head in conformation. "Oh god, I'm so stupid, so very stupid."
"Baby what did you know?" Gunn asked her.
"I asked her and she brushed it off, she told me I was way wrong. And I believed her, stupid me, I believed her."
"Fred!" Buffy snapped at her. "We don't have time for your guilt trip. We need to find her, so tell us, both of you?" Buffy looked at Spike as well. What did she see? What is she planning on doing?"
"She's going to sacrifice herself to save us all, she's the sacrifice. That's the only way to defeat the Dorkanious." Spike words echoed in the room.
***
Everyone looked at him shocked, not believing. Angel stared at the floor unable to accept what he heard.
"No." He nodded his head. "You must have gotten it wrong. No, she would have told me."
"She wouldn't Angel." Fred tried to explain. "She knew if any of us knew we would try to stop her."
"And she couldn't let that happen." Spike completed the explanation, as Angel jumped on him again, chocking him.
"You knew, you bastard you knew and said nothing." Angel throw him to the floor sat on him and punched him in the face. Spike tried to fight back but Angel was like a beast on the kill, he was unstoppable. "You could have said something, you should have said something." Angel kept pounding him.
"Angel let him go." Buffy ran towards him and tried to pull him back. "Angel, it's not his fault stop it, or I'll have to make you stop." She tried again pulling him away, but when Angel paid no attention to her, she pulled out a cross and aimed it to his face. He jumped back growling, his face changed. "Now clam down." She said to him still pointing the cross at his direction. A few moments past when Angel finally calmed down and his face changed back again. "This is helping no one." She yelled at Angel. "Maybe Spike should have told us, but he didn't. He respected Cordelia's wishes."
"I won't let her die, Buffy. I won't." Angel said.
"I know that's why we have to find her. We'll spread out in teams of two."
"Sunnydale is small, but not that small." Xander said.
"I know that, but this is our only chance."
***
"Oh god what was I thinking, this is ridiculous." She said to herself as she walked the streets. She could see the ally she saw in her vision. It looked like every other ally, just behind the old post office. She recognized it, cause of its neon sign that flutter above. This wasn't the nice part of Sunnydale, but as a child it was, till the sleazy motels and demons inhabited the area. "Okay, I'm here now what." She said out loud hoping someone will respond.
"Now you decide." She turned around to see Doyle.
"Now you decide to show up?" She asked sarcastically.
"Had to see the curtain goes down." He smiled a bitter smile.
""As you can see I took the easy and cowardly way, I ran off. They won't find me, not till it's all over." Cordy explained. Doyle just smiled. "Any advices, things I need to know?" She asked knowing inside there was really nothing else to know."
"Trust the powers, trust your heart, and above all trust yourself. You'll know what to do when the moment comes. Just decide that's all." He paused for a moment. "Uh and sorry about that."
"About what..." Before she could finish the sentence a sharp pain hit her. She fell to the ground holding her head. She writhed for a few moments and then it was done. "Oh no, they can't be..."
"But they are and you need to be prepared." Doyle reached into his pocked and took out a piece of paper. "Here." He handed it to her.
"What is it?" She looked at the words, she could read them but not understand them.
"A little gift from the powers, letting you know they haven't forsaken you." He smiled.
"What am I suppose to do?" Cordy asked confused.
"Choose a point of no return, then stand on its other side facing the dead end road and say the words. Line will form which once you'll go past it, no one else will be able to."
"Except my long awaited visitor." Cordy smiled. "But Willow...?"
"She won't be able to break through, at least not in time." Doyle explained.
"Neither will your friend. You do understand that" He stopped knowing she got the message.
"Thank you." She said not sure if she should thank him for that.
"You never know what may happened, so... good luck." He signed off.
"Will I see you again?" She asked him before he left.
"Maybe, who knows? Like I said you never know what may happen." And with that he disappeared.
***
"Xander, I know I'm the last person you wanted to team up with." Xander didn't look at her; he stared at the other side of the road. "But I thought we should have this time to talk, we need to talk about this."
"I don't know what to say, I don't know how to accept this." He said quietly.
"I just want you to be my friend, no matter what." Buffy stopped and reached out to held his hand. "Xander, please? Just be my friend, love me for who I am and not what I do."
"I never loved you cause you're the slayer." He looked at her. "I loved you for being Buffy." He chuckled. "I always loved you, you know that. And I've learned to accept through the years that you and I will only be friends and that's okay. But it doesn't mean I'll stop caring for you, or worrying for you."
"I never wanted you to stop, but you need to realize that my life is my own. And I'm initialed to make my own mistakes and choices. Just like you."
"If you mean Anya, tats' different..."
"Anya, mummy girl, reptile lady, faith... I never judged. You should either."
"I know Buffy, it's hard, but I know." He leaned over and hugged her. She hugged him back. They stood there hugging for a while, when suddenly a little bright light, like a firefly flow around them.
"What is it?" Buffy tried chasing it away.
"No, wait! I know this light, it's Willow, and she's calling us. Come on." Xander started running after the light and Buffy followed.
A few minutes later they reached the magic box where they saw Willow, Tara and all the rest.
"Good you're all here." Willow said in satisfaction.
"Willow why did you brought us here, we don't have much time." Angel said nervously.
"Cause me and Tara are going to try a locator spell for Cordelia." Willow explained.
"But we tried it back in the house and it failed." Wesley said confused.
"That's because we were blocked, but now, we think the barrier that kept us from finding her has been lifted." Tara explained.
"And don't ask how or why? Cause we haven't got the answer." Willow added.
"Fine. Do it." Angel was losing her patience.
"We need to get inside the shop." Willow said and Giles quickly opened the door. Willow spread pink powder on the floor in the shape of a circle. They both sat inside her, holding hands as they whispered a spell in Latin. Then the circle started to light up. The pink powder turned to littlie spots of light that started rising from the floor and headed for the door. And that point Willow and Tara stopped chanting and got up. "Quickly follow the light." Willow said as the group headed out the door running after the bright light. To an outsider it really looked funny as a group of grown people looking at what seemed like firefly and running around town.
***
She stood in the dark ally holding on to the book like it was her lifeline. She kept looking over her shoulder almost expecting him to pop up behind her. She knew whom she was waiting for; right now it was only a mater of when it'll show up. And right then when she was all prepared she heard footsteps coming form behind her. She quickly turned to see the whole gang string at her.
"Cordy?" Angel asked wanting to make sure it was her.
"Go away angel, all of you." She started walking backwards.
"Cordy we know what you saw in your vision Spike told us, and it's okay, we can handle this together." Angel took a few steps forward, small steps not to alarm her. He knew she wouldn't hurt him, but still he didn't wasn't her to run off again.
"Angel no..." her voice cracked. "You can't help me; I have to do this on my own. Now go away before he comes." She took another step backwards.
"Cordelia." Willow tired reasoning with her. "If you're right and the Dorkanious is coming don't you think it would be best to take the book away from here."
"No, I saw it in my vision the book is the key." Cordelia held the book tight. "Please just go, it's too late, don't do this to me."
"Do it you?" Fred yelled out. "You're doing this to us. You decided all by yourself, what has to be done and we have to go along with it. We won't let you do it."
"I know that's why I didn't tell you." Cordelia stopped just before the threshold. "Please leave?" She asked one last time.
"We can't do that Cordelia." Buffy replied. "We're coming to take the book, if you want to, you can't fight us." Buffy said and walked straight towards her. Cordelia quickly took a step backwards, knowing there was no return. As Buffy was just a few steps from her she stopped, something was blocking her way.
"You're not the only one who knows a few tricks. And mine are coming from a reliable source." Cordy said as she looked at Buffy trying to break through.
"Willow, Tara try and break it." Buffy ordered and Willow and Tar started working. A few moments past and nothing happened. "Willow what's going on?" Buffy asked impatiently.
"Cordelia what did you do? This is strong magic, black magic." Tara looked at her in sadness.
"I'm vision girl remember, I knew what would happen, I came prepared. I'm sorry."
"Cordy Come out of there right now." Angel yelled at her as he walked towards her.
"I'm sorry Angel, but I can't." Soft tears started running down her chick. "I hoped they were wrong, I hoped the you wouldn't come, but you did."
"And is that so bad." He placed his hand on the invisible wall between them.
She walked towards him placing her hand where his hand was. "I never wanted you to witness this, I don't want this to be your last memory of me." The tears came pouring down.
"Cordelia, please?" He begged her, his voice cracked. "Don't leave me."
"I have to. It's my job, my calling." She tried keeping it together, but it was too much. She couldn't hold back the tears.
"No." He bashed at the wall, startling her.
"Baby, please stop it. It won't do any good. You're safe there, and it's time." She turned around her back facing him.
"No! Nooooooo." He yelled but she didn't turn around. "Cordy? Cor? Don't do this. C-O-R-D-E-L-I-A" He yelled but she didn't turn. Suddenly bright lights appeared in front of her. Wind started to blow. He knew what it was, so did the rest of the A.I.
"A portal." Fred said as she moved closer. The rest joined her. They stood there on the other side of the invisible wall, watching as the portal opened and Cordy walked towards it.
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
I know I said I'll keep writing this story till the end, no matter if anyone is reading it or not... Well I kind of lied. I need to hear from you people, knowing I'm not just writing it to my own amusement, although it's fun. The end is always difficult and that's way it's taking me longer, but if no one is reading it anyway... Well you know the rest. So we're near the end as you can see, so please review and let me know if you still want me to finish it.
Thanks Nikka.