A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 28

 

Fade in on Cage

Lilah:

We can help you.

Spike:

I don’t want anything from you.

Lilah:

Well its not that easy I’m afraid.

Spike:

Open this blasted cage and I’ll make it that easy.

Wesley:

Spike, you know you want answers just as much as we do. This can be a partnership. You have achieved something amazing. You’ve been given a soul.

Lilah:

And let’s not forget the added bonus of direct sunlight.

Woman:

It’s meant to burn my boy.

Spike looks up in total surprise.

Lilah:

I see you still remember.

Spike:

No.

Lilah:

(smiles slowly as the figure comes closer)

Oh it is. It definitely is.

 

Cut to Alley

Gunn:

How do we know he’s in there?

Xander:

Vaild question.

Connor:

It’s the only abandoned warehouse near the offices.

Gunn:

Why wouldn’t they just take him into their building? They got tighter security than the white house.

Xander:

I’m thinking this isn’t a task approved by the bigwigs in Wolfram and Hart.

Connor:

Lilah is not only for them. She has her own motives.

Gunn:

You got that right. And now she’s got Wes involved.

Xander:

Wes and his brain. A watcher brain working for the dark side. Not good. Not good at all.

Gunn:

So what’s the plan?

Connor:

I go in. I find the Spike. I bring him out. You will stay back and protect yourselves. I may not be able to do it for you.

Gunn:

Oh yeah, your Angel’s kid alright.

Xander:

I was thinking the same thing.

Gunn:

I’m going to call in.

Xander:

Good idea. Let someone know where we are.

He looks to see that Connor is already gone inside.

Xander:

Or where we were last seen.

Gunn dials the phone.

Cut to Cordy’s

Dawn:

I am so tired of being the one stuck behind waiting.

Lorne:

Don’t think of it as stuck. I like to think of it as safe.

Willow:

But they’re your friends. And they’re in danger. How can you be so selfish?

Lorne:

Ok newsflash, they were in danger long before I came into the picture. And they’ll be in danger long after I’m gone. I’m just trying to make my in between time as lengthy as possible. Sure I love those crazy kids, but if I get myself dead, they wouldn’t have time to sing at my funeral before heading off for the next battle. I can’t imagine life with the Slayer being much different.

Willow:

(begrudgingly)

You’re not of the wrong.

Lorne:

Hey, I have an idea! Who feels like singing? I could read you to help pass the time.

Dawn/Willow:

No!

Lorne:

Whoa. It was just a suggestion.

Dawn:

I’m sorry. No offense really. But we sort of…(looks at Willow)

Willow:

There was this singing demon, kind of ruined us on the singalong.

Dawn:

It was a whole big broadway show thing, not pretty.

Lorne:

Broadway? Not pretty? It obviously wasn’t done right.

Willow:

It kind of made us say things that we never intended you know? Secret stuff.

Lorne:

Interesting. Sounds like quite a party. Did you get his number? Cause he might have really helped Cordelia and Angel this last year.

Willow:

So its true.

Lorne:

What?

Dawn:

They’re together.

Lorne:

No! At least not last I checked, but it wasn’t going to be long for those two. I could feel it.

Willow:

I can’t believe it. He actually went for it.

Lorne:

Went for what?

Willow:

Cordelia. She’s been working on him since high school. I never thought Angel would…

Lorne:

Hold up there sister. I don’t know who you’re talking about but it’s not Cordelia. That girl wouldn’t know going after Angel from a…well, she just wouldn’t.

Dawn:

So why are you so sure they were going to be?

Lorne:

A little thing called kyrumption.

Willow:

Ky-what?

Cut to Angel’s car on street

Angel and Buffy are in the front. Giles and Anya are in back.

Buffy:

I still don’t get why you trusted her.

Angel:

Justine knows she can’t hide from me. I will find her if she runs. And I need someone on the outside. If she sees any action at Wolfram and Hart, she can warn us.

Anya:

Except she wants you to die. So why would she do that?

Angel:

Because she wants Connor to forgive her even more. She’ll come through.

Buffy:

And you can track him?

Angel:

It’s not much farther.

Giles:

How come Spike never offered to sniff out the bad guys in Sunnydale?

Buffy:

He did. (then backtracks) I mean, he helped a lot Giles. You know its true.

Giles:

Oh yes, I forgot, you two became…close in my absence.

Angel:

How close?

Anya:

(blurts)

I slept with Spike in the magic box!

Giles:

Good heavens! The magic box?

Buffy:

(she realizes for once, Anya’s bluntness was for her benefit and turns to give her a thankful look)

Giles, not now. We have to focus.

Angel:

First priority is finding Connor. We can get Spike when we meet up with the others. We’ll need all the muscle we can get.

Buffy:

Sounds good.

Giles:

Angel, what might they have done to him?

Angel:

I couldn’t begin to guess. But they’re capable of anything. And now with Wes on their side, they will have thought of everything.

Giles:

What is he thinking?

Buffy:

Obviously he’s not. But I hope he doesn’t get in my way in there, cause I am not in the mood to reason.

Angel:

We’ll get him back Buffy. This is nothing for us. We’ll get Spike and figure out what all this means once and for all.

Buffy:

(looks at him and speaks quietly)

And then what?

He takes his eyes off the road to return her gaze without an answer.

Cut to Cage

Spike:

(squints eyes to see through the shadows)

What are you doing here?

Drusilla:

Tsk, he didn’t miss mommy?

Lilah:

Surprise.

Spike:

Dru.

Dru:

Hello muffin. You look so ready in your cage. (she steps closer and stops just short of touching him-frowns) What did you do?

Spike:

Something’s happened.

Dru:

You’re like him. You stink of soul like Daddy. Oh not my Spike.

Wesley:

Perhaps you could help us find out what happened to your Spike.

Dru:

(growls and vamps out)

I don’t like you.

Lilah:

(smirks)

I knew there was a reason I kept in touch with this one.

Spike:

How did you get here?

Dru:

(back to looking at Spike)

They brought me for Darla. Then Daddy got mad and punished us. (starts to weep and rubs her face) Oh the fire…he hurt me so.

Spike:

Angel?

Dru:

It was the soul. It made him weak. And now you’re weak like him.

Spike:

Stop!

Lilah:

Oh yeah Dru, little tip. I forgot to tell you, Spike here doesn’t like being compared to Angel. I figured you knew.

Dru:

The boys still fighting? (smiles) Good. But you fight for different reasons now. (closes eyes) It’s her. She did it.

Spike watches her closely as she steps up to stroke his hand through the bars.

Dru:

What did that naughty slayer do to my boy?

Spike:

(steps back)

Stop that. Don’t do that to me.

Dru:

You used to love when I went inside your head love. Come now, let me see. I’ve so much to learn.

Spike shakes his head weakly from side to side as Dru pushes against the bars.

Lilah:

Oh let me.

She steps up to unlock the door and Dru steps through. She looks back at Lilah.

Dru:

Leave us now.

Lilah:

But…

Wesley:

Lilah. (Dru starts to growl again) Just lock the door and leave them to get reacquainted.

Lilah:

(looks at Spike, then Dru then Wes)

Sure. I’ll give you two lovebirds a minute or two. But then it’s down to business. I haven’t been keeping you safe for the last two years for nothing. Its time to earn your keep.

Spike:

She’ll never help you.

Dru:

Ssshhh. Don’t speak for me pet. Things change. But you knew that didn’t you?

Wesley and Lilah exit and Spike and Dru face off.

 

Cut to Field

Sajhan and Skip are battling still when Cordelia appears between them. Sajhan hits her by accident and she reacts instinctively. She nails him with a solid punch to his nose and his head snaps back.

Cordy:

Stop it!

Sajhan:

Why do you people always go for the face?

Cordy:

Angel trained me to go for the sensitive point. Face always weaker than body.

Skip:

Good tip.

Cordy:

Are you okay, I tried to get right back, but I was in some sort of limbo for a minute.

Skip:

I’m fine. I’ve faced worse than him. Although, not as ugly.

Sajhan:

As if you’re Denzel.

Cordy:

Hey! What’s with the attacking my friend?

Sajhan:

Friend? Ok, obviously you don’t get out much. But regardless, I get back and see some freak standing where you were and you fading out in a bright light. I thought he was hurting you.

Skip:

And you care because…

Sajhan:

Because she’s my only way out of here. I tend to protect my interests.

Cordy:

Ok, I don’t know what creeps me out more. You attacking without question or doing it for me.

Skip:

Take your pick.

Cprdy:

Well thanks to you, I have no clue what’s going on. So if you’ve wasted enough of my time.

Skip:

Afraid plans have changed.

Cordy:

What?

Skip:

(pointing skyward)

We have to go back together.

Cordy:

Whatever. Just don’t get in my way.

Skip:

No, I mean we have to go back together…all of us.

Cordy:

You mean…?

Sajhan:

(smiling)

See how it all works out?

Cordy sneers at him before looking at Skip in confusion.

 

Cut to Interior

Warehouse basement

Connor:

Ok, I will go first, you two can follow and stop any attacks from behind.

Gunn:

I never got hold of anyone.

Xander:

That’s typical. A comedy of errors is the Sunnydale norm.

Gunn:

Well I like the odds in my favor a little better.

Connor:

No time. If he can be saved, it must be now. We’ll take him back to the others and they will see for themselves.

Angel:

I like to be in the action Son, you should know that.

Xander:

Angel! Buffy! (frowns) Giles and Anya?

Anya:

Don’t act so surprised. I can help just as much as you.

Gunn:

Gotta say I’m feeling the timing Angel.

Buffy:

Do you know where they’re holding him?

Connor:

Not yet, but it should be just up the stairs. Not much cover once we’re in. I could have done it.

Angel:

Never said you couldn’t.

Anya:

It won’t matter.

Angel:

What?

Anya:

There’s something here.

Giles:

A smidge more detail would be nice Anya.

Anya:

Definitely demon, not of the living. And with a burning yen for vengeance.

Buffy:

A vampire?

Xander:

Why not? Maybe it’s a convention.

Gunn:

So does this change the plan?

Buffy:

What was the plan?

Connor:

Fight, kill, grab, and leave.

Angel:

Good plan.

Buffy looks at Giles in silence as Connor slowly climbs the stairs.

 

Cut to Cordy’s

Willow:

Lorne!

Lorne startles and looks up.

Lorne:

What?

Dawn:

You were out of it for a second.

Lorne:

I was. (stands and paces) Sorry.

Willow:

I asked you what ky what’s it was and you just spaced out.

Lorne:

I can’t believe I never thought of it. But I was so sure…

Dawn:

Sure of what? What is your deal?

Lorne:

Kyrumption. Fred used it the first time she discovered the moira between Angel and Cordelia.

Willow:

Moira?

Lorne:

Yeah. It’s kind of like chemistry.

Dawn:

There’s chemistry?

Lorne:

It’s like the physical attraction between two souls with a larger than life destiny.

Willow:

Sounds like Buffy and Angel to me.

Lorne:

Except it wasn’t. And then there was kyrumption thrown into the mix. We all assumed it could only mean one thing.

Dawn:

All of you believe that Cordelia and Angel are meant to be.

Lorne:

Only it was before.

Willow:

Before what?

Lorne:

(pauses)

Before now.