Heroic Deeds
By Ayisha
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the story. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel characters belong to Joss Whedon.
Author's Notes 1: An AtS/BtVS/Smallville crossover, some parts are AU; the rest will be explained in the story.
Author's Notes 2: I'm a fan of all three shows and this idea came up to me a long while ago. I don't know if I'm going to continue it, so feedback would be very much appreciated.
Spoilers: Some parts of S5 and S6 for Buffy; S3 and S4 for Angel.
Summary: Buffy left Sunnydale and came to Smallville.
Chapter 16:
Sunnydale, California
"One night while on patrol, a demon appeared out of nowhere and told me to come with him. Since I had nothing better to do, I followed him." Spike grimaced. "He led me to the Sunnydale dump. Of all places."
"Does this demon have a name?" Giles inquired.
"Ajax. He's a minion, actually. To some demon named Achilles."
Willow frowned. "Aren't those names part of the Trojan War? Achilles was the Greek hero and Ajax was also a warrior."
"So that's why there names were familiar." Spike shrugged. "Anyway, they made an offer I couldn't refuse: get rid of this chip in my bloody head if I help them."
Everyone in the room immediately took a step back from him. Spike rolled his eyes. Why wasn't he surprised? "They wanted me to help them find the Slayer."
"Faith?" Gunn asked.
Spike pursed his lips. "Buffy."
There was complete silence in the room. "But how could they know…" Tara started.
"See, that's the interesting part. Apparently, there were three of them in the beginning. Unfortunately, the third one was hired by a firm called Wolfram and Hart in LA." Spike glanced at the Fang Gang. "I'm sure you've heard of them."
Angel clenched his fists. "They're always thorns to my side."
"I think their main goal is to get you out of the way, Peaches." Spike drawled. "And they knew your weakness. The love of your life."
"And we all know who that is," Xander muttered. "It's certainly not Queen C over there."
Faith smirked. Cordelia only shot her former boyfriend a murderous glare.
"They wanted to kill Buffy." Spike took a deep breath. "And before you storm over to their offices, Peaches, let me tell you something. They didn't succeed." He turned to Dawn. "The demon was a coward; he knew the Slayer's reputation and got afraid but since he knew he could use the money, he took on the law firm's offer. He paid three vampires to kill your sister but they mistook your cousin for her. And we all know what happened to her."
Dawn's face paled. "Oh god…"
"That was my first reaction." Spike paused. "Wolfram and Hart got hold of the mistake and the demon paid with his life. Now Achilles and Ajax need to find someone to replace him. Someone who had skills."
"I can't believe they never thought of me." Anya said disdainfully. "Sure, I'm not a vengeance demon anymore but…"
Spike ignored her. "Ajax thought I was the perfect candidate."
"For what?"
"To be Buffy's eternal mate, of course." Spike drawled. "Apparently, Wolfram and Hart didn't know the real reason why the demon didn't kill her. He was scared, yes. But there was something else. A prophecy revolving around Buffy. Whoever becomes her mate has the power to take over the world."
The tension in the room was palpable.
"Why are you telling us all this?" Angel demanded.
Spike looked at him steadily. "You're not the only one in love with her."
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Los Angeles, California
The medical team arrived too late. No one survived the fire. The airport personnel had closed off the runway. The Los Angeles Police Department was already called and was all on place.
Lindsay McDonald flashed his I.D. and got inside the yellow tape. Detective Kate Lockley nodded at him curtly. "I've been expecting you."
"Lionel Luthor's plane?"
"Affirmative."
Lindsay looked at the damage. The jet was still blazing in fire. "What happened?"
"Someone put a bomb in the cockpit." Kate didn't bother to hide the contempt in her voice. She had been in the force for as long as she could remember and the idea that it was Wolfram and Hart who might actually be behind this wasn't lost to her. This wouldn't be the first time.
"Any idea who did it?"
"We're investigating." Kate knew she wouldn't find any evidence pointing at Wolfram and Hart. That had always been the problem.
Suddenly, the medical team got out of whatever remnants there was of the jet, carrying a stretcher. Lindsay walked over to them. Whoever was in it was covered by a white cloth. "May I?"
"Be our guest."
Lindsay pulled up the cover. What he saw was a charcoaled face of someone. But he did see what he was holding.
It was the vial he had given Lionel.
"You can take him away," Lindsay told them after he had pulled down the cover again.
At least, one thorn on his side was already gone.
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Smallville, Kansas
When Lex Luthor heard the news, he could not believe it. "What did you say?"
The person on the other end of the line sounded remorseful. "I am really sorry, Lex."
He gripped the phone tightly. "What happened, Lilah?"
Lilah Morgan didn't know how much she should tell him. "Someone planted a bomb inside the jet, according to the police."
"Do you have anything to do with it?"
"Your father is one of the stockholders of the firm."
Lex didn't say anything. He was still in shock. He had always envisioned his father to be stronger than that. To be smarter. An immortal.
"I know this is hard for you," Lilah continued. "It is to all of us. But you have to fly here…"
"I just flew back a few weeks ago." Lex cut her off. "Can you just fly the body over to Metropolis?"
"I think that might be arranged." Lilah paused. "But Lex, you have to know that everyone there was burned to death. The body…"
"I'll arrange the funeral." Lex said tersely. He hanged up the phone and stared into nothingness. He had received the call an hour after he had arrived home from the Kents'. He certainly didn't expect it.
It wasn't everyday someone called and told you your father died.
Lex felt his fists tightening. Lionel was his father. His only family. And now he was gone.
And he wasn't even shedding a single tear.
But wasn't it Lionel who taught him that tears are a weakness?
He felt the shock wearing off to be replaced with numbness. Complete numbness.
And he was bothered by the fact that he had easily used the past tense was in describing his father.