A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 31

 

Fade in on Hyperion Lobby

Gunn, Giles and Connor come in the empty lobby and look around.

Gunn:

Guess Xander and his lady didn’t make it back with the others yet.

Connor:

I’ll go start preparing the room.

Giles:

I’ll go with you. I have some experience dealing with Drusilla. She can be quite resourceful.

Gunn:

I’ll meet you guys down there.

Connor:

Why?

Gunn:

(irritated)

Can a brother uses the facilities without a formal announcement?

Giles:

Of course. Come Connor, lead the way.

They exit and Gunn heads for the bathroom. He reaches for the door but before he can trun the knob it swings open and he jumps back in shock and fear.

Lorne:

(jumping as well and stumbles back against the sink)

Good golly Gunn! (stands and straightens tie) You just about made my visit to the bathroom seem useless.

Gunn:

I ain’t exactly resting easy over here. What are you doing in there?

Lorne gives him a look.

Gunn:

I mean, where is everyone else? We didn’t see them out front.

Lorne:

We?

Gunn:

Yeah. Connor, Giles and me came ahead to ready a room for our new guest.

Lorne:

And that would be?

Gunn:

Chick by the name of Drusilla. She’s got some kind of wacky about her. And she’s a vampire.

Lorne:

I know.

Gunn:

You know her.

Lorne:

You forget, I was around even when Angel sent the rest of you packing. He told me about her when he came to the club in the midst of his dilemma.

Gunn:

Oh. Well she’s back and she’s not too happy with Spike or Angel or Buffy or…

Lorne:

I get the picture. So where are the others?

Gunn:

I asked you first.

Lorne:

(steps through the doorway and Gunn follows him)

Who do you mean?

Gunn:

Come on. You know who I mean, the ones you were at Cordys with, not to mention Xander and Cordy who Angel sent to retrieve you. But most importantly, where’s Fred?

Lorne:

Xander you say? No, I didn’t see them at Cordy’s. Guess they must have missed us.

Gunn:

Us? As in you and the ladies? You left before they got there?

Lorne:

(nods)

Yeah, we were talking and kind of had a brainstorm so we thought we could find some info back here.

Gunn:

So she’s in the office? (starts heading that way) What kind of info are you guys looking for? Fred! Hey, it’s me!

Lorne:

(winces)

Um she’s not technically in there.

Gunn:

(Stops and turns)

What do you mean technically?

Lorne:

Ok Gunn, just remember I’m a helpless pawn in the grand plan here. I didn’t have any say in the matter.

Gunn:

(steps closer to Lorne)

Lorne…

Lorne:

(blurts)

Her and the two girls went to get some stuff they thought would help us figure out what all this means. You won’t believe what Fred and I figured out. Its pretty amazing in a…bad, scary and potentially life threatening way.

Gunn:

Speaking of life threatening. Where?

Lorne:

(looks down and closes his eyes)

Wolfram and Hart.

Gunn:

(laughs and Lorne looks up in surprise)

That’s a good one. You almost had me. (shakes head and smiles) Fred, Willow and Dawn going to Wolfram and Hart…alone. Yeah that’s rich.

He walks to open the office door and his smile fades when he sees the empty room. He slowly closes the door and turns to face Lorne.

Gunn:

Let me just say that if it wasn’t for me having to go get my lady right now, I would surely deliver the supreme ass kicking that you deserve.

Lorne:

Gunn, now let’s not get…

Gunn grabs a bat from behind the desk and heads out the door ignoring Lorne’s plea. He slams the door with great force bringing Connor up from downstairs.

Connor:

Lorne? What was that? Where is Gunn?

Lorne looks from Connor to the door and back again.

Cut to Wolfram and Hart

Willow is frantically combing through the huge amount of wires of every color as Dawn keeps watch by the door.

Dawn:

Not to rush Willow but, could you hurry?

Willow:

(fumbling with wires)

Way to not rush Dawn. I’m going as fast as I can.

Dawn:

I know you are. But Fred will be there any second and if this isn’t done, then well…

Willow:

(grabs two wires and pulls)

There!

Dawn:

What? You got it?

Willow:

(frowns)

I think so. But it’s just temporary. I pulled the main and lead while circumventing with the dummy into the empty port. It should give us about ten, maybe twelve minutes. The dummy isn’t set up to carry this much juice. It’s gonna fry and then…

Dawn:

Then what?

Willow:

Poof.

She smiles at her choice of words and Dawn smirks.

Dawn:

Funny. Can we go now?

Willow:

After you.

Cut to Fred standing in front of wall

Fred:

Alright Winifred, do your stuff.

She begins knocking on the wall until she finds the hollow point. Next to it is a bookshelf and a grandfather clock.

Fred:

(looking at bookshelf)

Too obvious.

(looks at Grandfather clock)

Too cheesy.

(looks around again and spots a videocamera in the corner)

Wait. Why would you have a camera on your biggest secret?

(thinks and then seems to have an idea. She walks to the camera and tries to reach it. Not being able to, she grabs a potted plant and empties it out before using it as a stool)

Okay, here we go.

(She slowly turns the eye of the camera away from the wall. When it is finally almost completey turned around she gives it one final push. The other side is also an eye and its obvious this camera is a dummy. She hears a noise and turns, the wall is giving way. She hops down and smiles with pride)

Now why cant anyone be around to see me now? I’m good.

Realizing she’s talking to herself and wasting time, she rushes into the vault.

Cut to Street

Xander and Anya are obviously turned around and not sure how to get back to Angel’s hotel.

Anya:

I can’t believe you got us lost. This is so typical.

Xander:

And you nagging? Also of the typical.

Anya:

Why did I even agree to go with you? I should have stayed with Giles. I bet he’s safely in the hotel by now.

Xander:

Yes, I’m sure he is. Maybe you’d like to be with Giles, I mean you two do have a special bond don’t you?

Anya:

Don’t you even! I may have to listen to your snide remarks about Spike, but you have no right to disparage Giles!

Xander:

Disparage? I’m disparaging? Listen, why don’t you just shut up and use your super demon powers to get us to the hotel?

Anya:

Oh yeah, cause all demons are immediately fitted with global positioning sytem!

Gunn:

My God, do you two do this a lot?

Xander:

(startles)

Gunn! Look Anya, it’s Gunn! He can take us to the hotel.

Anya:

Glad to hear some men aren’t completely useless.

Gunn:

Sorry, I can’t help you with that right now.

Anya:

Like I was saying, there’s a reason there’s such a need for vengeance demons.

Xander:

Shut up Anya. What’s up Gunn? Why you out here all alone anyway?

Gunn:

I’m going to find the girls.

Xander:

Girls?

Gunn:

Fred, Dawn and Willow.

Anya:

Where are they? Cause they weren’t at the apartment.

Gunn:

I know. Lorne and them went to the hotel on their own a while ago. Something about brainstorming.

Xander:

So if you know where they went? Why are you looking for them?

Gunn:

I know where they were. Lorne said they went after some information to help with this mess…at Wolfram and Hart.

Xander:

What?

Gunn:

Yeah. So you see I’m kind of busy.

Xander:

Well then I’ll be busy with you. I got a first hande taste of that place and Sunnydale has nothing on the badness that is Wesley’s new stomping grounds.

Gunn:

I forgot about him. I swear if he’s touched Fred, I’ll…

Xander:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know. Anger ensues.

Anya:

So you’re just going back there?

Xander:

Anya!

Anya:

Just asking.

She follows quietly behind the guys.

Cut to just outside Hyperion’s back alley

Cordelia, Skip and Sajhan walk in front silently. She looks back occasionally to see Angel harshly pulling and pushing Dru alongside him. She is vamped out and growls but doesn’t resist much. Justine is just behind them walking alone and lost in thought. Buffy and Spike bring up the rear equally as silent. They have walked this way for the last twenty minutes trying to get to the hotel to decide what to do next. The tension is palpable.

Spike:

I know you saw them Buffy. You can’t pretend it didn’t happen.

Buffy:

Shut up Spike.

Spike:

Oh I’ll shut up. But for all the self hatred you’ve suffered this last year convinced you were somehow dishonoring your friends, yourself and most importantly your former soul boy, it seems you weren’t too far off from what was going on here in LA. (smirks) Hm, maybe you two do have a bond, just not with each other.

Buffy elbows him in the gut and he misses a step. Justien turns around but the others seem not to have noticed.

Camera on Cordy and her demon companions

Cordy:

Ok, so why did he get all wiggie about it? What was that? So we hugged! Like he’s not allowed to hug his friends! And I am his friend! His best friend. I know more about Angel now than Buffy does and there’s no way she can argue otherwise. (pauses) So why did he get all weird?

Sajhan:

I’m starting to long for my days in the urn. I’ve never seen a group of misfits more inept and undeserving of such great responsibility and destiny. You people make me and mine look like average joes. Are you seriously pondering your love life right now? Your love life with a vampire I might add?

Cordy:

Who asked you?

Sajhan:

You just did. You said “What was that? Why did he get all weird?”

Cordy:

It was rhetorical!

Skip:

It needs to be moot Cordelia. You’re faltering yet again. They didn’t send you here for this.

Cordy:

Is that all you know how to say? I know They didn’t send me down here for Angel! Okay? I get it! Can you stop harping on it for like five minutes?

Skip:

Can you stop thinking about it for that long?

Cordy shuts up and they continue in silence once again.

On Dru and Angel

Dru:

What will you do with me? Is it time for games again? I used to love our games together Angel. Do you remember?

Angel:

I’m not interested Dru.

Dru:

No I knew you’d say that. Heard it long ago. Not interested in crazy Dru. So you’ll let me go then. When it’s over, I can go?

Angel:

We’ll see.

Dru:

Oh I already see. Sssh, I won’t tell if you won’t. Must tread lightly Angel. They’re all so fragile now. And you? Are you fragile as well? (leans in to whisper) It’s okay now sweet. Dru’s here. I can save you. Saving you and my Spikey. Just like it’s supposed to be.

Angel:

(loudly)

We’re here.

They turn into the opening from the alley and end up in the Hyperion courtyard.

Angel:

Spike, can you hold it together long enough to watch her while I check on the room?

Spike:

Just give her to me.

Dru:

(sing song)

Oh lookie, just like before, He’s giving me away.

Buffy:

I’m gonna find Giles.

Cordelia:

What about us?

Angel and Buffy look at her and the two men beside her.

Angel:

Can you just give us a minute?

Cordy:

(hurt)

Sure.

Sajhan:

I don’t have to wait for anything.

Angel:

You sure your power can hold him?

Cordy:

So far so good. If we’re all dead when you get back, I guess that’s your answer.

Spike laughs.

Spike:

Now that was funny.

Skip:

I have to go.

Cordy:

What?

Skip:

(points skyward)

They’re calling.

Cordy:

Why don’t They call me? It’s about me isn’t it? Another secret to keep from me. Is that like the running joke up there? Let’s see how long we can keep Cordelia in the dark!

Sajhan:

Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you.

Cordy:

Yay.

Buffy:

If you want to stay I can check it out myself and let you know.

Angel:

I was the one that said I was going first. Why don’t you stay and I’ll check on Giles for you?

Buffy:

You can’t…

Justine:

(pushes in between them and inside)

Enough of this. I’m going to find Connor!

They stare after her for a second before turning back to each other and looking down.

Sajhan:

Would you two just do whatever already so we can get on with this?

Buffy and Angel walk inside.

Cordy/Spike:

Typical.

They exchange a look.

Cut to Angel and Buffy heading through the lobby towards the stairs.

Buffy:

So one problem down it looks like.

Angel:

What?

Buffy:

Cordelia.

Angel:

(looks at her sideways)

Excuse me?

Buffy:

Cordelia, she’s back. No need to find her if she’s here.

Angel:

Oh! Yeah, that should move things along. Now we just have to keep Dru from killing any of us and find out what’s going on with Spike.

Buffy:

What about Wesley?

Angel:

Wesley? Oh, I can handle him. It was starting long before you came. We can handle that ourselves.

Buffy:

I get it.

Angel:

Get what?

They stop just outside the door to the stairs.

Buffy:

Nothing. Just that you want to get back to your life and the sooner I get out of LA, the better right?

Angel:

I didn’t say that. When did I say that?

Buffy:

You don’t have to say things to me Angel, remember?

Angel:

Oh.

Buffy:

Alots changed. I mean, time has passed but I didn’t come here by accident. Whatever the connection is, it’s still there. (pauses) Please tell me that you still feel it too.

Angel:

(almost whispers)

Yeah.

Buffy:

I can’t just stop. I can try and I can do everything in my power to forget, but it never really goes away.

Angel:

(reaches up to touch her face)

I know.

She places her hand over his and closes her eyes.

Buffy:

I don’t think I’ve been this scared in a long time.

Angel:

It’s okay. We’re gonna figure this out. Between all of us, this is gonna be a piece of cake. You’ll see.

Buffy:

(takes hand away and looks up at him)

I wasn’t talking about the others.

Angel:

Oh. Buffy, I…

In a sudden motion, she reaches up and pulls him down on her lips. He freezes in the first instant and then seems to fall into it. After several seconds, they break apart. Her eyes are still closed and he studies her face until she opens them.

Buffy:

I’m sorry…

He puts a finger over her lips silencing her. They stare at one another for a long moment before Angel starts to smile slightly. Buffy follows suit and they smile together before he opens the door and they head downstairs.

Cut to window

Spike has been watching and before he can speak, he drops to his knees in pain. Dru is freed and Spike moans as he writhes on the ground holding his head.

Cordy watches in surprise as Dru vamps out and leans down.

Dru:

Come now Pet. Let mommy make it better.

She bares her fangs and readies to bite.

Cut to W&H

Willow and Dawn have found several files and are quickly stuffing them in a shoulder bag they brought.

Dawn:

Is that everything?

Willow:

It’s gonna have to be enough. We’re out of time.

They rush to the door just as Wesley appears blocking their exit.

Wesley:

Actualy I think you ran out of time about thirty seconds ago.

Willow and Dawn see that he’s alone. Lilah is nowhere in sight.

Wesley:

Funny thing ladies. Lilah is one smart lady. And she had someone staked out at Cordelia’s apartment. Though they didn’t learn of your plan before you left, luckily, Xander and his demon bitch showed up to lead him right to you.

Dawn:

We never told Xander where we were going.

Wesley:

No, but when they ran into Gunn, he had spoken to Lorne. Lilah got the call and here we are.

Willow pulls Dawn behind her and hands her the bag behind her back.Dawn takes it and peeks at Wes.

Wesley:

So, you coming easily or should I call the guards?

Willow:

You’re a traitor.

She holds one finger up behind her back for Dawn’s benefit.

Wesley:

Takes one to know one.

Willow:

I saw the error of my ways.

She holds up two fingers. Dawns eye’s widen a bit as she gets it.

Wesley:

So all’s forgiven? That’s not how it works. Just ask Angel.

Willow:

I’m no Angel.

She holds up three fingers and cries out rushing Wesley. They fall back into the hallway and Dawn leaps over the tangle on the floor and runs.

Wesley:

Bitch!

He shoves Willow off him and she hits the wall hard. Dawn is turning the corner towards escape when the alarm sounds. Her legs move even faster as the bag swings around her neck and arm.

Cut to Vault

Fred is just putting the last of the ancient scrolls in her bag when the alarm sounds. She doesn’t hesitate and heads for escape. She makes it to the sewers and keeps running without looking back for Dawn or Willow.

Cut to Wesley

He watches as a guard hits Willow across the back of the head with a baton and she slupms unconscious to the floor.

Wesley:

Enough!

They look at him in surprise as Lilah walks up.

Wesley:

She’ll be no good dead.

Lilah:

I think she might disagree by the time we’re through with her.

She waves a hand and the guards pick her up and follow Wesley and Lilah down the hall.

Lilah:

See how things work out? We lose one, but get one in trade. Still one step ahead.

Wesley:

I must say I’m impressed. But how will she help us with the issue at hand?

Lilah:

From what I’ve seen, the Slayer protects those she loves. And Spike protects the Slayer. Angel is the wild card, but they way I figure, he definitely loves someone enough to fight. We just have to help him decide who that is.

They head down the hall.