California Trippin'

Disclaimer-I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dark Angel, only the parts that I make up in this story.

Summary-This is a crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Max, Alec, Jondy, and Krit leave Seattle in need of a vacation. Everything has blown over with the transgenics and familiars. The virus between Max and Logan is cured but they aren't together. The transgenics are free to roam around without the hate groups and so they decide to go to California, where Buffy and the gang are dealing with the First.

Pairings-I finally figured out what the pairings are...Max/Spike, Jondy/Krit, Faith/Alec, and Buffy/Angel.

Chapter Twelve-Hope

"So where exactly are we going?" Max asked as she, Buffy, and Spike walked through the cemetery. Buffy smiled slightly.

"You'll see in a few minutes. It's not too far away," she answered. Max and Spike glanced at each other.

"So you're not even gonna tell us the point of this little field trip?" Spike questioned. Buffy didn't answer. "That's fine." They walked in silence for the next few minutes. Suddenly, Buffy stopped.

"There," she pointed out a pyramid shaped tomb.

"Looks promising," Max commented as Buffy opened the gate and they walked up to the tomb.

"Got that right," Buffy mumbled before she kicked down the door.

"I take it this isn't a polite-knock-and-wait-to-be-invited field trip," Spike said as they descended the stairs.

The inside of the tomb was lit, although dimly, by torches, giving it an orange hue. They looked around cautiously. A woman's voice came from behind a drape.

"I'd forgotten," she said, opening the drape. "I'd forgotten how young you'd be." The woman appeared very old, with long white hair. "Comes from the waiting. Mind plays tricks. I see you've found our weapon."

"Who are you?" Max asked. The woman looked over at her.

"One of many," she answered. "Well...time was. Now I'm alone in the world." She squinted her eyes at Max and Spike. "I'm sorry, I don't believe you're supposed to be here." They glanced at each other. "I don't mean to be rude, but I would appreciate it if you waited outside while I talked to...What is your name?"

"Buffy."

"No, really," the woman said. Buffy just shrugged and glanced away. The woman frowned briefly but then turned back to Max and Spike. "If you could, please..."

"Wait outside," Max nodded in understanding. "Holla if you need us," she said to Buffy before she and Spike headed back outside. Buffy turned to the woman.

"So what are you? Like a ghost or something?" The woman laughed softly.

"Nope. I'm as real as you are. Just...well...let me put it this way-I look good for my age. I've been waiting." She held out her hands for the scythe and Buffy gave it to her. "You pulled it of the rock. I was one of those that put it there."

"What is it?"

"A weapon," the woman answered as she examined it. "A scythe. Forged in secrecy and kept hidden from the Shadow Men..."

"Yeah, met those guys," Buffy interrupted. "Didn't really care that much for 'em." The woman smiled softly.

"Then you know. They became the watchers. And the watchers watched the slayers. But we were watching them."

"So you're...what, exactly?"

"Guardians. Women who want to help and protect you. We forged this centuries ago, halfway around the world. It was put to use right here...to kill the last pure demon that walked the Earth. The rest were already driven under. And then there were men here, and then there were monks. And then there was a town, and now there was you. And the scythe remained hidden."

"I don't understand. How come we didn't know about this before?"

"Because we stayed hidden as well. We had to, until now. We're the last surprise."

"Does this mean we can win?"

"That really depends on you. This is a powerful weapon," the woman handed the scythe back to Buffy. "But you already have weapons. Use it wisely and perhaps you can beat back the rising dark. One way or another, it can only mean an end is truly near." Buffy whipped around to the entrance as she heard loud shouts coming from outside.

"What..." she began, but a loud crack caused her to spin back around. The woman fell to the ground and Buffy looked up to see Caleb standing there.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last part on account of her neck snapping and all," he said. "Did she say the end is near...or here?"

"Buffy!" she heard Max call. "The bastard put up some boundary thingy! We can't get in!"

Buffy glanced back at Caleb. He just smirked. She scowled and swung the scythe at him. But he grabbed it with ease, pushing her away. She punched him in the face and he retaliated with a kick to her chest. She elbowed him and he backhanded her across the face. He seemed much stronger than before as he tried to punch Buffy, but she ducked and he punched his fist through a stone pillar. He laughed harshly.

"You're not slipping out of this fight, girlie. Can't you see? You can't stop me. I can just keep going back for more. It's like being reborn," he said.

Flashback...

Caleb and The First in Buffy's form were talking.

"Why did you let her go? You know I could take her in a fight!" Caleb said angrily. Buffy/The First rolled her eyes.

"We'll get her. Just calm down," she said tiredly.

"I'm calm! You should see me when I get angry," Caleb retorted.

"She's powerful right now. And you're weak," Buffy/The First explained.

"You know, all of a sudden, I'm getting less calm."

"Face it. You're strength is waning. It has been quite some time since we've..." she looked at him seductively. "Merged."

"Alright. Let's do it then," Caleb replied. He turned his head side to side and sniffed. Buffy/The First rolled her eyes again.

"Gee, you sure know how to romance a girl," she quipped. "What? No flowers, no dinner, no tour of the rectory. Just 'alright let's do it'. Help me, my knees are weak." Caleb glared at her.

"Watch what you say now. You're startin' to sound like her. This is a sacred experience for me," he said.

"And for me as well. When all this is over, and our armies spring forth, and our will sweeps the world, I will be able to enter every man, woman, and child, just as I enter you."

"Are you trying to make me jealous?"

"I'm trying to make you a God."

They stood facing each other, both holding out their hands and leaning their heads back. The First changed form into its demon apparition-huge with two horns on its head and glowy red eyes. The First lunged toward Caleb, glowing and growling.

"I am thy humble servant," Caleb said. The First's energy contracted into a beach-ball sized shiny light and entered Caleb, causing him to wobble a bit. He rolled back his head and fell to the ground. When he sat up again, his eyes were black and his voice was creepy and deeper. "And I am ready to serve thee."

End Flashback...

Buffy swung the scythe at Caleb's head, but he ducked and threw her against the wall. Then he kicked her into the air and punched her stomach before she fell to the ground again. He kicked her in the head and grabbed the scythe, but Buffy kicked it out of his hands and into the air. She grabbed it and kicked Caleb to the floor. She went to stab him with the pointy-end of the scythe but he stopped her from plunging it into his chest. He laughed and pushed her away, taking the scythe from her and dropping it to the floor. He walked towards her and punched her repeatedly until she fell to the ground. She charged at him again but he deflected her and threw her onto a sarcophagus. She kicked him. He picked her up by the lapels and swung her body into a stone pillar so hard that it moved one of the stones out of place. Buffy fell to the ground and Caleb picked up the scythe.

"I was kinda hoping it'd go this way," he said as he reared back with the scythe.

Buffy quickly rolled out of the way and Caleb plunged the scythe into the ground. Buffy landed a hard kick to his head and he staggered back. She reclaimed the scythe and swung it at him, slicing his stomach. He stumbled back, laughed heartily, wagged his finger at her, and fell to the floor.

Buffy sighed and then whipped around at the sound of Spike and Max tumbling down the stairs.

"That was definitely a less than graceful entrance," Max mumbled as she stood up, dusting off her clothes. Spike did the same. Buffy just smiled at them.

"Is preacher-guy dead then? Considering the boundary is broken," Spike asked. Buffy began to nod but Caleb suddenly stood up and whacked Spike and Max on the head with a cat statue, sending them across the floor. He walked up to Buffy, black blood streaming from his eyes and nose.

"Are you ready to finish this, bitch!" he screamed. Buffy stared at him wide-eyed.

Caleb swung the cat statue at her, but she blocked it with the scythe. She tried to cut him again but he blocked her move. He knocked her to the ground and then threw the statue at her. Buffy stood, holding the scythe.

"Okay, how many times do I have to kill you? Ballpark figure."

"You understand nothing," Caleb retorted angrily.

Buffy swung the scythe at him again, but he grabbed it and punched her twice in the face. He lifted her into the air, holding her back against the low part of the ceiling. Buffy struggled and Caleb finally let her fall to the floor. He walked up to her slowly and picked her up by the lapels.

"You think you have power over me?" he growled through gritted teeth. Buffy broke free from his grip and kicked him, knocking him to the floor. "Stupid girl." He stood. "You can't stop me. You don't have the ba..." Buffy twirled the scythe and swung it up between his legs. His eyes went wide.

"Who does nowadays?" she quipped before swiftly pushing the scythe up through his body.

"Okay, where the hell is that guy?" Max asked as she and Spike stood up. Buffy looked to her right, then her left, and then back to Max and Spike.

"He had to split," she said before giggling devilishly.

"Holy crap," Max commented as she noticed the two parts that had once been Caleb. Spike just smirked as he stared at them.

"Wow. What happened here?" a man's voice interrupted them. They whipped around. The man was around six feet tall and his hair was gelled up in the front.

"Who are you?" Max asked suspiciously, noting that his heart wasn't beating. The man returned the scowl.

"Depends on who you are," he replied. Then he noticed Spike. "You," he growled and took a few steps toward him. Spike just narrowed his eyes. Max quickly stood between them and gave the man a defiant look.

"Stay away from him," she growled, giving the man a heated glare.

"Max, don't. It's just A..." Buffy began, but no one listened to her.

"What is a small girl like you gonna do about it?" the man asked. Max smirked and gave him a hard shove to the chest. He flew across the room and hit the wall.

"Angel!" Buffy yelled and ran to his side. Max's expression was one of shock while Spike grinned gleefully.

"That's Angel?" Max questioned. Spike laughed happily.

"Don't worry about it, luv. The poofter had it coming," he assured. Max glanced at him before joining Buffy, who was helping Angel up.

"I am so sorry," Max apologized as Angel rubbed his neck and winced. "I didn't know you were Angel. It's just...you seemed to be threatening Spike..."

"And you're protecting him?" Angel asked as he leaned against the wall. Max gave Buffy a questioning look.

"Well...he's a good vampire...why wouldn't I?" Max retorted. Buffy sighed after Angel gave Max an incredulous look.

"He has a soul now, Angel. Spike has a soul," Buffy explained.

"Oh..." Angel muttered, looking up at the ceiling. "Everyone's got a soul now." He looked over at Max. "You know, I started it. The whole 'having a soul' thing. Before it was all the cool new thing." Max and Buffy just raised an eyebrow at him.

"Bloody hell you ponce," Spike walked over to them. "Are you 12?" Angel just scowled at him.

"So who are you?" Angel asked Max.

"This is Max," Buffy introduced.

"You're not a vampire or a slayer. I would be able to sense it," Angel began.

"I'm a transgenic," Max said. Angel gave her a questioning look. "Genetically enhanced killing machine. Trained soldier since birth. Formerly hunted down and now fighting for the good guys. Take your pick."

"And Spike's your boyfriend?" he asked incredulously. Max shrugged and glanced at Spike, who was very much enjoying this exchange.

"Guess you could say that," Max answered. Spike's grin widened.

"I thought you loved Buffy?" Angel questioned him.

"So Angel, what are you doing here?" Buffy quickly changed the subject. He handed her a folder.

"I got coverage on the whole thing," he said. "It's very gripping. Needs a third act.

"You have to leave LA," Buffy replied.

"It's the First, right? The power that tried to get me to kill myself?"

"Guess it's really got more ambitious since then," Max commented, flipping through the folder. "It's raising an army."

"I'll have the guys go through that," Buffy gestured towards the folder. "See if there's anything new. Reliable source?"

"Not remotely," Angel replied. He turned to Spike and Max. "Can I talk Buffy alone?" They glanced at each other.

"Sure," Max said, getting up and leaving. But Spike stayed. Max turned back to him. "Are you gonna stay and eavesdrop?" He smirked. "Alright, don't take too long. I'm gonna head back to the house." She left.

"And you're staying, why?" Angel glared at Spike. Spike crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"I'd prefer to eavesdrop in the polite way," he explained. Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Just tell me what you wanted to say," she said. Angel grunted but pulled an amulet out of his pocket and showed it to her. "I can already tell you, I have nothing that goes with that."

"It's not for you," Angel replied. She quirked her eyebrow at him. "I don't know everything. It's very powerful and probably very dangerous. It has a purifying power, a cleansing power, possibly scrubbing bubbles. The translation is really unclear...Anyway, it bestows strength to the right person that wears it."

"And the right person is?"

"Someone ensouled, but stronger than human. A champion. As in me."

"Or me."

"Or me," Spike added.

"No. I don't know nearly enough about this to risk you wearing it," Angel told Buffy, ignoring Spike. "Besides, you got that cool axe-thing going for you." Spike rolled his eyes.

"So you're gonna be with me in this..." Buffy said slowly. Angel smiled.

"Shoulder to shoulder. I'm yours." Buffy smiled.

"No," she retorted. "You're not gonna be in this fight." Angel frowned.

"Why the hell not?"

"Cause I can't risk you," Buffy explained. "If I lose, if this thing gets past Sunnydale, then it's days-maybe hours-before the rest of the world goes. I need a second front and I need you to run it." Angel sighed.

"Fine...but who's going to wear this then?" he held up the amulet again. Buffy frowned, thinking.

"Um, I'm guessing that'd be me?" Spike interrupted. Buffy turned to look at him.

"Are you sure? Angel just said it was dangerous." Spike scoffed.

"If the poofter was gonna wear it, why can't I?" he countered. Angel glared at him.

"I have no problem with Spike wearing the amulet," he said. Buffy sent him a look, knowing what he was thinking. Spike smirked and took the amulet from Angel.

"Guess that's that then. See ya back at the house," he turned to go. "Later Captain Forehead." Both Angel and Buffy rolled their eyes.

"He doesn't seem to have changed much..." Angel muttered. Buffy smiled.

"You'd be surprised." Angel looked over at her.

"Did something happen between you two?" he asked warily. Buffy sighed.

"Yeah," she fidgeted with her hands. "We had a relationship...of sorts." Angel suddenly found the floor very interesting.

"And now he's with that Max girl," he added. Buffy nodded. "That'll end well..." Buffy laughed.

"What was the highlight of our relationship?" she asked. "When you broke up with me or when I killed you? It seems anyone who spends any time on a hellmouth is doomed, relationship-wise." Angel smiled slightly. "But I think they'll be able to make it work...unless this amulet does more than we know..." Angel sighed and a few beats of comfortable silence fell between them.

"Guess I should get back to LA and start working on that second front," Angel placed his hand over Buffy's. "Make sure I don't have to use it." He walked up the stairs and out of the tomb. Buffy hesitated for a second before following him.

"Angel!" she called. He turned back to face her. "Sometimes...I think about the future. And what could happen." She stepped closer to him with each word.

"Sometimes is something," he replied smiling. Buffy gazed up into his eyes.

"It'd be a long time coming. Years if ever," she said.

"I'm not getting any older," Angel countered softly. Buffy smiled and brought her lips up to meet his. The kiss quickly grew intense, as all their kisses seemed to. When their lips finally parted, Buffy grinned widely.

"I just realized I hadn't exactly shown that I was happy to see you," she said, placing her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. "I missed you." Angel rested his chin on top of her head.

"Missed you too," he whispered into her hair. They stayed like that for several minutes before they sadly had to go their separate ways.

Meanwhile at Buffy's House...

Alec sat on Spike's cot, staring at a tv. Faith walked down the steps, watching him with a smirk on her face.

"Where'd you get that?" she asked. Alec smiled and looked over at her.

"Stole it," he answered. Faith rolled her eyes and stood in front of him, blocking his view of the tv. He didn't seem to care though.

"And this house doesn't already have a decent tv you could use?"

"Nope. Andrew was using it to watch some weird cult shows. I decided to go fetch my own," Alec explained. Faith raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms.

"Does it have cable?" she questioned. Alec laughed softly.

"I haven't hooked it up yet."

"Then what tv shows could you possibly be finding entertaining?"

"Coming from someone who was happy to watch Glitter in jail," Alec countered. Faith punched his shoulder.

"You little perv! I knew you and Spike were listening to Max and me talk!"

"Well of course you did, Max told you."

"That's not the point."

"Then what is?"

"That you're a perv." Alec rolled his eyes as he stood up, looking down at her.

"Just figuring that out? Hate to break it to ya honey, but all guys are pervs in their own little ways."

"I already knew that."

"Then why are you so surprised?"

"Who said I'm surprised?"

"That look on your face said it, sweetie."

"Don't call me sweetie."

"What are you gonna do about it?" Alec countered. In the midst of their banter, they hadn't realized how close they'd become. They could both feel each other's hot breath tickling their skin. Alec reached out and lightly stroked Faith's hand, bringing it up to his face. He stared at her intently, waiting for her reaction. She smiled and brought her other hand up to his face.

"The only thing left to do," she replied softly as Alec grinned. She pressed her body against his and kissed him deeply. When their lips parted, Alec trailed tiny kisses along her neck. She arched her back and gasped softly, before turning her head to bring her lips back to his.

"This basement has definitely seen a lot of action lately," Xander's voice rang out. Faith and Alec quickly jumped away from each other in shock. Xander just grinned. "Didn't mean to interrupt the R rated groping but Buffy's got something to tell us upstairs." He walked back up the stairs. Faith and Alec glanced at each other, smiling, and then followed after him.

A/N-I just realized that my past three chapters ended with two people kissing and then leaving or following someone...weird...Oh well, only one chapter left, and it's definitely going to be a long one...Review please!

LadyV77-Well, it'd just gonna be a really really long chapter, I guess ;o)

nights-ether-That they are...hehe.

Lozz422-I'm glad you liked the Spike/Max interaction. I hope you ejoyed the little bit with Faith and Alec too.

Cora-I wish I could tell you that butI guess you'll just have to wait and see ;o) And Buffy needed to kick some ass too so that's why I had her be the one to kill Caleb.

Angel of Darkness231-I'm looking forward to the reviews ;o) And I hope you get better soon ;o)

Sky Angel-And I'm very grateful for it ;o)

Tap Dancing Widow-I don't think anyone will be weirded out since they aren't actually related. And Krit was in the same situation with Syl and so it's probably no big surprise to them.