Note: OK, people. I'm going out on a limb in this chapter major big time. First, I'm trying to figure out why Wes's magical abilities didn't work against Vail (I know, I know, heartache, yada, yada, yada. I'm changing it, OK.). And I'm using an interesting POV for the fight scene between Angel and Wes. So read and enjoy!!
Chapter Twenty – Get Put Back Together
"OK, Lindsey, spill. What do you have?" Cordelia asked him.
She, Doyle and Lindsey were sitting in the cottage, trying to formulate a plan to keep their realm safe, along with humankind.
"The Powers That Be noticed a large sway in the balance of power."
"Yeah, the battle. Go on."
"A lot of the other dimensions, hell dimensions, started rumbling, making noises. We've already had two of them merge with catastrophic consequences. It's like taking out all of those demons messed something up."
"Hey, the PTBs are the ones that gave me that vision in the first place."
Doyle took her hand in his, trying to calm her. "I don't think they caused this, love."
"No. They didn't. It seems that a few of the strongest that Angel was supposed to take down escaped the PTBs wrath somehow. I think they're the ones behind this. They slipped out of Angel's dimension and stirred up trouble other places."
"You've lost me, Lindsey. I don't understand. Angel succeeded, didn't he?"
Lindsey sighed. "Sort of. He got rid of most of them, yes. But he failed to close the portal that helped those demons come to his dimension in the first place. So they've been jumping from place to place, leaving destruction in their wake."
"Dammit, there was a portal. Why is there always a portal?"
"How do you think that many bad guys got into the alley in the first place?" Lindsey told her.
It still didn't make much sense to Cordelia. She had given Angel that vision, so he could take care of the badness in the world once and for all.
"I'm going out on a limb here, but I think one of them changed how it was supposed to go down."
Cordelia frowned at the man. She knew what she saw in the vision. She knew what Angel had gleaned from the vision. Those visions were usually tamper-proof.
"Did you see in your vision how Wesley died?" Lindsey asked.
"No, not exactly. I just figured stuff out shortly before the battle. I somehow knew he was gonna die. Why?" Oh, she didn't know if she wanted to hear the next part at all.
"Because he was supposed to close the portal, I think. He was supposed to die in the alley that night closing the portal for good."
"Oh, God," Cordelia swallowed.
Now why did that seem like the biggest stretch in the world? How in the fuck did Lindsey think this? What did he know that she didn't?
"What did you tell Wesley right before you came back here, after your one day? Do you remember?"
"Um, I remember telling Wes that he had good mojo? I don't see what that has to do with anything."
Lindsey smiled her way. "Because he did have much better use of those magicks than he used that night. Why do you think Wolfram and Hart wanted him on their side? It just wasn't for his good looks, I can assure you."
Cordelia snorted. "Don't ask Lilah about that. So something changed about that night. What?"
"No one saw him die?"
"I don't know. I wasn't there. We couldn't be there. I was watching the alley scene with Doyle. I wasn't his guardian angel."
"And he never made it to the alley," Doyle added. "That blue chick just said that he was gone."
"So, she saw it all. Or most of it, anyway," Lindsey concluded.
Cordelia's eyes brightened up, thinking the whole night through. "Angel sent him to Vail's. You know, that mage, sorcerer guy."
"He was powerful," Lindsey agreed. "I didn't think he was powerful enough to defeat Wesley."
"Didn't have to. A great, big knife defeated Wesley," Cordelia added, knowing that part from Wesley himself.
"I just wish he was here. Then we could figure out this problem much quicker," Doyle said, getting nods from the other two.
Lindsey tapped his fingers on the table, thinking through the situation. "I just don't understand why he didn't come back when I shut everything down."
"You know Wes. Probably messed up being a guardian angel. Faith probably knows everything, we'll get punished, and have to do who knows what to fix it."
"He's Faith's guardian angel? Why'd he do that? Didn't Faith torture him?" Lindsey asked Cordelia.
"They bonded, or something," Cordelia said, throwing up her hands like she didn't understand either.
"Sort a like you and Angel, Cordy," Doyle put in, earning him a scowl from her.
"Not the point, Doyle," Cordelia pointed out to him by cuffing him lightly on the shoulder. "So how do we get him back up here?"
"Not sure we can. If he was one of us, he should have just reappeared. He didn't. Which means something didn't let him."
Cordelia's head was swimming. Who said that angels didn't get roaring headaches? She knew of only one solution. "You need to open the system back up."
"No, no, no. I can't Cordelia. The PTBs were very specific that I shut it all down. No one comes in, no one goes out. No viewing, no helping, no nothing."
"Then how do we find Wes, genius? Huh?"
"I don't know."
"No other way, is there ole' Lins," Doyle patted the guy on the back hard.
"If this goes all wrong, then you two will be to blame."
"I think we'll be toast, as in no more if we're wrong," Cordelia wanted the former lawyer to know. "OK, one more thing? Why you?"
"I said I made a deal. Let's leave it at that."
Lindsey got up to walk away from the two at the table.
"Uh, uh. Not doing anything until you tell us your deal."
"Well, you see. It all started off with this girl."
"What is it with you and some skanky girl, Lindsey?"
Spike came back to the lobby after he had calmed Illyria down and told her to rest. He had never seen the blue god rest before, but she had quickly fallen asleep after he tucked her in. She was on her way to being human, he could smell it. Just like the wanker watcher downstairs was not so human anymore. Kind of like the way Buffy was when she came back all wrong. But she had somehow regained her sense of balance, her sense of humanity. Sure, she still smelled the way she had when she came back, but she had finally settled into the new persona. At first, she had broken down from the fact that she had been at peace up there in the heavens somewhere, done with the fight on this plane of existence. Someone dragging her back, her friends dragging her back, had made her into something a little different. Maybe the same thing was happening to the jerk downstairs?
He could hear Faith and Percy in the inner office, talking about research or something. They obviously had some ideas what to look for. He should just tell the guy that he was lucky to be back and to thank whatever gods he prayed to that it happened. Spike could sympathize with him. He was brought back for some kind of purpose, and now here he was, fighting alongside Peaches and what was left of his crew. Destroying evil and all that nonsense. And it had felt good, taking out all those demons in that alley.
Spike stopped and turned when he saw the doors opening to the outside. Oh great, the bloody poofster was back. There's gonna be a fight. But maybe he could head the big cheese off at the pass and avoid some bloodshed. Spike felt another big battle coming, and they needed all the able-bodied bodies they could get. Even if Wes was kind of useless in a fight. Maybe he could throw one of those fireballs the demons' way and make them go poof.
"Anything?" Angel asked as he strode down the stairs.
Spike just snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. "Been out prancing around, have we?"
"Spike, I don't have time for this."
"As always. I solved your problem, mate."
"Chop its head off?"
"Hardly. I'm not the chop first kind of guy. I have me a brain in my head and I use it a lot more often than you do."
"Spike, finish."
Angel sat down hard on the round sofa, a dejected look on his face. His head whipped around in just a few moments.
"Where is he?"
Spike touched his nose. "Never could fool you, Angelus. And you need to take that glower down a notch. What makes you think he's a zombie? Doesn't look like any zombie I've ever met."
Angel got up and paced around, like he was hunting mode. "Because, he's not right."
"Bloody hell he's not right. Do you think Buffy was right when she came back?" Spike pounded back.
Angel turned his head sideways, deepening his scowl at Spike. This is not what Spike had intended. He just wanted to get through to the guy. Not get him angry enough to start a fight. Oh, well. Wishful thinking on his part.
"Where is he?" Angel growled.
"Right here," Wesley called from the office.
Spike sighed. So Percy couldn't keep quiet until he convinced Angel that it was true. Stupid jerk. Until Spike saw the sword that Wesley was holding. Well, not so stupid as to not come armed, that is. And Faith was standing right behind him. If he didn't know right, he would think that Faith had a thing for her watcher. Of course, Faith had a thing for any guy who could prove himself in a fight, him included. He was so glad he never took her up on her offer. One slayer was enough. Not that he wasn't tempted.
Wesley raised his sword in front of him in a posture of defense.
"You know, if it's all the same to you, I just healed from the last battle against lots of demons. And I don't relish becoming a big pile of dust. You should heed my advice, Angel and back off from him. He's not dangerous," Spike tried again.
"He died. Stay out of it, Spike."
Well, Spike tried. "Hey, you're dead, I'm dead. The only person that hasn't died is little Ms. Slayer girl there. Did you die?" he asked her.
"No. Coma, but no death," she answered, trying to draw the conversation over to a better topic other than fighting.
Faith stepped in front of Wesley, slowly approaching Angel.
"Faith, I can fight my own battles, thank you very much," Wesley told her.
"Will you stop? God, if I had my strength I'd kick your ass," she told Wes as she whirled to look back at him. Turning back around, she pointed at Angel. "And yours too Angel."
Wesley smirked a little at her comment. Spike just sat down on the steps to enjoy the fight. He just didn't feel like untangling the two at the moment. He didn't want them killing each other; he just didn't feel like getting knocked upside the head. He knew that there were issues between the two. Had felt it over the last year since he rematerialized. So maybe a little tussle would get it out in the open and fix the damn problem.
"Angel, I know you don't believe what's in front of your eyes," Faith started. "But it's true. He's alive. Heart beating, blood flowing, annoying as ever."
"Thanks, Faith, for your support," Wesley sarcastically threw her way.
"He died. I felt it. Just like when Cordy died. You are not going to convince me that thing is Wes, Faith."
Well, that settled it, Spike thought. He had a front row seat for the fight. He hoped that the watcher had learned a few moves over the years. Angel could fight dirty when he wanted to.
Faith came up to Angel, staring him up at him, trying to use just her eyes to get him to believe her. "You'll have to go through me to get to him then."
"No, Faith," Wesley yelled.
Oh, so the watcher still protected his charge. Interesting development, Spike mused. The guy must like pain.
"Get out of the way," Angel growled at her.
Faith drew back her hand and slapped him hard. Spike even winced when hearing the contact. The whole room went deadly silent. Spike could see Wes wanted to run to Faith, to take her out of harm's way. He couldn't see Angel's reaction, but he knew that Angel was probably a bit shocked at the gesture. Not that it would hurt him at all.
Angel physically picked the small woman up and moved her out of the way. Oh, once she got her slayer powers back, Angel was going down. Faith returned the gesture by kicking him in the ass. And the stupid wanker Wes moved forward to protect Faith. Spike just hoped that the fight wasn't over too soon. Wouldn't it be funny if Angel actually got his ass kicked, literally?
"Hey, she kicked your ass," Spike pointed out, hoping to distract Angel just a bit.
It didn't work. Angel dove for Wesley, taking him off balance.
"Angel, no. He'll hurt you."
Wes hurting Angel? Was she daft or something?
The sword went flying off into a corner, but not before Wes connected with Angel's jaw, sending him flying across the room, crashing at Spike's feet.
"Oh, damn. Told you he came back different. Believe me now?" Spike asked the downed vampire.
"Little help here?"
Spike held his hands up and shook his head no.
"Angel, I don't want to fight you. Back off," Wesley stated.
Angel tackled Wesley, bringing him down to the floor with a thud.
"Dammit, Spike. Do something," Faith yelled.
"Leave it, pet."
Faith shook her head no, trying to come between the two fighting on the floor. What Spike didn't expect to see was the watcher physically picked up Angel by the throat and threw him across the room. Humans weren't that strong. Only slayers and other assorted demons had that kind of strength. Then he saw the look in Wes's eyes. They were coal black. Angel scrambled up again, throwing a fist towards Wesley's head. He quickly blocked it, but not before Angel's other fist hit him in the stomach. Wes groaned in pain, but that didn't stop his leg from colliding with Angel's groin. Spike even winced in pain.
"That's kinda dirty there, mate." Not like he hadn't used that trick many times before.
"Crap," Faith screamed.
Wesley backhanded Angel, sending him to the ground. Angel's foot shot out and took Wes down with him. But Wes was faster to his feet. Much faster than Spike could have imagined. He was so glad he hadn't entered the fight. His head was hurting just watching it.
Blood spurted from Angel's mouth as Wes connected with a mean right cross. Angel countered by punching the guy in the chin, snapping Wes's head back. Wesley just smiled through the pain and blood. Before Spike could blink, Wes took Angel down again with a fairly decent roundhouse kick to the face.
"Don't you kick him, Wes. You'll knock him out again," Faith yelled to her watcher.
"You go, mate. This is fun watching Angel get his ass kicked without my head being in the way." Faith punched him in the arm. "Ow, what did I do?"
"Nothing, you fucking jerk."
"Just make sure there's no sharp, wooden objects around and let them work out their differences."
Spike watched Faith tear up. God, he had never seen her so emotional before. "We have to stop them before one of them ends up dead or dusted."
"You are such a girl, Faith."
"Last time I looked, Spike."
Spike rolled his eyes and got up from the stairs. "Should have popped some popcorn or something." He walked over to Wesley, who had just kicked Angel in the gut. Spike tapped him on the shoulder, trying to get his attention.
"Hey, lady wants you to stop," he started to tell Wes, which Wes promptly answered with a fist, snapping Spike's head back.
Spike landed flat on his ass. Faith finally risked it and went over to Wesley, pulling on his arm to get his attention. But the wanker didn't swing out at the slayer. He just stopped and turned.
"Stop," she implored him to do.
Spike watched him look at her, placing his hand around her neck. Spike's eyes went wide, thinking that the guy was going to snap her neck. But he just held her, touching his fingers to her frantically beating pulse in her throat. Then he closed his eyes and collapsed in a heap.
"OK, that went well," Spike said to no one in particular.
Angel groaned from that place on the ground he had ended up on. He didn't look too worse for the wear. If Faith hadn't intervened, there would have been a lot more of Angel's blood on the floor, Spike concluded. Spike felt around his face, feeling a little blood too.
Instead of Faith cooing over Saint Angel, she crouched down to Wesley, actually putting the guy's head on her lap.
"I am not getting in the middle of them anymore, Faith," Spike wanted the slayer to know.
"Check on fuckhead over there. God, when will anyone ever listen to me?"
Spike looked down at Angel, whose eyes were closed. "He'll live."
"No I won't Spike. If I had a stake right now, you'd be that big pile of dust," Angel finished, still not opening his eyes.
"If you would have listened."
"Go away, Spike," Angel told the younger vampire.
"Sorry. Can't mate. The lady over there isn't very happy with you at the moment. She just might stake you herself."
Angel looked over at the slayer and watcher, puzzled beyond belief. Wesley awoke with a jerk, looking up at Faith, eyes now blue.
"I didn't hit you, did I?" he asked her with a soft voice.
"Nah. Hopefully you knocked some sense into that damn vampire over there on the floor."
Faith scowled at Angel, challenging him to say a word. Angel of course, didn't listen.
"How Wes? Just tell me how?"
"If I knew that, do you think I would be lying here on the ground with a headache the size of England?"
"Still a smartass, aren't you Wes," Faith added. "OK, up you go."
Faith helped Wes up off the floor while Angel picked himself up.
"Angel, I don't want to fight you anymore. Vail's behind all of this. We just need to find a solution."
"Vail?" Angel's ears perked up.
Wesley shook his head yes.
"Hey, just tell me if round two is ready to start and I'll put the popcorn in the microwave."
"Spike," all three admonished him.
"Now do you believe me, Peaches?"
"Spike, I don't know what to believe anymore. Was Buffy like this when she came back too?"
"Nah. She just wanted to shag all the time," Spike answered, knowing he would elicit some kind of negative response.
And the comment did, in the form of a fist in his face.
TBC
Next: OK, now where do I go from here? Blah!! Cordy, Doyle and Lindsey reopen their realm (what a bad idea). Some more Spike/Illyria time (cause I'm really liking this pairing, and I didn't even know I was doing them at first), and I still need some Faith/Wes time too cause they are just too funny to ignore. And no, I'm not ignoring the Watchers' Council. They'll come in later. And I need some big bad villain time. Whoa, too much for one chapter. We'll see.
Author notes: I fell off that limb in this chapter. Stretching the truth a little thin, I know. But I know the ending exactly. Matter of fact, I should probably just write it now so I won't forget. I just have to get there. And it is very twisty and turny. You'll probably squeal when you read it. You guys have been so kind in your reviews. That's what has made me push myself to try different theories, etc. to make this fic a little different.
Thanks go out to: Maudie (yay, new reviewer), pari106, Imzadi, clcountry, Andraste2 (another new reviewer), Uberwicca, and everyone else!! Woohoo. This is so much fun.
Answers to questions: Maudie –thanks for the review!
Pari106—no resolution yet; he won't hate her at the end, that's all I'm sayin'
Imzadi—yes, Angel got his ass kicked, and no Illyria fight planned; more Lindsey
Clcountry—smart Spike, he sees things no one else sees sometimes
Andraste2—Hey, not sexual? Were we watching the same season four episodes. Nothing happened between them, but whoa they both sizzled together just by looking at each other. Or was I seeing things?
Uberwicca—hey, you peaked into my mind? I'm not telling. No fair.