Final Thoughts by Cheri

Chapter 21

 

Fade in Woods

Faith and Spike are trudging through the trees.

Spike: I still say we should have followed Beastie Boy when we had the chance.

Faith: He was headed in the wrong direction. If you want to go play Knight in Shining, be my guest. I have somewhere to be.

Spike: I’m not going anywhere until I see Buffy.

Faith: Man, what is it with B and the vamp love?

Spike: You wouldn’t understand.

Faith: Guess not. But at least she has taste. You and Angel are definitely on the higher end of the vamp chain.

Spike: What do you say we don’t lump Angel and I together where Buffy’s concerned, k?

Faith laughs and they move along through the brush.

 

Cut to Summer home

Lorne and Fred are standing over Anya who is still in the makeshift sling and pale as a ghost.

Fred: Please let us take you to the hospital.

Anya: I told you I’m not going anywhere until Xander comes back. Until they all come back.

Lorne: That’s really sweet honey. But if that bone isn’t set right soon, you might as well move to Notre Dame and live in a bell tower.

Anya: Listen, I appreciate your concern, really I do. But I’ve been around for 1200 years, this little boo-boo isn’t even a blip on my radar.

Fred: 1200 years.

Lorne: I knew there was something very old school about you.

Anya: Well I’m human now. 100 percent. And I’ve got the annoyingly excruciating pain to prove it.

Fred: Which is why we should…

The door opens and Fred and Lorne turn. Gunn rushes in past Wesley.

Gunn: There you are!

He grabs her in a bear hug.

Fred: (looking at Wes) What are you doing here?

Wesley: There have been some developments.

Lorne: You listened to her demands.

Wes: Simply put, yes.

Anya: What does that mean?

Dawn plops on the end of the couch causing Anya to move and suck in a ragged breath.

Dawn: It means they decided I’m sit at home girl again. (pause) Giles said it could only be who Buffy started out with.

Lorne: Angel and Cordelia.

Dawn: Giles and Willow.

Anya: And Xander.

Wes: Yes, they’ve all gone.

Anya: This was the best you could come up with? Send them to slaughter?

Gunn: I don’t think they’re the sacrificial lambs you’re making them out to be. We’re talking about a vampire, a witch, a watcher and a higher being.

Anya: And Xander. He’s not special. He’s just Xander.

Wes: But he’s with the others Anya. And the Beast didn’t kill him when he had the chance. So I think he’s safe.

Fred: And what about us? We just sit here and pretend our friends aren’t fighting to the death right across town?

Gunn: Wes thinks we’ll be occupied.

Dawn: And I think we can all see that was a big wrong.

Lorne: Don’t speak too soon. Things have a way of going bad real quick.

Wes: Precisely. So I think we should prepare ourselves the best we can.

Gunn: I’ll check upstairs. Make sure everything’s locked up.

Wes: I’ll check the kitchen and secure the back door.

Fred: I can check the front.

Wesley: Dawn, are we missing anything?

Dawn: Just the basement. But there’s no door down there.

Wes: We can’t take any chances. You and Lorne can check it.

Lorne opens his mouth and Wesley holds up a warning finger. He takes the hint and follows Dawn out of the room. The others disperse to do as instructed and Anya is left on the couch flinching in pain trying not to cry.

 

Cut to Cave

Buffy spins to look at Connor.

Buffy: It’s you.

Connor: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Buffy: You were there. You did something.

Connor shakes his head.

Angel: Buffy, let us help you.

Buffy: Help me? You? Like you helped me learn about love? Or sex? Or vengance? Or pain, or misery I don’t want any more of your help Angel.

Cordelia: So I guess the whining comes with the Buffy package regardless of a soul.

Buffy: You think you’ve won? It’s just beginning. And you’re all going to be here for this one too.

Angel: Let Connor go. He has nothing to do with this. He never did anything to you.

Buffy: I always did the right thing. The honorable thing and look where it got me. (turns around) Xander, you never trusted my judgement.

Xander: That’s not true. I’ve backed you up for seven years.

Buffy: How so? You second guessed everything I said. You accused me of letting emotion cloud my judgement where Angel was concerned. And then Spike. You always doubted me. And Willow, you betrayed me.

Willow: I know what I did Buffy.

Buffy: No I really don’t think you do Wil. You got taken on a sabbatical for killing a man. Faith got put in jail. So what’s the diff? I’ll tell you what it was. Me. I let you escape punishment. I let Giles take you to his special place with his little coven bitches and heal you.

Giles: It wasn’t only your decision.

Buffy: That’s right! You had a little say didn’t you? Tell me again why that is after you deserted me when I needed you most? I have fought for every one of you all along. Doing what I had to, to protect you, to help you. And what did I get? Pain. I mean, Cordelia may be a bitch but at least she was up front about it.

Cordelia: And what is it you’re doing now Buffy? You took a tip from Angelus and want to make us all uncomfortable? Sorry. You just can’t pull it off.

Buffy moves before anyone can react and pins Cordelia against a wall holding her by the throat.

Buffy: Higher being. That’s what you are now? Yet you’ve done nothing here? You can’t stop me and you can’t stop the First.

Cordy: We’ll see about that.

Connor sneaks up behind Buffy and kicks her in the back. She slams against Cordelia and pushes her to the side violently. She turns to face Connor.

Buffy: You’re a fool. You think you can beat me? That you can beat what is happening? It’s too late Connor. Mommy and Daddy made you for this. The First might be ultimately responsible for sending you all to the hell you deserve, but you my friend, were the key to the locked gate. Now it’s open and there’s no going back.

Connor: So what do you want? Why don’t you do it already?

 

Cordelia: She cant. For all her powers as the Slayer, little Buffy here can do nothing for herself on the dark side. Isn’t that right?

Buffy: I wouldn’t bet on it.

Willow: You’re here alone Buffy. Nothing’s here helping you.

Giles: That’s what darkness is Buffy. You had friends who fought alongside you. You made each other stronger. Here, like this, you’re alone. Do you think the First or any of it’s minions will protect you? They’ll send you to slaughter to save their own necks in a second.

Angel: Connor…

Connor looks at Angel and he nods toward the light.

Connor: It’s not me.

Buffy: What?

She looks from him to Angel.

Buffy: I don’t want it back. Do you all hear me? I like this feeling. I’m free. Free of basing decisions on you, protecting you, loving you, and hating you for every minute of the worry and the stress and the distraction. I’m done.

Xander: Willow.

Willow: What?

Xander: What’s happening?

Everyone looks to see the light from before hovering over Angel. He looks up slowly just as it slams into and through him. It streams from his body directly into Buffy’s and they both fall.

Suddenly, the others are attacked. A vamp comes out of nowhere to grab Giles from behind. They begin to fight.

Cordelia is taken on by a harbinger in the long robes. She begins defending herself valiantly while Willow watches Buffy and Angel struggle to get up. Xander sees a demon going after Willow and runs to tackle it.

From the shadows walks Darla. The First only has eyes for Connor. He watches her move closer unsure of how to react. She opens her arms as if to hug him just as Giles runs his attacker through with a broadsword.

Cordelia glows briefly eliminating her aggressor and Willow throws a fistful of fire into the demon that was pouncing Xander.

Buffy and Angel finally stand up looking very groggy and unsure. They all see Darla smile as Connor steps closer to her.

Cordelia: Connor no!!

Without a word Darla takes him in her arms to the shock of everyone in the room. Then the two begin to meld. Connor cries out once and Darla looks skyward before melting into him. Now it is just Connor standing alone in the center of the room. The others watch and wait.

Xander: How did that…? I thought the First couldn’t touch anything or anyone.

Giles: It can’t. It can only take the form of someone who is dead or has been dead.

Willow: Connor wasn’t dead.

Xander: Operative word being wasn’t.

Cordelia: Shut up! (steps closer) Connor? Are you okay?

Connor: I’m fine. (smiles) Now.

Willow: Oh no.

Giles: It can’t be.

Connor: Don’t look so perplexed guys. It’s simple really. And you all were so close.

Cordelia: What are you saying?

Connor: I’m saying that the Beast didn’t rise up from his birthplace for no reason. You were right. Lorne almost figured it out. But you all were too wrapped up in the Passions of it to figure it out in time.

Angel: Connor? (pause) Son?

Connor spins around.

Connor: Yeah Dad? How you feelin?

Angel: (menacing) What did you do to my son?

Connor: It’s not what it did. It’s what you did. You made him. This is what I came for.

Xander: What who came for? Connor or the First.

Connor: The First can only communicate through those that are dead. But it’s not enough. No touching. No power. I needed someone special. A living child born of death. From the undead there is me.

Willow: (mumbles) The First isn’t meant to be corporeal. It only is meant to influence those who are.

Cordelia: (thinking out loud) We never knew how you happened. How you came to be. Oh God, why didn’t we keep looking?

Connor: Surprise.

Angel: No. Connor, you’re stronger than this.

Connor: Stronger than this? I am this. You’re boy’s gone. And I owe it all to you.

Buffy: (chuckles) So let me get this straight. You’re the First? And you’re an actual solid person now? So you have all the strength of every ounce of darkness and evil this world has ever known and can actually use it to destroy everything and everyone thanks to Angel making it with Darla?

Cordy: No. This can’t be happening.

Giles: My God.

Connor: Call whoever you want, it’s finally my turn.

Angel reaches out to touch Connor’s shoulder and he spins grabbing his wrist in his hand. Connor punches once in Angel’s chest and he flies backwards twenty feet hitting the cave wall knocking an entire section of rock loose.

Xander: Not good.

Cordy: Willow, does the First have Buffy’s soul? If Connor was the harness, then wouldn’t that mean the First has it now?

Willow: I don’t know. What happened just before? The light.

Giles: It went through Angel and Buffy.

Buffy: It doesn’t matter now, you’re all going to die.

Angel: Maybe not.

Connor: Oh shut up!

Angel walks to look down at Buffy. They seem to get lost in one another for a second before he raises a hand to touch her face. She jumps back as if scalded.

Angel: Willow, you said you could feel the Shaman’s energy. You felt the harness right?

Willow: Yes, but it was when I could touch him. I don’t think…

Angel grabs Buffy by the shoulders and kisses her hard. She starts fighting immediately to get away from him but he won’t let go. Everyone else in the room is too stunned to speak.

Willow seems to realize finally and closes her eyes. When she opens them Angels ends the kiss and Buffy punches him hard in the face. Her breathing is labored and she looks at Connor.

Xander: Ok, that was just inappropriate.

Willow: Giles, we need to go.

Giles: Beg your pardon?

Angel looks at her and she nods.

Cordy: Have you gone mental? I’m not going anywhere.

Willow: Xander, come.

Connor: You don’t have the power to decide who goes.

Willow: (eyes go black) You should have thought of that before you gave me so much of it. Don’t question my strength.

Xander walks to join her silently and Willow pulls both he and Giles outside.

 

Cordy: What the hell is going on? Angel?

Angel: (still looking at Buffy) It’s me.

Cordy: What’s you?

Angel: I don’t know how, I don’t know when. The Shaman must have done something. When my soul was returned and Buffy’s was taken, we were so close.

Cordy: What are you saying?

Angel: The light. The force that just went through me, through us. It was the harness, Buffy’s soul. I felt her.

Cordy: So you had to kiss her?

Buffy: Angel.

Angel: You can fight this Buffy.

She seems confused.

Connor/First: No. She’s mine now.

Cordy: I wouldn’t be so sure.

Connor looks at the three left and lunges. Angel isn’t fast enough and he grabs Cordelia from behind.

Connor/First: Which one will it be? You may help the Slayer get her soul back but it will be at the cost of this one. Are you prepared for that sacrifice?

 

Cut to Outside cave

Xander: You wanna fill me in here guys?

Willow: Angel was the harness. The shaman must have known. I felt it in there. Angel and Buffy were connected. When he kissed her, it was like some kind of power transferred. I can help.

Giles: Just so I’m clear. Buffy’s soul is being harnessed through or by Angel. And all we have to do is find a way to release the harness and Buffy will be saved?

Willow: I think. As long as she’s not fighting it.

Xander: That might be a problem then.

They look at him.

Xander: You heard her in there. She doesn’t want it back. She likes the conscience free life.

Giles: What do you need Willow?

Willow: Just a little time. I should be able to pull enough energy to do a releasing spell. But not here. I have to get away from this cave. The source of all evil is here and it’s too strong.

Xander: We can’t just leave.

Willow: Especially now.

Giles: Why especially now?

Willow nods her head and the guys turn to see a group of Harbingers heading their way.

Xander: This doesn’t look fun.

Giles: Willow go now. We’ll hold them back as long as we can. But you’ll be alone out there.

Willow: I can handle it.

She looks at them once more before running into the dark.

The first Harbinger arrives and comes after Xander. He blocks the first swing of the weapon and grabs the handle to start a tug of war.

Giles kicks the feet out from under the first he sees and spins to start hand to hand with a third. The fourth is heading for Xander when he’s yanked backwards and onto the ground.

Faith: (standing over him) How’s it goin?

He snarls and flips up onto his feet and they start going hand to hand.

Spike runs into the fray hollering and tackles two more. He seems to be handling them admirably as the battle continues.

 

Cut to Summers home

Everyone has gathered in the living room once again after securing what they could when the Beast crashes through the wall.

Gunn: Good plan Wes.

Wes: Dawn, get Anya up and get down to the basement with Lorne. Fred…

Fred: I’m not leaving you…(looks at Gunn) either of you.

The Beast looks around once and takes a step toward the stairs. Gunn raises an arm holding a broadsword and it’s swatted from his hand instantly. Wesley comes at it from behind firing a gun into it’s shoulder.

Fred: I thought bullets were useless.

There’s a loud sound and they look to see the bullet has created a gaping hole in it’s arm. Gunn is able to sneak around it and stand in front of Fred.

Wesley: Exploding ammo. I got it off the black market some time ago. It won’t kill him though. Move!

They run toward the kitchen and the Beast looks down at the hole before following them angrily. The others are able to sneak past.

They make it to the kitchen and Wes fires once more as the Beast enters. This time it’s in his jaw and half of it is destroyed.

Fred: What now?

Wes: Gunn, take her and get downstairs. Bar the door.

Fred: What about you?

The Beast shakes his head slowly trying to clear his thoughts and snarls again before taking yet another step.

Wes: Just get down there!

Gunn grabs her arm and holds her back as Wes steps up to face the Beast alone. She’s pulled away as she strains to see what’s happening. The beast grabs Wes by the throat and picks him up before she loses sight.

Wes: No flames? Just kill him quick. Where’s the fun in that?

Beast: Fun?

Wesley pulls a grenade from his pocket and pulls the pin. He shoves a finger in the Beasts eye and it opens it’s mouth in surprise. Wesley shoves the grenade in as far as he can causing the Beast to drop him and claw at his throat.

Wesley: Fun.

Wesley leaps as far as he can but the grenade explodes with him still in the room. The kitchen fills with fire and debris and the dust cloud covers everything blocking any sign of where the Beast or Wes landed.

 

Cut to Basement

Gunn and Lorne are pushing the last beam against the door when the entire house shakes. Anya stumbles against the wall and cries out. Dawn tries to help her but loses her balance and falls.

Fred: Wesley!

She rushes to the stairs and Gunn holds her in his arms as she struggles. He sets her back from him and they look at each other in a way they never have before.

Lorne looks up as the plaster falls and several shelves tumble and objects break.

Lorne: (sadly) Oh Wesley.

 

Cut to Cave

Buffy: Angel.

He looks to her struggling with something and back to Cordelia frightened and unsure.

 

Cut to Woods

Willow is crosslegged and floating about 6 inches off the ground.

 

Cut to Outside Cave

Giles is taking quite a beating when Spike comes to assist. He’s impaled by Giles stake in the process and drops to the ground in pain as he pulls at the stake in his gut.

Giles is distracted by this and receives a devastating blow to the head. He crumples on top oh Spike shoving the stake deeper. Spike cries out.

Xander has beaten one and turns to see Faith taking on two at once. He tries to help but ends up only getting tossed aside and once again he hits a tombstone. Blood spatters across the stone as he slumps against it.

Faith cartweheels away from one to kick the face of another. She pushes Giles and pulls the stake out of Spike to shove it in the heart of the Harbinger. He falls to the ground dead as Spike struggles to stand.

 

Cut to Cave

Connor/First: Your choice. You’ll all die tonight, but which one can you bear to watch?

Buffy suddenly convulses and drops to her knees. Her head goes down and Angel recognizes the sight. When she raises her eyes glow eerily for a second before she’s normal again. She breathes hard and finally sees those around her.

Angel: Buffy?

She stands slowly and looks at Connor then Cordelia.

Buffy: It’s me.

Connor/First: (tightens grip) Then she dies.

Buffy: Wait. (looks at Angel) I said it was me. I didn’t say I changed my mind.

Angel: What?

Cordy: What?

Connor/First: What?

Buffy: You can let her go. I’m all yours.

Angel: What are you doing? Your soul?

Buffy: Right where it belongs. You however, not so much.

Connor/First: You mistake me for a fool.

Buffy: I meant what I said. I’m tired of fighting.

Angel: Buffy, this isn’t a good time for secret plans. We’re out of time.

Buffy: Connor told me.

Cordy: Told you what?

Buffy: You took his body, but you don’t have his mind do you?

Angel: Buffy please.

Buffy looks at Cordy.

Buffy: You let her go and I stay. You think I ruined the balance? Well I’m shifting it back to you. The Slayer line was never the problem. It was me. And my connections to those around me. Slayers are meant to be alone. So I’ll be alone.

Connor/First: It’s too late. The damage has been done. They believe themselves champions.

Buffy: Come on, you and I know it was only because of me they came with the confidence. So we’ll strip it.

Angel: No.

Buffy: You don’t get to talk. You with your retract-a-soul. Can’t you for once just stick to what you’re good at?

Angel: And what’s that?

Buffy ignores him and turns back to Connor/First.

Buffy: You let her go. Or kill her, I really don’t care. She’s got nothing but good in her. It’s stifling really.

She looks at Cordelia very intently making sure they have eye contact before continuing.

Buffy: If you ask me she needs a little evil in her.

Cordelia opens her mouth but Buffy raises an eyebrow. Something is being communicated between them without words. No one else catches it. Cordy closes her mouth and she seems completely flabbergasted.

Buffy: I told you Connor told me everything.

Cordy nods imperceptibly and Buffy turns to Angel.

Buffy: We’ve certainly traveled a strange path haven’t we? It’s time I stepped from it…finally.

Angel: I don’t understand.

Buffy: If you’re lucky, you never will.

She turns back to Connor/First: So let’s do it. You get me, all of me, soul intact and I go underground with you. Let them see if they can hold it together with me gone. Certainly couldn’t manage last time. And this time I won’t be around to resurrect. What do you say?

Connor/First pushes Cordelia away and Angel catches her. Buffy sees this and seems pained. She quickly gets over it and looks back at the First. Connor holds out a hand and she takes it. A portal opens in one wall and a fierce wind rips through the cave. Cordelia grabs Angel for support and he covers his eyes trying to still watch what’s happening.

The two step into the opening and Buffy grimaces. Just as she puts both feet through the energy, she turns and pushes Connor violently backwards. He collars and Cordelia jumps to touch his hand.

Angel watches in shock as Cordelia begins to glow and it permeates Connor’s hand and arm. A blast of lightening reaches out from the portal knocking him against the wall. Buffy is being pulled by an unseen force from the portal and struggles to maintain a grip on Connor’s foot. Just trying to keep even the smallest bit of contact.

 

Cut to Outside Cave

The harbingers all stop fighting at once. They look to the cave and begin chanting loudly.

 

Cut to Woods

Willow’s eyes open wide and in surprise. She falls hard to the ground and passes out.

 

Cut to Basement

The group all looks upward as the ceiling seems ready to give at any moment.

 

Cut to Kitchen

Smoke still fills the room but through the dense cloud a bloody hand under a pil of debris become visible.

 

Fade to Black