Let The Sleeper Awaken.
Spoilers- Picks up from Chapter 1 and has spoilers for Buffy S7 episodes End Of Days and Chosen.
Disclaimer- Characters do not belong to me, I just keep borrowing them cause people seem to like it when I do.
Note- Here it is! Chapter 2 of Let The Sleeper Awaken, well part one of chapter two any way. For my sanity, and so you readers will get it before Christmas, I've had to spilt this chapter into three or four parts. This chapter is going to be much longer than the first.
Warning: This chapter gets a little bloody towards the end. Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter 2: Not Another Apocalypse!
Part 1: Slayer Style
Cordelia leaned against the headrest of her car seat and watched as buildings and landmarks flashed past her eyes, occasionally blurring together. She sighed irritably as the wind picked up her hair and whipped it around her face.
She spat hair out of her mouth. "Tell me again why we left the top down?"
Fred leant forward. "Cause its such a beautiful night. You can see all the stars. Well, you could once we left L.A. we could. It reminds me of those nights back home."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Right, so I'm eating my hair so we can look at some stars."
Angel looked over at her. "Aww, come on, Cor. A little stargazing never hurt anyone, besides Fred isn't complaining and she has longer than you."
Cordelia glared at him. "Of course she isn't complaining, her hair is long enough to pull back. Mine? Not so easy."
Angel quickly turned back to the road, his hurt puppy do expression in place. "Right, sorry. We can stop and put the top up if you like."
Cordelia took a deep breath. "No, it's all right. I have some pins in my bag any way." She looked at his grim profile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I'm just a little tense; you'd think that the PTB would give us some vacation time for stopping their mistake from taking over the world, but no. Here we are in the car, traveling back to the Hellmouth, the place I left years ago and vowed ever to return to. Except for Buffy's funeral and that only lasted an hour before those demons turned up."
Cordleia riffled through her bag and pulled out a bunch of bobby pins. She began to pull back her hair off her face, occasionally wincing as a hastily shoved pin gouged her scalp. With her hair secured Cordelia started to drum her fingers against her knees.
Keeping on hand on the wheel Angel reached over and covered Cordelia's hands with his own. He gave them a reassuring squeeze and let go.
"We'll get through this, I promise. Trust me, next week you'll be laughing at this."
Cordelia gulped. "God, I hope you're right."
Fred reached over the front seat and gripped Cordelia's shoulder. "Don't worry, Cordy. I'm sure your plan will work really well."
"Huh?" Cordelia asked. "I'm not worried about the plan, it's the going back to Sunnydale that has me getting all cranky pantsina."
Fred sat back in her seat, somewhat flustered. "Oh. Well, I… I can't help you there. My hometown wasn't on top of a hellmouth, and I haven't been back there for over six years."
Cordelia sighed and stared out at the quickly passing scenery. She looked over at Angel, noting the muscles in his jaw were clenched, not enough to create that tick she was so familiar with but just enough that she noticed. And the way his hands were clenched on the steering wheel…
"You grip that steering wheel any harder and you might snap it."
Angel's eyes flickered over to her and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Cordelia rested her elbow on the door. "At least I'm not the only one who's nervous about this."
"We're going against the First evil. Who wouldn't be nervous?" Angel asked.
"Lorne," Fred answered, looking over at the green-skinned demon slumped asleep on the other side of the backseat.
Angel glanced in the rear vision mirror, allowing a small smirk as he saw Lorne. "I think Lorne had one too many sea breezes to be feeling anything but happy."
Fred's brown eyes were wide with sincerity. "Oh no. Lorne can't get drunk in this dimension, the alcohol doesn't have the same kick."
Angel frowned. "Then why…?"
Cordelia snorted. "He took a couple of Valium before we left, they put him out like a light."
Fred bit her lip. "Wish I thought of that." Fred twisted in her seat and looked back at the truck behind that. "Do you think it was a good idea to put those two together?"
Cordelia shrugged. "He didn't want to ride in this car, what other choice was there?"
Cordelia winced as Wesley roared past on his motorbike. "I really he wouldn't do that," Cordelia commented as the bike leaned dangerously to the side. "I suppose Connor could have hitched a rise with Wesley but he didn't want to wear the pick helmet. Plus he didn't want to mess up his hair. Just like his father, fear of helmet head."
Angel scowled. "Very funny."
Cordelia smirked. "I thought so."
xxxxx
Connor buried himself further into the car seat, a scowl on his face and his arms crossed defensively in front of him. "I hate this music."
Gunn stared at the car ahead, wishing that Connor could stand to be in the same car as Angel. "And yet, somehow, I just bring myself to care. This is my ride, we listen to my music."
Connor looked out the window, scowl still firmly in place. "Fine."
Gunn nodded. "That's right."
Rap music filled the cabin of the truck, not doing anything to diffuse the tension between the two would-be alpha males.
Connor shifted in his seat and sighed. "How much longer until we get to Sunnydale?"
Gunn shrugged. "Shouldn't be too long now."
"Good."
Gunn tightened his hand on the steering wheel. "Yeah."
Gunn cleared his throat and glanced over at the pensive Connor.
Connor stared resolutely out the window. Gunn shook his head and turned his attention back to the road. He sure as hell hoped they would get there soon. The boy could do with a fight, and if they were stuck together for too much longer then Gunn sure wouldn't mind giving him one.
xxxxx
Fred stared at the dark streets. She looked up at the unlit streetlights. "Do you think they're having a blackout?"
"No," Cordelia answered. She looked around at the deserted streets, the last time she had seen Sunnydale like this was, well she had never seen Sunnydale like this. Even in the alternate dimension that Anya had created with her wish, Sunnydale hadn't looked like this.
"Everyone's left."
"Like rats from a sinking ship," Angel added. He shared a knowing glance with Cordelia. You could always count on Sunnydale residents to be predictable. They could look into the wild amber eyes of a vampire and pass it off as a person on PCP or a horrible dream, but when something really oogy cam up they were always the first to run away.
"The people that look after the electricity must have skedaddled as well," Cordelia continued. She looked around, taking in the scarily familiar, and yet at the same time scarily alien, streets.
"It's weird," Cordelia said. "Like going back to your old high school after a couple of years, unless you did what us Sunnydale High students did and blew it up."
"You blew up your high school?" Fred squeaked.
Cordelia nodded. "Yep, but it wasn't as fun as you'd think it would be. So many people died that day; parents, teachers, students."
"Oh!" Fred exclaimed. "That doesn't sound like much fun as all."
"Hmm," Cordelia agreed. "Turn left here," She commanded Angel distractedly.
"But-" He protested.
"We're not going to Buffy's right away. There's something we have to do first."
Angel snuck a side length glance at Cordelia, seeing how her features tightened in anger. "Is it…?" Angel asked.
Cordelia nodded curtly.
Angel nodded back, much to the mystification of Fred.
"Where?" He asked.
Cordelia closed her eyes and breathed deeply. After a second her eyes snapped open and her finger pointed at a nearby cemetery.
"There."
Angel pulled the car over and hopped out. His dark eyes surveyed the cemetery. It was old, quite probably one of the oldest in Sunnydale though there were a few recent graves spotted around the edges.
Cordelia got out and leaned against the car.
Angel looked expectantly at her. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Where to now? Where is Buffy?" Angel clarified.
Cordelia felt a lick of anger flare up as he mentioned his previous love's name. "What do I look like? A bloodhound? How should I know?"
Angel opened his mouth to answer then caught the glimmer in Cordelia's eyes and snapped his jaw shut. He shook his head. "Never mind. I'll find her myself."
Breathing deeply Angel started off, following the scent he could have picked out of hundreds: the scent of a slayer.
"Ah, guys?" Fred asked.
Cordelia's eyes widened, and then narrowed with anger as Angel started to blend into the darkness. She made an infuriated noise in the back of her throat and stormed after him.
"Cordy?" Fred called out. She shrunk back into the car and looked nervously around her at the pitch-black streets, the moon occasionally shinning through clouds to light up spots of headstones. Her eyes slid over to the still sleeping Lorne. Fred reached into her bag, pulling out her tazer and tranq gun.
"We'll just stay here then."
xxxxx
"Angel!" Cordelia called out, angrily storming after. "Angel, will you wait?"
"I can't, Cordy," Angel called out. "You know we have to get to her soon."
Angel darted through the maze of headstones, putting his vampiric enhancements to good use. Sniffing at the air again he skidded to a stop in from of a pyramid type monument. He walked past the fence and up to the a set of downward leading stairs that he could have sworn weren't there four years ago, although they must have been for they were cracked and aged. The trail ended here.
"Angel, you can't just rush off. This is Sunnydale! And this guy isn't the average bad guy-" Cordelia ran into Angel's back, more focused on her rant than watching where she was walking.
"Oouff!"
Angel reached behind him, steadying her against his back. "This is it."
"Huh?" Cordelia asked, her hand curling over his shoulder. She looked down at the steps, and then looked at the headstone and monuments that surrounded the fence. A frown creased her brow. "Was this here before?"
Angel looked back at her, his non-existent breath almost catching in his throat. "Must have been; they're old."
"Strange," commented Cordelia. "I don't remember them."
Angel frowned. "Me neither."
He started down the steps, Cordelia one-step behind him, and her hand still on his shoulder. A shiver ran down Angel's spine as Cordelia tightened her grip, and settled into an uneasy feeling in his stomach. The uneasy feeling grew as the unmistakable sounds of a battle reached them.
Cordelia's hand dropped from his shoulder. A pang of sadness ran through Angel at the loss of her touch. He quickly buried it as they hurried down the stairs and into a torch lit room. Angel looked around; the room had a very Native American feel to it, though there was something that suggested it was older. There was something about the air down here; it crackled with magic and age. There was the body of an old woman lying carelessly on the ground; she was old, older than Angel he knew that for sure. Her head was twisted grotesquely in a manner Angel knew was done a by a professional.
The sound of pain filled grunts drew Angel's attention. Buffy fought against a much larger foe, not that this was something different to her usual Tuesday night, but this time however, the foe was not a demon but a man. A man with a collar. A preacher. Superficially he didn't look like the evil mad man type; with his dark jeans and black shirt complete with collar he looked more the type to be greeting churchgoers on a Sunday morning than with black eyes and fight to the death with a preternaturally strong young woman.
Angel winced as the man threw her against one of the pillars within the tomb, the force of the blow causing several stones to fall out of place. Buffy fell to the ground, rolling along to face her opponent. Caleb reached down and picked up the scythe. He twirled it, a satisfied grin on his lips.
"I was kind of hoping it would go this way."
He raised it over his head, preparing to strike at the unprotected slayer.
Angel lurched into action. "Hey!"
Caleb's head turned, just in time to receive the blow that Angel threw. He fell to the side, dropping the scythe in the process. He narrowly missed hitting the wall.
Angel felt the corners of his mouth curl upwards. "I never did care much for preachers."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. He could so cheesy sometimes.
"Angel," Buffy breathed.
Cordelia huffed. Then again so could Buffy.
Angel leant down and offered Buffy his hand to help her up. Shaking her head Cordelia picked up the colourful scythe and looked it over. It wasn't bad really; good construction, great balance and lots of kill-y parts.
Caleb struggled to his feet. His dark eyes fixed on the weapon in Cordelia's hands.
"Mine." He lurched forward.
Cordelia's eyes widened as the evil preacher rushed towards her. Instinct took over; she danced out of the way, bringing the scythe up to defend herself. She swung it at him and was amazed to see him fall into a roll, the scythe swinging harmlessly over his head. Angel moved in.
Cordelia gritted her teeth. The bastard was damn fast. He was trading blows with Angel, neither man seeming to have the upper hand. Finally Caleb swung hard, hitting Angel square on the jaw, sending him tumbling to the ground. Buffy launched herself at him and was thrown across the room for her troubles. Cordelia tensed up, trying to remember all her training sessions with Angel. Though she didn't think a spin kick was going to hurt this guy.
Waiting until the last moment Cordelia once again danced out of his way, thanking the PTB for her childhood dance classes and the numerous hours of cheerleading practice. With a lighting fast move Cordelia struck out with the scythe and caught Caleb on the back of the head with the flat of the blade, the edge still slicing into his scalp.
Caleb stopped and raised a hand to the cut. He stared incredulously at the blood that stained his hand, then at the determined woman clutching the desired object.
"You… bitch!"
Cordelia's eyes narrowed. "Yep, best you remember that. You hurt my friends; you hurt my ex-boyfriend!"
"I'm sorry," Caleb said with a sneer. "You'll have to be more specific. A girl like you is bound to have had more than her fair share of boyfriends. How many men have you tricked and beguiled, whore? How many have you lead from the path of righteousness? How many have strayed because of your wicked ways? You dirty whor-"
A large fist connected to a large, very angry vampire, crashing into his head, haltered Caleb's rant. The force of the blow threw him across the room. Angel stomped over and picked him up by the front of his shirt. He released one hand and used it punch Caleb in the face, then again and again until blood flowed freely from his nose. Caleb stumbled, falling to the floor as Angel let go. With a burst of sudden movement Caleb kicked out at Angel's feet, knocking him to the ground.
Caleb rolled to his feet, coming up near the slayer.
"Buffy, here!" Cordelia heaved the scythe towards her. Buffy reached out one hand and snagged it from the air.
Cordelia desperately groped for another weapon, her hands falling on a simple wooden stake. Cordelia felt the weight of it carefully and eyed the insane preacher. An idea formed.
"Hey, Preacher!"
Caleb turned to face her.
Cordelia took a breath and let the stake fly. She prayed that her training wouldn't fail her now. That, however, was not the case. Cordelia's aim was true, the stake sunk into the delicate optic tissue. Blood poured from his eye socket as he screamed in pain and fury, yanking the stake out.
"You bitch! What have you done to me!"
Cordelia exhaled in relief and smirked. "Payback for Xander. You can't mess with my ex-boyfriend and get away with it. Eye for an eye."
Buffy smiled gratefully at Cordelia. The smile fell from her face. She swung the scythe in a figure eight pattern and ran at Caleb. With an upward thrust Buffy hit him in the face with the flat of the blade.
Caleb punched out blindly, trying to adjust to the sudden loss of half his vision.
Buffy ducked and weaved. She reversed the scythe and smashed the butt of it into his nose. The cartilage gave way and blood poured down his face, mingling with the blood from his eye.
Caleb grunted and stumbled back before catching himself and moving forward determinedly towards Buffy. He was stopped a pair of large arms trapping his arms to his sides.
Angel struggled to hold the mad preacher. "Cordelia," he forced out between gritted teeth. "Weapons… in the car."
"What? Oh! Right. I'll be back. Don't die."
Angel winced as a sharp elbow connected with his stomach. "I'll work on it."
Cordelia ran up the stairs, her sneakered feet pounding against the stone. She burst out of the pyramid and sprinted out of the fenced are. Cordelia dodged amoung the headstones, desperately trying to burn the path into her mind. Her breath came in short pants as she neared the black convertible. Gunn's old truck was parked behind it. Gunn was leaning over the side of the convertible to speak to Fred. Lorne was still snoring softly and Connor remained in Gunn's truck, his arms crossed sullenly over his chest.
Cordelia vaulted one last headstone and skidded to a stop beside the driver's door. She wrenched it open and hopped in, fingers fumbling for the catch to open the boot.
Success! Cordelia pulled it, relieved when the click of the boot opening could be heard. She scrambled out of the car and slammed the door shut behind her. With hurried steps she walked around to the boot and sorted through the weapons.
She grabbed the katanna that she had always thought of as hers. Cordelia considered the flamethrower that was taking up most of the room but quickly shook her head and grabbed a double-edged, long handled fighting axe instead. Adding a crossbow and several more stakes to her arsenal Cordelia roughly shut the boot and turned to make her way back through the cemetery.
Connor grabbed her arm. "Cordy, what's wrong?"
Cordelia twisted her head to look back at them. Panic shone clearly on her face.
"Caleb," she answered, "He's stronger than I saw. Angel and Buffy are done there fighting him alone. I have to get back."
Cordelia yanked her arm out of Connor's grip and started back into the cemetery, carefully juggling the weapons.
"Wait," Gunn called. "We'll help."
"There's no time." This was called from over Cordelia's shoulder as she increased speed.
Gunn went back to his truck and reached into the cabin, pulling out his own axe. Connor followed and pulled out a short sword.
They started to follow Cordelia's trail. Gunn stopped and turned back to Fred. "You stay here and protect Lorne."
"But-" Fred protested.
It was too late; Connor and Gunn had already disappeared into the darkness.
xxxxx
Cordelia panted under the weight of the weaponry. She looked frantically for the pyramid. Was it this way? Was that angel statue there before?
Her heart was racing, every minute she spent floundering around here was another minute that Caleb guy could be hurting, or much worse- killing, Angel.
Cordelia rounded a corner and sighed with relief as she spotted the familiar fence and pyramid. She barely lost pace as she bounded down the stairs.
However, two very familiar figures stopped her in her tracks before she could enter the chamber. Cordelia slowed to a stop beside Spike, hardly taking notice of the Buffy shaped First between them. Her wide pain-filled eyes were staring at the lip locked Buffy and Angel. Apart from the dead preacher man, clutching a half rotten curtain, lying on the floor it was like going back in time four years.
Cordelia managed to drag her eyes away from the couple. She shared a sad glance with Spike; the pain, anger and grief weighing them down, turning their stomachs into rocks and squeezing their hearts.
"That bitch!"
The First looked between them, then turned back to Angel and the real Buffy, a smug smirk on it's lips. "Oh yeah, they both really need the two of you."
Cordelia glared at the First. Then she did the most un-Cordy like thing she could think of: she turned tail and ran.