Title: Cupid's Killer of the Dead - Part two (AKA Pain)
Author: Will_ow (LiZ)
Spoilers: Lots. and thank you to Buffyworld.com for some scripts
Dedication: To Kelly, my Beta reader, and to all the people that sent feedback and reviews. You guys rock my world!
Here it goes, enjoy.
Cut to Shriners Hospital, Los Angeles, California
We come to see the entrance of room 14A, which is guarded by big, husky men in black suits. We come into the room and see that Linwood is lying on the bed with his eyes tightly shut. If you listen closely you can hear the slightest whimper escaping from his lips.
Pain is overcoming him and he reaches his hand to hold his side, hoping it would ease the pain. It didn't.
Bursting through the door, Lilah and Gavin come rushing into the room. Surprised by the sudden movements, Linwood's head snaps up and we hear a large cracking sound form his neck. Linwood looks as if he's about to cry.
Lilah: We got here as soon as possible, Sir.
Gavin: How are you feeling, Sir?
Lilah: How does it look like he's feeling.
Gavin: Sorry, Sir. Just trying to make conversation. Can I get you anything? Some flowers? Plants? Food? Moist towelettes?
Lilah: Well, I know one thing. Don't get him a vacuum cleaner, because I just heard a big sucking sound.
Gavin looks to the floor and realizes that Lilah caught him sucking up to Linwood again.
Linwood: Just get me some thing to eat. Something that is NOT Jell-O. And don't come back until 15 minutes pass.
Lilah/Gavin: Yes, Sir.
They both head out of the room. Just before Lilah was about to leave, Linwood calls to her.
Linwood: No, Lilah. Not you; I need to speak with you. Gavin, go.
Lilah turns to Gavin with a smirk on her face. 'Ha! You ruined you chance,' she thought.
Lilah: Of course, Sir.
Gavin shuts the door behind him, a look of pure anger on his face. He calms down, just before deciding to set out and retrieve some food.
** Lilah: Well.
Linwood: See that bag over there?
He points his fingers to a huge black duffel bag in the corner of the hospital room. Lilah nods her head.
Linwood: I need something from it. It's near the top of the bag.
Lilah walks over to the bag, squats down and unzips the opening. She reaches for the first object she sees and holds it up in confusion.
Lilah: Sir?
Linwood: Yes, that's it. Bring it over here and sit down.
Lilah does as she is told and sits.
Cut to later in the conversation
Lilah: So what exactly do you want me to do?
Linwood: For G-d's sake, Lilah. All you have to do is shoot Angel with this.
Lilah: What's in it for me?
Linwood: The Senior Partners have wanted to do this to Angel for some time now. You shooting him could lead you to having a good reputation with the Senior Partners. It may even lead to a promotion.
Lilah (with a smile on her face): Promotion?
Linwood nods.
Lilah: Fine by me, Sir. I'll do it right away.
She gets up and leaves the room, the arrow in her hand. Lilah walks pass Gavin and he follows her, trying to keep up with her strides.
Gavin: So?
Lilah: So, what?
Gavin: So what's the arrow in your hand?
Lilah: Oh, come on Gavin; you've been researching and studying Angel's life for quite some time now. You should know what this is. Haven't you been doing your homework recently?
Gavin gives her a look.
Lilah: Oh, right. I forgot; your homework is kissing people's asses. (Sigh) It's called the "Killer of the Dead." Well, actually the poison in the arrow is called the "Killer of the Dead."
She turns the corner.
Gavin: Yeah, and what are you going to do with it?
Lilah: Are you dense? I'm supposed to shoot Angel with it. Just what the bastard deserves. It's supposed to cause major pain and suffering, you know the deal.
Gavin: The Senior Partners wouldn't want that.
Lilah: As a matter of fact Gavin, Linwood just told me that doing this may lead to a promotion.
Gavin: Promotion?
Lilah (monotonous): Eat your heart out.
Lilah's in the parking lot and turns to her car.
Gavin: One more thing. Lilah (annoyed): What?
Gavin: Can I come and watch?
Lilah: Get in the damn car already!
Cut to hospital room
Linwood smirks and then chuckles as he sees both Gavin and Lilah drive out of the hospital's parking lot. He can't believe he got away with it. He lied, lied about everything he told Lilah. The Senior Partners would never, EVER agree to such nonsense. They needed Angel; they've been spending so much time researching him. Lilah should have known that. 'But all the bitch heard was the word 'promotion' and she was ready to do anything,' Linwood thought. Now he would get away with it. He would get away with his revenge on Angel, and Lilah was doing all the dirty work for him. The Senior Partners would never hold Linwood responsible.
Lilah would be fired. Probably beaten to death by the company, and if not by the company, then surely by Angel and his crew. 'Lilah probably told Gavin by now,' he thought, 'considering the look on Gavin's face.' But Gavin wouldn't say anything; he would actually be very happy that he would have no one to compete with.
Linwood looked up at the ceiling with a wicked grin on his face. He whispered.
Linwood: In a few hours, Angel will be suffering. And I'm not talking about the pain of the poison.He'll be forced to risk the life of his love.again.
Cut to the Hyperion Lobby
Lorne is humming "Lean on Me," by The Temptations while cradling the baby in his arms.
Cordy is sitting on the couch, looking intently at her nails. She finally files the chipped nail, making an annoying sound that seems to bother the rest of the group.
Fred is researching through one of the old Chronicles. Its leather binding is falling apart and she struggles to keep the book together.
Angel and Gunn are together, over by the weapon cabinet, sharpening some of their weapons, waiting for a call from Wesley telling them that trouble is near.
All is quiet, until Wesley walks out of his office, a case file opened in his hand.
Angel: Wes?
Wesley: Yes, Angel, have you ever heard of a Zoharak demon before?
Angel: Are you kidding me? I had the privilege of beating the crap out it; I studied every inch of its broken body parts. The brown goo was all over it, so it was kind of hard to research the body type. But I had fun. Boy was that a memorable moment.
There was a weird silence in the room, as Angel dazed up to the ceiling, remembering when he killed it.
Meanwhile, both Fred and Gunn had there jaws hung open, looking at Angel in shock. Lorne had put his hands over the baby's ears. Wesley had taken of his glasses, and wiped it with a handkerchief. Cordy just kept on looking at her nails, simply saying.
Cordy: Morbid, much.
Lorne: Yeah, please Angel. No more memorable moments in front of the kid.
Angel snapped back from his dream and looked embarrassed.
Angel: Yes, I've heard of a Zoharak demon.
Wesley: Yes, well um.a Mr.--(he looks down at the case file, looking for a name) Apelbaum just called. He claimed that he saw one running up and down his street at night. Would you mind?
Gunn: Not at all, man.
Angel: No, Gunn, I'll go. It's not easier to kill it than I said it was. Plus, you have to keep everyone safe here. Make sure you take care of any other problems when I'm gone.
Gunn: Okay, man. But if you come back in a daze and talk about killing the demon and how cool it was, then I'll be pissed.
Angel: Maybe I should take a camera with me.
Gunn: Yeah, yeah, okay Mr. laugh a lot, just go kick some demon ass.
Angel grabs his weapons and duster.
Cordy: Be careful!
Angel: I wi-
Out of thin air, an arrow comes flying at Angel, puncturing his chest, not too far from his heart. Angel looks up to the building across from the Hyperion. He sees Lilah with a crossbow in her hand, and Gavin not too far behind her.
Angel: Oh, shit!
AI: Angel!
Cut to Lilah and Gavin on the rooftop
Gavin: Missed the heart.
Lilah: Meant to.
Cut to Sunnydale, California
1630 Rivelo Drive
Buffy comes home, shrugging off her coat and throwing it over the couch. She looks like she's in a daze, that her world is nothing like the one she is seeing. She walks as if it was in slow motion, but it's not. She's heading towards her kitchen. As she takes each step towards her death, images fill her mind of the people that she loves. People that she cares about, or people that meant something to her.
First step - she sees Riley Finn, a man that she thought she loved, but instead, only a friend (Episodes: "Into the Woods" and "As You Were")
Buffy runs through the forest and comes out on to helipad. The helicopter is already off the ground and rising fast. BUFFY: Riley! Riley! Shot of Riley inside the helicopter, staring grimly out the front window. Behind him we can see out the helicopter door and we see Buffy on the ground yelling up at him. BUFFY: Riley! Riley!
BUFFY: (deep breath) Riley, that night... (Riley just looking at her) I never got the chance ... to tell you ... how sorry I was. About what happened between us.
RILEY: And you never have to.
Second Step - she sees Cordelia Chase, the bitchy prom queen, but now (as she heard) a new person who actually cares about people (Episode: "Homecoming")
Lyle: I'm gonna kill both you Slayers for this! You hear me? Cordelia: I hear you, you redneck moron. You got a dress that goes with that hat? Lyle: (furious) I'm gonna... Cordelia: Rip out my innards, play with my eyeballs, boil my brain and eat it for brunch? Listen up, needle-brain. Buffy and I have taken out four of your cronies, not to mention your girlfriend. Lyle: WIFE! Cordelia: Whatever. The point is, I haven't even broken a sweat. See, in the end, Buffy's just the runner-up. *I'm* the Queen. You get me mad, (gets in his face and glares at him) what do you think I'm gonna do to you?
Third Step - she sees her mother, Joyce Summers, an image that makes her want to cry (Episode: "I Was Made to Love You")
Buffy frowns, looks down the hall toward the kitchen. BUFFY: Mom? She turns and looks in the living room. BUFFY: What are you doing? She walks into the living room, stops. Shot of Joyce lying on the sofa. Her eyes are open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. One arm hangs loosely over the edge of the sofa. She does not move or blink. BUFFY: (quieter) Mom? (Even quieter) Mom? (Very quietly) Mommy?
Fourth Step - she sees Dawn Summers, a 16-year-old girl who is actually two, and is the key. (Episode: "The Gift")
Cut back to close shot of Buffy. She strokes the side of Dawn's face, then kisses her on the cheek. Dawn continues to cry. Buffy turns. In slow motion, she runs down the platform as Dawn stays there crying.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: I love you. I will *always* love you.
Fifth Step - Spike, mostly a vicious animalistic killer, but a good listener (Episode: "Tabula Rasa")
She turns, grabs his arm with her other hand, flips him over onto the ground. She kneels, straddling him and holding him down. SPIKE: Bloody hell, what are you doing?
BUFFY: (staring at him, realizing) You don't know who you are.
SPIKE: Right, none of us do, and we're being chased by-
BUFFY: You're a vampire!
SPIKE: (shocked) How can you say - I, me, a vampire? No.
BUFFY: Check the lumpies. And the teeth. Spike puts his hand up to his face, feels his forehead and teeth. Buffy sits up but remains straddling him. He lifts his head to look at her. BUFFY: I kill your kind.
SPIKE: And I bite yours. (Drops his hand from his face) So how come I don't wanna bite you?
Sixth Step - she sees Xander Harris, the guy who loves to make people laugh by making a fool of himself (Episode: "Becoming, Part 1")
The camera focuses on two fish sticks that Xander is holding, one with a toothpick stuck through the middle. He plays with them like puppets, moving the one with the toothpick around. Xander: Tell Angel I'm gonna kill him! No, wait. I'm gonna kill you! He starts to repeatedly stab the toothpick into the other fish stick. The camera pulls back and up to his face. Xander: Die! Die! Die! He makes an anguished face and lets the fish stick fall. Xander: Aah! (Makes a thudding noise) (Squeals) Mother! (Smiles)
She sees an image of Anya, being her tactless self, together with Xander.
Seventh Step - she sees Willow, the "Net Girl," the powerful Wicca, but most of all, her best friend. (Episode: "Choices")
Buffy: I'm a Sunnydale girl, no other choice.
Willow: Must be tough. I mean, here I am, I can do anything I want. I can go to any college in the country, four or five in Europe if I want.
Buffy: Please tell me you're going somewhere with this?
Willow: No. (hands Buffy a letter) I'm not going anywhere.
Buffy: UC Sunnydale?
Willow: I will be matriculating with Class of 2003.
Buffy: Are you serious?
Willow: Say, isn't that where you're going?
Buffy hugs her and they tumble onto the ground.
She sees pictures of Oz and Tara, but not talking; they always were the stoic types.
Eighth Step - she sees Rupert Giles, her former Watcher. She always thought of him as her father, though. (Episode: "Helpless")
Quentin: You're fired. Giles: (taken aback) On what grounds? Quentin: Your affection for your charge has rendered you incapable of clear and impartial judgment. (Buffy looks at Giles) You have a father's love for the child, and that is useless to the cause. (Giles looks down) It would be best if you had no further contact with the Slayer. Buffy breaks her stare, and considers Quentin's words. Giles: (with hostility) I'm not going anywhere.
The Ninth Step, her final step. She stops in front of the kitchen window looking at her reflection. In the window she can see the images -- -- Angel.
Images flood her mind fast as she sees them appear on the window:
The first day they met, the cross, his leather jacket, their first kiss, she finding out that he was a vampire, the Claddagh, making love, Angelus, sword through the gut, hell portal, him coming back, amending, fighting, saying he didn't want to be with her, poison, graduation, leaving, the time in LA, -- There was a time in LA? No time to think, too many images.fighting Riley, at the cemetery after her mother's funeral. Then she came back to the image in the sewer.
Angel: You deserve more. You deserve something outside of demons and darkness. You should be with someone who can take you into the light. Someone who can make love to you.
Buffy: I don't care about that.
Angel: You will. And children.
Buffy: Children? Can you say jumping the gun? I kill my goldfish.
Angel: Today. But you have no idea how fast it goes, Buffy. Before you know it, you'll want it all, a normal life.
Buffy: I'll never have a normal life.
Angel: Right, you'll always be a Slayer. But that's all the more reason why you should have a real relationship instead of this, this freak show. (Buffy is stunned.) I didn't mean that.
Buffy: I'm gonna go.
Angel: (grabs her arm) I'm sorry. Buffy, you know how much I love you. It kills me to say this.
Buffy: Then don't. Who are you to tell me what's right for me? You think I haven't thought about this?
Angel: Have you, rationally?
Buffy: No. No, of course not. I'm just some swoony little schoolgirl, right?
Angel: I'm trying to do what's right here, okay? I'm trying to think with my head instead of my heart.
Buffy: Heart? You have a heart? It isn't even beating!
Angel: Don't.
Buffy: Don't what? Don't love you? I'm sorry. You know what? I didn't know that I got a choice in that. I'm never gonna change. I can't change. I want my life to be with you.
Angel: I don't.
That sent Buffy over the edge. She reached for the drawer handle and pulled it open, taking the shiny knife into her hand. She twirled it, amazed by the reflections of light that it caused. She held her arm up, eyes tightly closed. She felt the cool feel of the knife across her wrist. Then finally, the sharp blade made contact with her golden skin. Pain overcame her quickly, and she cut deeper into her skin, making herself bleed more. She cried out and her eyes flew open. She took the knife off of her wrist and pointed the blade to her stomach, as if she was about to stab herself. But the knife flew back, into the cutting board behind her. It stood upright, sticking out of the wooden board. She collapsed onto her knees, breathing heavily as she guided her arm to her stomach. The white shirt that she was wearing soaked in the red liquid, and she held her arm to her stomach even harder. The pain. She screamed as if someone was stabbing her and cutting her into pieces. The pain wasn't from her arm.it was from her stomach.Angel was in trouble.
Buffy: Angel.
Fade out
TBC - depends on feedback and reviews.
Author: Will_ow (LiZ)
Spoilers: Lots. and thank you to Buffyworld.com for some scripts
Dedication: To Kelly, my Beta reader, and to all the people that sent feedback and reviews. You guys rock my world!
Here it goes, enjoy.
Cut to Shriners Hospital, Los Angeles, California
We come to see the entrance of room 14A, which is guarded by big, husky men in black suits. We come into the room and see that Linwood is lying on the bed with his eyes tightly shut. If you listen closely you can hear the slightest whimper escaping from his lips.
Pain is overcoming him and he reaches his hand to hold his side, hoping it would ease the pain. It didn't.
Bursting through the door, Lilah and Gavin come rushing into the room. Surprised by the sudden movements, Linwood's head snaps up and we hear a large cracking sound form his neck. Linwood looks as if he's about to cry.
Lilah: We got here as soon as possible, Sir.
Gavin: How are you feeling, Sir?
Lilah: How does it look like he's feeling.
Gavin: Sorry, Sir. Just trying to make conversation. Can I get you anything? Some flowers? Plants? Food? Moist towelettes?
Lilah: Well, I know one thing. Don't get him a vacuum cleaner, because I just heard a big sucking sound.
Gavin looks to the floor and realizes that Lilah caught him sucking up to Linwood again.
Linwood: Just get me some thing to eat. Something that is NOT Jell-O. And don't come back until 15 minutes pass.
Lilah/Gavin: Yes, Sir.
They both head out of the room. Just before Lilah was about to leave, Linwood calls to her.
Linwood: No, Lilah. Not you; I need to speak with you. Gavin, go.
Lilah turns to Gavin with a smirk on her face. 'Ha! You ruined you chance,' she thought.
Lilah: Of course, Sir.
Gavin shuts the door behind him, a look of pure anger on his face. He calms down, just before deciding to set out and retrieve some food.
** Lilah: Well.
Linwood: See that bag over there?
He points his fingers to a huge black duffel bag in the corner of the hospital room. Lilah nods her head.
Linwood: I need something from it. It's near the top of the bag.
Lilah walks over to the bag, squats down and unzips the opening. She reaches for the first object she sees and holds it up in confusion.
Lilah: Sir?
Linwood: Yes, that's it. Bring it over here and sit down.
Lilah does as she is told and sits.
Cut to later in the conversation
Lilah: So what exactly do you want me to do?
Linwood: For G-d's sake, Lilah. All you have to do is shoot Angel with this.
Lilah: What's in it for me?
Linwood: The Senior Partners have wanted to do this to Angel for some time now. You shooting him could lead you to having a good reputation with the Senior Partners. It may even lead to a promotion.
Lilah (with a smile on her face): Promotion?
Linwood nods.
Lilah: Fine by me, Sir. I'll do it right away.
She gets up and leaves the room, the arrow in her hand. Lilah walks pass Gavin and he follows her, trying to keep up with her strides.
Gavin: So?
Lilah: So, what?
Gavin: So what's the arrow in your hand?
Lilah: Oh, come on Gavin; you've been researching and studying Angel's life for quite some time now. You should know what this is. Haven't you been doing your homework recently?
Gavin gives her a look.
Lilah: Oh, right. I forgot; your homework is kissing people's asses. (Sigh) It's called the "Killer of the Dead." Well, actually the poison in the arrow is called the "Killer of the Dead."
She turns the corner.
Gavin: Yeah, and what are you going to do with it?
Lilah: Are you dense? I'm supposed to shoot Angel with it. Just what the bastard deserves. It's supposed to cause major pain and suffering, you know the deal.
Gavin: The Senior Partners wouldn't want that.
Lilah: As a matter of fact Gavin, Linwood just told me that doing this may lead to a promotion.
Gavin: Promotion?
Lilah (monotonous): Eat your heart out.
Lilah's in the parking lot and turns to her car.
Gavin: One more thing. Lilah (annoyed): What?
Gavin: Can I come and watch?
Lilah: Get in the damn car already!
Cut to hospital room
Linwood smirks and then chuckles as he sees both Gavin and Lilah drive out of the hospital's parking lot. He can't believe he got away with it. He lied, lied about everything he told Lilah. The Senior Partners would never, EVER agree to such nonsense. They needed Angel; they've been spending so much time researching him. Lilah should have known that. 'But all the bitch heard was the word 'promotion' and she was ready to do anything,' Linwood thought. Now he would get away with it. He would get away with his revenge on Angel, and Lilah was doing all the dirty work for him. The Senior Partners would never hold Linwood responsible.
Lilah would be fired. Probably beaten to death by the company, and if not by the company, then surely by Angel and his crew. 'Lilah probably told Gavin by now,' he thought, 'considering the look on Gavin's face.' But Gavin wouldn't say anything; he would actually be very happy that he would have no one to compete with.
Linwood looked up at the ceiling with a wicked grin on his face. He whispered.
Linwood: In a few hours, Angel will be suffering. And I'm not talking about the pain of the poison.He'll be forced to risk the life of his love.again.
Cut to the Hyperion Lobby
Lorne is humming "Lean on Me," by The Temptations while cradling the baby in his arms.
Cordy is sitting on the couch, looking intently at her nails. She finally files the chipped nail, making an annoying sound that seems to bother the rest of the group.
Fred is researching through one of the old Chronicles. Its leather binding is falling apart and she struggles to keep the book together.
Angel and Gunn are together, over by the weapon cabinet, sharpening some of their weapons, waiting for a call from Wesley telling them that trouble is near.
All is quiet, until Wesley walks out of his office, a case file opened in his hand.
Angel: Wes?
Wesley: Yes, Angel, have you ever heard of a Zoharak demon before?
Angel: Are you kidding me? I had the privilege of beating the crap out it; I studied every inch of its broken body parts. The brown goo was all over it, so it was kind of hard to research the body type. But I had fun. Boy was that a memorable moment.
There was a weird silence in the room, as Angel dazed up to the ceiling, remembering when he killed it.
Meanwhile, both Fred and Gunn had there jaws hung open, looking at Angel in shock. Lorne had put his hands over the baby's ears. Wesley had taken of his glasses, and wiped it with a handkerchief. Cordy just kept on looking at her nails, simply saying.
Cordy: Morbid, much.
Lorne: Yeah, please Angel. No more memorable moments in front of the kid.
Angel snapped back from his dream and looked embarrassed.
Angel: Yes, I've heard of a Zoharak demon.
Wesley: Yes, well um.a Mr.--(he looks down at the case file, looking for a name) Apelbaum just called. He claimed that he saw one running up and down his street at night. Would you mind?
Gunn: Not at all, man.
Angel: No, Gunn, I'll go. It's not easier to kill it than I said it was. Plus, you have to keep everyone safe here. Make sure you take care of any other problems when I'm gone.
Gunn: Okay, man. But if you come back in a daze and talk about killing the demon and how cool it was, then I'll be pissed.
Angel: Maybe I should take a camera with me.
Gunn: Yeah, yeah, okay Mr. laugh a lot, just go kick some demon ass.
Angel grabs his weapons and duster.
Cordy: Be careful!
Angel: I wi-
Out of thin air, an arrow comes flying at Angel, puncturing his chest, not too far from his heart. Angel looks up to the building across from the Hyperion. He sees Lilah with a crossbow in her hand, and Gavin not too far behind her.
Angel: Oh, shit!
AI: Angel!
Cut to Lilah and Gavin on the rooftop
Gavin: Missed the heart.
Lilah: Meant to.
Cut to Sunnydale, California
1630 Rivelo Drive
Buffy comes home, shrugging off her coat and throwing it over the couch. She looks like she's in a daze, that her world is nothing like the one she is seeing. She walks as if it was in slow motion, but it's not. She's heading towards her kitchen. As she takes each step towards her death, images fill her mind of the people that she loves. People that she cares about, or people that meant something to her.
First step - she sees Riley Finn, a man that she thought she loved, but instead, only a friend (Episodes: "Into the Woods" and "As You Were")
Buffy runs through the forest and comes out on to helipad. The helicopter is already off the ground and rising fast. BUFFY: Riley! Riley! Shot of Riley inside the helicopter, staring grimly out the front window. Behind him we can see out the helicopter door and we see Buffy on the ground yelling up at him. BUFFY: Riley! Riley!
BUFFY: (deep breath) Riley, that night... (Riley just looking at her) I never got the chance ... to tell you ... how sorry I was. About what happened between us.
RILEY: And you never have to.
Second Step - she sees Cordelia Chase, the bitchy prom queen, but now (as she heard) a new person who actually cares about people (Episode: "Homecoming")
Lyle: I'm gonna kill both you Slayers for this! You hear me? Cordelia: I hear you, you redneck moron. You got a dress that goes with that hat? Lyle: (furious) I'm gonna... Cordelia: Rip out my innards, play with my eyeballs, boil my brain and eat it for brunch? Listen up, needle-brain. Buffy and I have taken out four of your cronies, not to mention your girlfriend. Lyle: WIFE! Cordelia: Whatever. The point is, I haven't even broken a sweat. See, in the end, Buffy's just the runner-up. *I'm* the Queen. You get me mad, (gets in his face and glares at him) what do you think I'm gonna do to you?
Third Step - she sees her mother, Joyce Summers, an image that makes her want to cry (Episode: "I Was Made to Love You")
Buffy frowns, looks down the hall toward the kitchen. BUFFY: Mom? She turns and looks in the living room. BUFFY: What are you doing? She walks into the living room, stops. Shot of Joyce lying on the sofa. Her eyes are open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. One arm hangs loosely over the edge of the sofa. She does not move or blink. BUFFY: (quieter) Mom? (Even quieter) Mom? (Very quietly) Mommy?
Fourth Step - she sees Dawn Summers, a 16-year-old girl who is actually two, and is the key. (Episode: "The Gift")
Cut back to close shot of Buffy. She strokes the side of Dawn's face, then kisses her on the cheek. Dawn continues to cry. Buffy turns. In slow motion, she runs down the platform as Dawn stays there crying.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: I love you. I will *always* love you.
Fifth Step - Spike, mostly a vicious animalistic killer, but a good listener (Episode: "Tabula Rasa")
She turns, grabs his arm with her other hand, flips him over onto the ground. She kneels, straddling him and holding him down. SPIKE: Bloody hell, what are you doing?
BUFFY: (staring at him, realizing) You don't know who you are.
SPIKE: Right, none of us do, and we're being chased by-
BUFFY: You're a vampire!
SPIKE: (shocked) How can you say - I, me, a vampire? No.
BUFFY: Check the lumpies. And the teeth. Spike puts his hand up to his face, feels his forehead and teeth. Buffy sits up but remains straddling him. He lifts his head to look at her. BUFFY: I kill your kind.
SPIKE: And I bite yours. (Drops his hand from his face) So how come I don't wanna bite you?
Sixth Step - she sees Xander Harris, the guy who loves to make people laugh by making a fool of himself (Episode: "Becoming, Part 1")
The camera focuses on two fish sticks that Xander is holding, one with a toothpick stuck through the middle. He plays with them like puppets, moving the one with the toothpick around. Xander: Tell Angel I'm gonna kill him! No, wait. I'm gonna kill you! He starts to repeatedly stab the toothpick into the other fish stick. The camera pulls back and up to his face. Xander: Die! Die! Die! He makes an anguished face and lets the fish stick fall. Xander: Aah! (Makes a thudding noise) (Squeals) Mother! (Smiles)
She sees an image of Anya, being her tactless self, together with Xander.
Seventh Step - she sees Willow, the "Net Girl," the powerful Wicca, but most of all, her best friend. (Episode: "Choices")
Buffy: I'm a Sunnydale girl, no other choice.
Willow: Must be tough. I mean, here I am, I can do anything I want. I can go to any college in the country, four or five in Europe if I want.
Buffy: Please tell me you're going somewhere with this?
Willow: No. (hands Buffy a letter) I'm not going anywhere.
Buffy: UC Sunnydale?
Willow: I will be matriculating with Class of 2003.
Buffy: Are you serious?
Willow: Say, isn't that where you're going?
Buffy hugs her and they tumble onto the ground.
She sees pictures of Oz and Tara, but not talking; they always were the stoic types.
Eighth Step - she sees Rupert Giles, her former Watcher. She always thought of him as her father, though. (Episode: "Helpless")
Quentin: You're fired. Giles: (taken aback) On what grounds? Quentin: Your affection for your charge has rendered you incapable of clear and impartial judgment. (Buffy looks at Giles) You have a father's love for the child, and that is useless to the cause. (Giles looks down) It would be best if you had no further contact with the Slayer. Buffy breaks her stare, and considers Quentin's words. Giles: (with hostility) I'm not going anywhere.
The Ninth Step, her final step. She stops in front of the kitchen window looking at her reflection. In the window she can see the images -- -- Angel.
Images flood her mind fast as she sees them appear on the window:
The first day they met, the cross, his leather jacket, their first kiss, she finding out that he was a vampire, the Claddagh, making love, Angelus, sword through the gut, hell portal, him coming back, amending, fighting, saying he didn't want to be with her, poison, graduation, leaving, the time in LA, -- There was a time in LA? No time to think, too many images.fighting Riley, at the cemetery after her mother's funeral. Then she came back to the image in the sewer.
Angel: You deserve more. You deserve something outside of demons and darkness. You should be with someone who can take you into the light. Someone who can make love to you.
Buffy: I don't care about that.
Angel: You will. And children.
Buffy: Children? Can you say jumping the gun? I kill my goldfish.
Angel: Today. But you have no idea how fast it goes, Buffy. Before you know it, you'll want it all, a normal life.
Buffy: I'll never have a normal life.
Angel: Right, you'll always be a Slayer. But that's all the more reason why you should have a real relationship instead of this, this freak show. (Buffy is stunned.) I didn't mean that.
Buffy: I'm gonna go.
Angel: (grabs her arm) I'm sorry. Buffy, you know how much I love you. It kills me to say this.
Buffy: Then don't. Who are you to tell me what's right for me? You think I haven't thought about this?
Angel: Have you, rationally?
Buffy: No. No, of course not. I'm just some swoony little schoolgirl, right?
Angel: I'm trying to do what's right here, okay? I'm trying to think with my head instead of my heart.
Buffy: Heart? You have a heart? It isn't even beating!
Angel: Don't.
Buffy: Don't what? Don't love you? I'm sorry. You know what? I didn't know that I got a choice in that. I'm never gonna change. I can't change. I want my life to be with you.
Angel: I don't.
That sent Buffy over the edge. She reached for the drawer handle and pulled it open, taking the shiny knife into her hand. She twirled it, amazed by the reflections of light that it caused. She held her arm up, eyes tightly closed. She felt the cool feel of the knife across her wrist. Then finally, the sharp blade made contact with her golden skin. Pain overcame her quickly, and she cut deeper into her skin, making herself bleed more. She cried out and her eyes flew open. She took the knife off of her wrist and pointed the blade to her stomach, as if she was about to stab herself. But the knife flew back, into the cutting board behind her. It stood upright, sticking out of the wooden board. She collapsed onto her knees, breathing heavily as she guided her arm to her stomach. The white shirt that she was wearing soaked in the red liquid, and she held her arm to her stomach even harder. The pain. She screamed as if someone was stabbing her and cutting her into pieces. The pain wasn't from her arm.it was from her stomach.Angel was in trouble.
Buffy: Angel.
Fade out
TBC - depends on feedback and reviews.