A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 21

 

Fade in on Atrium

Xander and Anya sit on opposite sides of the patio.

Anya:

How long are we supposed to sit out here?

Xander:

I guess until your newly regained demon sense proves

useful.

Anya:

I don’t think I like your tone.

Xander:

Oh please forgive me. Don’t curse the world or

anything.

Anya:

See! You’re mocking me!

Xander:

Not mocking, just dealing. We Were together for years

Anya. Don’t you know by now that I deal with the crap

through my warped humor?

Anya:

So its crap? We were crap?

Xander:

I didn’t say that! You going back to the vengeance

gig? That’s crap.

Anya:

It never would have happened if…

Xander:

(cutting her off and standing)

I know! It’s all my fault. Why couldn’t you just be

like a normal girl and cry and hate me and…

Anya:

(returning the interruption)

And get back at you? What do you think I did?

Xander:

You don’t get it Anya. A normal girl wishes her ex all

kinds of pain but she can’t make good on it! It’s a

stage of grief that we’ve all experienced. But you

didn’t just feel it, you went and got your powers

back. You gave up your humanity!

Anya:

Well I’m sorry if I’m not strong enough Xander Harris!

I wasn’t a witch or a slayer. I was a girl on her

wedding day and you broke my heart! You walked away! I

lived for you and you rejected me in the most

humiliating, debilitating way imaginable!

Xander:

(softens)

I’m sorry An. I don’t know how many times I can say

it. It was because I loved you so much that…

Anya:

Shut up.

Xander:

How do you expect to…

Anya:

(puts hand over his mouth)

No, sshh! I think I feel something.

Xander’s eyes dart around the atrium as Anya holds his

mouth.

Cut to Hallway

Willow:

Now Angel…

Dawn:

Did he see something?

Angel:

What did you just say?

Willow:

Nothing.

Angel:

What did Spike force Buffy to do?

Dawn:

Why do you ask if you already know the answer?

Angel growls deep in his throat and Dawn takes a step

back. Connor steps closer behind Angel with a look of

concern.

Willow:

Um Angel…you’re taking it out of…of context. Dawn was

just…

Angel:

I’ve been more than patient. But Willow if you don’t

tell me everything you know, I swear I’ll…

Willow:

I don’t know! I wasn’t there and then I was evil, I

can’t tell you anything!

Angel:

Dawn?

Connor:

Why is this so important? I thought we were guarding

against the Mohra.

Angel:

You don’t know Spike Connor. If he wants someone dead

or hurt, nothing gets in his way.

Dawn:

Spike would never hurt Buffy!

Angel:

But you said he forced. You said forced.

Dawn:

It was just a private comment between Willow and I. If

you would put your vamp ears to good use instead of

eavesdropping, we wouldn’t be wasting time right now.

Willow:

Dawn don’t!

Connor:

We have work to do. Buffy has the others with her.

She’s safe. She’s the Slayer.

Angel:

And Spike’s always had a yen for those. He’s killed

two before. Now I sent Buffy with Spike and he if he

turns on her…

Willow:

Xander!

Angel:

What?

Willow:

Xander knows exactly what happened. You should talk to

him.

Dawn:

I don’t think that’s a good idea. Xander’s biased.

He’s convinced Spike tried to…

She doesn’t get to finish her thought when Angel

rushes past her running down the hallway. Connor,

Willow and Dawn all look at one another.

Cut to Office

Giles:

This is fascinating. Why have you not informed us of

this before now?

Wesley:

I didn’t see the need.

Giles:

Didn’t see the…Angel could one day become human and

you didn’t see a need to call Sunnydale?

Wesley:

It wasn’t my place.

Giles looks at him for a moment and then seems to get

it.

Giles:

I see. So Angel made the decision.

Wesley:

There was never a discussion, but yes, I assume he

thought of it. He never mentioned it though so it

wasn’t our place.

Fred:

So have you guys found anything new yet? Cause I’m not

having any luck over here.

Wesley:

I’ve studied every volume at my disposal twenty times

over concerning this and all the prophecies and

scrolls that have come to our attention of late.

There’s nothing new here.

Giles:

I apologize for slowing you down.

Wesley:

It isn’t that. We just don’t have the resources.

(frowns) But I know who does.

Fred:

No Welsey. You can’t go to her again. Angel would

never understand.

Wesley:

Angel hasn’t understood me for a very long time Fred.

Fred:

But this will make it worse! He’s finally starting to

trust you.

Wesley:

Come now Fred. I know you’re too intelligent to

believe that. Angel is only keeping me around to keep

an eye on me. Yes, we’ve taken small steps towards

forgiveness, but if I wait here for him to find time

to confront me once and for all, we might all suffer

in the interim. Wolfram and Hart probably has dozens

of people already researching the very thing we are.

Which automatically puts them ahead of us.

Giles:

How are they so powerful?

Wesley:

That’s a very good question. I know they would work

for the devil himself if necessary and might already

do that very thing. They have connections into the

dark forces that you and I as watchers weren’t even

privy to knowing of. Lilah is their most dedicated

minion.

Giles:

And you have a relationship with this woman?

Wesley:

Of course not! I do what I need to to get the most

information I can. And right now I need all the

information they have. The original scroll of this

prophecy and so many others is in their possession.

They have an entire wing filled with volumes upon

volumes and more surveillance on Angel and so many

others that it makes our training seem irrelevant.

Giles:

And why would they ever help you? They know you work

for Angel.

Wesley:

They know I used to. They know that Angel turned his

back on me when Connor was taken. Angel wanted me dead

for betraying him. Lilah has been trying to recruit me

ever since. I’ve been undercover before, perhaps its

time to go back to that.

Giles:

Are you suggesting you’ll play both sides of the

fence? Quite a dangerous proposition Wesley. Are you

sure you’re ready for that?

Wesley:

I’m not the man you knew in Sunnydale. I know what I’m

doing.

Fred:

Not if you don’t discuss this with Angel first. I’m

telling you Wesley, it’s a mistake.

Wesley:

Then it should be expected of me. If Angel hadn’t

disappeared, I wouldn’t even be here Fred. Now he’s

back and you’ve no use for me. I’m much better for the

team on the inside at Wolfram and Hart.

Giles:

And what happens if they find you out?

Wesley:

What is there to find out? I’m going where I’m wanted.

If I find something useful, I’ll be back. (looks at

Fred) I have to do this. I have to prove myself

without question.

Fred:

It’s not the way. And I’m not defending you this time

Wesley.

Wesley:

It’s the only way. Someday you and the others will see

that. Giles, can you stay? Until we know more?

Giles:

I’m not leaving the country like this. I will be here

until some progress is made.

Wesley:

Good.

He bends to collect papers and head out the door.

Cut to Atrium

Xander:

What? What is it? Is someone coming?

Anya:

Somethings not right. It’s too close.

Xander:

(whispering)

How close?

Angel:

(speaking from the shadows)

Xander!

Xander and Anya both jump and cry out in shock.

Anya:

What is wrong with you?

Xander:

How you gonna sneak up on someone like that? And where

did you come from?

Angel:

Upstairs. Tell me what Spike did to Buffy.

Xander:

Huh?

Angel:

Don’t push me. Tell me now or it gets ugly.

Anya:

It was you. I felt you.

Angel:

Well Xander’s about to feel me as well if he doesn’t

talk.

Xander:

Whoa there Buddy. I’m on your side when it comes to

Spike. I guess the girls told you then? Well its about

time. I couldn’t believe when you just sent him off

with her. I mean, Gunn and Lorne are great chaperones

but not much good if they’re say unconscious.

Angel:

Thanks for the support but tell me what happened.

Xander:

Which part? About Spike being all googly eyed over her

for months now or the bathroom incident?

Angel:

Incident?

Xander:

Yeah, the attack. Left her pretty shaken, he

practically tore her clothes off. I saw the bruises he

left, I wanted to kill him mys…Angel?

Xander and Anya look around to see that Angel is long

gone.

Xander:

I’m thinking maybe a bit too descriptive. How about

you?

Anya:

He’s going to kill him.

Cut to Cemetary

Gunn:

Ok, this is the fifth cemetery we’ve been to. I know

its you’re turf and all, but I think it’s a pretty

long shot.

Spike and Buffy walk side by side in front through the

headstones. Lorne hums a tune beside Gunn.

Buffy:

She’s suffering for what she’s done. She knows she

lost sight of her reasons. Her sister is the key. I’m

thinking, we find her sister, we find her.

Lorne:

Good plan sweetness. But do you have any idea how big

the death market is here in LA? We could be searching

graveyards for weeks and not come across the right

one.

Gunn:

Dude has a point.

Spike:

Maybe you both could try the strong silent approach?

As in shut up cause your whining’s giving me a

bleeding headache!

Gunn:

Watch it. To me, you’re just another vamp. Sun may not

do it, but I’m willing to bet that a stake still

might.

Buffy:

Gunn don’t! We can’t just go around staking vampires

at random.

Lorne:

Update little Lady. You’re the Slayer, that exactly

what you’re supposed to do.

Buffy:

Spike’s different.

Spike:

That’s right boys, I’m different.

He smirks at them and steps closer to Buffy when

suddenly Gunn feels the stake pulled from his hand and

before he can see who it is, it flies directly into

Spike’s back.

Spike:

Aaughh!

Buffy looks down as Spike drops first to his knees

then face first onto the ground. She pulls the stake

out quickly and turns to face the enemy. A blur rushes

past her knocking her backwards as Gunn and Lorne rush

to join her behind a large marble headstone.

Spike:

What the…(just starts to stand and is tackled)

The tangle of black coats and arms and legs is all

that’s visible and Buffy tries to figure out how to

help. When finally the two separate and spring up to

face off. Spike is wincing in pain still and Angel is

in full vamp mode ready to strike.

Buffy:

Angel!

Gunn:

He doesn’t look happy.

Lorne:

I’m thinking not.

Spike:

What is your bloody problem! You could have killed me!

Angel:

Don’t worry Spike. I wouldn’t let you off that easy.

He growls and charges. Spike sees it coming and spins

to the side just in time to see Angel miss to the

side. Spike lifts a heavy boot and connects with

Angel’s kidney pushing him further away.

Spike:

Don’t tempt me Angel. I’ve been waiting for a go at

you for a long time.

Angel:

Then let’s do it.

Buffy:

What in the hell is going on?

Spike:

Stay out of this Buffy. Its about time we finish this.

Angel:

So why are you still talking?

Spike:

(transforming to vamp face)

Who’s talking?

Buffy starts to move forward but Gunn grabs her arm.

Buffy:

You know you’re risking serious bodily harm with that

right?

Gunn:

I figure no more than you’re risking going in there.

They turn to see Spike and Angel rush eachother and

lock up in a brutal fight. Angel gets the first hit,

connecting with a solid left to Spike’s jaw. Before he

even can react, Spike swings an arm around from the

side and backhands Angel sending him down.

Spike:

(growling)

Always think you’re so much better than me!

He drops down with his knee first to land on Angel’s

neck but Angel rolls away and stands in one fluid

motion.

Angel:

You never should have touched her Spike.

He sees Spike coming at him and bends at the knees to

flip Spike over his head. Spike doesn’t go easily

though and wraps his arms around Angel’s shoulders,

taking him backwards with him. They land with amazing

force on the ground and Spike kicks him in the gut

scooting away.

Spike:

Is that it? You finally see that she found something

real? Someone who won’t use her for kicks and then

walk.

Angel:

(furious and practically salivating)

Go to hell.

Spike:

Sorry, that’s your specialty.

Angel takes a step and stirkes out with both hands.

One lashes out balled up and buries itself deep in

Spike’s stomach doubling him over. The other grabs him

around the back of the neck to steady him while Angel

raises a knee to his forhead. Spike’s head snaps back

as Angel releases him and he staggers backwards. Blood

drips from his eye and he smiles with his fanged

teeth.

Angel:

You have one shot to get away from here and her for

good.

Spike:

Afraid it wont happen Granddad. We’ve got something.

Angel:

You’re a liar. I know what you did. Xander told me

everything.

Spike:

This isn’t about what I did. Its about what you

didn’t. You didn’t love her enough to stay. You didn’t

love her enough to fight. You’ve never loved anyone

really have you?

Angel:

Wrong answer.

Angel rushes again and picks Spike up over his head

before dropping him on his back across a headstone.

Spike rolls off in pain. Angel descends for the kill.

Spike senses it and rolls onto his back to look up at

him.

Spike:

Is this what having a soul does to you?

Angel stops in mid attack

Angel:

(morphs to human)

That’s why.

Spike:

Why what?

Angel:

You did it for her. Because of me.

Spike:

Nothing I do is because of you.

Angel:

You thought if you came to her with a soul that it

would be different. But why? What could ever make you

think you had a chance in hell other than to force

yourself on her.

Spike:

If that’s why we’re here, then I do wish you would do

it. If I could take away what I did to her, what I

tried to do.

Angel:

You’re an animal Spike. You’re nothing. Do you

understand me? You will never get close to her.

Spike:

(pulls himself up to look at Angel eye to eye)

You are so off the mark it’s laughable.

Angel:

And if you ever come near her again I won’t aim low.

Spike:

Maybe you should talk to her about that first.

Angel turns to look at Buffy who seems way past

uncomfortable.

Buffy:

Angel. What are you doing here?

Lorne:

Not to be insensitive, but I think the beating of your

friend is the obvious answer to that question.

Angel:

I found out what he did. (steps closer to her) Why

didn’t you tell me?

Buffy:

It wan’t…important. It was a mistake.

Angel:

A mistake? Spike attacks you, tries to…and it was just

a mistake.

Buffy:

I can’t do this now Angel.

Angel:

What’s going on Buffy?

Gunn:

So, I’m thinking Lorne and I can cover the rest of

this one ourselves? What do you say we meet you two

back here in a minute.

Angel:

Thanks Gunn.

Spike:

What about me?

Lorne:

Ever heard of a thing called tact?

Spike:

Ever heard of a thing called mind your own damn

business!

Buffy:

Spike, go with them.

Spike:

Last I checked I didn’t take orders from you Slayer.

Buffy:

Good, then just go. I need a minute.

Spike:

I’m not falling into that same trap again Girlie. New

game, new rules. Don’t you forget it.

Buffy:

How could I?

Gunn and Lorne head off and Spike stomps behind them

muttering under his breath.

 

Cut to Lobby

Skip busts in the doors hollering and trying not to

fall down.

Skip:

Hey! Angel! Whoever!

Fred:

(coming out from office)

What is it? Is it Cordelia?

Skip:

Not everything is about Cordelia. Geez, no wonder the

girls got the big head. Ok, maybe this one time its

about Cordelia.

Xander and Anya come in from outside.

Xander:

What’s going on? Did Angel kill Spike?

Dawn:

(from stairs)

What? You mean he’s not with you?

Anya:

Duh? He found out Spike has the hots for Buffy and

took off. Sent my demon radar off the map if you know

what I mean.

Skip:

I sure do. But I’ve got another problem.

Xander:

Of course you do.

Skip:

Cordelia’s gone.

Fred:

Gone? As in…

Skip:

I don’t know as in. I just know something took her

away and I don’t think it was time. Something happened

to pull her away from me. And it wasn’t Them.

Fred:

So, Angel’s gone after Buffy and the rest. Cordelia’s

diappeared again and we’re back to being in this hotel

alone?

Connor:

You are safe here. I have checked as he wanted, and

the building is secure for now.

Xander:

So why can’t you ask your Powers that be buddies

what’s up? Cordy works for them now right?

Skip:

I told you, she’s not gone at their will. It was

something else. She said something about another

mistake. And she was gone.

Xander:

(looks around)

Where’s Wesley?

Giles:

He said he had to leave. I’m not sure where.

Willow:

You’ve always been a horrible liar Giles.

Fred:

He went to try and get some information from Wolfram

and Hart. I told him it was a mistake.

Xander:

Bingo. What’s the address?

Giles:

What bingo? You think Wesley’s mistake is the same as

Cordy’s comment?

Xander:

Cordy helps people now. If Wes is making a mistake I

figure she went to try and help. Only she isn’t

exactly of the physical. So I’m going.

Anya:

Why would you go to a place you know nothing about?

It’s stupid.

Xander:

Well, then I’m right on target for my usual wouldn’t

you say?

Fred:

I really don’t think…

Xander:

Address!

Fred startles and grabs a piece of paper to scribble

on.

Fred:

Here.

Connor:

I will go as well.

Xander:

You have to be here to help the others in case there’s

trouble.

Giles:

You can’t go alone Xander. He has strength.

Skip:

I’ll stay here. Kind of bound until I get my case

back. So just bring her back okay? I can watch over

them.

Xander:

Count on it.

He and Connor stride out of the lobby as the others

watch.

Cut to Lilah’s office

The door opens and she looks up to see Wesley standing

in her doorway.

Lilah:

This is unexpected.

Wesley:

I don’t see why. Unless your offer is expired that is?

Lilah:

Offer?

Wesley:

I’ve taken enough beatings from him. I thinks its time

to do some damage of my own.

{Cordy: Oh Wesley, what are you doing?}