Chapter 1
Hi folks. It's been a long while and I'm going to see if I still remember how to do this. In honor of possibly losing our show this year, I will bide our time in this long break of new eps to write my own version of what I'd like to see happen. Hope you all enjoy and please leave lots of feedback!
I don't own anything, all credit goes to Joss for the inspiration and no one has anything to gain by suing me or threatening to do likewise. We pick up where the last ep left off….sort of.
Opening:
Interior Angel's office
Angel sits behind his desk looking at Wesley standing before him while Spike stands to the side by the window.
Wesley: I will not explain this yet again.
Angel: You will explain as many times as it takes for me to not question your sanity Wesley.
Wesley: I assure you, my sanity is not at issue.
Angel: Really? (Looks to Spike) No wisdom from you?
Spike: This is your gig. That's why you get the big desk with all the shinies mounted about.
Angel scowls and throws his pen down, standing up. He hears something and looks to the door to see Illyria looking absently at the three men. Blue streaks of electricity of some sort streak from her hands. Spike takes a step back readying for her attack.
Angel: What were you saying again Wes?
Wes: (Still watching Illyria) It's not what you think.
Illyria: (Fred's voice) I walk with heroes.
Spike: (Speaks quietly…stunned) Bloody hell.
Angel: What the…?
Wesley: (to Illyria) I thought I warned you.
Illyria: You fight over me?
Angel: Not over you. Because of you.
Illyria: (awkward) Anger.
Angel: (stern) You don't belong here.
Wesley: That is where you're mistaken.
Spike: You really like pushing him. (smirks) Good for you!
Angel: (Snaps at Spike) Did you forget who's gig this is?
Spike shrugs and plops down on the couch. Illyria looks at him strangely.
Spike: What?
Angel: She's playing you Wesley.
Wesley: For what? What do I have to offer her?
Angel throws his hands up and looks around.
Angel: Hello? Evil empire? Vast resources, friends in high and low places? Any of this getting through?
Illyria: My world is gone.
Spike: No better time to plot taking over a new one.
Wesley: Her power source is destroyed.
Angel: And you want to invite her into a new one?
Wesley: I will not abandon her.
Angel: Why? Because she can sound like Fred? That's only because she stole a piece of her when she killed her!
Wesley: (Yelling back) I know what she did!
Spike: And you think Fred would like you pushing up on her shell?
Wesley: And what are you Spike? You're a soul trapped in a shell! You're not alive! Why do we let you stay?
Angel: He has a soul! You said it! What does she have?
Spike: (feigning emotion) You like me. He really likes me!
Angel/Wesley: Shut up!
Intercom beeps
Harm: Boss?
Angel: What?
Harm: There's someone here to see you.
Angel: Did they have an appointment?
Harm: I'm thinking not.
Angel: Then tell them to make one!
The intercom cuts off and Angel turns back to Wes.
Angel: She doesn't leave the building.
Wesley: Of course.
Angel: She doesn't leave your sight.
Wes: Done.
Angel: (To Illyria) I don't trust you.
Illyria: Wise man.
Angel: Do yourself a favor and don't forget it.
Wesley leads Illyria out of the office just as Harmony comes in causing her to stumble.
Spike: Never been much with the stealth have we Harm?
Harmony: Whatever Spike. Angel, are we friends with Demon Fred now?
Angel: It's not Fred.
Harm: Again, whatever. I just don't think you should be so willing to ostracize poor Gunn when all he did was sign some stupid paper but now we're welcoming the actual baddie from the sarcophahicky thing that killed Fred while Gunn is nursing stab wounds all alone. How is it going to make him feel when he finds out?
Spike: She might have a point there.
Angel: Let me worry about Gunn.
Spike: You can have all the worry you want. Oh wait, you already do.
Angel: (To Harm) Is that all?
Harm: I scheduled Xander in for 3.
Angel/Spike: What?
Harm: Your visitor? Xander? I buzzed you.
Angel: Xander was here?
Harm: What part didn't you understand?
Angel: Maybe the part where you didn't tell me Xander was here?
Spike: Did you tell him I was here?
Harm: I buzzed in Boss. You said make an appointment. I don't argue when you have that tone.
Angel: I didn't have a tone.
He walks around his desk to rush out into the hallway and looks around.
Spike: (standing up) Harm, did you tell him I was here?
Harm: No Spike, I work for Angel. Tell him yourself!
She pushes past Angel and goes back to her desk.
Angel: Did you get a number? Did he say why he was here?
Harm: No and no! OK? You know I work really hard here and all I get is grief!
Angel: (forced niceness) Harmony, I'm sorry. I just thought you would realize when you saw Xander, that it wasn't a usual occurrence and might warrant extra attention.
Harm: All we have in this place is unusual occurrences. Excuse me for not knowing this one was a special unusual occurrence. Ok? I mean, he comes in here all patch eyed and really not looking of the kempt. Did you know Xander got his eye poked out by some priest?
Spike: (joining them) Actually he wasn't technically a priest.
Angel looks at his watch and storms back into his office slamming the door leaving Spike and Harm looking at one another.
Cut to Wesley's office
Illyria: This is what you do?
Wesley: Among other things, yes. I head the research division here.
Illyria: But you were so hands on before. You carry weapons.
Wesley: Yes, I've found they work best for me. I don't have immortal powers on my side, so I make due.
Illyria: I do not wish to be still. I need a purpose.
Wesley: (looks up from his desk) I understand that. But until the others get used to the idea, I'm afraid you will have to remain rather immobilized. Have you thought of doing something about your look?
Illyria: (frowns) Look?
Wesley: Yes. You are rather conspicuous in that get up.
Illyria: You want me to look like her.
Wesley: That's not what I said.
They're interrupted by a man running into the room on the verge of panic.
Man: We have a problem in the lab!
Wesley: What is it?
Man: Well, there's no run running it. I mean, the workers show up and there's no Fred and no Knox and they are unsupervised and apparently each of them feels like they should be in charge. It's anarchy!
Wesley: Have you called security?
Man: They won't go in there! Do you know how many viruses and outbreaks and mutations of viruses and outbreaks could be thrown at them? Not to mention some of the projects that Knox had going in there. Plus that big coffin thing is still there and people are afraid to get too close. I mean, poor Fred was destroyed just by touching it!
Illyria moves closer and the man sees her and does a double take.
Man: What is she…?
Wesley: Don't worry about her. Just tell security to meet me down there. Go!
The man rushes out and Wesley looks to Illyria.
Wes: Are you ready for something to do?
She smiles and follows him out of the office.
Cut to Interior
Hospital Bed
Gunn lays with eyes closed and Lorne sits next to the bed.
Lorne: Not everyone blames you Friend.
Gunn still lays with eyes closed.
Lorne: I think I know how it feels. Wanting to help, wanting to prove your worth, but never quite finding the way. Then they handed it to you on a silver platter. You were so proud. Just like you were when Angel first met you. And when Angel turned his back on you and the others. You had that pride. It kept Wes and Cordy going. I saw it. I don't even think you did.
Lorne looks around and leans closer.
Lorne: Everyone plays a part Gunn. It may not be the lead, but if it weren't for your part, they would never have come as far as they did. So don't give up on them. And don't give up on yourself. Pride can be a dangerous thing. Believe me, I know.
Gunn: (eyes still closed) Thanks Man.
Lorne startles and bit as he watches Gunn open his eyes.
Lorne: There you are. So you heard all that?
Gunn: I heard enough.
Lorne: How are you feeling?
Gunn: Like one of my best friends stabbed me.
Lorne: Yeah.
Gunn: The funny thing is, the wound isn't really what hurts.
Lorne: I know.
Gunn: How long have you been here?
Lorne: I came down once the bru-ha-ha with the lady in blue came to a halt.
Gunn: Illyria?
Lorne: (nodding) She lost.
Gunn: Did you ever doubt it?
Lorne: (smiles) Me? Never. I heard you've been stripped?
Gunn raises an eyebrow.
Lorne: Not in the physical sense. I just meant, I heard Angel had you release all your authority.
Gunn: Yeah that. My last official duty as a head of Wolfram and Hart was doing the same thing that made me lose it.
Lorne: Our old friend Irony.
Gunn: Yeah, I'd really like to kick it's ass.
Lorne: Well there you go. Now if you could just do me one teensy tinsy, I'll be out of your hair.
Gunn: What's that?
Lorne: (sitting up in his chair) Serenade me.
Gunn looks at him peeved.
Cut to Lobby
Spike: I can handle this one bymyself.
Angel: Fine, but would you at least let the team follow behind?
Spike: I don't need a bunch of men in black rising my leather coattails. It's a recon. They said it was just a small nest picking on the sweeties on the strip. I think I can handle it.
Angel: Except you can't actually go on the strip.
Spike: (looking outside at the daylight) And neither can they. So I'll check in when I get back. Unless I decide to let one of the honeys thank me in her own special way.
The elevator beeps and the doors open behind Spike. He turns around and stares blankly.
Xander: Spike!
Angel: (from behind Spike) Xander.
Spike looks from one to the other and turns back to Xander.
Spike: So what's new with you?