A Fighter's Love by Cheri

Chapter 41

 

Fade in EXT.-Outside W&H-parking lot

Gavin:

(watches Linwood exit the car and walks with him)

I’m sorry to disturb you so early but I thought this was important.

Linwood:

(looking ahead of him)

It looks like you weren’t wrong about that.

Camera pans from them to W&H skyscraper

A wall of flames surrounds the building at least ten feet up.

Linwood:

How long has it been like this?

Gavin:

I arrived about thirty minutes ago. I came to get an early start and found it like this. (glances around) I would imagine this might call unwanted attention to us.

Linwood:

And who else did you call?

Gavin:

Excuse me? I thought…

Linwood:

(shakes head irritatedly)

Amateur.

He flips open his cell and begins dialing as Gavin watches the flames in awe. His eyes drift upwards.

Gavin:

Um Mr. Linwood, is it raining on the roof?

Cut to Lobby

Dawn:

They’re getting higher. There’s no way out.

Fred:

It’s not real. It’s some kind of side effect of what’s going on up on the roof.

Connor:

I’m going to warn the others.

A ceiling tile falls out and crashes to the floor just feet away from them.

Xander:

We have to think of something. This place is about to collapse around and possibly on us.

Fred:

You all should go. I have to do something.

Connor:

We leave no one alone.

Xander:

He’s right.

Fred:

It’s not like anyone can come in after me. (she points to the doors blocked by fire) I have an idea, it may not work, but its worth a shot.

Dawn:

You’re not going alone. Xander, you and Connor go get the others. We’ll check this out and be right behind you.

Xander:

It’s your call Connor. I’m at a loss here.

Connor:

We’ll meet back here in 15 minutes.

Fred nods and takes Dawn by the hand to head down the hall. Connor and Xander run to the stairwell entrance.

Cut to Office

Lorne:

I know its here. Angel told me all about it. (pulls something out of his pocket) And he let me have a look at this.

Lilah:

Is that…?

Lorne:

You bet your sweet bippy Sister. Now you can get a break from the restraints and join us or you can stay here and we’ll be sure and send a nice thank you note to the senior partners about how helpful you were.

Lilah:

You’re crazy to try this.

Willow:

I won’t argue with that.

Lilah:

Did he tell you about this place?

Willow:

Spooky vibe, deceptively innocent girl. I think I can handle it.

Lilah:

Yeah. Angel did too. Until he found himself calling forth evil incarnate and suffering the consequences for…well, maybe he still is.

Lorne:

Well, evil incarnate and his entire family of bad is currently partying on the rooftop, so I think I like our odds.

Willow:

So what will it be?

Lilah:

(shrugs)

Whatever. It’s your funeral.

Willow and Lorne untie her and each take an arm heading for the elevator. They step inside and Lorne pulls the paper out of his pocket to punch the correct sequence to begin their journey.

Cut to Rooftop

The rain is drenching everyone but Cordelia and Wesley continue their monotone speech patterns. Angel stands up when Buffy does the same. Spike looks at them still in vamp face. Gunn and Giles watch cautiously. Buffy starts trembling harder and harder until she thrashes wildly out with her arms knocking Angel backwards away from her.

Spike takes a step but sees her face contort and then she drops her head.

Wesley begins to weaken and within seconds he stops chanting and falls down in a heap. Cordelia smirks and looks to Buffy. She stops speaking herself and Buffy’s head snaps up to meet hers.

Buffy/Dru:

(new tone unlike any other)

That was a mistake.

Cordelia:

Higher beings don’t make mistakes.

Angel:

Giles?

Giles:

Angel, stay clear.

Spike:

Buffy.

Buffy/Dru:

(welts and cracks in her skin appear)

Silence.

Gunn:

Ok, this is new.

Giles:

(bends to Wesley’s side)

Wesley. Get up Wesley.

Angel:

He’s out. We have to do something. Cordelia?

Cordy:

(to Angel)

You don’t belong here. Get out.

Angel:

I’m not going anywhere without you. Either of you.

Buffy/Dru:

Such a good daddy aren’t you?

Gunn:

Angel, that’s not Buffy.

Angel:

Yes it is. She’s still in there.

Buffy/Dru:

(smiles and walks to Spike)

Angel thinks it’s still his little Slayer.

Spike:

What’s happening to you?

Buffy/Dru:

Do you love me Spike?

Spike:

Don’t be daft.

Buffy sidles up to him and reaches up to slides a hand around his neck. She pulls him down quickly and opens her mouth at the same instant. She bites down on his neck hungrily.

Angel’s hands ball into fists at the sight and Giles begins hitting Wesley in the face yet again but more inistently.

Gunn:

That doesn’t look good.

Cordelia watches for a moment before her eyes glow brighter and then fade back to normal. She raises a hand and sends a ball of energy into the couple. Buffy is knocked away from Spike and he falls to the ground holding his neck.

Buffy:

You can’t stop me.

Cordy:

Begging to differ.

Buffy:

You have the demon’s power but it won’t last.

Cordelia:

As long as it outlasts you, I’m good.

Buffy:

Come on then, what’s with all the talking?

Angel watches the two women circle one another for a moment.

Wesley:

Giles! Stop it! I’m awake!

Giles:

(looks down from Buffy and Cordy)

Oh! My apologies Wesley. I was a bit distracted.

Gunn offers Wes a hand up and he gets a look just as Buffy and Cordelia attack. Cordy takes the first hit and stumbles back. She recovers quickly and backhands the advancing Buffy. Angel rushes forward to stop them but a bolt of lightening streaks down and almost hits him. He dives aside and Spike jumps on him.

Spike:

This is your fault! You just couldn’t let her go! (Begins pummeling Angel from behind as he tries to get up) You wouldn’t let Dru go and now you won’t let Buffy go! What kind of soul do you have?

Angel:

(flips over and catches Spike’s fist in his hand squeezing it until bones crunch)

Get off of me Spike.

Spike:

I’ll die before you hurt her again.

Angel:

If you don’t let me stop them, they’ll both die. This isn’t about you or me Spike.

Spike:

It is! It’s always about you! I’ve watched her suffer for years and where have you been?

Angel:

I’ve been living. You should really try it some time.

He kicks him off him and springs to his feet.

Gunn:

Giles, what’s the deal? I thought you had a solution for this!

Giles:

I’m working on it.

Wesley:

I am telling you it won’t work.

Giles:

Lorne seemed confident.

Wesley:

Well there’s your first clue. Lorne is never confident about playing hero.

Giles:

Unless you have a better idea, I suggest you help me keep them all from killing each other.

Gunn:

Not to mention the very destruction of the earth.

As if to solidify Gunn’s point, a large flaming boulder shoots from the sky and shatters a window just below them. They all dive for cover.

Cut to Parking Lot

Linwood:

How much longer is this going to take?

Woman:

It is already done.

Gavin:

I thought you were going to get rid of the barrier.

Woman:

I said I would ensure no detection of the barrier. And there isn’t one.

She motions to the street and Gavin and Linwood see that the busy rush hour traffic is flowing without notice to the building on fire directly in front of them.

Linwood:

I knew you were the solution Hasir. Well done.

Gavin:

I’m impressed. But may I ask how?

The woman smiles and reaches a hand to close Gavins eyes. Then she removes her hand and his eye open. He looks at the building free of fire and rain and turns to Linwood.

Gavin:

Do you see that?

Linwood:

You see what she wants you to see. As do they. She will stay until it is over.

Gavin:

And when will that be?

Linwood looks up to see a light in one of the windows of the building.

Linwood:

I’d say very, very soon.

Cut to Hallway

Elevator doors open and Willow, Lorne and Lilah are in the white room.

Girl:

You again. And with another demon. Who’s the pretty one?

Willow:

I’m here for my friends.

Girl:

Always for someone else then. You’re like the other one. He came for another.

Lorne:

Yeah sweetie and he’s in trouble again. We all are.

Girl laughs gleefully.

Girl:

Trouble is easy. What you have is impossible.

Lilah:

Told you so.

Willow:

But you know the answer.

Girl:

Your hair is red. I like red. Do you?

Lorne:

Yes, red…the color of love. Can we maybe get some help now? We’re kind of short on time.

Girl:

And my time is not important? I don’t like your implication.

Lilah:

No! No implication. You’ll have to forgive him. He’s a neandrathal, just look at him. No etiquette in the demon world.

Girl:

You think you’re smart because you’ve been here before. (pauses) It’s a mistake.

Willow:

We have to fix my friend.

Girl:

You aren’t the one to fix her.

Willow:

That’s why we’re here.

Girl:

You’re too late.

Lorne:

But you’re not. You’re never too late.

Girl:

You want to save them. But you have to find them first. They don’t know who they are anymore. None of them. You may not find who you left.

Willow:

I’ll take my chances. What do I have to do?

Girl:

You’re strong. I know what you were once. You’ve traveled a difficult path. Much like the others. And they will be consumed soon.

Lorne:

Unless you help us.

Girl:

I have no interest in helping. I only provide choices. And you have two.

Willow:

They are?

Girl:

The one from above holds the power. She can send you all where you belong. But you can never come back. She musnt ever interfere, no matter what.

Lorne:

Who?

Girl:

Second choice, you can stay and fight. The end will come and two will sacrifice for it. No harm will come to the world and it will be done. But when it is done this time, it must stay as such. No more visists and no more pain. She can’t take any more.

Willow:

I think I know.

Lorne/Lilah:

You do?

Willow:

It’s Cordelia.

Girl:

She will be the end. And you must find the new beginning.

Willow:

I’m ready.

Lorne:

Ready for what?

Girl (V.O.):

You will never be ready for what’s to come.

A flash of light and Willow, Lorne and Lilah are standing in the rain on the rooftop. Lilah cries out and ducks into the doorway. Lorne sees Wesley, Giles and Gunn and rushes to help. Willow looks at the fighting.

Cordelia has forgotten who and what her purpose was, she is cat fighting Buffy complete with hair pulling, biting and scratching. Buffy is bleeding and weak and Cordelia seems to be gaining the upper hand. She knees her in the gut and pushes her away in disgust.

Cordelia:

You have managed to screw everything up once again. Why did you come here? Why couldn’t you have just stayed away?

Buffy:

You would have liked that wouldn’t you.

She steps up and head butts Cordelia. She stumbles backwards and falls into Willow’s arms.

Cordy:

Willow!

Willow:

Cordelia, you’re forgetting why you’re here. The things you’re feeling, the things you’re saying, its Dru! Wesley brought Dru back and she didn’t come alone. You’re fighting yourself now, not Buffy and not Dru.

Cordy:

Of course you’d take her side!

Willow:

You can get rid of her once and for all.

Cordy:

What?

Willow:

I found the girl. She said that you’re the key. And once you do it, we can’t ever bother you again.

Buffy:

I’ll bother you until you take your last breath. He’ll never be yours.

Cordy:

And he’ll never be yours either. He left you Buffy. He saw that you were destroying each other and he left. Why can’t you let him go?

Buffy:

Because he made me.

Camera switches to Angel and Spike

Angel:

We are facing hell on earth and you want to fight over a girl?

Spike:

I’ve been living in hell on earth for the past two years. It’s like coming home.

He punches Angel and he just allows his jaw to snap to the side and faces Spike again.

Angel:

(punching him back hard)

Whatever you did to get that soul, it didn’t change who you are. You’re still a mindless selfish, love struck school boy looking for affection from girls way out of your league.

Spike:

You don’t know anything about me.

Angel:

I know you’ll ever be the vampire that Dru wanted and you’ll never be the man that Buffy does. You’ll spend your eternal life seeking something you can never have.

Spike:

You don’t know what I’ve had or will have.

Angel:

Having someone’s body isn’t the same as being in their blood and having them in yours.

Spike:

And who’s in your blood now Angel?

Xander and Connor rush through the door knocking Lilah aside. Willow says something to Xander and he looks at her wide-eyed.

Willow:

It’s the only way.

Xander motions ot Connor and they both run across the roof top. Xander reaches Angel and Spike and he says something to Angel.

Xander:

If you want her to live, you’ll do it.

Spike:

What? What is he doing? Let me do it.

Angel seems to accept it and walks away from them.

Connor reaches Gunn and the others. He instructs Giles and Welsey of the new plan and Wesley immediately opens the text and begins reciting the Voca’s spell.

Buffy:

(hearing it)

Stop it. Don’t do that!

Angel:

Hey there. Miss me?

Buffy looks up at him and smiles forgetting about Wesley.

Buffy:

Angel?

Angel:

Yeah baby, it’s me. I think we need to talk.

Buffy:

(frowns)

No. I’m busy now. You’re not the boss of me.

Angel:

Good! (Buffy looks up in surprise) It’s about time. God, I was so sick of always having to tell you every little move to make. I mean I know I drove you crazy and all but to find your way into a slayer? That’s just sad.

Buffy’s face contorts and a clap of thunder vibrates the roof. She bends over and a bolt of lightening streaks through the air. It hits her in the head and she drops. A scream is heard and everyone ducks and hides their eyes when glass below them starts shattering all at once.

Cordelia watches without concern as Dru is lowered from the storm cloud directly above them and she looks at Buffy. A stream of energy is pulled from her and Dru is complete once again. She faces the group staring at her and goes after the closest.

Spike is taken down by the sheer force of her momentum. Buffy stands slowly and looks around in confusion.

Buffy:

Angel.

Angel:

You have to get away from here Buffy. Go home.

Buffy:

But Dru.

Angel:

I can handle Drusilla. I did it fine for several generations. Take Spike and the others and get out of here.

Gunn:

Um Angel, we kind of got other problems here.

The rain has stopped but now a strange sound begins quietly and grows louder and louder. The flames surrounding the building shoot up to engulf it completely and everyone on the roof screams and ducks.

Cordelia:

Angel!

Xander:

Angel now!

Willow:

Cordelia…

Buffy:

(yelling)

What’s happening?

Angel rolls across the floor to reach Cordelia. Xander grabs Buffy and pulls her with him to join Willow. Connor moves closer to Giles, Wesley and Gunn. Buffy tries to stop close to Angel but Xander pulls him. Spike is trying to pry Dru off him but she’s clawing at him ferociously. Wesley continues to chant.

Buffy:

Xander, I have to help Angel.

Angel:

I have all the help I need.

She sees him take Cordelia’s hand and her face falls. At that moment, Fred and Dawn come running out onto the roof.

Willow:

Dawn, this way.

Dawn:

Fred has an idea.

Willow:

It doesn’t matter now. Cordelia knows what she has to do.

Wesley yells out and Dru’s knees buckle and she begins to cry out again. Spike rushes to Buffy and puts his arms around her protectively. Her and Angel keep looking at one another even as they are held in the arm sof another. The two groups are separated now and watch above them as the electricity and energy crackles around them. They wait.

Cut to Sunnydale-INT.

Buffy’s room

Willow appears on the bed in an instant and Spike and Buffy appear standing next to the bed. They all look around in complete shock and confusion.

Cut to downstairs

Xander, Willow and Giles appear in the living room. They look at each other and recognize the familiarity. It’s as they were before any of it had happened.

Cut to LA

Angel, Connor, Wesley, Lilah, Gunn and Fred are standing on the roof top. The flames are gone. He sky is clear and the sun is out. Angel rushes into the hallway and the others follow. They look around in similar confusion until Fred finally speaks.

Fred:

Where’s Cordelia?

Cut to Parking Lot

Woman:

I am no longer needed.

Linwood:

You will be rewarded for your assistance.

The woman exits and the men look at the building. Several widnows are shattered and an alarm sounds suddenly.

Cut to Cordelia’s place

Cordy:

Hey! What’s going on? Why am I back here?

V.O.:

You know the answer to that.

Cut to Buffy’s room

Buffy:

Spike.

Spike:

(steps back and looks at her)

Home sweet home.

Willow:

I better get downstairs and check for the others.

Buffy:

We should go.

Spike:

I’m done following you.

Buffy:

Not now Spike.

Spike:

Now’s all you have Buffy.

Buffy:

(crosses her arms)

Ok, I’ll take the bait.

Spike:

Whatever has happened to me, I don’t want you to be part of it.

Buffy:

Spike, I…no we…have just been through hell, literally. I really don’t’ have the energy to discuss this with you.

She starts to walk past him.

Spike:

I didn’t go to get a soul.

Buffy:

(stops but doesn’t look at him)

Excuse me?

Spike:

I left to get the chip out. I left to fix it so I could make you pay for putting me through what you did. For turning me into what I was in that bathroom. I wanted you to pay.

Buffy:

And?

Spike:

I got suckered into the soul. But now I have it and I don’t want it near you. I don’t want to be near you.

Buffy:

(finally looks at him)

Spike…

Spike:

No. I won’t be filler, Slayer. I won’t be your punching bag or emotional toy. I’m done. I have a soul now and you’ll never know what that means. You pine for him and he could care less. I knew it really. I’ve always known it. Hell, I told you two how it was years ago. You can find a new whipping boy.

He pushes past her and then stops just outside the door.

Spike:

You’ll never have him.

Buffy remains silent and watches him walk down the hall. She hears a muffled greeting from Giles and then the door opens and slams shut. She closes her eyes briefly and walks down the stairs.

Buffy:

Good. You’re all here. We have lots of work to do.

Willow:

No we don’t Buffy.

Buffy:

Hello? We just got zapped back here from LA. We don’t know what happened to the others and we don’t know what is coming next.

Willow:

And we won’t. You can’t go back there Buffy. You can’t go to LA and you can’t call. Ever.

Cut to LA

Angel and the group walk through the sewers towards the hotel.

Gunn:

So we just let Lilah go?

Wesley:

It was a deal to get us all out unharmed. We’ve all been compromised in strength and we need time to regroup.

Angel:

And find out what happened to the others.

Gunn:

Cordy may have gotten called back to do her thing.

Lorne:

She’ll be back. I’m sure of it.

Angel:

And Buffy.

Lorne:

That might be better left undone. In fact, I don’t think you can make any attempt to contact her or the others Angel. The little doll in the white room made that pretty clear.

Angel:

I still can’t believe you did that.

Lorne:

We did what we had to do. Now let’s get home so I can have a seabreeze the size of my….Aagghh!

Angel:

What?

He sees Skip standing just behind them.

Skip:

Hi guys. How’s it hanging?

Gunn:

It’s not thanks to you and Lorne’s screaming.

Skip:

Sorry, but I need to see Angel.

Angel:

Mission accomplished. Why arent’ you with Cordelia?

Skip:

Oh she’s beyond any help I can give her. But I gotta tell you the PTB aren’t thrilled about her going schoolyard on Buffy in the middle of a big battle.

Angel:

And you’re here because?

Skip:

Because when she comes back things are going to get real complicated and I thought you might want a heads up.

Fred:

Can we talk about this at home? I just want to sleep. Not to belittle your importance Skip, but…

Skip:

No problem. You got time…in a manner of speaking.

Angel:

(sarcastic)

Great.

Fade to black