Chapter 15: choices
Title: A new beginning.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that **English is not my native tongue** I want to thank Sarah for all the great works she's done, and to welcome aboard Kelly who from now on will be reproofing my fic. As it is you may still find some spelling & grammar mistakes. You're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
A special thank you to Kelly for reproofing my story. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer.
Feedback: I love love love reviews and I'll be sure to mention it at the end of every chapter.
***
"Miss. Morgan?"
"Yes." She pressed the intercom button to reply.
"Your ten o'clock meeting is here." The secretary said through the intercom.
"Send it in." Lilah replied while going through some papers.
"Should I tell security to be on standby?" The secretary asked.
"No need." Lilah replied. "Just send him in."
"Right away."
Lilah got up and straighten down her skirt. She walked around her desk and stood in front of it her eyes set on the door, waiting to welcome her visitor. The door opened and to Lilah's surprise on the other side of it stood a man. He was well dressed and accompanied by a man and a woman both in business suits as well.
"Miss. Morgan I presume." The man said and reached out his hand.
Lilah took his hand and shook it. "And how should I refer to you?" She asked politely.
"Mr. Smith will do." The man replied.
"Please have a seat." Lilah showed them to the chairs located in front of her desk as she took her seat. "And your associates names?"
"Not relevant." The man said. He sat in the middle chair right in front of the desk while his associates sat on each side of him a few inches behind him. They seemed more like bodyguards, than associates. As if they knew they're place, they stayed a few steps behind him at all time. A human, or the appearance of a human was the last thing Lilah expected from the representative of the council of demons who has gathered here in L.A. due to recent events. Events she was a part of.
"Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Perhaps water?" Lilah was very polite, as she always was.
"That won't be necessary." Mr. Smith said. "We are here to present W&H with a very lucrative proposition." Mr. Smith opened his briefcase and took out an envelope. He slid it across the desk in Lilah's direction.
"May I?" Lilah asked before reaching for it. Mr. Smith nodded and she picked it up and opened it, to find a check. She tried not to appear shocked by the amount, but she was.
"As you can see, we are offering W&H a substantial amount."
"And in return?" Lilah asked, knowing very well the intent of this meeting.
"To continue doing what you do so well, practice the law, and leave this little matter in our capable hands." Mr. Smith talked as if he was a lawyer. Lilah wasn't sure he wasn't one.
"Buying us off to stay away From Angel." Lilah smiled. "I'm, afraid that is not an option, as generous as your offer may be, and at it is. I'm afraid the senior partners..."
"The senior partners are walking a very thin line." Mr. Smith interrupted her. "They should remind themselves who it is they're dealing with."
"I assure you, they do. And with all due respect, W&H have great interest in this matter."
"Angel." Mr. Smith said and Lilah slightly nodded. "But he is no the subject of our interest, the woman is." The man explained.
"As we have come to learn through the years. Where ever she's concerned, so does Angel." Lilah explained. "Angel has risked his own life time and time again to protect this woman. He would go to the extreme to keep her safe. Just observe his recent actions."
"Calling the slayer to help him in his battle." Mr. Smith said and Lilah nodded.
"And I'm sure it's not all that he'll do." Lilah added.
"The slayer is of no significant to us." Mr. Smith said to Lilah's confusion.
"But she's strong, she has power." Lilah said.
"So do we. many times more." Mr. Smith replied. "We are actually more interested in the witch."
"The witch?" Lilah didn't seem to follow.
"She has great power, dark power. Power she was not afraid to use." Lilah could swear she saw him smile. "She can be quite useful in the end result."
"Which is? If you don't mind me asking." Lilah tried reaching for information.
"That is of no concern to you or the senior partners." Mr. Smith answered firmly. "The deal has been made, now it is up to you." Mr. Smith got up, his to associates followed. "Tell the senior partners they have till the end of the day to give us they're answer."
Lilah quickly got up. "Wait!" She called out. "I may be able to convince the woman to surrender herself to us."
Mr. smith turned around his associates stayed as they were they're backs facing Lilah. "If you will not agree to our proposition, the council will regard W&H as hostiles, and you'll be dealt." And with that he turned and walked away.
***
"Bloody hell, I can't see a thing. And I'm suppose to see pretty well in the dark." Spike said.
"Maybe you're losing your touch." Angel teased him.
"Come on, don't tell me you can see?!" Spike couldn't believe he could.
"Seeing will come later." They heard a voice.
"Is it you again? Cause if it is, I had enough games. I want to this..."
"To what Angel?" The voice cut him off. "To end? Your battle against evil is far from ending."
"I want to know what happened to Cordelia?" Angel said out loud. "That's all."
"If only it was that simple." The voice seemed to come from every direction.
"Show yourself." Angel said.
"As you wish." A shimmering light appeared in the distanced making its way down what seemed to be a corridor, and into the room. Now they could see they were standing in the middle of a hall. The light bounced form wall-to-wall lighting torches that hang on the walls. Now the room was filled with light. Spike looked up and saw the stars.
"Angel look! The Ceiling..." Spike pointed upward.
"Isn't it amazing." They both quickly looked down to see an older man wearing a business suit standing before them.
"You're the...." Angel began to say but was interrupted by the man.
"I'm a guide, nothing more." He explained. "We don't have much time, so I do apologized if I don't give you a chance to respond." The man smiled. "As you can see the ceiling is made out of glass, simple glass but unbreakable one as well." The man pointed up. "Time here moves differently..."
"Where's here?" Spike interrupted him.
"I'm sorry Spike, but your question will be answered later." The man replied.
"How do you know my..."
"William! Please." The man scolded him and Spike quieted down.
"As I said, time moves differently here, which means the sun will be up in a short while. You must complete your task till then or you'll parish. Are we clear so far?" The man looked at the two vampires who seemed shocked and confused.
"Can we ask questions yet?" Spike asked with a Smirk.
The man ignored Spike's question and kept on. "The hourglass on the left side of the room will indicate how much time you have left. For the record it is approximately 10 minutes, give or take." The man paused for a moment and then continued. "The task is simple. You must cross this hall and reach the opening on its far end. That opening will lead to a corridor. You must walk through the corridor till its end. There you will find a small chamber. In the middle of the chamber you will see a small rounded table with a key on top of it."
"Just like Alice." Spike murmured.
"Take the key and unlock the door on the other side of the table. Once you passed through the door you will be granted access to the powers that be. Understood." Spike and Angel just stared at him trying to grasp it all.
"Do both of us need to make it to the finish line?" Angel, who seemed to get the point considering he's done something familiar in the past, asked.
The man paused and tilted his head slightly as if he was waiting for orders from someone. Angel recognized the behavior form the now dead oracles. "No, it is not required. "The one who walks through the door is the one who will be granted the access." The man replied.
"And the other one." Spike asked.
"Excuse me?" The man didn't understand.
"The guy who doesn't make it, what happens to him?" Spike asked again, this time more specifically.
"After the door is opened it can't be opened again.
"So the one left behind gets to see sunrise, right?" Spike smiled a half smile, as the man nodded his head.
I like the way you people work." Spike walked towards the man. "First you're tell us, 'it is not required' that both of us make it tot the end, which is nice and all. But then for the punch line you slip in the-other-guy-dies-part. That is just..."
"Spike..." Angel noticed Spike was getting to close to the man and didn't like the way this is heading.
"Hurting me will not help you Spike." The man said.
"But it might cheer me up a bit."
"Spike!" Angel raised his voice."
"You agreed to come here, you were told you may be endangering your own existence, and yet you agreed." The man didn't seem intimidated by Spike. There is no turning back now." The man turned around and walked to where the hourglass stood. "If you both wish to live I'd suggest team work and speed." He smiled and turned the hourglass upside down. "Good luck."
***
"Miss. Morgan?"
"What?" Lilah yelled to the speaker.
"You wanted me to give a reminder at five o'clock, ma'am." The secretary replied nervously.
"Oh right." Lilah said and hang up. She wasn't in a good mode. After that awful meeting with the council she had to report her findings to her superiors, and they really didn't like the way the meeting went. Her only hope now was Cordelia chase accepting her offer. She turned off her computer took her brief case and rushed out. "If anyone needs me I'll be on my cellular."
***
Cordelia looked at her watch, it was past six and still no sign of Lilah. Everyone was waiting patiently. Angel and Spike just left and everyone were on edge.
"What's taking her so long?" Gunn asked nervously.
"I can't believe we're actually waiting for Lilah Morgan." Fred said out loud.
"I know sugar, it's like the world went upside down. As Lorne finished his sentence Lilah walked in with her usual devious smile.
"Oh how nice. You all waited up for me." Lilah teased.
"I thought you said five, not six." Cordy said.
"I wanted to give you an extra hour. My treat." Lilah descended the stairs and into the lobby. Everyone stood up except for Cordy who stayed sited covered with a blanket. She was trying to hide her growing belly from Lilah, not wanting to share information with W&H. "Cold are we?" Lilah noticed the blanket.
"I'm pregnant, remember." Cordy said hoping it will be enough.
"How can I forget?" Lilah said and walked towards her. "So do you have an answer for me?"
"Here." Cordy handed Lilah the file.
"Enjoyed it?" Lilah asked with a smirk.
"Didn't read it."
"What?" Lilah asked surprised. "Why?"
"I don't trust a word that comes out of your mouth. Did you really think I'd believe some false premonition your people cocked up?" Cordy smiled in contempt. "Get out and don't come back."
"But the baby, if you just review the file you'll see..."
"I'll take care of my baby without your help. If you can call it help."
"You don't understand." Lilah said in panic. "There's not enough time. He won't be born in time for..."
"Enough!" Cordy raised her voice. "I don't want to hear it. What ever it is, we can handle it, we've handled worse things in the past."
"That's were you're wrong little girl, you really haven't." Lilah knew she had lost. "You stay with your ignorance, I don't care. But just know you have gained another front to wage war against."
"You didn't seriously just threaten her, did you?" Buffy took a few steps forward, which made Lilah a bit unease.
"You're the slayer, you don't kill humans." Lilah said in confidence.
Buffy leaned towards her. "From what I hear. In your case this shouldn't be a problem." Buffy whispered to her.
Lilah flinched and took a step back. "Fine I'll go. But you just signed your fate. And you're taking your 'family' with you." Lilah quickly turned and left before Buffy had a chance to respond.
There was a moment of silence. Although no one intended or wanted to believe Lilah, the things she did manage to say, her innuendoes frighten them, enough to reconsider their decision not to review the file. "You guys..." Cordy was the firestone that spoke. "Do you think we made the right decision?"
"Absolutely." Gunn answered in confidence.
"And now for real." Cordy said knowing he was mostly saying it to make her feel good about their decision.
"For real?" He glanced at her. "I don't know. I'd like to think so. And besides you know me. I 'm never the one to cry over spilled milk, if you get my drifted."
"Cordelia." Giles spoke up. "As a watcher, a scholar, every bone in by body wanted to grab that file and read it. Go through every line and line."
"And the cheering up part is when exactly?" Cordy said sarcastically.
"But." Giles smiled, he almost missed Cordelia's sarcastic remarks. "After hearing what you said about that woman and respecting your wishes I backed away. But not cause I thought what you decided was wrong, but because I respected your choice and understood why you made it. Maybe if it were I, maybe I would have done things differently. But honestly I cannot say. I haven't lived here for as long as you did and dealt with those lawyers as you have, so my perspective is faulted." Giles paused for a moment. "The point I'm trying to make is that you did what you though as best. Not as an individual but as a group, as it should be." He smiled hoping he helped even a little.
"Than you." Cordy said as she got up. Her belly hasn't grown in the past hours but she couldn't wait for Angel to return. Not so much as she wanted an answer than she was worried to his well being.
***
So now what?" Spike said staring at Angel and then at the hourglass.
"I guess we start walking." Angel replied.
"It's never that easy." Spike said.
"I know." Angel said as he started walking across the hall toward the corridor. Spike followed in silence, watching all around him waiting for something to pop up. And just when he least expected it he felt a sharp pain in his right side.
"Awww." He screamed. Angel turned to see a wooden staked inserted into his abdomen. It looked more like a sharp log, than a stake. "Get it out." Spike, who couldn't move, yelled to Angel.
"It will hurt." Angel said to him.
"And you think this doesn't." Spike said glancing at the wood bar stuck in his shoulder. Angel came behind him putting both hands on on the stake and with a swift but painful lug, he pulled him out. Spike fell to the ground in pain, while Angel fell backwards. Angel got up while glancing at the hourglass; they were wasting precious time, time they didn't have. "Can you stand up?"
"Do I look like I can stand up?" Spike yelled at him.
"Damn it Spike we're losing time." Angel yelled back.
"Do you even care I'm hurt?" Spike moaned.
"Spike you're a vampire, you'll survive. Be grateful it wasn't your heart."
"Thanks." Spike said in a sarcastic tone.
"Spike." Angel gave him a firm stare. "If you don't get up right now, you'll be dusted in about 8 and some minutes." Angel looked at the hourglass. Spike knowing he had no choice but to go on or die barely got up. He supported his hurt right side with his left arm.
"Let's go." He said, not arguing. They were half way though. Spike was bleeding a lot and he knew it's only a matter of minutes till the pain takes over and he'll pass out. He walked beside Angel trying to stay awake. Suddenly he heard Angel yell and he found himself on the ground with Angel lying on top of him.
"Another stake." Angel explained as he helped him to his feet. "There must be a pattern of some sort, I mean this hall is not that big, but I don't know if we can avoid them much longer.
Spike looked around, and as if he had a revelation he suddenly realized something. "The stars." He pulled Angel sleeve.
"What?" Angel didn't understand.
"Look at the stars, they're arranged in a pattern, like a maze." Spike explained.
"How do you know?" Angel was surprised spike knew anything about astronomy.
"When you spend enough years with Dru, you start noticing the bloody stars." Spike chuckled and coughed at the same time. "They're showing us the way, we just have to follow them."
"I don't see any pattern." Angel said beveled.
"Lucky I'm here." Spike looked up and than took a step to his left. "Just follow my lead." He kept moving around the hall. It almost looked as if they were dancing. Every step Spike took Angel followed. They were safe, but time was running out and Spike was getting weary.
"How much longer?" Angel kept staring at the hourglass.
"Almost there, broody. Hang in there, almost there." Spike said, not taking his eyes off from the ceiling. They were almost finished when Spike stopped.
"Why have you stopped?" Angel asked almost colliding into Spike.
"No more course." Spike said pointing to the ceiling. "I guess it's trick or treat time, right?" He looked at Angel.
"We're almost there. I think that if we jump, we can make it." Angel said, staring at the corridor, almost at his reach.
"Sorry, no jumping for me," Spike looked at his wounded and heavily bleeding abdomen.
"Come on Spike. One more try. You can do it." Angel tried encouraging him.
"No I can't Angel and we both know it." Spike sighed. "The way I see it there's two options: 1. I try to take the last step and another stake hits me. Maybe I'll be lucky enough and it'll miss my heart and just wound me badly. And then I'm out of the game." He chuckled. "Or 2. I make it through and pass out in the corridor. Which means I'm out of the game as well. So you see Liam, it's a lose lose situation." Spike fell to the ground. "The only option is for you to go on without me."
"Spike you're my least favorite person in the world, but I am not going to let you die, not like this, not now."
"Why cause you learned Spiky has a soul." Spike said in a mocking tone. "Get over it and go on, or we'll both die."
"This is not happening again."
"Again? What are you talking about?" Spike didn't understand.
"I am not going to let you scarifies yourself, to save me." Angel insisted. "Now get up." He leaned down and grabbed Spike who resisted. "Damn it Spike, stop fighting me."
"Go on Angel, you know you have to."
"Spike I am not..."
"You're not." Spike cut him off. "I'm choosing. "I did enough wrong things in my time to recognize a right thing when I see it. And this is right. Just go." Spike pushed him away. Angel didn't want to go but the clock was running out. "There's not much time left, go on." Angel turned and glanced back at Spike lying on the ground. And with a quick jump and roll barely missing the stake that they knew would be there, he made it through. Angel got up and turned around to look at Spike.
"Can you tell her I did at least one good thing in my life." Angel knew whom he was referring to. He nodded his head and saw spike smiling. "Go on. You have a job to do." Angel turned around and started making his way down the corridor only a few minutes were left and the end looked so far.
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
Almost thought I have lost my audience, sort of speak. Why? You ask. Cause I barely got reviews of course, what else could there be. Luckily a few generous readers were kind enough to give me a review. So first thing thank you for those of you who reviewed. And for those of you who didn't, I know I'm a pain in the... but the only way I have of knowing if someone is really reading my fic is through your reviews. So even if you reviewed every chapter there is and you have nothing new to say. Even a review that says: hi I read it" will do. LoL.
So please review this chapter. And if you do have something to say feel free, the more the merrier.
Thanks Nikka.
P.S. just to remind you all, Kelly is still not feeling well so this chapter was not re-proofed by her or anyone else besides my beloved computer and me. So if there's any spelling or grammar mistakes, I do apologize in advance.
Title: A new beginning.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that **English is not my native tongue** I want to thank Sarah for all the great works she's done, and to welcome aboard Kelly who from now on will be reproofing my fic. As it is you may still find some spelling & grammar mistakes. You're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
A special thank you to Kelly for reproofing my story. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer.
Feedback: I love love love reviews and I'll be sure to mention it at the end of every chapter.
***
"Miss. Morgan?"
"Yes." She pressed the intercom button to reply.
"Your ten o'clock meeting is here." The secretary said through the intercom.
"Send it in." Lilah replied while going through some papers.
"Should I tell security to be on standby?" The secretary asked.
"No need." Lilah replied. "Just send him in."
"Right away."
Lilah got up and straighten down her skirt. She walked around her desk and stood in front of it her eyes set on the door, waiting to welcome her visitor. The door opened and to Lilah's surprise on the other side of it stood a man. He was well dressed and accompanied by a man and a woman both in business suits as well.
"Miss. Morgan I presume." The man said and reached out his hand.
Lilah took his hand and shook it. "And how should I refer to you?" She asked politely.
"Mr. Smith will do." The man replied.
"Please have a seat." Lilah showed them to the chairs located in front of her desk as she took her seat. "And your associates names?"
"Not relevant." The man said. He sat in the middle chair right in front of the desk while his associates sat on each side of him a few inches behind him. They seemed more like bodyguards, than associates. As if they knew they're place, they stayed a few steps behind him at all time. A human, or the appearance of a human was the last thing Lilah expected from the representative of the council of demons who has gathered here in L.A. due to recent events. Events she was a part of.
"Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Perhaps water?" Lilah was very polite, as she always was.
"That won't be necessary." Mr. Smith said. "We are here to present W&H with a very lucrative proposition." Mr. Smith opened his briefcase and took out an envelope. He slid it across the desk in Lilah's direction.
"May I?" Lilah asked before reaching for it. Mr. Smith nodded and she picked it up and opened it, to find a check. She tried not to appear shocked by the amount, but she was.
"As you can see, we are offering W&H a substantial amount."
"And in return?" Lilah asked, knowing very well the intent of this meeting.
"To continue doing what you do so well, practice the law, and leave this little matter in our capable hands." Mr. Smith talked as if he was a lawyer. Lilah wasn't sure he wasn't one.
"Buying us off to stay away From Angel." Lilah smiled. "I'm, afraid that is not an option, as generous as your offer may be, and at it is. I'm afraid the senior partners..."
"The senior partners are walking a very thin line." Mr. Smith interrupted her. "They should remind themselves who it is they're dealing with."
"I assure you, they do. And with all due respect, W&H have great interest in this matter."
"Angel." Mr. Smith said and Lilah slightly nodded. "But he is no the subject of our interest, the woman is." The man explained.
"As we have come to learn through the years. Where ever she's concerned, so does Angel." Lilah explained. "Angel has risked his own life time and time again to protect this woman. He would go to the extreme to keep her safe. Just observe his recent actions."
"Calling the slayer to help him in his battle." Mr. Smith said and Lilah nodded.
"And I'm sure it's not all that he'll do." Lilah added.
"The slayer is of no significant to us." Mr. Smith said to Lilah's confusion.
"But she's strong, she has power." Lilah said.
"So do we. many times more." Mr. Smith replied. "We are actually more interested in the witch."
"The witch?" Lilah didn't seem to follow.
"She has great power, dark power. Power she was not afraid to use." Lilah could swear she saw him smile. "She can be quite useful in the end result."
"Which is? If you don't mind me asking." Lilah tried reaching for information.
"That is of no concern to you or the senior partners." Mr. Smith answered firmly. "The deal has been made, now it is up to you." Mr. Smith got up, his to associates followed. "Tell the senior partners they have till the end of the day to give us they're answer."
Lilah quickly got up. "Wait!" She called out. "I may be able to convince the woman to surrender herself to us."
Mr. smith turned around his associates stayed as they were they're backs facing Lilah. "If you will not agree to our proposition, the council will regard W&H as hostiles, and you'll be dealt." And with that he turned and walked away.
***
"Bloody hell, I can't see a thing. And I'm suppose to see pretty well in the dark." Spike said.
"Maybe you're losing your touch." Angel teased him.
"Come on, don't tell me you can see?!" Spike couldn't believe he could.
"Seeing will come later." They heard a voice.
"Is it you again? Cause if it is, I had enough games. I want to this..."
"To what Angel?" The voice cut him off. "To end? Your battle against evil is far from ending."
"I want to know what happened to Cordelia?" Angel said out loud. "That's all."
"If only it was that simple." The voice seemed to come from every direction.
"Show yourself." Angel said.
"As you wish." A shimmering light appeared in the distanced making its way down what seemed to be a corridor, and into the room. Now they could see they were standing in the middle of a hall. The light bounced form wall-to-wall lighting torches that hang on the walls. Now the room was filled with light. Spike looked up and saw the stars.
"Angel look! The Ceiling..." Spike pointed upward.
"Isn't it amazing." They both quickly looked down to see an older man wearing a business suit standing before them.
"You're the...." Angel began to say but was interrupted by the man.
"I'm a guide, nothing more." He explained. "We don't have much time, so I do apologized if I don't give you a chance to respond." The man smiled. "As you can see the ceiling is made out of glass, simple glass but unbreakable one as well." The man pointed up. "Time here moves differently..."
"Where's here?" Spike interrupted him.
"I'm sorry Spike, but your question will be answered later." The man replied.
"How do you know my..."
"William! Please." The man scolded him and Spike quieted down.
"As I said, time moves differently here, which means the sun will be up in a short while. You must complete your task till then or you'll parish. Are we clear so far?" The man looked at the two vampires who seemed shocked and confused.
"Can we ask questions yet?" Spike asked with a Smirk.
The man ignored Spike's question and kept on. "The hourglass on the left side of the room will indicate how much time you have left. For the record it is approximately 10 minutes, give or take." The man paused for a moment and then continued. "The task is simple. You must cross this hall and reach the opening on its far end. That opening will lead to a corridor. You must walk through the corridor till its end. There you will find a small chamber. In the middle of the chamber you will see a small rounded table with a key on top of it."
"Just like Alice." Spike murmured.
"Take the key and unlock the door on the other side of the table. Once you passed through the door you will be granted access to the powers that be. Understood." Spike and Angel just stared at him trying to grasp it all.
"Do both of us need to make it to the finish line?" Angel, who seemed to get the point considering he's done something familiar in the past, asked.
The man paused and tilted his head slightly as if he was waiting for orders from someone. Angel recognized the behavior form the now dead oracles. "No, it is not required. "The one who walks through the door is the one who will be granted the access." The man replied.
"And the other one." Spike asked.
"Excuse me?" The man didn't understand.
"The guy who doesn't make it, what happens to him?" Spike asked again, this time more specifically.
"After the door is opened it can't be opened again.
"So the one left behind gets to see sunrise, right?" Spike smiled a half smile, as the man nodded his head.
I like the way you people work." Spike walked towards the man. "First you're tell us, 'it is not required' that both of us make it tot the end, which is nice and all. But then for the punch line you slip in the-other-guy-dies-part. That is just..."
"Spike..." Angel noticed Spike was getting to close to the man and didn't like the way this is heading.
"Hurting me will not help you Spike." The man said.
"But it might cheer me up a bit."
"Spike!" Angel raised his voice."
"You agreed to come here, you were told you may be endangering your own existence, and yet you agreed." The man didn't seem intimidated by Spike. There is no turning back now." The man turned around and walked to where the hourglass stood. "If you both wish to live I'd suggest team work and speed." He smiled and turned the hourglass upside down. "Good luck."
***
"Miss. Morgan?"
"What?" Lilah yelled to the speaker.
"You wanted me to give a reminder at five o'clock, ma'am." The secretary replied nervously.
"Oh right." Lilah said and hang up. She wasn't in a good mode. After that awful meeting with the council she had to report her findings to her superiors, and they really didn't like the way the meeting went. Her only hope now was Cordelia chase accepting her offer. She turned off her computer took her brief case and rushed out. "If anyone needs me I'll be on my cellular."
***
Cordelia looked at her watch, it was past six and still no sign of Lilah. Everyone was waiting patiently. Angel and Spike just left and everyone were on edge.
"What's taking her so long?" Gunn asked nervously.
"I can't believe we're actually waiting for Lilah Morgan." Fred said out loud.
"I know sugar, it's like the world went upside down. As Lorne finished his sentence Lilah walked in with her usual devious smile.
"Oh how nice. You all waited up for me." Lilah teased.
"I thought you said five, not six." Cordy said.
"I wanted to give you an extra hour. My treat." Lilah descended the stairs and into the lobby. Everyone stood up except for Cordy who stayed sited covered with a blanket. She was trying to hide her growing belly from Lilah, not wanting to share information with W&H. "Cold are we?" Lilah noticed the blanket.
"I'm pregnant, remember." Cordy said hoping it will be enough.
"How can I forget?" Lilah said and walked towards her. "So do you have an answer for me?"
"Here." Cordy handed Lilah the file.
"Enjoyed it?" Lilah asked with a smirk.
"Didn't read it."
"What?" Lilah asked surprised. "Why?"
"I don't trust a word that comes out of your mouth. Did you really think I'd believe some false premonition your people cocked up?" Cordy smiled in contempt. "Get out and don't come back."
"But the baby, if you just review the file you'll see..."
"I'll take care of my baby without your help. If you can call it help."
"You don't understand." Lilah said in panic. "There's not enough time. He won't be born in time for..."
"Enough!" Cordy raised her voice. "I don't want to hear it. What ever it is, we can handle it, we've handled worse things in the past."
"That's were you're wrong little girl, you really haven't." Lilah knew she had lost. "You stay with your ignorance, I don't care. But just know you have gained another front to wage war against."
"You didn't seriously just threaten her, did you?" Buffy took a few steps forward, which made Lilah a bit unease.
"You're the slayer, you don't kill humans." Lilah said in confidence.
Buffy leaned towards her. "From what I hear. In your case this shouldn't be a problem." Buffy whispered to her.
Lilah flinched and took a step back. "Fine I'll go. But you just signed your fate. And you're taking your 'family' with you." Lilah quickly turned and left before Buffy had a chance to respond.
There was a moment of silence. Although no one intended or wanted to believe Lilah, the things she did manage to say, her innuendoes frighten them, enough to reconsider their decision not to review the file. "You guys..." Cordy was the firestone that spoke. "Do you think we made the right decision?"
"Absolutely." Gunn answered in confidence.
"And now for real." Cordy said knowing he was mostly saying it to make her feel good about their decision.
"For real?" He glanced at her. "I don't know. I'd like to think so. And besides you know me. I 'm never the one to cry over spilled milk, if you get my drifted."
"Cordelia." Giles spoke up. "As a watcher, a scholar, every bone in by body wanted to grab that file and read it. Go through every line and line."
"And the cheering up part is when exactly?" Cordy said sarcastically.
"But." Giles smiled, he almost missed Cordelia's sarcastic remarks. "After hearing what you said about that woman and respecting your wishes I backed away. But not cause I thought what you decided was wrong, but because I respected your choice and understood why you made it. Maybe if it were I, maybe I would have done things differently. But honestly I cannot say. I haven't lived here for as long as you did and dealt with those lawyers as you have, so my perspective is faulted." Giles paused for a moment. "The point I'm trying to make is that you did what you though as best. Not as an individual but as a group, as it should be." He smiled hoping he helped even a little.
"Than you." Cordy said as she got up. Her belly hasn't grown in the past hours but she couldn't wait for Angel to return. Not so much as she wanted an answer than she was worried to his well being.
***
So now what?" Spike said staring at Angel and then at the hourglass.
"I guess we start walking." Angel replied.
"It's never that easy." Spike said.
"I know." Angel said as he started walking across the hall toward the corridor. Spike followed in silence, watching all around him waiting for something to pop up. And just when he least expected it he felt a sharp pain in his right side.
"Awww." He screamed. Angel turned to see a wooden staked inserted into his abdomen. It looked more like a sharp log, than a stake. "Get it out." Spike, who couldn't move, yelled to Angel.
"It will hurt." Angel said to him.
"And you think this doesn't." Spike said glancing at the wood bar stuck in his shoulder. Angel came behind him putting both hands on on the stake and with a swift but painful lug, he pulled him out. Spike fell to the ground in pain, while Angel fell backwards. Angel got up while glancing at the hourglass; they were wasting precious time, time they didn't have. "Can you stand up?"
"Do I look like I can stand up?" Spike yelled at him.
"Damn it Spike we're losing time." Angel yelled back.
"Do you even care I'm hurt?" Spike moaned.
"Spike you're a vampire, you'll survive. Be grateful it wasn't your heart."
"Thanks." Spike said in a sarcastic tone.
"Spike." Angel gave him a firm stare. "If you don't get up right now, you'll be dusted in about 8 and some minutes." Angel looked at the hourglass. Spike knowing he had no choice but to go on or die barely got up. He supported his hurt right side with his left arm.
"Let's go." He said, not arguing. They were half way though. Spike was bleeding a lot and he knew it's only a matter of minutes till the pain takes over and he'll pass out. He walked beside Angel trying to stay awake. Suddenly he heard Angel yell and he found himself on the ground with Angel lying on top of him.
"Another stake." Angel explained as he helped him to his feet. "There must be a pattern of some sort, I mean this hall is not that big, but I don't know if we can avoid them much longer.
Spike looked around, and as if he had a revelation he suddenly realized something. "The stars." He pulled Angel sleeve.
"What?" Angel didn't understand.
"Look at the stars, they're arranged in a pattern, like a maze." Spike explained.
"How do you know?" Angel was surprised spike knew anything about astronomy.
"When you spend enough years with Dru, you start noticing the bloody stars." Spike chuckled and coughed at the same time. "They're showing us the way, we just have to follow them."
"I don't see any pattern." Angel said beveled.
"Lucky I'm here." Spike looked up and than took a step to his left. "Just follow my lead." He kept moving around the hall. It almost looked as if they were dancing. Every step Spike took Angel followed. They were safe, but time was running out and Spike was getting weary.
"How much longer?" Angel kept staring at the hourglass.
"Almost there, broody. Hang in there, almost there." Spike said, not taking his eyes off from the ceiling. They were almost finished when Spike stopped.
"Why have you stopped?" Angel asked almost colliding into Spike.
"No more course." Spike said pointing to the ceiling. "I guess it's trick or treat time, right?" He looked at Angel.
"We're almost there. I think that if we jump, we can make it." Angel said, staring at the corridor, almost at his reach.
"Sorry, no jumping for me," Spike looked at his wounded and heavily bleeding abdomen.
"Come on Spike. One more try. You can do it." Angel tried encouraging him.
"No I can't Angel and we both know it." Spike sighed. "The way I see it there's two options: 1. I try to take the last step and another stake hits me. Maybe I'll be lucky enough and it'll miss my heart and just wound me badly. And then I'm out of the game." He chuckled. "Or 2. I make it through and pass out in the corridor. Which means I'm out of the game as well. So you see Liam, it's a lose lose situation." Spike fell to the ground. "The only option is for you to go on without me."
"Spike you're my least favorite person in the world, but I am not going to let you die, not like this, not now."
"Why cause you learned Spiky has a soul." Spike said in a mocking tone. "Get over it and go on, or we'll both die."
"This is not happening again."
"Again? What are you talking about?" Spike didn't understand.
"I am not going to let you scarifies yourself, to save me." Angel insisted. "Now get up." He leaned down and grabbed Spike who resisted. "Damn it Spike, stop fighting me."
"Go on Angel, you know you have to."
"Spike I am not..."
"You're not." Spike cut him off. "I'm choosing. "I did enough wrong things in my time to recognize a right thing when I see it. And this is right. Just go." Spike pushed him away. Angel didn't want to go but the clock was running out. "There's not much time left, go on." Angel turned and glanced back at Spike lying on the ground. And with a quick jump and roll barely missing the stake that they knew would be there, he made it through. Angel got up and turned around to look at Spike.
"Can you tell her I did at least one good thing in my life." Angel knew whom he was referring to. He nodded his head and saw spike smiling. "Go on. You have a job to do." Angel turned around and started making his way down the corridor only a few minutes were left and the end looked so far.
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
Almost thought I have lost my audience, sort of speak. Why? You ask. Cause I barely got reviews of course, what else could there be. Luckily a few generous readers were kind enough to give me a review. So first thing thank you for those of you who reviewed. And for those of you who didn't, I know I'm a pain in the... but the only way I have of knowing if someone is really reading my fic is through your reviews. So even if you reviewed every chapter there is and you have nothing new to say. Even a review that says: hi I read it" will do. LoL.
So please review this chapter. And if you do have something to say feel free, the more the merrier.
Thanks Nikka.
P.S. just to remind you all, Kelly is still not feeling well so this chapter was not re-proofed by her or anyone else besides my beloved computer and me. So if there's any spelling or grammar mistakes, I do apologize in advance.