At the Wolfram and Hart office, Lania was screaming in pain. She could feel the warm gush of her blood cascading down her shirt.
"Bitch!" She spat, hissing with contempt.
"Aw sweetie, did that hurt?" Lilah asked with fake concern. "I promise, next time, I'll put you out of your misery."
"You know, you must be feeling pretty good about yourself right now." Lania spoke clearly, although she was in a lot of pain.
"Elaborate honey." Lilah smiled.
"Well you're beating up a slayer, that gotta feel good." Lania explained.
"You're right, it does." Lilah laughed.
"But you gotta tie her up to beat her, and she's only 17." Lania spat. Lilah viciously back-handed her.
"That wasn't so polite." She opened a brief case, and produced a needle full of a shimmering solution. "I didn't wanna have to do this…but you left me no choice."
She leaned over to pierce Lania's vein, and inject her with whatever it was, when the door came crashing to the ground. A petite blonde girl stood in the doorway, and even though Lilah had never seen her before, she knew who she was.
"Well if it isn't Buffy."
"Hey, don't mind if I join ya?" Buffy smiled sweetly, and Lilah dug the needle into Lania's vein. She cried out, but that was all, she didn't give Lania the satisfaction of provoking a more telling response.
"Please, do." Lilah raised her palms in a sign of welcome. Buffy sidled into the room, strutting confidently. Lilah looked over Buffy's shoulder, and noticed Angel, Gunn, Fred, Willow, Giles, Xander and Wesley.
"Ooh gate-crashers." Lilah grinned.
"I'm sure our invite just got lost in the mail." Angel replied, his voice cold and steady. He had seen Lania tied to the chair, bleeding all over the floor.
"Your son's didn't." Lilah replied bitchily. "Where is Wonderboy anyway?"
"He's right here." Connor said, pushing his way to the front of the group, still clinging to his wounded stomach. "You didn't think I'd miss this would ya?" He laughed, taking his sword from Angel.
"Look Lania, it's your beloved here to rescue you. Shame it's too late." Lilah stroked Lania's hair, and Connor noticed her eyelids were drooping.
"Enough of the small talk." Buffy growled. "Let's kick some ass."
Buffy made the first move, punching Lilah in the jaw, and knocking her out instantly. Then the twenty people who had been standing silently in the darkness emerged, blades shining with menace and anticipation.
Then all hell broke loose. Blades hit blades, some bending with the sheer force of will and violence. Connor fought desperately, uncomfortably aware that something had been done to Lania. Angel fought fiercely, and just when the battle appeared to be won, Lilah screamed out, and a hooded shaman materialized in front of them, and began chanting. Lightning filled the room, and Angel collapsed, moaning in pain.
"Angel?" Connor stopped beside him, and leaned over, as Angel stopped moving. Before Connor could blink, Angel had punched him, sending him sprawling backwards. Connor tried to get to his feet, but Angel kicked him swiftly in the gut, and he fell. Angel straightened up, his vampire face glinting in the moonlight.
"Hello son." He cackled, while Connor coughed up some blood. Angel grabbed his hair, and forced him to stand. "No, no, don't do that, you'll make me hungry." Angel said, flinging Connor across the room to Lania's feet.
Buffy stopped, in shock, her eyes wide with fright. She couldn't move or speak, and promptly turned on her heel, and ran. The others ran after her, leaving Connor, Fred, Gunn, Wesley and Lania completely helpless.
"So, son, how've you been? I'm sorry I missed the whole sex talk, but it looks like you got that sorted." Angel remarked coldly, his eyes sweeping the room and resting on the helpless Lania. He cut the ropes away, and pulled her to her feet. By this time, she was nearly unconscious, and didn't put up a struggle.
"Leave her alone!" Connor yelled.
"No can do, I'm gonna need a snack for the road." Angel hissed, before burying his fangs into Lania's neck. Her eyes shot open, and she yelled out in pain. Connor flung himself at them, knocking Angel to the ground, and forcing him to release his hold on Lania.
They struggled for a moment, but Connor was injured, and Angel easily got the better hand. When he had subdued Connor enough, he scrambled to his feet, and picked Lania up.
"This is what you're fighting for?" Angel asked, as Lania's head leaned back on his shoulder. "She's pretty." Then with a mighty twist, Angel snapped her neck, and let her body sink to the floor. "Shame bout the neck thing though." He giggled, enjoying the pain on Connor's face. He didn't notice Connor pick up the blade, or thrust it deftly through his unbeating heart.
While Angel lay bleeding on the floor, Connor scooped up the dead body of his tragic lover, and carried her out into the night, with his salty tears splashing onto her closed eyes, and the little half smile on her lips.