Chapter 8 Radioactive
A/N: This chapter when typing it out on Office it is 34 pages…pace yourselves guys. This chapter really defines the rest of the book and it's momentum. Hope you like it. Enjoy.
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh
Whoa
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive, radioactive
I raise my flags, don my clothes
It's a revolution, I suppose
We'll paint it red to fit right in
Whoa
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Whoa
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive, radioactive
All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh,
I'm radioactive, radioactive
Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
The black Mustang pulled up to the mansion and Buffy looked at the place. She was finally home. No one knew that she was coming though so it was going to be a surprise for sure. The sun was just beginning to set meaning everyone was going to be sitting down for dinner in a little bit. Buffy saw Angel walking to her side and he opened the door and she stepped out and now they would get their things and go inside.
Inside the mansion Dawn, Cordelia, Doyle, Xander and Willow were about to sit down and eat as dinner was ready. Simple dinner tonight spaghetti and meatballs.
"Smells good," Everyone looked up and saw Angel there and Dawn's eyes widen with her smile. She ran to her brother and hugged him. He hasn't been gone a full two days yet come to think of it.
"Well, let's get an extra plate." Willow sounded happy because everyone was here.
"Get two, brought someone home with me." Angel added and everyone was quiet and then from around the corner Buffy walked in. The whole room seemed to take a huge breath seeing her. Everyone was shock that she was here. She's been gone for a long time and looking at her now it felt a little unreal.
"Hi everyone." She greeted as they all remained still for a moment longer.
"Buffy!" Dawn let go of Angel and raced to her and hugged her tight and wanted to cry. Buffy hugged Dawn back and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Just then four more people came charging at her wanting to welcome her home.
This was unreal for Buffy. How could you not want to come home to this? To be greeted by so many people that love you. She was buried in a huge hug and she missed this. She's been away from home for too long. She really does have a home to always come to.
Everyone was at the table sitting in their spots eating together. It's been a while since the family has been back together like this. The A-Team was here again. No one asked about LA at the moment. They wanted to enjoy the happy mood and they just talked about where Buffy was. She described France and what she did. They all shared to her what they did over the summer.
"Wow, Angel a coach," Buffy was a little amused by that as he nodded. But there was more to tell her like who will be the one to say Spike is back? She does know about the Hell Mouth.
"I'm on the cheerleading team." Dawn was proud of that.
"Well, Anya's no longer a vengeance demon, her powers were taken away." Xander explained getting Buffy caught up. Angel however looked to Xander and there was still a strife between them about the Anya issue.
"Sounds like you guys have been busy." Buffy was just content to be here again. "What about Giles?" She asked.
"He's still in England." Angel answered as he was finishing off the last bite of his dinner. "Not sure when he's coming back, wanted to research more about the Hell Mouth." Everything seemed rather in control at the moment.
"Spike?" Buffy asked and the room was sucked out of air. "Any idea where he's at?" The group looked around at each other meaning they knew but should she. "Please, tell me," If they were updating her then this was a part of that. Angel sat forwards a little and looked to her. "Please tell me he's been hit by a freight train and put out of his misery." That would be ideal but Angel shook his head no.
"He's back and…living in the school basement." Angel answered honestly and Buffy did not see that coming. "Buffy…Spike…Spike went out and got himself a soul." Ok now that threw a huge loop and Buffy did not see that coming at all.
"How…why?" Buffy asked looking around.
"For you." Xander answered. "He wanted to prove himself so he got a soul. How we don't know. Maybe it's a barrowed soul like he can only have it for so long."
"Crossroads kind of thing?" Angel asked and he didn't think of that.
"Crossroads?" Dawn asked and took a sip of her water.
"Where two roads meet, people would go there and sell their souls for something. The devil gives them that but depending on what the deal is you give up your soul to the devil." Angel explained.
"Is Spike that stupid? Get a soul but give it back later?" Xander asked and Doyle shrugged.
"People ask for the craziest things at crossroads." Doyle added. "That song Devil Came Down to Georgia, it's about crossroads."
"Never heard of that song." Dawn was honest and Doyle's eyes widen a little and then looked to Angel. Angel shrugged at Doyle. "We got that song somewhere?" She asked, it might be for a later time.
"Ok, back to Spike, why is he here?" Buffy asked and they all looked at her. "Besides me."
"Well, he's in the basement going to crazy. He sees things and talks to himself." Angel explained. "I don't know how dangerous he is right now." Only time will tell with Spike but the moment he poses a threat then Angel will kill him. Buffy wasn't sure about seeing Spike though well definitely not tonight. The group was talking and Angel and Buffy continued to look at one another.
"Anything?" Willow asked but it appeared Angel and Buffy were not paying attention to anyone.
"Hey," Cordelia managed to snap them out of it.
"Oh, uh, yeah…what?" Buffy asked.
"LA, what happened?" Willow asked again.
"The Eye of Fire." Angel summed it up.
Angel and Buffy explained to everyone what had gone down in LA as far Lorne, Wolfram and Hart, Father Michael which that caught everyone by surprise and how they are facing another apocalypse…again. Everyone wanted to speculate what Michael could be based on what was said. But also they wanted to know what the Eye of Fire is too. So everyone was in the study trying to research it with books and the Internet. But if it was something from ancient times it wasn't going to be easy. Also how does this all connect with the Book of Revelations? They just hoped to find out sooner rather than later.
The night went on and most of the people in the mansion went to sleep. Buffy saw that the master room was rather empty but all her stuff was still here just in the basement. Angel offered her room back and he'll take a spare down the hall. Buffy didn't want to just kick him out but this is her mansion plus Angel was still a gentleman. So Buffy brought up some of her old things and was back in her room at the moment.
Angel went into a spare room that he had taken a few months ago and when he walked in he saw the time. It was just a few minutes before midnight as he was finally going to sleep. He needed it after the last day or so. Angel came into the room and tossed his watch to the dresser. Just then the phone went off. He picked it up with a heavy sigh. First off who is calling at this hour? And two the only people who had this number were already here unless it was Giles.
"Hello?" Angel asked in the phone.
"Angel," It was father Michael. Angel wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to the man after what happened in LA. The slayer was also too tired to fight right now. "I take it you're home?" This was the mansion's number.
"Yeah," Angel answered as he took off his shoes with his feet. Angel just wanted to get some sleep and start up in the morning. The last few hours have been crazy.
"Good, listen I am coming over." Michael stated and that made Angel stand up straight.
"What no," Angel protested. "It's midnight," Angel added looking at the clock. Everyone was asleep or about to go to sleep. If the end was coming they needed some sort of rest.
"Look, there are things that we need to discuss." Michael went on. And yes they needed to talk but now?
"In the morning ok, look I'm tired I haven't slept in a day or so." Angel stood there while still on the phone.
"Angel this is important it's also about the Powers." Michael went on. Anything about the Powers That Be is important especially now.
"Ok, look, give me like…four hours and then we'll talk." Angel begged. He just wanted to sleep.
"Fine." Michael agreed. Angel heard Michael say something but just ended up hanging up and laid on the bed. He didn't feel like changing and just turned out the light to sleep.
Angel rolled over and felt himself waking up and opened his eyes. Something wasn't right though and he sat up. The room was grey with cobwebs, dust and the sunlight was barely there. Angel scrambled to his feet and he ran to the small balcony that most of the rooms have and looked out. The sky was so over cast and the air seemed to have a hint of fog in it. Angel stepped back inside looking around the room looked different and not just the obvious.
Just then he turned around and Michael was standing there.
"What the hell?" Angel asked.
"Just listen, I've been trying to get you to listen since you came back from the dead." Michael cut the slayer off. "It's been a year now since then but I wanted to show you something." Angel stood there confused. But it was also obvious and Angel felt a little stupid for not noticing it sooner.
"You're one of them," Angel started looking at Michael. "You work for the Powers That Be." Angel stated.
"How long have you've known?" Michael was just curious. Angel shrugged at the question.
"Since I met you." Meaning he knew something about Michael, not sure what but he felt something. "Then of course you kicked my ass." He mentioned that too.
"I am one of their messengers and a guardian." Michael started. "I was sent to watch you to be sure everything played out but now I don't think the Power's have the human's race in mind." Angel stood there confused. "You're in two thousands and fifteen Angel, the world ended." Angel's eyes widen huge looking at Michael.
"I'm in the future?" Angel had to be sure he heard this right.
"Yes, well a supposed future, the one that might happen and still can had you not returned." Michael continued on. "I need to know that you can change what the Powers think was supposed to happen, what Hell thinks should happen. You were supposed to die Angel but I think you dying is why we have this world now. The Powers believe in equations and there are no grey areas."
"So you want me to see what the world can be like if I never came back?" Angel asked and Michael nodded.
"Last year you felt you had no part in this life that you meant nothing. I want to show what you mean to this world. Also, we must prevent this. The end of days is coming Angel, the signs are everywhere." Michael went on. "The Eye Fire it's the sign of the Beast."
"What am I looking for?" The slayer asked knowing this was a mission.
"That I do not know but when you find it you'll wake up." Just then Michael was gone and Angel looked around. The slayer left the room and headed to the master room. If he never came back then all of Buffy's things should be here maybe some of his. So Angel started to search the room and he noticed it was Buffy's clothes that were missing. He opened the closet and grabbed a bag and packed his clothes knowing he needed to get out of the mansion but where to go? What was he supposed to find?
Angel checked the other rooms seeing they have been emptied as well. He raced downstairs setting the bag down and walked into the study. Books were missing meaning someone took them. Angel left study and walked to the weapons room but the doors were shut and a chain was around the handles. But he had the key and reached for his pocket and grabbed a set of keys. It was a rule, chain the weapons up if something went down in Sunnydale to keep others from taking them. Angel opened the door and looked in seeing weapons were missing but one wasn't.
His old crossbow was hanging there and he reached for it grabbing arrows, as many as he could or at least what was left. He also walked to the cabinet and opened it seeing it was cleaned out of just about everything. There were some small vials of holy water so he grabbed those. He grabbed a few stakes and knives and headed out the only problem was his Mustang wasn't there. All the cars were gone so Angel walked on the dirt path that led off the property and onto the road. He looked into the direction of the town and then in the opposite direction leading off to the highway.
Maybe he can get to the magic shop and see if there was anything useful there as long as it was still there and not blown up. But if he never returned from the dead shouldn't Oz be alive? What was the world like if he did not come back? He had to find out so he started his walk with his weapons in one bag, his clothes in another and his crossbow slung across his back.
The walk was a quiet one there weren't even birds chirping. He finally made it into Sunnydale and the place was deserted. It looked like a riot had broken out, windows were smashed, some building were half standing. There were bones on the ground. Angel walked carefully not to wake anything. While he couldn't see the sun he knew he only had a few hours of daylight left. Angel made it to the magic shop and it was still there. So maybe Willow didn't go evil. Angel set his bags down and grabbed his crossbow and slowly pushed the door open.
He held out his crossbow ready to fire and slowly moved around in the dark. The place was raided he can tell. He was looking for more holy water but so far nothing. As he walked he passed by a wall and looked to it. Some of the pictures were holding on by one nail, the frames were broken barely holding together and the glass was smashed. There were six pictures and under each said year. Year one was just him, Giles, Willow, Xander, Cordelia and Buffy. They looked so young completely unaware what they were getting into.
Year two they gained Oz. Year three Doyle was in the picture. Year four Tara was with them. Year five Dawn was in it. She looked like a kid. Year six he was missing so was Tara. But there was no seventh year.
Where was his team? More importantly are they ok? Angel looked around to find anything to tell him more about what happened here. There wasn't anything here so the slayer left and looked around. There were abandon cars so he walked up to one and looked around. Once he smashes the window out he'll need to work fast because something will have heard him.
Angel smashed the window, opened the door, threw his stuff inside and got in. He then went to hotwire the car. He hoped it would run as he kept looking around wondering what would jump out at him. The car started up and he looked to see how much gas was in the car. It was more than half full. Angel put it in drive and went to leave the town. He wished he could speed off but there was so much stuff in the way he had maneuver carefully.
Finally he was on his way out but something made him wonder. So he drove to a cemetery and grabbed his crossbow and left. He walked to a more secluded area to a tree seeing a headstone. He stopped short of the headstone and it read Angel Liam O'Brien Born March 18th 1983 Died May 31st 2003. Just then Angel looked over and it was Michael and it startled the slayer.
"Warn me when you do that." Angel asked and then continued to look at his own grave. "Am I?"
"Yes." Michael answered. "If we dig six feet down your corpse will be there."
"That's…nice thanks. So I'm still…dead?" Angel was confused on this.
"You can't die this is a dream but I don't want you to wake up until you find what you are looking for. You will be spotted by evil so better look out." Michael warned him. Angel was about to ask another question but Michael was gone.
"Great." Angel muttered and walked away from his own grave at least this time he didn't have to crawl out of it. Angel made it to the car and got in. But where to go? Where would his team be? LA? No if Sunnydale looks like this then he can only imagine what LA looked liked. What about Wes and Gunn? Are they alive? One thing is for sure he needed to get out of this town so he started up the car and left.
Angel began to drive and rounded the corner and then slammed on the breaks. There was a horde of zombies, tons of them. Angel put the car in reverse and slammed on the gas. The zombies saw the moving car and stumbled towards it. Angel swerved around a corner, put the car in drive and sped off.
So was this the zombie apocalypse? Or was this just part of it? Angel kept driving looking back in the rearview mirror. The horde was getting smaller and smaller as he drove. He turned onto another road and kept driving. Another few miles and he was out of Sunnydale. But now where to go?
"Told you." A voice stated which again made Angel jump and nearly swerve off the road.
"Damnit, I told you a little warning would be nice." The slayer scold the priest, messenger, thing, whatever he was. Angel steadied himself on the road and kept driving. "Ok, now that I'm back on the road again mind telling me WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!"
"It's the end of the world Angel. The world ended in two thousand five." Michael started. "It started with a sickness, along with that came were the dead rising. War broke out, famine and followed by death. Evil walked onto the earth. They marched right of the Hell Mouth." Michael started. "I'll let your friends explain it further."
"Then were are they?" Angel asked glancing at the man.
"The Mojave Desert." He answered and looked to Angel. "I cannot help you any further without the Powers knowing. This is where I leave you." Just as Angel turned to Michael he was gone.
"Of course," Angel scoffed. "Give me nothing to go on!" At least he had a semi descent location. The problem is the Mojave Desert is huge. He then went to flip on the radio; maybe he'll pick up a signal of some kind. He only had a half a tank of gas meaning he can't drive forever. But the desert is huge and the only way to find his people is turn off the road and into the dirt. Although he was finding out pretty quickly this car was not built for off roading.
Time went by and Angel saw that he was starting to get low on gas and wasn't sure how much longer he could drive. But just then something caught his eye in the distance. It was a fence a barb wired fence. Angel drove closer to it and stopped the car and grabbed his things. Angel saw the fence was lined with snakeheads. It was warning sign. But Angel was never good at heeding warnings. He took a few steps back, ran, jumped and cleared he fence. He knew if he went through it then some sort of an alarm would get triggered.
Angel started to walk knowing he would find something. The sun wasn't so hot as it was beginning to set and it'll be night. Maybe at night he'll see lights that signal a campfire or something. But after walking for a little Angel spotted something…tents, RVs, cars, trucks, school buses. It meant that people were out here. Angel started to run and got closer to the camp. He looked in and saw people. He didn't recognize any of them though but it didn't matter there were people.
Angel wasn't sure how to introduce himself though. What if they shoot him on site? So he snuck around wondering if he could hear anything that could describe who these people were. Angel was now behind one of the school buses and then looked over at two people talking. His eyes widen seeing the two people it was Giles and Xander. They looked so different. Angel wanted to get closer to them but he felt something else, someone was sneaking up on him. Angel wanted to show them he meant no harm and that he knew two of the people here. So he held his hands up showing he was not using any weapons. He turned around and his eyes widen.
The woman stood before him holding her rifle ready to fire. For a split second he didn't recognize her.
"Buffy?" He asked and she stood there with a rifle pointing at him and her finger was on the trigger. Her eyes widen even bigger than his. "Buffy? It's me," Angel tried to say but he has forgotten that he died in two thousand and three it is now two thousand and fifteen. It's been twelve years since his death, twelve years that Buffy has not seen him. So the vampire with a soul took no chance and rammed the butt-end of the rifle right into Angel's head and the slayer was out.
Buffy looked around and needed to sneak him away and hide him. She didn't want anyone to know he was here until she figures out what he is. Buffy slung the rifle behind her and grabbed the deadweight body and lifted him up. Thank god she was super strong. She'll grab his things later but for now she had to tie him down and run a few tests.
Angel started to come around and felt a stinging pain from his head. He opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a RV tied to the table's leg with some twine. Angel's vision started to clear and he looked up to the couch seeing Buffy sitting there.
"Buffy?" He asked.
"I poured holy water on you so you're not a demon or vampire also if you were a vampire there would be no way you can last that long outside. Plus there's only one Gem of Amarra, which I have so you're not a vampire. I cut you and it's human blood even cut you with a silver blade so not any strange creature." Buffy started and then she got off the couch and squatted down in front of him. "So what the hell are you?"
"Buffy, it's me, it's Angel." Angel stated again and the vampire shook her head no. She still looked like Buffy. Her blonde hair was up in ponytail and it still reached the middle of her back. She was in a black tank top, black pants and black combat boots. She looked so tried and scared.
"Angel's dead." Buffy stated as if she was talking to some other person. "Angel died over ten years ago. I buried him." She stated. Her voice has even changed. It sounded sad and hurt. "You're not him." He can see why she was skeptical and she should be.
"It's me Buffy, it's really me." Angel insisted.
"Then tell me something only Angel would know." Buffy insisted to prove he was really him. Angel took a moment to think. It had to be something only they shared together. She's asked this question before when he came back a year ago well in his reality at least.
"When you were a little girl your mom would sing to you when you were sick." Angel answered Buffy's eyes started to water. No one knows except Angel. "You recite psalm 91 when things don't seem to be getting any better. And when you felt completely alone you would sit at my resting site and just talk to me." A few tears rolled down Buffy's cheeks as she continued to look at him. "It's me Buffy." He assured her again. The vampire continued to stare at him a few moments as if she was letting it all sink in. Buffy pulled out a knife from her boot and cut the twine but Angel barely had gotten free and she was already hugging him. She almost pushed him to the floor but lucky he was able to keep himself up.
Angel let the twine fall and he held her as she started to sob in his embrace. Buffy couldn't control the tears and sobs as she held him. He was just going to give her the time she needed to come to grips that he was here. Angel to remind himself that he has been dead for twelve years that what happened outside was the apocalyptic world. Buffy has been without him for twelve years surviving Hell on Earth. Finally Buffy let up and slowly pulled away to look at him again.
"You're real." Buffy said and he nodded. She hugged him again making sure he doesn't disappear. She didn't take so long to let up this time and pulled away. "How?"
"It's…a long story." Angel answered and she nodded meaning he was going to tell her. But right now she didn't want to hear it at the moment. She couldn't stop staring at him and leaned in for a kiss. The kiss would prove to her that he was really Angel. Angel wasn't prepared for that but it didn't take long for him to return the kiss. It was a tender kiss and when Buffy pulled away she knew it was him. She leaned for another hug and just embraced him. "It's ok Buffy, I'm back." And he felt her nod in his shoulder.
Unlike before, he didn't have to crawl out of his grave. He was just brought back. And he didn't really have to fight for his life like the last time. But just like before it was Buffy who he saw first. It was Buffy who embraced him first. It was always Buffy and it seemed no matter what reality they were in it was always going to be Buffy.
The vampire pulled away again looking to him. The question still lingered and it will keep nagging her until she knows.
"How?" Buffy asked because really how is this possible.
"I was sent here," Angel answered and Buffy's face twisted in confusion. "Buffy a few months after I died I came back, Willow raised me." That only confused her more. "Just a few hours ago you and I came back from LA we just saw the Eye of Fire." Now her eyes widen.
"Did the Beast rise?" Buffy asked and Angel shook his head no. But what she said he knew was important and he needed to remember it.
"It just came from Lorne's head just the ancient symbols and the drawling." Angel answered and she nodded. "We found the center of the X but there was nothing there." So what he was thinking whatever the Beast is, it's coming from there but when?
"You said Willow…raised you?" Buffy wanted to be sure she heard right.
"Yeah, but I've been dead for twelve years here." Angel stated. He still has to remember where he is now.
"Alternate reality?" Buffy asked and that made the most sense.
"Michael sent me here." Angel added and that name hit a note in Buffy. She perked up even more.
"Michael?" Buffy asked and she sounded even more interested. "Is he here? I need to talk to him."
"He's gone, he said he couldn't stay, uh that the PTB will find him." Angel crushed those hopes as Buffy once again looked confused.
"Why send you here?" Buffy asked and Angel wasn't a hundred percent sure why.
"He said I needed to find something." That's all Angel had to go on. Buffy wasn't sure what he was going to need to find. But for some reason that didn't matter right now because she just went back to hugging him.
Buffy stood outside the RV waiting as she could see some of the team gathering. Giles and Xander walked together with their weapons, Dawn, Willow and Cordelia were walking in a small group as well. Buffy had no idea how this was going to work or happen. She was still shaking a little from seeing Angel. How is Dawn going to react? What about Giles?
The five of them gathered together as the sun was starting to set. Buffy stood up and straighten herself but they all saw it. She was pale well paler than normal.
"Buffy are you ok?" Willow asked. "You look liked you've seen a ghost." That didn't explain the half of it.
"Guys…just…just don't freak out." Buffy warned them and they all looked to each other wondering what that meant. Buffy reached for the RV door and opened it and everyone looked in. It was dark in the RV but something came out of the shadows and when he came into the light Giles took a step back, Dawn felt her whole body trembling, Willow and Cordelia gasped and Xander stopped breathing for a second or two. Angel stood before the group and they have changed. It's been twelve years now.
If Angel had survived Glory then he'd be 32 years old now. But he was only 21. Buffy was now 265. Angel then looked to Dawn and looking at her she wasn't a teenager anymore. Dawn would be 28 now. Willow, Xander and Cordelia all would be 32 or around 32 like him. Giles was now around 52 when he looked to his Watcher. It was slowly hitting Angel just how much time has passed. But Angel hasn't aged liked them and they can tell. But no one has said a word and possibly haven't breathed yet either.
"It's really him guys." Buffy assured them. But no one moved or said anything. But Dawn was the first to take a step forwards. Just like before, Buffy is the first to greet and then Dawn follows.
Dawn wasn't sure about this though. The last time she saw her brother alive he told her stay strong and to be brave. And then he ran towards his death. Dawn stood before Angel still having to look up. She then jumped into his arms and hugging him again it felt surreal. It was Angel and he held her back. The rest of the group gathered around slowly to him and Angel looked to Giles.
Dawn pulled away and Giles and Angel got closer and they hugged. Giles fought the tears but a few managed to surface. His son was alive and in all honesty he didn't care how. Then both Cordelia and Willow hugged him they were in tears but smiling. Then Xander and Angel shared a hug. Once they pulled away he noticed a few people were missing.
"Where's Doyle and Anya?" He asked looking to the group and they all advert their eyes for a moment. There was a lot to talk about and that is a complete understatement.
The sun had set and little low fires could be seen everywhere. The camp had about 40 people in total some were even children. Around one of the fires was what was left of the A-Team. Dawn sat close to her brother as he had one arm wrapped around her. Buffy was on the other side with her head resting on his shoulder. Across from Angel was Giles with Willow to his right and Cordelia to his left. Xander was next to Cordelia.
Angel finished explaining how he came back from the dead, Oz's death and where the group was up until he went to asleep. So now it was their turn to explain everything else.
"Oz was killed but not by Warren," Willow spoke up first. She was completely taken back that according to Angel she had turned evil. "I did try to raise you but…it didn't work." Willow still couldn't get over though the fact that she had gone evil and nearly ended the world.
"The new high school opened and the Rise of the Witnesses happened." Buffy started and so far the universes were lined up in that department. "I went to LA because there was a spike in demon activity. And I had Gunn and Wes keep track of it."
"Huge increase in Sunnydale too." Cordelia added as they sat around the low fire. "Of course like everything we didn't find out everything at the last second." That didn't surprise Angel because it happens more often than not.
"The seven seals were broken one by one and one day a sickness started. War broke out and it started in LA." Giles took over. "We tried to get Wes and Gunn but the city was blocked. But they did tell us the extra activity and we mapped it out. And right where the center was known as the Eye of Fire the Beast came out." Giles went on. Once again Angel to careful notes in his head about this.
"The Hell Mouth opened and we left town." Xander continued. "We tried to stop it but we had no idea how or what was breaking the seals. Father Michael told us it was a powerful demon."
"And yes he told us he was working for the PTB." Cordelia added. So it was true Michael does work for the Powers.
"We lost Oz on the first wave," Willow went on. "He bought us some time to get out." Willow went quiet, she didn't want to remember or feel pain again. Cordelia then reassured her with a side hug.
"We had to fight our way through." Dawn picked up the history lesson. "We couldn't even get a few miles away from Sunnydale."
"Doyle helped, he distracted the zombies that started to take over." Cordelia finished and Angel knew what that meant. They lost their Seer.
"We made it outside Sunnydale and ran into a man." Xander continued on. "He…he nearly killed us but Anya saved us. The man…he said he was the embodiment of the First." Angel's eyes widen.
"The First? The First Evil?" Angel asked sitting up knowing this was important and they all nodded. It was all making sense on what was happening back in Sunnydale. But it appears this version of the A-Team was blindsided by everything where as his A-Team has a better idea on what's happening. But why? What made the two groups so different? He also noticed they didn't mention of girls dying. They didn't even mention Lorne. And even though he didn't care but where was Spike? Angel sat up looking around.
"The world went to Hell and shit after that." Xander finished the history lesson.
"Where's Spike?" Angel asked because he had to know.
"He chose his side," Buffy answered and Angel looked to her. "He's somewhere in near LA or Sunnydale." It meant Spike went evil again. Angel made sure to remember that too. When he returns to his own world he'll watch Spike more carefully. But now it was time to figure out what to do.
"From what I know the Beast is like the general," Angel started looking around. "Take him out the army is in disarray." Angel suggested.
"Angel, that's suicide, you can't go near the cities they're infested with the dead and Hell's minions." Giles informed the slayer. "We've tried, for twelve years we've tried." Angel can see that they have and by the state of things humans were on the verge of extension. "The First took over after the Beast cleared the path."
"I died, there was no slayer after me?" Angel asked and Giles shrugged.
"The Watcher's Council was destroyed. There could be a slayer out there but…they probably don't even know they are one." Giles finished. Angel can see why the group has stopped fighting and just went to surviving.
"Buffy!" A voice called out and the vampire looked towards that direction. There was a young man standing there half dressed in what looked like combat gear. "Radar picked up something." Buffy stood up as did the rest of the team. Angel followed as they walked to a van. The young man led Buffy and Angel followed. The inside of the van had all kinds of computers and monitors in it. Buffy then looked to the screen as did Angel.
"You guys are so fancy." Angel commented and looked around as Buffy looked at the screen. "What's what?" Angel asked as he looked at the screen to but he was a little loss.
"This is us," Buffy pointed to a blob. "We set up a fence because if it's zombies the fence does slow them down. Also these," Buffy pointed something else to the screen and pointed at several different points. "Sensor, they pick up anything that's passing though. We have enough time to pack up and go. Best time was forty seconds." She sounded a little proud of that. "The problem is the sensors can't tell if its demons, zombies or just birds."
"So how do you know?" Angel asked.
"Well, we're pretty safe during the day, no vampires. Haven't seen very many vampires unless you get close to towns or cities. Demons however you can't tell so we just leave. Zombies you would see them on the monitors moving extremely slow. But ever since we've stayed out in the desert we haven't come across much, no food and too much sun." Buffy explained why they chose the desert and it was a smart move. "We're starting to run out of resources though." She looked up to Angel meaning food and fuel was in short supply. Buffy looked at the screen and pointed to a spot. "Just a few demons you can tell the way they move."
"They're looking," Angel stated and Buffy nodded. "You think they'd be excited to see the slayer?" Buffy then slowly looked up to Angel and he shrugged.
Angel had his crossbow as he moved quickly and swiftly. Buffy was right behind him with a machete. Giles, Dawn, Cordelia, Willow and Xander had sharp blades as well as they moved in formation. It was like Angel never left as they followed him. They made it the fencing and Buffy cut the fence. They needed to kill the demons so they couldn't report back to anyone or anything.
Buffy could see perfectly in the dark but the rest were going to need some light. So Xander took out a flare gun, pointed it up and fired. Just then a dozen demons could be seen and they saw the A-Team. The team grouped together so all angles were covered. Angel pointed his crossbow and fired and one demon went down. The team became the one unit and started to kill the demons off rather quickly. It didn't take much but Angel has seen these demons before. He and Buffy took them out the night Lorne was kidnapped.
Angel looked to his team has he stood there with his crossbow. His people looked at him in…what appeared to be aw and amazement.
"Wow," Dawn had a small smile. "He's really back." And Angel could see it, there was like a little spark in them. What they just did especially with him back, everything seemed ok. They had the slayer again and it felt like he never left.
Angel sat at the little table in the RV. There was a clock and it told him it was ten at night. The place was quiet for now. Just then the door opened and Buffy came inside and started to disarm herself a little and sat on the opposite side of the table.
"I can't believe this happened." Angel looked around and then back to Buffy.
"Part of me can," Buffy leaned in a little. "There was always that feeling that one day an apocalypse would come and we couldn't stop it." Angel always had that feeling as well. "That entire year…" Buffy trailed off for a moment. "Dawn was a Junior in high school. I was so nervous for her. I honestly thought things were getting better for me and for her. I stopped crying so much and denying it when Dawn saw me. I'd even catch myself smiling and laughing." Angel just listened. "And then the Witnesses happened and it was like…it was like I couldn't do anything to stop it."
Angel looked to her as she sat there thinking about the events from twelve years ago. If this is what the world is going to look like then whenever he returns he needs to find a way to stop it. Buffy then looked up at him. "I did everything I could to stop it." Angel nodded to her seeing in her eyes that she felt like she failed. "I did everything I could with the time that I had, with the time that was given to me."
Buffy quickly wiped a tear away. "I promised that I wasn't going to give up but it felt like I did. I mean…I'm not even human…I…failed."
"No, you didn't," Angel sat up and leaned forwards to her. "If you failed you would have died in Sunnydale. If you failed the entire group would be dead. If you failed you wouldn't have lasted twelve years." Angel assured but Buffy shook her head a little.
"Doyle, Gunn, Oz, Anya and Wes are dead because I'm not the leader everyone thought I was." Buffy started. "I…I wanted to hold everyone together. I wanted my family to stay together and…I failed like I've done for so long." Angel didn't want to hear this and stood up.
"Failing is giving up, strong is fighting and you're still fighting." There was a little hint of anger in the slayer's voice. "You were never a failure to me." Buffy looked away for a moment. "Where I came from you were leading our friends. You even had the guts to kick me to the curb because I became an asshole." She then looked up at him. "You've never failed me Buffy. What happened here is not your fault." Again Buffy looked away a little. "Me dying was not your fault. You couldn't save me." She then looked up at him. "I know you knew when it was supposed to happen and I knew you did everything to stop it."
Angel then came to her side of the table and sat next to her. "You're mother dying was not your fault, your father becoming what he was, was never your fault, my death, the death of our friends, this." Buffy didn't look at him but he continued to look at her. "It was never your fault and you were never a failure." Buffy continued to look straight ahead unable to meet his eyes. Angel just stood up and sighed.
He promised himself though when he does wake up this world he's in now will not come to pass. He's not going to let this happen. He's not going to let anymore of his friends die. The world will not meet this fate. Just then he heard Buffy let out a sob and he turned looking to her and walked over to her. She was trying to pull herself together, trying to dry her tears so he wouldn't see them. Just then she felt his hand touch her shoulder and she looked up. Angel pulled her towards him and she followed and he embraced her.
What he said to her didn't upset her at all. It's been twelve long years that she has heard someone say that to her. Twelve years that someone still believes in her. Still believes she is strong. Buffy fell into Angel's arms and cried. It was overwhelming to have him here with her again. She always hoped that she would get to see him even just for a moment. She got her moment and she didn't want to let go.
Buffy pulled away looking into his eyes. She missed looking into his eyes where she saw love and reassurance. The skies could be falling and ground coming out from under everything but his eyes made her feel that everything was ok that everything was going to be ok.
"Stay?" She asked and Angel nodded. So they walked to the back of the RV, got into the small bed and got close. Buffy rested her head on his chest while he wrapped his arms around her. She started to listen to the sound of his heart thumping at a steady pace. She hasn't heard the sound in so long she forgot what it sounded like. She can hear him breathing and it was like she was back in the master room at the mansion as her eyes were getting heavy. It was like the last twelve years had no effect because the sound of the thump, thump of his heart, him inhaling and exhaling was lulling her to sleep. She was warm and safe again.
Buffy rolled over but something made her wake up. The space next to here was empty. She sat up quickly and felt dizzy. Was all that a dream? Did she dream that Angel came back to her? She looked down seeing the blanket was covering her and she could have sworn she fell asleep without a blanket. Buffy toss the blanket off her and then saw her boots were not on her feet but placed nicely in the corner. Not only that but a new tank top and pants were laid out. She doesn't remember doing that let alone she never laid her clothes out the night before like that.
The vampire put on the clothes and stepped outside the RV looking around. The camp was awake and she looked around as the day was bright and sunny and as always hot. Buffy looked around and then spotted him, it wasn't a dream. Angel was with Xander and Giles talking. Buffy started to make her way to them and the three of them looked to her and it hit her…all three of her boys were looking at her and she missed that.
"Well, she lives." Xander commented and Buffy gave him a confusing look. "The sun appears to be at around nine in the morning,"
"How could you know that?" Buffy asked and then Xander held up his watch.
"Because my watch says so." Xander answered with a smile and Buffy smiled a little. Buffy was always up with the sun so for her to have slept that late was not like her.
"I was going to wake you but…I figured you needed to sleep." Angel explained why Buffy hadn't got up until now. She did need the sleep. She must have slept very well because she can't even remember falling asleep.
"Angel was just telling us more about what he has discovered in his reality," Giles started as they stood around.
There was a tent set off to the side and it was basically the commander's tent. The A-Team meets there and discusses whatever needs to be discussed. There was a table and on that table were some notes and a few books. The team sat around the table with everyone sitting in their usual spots with Angel right where he always was, where needed to be. Right now there was a deeper collaboration of the two realities and not only that but discussing prior events.
"I say Angel's reality team has a one up on us." Cordelia added in. They never knew about the Eye of Fire until much later.
"My question is why is Michael stepping in now?" Xander started. "I mean yeah we found out he's a PTB himself but why wait and tell as we ran, ducked and covered?"
"Because Angel forced it out of him?" Dawn suggested but the look on Giles' face suggested otherwise.
"You said Lorne saw the vision of the Eye of Fire while reading you and Buffy?" The Watcher asked and Angel nodded. Buffy still couldn't get over the fact she and Angel were broken up. She understood why but never believed it could happen. "And then Michael knew and well freaked out?" Angel nodded and the slayer could see the gears turning in Giles' head.
"So what does it mean?" Willow wanted to know.
"Well, one it means Angel and…other reality us know the Beast is coming unlike before." Giles answered. "That right there can be critical."
"Ok, but how do we find a way for Angel to stop all this so when he does go back none of this happens?" Buffy wanted to know. Angel has the chance to save the world and she's going to do anything she can to help him. If Angel is here to learn how to stop the end then the team needed to figure it out.
"Maybe Angel can kill the Beast as it rises?" Dawn suggested and she didn't get a disapproving look from everyone.
"We need him to stop the Beast from rising altogether," Giles stated what needed to be done. If the Beast rises then it's pretty much over.
"The seals." Cordelia jumped in. "Angel stops the seals from breaking, Beast never rises and the First doesn't take over." It all seemed to work on paper.
"Then he needs to find the demon that is opening the seals." Dawn added and Angel could do that. "But…we didn't even know the demon…" Everyone scratched that plan out quickly.
"Let's assume the events in Angel's reality are still playing out the same way they did for us," Giles started. "Where were we when Buffy went to LA and saw an increase in demonic activity?"
"Sunnydale." Xander answered.
"No, you nimrod, he means what came next." Cordelia chided Xander and Angel smiled a little. This maybe an alternate reality but these were most defiantly his people. Angel then looked up and saw Buffy had a little smile too.
"Spike," Dawn jumped in. "Spike was acting a little bit squirrely." Then everyone looked to Angel.
"He is in the school basement acting…squirrely." Angel wasn't sure if that was the right term. The team was brought up to speed that in Angel's reality Spike went out and got a soul. "So you're saying Spike was starting to…"
"He had no soul, just the chip," Cordelia went on.
"The chip probably failed, no soul, he jumped ship." Willow added. "Obviously a little later."
"Ok, so your Spike could stay and be…a good guy?" Dawn asked and Angel thought about it. He very well could be and what if Angel has two vampires with a soul fighting with him? Giles seemed to be very intrigued now.
"Ok so at that time Spike was getting…" Giles continued on.
"Squirrely." Dawn answered.
"Squirrely, while that was occurring the seals begin to break." Giles went on. The seals break in order so at least they know which one comes after the other.
"Oh, oh," Cordelia seemed a little excited like she knew the answer to a quiz question. "The uber vampire." Everyone seemed to know what she was talking about but Angel. Cordelia could see Angel was a little lost. "Some huge really ugly vampire was set free, we didn't know where from but yeah. It was all like grr," Cordelia looked up seeing that Giles was just staring at her. "Yeah, uber vamp."
"Cordelia is right." Giles looked to Angel. But this was good information. "Then it was like everything,"
"Went into maximum overdrive." Willow finished. Angel knew they were probably focused on the seals at the time.
"Did you try a spell to find out who was breaking the seals?" Angel asked and the look they had meant yes. But he needed to know so when he wakes he knows not to waste time. But he had a little bit of a timeline to go on and knowing Michael was a PTB member so soon could help.
"Well, this can help you but what about us now?" Xander asked and Angel looked around. They gave him all the information they knew and he was still here. "I mean you can fix it maybe but what about us? We can't change it." And that was true. What has happened cannot be undone. The world was a wasteland now and humans were about to disappear. But what can he do to fix it? His team that has not seen him in twelve years looked to him now.
"Imagine marching right into Sunnydale and the First's sees you." Dawn smiled but that struck something in Angel and he looked to Buffy. Dawn saw the look and quickly regretted what she said. "I was just kidding about that," Dawn tried but Angel looked around the tent. "Oh my god you're serious about it."
"Angel, we can't do that." Xander was agreeing with Dawn that it should just be a joke. "I mean we couldn't do it twelve years ago when we had people."
"I'm not saying we march in and take down Hell's army." Angel had an idea and he knows they can't take on the entire forces of darkness. But there are a few things they could do.
"Take down the First and the Beast." Buffy knew what he was talking about.
"Ok, guess you had a bowl of crazy flakes," Xander still didn't like what he heard. "Fighting the First is imposs,"
"You said a man has embodied the First?" Angel asked Xander and everyone else. They nodded to the slayer. "We can't kill the First I know, but we can slow it down." Buffy was liking where this was going.
"The Beast is huge though," Willow had to paint a picture for the slayer. "We're talking huge horns, hoofs, body like a rock," Willow went on and basically was trying to tell Angel he didn't stand a chance.
"But if we take the Beast out then Hell's army has no command not right away." Giles was going to go out on a limb with his slayer. "We haven't seen the First or heard about him in a long time, it could draw him out."
"Send the First back to Hell for a little while." Buffy was going to join in on this.
"We have no army," Xander added and that's true. Angel can see that the group was nervous about this. They've probably have gone up against the Beast before but couldn't take him. "Buffy tried this a long time ago and," Xander looked to the vampire. "We thought we lost her." Angel then looked over to Buffy as she sat there.
"But I'm back." Angel stated why this time they can do it. Everyone looked around at each other and it was true. They have the slayer again. The Beast has never faced Angel. And it's never faced Angel and Buffy. The First knows about Angel but to see him back after being dead for so long…
"You really do like to stir the waters up." Buffy added meaning she was going to be in on this. Angel didn't answer but his look meant yes. He'll march into Sunnydale by himself if he needs to.
"How do we know where they are?" Cordelia was saying if they can locate the Beast then she might do it.
"Yeah, I mean why would they stay in one place let alone Sunnydale?" Dawn added.
"Because they might be evil and powerful doesn't mean they are the smartest at times." Angel answered and Giles smiled a little.
"They've become complacent." Giles was liking this so far.
"Going up against the First though," Willow was half with Xander on this one.
"Anything is better than just sitting here." Angel added because it's true.
"We can't even get near the cities, we've tried this before, Buffy tried and it didn't work." Xander was just being honest with them. If Buffy couldn't take on the Beast as a vampire with the Gem of Amara then how is Angel supposed to. "We're alive because we live out here. We go into Sunnydale with no guarantee that either one is there and we could all die."
"Then you don't have to go." Angel suggested that idea. "None of you have to go. I never said any of you had to team up with me back sophomore year in high school. I never forced you guys to do anything. Guess what I'm not forcing you now." Angel looked around to them as they all sat there. "In this time seventeen years you guys are the ones that wanted to fight. You knew what went bump in the night so you bumped back. Never did I say once you had to stay."
All that was true in fact Angel told them to get out. He didn't want to involve anyone in this job. But they stayed they wanted to fight to become hunters. What was left of the A-Team looked to their long lost leader. "You chose this life, I never chose it for you. I never wanted this for anyone of you guys." It was true. Angel never wanted them to have to fight to see the evils of this world. "I'm not going to tell you to march into Sunnydale with me, I'll do it alone. I can't stop what happened here but before I leave I'll do something about it."
Dawn smiled a little. Her brother was really back. It's what he would say when he was alive. "I'm sorry this happened and I promise when I go back I'll do everything in power to stop it. But I am asking that's what is left of us…the rest of us…we make our stand. If you won't do it for yourself then do it for Oz, for Doyle, for Anya, Wes, Tara and Gunn, for everyone who never deserved to die. But I'm only going to ask after that it's up to you." Angel then stood up as they tracked him.
Buffy then stood up meaning she was going to do it. Giles then stood up and walked over to Angel and then Dawn stood up. She was always willing to fight for and with her brother. Willow stood up followed by Cordelia. Xander looked around and nodded and took his stand. "You're all going to be with me on this?" Angel had to be sure.
"Shoulder to shoulder." Cordelia answered.
"Elbow to elbow." Dawn added looking to Angel.
"A-Team…all the way." Xander meant he will do this; he'll fight one last time. At one point the A-Team was eleven strong now there's only seven of them left. Looking to them they were the first of the group when you take Dawn out. Angel, Buffy, Giles, Willow, Xander and Cordelia were the first. Dawn is a part of the first based on memories. It is now the first remain here and it had to mean something.
An old map of Sunnydale was laid out on the table. It's where the Hell Mouth is and if the end of the world went smoothly for evil then the Beast should be there along with the First.
"High school," Dawn pointed to where the center of all this has taken place.
"I came from the mansion." Angel stated. "Was able to get around the town rather quietly."
"It's been quiet," Giles added meaning whatever evil is around it was asleep. It won't take much to wake it but being the slayer you know how to sneak around and be quiet about it. But once the A-Team arrives they all know they'll be noticed.
"So, what's the plan? Walk right up to the front door an knock?" Xander asked.
"Draw them out," Willow answered.
"Do it in daylight, won't get any vampires." Angel stated the time they'll be doing this.
"But it won't give us much cover though." Dawn added because the darkness does help to hide them. But in the daylight they can see what's coming. But then again it's just the few of them going in. They can move around much easier and hide better.
"The big thing is getting into Sunnydale and to the high school, I think once we're inside it should be a straight shot." Cordelia added because it should be.
"Unless we do it old school and go in blasting music." Xander suggested with a laugh but when he met eyes with Angel. "Oh, no, no, since when do you ever listen to me."
"Actually it makes sense," Buffy realized what Angel was thinking.
"Really? Because it doesn't to me." Xander didn't get it.
"One of us rides in making noise, draws some of the undead, keep moving it'll be hard to pinpoint the source." Giles saw where this was going. "The rest can sneak in going unnoticed."
"Well, who will be the idiot that does this?" Xander asked with a sarcastic laugh and everyone answered that for him. "Oh come on!"
"You drive in, run them around, get out and met us up." Angel laid out the plan.
"But why me?" Xander just wanted to know.
"Why not?" Angel answered and Xander nodded accepting the mission.
"What should I do? Blare the horn?" Xander asked.
"No, we're going big on this one. Want the Beast and the First to know who they are actually dealing with." Angel answered. Giles smiled a little, it's always about going big.
The plan was set but the team knew that their plans never go as completely planned. But at least they had something to try. It was only going to be A-Team though. The rest of the people at camp were going to stay here. If they kill the Beast and somehow send the First back to Hell it won't reverse what has happened. It won't rid the world of evil. But you have to start somewhere.
Buffy sat at her little table in the RV cleaning a few knives. The team will be packing some serious arsenal tomorrow both traditional swords and stakes to some of the heavier artillery. Angel then came into the RV while Buffy put one knife down. Angel went and sat on the other side wondering what she was thinking. They both knew this was a suicide mission. But something had to be done. Buffy then looked up to Angel and he looked to her.
"Why?" She asked and Angel let out a sigh.
"I was torn out of heaven, brought back here, felt like I had no purpose, became a alcoholic, pushed you away, and now I'm here." Angel summed it up.
"All in less than a year?" Buffy asked and he nodded.
"Not one of my finer moments." When he thinks about it, Angel's rather embarrassed to talk about it.
"You really were in heaven?" Buffy asked and Angel nodded. But then he realized the Buffy from his reality already knows this. The Buffy before him does not.
"She's proud of you Buffy." Angel stated and the vampire looked at him with some confusion. "You look just like her." Then he saw that flicker in her eyes meaning she knew who he was talking about.
"How…wha…" But she couldn't find the words.
"She's always been proud." Angel added and Buffy just sat there. "She never meant or wanted your life to happen the way it did." Buffy wiped a tear away. Buffy then looked up to Angel.
"Why tell me all this?" Buffy wanted to know.
"Because you have the right to know." Angel answered. "You've carried a lot with you Buffy for a long time. And all this, what we're about to do tomorrow. I want you to know that she never stopped caring about you and she's proud." Buffy smiled. "We're not together anymore but that doesn't mean I haven't stopped carrying either. I can't leave here not doing something." Angel sat there for a moment. "It took me a long time but I've found my purpose again and it was always fighting so this doesn't happen."
That's the first time Angel's realized that. He came back from the dead thinking he had no purpose. He did what he was supposed to do and died and it should have ended. It just took him a whole year or so and to be thrown into another reality to figure out that his duty will never end. Angel stood up and was going to the back of the RV to the bed to try and get some sleep.
But he only made it about halfway when Buffy got up and followed him. She grabbed his hand and tugged a little. Angel turned around so they were face to face. He could see her eyes were glassy with tears. But they weren't of sadness; they were actually out of happiness because Angel was here. He sat across the table from her; they got to talk together face to face. She got her second chance to be with him even if it's just one night. And she has two nights already.
She placed her hand on his cheek and she just to gaze at him. She never thought she would be able to do this again, just stare. She just wanted to hug him again like last night so she rested her chin on his shoulder. She missed needing to get on her toes just to rest her head on his shoulder. After a moment Buffy pulled away and then Angel reached for something.
He pulled out a small thin chain from around his neck and Buffy saw the cross, the medallion and the ring on it. She smiled seeing these items, she was now looking at four things she thought she would never see again. They were all buried at one time and now they were back. Buffy reached out and held the three items in her hands while Angel unclasped the necklace and took the ring off. He held it in his hand while putting the chain back on.
Buffy watched his movement and he looked to the ring. After they broke up he took the ring off but continued to wear it so it was still close to him. Angel then put it on so the heart faced him. Buffy then held up her hand showing that she still had hers. Angel brought her hand up his lips kissing the ring and she smiled a little. This moment happened before what seemed like forever ago. On his 17th birthday she gave him the ring, and when he put hers on he kissed just like he was doing now. It was a moment in time that was brought back.
Deep down Buffy knew this will be their last night together. Whatever happens tomorrow they won't see each other again. But at least she got to see him again. Angel then pulled her hand closer so her arm went around his neck and Buffy wrapped her other arm around his neck and they leaned in for a kiss. For Angel he hasn't kissed Buffy in months. But for Buffy she hasn't kissed Angel in years.
They managed their way to the back of the RV and the little bed barely fit them both but it was enough. Even if they just lay their all night together it would always be enough. They had other things in mind though besides just laying there, that would be something they do at the end.
Buffy looked to Angel as he was before and it felt so good to just have his eyes adoring her and they haven't even started anything. It's these nights she wished would stop but it seems like time speeds up. For Buffy it doesn't matter what happens tomorrow because she was given a second chance from the Powers That Be and she wasn't going to waste it not tonight. Angel just pulled her in for another kiss. Angel knew he will be returning back to his reality somehow. But for now he didn't think about it. He would remember all this because he was going to save Buffy; he was going to save everyone.
The sun just started to rise as Angel put on a black leather jacket. Buffy sat on the edge of the small bed at it was completely destroyed from last night. The vampire looked up as she tied her shoes seeing Angel fixing the collar of the jacket and then they made eye contact. She missed that look, the slayer look. So she stood up and walked over to him finishing what he started. She made sure the collar laid nicely and then looked back up to Angel and he smiled a little.
This is where he wanted to be, he wanted to be fighting the impossible next to her. He wanted to fight for his friends who are the only family he's ever had. This was his purpose and he wasn't going to trade it for anything.
Out in the camp everyone was packing. The camp's people were leaving. They were going to somewhere else while the A-Team would be riding towards the fight. They've been running from it for so long. Giles looked up seeing Angel and Buffy leaving the RV together and seeing them walking side by side made him smile, he never thought he see it again.
The final plans were set but the team was ready for it to go completely wrong because most of their plans never go as planned. The sun had just come up and from the map it looked like a few hours drive to Sunnydale. They needed the daylight to help them so it meant they were leaving now. Buffy went to say good-bye to some of the camp's people. She wanted them to leave and get as far away as possible because they will awaken something no matter the outcome in Sunnydale.
The last seven members of the A-Team gathered in a circle facing each other. This mission had a nearly zero chance of being successful. But that's not the point; it's about making their final stand together.
"Speak now or forever hold your peace right?" Dawn asked looking around. But none of the moved.
"Any questions on what to do?" Angel asked and there were none. "Ready?" And everyone nodded and headed to their cars. Buffy followed Angel to the Mustang that she has kept all this time. She keeps it tied to the RV as it stays with them. There have been a number of times she knew she should have stripped for it's fuel and parts but she could never will herself to do it. She's glad she never did as Angel opened the door for her and she got in. 'He's been dead for twelve years and is still a gentleman.' Buffy thought as Angel got in the driver's side. Angel started up the car and it did its roar and then it's purr. Angel shifted it into first and was off with his team following.
Xander sat in the beat up car Angel found and got out of town with. He was nervous about this as he sat there. His job was easy for the most part. All he had to do was blast some sort of loud sound and attract all the evil and it get it to follow him. It can't be that hard right? Xander held a CD that had music on it. Who knows what kind and with his luck it'll be yodeling. It was now or never, he needed to get Angel and Buffy as close to the high school as possible.
"Why am I always the butt-monkey?" He muttered to himself as he started up the car and put the CD in. He turned up the volume as it was the taping of a symbol hat was the first thing to come on. Then the guitar came in and Xander smiled as he listened "It would be this." Xander slammed on the gas pedal and it won't be long before he was going to get followers.
"Back in Black?" Buffy asked Angel as she looked to him and he shrugged hearing Xander's end on the radio.
"Go big or go home right?" Angel justified the song. Buffy continued to just look at him. "It was that or some opera thing." That actually would have been interesting to see. "Let's do this," Angel said into the radio and that was the signal. The plan was to get as close to the school in the cars. With Xander blasting music that should wake the Beast.
The music woke up the dead as Xander drove around the empty roads of this town. But it wasn't the only thing that stirred up the local residents. Down in the depths of the school a huge being sat there with his long staff. He resembled the Thing with its rocky skin and body. His color seemed to resemble that of Hell, red, black and ash. His eyes opened revealing yellow and red. And to top his hell-ish look he had a set of horns.
As he awoken one of his soldiers came in. It was a vampire with platinum blonde hair. The vampire has yet to ditch the punk rock look, which annoyed the Beast and his true master.
"What is it William?" The Beast asked with his deep voice.
"Something's in town, making a ruckus." Spike answered. The Beast then stood up and he towered over Spike. "It's blasting…ACDC…" That confused Spike and the Beast.
"Put it to rest." The Beast ordered and Spike nodded.
Giles drove another car with Dawn, Willow and Cordelia. They knew it wasn't going to be easy getting through the streets as some were even blocked by debris and long decayed corpses. They had to be prepared to go on foot at anytime. Just then they heard something and a car raced in front of them with music blaring.
"Was that Xander?" Cordelia asked and then the four looked at each other. Giles quickly took another road knowing Xander was going to have something following him.
Angel and Buffy were driving on the streets seeing the mostly destroyed town that was once home. Just then Buffy saw what was the magic shop as Angel continued down the road. But just then Angel slammed on the breaks as a horde of the undead were there.
"The Beast knows we're here." Buffy informed the slayer. Angel put the gear stick in reverse and slammed on the gas pedal and Buffy reached for the radio. She needed to know where everyone was. Xander was doubling back to the school; Giles and the others were out on Main Street. Everyone was a lot closer than they thought.
Xander could see a shopping center up ahead and he set the cruise controls on while grabbing his bag. Xander opened the door to the car and silently counted to three and jumped. He had to get up but was a little disoriented but could see the car as it smashed into the shopping center. But now Xander needed to find cover and meet up the others.
Giles, Dawn, Cordelia and Dawn ditched their car grabbing their weapons and headed to the school knowing they would get there sooner.
Spike headed back down to the basement where the Beast still sat alone in the dark.
"Beefcake," Spike went to the Beast and the monster looked to him. "I think this is a little more than a few humans stumbling their way here." Spike saw the huge explosion from Xander's car. The Beast rose to his feet and followed Spike.
"The Master must not be called for human intrusions unless it's the vampire with a soul." The Beast informed Spike as they left the basement of the school.
"Buffy," Spike reminded the Beast of her actual name. "Hasn't joined the forces of evil for twelve years. She ran scared what makes you think she's here now?" Spike asked. "It's probably some hunters thinking they got a set." The Beast then looked out as warrior demons started to leave the school and surround it.
Down the road Giles, Dawn, Cordelia and Willow killed off a few of the undead and the high school was in site. A road running parallel to them had Xander making his way to the school as well. The explosion Xander had made allowed them to move through the streets easier as the dead are attracted to sounds and fire.
The five of them met up at an intersection and Xander took out a set of binoculars and then handed them to Giles.
"Warrior demons." Giles stated meaning they no longer had a surprise but they still had a job to do. But where were Angel and Buffy? They needed to make a clear path into the school to get to the Beast for Angel and Buffy. So the five them walked towards the school, marching in a straight line with their weapons.
Up in the school Spike saw them. He hasn't seen the five of them in so long he almost didn't recognize them. The Beast knew who they were.
"Crush them." The Beast ordered and Spike continued to watch as what was left the A-Team took aim with their weapons and started to take out the demons. Bullets can't kill demons but at least slow them down. Dawn broke the line and ran towards the demons and took out her katana that she has kept over the years and sliced the head of a demon off. The team used some of the guns as swords to the demons. Taking out these people won't be easy and they sure as hell will go down fighting.
Willow held up her hand and with some sort of invisible force a few demons flew back. She hasn't used a lot of magic over the years and this felt good. The five haven't fought like this in a long time. The demons kept coming and the team knew they were out numbered.
Just then an arrow flew through a demon's head and the team knew who finally showed up. Up in the school both the Beast and Spike saw the arrow and looked to where it came from. They looked down the street to where the school faced and a figure rose from the horizon. Two figures rose from the horizon and Spike's eyes widen seeing the first one as it carried a crossbow.
"That's impossible." Spike muttered and the Beast looked to Spike. "It's the slayer." Spike can clearly see Angel now and he wasn't alone as Buffy was with him.
Outside of the school the team was reunited as Angel slung the crossbow behind him and took the rifle to his hands, pointed and fired. The commotion that was ensuing was now bringing the zombies towards them so they had to fight off the dead and the demons. The team was already prepared to go down in a blaze of glory though. Angel shot and killed a line of zombies and then turned around seeing someone in the shadows of the school.
"Spike!" Angel yelled.
"Well, isn't this a wonderful family reunion?" Spike asked as he stood there and just then the demons and the zombies backed off. "The slayer back from the dead and Buffy right at his side with the former losers of the high school, the Bite Size and the old man." Spike looked around. "Marching in here like that you got balls."
"Where's the Beast?" Buffy demanded and Spike looked to her with a smile.
"Inside," Spike answered and looked to the people he once aligned himself with. "You all should have stayed out in the desert, no way you can take down the Beast." Spike threatened him just then Spike felt something go through his chest and looked down seeing an arrow. He then looked up to Angel as the slayer had his crossbow pointing at the vampire.
"You can die first." Angel stated and the vampire turned to dust but it wasn't over as the ground started to shake a little and everyone kept their eye on the entrance to the school. The team formed up together with Angel at the front. Just then the Beast came from the shadows of the school and stood before the group. They have faced this monster before and barely got out alive. Could Angel really being here make a difference? Angel stripped himself of the rifle, pistols and crossbow and just took out a good old fashion broadsword. Buffy did likewise and took out another sword. The rest of his team followed and stood there. And like one whole unit the A-Team took a ready stands.
The Beast has heard of the legendary A-Team with Angel at the helm and the vampire with the soul at its core. The Beast will not deny that he has always wanted to fight the team, fight the only male slayer. It looks like wishes will behold everyone today. The Beast took a few steps down from the school and the team charged him splitting off to flank him.
Angel slammed his sword down but the Beast blocked it with his arms. His body was tough and can with stand a lot of damage. Angel spun and swung the sword but the Beast pushed him back. Buffy took her swing at the thing and the Beast caught her sword and yanked her closer.
"You would have been better for the job." The Beast insisted to her and then kicked her back. Dawn and Cordelia attacked together and the Beast grabbed Dawn by the throat and threw her back while back handed Cordelia and she flew to the ground. Xander charged at the Beast and the monster held out his arm like a shield and Xander slammed right into him. The Beast picked up Xander and threw him at Giles knocking the Watcher down.
Just then gunfire went off and the Beast saw Dawn with a shotgun. She started to fire at the Beast as it seemed to be slightly effective. Dawn then went to pull the trigged but she was out of bullets and the Beast smiled. It reached for the shotgun and ripped from Dawn's hands and then swung the shotgun at her.
"Dawn!" Angel then reached for a nearby rifle and started to fire at the Beast. Angel got to his feet and emptied the rifle and once it was Angel flipped the rifle so he was holding it by the barrel and then swung at the Beast as he walked towards. Angel swung as hard as he could and got two swings on it. The Beast chuckled at Angel as the slayer stood there. Angel went to swing again but the Beast caught the rifle and then picked Angel up by the throat and tossed him away.
Buffy made her way to Dawn and looked to the still body. Her face was bloody as the Beast only needed to make one hard blow to the head. Buffy started to tear up never believing she would see this. Giles got up and ran to the Beast and jumped on it's back. The Watcher was unaware what that was going to do. The Beast reached around him grabbing Giles and slammed him to the ground and went to stomp him. Giles managed to roll away and started to crawl and the Beast kicked him like a discarded can. Giles' body was flung to a pillar and the Watcher didn't get up.
"No!" Cordelia screamed as she ran to the Watcher but the Beast stopped her. Cordelia looked up to the monster and looked him straight in the eyes. The Beast smiled at her and reached out grabbing her throat and lifted her off the ground.
"Mortals." The Beast spat out and what was left of the A-Team heard a crack and Cordelia's body hit the floor. Willow then held out her hand and started to chant as her eyes turned black and the winds kicked up a little. Angel slowly got up but his body hurt. It was like facing Glory all over again. He looked up and saw Buffy had a motionless Dawn in her arms, he saw Giles wasn't moving and saw Cordelia's dead body on the ground.
Willow kept chanting and then a bolt of lightening hit the Beast but it did nothing. Willow started to back up as the Beast reached out to her. But something smashed across the Beast's back and it was Xander. The Beast kicked Xander back and he flew into a wall smashing it and did not get up.
"No! Xander!" Willow screamed with tears and then looked up to the Beast as it was her turn. She tried another spell but it was too late. The Beast had her in his hands.
Angel made his way to Buffy and saw Dawn's bloody face. He had no idea what to do as he looked up to the Beast. A rage hit him seeing his entire family literally dead. Angel charged at the Beast picking up the katana Dawn used and swung blindly at the Beast. The Beast blocked the slayer a few times but Angel managed a few hits. Just then Angel saw blood, he was doing some damage. Angel kicked the Beast back and then with all his strength rammed the sword through the Beast's torso.
Angel took a step back as the Beast looked down at the sword in him and then looked up to Angel and smiled. The Beast ripped out the sword from him and like it was happening so quickly yet at the slowest time can move the Beast ran the sword through Angel.
Angel looked down seeing the sword in him and looked up as the Beast took the sword out. Angel covered his bleeding wound and took a step back and then fell to one knee.
"I've beaten the slayer." The Beast boasted.
"But you haven fought me." The Beast turned around and saw Buffy standing there with a sword and she slammed it down as hard as she could and the Beast screamed as she sliced its hand off. Buffy charged at the Beast and kicked him back. She then swung the sword and it was caught in his chest. She then took out dagger and slammed it into the Beast's neck and more blood was seen. Buffy then grabbed the sword, placed her foot on the Beast's chest and ripped the sword out him. She pushed herself off his chest and jumped into the air and slammed the sword into the Beast's neck. She then used all her strength and pulled the sword across the Beast's neck as it took a lot of force as the sword made its way from side to the other.
The head fell off as Buffy took a step back and watched the body fall to the ground. She dropped the sword and made her way to Angel as he laid there on the ground holding the wound. Buffy made it to his side and looked around seeing the place was quiet. The demons were gone along with the zombies. On the ground were just the bodies of the A-Team, they were all dead.
"Angel," Buffy started to cradle the slayer. She could smell the blood in the air and she saw the wound and helped him cover it. "It's, it's going to be ok."
"Buffy," Angel could taste his own blood and he could feel his heart racing. But before Buffy could say anything she looked up to the entrance of the school. She then started to try and pull Angel away. Angel got up but he was already starting to fall but Buffy had him. She eased him down to the floor and leaned him up against the wall.
"We need to go." Buffy sounded panicked as she looked to the entrance of the school.
"Please, Angel get up." She begged but it was too late as Angel saw a man over Buffy's shoulder. Buffy looked behind her and then did her best to shield Angel. The man then started to clap. He was dressed like a priest. Dirty blonde hair, somewhat homely looking, nothing like you would have expected.
"Despite you all dying that was a brilliant fight." The man smiled and he had a slight southern, preacher's accent. "The A-Team makes their way back here and took on the Beast."
"You're the First," Angel managed to get out and the man smiled.
"Well, this is the body I took but yes I am and Angel I must say it's an honor." The First stood there. "So, the Beast is dead but nothing happened." The First then looked to Buffy. "I'm so disappointed in you Buffy, should have been you as my left hand. But love and a pesky curse put a stop to that right?" He then looked to Angel. "That's a nasty wound and by my estimate he doesn't have long." The First smiled and Buffy looked to Angel. "It was all for nothing."
The man then walked closer to the couple. "I can't kill you Buffy unless I yank the ring off but I can imagine once the slayer dies again you will want death too." He smiled looking at them as he was just a foot away. "Took twelve years," The First listed what took to get here. "And it was all…for nothing."
"No it wasn't," Angel looked to the First. They looked at each other directly. "There's something I want you to do," The First smiled at him. "Look at my face and remember me, because I will see you again, and I will end you." The smile then disappeared as Angel took out a dagger and threw it with the last little bit he had left in him. The dagger went right in between the eyes of the man that was taken over by the First. The body dropped to its knees as Buffy stood up and then kicked the dagger in further.
The First took over a human, a mortal, mortals die. Buffy looked at the body knowing the First was gone but the world was beyond a far cry from what it ever was. The vampire then turned back to Angel got to the ground with him.
"I'm going to get you out of here." Buffy went to get him up but Angel couldn't move. His skin was becoming pale from the blood loss. His slayer healing wasn't working fast enough. The sword had cut through vital organs unlike in the past where the bullets missed everything.
"Buffy," Angel couldn't get up.
"No!" Buffy started to sob. "You can't die! You can't die again!" Buffy wasn't going to let this happen not a second time.
"I can't die," Angel looked up to her. "I'll wake up." Buffy stared at him and tears ran down her cheeks. "I found what I needed."
"Please, don't leave me." She begged. "Please, don't," Angel pulled her closer so their foreheads touched.
"I'm going to fix this," Angel's voice was a t whisper. "I won't let any of this happen I promise." Buffy nodded as she sobbed. "I won't…I won't lose you, I won't lose Dawn or Xander. I won't let anyone else die." Buffy nodded again. "I won't leave you either." Buffy then pulled away so she can see him one more time. "I won' forget. I'll never forget."
"Angel," She then leaned in for one more good-bye kiss. It was just as hard and gut retching as the one before he saved the world by jumping. But she got to see him one last time. Buffy pulled away and just wanted to hold him for these last few moments.
"I'll never forget." He whispered.
"I love you," Buffy needed to be sure he knew. Angel smiled a little.
"I love you," He felt his eyes closing as Buffy held him. She held him tight and she could feel him letting go.
Angel shot up in bed and looked around. He looked to the clock and the numbers switched to five in the morning. Angel could hear the rain going on outside and he got out of the bed. Unlike before the room was clean, no dust and he could feel the soft carpet on the bottom of his feet. Angel went to the door and opened it looking down the hall as it was dark. He headed to Dawn's room, opened the door and the teen was asleep. She also looked like a teen. Seeing his sister all grown was so strange. Part of him never wanted her to grow up. And he never wanted to see her dead ever.
But he was home. Angel shut the door quietly and then walked to the end of the hallway to the master door. He stood before it and just leaned in. What was he going to say to her? Would she believe him? He still felt her holding him as he woke up. Angel reached for the doorknob and quietly opened it. He just came back from the apocalyptic world. He saw the Beast, the First. He saw what this world will become and he won't let it. He saw all his friends die and he will not let that happen. Angel walked into the room shutting the door quietly behind him and walked to the bed seeing Buffy sleeping.
Angel gently sat on the side of the bed and he will never forget what he saw, what he did, what his team did, what Buffy did, what they did.
"Buffy?" Angel reached out and shook her slightly. Buffy began to stir.
"No, five more minutes," She mumbled and Angel smiled a little.
"Buffy," Angel shook her a little more and her eyes opened and she looked around. She could hear the rain and then saw Angel sitting next to her. Buffy sat up trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes.
"Angel, it's five in the morning," She grumbled.
"Yeah, everyone will be waking up soon," Angel added. "It's Monday," Meaning there was work and school although the slayer won't be doing his morning jog.
"Vampires are nocturnal." She wanted to go back to sleep. But something wasn't right as she finally looked at Angel. "Angel?" She asked as he sat there. "Are you ok? You look like you've just seen a ghost." If only she knew but she had to know. Would she believe him? Would what he saw change anything? Would it save the people he cared about the most?
And that is chapter 8. Wow, a lot of info and lot of emotions and I'm pretty sure a lot of questions. Well, I got the forum with a look into this chapter and what it paints for the future and what we saw from the past. All in all Angel has a rather good map to go on but still a lot of unanswered questions. Not only that, that was one supposed future, what if they take the wrong road thinking it was the right one? So many things can go wrong now. But more to come soon. Also I will have a sneak peek of chapter 9 here and in the forum. So, keep up with that if you are interested. Remember the forum is called TheBuffyAngelWhedonVerse. Don't forget about the polls. So until next time thank you guys for reading, commenting and sticking it out this far. You readers are so awesome.
Chapter 9 Lover's Quarrel
I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun,
I'll be the bright, in black that's makin' you run.
And we'll feel alright, and we'll feel alright,
'Cause we'll work it out, yeah we'll work it out.
I'll be doin' this, if you had a doubt,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
I'll be your ghost, your game, your stadium.
I'll be your fifty-thousand clapping like one.
And I feel alright, and I feel alright,
'Cause I worked it out, yeah I worked it out.
I'll be doin' this, if you had a doubt,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
I got my mind made up, man, I can't let go.
I'm killing every second 'til it saves my soul.
(Ooh) I'll be running, (Ooh) I'll be running,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
There's a maniac out in front of me.
Got an angel on my shoulder, and Mestopheles.
but mama raised me good, mama raised me right.
Mama said, "Do what you want, say prayers at night,"
And I'm saying them, 'cause I'm so devout.
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out, yeah.
I got my mind made up, man, I can't let go.
I'm killing every second 'til it saves my soul.
(Ooh) I'll be running, (Ooh) I'll be running,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
Oh, we all want the same thing.
Oh, we all run for something.
run for God, for fate,
For love, for hate,
For gold, for rust,
For diamonds, for dust.
I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun,
I'll be the bright, in black that's makin' you run.
I got my mind made up, man, I can't let go.
I'm killing every second 'til it saves my soul.
(Ooh) I'll be running, (Ooh) I'll be running,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun,
I'll be the bright, in black that's makin' you run.
And we'll feel alright, and we'll feel alright,
'Cause we'll work it out, yes, we'll work it out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
'Til the love runs out.
Love Runs Out by OneRepublic
"The PTB knows what the future is going to be like. Me being here threw everything off. The entire future has completely changed." Angel wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
"We're changing it right now, changing the way it goes just by you and me talking about it." Buffy looked to the slayer.
"I hate time travel, time traveling change and the time loop." Angel confessed and Buffy smiled a little. But it's true. What he saw is what would have happened had he not come back. Angel then looked up to Buffy. "I'm not going to let it happened…" He trailed off still seeing the bodies of his dead friends. It was going haunt him for a long time. "I won't let anyone die, I'm tired of losing my people." Buffy just listened. She was told what he saw but she'll never feel it like Angel is now. "You guys are my family, I won't lose any of you." Seeing Dawn's dead body made Angel sick. "The First and the Beast are not going to win this."
Right now the A-Team has a head start. But they needed to stay ahead of this. There were still a lot to do and a lot is still unknown. That reality unfolded in a different way. This one will have different turns but at least they have some sort of map. Buffy reached out and put her hand on Angel's cheek. "You're going to be with me on this?"
"Shoulder to shoulder." She answered and Angel's heart dropped to the floor. Angel had to brush it off. That reality was not this one. He won't let it happen. His friends are not going to die, his sister isn't going to die and he won't leave Buffy again. Buffy leaned in and hugged him knowing he needed it. They held each other for a few moments and then pulled away. They were very close now, it wouldn't take much to connect. "We…we should probably go downstairs." Buffy suggested in a whisper and Angel nodded but they continued to sit there. Now would be a good time for someone to knock on the door.
After what he went through in the dream he didn't want to leave. Buffy was broken in the dream and she had every right to be. But here this Buffy before him was not broken she was strong. He wanted her to stay that way. But they were both about to become weak and succumb to emotion. Their lips connected for the first time in months. They can never really think straight when they're around each other. The kiss started to get heated quickly but it stopped.
Angel pulled away and got up. He can't do this not without knowing where they stand. Yes they stand together on keeping the end from happening. But he has no idea where they stand as two people. They've been apart for months, he became a drunk and she didn't deserve that. Buffy continued to sit there and looked up at Angel as he stood at the door. He then turned and faced her. She shouldn't have let it happen, they might have just taken ten steps back.
"I need, I need to go to school," Angel stuttered and he left. Buffy let out an unnecessary sigh. That should not have happened. But when it comes to Angel a lot of logic and rational thinking just seems to not be there.