I let it fall, my heart,
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me
My hands, they're strong
But my knees were far too weak,
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet
But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.
But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!
When I lay with you
I could stay there
Close my eyes
Feel you here forever
You and me together
Nothing is better
'Cause there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew,
All the things you'd say,
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.
But I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name!
I set fire to the rain
And I threw us into the flames
Where it felt something die
'Cause I knew that that was the last time, the last time!
Sometimes I wake up by the door,
That heart you caught must be waiting for you
Even now when we're already over
I can't help myself from looking for you.
I set fire to the rain,
Watched it pour as I touched your face,
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name
I set fire to the rain,
And I threw us into the flames
Where it felt something die
'Cause I knew that that was the last time, the last time, ohhhh!
Oh noooo
Let it burn, oh
Let it burn
Let it burn
Chapter 27 Flaming Skies
Angel and Isabella sat in the car one second longer and then looked to one another and knew it was time. They didn't know how the others were but it didn't matter at the moment what mattered was taking this building down. They got out of the car and Angel popped the trunk and there was a huge duffle bag well two to be exact. Isabella opened on and it was full of guns and the traditional weapons. They would be fighting non-demons too. The second bag was full of explosives to take out the building. Angel grabbed one bag and Isabella the other and the headed to the building.
They stayed out of site and Isabella peered into the front door seeing one security officer and then she looked to her dad.
"Do your thing." Angel said to his daughter and Isabella headed to the front doors. She peered in and saw the security officer and knocked. She worked up some tears and the officer came over. He knew he shouldn't open the doors but the girl was crying and looked scared so he let her in. Isabella sniffed and cried a little more she was rather good at this plus a long time ago she learned if she worked up a few tears and played her cards right Angel would give her whatever she wanted it didn't always work but when it did it was great.
"Thank you oh god something was chancing me and, and I can't find my parents we, we were walking and something, something attacked us," Isabella pretended to sob.
"It's ok here do you know anyone who can pick you up?" The officer asked and she nodded. "Ok," The officer led her to the front desk and sat behind it and he picked up the phone but when he looked up Isabella held a small crossbow at him. The officer's eyes widen and she saw him reaching for a button but then another crossbow was pointed closer to his head.
"Don't even think about it." Angel said. "Hands where I can see them." Angel demanded and the officer raised his hands up and Isabella walked around the desk and pulled his gun away and slipped in her back pocket. She then took out a disk and slipped it in a computer. It would take out the security system and in place on the monitors you would see nothing but quiet rooms and halls.
"We're good." She said to her father and then he nodded as Angel tossed her a roll of duct tape and it was time to tape the man up. He was a man and Angel wouldn't kill him mostly likely he was going to die here anyways but he posed no threat. Once the poor man was tied well taped up Angel brought in the bags off explosives and actual human weapons. He knew both humans and non-humans were going to die tonight. Father and daughter then headed upstairs to the center floor where they would set up the explosives and then find Lindsey and Hamilton. The place was dark as they were on the center floor and the explored the area with some flashlights. Angel found a switch and the room lit up.
"Alright let's get to work." Angel stated and set down the bag of explosives and they began to work to wire the system. Wolfram and Hart's building would crumble once Hamilton and Lindsey were dead but this was the whole let's be sure it crumbles and stays that way deal.
Meanwhile Spike came up to the Wolfram and Hart building a little beat up but he still wanted a good fight. He ran pass the Plymouth parked further away and to the front doors and noticed they were unlocked and walked in. He heard a muffle noise and ran to the front desk and saw security officer duct taped from head to toe and Spike smiled and then left.
Up in the huge office room Isabella and Angel were synchronizing the explosives.
"How we doing?" Angel asked as Isabella planted one more C4 cartridge on the wall.
"Two more," She answered her father and then in a quick reflex she swung around and pointed the crossbow ready to fire.
"Watch where you're pointing that." Spike said and Isabella lowered her weapon.
"Spike," Angel came over to the two. "Anyone else here yet?" Angel asked hoping not and Spike shook his head no and Angel nodded.
"How much C4 are you guys packing in here?" Spike asked.
"Fourth of July is coming early this year." Isabella answered.
"I say once you detente the place we should place 1812th Overture in the background." Spike said as he looked to the cartridges on the walls and Isabella and Angel looked up at him. "Oh come on I know you're thinking it." The C4 was ready. "So how do we set them off?"
"Remote control." Angel answered and showed him the little remote that would do the damage and handed it to Isabella.
"Got Wolfram and Hart by the balls now," Spike commented and Angel made the signal for the three of them to head out of this area and find Lindsey and Hamilton. They knew they were in the building somewhere and now it would be a cat and mouse chase.
"Ready to rock?" Isabella asked her father and he nodded and the three left grabbing weapons knowing the fake security system they set wouldn't last long. They needed both sets of weapons to take whatever might come their way to protect the building, Lindsey and Hamilton. But as they headed off all three heard footsteps and a number of them and in an instance there was gun fire. Bullets wouldn't kill Angel and Spike but it hurt like a mother and it would subdue them so they could be killed easily. But a bullet to Isabella she was human and it there was a great possibility it would kill her so the guns were for her.
Angel heard the gun fire going and just as it happened Angel shoved Isabella to Spike and Spike knew it meant get her out of here. Isabella went to chase after her father but Spike held her back as the gunfire started.
"Dad!" Isabella yelled for him. "Dad!" Spike got her out of the room just in time. Angel jumped to the floor and hid behind a desk as the security of Wolfram and Hart fired at him. They were expendable humans right now and he had feeling more unnatural things would come out. These humans were just following orders and thought they were protecting a well respected law firm. Angel did a quick assessment and he had to get out from under the desk. Bullets would hurt him enough and bring him down and then they would probably save him and let him live long enough to let Lindsey and Hamilton kill him. Angel took out a gun and he would fire blindly and hope that would be enough for the escape. He turned around pointing the gun upwards and fired. The security team stopped firing and Angel began to crawl away as it was quiet for a split second.
Angel got up and ran to the back of the office as the security fired at him. Angel ran to the back room, slid to the ground and got behind another desk and there was no way out. But on the other side of the wall were Spike and Isabella.
"He's in the copy room there's no way out." Spike said looking to a security monitor and Isabella could feel that her dad was just on the other side. She then sprinted to the wall crashing through the rather thin material and her father looked up seeing her. She reached out and grabbed him and yanked him back from where she came from. She tossed him and he managed to stay on his feet. Angel did a quick look to Isabella and Spike and they gave no indication they were hurt and all three ran down the hall as Spike grabbed the weapons bag.
"When can we blow this place?" Spike asked as they ran but got no answer. The human security system was the least of their concerns right now. "Well it's a good thing you brought machine guns." AI had the classic weapons but they also carried modern weapons just in case. The three breaked for a moment and Spike dropped the bag and the three took out the usual weapons swords, knives and what not but also a few guns. They grabbed what they could carry with because the big bag was weighing them down and then took off running again. The elevators wouldn't work anymore so the head to the stairs but when they reached the stairs a monster came around the corner.
"What the hell?" Angel asked.
"Troll!" Spike yelled and they turned back around and turned another corner. Isabella then shoved her dad into another hallway and grabbed Spike with her. Angel knew what she was doing and he took off. Isabella and Spike rounded a corner and into a small room. The troll was coming and they hoped it would pass them and they could double back. But then walls came crashing down and Spike grabbed Isabella and jumped avoiding getting crushed. They looked up as the troll stood there and it screamed. Isabella held up a gun and fired it. The troll stopped moving and went down.
"Imagine what it would have been like if he was fully grown?" Spike asked and Isabella looked to him a little confused. "Oh yeah that's just a baby." Isabella got up and helped Spike up and they left to find Angel and help as they knew he would be after Lindsey and Hamilton and he couldn't take them alone not at the same time.
Angel was up on another level looking around hoping to find them. He walked through the quiet halls and then heard gun shots from behind him. Angel turned around and saw Isabella standing there and on the floor was a dead body of a demon. Angel walked over to it and fired his crossbow at its head just to be sure. Isabella and Spike caught up to him and they ran together until the security guards showed up again.
"You guys go I've got them." Spike insisted and Angel and Isabella ran the opposite way to another flight of stairs and headed up. They ran to the upper levels.
"I hate stairs." Angel stated as they raced up the narrow flight of stairs. Once they reached the second to the last level Angel kicked down the door and both tossed away their guns knowing it would have no affect on Lindsey or Hamilton. They knew Spike would go trigger happy so if he did die he'd die happy. Then Hamilton rounded the corner and Angel and Isabella froze for a moment.
"Making a mess are we?" He asked and Angel put himself in front of his daughter.
"Yeah it's fun." Angel said to Hamilton as the human that was truly a beast walked closer to them.
"Big mistake coming here." Hamilton then threw a punch at Angel and Angel ducked the first time but then his jaw caught Hamilton's fist. Isabella went in to take him but something caught her and tossed her. She looked up and it was Lindsey. Hamilton grabbed Angel and then tossed him through some glass windows and he fell a story or two. Isabella rolled to her feet and managed a good punch to Lindsey. Angel got up and shook it off and saw Hamilton coming after him. Hamilton jumped down and landed in front of Angel and Angel punched him in the chest but Hamilton didn't budge.
"Did that hurt at all?" Angel asked and Hamilton shrugged.
"A little bit." He admitted and then grabbed Angel by the throat and tossed him again. Angel rolled over slowly getting up when Hamilton kicked him. "No its ok don't get up."
Isabella tripped Lindsey and managed to kick him and sent him flying down the hall. Lindsey slowly got up and charged at her and they went crashing through the window landing hard on the ground on another level. Hamilton picked up Angel and smiled.
"You're gutter trash and should have just stayed there." He tossed the vampire again. Isabella kicked Lindsey off of her and he didn't move so she got up and ran to Hamilton and jumped kicking him. It sent Hamilton to the ground and he got up looking very upset. "And you," Isabella went to kick him again but Hamilton grabbed her foot and threw her against a wall and Isabella laid there for a moment. "Just going to snap that tiny neck and end it." But before Hamilton could reach for her Angel managed to kick him away. Just as Isabella got up Lindsey grabbed her but she grabbed him back and slammed him to the ground. She pulled out her sword and swung it. Lindsey managed to dodge the swings and tripped her.
"Come on I want to fight the daughter of Angelus not some little girl!" Lindsey then kicked the sword away and Isabella kicked him back and it was an all out fist fight between Hamilton and Angel and Lindsey and Isabella. Lindsey managed to pick up Isabella's sword and swung it around and Isabella dodged it. Angel knew he had to help her but Hamilton kept him busy and he couldn't get to her.
"I'd let you say good bye to her but I'm having too much fun." Hamilton then delivered a massive punch and Angel flew back and skid across the ground. Isabella dodge d he swipes of the sword and jumped grabbing a ledge and kicked Lindsey which gave her a moment to run. But then she realized she had the security officer's gun in her back pocket and began to fire. The bullets hit Lindsey but he was still walking. He was no longer human these days. Isabella fired all the rounds and then took off running leading him away so Angel just had to deal with Hamilton although that fight wasn't going well either.
Isabella led Lindsey to the next story up and then jumped into the air doing a black flip so she landed behind Lindsey and kicked him forward. Lindsey got back up and charged at her and swung the sword and Isabella grabbed the blade and grunted in pain and she held it in her hands. She kicked Lindsey back but Lindsey threw a punch and a kick and Isabella went down. She rolled over and felt dizzy as she went to crawl away.
"This is the Day Walker?" Lindsey asked and laughed a little. "I'm not impressed." Then he slammed her own sword at her but it was stopped just inches from her body. Lindsey looked up and a blonde woman clad in white held her own sword and the light was bright enough it blinded Lindsey and he backed away into an office room. Isabella looked to woman and smiled and she smiled back.
Lindsey was about to leave the office when Isabella jumped and dropped kicked him. Lindsey went to swing the sword but Isabella stopped him and threw a punch at him. With blunt side of the sword he hit Isabella in the face and swung and she dodge d it and threw another punch at Lindsey causing him to fly back and land on a desk. Lindsey quickly got up and Isabella threw a one two move at Lindsey but he rebounded and swung the sword and Isabella backed off for a moment and then grabbed a small lamp with its pole being long enough and she used it as a weapon. She blocked a few swings from Lindsey and smacked the lamps pole in Lindsey's face. Lindsey bounced back and swung the sword and like the last time Isabella grabbed it and felt the pain of the blade digging into her hands as Lindsey pushed the sword closer to her neck. Isabella then kicked Lindsey's crotched and he fell back to the desk and she pushed the blade closer to his neck.
Lindsey fought hard not to let the blade touch his neck and then he kicked Isabella back and then head butted her. Isabella took a few steps back and held her nose and she knew it was bleeding and might be broken. Lindsey felt his forehead because that caused allot of pain even for him. Lindsey got up and they charged at one another and at the same time kicked each other to the ground hard. For a moment they laid there for a second catching their breaths and Isabella got up followed by Lindsey and she crawled away grabbing yet another lamp and swung at Lindsey's face. She ran up to him and he kicked her back and she fell to the ground and when he went to swing the sword she grabbed the nearby garbage can and tossed its contents at him which this one was a half eaten sandwich, some coffee grounds and a banana peel.
"That's nasty." Lindsey commented as he got coffee grounds on his face and he wiped some off. Lindsey charged at her and Isabella grabbed the chair holding it as shield as Lindsey slammed down the sword to her. Isabella kicked him away and Lindsey jabbed the sword threw the chair and Isabella flipped the chair and tossed it away with the sword still embedded into it. They were now standing face to face and for a split second they realized they were both weaponless and then Lindsey made the first move and kicked her. It turned into a fist fight but they were both getting tired and they could feel it in one another. Isabella grabbed Lindsey and slammed him to floor and in turn he grabbed her flipped her over his and she went to the floor. Lindsey got up and Isabella pulled one leg over her head kicking him and did a backwards summersault and kicked him once more.
Lindsey was on the ground and Isabella got up and he managed to grab her and threw her and went through the wall. Isabella took in a few deep breaths 'dad didn't train me for this crap.' And Lindsey came through the wall but she managed to kick both knees and he fell forward and then had him in a headlock and a tight one. Lindsey tried to get out of her embrace but she was really strong. Lindsey then managed a hurtful punch in her stomach and tried to crawl away but Isabella grabbed his feet and brought him back to her. He kicked her in the face grabbed her and then threw again and went through yet another wall and Lindsey went back into the office they started to fight in. Isabella laid on the floor and then on the wall she saw a hanging sword. She got up and grabbed it and then for a split second an odd feeling washed over her and she felt a surge of energy.
Lindsey went out to hall to help Hamilton if Angel wasn't dead already but then down the way Isabella waited. She stood there waiting and he cocked his head.
"Slayer?" He asked and she smiled
"Yeah," Isabella answered.
"Doesn't matter you're still human." Lindsey tried to sound big and stood there. "You think you can win this? What was the plan burn the building down then kill Archduke?"
"Dad already did spiked his drink earlier at a meeting." Isabella explained and Lindsey looked surprised that it happened and that Angel pulled it off. "The Circle is gone."
"Yeah but evil will always endure you can never kill us we are always here." Lindsey paused. "We'll kill you and your daddy and all your little friends because we rule this world and there is nothing that can stop evil," But Isabella cut him off.
"I don't feel like listening to an 'I'm evil' speech let's just finish this." Isabella stated and Lindsey held up his sword ready and Isabella held hers too. They stared down one another looking at each other's eyes trying to figure out what move would be made and then charged down the hall and their blades met grinding against one another. Lindsey stood taller than Isabella so he had the upper hand but he was tired. They fought not to let up the tension but Isabella got a surge of energy for turning into the slayer so she took the chance and managed a quick shove and sliced upwards and Lindsey stood there for a moment and looking down at the huge gash across his chest. Lindsey dropped Isabella's sword and fell to his knees. Isabella dropped the sword and reached for hers as Lindsey looked up to the new slayer who was already infused with vampire strength.
"You kill us more will come and you'll wish we killed and your little team." Lindsey huffed in exhaustion "Killing us won't make a difference." Lindsey warned her and Isabella shrugged.
"No but its one hell of a start." She swung the sword and beheaded Lindsey. She then fell to one knee taking a breather looking at the decapitated body but she knew she needed to help her father. She ran as fast as she could and saw Hamilton threw another punch to her dad. Her dad was pretty beat up by now.
"What's with you people?" Hamilton asked Angel and then tossed him again but then Isabella jumped down and landed on Hamilton and he fell to the floor and she kicked him away. She crawled to her dad as he grunted in pain and then he saw his daughter and looked at her.
"You're a slayer now?" He both asked and stated and then Isabella blocked Hamilton and managed a good punch but then he grabbed her by the throat.
"Slayer or not I still win." Hamilton said but then the butt of a gun slammed against his jaw and Angel jumped slightly and caught Isabella even though it wasn't a far fall. Hamilton stumbled back and the two looked up and saw Spike there.
"Ran out of ammo," Spike stated. "You two look like hell." And they got up slowly.
"Oh we feel great," Angel said sarcastically and he figured Isabella killed Lindsey finally he was dead it was about time. Hamilton then got up fixing his suit.
"Let me say this as clearly as I can," Hamilton started as the three stood there. "You cannot beat me I am apart of them the wolf the ram and hart." Hamilton explained as he got closer and Isabella backed away with her tired father in her arms.
"Great another evil speech we get it you guys are evil big whoop." Isabella said and Hamilton smiled
"Their strength flows through my veins my blood is filled with their ancient power." But the last part caught Angel's attention and he stood up a little.
"Can you pick out the one word you shouldn't have said?" Angel asked and vamped out and charged at Hamilton and sunk his teeth into his neck. Angel let go and jumped back and then tasted the blood on his lips. "Wow you really are full of it." And the two charged and now they matched moves. "What was that you were saying about ancient power?" The Hamilton caught Angel's neck and Isabella was about to intervene when Spike held her back.
"Don't join in unless he tags you." Spike said and Isabella knew her father had this.
"You really think you're going to win this?" Hamilton asked Angel. "You don't stand a chance we are legion we are forever." Angel then managed to break away and punched Hamilton in the stomach and as he bent forward kneed him in the face. Angel then spun to the ground kicking Hamilton's feet out from under him and he fell. Hamilton got up to his knees and Angel stood before him.
"Well then I guess forever," Angel threw a strong punch to Hamilton's face. He punched him twice more. "Just got a hell of lot shorter." The last punch Angel threw caused Hamilton's neck to go so far back it snapped and his body started fall. Angel turned around to Isabella and she tossed her sword to him and just to be sure Hamilton was dead and sliced his head off. Angel dropped the sword and fell to the ground he was tired. But before another word was said the building shook.
"Not good." Spike said and Isabella helped her father up and they looked around as the building started to crumble. The three took off trying to find the way out.
Meanwhile Gunn patched himself up as Cordelia drove the car.
"Oh thank god," She said as Gunn covered his wound. "Thought I was going to faint while barfing."
"Just get to the building." Gunn ordered as she drove. She wasn't the only heading there everyone from AI was on their way hoping they could help and it wasn't too late.
Angel, Isabella and Spike ran down a flight of stairs to the first floor as the place began to fall apart. They dodged the debris as they saw the doors and ran out. They ran a few feet from the crumbling building and then Isabella took out the detonator for the bombs.
"I push the trigger," Isabella started.
"We need to run like hell." Spike finished and Isabella looked at the little remote detonator and her thumb was on it touching it waiting to push the button. Angel was standing behind her and wrapped both hands around hers as in they would push the button together. "You always were an asshole Peaches." That was Spikes farewell.
The caravan of the AI teamed parked to the empty Plymouth knowing Angel and Isabella were already inside and they could see the building already caving in.
"We're too late." Willow stated and she was panicking they figured it out that Angel had killed Archduke and sent them on these missions to keep them away. Then a huge explosion was seen as the top of the building flew off and the building crumbled and the ground shook.
"It's a warzone." Gunn commented as there still more explosions happening and they couldn't do anything until the dust cleared but they knew Angel and Isabella were in there somewhere. The AI team watched as the building fell in fire. It was the mark of the end of Wolfram and Hart. Evil was going to be very upset and they knew if they prevented this apocalypse something bigger was going to come and it was going to come after them to seek revenge. But to see the building and watch it burn there was a sense of relief. Then the thunder and lightning rolled in as the building fell on top of itself and the rain fell.
The team watched it as it not only crumbled into the ground but a hole opened up like it was engulfing it. Willow and Tara held each other and Levy held her parents. Anaya was being cradled by Xander with Evan's around Xander's waist. The two Watchers stood there as the flames danced into the night. Wes then grabbed Fred's hand and she hugged him and Connor stood there alone next to Lorne. Gunn stood there watching as Cordelia rested her head on his shoulder. It was a powerful scene before them.
The flames were still going but the AI team did what they could to search for their friends. They didn't know if Spike made it here or died during his mission. As they turned over pieces of rubble without falling into the crater that was formed hope was slowly falling. Angel and Isabella were probably dead and in the crater. They didn't want to give up but they knew this could happen but they didn't want it too. Cordelia just sat on the ground in defeat yes they saved the world once again but the two real heroes were dead. They stopped searching knowing it was a lost cause and stood there looking around. At least it was over for now. The sun would rise soon and a new day would dawn.
"Look!" Fred yelled and pointed across the way and everyone looked and saw three figures in the distance. The rain slowly let up putting out any major fires the building could have caused. Angel was walking side by side with Spike and Isabella was on her father's back as he gave her a piggyback ride. The three saw the entire AI team running their way and Spike lit up a cigarette a victory smoke he would call it.
"So how upset do you think they'll be?" Spike asked meaning that AI probably knew that Angel sent them on the mission to keep them away and not to help.
"Really don't care at this point." Angel answered and Isabella sighed. "What?"
"I have a history paper to write when we get back home." She stated and a part of her wished the world did end so she didn't have to write that paper. Could she just tell her teacher she had to save the world and there was no time to write it? Could she do that?
"Need to empty the dishwasher too." Angel added.
"Oh you remembered to run it?" Spike asked and Angel nodded.
"And it's laundry day tomorrow or today?" Isabella asked and then the AI team was nearly in front of them. Isabella slid down from her father and then ran to her friends laughing and giggling. The four hugged and everyone had a sense of relief seeing that everyone survived.
"Gotta say the explosion it was awesome." Gunn stated and shook hands with Spike. Everyone could breathe now but it was time to head home and rest and sleep for a week. The sun would be up plus cops and fire trucks so they had to leave. Isabella walked back to her father and hugged him and then looked up to the sky and it looked so crystal clear. What they all noticed was the stars were just a little brighter like the heavens were pleased for what just happened.
"So now what?" Cordelia asked and they all looked at one another and they had no clue. Wolfram and Hart was gone their enemy that they've been fighting for so long was gone. What could they do? They felt like a whole bunch of time was free and they could actually be normal for a little bit. Isabella and Angel looked to one another and while this was a battle won another point added to team Angel and AI the war continued. But for now it was time to just enjoy this personal victory.
Comments and reviews welcomed. Song: Set Fire to the Rain by Adel