A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 37

 

Fade in on Hyperion

Fred:

(whispers to Gunn)

What just happened?

Gunn:

We’ll find out soon enough.

Cordy:

Angel! Are you just gonna stand there? Buffy just…

Angel:

Don’t.

Giles:

(watching with concern)

Buffy, what’s happened?

Buffy:

(mimics)

Buffy, what’s happened? (smirks)Isn’t their a plane to England light one tight-assed unemployed librarian?

Dawn:

Buffy stop!

Willow:

Dawnie don’t.

Buffy pauses and seems to be conflicted. She looks around the room and swallows hard. Angel takes a step towards her.

Buffy:

No.

The door opens and Connor comes in followed closely by Wesley.

Sajhan:

Is it just me or are we about to exceed fire code capacity?

Spike:

Not to worry. We’ll be out of your way momentarily. Right Buffy?

Wesley:

Buffy, whatever you’re feeling isn’t your fault. There was a problem with the ritual. Something happened to you.

Giles:

What ritual? What have you done Wesley?

Angel:

He claims he was working against Wolfram and Hart the whole time. It was all part of his master plan to help.

Cordelia:

Great plan Wes. Didn’t you learn the first time you went off on your own?

Fred:

I tried to tell him that.

Gunn:

How do we know he’s not just saying that to get back in here and spy for them?

Xander:

(stands slowly)

Can somebody tell me what’s going on?

Anya:

Might never have happened if your high school ex hadn’t taken it upon herself to whisk you away to another dimension in the middle of all hell breaking loose.

Xander:

Anya, she saved my life. She did what no one else could.

Anya:

You mean what I couldn’t do.

Xander:

That’s not what I said.

Buffy:

Oh shut up! (walks to stand in front of them) We all get it. You two are unresolved. So are you here to save the world or are you here to snipe at one another endlessly? Wait, don’t answer that. You wouldn’t ever have the power to save anything. Least of all your relationship. Little tip, something someone taught me a long time ago. Know when all hope is lost. And just walk away. Always best to do it just after a major battle. Without a word. Just one look and walk away.

Dawn:

(sees Angel’s pained expression)

Buffy, you have to listen to Wesley. We can fix this. It’s just a side effect of the ritual. We just have to…

Buffy:

(turns to start walking to Willow)

Why do you say ‘we’ like you could ever have anything to offer? The only reason you came in handy before was your magic, but then you went and screwed it up. You got all power hungry and thought you could do anything. You played God Willow. You decided I couldn’t die without your permission. You decided I had to come back regardless of the consequences. And what consequences they were! Now you’re nothing. You stand here and play techno geek just like in high school and think you matter. Yes, if I have side effects of anything, it’s from you pulling me back to this place.

Willow’s tears spill over her lashes and Dawn takes her hand silently. Buffy sees it but chooses not to say anything to her.

Cordy:

Are you listening to yourself? How can you be so cruel to your friends? To the people who love you?

Buffy:

(stops and steps sideways to keep her back to Cordelia)

Love me? Who loves me Cordelia? (turns to face her) You? No, not even close. But you do love don’t you? I can feel it. I saw it the first time you came back. No, even before. For three years I watched you. You knew what you were doing all along didn’t you? You knew he would need someone. Someone to talk to and you took advantage. You managed to find a link to the Powers, the one thing that would tie you to him forever. I gotta give it to you, you pulled it off.

Lorne:

Listen kitten, I don’t think…

Buffy:

You come one step closer to me and it will be your last. (she faces him and raises an eyebrow) You think I’m lying?

Giles:

Buffy Anne Summers, you stop this right now! I’ve had enough.

Buffy:

(laughs out loud)

You? You’ve had enough? Oh that’s rich. (Walks to center of room and looks at each face on her) I had enough about two lifetimes ago. But no one cared about that did they? It’s fine, I turned into a big whine baby and it really wasn’t attractive. I guess you must have wanted to leave years ago Giles. Always complaining about being a normal girl (laughs) Like I’d even now how to recognize it if it bit me in the…Slayers aren’t normal. And I’m a slayer. They chose me and They won’t let me go.

Angel:

We can get through this.

Buffy:

(smiles and points)

You’re right Angel! Then again, you’re always right. Got that 240 plus years of living under your belt. Well don’t worry, at the rate I’m going, I’ll still be here in 200 years too. Right guys? I’m never going to die. Well at least not permanently. (eyes widen and she rushes to weapons cabinet) I got an idea. Let’s test the theory. Who wants to place odds on how long it takes for me to come back after I plunge this blade in my heart? I’ll go first and say 72 hours. Any takers?

Dawn:

(crying)

Don’t do that!

Buffy:

(shoulders slump and she walks closer to Dawn)

Oh Dawn. You’re so naïve. I mean really, for something that came from a thousand years ago or whatever, you really are a simpering moron half the time.

Dawn cries harder and Willow puts an arm around her protectively.

Buffy:

I can’t take that sound anymore.

Cordy:

So leave.

Buffy:

Oh don’t worry, I’m going. Really, I’d think you would be more coy. But whatever works.

Angel:

You can’t just leave.

Buffy:

Oh I think you know I can. But don’t worry. I’ll be back. Just a slight intermission is all. The main attraction is yet to come.

Angel grabs her by the arm.

Angel:

You’re not going anywhere.

Buffy:

(leans closer)

You did this. You did this to all of us. You walk through life claiming to seek atonement, but you only bring more pain. You stopped killing through blood and now you kill through the heart. You killed mine years ago. Did you know that? You killed mine just like you killed Darla’s and Dru’s. Now you’ll kill hers. You think if you save enough people you’ll be forgiven your past sins as Angelus. But what about what you did Angel? Who’s going to forgive you for what you did to me?

Angel:

This isn’t you.

Buffy:

(smiles and shakes arm loose)

Wrong again Lover. This is me, this is what you made me. I can lose myself in this finally. You claimed to love me, but you left me. You claimed to want me, but you couldn’t have me. You claimed to miss me, but you replaced me. Well guess what, you were too. You made Dru insane for the mere entertainment, you killed Darla in my name, you took my soul in one night on my birthday and you never gave it back. You tried to kill me and everyone I thought I loved, you made me kill you. Then you came back to reclaim what I never got back in the first place. Only to leave me again to come here. Now you have your new friends, and your new son and…and you have Cordelia. Well I finally have something too. I have someone who can love me and make love to me the way you never could or would.

Angel glances at Spike who for once seems a bit uncomfortable.

Angel:

He…you and him…?

Xander:

No. This isn’t happening. Welsey, you fix this. You do something to fix this!

Wesley:

I’m not sure what ‘this’ is. Something of Dru was left behind when she went. Something of her was somehow left within Buffy.

Connor:

The smell.

Giles:

What?

Buffy:

I’m through here. (Starts to walk away and then remembers) Oh yeah. (grabs Fred away from Gunn and gets her in a head lock)

Gunn:

Hey!

Buffy:

I’ve snapped the neck of a lot of ugly things in my life, but I must say hurting such a pretty girl would be exhilarating.

Gunn:

Get your hands off her!

Buffy:

Uh-uh-uh. Not so fast. I just need Cordy to release my buddy over there from his little glo-hands bit.

Cordy:

No way.

Buffy twists Fred’s neck and she cries out.

Buffy:

I was kind of hoping you would say that.

Cordy:

No! Wait! Ok…(she raises her hands and closes her eyes to wave them in Sajhan’s direction-the glow encompasses his body and then springs off him towards Cordleia. She catches the energy in her hands and Sajhan looks down at his own) There.

Buffy:

Care to test?

Sajhan sees Gunn inching towards Buffy and steps once to punch him in the face. He flies backwards across the room landing at Giles and Wesley’s feet. Sajhan smiles and starts to move again.

Buffy:

Not so fast there. You work for me now. Got it?

Sajhan:

I work for no one.

Buffy:

I don’t think you want to test me right now.

Sajhan:

(shrugs)

Very well. I’m game to let you have a shot before I kill them all.

Buffy:

Kind of you. (She shoves Fred into Cordy and they both fall to the floor) Spike.

Spike:

What are you doing?

Buffy:

Does it matter? You got what you wanted baby. I’m all yours.

Spike looks at Angel struggling with what’s happened and how to react.

Spike:

I think I like the sound of that. (looks around) don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her.

Xander:

You’re a fool.

Anya:

Why? Because he loves her enough to stick by her?

Xander:

Are you seriously doing this right now?

Anya:

No. She was right. What am I doing here? You don’t want me. I’m just this pathetic demon tag-a-long. I don’t deserve to be a vengeance demon. Not after this.

Xander:

What are you saying?

Buffy:

I think she’s saying we’re a party of four now.

Willow:

No Anya.

Anya:

I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere near him.

Cordy:

Well that might be a valid point.

Buffy hears this and grows angry. She rushes to Cordelia. But Angel steps in front of her before she can deliver a blow.

Angel:

I’m not going to let you do that.

Buffy:

(tears well in eyes then she wipes them away angrily)

I knew it.

Angel:

You don’t know anything right now Buffy. You have to listen to me. (he takes her by the shoulders) Look at me.

They stare at one another for a long moment.

Buffy:
You’ve made your choice. You don’t get to do this anymore.

Angel:

You’re sick Buffy. Let me help you. Please.

Buffy:

Even if you could, I wouldn’t let you. I’ll never let you that close to me again. You make everything hurt.

Angel:

If you go now, if you do this, you will hurt for the rest of your life. Believe that.

Buffy:

I already hurt Angel. And it will be for the rest of my life. Either way, I’m lost.

Angel:

You brought me back once. We brought me back. Don’t give in to what’s happening to you. It’s not real.

Buffy:

So you think you can bring me back? And what would you do then Angel? What if I came back to you…for you. What would happen then?

Angel doesn’t answer and breaks eye contact to look down. Buffy frees her arms and pushes him hard into Cordelia. They both fall backwards. Buffy looks down at them.

Buffy:

Hell hath no fury like a slayer scorned.

Anya:

I might be able to help with that.

Xander:

Anya shut up.

Willow:

Xander!

Anya:

No Willow, let him go. It’s just more motivation.

Wesley:

Buffy, when this effect wears off you will feel more regret than you can imagine if you go through with…whatever you’re planning.

Buffy:

Hmm…advice from Wesley. Yeah, I’ll be sure and listen to that.

Sajhan:

I’m bored. Can we go plan their destruction now?

Spike:

Nobody’s destroying any…

Buffy:

You’ll do whatever I ask Spike. That’s your gig. (walks to press her body against his and her arms around his neck) And boy do I like your gig.

She smiles and Spike looks around uncomfortably at those watching.

Spike:

Stop.

Buffy:

You don’t want me to stop Pet. It’s me, we can play now. Just like before.

Dawn:

Why are you talking like that?

Buffy:

Ssshh. Musn’t tell them everything. Come children, so much to do.

Anya looks at Xander and he stares her down. But when he doesn’t say anything she joins Spike, Sajhan and Buffy going out the back door through the courtyard.

Fred:

(helping Gunn to his feet)

Someone please tell me that was some kind of Buffy humor that I don’t get.

Cordy:

Nobody gets Buffy’s humor.

Dawn:

That wasn’t Buffy.

Willow:

Yes it was. Just not all her. Wes, it’s Dru right? Dru was making her say those things right?

Xander:

It sure wasn’t Dru’s points she was making. Angel hurting her, Spike…wait maybe it was Dru.

Giles:

It’s not important now who exactly was responsible, we have to find a way to stop her before she hurts someone.

Gunn:

(rubbing his head)

Too late.

Cordelia:

Angel, you’re still bleeding.

Angel looks down at his shoulder and doesn’t even register the wound.

Connor:

We should go after them.

Wesley:

He’s right Angel.

Willow:

(To connor)

You said something about a smell earlier. What were you talking about?

Connor:

Yes. I noticed it in that place. There was something in the air.

Dawn:

Did anyone else notice it?

Angel:

No. Connor, when did you notice the smell?

Connor:

As soon as they brought me there. When I was put in the box. When she called my name.

Xander:

Who called you?

Connor:

Buffy. She called out to me in the first moment, but then I didn’t hear her again.

Wesley:

Of course.

Angel:

What?

Wesley:

I wasn’t in the room. Lilah insisted that I prepare outside the room. She must have been forming her back up plan then.

Giles:

What back up plan?

Wesley:

I can’t say for certain. But I would presume that the smell Connor noticed was a drug of some sort administered to Buffy.

Dawn:

Drug? Buffy’s on drugs?

Cordy:

I’d buy it after her little show.

Angel:

(walks to Wesley)

You’re going back.

Wesley:

Pardon? I can’t go back there Angel. They will have discovered my deception by now. I will be killed on sight.

Angel:

You will go back and you will find out what they did to her. You are responsible for this just like you were responsible for…(pauses and swallows hard) You will go.

Connor:

I will go as well.

Angel:

No. I don’t want you anywhere near that place.

Connor:

If he dies, we’ll not find out anything. If you want to know, then you must let me protect him.

Angel searches Connor’s face and then turns to the others.

Angel:

Gunn…

Gunn:

I’m on it.

Fred:

You’re hurt!

Gunn:

I’m fine baby.

Giles:

Should I go as well?

Angel:

No, I need you, Willow and Fred working on research. If a spell did this, a spell has to be able to fix it. Find one.

Willow:

Angel, I can’t. I mean, I’m not…

Angel:

I just need your brain Willow. Giles and Fred can do the leg work.

Dawn:

I’m going with them.

Angel:

Who?

Dawn points at Gunn, Connor and Wesley standing by door.

Giles/Willow:

No!

Giles:

Dawn, don’t be absurd!

Xander:

I can’t go Dawn, I’m not strong enough. You need to stay with those who are familiar with you.

Dawn:

You’re hurt Xander. You can’t protect me. If I stay I will just be a distraction for you all. I know the layout. I’ve been there.

Wesley:

As have I.

Dawn:

But I’m not what they’re looking for. Wesley, they know you obviously. They’ve been watching Connor since his birth from what I understand. And Gunn has charged in there on more than one occasion. I’ve only been there once and only ran into you. I can sneak in and out faster and easier than any of you. I’m tired of being stuck in the background. I made it out once, I can do it again.

Xander:

Buffy will kill us if…

Dawn:

(interrupting hotly)

Buffy’s going to kill us regardless if we don’t succeed! I’m the best shot you’ve got.

Angel:

She has a point.

Giles:

Angel…

Connor:

I will watch her. Nothing will happen, I swear. We have to go now. Before they move again.

Willow:

How do you know what you need is at Wolfram and Hart? I thought you were held somewhere else.

Wesley:

Clean up is the first order of business following an undertaking. Lilah will have called the clean up crew the instant we left. If there’s anything to be found it will be at the offices.

Angel:

Ok, so the four of you go. Connor will protect Dawn and Gunn is back up. (the group turns to leave) But Wesley. (Wes turns to face him) If anything goes wrong, you are responsible.

Wes nods grimly and exits.