A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 49

 

Fade in WHITE PLACE

Cordelia comes to and sits up quickly to see Angel kneeling down

holding her

hand. She squeals and leans to hug him.

Cordy:

Oh my God, you're here! Angel, I thought...when you fell...oh forget

it,

you're here!

She squeezes him tight and he smiles at her enthusiasm.

Angel:

Careful Cordelia, I might start to think you weren't so mad at me after

all.

She pushes him away and slaps him on the arm.

Cordy:

I'm not letting you off that easy. How could you do that to me?

Angel:

Ok ow! (rubs his arm for effect) I don't think there was any other

option at

the time. And I wasn't going to let everyone I cared about suffer.

Cordy:

Wait. How did you get here?

Angel:

I'll tell you that if you tell me where here is.

Cordy:

This is my higher place. I'm not sure where it is, but They brought me

here

that first night. God, it seems so long ago now.

Angel:

It's been a long summer.

Cordy:

Angel what's going on?

Angel:

(stands up and pulls Cordy with him)

I wish I had the answer. One minute I was with all of you, then the

next I

was in unbearable pain falling for what seemed like forever. I saw the

ground. It was going to be over and then I was here.

Cordelia:

The Powers spared you.

Angel:

But why? And if so, what does that mean for the End of Days? I thought

I

could prevent it from inside. If I came in the place of mortals I would

eradicate the prophecy. But now there's no change.

Cordy:

It was over.

Angel:

What?

Cordy:

There was a battle Angel. We all fought and we won. It was over before

I

came here.

Angel:

And everyone's safe?

Cordy looks down.

Angel:

Oh no. They said it would be sooner in her case. It's Buffy. (grabs her

shoulders) Did something happen to Buffy?

Cordelia:

(shaking loose and stepping back to look at him)

Buffy's fine Angel. And Connor. They're both fine.

Angel:

Then who?

Cordy:

Lorne. He didn't make it. The Mohra ran him through.

Angel:

Ran him through? But he's still intact?

Cordy:

(finally getting it)

How could I have been so stupid? I completely forgot. Duh. I carried

his

head around for hours, Lorne can't die by sword.

Angel:

And everyone else is safe?

Cordy:

Yes. We were trying to figure out what all of it meant. Where you were.

Then...(she fades off)

Angel:

Then what?

Cordy:

Wesley. He thought it was the day. He kept talking about the day you

had as

a human.

Angel:

What? Who did he tell?

Cordy:

All of us. (pauses) He told everyone Angel.

Angel turns his back to her.

Cordy:

He thinks that day is the key. He had to tell Giles. They are working

on it

as we speak.

Angel:

Working on what? And what were they thinking? Buffy must be so...

Cordy:

(harshly)

Enough Angel! Stop doing that. Why must everything go back to her? Look

where you are! The Powers brought you here for a reason. What about

that?

He turns back to her and they stare at one another in silence.

Cut to EXT: ALLEY BEHIND BRONZE

Faith, Willow and Connor are walking around the building.

Faith:

So what's up with B taking off with Spike?

Willow:

I'ts kind of complicated.

Connor:

They can't go far. The sun is out. He'll be in danger.

Willow:

Spike's got the moving around in daylight bit covered trust me. But

you're

right, I can't see her wandering too far.

Faith:

(looking around)

Maybe we could run up on them somewhere out here. Looks like they

wanted

some privacy though. (under her breath) B and her vampire kick. And

what

about Angel? I thought they were forever angst.

Willow:

Let's talk about you Faith. Last time I saw you, you were...well Buffy.

Faith:

Oh yeah. That was wicked huh?.

Willow:

By the literal definition, yes.

And now you're back, and youre you. Seemingly the pre-mayor you. Or am

I

just being naïve girl again?

Faith:

It's me Willow. I don't blame you for questioning it. And believe me,

some

days I wonder myself, but it's me. I've changed. And now the one person

who

believed in me the whole time is gone before I could properly thank

him.

Connor:

Angel.

Faith:

Your dad was an amazing man Connor. He talked about you all the time.

But

when you were taken, he stopped coming. I didn't even know you were

back. I

guess things had been getting pretty intense for a while.

Willow:

More than you'll ever know.

Connor:

Sshhh.

Willow:

Huh?

Connor holds up a hand and listens as Faith and Willow exchange a look.

Connor starts stepping cautiously around the corner and looking up.

Faith

and Willow follow in silence.

Cut to INT: BRONZE

Gunn:

I never thought I'd long for the streets of LA.

Fred:

This hasn't been the best circumstances for a vacation I guess.

Dru:

I'd like a vacation. Far away from here and all of this.

Gunn:

Well Lady, I'd love for you to be elsewhere myself.

Fred:

Charles!

Gunn:

What? If she wasn't here, we wouldn't have to be so worried about not

getting sucked dry and we could be out helping the others.

Fred:

We still couldn't have left Lorne.

Gunn looks down at the still unconscious man.

Gunn:

He can't last like that forever. Somethings gonna give.

Dru suddenly starts humming and mumbling a gibberish song. She closes

her

eyes and sways as much as she can with her tethered hand. Gunn and Fred

look

at her than each other before rolling their eyes.

Fred:

Why does she do that?

Lorne:

I'm thinking to give me one hell of a spooky reading.

Fred:

Lorne! You're alive!

She drops to lean over him in a hug.

Lorne:

(spitting as her hair covers his nose and mouth)

Smooches to you too but maybe you could not simultaneously choke me and

drive your knee into my open wound?

Fred:

Oh. I'm sorry.

Gunn:

Good to hear you haven't lost your sense of humor.

Lorne:

Never. Now perhaps you can tell me why I'm currently attached to Miss

Not-All-There?

Dru:

We're like a fancy mirror you and me. Seeing in and out of so many.

You

have the curse too. Is that why you don't belong?

Lorne:

Whatever you say oh freaky one. (To Gunn) Where is everyone?

Gunn:

Where do I start?

Fred:

Angel's gone Lorne.

Lorne:

Gone? As in...?

Gunn:

We don't know for sure. It was a helluva battle and he got sucked down

some

scary looking hole. Cordy disappeared shortly after. We're hoping she's

getting some news on the rest.

Lorne:

She's got her gifts back?

Fred:

Apparently. To an extent at least. Connor is just outside with Willow

and

Faith. They're checking everything out.

Lorne:

And Buffy?

Dru:

(growls)

She took him away. My Spike isn't mine anymore. She'll never let him go

now.

She is rotten inside.

Gunn:

(ignoring Dru)

Buffy and Spike took off just after she sent her sister and the ex's

back to

the house.

Lorne:

And what about Wesley?

Gunn and Fred look at eachother.

Fred:

(frowning)

I'm not sure.

Gunn:

They were here telling us about the day and how the prophecy had to be

fulfilled to save our world from something bad happening if it was

averted.

Fred:

And then Buffy said Spike didn't deserve it.

Gunn:

I don't think any of us saw where they went.

Lorne:

And I guess no one thought to find a way to bandage old Lorne up at

least.

Nope, just gonna let me lie here in the puddle of my own blood. That's

okay.

I see how it is.

Fred:

Stop that Lorne! You know we would do anything for you. We didn't leave

you

here did we?

Lorne:

Oh yeah, that makes me feel lots better. (looks at Dru) Hear that

sister?

They didn't leave me.

Dru:

Nor did I Pet.

Lorne scowls at her words and shifts his weight away from her.

Cut to one warehouse over.

Buffy is watching Spike stand in the corner away from the sun filtering

through the windows.

Buffy:

Look at us.

Spike:

What of it?

Buffy:

We sent the world into a tailspin with what we did.

Spike:

Oh come on! Now you're going to blame the bloody End of Days on our

getting

fleshy? That's a stretch even for your warped logic.

Buffy:

I don't blame us. And I don't blame you.

Spike looks at her a bit surprised.

Buffy:

This is past laying blame.

Spike:

Careful Love. Anya put the whammy on you. You might say something

you'll

regret.

Buffy:

Gonna have to disagree. (Spike gives her a look) Anya did us a favor.

She

took the regret away. She gave us a world where we can write everything

we

say off as some kind of demon side effect.

Spike:

But it's a truthful demon side effect.

Buffy:

You said you went to lose the chip. Does that mean you were going to

come

back and try to kill me again?

Spike:

Maybe. (closes mouth in frustration) Bloody Hell Anya!

Buffy smirks a bit and walks closer to him.

Buffy:

We don't have a lot of time. Whatever happens is going to happen pretty

soon

I would imagine.

Spike:

And if I do get this shanshu thing? What happens then?

Buffy:

Giles said it could be devastating for this world if the shanshu

prophecy

doesn't take place.

Spike:

Right.

Buffy:

But I still don't believe it should have been you and you should see

that.

Spike:

Why? Because Precious Angel worked so hard for it? Well guess what

Buffy?

Angel took himself out of the running. I didn't.

Buffy:

He sacrificed himself to save us all.

Spike:

And now I will sacrifice myself to save the bleeding world! Why can't

you

see that?

Buffy:

Because getting a heartbeat isn't a sacrifice! Why can't you see that?

Spike:

(shoulders slump)

Angel was right you know. What he said. This soul has caused me more

pain

than any I inflicted. I hate how I feel. I hate being thirsty and

hating

myself for wanting it! I hate what I am now, stuck in between worlds,

and

waiting for the bleeding chip to act up again! I'm being punished and I

deserve it. I know that. But more than anything, I hate remembering the

things I said before, the things I did.

He hangs his head and Buffy knows instantly what he's talking about.

Buffy:

But you did do it Spike. I know I drove you crazy for months and you

wanted

to make me feel it, but that night...you scared me.

Spike:

Not more than I scared myself Buffy. And I hated you for that. I hated

you

for turning me into something worse than the demon that I am. And I

swore

I'd never let you do that again. That's why I left.

Buffy:

It's in the past. Now we're here.

Spike:

Where is here?

Buffy:

If you are to shanshu. If that's what has to happen, then so be it. But

don't make light of it Spike. Angel fought for this for so long. Now

he's

given you a chance to reap the benefits of what he's accomplished. You

can

go on and live...for both of you.

Spike:

And where does that leave us?

Buffy:

No.

Spike:

You'll have everything Buffy. You'll have the humanity that's been

missing

from your life and you'll be taking the journey that Angel would have

taken

if things had been different.

Buffy:

I can't take that journey with you Spike. It wouldn't be fair.

Spike:

Not fair?

Buffy:

You think you hated me before? What about after months maybe years of

wondering if I'm wishing you were someone else? Wondering if the only

reason

you have me is so I can be close to the only thing still linking Angel

to

this world? What would you feel for me then?

Spike:

Then I don't want it.

Buffy:

You can't mean that.

Spike:

I do. This pain, it would be a thousand times worse as a human. You

forget

I've been around human suffering for hundreds of years. If I know I'll

only

feel the same and never find the peace or happiness that I lacked in my

life

before becoming, then I want no part of it.

Buffy:

And you'd rather see all of us, possibly the world suffer unknown

horrors to

avoid your own pain? (Spike doesn't answer) Then Angel did it for

nothing.

And you know what? So did you. You became a better person over the last

couple years Spike. (she steps closer to him and looks into his eyes

only

inches from his face) And it wasn’t all about me. Even after I was gone, for three months you fought with Giles and the rest. You fought the good fight and it wasn’t to impress me, it was because you were becoming all over again. You became a man Spike. You told me once that you knew we could never be, but I treated you like a man, I only treated you how you deserved to be treated. And now if you're

willing to

throw it away, then there's nothing for you in this life or any other.

She stares at him for one more second before turning and walking away.

Spike

watches her leave the building and flinches at the door closing as if

it had

been slammed.

Cut to Rooftop

Lilah, Linwood and Gavin are still talking when they're interrupted.

Giles:

So it's all part of some kind of setup is it?

Lilah:

(spinning)

Wesley! Giles.

Giles:

Wesley said you three wouldn't go far. Love to watch from the sidelines

too

much for that.

Linwood:

Kudos gentleman. But you're a bit late in the game to come off as any

kind

of threat.

Wesley:

Never too late for a threat Friend. But that's not why we're here.

Lilah:

Let me guess. You want information.

Giles:

Since we're all here, why not share?

Gavin:

Maybe because we're enemies beyond reproach?

Wesley:

There isn't much beyond reproach in this business.

Lilah:

He has a point.

Linwood:

I'm tiring of hearing you agree with them Lilah.

Giles:

What are we missing? The Shanshu prophecy seems too cut and dry. Unlike

most

others we've dealt with.

Gavin:

Shanshu is the biggie. The final prophecy before the start of this

dimensions countdown to destruction.

Wesley:

I presume you're speaking of the lines blurring and the ultimate power

showing himself to teach all a lesson?

Linwood:

How did you...? (He looks at Lilah drop her head) Insolence.

Wesley:

What do the Mohra have to do with all of this? They are after Angel for a reason other than what’s obvious.

Gavin:

You all had it wrong all along. The End of Days isn’t the end. It’s the beginning.

Giles:

Beg your pardon?

Lilah:

The Shanshu prophecy speaks of a vampire with a soul becoming human after the great battles. It’s his reward. But the Powers screwed up. They predicted the reward based on a time when it wouldn’t affect other dimensions. But our team saw it as an opening. So they made their own prophecy.

Gavin:

(interrupting)

Maybe we should ask you a question.

Wesley:

What’s that?

Linwood:

Do you know what happens to the world without Angel? I mean without the demon Angel?

Wesley:

If he survives the battle, it wouldn’t be…oh God.

Lilah:

Score one for the slow.

Giles:

Wait, I think I’m…Angel is a great warrior, one brought from the darkness to serve in the light. Something neither side could have forseen.

Linwood:

Smart boys. You see, The Powers actually did us a favor. They brought about this world’s ultimate destruction in that one moment of reward.

Wesley:

(in wonder)

The ultimate punishment for the lines being blurred. Taking away the one person that could join up to stop it. When Angel was to shanshu, he would no longer be able to fight. He would be a mere mortal.

Gavin:

Pretty cool huh? That’s why the senior partners wanted him kept alive this whole time. If we killed him before shanshu then it would have turned the tables against us. The punishment would never come and the final battles would never take place.

Giles:

But surely you realize that all of us, good or bad will suffer for this. If Shanshu brings about ruination, it will be everything that is done. Not just the Powers and those that fight for Them.

Linwood:

Small price to pay for the knowledge that such arrogant power is put in its place. Besides, like I said before, we’ve been working on this for centuries. We

Have our bases covered.

Wesley:

But Angel is gone now. He has stopped it anyway.

Lilah:

Don’t try bluffing Wesley. I was there. You and your boy know that if Shanshu doesn’t occur, it will be just as bad. The Powers won’t like their higher plan being dismissed. They’ll punish those who were involved. And then when the Slayer and her cohorts are busy dealing with those ramifications, the other side will see to it that their own detours are rectified. You can’t beat this, its just a matter of which way it goes down.

 

Giles:

It’s madness. The Mohra turned Angel human for a day…

Lilah:

Now that was almost the end. See, that was never supposed to happen. And with Buffy being there at the time, we were sure he would stay human for love. That would have ruined everything. The Mohra, the soldiers of darkness almost blew everything out fo the water with that one screw up. But we needn’t have worried. When they came back and Angel fought the one alone, he saw the truth.

Wesley:

(mumbling)

He told me, he told me what it said to him.

Giles:

What?

Wesley:

It’s what made Angel realize he couldn’t stay human. It said, “Together you were powerful. Alone you are dead.” He knew if he stayed human Buffy and possibly the world would suffer for it.

Lilah:

What did I say? The nobility is suffocating.

Giles:

But now they are alone again. And the only hope we have is Spike.

Linwood:

That’s the choice then huh? You’ll let him shanshu.

Wesley:

I don’t think it’s our choice that will make it happen. But if Shanshu is to occur, then Spike getting a soul was obviously someone’s way of stacking the odds.

Giles:

The question is, which side made that decision? Are we allowing an instrument of evil to receive the reward of the Powers? Or is this the work of the Powers from the start?

Gavin:

Only one way to find out.

Connor:

What gives you all the right to decide any of this?

The group turns to see Connor standing by the door and Willow and Faith flank either side of him.

Wesley:

Connor.

Connor:

Angel will be back. He’ll be the only one to shanshu. He will be human…just like me.

Linwood:

How touching. Funny how little time it takes to forget the overwhelming hatred that ran through you not so long ago.

Faith:

I’m not that certain. I still have plenty of hate to go around. Would you like to see?

Giles:

Faith there’s no time. We must find Spike and get back to the others.

Linwood:

Forgive us if we don’t join you.

Wesley:

I wouldn’t forgive you if you did. (He glares at Lilah once more before joining the rest to walk downstairs) Let’s go.

Cut to White Place

Angel:

Cordelia.

Cordy:

Don’t use that tone with me. That’s always the bad news to follow tone.

Angel:

(smirks)

You really know me pretty well don’t you?

Cordy:

Did you doubt it?

Angel:

You belong in a place like this Cordy. You deserve this.

Cordy:

And what do you deserve Angel? Why did the Powers bring you here of all places?

Angel:

I think They spared me so I could see what I needed to. So all of us could.

Cordy:

And you needed to see me?

Angel:

Maybe. Cordy, that night…

Cordy:

I would have been there. I wanted to be there Angel.

Angel:

I know that. But they were watching over you. If you had come, then I don’t know what might have happened. Connor was so angry.

Cordy:

(exhales)

So you were worried about Connor.

Angel:

I am worried about all of you.

Cordy:

Ok, but it’s just us here Angel. Let’s forget about everyone else for just a minute. I have to tell you something.

Angel:

I know what you’re going to say. I knew it as soon as I heard you on the phone that night.

Cordy:

And you? What about you?

Angel:

(steps back and looks around)

Look at this place. How could I ever end up here? A demon in the same place of a higher being. It’s not supposed to happen like this.

Cordy:

A lot of things aren’t supposed to happen Angel. But they do. Just because we don’t say the words doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Angel:

(frowns and mumbles)

The auguries.

Cordy:

What?

Angel:

(turns to face her)

Before, when I was human, it was the Auguries that the Oracles called on for the answers.

Cordy:

Wesley said that. I felt this strange feeling sweep over me earlier and I was able to destroy the Mohra without fighting any of them. When I spoke, they said augury.

Angel:

You mean, you’re an augury?

Cordy:

I don’t know Angel. I don’t know much of anything except…

Angel:

(interrupts staring at her in wonder)

It’s really you. It has to be. It has to have been you all along.

Cordy:

Excuse me? (pauses) Angel? What are you saying?

Angel just stares at her in shocked silence.

Cut to Back hall of Bronze

Xander and Anya have been talking for a while now.

Xander:

How many times do I have to say it Anya?

Anya:

It doesn’t matter anyway. I can’t change what I am again.

Xander:

And I can’t change what I did.

Anya:

But you still love me. I know you still love me.

Xander:

I’ve told you that from the start. You were the one that turned your back on it. And I can’t say as I blame you. What I did to you, how that must have felt. I can only imagine. But I swear it was better than going through with the wedding.

Anya:

If this is the End of days, if we’re all going to die here, I’m glad you’re with me.

Xander:

Ok, glad I’m here to die with you. Not sure how to take that An.

Anya:

Guess there’s no time now.

Xander:

What does that mean?

Anya:

I can feel it coming. Something is coming.

Xander looks around and holds out his hand.

Xander:

Let’s get back and check on the others.

Anya hesitates for only a second before grabbing his hand in return.

Buffy walks in the Bronze at the same instant that Xander and anya walk in form the other side of the room. Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Dru all look up.

Dru:

What did you do to him now?

Buffy:

Have you guys seen Giles?

Fred:

No, we were just starting to wonder what was taking so long.

Dawn:

Buffy!

Dawn, Willow, Connor, Wesley and Giles stride in and all meet in the center of the room by the stage.

Wesley:

Where’s Spike?

Buffy:

Doing some thinking hopefully.

Giles:

We need him here. If he is to Shanshu then we must be aware when it happens. We’ve learned some information that is very critical to what’s to happen.

Xander:

What else is there? How many apocalypses can happen in one day?

The door bursts opena dn spike rushes in smoking a bit. He holds his head and drops down to his knees obviously in excruciating pain.

Buffy:

Spike?

She goes to him and tries to help him up. He brushes her off.

Gunn:

Is this it? Is this the Shanshu deal?

Spike drops his hands to beat on the floor once before springing to his feet. He looks up to everyone watching and his eyes glow an eerie orange.

Dawn:

Spike?

Buffy:

(taking a step back and putting herself between Spike and the rest)

Everyone get back.

Dru:

(smiling)

Is that my boy I smell? Spike I’m here Pet! Come home to Dru!

Cut to White Place

V.O.:

It is time.

Angel and Cordelia startle and look around at the empty place.

Cordelia:

Time for what?

V.O.:

Two decisions must be made. Demons can not be in this dimension. Exceptions surround him, but he will decide the rest.

Cordy:

As usual I don’t understand.

Angel:

I do.

V.O.:

There is only one path to life beyond this one.

Angel:

My life is meant for only one purpose.

Cordy:

What purpose? What are you saying Angel?

Angel walks to touch the side of Cordy’s face.

Angel:

I don’t belong here Cordelia. You know that.

Cordy:

(shaking head)

You deserve to be safe. And free of all the pain and sacrifice you’ve made for so long. They brought you here to show you that. To show you that this is where you belong now.

Angel:

No Cordy. They brought me here to let me have this moment. This one moment when I know with perfect clarity why I’ve done this all along. And why everyone I care about pays for my past just as much as I do. I can’t leave them to fight without me. I’m a fighter Cordelia. It’s who I am. And now you’re one too. You remember that no matter what.

Cordy:

(grabbing his hand when he tries to pull away)

It’s Buffy isn’t it? You can never leave her to fight alone.

Angel:

I told Doyle once, Buffy and I don’t belong to ourselves, we belong to the world fighting. It’s what connected us in the beginning. It’s what led to her death and her resurrection. And now it’s my turn.

Cordy:

What does that mean?

Before he can answer, he disappears in front of her. She looks around and within seconds she’s in the Bronze watching Spike scream out in pain. The others notice her.

Willow:

Cordelia! Do you know what’s happening?

Cordy shakes her head numbly and the glow in Spike’s eyes grows brighter. Just below his feet, the ground cracks and begins to part. His legs move beneath him and he loses his balance. He falls into the hole and Buffy calls out to him.

When no one moves at first, the hole widens and almost looks like it did when Angel disappeared, but this time it closes without fire.

Cordelia:

Where’s Angel?

Xander:

I thought you were going to figure that out.

Cordy:

He was with me but then he wasn’t.

Buffy:

He was with you? Where?

Giles:

Buffy look.

From the back hall a sound is heard. Everyone turns to see Angel struggle through the doorway with Spike thrown over his shoulder. He drops to his knees and groans as the orange glow from Spike’s eyes grows to surround them both and a beam of white energy shoots through the ceiling to combine with it and send vibrations throughout the room.

Thunder and wind fill the room.

Wesley:

It’s from the prophecy. This is it.

Giles:

Shanshu.

Connor steps forward to see better.

Connor:

Which one is it? (pauses then yells) Which one?