Two of A Kind
Chapter 9: Sooner Rather Then Later
By: Rogue-Slayer13
Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon, not myself. People wonder where I get some of the straight from the show dialogue, and just so everyone knows, anytime I have any, it comes from Buffy-vs-Angel. com.
Summary: See previous chapter
All italics are thoughts, while only partial italics or emphasized.
A/N: I've decided to change this fic up a bit and have it go more along the lines of the show. This could be for the better or it could be for the worse, not really sure yet.
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"How long do you think we have?" asked Lorne.
"Knowing the Senior Partners, not very long," replied Angel as he wrapped some gauze around his bloodied knuckles.
"Do you have any weapons around here?" asked Lindsey.
"Why do you think I picked this place?" questioned Angel. "I brought some over before all of this started."
"Good," said Faith. "Because this is as close to home court as we're gonna get."
"Weapons are nice and all, but some calvary would be way cool," said Gunn.
"I don't know if we're going to get any," said Angel.
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"Certainly doesn't look like the future home of the apocalypse," commented Dawn as she walked down the street with Willow and Andrew.
"Yeah, it looks so normal," replied Andrew as a guy walked past with a mohawk and a large tattoo on the side of his face. "Or as normal as LA can get."
"We need to find Angel," said Willow.
"Have any idea where he's at?" asked Dawn.
"Well I doubt he'd be at Wolfram & Hart . . ."
"Willow!?"
The red head turned around at the sound of her name being called.
"Is that . . ."
"Oz," said Willow . "What are you doing here?"
"Possibly for the same reason as you," replied the werewolf as he stopped in front of the red head.
"Are you here to help fight the forces of evil?" asked Willow.
"Yeah, I was on my way to the hotel."
"Do you think Angel's there?" asked Dawn.
"Only place he's got left to go," replied Oz.
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"Did you hear that?" asked Faith as she got up from her seat on one the tables.
"Yeah, what do you think it was?" asked Gunn.
"Knowing our luck, it's probably another bloody demon," commented Spike as he got up and walked toward the door.
"Maybe it's not, you know, not everything in this city is a demon," said Lorne, not wanting to believe that the fighting was starting again so soon.
"Just half of this room," said Lindsey as he picked up a nearby dagger.
"There is at least one nonhuman out there," informed Illyeria as Spike put his hand on the doorknob.
Spike pulled the door open to reveal a startled Willow standing outside with her hand in the air. Spike looked over Willow's shoulder to see Dawn and Andrew standing with Oz.
"Uh, um, wow, I w-wasn't expecting to b-be here, wow," greeted Willow.
"You can put your hand down Red," replied Spike with a grin. "Come inside before you get eaten." Spike stepped back and let the group into the hotel before closing the door.
"Wow, everyone's here, or at least it looks like everyone. I'm not up to date on your gang," said Willow as she looked around at the group. "Oh Faith! It's nice to see you."
"Hey," replied the brunette as she lowered her weapon.
"I swore I smelled a demon," said Illyria as she looked Willow and the others over.
"It's Oz, he's a werewolf," said Faith as she went to stand by Spike.
"He doesn't smell like one." Illyria gazed at Oz attentively.
"Uh, thanks," replied the redhead. "I've learned how to control it."
"What brings you to LA?" asked Angel.
"Hell on Earth, the destruction of mankind, y'know, the usual," said Dawn with a shrug.
"Where's Buffy and the others?" asked Angel.
"Giles and are on their way, and Buffy's on vocation to another dimension with the Immortal," said Andrew, which got him glares from both Willow and Dawn.
"What I wouldn't give for a vocation right now, or a nice gin and tonic," commented Lorne as he rubbed his temples.
"Giles is bringing slayers with him, that's gonna be of some help, right?" said Willow.
"If they get here in time," replied Angel.
"Has anyone ever mentioned how quickly you can take the hope right outta something?" asked Faith as Spike slipped his arm around her waist.
Angel ignored the comment and chose instead, to address the group.
"This is the safest place for us right now, but we still need to take a few precautions."
"Like what?" asked Willow.
"A sanctuary spell would be nice for starters."
"I still have the one the Furies gave me, which reminds me. I owe them a fruit basket," said Lorne.
"You better send it before FedEx goes out again," said Lindsey.
"The Senior Partners know you guys are here, right?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah," said Gunn.
"Maybe you should have a second place, y'know, incase things get out of hand here?" suggested the teen.
"We could use Caritas," suggested Lorne. "I mean, it's no Hilton, but I doubt the Senior Partners still remember that I have it."
"I could put a cloaking spell on the Hyperion, Caritas, and the sewers in between," offered Willow.
"Spike and I can go get the supplies," said Faith.
"Just don't get sidetracked," teased Gunn.
"Funny, funny," said Faith as she headed for the door with Spike in tow.
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"I couldn't tell if this said parsley or parsnip, so I got both," said Faith as she set the bag of herbs in front of Willow.
"Either one works," replied the red head as she removed the herbs from the bag.
"Good."
"Are you and Spike, y'know, a couple?" asked Willow suddenly.
"What?" asked Faith.
"Well, it's just, you two seemed I don't know, close, plus Gunn's comment."
"Yeah, we're sort of . . ."
"Dating?"
"Yeah, dating. God, that sounds so weird coming out of my mouth." Faith sat down on the edge of the table.
"Weren't you dating Robin?"
"Yeah, but he wanted to settle down and I hadn't even admitted that we were dating."
"That's why you two broke up?" Willow began to set up the spell.
"Yeah."
"Well Spike and you can't get married, so there's no problem there. Right?"
Faith was quiet for a moment.
"Yeah, no problem." Faith pushed herself off the table and headed out of the room.
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"You okay?" Faith looked up to see Spike leaning in the doorway of their room.
"I'm fine," replied Faith as Spike walked over to her.
"You sure? Cause from where I'm standing, it looks like your packing up." Spike looked at the bag that Faith was putting clothes into.
Faith looked down at the pair of jeans that she had in her hand and then back up at Spike.
"I'm scared."
"Of what?" asked Spike.
"Us," replied Faith quietly.
"What's scary about us?" asked Spike.
"I feel helpless and I can't stand it."
"What?" asked Spike in confusion.
"I've never gotten close enough to someone to admit that I needed them or that there was any sort of commentment."
"Still not following you, Pet," said Spike.
"I was talking to Red and she made me realize, that I've gotten close to you. Close enough to admit that I need you, hell, close enough to admit that I love you."
Spike was quiet for a moment.
"Love you too."
Faith smiled.
"I guess it's not so bad to need someone," said Fred with a smile.
"Are you still leaving?" asked Spike.
"No." Faith tossed the pair of jeans over her shoulder and pulled Spike into a kiss.
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"All done," announced Willow as she and Dawn came back from the sewers and Caritas.
"Everything worked?" asked Angel.
"We are now peacefully cloaked," said Dawn with a smile.
"Great, now we're prepared for anything," said Andrew just as a huge clap of thunder shook the Hyperion.
"Please tell me we're just in for a little rain," said Lorne as Spike and Faith came down the stairs.
"If a little rain can completely block out the sun," said Lindsey as he opened the door and stepped outside.
"You've got to be shitting me. We're going through this again?" commented Gunn as he looked out into the darkened streets of LA.
"Giles better haul ass," said Faith.
"Is it just me, or is having the door open a bad idea?" asked Andrew.
"The young one's right, we don't want to advertise our position anymore then necessary," said Illyria.
Lindsey closed the door once everyone had gone back inside.
"I think it's safe to say we're screwed," commented the former lawyer.
"Definitely," said Faith with a nod.
"What should we do?" asked Oz.
"I'm not sure, Wes?" Angel turned toward the former watcher. "Got any ideas?"
"Well, no actually," replied Wesley. "There's nothing really attacking, so I suppose the only thing we can do is wait."
"I hate waiting," grumbled Gunn.
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"Lets watch a movie!" said Andrew cheerfully as he came into the lobby pushing a cart with a TV and DVD player on it.
"Where did you find that?" asked Gunn.
"The basement," replied Andrew as he stopped and began to hook up the equipment.
"I didn't know we had a DVD player," commented Angel.
"Cordelia bought it," said Wesley quietly.
"Oh."
"Are you gonna join us Blue?" asked Gunn.
"I have nothing else to do," replied Illyria.
"What are we watching?" asked Willow.
"I could only find Army of Darkness," said Andrew.
"With Bruce Campbell?" asked Willow.
Andrew nodded.
"He reminds me of Xander," said Dawn as Andrew put in the DVD.
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Faith and the others were awakened by the sound of someone pounding on the door.
"Funny how quickly a movie puts you to sleep," said Lorne with a yawn.
"More like makes you want to be put to sleep," commented Spike.
"Anyone going to bother with the possible baddies at the door?" asked Dawn.
"Right," said Spike as he walked over and cautiously opened the door.
"Oh, hello Spike," said Giles. "I wasn't expecting you."
"How'd you get 'ere so quick?" asked Spike, eying Giles, Xander, and the potentials.
"Well, we would've flown, but teleportation seemed to be the quicker route," said Giles as he and the others stepped inside.
"Wow, the whole gang's here," said Xander as he looked around the room.
"Yeah, minus Buffy, who's on vocation," said Andrew.
Several of the slayers made disgusted faces at this. Spike wasn't sure if it was because they thought she shouldn't be on one, or if it was who she was with that was the problem.
"She'll show up sooner or later," said Angel.
"Better be sooner," said a slayer.
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To Be Continued . . .
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