She'd been driving for two hours now. She drove fast, expressed road rage, ignored rules of driving and even didn't wear a seatbelt. The result of this was a ticket she got out of and being about 10 minutes away from the place in her dream. She wasn't sure what she was going to say to the person or if she was going to know the person who lived there, she just knew she had to be there. So she drove and drove hoping she could save Angel in time.
-Marissa's Lair-
Conner burst into the house through the door sword in hand. Cordy, Gunn and Fred follow him in. Gunn sighed, "Or we could do it the loud way."
They looked around the cluttered but empty room. Cordy shrugged, "Doesn't matter, looks like she's out."
Gunn examined the room, "Man this is just nasty. I don't know how people live like this."
Cordy shrugged, "Helps if you're dead."
Gunn nodded, "Yeah, one more reason to stay pink and rosy."
Fred winked at him, "Word. So, what do you think? From the smell I'm guessing she still lives here. Should we wait for her to come back, or..."
Conner interrupted, "No." He flips back a blanket and picks up some headphones from which music is still playing. "We won't have to."
At that moment Marissa dropped down from the ceiling. She knocked Fred and Gunn to the floor. She ran to attack Conner where they exchanged some blows until Conner pushed Marissa up against a pillar and laid his sword accross her throat.
Cordelia recovered and interviened, "Marissa stop! We just wanna talk."
Mariss looked worried, "I don't know anything."
Gunn smiled, "You psychic?"
Marissa shrugged, "No."
Gunn kept his smile on, "Then shut up and let us ask the question first."
Fred started questioning, "You know the bluffs down by the beach?"
Marissa denied so Gunn started, "You used to feed there."
Mariss fakely admitted to just realizing what they were talking about, "Oh. those bluffs."
Gunn nodded, "Three months ago a friend of ours went missing down there."
Marissa nodded, "Tall, good looking, wierd hair?"
Fred smiled, "You saw him?"
Marissa shrugged, "I see a lot of things. What do you care?"
Conner started, "He's my father. If you know what..."
Connor pulled the sword back from Marissa's throat and she punched him in the gut. She ran passed him and threw herself through the closed window accross the room. Conner jumped off shortly after.
Gunn started yelling, "Never let your guard down! How many times do..."
Conner launched himself through the window not waiting for Gunn to finish. Marissa ran down a dark alley, looked around quickly and then scaled one of the buildings only to find Conner on the roof waiting for her.
Conner instantly started questioning, "What did you see?"
Mariss actually looked scared, "Look whatever I saw, whatever I didn't see, it doesn't matter okay?" She morphs back into human face, "Come on handsome. It'll be our little secret."
Without thinking twice Conner pulled out a stake and dusts her. He heard Gunn call him so he ripped his shirtsleeve and then cuts himself using the stake. Cordy, Fred and Gunn burst out of the stairwell onto the roof ready for a fight. Gunn called first, "Conner!"
Cordy went next, "Are you alright?"
Fred looked around sadly stopping at the cut on his shoulder, "Where is she?"
Conner did nothing but lie, "She attacked me. I had no choice."
Gunn shook his head, "Maybe you would of if you weren't always running off, playing hero! Do you know what you just did?"
Connor tosses the stake down and runs to the edge of the building. Fred calls after but he doesn't answer. Connor drops of the edge out of sight. The rest of them stared at each other until they too decided to decend the stairwell to home.
-Hyperion-
They just got off the phone with Lorne and happy faces is defenitely not what you saw. There was no hope throughout the hotel, nothing but worry and anger.
-Buffy's Car-
The place had been a bust for her. No one was there but she smiled when she found out it was Wesley who lived there. the fact there was a chained cage scared her a little bit but then it reminded her of her dream. The girl they called Justine was locked in there. It didn't help her on where to go though. So she sat in her car driving around L.A cursing the fact Angel never told her where she stayed. It wasn't until she drove past the beach that she realized something. She parked the car close to the side and ran down to the sand. She ran to the water and stood for a few seconds with hope in her eyes for Angel but when nothing wrapped around her she opened her eyes.
When she did open her eyes something told her to look to the right. When she did she saw a cliff and thought nothing of it until a boy, a boy that looked oddly farmiliar walked onto it. He stared into the ocean at one spot, one spot which was where the ocean looked like it ended. She continued to stare until Conner finally stared back at her. Even in the complete darkness they could see each other's eyes. Buffy felt a strange comfort from him but knew there was anger and guilt radiating off him. Conner stared at Buffy in fascination. She was so beautiful and his eyes just wouldn't leave hers. It was almost ten minutes before Conner took off back to the hotel and Buffy cursed herself for not going up and talking to him.
The regrets didn't last long because on a little wooden bridge where people could park their boats a light started circling. Buffy could make out figures walking onto the bridge and the boat that was tied to it. She ran towards the boat but stopped on the bridge here she could see Wesley clearly.
She didn't know what else to do but the obvious, "Wesley."
Wesley stopped walking instantly at the sound of Buffy's voice. He quickly hand cuffed Justine to a pole and turned to face the blonde slayer he hadn't seen since the day he was fired. He walked further onto the bridge to meet buffy halfway. He actually smiled, "Buffy Summers."
Not caring how much they used to hate eachother they were soon in a tight embrace. After a few seconds Wesley pulled away, "What are you doing here?"
Buffy got right down to business, "Something's coming Wesley and I know Angel's not safe right now. He needs to be here for this fight and I just need to know what happened."
Wesley nodded already somewhat uderstanding. "How did you know?"
Buffy looked around before looking back at him like someone was watching her. She shook it off and answered, "I know it doesn't sound real but Drusilla's been making me dream things. The ocean, you taking a baby, A girl locked in your closet, Angel in water...It's confusing but it all lead me here."
Wesley nodded and moved to the side a little bit so buffy could see Justine who was all dressed in a diver's suit. He didn't wait for questions, "This is Justine. She and a friend were the ones who put Angel in the water."
Buffy was instantly filled with anger but contained it, "So he's trapped under water? Just lying there? How long as he been like that?"
Wesley was hesitant, "The whole Summer so far."
Buffy shook her head at the chained up woman, "She's the one who slit your neck."
Wesley nodded slowly, "Dream?"
Buffy shook her head and looked up at him, "I can see the scar and I can see how you look at her with hatred. Put two and two together."
Wesley nodded, "Do you know exactly where he is?"
Buffy shook her head, "No. But I'm going to help you find him. He needs to be here."
Wesley nodded and guided her onto the boat. Justine glared up at her the second they were on the boat, "Another Angel groupie?"
Buffy wasted no time in turning around and backhanding her so hard it almost broke the cuffs with how far Justine flew back. Wesley smiled down at her, "Justine, this is Buffy. The slayer. The one person in the whole world you shouldn't have pissed off. Believe me I know."
Justine finally looked back up at the obviously brassed off slayer. Buffy crouched down to her knees and stared her in the eye, "You made the biggest mistake in hurting him. I don't care what your reasons were, I don't even care who you are but I do care that you get what you deserve. You're going to pay for what you did and I'm going to make sure of that myself."
Justine was speechless as buffy stood back up. Buffy watched as Wesley's boat started moving. "Who was the other person? You said she had a friend."
Wesley hesitated for a long time until he finally spoke, "You missed a lot Buffy. Angel's changed a lot. I think you deserve to hear everything from him. I don't mean to make you wait but this isn't something you should hear from especially me."
Buffy looked scared but understood, "You're so much more different now. Sorry i was mean. I just had wierd issues with you replacing Giles."
Wesley actually smiled like he was the scrawny british guy she knew so long ago, "I uderstand Buffy. No worries."
Buffy smiled and looked out to the ocean, "How are we going to know where he is?"
Wesley smiled, "They would of had to put him in something metal so he would sink which means the radar will pick it up."
Buffy smiled, "Good. Good."
There was a small silence as Wesley drove the boat which he found awkward so he broke it, "So anything new in Sunnydale?"
Buffy shook her head and a small smile appeared, "You have no idea how long that story would be."
Wesley smiled, "You can handle it. I don't know you too well but I know you're strong Buffy. Whatever's happening you can handle."
Buffy smiled, "I hope you're right. A lot's coming and a lot's already going on."
Wesley smiled, "What could be so bad right now?"
Buffy sighed, "They built a new high school in the exact same place as the other one and it opens tomorrow. My sister's growing to the point where she wants to be trained, Willow's in England with giles trying to control her magic because she went psycho, Giles is living there because he thinks I can be responsible, Xander and Anya still won't talk about the wedding again so they argue whenever we see each other and Spike... well me and Spike were going through something and he hurt me so he took off. The one guy who i could talk to took off. I don't know wheather to hate him or want him anymore."
Wesley was instantly saddened and put a hand on her shoulder. She smiled and looked down. It was a few seconds before Wesley processe dit all and realized something, "You were dating Spike? The Spike?"
Buffy smiled and shook her head, "No. He just made me feel better by...well we were...hanging out as more then friends but less then a couple."
Wesley got it and smiled, "I understand don't worry."
Buffy nodded, "Yea well after I stopped that we hung around each other a little bit but uh, he got more anxious. He did something I didn't want him to and I haven't heard from him since."
Wesley nodded, "Well if he means that much to you he'll come back."
Buffy shrugged, "Sometimes I wonder if that's a good idea."
Wesley nodded understanding, "At least you're doing better with the whole dying thing."
Buffy smiled, "Yeah. Going to heaven seems like a dream i just want to happen over and over again now."
Wesley smiled, "Angel never said anything about that when he got back from seeing you."
Buffy laughed a little, "I'd be surprised if he ever talked about me at all."
Wesley looked down obviously confirming her suspision, "He's just really caught up in a lot right now."
Buffy nodded, "It's okay. I mean just as long as he isn't dating anyone else because that would of contradicted everything he said the day he broke up with me."
Wesley smiled, "He's not dating anyone from what i hear. I'm not around them that often."
Buffy looked concerned, "So what did you do?"
Wesley sighed, "Committed the ultimate betrayl."
Buffy nodded, "I'll hear about it after."
Wesley nodded and both stared out into the water with curious faces as Justine eyed both of them with hatred.
-Under The Ocean-
Angel's eyes were closed, obviously concentrating on something. There was a small movement above him but it was probably just another boat. He was used to seeing them but something about this one felt different. Something about this boat gave him hope, gave him warmth and gave him a comfort like it was going to save him. He was cold of course but for the first time the whole time he's been down there he got goosebumps and the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
-The Boat-
The radar on Wes' boat started to beep. Buffy and Wesley were instantly in front of the screen with smiles. Wesley just confirmed what she was thinking, "Solid contact. Definitely metallic."
Justine shrugged, "Probably more junk. Could be anything down there."
Wes winked at buffy, "Better have a look then."
He walked to her, unlocked the cuffs and made her stand. She was already wearing the diver's suit so she knew what she had to do. Justine stood near the edge of the boat as Wes tossed her a diving mask which she caught. Buffy smiled at her and handed her the clasps to connect to the device he was in so they could pull him up. Justine just glared as Wesley pushed her in. The beam of Justine's flashlight went accross the lid of Angel's coffin, illuminating his pale and cracked face, and making him blink. Hesitantly Justineconnected him to the hoist and tugged the cords. Wesley and Buffy watched as Justine hopped on the boat herself and the ship's hoist slowly hauls the coffin aboard. The second the coffin hit the deck Buffy gasped in horror at the look of her ex lover. She did the first thing that came to mind, violence. As soon as Justine stood up Buffy walked to her and knocked he runconcous with a hard left.
Wesley already had the blow torch lit as he began to burn through the welds securing the sidebars. Buffy was on the opposite side of him watching with worry and anxiousness. He was done in no time. Wes slides the bars out and Buffy wasted no time in lidting the lid off the coffin herself. Wesley cuts the steel cords holding Angel immobile. Buffy watched him for so long hoping he'd show some sign of life. Wesley was just as intense. All of a sudden Angel's hand shot up and grabbed Wesley by the throat. Angel's eyes snapped open, his brow draws together in a slight frown as his eyes focus on Wes.
Buffy slowly takes a hold of Angel's hand. He actually allows her to pull it away and lay it back down on his chest. Wesley tells Buffy to pick him up which she does. Wesley guided her to a table where Buffy lay Angel down in the main cabin. He then starts to pull out some glass jars filled with dark liquid.
Instinctively Buffy questioned, "Blood?"
Wes nodded, "Animal." Wes lifts his head and tried to feed him. "A vampire can exist indefenitely without feeding but..."
Buffy finished his sentence, "The damage to brain cells or functions could be fatal. Yeah I know. I was actually studying while you were away."
Wesley tried to smile but stopped when Angel started to cough, "Slowly, slowly."
Buffy looked worried, "Shouldn't you phone Cordelia and the rest of the team? They should be prepared. I defenitely don't think I should do it."
Wesley nodded and Buffy took the bag Angel was suckling on as Wes went to the phone.
-Hyperion-
Conner had come home but they had their little fight. Conner stalked upstairs Cordelia walked off tot he office. Gunn and Fred were in the middle of their kiss when the phone rang. Gunn picked it up and didn't like what he heard. Wesley told him about Conner, about Angel and about Justine but he didn't mention a word about Buffy. When they hung up Gunn told Fred and Corelia instantly. They needed a plan.
-On The Boat-
Angel lay on the table in the ship's cabin, a rolled up blanket under his head and another covering his body. Wes went back down the stairs, "How is he?"
Buffy sighed opening another jar of blood, "I think he's hallucinating. He just keeps talking."
Wes walks up to the table. "Angel?"
Angel tries to get up after some ramblings but Buffy lays a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Shh. You need to rest now."
Wes shook his head finally understanding as Angel finished the last jar of blood, "He's been down there too long. Pig's blood isn't enough. He needs more substantial nourishment."
Buffy looked scared, "Like what?"
Wesley pulls out a knife and Buffy shakes her head. Wesley shrugged, "You don't have to do it this time Buffy. I'll just cut in certain places. He'll live and I'll live. I promise."
Hesitantly Buffy nodded, "Anything happens I stop you."
Wesley nodded and sliced across the inner side of his left forearm. He then moved to the table and holds the cut over Angel's lips. Angel's hands come up and he holds Wes' arm in place as he drinks yet he doesn't morph into vamp face.
Hyperion - Conner's Room-
He lay on the bed playing a video game. A knock on the door sounded and he could only yell, "What?"
Fred stood in the now open door way holding a trau with a sandwich and glass of milk, "Brought you a snack."
"I'm not hungry."
Fred smiled, "You're always hungry."
Fred walks into the room and Conner puts the game down. "What is it?"
"Bologna."
Conner made sure, "No tomatoes?"
Conner sat up and reached for the plate but fred pulled back waiting for the magic words. After a please and thank you were said Conner tore into the sadnwich. Fred set down the tray and started to stroke Conner's hair. "Is he still mad?"
"What do you think?"
Conner muttered softly, "Sorry."
Fred started her speech, "I can't imagine what you've been through, Conner, being taken away by Holtz, raised in that place. It must have been horrible. I know you're still hurting but - I promise, it's not nearly as much as you're going to hurt for what you did to you father!"
Conner stopped chewing and looked up at fred who instantly pushed a tazer against his chest and fired. Conner fell back on the bed in pain.
-Bridge-
The boat was back and Angel was closer but still far from being better. Buffy had picked him up and carried him out of the boat. Wesley had gotten Justine up and forced her now concous body out of the boat. He hand cuffed her to a pole and threw the keys just out of arms reach. Buffy slowly put Angel in the back seat and Wesley followed.
Buffy looked back before she started driving, "Are you doing okay?"
Wesley nodded, "We keep taking short breaks I'll be fine."
Buffy nodded and started the car, "Where to?"