Disclaimer: All characters and things from ANGEL and BUFFY belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. If they aren't on the show they belong to me.
Summary: A different turn of events after Season 1 Episode 12 "Expecting" A/C pairing
CHAPTER 42Lilah had stitched Cordelia up in about ten minutes, and Angel had moved her to the couch, trying to get her as comfortable as possible.
"You okay?" Angel asked Cordelia.
Cordelia nodded, taking a deep breath. "I'm fine."
Angel nodded again and then turned to the group. "We've got to stop Angelus."
"You think?" Gunn asked.
"How do you suggest we do that?" Wesley said. "We don't have a soul to get Jess back."
Angel took a deep breath, he couldn't bring himself to say the words, but he didn't have to, because Lilah said them for him.
"So go kill Angelus." Lilah folded her arms. "That's what the kid wanted if Angelus got out."
"We're not killing him." Cordelia said from the couch. "We do that and then Jess is gone."
"Hate to break it to you, but your kid's already gone. Remember? No soul, no Jess." Lilah said.
"Well, just because we don't have Jessica's soul, doesn't mean it isn't still out there." Fred said. "We know it is, you can't just destroy a soul, right?"
Angel nodded. "She is right."
"So we just need to locate the soul and get it back." Wesley said.
"Great plan, except how do we intend of finding the soul?" Lorne asked.
The group got silent again, and their eyes never met each other's. Then Wesley looked up quickly.
"I've got an idea." Wesley said.
Angelus picked up the scent of the Beast almost instantly. True, he didn't really have a problem with the guy, but he did want him out of the picture. It was just competition for him, and Angelus didn't like competition. Plus, he was kind of sick of the sun being blocked out, especially because now, in Jessica's body, he could enjoy it. Make the kill at any time of day, he would be unstoppable.
The Beast's trail led Angelus to an old warehouse. He entered to find the Beast sitting on some crates.
"Well, don't you look blue, rock boy." Angelus smirked.
The Beast lifted his head. "Angelus…" He stood. "I knew you would come."
"Did you…" Angelus said. "And I thought this was going to be a surprise."
"My master has great plans for you."
"I figured." Angelus shrugged. "Why else would you get me out of the Addam's family's basement? But that's why I came here. I wanted to let you and your master know that I make my own plans, and there is no way in hell I'm listening to you or some guy higher up the scale. Especially when I haven't seen a glimpse of your master yet."
"You will. Eventually." The Beast said. "My master has the girls whose body you have taken soul."
"Does he now? We'll when he wants to meet me tell him to drop me a line. I'm out of here." Angelus went to turn, and then turned back. "Or better yet, why don't I just…I don't know, kill you?" Angelus charged at the Beast and with Jessica's strength had no problem dropping a few kicks and fist to keep the Beast down. Angelus held up his fist, amazed at the power it held. "Damn this girl is strong!"
"Is she?" Faith smiled, from behind Angelus.
Angelus turned, with a grin on his face. "Faithy…I knew they would send someone after me eventually. How you doing?"
"Five by five." Faith shrugged, jumping at Angelus.
But Angelus quickly dodged Faith, throwing her in the direction he had thrown the Beast.
Connor watched in horror from the walkway above. He had tracked Faith to the warehouse and was relieved to see that she didn't take Jessica's soul, and had in fact only come to duke it out with Angelus and the Beast. He knew Faith would never take his sister's soul. He was worried however, that Angelus was going to be the end of Faith, and he was debating about how to drop in to scare Angelus and take him down. He knew if he went head to head with Angelus he would never win. Jessica's body possessed much more strength then Connor's ever would.
But as Connor watched the scene below him, he realized he didn't have to worry about Faith.
The Beast was back up, quickly picking Angelus up, and dropping him to the ground. Angelus, however quickly jumped up, flipping over the Beast and managing to break off one of the Beast's horns while he was in the air. The Beast cried out in pain.
"I bet that one hurt." Angelus gave a devilish grin. "But let's see how much this does." He wedged the horn of the Beast into the Beasts back and watched as the Beast exploded into a pile of dust, releasing all the energy and bringing the sun back.
Faith stood quickly, clearly pissed off that Angelus had destroyed her Beast. "You son of a-"
"Now, now Faith." Angelus gave her another quick punch to the gut, sending her across the room. "I would love to stick around, and you know, kill you, but I've got things to do, people to eat, a master to find so I guess we will just have to make plans for another date, you know, when I can kill you."
"You won't…" Faith managed out.
"Oh, but I will." Angelus smirked, before turning out and walking into the sunlight. Before he was out the door, however, he turned back to Faith. "Can't say I don't love the fact that I can walk in sunlight. I'm kind of glad Angel gave his kid's body up for me." Angelus then exited.
Once Angelus was gone, Connor quickly jumped down surprising Faith.
"Connor…" Phony-Faith said. "I didn't know you were here." Her eyes narrowed at him. "How much did you hear?"
"Just Angelus." Connor helped Faith up. "Come on, we've got to get you back to the hotel."
The group in the hotel all made their way to the window, all except Angel, who was just as happy to see the sun, although not as ready as the rest to go stand in it. He really didn't want to add bursting into flames on his to-do list.
"How did the sun come back?" Fred asked.
Wesley shook his head. "The only was to get it back was to destroy the Beast."
Just then Connor entered, helping Faith into the hotel.
"And the Beast is dead." Connor told them.
"You killed it?" Angel asked.
Connor shook his head. "Not me."
Angel turned to Faith, narrowing his eyes. "Then you did?"
Faith also shook her head. "Not me."
"Then who?" Cordelia crossed her arms, standing next to Angel.
"Angelus." Connor sighed. "From what I saw the Beast was going after Faith, and Angelus killed him."
"Yeah, in Angelus' own sick, twisted little way, he saved the day." Faith winced in pain. She had taken a beating from Angelus.
"Where's Jessica's soul?" Cordelia asked Faith.
Faith didn't even open her eyes as she answered Cordelia. "In the safe."
"No it ain't." Gunn turned to her. "Someone took it."
"It's gone?" Phony-Faith sounded as surprised as she could.
"Yeah, it is." Angel told her. "It left about the same time you did."
"Wait, you think I took it?" Faith asked. "No way! I left to go find that Beast. Why would I take Jessica's soul anyway?"
Angel shrugged. "We don't know."
"Well I didn't." Faith insisted. "The last thing I would want is Angelus out, roaming the city. He's more of a danger then that damn Beast was…"
"And now he's back." Angelus stood at the front door, swiftly moving into the lobby. "Just thought I'd stop by for a visit."
Angel charged at Angelus, but Angelus threw him aside in one quick movement.
"Face it." Angelus threw out his arms. "You can't stop me. This kid is strong! She doesn't even use half her strength when she is fighting, but hell, I'm not gonna hurt everyone, I just want some help."
"What help?" Wesley said, trying not to break down in front of Angelus.
Angelus tossed the books he had stolen at Lilah. "Well, I'm a little confused with all this crap. Some of it looks like little kids got lose with crayons, and well, I'm on schedule here so if you could, I don't know, translate this all for me."
"Me?" Lilah asked, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Uh…duh." Angelus folded his arms. "You did bring them over here."
Lilah tossed the books back to Angelus. "I don't decipher, I just get the material."
Angelus got in Lilah's face. "Are you sure about that?"
"Leave her out of it." Angel stood.
Angelus turned, grinning at Angel. "Oh please, now you've got a soft spot for the lawyer from hell? It wasn't too long ago she tried to kill both your kids. You do remember, right?"
"I remember." Angel said, making his way over to Cordelia.
"Good, because Jess sure doesn't forget." Angelus tapped on Jessica's head. "All those years in the darkness, all those beating, all those days Holtz left her to die." Angelus turned to Connor. "Come on, you remember, don't you? You were so afraid to help her; so afraid to save your little sister because you saw what Holtz was capable of. You saw all the pain he inflicted on her, and let's face it Connor, you weren't man enough to take it. Jess knew that, she could see it every time you turned away from her when Holtz was angry with her. Every time you winced, when she sat there, taking a beating, and not showing any emotion. You cried for her on nights where she would just sleep it off. Think about it Connor, you failed her. Just like Angel and Cordelia failed her."
"We didn't fail her." Cordelia defended her family.
"She thinks you did." Angelus shot at Cordelia. "When you let me take her over, you failed her, when you let her kill Holtz you failed her, when you let Holtz take her to Quortoth you failed her. Hell, when you brought her into this world you failed her. Think about it Cordelia, were you ever really meant to be a mother? You, the biggest bitch I've ever met, next to evil lawyer over here." He motioned to Lilah as he watched his words rip Cordelia apart. "Who in their right mind would let you have a child?"
"I don't know. I thought she was a pretty good mother." The voice surprised Angelus as he turned quickly.
"Buffy…" Angelus grinned at the slayer standing. "Long time no see."
"Likewise." Buffy said. "How was hell by the way? I never got to ask you that one."
Angel winced at the mention of Buffy sending him to hell.
"It was a dream." Angelus smirked.
Buffy took a step forward, but Angelus countered it, quickly grabbing Lilah by the throat.
"Stay there, or she's dead." Angelus said.
No one moved a muscle.
"Ah, what the hell, why not kill her anyway?" Angelus said, quickly breaking Lilah's neck, and blowing past Buffy before she could even blink.
Everyone starred down at Lilah's body in shock. No one could believe Angelus had just killed her like that.
"Get rid of the body." Angel said, turning away from it. Lila's blood was on his hands. He had released Angelus, and he had let him kill Lilah while he stood there and did nothing.
"We'll do it." Gun offered as he motioned to Connor, and they picked Lilah up.
Angel then turned to Buffy. "Why did you come? I thought you had an apocalypse back home."
"We do." Buffy said. "But putting Angelus down is just as important."
"How did you know about Angelus?" Cordelia asked, rubbing small circles on her tiny bump of a stomach.
"Wes called." Buffy said. "I can't stay long, I've got to get back to Sunnydale soon, so we've got to make this quick and easy."
"Jessica's soul is gone." Fred informed the slayer.
Buffy nodded. "I know. I have a plan for that too."
"You do?" Faith stood, narrowing her eyes at Buffy, then realizing how suspicious she must look. "I mean…good, what is it?"
Buffy stepped aside to let the familiar redheaded witch enter.
"I figured I've done it before, I can do it again." Willow smiled.
"Of coarse." Angel said. "Willow…"
"Good to see you too." Willow gave Angel a hug, and then Cordelia, but stopped short when she saw Faith. "Faith, you're here."
Faith nodded. "I won't kill you, don't worry."
Willow just looked to Buffy who nodded slightly.
"Alright, so the plan is to track Angelus, bring him back here alive. Willow's going to set the spell up, and we should have Jess back here by tomorrow morning." Buffy looked around and then added. "And let me just say, you guys definitely don't have boring lives."
Cordelia smiled slightly for the first time in weeks. "I don't think any of us do."
"So are we getting this plan into motion, or what B?" Faith asked.
"We are." Buffy shot Faith a look. "Me and Angel are going to track Angelus. Everyone else, stay here, protect this place incase he doubles back."
"Better idea, cupcakes." Lorne smiled. "The sanctuary spell."
"Like the one you put on the club?" Gunn asked, arriving back in the lobby with Connor in tow.
Lorne nodded. "Sure, Angelus can still stop by, but he won't be able to hurt any of us."
"Good plan." Angel said, turning to Buffy. "You ready?"
Buffy nodded. "Ready."
"What about me and Connor?" Faith said, struggling to stand, considering how Angelus had smacked her around earlier.
"Stay here." Buffy said. For some reason she didn't trust Faith, she didn't know why yet.
"We can help." Connor said.
"Faith's hurt. Keep an eye on her." Angel told his son, before turning to Cordelia. "I'll be back soon."
"Be careful." Cordelia kissed Angel. "Please?"
"I will be." Angel assured her, and then rested a hand on her stomach. "Take care of this one while I'm out."
Cordelia gave a slight nod, placing her hand on her stomach as well as she watched Angel and Buffy head to the basement to gain access to the sewers.
Connor helped Faith lay down on the bed. She was pretty beat up, and looked like she needed some rest.
"You should probably get some sleep. You need to heal up." Connor told fake-Faith.
Faith nodded. "Thanks."
"You need anything, shout."
"I will."
Connor then exited the room. Once Faith heard his footsteps go down the stairs she grabbed the jar containing Jessica's soul from under the bed.
Angelus was sitting at the library, going over the books and papers Lilah had brought to Angel Investigations. He had killed the librarian and now he wasn't so sure that was a good idea. Maybe she could have helped him. Suddenly, a voice rang through his head.
"Angelus!" The voice bellowed.
Angelus nearly fell off the chair. "Jesus, do I look deaf?"
"You killed my Beast." The voice said.
Angelus gave a devilish grin. "So you're the big beast-master? Yeah, sorry about killing your tote, he just kind of pissed me off."
Suddenly Jessica's soul appeared in front of Angelus, he went to make a grab for it, but it disappeared.
"I have your soul." The beast-master bellowed.
"So?" Angelus tried not to sound scared. "What are you gonna do, stick it back in me?"
"If you do not listen to me, then yes." The voice sneered in Angelus' head. "Do you understand?"
Angelus thought for a moment. "I understand…"
"Good. Then you will kill everyone at Angel Investigations. They are the only ones who can stop me."
"Kill them all?" Angelus smiled. "That won't be a problem."
"Good."
"You're sure this will all work?"
"Five by Five." The voice bellowed.
Suddenly it clicked in Angelus' head. "Five by five?" He repeated, and then stood quickly. "See you soon, master."
Phony-Faith realized she had made a terrible mistake when she had spoke to Angelus. She quickly put Jessica's soul back under the bed. She said 'five by five' to him. He would know she was the Beast's master. Angelus was now going to be a problem. He had to be destroyed.
She stood, calling Connor into the room. He quickly entered.
"What is it, Faith?" He asked.
"We have to destroy Angelus." Faith told him.
"No." Connor smiled. "Willow's going to fix it."
"There's no time. She can't fix it."
"She says she can."
"She doesn't know. I had a dream; Angelus is coming to destroy us. Nothing can stop him." She wrapped her arms around Connor. "I know Jess is your sister, and you would never want to kill her, but we can't save her. It's the world or her." She kissed Connor. "In your heart you know what you have to do."
Connor thought for a moment as a tear fell from his eye. He believed Faith, why would he lie to her. If there was no way to save Jess then he had to destroy Angelus. Finally he nodded at Faith. "If we are going to kill Angelus we need to move fast."