BondedChapter Eleven
Hyperion Angel carries the catatonic form into the hotel. Fred looks up from the computer and runs to them. Gunn appears behind her. Gunn: Man, what happened? Angel lowers her onto the settee and drops on the floor beside her. Gunn: Angel? He looks up with tears filling his eyes. Fred: Oh god. Gunn pulls her into his arms. Gunn: Connor? Angel: Gone. Gunn: Gone? Gone where? Angel: Just gone. Angel looks at the woman beside him and pulls her into his arms sobbing. Gunn and Fred watch them horrified. Gunn: Angel, man, why don’t you take her upstairs to one of the rooms. She, well, she seems tired. Angel nods and picks her up as if doing something is better than nothing. He climbs the stairs slowly. Fred looks up at Gunn. Fred: W….w…what happened? Gunn: I don’t know, but I am calling Wes and see what he knows. He barrels into the office.
Later Gunn and Fred sit holding each other. Fred: Cordy really said Wes hit her? Gunn: Yes and if he makes it, I would not want to be him. Fred: Cordy won’t hurt him too bad. Gunn: Cordy is not the one I am concerned about. His eyes look upstairs. He pulls Fred closer. Fred: So do you want to go up and see if he is ready to talk? The front door opens and Cordy, Willow, and Dawn walk in. Fred jumps up. Fred: Thank god you are here. He won’t talk and she….well she………. Willow: Where are they? Gunn: Upstairs………..room 318. Willow: Dawn please stay down here. Cordy and Willow head for the stairs and Dawn collapses on the settee. Fred: Hi Dawn. Dawn: Have you seen her? Fred: Yes. Dawn: She shut down again? Fred: Again? Dawn: Well I didn’t see her but last year when I was kidnapped by Glory, they told me she shut down completely. Gunn: How did they get through to her? Dawn: Willow did some spell and actually got into her mind and pulled her out. Anya said it was real scary. Fred: Who is Glory? Dawn: Don’t ask, just say she is why Buffy died. Dawn stares toward the upstairs. Fred: It will be okay. You just said Willow knows how to fix her. Dawn: Not sure she will want to be fixed. Not with Connor gone. She dissolves into tears. Fred immediately joins her and pull her into an embrace. Gunn stands watching, tears threatening to the surface.
Upstairs Willow and Cordy walk into the room. Angel sits on a chair watching the still body on the bed. Her eyes stare into space. Cordy: Angel? He turns and looks at them. Cordy: Are you okay? He looks back at Buffy and watches her. Willow walks over and sits beside her. Willow: How long has she been like this? Angel looks into her face and swallows. Angel: Since he disappeared. Willow, I can not lose her too. Willow: You won’t lose her. And you haven’t lost Connor. Angel closes his eyes and drops his head in hands sobbing. Cordy gently touches his shoulder. Cordy: Is this like before? Willow: Yes, exactly. Angel looks over at her. Angel: Before? Willow: Yes, Buffy shut down like this before, when Glory grabbed Dawn. Angel: So you know how to reach her? Willow closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Willow: I know how, I just can’t do it. I don’t have the control anymore to do it. Angel: Please. You have to try. Willow: No you have to try. You have to do it. Angel: Me? Willow: You’re the only one she may respond to this time.
Later. The bedroom. The curtains are closed and the lights are out. Willow puts a candle on a nightstand beside the bed, and lights it. She goes around the bed to the other side. She puts another candle on the other nightstand and lights it. She places a third forming a triangle then glances over at Angel. He has pulled his chair right up to the bed and faces Buffy. He reaches out and takes her hand. Willow: You know what to do? Angel nods. Willow: You can do this He watches her walk out. As the door closes, he turns back to his lover. His eyes look deep into her vacant orbs.
A flash of light. Angel looks around and takes in the Ferris Wheel. The music of the Merry-Go-Round draws him forward. His eyes dart around the empty carnival. He moves forward and around the slowly turning horses. He hears the sobs before he ever sees her. There she sits sobbing. Blood stains her hands and arms as she cradles the man’s head. He looks at the puddle of blood surrounding the dead watcher. Her face contorted in pain and squeezes at his gut. He remembers that night. He had arrived too late. Too late to help him or her. Angel: Buffy? She continues to cry and look into Merrick’s open unseeing eyes. Angel kneels down and slowly closes the man’s eyes. Buffy lowers the corpse to the pavement and moves away. Angel turns to follow and is momentarily stunned to find they have left the amusement park. He looks around at her bedroom. The bedroom he had only seen through the window those many years before. He looks at her staring at the window and walks behind her. His eyes follow hers to the driveway. Hank is lowering his suitcases into the trunk. They watch as he makes one final look at the house before climbing behind the wheel and driving off. Angel: Buffy? Baby I need you to stop. She moves toward the bedroom door and walks from the room. He moves to follow her but stops in the doorway. He chokes on the vision. She stands with her sword raised but stops herself. Angel watches himself suddenly gasp and groan in pain. His eyes glow bright red for an instant and go back dark. He looks up at her, but quickly collapses to the floor, crying. Buffy stares down at him, her sword raised behind her. Angel raises himself back up, his eyes heavy with tears, and looks into her eyes. Angel: Buffy? What's going on? Angel can’t move from the doorway as she just looks down at him. They watch as he looks around a bit and gets to his feet. Angel: Where are we? I-I don't remember. Buffy slowly lowers her sword. Buffy: Angel? Angel reaches for her arm. Angel: You're hurt. She looks down at her arm and his hand. She looks back up at him and steps closer. He embraces her tightly. Angel: Oh, Buffy... God. She slowly hugs him back. Angel: I... I feel like I haven't seen you in months. She closes her eyes and breathes out a deep sigh. Angel: Oh, my God, everything's so muddled. I... He holds her even more closely. Angel: Oh... He sighs deeply and kisses her on the shoulder. Angel: Oh, Buffy... She cries into his shoulder and hugs him back. Angel watches as behind them Acathla lets out a low rumble. Buffy opens her eyes and stares in shock at the swirling vortex. Buffy lets go of Angel and looks up into his face. Angel: What's happening? Buffy: Shh. Don't worry about it. She kisses him and it becomes more passionate. Behind them the vortex continues to get larger. Buffy breaks off the kiss and looks deeply into Angel's eyes. Buffy: I love you. Angel: I love you. Buffy: Close your eyes. He closes his eyes. She kisses him again. She steps back and thrusts her sword into his chest. His eyes open in surprise and pain.. She steps away from him. He reaches out to her and looks down at the sword. She slowly steps further back. Angel: Buffy? Angel still holds out his hand to Buffy. When the vortex finally meets him it suddenly closes taking him with it. Buffy stares at the stone demon. She begins to sob. Angel moves forward from the doorway and she looks at him with tears streaming down her face. Angel: Buffy, honey. It’s okay. It will be okay. She starts to walk toward the atrium doors. Angel: You need to stop, baby. She moves thru the doors and he runs after her. He stands outside and looks around for her in the dark. Voices filter down to him. He closes his eyes and just listens. His dead heart twists as the words flow around him Angel: Am I a thing worth saving, huh? Am I a righteous man? The world wants me gone! Buffy: What about me? I love you so much. And I tried to make you go away. I killed you and it didn't help. And I hate it! I hate that it's so hard and that you can hurt me so much. I know everything that you did, because you did it to me. Oh, God! I wish that I wished you dead. I don't. I can't. Angel: Buffy, please. Just this once let me be strong. Buffy: Strong is fighting! It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together. But if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn. If I can't convince you that you belong in this world, then I don't know what can. But do not expect me to watch. And don't expect me to mourn for you, because... Angel’s eyes open as the words fade away. He whips around as he sees the smoke swirling around him. He looks at the flashing red lights. His eyes take in the shell of Sunnydale High School. Then he sees her as Giles walks away. He walks toward her determined to get her to stop. He steps up behind her and watches as she shivers and is drawn to the figure eclipsed amongst the smoke and shadows. He watches himself turn and leave and he reaches for her as sobs rack her slender form. He pauses and she shakes her head and marches off toward her friends. As he moves to follow her he almost falls down the stairs. He grabs on the handrail and looks down into the basement apartment. Confusion consumes his brain as he watches her sobbing uncontrollably in his own arms. He knows this time. He can never forget that twenty-four hours but he has no idea how she is experiencing this scene. His hands shake uncontrollably and he sits down on the landing. He swallows and looks back down and he finds himself at the top of another flight of steps. Below the front door opens and Buffy enters.
He watches as she smells the flowers beside the door. Buffy: Ooh. She opens the card that came with the flowers. Buffy: Still a couple of guys getting it right. She looks up the stairs. Buffy: Hi Angel, you are not suppose to be here. Angel: You need to stop and come with me baby. . Buffy: Hey. Flower-getting lady. Want me to pick Dawn up from school? Buffy moves toward the living room. Angel comes down the stairs and steps up behind her.
Buffy: Mom? She pauses in the doorway looking at the figure on the sofa. Buffy: What are you doing? She walks closer. Angel sees Joyce lying on the sofa with her eyes are open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. She does not move or blink. Buffy: Mom? Mom? Mommy? Angel reaches out to take her in his arms as she suddenly takes off running. He finds himself in a shack looking out the open door. Buffy sits on the ground not moving. Willow walks up to her. Willow: Buffy. Angel stays back in the shadows out of the sun blanketing his love. His hands clinch in fists as he watches her friends trying to get her to get up. As he watches, he hears voices . He turns and looks around the dark dank cavern. His eyes take in the huge pillars and he moans as he steps forward. He knows what he will find on the other side. He moves around the pillar and sees her curled up beside him. Her fingers entwined with his. Angel: I still can’t believe it. You are alive. Buffy: I am. Are you glad? Angel: Do you have to ask? Buffy: Glad enough to move back? A pensive look takes over his features. Buffy: Bad idea, I know. I just. Angel: Buffy. Buffy: Don’t worry about it. I understand. She snuggles against his chest. Angel watches himself closing his eyes and realizes he never saw the petrified look on her face. He strides forward determined to get her to stop. He trips over a mat on the floor and finds himself on the ground. He looks up at Giles sitting on the sofa in the workout room. Giles: I have to. Buffy: Uh-huh. Giles: You have to be strong. I'm, I'm trying to…
She goes to sit beside him. Buffy: I can't do this without you.
Giles pauses. Buffy looks on the verge of tears. Giles: I've taught you all I can about being a slayer, and your mother taught you what you needed to know about life. You ... you're not gonna trust that until you're forced to stand alone.
Giles: Buffy, I've thought this over ... and over. I believe it's the right thing to do.
She gets up and strides out. Giles just sits there. Angel glares at Giles angrily and takes off after her. His legs buckle as he steps into the night air. He watches in horror as Holtz and Connor disappear into the vortex. Tears form in his eyes. He wipes them away and hears the music of the merry-go-round. He slowly turns around and runs around the ride and stares at her form sobbing over Merrick’s dead body. Angel: Buffy, stop it. Please baby, I need you to come with me. Buffy: Look at all the blood. Angel: I see but you need to come with me. You can not stay here. Buffy: I have to change it. Angel: You can’t change it baby. She gets up and moves away. Angel looks around at her bedroom. Angel: Buffy, baby please stop. I need you to stop. Buffy: If I had been a good girl maybe he would have stayed. Angel: No love. He and your mom had problems but now you need to come with me. He tries to take her in his arms but she moves out the door and he is again staring at Acathla. He steps closer but she ignores him as she runs him through and sends him into the hell dimension. As she turns toward the atrium doors he grabs her arm and pulls her into an embrace. Angel: I am not in hell. I am here. I love you . She struggles momentarily until he kisses her passionately. Her hands run into his hair as she clings to him. He holds her close and their lips part. She looks into his eyes. Angel: I will never leave you again. I promise. I am here to stay. Forever. She breaks down in tears. Angel: I can’t do this without you. Come home with me. She sobs softly. Angel: Please. I need you. He tilts her head up and looks into her face. Angel: Help me find our son and bring him home. Buffy looks in his face and nods. He kisses her gently and holds her. A flash of light and he looks from his chair beside the bed and into her green eyes. She looks at him and burst out into tears. He climbs on the bed and takes her into his arms. They cling to each other sobbing.
Later Angel and Buffy walk down the stairs with their arms wrapped around each other. No one is sure who is supporting whom. Dawn: Buffy? She runs into her sister’s embrace. Tear streaked faces dot the library. Willow: I knew you could do it. Angel nods at the redhead. He looks over the assemblage of friends. Angel: We need your help. Cordy: Of course. Angel: We are going to get Connor back. Cordy: Do you know where he is? Angel: No but I know who does. Cordy: Who? Angel: Shajhain. I need anything on him. How to find him and how to hurt him. Fred: Uh, research? We kinda need Wes. Angel and Buffy glare at her. Buffy: The hell we do. Cordy: They are right. We don’t need Wes ever again. Willow: Just point the way to the books and let us at them. Dawn: Who is going for doughnuts? She forces a smile. Cordy: Where is Xander when you need him? Lorne, Fred and Gunn watch as Willow, Dawn, and Cordy begin grabbing books off the shelves. Angel: Gunn, can you run out for food. This crew works better fed. Gunn nods and heads for the door as Fred joins the research group. Buffy glances up at Angel and takes his hand and they walk over and each take a tome.
Later The group is scattered around the office a lobby with books stacked about. Buffy slams a book closed. Buffy: He is not here. Angel: If he is not in these, we will get others. She looks out at the darkening sky. Buffy: I need to pummel something. Angel: You want to patrol? Buffy: I need to get out of here. Angel: Maybe we should. He looks at the others. Angel: We will be back soon. They both grab a couple weapons and their coats and head out the door. Cordy: I think mom and dad just headed out to get in trouble. Fred: Mom?
Outside Buffy: Where are we going? Angel: I was thinking we might want to consult an attorney. She looks at him and nods. Buffy: Liking that plan.
Condominium Angel beats on the door. Linwood opens it and stares at him. Linwood: How did you get up here? Angel: I was very persuasive and your doorman let me come on up. Linwood: Well you can just leave because I am not going to invite you in. He moves to close the door and Buffy shoves it open and walks in. She grabs him by the throat and shoves him against a wall. Buffy: Why don’t you rethink the invitation? Linwood looks over at Angel leaning against the doorjamb. Linwood: Who are you? Buffy: Say “Come in Angel”. Linwood looks over and croaks out the invitation. Angel steps in the premises and closes the door. Angel: Honey, you can let go now. She drops the attorney on the ground. He sits on the floor leaning on the wall rubbing his neck. Linwood: Who the hell are you? Buffy: Oh I am sorry. I’m Buffy Summers. Linwood: The slayer? Buffy: That’s me. Linwood: I thought you were dead. Buffy: Boy are you behind the times. Angel: Also looks like Lilah is not in share mode. Linwood: What does Lilah have to do with this? Buffy: Just she has been a busy little girl. Angel: Has she ever and now you get to answer for her actions. Linwood: What has she done? Buffy: Where shall we start? Let’s see there was the spell to use me to rid Angel of his soul but dang that was over a month ago. Linwood: I assume she failed. Buffy: Big time. But she did help us get back together. Linwood: So you should be happy. Buffy: Should be, if she hadn’t iced it with helping some demon kidnap our son. Linwood: Son? You mean Darla’s son? Angel: Linwood. We need some answers and you are going to give them to us. Linwood: What? Buffy: Who’s Shajhain? Linwood: Shajhain? Never heard of him. Buffy: Wrong answer. She grabs him by the jacket and pulls him to his feet. She raises her fist. He holds up his hands. Linwood: I swear. I don’t know. Angel: But you will find out. Right? Linwood nods. Buffy lets him go and he walks to the phone on the desk. Angel: Use the speaker. Linwood nods and punches the buttons. Lilah: Hello. Linwood: Lilah, Linwood here. He glances at the two surrounding him. Lilah: What can I do for you? Linwood: I need to know everything you have on one demon called Shajhain. Silence. Linwood: Lilah? Lilah: I am not sure I am familiar with the name, sir. Buffy steps closer. Linwood: You better get familiar with it and fast. Lilah: Uh. Well I may have heard the name in uh passing. Linwood: Who is he? Lilah: A time shifter. A time traveler who has a big problem with Angel. That is all I know. Linwood: And you have been helping him? Lilah: Of course not. Linwood: But you were in contact with him? Lilah: No he came to me and he just assumed I was going to help him. Linwood: Well contact him now. Lilah: I can’t. I don’t know how. Linwood watches as Buffy and Angel slip out the door. Linwood: I want a full report on my desk first thing in the morning. And it better please the senior partners. Lilah: Of course sir. Not a problem. Linwood hangs up the phone and pours a drink.
Outside Angel holds Buffy in his arms. Angel: We will find him. We will. Buffy: We will. They turn back to the hotel.
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