A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter Eleven

 

Wesley:
Did I hear you say…?

Xander:
Yep. Looks like Angel lost the monopoly on the vamp
with a soul lifestyle.

Fred:
He’s a vampire?

Dawn:
You didn’t know Angel was a vampire?

Fred:
No! Him! (points at Spike) He’s a vampire?

Spike suddenly grabs his head again howling in pain.
Fred jumps back as Wesley watches in fascination.

Wesley:
What is this?

Xander:
We were kind of hoping you could answer that one.

Anya helps Spike to the round seat.

Dawn:
Spike?

Spike:
(moaning)
No. no. no.

Fred:
He’s hurt.

Anya:
Not technically. He’s not wounded if that’s what you
mean. He just does this sometimes.

Wesley:
Does what?

Xander:
Oh God, we really don’t have the kind of time it would
take to…

Dawn:
(looking around)
Where’s Buffy?

Spike stops at the sound of her name.

Spike:
(softly) Buffy.

Wesley look sat him strangely but answers.

Wesley:
She went to find Angel.

Xander:
So there is something wrong. And you didn’t go with
for backup?

Fred:
Gunn and Connor went with her.

Dawn:
Who are they?

Lilah:
(off camera)
I haven’t seen so many clueless people in all my life!

Xander:
(without looking at her)
Something tells me you weren’t exactly Dick Tracy-like
when you were getting yourself handcuffed to your
girlfriend over there.

Justine:
She’s not my girlfriend!

Xander:
(ignoring her)
So who are Gunn and Connor?

Fred:
Gunn works here and Connor…

Wesley:
(interrupting)
Its not important. Buffy can handle herself. More
importantly is ascertaining exactly how you came to
believe that Spike has regained a soul.

Fred:
Did you kill a gypsy too?

Spike:
Are you bent?

Wesley:
Don’t speak to her like that.

Dawn:
Anya told us.

Wesley:
Anya told you Spike had a soul? And how did she know
that?

Anya:
(transforming to demon form)
I’ll give you one guess.


Cut to empty place

Tara:
How did she do that?

Giles:
I guess that’s what she does now.

Tara:
So is she going to help her?

Giles:
I believe she’s going to try Tara.

The energy surrounding the Willows intensifies.
Cordelia feels the heat coming off of them but
continues to walk closer.

Cordy:
Willow?

Neither answers. Cordy reaches a hand out as she nears
the energy.

Cordy:
Willow?

Just as her fingertips touch the perimeter, the energy
dissipates and all three are thrown in separate
directions with great force. They struggle to
recover.

Willow:
Cordelia?

Cordy:
It’s me.

Evil Willow:
You don’t belong here.

Cordelia:
(holds thumb and pinkie up to her ear and mouth to
mimic a phone)
Hello Pot? It’s me Kettle.

Evil Willow:
(frowns and raises a hand)
Gone.

Cordy sees the fire coming from her and closes her
eyes. The glow is immediate and the fire is consumed
by it. Evil Willow seems surprised.

Willow:
How did you do that?

Cordy:
Long story…but I’m here to help.

Willow:
No. (shakes head) I have to do this alone. They want
me to be alone.

Cordy walks to Willow calmly.

Cordy:
You never were.

Evil Willow:
That’s right. I’ve been here all along. But there’s
only room for one of us now.

Cordelia:
(still looking at Willow)
You’re right.

Willow:
I know what I have to do Cordy. It’s okay.
Cordy:
(smiles) You got that last part right. You trust me?

Willow:
Huh?

Without a word Cordy disappears. The Willows look at
one another in confusion until Willow gasps for breath
and doubles over, crying out. When she raises back up
she is pale.

Evil Willow:
Aahh. You feeling abandoned?

Willow:
Not quite.

She smiles strangely as she begins to glow.


Cut to Plant

Angel:
Buffy!

Buffy turns over so her back is against the box. She
sees the demon over her and blocks the next punch
sweeping its legs out with her foot at the same time.
Angel is thrashing wildly and actually assists in
lifting her from the box. She springs to her feet and
sees another demon attacking Gunn and Connor with one
more heading their way. Gunn is caught off guard and
Connor attacks from behind in an attempt to divert its
attention.

Mohra:
You shouldn’t have come.

Buffy:
(turns to face him)
You know, I am so tired of hearing that everywhere I
go.

Mohra:
We brought him from the black waters. He is indebted.

Buffy:
Do you always leave your indebted laying around in
boxes?

Mohra:
You hold no power against what’s to come.

Buffy:
I’ll show you power.

She lunges and kicks the demon in the midsection. He
drops to one knee as she raises an arm. He blocks her
downward strike with one hand and captures her other
arm with his free hand. Buffy is pinned unable to move
as she looks down at him.

Mohra:
Our purpose is far greater than your human ties.

Buffy hesitates at his words for only a split second.
She rears back and brings her head down on the jewel
with vicious precision. He screams out and releases his
grip. She steps back to watch the light show before
he is gone.

Gunn:
Little help…here!

She spins top see him straddled by a Mohra. Connor is
embarking on his own battle with the last of them.

Buffy:
Heads up!

Gunn and the one on him look up just in time to see
her fly across the room with leg extended. The Mohra
sees the kick coming and avoids it by leaning to the
side. Buffy misses and lands on the other side of
them. Her hand comes out before her feet are even
planted and the heel of it makes contact. Another
flash of light and it is gone. She extends a hand to
help Gunn to his feet. They turn to see Connor still
holding hid own. But he’s tiring.

Buffy looks down and sees the battle axe that Gunn had
brought. She stomps down on the head and the handle
pops up into her waiting hand.

Buffy:
Connor! Forehead!

She heaves the axe just as Connor flips forward into a
somersault to avoid a blow. He rolls upright and
catches the axe with one hand. He gets to his feet
just as the Mohra issues a battle cry and launches
himself forward. Connor waits for the right moment
and crouches low. Just before impact he springs up
and flips frontward over the head of the beast. One
roll and he knocks it off its feet . It falls
backwards flat on its back. Connor brings the axe
down directly onto the jewel before the Mohra can
react. The blade is impaled as Connor steps back to
shield his eyes from the light. It grows silent until
the box’s movement is heard. All three turn to look.

Buffy:
Angel.

Gunn:
Let’s go.

He rushed with Buffy back to the box. Connor stays
behind completely unsure of what to do or think.


Cut to hotel

Wesley:
You…you’re a …

Anya:
Vengeance demon. Yeah I got my powers back. Which
means I can also sense certain things. Other demons
namely. Or when one isn’t as much as they used to be.
Like Spike here.

Spike:
(standing to distance himself)
I have asked you not to call me that. My bloody name
is William!

Xander:
I think you mean William the bloody.

Spike:
No, I mean William. I know it’s hard to get through
your block head, but Spike doesn’t exist.

Wesley:
So if you’re not Spike anymore, then are you saying
you’re…?

Spike:
I don’t have all the answers mate. I went to do one
thing and I got quite another. Now I just need to
find Buffy. To show here…what I am.

Xander:
Why would she care? At least before you had your own
thing, pathetic though it was. Now you’re just an
Angel wannabe. And last I checked, she came here for
the real thing.

Lilah:
Wait. If he’s got a soul, then all we know…the
prophecies, the ancient scrolls, everything could have
been about this one?

Fred:
No, that’s not possible. We don’t even know what Sp…I
mean William is. He may not even be a vampire anymore.

Wesley:
That’s easy enough to decipher. (walks to desk)

Dawn:
No!

Xander:
I already thought of that buddy.

Wesley:
(pulls out cross)
What?

Xander:
Oh, Well I figured stake, but sure, give the cross a
shot.

Anya:
That won’t prove anything.

Fred:
Why not?

Anya:
He’s been in direct sunlight. So if he’s a vampire,
he’s sure not one I’ve never come across.

Wesley:
He’s impervious to sunlight? So then he must be
human.

Anya:
Wrong again. I know humans. Especially male humans.
(gives Xander a look) I tortured them for 1100 years.
And Spike isn’t one.

Fred:
But if he’s not human, and he’s not a vampire, what
else is there?

Lilah:
I can help you with that.

Wesley:
I think not.

Lilah:
Fine. Whatever. Waste your time. But I can have
someone here within the hour that can give all the
answers you need.

Dawn:
Then do it.

Lilah:
Can’t do anything like this.

She smiles and shakes her handcuffed arm, as Dawn
looks to the others for help.


Cut to empty place

Evil Willow:
Is this supposed to scare me?

Willow:
No of course not. This is supposed to kill you.

Evil Willow falters and then smiles.

Evil Willow:
Do you think a pathetic spell of light will kill me?

She takes a deep breath and raises her hands to
encircle Willow’s throat. Another wave of energy
begins but this time something’s different. Evil Willow
frowns and then looks frightened as she tries to pull
away.

Evil Willow:
What are you doing? Stop it! (struggles more as Willow
holds her close) Stop it!