Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Joss and ME
Chapter 37
Spike and Giles were gathering some weapons as Elizabeth was changing her clothes.
"Andrew, here." Spike handed Andrew a small crossbow, "Giles, can you handle this one?" he then handed Giles the larger one.
"Yes, I've done quite well with this in the past." Giles took the crossbow and hung it over his shoulder. Spike took a few daggers and a medium sized sword. Elizabeth came down the stairs and stood at the doorway.
"I'm ready." She said. Willow, Xander, Faith and Wesley stayed behind. The plan was basically simple, and there was no need for all of them to go. Elizabeth would lure Angelus and as many of his men away from the Manor, then Spike, Giles and Andrew would go into the home and look in Angelus' room for the fragment.
The four walked out of the Giles home and mounted their horses. They rode for 15 minutes, and cut through the woods. When they cleared the woods Elizabeth turned to Spike.
"This is it." she said. He rode close to her and leaned his body towards her and kissed her.
"Please be careful luv."
"I will." She smiled at him and rode off. Spike Giles and Andrew rode to the north side of the manor where they had a better view of the front of the property.
"Andrew, when we get inside I want you to concentrate on looking for anything that looks like it may tell us something about that spear." Said Spike as they positioned themselves.
"A book, or perhaps something written by Angelus, anything." Added Giles. Andrew nodded. Spike and Giles would concentrate on taking the room apart and looking for the fragment itself. They waited in the darkness for Elizabeth to come riding out with Angelus and his men on her trail.
McKenna Manor
Angelus had been in his room for several hours. There had been no sigh of Ethan and Jonathan was still unable to locate the other half of the spear. But Angelus had his suspicions. He thought of his encounter with Willow. The girl was powerful and he wondered if perhaps he should attempt to kidnap her once more. He also wondered if she knew where anything about the spear. He had deduced that the vampire Amy had spoken to him about was in the area. After all Elizabeth did not become a vampire on her own, therefore she had a friend. And if this other vampire had anything to do with the other fragment, then chances were Willow knew where it was, since Willow and Elizabeth had been friends. He glared out the window. He could see the ocean in the distance, and the waves underneath the moonlight.
"And as the destroyer sinks beneath the waves, all shall tremble at his coming. I am the destroyer." He whispered
"Some of us do not scare easily." Came a voice from behind him. Angelus spun around and looked toward the dark corner of his room. Elizabeth slowly came forward, letting the candlelight illuminate her.
"Impossible. You're not here." He froze. It couldn't be her he thought. He entombed her in that alter to rot.
"Oh, but I am here, I assure you I'm no ghost."
"How?!" he said through gritted teeth.
"Can't tell you." She laughed softly, "It's a secret." She approached him slowly. "I've been out for quite a while. I'm surprised you didn't' know. But then how would you. Dead men tell no tales after all." She smiled and licked her lips. Her vampire features had surfaced by now. Angelus knew then, why Ethan and his men had never returned. Before he could think further, she rushed him and grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him to the far side of the room she had emerged from. He was dazed and as he looked up saw her fleeing his room.
She all but flew down the stairs and threw open the front doors. She quickly dispatched the two men standing outside with a quick flick of her sharp nails to their throats. She ran to the nearest horse she saw and saw Angelus emerging form the open doors. She kicked at the horse's sides and he began his run. Off in the distance Spike saw her.
"There she goes." He said to the others, "C'mon." the three men raced down the hill and reached the manor within seconds. As planned, Angelus rode after Elizabeth followed by most of his men. As they rode up there was a scattering of men rushing towards them. Giles shot two with his crossbow, and Andrew shot one more. Spike threw his dagger with stunning accuracy and struck another in the heart. They rushed into the home and followed Spike. Thanks to Faith's diagram they were able to head straight to Angelus' room. Andrew went to the desk near the window while Spike and Giles ransacked the room.
Elizabeth rode like the wind. Luckily she had chosen a fast horse. She looked behind her and saw Angelus and his men following in the distance.
Giles Home
The remaining four sat waiting. Wesley and Faith were in the parlor, waiting for Willow and Xander to clear the library. As Willow leaned over to pick up the spear form the table, it began to move. It was slowly turning to the west, and away from Angelus' room.
"Xander. Look." She pointed to the table. Xander walked to her.
"That can't be good." He looked at her.
Angelus began to slow his horse down. He looked around and saw that most of his men were there. His home had for the most part been left unguarded.
"It's a set up. Turn around." They began to ride back to the manor.
McKenna Manor
Andrew found several entries in Angelus' journal referring to the spear. He quickly surmised that the key to the power within the sword was in its intact state. A thought occurred to him that perhaps it was in its whole state that it would be able to cure Wesley's wound yet he needed to be sure before he said anything. He tore the pages out and then saw a small book inside a drawer. He flipped through it and saw a picture of the spear, with a caption reading, "Der Speer des Schicksals (The Spear of Destiny)" he took the papers and the book and put them in his pocket. Spike was opening a drawer in a small bureau next to the bed when he heard a voice.
"Spike!"
He jumped back and looked around the room.
"What the hell? Red?" Spike looked around the room but saw only Andrew and Giles staring at him.
"Who are you talking to?" asked Giles.
"Spike get out of there now!"
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Never mind! Get out of there. Angelus has the spear on him. He's turning around he's coming your way!" Spike looked at Giles and Andrew.
"They're coming back, we have to leave now!" he grabbed Andrew and they ran out and down the stairs. They got outside and mounted their horses and began to ride away as Angelus and his men rode back to the front of the manor. Angelus called out for a crossbow. He aimed and shot at the men riding away. He had been carrying the spear within his belt the whole time. He knew that was what they must have been after, there was no need for him to ride after them, yet he felt the need to do some damage regardless.
Giles home
Elizabeth had arrived while Willow was communicating with Spike. The fragment on the table had been put away. They waited several minutes then heard the horses arrive. Spike and Giles came in first with Andrew following behind.
"What the bloody hell happened?" asked Spike as he rushed in out of breath.
"He had it with him. Angelus is carrying it. I saw the arrow move," she looked at Elizabeth, "it was moving while he was riding after you then it stopped and turned the other way."
"Spike" Andrew walked into the library slowly.
"Christ Willow, how did you get in my head like that?" Spike asked ignoring Andrew.
"Spike." Andrew drew closer to Spike. Spike turned and looked at him.
"What Andrew?" He was pale. Spike walked towards him and caught him as he fell forward. Andrew had an arrow imbedded in his back.
"Oh my God!" Elizabeth rushed to Andrew and Spike, as did the others. Spike slowly sank down to the floor and sat with Andrew at his lap. He pulled open his coat and saw the head of the arrow coming out of Andrews's chest. Andrew began to tremble and his skin was becoming ashen.
"Oh Andrew." Spike held Andrew in his arms. "Oh God, this is my fault. I should have made you stay."
"Not your fault." Andrew was now having trouble breathing. His arm came and held Spikes shoulder, "In my pocket." Spike looked at Giles who was standing in front of him. Giles crouched down and took out the small book and the papers Andrew had torn out of the journal.
"Complete.." He whispered, then coughed, "complete the spear, and I think .."
"Sshh. Just try to keep still. Don't try to talk." Spike wiped the stray hairs away from Andrews's forehead. He rocked him and held him tightly. He felt Andrews's small fragile body begin to grow limp. He shook him, "Andrew, no. Don't close your eyes. C'mon, stay with me." He shook him again, "Andrew please, " tears were forming in his eyes, and his voice was beginning to crack. Andrew felt the coldness wash over his body and he knew there was little time for him.
"You.you took care of me. Nobody wanted me, but you took care of me." Andrew felt Spikes warm tear fall to his cheek "you were like a brother to me." He took a shaky breath. "You're the only family I ever had, I wanted you to be proud of me."
"I am proud of you, Andrew. Please just hang on, please." Spike started sobbing, "you can't leave me." He touched Andrews's cheek and held him closer. Spike began to tremble. Andrew gripped Spikes shoulder with the last bit of strength he had and raised himself closer to him.
"I.I love you Spike." His hand lost its grip and Andrew fell against Spikes chest. Spike shook him.
"Andrew, no. c'mon.not you.please not you." he shook him harder and slapped at his face. "Andrew!" his voice was growing louder, "Noooo Andrew.. please," his voice now lowered to a whisper, "Please don't leave me." He pulled the small body closer to him and held him tightly. "I love you too my friend, I love you too." He cried and buried his head in Andrews's neck.
Willow and Xander wept in each other's arms, as did Faith and Wesley. Giles sat on the floor in front of the two men, with Jenny kneeling beside him.
Elizabeth knelt down and sat next to Spike. Spike lifted his head and looked and wiped the tears from Andrews face. He put his forehead against Andrews and then kissed it.
"Spike," Elizabeth whispered and put her hand on his back. "Spike, I'm so sorry." Tears were falling down her face as she watch how tenderly Spike held the lifeless body of his friend.
"He was the only family I ever really had. I loved him, " he laugh quietly, "even when he annoyed me to all hell, I loved him." He looked at Elizabeth, "I never told him I did, he never knew."
"He knew Spike, please believe me, he knew." She brushed Spike's hair back and kissed him on his temple. Spike sat silently rocking Andrew in his arms. He looked up at Elizabeth with the innocence of a child.
"I need to bury him. Where will I bury him Buffy?" He said quietly and looked down at Andrew, who now seemed smaller and more fragile.
"We'll take him to my estate. We'll bury him there." Spike stood and carried Andrews's body out of Giles' home. They all rode to Summers Manor. They walked into the garden guided by the moonlight, and buried him under the tallest most beautiful tree on the grounds. There was a soft breeze, and in the distance you could hear the ocean.
Chapter 37
Spike and Giles were gathering some weapons as Elizabeth was changing her clothes.
"Andrew, here." Spike handed Andrew a small crossbow, "Giles, can you handle this one?" he then handed Giles the larger one.
"Yes, I've done quite well with this in the past." Giles took the crossbow and hung it over his shoulder. Spike took a few daggers and a medium sized sword. Elizabeth came down the stairs and stood at the doorway.
"I'm ready." She said. Willow, Xander, Faith and Wesley stayed behind. The plan was basically simple, and there was no need for all of them to go. Elizabeth would lure Angelus and as many of his men away from the Manor, then Spike, Giles and Andrew would go into the home and look in Angelus' room for the fragment.
The four walked out of the Giles home and mounted their horses. They rode for 15 minutes, and cut through the woods. When they cleared the woods Elizabeth turned to Spike.
"This is it." she said. He rode close to her and leaned his body towards her and kissed her.
"Please be careful luv."
"I will." She smiled at him and rode off. Spike Giles and Andrew rode to the north side of the manor where they had a better view of the front of the property.
"Andrew, when we get inside I want you to concentrate on looking for anything that looks like it may tell us something about that spear." Said Spike as they positioned themselves.
"A book, or perhaps something written by Angelus, anything." Added Giles. Andrew nodded. Spike and Giles would concentrate on taking the room apart and looking for the fragment itself. They waited in the darkness for Elizabeth to come riding out with Angelus and his men on her trail.
McKenna Manor
Angelus had been in his room for several hours. There had been no sigh of Ethan and Jonathan was still unable to locate the other half of the spear. But Angelus had his suspicions. He thought of his encounter with Willow. The girl was powerful and he wondered if perhaps he should attempt to kidnap her once more. He also wondered if she knew where anything about the spear. He had deduced that the vampire Amy had spoken to him about was in the area. After all Elizabeth did not become a vampire on her own, therefore she had a friend. And if this other vampire had anything to do with the other fragment, then chances were Willow knew where it was, since Willow and Elizabeth had been friends. He glared out the window. He could see the ocean in the distance, and the waves underneath the moonlight.
"And as the destroyer sinks beneath the waves, all shall tremble at his coming. I am the destroyer." He whispered
"Some of us do not scare easily." Came a voice from behind him. Angelus spun around and looked toward the dark corner of his room. Elizabeth slowly came forward, letting the candlelight illuminate her.
"Impossible. You're not here." He froze. It couldn't be her he thought. He entombed her in that alter to rot.
"Oh, but I am here, I assure you I'm no ghost."
"How?!" he said through gritted teeth.
"Can't tell you." She laughed softly, "It's a secret." She approached him slowly. "I've been out for quite a while. I'm surprised you didn't' know. But then how would you. Dead men tell no tales after all." She smiled and licked her lips. Her vampire features had surfaced by now. Angelus knew then, why Ethan and his men had never returned. Before he could think further, she rushed him and grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him to the far side of the room she had emerged from. He was dazed and as he looked up saw her fleeing his room.
She all but flew down the stairs and threw open the front doors. She quickly dispatched the two men standing outside with a quick flick of her sharp nails to their throats. She ran to the nearest horse she saw and saw Angelus emerging form the open doors. She kicked at the horse's sides and he began his run. Off in the distance Spike saw her.
"There she goes." He said to the others, "C'mon." the three men raced down the hill and reached the manor within seconds. As planned, Angelus rode after Elizabeth followed by most of his men. As they rode up there was a scattering of men rushing towards them. Giles shot two with his crossbow, and Andrew shot one more. Spike threw his dagger with stunning accuracy and struck another in the heart. They rushed into the home and followed Spike. Thanks to Faith's diagram they were able to head straight to Angelus' room. Andrew went to the desk near the window while Spike and Giles ransacked the room.
Elizabeth rode like the wind. Luckily she had chosen a fast horse. She looked behind her and saw Angelus and his men following in the distance.
Giles Home
The remaining four sat waiting. Wesley and Faith were in the parlor, waiting for Willow and Xander to clear the library. As Willow leaned over to pick up the spear form the table, it began to move. It was slowly turning to the west, and away from Angelus' room.
"Xander. Look." She pointed to the table. Xander walked to her.
"That can't be good." He looked at her.
Angelus began to slow his horse down. He looked around and saw that most of his men were there. His home had for the most part been left unguarded.
"It's a set up. Turn around." They began to ride back to the manor.
McKenna Manor
Andrew found several entries in Angelus' journal referring to the spear. He quickly surmised that the key to the power within the sword was in its intact state. A thought occurred to him that perhaps it was in its whole state that it would be able to cure Wesley's wound yet he needed to be sure before he said anything. He tore the pages out and then saw a small book inside a drawer. He flipped through it and saw a picture of the spear, with a caption reading, "Der Speer des Schicksals (The Spear of Destiny)" he took the papers and the book and put them in his pocket. Spike was opening a drawer in a small bureau next to the bed when he heard a voice.
"Spike!"
He jumped back and looked around the room.
"What the hell? Red?" Spike looked around the room but saw only Andrew and Giles staring at him.
"Who are you talking to?" asked Giles.
"Spike get out of there now!"
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Never mind! Get out of there. Angelus has the spear on him. He's turning around he's coming your way!" Spike looked at Giles and Andrew.
"They're coming back, we have to leave now!" he grabbed Andrew and they ran out and down the stairs. They got outside and mounted their horses and began to ride away as Angelus and his men rode back to the front of the manor. Angelus called out for a crossbow. He aimed and shot at the men riding away. He had been carrying the spear within his belt the whole time. He knew that was what they must have been after, there was no need for him to ride after them, yet he felt the need to do some damage regardless.
Giles home
Elizabeth had arrived while Willow was communicating with Spike. The fragment on the table had been put away. They waited several minutes then heard the horses arrive. Spike and Giles came in first with Andrew following behind.
"What the bloody hell happened?" asked Spike as he rushed in out of breath.
"He had it with him. Angelus is carrying it. I saw the arrow move," she looked at Elizabeth, "it was moving while he was riding after you then it stopped and turned the other way."
"Spike" Andrew walked into the library slowly.
"Christ Willow, how did you get in my head like that?" Spike asked ignoring Andrew.
"Spike." Andrew drew closer to Spike. Spike turned and looked at him.
"What Andrew?" He was pale. Spike walked towards him and caught him as he fell forward. Andrew had an arrow imbedded in his back.
"Oh my God!" Elizabeth rushed to Andrew and Spike, as did the others. Spike slowly sank down to the floor and sat with Andrew at his lap. He pulled open his coat and saw the head of the arrow coming out of Andrews's chest. Andrew began to tremble and his skin was becoming ashen.
"Oh Andrew." Spike held Andrew in his arms. "Oh God, this is my fault. I should have made you stay."
"Not your fault." Andrew was now having trouble breathing. His arm came and held Spikes shoulder, "In my pocket." Spike looked at Giles who was standing in front of him. Giles crouched down and took out the small book and the papers Andrew had torn out of the journal.
"Complete.." He whispered, then coughed, "complete the spear, and I think .."
"Sshh. Just try to keep still. Don't try to talk." Spike wiped the stray hairs away from Andrews's forehead. He rocked him and held him tightly. He felt Andrews's small fragile body begin to grow limp. He shook him, "Andrew, no. Don't close your eyes. C'mon, stay with me." He shook him again, "Andrew please, " tears were forming in his eyes, and his voice was beginning to crack. Andrew felt the coldness wash over his body and he knew there was little time for him.
"You.you took care of me. Nobody wanted me, but you took care of me." Andrew felt Spikes warm tear fall to his cheek "you were like a brother to me." He took a shaky breath. "You're the only family I ever had, I wanted you to be proud of me."
"I am proud of you, Andrew. Please just hang on, please." Spike started sobbing, "you can't leave me." He touched Andrews's cheek and held him closer. Spike began to tremble. Andrew gripped Spikes shoulder with the last bit of strength he had and raised himself closer to him.
"I.I love you Spike." His hand lost its grip and Andrew fell against Spikes chest. Spike shook him.
"Andrew, no. c'mon.not you.please not you." he shook him harder and slapped at his face. "Andrew!" his voice was growing louder, "Noooo Andrew.. please," his voice now lowered to a whisper, "Please don't leave me." He pulled the small body closer to him and held him tightly. "I love you too my friend, I love you too." He cried and buried his head in Andrews's neck.
Willow and Xander wept in each other's arms, as did Faith and Wesley. Giles sat on the floor in front of the two men, with Jenny kneeling beside him.
Elizabeth knelt down and sat next to Spike. Spike lifted his head and looked and wiped the tears from Andrews face. He put his forehead against Andrews and then kissed it.
"Spike," Elizabeth whispered and put her hand on his back. "Spike, I'm so sorry." Tears were falling down her face as she watch how tenderly Spike held the lifeless body of his friend.
"He was the only family I ever really had. I loved him, " he laugh quietly, "even when he annoyed me to all hell, I loved him." He looked at Elizabeth, "I never told him I did, he never knew."
"He knew Spike, please believe me, he knew." She brushed Spike's hair back and kissed him on his temple. Spike sat silently rocking Andrew in his arms. He looked up at Elizabeth with the innocence of a child.
"I need to bury him. Where will I bury him Buffy?" He said quietly and looked down at Andrew, who now seemed smaller and more fragile.
"We'll take him to my estate. We'll bury him there." Spike stood and carried Andrews's body out of Giles' home. They all rode to Summers Manor. They walked into the garden guided by the moonlight, and buried him under the tallest most beautiful tree on the grounds. There was a soft breeze, and in the distance you could hear the ocean.