part 22

Interior: Hyperion Hall Willow and Buffy push themselves up off the floor and look around in wonder.

Buffy: Did it work?

Willow: I'm not sure. I mean, yes. I mean something worked. Something definitely happened. I'm just not clear on what.

Buffy: (eyes widen) I have to find Spike!

She takes off leaving Willow staring after her.

Willow: Spike?

Cut to Lobby Everyone is back on their feet and waiting for an explanation for the recent turn of events.

Gunn: That was different.

Xander: You think?

Spike: I don't like the feel of that.

Wes: Feel of what?

Spike: That's the mojo. Someone's creating some serious mojo.

Xander: Mojo like witchcraft?

Gunn: We have a witch here now?

Wes: (to himself) Willow.

Xander: (hearing Wes) No! Willow doesn't practice any more. There's no way that she...

Spike: I meant mojo as in supernatural wacky people.

Not necessarily magic or maybe it is.

Gunn: Could you maybe be a little less vague?

Spike: Could you maybe be a little less naive?

Gunn: Hey...

Fred: (from counter) Guys! Look.

She points to Buffy running full speed down the stairs.

Buffy: Where's Connor?

Fred: (pointing to her feet) Down here.

Buffy: Good, keep him with you until I get back.

Spike, come with me.

She doesn't wait for an answer before grabbing him by the arm and nearly yanking it off in her haste to get him into Wes office and close the door.

The rest of the group watches each other for a reaction. Finally everyone seems to look at Xander for an answer.

Xander: (Defensively) What?

Cut to Other hallway Cordy and Angel haven't budged from their previous position. What ever happened in the hotel doesn't appear to have affected them.

They're kissing passionately now both returning the affection and intensity. Suddenly Angel breaks away breathing hard.

He hides his face for a couple of minutes almost as if in pain. Finally his hand drops and his breathing slows.

Cordy: (watching him closely) Um...Angel?

Angel: (returns her gaze for several seconds and then starts to smile) My my Cordelia! I never would have thought you had it in you.

Cordy: (rubs her bruised lips uncomfortably) Yeah, I guess I surprised myself too. (frowns) Wait...what didn't I have in me?

Angel: (vamps out) What it takes to make me happy.

Cordelia doesn't seem to understand at first but then she begins to realize what's happened. She takes a shaky step backwards away from him and shakes her head slightly in disbelief.

Cordy: No...

Angel laughs and grabs her just as she starts to turn and run. He twists her around so her backs against his chest and encloses her throat with one hand cutting off her airway. She struggles against him but it only amuses him more.

Angel: Come on Cordy! Don't play coy now. You wanted me, well you got me. What? Am I too much for you to handle? Don't worry. (bends to rub his cheek against hers as she stills in his arms, terrified) I'll be gentle.

Cordy: (trying to sound calm) Let me go.

Angel: What's the magic word?

Cordy: (tears well in her eyes-her voice shakes) Ple-ase Ang-el.

Angel: (Looks around and notices the empty room next to him) Now how can I take you seriously when you won't even call me by my name?

Cordy: (her breath catches as he spins her painfully to face him) I...(hiccup) did.

Angel: (pushes her into the room) I'm afraid we can't play anymore until you stop lying. No worries. I have plenty to keep me occupied in the mean time. I'll just save you for last. After all, I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you.

Cordy: What are you going to do?

Angel: (puts a finger to his lips) Sshh. You'll ruin the surprise. Just practice my name. I know you can say it. You might just be graded on it later.

He offers one last evil smirk before closing Cordy in and barring her from finding any means of escape.

Cordy finally breaks down and cries as she falls to the ground.

Cut to Wes office Spike: What in the hell is your problem woman?

Buffy: We don't have a lot of time. Did you guys feel anything down here?

Spike: Yeah we felt it. We felt it knock us to our asses.

Buffy: That's good. Then we know it wasn't just us.

Spike: Wasn't just who? What are you babbling about?

Buffy: I need your help Spike. You're the only one that can help control him.

Spike: Who?

Buffy: Angelus?

Spike: (raises an eyebrow) Excuse me?

Buffy: I think Angelus is back and we don't have a lot of time. Now shut up and listen. You have to do exactly what I say.

Spike doesn't seem convinced that Buffy is all together sane, but after hearing only the first part of her explanation he bends closer to get the details.

Cut to Lobby Willow walks downstairs and seems a bit weak.

Xander: Will? What's wrong?

He walks to catch her just as she trips over the last step.

Willow: Oh! (straightens form Xander's arms) Xander.

Xander: Yeah, Xander. Now what's going on? Why are you all fainty?

Willow: Something weird happened up there.

Gunn: It happened down here too. Although, you seem to have gotten the worst end of it.

Wes: Magic?

Willow: (avoiding) Where's Buffy?

Fred: She went in the office with Spike. Seemed pretty important.

Willow: Oh. What about Dawn?

Xander: I thought she was with you.

Willow: She was, but Buffy showed up and her and Lorne went ahead without us.

Wes: So Dawn and Lorne are unaccounted for?

Gunn: So are Angel and Cordy last I checked.

Willow: Maybe we should get...

Before she can finish, the door swings open and Buffy and Spike come out.

Buffy: Willow! Any sign?

Willow: Not yet.

Xander: Sign of what?

Buffy: (walking behind counter) Hey there buddy. Didja miss me?

Connor: I didn't know if you were coming back.

Buffy: I told you I would didn't I? I always keep my promises.

Connor: What was that strange feeling I had?

Buffy: (glances at Willow) What kind of feeling?

Connor: I felt mad and hurt and sad all at the same time. Now I just don't feel anything.

Buffy: You know what? It's okay. I think I know what you mean and we all feel that way sometimes. But you have to remember what I told you okay? No matter how confusing those feelings get, you have to remember what's important.

Connor: Important?

Buffy: That's right. You can be whoever and whatever you choose to be. So it's very important that you choose well. And I'm going to help you do that okay?

Connor: Does that mean you're staying?

Buffy: For a while.

A loud noise is heard coming from upstairs and everyone looks up.

Gunn: That didn't sound good.

Wes: Where are the others?

Buffy: (standing) Others? You mean Cordelia?

Xander: And Angel and Dawn and their green friend.

Fred: His name is Lorne.

Xander: Yeah. Him.

Buffy: Dawn and Lorne never came back? When you called that you found Connor, they never came down?

Willow: (sensing Buffy's panic) Not yet Buffy.

At that moment another loud noise comes from upstairs followed by a scream. Dawn's scream.

Buffy and the others startle and she's about to charge when footsteps can be heard on the landing.

Dawn comes racing downstairs and trips as Willow did.

But no one is there to catch her and she lands in a heap. Buffy races to help her up.

Buffy: Dawn? What is it? You're shaking? Are you okay?

Dawn: (eyes wide-breathing heavily and obviously frightened) Buffy...it's...Lorne...he took him.

Xander: Lorne took who?

Dawn: (shakes her head and licks her lips against her dry mouth) No! It was Angel!

Wes: Angel took Lorne?

Gunn: No Lorne took Angel?

Dawn: (wrenches free from Buffy's hands and faces them all down before yelling) He's killing him!

Everyone just stares in confusion.

Dawn: (looks at Buffy) Angel's killing Lorne!

Cut to room Cordy has stopped crying and stands. She is about to try the door when she has a vision.

Flash: Buffy bleeding just like in her other vision.

Flash: Enemy advancing-Buffy defenseless Flash: Face of enemy- Angelus in vamp face and then something new Cordy cries out at the image and frantically pulls on the doorknob trying to warn the others.

Cordy: BUFFY! WESLEY! GUNN! ANYONE!

Cut to Hallway Angel is dragging Lorne forward by the arm Lorne: Big Guy! What is it? What's happened? You're hurting your buddy here.

He doesn't get what is happening and Angelus smiles.

Angelus: I can't believe the lowlifes that soul gets me involved with.

Lorne: Soul? What are you talking about? Whose Soul?

Suddenly, it all becomes clear and Lorne manages to stop and make Angelus look into his eyes.

Lorne: Angel?

Angelus: (smiles) Wrong answer. But I have something that might help you remember.

He pushes him against a wall and lifts him off his feet.

Angelus: The name...is...Angelus.

He is leaning in for the kill with fangs bared and Lorne struggles uselessly knowing he will be drained by his friend.

Buffy: (standing in hallway with hands on hips) And here I never thought I'd hear that name again.

Angelus stops and drops Lorne who collapses in a pile at his feet. Angelus steps away and turns to face her down.

They look at one another as if no time has passed since they last met.

Angelus: (smirks) Now this is going to be fun...