Oh goody, another chapter!!! Yeah!!! *does a little dance* I hope everyone likes it, we're getting into the good plot, action and H/C bits. These are the easiest chapters to write. I hope you're all enjoying yourselves and if you're a Spike, Oz or Doyle fan you've come to the right place. I better get on with it then.
To Catch a Thief by Robinyj
From the outside the plain black convertible driving down the I95 looked like any other car. Inside was a group of generally normal people, in appearance anyway. No one driving by would have ever guessed that inside was the most mismatched group of people currently in LA (two vampires, one soulled, one not, a werewolf, and a bad actress, worse secretary), all they would know was that the driver was in a hurry and they should get out of his way.
In the back of Angel's car no one minded the high speeds; they knew they were running out of time. They had only three hours to come up with a plan and make their meeting with Wolfram and Hart.
Oz looked out the window, usual stoic expression on his face, then he turned and asked, "Hey, I don't know these guys very well so I wouldn't really know, but does anyone else think meeting in a parking lot is a little unusual?"
"And creepy?" Cordy added.
Angel replied without turning his gaze from the road, "They knew I wouldn't meet them on their own turf so they had to pick a place that was neutral territory. Parking lots are a good example. Also it's underground, which is good news for me considering the sun's coming up."
"Wouldn't want the vamp with the goods to go poof before he got there, I suppose," Spike summed up in the back.
"Something like that," Angel agreed.
"What's the big deal about this fellow that we're trying to save, anyway that you're doing all this to get him back?" Spike enquired, "He owe you money or something? I know he's not a member of your little Scooby lot, so what is he?"
"He's a friend Spike, that's all you need to know," Angel told him, obviously not too keen on the conversation.
"Just seems a bit risky is all," Spike continued, unphased, "Putting your lives in danger, giving up your ring, not that I mind that part, but it's a lot of work. We could all go clubbing instead, have ourselves a right fine time."
"Don't you care about anyone other than yourself?" Cordy asked, infuriated.
Spike pretended to think about it," No, not really, no. You've got to enjoy the time you have kiddies, especially if you're not fortunate enough to be undead like myself. Cause if you don't live this life as if every moment was your last then it passes you by, and if you don't enjoy it, you may as well be dead. It's life or death, that's all it is."
"Yeah, well sometimes you have to stop and face reality, that's life, so deal with it! And shut up!" Cordy exclaimed.
"Bit touchy isn't she?" Spike whispered to Oz.
The lycanthrope had no sympathy in his gaze, "I'm with her. I'd shut up." Surprisingly, he did so, finding no fun in the conversation.
A few minutes later Oz looked out his window and realized he didn't recognize the scenery, "Hey Angel, is this the way back to your place?"
Cordy noticed as well, "Wait, this is totally the wrong direction."
"We're not going back to my place," Angel told them. Both waited for some elaboration before they remembered who they were talking to.
"And just where are we taking this mismatched pack of ours then?" Spike asked.
"'Tony's Garage'," Angel replied, "Oz, when did they say your van would be ready?"
"Early this morning."
"For their sakes, you better hope they're done."
Oz just braced himself as Angel made an impossible turn off the highway.
"Yeah, I do."
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Karen hated her job. Despite having lots of free time and never taking her work home, being a parking attendant had to be the most boring experience of her entire life. She was a young girl, with prospects, and handing out parking stubs on Wellington was not what she had deemed for her future. Not that she didn't see some exciting stuff every now and then; crazy cars and crazy drivers, but in LA that didn't mean very much. This was the craziest place on Earth probably, so not much phased her anymore.
It was for this reason that she didn't even flinch when a zebra striped van pulled into the parking lot, its blond headed driver casually taking a stub from her and then driving in towards the very back wall.
"Not bad on the cute scale," Karen thought to herself as she watched him disappear around the corner of the lot. She heard the van stop and the doors open, and then close. She was pretty sure the young man had been alone so was surprised when muted voices drifted to her from the lot since he had been the only one to pull in, in the last few minutes. Eventually the voices ceased and the blond driver walked by her again, alone as she had thought.
"Maybe there's someone else in there." She thought as she smiled and waved to the young man again as left.
Oz returned both gestures half-heartedly as he left the building and prayed that Spike would do as he had been told and stay in the van for the next hour; he didn't think he could forgive himself if the young lady at the toll booth, or anyone else, got hurt because of them and their risky plan. But they had to try; the least they could do was try. They knew Wolfram & Hart wasn't about to play by the rules, which meant they couldn't either.
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Doyle was bored. It had been almost three hours since his visit from Sky and though he wasn't eager to meet him again he did wish for some company or entertainment. He had tried singing '100 bottles of beer on the wall', but the song made him long for a drink and he had stopped with around 78 bottles to go. He counted the bricks on the wall, and found he didn't care enough to finish. Now he sat, rattling the chains above him and doing anything not to think about the hot flames of pain scorching down his back. His thoughts eventually drifted to his friends. He thought about how beautiful Cordy undoubtedly looked today and wished he had the nerve to ask her out. He wondered how Angel was taking his disappearance, and how they were all going to escape with their lives since they no longer had the Ring of Amara. He worried about Oz; Spike hadn't gone into details about it, but he knew the musician had been hurt earlier at his home, he just didn't know how badly.
Overall the entire situation, entire day, had sucked horribly and he just hoped it all was over soon. He wanted to see Cordelia again and have a few shots of scotch and then sleep. Sleeping was definitely high on his list as well. He might even have a go at it right now. Tilting his head back, he leaned against the cold wall and closed his eyes, finding the cool stone actually soothed the flaming pain in his back.
No sooner had his body relaxed into the beginnings of sleep, than the sound of footsteps re-appeared in the corridor. Cracking open an eye, Doyle watched with a sinking heart as the door to his cell was opened once more, revealing two of the members of Doyle's "hope you get your ass kicked" club.
Lilah smiled at him in her usual self-centered way, and beside her, looking slightly more stoic, was Sky, who had changed into an overdramatic flowing black robe with a hood that he kept down.
"You did your casting already?" Lilah asked Sky as a guard entered the cell and began to unchain Doyle's arms.
Sky simply nodded, saying nothing. He was good at that.
"Good, we can get going then," Lilah commented.
In the cell the guard finished unchaining the Irishman and then backed away. Doyle sat silently, rubbing his wrists.
"Mr. Doyle, I assume you don't want to keep your friends waiting, so if you'd just follow me," Lilah signalled for him to get up and follow her out.
Doyle raised an eyebrow, suspicious and defiant to the last, "Yes, follow you willingly, I'll get right on that." Doyle remarked sarcastically as he struggled to his feet. He was determined to remain at eye level with these people and would not give them the chance to look down on him.
"I understand. You don't trust me of course." Lilah didn't seem surprised.
"No farther than a vamp can walk in sunlight," Doyle replied vehemently.
"Well I really don't care cause you're coming either way," Lilah said confidently with a quick look towards the guard still in the cell. Doyle acted fast, knowing he only had one shot. He changed into demon form, not only for strength but for shock value. It worked. The guard was off balance long enough for Doyle to strike him hard across the face. He fell into the wall and the brachen demon reached out and took the pistol from the guard's belt and then struck him across the face with it, knocking him out completely.
Spinning quickly and panting hard from the exertion that small move had taken, Doyle faced Lilah and Sky, weapon drawn.
"Alright, my rules now. First off all you're going to show me how to get the 'ell out of here," Doyle explained as he regained his breath.
Lilah and Sky did not move. Did not, in fact seemed the least bit phased by the weapon pointed at them. Doyle noticed this and wondered if the gun was loaded. He knew by the weight that it was, so why were they smiling.
"I mean it, now get going Bambi, and don't you try anything either you witch doctor from hell," Doyle continued, expecting them to move.
Lilah straightened out and pushed off the doorframe she had been leaning on, "You heard him." She said to Sky pointedly.
Sky grinned at Doyle, then waved his hand subtly and muttered, "Metreon."
Suddenly the gun dropped from Doyle's hand as the collar returned to his neck. He gasped for air but none was forthcoming. Clawing desperately, his hands found nothing around his throat to try and pull away; it was as though his windpipe was being crushed by some invisible force. The line of ash Sky had traced over his neck earlier glowed black, marking the boundary of the spell. Doyle fell forward onto his knees, clutching at the stone floor as he struggled for air.
Lilah moved into the room, picked up the gun, then nodded to Sky once more. A muttered word later Doyle could breathe again and lay sprawled on the floor, pulling in delicious oxygen.
Lilah rolled her eyes impatiently and motioned toward the hallway, "If you're quite finished …"
Doyle nodded in resignation, knowing he had no choice at the moment, "Yeah, I'm coming. Point's been made and all."
Still coughing, he slowly pulled himself up, first to his elbows, then knees, and then, with the wall for support, to his feet. With a final deep breath he pushed off the wall and found his legs still worked marginally. He followed Lilah into the corridor with slow, painstaking steps and heard the door slide shut behind him. Sky and the guard, shaking off Doyle's attack, followed closely behind and Doyle turned to see a satisfied smirk on Sky's face as they walked. They continued on down the hallway until they reached a set of elevators. As they went up it was obvious they had been underground. They stopped at the ground level and as the group exited Doyle found himself in an office building, filled with businessmen (lawyers?) in fancy suits. Not a single one shot them a second glance, despite the awkward appearance of the group.
When they exited the elevator a half dozen guards joined them, an escort and protection in one. A rather large man with sunglasses took Doyle's arm in a firm grip, despite his compliance so far.
"Hey, no need to get all touchy feely, I'm coming," Doyle complained, but the grip was just tightened and he was hurried out the front doors of the building. There was a large limousine waiting there which Lilah got in along with Sky. Blinking from the sudden push into the sunlight, Doyle was shoved in by his new escort and landed roughly on the posh leather, flinching as his back hit and the cuts and bruises demanded attention.
"Do try to avoid getting blood on the seats, leather's a bitch to clean up," Lilah requested. Doyle was in a good enough mood to flip her off. Though the action had been made in defiance, he was thankful when she chose to ignore it. She leaned back and tapped on the driver's glass and then they were off. To where, Doyle had no idea but he hoped Angel would be there, in a good way, a rescuing way.
As they pulled around the corner Doyle couldn't help the chill that struck him as he wondered what was to come next on the wild ride he was on.
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Spike was bored. He was usually good at waiting; he could sit for hours enjoying the anticipation of one of his plans coming to fruition. The rewards were usually worth it; couple of good meals, some torture, on a good night the blood of a Slayer. But there was no real reward waiting for him with this plan. The ring of Amara sure, but that was only if the plan worked. He didn't care about the whelp himself; hell, he'd tortured him for fun earlier that day. But here he was, in the back of a van waiting for his opportunity to spring out and save the day like the hero he was: not! He was here for the ring; that was it. If that meant helping Angel out, so be it. He could always stake him later. He had already been waiting for an hour and a half and now moved himself to the front seat to check out Oz's music selection. It wasn't half bad.
"Oy, I love this track," Spike said and popped it into the portable stereo in the back. Tapping his foot to the music he sang along, off key and enjoying himself. He forgot about where he was for the moment as he got lost in the lyrics and got into the beat. When the song was over it switched to something more mellow and soft. Spike hummed along and sank deeper into the front seat. Without realizing it, his eyelids began to shut and his head tipped to the side. He was asleep in minutes.
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Cordelia, Angel and Oz arrived twenty minutes early for their meeting, not wanting Doyle to have to wait for rescue any longer than he had to in case Wolfram & Hart arrived early. Karen waved as they drove in, recognizing the cute blond even though he was now driving a black convertible. Angel was crouched in the back, covered up as casually as possibly and ducking to avoid the sunlight coming in through the windows. As soon as they were past the toll booth the sun disappeared from view anyway.
Oz pulled the car in and moved to park it a few spaces away from his own van which Spike was still in, if he was following the plan. They had to hope he was because they couldn't afford to check on him in case Wolfram and Hart had people watching them.
"You see anyone?" Cordy asked beside him as she scanned the parking lot.
"When they're here we'll know. These guys like to make their presence known," Angel replied from the back. Oz parked the car. No one moved as the engine died down and they all were quickly lost in their own deep thoughts.
"I think this is where we all get out," Cordelia announced after a moment. This knocked Oz and Angel out of their thoughts and they moved to comply.
They got out and leaned against the back of Angel's car. Several lanes away they could see Oz's van.
"He better be ready," Angel muttered, pacing the ground nervously, unaware that Spike was actually sound asleep.
"Angel," Oz directed his attention to the entrance. Two long black limousines were pulling in.
"Alright, this is it," Angel said and everyone stood up straighter as the cars stopped in front of them. They used no parking spots; instead they blocked the exit with their vehicles. Long seconds passed. It was impossible to see into the dark cars due to their blacked out windows and they were parked far enough away that any open assault from them would take several seconds; seconds that could easily be used to kill Doyle if they tried anything. After what seemed an eternity the driver of the first limousine got out and formally walked to the passenger door. With the stiffness of someone who's paid to look proper he opened the door and Lilah stepped out, smiling widely. From the second limousine large men dressed in black poured out, all armed with crosses and stakes.
Behind Lilah stepped out Sky, silent as usual. After him came another guard, the biggest yet. He had hold of someone's wrist, which he tugged as soon as he was standing. Doyle toppled from the vehicle and was quickly hauled to his feet by the large man. His wrist and arm were twisted roughly behind his back and he was forced to move forward, next to Lilah.
"Oh god, Doyle," Cordy whispered. He looked bad, something that disturbed all of them. His chest and face were riddled with bruises and cuts, most looked quite painful and there were small burn marks all along his chest. His pants were stained with blood and they could only briefly glimpse the fiery wounds along his back when he was hauled from the ground. As he was pushed forward by the guard Cordy wanted to call out to him but restrained herself, Angel's brow furrowed in anger and Oz's expression remained stoic, but his eyes were sharp and alert, ready to take action.
"The infamous Angel. It's a pleasure," Lilah beamed confidently, "I only wish it could be under better circumstances." Doyle looked up when he heard Angel's name, hope blazing in his eyes and a smile creeping to his lips at the sight of his friends.
"At least they're safe," Doyle thought, then looked at the armed guards around him and wondered for how long.
"The pleasure's all yours," Angel replied and then turned his attention to Doyle, and, as if meeting casually on the street, asked, "How you doing Doyle?" But the question held much more meaning than it seemed.
Doyle stuck with the casual response, happy to play along. "Not great. I think the Lakers are going to win the finals this weekend and I had my money on the Bulls, so I been better. Not as though I'm a stranger to losing money on a bet though."
Angel smiled and nodded, as if understanding completely.
"You?" Doyle asked, continuing the long distance conversation.
"Oh, day's been kind of slow. Did my laundry, got a ring that makes me immortal, same old same old." Angel shrugged.
"And we made waffles," Oz added from the side, realizing how unnerving the casual banter was to the lawyers.
"Damn, I missed waffles," Doyle complained and then grunted as the guard holding him decided enough was enough and wrenched his arm further behind his back.
"Really, that was quite cute, but this isn't a social call," Lilah reminded them. "I assume you brought the ring?"
Angel held up the hand adorned with the fake ring, "It's right where it's supposed to be."
"Even so, it will be in my hands very shortly; if you want him to live of course," Lilah smirked as she indicated Doyle.
"Well the way I see it, you really don't have much of a position here. I'm immortal," Angel chuckled as if he was on the greatest power trip of all time, "What can you do to me? Nothing." He took a step forward, "So there's really nothing to keep me from coming over there and killing you all."
When he took another step forward, Lilah, looking only slightly less confident, turned to Sky and nodded. Sky grinned and muttered beneath his breath, then cast his arm wide in front of him, a small tendril of sparks leaving the ends of his fingertips.
Angel rushed forward in an attempt to outrun the magick but didn't make it in time. The spell was cast and he stopped dead in his tracks. Oz and Cordy ran forward as well, unsure what was wrong.
"What the heck is this? Cellophane?" Cordy asked. They had run into the same thing as Angel. There was a wall, clear and strong but not hard, between themselves and Wolfram and Hart. They could see and hear through it, but they could not pass it.
"This may put a damper on negotiations," Angel commented, slamming a fist into the barrier.
"That's your problem right there Angel; there are no negotiations. It's the ring or your friend's life. If you really don't care about him then we can kill him right now and be on our way," Lilah commented, safely on the other side of the invisible wall.
Angel looked unsure for a moment, knowing they thought he would be unwilling to part with the ring, then nodded slowly, "Alright. But let him go first."
"You still seem to think you're in charge here," Lilah tsked, but looked at Sky again. At his command the wall fell away, but Angel, Oz and Cordelia made no attempt to move forward. She then turned to the guard and Doyle's arm was abruptly released, causing him to stagger forward. He took a moment to balance himself, then, turning warily toward his kidnappers;
"Not that it hasn't been fun, but I hope I never see you again," then he slowly backed away, towards his friends.
"Now, the ring," Lilah ordered.
Angel smirked, still playing his part of the cocky vampire, "Naw, I think I'll keep it."
From the angry look that lit up Lilah's eyes and the subtle movement of Sky's arm, Doyle knew what was going to happen next, "No, wait!" he pleaded, but it was too late. The collar returned, relentless as before.
Angel, Oz and Cordy watched in horror as Doyle dropped to his knees only a few feet in front of them. Cordy ran forward and tried to catch him.
"Doyle, what's wrong? Doyle answer me you idiot!" Cordelia pleaded as she pulled him up a little. It was then she saw the black ash line across his neck that was obviously cutting off his air supply. Doyle's eyes were panicked as he tried unsuccessfully to breathe.
Angel turned back to Lilah and started towards her again, "Stop it! Leave him alone!" Angel ordered, his voice full of concern, knowing he could do little against magick.
"The ring," Lilah demanded again and it was the easiest thing in the world for Angel to tear the thing off his finger and hurl it across the parking lot. A guard at Lilah's side caught it and held it out to her. She looked it over.
Meanwhile, Doyle was still collapsed in pain, Oz and Cordy at his side.
"He's turning blue," Oz said, his tone as panicked as it ever got.
"What's wrong with him?" Cordy asked, feeling scared and useless as she held him in her arms, attempting to soothe him somehow.
Oz looked over at Wolfram and Hart, "It's that guy, the one in the robe. He's a warlock or something."
"Well, can we un-warlock him?"
Oz shrugged. They could try, he supposed.
Lilah finished looking over the ring, satisfied. A pointed look to Sky and he waved his hand again. In that instant Doyle collapsed bonelessly as the collar faded away and he was finally able to breathe. Oz and Cordelia easily caught him and lowered him to his side. The werewolf shrugged off his coat and laid it over the half-demon's bare back, knowing how cold the concrete was. With the spell broken Doyle was able to breathe and began to drift in a semiconscious state; a mixture of blood loss, oxygen deprivation and physical injuries having exhausted him. Angel turned to his friends, ensuring the magick had been stopped. Oz looked up when it was clear Doyle was breathing and gave Angel a thumbs up. The vampire nodded, relieved, and then turned to Lilah.
"You got what you wanted. I suggest you leave," Angel said, making it obvious it was more than a suggestion.
"Oh, I'm going, I have what I came for," Lilah smirked while moving to get into her limousine with the assistance of the large guard that had been restraining Doyle, "Get rid of them." She whispered.
The large man seemed all too pleased to oblige and motioned for the other black suits to join him. There were eight of them, armed with stakes, crosses and what looked like guns, but seemed too big. They were all confident as hell as they stalked toward Angel, who stood in front of his friends protectively.
Having heard Lilah, Angel threw his hands into the air and almost shouted, "Well, looks like the fun's about to begin." The guards stopped, waiting for him to make the first move. Angel stopped, waiting for Spike to respond to the signal.
"I said," he repeated, louder, "looks like the fun's about to begin!"
Still nothing. Angel sighed, "I should have known."
It was obvious that they had had a plan that wasn't working, which didn't please Lilah, "Kill them!" she ordered again then slammed the door shut on her limousine.
"I think we're on our own," Oz commented as he rose to stand beside Angel, leaving Cordelia to care for the almost unconscious Doyle.
"You up for it?" Angel asked.
"Always," Oz replied confidently, then spotted Sky standing behind the guards; he seemed to be muttering to himself. "I got spell boy."
"You sure?" Angel asked again as he moved into a defensive stance as the guards closed in.
"Positive," Oz replied, then charged forward.
TBC
Oh, what's going to happen? I bet I know, do you? Lots of Oz H/C next chapter, hope you'll be there and please review, I love to know what people like and dislike, its helps bunches while writing.
Special thanks to the following reviewers:
Irish dancer – it may just be that I'm new to Doyle fics so everything I find is new to me. I'll probably run out of stories after a few late Saturday nights. Thanks so much for the link though.
Kelso – God no! I would never kill a character, unless it was one of my original ones, cause, let's face it, no one cares about them. I actually don't mind watching episodes where characters die I just have to be in the mood for them. For example, The Gift is written so beautifully that I just have to cry at the end, it's a wonderful ending, that isn't really an ending at all.
Reyvin – Not much Spike in this chappy, sorry. He's in the next one though, he does wake up. J
Caytlyn88 – Uh oh, you were shuddering at the Doyle H/C in chapter 4? This chapter may take you over the edge then, I hope not though. I'm addicted to H/C so I have to add it everywhere I can.
Lunacat – I liked that line as well. Thanks for your reviews.
Templa Otmena – oh man, you should read the cliffie I got planned for next chapter, you're going to HATE me! But I'm not going to ruin the surprise so don't even try to get the details out of me. Big Oz torture next chapter too, don't miss it.
Tap Dancing Widow – Yeah, I already knew all that. Thanks for reviewing though, I always like hearing from you.
Please review, I love hearing what I'm doing right or wrong, I'm somewhat insecure. Hope you enjoyed! Robinyj