Bonded

Chapter Six

 

Summer’s House

Buffy lays nestled against Angel’s bare chest sleeping. There is a light knocking at the door.

Willow: Buffy?

Buffy: Go away. Need sleep.

Willow cracks the door open.

Willow: Angel, Wes is on the phone. Something about a vision.

She holds out the phone. He takes it while moving to sit up against the headboard.

Angel: Thanks.

Willow leaves and closes the door. Buffy rolls over and punches her pillow before trying to fall asleep.

Angel: What’s up Wes?

 

 

LA

Diner

Gunn is sitting across from Fred in a diner, watching her eat.

Gunn: It's funny.

Fred: The way I chew?

Gunn: No. Until that kiss last night, I would have thought you and Wesley had a thing for each other.

Fred: Wesley?

Gunn: Yeah.

Fred: No, we're just good friends.

Gunn: You want another order of those?

Fred: Yes, please.

Fred puts a hand on Gunn's wrist as he looks around for a waitress.

Fred: Oh. No. No, I'm not hungry.

Gunn: You sure? I love watching you eat.

Fred: Wow. We should probably go. People might start to talk.

Gunn laughs: Why would they?

Fred: Well, you know, us.

Gunn: 'Us' has been doing breakfast for weeks now. Everyone knows that.

Fred: I know, but now that we've kissed, things are different. - I mean, they are, right?

Gunn, smiling at her: Oh yeah.

Fred: So - so you don't think they can tell?

Gunn looks around: From here?

Fred laughs: I'm sorry. I'm being ridiculous, I know. It's just - I don't have a lot of experience in this area. I spent the last five years in a cave.

Gunn: Yeah, I know what that's like.

Fred: How could you?

Gunn: Because now everything's so bright my eyes hurt.

As they get lost in each other's eyes, the waitress drops the tab on the table.

Waitress: Here you go.

Fred: Thank you.

Gunn: Thanks.

They both reach for it without losing eye contact, and their hands touch.

Fred looks down: How are we gonna work this?

Gunn: Like we always do. We split it.

Fred: But you hardly ordered anything. I'd be getting so much more value.

Gunn: I think I'm making out okay.

They lean across the table to kiss when their beepers go off. They both fumble for them and look at the number.

Both: Wesley.

 

 

Hyperion

Wes: We've identified the demon from Cordelia's vision as a Senih'd. (Hands Gunn an open book) We believe it will rise in the mid-city area sometime before nightfall.

Gunn looks at the illustration, then hands the book over to Fred, sitting beside him. Wes notices their smiles as their hands linger during the hand-off.

Wes: The Senih'd manifests in its physical form for one purpose only - to feed.

Fred hands the book to Cordy.

Cordy: Seen it.

Wes: Immediately upon rising it will go to ground to search for a victim. We've got to make sure it doesn't find one.

Gunn: What about Angel?

Wes: Called him already. He and Buffy will be here ………..Uh Now.

They look up to see Buffy holding the door as Angel rushes in under a blanket. He jerks it off.

Wes: You made good time.

Angel: Buffy only knows one speed. Fast.

Buffy: I got us here safe so be quiet.

Cordy: Where’s Conner?

Angel: I left him with Willow.

Cordy: Oh.

Wes: Well lets get to it.

Buffy: That’s why we’re here.

Cordy hands them the book.

Wes: Okay then Angel and Buffy will take the sewer tunnels. The rest of us will go by car to Sorensen Park. We'll enter the underground from the water treatment plant there, double back. Hopefully by the time we meet up again...

Angel looks over to where the others arm up in front of the weapons cabinet. Cordy tosses him an axe

Cordy: Buffy?

Buffy: Sword.

Cordy hands her one.

Angel: That's my favorite broadsword!

Buffy raises an eyebrow at him and he smiles.

Wes: It'll be fine, Angel.

Wes pats Angel on the shoulder and walks past him.

Angel: Lets go.

Angel and Buffy walk off together.

Angel and Buffy are walking along some dark sewer tunnels.

Buffy: You sense anything?

Angel: Not yet.

Buffy: Is something wrong?

Angel stops and turns to look back at Buffy

Buffy: You seem upset. Am I the cause?

Angel: No. No, I’m happy you're here.

They walk on.

Buffy: Then what?

They hear a low growling sound. Angel holds up a hand to stop Buffy, then takes a couple steps forward and crouches down. Angel touches some liquid spots on the ground, then rubs his fingers together, looking at them.

Buffy: Blood?

Angel: It's better than bread crumbs. Lets go.

Angel and Buffy enter what looks like the water treatment plant Wes was talking about. The Senih'd drops off of some pipes behind them. Angel and Buffy turn and attack the demon together. The Senih'd manages to disarm both of them fairly early into the fight, but neither Angel nor Buffy let that slow them down. Angel is taking a bit more of a beating than Buffy, but other than that they're doing about the same against the monster. Until it lets out a scream and breaks through the wall to escape into the sunny park outside. Angel scrambles back out of the sunlight streaming in through the opening. Buffy picks up her dropped sword. She walks over to Angel

Angel: Go get it.

Buffy: You know I can’t leave you.

Angel: Damn it Buffy go.

Angel just looks at Buffy, not moving. Screams sound from outside.

Angel: Go!

Buffy looks once more at him and darts out the opening and runs after the Senih'd.

He collapses on his knees. His face reflects the agony within as he watches. Buffy goes to rescue the young woman the Senih'd has grabbed. The demon tries to use the woman as a shield against Buffy's sword, but Buffy manages to knock them apart.

Cordy, Wes, Gunn, and Fred come running over a rise in the park, just in time to see Buffy catch the woman in one arm, while knocking the Senih'd down and stabbing it deep into the back of its neck. The demon dissolves into an oily black puddle that seeps away into the ground.

Angel watches the rescued woman cling to Buffy.

Wes: Well, done.

Angel watches as Buffy hands the woman to Wes.

Wes: I must say, excellent work.

The people in the park gather around them, applauding. Wes looks over to see Buffy running back to Angel.

Wes turns and looks towards the hole in the side of the building. He sees Angel crouching in the shadows of it. Buffy grabs and holds him to her.

 

Hyperion

As Buffy and Angel enter the hotel from the basement, he collapses once more.

Cordy: Is he okay?

Buffy: He will be, if I can get him to his bed for a couple hours.

Cordy: Is that all you can think about?

Buffy: I meant sleep, Cordy. He just needs a little rest.

Gunn helps her lift him and drag him up the stairs.

Lorne meets them at the top of the stairs. He opens the door and watches as they lay him down. Buffy curls up behind him and spoons her body around his aching form. Gunn nods at Lorne as he leaves the room.

Lorne: Can I get you anything?

Buffy: No, he’ll be fine. Thanks.

Lorne smiles and leaves.

 

 

Later

Gunn and Fred are sitting on the settee talking.

Ms. Frakes: You think you know someone. You think your place is secure and that there's a future there.

Wes is sitting across from Ms Frakes behind his desk. Cordy sits beside the client.

Ms. Frakes: And then something happens. No, strike that. Someone happens!

Cordy glances toward the upstairs.

Ms. Frakes: They insinuate themselves, pushing you out, taking your place.

Cordy turns her attention back to Ms Frakes.

Wes: And what makes you think this other woman is a witch, Ms - Frakes?

Ms. Frakes: Why else would Jerry cheat on me? We've been engaged for eight years! She had to have put some kind of a spell on him.

Wes: Well, if you give me the woman's name I'll have someone check her out. See if we can find out if she's a - witch.

Ms Frakes: HotBlonde37159 (She hands Cordy some papers) I got these off the e-mails that I took from Jerry's computer.

Cordy: It's, ah, gonna... uh, it's gonna be pretty difficult to find her based solely on this.

Wes glances up to see Buffy and Angel standing in the doorway.

Ms Frakes: Well, just follow Jerry! I'm sure he'll lead you right to her.

Cordy notices the couple.

Cordy: Ms Frakes here wants us to stake out her fiancé. I was trying to explain to her that...

Wes: I think we can spare someone to keep an eye on Ms Frakes' fiancé. Gunn! (Gunn gets up from the settee) If witchcraft is involved we should probably look into it.

Gunn: What's up?

Wes: Ah, Gunn, Ms Frakes here needs some surveillance work. I thought, if you were free...

Gunn: Yeah, not a problem.

Wes: Good. She'll give you the details. I'll leave it in your hands.

Wes takes the printed up e-mails form Cordy and hands them to Gunn.

Gunn: Sure thing.

Fred smiles at Wes as she comes into the office.

Fred: We won't let you down.

They walk off with Ms Frakes.

Cordy: You seem to be feeling better.

Angel: Yes. Just takes a lot out of me.

Wes: I guess it does.

Buffy: Well, I guess we need to get back home.

Wes: Actually, I was hoping you and I could talk before you took off.

Angel: Sure. What is it?

Wes: Well it's about Conner. I know his sudden arrival was something we all needed a moment to digest. Still, there are questions.

Angel: I know. We still have a lot of questions.

Wes: He shouldn't exist.

Angel: His birth was foretold. How many people can say that?

Wes: He has a role to play, that's true, but we still don't know what that role is. Angel, we can't be afraid to ask the questions, because your enemies, his enemies, certainly won't be.

Angel: You're right. We should be prepared.

Wes: I'm glad you agree. However, with the loss of the Nyazian Prophecies, we'll probably have to look elsewhere for our answers.

Angel: Well, we both know where those prophecies went. Maybe it's time to make another assault on Wolfram and Hart.

Wes: That might not be necessary. Not yet, anyway. There should be other sources. Ancient works accumulate scholarship, commentary over the years.

Angel: Huh. You think somebody else has already done the work for us.

Wes: That's my hope. I've been looking into it. I just... I felt you should know.

Angel: I wanna be involved, completely.

Wes: Well I actually tracked down a copy of “Grammaticus Third Century Greek Commentaries”. But I not feel too comfortable dealing with the witch who is selling it.

Angel: Just give me the address and I will go get it.

Wes: You sure. It is well a…….

Buffy: Just tell us where to go.

Wes: Alright.

 

Later

A car pulls up at the curb. A man gets out and walks over to stand beneath a tree.

Gunn's truck pulls up.

Gunn: Looks like this is it. Better get the camera.

Fred sets up the video camera.

Fred: Do you really think he's possessed or under some kind of spell?

Gunn: Well, it's hard to say. There's all different kinds of magic. You've got demony love spells, mojo sex chants, voodoo bootie rituals...

Fred: Voodoo bootie rituals?

Gunn gives her serious nod, then they both start laughing.

Fred: You made that up.

Gunn: Then there is the all-powerful, big, brown, soulful eyes kind of magic.

Fred: Kind of familiar with that one myself.

They start to kiss, but Fred pulls away.

Fred: Hmm. We should...

Gunn: Right. Because we're all about the work.

Fred turns to watch Jerry, standing under the tree, holding a single red rose, waiting.

Fred: Maybe it's not so much magical but chemical when two people are attracted. Maybe it's like the DNA knows what it needs and when it finds it, nothing can get in its way. It just takes it.

Gunn: It does?

Fred nods at him with a smile. Gunn leans forward and they kiss.

Fred: Charles...

Gunn: Yeah?

Fred: We're not supposed to be the ones having the rendezvous.

Gunn: We're not?

Fred: No. He is.

Gunn: But he's cheating on someone. You and me, we got a right.

Gunn pulls her close, but Fred, while smiling doesn't give in.

Fred: I know. But we're supposed to be working.

Gunn lets out a sigh, and sits back.

Gunn: You're right.

He looks towards the tree. There is no Jerry in sight.

Gunn: Damn!

Fred and Gunn get out and begin walking around tree where they last saw Jerry.

Fred: There is nothing.

Gunn: More like a whole lot of nothing. How are we gonna explain this? 'Sorry, Wes. We lost the dude because we were macking on the job.

Fred: We didn't lose him so much as... Okay. We lost him. But his car's still here. So he's got to be close, right?

Gunn bends down and picks up the single red rose Jerry was holding earlier.

Fred: I'm sure there is an explanation.

Gunn: The camera.

Fred: Yeah, the camera. Maybe he saw the camera.

Gunn: No, I mean, whatever happened, we got it on tape.

Fred: Right.

Fred looks down at the camera she is carrying. Fred flips the side screen of the camera open and rewinds the tape to where Jerry was still standing under the tree.

Fred: There he is.

Gunn: Push play.

They watch as roots come up out of the ground, wrap around Jerry and pull him straight down into the ground.

Fred: Well, that can't be good.

Roots shoot up out of the ground, wrap around Gunn and Fred and they vanish into the ground as well.

 

 

 

A brightly lit mansion.

A dorky looking guy walks down a hallway on the arm of a lady with an oversized smile and three boobs. Another lady comes around a corner of the hallway, followed by Angel and Buffy.

Anita: You sure I can’t interest you two in trying one of our rooms

Angel: We just need the book.

Anita: But you are together.

Buffy: Yes. But we don’t need any help in that department

Angel: Understatement.

Buffy and Angel stop and look through an open door into a reddish room, watching a couple having a pillow fight.

Anita: The room is enchanted. Everything that happens in there, every touch, every emotion, every desire is extended for maximum pleasure. I can check the schedule if you want.

Anita walks off and Buffy follows her down the corridor, after a moment Angel turns away from the room to follow.

Anita: Just right in here.

Anita leads Buffy into a big bedroom. A man wearing dress pants and shirt is manacled to one of the walls.

Man: Oh, hello.

Buffy: That’s interesting.

Angel comes in.

Buffy: What do you think?.

Angel: I think he's happy there.

Buffy: As a slave?

Man: Don't judge me.

Buffy: Wouldn’t think of it.

Angel: If you'll just give us the book, we'll be...

Anita: You brought cash?

Angel pulls out the money Wes gave him and hands it to Anita.

Anita takes it then lifts one hand up into the air. We hear a little tinkling sound and her hand is enveloped in a deep blue light. As she brings her hand back down she is holding a large warn tome

.

Anita: I think this is what you seek.

Buffy takes the book and Anita looks at Angel.

Anita: You sure you two don’t want to try the room?

Angel just stands there looking at Anita, ignoring the ringing of his cell phone.

Buffy: Angel, your phone is ringing.

Angel pulls out the phone and flips it open.

Angel: Hello. What? Gunn? ……….I can barely hear you.

Gunn and Fred are wrapped in a net of roots in what looks like a cave.

Gunn: Yeah, reception's not so great, is it?

Angel: Where are you?

Gunn: Under Plummer park.

Angel: Under it?

Gunn: Pretty much. We were tailing that woman's fiancé...

Fred: Jerry.

Gunn: ...and we kind of lost him.

Fred: But then we found him - sort of.

Gunn: Him and his date. Some root-crazy, tree-like demony thing.

Fred: With what looks like a DSL connection. We're pretty sure he chats up lonely hearts online, and then sucks them down here for food. Or maybe it gets its power that way.

Gunn: Monster's got a big, old, leathery joint jammed up into guy. I think it's sucking the life out of him.

Angel: What? Have you called Wesley yet?

Gunn: We were kind of hoping we wouldn't have to.

Angel: I don't understand.

Fred: We just didn't want to bother him with this.

Angel: Bother him?

Gunn: Look. Nothing against Wes, but I'm not sure he can help us out at the moment. What we really need...

Angel listens to his phone.

Angel: Oh. Ah-huh. We’re on our way.

Buffy is leading the way through the sewers.

Angel: Hang on. there. Here. Did you feel it?

Buffy strides forward.

Buffy: Something Evil?

Angel grabs a hold of Buffy again

Angel: Whoa, easy. Slow down! We have to be very careful here.

Buffy: Tell me something I don’t know.

Angel: So we need a plan.

Buffy: I got a plan. I distract tree guy and you get Gunn and Fred out of here.

Angel: But…

Buffy: We don’t need you battling a tree monster.

Angel: One second Rambo. Let’s find out everything

Angel makes his way into the cave between some of the hanging roots.

Fred: It's Angel!

Gunn: Over here!

Angel: This thing is not actually made out of wood, is it?

Fred: No, it's flesh.

Angel: Good.

Angel: Flesh I can deal with. Flesh I can kill.

Buffy and Angel both dive forward and begin hacking at the roots. Angel swings the sword again.

Fred: But I don't think hacking it is going to do any good. It doesn't seem to have any vital organs. It uses people as batteries. It draws its power from its victims.

The face in the trunk roars back. A root shoots out and attempts to bury itself in the middle of Buffy's chest. Angel shoves her hard to the side. She hits the ground .

Buffy: Hey!

The root buries into his chest. Angel drops his sword as he is pulled up beside the now released Jerry, who is lying motionless on the ground.

Angel: Okay. Oh, jeez. Well, it's okay. You know, no one is using my heart at the moment anyway.

Buffy stands up

Angel: Get the others.

Angel looks from the root-demons snarling face to Buffy. She begins hacking at the roots around Fred and Gunn. The demon roars.

Demon: Kill you.

Angel: Sorry. Already dead.

Demon: Vampire!

Angel: Yeah. Did I mention that?

Demon moans: Cold. Cold.

Angel: Oh, yeah. It's kinda cold in there. But, hey, don't let that stop you.

The tree demon moans. The root bindings around Gunn and Fred shrivel and drop away. Gunn jumps up, grabs Angel's dropped sword.

Demon: So cold.

Gunn: So dead!

Gunn buries the sword in the root-demon's face. A yellowish green liquid pours out. Buffy runs to check on Angel.

Angel: You okay?

Buffy: I’m not the one with a tree root shoved in my heart. Can I thank you for that?

Angel: Anytime I can help with a shove to your butt, let me know.

She helps him to his feet.

Angel: More bandaging?

Buffy: (smirks) You know it’s my pleasure.

Fred: Huh?

Gunn: I don’t think we want to know

 

Hyperion

Wes it talking on the phone in his office. Gunn and Fred are sitting in chairs in front of his desk.

Wes: Yes, Ms Frakes. We are, too. - You're welcome. - Good bye.

Hangs up phone

Wes: Ms Frakes is very happy. You saved her fiancé's life.

Fred: So he's gonna be okay?

Wes: Yes.

Gunn: That's good.

Wes: Yes.

Wes: Well, good work. You should probably get cleaned up, then.

Fred getting up: Yeah. Good idea.

Wes: Ah, Charles, a word?

Gunn and Fred look at each other for a moment.

Fred: Well, good night.

Gunn: Good night. (Smiles as he watches Fred leave) What is it?

Gunn turns back to face Wes.

Wes: When you knew this was more than just a tryst you should have told me.

Gunn: It happened so fast. The thing just grabbed the guy and he was gone.

Wes: That's... - That's not what I meant.

Gunn: Oh. - You mean... Well... I'm not so sure that's any of your business.

Wes: No. You're probably right. Still... She could get hurt. I trust that won't happen?

Gunn: What are you, her brother?

Wes: Apparently.

Gunn after a beat: Wesley, I...

Wes: She chose. It's just important to me that she's taken care of.

Gunn: She will be.

Wes: Good.

Wes picks up his pen and goes back to working on translating the open book in front of him. Gunn watches him for a moment then turns to go. Halfway to the door he turns back and opens his mouth, but closes it again without speaking and leaves. Wes hears a ripping sound, then hears buttons rain to the floor. He looks up.

Buffy: Sorry

Cordy watches as Buffy dabs at Angel's bared chest

Angel: It's, ah - it's okay. It, ah, was already ruined.

Buffy: Well, if it's any consolation, I planned to rip it off you later anyway.

Cordy: It doesn’t look so bad. You‘ve had a lot worse. Buffy, you might want to tape it so it doesn’t hinder his muscle movement.

Buffy: Cordelia, I think I can handle this without your help.

Angel: Buffy.

Buffy looks up at Angel, who silently pleads her to back down.

Cordy: Hmph, I was just trying to help. Since I have been doing this for him for over two years.

Buffy flinches at the words but continues to bandage his wound.

Angel: I think we better head home. We have been gone since this morning.

Buffy: I’ll drive.

Angel: Uh. I can drive, I’m not that hurt.

Buffy: Chicken.

Buffy helps him to his feet and they walk up the steps and toward the door.

Cordy: Bye.

Angel waves his hand goodbye as they move through the doors

Cordy looks at them for a moment then plops onto the settee.

Lorne comes down the stairs.

Lorne: Where did Angel go?

Wes: They headed back home.

Lorne: I am happy for him. He has it all now. A child and a wife.

Cordy and Wes look at him as if he has lost it.

Cordy: They ain’t married.

Lorne: I think they might disagree.

Lorne smiles and walks away. Cordy looks over at Wesley. He smiles and turns back to the book. He writes on the pad of paper.

Cordy: Working late?

Wes: Yes.

Cordy: Well I am heading to my apartment.

Wes: Uh huh.

She walks out the door as Wesley stares at the paper. He has written The father will kill the son.