Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire
Chp.40
When the Dust Settles
All other info is in the first chapter
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Angel sits behind his desk, contemplating the heavy envelope that Harmony had just handed him. He doesn't realize what's about to happen. He flips the envelope over, and hears something rattle within it.
The door to his office slides open, admitting the Scooby's and Angel's team. They talk amongst themselves, disturbing his silent reverie of the envelope.
He rises from his black, leather chair, with the envelope still grasped in his hand, he watches the teams file into the room.
"Hey guys. Is there any news?" He asks the group now standing in front of him. He lifts his hand and feels whatever is inside of the package slide down to the end of the envelope.
Everyone looks at him, with varying degrees of 'HUH!' written on their features.
Angel cocks on brow, and opens his eyes a bit wider. "Buffy?"
With the explanation of his question, he sees the looks turn into understanding. Then looks over to Giles for an answer.
The older looking mans head fall to his chest, and he clears his throat. ""No, not as of yet, but our people and yours are working on it. Fred has been working diligently on the problem, with the hopes of waking both Buffy and Cordelia." The man looks up to the inquiring eyes of the soulful vampire, and slowly removes the glasses from his face. "The doctors haven't found anything, so we're trying a route we can think of at this point." Giles sighs, rubbing the glasses on the front of his shirt.
"And the mystics?" Angel looks over to the green demon, leaning casually on the arm of a couch.
The mystics. He gets a hopeful glint in his eye. If Lorne's mystics are working on this, they'd have to know something, and anything is better than nothing.
Lorne looks thoughtful for a moment before replying. He caresses his chin with his thumb and forefinger, as he contemplates the many ways he could tell the news. "Angel cakes." There's a snicker from the general vicinity of the corner that Xander is standing in. "They can't get passed that nice little wall the girl has built up in her mind. It's too strong. They're still trying to break through, but that little lady knows how to build a wall."
"She learned from the best." Xander couldn't resist, after he'd gotten his snickering under control.
Everyone ignores his observation.
Angel turns from the group, forgetting that the envelope is still in his hand. With his anger rising with the news he's just been handed, he slings his hand.
Hearing the rip of the paper, he stops, and watches as an object flies out of it. He knows he's seen that amulet before and starts to head for it as it crashes into the side of his desk. As he starts to reach for it the thing starts to emit a blinding light.
The light shoots up to the ceiling, nearly searing Angels hand in the process. He quickly pulls away from it, and stares in awe of the light show.
The rest of the group watches in fascination as the light starts to swirl around.
Angel instinctively steps back a few paces, when the light begins to emit dust, and swirls faster than before.
Watching as the swirling particles start to form a humanlike skeleton, then it forms what seems to be muscle and sinew. As the dust and light recedes back into the amulet, the skin and hair form in rapid succession. Everyone looks on in amazement, standing in front of the group, is the fully formed, duster wearing Spike.
"What the, and huh?" Are the first words to be emitted from a totally awestruck Xander.
Spike stands in front of the assembled group of Scooby's, a few wankers that he's never seen before and Angel. They all stare back at him with varying degrees of surprise, and looks of condescension
"Wh-what?" He finally says, as his confused gaze lands on the other souled vampire in the room.
"Spike!" Angel exclaims. He'd finally found his voice, and spits the name out with vehemence. Making it sound as if it were an obscenity, instead of the blonde's moniker.
Fred stands between Gunn and Wes, not really understanding what's going on. "Who's Spike?" She asks, as she looks at the guy that had just appeared out of thin air, or to be more precise the ugliest amulet that she'd ever laid her eyes upon.
Wesley looks over to his left at the pretty scientist, and smiles. "Will. . ." He starts to explain, but is cut off by the other British man standing on his right.
"William the Bloody." Giles' deep voice says with clarification, and looks over at the skinny brunette that had asked the question. "A fourth of the Scourge of Europe, once paramour to Drusilla, Slayer of two slayers, part of the same order of vampires that Angel belongs to." Giles sighs with reluctance, after the first part of the history lesson, regretting that he has to say the next part. "Ally, well mostly an ally of Buffy's for the last several years." He finishes, looking over to the bleached vampire now standing in the middle of the office.
The mention of Buffy's name had brought Spike to attention. His steely, blue gaze falls heavily on the watcher. Suddenly the gaze turns to an almost feral yellow, and his demon surges to the fore, unbidden. "Buffy!" He shouts, as realization hits that she isn't anywhere in the room. He rechecks, looking at the group strewn out in the office, also taking note that the Nibblet isn't there either. "Where is she?" His voice comes out in a calm fashion, as the demon leaves to return the human face.
"Well, the last time any of us seen her, Spike," Angel starts to answer. Spikes name comes out sneered with intentional malice, as he looks upon him. "She was resting peacefully in a coma." The end of the explanation comes out with a sarcastic hint to it.
"Coma." Spike states, his bravado falling heavily at the revelation. "Last time I seen her she was laying in my arms asleep." His anger starting to brim, he shakes his head. "What did you do to her you wanker?" He yells, letting his anger take him over. He stalks over to the dark vampire and stands directly in front of him, taking a well-placed swing at Angels jaw.
Angel dodges the swing, and laughs. "Listen, boy." He says, as he straightens out the coat on his shoulders, his voice taking on the semblance of Angelus. "I didn't do a thing to her." He steps back from another flying fist. "When the Sunnydale group came here, she was already in the coma."
After taking the last swing at Angel, Spike had taken to pacing the floor, and putting a little distance between himself, and the other occupants of the office.
Dawn suddenly rushes into the room, never noticing the scene playing out in front of them all, and completely oblivious to the blonde vampire pacing like a caged tiger across the room. "Guys!" She says, bouncing in with a gleeful smile marring her features. She steps in front of Giles, bouncing heavily on the balls of her feet.
Giles looks down fondly on the brunette, places both hands on her little shoulders, and turns her to face the front of the room.
Dawn thinks this is some weird illusion, that couldn't be Spike. He had died; the hellmouth had caved in on him. With all of this running through her head, she finally looks directly at him. "Spike?" The name comes on a choked whisper, as the brunette almost runs to him, but there is more pressing matters at the moment, namely the blonde slayer, crying her eyes out down in the medical ward. She didn't have the time to have a happy reunion with her best friend.
The pacing vampire turns, at the mention of his name, stopping mid-step as his eyes fall on the littlest Summers girl. "Nibblet?" A smile spreads invitingly over his face, as he sees that the Bit is all right, if not a little teary eyed.
As Spike smiles at her another even brighter smile crosses Dawns face. Then as realization finally hits her, the smile almost breaks her face. Not only has she gotten her sister back, but also at the same time she has her best friend. She looks up into the deep blue eyes as they stare inquisitively at her. She can't form words, but as she looks at him something comes to mind. "Buffy. She. . . She needs to see you." Yeah it was lame, but got the point across, as she sees his eyes lighten.
At the mention of Buffy the others rush over to her, questions start to fly, and there's no way she's going to field them all. She answers a few of them, and turns to Spike, as Xander asks if they should go down and make sure she's all right. Dawn shakes her head. "No, I think the only person she really would want to see is Spike. He's the first thing she asked about." With the answer, she turns on her heel, and marches over to the door. "Spike?"
He looks over to her, smiling like an idiot. "Yeah, Platelet?"
"If you're coming, you might want to follow me." She snarks, and makes her way out the entry into the hallway.
Spike looks at all of the others, waves a hand in the air, and marches out the door in Dawns wake.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Back from vacation, and would've had this up before now, but I had to cram a weeks worth of work into four days after I came back. The horses need to be ready for a show in less than a month, oh joy. Also, my live Journal will be hosting my review of Angel's 'Underneath' later this afternoon, I bloody well hope.)
Chp.40
When the Dust Settles
All other info is in the first chapter
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Angel sits behind his desk, contemplating the heavy envelope that Harmony had just handed him. He doesn't realize what's about to happen. He flips the envelope over, and hears something rattle within it.
The door to his office slides open, admitting the Scooby's and Angel's team. They talk amongst themselves, disturbing his silent reverie of the envelope.
He rises from his black, leather chair, with the envelope still grasped in his hand, he watches the teams file into the room.
"Hey guys. Is there any news?" He asks the group now standing in front of him. He lifts his hand and feels whatever is inside of the package slide down to the end of the envelope.
Everyone looks at him, with varying degrees of 'HUH!' written on their features.
Angel cocks on brow, and opens his eyes a bit wider. "Buffy?"
With the explanation of his question, he sees the looks turn into understanding. Then looks over to Giles for an answer.
The older looking mans head fall to his chest, and he clears his throat. ""No, not as of yet, but our people and yours are working on it. Fred has been working diligently on the problem, with the hopes of waking both Buffy and Cordelia." The man looks up to the inquiring eyes of the soulful vampire, and slowly removes the glasses from his face. "The doctors haven't found anything, so we're trying a route we can think of at this point." Giles sighs, rubbing the glasses on the front of his shirt.
"And the mystics?" Angel looks over to the green demon, leaning casually on the arm of a couch.
The mystics. He gets a hopeful glint in his eye. If Lorne's mystics are working on this, they'd have to know something, and anything is better than nothing.
Lorne looks thoughtful for a moment before replying. He caresses his chin with his thumb and forefinger, as he contemplates the many ways he could tell the news. "Angel cakes." There's a snicker from the general vicinity of the corner that Xander is standing in. "They can't get passed that nice little wall the girl has built up in her mind. It's too strong. They're still trying to break through, but that little lady knows how to build a wall."
"She learned from the best." Xander couldn't resist, after he'd gotten his snickering under control.
Everyone ignores his observation.
Angel turns from the group, forgetting that the envelope is still in his hand. With his anger rising with the news he's just been handed, he slings his hand.
Hearing the rip of the paper, he stops, and watches as an object flies out of it. He knows he's seen that amulet before and starts to head for it as it crashes into the side of his desk. As he starts to reach for it the thing starts to emit a blinding light.
The light shoots up to the ceiling, nearly searing Angels hand in the process. He quickly pulls away from it, and stares in awe of the light show.
The rest of the group watches in fascination as the light starts to swirl around.
Angel instinctively steps back a few paces, when the light begins to emit dust, and swirls faster than before.
Watching as the swirling particles start to form a humanlike skeleton, then it forms what seems to be muscle and sinew. As the dust and light recedes back into the amulet, the skin and hair form in rapid succession. Everyone looks on in amazement, standing in front of the group, is the fully formed, duster wearing Spike.
"What the, and huh?" Are the first words to be emitted from a totally awestruck Xander.
Spike stands in front of the assembled group of Scooby's, a few wankers that he's never seen before and Angel. They all stare back at him with varying degrees of surprise, and looks of condescension
"Wh-what?" He finally says, as his confused gaze lands on the other souled vampire in the room.
"Spike!" Angel exclaims. He'd finally found his voice, and spits the name out with vehemence. Making it sound as if it were an obscenity, instead of the blonde's moniker.
Fred stands between Gunn and Wes, not really understanding what's going on. "Who's Spike?" She asks, as she looks at the guy that had just appeared out of thin air, or to be more precise the ugliest amulet that she'd ever laid her eyes upon.
Wesley looks over to his left at the pretty scientist, and smiles. "Will. . ." He starts to explain, but is cut off by the other British man standing on his right.
"William the Bloody." Giles' deep voice says with clarification, and looks over at the skinny brunette that had asked the question. "A fourth of the Scourge of Europe, once paramour to Drusilla, Slayer of two slayers, part of the same order of vampires that Angel belongs to." Giles sighs with reluctance, after the first part of the history lesson, regretting that he has to say the next part. "Ally, well mostly an ally of Buffy's for the last several years." He finishes, looking over to the bleached vampire now standing in the middle of the office.
The mention of Buffy's name had brought Spike to attention. His steely, blue gaze falls heavily on the watcher. Suddenly the gaze turns to an almost feral yellow, and his demon surges to the fore, unbidden. "Buffy!" He shouts, as realization hits that she isn't anywhere in the room. He rechecks, looking at the group strewn out in the office, also taking note that the Nibblet isn't there either. "Where is she?" His voice comes out in a calm fashion, as the demon leaves to return the human face.
"Well, the last time any of us seen her, Spike," Angel starts to answer. Spikes name comes out sneered with intentional malice, as he looks upon him. "She was resting peacefully in a coma." The end of the explanation comes out with a sarcastic hint to it.
"Coma." Spike states, his bravado falling heavily at the revelation. "Last time I seen her she was laying in my arms asleep." His anger starting to brim, he shakes his head. "What did you do to her you wanker?" He yells, letting his anger take him over. He stalks over to the dark vampire and stands directly in front of him, taking a well-placed swing at Angels jaw.
Angel dodges the swing, and laughs. "Listen, boy." He says, as he straightens out the coat on his shoulders, his voice taking on the semblance of Angelus. "I didn't do a thing to her." He steps back from another flying fist. "When the Sunnydale group came here, she was already in the coma."
After taking the last swing at Angel, Spike had taken to pacing the floor, and putting a little distance between himself, and the other occupants of the office.
Dawn suddenly rushes into the room, never noticing the scene playing out in front of them all, and completely oblivious to the blonde vampire pacing like a caged tiger across the room. "Guys!" She says, bouncing in with a gleeful smile marring her features. She steps in front of Giles, bouncing heavily on the balls of her feet.
Giles looks down fondly on the brunette, places both hands on her little shoulders, and turns her to face the front of the room.
Dawn thinks this is some weird illusion, that couldn't be Spike. He had died; the hellmouth had caved in on him. With all of this running through her head, she finally looks directly at him. "Spike?" The name comes on a choked whisper, as the brunette almost runs to him, but there is more pressing matters at the moment, namely the blonde slayer, crying her eyes out down in the medical ward. She didn't have the time to have a happy reunion with her best friend.
The pacing vampire turns, at the mention of his name, stopping mid-step as his eyes fall on the littlest Summers girl. "Nibblet?" A smile spreads invitingly over his face, as he sees that the Bit is all right, if not a little teary eyed.
As Spike smiles at her another even brighter smile crosses Dawns face. Then as realization finally hits her, the smile almost breaks her face. Not only has she gotten her sister back, but also at the same time she has her best friend. She looks up into the deep blue eyes as they stare inquisitively at her. She can't form words, but as she looks at him something comes to mind. "Buffy. She. . . She needs to see you." Yeah it was lame, but got the point across, as she sees his eyes lighten.
At the mention of Buffy the others rush over to her, questions start to fly, and there's no way she's going to field them all. She answers a few of them, and turns to Spike, as Xander asks if they should go down and make sure she's all right. Dawn shakes her head. "No, I think the only person she really would want to see is Spike. He's the first thing she asked about." With the answer, she turns on her heel, and marches over to the door. "Spike?"
He looks over to her, smiling like an idiot. "Yeah, Platelet?"
"If you're coming, you might want to follow me." She snarks, and makes her way out the entry into the hallway.
Spike looks at all of the others, waves a hand in the air, and marches out the door in Dawns wake.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Back from vacation, and would've had this up before now, but I had to cram a weeks worth of work into four days after I came back. The horses need to be ready for a show in less than a month, oh joy. Also, my live Journal will be hosting my review of Angel's 'Underneath' later this afternoon, I bloody well hope.)