She flipped her medium length brown hair out of her face as Angelus quickly recoiled he smiled and said. "You are just like me."
As he charged Faith she begins to pummel him, "No!" She jumped back and stopped hitting him. "You're wrong, I'm different now, I'm not like you." Angelus swung his leg out and kicked Faith's ankles and pulled her feet out from under her. She falls down on the ground where he is.
"You will be." Angelus said as he pulled the Slayer's hair back and sunk his fangs into Faith's neck.
****
The truck and the motorcycle pulled up outside of Maury's Occult Bookstore and Angel, Wesley, Gunn and Connor get out and off their vehicles and prepare to enter. Angela and Connor race to the roof, Wesley takes the front and Gunn take the back entrance.
****
As Angelus began to feed on the Slayer, he suddenly dropped her and recoils. He looked at Faith who herself didn't look so good. "What did you do?"
****
** Moments earlier, while Angelus and Wes are facing off, Faith is planning ahead. Angelus looked at the ex-watcher, "You got to do better than that, Wes." Meanwhile Faith grabs a hypodermic syringe from her boot. Angelus smiled evilly as the watcher tried to fight him. "Come on, I'll give you one more."
A close-up of the syringe shows it's one like the drugged girl from the bar was using. Faith's syringe still has drugs in it. She sticks the needle into her arm and presses the plunger until she has injected all of the drug in the syringe.
Angelus laughed, and then spoke to Wesley again, "Strike three."**
Present times….
Angelus swaggered back and forth as the four heroes entered, "You…you sp…. you spiked…." Angelus tried to stand once more and then passed out.
Wesley looked over at Faith who didn't look so happy, "Are you alright?" He asked.
Faith could barely smile, "Kicked his ass…" She said right before she passed out also. Wesley looked up at his twin sister who didn't look so happy.
****
Fred stood behind the front desk of the Hyperion Hotel trying to find out what she could about the beast's master. She heard the front door open and looked up to see Gunn carrying Angelus who was passed out. "Where's Faith?" Fred asked Gunn who was followed by Connor who was carrying a tranquilizer gun.
"Wes and Angela are bringing her in…" Gunn replied. "Fred could you hand me the steel shackles, hands and feet all I had was rope in my truck." Gunn said.
Lorne walked down the stairs, "Well, what's all the… Ah! Angelus, here in the hotel." He looked over at Connor and Gunn, "Maybe we are already aware of that." Lorne said as Gunn handed Connor the shackles and he followed them down to the basement. "Where's Faith?" Lorne asked just as Angela came in who was followed by Wesley who was carrying Faith in his arms.
"She captured Angelus." Wesley told them.
"God what did he do to her?" Fred asked as she put her book on the desk and walked out from behind it.
"Don't even wanna go there…"Angel said as she lead her brother up the stairs and into an empty room. "Wes, it was…" She began.
"It was the only way…" Wesley cut her off.
"Didn't I warn you back when the gang was…"
"Didn't I tell you never to mention that again?"
"You can't deny the past Wes, we did what we did."
"Angel, please." Wesley growled just before Fred and Lorne entered the room. Wesley laid the Slayer onto the bad and Fred saw the bloody bandage on her neck.
*****
Connor opened the door to the steel cage as Gunn drug Angelus inside. Connor tossed his friend the shackles to put on his father. After they made sure the shackles and cage were secure they began to leave. "He fed from her, there is blood on his breath." Connor mumbled. Before starting up the stairs Angelus began to twitch.
"Kill you…kill…you…" He mumbled. This startled Connor and Gunn who grabbed the tranquilizer gun and pointed it at the soulless vampire.
****
Lorne looked at the Slayer when he noticed the discolored place on her arm where the drugs had been injected he looked at Wesley and Angela, who herself seemed as surprised with Wesley as he did. Fred returned to the room with a basin of water and a cloth, she began to clean Faith's wounds. When she got to the gaping gash in her neck, she wasn't too happy to see it but she remained calm and continued. Suddenly Faith began to twitch, "Scratch you out…" She mumbled.
"She's not making any sense." Fred said looking up at Lorne and Wesley.
"And speaking of sense, have you gone on permanent sabbatical from yours? Tell me you did not shoot that girl full of junk, and then feed her to Angelus." Lorne whispered to Wesley.
"She knew the consequences." Wesley replied.
"I know you did so you have absolutely no excuse to say anything about anything that has to do with that magical mojo, especially when you knew exactly what would happen. I thought you had learned from your past mistakes…" Angela whispered.
"Angel, not now, we have to focus on Faith and Angelus." Wesley snapped. Angela glared at her twin and then looked back at the Slayer.
****
"A coma?" Cordelia asked as Connor sat on her bed explaining the current situation to her.
"Yeah, that is what it looked like when they brought her in. I hope she's okay. I mean we really need her now, I mean she is the Slayer and everything." Connor explained.
Cordelia glowered for a moment then chuckled and crossed her arms, "well, it's not like she's never pulled that one before." Cordelia smiled.
Connor looked at her unbelievingly. "I don't think she was faking Cordy." He told her, although she didn't seem to care much about the Slayer and more about Angelus.
"So, Faith got Angelus, and he's in the hotel? Is he locked up tight in the cage?" Cordelia asked looking Connor dead in his eyes.
Connor smiled, "Don't worry Cordy, I'll take care of you, and our family."
Cordelia pretended to care for second and then her tone grew tense, "That's sweet, is he guarded?"
"Yeah, Faith really did a number on him."
Cordelia drew back and punched him knocking him down, "What the hell is it with you and Faith! As if I didn't see the way you looked at her. She cracked her whip, and you liked it. You were practically in her leather-clad lap!"
"No, I wasn't? And how'd you do that, anyway? What about the anti-demon spell?" Connor asked standing up.
"I told you, Connor, we're different." She turned away. "Me and your baby. But I guess you can't even be loyal to our bed, let alone our little family. I thought you were gonna be a better father than Angel was to you."
"I will be. I would do anything for us…For You." Connor said.
Cordelia turned around laughing the punch off like it was nothing, "Wow. Are my hormones out of whack, or what? Hello, crazy pregnant lady, out of line! Whoo! Why don't you go see how Faith is doing? Go on. I'm concerned. I want to know."
****
Connor stood in the room with Faith, Lorne, Wesley, Fred, and Angela. "What's going to happen to her?" He asked them.
Angela glanced at Wesley, "Why don't you tell them with what first?" She growled.
"Orpheus." Lorne replied. Connor looked at the green horned demon curiously.
"Some kind of opiate?" Fred asked.
"Mystical variety. Humans inject it. Vampires feed off the humans. Folks tried to deal it at Caritas—only folks I ever banned from my club." Lorne answered her and Connor both.
Faith twitched a little, "The 'vention." She mumbled.
"So, if ordinary humans do this junk, slayers are all super, right?" Fred asked the question burning on her and Connor's mind.
"Yeah, more or less. That is what makes the shit so dangerous, Orpheus isn't all physical. It is an enchanted drug." Angela told them.
"That's what magic will get you." Connor mumbled.
"That, plus the biting, makes for some serious psychic psychedelia. And the more you take, the deeper you sink." Lorna added.
"It leads you to Hell." Wesley said simply. "And leaves you there."
****
A ship pulls into the harbor, past the Statue of Liberty. A sign reads: "United States Immigration, Ellis Island, N.Y." New York 1902.
Huddled masses of men, women, and children are pouring off the ship. A long-haired Angel walks through the crowd which parts for him, leaving him plenty of space. Except Angelus—Angelus just stands there, facing Angel, not intending to move for him, but Angel walks right through him. Angelus turned and watched Angel walk away, "Hey! What is that about?"
"You tell me. It's your flashback." Angelus charged Faith, but goes right through her. Faith laughed, "You know what the definition of insanity is, baby? Performing the same task over and over and expecting different results. Learned that in murder rehab."
Angelus rolled his eyes, "All right, Miss Blow-It-All. This is my flashback. Why are you in it?" He started to walk away."
Faith kept smiling, "Don't know. Must be the magic side-effects of my incredibly simple ruse."
Angelus looked around, "All right. So, what is this, huh? Puff-the-Magic-Dragon City? Fairyland?"
"You'd think? Me, I'm guessing it's more like "Angelus, this is your life," because," She stopped and waved her hand in front of her nose, "lack-of-hygiene world sure ain't mine." She continued then looked at Angel. "Seriously, man, did you miss the invention of the bath?"
"The whole way over here, he crouched in the filth of animals just to avoid human temptation. This isn't my life—it's his!"
"Angel's?" Faith asked.
"It annoyed the crap out of me the first time around. This sucks. Why do you get to be Marley's ghost?"
Faith sat down and looked up at Angelus, "Cause I'm dyin' dumbass."
Angelus glowered, "Not soon enough."
"Way I figure, I've got one last job: baby-sit the psycho 'til they shove a soul up your-"
"Not gonna happen."
Faith stood up, "Then, I'm whatever... dust in the wind. Candle in the wind. There'll be a general wind theme."
"Thought those suicidal tendencies got squashed in the big enlightenment." Angelus said.
"I rolled the dice, paid even odds." Faith replied.
****
Jazz music plays and old-timey cars drive through the street. Angelus and Faith find themselves outside the "Blue Mood Lounge". A small group nearby is playing Craps on the street. A couple walks down the sidewalk hand in hand. Angelus and Faith look around. "Trippy," Faith grinned.
"Early 20's by the cars. What is this—Chicago?" He looked around and saw Angel standing on the other side of the street. "Oh, no. I remember this. I remember this place. I gotta get out of here."
"Why? You freaking out?" Faith asked.
"It's coming." He said as they watched a car speeds around the corner down the street in front of them. "Again."
"What's coming?" Faith inquired.
"I can't do it again. I won't!" Angelus exclaimed. Angel ran into the street right in front of the car.
"Angel, get out of the road!" Faith exclaimed. Angel continues until he's completely across the street, Faith and Angelus hear a small squeaking sound. Angel turns around to reveal that he's holding a tiny Pomeranian puppy.
Angelus began to throw a fit, "Doh!"
Faith began giggling, "Dude, you just rescued a puppy!" A woman came up to Angel and takes the puppy out of his arms.
"Oh, my stars! You saved her, Mister." She said happily. Angel just stood and stared at her dumbfounded.
Angelus rolled his eyes, "I'm in hell. This is hell, and I'm in it."
The woman began to pet her puppy, "Oh, gee, big fella. How can I thank you?"
"We haven't fed on a human in decades. She's begging for it, you moron!" Angelus exclaimed.
Angel just turned away, "Get lost."
The woman looked at him, "Beg pardon?" She asked.
"Take a hike, Betty. Scram." Angel shooed.
The woman frowned, "Well, pound snow, you mook!" She said just before storming into the club.
"We're reliving Angel's good deeds—you are in hell! Wicked!" Faith laughed.
****
Wesley stood in the lobby, " There is only one thing we can do for Faith now, finish what she started." He told Fred, Connor, and his twin sister.
"Re-ensoul Angel." Angela verified.
"That's impossible, we've been over this: no jar, no soul. No soul, no Angel." Connor retorted.
Fred butted in, "It's not that simple, Connor. I've been doing some research-"
"It is simple. Angelus is all that's left. First he slaughtered Lilah, now he's killed Faith." Connor said butting in on her.
"She isn't dead yet." Angela and Wesley said at the same time.
"You're lying to yourselves. You all think that I'm taking this personally so that you don't have to, but inside you know I'm right. We need to put Angelus down." Connor stated.
A redheaded girl entered the front door lobby, unnoticed by the gang at the front desk except for Angela. "I don't think so, I think you need a witch." She smiled. Everyone else turned and looked at Willow. " Did I come at a bad time?" She asked politely.
"Willow," Wesley smiled.
"She is a witch?" Connor asked.
"Yes. Hi. You must be Angel's handsome, yet androgynous, son." Willow smiled.
"It's Connor." He sneered.
"And the sneer's genetic. Who knew?" Willow laughed. "And the broody one in the leather pants is?" She asked referring to Angela.
"Angel." She replied.
"Huh, I though I was doing a soul restoring spell?" Willow said with confusion.
"Angel Wyndam-Pryce, Willow this is my sister." Wesley told her.
"Oh, okay, hi Fred!" Willow said happily.
"Hi Willow." Fred smiled.
"It's good to see you." Willow said, she then looked at Wesley. "Oh, and it's the Marlboro Man. Or at least his extra stubbly, mentally unstable, insomniac, first cousin of—for the love of Hecate, somebody stop me."
"It's OK. I'm a yammerer from way back." Fred smiled.
Wesley looked at his sister then back at Willow, "Are there forces gathering? Did the call of magic draw you here?"
"Oh, no. More like the call of Fred." Willow and Fred looked at each other and giggled.
"Of course. Bring in the only living person to ever re-ensoul Angel." Wesley said noting Fred's smart decision.
"You've re-ensouled a vampire? I've heard that's pretty damn hard. I've been studying this type of stuff and you've got to have this orb of something…" Angela babbled.
"Yeah, I've got one." Willow replied.
"She has a fresh brain. I thought she might see some things we missed." Fred told the others.
"Oh, hearing the thoroughness of your research methodology, I don't think that's possible. But we should probably start the debriefing. Where's Cordy?" Willow asked.
"Unfortunately, the guy you're all trying to magically re-ensoul shot her with a crossbow. She's not up for visitors." Connor snarled.
"I think she'll want to see Willow. After all, she's traveled a long way, and they have a history together." Wesley told the vampire's son.
****
"Hi there." Willow smiled entering Cordy's room.
"Long time, no see." She replied. Then she addressed Connor, "It's OK, Connor. I'm fine." She told him. He nodded and left.
Willow sat down on the bed beside Cordy, "How've you been?"
"Higher power. You?"
"Ultimate evil. But I got better." Willow smiled.
"You heard about Faith?"
"Coma again." Willow nodded.
"What about Angelus? Did you go down to see him yet?"
"I'm way avoidy. Too many memories. I'm just glad I don't have to be in the same room with him when I re-ensoul him."
"Oh, you really think you can pull it off?" Cordy asked as she began to feel around under her blanket without Willow noticing.
"Putting his soul back? It's the first spell I ever learned. I'm not gonna forget that." Willow replied.
Cordelia grabbed her knife under the blanket. "What about the Muo-Ping?"
"The jar holding Angel's soul? Therein lies our boneage."
"Stolen right from our safe. And if we can't get the soul out of the jar, we can't put it back in Angel."
"Yeah, question is: how do we get the soul out if we don't know where the jar is?" Willow asked.
"And apparently, the thing's impervious to magic."
"Yeah, I know already tried a standard locator spell, but zero joy."
"Right. Plus, Wesley's shaman says there's no way to extract the soul from a distance." Cordy gripped her knife.
"Soul trapped in a glass jar, impervious to magic. It is complicated." Willow said.
"Tough nut to crack." Cordelia nodded.
Willow started to get an idea, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Cordelia gripped the knife harder and prepared use it if needed, "I doubt it."
Willow stood up excitedly, "We just break the jar."
Cordelia gestured to her night stand,"Could you hand me that drink?"
Willow ignored her previous comment and began to back excitedly toward the door, "That way we don't have to magic the soul out. We just break the glass around it!"
Cordelia looked extremely annoyed, "Great idea, I'm really thirsty."
Willow didn't seem to hear her once again, "And then Angel's soul is still released into the ether, and—and there's something called Delothrian's Arrow. We don't even need to know where the target is." She opened the door, "Cordy, this is fantastic! We're gonna get him back!" Willow smiled and left the room.
Cordelia threw the knife just as Willow leaves the room. The knife lands in the door at head level.
****
Lorne sat inside the room with Faith who is still unconscious. "Don't you worry, princess. It'll all be over soon. I—I've seen lots of girls go through just what you're going through now." He began to sing, "There'll be another song for me, and I will sing it. Oh, there'll be another dream for me, someone will bring it."
****
1970's disco music played as a long-haired Angel walks into the donut shop past Angelus. Angelus rolled his eyes, "Bring on the pain!"
Angel sauntered up to the jukebox and selects a song. He stood there grooving as it starts to play. "Mandy, huh?" Faith asked. Angelus sat down in a booth across from Faith. "Must kill you he's got a jones for the power-ballads." Angelus began to swat because he heard a buzzing sound.
"Worse were the concerts." Angelus replied. A couple walked out past Angel, who looked at them longingly. "You know what that's like?" Angelus continued. Angel sat down at the counter. "Every time he gets close, I feel it. Wanting to tear their flesh apart. The hunger. It's like a blade in my gut."
"Only, it's not your gut, princess. Angel's the one that belongs on the outside, not you." Faith smiled evilly.
The clerk poured Angel a cup of coffee as he tries to recover from his temptation. "You think it's that cut and dry, don't you? That if Angel gets his soul back-" Angelus began.
"When he gets it." Faith corrected him.
"You'll just hang up your spurs and ride off into the sunset knowing you put the monster back in his cage. But," Angelus began right before disappearing and then reappearing next to Faith. "I'm always here, Faithy. Deep in." He smiled.
A man walked into the shop. "Hi. Can I help you?" The cashier said.
"Gimme your money." He shot into the ceiling, "Gimme the cash in the drawer." The robber demanded.
"Oh. OK." The cashier replied nervously.
"Open it!" The robber yelled.
"Oh, all right. I, uh-" The cashier said trying to buy himself time.
"Come on!" The robber demanded.
"I, uh, I just need to..."
"Now!" He shot the clerk, then ran out of the shop.
Angel went to the clerk's side, "It's gonna be OK. I'll get you to a hospital. You're—you're gonna be OK. All right? It's—everything's gonna be"
"It hurts." The cashier groaned.
"Yeah, I know." Angel replied.
"Doc, I think we're losing him. God, I love this episode!" Angelus said mockingly, as the buzzing sound occurred again; Angelus swatted at the air like there's a fly, "What is that buzzing?"
****
Cordelia's held the crystal in her hand and tried to contact Angelus. "Hear me, Angelus. Heed my warning. Awaken at once. Return from the darkness. Or just lay there and let that red-headed meddler put your soul back. Whichever!"
****
Wesley, Angela and Willow began to prepare the spell. There's a bubbling jar in front of Willow. "Look, it's working." Willow said happily.
"I thought Delothrian's Arrow was used to protect good magicks." Wesley said.
"Yeah me too." Angela said handing Willow another ingredient.
"It is." Willow replied simply.
"So, how can you use it to break the jar? The Muo-Ping is a sacred object. It's holy." Wesley explained.
"It's glass, therefore crunchable." Willow began.
"I like the way you think." Angela smiled.
"The sacred's what's inside. "All life a container..."" Willow continued.
""...For the heart of all life."" You've studied the Daharim." Wesley finished her sentence.
"It had to be something specific. There's lots of jars in the world—can't shatter them all. I mean, you could, but good things come in jars. Peanut butter, jelly, those two-headed fetal pigs at the natural history museum." Wesley didn't respond, but Angela laughed. "Come on, everybody loves fetal pigs." Willow said cheerfully.
"Sorry. I think my sense of humor's trapped in a jar somewhere." Wesley replied.
"Does seem like you've given in to the grumpy side of the force." Willow told him. Angela coughed like she was trying to tell her brother something that sounded a lot like 'been there' but Wesley didn't acknowledge her.
"A lot's happened. Not just Angelus. I've been—I've changed. I've seen a darkness in myself. I'm not sure you'd even begin to understand-" He explained.
"I flayed a guy alive and tried to destroy the world." Willow interrupted.
"Oh. So..." Wesley stood, and didn't make eye-contact.
"Darkness. Been there." Willow replied.
"Yeah. Well, I never flayed..." He seemed sickened. "I had a woman chained in a closet."
"Wes!" Angela yelled.
"Pervert, shut up Angel. Anyway, it doesn't compare."
"No, dark. That's dark. You've been to a place." Willow said trying to make him feel better.
"You seem exactly the same as when I left. No other major changes I'm not up on?" Wesley asked.
Willow shrugged, "Just little things. So, uh, Fred. What's her story?"
****
Back in the donut shop Angel was squatting next to the clerk, "God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Angel said sympathetically. The clerk died and Angel stood and backed away, staring at the clerk.
" So, who's your big hero now?" Angelus asked Faith.
"Wasn't even his fault. God, does the guy gotta pay for everything?" Faith exclaimed.
"Choices, little girl. The ones you make with your heart of hearts." Angelus replied. Angel went to the door, but stopped and locked the door. "Uh-oh. What's gonna happen?" Angelus said even though he already knew.
"He won't." Faith said.
Angel walked back to the clerk. "I'm deep in, Faith. Soul or no soul." Angelus told Faith. Angel vamped out and lifted the clerk.
"Angel!" She yelled. Angel bit the clerk, "Ugh." Faith grunted as her neck started to bleed. "He was gonna save him."
"Or did he choose to be a little slow on the draw? Whoops! Dinner by armed robbery. Look at him, Faith. You're a murderer. You know just how good that blurry line tastes. You didn't think my hell was private, did ya?" Angelus smiled. Angel screamed.
****
Lorne dabbed away tears from Faith's face as Connor sat in a chair in the corner of the room, watching her. "She's in the barrens now. They cry for a while. Quiet mostly. Like they're letting go of everything that meant something."
"How long...'til...?" Connor asked.
"Not long. You can hold her hand." Lorne told him. Connor stood, and then Wesley entered the room.
"Wesley, you did the right thing. She was brave, and she died in battle." Connor told him.
Wesley stared at Faith, "It's time."
****
Fred walked around the lobby in a circle carrying a lit white candle and ringing a bell. "You're good. Good bells." Willow smiled at Fred. Willow walked up to the front desk. "OK, now all I gotta do is contact the spirit world, harness the Delothrian ebb, and focus it through my little marble of doom here." She told Gunn. She held out a small metal ball, And we'll restore the Muo-Ping's entropic equilibrium." She explained.
"And the jar goes smash?" Gunn asked.
"Smash-o-crash."
"All I need to know. I'll be downstairs in case the Prince of Darkness wakes up." Gunn said then leaving the room.
Wesley walked up to Willow, "You ready?"
Willow nodded, " Should be a snap." A bolt of orange energy hit Willow and sent her sliding across the floor.
"Stay your hand, witch!" In her room Cordelia is holding the crystal again, saying the words of the Beast master, "You will not interfere with what must come to pass."
Willow stood and covered her head with her hands and weakly mumbled, "Invadoria disparu!"
"You think to banish me?" Willow heard it say.
Willow looked over at Wesley, "There's somebody in my head."
"As long as the soul is under my protection, it will never be freed." Willow heard the voice yell.
"Vetsche invadoria disparu!" Willow recited looking at the sky.
"I'th bid my thongue." The voice said.
"He's enormously powerful. It's the dead Beast's master. He contacted Angelus the same way." Wesley explained to Willow.
"He wants to stop us from getting the soul." Fred said quietly. Angela drew her sword not knowing what to expect next.
Willow's eyes went black she held her hand out, the marble in it floats and started to glow, "Open the window. Fill this stone. Inside, outside. Two made one." Willow recited."You wanna go, Glinda? We'll go." The beast master said just before Willow was knocked down by another bolt of energy from the Beast master.
Connor looked at Wesley and Angela who both appeared to be calm. "Are you sure she can handle it?" He asked.
Willow was focused on the glowing ball in front of her, "Alesh ashtoreth!" She yelled then the ground began to shake. "I think she can hold her own." Wesley told Connor.
****
"It's OK, Faith. It's OK. You just wait. They'll get Angel back, and..." Lorne tried to convince himself, "it'll all be worth it. It'll all," Faith gasped and sat up.
****
Faith found herself in a dark alley full of trash. "It'll all be worth it. Is that what you try to tell yourself, Faithy? Is that the nastly little lie that kept those thighs nice and warm in your prison bunk?" Angelus said.
She looked around, trying to find Angelus, "You kiss your mama with that mouth?" She asked.
He showed up behind her, lying on the ground. "No, but I ate her with it." He stood without bending his body, " And now for a poem. "Faith goes gently into that good night." You're fading fast, baby. I can feel it."
"All the same, I hear this holler in the distance." Faith replied.
****
Willow is still casting the spell, defying the Beast master. "Semsa nahl eresh a'lahm!"
****
"Tells me you're about to get what's coming to you." Faith continued.
"Or not. I've got friends in high places." Angelus told her. Further down the alley, Angel stumbled around, knocking over garbage cans. "Him, not being one of 'em." Angelus said right before Angel grabbed a rat and ate it.
"Ugh. When is this?" Faith asked disgusted.
"When isn't it? Twenty years after that stupid donut shop, and his fingers never smelled of anything but rat! "I'm so sorry. I give up. I'm gonna live in a sewer!"" Angelus replied.
"He's paying for what he did." Faith said.
"He's hiding from what he is—which may be a big Psych 101 revelation for you, cupcake, but I already know this crap, so why do I have to go through it again?" Angelus asked.
"Maybe 'cause it's not about you," Angel said standing up, "Jackass."
****
The ground is shaking in the hotel. Wesley, Angela, Connor, Fred, and Willow are in the lobby.
"Do you feel that?" Wesley asked.
"No Shit." Angela mumbled.
"There is something evil rising in the hotel." Connor said.
****
In Cordy's room she chanting in front of the Muo-Ping. Cordelia chanted, "Seiza jai n'hast engai... Seiza jai n'hast engai..."
****
An apparition of a huge demonic head floats above the gang in the lobby, growling and shrieking. "What the hell is that?' Connor asked.
"Ignore it." Willow told him. "Find your target. Leave my side." She said to the little ball.
****
Cordelia is sitting in front of the muo-ping, talking to herself. "OK, then. Huge floaty head not enough to scare you? Then why don't we try-" The glowing ball Willow sent comes straight toward the Muo-Ping; Cordelia puts up a hand to stop it, concentrating hard. "And now she is on my last nerve!" Cordelia's concentrating hard on keeping Willow's magic marble from getting to the jar. "If only this were a few weeks later." She mumbled.
****
"Break the glass!" Willow said.
Fred looked around, "Where's Connor?" She asked.
"Let loose the soul!" Willow yelled.
****
Connor tries to burst into Cordelia's room, but it's barricaded. He banged into the door, "Cordy! Are you OK?" He yelled.
She was startled and Connor had broken her concentration, "Ah!" The marble breaks the Muo-Ping, releasing Angel's soul into the ether, Cordelia turns to look, "Oh sh-"
****
Angel, Angelus and Faith are talking in the alley. Angel is filthy, covered in dirt and grime, wearing a longish hair style. "I don't believe this! You're the one behind this whole true-Hollywood sob-story?" Angelus asked.
"Angel, it's good to see you." Faith said, "Hate the hair"
"Faith, why are you still here?" Angel asked.
"Just waiting to see this pervert get stuffed back into the deep, crazy ground he came from." Faith replied.
"Then what? After that, what happens?" Angel asked.
Angelus kicks Faith, knocking her down. "Probably something like that. I had a feeling the rules have changed." Angelus answered him.
"She's not who you're after." Angel said.
"No kidding, rat boy. The slayer will just be gravy once I finish you off." Angelus smiled.
"I've been waiting a long time for this." They said together, and then they began to fight.
"Faith, get up! Are you listening?" Angel asked as he and Angelus fought.
"Angel, I'm dying." She said weakly.
"Yeah. It's a lot easier than redemption, huh?" Angel forced a smile and then kicked Angelus.
Angelus grabbed Angel by the neck, "Always so concerned with the human condition." He threw Angel down the alley, "It's no big mystery, man. They suffer, they die. That's what they're there for."
Angel lunged at Angelus, "I'm not perfect, Faith. Even with a soul, I've done things I wished a thousand times I could take back."
"Yeah, like those Manilow concerts." Angelus said and then he threw Angel across the alley, "Son of a bitch!"
****
Connor bursts into Cordelia's room, pushing the barricade of furniture away from the door. "Cordy! I'm coming in."
Cordelia bangs Connor over the head with a ceramic vase that shatters. "Oh, Connor, I'm so sorry. I thought it came back." She cried, "That horrible floaty head."
"Did it hurt you? Is the baby...?" Connor asked.
"We nearly got killed." She said in a high-pitched voice.
"Willow's spell must've opened a gateway to something." Connor said.
"Evil. If she keeps at it, there's no telling what will happen. She's already let hell itself into this hotel." Cordy said.
"I know. I've seen it. It's not safe for you here. I'm gonna make her stop." Connor replied.
"Connor, you can't! She's too powerful. But you can stop it. The reason for all of this. You have to kill Angelus." She told him.
****
Fred, Angela, Wesley and Willow are lighting candles and incense in the lobby. "So... now Angel's soul is just floating around out there?" Fred said as she looked around.
"Yeah, until I can channel it into the Orb of Thessulah." Willow told her.
"Connor shouldn't have run off like that." Fred added.
"I'm sure he's just worried about Cordelia." Wesley assured her.
"Do you ever think their relationship is maybe a little bit..." Fred began.
"Nasty, wrong, disgusting, I've only been here about 3 ½ hours and I am pickin' up on that one." Angela said.
****
"You have to kill your father. You have to. Now, before anything else goes wrong." Cordy told Connor.
****
Willow and Fred are holding books. "Ready when you are." Willow smiled.
"Quod perditum est invenietur..." Fred read.
"Nisi mort. Nisi al finitei. Te invoc, spirit al trecerii..." Willow continued.
****
"You know I have fought harder than anyone to save Angel's life, but there comes a time when you have to weigh risk versus reward. And as much as I love Angel...as a friend... killing Angelus now is the only way to guarantee our family's safety. I know it in my heart now. You're not just protecting me. You're protecting the world." Cordy said. "Sometimes one death can spare infinite pain." She continued.
****
While Angel and Angelus are fighting, Faith's lying unconscious against the alley wall. "Faith, wake up!" Angel yelled.
"I've rolled the bones. You for me." She said waking up.
Angel walked away from the fight with Angelus to talk to Faith, " I used to think that. That there'd be a point when I'd paid my dues."
Angelus knocked out Angel from behind, "Anybody notice a battle with your alter-ego going on here?"
****
Willow's still working on the spell to re-ensoul Angel in the lobby. She's chanting, facing the Orb of Thessulah. Connor looks over at them on his way to the basement. "Te implor doamne. Nu ignora accasta rugaminte lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta sufletul la el."
****
Angel and Angelus are fighting in the alley again. Angel leaves the fight and goes over to Faith's side, holding her up in his arms. "Faith, listen to me. You saw me drink. It doesn't get much lower than that. And I thought I could make up for it by disappearing." Angel told her.
"I did my time." Faith told him.
"Our time is never up, Faith. We pay for everything." Angel told her.
"It hurts." She said.
"I know." Angel said softly.
****
Willow's still working on the spell to re-ensoul Angel in the lobby. She's chanting, facing the Orb of Thessulah. "Este scris aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce."
****
Connor walks down the stairs into the basement. "Hey, Gunn, you should know..." He punched Gunn, knocking him out, "they haven't finished the spell yet." Connor said.
****
Angel's talking to a weakened Faith, "Get up! You have to get up now. Faith, you have to fight. I need you to fight. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Angelus snuck up behind Angel and knocked him out with a metal pipe.
"What won't I miss? The moralizing. Soul's already in the ether, boyo. I can smell it. How 'bout I send it off to that big puppy rescue in the sky." Angelus said.
Faith came up behind him, "Arf arf, psycho."
"Faith. Getting back into the game." Angelus smiled.
"I guess I am." She said.
Angelus swung the pipe at Faith, but she disappeared, "Hey!"
****
Faith wakes with a start, and without missing a beat, she runs out of the room.
****
Willow's still working on the spell to re-ensoul Angel in the lobby. She's chanting, facing the Orb of Thessulah. "Asa sa fie, acum."
****
Angelus and Angel start to glow and combine into one being.
****
In the basement Angel began to mumble, "I need you to fight."
"I'm pretty clear about what you need." Connor said then rearing his hand back, revealing that he's got a stake in it.
Faith grabbed Connor's wrist, stopping him from staking Angel. "Break me off a switch, son." She threw Connor against the cage wall. "There's about to be a whoppin'."
Faith decked him as he ran at her, he bounced right back with a left jab but Faith ducked and knocked his feet out from under him. He spun around and jumped up and delivered a back kick to Faith, it didn't phase her much and she knocked him in the head with her fist.
Lorne ran into the basement, followed by Fred and Wesley. "She's alive. It's a miracle!"
Faith continues to kick Connor's butt across the room. When he lands near the cage, Angel grabs his neck through the bars. "Connor, it's over. It's me. Really." Angel growled.
****
Faith came outside of the hotel to the garden to talk to Angel, "Hey" She said leaning forward on the rail.
"How are you feeling?" Angel asked.
"Like I did mushrooms and got eaten by a bear," Faith smiled.
"That about sums it up." Angel agreed.
"Yep."
"And now you're going to Sunnydale."
"I think I prefer the bear, but the way Willow talks it up, that's where I'm needed."
"Never stop fighting." Angel said as he leaned on the rail beside Faith.
"Hey, I was gonna, but someone got all pep-talky on me."
"Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't get to see you. Our little brain tour notwithstanding."
Faith smiled, "Another time."
The vampire with a newly restored soul stood, "I have a lot to thank you for."
"Well, that vice is plenty versa. I even start, it's only gonna lead to hugging, and..." She shrugged and smiled.
"Right. We can't have that." Angel grinned.
"No."
They walked inside to see Connor sitting on a couch with Gunn standing in front of him with his arms crossed. "All right. I get it. I messed up." Connor said.
"Hey, cheer up, punk. That just makes you one of us." Faith said.
"You headed out?" Gunn asked.
"Yeah, no tears, big guy." She gave Gunn a high-five.
"Nah, I'm good. I just wish I could've seen you kicking the crap out of junior, here."Gunn said.
Faith nodded, "It was pretty funny." She smiled and then looked at Wesley and Faith whom she could now see there resemblance between the two. "You know you two look alike sometimes." Faith said.
"Oh God, that only happens when I get really tired. I've gotta get some rest. Good to meet cha Faith, always wanted to meet a real live Slayer." Angela smiled.
"Good to meet you to Angie. Wes."
"Faith." Wesley said.
"See. Brits know how to say goodbye. Angel here wanted a hug." Faith smiled, then she glanced over at Angel.
"No, I didn't." Angel retorted.
"Well gang, it's been a good show." Faith said.
"Yeah, sit back and let the girl do all the heavy lifting." Gunn smiled.
"That's pretty much it." Wesley added.
Fred walked out of the office with Willow, who's holding a book, "I think that volume's outdated. You'd know better than me, but there's some interesting stuff about hellmouth. Might help."
"That's great!" Willow smiled.
'I have to say, someday I'd love to bend your ear about the Pergamum Codex. I—I think some of the really obscure passages are actually Latin translated from a demonic tongue, and they're kind of a hoot. (giggles) All this stuff about Bacchanals and spells and—actually, I think it's probably funnier in Latin. You know how that is sometimes." Fred babbled.
"I'm seeing someone." Willow told her.
"Time goes by Will," Faith nagged.
" OK. Good. Wagons west. See you guys." Willow smiled.
"Willow..." Angel began.
"He's going to tell you how much he owes you." Faith butted in.
"Aw, don't mention it. I got a slayer out of the deal, so we're even-steven." She hugged Angel, "I'll tell Buffy you said hi."
"Good. Thanks."Angel smiled.
Willow started to walk out, but stopped, and turned to them, "Oh, um, next time you guys resurrect Angelus, call me first, OK?"
Willow and Faith left, Angel turned and looked at the gang, "So, we're back."
"So it seems." Wesley said.
"Look, I know things have been-" Angel began.
Cordelia walked down the stairs, "Sorry, Angel. But if this is the speech about how the worst is behind us, you may want to save it for later."
Cordelia was wearing a trampy outfit that reveals her pregnancy to the gang.
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A/N: It took a while but here it is, I really hope you all enjoyed it. As the episodes go on Angela will be more involved. R/R … ~Charli~