I don't own Angel the Series or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I sure am sad that they are finished up. Joss is in control and what he says goes. I'm just a fan like anybody else... except I'm going to kidnap James Marsters and make him my sex slave. How many of you can claim that? Okay, it's been a while since I updated and I apologize. I hope you haven't completely lost interest in the story. I've just been busy. I'll go into more detail at the end, but for now lets get...

On with the show.

::Stuff and Nonsense- Michael::

Michael dropped down on top of the man's chest and collapsed. His heart had gripped in his chest and he felt a burning in his mind. "Ahh..." Michael writhed in pain and a few tears streaked down his cheeks. The man underneath him was stone still. He wasn't dead yet, but he was a good imitation. "Holy Powers!" Michael gripped the sides of his head and sighed. The pain was easing up, but something was different.

Michael took a deep breath and realized he was still lying on the neighbor, from down the hall. He grunted and pushed himself up to a sitting position. "Why in the hell are you still here?" Michael looked down at his hands and grunted. They were covered in blood. "Ugh... That's very distasteful." Michael stood up and looked down at the body, at his feet. It was breathing slightly and he shook his head. "You poor bastard." Michael looked at his hands and sighed.

He walked to the bathroom and washed his hands, before walking to the phone and calling 911. "Hello. Yes, my name is Andre Mason, and I walked in on the scene of a murder. Yes, I'm in apartment 46A, at Maspeth Place, on 1457 Andes Dr. There seems to be somebody else here. He is close to death, as well. You may need to send an ambulance and a hearse." Michael sighed. "The murderer? No, I didn't see who did it." Michael nodded and smirked. "Yes, I'll stay here."

Michael put the phone down and cracked his knuckles. He shook his head and threw his hands up in the air. "Okay, Tim, you want to fight dirty? We'll fight dirty." Michael walked over to the bed and picked up a locket that lay over to the side. He turned toward the door, and morphed into the body of a small child, before making a dash into the hallway and running toward the stairs.
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Connor ran his fingers through his hair, as he headed down the sidewalk. Connor felt self-conscious. He felt like everybody was staring at him. The clothes he wore, were not his usual style: blue jeans and a long sleeve sweater. No, he was dressed in tight black leather pants and a silk top. Somebody really had a sick sense of humor, leaving him in that apartment building with only one change of clothes and a bill to pay. It was probably Spike, he decided. He was still upset over Skittles using his clothes closet as a litter box.

"Well, hello pretty. You're the vampire's little boy, aren't you?"

Connor turned toward the voice and frowned. "Who wants to know?" A tall man stood against the building glaring down at him. He had a lip ring and a nasty twisted grin etched across his face. Connor knew this would probably be a fight or flight situation, and he was pretty tired. He didn't want to run, but he didn't want to scuffle either.

"I'm Theo, darling. Don't you remember me?" Theo smiled, wickedly, and shook his head. "You brought me that lovely black man, as a gift. Remember?"

Connor quirked a brow, but said nothing. It was obvious that the man was crazy.

Theo grunted. It was obvious that the boy was a little crazy. "We had that deal, dear boy. You give me something and I give you something?" Theo leaned toward Connor and scowled. "The problem is... I have my part set in motion, as of last night and you... Well, let's just say your 'daddy' turned a nice Indian giver on me." Theo's voice turned gravelly and he grabbed Connor's arm. "I don't like being smacked around and then stolen from." Theo pulled Connor up against him and whispered harshly. "It's slightly embarrassing."

Connor's eyes grew wide and he shook his head, in denial. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Theo smirked and loosened his hold on Connor's shirt. "You really have no idea?"

Connor shook his head. "I'm not even sure what day it is."

Theo nodded and let go of his hold on the boy. "I see. You ask me to help you kill somebody and now you don't want it to happen, so you pretend it didn't? That's playing with fire, little boy." Theo leaned in and sighed. "I'm sorry to say that you're about to be burned. The blonde is going to get it, either way."

Connor's face fell. "The blonde?"

Theo nodded. "He was 'asking for it', I believe were your own words."

Connor shook his head, once more, and grunted. "I don't know what is going on here, but I won't let it happen. You can't use me as the reason to kill somebody."

Theo rolled his eyes. "I don't need a reason, little pretty. I was bored and you gave me an offer I couldn't refuse." Theo took the initiative and stepped in closer to the boy. "You couldn't stop it from happening, if you tried. It's probably already over and done with."

Connor's scowl turned into a full-fledged sneer. "Truly? If that's the case, I no longer need you around." Connor took in the man's close proximity and took a step back, before backhanding him.

The man's head was knocked to the side and blood started to drip from his mouth. Theo murmured a curse before being knocked off of his feet, by a near deadly blow. Connor had jumped on top of the man, straddling his legs and successfully pinning him to the ground. After accomplishing that he immediately gave into his rage. Theo was left gasping, after he received punch after agonizing punch to his bladder, stomach, and bowel area.

Connor finally relented in his abuse and shakily stood up. 'Where did that come from?' He wondered idly. He wiped his hands on his pants and grimaced at his work. Theo was lying in a pool of his own vomit, knocked out by the pain. Connor thought about the last few minutes and took a good look at his surroundings.

There was nobody nearby, save for the young prostitute only a few blocks down. Said prostitute either hadn't heard the commotion or wasn't intrigued by it. She just stood against a light post lazily, waiting for a pick-up. Connor shook his head and sighed. He still didn't know what day it was. That being in mind, he ran in the direction that he thought was 'home'.
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"It's all going to come to a boil. No one will make it out alive."

Tim had been rocking back and forth on the couch, for over fifteen minutes, muttering about how the world was going to turn into chaos. It was starting to worry Angel a bit. "Tim, you need to take a breath. I'm not going to let anyone kill you."

Tim looked up and shook his head. "It's inevitable. You'll turn on me, like the rest. Michael will grip your mind the same as he does others."

Angel crossed his heart and smirked. "Not going to happen."

"Dad!" Connor burst in through the front doors and gasped. "There's a man who is out to kill Spike."

Angel threw a look over his shoulder and jumped up from his seat. "You are not welcome here." He snarled, as he lunged for his son.

Connor was lifted off of his feet and he kicked out, connecting with and easily cracking one of his father's ribs. "God damn it, Angel! Put me down. I've had a rough night!"

Angel lowered his son and sniffed him, before looking into his eyes and grinning like a fool. "Connor!" He pulled his son into a hug and winced. "I think you broke my rib."

Connor chuckled and hugged back. "Sorry."

Angel shook his head and sighed, happily. "It'll heal."

"It can't be him!" Tim screeched. "He's tricking you again! You must fight it Angel or we will all die!"

Connor looked past his father and sneered. "Who are you? You know what? I don't care. Pull yourself together or you can just get the hell out of here." Connor looked back at his dad. "Spike's in trouble. There is this guy named Theo after him. It's a bigger man, with some tattoos and an eyebrow ring."

Angel nodded and sniffed. "We ran into him already this week. We were looking for you, actually."

Connor chewed on his bottom lip and took a deep breath. "Where have I been?"

Angel didn't know how much to tell his son. "You were possessed by an older being. A very strong spirit..."

Tim was steaming over in the corner. "He's worse than that, you fools, and he's on the loose now, thanks to your majicks." Tim grabbed his forehead and howled in pain. "Damn it!"

Angel walked over to the young man and yelled for his childe. "Spike! Get Lorne!"

After a few moments, Spike and Lorne ran into the room. Spike was carrying a sword and Lorne had an empty martini glass, which was presumably full before he had started to run. Lorne looked around the room and then dived at the crouching boy's side. "What's wrong sweetie?"

Tim groaned and shook his head. "It's all death and loneliness."

Tim leaned into Lorne's chest and cried. At that moment, time seemed to stand still. No... Time did stand still. Lorne looked up and realized that everything had paused. Tim's tears were suspended on his cheeks, making the boy look like the statue of a broken angel. Spike was stuck in a crouching position next to him, Connor looked like a wrath filled demon child, and Angel... had a young man standing behind him with a stake pointed at his heart.

"We need to talk, demon." The young man twisted his stake and smirked, wistfully. "I suppose I don't need to threaten you. You aren't a fighter." The man looked at the boy huddled against Lorne's chest and sniffed. "I hope you decide to listen to me."

Lorne stroked Tim's hair, as he bit his bottom lip. Who was this man and how had he stopped time?

The young man shook his head and sighed. "I didn't stop time, demon. It's just moving very slowly, in this room. Time is still rolling past us, outside." The young man pushed his blonde hair behind his ears and nodded at Tim. "Just so you know, he is evil. He doesn't have the power to steal your soul, but he can manipulate your mind and your heart, if you let him in."

Lorne scrunched up his nose and shook his head. Tim wasn't evil. Was he? No. He was a very sweet boy with problems that they were trying to solve. He was a young man with a sister and a powerful gift. He...

"He already has you under his spell." The man sighed and grunted. "I'm the one you want to kill, so that Tim may return to his sister."

"You're Michael?" Lorne held the boy in his arms tighter and took a deep breath. "Why speak to me?"

Michael shrugged and pointed at Spike and then at Angel. "They have already made up their minds. This boy is reassuring thoughts and feelings that they have had for centuries. Of course, they want to believe he is a good boy. Then, there is Connor..." Michael closed his eyes and turned his head toward the ceiling. "I should let that young man kill me with his bare hands, but the truth is... It wasn't completely my fault. I never wanted to possess him. I had to possess him."

"You had to possess Connor? Why do you say that?"

"I felt him getting closer. Tim was coming to claim me and I had to get away. I had to find someone who was strong enough to withstand my assault. It was a stroke of luck that I found Connor in that alley, fighting a demon. I took control of him and went to discuss some things with Theo." Michael took a step toward Connor and looked the boy over. "He seems to be whole, except..." Michael shook his head. "I fear he was dreadfully abused, when I inhabited him." Michael sighed. "Tim's power over me grows the closer he is." Michael grinned. "At least, it did. What have you done and why didn't he fight it?"

Lorne looked down at the boy in his arms and thought it over. Tim had fought the severing of the link. He had said that it would bring an enraged spirit to their door. Instead it had brought a very quiet and reserved spirit to their door. Was it an act? Was Tim an act? Lorne's heart squeezed at that thought.

"Believe what you will, demon. I didn't come here to destroy your predetermined expectancies. I didn't come to ruin your views or make you paranoid of the ones that you think you love." Michael sniffed the air and shook his head. "I don't trust you to believe me and you don't trust me enough to believe me." Michael narrowed his eyes at the demon and shrugged before morphing into Angel. "I've acquired new tricks and new knowledge. Tricks that should make me content to live out a diverse and fulfilling life. Knowledge that should sign Tim's death certificate."

Lorne looked at the boy in his arms and looked at the man who wore the face of his leader. Michael was changing shape once more. He had turned into a very young girl with a kicked puppy dog expression.

"Tim promised to come back to me, but I know that he won't." The little girl shook her head and smiled, sadly. "That's okay, though." The little girl grinned wickedly at this point. "I've already gained control of the family I'm with and I should be satisfied... for now."

The 'for now' had sounded sinister enough to make Lorne shiver. "You are trying to manipulate me. Tim's little sister can't be like that."

"I should know." Michael morphed into the body of a young man, barely older than Connor. He had brown hair and green eyes. He wasn't dazzlingly handsome, but he wasn't plain, by any means. "I was inside of her long enough to find out the essence of her true being. She's no normal child. She's growing more powerful than her brother could imagine."

Lorne frowned and shook his head. "Could you stop changing forms? I'm starting to migraine."

Michael nodded. "This is the first form that Tim saw me in. He always knew, though... Just as I knew that he was different. We wanted to use each other to get what we thought we deserved. He wanted to feel true power and I wanted to feel true... passion about something."

"Who controls... controlled... who?" Lorne knew that whatever was being said was probably a lie, but what if it wasn't?

"There was no control. I was a piece of him and he a piece of me and then it... mutated. The bad in him found the indifference in me and they blended." Michael took a few steps toward where Lorne stooped, holding Tim, and stopped. "May I? I promise not to harm him. I haven't the strength or ability to harm him." Michael looked around. "I'm stretching myself too thin, as it is."

Lorne agreed that Michael could look at the boy a little closer. There wasn't really anything he could do to stop him, now was there?

Michael stooped and looked at the boy's face, before running his fingertips over Tim's brow. "Do me a favor, Lorne. Don't move. Be very very still and take it all in like a sponge."

Lorne felt his body still, but realized his mind was still alert. Was this how the others felt? No. He didn't know why he knew. He just did.

Michael leaned forward and whispered in the boy's ear. "Wake unto me, my beauty, and I will present you with life everlasting."

Tim's eyes fluttered, slowly, and he looked at the man who stood over him. "Holy fuck! You son of a bitch!"

Michael took a step back, as a fist almost connected with his face. "Why so hostile, lover? We haven't had the chance to talk man to man since the separation; since I maintained complete control of myself."

Tim jumped up from his place on the ground and looked around the room. "You paused time and space so that we could talk? What type of drama bitch thing was that to do? Why not just kill me?"

Michael smirked and smoothed down his pants. They were starting to bunch at the crotch, in an irritating fashion. "I have my reasons." Michael shook his leg and sighed when it straightened out. "You were more powerful than I had anticipated. I won't underestimate you again."

Tim sauntered up to Michael and grabbed a hold of his shirt, roughly. "Look here you bastardized version of a deity... The fact that you are here shows that you underestimate me fully."

Michael looked down at the hand that grasped him and shuddered. He was feeling the tug. 'Want me? I need you. Love me, please.' It was silent but nevertheless it was there. "Not again, Tim." Michael smirked. "Besides, I can use you anytime I wish." Michael morphed into the perfect likeness of Tim, in turn throwing the other young man off kilter and causing him to lose his grip. "Didn't expect that did you? Didn't even dawn on you to ask how I had managed to get that other form back?"

Tim shook his head. "You can... you can change forms?" Tim stumbled backward and tripped over Lorne's still form. "You had better leave, you lousy son of a whore. Next time I see you, I won't quit. I will own you, once more. Remember, my love, it is written in the stars."

Michael chuckled and shook his head. "Kelsey will die first."

Tim's eyes grew wide and he shook his head. "No. She can't die!"

Michael shrugged. "You both will." Michael turned to walk out the door and stooped to snatch up the stake that he had discarded moments before. He turned and threw it into the shoulder of the blonde young man and smiled as he shrieked. "Maybe I have the strength and ability, after all. You are their problem from here on out, Timmy." Michael watched the boy grip the stake and howl, in pain. "Wake up demons and heroes. Your quest is more clear, but also a lot more bumpy. Enjoy." With that Michael turned and stalked out of the door.

Lorne blinked twice and fell out of his painfully still pose. He looked around and realized the others were coming to, as well. Tim lay at his side moaning and crying, while gripping his shoulder and Michael... was presumably on his way to kill a small child.

TBC

-Sorry for the long long long long long long wait. I can and can't explain why it took so long. I have about 50 different reasons and 40 different excuses, and none of them can tell how sorry I am to leave this story hanging for so long. I've been moving houses, moving into a new job position, I lost my right to drive my car, I've been trying to convince my kinda' boyfriend that it's okay for us to care about each other like we do, and I've been writing a slash story on the side. Yep, I have... I love this story, as effed up as it is. It (the chapter) is confusing I know, but... sigh It makes sense to me and it should make sense to you, soon. I know this chapter left you saying... "who's the effin' bad guy, anyway?" Hmm... Dunno. Hehe.-

--The subtitle for this chapter is the song 'Michael' by Franz Ferdinand. It was too perfect... I bet the guy read my fanfiction and said 'Hell yeah!' before writing his song. sings This is what I am. I am a man. So, come and dance with me Michael... hums--