WOW THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS ALL. I'M POSTING AS QUICK AS I CAN THIS IS CHAPTER 17 I'VE ACTUALLY GOT UP TO CHAPTER 20 WRITTEN SO IT'S JUST A MATTER A TIME. I'M AS ANXIOUS AS YOU ARE TO SEE HOW IT ENDS. THIS IS CHAPTER IS KIND OF SHORT BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOY R & R AS ALWAYS PLEASE.
TITLE: THE END OF ALL THINGS
AUTHOR:AVES
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN I'M JUST A FAN WITH A VISION I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY
CHAPTER 17
DAWN OF WAR
Several hours has past since Angel's toast to old friends that had passed on. The sun had almost set and the troops were gathering. Angel had slept surprisingly well during the daylight hours and he felt ready. He watched several of the Slayers enter the main lobby. He and Connor exchanged smiles as his son found his team. He saw Spike walk pastand his nose crinkled from a scent he picked up. "Spike," he called.
"Yea?" the younger vampire replied.
"With Illyria?" Angel asked with genuine surprise.
"I was bored," Spike responed with a shrug. The blonde vamp took a moment to look around the room. "So you think we're ready?"
"As we'll ever be," Angel responed. "Look Spike there's something I need to tell you."
"Whoa Peaches," Spike interrupted. "No speeches about what a grand old buddy I've become. I'm just fine with us continuing to hate each other."
"You never stop do you," Angel said rolling his eyes. "Look this is actually business. I need you to take command of the Cleveland force."
"What? Why?" Spike asked."What are you going to do?"
Angel looked away his eyes finding Dawn as he answered. "I have a feeling that Hamilton might try to attack the hotel again, come after the team here. I'm staying behind in case I'm right. You've got Illyria to back you up. You'll be fine."
Spike nodded and stuck out his hand. "Happy hunting Liam."
Angel smiled and took the offered hand. "Don't get yourself killed William."
Buffy watched as the troops filed in. She stood at the front of the lobby next to Giles. She saw Angel finish a conversation with Spike and was now coming towards her. She looked away from him to see Faith give Marcus a kiss on the cheek as he turned to walk her way as well. Faith's eyes met her's and the brunette Slayer gave her a huge smile. Buffy chuckled and shook her head. "She moves fast," she thought to herself.
"Hey," Angel greeted her as he moved to her side. "You ready for this?"
"Not really, but I'm going to do it anyway," she replied.
Buffy smirked at Marcus as he joined them. "You and Faith seem to be getting pretty friendly," she picked at him.
"Faith is a wonderful woman," Marcus replied stoically. "I enjoy her company."
"Shall we begin?" Giles interrupted.
Buffy nodded and turned to face the crowd. "Slayers fall in!" she yelled.
The group of young girls all stood at attention at their leader's command. Buffy looked them over before she spoke. "You all know your team assignments and you all know who in charge of your forces. Now I have heard some rumblings about our allies in this battle. Can you trust them, will they stand beside us. How useful will they be? Will we have to save them again?" Many of the Slayers exchanged uncomfortable glances knowing Buffy was repeating questions they had asked. "These are questions that do not need answering," she continued. "I trust our allies and that should be good enough for all of you. This is a battle greater than ours with The First, but unlike that battle we have many strong allies aiding us, friends that we can trust, that will fight beside us to the death if need be, and if we are fortunate enough, allies that will share in our victory."
Angel moved to the front his turn to address the crowd. "I've told you once before that many of you I don't know, but what I do know is that you entered a fight that was not your own in order to save me and my friends. For this, I thank you. You have all proven to be valuable allies and I know this is a war we will win. For centuries the forces of good have relied on champions to keep this world safe. Well today earth's greatest champions, its best heroes are gathered here. Whether you're a Slayer, a vampire, or whatever. The fact you are here proves that you are a champion. Now, let's go save the world."
With just a few exceptions each team had divided up and was ready for Willow to transport them to their destination. "Are you sure you can do this Will?" Buffy asked.
"Yea," the Wiccan said with a nod, "and remember I'll have a mental link with each team if you need me."
"I'll be sure to call you," Buffy assured her. "You ready?" she asked turning to Connor.
"Yea," the youngster replied. "Just let me do one thing." He walked over a few steps toward his Angel and surprised his father with a hug. "Take care of yourself Dad."
"You too son," Angel replied returing his son's embrace. "I'll see you when I get back."
Connor joined his team and did Marcus and Faith after exchanging goodbyes with the other team leaders. They were followed by Spike and Illyria leaving Angel, Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, and Dawn. Buffy hugged her sister. "Listen to Giles, help out where needed here at the base."
Dawn nodded in acknowledgment, "Please be careful."
"I will," Buffy said with a smile. "I love you Dawnie."
"I love you too," Dawn replied hugging her sister again.
Buffy released her sister. "Give us a minute ok? Say bye to Connor I'm sure he'll like that."
"Ok," Dawn replied.
Dawn's departure left five old friends together. "Well I guess this is it," Xander said. "Anybody got any warm, gushy last minute words."
"Yea," Angel replied. "Try not to lose your other eye."
The others stood speechless at Angel's comment before they all bursted into laughter. "Take care all of you," Giles said.
"Oh don't worry, we'll all come home with stories to tell our grandkids," Willow said.
"I've got dibs on the profits from the sales of I survived the Apocalypse and all I got was this lousy T-shirt T-shirts." Xander joked.
Giles shook his head, "Go all of you, this American humor is more terrifying the impending end of the world."
Angel looked at Buffy, "Be careful."
"You too," she responded then turned away to join her team.
Giles stood next to the vampire as Buffy caught up with Xander. "So who's catering the after apocalypse party?" he asked.
Giles rolled his eyes catching Xander's comment. "The world is doomed."
COMING NEXT CHAPTER
The battle begins.
