Disclaimer: I hate writing this, it just reminds me that the Buffyverse is not mine.
Distribution: If you want to, sure. Just let me know where it's going.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to my readers and reviewers. You are most kind and generous.
Rannilt hung the closed sign on the door after the last of her patrons had left. The street was silent except for the wind and the distant sound of traffic. She had never seen the street so empty, so quiet. Shutting the door she moved around behind the bar and began wiping glasses and straightening bottles, doing anything to keep her mind occupied. She knew she must not dwell on the possibilities. But she had never seen that look of pain on her brother's face. And then the cold fury that replaced it. Shaking her head she pulled out a clipboard and began to count the liquor behind the bar.
Across the room, Rebecca, Cordelia, Wesley, and Lorne sat at a table together. They'd hardly said a word to each other since the others had left. They didn't like being left behind, having to wait and wonder.
Cordelia slowly turned her glass around and around. "I'm sure they're doing just fine."
"Of course they are sweetie," replied Lorne. "No standing in the way of those four."
Wesley nodded. "Right. They are a force to be reckoned with and they'll probably have the whole thing solved tonight."
Silence fell on the group once again. It seemed a palpable thing, weighing on their bodies.
Suddenly, the door flew open and five people strode into the room, their faces grim.
For a long moment no one in the bar moved or even blinked.
Rannilt was the first to come out of it. She stepped out from behind the bar, took two steps and threw her arms around Spike. He held her tightly for a moment his face buried in her hair. She pulled back and turned to her brother.
"You are going to be the death of me one of these days, brother."
"I doubt it, sister dear. You're tougher than that."
Rannilt let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Morgan sounded like himself again and the little worm of fear that had been wriggling in her stomach disappeared.
Rebecca hugged Lindsey tightly, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She stepped back to look at the whole group. The Three looked different to her, something had changed but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Glancing at Lorne she saw that he looked puzzled as well.
"What happened?" demanded Wesley. "Did you discover anything about the Coming?"
Morgan nodded his head. "Yes, that it's almost here. We'll know more as we get closer to the time. Right now the first order of business is to get Lindsey's and my weapons back."
"But how will you know where they've been taken?" asked Wesley.
Spike stepped forward. "I have an idea about that. But first, I think I'd like to change my clothes, take a hot shower."
Morgan nodded. "Yes, first things first. We'll meet the rest of you back at the house."
And as quickly as they had come, they were gone again.
Everyone started to speak at once and Angel held up his hand. "We'll tell you all about it but I think we could use a drink."
After everyone had been provided with a drink they sat down and Angel began the tale.
He told them about the search of the buildings and Lindsey's narrow escape off the rooftop. Rebecca bit her lip but didn't make a sound. Then he told them about finding Spike in the basement. Rannilt clenched her jaw, her eyes flashing with anger.
Leaning back in his chair Angel took an unneeded breath before continuing. "Then something odd happened," he said. "Morgan and Lindsey opened their wrists to give Spike some blood but after Spike had drunk they seemed to feel something, all three of them. Then Morgan and Lindsey drank each other's blood and Spike's."
He paused for a moment and Wesley said, "What did that do for them?"
"I'm not exactly sure but Spike was able to stand and then they kicked the door of the magic cage across the room."
"It sounds as if at the very least their connection has been restored," Wesley suggested. "But there may be more to it than that."
Rebecca nodded vigorously. "Yes, they're different, I could sense it."
"It's like someone cranked up their volume," added Lorne. "Blood is a powerful thing."
Angel smiled. "Morgan said, It's always blood'.
"And they seemed to know more about the Coming although they're not sharing."
Rannilt said, "You'll get used to that. They don't share much about their work or their relationship. It's kind of tough on Rebecca and me but we've decided that it's worth it.
"We should probably get back to the house or they're liable to go off without us."
The Three sat in the living room, feet up on the coffee table. Spike was cleaned and dressed, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
"What's happened to us?" asked Lindsey. "I feel so different, like there's fire running through my veins."
"I think we've reached the last stage of our evolution. What began that night in the museum is now complete." Morgan swirled the brandy in his glass and inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma of 500 year-old cognac.
Spike leaned forward. "I know one thing that's different. I can't vamp out. And the hunger, it's lessened. I think I could go for a long time without blood."
"That doesn't surprise me," said Morgan. "I think we've become more alike. I suspect you're both more like me now, in the middle. The connection is solid now, I don't think any magic has the power to break it."
Morgan drained his glass and stood up. "It's time to go, before the others return. They'll want to come along and they'll only slow us down."
The Three stood in a circle but this time they did not bother to raise their arms. A moment later they were gone.
Rannilt fumbled with her keys but finally got the door open. As she stepped in she knew that The Three were not there.
"Damn them, they've gone without us."
"Maybe I can do a locator spell," said Rebecca. "It's worth a shot."
They all gathered around the island in the kitchen as Rebecca assembled what she needed for the spell. To their amazement the spell seemed to work. It pointed to a block in the north end of Brooklyn, under the Manhattan Bridge.
"They're in DUMBO," said Rebecca.
Buffy stared at her. "They're in a flying elephant?"
Rebecca laughed. "No, DUMBO is District Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It's a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Up and coming actually. It's got a great chocolate store and some of the best pizza in the city. I wouldn't have thought it would be a demon hide-out although there's lots of warehouses."
"And we all know how evil loves warehouses," said Lorne. "Just once, couldn't evil hang out in a jazz club or a spa?"
"So what do we do?" asked Cordelia. "Do we just show up or are we going to be all crazy and actually make a plan before rushing in?"
Angel leaned back against the counter, his arms crossed. "I think it would be best if Rannilt and Rebecca stayed here" He held up his hand when they started to interrupt.
"But I know you're not going to."
"I've been taking care of myself for more than 1500 years Angel. And Rebecca is a pretty good witch. So don't be worrying about us. Because you're right, we are coming. There's no way we're staying behind when the men we love might be in serious danger."
"I don't think we should be too worried," said Wesley. "From what you've said, I suspect they can easily deal with some demons; especially since they will have the element of surprise."
"But they're not armed, at least only Spike is," said Buffy. "Magic or no, we need to go."
"Then we're agreed," said Rannilt. "Come on, we can be there pretty quickly by subway."
Cordelia was the last to leave the room. "So I guess the answer is, no plan," she whispered to herself. "Big surprise."
It was after two in the morning by the time they emerged from the York Street subway station. The neighborhood was completely silent. The cold had cleared the streets. A few windows had lights but most of them were dark, their occupants asleep and unaware of what moved in the night.
Rebecca led the way to Hudson Avenue. Her locator spell could not tell her which building but there were only three large warehouses and an open lot. She shivered slightly in the cold air. She tried to concentrate, to feel The Three. But all she got was the psychic equivalent of static.
"I'm sorry, I don't sense anything. Do any of you?"
They all shook their heads.
"Should we split up?" asked Wesley.
"No," answered Angel. We stick together. Lets just start with the first building."
The first building was locked tight and apparently silent, all the windows dark. They were approaching the second when they heard a scream. It did not sound human.
Angel reached the door first and kicked it in. Sounds of breaking glass echoed down the stairwell and drew the group upwards. On the third floor they came into a large room where half a dozen demons were grouped around a box. The Three stood in a line facing them.