A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 27

 

Fade in on cage

Spike groggily comes to. His eyes open slowly to see…

Lilah:

Hello there sleeping beauty.

Spike:

What the hell did you do to me?

Lilah:

Nothing too severe I assure you. (smiles) Though I must admit, after watching you rest so peacefully, I can see what Buffy saw in you.

Spike:

(growls and jumps to his feet)

What did you do to Buffy?

Lilah:

My, my, the girl certainly inspires the fierce loyalty doesn’t she? But don’t you feel kind of lost in the crowd.

Spike:

When I get a shot at you, you’ll be looking to do that very thing.

Wesley:

(stepping up behind Lilah)

Come dear, do you think it’s a good idea to antagonize him?

Spike:

You.

Lilah:

That’s right, you two have somewhat of a history don’t you? See? That’s what Wolfram and Hart is all about. Bringing people together.

Spike:

And I’m here to tear you all apart.

Wesley:

Wow. Quite the visual. Lilah, you really have missed out on something with Spike here. You see Angel is more of a fighter, not a lover. But Spike here…well, he’s quite the opposite.

Lilah:

(raises eyebrow)

I see.

Spike:

So what’s the gig?

Lilah:

Ooh, now that’s an Angel demand. No time for small talk, just commence with business.

Spike:

You’ll do well to realize how very little I enjoy being compared to him.

Wesley:

Yes! I can see that. And who could blame you? (turns to brush a hand over Lilah’s shoulder seductively on his way to close in on the cage in the middle of the room) Spike has always been second fiddle to Angel, haven’t you? You spent a century with a woman that seemingly forgot all about you as soon as Angelus showed up.

Lilah:

Really? Ouch, that must have stung a bit.

Spike:

Whatever you’re playing at, just get on with it. I’m not interested in your psycho warfare.

Wesley:

I think you mean psychological.

Spike:

No, I mean psycho.

Lilah:

I like you Spike. I gotta tell you.

Spike:

Lucky me.

Wesley:

We’re here to help you Spike.

Spike laughs haughtily.

Wesley:

Believe what you will, but if I’m correct, I don’t think any of your so called friends were too rushed to find out what is going on with you of late.

Lilah:

In fact, I’m willing to bet they’re still somewhere “talking things out.”

Cut to Cordy’s

Angel:

Buffy.

Xander:

You okay Buff?

{Cordy: Hello? What’s with the kid gloves? She’s the slayer! She’s always okay, even when she’s dead, she’s okay!}

Angel:

We were just talking.

Buffy:

I heard. So can she hear me too?

Angel looks at Xander who nods to Buffy.

Buffy:

How’s it going Cordelia?

{Cordy: How’s it going? Is she for real?}

Xander:

It’s called a greeting. They’re quite common in polite circles.

Angel:

Back off Xander.

Buffy hears this and seems a bit upset.

Buffy:

So, what’s the latest?

Xander:

Cordelia took Sajhan somewhere that he can’t get back here. Angel was just…

Angel:

I can speak for myself.

Xander holds up his hands in surrender.

Angel:

I was just trying to explain to Cordelia that we could all use her help.

Buffy:

I heard. Lose everything without her. Got it.

{Cordy: Is she…does she have an attitude?}

Xander:

Not now.

Angel:

What?

Xander:

Nothing.

Buffy:

Xander don’t. What did she say?

Xander:

She’s just being Cordelia. Asking if you have an attitude.

Buffy:

Has she forgotten so soon?

{Cordy: Good point.}

Angel:

Don’t do that. Don’t treat her like you are still in high school.

Buffy:

(flinches a bit)

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…

Angel:

You have no idea what she’s been through Buffy.

Buffy:

(quietly and tears welling)

No. I guess I don’t. Just like I have no idea what you’ve been going through. I guess you had someone else to talk to about your son.

{Cordy: Don’t belittle me Buffy Summers! Like I can’t listen as well as you can. Better even! At least I don’t make puppy dog eyes everytime I see him.}

Xander:

Alright! That’s it. I’m going outside.

Angel:

What?

Buffy:

But…

Xander:

No! (he points at both of them) You two need to talk. And as little as I wanted to hear what he and Cordelia had to say, I want even less to hear…this. I’m going.

{Cordy: And what about me?}

Xander

Luckily, only one of us has to have tact in this situation.

{Cordy: I’ll show you tact buddy!}

Xander:

Unless you can strike me dead right here where I stand, you’re leaving.

He pauses looking skywards for a moment.

Xander:

Alright then. I’m going to find the others and try and find a way to block out the last twenty minutes of my life.

{Cordy: I want to hear this! What if he tells her he loves her? I have to know!}

Xander walks out the door and we cut to:

Cordy:

What if I’m wasting my time worrying about going home? I have to know if he feels the same way!

Skip:

This is not your mission.

Cordy startles and jumps to spin around, she’s back in the field.

Cordy:

Damnit Skip! Why do you insist on doing that?

Skip:

I was about to ask you the same thing.

Cordy:

What? (frowns) Oh that! It wasn’t my fault. I was there without even trying and I heard Angel…

Skip:

You said you were watching Wesley. Then you took the urn, without the lid I might add.

Cordy:

I know, can you believe that? They just don’t make urns for dimension travel like they used to.

She smiles trying to lighten the mood but Skip only glares.

Skip:

Where is he?

Cordy:

Who? Oh, Sajhan? I don’t know. He stomped off looking for a way out without me.

Skip:

And you just let him go?

Cordy:

Hello? He’s corporeal. He can’t time travel or anything else in his current condition. What are you doing here anyway?

Skip:

(mimics)

Hello? I’m supposed to be guiding you. So far, I’m striking out. For every step forward, you hopscotch right back.

Cordy:

You know, I’ve about had it. I don’t think you know any more than I do what my mission is. So far, all I’ve done as a higher being is clear out some black magicks from Willow and go floating about time and place popping in just long enough to find more questions to ask and then popping out before I can get any answers. What is the Powers deal?

Skip:

The deal is you were told to unbind. You couldn’t move on in your new life until you released yourself of the earthly entanglements holding you back. And I just got through watching you spin a brand new web. You’re looking to see how Angel feels about you or the Slayer and you’ve forgotten why you’re here in the first place.

Cordy slumps defeatedly and turns away.

Cordy:

It’s not…

Skip:

Cordelia…

Cordy:

Ok, ok.

Skip:

Now you did manage to keep Sajhan out of the hands of the bad ones. Unfortunately, they may have retrieved an even faster way to get what they want.

Cordy:

(turns to face him)

What?

Cut to Park across from Cordy’s

Dawn:

I’m so tired of this.

Giles:

We’ll go back soon Dawn. Buffy just went in a few moments ago.

Willow:

Yeah, everything will be fine once they talk through some things.

Anya:

I don’t see why Xander has to be there.

Fred:

He had to be there to tell Angel what she was saying.

Xander:

Not anymore he’s not.

Gunn:

Hey! What’s up?

Xander:

A whole lot of uncomfortable, that’s what. I feel like I’ve been in an interrogation room.

Giles:

What about Cordelia?

Xander:

(pauses)

No, I guess she went off to pout.

Anya:

Pout?

Xander:

I wouldn’t let her eavesdrop on Buffy and Angel.

Willow:

Is it bad?

Xander:

I know its definitely not good.

Dawn:

What about Spike?

Xander:

He wasn’t with her.

Gunn:

I thought he usually stuck pretty close.

A phone rings and Gunn reaches in his pocket.

Gunn:

Yeah. (pause) What do you want? (pause) That wasn’t a smart move man. (pause) Whatever.

Gunn ends the call and looks to the anxious faces.

Gunn:

I know where Spike is.

Dawn:

He called you?

Gunn:

No. That was Wes.

Fred:

Wes is with Spike?

Giles:

He’s captured him.

Dawn:

What?

Gunn nods.

Connor:

We must go now.

Justine:

Hey there, he’s a vampire. Have you forgotten everything your father taught you?

Connor:

No. My father helps those in need. I will do the same.

Fred:

(smiling)

He means Angel.

Justine:

Well you can’t go alone.

Gunn:

She’s right. They will be expecting it. We should get with Angel first.

Connor:

He is busy. I can help him more alone.

Connor doesn’t wait for an answer before taking off down the street.

Xander:

Well, I guess I’m going then.

Anya:

What?

Xander:

What can I say? The kid made an impression. We bonded.

Giles:

I’ll go along.

Willow:

What?

Gunn:

No. You stay with the others, go tell Angel and Buffy. I have the phone. I’ll get their backs.

Justine:

And me?

Fred:

You can not stab us in the back.

Justine:

Funny.

Giles:

Alright, do you know where they’ve taken him?

Gunn:

No. But I’m thinking they’re counting on us to figure it out.

Xander:

Connor seems to think he does. Can we go now?

Gunn gives Fred a quick kiss and he and Xander take off after Connor.

Cut to Cordy’s

Angel and Buffy haven’t stopped looking at each other and are only inches apart when they speak in intimate tones.

Buffy:

I’m sorry I ran out before.

Angel:

I’m sorry I couldn’t run after you.

Buffy:

Your back. Is it okay?

Angel:

Giles and Fred took care of it. Are you okay?

Buffy:

I guess I haven’t learned how to deal with…us, like a grown up yet.

Angel:

Us?

Buffy:

I didn’t mean…not that there is an us…or not that there isn’t. I just…

Angel:

(reaching up to rest a hand on her arm)

Slow down.

They both look down at the point of contact.

Buffy:

(stepping back to break it)

I’m glad you have someone close to talk to Angel.

Angel:

Thanks.

Buffy:

I haven’t exactly been lacking in that department myself. (pause) Its just, when given a choice, I thought it would always be an obvious one for you and I.

Angel:

I can’t remember anything ever being obvious or easy when it came to us Buffy.

Buffy:

Your point. 15-love. Ok, bad tennis analogy. Why do they say that anyway? What does Love have to do with tennis?

Angel:

I’m not trying to score points here Buffy.

Buffy:

I know.

Angel:

This is all…new.

Buffy:

I know that too.

Angel:

You being here…it makes, it makes me forget.

Buffy:

(looks up at him)

Me too.

Angel:

But I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you came. Please tell me you know that.

Buffy nods without answering.

Buffy:

I want to tell you something. I need to tell you.

Angel:

Anything.

Dawn:

Buffy! They’ve got Spike!

Buffy and Angel turn in surprise as Dawn, Willow, Giles, Fred, Justine and Lorne come barreling through the door.

Buffy:

What?

Lorne:

Our former boss called to say he’s got the Angel-clone.

Angel:

Can you not call him that?

Lorne:

Sorry.

Giles:

Wesley has Spike somewhere.

Angel:

And?

Buffy:

Where’s Xander

Fred:

He went after Connor with Gunn.

Angel:

Connor?

Justine:

He took off. Said he could help without bothering you.

Angel:

Damnit.

Buffy:

Where did they go?

Justine:

Good question.

Angel walks into Cordy’s room.

Buffy:

Angel?

He walks back in with an arm full of weapons and hands them out to Buffy, Justine and Giles.

Angel:

Buffy, you can stay or go.

Buffy:

I’m going. He’s my responsibility.

Angel looks at her for a second and turns to Lorne.

Angel:

Lorne,

Lorne;

I know, stay with the womenfolk. Just hurry up. I have a big gig this weekend in Vegas. I would very much like not to be dead for it.

Buffy:

Not a problem. Giles?

Giles:

I’m coming this time. I can help.

Willow:

You should take Anya.

Anya:

Yes! I will go after Xander. I mean, after Spike. I can help.

Angel:

Fine. Let’s move.

Angel, Buffy, Giles, Justine and Anya all head back out the door. Willow, Dawn and Lorne look at eachother in awkward silence.

Cut to Field

Cordy:

So they couldn’t get Sjahan to tell them about Spike’s affect on the prophecies, so they went straight to the source.

Skip:

Looks that way.

Cordy:

So can I go?

Skip:

Only one way to find out.

Cordelia looks at him and nods. She closes her eyes and begins to glow. Just as she feels the power sweep over her she opens her eyes and begins to rise. Beofre she can warn him, Sajhan comes up behind Skip and hits him over the head. She watches as Skip falls to his knees and she is helpless to stop it. Everything goes white.