Note: Really short chapter here. Trying to bring all the elements together. I hope some of this is starting to make sense. Thanks for the reviews everyone. Thanks for the tips on posting elsewhere Steph. I'll look into it.

Chapter Nine -- Oh, Crap

"This is so my fault. What am I going to do?" With no one to talk to, she had taken to talking to herself to pass the time. Being in human form again scared her silly. The floaty part way before had been a little overwhelming at first too. Then to be dragged back, kicking and screaming into the world had been a nightmare.

This whole situation had been her fault. She'd miscalculated, having been very new to her job. The others had told her that it was going to happen no matter what she did. So she had tried screaming at him. Stupid dumbass vampire hadn't heard her. Tried to change the odds. Didn't work or didn't matter.

The thing that had taken over her body when she had left this plane of existence had died finally with another evil thing taking its place. And every time she tried to stop it all from happening, something spoiled it.

The last straw had been Skip. He'd been sent to make sure any plan she tried to put into play wouldn't work out. Lucky for her, he'd gotten too cocky for his own good. Looking down at the scene that played out had seemed surreal.

Skip had told the gang that they had no control over their fate. Big mistake on the demon's part. Pissed everyone off, especially Angel. They were not going to let some demon tell them that their fates were sealed. Jasmine had taken away their ability to choose too. She'd meet the same fate as Skip.

The gang had thought Skip worked for the bad guys. He managed to escape them to only have a bullet put in his brain by Wesley. Hurray Wesley. Nice shot. Would have done it myself if I could.

Wes and Angel had figured out about evil Cordy too. Thank goodness, because that thing was just skanky. If she could call her own body that.

She'd tried everything at her disposal, including enhancing her friends' abilities. But in the end, Connor had done away with Jasmine. The only one who hadn't been under her influence.

Jasmine was replaced by another kind of evil. The kind of evil that pulls a previously dead, higher being back to her former plane of existence.

Cordelia Chase was screwed and she knew it. Her power was kaput. She'd rot in this cell before anyone might even think to rescue her. Hey, she was supposed to be dead, right?

"Oh, crap," was her conclusion. Up the creek without a paddle.

TBC

I know I might be screwing around with the canon. I couldn't remember who exactly sent Skip to the gang. That's why I can't wait until Season 4 comes out on DVD, so I can watch it again. So don't sue me.