Chapter Twenty-three – Find a Way to Carry On
Angel stared out into the darkness, wondering what in hell he would do next. Something big was brewing, again. It had only been a month since he brought the Circle of the Black Thorn down. The Senior Partners had not retaliated just yet. He was waiting for them to show up with a thousand Hamiltons, him ready to pummel some more bad guys. Every sound, every action made him jumpy.
What he didn't understand was why Wesley was back. Should he have believed Illyria when she said that he had died? He so obviously had not died. But Angel's senses never lied to him. Spike was right for once; the man had come back different. And with him coming back, all of those bad memories had resurfaced. He and Wes would never see eye to eye again. Angel realized now that too much had passed between the two to ever be close like they were in the beginning.
He had set out to give Connor a new life. It had been the downfall of the century. He should have figured out how to handle Connor, instead of changing the situation entirely. So many mistakes had been made in Connor's so short life. Getting through to the sullen teenager would have been more difficult. Changing Connor's whole destiny had been at the snap of his own fingers.
He had made such a mess of things. In the past, Cordelia would have been there to either pick up the pieces or not allow him to race down that path in the first place. No one ever realized what she did for the team as a whole. She focused everyone on the task at hand. Being Vision Girl had a lot to do with it. She never let anyone get away with anything, until she had let him get away with ignoring the signs of danger surrounding Connor, letting Wes take his son away, if only to protect him. If he had been successful, Connor would probably be a happy toddler.
He had been as much to blame as everyone else. Wes had been sullen, withdrawn. No one would talk to him, including Angel. Fred and Gunn were in their own little world, as was Angel with Connor, Cordy with Groo. Wesley was on the outside looking in, as he seemed to be much of his life. Not only had Wes been quiet, he'd also had been haggard, letting life pull him down. And Angel had ignored it all for his son. Wes's appearance in and of itself should have warned both Cordelia and he that something was up. But neither one of them could be bothered. Wesley's almost insane laughter right before Angel's room had burned should have been the biggest clue. The warning signs that the prophecy was coming true had come to pass. The warning signs that had been placed there specifically for Wes to believe what he had translated. Only Angel hadn't known any of it at the time.
So they had all made mistakes. Each and every one of them. Even Fred. As Angel rested his head against the cool glass of the window, he realized, finally realized that it was all gone. He had wanted his old life back, the one before prophecies and law firms had entered the picture. Now all he had were memories.
"Hey, you," a soft voice said behind him.
He wasn't sleeping this time. That voice only spoke to him in his dreams. Were hallucinations now a part of the package? Hell, Wes had come back to life. Could Cordelia too, a second time?
"You know, this is just getting old," Angel angrily answered back, sighing dramatically.
"I know this is unbelievable."
"Yeah. Unbelievable. Just about as unfuckingbelievable as one of my best friends coming back to life, or another vampire with a soul. Oh wait, I forgot about an old one walking the world again after thousands of years of being dormant."
"I know you're angry," Cordelia started.
"No, not angry. Just ready to give it all up."
"Don't you dare," Cordelia growled at him, turning him around.
She touched him. He was awake and she touched him. Maybe he was finally dead, not just undead and this was hell. Maybe Wes had been successful in the fight.
"What do you want, Cordelia?"
Cordy flinched a little when she saw that look in his eyes. "I need your help."
"I'm sorry. I don't help the helpless anymore. I closed up shop after I killed all of my employees."
"Angel, this is not about you. I really need your help. And I'm breaking every rule in the book right now. Could you please listen?"
Angel pulled her hand away. "Listening? Something I'm not good at, remember?"
"We have to help them. We have to fix it."
None of what this Cordelia was saying made sense to him. "I'm done fixing everyone's lives. I've screwed up so many others."
Cordelia sighed her displeasure, closing her eyes for a moment. When they had first met, she would have gone on some kind of tirade, even actually hitting him on the arm. Now she just waited him out. Had Cordy actually developed patience over the past few years?
"Just listen. Don't talk. Listen. I need for you to go to Vail's. Take Spike and Illyria with you. You don't have much time. Faith and Wes are in danger."
He had just seen the two storming out of the hotel not a few hours before. Letting them both get that anger at him out and over with had been the best thing, or so he thought.
"What happened?"
"Vail. He took Faith. You need to get over there now."
"Cordy, Illyria killed Vail. It can't be him."
She hit him on the shoulder. Nothing ever changed. "It's him, Angel. She did kill his corporeal body. But do you think for one second that he really died that day."
This was not what he wanted to be hearing. The Circle of the Black Thorn was supposed to be annihilated. They weren't supposed to come back to haunt him.
"I can't explain it all right now. You just need to go and save them."
Everyone wanted him to save the day, save the world. Could he put more people in more danger?
"I'll go. Leave Spike and Illyria here."
"No, you can't Angel. You're gonna need their help. Illyria's especially. Please?"
Cordelia said please to him. She must be deadly serious. "Where are they, exactly?"
"In Vail's basement. And also, Angel, Wes isn't right. Vail's done something to him. Just be careful, but don't hurt him."
Not like Angel didn't try before. Wesley had beaten him for once, just like Spike had before.
"His eyes were black, Cordy. He didn't come back right."
"He's not supposed to be back, Angel. But he is. And he'll help. Just give him that chance."
So his now dead seer was telling him where to find the helpless and his researcher who was supposed to be dead was in danger.
"You coming?" he asked as he picked up his duster.
"I can't. I'm needed up there. Another battle coming."
Angel shook his head in acknowledgment. Yes, another battle was coming. They just kept coming. When would they ever end?
"OK, here's what we do," Lindsey started.
"Listen, let's just wait for Cordy to come back before we go all a plannin' things," Doyle wanted him to know.
Doyle had gathered all of the members as he could together just in case they had to actually fight off whatever was coming. The air crackled with energy as the group stood next to the cottage. They had to open the realm back up to let Cordy go down and warn Angel. And also to help find Wesley. She hadn't reappeared yet, which meant the whole place was open for the taking. It made Doyle more than nervous to admit he was scared shitless.
Lindsey started handing out weapons of all sizes to the occupants. What happened if they were hurt or killed in this realm? Did that mean they would go to hell or actually heaven this time? Lindsey handed him a sword, which Doyle flipped over and over, trying to think of a better way out of this mess.
"The portal opens right in that field over there. That'll be where they attack."
Doyle was not a fighter. Yeah, he could throw a punch or two. He had thrown a punch or two when working with Angel. It just wasn't his style. The weapon in his hands at the moment was definitely not his style.
"You know, if all of us here are already dead, what can they do?"
"Enslave us for eternity in hell, is what."
Oh, well, now that explained all the preparations Lindsey was making. Doyle really didn't like the prospect of spending eternity in hell. He wished in his mind for Cordy to pop back.
"What makes you think we can stop them?"
"They're just demons. It's not like they're gonna be different from anything else we've fought."
"Speak for yourself. Remember, half demon here." As was some of the others in the group gathered.
"Need some help, guys?" a voice sounded off behind the group.
"Oh, crap," Doyle said out loud. His day kept getting suckier and suckier.
"Not from you. Go back to hell," Lindsey said calmly.
"Listen. We don't want the realms collapsing just as much as you don't. I happen to like the fact that none of you do-gooders are around to fuck everything up."
Lindsey growled at the woman. For the life of him, Doyle couldn't remember the lady's name. He had seen her a time before. Had known that Angel and Cordy hated her guts. He also knew that she had worked with Lindsey before his epiphany.
"Lilah, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you. Just leave," Lindsey announced.
"Vail's stepped over the line this time. No one wants him to be ruler over everything. You think for one second . . . ."
"Oh, stuff it, Lilah," Lindsey told her as he kept handing weapons out.
Lilah crossed her arms over her chest, looking so much like a scorned woman it was unbelievable. Her small crew behind her scowled at the larger group that Doyle had gathered.
"Listen, if she can help us," Doyle started.
"You better watch your back around her," Lindsey told him.
Backstabbing woman then? Must have been one of the reasons she was where she was. But there was something else in her eyes.
"For God's sake, Lindsey. I won't stab anyone in the back, at least until the battle is over with."
Lilah smiled like she had just gotten the prize at the county fair. She knew she had Lindsey. Lindsey knew he needed all of the help he could get.
"He won't take you back. You know that, don't you?" Lindsey informed Lilah.
Now this was getting interesting, Doyle thought. Was there another person who wanted redemption in the bunch?
"Who said it was about him, anyway. I want to protect what is mine."
"He's not yours. Will never be yours. Over my already dead body, Lilah," Cordelia announced as she came back.
"Cordelia? How is life treating you lately? Oops, sorry. You died, now didn't you?"
"Look what the cat dragged in? Looking a little tired around the eyes, and that fashion sense of yours has taken a nosedive."
Doyle literally crossed his eyes at the two battling divas in front of him. Lindsey just scowled and clanged two swords together to get their attention.
"You two done with your bitching, because this isn't getting us anywhere fast," Lindsey ground out to the two women.
"Who invited her, Lindsey? Because this is just so wrong on so many levels," Cordelia asked him as she took one of the swords out of his hands.
"She doesn't exactly need an invitation. She's not a vampire or anything. She'll help us though. Won't you, Lilah?"
"Yep, that's me. Helpful Lilah. Ready to help the helpless."
Cordelia growled at the woman under her breath. "She comes near me, that head is coming off, again."
The newly formed group really did have their work cut out for them. Just as Lindsey handed the last sword to Lilah, all hell broke loose.
Wesley couldn't stop the shaking, but at least now he was a tad warmer. Vail had left his body finally, taking with him all of the dark magicks that the mage had used to come back to this dimension. Wesley should have seen it coming as he had been re-incorporated into his own body. Vail had piggybacked and hitched a ride. He had just made the way a little smoother for the evil mage.
When he would reappear was a mystery. How he would reappear would be even a greater mystery. Now he figured out how he had actually won those few fights he had gotten into. Vail's dark magicks had taken over when he sensed danger, thereby saving the body, if not himself. Now he had also figured out why he felt like he was always fighting himself. Because he just wasn't himself anymore. Why he had mattered in the first place was still a mystery too.
The small hand over top of his warmed his hand some. She had stayed by his side for the duration, trying to protect him from something he didn't understand until now. So now he had to get her out of harm's way and quickly.
"Faith," he whispered to wake her up.
She must be exhausted, he thought. She'd been going non-stop for over a day now, ever since he had reappeared suddenly in her life. And she probably hadn't eaten either. He would owe her big time after this was all over.
Pulling himself up, he shook her awake. Her big, brown eyes fluttered open now, staring up at him in her fog of sleep.
"Did Angel come?" she asked.
Damn vampire. Did he always have to save Wesley? Wesley could very well save himself this time.
"Let's go," he announced, pulling Faith up off of the floor.
"Vail's gone," Faith said, slowly.
"As far as I know, yes. Now let's get out of here before he comes back."
"You don't remember, do you? The only way he's coming back is through you, Wes."
"Well, it would be better to at least be on neutral territory if that happens, don't you think?"
Faith shook her head in agreement. Striding over to the door, Wesley tried to figure out how to open it. There was no door handle to grasp. So Wesley did the next best thing. He punched his way through.
"Whoa," Faith exclaimed behind him.
Whatever magicks Vail had possessed, at least they had left him very strong. He didn't know how long it would last, so he would use it to his advantage.
"Just don't go all creepy on me, Wes. Every time some intense emotion has come over you, the black eyes would appear."
So he would control himself. Wes was able to get a hold of the door now that it had a huge gaping hole in the center. Pulling, the door came off of its hinges. He set it down carefully, not wanting to cause any more noise to alert anyone.
"Let's get out of here," he told her as he walked out the door.
"Yeah, Superman. Lead the way. Let's just hope you don't develop that x-ray vision thing any time soon."
Wesley thought that might just come in handy, until he realized that Faith was making a joke, trying to lighten the situation.
"It could come in handy," he responded as they ran down the corridor.
"Then keep your eyes to yourself."
Wesley felt himself blushing, now realizing what she was referring to. Not that he wouldn't look if that became the case. Faith found the entrance Spike had made to the room where he had died previously.
Now all the lights shown brightly in the place. The other difference was the stain on the floor where he had died. It was again covered in blood, his blood probably.
"Oh, shit," Faith exclaimed as they walked into the room.
"Why on earth?" he asked as he approached the blood.
"Don't touch it," Faith told him as she grabbed his arm.
"No, don't touch it. I'm not done with the ritual yet. Then you can touch all you want."
Vail was here in the room, and not inhabiting Wesley's body. He wasn't corporeal, which was a good thing in Wesley's mind. The door at the end of the room slammed shut on its own accord.
"Let us go," Wesley announced with as much bravado as he could.
"You just don't get it, do you? I can't do that. That little battle that Angel and your other friends staged helped me out. Now the rest of them are gone and I can take over. You see, it was I who put this all together."
Faith slowly inched away from him, going for the door. He hoped he could keep Vail's attention until she could get out of there and he could take on Vail this time for real.
"You'll have me believe that you planned this whole thing. Just to obtain power."
"Oh boy, don't you see. Your friends were just my playthings."
"The vision that the Powers gave the seer. That was not your doing. It was meant to take all of you down."
"I knew you were all coming from a mile away, as the saying goes. No, the vision was not my doing. But the rest of it, well, let's just say it still worked out in the end."
Everything that they had done was his doing? Or was he just taking credit for all the wrong that had happened in the last year? He had heard this song and dance before from Skip.
"You'll have me believe that you planned all of this? I can piss better planning than this."
Faith snorted behind him. She was almost to the doors. Hopefully they weren't locked so she could make a break for it. Before he could move forward to take Vail on, he somehow slammed Faith up against the wall.
"See? My powers are still around. I don't need your body anymore to prove that."
Vail then threw one of those fireballs he loved so much straight at Wesley. Putting his hands up, he stopped its forward motion, leaving the thing hanging in the air. Wesley grinned in acknowledgment. He knew what to do now to stop Vail once and for all.
TBC
Next: At least he better know what to do. The battle. And yes, Angel does get to kick some butt, finally. He's due for one. Everyone else has gotten in the game. Now he needs to, for his own sanity.
Author notes: I thought this chapter would have been harder to write. I was wrong. I love it when Cordy and Lilah go at it. Wow, wow. I hate writing fight scenes. I'm much better than I once was, but here I go again. And I also figured out a great ending. I hope that it works. I can't tell you how many more chapters, but it won't be too many. Can you believe that this thing is 176 pages in my word processor? I must be crazy or something. But it's just too fun. Oh and at the end, please tell me if I tied up all the loose ends? Sometimes I forget that I've thrown something out there.
Thanks go to: I can't believe all the feedback. It's been so helpful and great. Thanks to Imzadi, Uberwicca, Mandie, pari106, Wav, shahid, qkith and all the others!! You have made me write more because I'd feel guilty if I didn't. I don't like to leave people hanging too long if I can help it. And plus, TV just sucks right now with the exception of a few shows.
Answers to questions:
Man, you all are so smart. Probably much more than I am.
Imzadi—Yeah, Eve is the one. Lindsey did save her.
Uberwicca—No Faith draining, but Illyria? Hmm.
Mandie—your wish is here in this chapter.
Pari106-yep, whatever you said.
Wav—yay, you're here; Faith will get her chance soon.
Shahid—Angel butt-kicking just for you, next chapter
Qkith-thanks a bunch