Where Do We Go From Here?
Chapter 10: The Lines Are Drawn
By: Rogue-Slayer13
Summary: See pervious Chapters
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We've only got three more days until the eclipse." Angel paced around the lobby.
The group still had a lot of things to get done before the battle and they were running out of time.
"We're going to be outnumbered, out skilled, out everything," said Andrew.
"We'll be fine. We always are." Xander watched as Angel continued to pace and Andrew began to bite his nails.
"I don't know though. We've never been up against something this big before," said Andrew.
"How's it different from The First? I mean basically, they're the same thing."
"Yeah, but we were fighting on home turf against The First, now the balls in their court and Buffy had a lot more school spirit then."
"What do you mean?" asked Xander.
"All she does now is follow Lindsey and Eve around. Her mind really isn't on topic here."
"She doesn't trust them," said Angel.
"Well we can't win this if we're not in it together," replied Xander.
"My point exactly," replied Angel.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What do you know about Lindsey and Eve?"
Wesley looked over at Buffy.
"Lindsey worked for Wolfram & Hart for quite some time and Eve was our liaison to The Senior Partners until she was replaced."
"So they're evil?"
"Well not exactly. Lindsey left the law firm on his own accord after receiving a hand transplant and realizing that Darla would never love him and Eve left after Lindsey was sucked into another dimension by The Senior Partners."
Buffy looked at Wesley as if he'd grown a second head.
"So they're not evil?"
"Well they are, but only when it suits them."
"Okay then, thanks anyway," said Buffy as she turned and headed out of the room.
"Glad to be of help." Wesley went back to reading his book.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'm worried."
Lindsey watched as Eve paced the length of their room.
"Don't worry Babe. We'll pull through."
"That's what you said last time and Angel fully intended on killing you." Eve stopped momentarily to look at Lindsey.
"Actually, he intended on me not trusting him."
"Huh?"
"He had Lorne shoot me, thinking that I'd wear a protection charm or something, which is exactly what I did. It was a test of sorts. He wanted to see if I was serious about being a part of this team."
"Are you?"
"Absolutely. I'm sick and tired of being somebody else's lackey."
"Even if no one trusts you?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Slayer, she doesn't trust us. She follows us around like a hawk circling its prey."
"It doesn't matter what she thinks or what she does. Angel trusts us enough to let us be apart of this and that's all that counts."
"Well, what if we do make it? What will we do then?" Eve took a seat on the bed next to Lindsey. "I mean, everything that we've ever known will be gone."
"If we make it through this, I'm going to take you far away from all of this. No more demons and lawyers, it'll be just you and me." Lindsey gently kissed Eve on the temple.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buffy had been out on patrol trying to figure out what was up with Lindsey and Eve while finding a quick spot of violence before bed. She didn't have much luck with either. Finally she gave up and just headed back to the hotel. When she got there, she found a fairly tall teenage boy prowling the parking lot.
"Who the hell are you!?" demanded Buffy as she spun the boy around to face her.
"Jesus Christ!" replied the surprised boy.
Buffy grabbed the boy by the arm and drug him into the hotel.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Connor!? What are you doing here?" asked Angel as he saw his son enter the lobby followed by Buffy.
"You know him?" asked the Slayer.
"Yeah he's my son." Angel walked down the stairs and over to the two of them followed by Spike, Wesley, and Gunn.
"Son!? What do you mean son!?"
"Spike, why don't you, Wesley, and Gunn show Connor to a room."
"C'mon Peaches Jr." Spike motioned for Connor to follow him and the others up stairs.
"So, how the hell do you have a son?" asked Buffy once Connor was upstairs.
"I would've thought you'd know how that happens by now," replied Angel.
"Cut the crap Angel."
"Fine, Darla showed up pregnant with my kid and Connor was the result."
"Is that all?"
"There's nothing else to it. Darla died to have Connor and then he was taken to a hell dimension. When he came back, he hated me and didn't know that I was his dad. Now he lives with a nice normal family who love him very much."
"How could you not tell me? I mean first you lie about Spike and now this? Is it your plan to ruin my life completely?"
"Excuse me? How am I ruining your life? I thought I'd never have children and then when I finally do he gets taken away from me only to show up eighteen years older and possessing a deep seething hatred for me. I'm not really seeing how this ruins your life Buffy."
Buffy slapped Angel across the cheek.
"I can't believe you're being this insensitive."
Angel watched as Buffy stormed upstairs to her room.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We've got to do something before this turns in to Sunnydale all over again," said Faith as she and the others talked in to the lobby while Buffy was out getting supplies.
"Yeah, I mean she doesn't trust Lindsey and Eve and she's pissed at Angel and Spike. We can't afford this much discord," replied Xander.
"We can't just kick her out, cause we all know how well that went last time."Andrew took a seat next to Gunn and Xander on the couch.
"Well what are we supposed to do? I mean, we've got to do something, but we don't want her to get angry," said Dawn.
"We should just talk to her in a very straight forward and nonthreatening manner," said Willow.
"Talk to me about what?"
Everyone turned to see Buffy standing just inside the lobby doorway.
"Uh, well Buffy we need to talk about, well . . ."
"We need to talk to you about your attitude toward some of the team." Faith finished the sentence that Willow couldn't manage to find the words for.
"What do you mean?" asked Buffy.
"Your treating Lindsey and Eve like shit B."
"Not to mention the fact that you won't even talk to Spike or Angel unless it's something rude," added Andrew.
"Are you guys ganging up on me again?" asked Buffy defensively.
"No, not at all, that's exactly why we're doing this now instead of later. We just want everyone to get along," said Dawn.
Buffy was quiet for a moment.
"I guess I have been pretty rude."
Dawn nodded her head in agreement.
"Why don't you go and apologize to everyone?" Suggested Willow.
"Yeah, that's probably the best thing to do."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buffy knocked on the door to Lindsey and Eve's room.
"Who is it?"
"It's me Buffy."
There was a pause before Eve opened the door and let Buffy in.
"What can we do for ya?"
"I just wanted to apologize, I realize that I've been a huge bitch to you guys for no reason and I'm sorry."
Lindsey and Eve exchanged looks of shock.
"Well uh, apology accepted," replied Eve.
"Yeah, no sense hating each other when we're fighting on the same side," added Lindsey.
"Great. Well I guess I'll see you guys around."
"I guess." Eve shut the door behind Buffy as she left the room.
I doubt Spike and Angel will be that easy to apologize to. Thought Buffy.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You're getting rusty in you old age Peaches."
Buffy walked into the training room to find the two vampires sparring.
"I hate to interrupt, but I need to talk to you guys for a second."
"Who do you think is evil now?" asked Angel.
"It's not about that. I came to apologize."
"If I weren't dead, hearing that come out of your mouth would've killed me," replied Spike.
"I'm serious. I wanted to apologize to you two."
"And what caused this sudden and huge change in attitude?"
"The others brought it to my attention exactly how much of a bitch I've been the last couple of days and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" asked Spike.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"What part of it are you sorry for?" Spike cocked his head to the side. "Are you sorry for the beatings, verbal abuse, or are you just sorry for what you've done since you arrived in LA?"
I knew this was going to be hard. Thought Buffy.
"It was different then."
"And how's that?"
"You didn't have a soul."
Both vampires gave a disgusted sigh at this.
"Not that again Slayer. Y'know, I really thought you'd moved past that by now."
"Yeah considering you're dating The Immortal," added Angel.
"What do you mean?"
"The Immortal doesn't have a soul Buffy. He's a shape shifting demon." Angel walked over and took a seat on the bench that was against the wall.
"Ryan does to have a soul! He's loving, and kind and . . ."
"Everything you want him to be. That's one of his tricks Slayer."
Buffy couldn't believe what Spike and Angel were telling her.
"You're lying. You're just doing this to hurt me. You can't stand it that I'm being the bigger person here."
"Of course we are. We have nothing better to do before an apocalypse other then to toy with your emotions," replied Spike.
"Y'know what? Fuck you and your apology."
Spike and Angel watched as Buffy stormed out of the training room.
"Somebody can't handle the truth."
"Tell me about it," replied Angel.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Be Continued . . .
Okay, I know the part with everyone telling Buffy that she's a bitch and the apology to Lindsey and Eve sucked, but oh well. I'm going to Mexico next week so I won't be able to update until I get back. Keep reviewing!
