Final Thoughts by Cheri

Chapter One

Rating: PG 13

Disclaimers: I own nothing. Except my extreme admiration and awe at the world that Joss Whedon and the rest of ME has created. The characters are his as are the foundations of the ideas I have. This is just my pitiful attempt at interpretation. So please don’t sue.

Premise: I write during hiatuses as if the shows were continuing where they left off. This is not a continuation of any previous work of mine. Only a theory of what might happen from here on out if I were writing the show. It always ends up a crossover, but I will start only with Angel until the new eps of Buffy play out. Please leave feedback every chance you get. It motivates me as you all know. Enjoy!

 

Final Thoughts

 

Part One

Fade in Hyperion

Abandoned Lobby

Door swings open, Fred runs in frantic.

Fred:

Charles! (runs into office) Lorne! (runs out and glances around) Angel?

She pauses, worried, then rushes towards the stairs.

 

Cut to Wolfram & Hart

Gavin frees his hands, removes the gag and stands finally.

Gavin:

Are you just going to stand there dumbfounded? Do you have any idea wh…?

Lilah:

(turns to him)

I keep my ideas to myself. I’m guessing you missed that day in new employee training.

Gavin:

Waste your time with digs at me all you’d like. But I consider any information Angel got from me miniscule when compared to you handing him our entire file.

Lilah:

As usual, your annoyingly literal take on events affirms your uselessness.

Gavin:

Am I to assume the senior partners will see your actions tonight as somehow useful?

Lilah:

(sits down and smiles up at him)

Wow, if I didn’t know better, I’d think that was a thinly veiled threat.

Gavin doesn’t flinch.

Lilah:

Even you couldn’t be that ignorant. What happened here tonight is irrelevant. I’m betting the flaming projectiles are trying to tell us something.

Gavin:

Ya think?

Lilah:

They failed. The Angel brigade with all its holier than thou intentions failed. It wasn’t stopped and last I heard there was only one way that was going to happen.

Gavin:

You think he’s dead?

Lilah:

I think finding out should be the priority. Not going all tattle tale on each other.

Gavin:

And I would trust you why?

Lilah:

I never said trust. You’d be a moron to ever trust me. But we have a very new, very powerful player Gavin. You work with me or I’ll have you fed to it as a peace offering.

His façade finally cracks and he steps back slightly.

Gavin:

Where do we start?

Cut to Hyperion

Abandoned Lobby

Door swings open, Wes and Lorne each hold one of Gunns arms around their shoulders.

The group stumbles awkwardly and drops onto the lounger. Gunn groans as the other two roll away from him.

Wes:

(looking closely at Gunn’s face)

Lorne could you…”

Lorne:

One first aid kit coming right up. (walks away still talking) If we survive the night, I’m buying stock in every medical supply company I can find.

Gunn:

Ouch! Watch it man!

Wesley:

I apologize Gunn. I’m just trying to ensure stitches aren’t necessary.

Gunn:

They might be for you if you keep poking around in my gashes.

Wes:

Very well. Just wait for Lorne. I’m going to check for the others.

Gunn:

Others? (Looks up at him) Or Fred?

Footsteps interrupt and they both look to the stairs.

Fred:

(sees Gunn)

Charles! Oh God what happened to you?

She runs to drop in front of him and touch his swollen face. Wes looks on quietly.

Lorne:

There you are Fredkins! You missed all the kicking of our combined asses.

He hands her the kit and she begins to tend to Gunn.

Fred:

Where were you? I came as soon as I could and no one was here. Where’s Angel?

Gunn:

(sharp intake of breath at the pain)

We’d hoped he’d be here.

Wes:

I knew it was a long shot.

Lorne:

Maybe about the same long shot as him surviving that fall.

Wes:

He’s survived worse. We just have to find him. Something else must have happened.

Fred:

Did he get it as bad as you?

Gunn:

I’m fine.

He starts to push her hands away and try to stand.

Fred:

(pushing him back down)

Stop that. Let me finish cleaning them at least. Or are you anxious to get back outside for the next molten shower?

Lorne:

Caught that huh? Too bad you weren’t with us. Best seats in the house. What’s left of it anyway.

Wes:

Fred, finish taking care of Gunn. Lorne, gather every weapon you can find, upstairs and down. I have to make a phone call.

Lorne:

Don’t suppose it’s a direct line to the Powers?

Wes:

(mumbles to himself)

Next best thing.

Lorne:

Did he just say…?

Fred:

Lorne go!

He startles and forgets what he was asking as he leaves to do as instructed.

Gunn:

You don’t have to do this. I’ve been patching myself up since I was a kid.

Fred:

And I’ve been patching you up since we…

Gunn:

What? You can’t even say it anymore?

Fred:

Now’s not the time Charles.

Gunn:

(slumps back against couch)

Naw, I guess we’re all out of time aren’t we?

They exchange a very weighted look.

Cut to Connor’s place.

Pan across and onto bed where a sleeping Connor and Cordelia lay under the blankets.

Suddenly, Cordelia sits straight up struggling to catch her breath.

Cordelia:

Angel!

Connor stirs still asleep and she looks down at him in shock. Her eyes move down to her obvious state of undress and she gasps again before jumping from the bed.

Cordelia:

We’re here. (looks out window at the barely visible sunrise on the horizon) It stopped. And we’re still here.

She backs away and starts searching for her clothes. She has just slipped the shirt over her head and is reaching for her shoes when he speaks.

Connor:

What are you doing?

Cordy:

(startles)

God, you scared me. I was just getting dressed to go survey the damage. It looks like the special effects have stopped and I’d like to know if we’re the only ones left or…

Connor:

Or if he’s alive as well.

Cordy:

(stops tying her shoe to look at him)

We have to know what’s happening Connor. It’s not over.

Connor:

(standing without modesty)

I’ll go with you.

Cordy:

You’re hurt. You need to rest. I’ll come back for you.

Connor:

It’s not safe alone.

Cordy:

It’s not safe anywhere. Please. Let me do this.

Connor:

You’re acting strangely. Is it because of…

Cordy:

(interrupting)

I have to go. I won’t be long. Don’t go anywhere until I get back. Do you swear?

Connor hesitates but finally nods slightly in agreement.

Cordy:

Good.

She looks at him one last time before heading out.

Cut to Just outside building.

Cordy steps onto the sidewalk and notices blood on the ground.

Cordelia:

(sing song)

Follow the red bloody road.

She takes off walking down the deserted street.

Cut to Connor’s place

He sits on the bed and switches the TV on.

(announcer:)

The mayor is urging citizens not to panic at the strange occurrences of this past evening. Meteor showers though uncommon in metropolitan cities, are not completely implausible. We are joined now by Dr. Henry McCaughb, the head of the science department at UCLA. He’s here to help put our minds at ease and explain why just because fire falls from the sky, it doesn’t mean the world is ending. (Polite chuckles offscreen)

Voices fade as Connor reaches to turn it down.

Connor:

Fools.

 

Cut to Lilah in car speeding down the street.

A man steps in front of her car and she can’t stop in time to avoid hitting him. He flies up and lands against her windshield.

Lilah:

(turning off car and removing seatbelt)

You’ve got to be kidding me.

She steps out as he struggles to right himself.

Lilah:

Angel?

Angel:

It’s okay. I’m not hurt…much.

He looks up with glazed eyes and seems to not recognize her.

Lilah:

What the hell happened to you?

Angel:

Lilah? Oh, I’m fine. Not dead yet. Guess I broke our agreement.

He stands up and straightens his jacket collar brushing off the dirt.

Lilah:

You look like you bit yourself.

Angel reaches up to feel the puncture wound.

Angel:

That’d be a neat trick. But no, this is courtesy of the latest beastie.

Lilah:

So what are you doing out here? Why aren’t you at the bat cave gathering the troops?

Angel:

I…I was heading that way. (turns to look over his shoulder) I just…

Lilah:

Dissension in the ranks? You’ve had a lot of that lately haven’t you? You better be careful, pretty soon, you’ll be coming to me on the daily.

Angel:

Don’t you have an end of the world to see to?

Lilah:

(smiles)

Bleeding profusely, battered, broken and seemingly without backup and he still finds the time to joke. You’re just a brave little toaster aren’t you?

Her phone rings and she reaches to answer it and step away at the same time.

Lilah:

I can’t talk now. (pause) No, talking quietly not an option in the case. (gives Angel a look) Well imagine that. Looks like everyone’s playing musical chairs. I’m on my way.

Angel:

Sounded important.

Lilah:

Everything’s important on a night like this. So I’m sure I’ll see you soon?

Angel:

Guaranteed. Although not as soon as Wesley it would seem.

She looks up in surprise.

Angel:

Keen hearing isn’t my only sense. Is it really the right time for a quickie?

Lilah:

(steps close to whisper)

For the uncursed, there’s always time.

Angel flinches as he has a flash of Cordy and Connor in bed together. He stumbles back and sucks in a deep breath. Lilah mistakes it for reaction to her and smiles as if to gloat.

Lilah:

I told you once before, never again.

Angel frowns and then remembers as she saunters back to her car and peels out going past him. He opens his mouth far too late to argue and begins to walk again.

 

Cut to Hyperion

Lorne:

And he just left? You didn’t ask where he was going?

Gunn:

Last I checked he was grown. He said he’d be back and he will. Now how about concentrating on those we can’t account for?

Fred:

Cordelia.

Gunn:

Yes, for starters.

Fred:

No. (points) Cordelia.

They all turn to see Cordelia standing outside the doors looking at the dead sparrows littering the entryway. Lorne goes to open the door.

Lorne:

Now here’s a sight for sore eyes. Where’s the big guy?

Cordelia:

Big guy? Connor?

Fred:

Bigger.

Lorne:

Angel. Didn’t he find you?

Cordy:

Was he supposed to?

Gunn:

We thought maybe he went to check up on you and Junior after the throwdown.

Cordy:

Throwdown? No, I never saw him. Not since…well I just haven’t.

Lorne:

Great. Hell is unleashed on the city of Angels and the one namesake that might have a chance of fighting it is MIA.

Fred:

He must have found something. And it would have to be big for him to be gone this long. Maybe he’s found a way to stop this.

Gunn:

Yeah cause the first time he tried, it went so well.

Cordy:

Can someone just answer one question please?

Lorne:

What’s that love?

Cordy:

Why aren’t we all dead?

The group looks at one another not having an answer.

Cut to Wesley’s place

He opens the door to find Lilah waiting for him.

Wesley:

You made good time.

Lilah:

I had good reason. You’ll never believe who I ran into on the way.

Wes:

Angel. (pauses) It’s obvious enough after the quiet talking comment. How was he?

Lilah:

(walking to wind her hands around his neck)

I’ll tell you everything. (kisses his face) But first…

Wesley grabs the back of her head and starts to pull her away by the hair before changing his mind and punishing her mouth with his briefly.

Wesley:

Why is it that the subject of Angel seems to affect you in strange ways?

Lilah:

I never heard you complain before.

Wesley:

What’s happened tonight Lilah. It’s beyond the scope of anything we’ve encountered.

Lilah:

I’m aware.

Wesley:

Lines will be drawn. The gray areas are about to be disseminated. Everyone must choose.

Lilah:

That’s why we need this. (kisses him) That’s why we want this.

 

Cut to Street outside Hyperion

Angel walks towards the doors and sees inside. Cordelia is standing against the counter with her back to him. He stops and has another flash of what he saw. His face transforms to vamp and he growls before turning to run away.