Chapter 4
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Angel and Lindsay still didn't like each other, but they worked suprisingly well together. One time, a particularly evil client threatened to say a magick word, and unleash a virus that would murder milions, if he were convicted. Lindsay suggested that, as conviction was inevitable, that they murder this client before he could do this. Fred shot this man in the back of the head before he knew what was happenning. Angel knew that Fred had done what was neccessary, but feared this place would corrupt all of them. Things got even more complicated when Angel's old "friend" Spike returned. Spike was a vampire, Angel his former Yoda. Spike also had a soul now, had sacrificed his life to save the world. And now, for reasons nobody understood, Spike came back, as a ghost. Angel agreed to help Spike, who was slowly regaining his coporeal form. Then Spike got a mysterious package, and regained his form completely. Sirk, an employee of Wolfram and Hart and a former watcher, said that Angel's status in the Shanshu prophecy was now unclear. It referenced a vampire with a soul, but never directly mentioned Angel. Three years ago everyone assumed that meant Angel, he was the only vampire in history to have a soul. Now, the chosen one, whoever that might be, had to prove himself by dinking from a certain goblet. Angel and Spike each believed it was about them, they fought for the goblet. Spike as hurt in this battle, but he won. In the end, he just wanted it more than Angel. This really affected Angel, that maybe he was no longer the hero. The fact that the goblet contained only soda, or that Sirk was long gone by this point, did little to relieve this fear. Someone had manipulated them, their purpose was likely to mess with Angel's head, but it was working. After this was over Angel sent his main team home, get some rest, they would ikely need it for the coming battle. When Fred got home she saw her boyfriend, laying in bed. This whole thing had likely taken a physical toll on him. The markings were placed all over her apartment, to prevent the senior partners from being able to watch and/or listen to their conversation.
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Fred: Your plan worked. Spike is licking his wounds, reveling in defeating Angel. He's also starting to realize that maybe he can be the hero. Angel's also finally realizing that he might not be the hero of this story anymore. I don't know if he has the strength to leave Wolfram and Hart, hopefully Spike becoming the hero will be the wake up call he needs. Their competition can be healthy, but it can be destructive as well. And Spike, he seems more interested in being Angel's rival and getting Buffy to love him than actually fulfilling the Shanshu prophecy.
Wesley: Well, it's a start.