Only Time Will Tell

Summary – Who dies when 'it' comes? Who lives? Lorne has returned, but what will become of him? And what of Gunn? The end is coming, but for who? Only time will tell…

Disclaimer – I own nothing except the idea of what happened after Not Fade Away. I don't own the characters; I don't own the original story. They belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Darn…

Author's Note: So here is chapter three. You like? I'm trying to decide what to do with the characters now. I think I understand how hard it must have been for the writers of Angel to have to keep coming up with storylines, conversations between characters and all the actions and stuff. It's time-consuming and not to mention hard to settle on one idea. So anyway, enough of my talking. Please read and review.

Chapter Three – The End Has Come

'Angel, are you serious about the Senior Partners. Can they really throw anything else at us? There really isn't anything else left to throw.' Spike said.

'I'm serious Spike. And yeah, there is more that they can throw at us.'

'You are joking, right?' Lorne piped up as he supported Gunn's weight to carry him off to a safer place.

'No, sorry Lorne. The Senior Partners only gave us a variation of what they call Hell. The beasts we fought are nothing compared to what we'll be up against if they open the gates of Hell to the darkest and most evil creatures that ever walked the Earth. As much as I don't want you guys to be here when that happens, we've come too far to turn back now. We all made a promise to fight this fight, and that's what we'll do.' Angel paused and examined everyone's expressions. 'Are you ready?'

Spike again was the first to respond. 'Yeah, couldn't be any readier.'

Next, Illyria. 'I told you I would fight by your side Angel. And I told you that I wanted revenge for Wesley's death.'

'Wesley's dead?' Lorne asked. Angel nodded solemnly. 'Well then, I guess I'm in. I don't really have a choice now, do I?'

'You've always got a choice.' Angel said. 'Always. But what about your vampire army? We'll need them to fight.'

Lorne turned back to face his army in the alley. 'Are you fellas up for another song, or are you willing to fight with us without persuasion?' he shouted. His response was a mix of screaming and war cries. 'Okay, a song it is then!' He tried so hard to on a happy face, but he couldn't. He began to sing, "I will survive" at the top of his lungs, which brought the Senior Partners to open the gates of Hell and unleash their wrath on the champions who opposed them. Distant screams could be heard and all the remaining Angel gang felt the pressure and heat as the forces of darkness approached.

'This fight isn't over yet.' Gunn said bravely, climbing to his feet. 'Even though my body may be ready to die, and God knows it is, I won't give up until we fall as one. A team. Just as you said Angel.' He had proved his faith and trust to Angel.

'Thanks Gunn.' Angel said. 'So we're ready?' Everyone nodded in response, although each was not sure if they were really ready. Lorne's army of vampires was prepared to fight until their un-death and so were Spike and Angel. Illyria, Gunn and Lorne knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up for it, and were no longer afraid of dying. Lorne was slightly afraid, but didn't dare let it show.

As the screams became louder and more high-pitched, the heat could well and truly be felt. Angel and Spike felt it more than any of the others, and had to hold their chests to stop the pain.

'Angel?' Spike cried as the beasts appeared at the opening to the alley. They stopped and stood their guard, waiting for the enemy to attack.

'What is it Spike?' He didn't take his eyes off the beasts for a second. Even though all he could see in the dark was the red of their eyes, he didn't dare to let his guard down. That is when they would attack.

'Do you feel that?' he began as he wheezed and whimpered.

'Yeah.' When he heard Spike he dropped his guard and turned to face him. 'Hey! Don't let it beat you!' He shouted. A battle cry came from the other end of the alley.

Spike fought the pain in his chest and looked up. 'Oh god…' he moaned. He straightened himself up and raised his sword.

'Ready guys? This is it. This is the moment we've been fighting for all this time.' Angel said.

'God Angel, this is really it isn't it?' Spike asked, stepping forward to be level with Angel.

'Yeah.' They looked down the alley as the beasts rushed at them. A familiar sight, but not one that they wanted to see again in their lifetime. Let alone in the same night.

'Let's go out fighting, hey?' Lorne offered trying to be strong. 'Don't stop until you're dead.' The others all looked his direction for a split second in expressions of disbelief that something that bold could come out of Lorne's mouth.

'Sure. Sounds like fun.' Spike said sarcastically as he stepped backwards, almost cowering away from the fight. He wasn't, he was just finishing his statement. 'I'm all for fun.'

'Alright, let's go!' Angel shouted, raising his sword to begin the battle for the second time that night.

Angel battled beast after beast. All large, ugly looking things with either slimy or scaly skin and most with horns. Some carried weapons; some had built-in weapons of their own like claws and teeth. Within moments Angel was matched by a beast slightly larger than the rest. He was picked up by the collar of his coat, thrown off to the side like a discarded cigarette. As he slammed into a wall he dropped his weapon and was left vulnerable. He fell to the ground in a heap and strained to get up. The beast who threw him strolled over casually, all other beasts running for either Spike, Gunn, Illyria or Lorne. He was alone.

Gunn and Lorne were furthest back in the alley, only catching the beasts that ran past Spike and Illyria, who were in between them and Angel.

'Die you bastards!' Gunn shouted as he forcefully stabbed each beast that approached him. Lorne did the same and thanks to Spike and Illyria, only about thirty beasts got past.

Spike was beginning to feel weak. The pain in his chest was still getting to him and he wondered how Angel managed to ignore it. Then he saw Angel alone at the side of the alley with a beast that had strayed.

'Illyria!' he shouted. 'Cover me!' Illyria killed two beasts with one quick roundhouse kick and responded to Spike instantly. She grabbed a sword and a battleaxe and fought back as many as she could. Spike ran forward and over to his sire. He fought of at least ten beasts on his way over, killing them all instantly.

He watched Angel be picked up by the beast and pinned against the wall. It then skewered him with his own sword and looked him in the eye. Spike snuck up behind the beasts' back and raised his sword.

'It was nice knowing you Angelus.' The beast whispered, making Angel's expression a mix of fear and worry.

How does it know me? He thought. Then it punched him square in the face and reached into a pocket in the large coat it was wearing. He heard Spike come up behind him and moved out of the way just in time so that instead of stabbing the beast he stabbed Angel in the stomach. He groaned and cried out in pain, now with two sword sticking out of his torso.

'Spike.' He coughed. 'What the…' he paused as he tried not to double over in pain.

'Oh God. Sorry Angel.' He looked down at his sire who was inching his way to the ground.

'Behind you...' Angel tried to point but it was too late. The beast forced his elbow into Spike's back and he fell forward, hit the wall then crashed to the pavement beside Angel. His nose had begun to bleed.

'Sorry Angel, I gotta do this.' Spike said as he rolled out of the way of a punch aimed at his head. 'This in gonna hurt.' He reached for one of the swords and yanked it out.

'Aagh!' Angel screamed in agony as he felt blood rushing from the wound. Spike turned around and speared the sword right through the beast's chest. It slumped to the ground in a heap and Spike turned his attention back to Angel.

'I have to get you out of here.' He said.

'No. We need to keep fighting. Pull it out.' He gestured to the other sword sticking out of his stomach. Spike took hold of the handle and pulled it out, resulting in Angel screaming in pain again. Spike grabbed his shoulders and pulled him forward so he could get behind Angel and drag him away. Angel coughed and spluttered, half choking on blood.

'Come on Angel, help me out here.' Spike said as he dragged Angel behind a dumpster and a bunch of crates. Angel tried to stand, but couldn't. He leaned forward and spat out a mouthful of blood.

'Spike, just go. The others need help. I'll be fine here until I can gather enough strength to come back out and fight.'

'Angel…'

'Spike, I'm not stupid. I know when I don't have the energy to do something, but I know that I have the energy inside me somewhere. Just give me a little time.'

'Time is something we don't have mate. If I go back out there…' he paused. 'You won't see me again.' Spike's expression was serious. He looked his sire in the eyes as he spoke.

'I know. Just go Spike.' Angel gently pushed him away, telling him to return to the fight. Spike sighed.

'Goodbye Angel.'

'Goodbye Spike.'

Spike disappeared around the dumpster and grabbed his sword from out of the beasts chest as he ran past. He slayed a half a dozen beasts as he returned to his post with Illyria. Angel watched from behind the dumpster as his friends battled for their lives.

Spike quickly got back into the fight, helping out Illyria as the beasts kept coming.

'These things just don't quit do they?' he cried. 'Die!' He stabbed a beast in the chest and let it fall to the ground.

Lorne and Gunn were doing surprisingly well, but then again, they were at the back. Illyria seemed to be able to take care of herself and had successfully battled at least a hundred beasts. Lorne's army of vampires was weakening, and was down ninety to one hundred and fifty.

Angel watched from behind the safety of the dumpster as Spike battled the many demons that came towards him. He killed dozens, leaving only their carcasses to rot in the alley. In shock, horror and disbelief, Angel watched as a beast ran towards Spike as he had his back turned. It was carrying a garden shovel, with the wooden end pointed at Spike.

'No!' Angel shouted as it forced the shovel through Spike's back, aiming for his heart. As he spun around to face the demon he turned to dust. Spike was gone.

Next chapter… the aftermath. What happens to those who are left? And Spike's death, never what it seemed.