Merry Christmas, Angel

by pat weakley

This is our third motherdaughter collaboration. Buffy and the Scoobies join Angel in L.A. for Christmas. Caleb returns to destroy the future by killing Dawn. Romance blooms between Dawn and Connor.

3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

I

"Did you find anything?" Wesley asked Buffy and Angel, looking up from the situation board in the operations center at Wolfman and Hart.

"Yeah," Buffy said, dropping three packages on the table next to Wesley, "We paid a visit to Santa Claus."

"Santa Claus," Wesley echoed frowning thoughtfully. "Didn't you meet him about a year ago?" he asked Angel.

"Yeah," Angel said, "I guess since we saved his life last year, he decided to help us this year."

"Or maybe because he's nice," Buffy remarked, "You know, jolly and stuff."

"Most likely," Wesley said, "It's because he works for the powers of good just as we do." He looked over the gifts, "So tell me about these," he said.

"Okay," Buffy said, "The first one, this one with the stars, moons and globes, he said will help us find our way. The second one with the Hanukkah paper is supposed to light our way. He said Willow will know what to do with that one. And this last one, the one with the clocks and stuff is not to be opened until Christmas."

"Why don't you open the first one," Angel suggested to Buffy.

Buffy unwrapped the present and found inside an ornate golden compass. "Cool," she said, "Let's see what's in the second gift." She unwrapped it and found a small bottle filled with a liquid. She sniffed it and remarked, wrinkling her nose, "It smells weird."

Wesley took a sniff from the bottle. "It's lamp oil," he said. "Not very much, but it must be important. What about the third present?" he asked.

"I don't know if we should try to open it," Angel said, "I don't think it's a good idea to do something when a spirit tells you not to."

"Still," Wesley said, "It could be important. It is always best to find out about something beforehand. Buffy?"

"I think Angel's right. You know those supernatural types, sometimes it's a good idea to do what they want you to do."

"Oh, well," Wesley said picking up the present, "I'll do it." He tugged at the wrapping paper but it wouldn't tear. "Most odd," he remarked as he grabbed for a pair of scissors. "That is exceptionally strong paper." He tried to cut the paper, but the scissors broke. "Curiouser and curiouser," he said, rotating the package in his hands. "We will have to send it up to the lab for further study."

Angel grabbed the package out of Wesley's hands. "How about we don't. If we're not meant to open the package before Christmas, then let's not do it."

Wesley sighed in exasperation, "If you insist."

"I do."

Buffy picked up the compass and began walking around the room. "These things are supposed to point north, aren't they?"

"Usually," Wesley said.

"But this one isn't pointing north," she remarked as she continued walking around the room. "It keeps on pointing to your situation board. No matter which way I move, it keeps on pointing back to it."

"Bring it closer to the board," Angel said.

She brought it closer and began to move it across the board which showed a map of the city broken up into numbered blocks. "What is on this board?" she asked.

"We sent a number of teams out to search the city in order to find Dawn," Wesley answered, "This is how we keep track of who is where."

Buffy moved the compass until it seemed to keep on pointing to one of the blocks on the board. "Team five," she read, "Do you have anything on them?"

Wesley checked his status reports. "Interesting. Team five is an hour late in reporting in."

"Call them," Angel said.

Wesley made the call, then grim faced, said, "Nothing. It's like they have disappeared off the earth."

"Or they're dead," Angel said. "Get us a map of that area. I'm betting that's where we'll find Caleb."

Giles walked into the room carrying a large leather book. "I'm glad to see that you have returned. I have been doing some further research on Caleb. If you remember correctly, the Ax of the Slayers was the only weapon that could kill him. Unfortunately we don't have it any more because we left it with the new Watcher's council for study. However, I have found there may be one more weapon that might destroy him."

"What is it?" Angel asked.

"It's something called the Dagger of Eternal Light. Unfortunately we might have some trouble finding it in the short time that we have."

"Where was it last seen?" Angel asked.

Giles checked the book. "It says here that was stolen from a Russian church called Saint Nicholas in the mid-1800's."

Angel looked over Giles' shoulder at the picture in the book, "Looks familiar," he said. "I was in Russia about that time as Angelus. We took a dagger from one of our victims that looked something like that. I gave it to Darla."

"Do you know where it is?"

"Sure, it's in Connor's room. Up on his wall last time I looked."

"Then we must get it immediately," Giles said, decisively slamming the book closed.

"Connor!" Angel exclaimed in shock. The room's window was wide open and Connor was nowhere to be seen.

"Spike!" he shouted, to the empty air, "Where the hell are you?"

"You don't need to be so loud, mate," Spike said calmly, as he walked into the room, "I'm right behind you."

"Where's Connor?" Angel demanded, lifting Spike up by the collar of his coat.

Spike looked into the empty room. "Last time I saw him he was in bed. I'd given him some of the medicine you wanted me to give him."

"So where is he now?"

"In the can maybe?" Spike remarked as he pulled himself from Angel's grasp.

"Buffy?" Angel said.

"I'll check," Buffy said, quickly heading toward the hall bathroom.

"Where were you?" Angel demanded of Spike.

Spike straightened his coat, "I had to get me coat."

"You left Connor alone . . . "

"He was asleep."

"Do you see him bed there?" Angel growled.

Spike sauntered to Connor's bed. "Don't look like he is," he said.

"Obviously."

Spike wandered over to the open window. "Bugger," he muttered.

"What?" Angel said, coming beside Spike.

"I think he left through the window."

Angel looked at the rooftops below them. "It's a long way down." He sighed, "Unfortunately, he could do it."

"But why?" Wesley said coming up behind them to look through the window.

"For Dawn, of course. He's out to rescue her from Caleb," Angel said.

"Uh, Angel," Giles said pointing to an empty space on Connor's wall, "Is this where the dagger was?"

"Yeah," Angel answered.

"Then I fear Connor has it with him."

II

Connor ran easily at the side of the great white wolf through the dark streets and alleys of the city. The bells on the wolf's collar chimed softly as they ran. Despite wearing only sweat pants and bandages around his chest, Connor did not feel the night's winter chill. The night was no barrier to him. Like the wolf he could smell the life that the city held, both great and small. One scent above all led him on. It was the scent of strawberries and cinnamon, Dawn's scent, that drew him on.

The wolf slowed as a huge bulk reared up in front of them. It was an old boarded up church. Once faithful prayers had filled it, but that had been a very long time ago. It had also been a very long time since long haired rockers had once shook its foundations as a discotheque. Now it stood abandoned, dominating yet dominated by the defeat of years. It reeked of death.

A man hung impaled on the massive front door. He still breathed.

"Who did this to you?" Connor asked, as he gently removed the spikes holding him to the door.

The man sagged bonelessly in Connor's strong arms. He gasped, "The priest. The mad priest. He let me live."

"Take it easy," Connor said, "Save your strength."

The man shook his head. "The priest gave me a message."

"What message?"

"Your future will be destroyed."

"What does that mean?"

The man shook his head, then fainted. Connor felt for the man's pulse. It was still there, but weak. Connor searched the man and found a Wolfman and Hart communicator on him.

"Report," a voice demanded dryly as Connor toggled the device on.

"Your man is hurt very badly," Connor answered, not identifying himself.

"Who is this?" the voice demanded.

Connor glanced around him. "He's at the Saint Nicholas church on Highland and Christopher," he said, giving the nearest cross streets. "Hurry."

"Who is this?" the voice demanded, "Identify yourself."

Connor toggled the communicator off. He had things to do. He reached for the slightly ajar door, but the wolf began pulling on his pant leg with a soft growl. Then it leaped for the low roof of a nearby building. Connor thought for a moment. He would have preferred to meet Caleb head on; that was the way of the warrior, but he could not take the chance of defeat. Not yet. Not with Dawn's life possibly in the balance. He had to know more before he faced Caleb. He leaped for the roof, landing on light feet next to the wolf.

"You know, you're no fun," he whispered to the wolf.

The wolf whuffed its comment then led the way through stair steps of roofs until they came close to the back wall of the church. From there Connor could see where part of the church's roof had caved in. The wolf leaped for the church's roof and Connor followed. Through the hole Connor could hear Caleb's voice rising and falling as if giving an enthusiastic sermon. Connor looked back for the wolf. It was gone. It had done its job. In its place was a single golden bell. Connor pocketed the bell then slipped through the hole in the roof.

"You know," Caleb said, "This night means so much to me. On this night of all nights, Ah finally get to win. No Slayers, no vampires, and that little boyfriend of yours is likely in a coma by now."

"You're wrong," Dawn bravely retorted, even though she was tied up in an old high-backed chair, "Connor's stronger than you'll ever be."

Wow, Connor thought from his perch high up in the church's rafters, I gotta admit, she's got a lot of guts.

"You really think that, don't you?" Caleb said to Dawn, "But, you little lady, is the one that's wrong. After midnight tonight, the eve of Christmas, your future and everyone's future will be gone."

"What do you mean by that?" Dawn demanded.

"Don't you ever think about your future, little lady? You were destined to give birth to a new generation of champions . . . "

"Me? Children? Think again, buddy. I haven't even thought about kids yet. I'm still a virgin. I'm the only virgin in our group."

"All the better for my purposes," Caleb said. "The sacrifice will be so much the sweeter with a virgin."

"Uh, would not being a virgin, change things?"

Oh, my god, Connor thought, What is wrong with her?

"Nope, not one bit," Caleb answered.

"Oh, okay," Dawn said. Her eyes traveled up to the ceiling. A slight movement caught her eye. "By the way, who am I supposed to have these children with."

"Well, you are a clueless little one, aren't you, little lady?"

"Well? Who is he?"

"According to legend it's supposed to be the son of two vampires, so I guess that means it's your lover boy, Connor."

Oh, shi . . . , Connor thought, almost losing his grip on the rafter. After his last experience with fatherhood, he wasn't sure about ever having children again.

"Really?" Dawn said. "Do you really mean that? I don't know if he's really my type. I've only met him once. You know he's kind of scrawny."

Hey! Connor thought, I'm not that thin. Fred's scrawnier than me. He was seriously thinking about coming down, just to shut Dawn up.

Meanwhile Dawn was thinking, C'mon Connor, get down while I'm distracting this crazy bastard.

Caleb noticed that Dawn's thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. He didn't like not being the center of attention. "Are you even listenin' little lady? I swear you women are all the same. You never listen to your betters."

Better my butt, Dawn thought, Connor . . . save me already.

I'll try, just hold on, Connor thought. Suddenly his eyes grew wide as he realized that there was a link between himself and Dawn.

III

The Scoobies and Angel's team had assembled in Angel's office. They had gotten word that a call had come in reporting that a member of one of the search teams was down. They had no idea about the other members of the team or who had called in to Wolfman and Hart. All they knew was that the team was in the area that the magic compass had pointed to. They could not consider it as coincidental that the church was called Saint Nicholas, the same name as the one in Russia where the dagger had been stolen from.

"So we are agreed," Angel said. "We go to the church. Does everyone know what they are to do?"

"I still don't understand why Santa Claus said that only Faith can save us," Willow said.

"Hey!" Faith retorted, "Don't you have any faith in me?"

"That's not it," Willow said, delicately, "It's just that I don't understand. We don't have any real weapons against Caleb. Connor has the dagger that is supposed to kill Caleb, but what your part in it is, I don't know. It's like this bottle of oil. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with it."

"We'll find out when we get there," Angel said. "Wesley, you and Giles stay here. We'll report back in two hours. If we don't, assume the worst and do whatever you can to stop Caleb."

"I'll stay here to keep tabs on things," Lorne volunteered.

"Right," Angel agreed.

"I volunteer to back up ol' green face," Spike said. "I've already saved the world once. That's enough for me."

"No," Angel said firmly, "If it hadn't been for you, we wouldn't be missing my son and the dagger. You're coming with us."

Spike shrugged, "Fine then. Since you put it that way."

Connor began his slow descent to the church's floor when he heard the soft kiss of rubber against asphalt. He scrambled back through the hole in the roof. Three cars had pulled up with their lights off and their engines silent. Ten people stepped out of two of the cars and two men in black suits came out of the third. Even from that distance Connor could smell his father's distinct scent of cinnamon and pine. It made him smile. He wasn't on his own after all. He wouldn't ever admit it to anyone, but it reassured him to know that he wasn't alone in this battle.

Angel looked up at the church's roof. He saw a small figure high up near the peak at the rear. Connor, he thought, catching the boy's spicy citrus scent. Stay there, son.

Connor shook his head, Only for now, he thought before disappearing back through the hole.

Connor, don't. You're too weak, Angel thought, but knew that it was no use. Connor would do whatever he felt he needed to do.

Angel turned to the suited men, a Wolfman and Hart clean up team, "Locate the wounded man and any other casualties," he ordered. "Get them whatever care they need."

The men silently nodded then moved off.

The Scoobies and Angel's team entered the church. A thin light from the full moon outside filtered through the boarded up windows that lined the church's interior. It did little to relieve the dense shadows that huddled against the walls of the barren church.

"We're going to need more light for the spell," Willow said. "I'll look for some candles."

"Faith, are you ready?"Angel said to the dark-haired Slayer.

"Sure, bring him on," Faith answered, holding a broadsword in her hands.

Willow continued looking for some candles when she came across a woven basket filled with eight simple clay lamps. She considered the amount of oil in the bottle. There was no way it would be enough. Then she remembered the story of the Hanukkah miracle. The oil would be enough.

Suddenly Dawn's voice sliced through the shadows. "It's a trap!" she screamed, "Save yourselves!"

Nearly dropping the basket, Willow whirled around to see that Caleb had appeared in the middle of the church surrounded by six of his minions, the Bringers. Caleb was holding Dawn close by his side, her hands tied behind her back.

Screaming a challenge as she swung the heavy sword, Faith charged Caleb. The pendant on his chest began to glow. He lifted his hand, gestured and Faith found herself flying the length of the church's nave. Faith got to her feet, rubbing her backside. "Owweee!" she exclaimed. "That's going to cost you, you bastard. These are my best leather pants, you jerk!"

Caleb laughed, "So Slayer, you think you can succeed this time?" He gestured to the Bringers, siccing them on the gang.

"As my name is Faith, I am sure as hell going to try!"

"Oh, ye of little Faith," Caleb retorted with a nasty grin, "I fear you do not have Faith enough." He gestured again, a fireball exploding from his hands, "Let's see what you can do with the flames of hell itself."

Faith parried the fireball with the sword, slamming it back to Caleb like a major league pitcher. Continuing to grin, Caleb easily dodged the fireball and sent two others Faith's way. Faith dodged and dancing on the balls of her feet, swung the sword in the air, slicing one of the fireballs in two, while sending the other one in careening flight into the back of one of the Bringers who was trying to throttle Xander. With an unearthly muted scream, the Bringer dissolved into glittering ashes. The split fireball spun on its axis, zooming off in two pieces. One of the pieces sideswiped another of the Bringers, only singing its robes before exploding against the church's stone wall. The other piece narrowly missed Buffy who was fighting a third Bringer.

Taking advantage of Caleb's distraction, Connor leaped for the mad priest, slicing him across the back. Caleb screamed in pain. He drew back a hand from his wound. Dark blood covered it, and the jeweled dagger in Connor's hand. "How dare you attack me, you stupid boy? You shall be punished!" Caleb raged. His pendant was glowing so bright that his face shone as if set aflame. "I shall remove you from the face of the earth!" he screamed, gesturing at Connor.

Connor felt a desert hot wind whip punishingly at him, but he stood his ground. Achingly slowly, holding the dagger before him like a slender shield, Connor advanced on Caleb.

"No!" Caleb screamed. "No more games!" he swept his hands around, blasting open the church's heavy wooden doors. "I am clearing you out now!"

The gang found themselves tumbling through the air like autumn leaves. Startled by the sudden loss of pressure, Connor stumbled to his knees. "Out with you too, boy!" Caleb said, sending the young man tumbling out the doors as well.

Leaving the gang and Connor scattered on the church's stone steps, the doors shut with a finality that sounded like the closing of the gates of hell. Connor threw himself at the doors, but they were sealed tight against his best efforts.

"Well, that went real well," Cordy remarked, brushing the dirt off her clothes. "What're you planning on for an encore, Angel?"

Angel grabbed Connor by the shoulder. "What the hell were you thinking? I told you to stay out of it. You're still too weak!"

"I'm fine!" Connor shot back at him. He roughly pulled his bandages off, "You can see for yourself, Dad. I'm completely healed."

"That's a relief, but how the hell did you get here?" Angel demanded.

"A white wolf came to my room. It led me here and then disappeared."

"What about that dagger?" Angel asked, "Why did you bring it here?"

"The wolf wanted me to," Connor said, handing Angel the dagger.

Angel looked at the dagger. It was the one he had given Darla. It was inscribed with the words, Faith, Hope and Love.

"That's the Dagger of Eternal Light, all right," Spike said, looking at it in Angel's hands. "Darla always had a soft spot for pretty pointy things."

Spike smacked Connor in the shoulder, "You did good, mate."

"Thanks," Connor muttered, rubbing his shoulder.

Angel took off his coat and put it around his son's shoulders. "Don't you ever take chances like that again," he said, the gentle tone of his voice taking the sting out of his words. "I don't want to lose you, again."

"And you won't, Dad," Connor said, putting his arms into the coat, "But you're not going to send me away from this battle. Caleb intends to kill Dawn. He said some crazy stuff about her being the mother of a new generation of champions." Connor withheld the fact that he was supposed to be the father of this new generation. That was something he didn't believe himself.

"Gee," Willow said, "I think we're going about this the wrong way."

"What do you mean, Will?" Xander asked. "Not that we've been successful so far. It seems like Faith isn't going to be the one to save us after all."

"Hey, jerk off!" Faith angrily retorted, "I tried my best. Besides that was only round one. Let me at him again, and you'll be talking out of the other side of your mouth."

"You don't understand, Faith" Willow insisted as she began to arrange the clay lamps in a circle around them. "You aren't the Faith that will save us."

"Huh?" Faith said, "I don't see any other Faith around. Do you?"

Willow nodded, with a shy laugh, "Actually I do."

"Got hit a little too hard this time, Will?" Cordy smirked.

"No," Willow said, "The Faith we need is not a person. It's the Faith we have in each other." She gestured for the knife from Angel. "See here," she said, "It says, Faith, Hope and Love. It means us. We are the ones to save us. These lamps I brought from the church will lead the way." She pulled out the bottle of oil, "I want everyone to make a circle and hold hands. I'll fill the lamps with this oil and light it," she explained.

"That's not enough oil," Cordy remarked.

Willow smiled benevolently, "That's the miracle. It'll be enough," she assured them.

Willow began pouring the oil into the lamps and as she said, each lamp was completely filled. She lit each one until they were surrounded by a circle of light.

"Hey!" Xander exclaimed, "We're doing the Slayer circle again."

"Right," Willow said, "Just like before we're going to focus our energies through Buffy." Seeing that Faith was going to protest, Willow added, "It's nothing against you, Faith, it's just that we've done it before with Buffy and it worked."

"Buffy," Willow said, "This time I want you to stand in the middle of the circle. You'll act as the focus of our power."

Buffy nodded her agreement and stepped into the center as the gang closed a circle around her.

Willow began to chant in a low voice that grew steadily stronger as the light from the lamps brightened around them. The air around the circle vibrated with power as unseen singers joined Willow's voice.

Buffy felt the power surround her and fill her. It was more power than she had ever felt in her entire life. She felt like there was nothing that she couldn't do. She felt completely transformed into a force like nothing else in the world.

She screamed, clutching her head in her hands as blood streamed from her nose. The power was too much. It was an out of control train roaring through her brain, threatening to explode it into a thousand broken shards. Strong hands drew her out of the circle. Buffy opened her eyes to find herself in Spike's arms. His normally cynical eyes were filled with concern laced with fear. Fear for her. Angel stood behind him as did his son and the others.

"What happened?" Spike demanded.

"I don't know!" Willow exclaimed. "It should have worked. It did before."

"It was me," Buffy said, freeing herself from Spike's arms. "I wasn't worthy enough this time. I had doubts about myself. And you guys," she admitted reluctantly.

"Now wait a minute...," Xander began.

Buffy raised her hand, "Too much has happened this past year. It's going to take time for us to build up the trust in each other again. You know that as well as I do, Xander."

"What'll we do, then?" Cordy asked, "We don't have the time for everybody to get that warm and fuzzy feeling about each other again."

"Well," Fred said shyly, "I think Connor should be the one to go against Caleb."

"I don't want him to," Angel disagreed, "He got barely got away as it was. I don't want to chance it again."

"Angel," Fred said, "Connor was the one the wolf came to. He was the one that was able to draw blood from Caleb using the dagger." She nodded toward Connor who was watching the discussion with a frown of concern. "I believe his fate is tied in with Dawn's."

"Connor?" Angel asked his son, "It's up to you, son. What do you say?"

"Fred's right," Connor said, then continued nervously, "I didn't tell you everything about what Caleb said..."

"What did he say?" Angel asked.

"He said that, well...."

"C'mon, Peter Pan. Out with it." Gunn urged impatiently.

Connor studied the ground under his feet, not wanting to look into anyone's eyes. Very quietly he said, "I'm supposed to be the father of this new generation."

"Not with my sister!" Buffy blurted out.

"Connor, you didn't . . . " Cordy started to say.

"No," Connor shouted, "We haven't even kissed yet. All that stuff is supposed to be in the future."

"That is if there is a future," Robin said reasonably, as he checked his watch, "If we continue talking instead of acting, those new champions will never be born."

Connor looked to Angel, "Dad?"

Angel reluctantly nodded, "Go ahead, son."

"Great!" Willow said enthusiastically. "I know this will work this time. Connor, I want you to be in the middle of the circle. Then I want everyone to sit in a circle around him and hold hands. Don't release the circle until I say so, no matter what happens."

Buffy clasped hands with Angel and Spike. She looked up at Angel who was frowning worriedly and said with a gentle smile as she squeezed his hand, "Believe in your son. I do."

Buffy looked over to Spike who was failing to hide his jealously. She squeezed his hand and gave him a radiant smile. She didn't say a word, but Spike's smile as he straightened his shoulders showed that he understood.

Willow began to softly chant. The light from the clay lamps brightened again, and grew even brighter, surrounding the circle with a golden light. The church behind them began to change, the boards fell away its stained glass which began to glow as if lit from within. She could hear a chorus of voices raised in holy song, celebrating a candle lit midnight mass, Gloria, Gloria, In excelsis Deo. In her mind's eye she could see the spirits of light, encircling and imprisoning the dark cancer of Caleb's evil within the church's heart.

Willow slowly closed her eyes with a smile. She knew this time it would work. The power was in perfect balance. She spiritually touched each person in turn, bringing them into the circle of power. She built on the foundation of the strongest, Angel, Robin and Gunn. They were the most stable. Next she brought in the female power of Cordelia and Fred, complementing them with Xander. His power was the most unstable, but it was based on love, the greatest of all things. Then she reached out for the absent ones. Giles and Wesley, the two most knowledgeable. Giles' stronger and more stable strength was used to focus and control Wesley's wounded spirit. She also reached out to Lorne's demon-kind. The flavor of his otherness a shield protecting the weak points of human kind.

Gathering the power together within her, Willow carefully balanced it, adding strength where needed, taming where it threatened to go astray. Finally she reached out to the Slayers, her greatest weapons. They sat facing each other, hands in those men they cared most about. Buffy was already instinctively balancing Angel and Spike, coming into resolution with her feelings about them. Good, Willow thought, the pattern there was stable. Faith, wild unpredictable Faith, was coming in line as well. She had come to terms with Robin's love, who was in turn learning how to love a Slayer. Good, Willow thought again.

Now! Willow shouted mentally, taking her carefully woven tapestry of power and flinging it into Connor. He was slight of frame, but she felt the vastness of his potential.

Connor fell to his knees under the wave of power that washed over him. At first all he could do was withstand it, but then slowly he began to take in and transform it into his own. His eyes darkened into a the deepest of sapphire blue and from inside to out he began to glow.

Holding the dagger in his hands, Connor could see in his mind the crypt where Caleb stood over Dawn, preparing to sacrifice her to his unholy master. Dawn was struggling uselessly against the rough ropes that held her to a crudely carved block of stone. As quick as thought, Connor found himself inside the crypt.

"So you have come to try your luck again, boy." Caleb demanded, whirling around in surprise.

"This time we are stronger than you can ever imagine," Connor replied.

"We, is it now? You wouldn't be trying that Slayer circle, wouldja? I thought only a Slayer could do that. Not a scrawny little boy like you," Caleb said.

"We are more than a mere boy. We are the dreams and hopes of the future that you threaten. You have no power against us," Connor said. He crouched, holding the dagger ready. He crooked his finger at Caleb, "Come meet your fate, false priest. Your time to be judged is now."

"How dare you call me a false priest? I am the priest of the Dark Lord. I have his power. I cannot be defeated," Caleb roared. The pendant on his chest glowed white hot directing a beam straight at Connor.

Connor spun on his toes, deflecting the beam with the dagger. Caleb roared, throwing fireballs at Connor in rapid fire. Connor grabbed the fireballs with one hand and sent them back at Caleb. The mad priest threw himself out of the way of the fireballs barely in time to miss getting singed. The Bringers appeared at his command. They charged at Connor. With a wave of his hand, Connor threw the Bringers against the walls, knocking them dead.

Dawn screamed. Caleb had grabbed a knife and was plunging it toward her heart. Connor threw himself in the air, knocking Caleb to the ground. Caleb hit Connor across the face, sending him against the rough altar. Accidentally dropping the dagger onto the altar, Connor charged at Caleb again. The two men fought each other ferociously. Both were bruised and bloody, but were too evenly matched for either to win.

Caleb raised up his hands, "Come unto me Dark Lord," he yelled, "Come unto me that you may have dominion over those who dare say you nay."

A monstrous misshapen shadow wrapped itself around Caleb, transforming his face into an inhuman mask. The Dark Lord had taken over the priest's body, making it his own. A voice that sounded like the scream of forsaken souls roared out at Connor. The words had no English translation, but they shook Connor to his very soul, reaching back through Willow and the circle she had so carefully built. Connor was starting to doubt himself. He needed the dagger.

"Here," Dawn said, handing him the dagger, "I think you need this."

Their hands touched. Connor was enveloped by the love in Dawn's green eyes. The roar from the unholy being wrapped around them, promising visions of hellish damnation.

"No!" Connor and Dawn shouted as one, raising their hands at the Dark Lord. A great white beam of the purest light exploded from their hands. It struck the Dark Lord, silencing the jabber of evil that had filled the air. The Dark Lord writhed in pain. Slowly it began to shrink until only Caleb remained. Then Caleb screamed in anguish as the white light continued to envelop him. Suddenly he flared up in golden flames. He was gone, leaving the golden pendant of Set gleaming on the cold stone floor.

Connor sighed tiredly. He could feel the power of the others retreat. As they did his eyes returned to their normal light blue. He was alone with Dawn. "How did you . . . " he began as he leaned tiredly against the stone block.

Dawn showed him the raggedly cut ropes around her wrists. "I used the knife to free myself. You kind of cut it a little close. I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to save myself." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Still, I appreciate you getting here when you did."

Connor smiled, "I appreciate your appreciation," he said, "But how about a bigger kiss for your hero?"

"Sure," Dawn said, closing her eyes.

A sudden thunderclap sent Connor and Dawn to the floor. A tall red haired man dressed in an Egyptian style linen kilt appeared in a flash of lightning. "Damn," Set said, "I was wondering where that damn thing went." He spotted Connor and Dawn staring at him in shock. "You kids okay?" he asked.

Connor wordlessly nodded as did Dawn.

"That's good," Set remarked. "You two kids stay out of trouble, all right?"

"Okay," Dawn squeaked.

"Good." Set hung the pendant around his neck, muttering under his breath, "Next time some idiot steals this damn thing I'm going to send him to the ninth level of hell." He glanced over to Dawn and Connor, "Oh, and Merry Christmas, Kids." He disappeared in a thunderclap and lightning.

"You, too," Dawn said to the empty air. She looked over to Connor whose jaw had dropped to the ground. "You can breathe now," she said to him.

"Connor! Dawn! Are you two okay?" asked a chorus of voices as the Scoobies and Angel's gang came tearing down the stairs into the crypt.

"Sure," Connor said, recovering from his shock. He wiped the blood from his split lip. Giving a thumbs up gesture, he said, "It was a piece of cake."