Heroic Deeds

By Ayisha

Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the story. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel characters belong to Joss Whedon. Smallville doesn't belong to me, either.

Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone who is still reading and commenting on this fic. I appreciate it. As you can see, I don't update that often. Sorry but I'm just too busy and I'm suffering from writer's block so hope you can bear with me.

Chapter 9:

Smallville, Kansas

"Is this seat taken?"

Buffy looked up and saw Lex Luthor smiling at her. She shook her head no.

Lex took the seat across from hers and observed her carefully. Angelica McGregor had intrigued him from the very beginning. Not because she was new in town, but because of the way she had reacted to him.

It was as if she knew him. Lex was very good at reading people. And so far, he had a feeling Angelica wasn't who she seemed to be.

Especially when he found out that she was living at one of his father's townhouses.

She pretended reading the newspaper. In truth, she was observing Lex Luthor from the corner of her eye.

"So," Lex started conversationally. "When is your shift going to start?"

"This afternoon," she answered. "Lana just asked me to come earlier to check on the morning shift."

"Lana seems to have trusted you," Lex remarked. "You've only started yesterday and yet she left you to handle the Talon while she's gone."

"I don't see it that way," Buffy remarked. "Lana must think that just because I'm older, I can take charge."

"Can't you?"

"I haven't tried." At least, as far as she knew.

As much as Lex was suspicious of her, he couldn't help but admit Angelica McGregor was someone to be reckoned with.

One of the things he was starting to like about her.

"How about you?" she asked.

"What about me?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have a fertilizer plant to run?"

"You've heard of me."

"This is a small town. Word gets around."

"I'm sure it does." Lex said. A few tables away, someone was watching them with keen interest.

"Took you long enough to notice."

Long ago, Lex has ceased to be surprised. But this time was an exception. "You know?"

She shrugged. "He's been following me ever since I came to Smallville."

"Probably because my father ordered him to."

Buffy smiled. "There's no probably in it."

"Are you working for my father?"

She paused. "Is it safe to assume he's not listening on our conversation?"

"Yes. Mainly because the spy my father said is quite stupid." Meaning Lionel Luthor is underestimating Angelica.

She looked at him straight in the eye. "Your father thinks I'm working for him."

Lex's curiosity was piqued. "And you don't?"

"I work for myself," Buffy replied. "And truth be told, I don't trust your father ever since I met him. So I'm inclined not to trust you, either."

"Did it ever occur to you that the leaves doesn't necessarily fall from the tree?"

"Nice analogy. But I'd rather you prove it to me."

Lex laughed. "I have a feeling we're going to get along well."

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Sunnydale, California

The sun was shining brightly but the mood inside Angel's mansion was gloom. It has been ever since Faith arrived.

"So you're telling me someone is trying to open the Hellmouth?" Faith asked incredulously.

"According to Cordelia's vision, yes." Wesley answered. "But that's all she saw."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning we don't know who is behind the scheme."

Faith looked at Angel. "That's the reason you came here?"

"That and the fact he needs to accept the fact that Buffy is gone."

"Cordy!" Gunn warned.

Cordelia shrugged. "I'm just telling the truth!" She turned to Angel. "Now that you've seen that Faith is here, did you finally come to your senses? Buffy is dead and she's not coming back. I think it's about time you realize that."

"I thought you understood," Fred said softly.

"I do. That's why I'm he's got to stop doing this. Keeping busy every single day, going out on the streets and leaving Conner alone. He may be a vampire but sooner or later, his body wouldn't be able to take it anymore and he'd become weaker than ever."

"Cordy." Angel's voice stopped her tirade. "I know."

Cordelia stared at Angel. "You do?"

Angel nodded his head painfully. "Buffy's gone," he whispered. This was the first time he was ever going to admit it to himself. "And there's nothing left to do but move on."

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"You can come out now, you know." Spike called out cheerfully.

A rustle behind him and then a voice. "How did you know? I was careful."

Spike snorted. "You smell worse than a skunk." He lit up a cigarette. "What do you want from me?"

"My master wants to talk to you."

A lowly servant. The full moon did nothing to hide Spike's disgust. "What if I don't want to?"

"It has something to do with the Hellmouth."

At that instant, Spike turned and threw the stake. The demon he was talking to was hideous. One-eyed, big-eared and scaly. He yelped fearfully when he saw the stake coming towards him.

The vampire behind the demon turned to dust.

"This better be worth my time," Spike snapped. "For you to interrupt my patrol."

The demon nodded as his shaking hand pointed towards the exit of the cemetery. "This way."