Chapter 23 Stronger Than You
A/N: Hope you all enjoy.
When everything turns to black
You don't know where to go
You need something
To justify your soul
Silence is broken
Confidence is gone
Everything you're holding on to
Falls
All the people selling truths
On every corner now
The wait until the fear
Has knocked you down
All the rules are changing now
You're living in sin
Everything around you is caving in
All you're holding on to
Slipping like water through your hands
And you sing
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
Ya you sing
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
Far off in the distance
Somewhere you can't see
Allegiances have formed your destiny
Opposition all around
Feeding off your soul
Trying hard to swallow up you whole
And the demons all around you waiting
For you to sell your soul
They're singing
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
They're singing
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la la
Oh la la la la la
Oh la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
Black by Kari Kimmel
The wind was rather cold today as it should be. The team just the team no potentials were together. There was no body to bury. Angel went back for him and he was gone. But that didn't mean they couldn't say goodbye. Joyce's resting place was just a few steps over and opposite of that was Angel's. Out of all the cemeteries here in Sunnydale this was the prettier one. Doyle was getting his last send off and hopefully he was at peace.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not parish, but have ever lasting life." Michael went on and thinking about he has buried too many of the A-Team. He buried Joyce, he buried Tara, he buried Angel, he's buried Oz and now Doyle. That's five too many. "We ask now that Doyle be taken into the light, be granted salvation and eternal happiness." Cordelia was literally propped up by Xander and if he wasn't there then she would be on the ground. "Amen." Michael finished and everyone was quiet. This was the final goodbye.
A small headstone was placed to mark a spot for Doyle.
"May the road rise to meet you," Buffy started. This was a classic Irish hymn and perfect for Doyle but she couldn't sing so she just stated. "May the wind be ever at your back." She continued. She sung at Joyce's funeral and everyone deserves a song whether sung or not.
"May the sun shine warm upon your face," Michael joined in along with Giles. Cordelia listened knowing this was it. "And the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again." Everyone was saying their last good bye silently to a beloved friend. "May God hold you, may God hold you ever in the palm of His hand." Buffy, Michael and Giles finished. It was the prefect goodbye as one day they will all see Doyle again. They will see Joyce, Jenny, Oz and Tara again someday. And just like their deaths the comfort they had is that they were no longer in pain or suffering. Doyle was free.
Summer was approaching but it didn't feel like summer here in Sunnydale. The air was cold and skies seemed to stay grey with little sunlight. The plants around town didn't seem to take anymore. The town itself seemed to be dying. And with LA's ever growing problem of what has been dubbed the Super Flu a lot of people here wanted to leave since Sunnydale is just an hour or so outside of LA. People have been slowly leaving the town. And it wasn't just here either. Other places have been seeing similar things.
Dawn was reading up on the mark that was burned in Shannon's neck when the doorbell rang. She grabbed a small dagger that was next to her and went to the front door and looked through the peephole. Dawn tucked the dagger away and opened the door and it was RJ.
"Busy?" RJ asked and Dawn shrugged. "I'm leaving town." RJ had no other way to put it and Dawn didn't look surprise. Just then Officer Brookes came up to the door.
"Angel here?" Brookes asked and Dawn stepped aside so he could walk in.
"Where's the best place to go?" RJ asked.
"Stay away from the big cities, travel by day only." Dawn gave him some advice but it felt awkward because he was just leaving.
Angel along with Dawn and Buffy traveled into town with Officer Brookes and RJ. People were starting to leave as they made it to the Sunnydale Police Department and walked in. Phones were ringing and the staff looked exhausted, people were pulling doubles these last few days. They then made it to Grimes' office and he was already waiting for them.
"We're trying to start the evacuation process now," Grimes said to Angel as they piled into the office. "Start slowly, get the elder out first, those who can't move to much." Also any one the jail were being moved out as well with the elders, next would be the hospitals as the days go on. "How fast should we move?"
"Quickly and quietly." Angel answered because the last thing they need is a panic.
"How many days?" Brookes asked and Angel looked around thinking.
"It'll start here," Angel had to be honest. "If I can't contain it, probably less than a year and the world will go." He finished.
"Angel," Brookes stepped in. "I know you want to fight the good fight, defend and what not but, let's say this happens, the world ends," Brookes paused for a moment. "We're going to need a leader out there." Angel nodded understanding what he meant.
"I need to know I tried to stop it from here, if I can't and I make it out I'll leave." Angel made a deal and everyone seemed in agreement.
"Well, the police force will be the last ones out right before you." Grimes assured Angel.
Officer Brookes and RJ walked outside the police station to a car where RJ's mom waited in the driver's seat. Dawn stood with Angel as he and Buffy continued to talk to Grimes. RJ and his dad shared a hug and they made plans to meet up somewhere once everyone was out of town. Dawn from here on out will probably never see RJ again so she should leave one finally impression on him.
"RJ," Dawn called out and she headed down the steps and to him and his father took a step back and went to the car to say goodbye to his wife. "Stay safe ok," RJ nodded.
"You too," He added and Dawn nodded. Dawn felt like she should cry but it might not be the end. But if it is then they'll seize the moment just in case. RJ reached out and pulled Dawn in for a kiss and she accepted it. RJ pulled away and Dawn managed a little tear fall as he walked away knowing they're never going to see each other again.
The mansion was quiet. They had taken a hard blow with Doyle's death and Xander's injury. And with town slowly disappearing the area around them seemed even quieter. Everyone seemed off in their own corners researching. The night Doyle died was slap but the next day when everyone saw the sun rise and there was no Doyle was then a kick. It's the next day that hurts because the day started without them, they're really gone.
Angel wasn't reading anything he was a corner of the mansion alone in the shadows. He sat quietly by himself. He was in deep thought and he wasn't just thinking about Doyle. He was thinking of the first person he lost when he first got here, he was thinking about Jesse. That was the first person he failed to save. Then Jenny, he then started to think about Jenny. He couldn't save her and then there was Buffy. That was his hardest death and blow he's taken. It still haunts him to this day she disappeared. It could happen again, if he loses Buffy then it doesn't matter anymore.
Just then he thought about Tara. That was so unexpected and it cut deep into the group because she didn't do anything, she was killed as a warning. Thinking about Tara he thought about his mom. That was his most helpless time he's ever faced because he could not stop that death no matter what. Then Oz's death a death that should have been his. And now he was back to thinking about Doyle. He's lost too many of his family.
Angel reached for his face wiping the tears that escaped. He's failed six times and thinking about losing another one of his own it made his chest hurt. The slayer then looked up and saw the most unlikely person standing there.
"You ok mate?" Spike asked and Angel didn't say anything. The vampire walked over to the slayer, placed his back against the wall and slid to the floor. "I've smoked a whole pack of cigarettes and it's not even two in the afternoon." Spike reached for his back pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes, took one out and lit it up and took a drag and then handed it to Angel. Angel hasn't smoked in a while but the urge took over. Angel grabbed the cigarette and took a drag as Spike lit up a second one for himself.
Angel felt some relief hit him but it won't last. Then a deja vu moment happened. Once and it felt like a long time ago Angel and Spike sat side by side sharing a moment and it was much like this one. "God," Spike sighed as Angel brought the cigarette to his lips taking another drag and then blew out some smoke. "We're not going to make it." That wasn't a question but it wasn't quite a statement either. Angel couldn't answer that not truthfully at least because he didn't know. Just then there was a scream and the two jumped up, put out their cigarettes and ran to the scream.
They made it to the study and saw Cordelia on the floor holding her head. Angel got the floor and helped her back up as everyone else rushed in. Cordelia took in a few breaths still holding her head and she looked up.
"Oh my god I'm going to kill him." Cordelia declared and everyone looked confused. "That hurt," Angel's eyes started to widen in realization.
"You had a vision." Angel stated and Cordelia looked to him. He swore he saw something pass between them.
"Damn right I did." Cordelia didn't seem pleased at all. "It hurt to, I can't believe he did this."
"You're the new Seer and you had a vision." Angel went on and the look Cordelia flashed him could kill him if she had that power.
"I need Tylenol." Cordelia announced.
"What did you see?" Angel asked and Cordelia looked a little disgusted at that question.
"Let the searing pain stop so I can stop seeing double then maybe I can make it clear. No wonder Doyle would get mad when you jumped all over him." Cordelia was understanding now as Dawn came in with a glass of water and two Tylenols. "It's at the school." Cordelia explained as she took the two pills and drank the water. "Basement, looks like a demon." Angel nodded as he stood up. "How did I get a vision when Doyle hasn't had one in months?" Cordelia asked and Angel smiled a little. "You think…" But she didn't need that answer. Angel leaned in and kissed her cheek and headed out.
Angel was heading outside but he knew someone was following him and he knew who it was.
"If you're going alone at least take a weapon." Buffy stated and Angel turned around looking at her. The place was so heavy right now. Doyle's death was just two days ago and everyone was still waiting for him to come downstairs or appear in the room to saw something stupid or witty and Xander will bounce back with something. But he's gone and with the rising tension and the cold air and ever growing silence everything was worse.
"I know he's at the school," Angel stood there. "The demon Cordelia saw it's Caleb, he's a demon of some kind or at least he has demon in him."
"Half breed?" Buffy asked or more or less stated. "And you're not taking a weapon or anyone?" She got closer to him and Angel looked so tired. "Highly doubt he wants to talk over coffee."
"He wants me." Angel continued to stand there. "I've seen him before and…" Angel paused for a moment. "It's me he wants, I'm the slayer."
"So is Faith," Buffy pointed out. "I'm a potential, Dawn, Amanda," She was trying to get a point across. "He wants us all and he wants us dead. The best way to do that, take out the leader." Angel nodded knowing the plans.
"And if I go," Angel didn't because Buffy shook her head no. "You've done it before Buffy, twice if you count the dream." She shook her head no again. "Buffy,"
"I won't," She was clear on that. "It takes the both of us to do this and," She paused again and Angel saw her eyes get glassy. "I can't see you die again, I won't. I can't feel like that again. I know what Cordy is feeling and I can't feel that again." Angel took a step closer to her. "So take a damn weapon." Angel then reached out and took her in for a hug. She was afraid but not because the end of the world was knocking, the feeling of the loss of someone close to her was being felt. And the fact that she can lose Angel again she was getting scared. She was never afraid of death or the world ending, she was always afraid of losing Angel…forever.
"I'll take a weapon." Angel answered to her and he felt her nod against his chest.
The school was always creepy when empty even when it was the old building. The late nights trying to study an unknown demon were always creepy in the school. But what better way to look up stuff that wants to kill than in a school sitting over a Hell Mouth that wants to eat you? Angel walked the empty halls. The town was in a voluntary evacuation right now. LA was under quarantine, there's no way for Wes and his team to get out or for Angel to get in. But the sickness will spread he knows that.
Sunnydale was being evacuated because of it's close proximity to L.A. and the Hell Mouth was way too active. Some people did not want to leave, this is their home and others have little means to get out. But somehow and Angel knew everyone will help each other get out. He's seen this town pull together in the face of the supernatural and they will get each other out.
Angel continued to walk the halls alone knowing Caleb is here waiting. Of course he would be here on top of where the gates open. But Angel is still it's guardian and this is his job.
"I keep wondering if you're asking for death or just stupid?" It was Caleb's voice and Angel turned around seeing the preacher. "Maybe it's both."
"It's my town," Angel started. "I've taken it, I've died for it, I've spilt blood for it. You're not just going to walk in and think it's yours." Caleb smiled at Angel seeing the sword he had in his hand. Caleb took a step closer as Angel stood there. The slayer wasn't going to budge.
"To bad the town you love so much is fleeing." Caleb mocked the slayer. "The town you have saved so many times, now it leaves. So what's left to protect?" Then Angel took a bold step forwards that Caleb didn't know he was going to take.
"I've killed you before," Angel started.
"Maybe just in a dream." Caleb added and Angel shrugged.
"I will end you." Angel declared and this time the slayer wasn't caught off guard as Caleb took a swing and Angel ducked. Angel kicked Caleb back and the preacher smiled.
"Why fight this?" Caleb asked. "I mean history is going to look back on this. It's going to look back to you, to me. You'll be apart of something great in this end. Great things are happening and you're going to see the glory." But Angel wasn't going to take this and charged hoping to end this. Caleb braced himself and Angel managed a punch but before he could swing the sword Caleb grabbed his wrist and forced it against the wall causing Angel to drop the sword. Caleb then kneed Angel in the stomach but Angel punched him back. Caleb then grabbed Angel by his neck and hoisted him up so Angel was now dangling in the air. "I could end it now, but there's more to be seen and I want you to see it."
Caleb then threw Angel across the hall and the slayer went through a glass window on a door leading into a classroom. The window shattered and Caleb smiled and started to sing. "Holy God we praise thy name," Angel inside the classroom rolled over feeling the effects of being thrown through glass and landing hard. He felt something on his forehead and went to wipe it off seeing blood. "Lord of all we bow before thee," He could hear Caleb singing and the singing was getting softer knowing the preacher was leaving.
At the mansion even though no one wanted to work and just sit in grieve in their own way, they had no time for grieving. Right now they had a small break through. The mark on the potential slayer that Caleb burned into her they might have found something. While digging they have managed to find a few things on Caleb.
"Ok," Dawn started as she found something. "He does have a pattern. He uh comes in, normal preacher type. It's later that he goes off. He claims it in the name of God but,"
"Highly doubt God wants to burn down churches," Willow jumped in.
"He's preaching of a different God." Buffy joined in.
"The First." Michael was with them.
"His profile is he gains trust and then the way he preaches, he teaches hate and," Dawn paused. "He's trying to create followers and there are some." She then laid out some papers and Giles picked up one.
"They're spreading," Giles stated.
"Paving the way." Xander sat there with some ice over his wounded eye. "How long has this been going on?"
"Several years, takes a while to build a devoted cogeneration." Michael answered.
"But with each burning of a church anything related to Caleb this pops up." Dawn then brought out some pictures. "You have to look closely." Faith, Buffy and Giles took some of the pictures and looked.
"The mark." Buffy found hers. "It's the same one from the ring." Buffy then stood up. "It's the Eye of Fire," That's where she recognized it.
"Oh this isn't good." Spike muttered.
"You sure?" Michael asked and she handed the picture to Michael and he looked.
"This means what?" Anya asked.
"It's the mark of the Beast." Michael answered.
"I thought that was supposed to rise in L.A.?" Willow asked.
"It might but remember the dream is irrelative at this point." Michael pointed out and Buffy shook her head no.
"It'll rise from the Hell Mouth but Caleb isn't a servant to the Beast. The First needs a way to walk in full form." Buffy went on and Giles took off his glasses and started to clean them. "Caleb bears the mark and he's devoted to spreading the First. He's the vessel. The Beast rises and Caleb with First in him leads with the Beast at it's left hand."
"Why not the right hand?" Xander asked.
"Because that's Elizabeth's spot." Buffy answered and that didn't make the situation any lighter.
"Shit," Xander muttered. Just then Angel walked in and based on the slight limp and the cut on his forehead they all had an idea what happened.
"He didn't kill you?" Anya asked and everyone looked to her and she shrugged.
"No, thanks for asking." Angel wasn't going to say much.
"What did he want?" Buffy asked him.
"He's snooping around." Angel answered meaning this was important. To defeat your enemy you gotta get to know them. "Anything on him?"
"He's the true vessel of the First and he's got some followers spreading out." Giles answered and Angel nodded. "He's strong and already powerful."
"Where are the potentials?" Angel asked.
"Out back." Dawn answered.
"Call them in." Angel ordered and Dawn got up as he went to sit down for a moment.
The mansion's occupants were all gathered around as Angel came in to talk.
"We know what Caleb is, why he's strong," Angel started and looked around. "Its odd that he starts out in churches and yet he comes to this town that has more churches than I've ever seen and he chooses to settle in an abandon factory." That was the start. "There's something there he has that plays a role in this."
"Like what?" A potential asked and Angel shrugged.
"I don't know but all the Bringers are there guarding something." Angel answered.
"You want us to go in?" Amanda asked and Angel shook his head no.
"I have no idea what it is, how powerful it could be." Angel was honest. "I want to say we should destroy Caleb but he's part demon for sure. But all this time we've been trying to stop the seals from opening. Caleb isn't focus on that. There's no way to stop the seals we'll let Cruciate have fun. There's something Caleb is guarding."
"So what's the plan?" Faith asked.
"We steal it." Angel answered. "If he's guarding it it's worth something. We take it, we have a one up." Everyone looked around at each other. "I know going back there isn't smart."
"A diversion is needed." Spike stepped in. "Going out on a limb thinking he has something."
"Evil doesn't blow into this town not guarding something around here, that's from experience." Angel stated. "He has something and I want to know what it is."
"So, who's going to be the bait in this one?" Spike asked and Angel looked to Andrew.
"Oh come on!" Andrew stood up in protest.
"You said you wanted to fight?" Angel asked and Andrew said nothing.
"So what's the plan?" Giles asked. They don't have much left these days but they all can still manage to think outside the box.
Five more chapters left…you ready for the last five? Got some surprises and an epic fight or two on the way. But wow, five more chapters and the series is over. Hold on to your butts. And here's a quick look into chapter 24. Thanks once again for reading, following, commenting and everything else. You readers are awesome.
Chapter 24 Be the Last Standing
'The team gathered around the dining table as they listened in from L.A. with Wes and his crew on the other line.
"You sure there's no way out?" Angel asked. He wanted them out of there.
"Everything is blocked and…they're shooting people in the streets." Wes answered.
"More cities are being affected, the sickness is spreading." Giles confirmed.
"So what's next?" Xander asked looking around because he didn't want to leave them there.
"If they can't find a cure or something to at least slow it down…"Wes' voice trailed off. "We managed to intercept a message and…The City of Angels will be completely sanitized in a hundred and twenty hours." Angel then slammed down his fist to the table.
"Damnit!" The slayer yelled and a few of the team members looked around not understanding.
"What does that mean?" Anya asked.
"They're going to bomb the city," Buffy answered. Cordelia gasped in horror, how and why would that be done? "It's in hopes to keep the infection from spreading."
"It's already spreading, this super flu, more places will follow behind L.A." Giles sounded defeated. In five days Angel will lose more of his people and that idea was something he couldn't wrap his head around.
"Angel," It was Victoria's voice. He and Victoria still don't know a whole lot about one another but they were slayers across a huge timeline. They like Angel and Faith, shared a connection and Angel wanted to get to know a sister slayer even more. "We're not getting out, we're going to try and save as many people as possible." The A-Team stood around the table listening. Dawn wiped a tear away. "But you…you have to stop this." Angel stood there listening to the words. And right now it was time to be honest.
"I don't know how." Angel answered and no one in his team was quick to question him because they didn't even know.
"I think you do." Victoria's voice was calm. "You've been a slayer for seven years. You've stopped things like this before. It's what you do."
"Angel," It was Gunn's voice. "If this doesn't go our way…we're going to fight until the end here…it's what we do and…it's been an honor fighting with you."
"Angel and company," Now Lorne was on the line. "If only you guys could come and do one last Karaoke session," Angel managed a small smile but it disappeared before anyone could notice. "Don't blame yourselves for this, you guys just keep fighting the good fight even when the roof starts to come down."
"Angel," Wes was back on the line. "I know in the beginning when you first started you didn't believe in yourself, Giles likes to write in detail." Angel was standing there trying with every once of his being not to cry. "And who knows…maybe you still don't quite believe in yourself…but that doesn't mean we don't believe in you."
There was a long silent pause because what can you say? When you know this will be the last time you hear the voices of your friends, what do you say? "Kick some ass."'