Chapter 46: Becoming Pt. 2
"Back away from the girl! Put your hands up and back away slowly!" A cop says.
Buffy shakes her head, "But, I didn't –"
"Do it now!" another cop says.
Buffy moves away, as the first cop moves to Kendra, checks her vitals. "This one's dead."
"What about up there?" the other cop asks.
Prue stands up from where she is next to Phoebe, Willow and Xander.
"Halt!" the first cop says.
Prue shakes her head, "This is my sister at my feet. And the young lady you have a gun pointed to is my cousin. I'm her legal guardian. Both my sister Phoebe and the young man who's name is Xander and the other young woman who is Willow Rosenberg are alive."
"You won't mind if we check that out?" The second cop asks.
Prue shakes her head, "No be my guest. Call Inspector Darryl Morris he will vouch for us."
The first cop nods and keys his radio, "Dispatch we need an identification check. Can you have Inspector Darryl Morris come to Gateway High School."
"Standby relaying request."
"For now get them out of here!" the first officer says.
The second officer nods, "Come on."
Prue nods, "Come on Buffy."
"Inspector Morris eta is five minutes."
The second cop takes them out into the hallway were they see Snyder arriving with two other cops.
"Well what do we have here?" Snyder says.
"In there." the second cop says. "You know these two?"
Snyder nods, "Payson Halliwell. If there's trouble, she's behind it. And the other one is her cousin Prue Halliwell."
"You stupid little troll, you have no idea –" Buffy says.
"Attitude problem. Serious." Snyder says.
Darryl walks in, "Officer, what's the situation?"
The second cop looks to Darryl, "Inspector Morris?" Darryl nods. "We were told you know these two."
Darryl nods, "Yes I know the Halliwells. I can vouch that they are who they say they are."
Prue nods, "Can we go back and check on my sister and Buffy's friends?"
Darryl frowns, "Piper or Phoebe?"
"Phoebe," Buffy says.
The second officer shakes his head, "We need to ask a few questions first."
An hour later Prue and Buffy walk down a corridor towards a nurses station.
A hand reaches out and grabs Buffy. She spins to see Xander. "Xander!" She hugs him, tightly. Lets go and looks at him. "I didn't know if you were okay. The cops –"
Xander nods, "Yeah, I heard they took you downtown to question you. I was just coming out of it."
Prue nods, "How are you Xander?"
Xander shows them the cast on his wrist. "Souvenir."
"Well, what about the others? Are they okay? Where's Phoebe?" Buffy asks but Xander doesn't answer. "What is it?"
Moment later in a hospital room Willow lies unconscious in bed, hooked up to machines. Buffy approaches, distraught – Xander and Prue behind her.
"The doctor said it was. . . head trauma. . . she could wake up any time, but the longer it takes. . . the less likely it is." Xander says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I shouldn't have let her or Phoebe try to do the curse. Angel must have known." She runs her hand along Willow's forehead. After a moment she looks around her. "Where are her folks?"
"With relatives, in Phoenix. I called them. They're getting a plane back." Xander says.
Buffy nods, "Does Oz know?"
"Man, I didn't even think. I'll call him." Xander says.
Prue looks to Xander, "Where's Phoebe?"
"Two doors, down." Xander says. "They gave her something for the pain. They didn't say anything to me because I'm not related to her. But I overheard them talking. She had a couple broken ribs and a mild concussion."
Prue looks to Buffy, "I'll be down in her room."
Buffy nods, "Ok."
Prue passes Cordelia on her way out.
"Hey!" Xander says as he crosses to Cordelia with a big relieved hug and kiss.
"You're not hurt?" Buffy asks.
"I ran. I think I made it through three counties before I realized noone was chasing me. Not real brave." Cordelia says.
Buffy nods, "It was the right thing to do."
"Did Giles keep up with you?" Xander asks.
Cordelia looks at the two of them. "I didn't see Giles."
"You mean he's not here?" Buffy asks.
Xander shakes his head, "No."
Later Buffy flames in to Giles apartment, "Giles? Giles!"
Whistler comes in from the bathroom. "I don't think he's here."
Buffy stops, eyeing him suspiciously. "Who are you?"
"Whistler." Whistler says.
Buffy frowns, "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you." Whistler says.
"Why?" Buffy asks.
Whistler shakes his head, "'Cause I need a date for the prom. My mother says I may attend, but no fondling."
Buffy pushes him against the wall. Her gesture is casual, but he hits pretty hard. "I have lost friends tonight, and I may lose more. If you have information worth hearing then I am grateful for it. If you want to make jokes then I will pull out your ribcage and wear it as a hat."
"Hello to the imagery. Very nice." Whistler says as he moves away from her, straightening his outfit. "You know, it wasn't supposed to go down like this. Nobody saw you coming. I figured this for Angel's big day, but I thought he was here to stop Acathla, not bring him forth. But you two made with the smootchies and now he's a creep again. Anyways it took Angel off the roster. Which puts you on the spot in a big way. What are you gonna do? What are you prepared to do?"
"Whatever I have to." Buffy says.
Whistler nods, "Or maybe I should ask, what are you prepared to give up?"
Buffy stares at him. "You don't have anything useful to tell me, do you? What are you, some immortal demon sent down to even the score between good and evil?"
"Wow. Good guess." Whistler says.
"So you work for the same people Leo does?" Buffy asks.
Whistler shakes his head, "That's your Whitelighter right? No I'm not with them. Just so you know the sword isn't enough. You gotta be ready."
Buffy walks out of the apartment and out down the street. She wanted time to think.
Buffy crosses a street, moving quickly and keeping to herself. As she rounds a corner Spike steps into her path.
"Hello, love." Spike says.
Buffy lunges at Spike, starts pummelling him.
Spike takes a couple of hits then knocks her back with one. As she gets up again, powering up a fireball, "Will you hold on for a second?" She doesn't look like she's gonna. He backs off a couple of paces, putting up his hands. "Hey! White flag here! I quit!"
"Let me clear this up for you. We're mortal enemies. We don't get "time-outs." Buffy says.
Spike nods, "You wanna go around, pet, I'll have a gay old time of it. You wanna stop Angel, well, then, we gotta play it a bit differently."
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asks.
Spike smiles, "I'm talking about your ex, love. I'm talking about putting him in the bloody ground."
"This has got to be the lamest trick you guys have ever thought up." Buffy says.
Spike nods, "He's got your watcher. Right now he's probably torturing him."
"What do you want?" Buffy asks.
"I told you. I wanna stop Angel." Spike says and he smiles. "I wanna save the world."
"Okay. You do remember that you're a vampire, right?" Buffy asks.
Spike nods, "We like to talk big, vampires do. "I'm gonna destroy the world," – just tough guy talk, strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood. Truth is, I like this world. You got dog racing, Manchester United, "Love Boat," and you got people. Billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real passion for destruction. Angel could pull it off. Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Leicester bloody Square, you see what I'm saying?"
"Uh, sort of?" Buffy says.
"Why don't you extenquish your little fireball?" Spike says.
"'Cause of the whole 'not believing you' issue. You might not be down with Angel but why would you ever come to me?" Buffy says.
Spike doesn't really want to answer that, but he knows he has to. "I want Dru back. I want it like it was, before he came back. The way she acts around him. . ."
"Oh, you're pathetic!" Buffy says. Instinctively, Spike punches Buffy in the face. She punches him equally hard then continues talking as if neither of them had moved. "I've got friends, family in the hospital - people have died –"
Spike shakes his head, "I wasn't in on that raiding party –"
"— and I may lose more of them, the whole world could be sucked into Hell and you need my help 'cause your girlfriend's a big ho? Let me take this opportunity to not care." Buffy says.
Spike shakes his head, "I can't fight them both alone and neither can you!"
Buffy punches him again. But it seems to be her final outburst. She comes down a bit, glaring at him. "You're a killer."
Spike nods, "And I'm all you got."
Buffy extinguishes her fireball, "All right. Talk."
Moments later they are at the Manor. Buffy is on the phone talking to Willow.
"I'm okay, Buffy, really. I mean, I don't feel good, but I'm awake and I know my name and who's president and how many fingers so they don't think my brain got mushed at all." Willow says.
"Thank God. . . I'm sorry I can't be there." Buffy says.
"I know. I'm sorry Phoebe and I didn't get to cure Angel." Willow says.
"Don't be. I just think it wasn't meant to happen. I know I'm never gonna get Angel back the way he was and, you know, it makes it easier." Buffy says.
"I guess. . . Any luck finding Giles?" Willow asks.
Buffy nods, "Yes. I got a lucky break."
"What?" Willow asks.
Buffy looks into the living room at Spike, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Xander takes the phone from Willow. "Hey."
"Xander! Angel and the others are holed up outside town. You know that funky looking mansion you showed me one time?" Buffy says.
"On Crawford street. Sure. That makes sense. What's the drill?" Xander says.
"I'm gonna hit the place come daybreak. I just need to get something first." Buffy says.
"You'll need backup." Xander says.
"No. You stay there. I'm covered. In fact do me a favor and keep Prue there if you can." Buffy says.
"Sure. Do you think Giles is still alive?" Xander asks.
Buffy nods, "I think so. I just wish he was here to tell me what to do. Remember keep Prue there as long as possible." She hangs up the phone and walks in the living room. "Talk to me. What's the deal?"
"Simple. I help you kill Angel, you let me and Dru skip town." Spike says.
"Forget about Drusilla. She doesn't walk." Buffy says.
"There's no deal without Dru!" Spike says.
Buffy shakes her head, "She killed Kendra."
Spike smiles, genuinely proud, "Dru bagged a slayer? She didn't tell me! Good for her! Well, not from your perspective, I suppose. . ."
"I can't believe I invited you in my house." Buffy says.
"Look, this deal works one way only. Full stop. Me and Dru for Angel." Spike says. "I'll take her out of the country. You'll never hear from us again, I bloody well hope."
Buffy nods, "All right. Get back to the mansion. Make sure Giles is all right. Be ready to back me up when I make my move."
Spike nods, "Right."
"If Giles dies, she dies." Buffy says.
Spike glares at Buffy for a moment and then leaves.
In Willow's hospital room a nurse is just leaving, the kids waiting for her to go so they can talk freely.
"So Buffy's going for the big showdown, huh? I wish we could help. You know, without dying. . ." Cordelia says.
"I don't see how." Xander says.
"I want to try again." Willow says.
"Try what?" Oz asks.
Willow nods, "The curse. We never got to finish it. Maybe we can restore Angel's soul."
Xander shakes his head, "I don't like it. You're talking about messing with powerful magic, and you're weak."
Willow nods, "I'm okay. But it would be easier with Prue and Phoebe."
Xander shakes his head, "Buffy said she didn't want them involved."
Willow shakes her head, "There's no use arguing with me. Do you see my resolve face? You've seen it before and you know what it means." She looks to Cordelia. "Just help me and you can give me a complete makeover."
"You're not just saying that?" Cordelia asks.
Willow nods, "We can help Buffy - if we turn Angel back soon enough, we can stop him from ever awakening Acathla."
"I pretty much missed out on some stuff, didn't I? 'Cause this is all making the kind of sense that's not." Oz says.
Willow nods, "Go with Cordelia to the library and get my things. She'll fill you in."
Oz nods, "Sure. I'll drive."
Willow nods, "Xander, go get Prue and Phoebe. Tell them I need to see them. I will explain once their in here. Then you go to Buffy. Tell her what we're doing. Maybe she can stall."
"But –" Xander says.
"Resolve face." Willow says.
"Be careful." Xander says.
Five minutes later Prue wheels in Phoebe. "What's going on. Xander said you needed to see us."
Willow nods, "We're doing the curse. If we can do this before he has a chance to free Acathla, good." Prue turns and is about to head out the door. "Prue I already sent Xander to do help her. I need both of you here. I'm weak still. I could use your help with the ritual."
Prue turns back to Willow and then looks Phoebe. She sighs as she nods.
At the library Buffy pushes away the police tape as she enters the library. She crosses over to Kendra's bag, picking it up off the floor. She puts it on the table, opens it.
"You do know this is a crime scene, don't you?" Snyder asks, he is standing in the doorway, smiling smugly. "But then, you're a criminal, so that pretty much works out."
Buffy shakes her head, "You know I didn't do it. The police even know I didn't do it since Darryl spoke to them on my behalf. And sorry to say their more likely to take word of one of their own over you."
Snyder shrugs, "It doesn't matter anyway. You've proved too much of a liability for this school." He steps up, breathing in the fresh air of a great morning. "These are the moments you want to savor. You wish time would stop so you can live them over and over again. You're expelled."
Buffy lifts the sword out of the bag, looking at it. Snyder stops wanting to live this over and over. She starts toward him. "You never ever got a single date when you were in high school, did you?"
"Your point being. . ." Snyder says.
Buffy passes him without comment and exits the library. As soon as she is out of his sight she flames over to Giles apartment. "What did you mean, "the sword isn't enough"?"
"You know, raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun. You're never gonna get the good stuff." Whistler says from the kitchen.
"Tell me how to use it." Buffy says.
Whistler pulls out a bottle of Woodpecker cider, opens it. Comes into the living room as he replies. "Angel's the key. His blood will open the door to Hell. Acathla opens his big mouth, creates the vortex, then only Angel's blood'll close it. One blow. Send 'em both back to hell. But I strongly suggest you get there before that happens. The faster you kill Angel, the easier it'll be for you."
"Don't worry about me." Buffy says.
Whistler nods, "It's all on the line here, kid."
"I can deal." Buffy says as she looks at the sword, at him, "I got nothing left to lose." She flames out.
Buffy makes her way down a green and tangled hill. She is stopped by a noise, finds Xander coming from a slightly different direction. "Xander!"
"Calvary's here. Cavalry's a frightened guy with a rock, but it's here." Xander says as he shows her his lame rock. Buffy gives him a stake. "This is better." He loses the rock.
Buffy nods, "You're not here to fight. You get Giles out of there and run like Hell, understood? I can't protect you. I'm gonna be too busy killing." She unwraps the sword for herself, dropping the blanket.
"That's a new look for you." Xander says.
Buffy nods, "It's a present for Angel. This ends it, Xander. I'm ready."
Xander looks down, trying to decide what to do. "Willow. . . she said to tell you. . ."
"Tell me what?" Buffy asks.
Xander waits, decides. ". . . kick his ass."
"I'm gonna do a lot more than that." Buffy says.
They head off for the mansion.
In Willow's hospital room the door is shut. Prue and Phoebe are on each side of Willow. Phoebe has the herbs this time. Prue has the book Giles was reading from.
"Are we ready?" Willow asks.
Prue reads the book, "Quod perditum est, invenietur."
"Not dead, nor not of the living. . ." Willow and Phoebe says.
At the mansion Drusilla steps up to Angel, hands him a knife. Spike sits a bit behind, watching with a cold eye.
Angel smiles at Dru, takes the knife and cuts his palm with it. Dru ripples with a little sensual trill at Angel's pain. "Now, Acathla, you will be free. And so will we all." He takes a step forward - and Buffy bursts in through the doors from the garden.
The vamp nearest her makes a move, and she beheads him so quickly and tastefully the others barely have time to gape.
Buffy look at Angel, sword at the ready. "Hello, lover."
"I don't have time for you." Angel says.
Buffy smiles, "You don't have a lot of time left."
"Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some deep odds here - do you really think you can take us all on?" Angel says.
"No, I don't." Buffy says.
Spike rises behind Angel, hoisting a nasty looking iron poker. He slams it into the back of Angel's head. Angel goes flying face first onto the ground as Spike moves forward, hits him again.
Drusilla looks at Spike aghast.
Buffy makes for Angel - and is hit from behind by Vamp Two. Her sword goes flying out of her hand and she stops to spar with the vamp.
Spike continues to wail on Angel, "Painful, isn't it?"
Drusilla tackles Spike from the side and they both go flying.
Xander sneaks in from the garden, moving quietly around the perimeter of the hall towards Giles' room.
Buffy spars with the vamp.
Spike and Drusilla come up facing each other. She's righteously pissed.
"I don't want to hurt you, baby. . ." Spike says. Drusilla grabs his throat and slams him against the wall. Instinctively, he knocks her arm away and decks her as hard as he can. "Doesn't mean I won't. . ."
Xander helps Giles toward the exit. They make it out to the garden and are gone.
Drusilla throws Spike to the ground, hissing with anger.
Angel pulls himself painfully up and stumbles toward Acathla.
Buffy powers up a fireball and throws it at the vamp dusting it.
Buffy turns to look for Angel, she sees Angel reach for the statue.
Buffy dives for her sword, grabs it and heads for Angel.
Angel grabs the sword handle.
Buffy stops in her tracks as Angel is momentarily transported with electric bliss and he pulls the sword free.
Drusilla stops to look, gleeful. "Oooh, here it comes. . ."
Spike rises up behind her and gets her in a chokehold.
Buffy and Angel square off, swords at the ready. Like Dru said: here it comes.
"You almost made it, Buff." Angel says.
"It's not over yet." Buffy says.
Angel nods, "My boy Acathla's about to wake up. You're going to Hell."
Buffy smiles, "Save me a seat." and she comes at him, fast, hard, and it's swordfight time. Their blades are a blur of metal as they work at each other, driving back, forward, circling each other. . .
Angel draws first blood, on Buffy's arm.
In Willow's hospital room.
"Gods, bind him, cast his heart from the demon realm return his..." Willow and Phoebe says.
Willowis breathing heavily, the words coming slowly, with difficulty. Perspiration beads her face. "I call on. . . I. . ."
"Willow?" Oz says with concern.
"Are you okay?" Cordelia says.
Phoebe and Willow's heads snap back, leaving them staring almost straight up, their whole body tensing and their head snaps back down, they start to shake and they begin speaking the rest of the ritual rapidly, powerfully, and in Romanian. "Te implor Doamne, nu ignora accasta rugaminte! Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-I va transporta sufletul la el!"
Prue looks to her sister and then down at the book and finally back at her sister. "Phoebe?"
"Is this a good thing?" Oz asks.
"Hey! Speak English!" Cordelia says.
"Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce. . ." Willow and Phoebe says as the orb begins to glow.
At the Mansion Buffy comes tumbling out into the garden, Angel behind her. He's definitely winning. He knocks the sword from her grasp, kicks her into a corner.
Angel approaches Buffy, sword in hand.
Buffy tries to move from the corner, but he moves with her. She's boxed in.
Angel plays the sword near her face, loving this. "That's everything, huh? No weapons, no friends, no family. No hope. Take all that away and what's left?"
Buffy looks past him to the sword and smiles, "There is me." She flames out. She flames back in inside the Mansion as she grabs her sword. She pounds Angel, driving him back until they are right in front of Acathla. She knocks his sword out of his hand - cutting him on the hand. He stands before her, spent, beaten.
In Willow's hospital room Willow and Phoebe are still rapt, calling out, "Asa sa fie! Acum!"
The orb glows and disappears.
At the mansion Angel drops to his knees. Buffy swings her sword back, ready to cut off his head.
Suddenly Angel cries out in pain, and Buffy sees his eyes glow for a moment. He collapses on the floor. Buffy hesitates. "Oh. . ." He looks up. "Buffy?" He pulls himself up. She takes a step back, uncertain. "Buffy, what's going on? I don't remember. . . where are we?"
Buffy's voice is very little when she speaks. "Angel?"
Angel see the cuts, "You're hurt!" He goes to her, takes her arm. Her swordarm hangs at her side, limp. He folds her into his arms. "God, I feel like I haven't seen you in months. . . Buffy, everything's so muddled. . ." He holds her. At first afraid, confused, but at the warmth of his touch, the overwhelming rush of his return, her eyes close and with her free arm she grips him to her. "Oh, Buffy. . ."
Buffy opens her eyes, longing and hope in them. Then she sees Acathla open his mouth. Wide. A vortex begins to emanate from his mouth. She grips Angel tighter, despair gutting her.
"What's happening, Buffy?" Angel asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "Shhhhh. . . it doesn't matter." She pulls away to look at him. Kisses him passionately. "I love you."
"I love you. . ." Angel says.
"Close your eyes." Buffy says. Serenely compliant, he closes them. She kisses him softly. She steps back and thrusts the sword through his chest, directly into the chest of the demon. There is an unearthly roar.
Angel's eyes open wide - he looks down at himself impaled, at Buffy uncomprehendingly.
Buffy can't speak - she tries not to cry as she takes another step back.
Angel reaches out to her - and the vortex closes over him, sucks him into Hell. And is gone.
The next morning at the Manor Prue enters Buffy's room, "Buffy?"
The window is open, the curtains blowing in the breeze. Some of the drawers have been left open, clothes hanging out.
There is a note on the bed.
Prue goes to it, picks it up and reads it.
Dear Prue, Piper and Phoebe
I can't say how sorry I am. This is something I have to do for me all knew that each of us would want to quit at one time or another. We always thought it would be one of you more than it would be me. But it turns out that we were wrong. Prue you wanted to quit when Andy died. Piper you wanted to quit when your Aunt Gail died. Well it's my turn now, if it hadn't been for me Phoebe, Willow and Xander wouldn't have been hurt, Giles wouldn't have been kidnapped and tortured and Kendra and Angel wouldn't be dead. Please don't look for me, I love you all. Goodbye.
Buffy
In the front of the school Giles and Xander greet Oz, Cordelia and Willow. Oz pushes Willow in a wheelchair.
Giles doesn't exactly look his best, either. "Are you sure you should be out of bed?"
"Look who's talking. . ." Willow says.
"Any word?" Cordelia asks.
"You guys didn't see her either." Xander says.
Willow shakes her head, "No."
"But we know the world didn't end. 'Cause, check it out." Oz said.
Giles nods, "We went back to the mansion. It's empty, and Acathla is dormant."
"I think the spell worked. I felt something go through me, it was powerful. Kind of scary." Willow says.
Cordelia nods, "Plus the orb did that cool glow thing."
"Maybe it wasn't in time. If he did pull the sword out, and she had to kill him, maybe he was already dead when it happened." Xander said.
"Then she'd want to be alone, I guess." Oz says.
Willow nods, "Or maybe Angel was saved and they just want to be alone together."
Giles sighs, "Perhaps."
"Well, she's bound to show up sooner or later. We still have school." Cordelia says.
Willow smiles, "Yeah. She'll be here in a while."
Buffy is watching them from the far end of the big lawn triangle. She is dressed very plainly, for hard travelling. Has a bag over her shoulder as she sees them head inside, she starts walking in the other direction. She makes her way to where she can't be seen and flames out.
Author's Notes - On to season 3