part 17
Exterior: Night Cordy sees the thing coming at her in her quest to reach Angel and realizes she will never make it. Groo calls her name from behind and she waits for him to rescue her.
Before Groo has the chance, she hears a strange voice holler out just as the threat is knocked down brutally. A tangle of arms and legs makes it impossible for her to see who protected her from her fate.
Groo turns to face another after witnessing Cordy escape harm. He spins under an arm lashing out and grabs it from behind. The shoulder dislocates quickly leaving the beast crying out as he falls to the ground in pain.
Willow and Dawn are surrounded by three and huddle closer to each other. Willow has her arms around Dawn protectively hoping for help. It comes in the form of Spike and Gunn. Spike takes the first easily and drops him onto the ground while Gunn is in a street fight with his opponent.
Spike is watching Gunn when he's blindsided by a blow to the face. Instinctively Spike reaches to soothe the skin but is interrupted by a kick to the midsection and doubles over. He springs back up in full vamp mode and pounces.
Gunn has taken a few good hits of his own and staggers backward under the force of the latest. Out of nowhere, the thing standing over him is thrown forward and Gunn catches him as they both fall. The thing doesn't move and Gunn realizes it's not conscious. He looks up confused and sees Lorne standing over them with a big stone in his hands.
Lorne: See? I come in handy sometimes!
Gunn smiles and rolls the deadweight off him. Spike has disposed of his latest opponent and already busy with another when Gunn offers a hand.
Cordelia watches Groo fighting his second creature and struggles with what to do. She glances over at Angel still holding Connor close. Seeing him standing by watching them all fight for their lives is more disconcerting than she's willing to admit.
The tangle of arms and legs that earlier seems so unrecognizable has separated. The movement as the two opponents stand catch her eye. Cordelia looks to see who had defended her so voraciously only moments before and is stunned by what she sees.
Xander is staring down the face of evil with a primitive look on his face. He seems to sense her watching and glances over. Their eyes meet for only a split second before he is rushed by the enemy. It doesn't make sense that Cordy would immediately jump to help, but this is what she does.
Without conscious thought, she rushes to help Xander and is surprised when her kick connects with the forehead of the thing. Its head snaps back and the crack it makes is the sound of an obviously broken neck. Xander stares at the thing as it drops before looking back to Cordy.
She offers a slight grin and shrug when they make eye contact and he just stares with his mouth dropped open. When he doesn't respond, she begins to get irked.
Cordy: (hands on hips and cocks her head to one side in the old way) No really Xander, it's not necessary.
I mean, sure I saved your ass but no need for thanks.
Xander: (still in shock) Um...
Cordy: What ever! (she starts to walk away but doesn't feel the ground. She looks down and realizes that she's floating. The reason she connected so well with the beast was because something had lifted her off the ground when she came after him. And now Xander knew her secret...sort of) Oh.
Xander: (finally regaining his voice) Oh? You can fly now and all you can say is oh?
Cordy opens her mouth to speak but Xander is tackled by yet another one and she falls to the ground painfully. She raises her head to see Xander running away from the guy after him.
Spike: (yells between punches) How bout a little help here Angel?
Gunn, Groo and Xander all try and see why Angel's not helping but can't make out an answer before being distracted again.
Buffy:(rushing into the fray) How about my help?
She pulls the one off Spike first and tosses him several yards away.
Spike: (relieved) I guess you'll have to do.
The two exchange a private look and turn to stand side by side and begin fighting anew.
The original group is down to three or four left.
Gunn, Xander and Groo are taking on two while Spike and Buffy handle the others.
Dawn, Willow and Lorne are joined on the side of the battle by Wes and Fred.
Lorne: And where have you two been? This ain't a union you know. No breaks.
Fred: We found Buffy.
Dawn: I'll save my thanks for when she's not fighting to the death.
Fred: Fair enough. Where's Angel?
Willow: He's over there with...
Wes: Connor.
Lorne: You're talking! Hey, way to go with the quick recovery.
Wes: Thanks. Still slow.
Fred: Don't worry Wes. We can all understand you. So what's first?
Willow: First? I'm thinking maybe, getting rid of the creepies?
She points to the fighting and the others look on in silent agreement.
Cordelia sees that the immanent danger has lessened with Buffy's arrival and manages to make her way over to Angel.
Angel: Cordelia.
He seems unsure of what else to say and looks down at Connor who now stands at his side clutching onto his leg.
Cordelia: (bends down to hug him) Oh Connor, it's so good to see you again. I've missed you so much. We've all missed you.
Connor: (looks up uncomfortably at Angel) Who is she?
Cordy pulls back trying to hide the hurt.
Cordy: He doesn't remember?
Angel: He didn't know me either. He only knew Buffy.
Cordy: Buffy?
Angel: Yes. She brought him here. They did something to him. Changed him somehow. I didn't have time to hear the whole story.
Cordy: (sees him watching the others fight the last of the beasts) Why aren't you helping?
Angel: I can't leave him. I can't risk losing him again.
Cordy: (puts her hand on his arm) I'm here now. I can watch him.
Angel: Looked like you were doing pretty good on your own.
Cordy: Huh? Oh. You saw my nifty trick I guess.
Unfortunately so did Xander.
Angel: Yeah, he was pretty thrown by it. But what about the knight in shining? He practically ran Groo down trying to save you.
Cordy: You know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking I don't like you being all observant-I and stuff. If you were fighting to the death like you usually do, I wouldn't have to deal with the innuendo.
Angel: (innocently) Innuendo? Me?
He's cut short when he hears Connor begin to whimper beside him.
Angel: (leaning down) What is it? What's wrong?
Connor: She's in trouble. Please. Please help her.
Cordy and Angel both look to see Buffy taking on the last of the group. The others are struggling to help but some invisible force is keeping them from reaching the two adversaries.
Buffy takes a right hook that sends her reeling. She lands on all fours and gets a kick to the gut before she can stand.
Angel: Buffy!
She hears his cry and looks to see him pushing Connor away towards Cordy so he can help.
Buffy: No!
She stops him in his tracks with her tone of voice and he ignores Connor's tiny hands pushing him form behind.
Buffy does a back somersault away from the thing and lands on her feet.
Spike is repeatedly thrown to the ground by the force surrounding Buffy and he just keeps trying.
Dawn and Willow are almost in tears and stand helplessly by. Gunn and Lorne are with Fred and Wes watching in amazement at what's happening.
Buffy has managed to get in a good hit but is tossed over the things shoulder when she tries for another.
She lands hard getting the wind knocked out of her.
Groo has been watching it all and sends one last look to Cordelia before beginning to speak a foreign language.
Cordy: Oh no.
Angel: What? What do you see?
Cordy: Groo. He said it was his destiny.
Angel notices Groo breathing deeply in between words as if in some sort of meditation.
Lorne: Hey, didn't we already hear that once before.
Wes: Yes.
Groo chants louder and louder oblivious to those around him.
Gunn: What is he saying again?
Wes: (Slowly and clearly) Everyone can be saved.
Xander: (to no one) What is this guy's deal?
A lightening bolt streaks through the sky followed by another and another.
Cut to Woman Woman: He claims his path. He will sacrifice as taught.
Cut to Groo He unsheathes his sword for a final time and raises it above his head. He chants in a loud almost yell now and Cordy doesn't like it.
She drops Connors hand and begins jogging across the space dividing her and Groo. Within seconds she's running full speed and screaming his name. He opens his eyes at the sound of her voice and hesitates.
Groo: Princess...
Just before she reaches him, he drives the sword into the ground. Buffy who has been pulling at the hands around her throat is thrown violently away from that which was almost victorious over her.
Groo tries to pull the sword free when he sees Buffy's safe, but the beast rushes him. The force that had kept them separated before is gone and it tackles Groo pulling the blade with them as they tumble. The two roll back and forth in a life and death struggle before the sword is driven through flesh.
Cordy: (still running) NNOOOOO!
! She races to jump on the back of the demon but arms come out of nowhere and catch her before she can succeed. She screams and fights as the sword runs Groo through and he looks as if his eyes no longer are able to see. They glass over and blood drips from the corner of his mouth.
Buffy stands and tries to make sense of what's happening. before she can, another lightening bolt appears and this time encompasses Groo and his killer.
They are picked up and when the lightening finally dissipates, they are both gone.
Silence overtakes everything and everyone. Nothing is heard for almost a minute until finally the anguished cry of Cordelia begins and grows to deafening levels.
She is fighting the arms around her at first but her legs soon give out and the two collapse. Xander tries to soothe her as he holds her there. The others can do nothing except watch the scene unfold in front of them.
Buffy turns to look behind her and her eyes meet Angel's. She sees that Connor is safe and relaxes a bit.
She looks back to Wes and Fred. Wes gives her a look and shakes his head in silent meaning. She knows it's not over. But how can she keep going?
Cut to Woman Woman: The bonds between them are stronger than They realized. Perhaps it need not end as foretold.
Another clap of thunder is heard just before the lightening comes to take the Woman. Her sympathies will not be tolerated by Them...or Their enemies.
