A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 13

 

Fade in:

Wesley’s office

Wesley:

You have no idea how utterly foolish you have been. (searching through volumes on shelf) You have allowed yourself to become the very thing you set out to destroy. Your sister was killed by a soulless, mindless entity of evil and destruction. You wanted to avenge her and rid the world of such darkness, yet you saw no risk involved in joining up with what you knew to be one brought by a demon. (finds book and turns) Now how does that make you justified?

He looks upon Justine huddled in a corner. One eye is puffy and black, her nose and lip are bleeding and she’s shaking.

Wesley:

Aaahh, don’t look so scared. It really has no effect on me. Perhaps if you hadn’t sliced me from ear to ear and left me for dead without a second glance, I could muster up some sympathy. (opens book and looks down to read) Then again, probably not.

Justine:

(words slurred by fat lip)

What are you doing?

Wesley:

Hhmm. (looks up and then back down) Oh! You mean the book? Yes, I can see why you might wonder. Interesting really. I was trained as a watcher you see. (Begins pacing in front of her) You wouldn’t believe the tremendous amount of information one must learn to qualify. These books, all these books for the most part, are tools that we use to identify an enemy and decipher its weak point. So really, I’m ahead of the game. (Stops to bend in front of her and run a finger menacingly down her cheek) I already know who my enemy is. (Justine jerks away) and I think I know your weakness. And this book is my answer to how to take advantage of it.

Justine:

Wh…what are you saying?

Wesley:

Ooh a stutter! Nice touch. But I have to remind you again, wasted on me. If anything it gets me really excited! So we’ve reached the perverbial impasse Justine. You can either tell me everything you know about Holtz, Angel and Connor or you can be my pet project. There are spells and incantations and potions in this book that will make you pray that your precious Holtz had taken you with him to the hell that I’m sure he’s currently in.

Justine:

You’re bluffing.

Wesley:

(smiles)

I was so hoping you’d say that.

 

Cut to Lobby

Justine’s holler is heard by the others.

Fred:

I’m going in there.

Xander:

I’m thinking that wouldn’t be listed under Smart things to do.

Fred:

You don’t understand! What she did to him…he’s so angry.

Anya:

Don’t worry, he’s not that angry.

Fred:

And how would you know?

Anya:

It’s my job. Vengance demon? It’s what I do. But vengeance isn’t what he’s after.

Fred:

Then what is it?

Spike:

Same as me. The truth. He wants answers.

Xander:

Wesley’s gone into torture mode because you have a soul?

Spike:

(rolling eyes)

How do you live?

Xander:

Hey!

Dawn:

Both of you stop it!

Anya:

Wesley is looking for different answers to different questions.

Another cry is heard.

Lilah:

Not gonna get anything if she’s dead.

Xander:

Nobody said you could speak. (looks at others) Did anyone say she could talk? Besides, looks like after all your bragging about being "in the know", your ace in the hole is a big fat no show.

Lilah:

I’m not worried.

Fred:

Are you ever?

Dawn:

Shouldn’t we have heard from Buffy by now?

Fred:

(looking at clock)

Gunn always checks in. Maybe we should…

Anya:

I can try and find her!

Xander:

I thought you could only do that with the vengeful types.

Anya:

Hello? Connor was with her. The boy was boiling over with it. I’m not saying it will work, but what have we got to lose?

Xander:

I’ve got nothing left.

He and Anya exchange a private look.

Spike cries out suddenly and drops to his knees again in pain.

Fred:

He’s doing it again.

Dawn:

Yeah, we got that.

Spike begins having flashes-fighting alongside Buffy, kissing Buffy, hitting Buffy- the images go so fast he doesn’t have time to register them. After several seconds the pain subsides. He pulls himself back to his feet.

Spike:

It doesn’t make any bloody sense. I keep seeing her. Why does it hurt so?

Man:

Because your mind no longer belongs with your soul.

Everyone jumps except Lilah. She smiles and steps forward.

Lilah:

Wachignie! You’re lucky I’m such a patient woman.

Wachignie:

Humor noted.

Lilah:

(smiles)

Let me introduce you. (waves towards the others) These are the people I work every day to annihilate. People…this is Wachignie.

Xadner:

Gazuntite.

Fred slaps him on the arm.

Fred:

Hello. And what are you?

Lilah:

You don’t need to know everything. This is just one of the many informants my firm keeps on retainer.

Anya:

Informants?

Lilah:

Yes, it helps to keep people on the inside to keep us up to speed on the senior partners.

Spike:

What did he mean? (looka at the man) What did you mean about my mind and soul?

Man:

You fought to be like you were. You were given a soul.

Xander:

We’re past that page friend.

Man:

(reaches to touch Spike’s head) It is broken.

Xander chuckles and Dawn stomps down on his foot.

Xander:

Ouch!

Man:

Your head was invaded. Something to make you unable to perform. No more killing. But the desire was still there.

Spike:

(bored)

And?

Man:

Now you have a soul. But the impediment still tears at your mind.

Xander:

Gee, can we maybe stop with the obvious! I mean, it’s no fun when we see it so clearly.

His sarcasm isn’t missed by the man who waves a hand as if swatting a fly.

Man:

(to Xander)

You will see nothing clearly until you open your eyes.

Xander is stunned and doesn’t reply. The man continues with Spike.

Man:

Without a soul, your desires were clear. Vampires kill and drink. With the impediment, the desires could not be fulfilled. They were replaced with human desires.

Someone clears their throat nervously.

Man:

With a soul, desires remain clear. But you are no longer just a vampire. Those desires that you created in the interim, they now overwhelm you. Still, with the impediment, the desires can not be fulfilled. And the punishment remains.

Dawn:

Punishment?

Spike:

My pseudo-migraines.

Xander:

But he’s not trying to hurt anyone. Why does he keep wiggin for no apparent?

Lilah:

I really don’t get it. It’s obvious you’re not the brawn and I’m getting that your’e not the brains, so what exact purpose do your serve in your little slayer posse?

Anya:

As much as I derive pleasure form hearing Xander berated. I’m gonna have to step in. You haven’t earned the right.

Xander:

Okay, does that constitute a thank you from me?

Anya:

Shut up.

Lilah:

Fair enough. Don’t go vengeance on me. So enough about his little headaches. Do you know anything about the prophecies? Have we been watching the wrong vampire this whole time?

Wachignie:

That I cannot say.

Lilah:

Not the right answer.

Spike:

How do I make them stop?

Man:

You did it once before.

Spike:

Yeah, that was because I…

Dawn:

What? What is it?

Spike:

I gave up fighting them. I accepted my limits.

Dawn:

So? You can do that again.

Man:

You forget, the desires have changed. This might not be an easy path.

Spike:

It’s impossible is what it is.

Man:

You of all know that nothing is impossible. You are changed. You earned it. Your soul is a reward, not a curse. The rules are very different.

Spike:

And how do I learn these rules? And what about the sun? What else is different?

Man:

You will only get your answers as you travel the path.

Lilah:

What about my answers? What can you tell me?

Man:

The game has a new player. Tactics must change. New battles waged. Your side is back to the beginning. No answers until you ask the right questions.

Lilah opens her mouth to speak but the man is gone.

Lilah:

I hate it when he does that!

 

Cut to plant

Angel can be heard drinking

Camera pans down to reveal him guzzling the contents of the container. Buffy watches from the same place he left her in his haste to get the blood. He drinks it all and begins licking the container like an animal.

Buffy:

Angel? (inches closer) Angel, it’s me.

He doesn’t respond and she waits for a moment. He finally throws the container away from him and looks at her.

Buffy:

You’re gonna be okay. I’ll get you home. (He snarls) No one is going to hurt you. You’re safe.

Angel:

Why you?

Buffy:

(frowns)

I knew you were in trouble. I felt it.

She reaches up to touch his bumpy features. He jerks away and scoots away.

Buffy:

Angel No! You have to stay with me. I’ll take you home.

Angel:

Home?

Buffy:

The hotel. Everyone’s there. Food is there. All you can drink. It will help you get better.

Angel:

You don’t belong here.

Buffy tried to hide the hurt.

Buffy:

I’ll go when I know youre safe. You have to rest. What you’ve been through…(glances at box) I’m so sorry Angel.

Angel has a flash of being underwater and growls.

Buffy:

Sshh. It’s over. You’re out. I’ll never let them hurt you again.

Angel looks at her and slowly morphs back to human face.

Buffy:

(smiling)

That’s it. That’s better.

Angel:

Where is she?

Buffy:

Who?

Angel:

She was supposed to be there. Then Connor…(He stops and looks at Buffy wide-eyed)

Buffy:

Yeah Connor. We’ve met.

Angel seems at a loss for words.

Angel:

The Mohra. They brought me here. End of Days. (clutches stomach) So hungry.

Buffy:

Okay, enough talk. You have to eat. Don’t worry about them. They’re gone.

Angel:

They’re never gone. They keep coming and coming. You can’t be here again.

Buffy:

Again? What are you talking about?

Angel:

(harsh)

Go home!

He pushes her suddenly and she falls back on her butt.

Buffy:

Angel stop it! You’re not thinking clearly.

Angel:

I know what I’m thinking. I want you gone! I don’t need you.

Buffy:

(standing determinedly)

You don’t get to make my decisions for me anymore. I’m not leaving you. You will come with me to the hotel and tell the others. Then we’ll work on finding Cordelia.

Angel;s head snaps up.

Angel:

Cordelia? Where is she?

Buffy:

I’m not sure. They said she hasn’t been around since you disappeared.

Angel doesn’t wait to hear anything else. He rushes past Buffy so quickly she doesn’t have time to react.

Buffy:

Angel!

No answer and she takes off after him.

 

Cut to empty place

Willow:

What else can They do to me?

V.O.:

It is no longer about you.

Cordy:

It’s about me then? Cause I’m thinking, duty accomplished-first class ticket home. What do you say?

V.O.:

You were already told…

Cordy:

(interrupting)

I know I know! But how about this? Commute? Ever heard of it. I work in my world with my An…my friends and come here after. Do the higher being thing in the off time?

Giles:

Pardon me Cordelia, but I don’t think your new destiny is a bartering tool.

Cordy:

How do you know? Have you known a lot of higher beings?

Willow:

What do They want from me?

V.O.:

You will tell those left behind why she was taken so quickly. Her path was altered because of your abuse. Those in her world will suffer without the truth.

Cordy:

My world?

V.O.:

Yes, You would still have been there if not for the immediate need for what They had to do.

Willow:

Wait. You’re saying that not only did I kill someone, destroy several lives and try to kill my friends in Sunnydale, but now I also am responsible for destroying Cordelia’s life as well as the lives of everyone she left in LA? And They want me to be the one to go there and say she’s never coming back? That they’ll never see her again because of me?

V.O.:

For the present, yes. She will remain here.

Cordy:

That’s not fair! I’ve done everything They’ve asked! Why are They punishing me?

V.O.:

Until you accept what’s been bestowed upon you as a gift, a gift that you asked for, you will be of no use to either world. What you have is a reward, not a curse. Such is the way. You must walk the path willingly or remain here in the place of none.

Giles:

And I?

V.O.:

You will go.

Giles:

My work?

V.O.:

You guarded your charge admirably. However, you are needed as well. You will travel with the atoned one to deliver the message.

Cordy:

Everyone goes but me.

Willow:

I’m so sorry Cordelia.

Cordelia:

(shakes her head)

It’s not you. Tell them that. Tell them it was my decision.

Willow:

They’re going to hate me. Everyone is going to hate me.

Giles:

I’ll be with you Willow. I’ll exlain.

Cordy:

Willow, can you do something for me? No questions asked.

Willow:

Anything.

Cordy:

Give Angel a message for me. After you tell them what’s happened, tell Angel.

Willow:

Tell Angel what.

Cordy:

(softly)

Tell him I tried to make it. Tell him I was on my way.

Willow:

I don’t understand.

Cordy:

He will. Just tell him to always remember that. And I’ll make it someday. Somehow I’ll get back to…home.

Willow nods and looks at her strangely just as she glows brightly. Her and Giles close their eyes and when they open them again, they’re in the street. A horn blares and they jump on the sidewalk.

Willow:

Geez-us! What the, where are we?

Giles:

(bends to pick up a paper)

It would appear to be Los Angeles.

Camera fades out on copy of LA Times in Giles hands.

 

Cut to Office

Wesley:

There you go! And I didn’t even have to use it. Now was that so hard?

Justine is shaking and Wesley holds the book in his hands. He raises it to the side and swings it like a baseball bat. Knicking Justine in the head and immediately unconscious.

Wesley:

(drops book to the floor beside Justine)

My mistake. That was pretty hard after all.

He steps outside and closes the door behind him.

Xander:

Wesley! Finally! You’ve missed all the excitement. (notices Wesley’s disheveled appearance) Or maybe we did.

Fred:

Where’s Justine?

Wesley:

Resting. So what did I miss?

Anya:

A Wachignie guy came to tell Spike his chip is still the source of all his problems, even with a soul.

Fred:

And we haven’t heard from Buffy or Gunn.

Wesley:

I wouldn’t be so sure of that.

He nods and everyone sees Gunn and Connor standing on the landing.

Wesley:

Hello Connor. Remember me?

The group faces off.

 

Cut to street

Buffy is running in the direction of the hotel when her steps slow. She doesn’t need to see the broken glass to know why she stopped.

Buffy:

(sadly)

Oh Angel.

She steps through the shattered door and past the sign. Camera stays as she disappears into the building. Then pans slowly to reveal the sign on the window.

Red Cross-Together we can save a life

Los Angeles Blood Bank