Chapter 17 Dreaming Of
The AI team was waiting for Wolfram and Hart to strike but nothing. Maybe killing Lilah worked or maybe they were hoping AI would let their guard down. Something had to give and it had to give real soon. The impending feeling of Angelus' arrival had everyone tense. In a logical sense as long as Isabella stayed safe then Angelus was only an idea and nothing more. But for Isabella he would find his way to her in her dreams. Isabella only mentioned once that her father's alter ego invaded her dreams. But it was becoming a nightly occurrence and she would stay up, too afraid to close her eyes sometimes. She should tell Angel maybe Willow and Tara could cook up a spell to help her not dream. But her father was on edge as it was and she didn't want to burden him anymore.
Isabella sat in class and at first the teacher made sense about the theory of betrayal of a story they were reading. But soon the coherent words became more muffled and made less sense.
"Izzy," Levy snapped Isabella awake before she fell asleep at her desk. "You ok?" Isabella smiled nodding.
"Yeah I'm great." Isabella assured and Evan nodded but didn't by it one bit. Then the bell rang and everyone got up and left. Isabella, Evan, Levy and Connor all walked together down the hall to their lockers. The three friends looked at Isabella as she looked tired. She was dreaming but what about.
"Have you talked to your dad or Giles?" Connor asked but Isabella ignored it.
"Guys really I'm fine." She lied and she knew she was lying. But there was so much tension going on right now that her dreams would only add onto the already high levels of stress.
"Well it's study hall maybe you can nap instead." Levy suggested as they left their lockers to the library together. Sleep sounded great, Isabella want to sleep but when she closed her eyes Angelus popped up. Maybe this was Wolfram and Harts attack on her. Drive her crazy make her lose it, if this was the plan it was working. The four found a table near the back and dumped all their stuff out.
"Cookies?" Connor offered the tasty snack to share with his friends. Cookies sounded great and Isabella took one. She opened up her text book and planned to get some homework done. But her eyelids suggested sleep was better than math. Isabella stared at one problem and felt her eyelids shutting. She forced them back open telling herself no. Maybe she should take up drinking coffee. That might keep her awake, anything really to keep her from Angelus chasing her.
'Isabella!' Isabella looked around the table.
"What?" She asked thinking Evan had something to say but her friends just sat there and looked up at her like she was crazy. "Guys really I'm fine." But they said nothing, they just stared her down. "Guys?" She asked.
'Isabella!' Isabella looked to where she heard the voice and her heart started to race again.
"Oh god no not again, wake up." She said to herself out loud closing her eyes. "It's just a dream wake up Izzy, wake up, wake up, wake up," Then she heard a chuckle. She didn't want to open her eyes knowing who was here. "It's just dream you aren't real."
"I am," The voice said right up in her ear. Isabella screamed and jumped out of her chair and took off running. She ran out of the library and down the hall. She was doing what her father told her to do until she looked back and saw Angelus walking behind her. She couldn't run fast enough away from him. It was like she was slowing down and he got closer. The lights in the hall dimmed as she ran for her life. "Isabella!" Angelus yelled laughing and she stopped and turned around. "Why are you running from daddy?" Isabella started to tear up and then kept running as she could hear him laugh cruelly. She turned a corner and ran right into him screaming and thrashing to break free.
"Isabella! Whoa, whoa!" Evan grabbed her as she thrashed around in her chair. She stopped screaming and looked around. "It's just a dream." She looked around, it felt real. She started to pack up her stuff. "Hey where are you going?" But she said nothing as she gathered her stuff and left the library. The three friends watched her leave in tears. Isabella ran down the hall as if she was trying to run away from a ghost. She round a corner and bumped into someone. She dropped all her stuff screaming but then looked up to see who she bumped into. It wasn't a dream this time. A staff member looked at her concerned. Isabella got down to the floor picking up her bag and her book.
"Where's your pass?" The woman asked and Isabella looked at her like she was crazy.
"Screw your pass." Isabella sounded annoyed and walked right passed the staff person heading to the exit of the school.
'Isabella!' The voice said and she turned around seeing the staff woman standing there smiling. 'Hey Isabella no running in the hallway.' She said in a voice that made Isabella's heart race. She was awake right? She wasn't asleep and dreaming again right? Isabella just left the building running out in the daylight. She had to walk back home but there was someone close by that she could get a ride from.
Kate was at her desk typing up a police report when her phone rang.
"Detective Lockely." She said and then her face became concern. "Yes send her up." And within moments Isabella came in. "Izzy you should be in class," But the look and Isabella's face was something left to be desired. "What's wrong?"
"I am I crazy?" She asked. "I, I was studying and, and I see him. He's so different from dad but he's there. And then and then I leave and, and I run into a teacher and, and she told me I needed a pass and I said no and left but then she said my name but it, it wasn't her voice it was his. Am I dreaming? Please tell me I'm awake. I, I just want to go home." Isabella ranted and Kate walked up to her and hugged her.
"It's ok you aren't dreaming no one is going to hurt you." Kate assured her and Isabella sobbed a little. "Come on I'll take you to the hotel." Isabella nodded and the two begun to leave. "Brackette I'm taking off the rest of the day, important business." The man nodded as Kate took Isabella's bag and slung it over her shoulder and they left the police headquarters and to the parking garage. But only Kate stepped off the elevator. "Izzy?" Isabella looked around the dingy and dark place with the lights flickering here and there. "It's ok Izzy I'm right here." And Kate held out her hand and Isabella took it and followed her to her car.
Angel sat at his desk reading a book when his door opened.
"Dad," Angel looked up as Isabella came running over to him. He set his book down and she hugged him tightly. He picked her up so she could sit on his lap.
"Izzy what's wrong?" He asked and then Kate came in and Angel looked confused.
"I really don't know but she needed a ride home." Kate answered and Angel nodded while slightly trying to pry his daughter away so he can talk to her.
"Hey," He said but she clung onto him for dear life. "Hey Inion look at me." And Isabella pulled away so their eyes meant. "What's going on? You look so tired." Isabella looked like she wanted to go to sleep. She was about to say something and he knew what she was going to say to. "Hey don't lie to me or I'll kick your butt." Kate smiled at the last part; they were way too cute together. Angel cupped her cheek trying to read her.
"Will this work?" Lorne asked as Willow crushed something. Isabella finally fessed up about the dreams of Angelus. She was terrified to sleep right now but she needed rest otherwise she wouldn't be able to tell the difference between her reality and her nightmares. Not only that but she has been hiding the dreams from everyone for three weeks now. Willow found a potion that would allow her to sleep and not dream. It wouldn't be the end all solution but it would give her a night's rest something she needed. Today at school hearing Angelus' voice coming from a staff member while wide awake meant she was hallucinating, losing it.
"Yup she'll get a full night's rest." Willow answered while pouring the powder into a cup of tea. She mixed it and got up and headed upstairs but then ran into Kate.
"I was heading upstairs to see if I could do anything I'll take it up to them." Kate said and Willow nodded as Kate took the mug and headed upstairs. Isabella was sitting on Angel's bed as he was talking to her and then they heard a knock and Kate poked her head in. Angel nodded and she walked in handing Angel the mug. As much as she wanted to stay she knew this was a private moment.
"See you later ok Izzy." Kate said to Isabella and she nodded as Kate left.
"What is that?" Isabella asked looking at the mug and sat up.
"It's going to help you sleep." Angel answered and Isabella shook her head no. "Izzy you're very tired."
"I don't want to sleep," Isabella protested.
"Sweetheart it'll make you sleep and you won't dream ok, but you need sleep." Angel explained. "Please trust me." Isabella trusted her father and nodded taking the mug and sipped it. It tasted like tea which actually felt good to drink. Angel was going to stay will her until she fell asleep. After a few more sips she set the mug on the nightstand and felt her body relaxing. She wanted to fight to stay awake but her body was already tired and the potion working with a tired body made sleep impossible to fight. The last thing Isabella saw was her father before the black of sleep took over. Angel sat there for a few more moments and once her heart rate reached a certain rate he leaned in and kissed her.
Downstairs everyone waited to see if it worked and Angel came walking in holding his trench coat. Cordelia stood up indicating she would watch Isabella while Angel went out.
"Where you going?" Spike asked as Angel put on his coat checking his pockets for weapons like his wrist stakes.
"Out." He replied, he needed to do some street work.
"Well duh but where?" Spike wanted to join in.
"Local demon bar, if there's talk about me or Isabella that's where I'll get my information. Plus the bar tenders hear a lot they're practically psychologists." Angel explained taking his keys out.
"Can I go too?" Kate asked, she really wanted to help. Angel was hesitant to say yes. She was human going to a demon and vampire bar. But up until now she has been helpful.
"Oh come on mate it'll be fun we're just going in to talk nothing more." Spike said as we walked around the table.
"This isn't a good idea." Angel said which meant yes she could tag along. "In the mean time while I'm out find something about dreams."
"Like what?" Wes asked.
"I don't know anything about if people or things can manifest in them." Angel answered and Giles nodded as Angel left followed by Kate and Spike.
The black Plymouth pulled up to the club and the three got out walking up to the place. They could already hear the music from the outside.
"You've got a gun?" Spike asked Kate and she nodded. "Ok pet some advice don't wave it around unless you're here for a good brawl. Also keep that cop badge covered otherwise things will get real ugly real quick." And Kate nodded as they followed Angel up the stairs. "Just follow the poof he may not be a clubber but he knows how to work it." Kate nodded and followed Angel as his coated wiped behind him. He was something else. He encompassed the darkness night of the night like a vigilante. He could be a true superhero. He had the look, that brooding look, the dark eyes, the strength, the speed even the long trench coat. Angel stopped at the doorway where there was a bouncer. He looked human but Kate figured he wasn't a human in some way. The bouncer held up a card in front of Angel.
"Frog on a ledge." Angel said and the bouncer stood aside and the three walked in. Angel, Spike and Kate walked in the club. For Kate this was different, there demon and vampire girls dancing in cages. She knew she had to stay close to Angel, she was human this was dangerous and for a moment she regret coming. Angel walked through the crowd with ease as the people moved out of his way. He got some cat calls from the girl vampires but he ignored it. Angel wasn't looking for a good time; he was a father on a mission. Finally they made it to the bar and they took three seats and a bar tender came over cleaning a glass ready to take their orders.
"Shot of Jameson." Angel said.
"I'll take a scotch." Spike told the bar tender.
"I'll do a shot of Jameson too." Kate said and the bar tender went to get the drinks. "Now what?"
"Start pumping people for information." Spike responded as two shot glasses and a glass of scotch was set before them. Spike lit up a cigarette and sipped his scotch while Angel down his shot slamming the glass down and giving it back to the bar tender. Kate did her shot and it burned, Irish whiskey was something else. She never did whiskey before but she could tell it can mess you up real fast. Angel downed another shot like it was nothing.
"What?" Angel asked to Kate and she shrugged. "I'm Irish what do you expect?" And she smiled a little. The bar tender came back over to refill Angel's shot but in one swift mover Angel grabbed the bar tender and brought him closer and morphed into his vampire face. "Ok we can make this real fast or incredibly slow and painful." The bar tender was listening Spike smiled as he took a drag on his cigarette and sipped his drink. "Does Wolfram and Hart ring a bell?" The bar tender shook his head no. "What about Isabella?" Again same response. "Day Walker?" Then the bar tender nodded. "You tell me what I want to know I'll let you live."
"Rumor has it that Angelus is on his way to kill the Day Walker." The half man half demon said.
"How?" Angel asked.
"Oh when you're done I'd like another glass of scotch." Spike added in quickly shaking his empty glass and set it down and huffed his cigarette bobbing his head to the base of the music. This whole scene looked weird to Kate. Angel was about to rip a guy's head off and no one came over to help and then Spike is right next to him head bobbing to the beat of the music asking for more alcohol from the man about to die.
"I don't know how but I hear something dreaming." Angel let the half breed go and got up. Angel had some information knew where to go. Kate and Spike went to follow but Angel had that look for them not to follow and left.
"Peaches?" Spike asked but no response.
"I've got a feeling he's going to Wolfram and Hart." Kate stated and Spike nodded and took his new glass of alcohol and downed it and tossed the glass breaking it.
"Hey," Kate said looking at the vampire. "Was that necessary? You'll have to pay for that."
"No it's ok pet people do it all the time." Spike answered.
"Hey you gonna pay for that glass?" Another bar tender asked and the two looked behind them and Spike shrugged.
Angel left the club and headed to his car and sped off. He had a bone to pick with someone.
At the hotel Isabella was sleeping peacefully while Wes and Giles looked up anything with dreams.
"Found something." Wes spoke up and Giles walked to Wes and looked over his shoulder to the book. "Here," Wes pointed. "If correctly summon from the ether one can plague another in dreams." Wes read and Giles nodded while reaching for the book.
"Anyway to stop it?" Giles asked as he skimmed through the passage.
"It mentions it's vaguely but the thing summoned needs to be beaten so to speak."
"Izzy will have to face her nightmare then." Giles stated but Wes shook his head no.
"She can't this dream that's being created renders her in a helpless state she can't fight anything."
"So someone has summoned Angelus in a dream form to attack her?" Fred asked looking up.
"Appears so." Wes answered.
"But why? You can't die in your dreams." Fred commented.
"No but you can be so afraid to sleep that you'll go insane." Giles added.
"But this is just a dream Angelus isn't real…right?" Willow asked stepping into the conversation. Wes sighed and it wasn't a good sigh.
"Whoever did this summon Angelus through the ether meaning he is real, he back and he's doing what he does best through Isabella's dreams. While he can't kill her in her sleep he'll drive mad." Wes explained.
"Ok but why make her crazy?" Fred asked.
"Angel will want a way to save her." Willow answered.
"Even give up his soul?" Fred asked and Willow shrugged.
"Maybe."
"Ok well how do we stop this?" Fred asked.
"Well Izzy can't she's helpless right now she can't fight." Giles stated.
"Well what about Lorne?" Fred asked and they looked at her. "Couldn't we maybe summon someone in her dream to combat Angelus what would that do?"
"It says here if the summon one is essentially defeated out they can no longer invade. The reason why people go crazy is because they can't do it themselves." Giles quoted from the book.
"So we bring in someone to help her." Willow added.
"Who?" Xander asked, he had listened in from the kitchen.
"Who else Angel." Fred answered. "We can get Lorne to bring Angel into Isabella's dream and he can fight Angelus off."
"There's an interesting fight." Gunn added with a smile.
"May not be enough." Giles deadpanned.
"Why?" Willow asked.
"It'll be Angel verses Angelus," Wes started.
"Yeah greatest smack down in history." Xander commented.
"They'll cancel one another out it won't go anywhere." Wes finished and everyone looked defeated.
"No," Spike said walking with Kate. "We do this we need to bring in the big guns, I'm talking bringing in the rain, we bring in Buffy."
"How?" Willow asked as everyone was even more interested now that Buffy's name was mentioned.
"If someone can summon Angelus we sure can summon Buffy." Gunn added.
"Ok this is getting good." Xander added smiling bigger everyone smiled at the idea of bringing Buffy into this.
"How about mom and pops go in there." Willow suggested and everyone nodded. "Lorne will put Angel in there and Buffy will be summoned."
"I stand corrected that will be the greatest smack down in history. Oh Angelus is so going to lose." Xander smiled while saying that.
"There's a fight I'd pay big money to see." Giles quickly added like it was nothing looking at everyone as they were a little taken back at his comment.
"Where is Angel?" Gunn asked.
"Heading over to Wolfram and Hart about to beat up some poor soul." Spike answered like it was no big deal and no one seemed too excited about that.
"Let him he needs to release some anger." Xander added.
"Ok so how are going about this?" Spike asked getting a little excited which Kate noticed.
"You really want Angelus' ass kicked." She stated.
"Oh you have no idea." Giles added.
"Angel and Buffy fighting him wow wish there was a way to put it up on the big screen with hi-def and surround sound." Xander said.
"Will Izzy let us?" Willow asked.
"If she wants to sleep again then yes she will." Wes stated.
Angel walked into the hotel and noticed everyone was in the dining room everyone except Isabella, Levy, Evan and Cordelia. Angel walked in and everyone looked up.
"So how did it go?" Xander asked but Angel said nothing. "Well dead boy we've got answers and a plan."
"What?" Angel asked.
"First someone summoned Angelus to Isabella's dreams to torment her. He can't kill her but it'll make her go crazy if it continues." Giles begun and Angel leaned up against the wall. "We figure that whoever is behind this thinks if she goes crazy enough or you seek answers you'll give up your soul. Now we've found a solution." Giles paused. "First Isabella can't fight this off, the summoning of Angelus weakens her in the dream state so someone's basically,"
"Screwing around with her dreams," Spike added.
"Yes thank you Spike but she can't fight this off and the longer it goes on the weaker she gets." Giles went on. "We were well hoping that with Lorne's help by linking you and Isabella up you can combat Angelus and drive him out. Once he's driven out he can't return." Angel nodded; he can do that he'd love to beat up his alter ego for everything he's done. "There's a problem though you and Angelus are one in the same it would be a never ending battle no one would win."
"Great so why tell me you solution when it really isn't one?" Angel asked, he was irritated from that speech.
"Cause dude we have a better idea." Gunn said smiling everyone was smiling which Angel noticed.
"We're still sending you in." Giles started again. "We've found the summoning spell that was used on Isabella and we're going to have someone help you."
"Yeah the only other person who can kick Angelus back to hell." Willow said smiling.
"We're summoning Buffy." Wes finished and Angel stood there for a moment in silence. Could they really do that? The idea though of fighting side by side with Buffy again stirred something in him. Not only would they fight side by side they would be fighting to save their daughter together all the while beating the living hell out of Angelus. A small smile tugged at Angel, Buffy is coming back for round two with Angelus.
And cliffhanger, yeah don't be mad. I'll update ASAP I promise. But Buffy's coming back to fight Angelus please tell me that makes you all smile. Not only that it's going to be Angel and Buffy fighting Angelus even better. Any guesses to what and how it's all going to go down?
Now on a serious note I have a question for my readers. Major dilemma happening and as I debate with myself and yes I debate with myself on every issue anyways that's not the point. So I think hey let me see if my readers can help. The dilemma is the Angel and Kate thing. I know some people like it others not so much. Right now there are a few ideas in my head but the outcomes are the same it's how I want to go about it. I said before that the Angel/Kate thing will end it's not meant to last. But its how I want to get to the ending and how important I want to make it for Angel. I mean our poor Angel lost Doyle and Buffy and as you've read and keep reading its possible Isabella is next. Throwing it out there so it's on the table there won't be just a 'one night stand.'
Ok now before some of you get all happy or really mad like said I don't know how I can please both the BA fans and just Buffy fans and Angel fans but not over step the boundaries. Because I am a huge BA fan they should have remained together. But for this story to work and to fit into The Gift I need some big bang, something that's going to hurt. Angel's a champion Joss said so because everything can get stripped away and yet Angel somehow rises above it. So how important can I make Kate and then make her gone without upsetting people and yet still make tasteful? I would love to hear your input and then from there I'll try to make everyone not happy but make it work so there's a mutual agreement.
And one more time Angel and Buffy verses Angelus place your bets.