A/N: Ok, first of all - LATE. I KNOW. sorry.

Second, i know it's SHORT, but there is more story after this, i just haven't finished the scene and i really wanted to get an update out here. So, read, enjoy - hopefully, review.

The next update is in the works. )

"The bar's about to close," said the bartender, a man in his early forties. He slid the cup of ice cold liquor across the counter.

A green hand, wrist surrounded by the sleeve of a yellow suit, reached out for it. He brought it close, before lifting it to his red lips and taking a sip. He put it back down, turning his attention to the book laid out before him.

"That's ok. I've made my choice."

He slid the book towards the bartender, pointing at a selection. The barkeeper shook his head, and pulled a microphone out from under the counter.

"And now, ladies and gentleman, the last act of the night. The Carlstadt Bar and Casino just off the Sunset Strip gives you… Lorne!"

Lorne ascended the few stairs to the stage, receiving applause from the handful of customers still left inside. Slowly the intro to the song began to drain out of the speakers.

"Hello ladies and gents," Lorne said into the microphone perched high atop a stand. "Dreary night we're having. World's falling apart, and now... the bar's about to close. So with keeping that in my mind, I extend an invitation to you all. I invite to come away with me."

"Come away with me in the night.

Come away with me… and I will write you a song."

The bar gave a small shake. A couple in front of the stage stood up and hurried towards the exit.

"Come away with me, on a bus.

Come away where they can't tempt us…"

Another tremor and a glass behind the bar shattered.

"With their lies.

And I wanna walk with you, on a cloudy day.

In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high

So won't you try to come."

In the lobby there was a scream. Several heads turned to look, while a few remained emotionless, drowning their sorrows behind another shot.

"Come away with me and we'll kiss,

On a mountain top."

Several lights in the room went out, leaving only the eerie red glow of the stage lamps alive. Lorne gave a sad smile.

"Come away with me,

And I'll never stop loving you."

Outside some sort of beastly roar echoed through the streets. Several car alarms went off in response.

"I wanna wake up with the rain

Falling on a tin roof.

While I'm safe there in your arms."

The building gave another, more violent tremble. Dust trickled down from the ceiling. Glasses tumbled over, spilling their contents.

"So all I ask is for you,

To come away with me in the night."

Outside more roaring was heard, followed by several screams and crashes. In the lobby, something was sparking. The chandelier rattled, before crashing down some three stories and exploding in a mess of glass and metal.

"Come away with me…"

The speakers screeched before going dead. Lorne looked out at the crowd.

"Goodnight folks."

The bar went dark.

"So what happens next? I mean, how do we fight this," Willow asked, bringing her gaze from the floor to meet Angel's.

"Well last time we were dealing with something this big," Angel looked at Willow, and she knew what he meant.

"We blew up a school?"

"Pretty much."

"So… ok. We blow them up. There. Problem solved?"

"Yea, only we'd need a nuke with a radius about seven times larger than Hiroshima," Gunn interjected. "And even then, we still might not get them all."

"You coulda just said no." Willow gave a small frown.

"Sorry."

"It's ok."

"Alright, guys," Angel said, commanding their attention. "While I'm usually the first to resort to banter in times of crisis, now really isn't the time."

The room was quiet for a second, before Willow began to speak.

"Is there anything magical we can do?""

"You'd be the expert on that," Angel informed her. "Anything you need, Wolfram and Hart will be sure to get you."

"I guess that should be comforting." Willow said with a small smile, before turning to Ilona. The CEO sat up attentively, before Willow had even spoken. "Hi.. Um, I need a favor."

"Anything I can help you with, Ms. Rosenberg."

"I need your occult department to start looking things up. Umm… The Codex of Agatha, and Dante's Dreamscape. Also, I need a full search on large scale teleportation."

"Certainly," Ilona said with a beaming smile, before heading out of the room.

"Dante's Dreamscape," Angel repeated with a confused look.

"Oh, it's… obscure. Or nonexistent." Willow gave a little shrug. "I mostly just wanted her out of the room."

"I see… What are you thinking of doing?"

"The only thing that comes to mind would be to transport them. Send them back to their dimension, or any one that's not ours."

"You think you can do that?"

"Not alone… Definitely not alone. But with the help of Wolfram and Hart, it should be manageable."

"It's a big group, Willow. I mean, I may not know a lot about teleportation, but I know it needs to be focused. Do you think it's possible to channel so many demons, especially on that scale?"

Willow gave no answer, just a frown and small shrug. Angel shook his head.

"Well team, I gotta get going," Gunn said, interrupting the silence. Angel looked at him. "Gotta get working on our secret weapon."

"Secret weapon," Angel wondered aloud.

"You'll see." And with that, Gunn left the room.

"Well this is fun," Spike spoke, flicking his burnt out cigarette butt onto the floor. "But I think I'm gonna go see what law-boy is up to."

Spike followed Gunn out of the room. Now it was just Willow and Angel; Illyria had left earlier.

"This is all pretty crazy, huh?" Willow said with a small laugh.

"You should've seen it, Willow." Angel said, as he made his way towards her. He sat in one of the big, overstuffed chairs opposite Willow's. "I've been alive for a long time, and I've never seen..."

Willow leaned forward in her chair. She put a hand on Angel's arm, trying to comfort him. But she knew that he could sense her own unease.

"It's ok," Angel said looking at Willow.

"I know… I just wish there was something I could say."

Angel gave a small grin, before his face grew very serious. His eyes narrowed, as he turned his gaze from Willow towards the door.

"Buffy?"

"Say Buffy? What?"

"Hello Angelus," came Buffy's voice from the door.

Willow and Angel both stood, Willow turning to face Buffy.

"Buffy, what're you doing here," Willow asked, walking up to Buffy.

"He should know," Buffy said, her eyes set on Angel.

"Did you talk to Kennedy?"

"She's in the lobby."

"Oh." Willow could tell Buffy was angry. She looked from her to Angel, giving a small wave. Then she disappeared into the lobby to find Kennedy.

"Buffy… You look good," Angel said, trying his best to be casual.

"Why are you here?"

"Well I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say you already know."

"What? Done raising hell in LA, so you thought you'd stopped by to say 'hey'?"

"Buffy. You know I'm not responsible for this—"

"The hell you aren't!"

"So then why are you here! If I did this, why are you here arguing with me, instead of there, being a Slayer."

Buffy stormed across the room, stopping inches from Angel. She looked him in the eyes, her face filled with anger. For a moment they were silent, before Buffy's elbow came up and met Angel in the chin. He stumbled backwards a few feet.

"Nice to see you too," Angel said, rubbing his chin. Buffy shook her head.

"I don't know you. I don't know what you're about, Angel."

"You know I didn't do this."

Buffy crossed her arms, her eyes were moist.

Don't cry, she demanded of herself. It makes this harder.

"Angel. I…" Buffy couldn't finish her sentence. Once again, she found herself overwhelmed by her own thoughts.

You know what to do. He must be stopped.

"Buffy. Lets just sit down and talk. There's a lot you need to know."

"I don't really feel like sitting."

"Alright. Fair enough. But if I come any closer are you gonna hit me again?"

Yes.

Buffy laughed, and put up a hand. "No hitting. Scouts honor."

Angel gave a smile and walked over to Buffy. He gave her a hug, which lasted a few seconds. Finally, he pulled away.

"It really is good seeing you.

Kill him.

"You too."

From the conference room door, Jaye stepped in. She looked from Angel to Buffy and back.

"Am I interrupting something," Jaye asked from the doorway.

"Oh, no. Not at all," Angel said. "This is Buffy."

"Oh. Wow. What a pleasure to meet you," Jaye said with a warm smile.

Buffy simply shook her head and gave a small smile. Angel turned his full attention to Jaye.

"What can I help you with Jaye?"

"Oh, I just wanted to—Angel!"

It took only half a second. Jaye was about to tell Angel how things were going overseas, and he listening intently. But then, he wasn't. Instead, he had one arm up, blocking a stake, as he brought his other up, punching Buffy. The Slayer stumbled away from him, dropping her weapon.

"What the hell was that," Angel yelled at Buffy. She didn't respond. Her head was buzzing with sound.

Did he always hit that hard, Buffy asked herself. The punch had sent her mind racing. It felt like her thoughts were split in two.

Kill him. He did it.

No. He didn't.

Kill him!

She could feel it. Thoughts, not her own, were flooding into her mind. She couldn't separate them any longer. And the intruding thoughts began to take control. She lunged at Angel.

Angel grabbed Buffy's wrist, twisting her arms behind her. She struggled against his grip, trying desperately to free herself. Finally she gave up, falling into Angel's grasp.

She passed out.