Difficult Decisions, Different Demons
Buffy had come to a decision at last, she just hoped it was the right one She had had another talk with both Willow and Faith after her heart changing conversation with Angel about whether it was right or not, they had simply smiled and nodded. For Willow had told them that in time they would be needed here, when questioned further by both Buffy and Faith she had simply replied, “there is still evil in the world that you have to face, and believe me when the time comes you’ll be grateful you came to Los Angeles when you did.” This message had greatly ruffled Buffy’s feathers’, she felt that after what had happened in Sunnydale she deserved a break, but she knew there would always be more work for the Slayers’ to do…there would never be any let up.
The new Slayers’, who were now all back from hospital since they in the doctors’ opinions had all miraculously recovered some from deaths door were now gathered in the main foyer of the hotel. When Buffy came down the stairs followed by Angel and Connor, she noticed that somehow they all looked older than they were (I know Buffy but they are stronger for it and ready to face the world with the strength to face any demon head on and defeat it. You gave them that strength; see how they look up to you?) Indeed Buffy did see this reaction from the girls’, they all fell quiet and turned to face her as she descended the stairs as is she was some sort of god. She stood at the front, Faith came and stood behind her along with Giles’, Xander and Willow . The older generation shared glances with their fellow peers then as one body almost they turned to face the new generation.
“We’ve come along way, and I’m afraid there’s more to come. We,” glance at friends, loved ones and family, “have come to a decision that I know will change our lives…have any of you heard of the law firm Wolfram and Hart?” questioned Buffy.
“Isn’t that like some evil law firm or something?” piped up Kennedy, “my watcher told me whisperings of them, what they have done and who they dealt with before he was…before he was murdered.”
“Yeah that’s right. Believe it or not…I am the new boss of that firm, well the L.A branch of it anyway,” Angel addressed the group of young girls, “and we’ve come to the decision that…you, all of you should come and work for us.” The Slayers looked at Angel as if he had suddenly grown two heads, they didn’t believe him and they didn’t believe that Buffy, the symbol of good their heroine, would choose to work for a firm so rooted in evil.
“I know what you’s guys are thinking,” Faith said “but think of it this way, we work with Angel and his crew here, we’ll have decent food, a roof over our heads in whichever part of the world we want and we’d be able to destroy one of the most evil firms in existence right under their noses, now is that good because if that ain’t…well I don’t know what is.”
“Of course we will give you time to think about this decision,” said Giles’, “but I’m afraid we can’t afford to lose that much time we will have to act quickly once the decision has been made…”
What would happen after the decision was made the girls never found out, for with a loud CRASH a portal rent through the middle of the foyer, causing the girls to scatter. As calmly as if it was just a summer stroll in the park, a figure came through this gaping portal, wearing what looked like a Hawaiian shirt, a pair of combats and a hat, which shadowed his face. He turned to face Angel, who had gone into a battle stance ready for anything which might try to attack his supernatural family, tilted his hat drew his head up and addressed Angel directly in an instantly lovable broad Irish accent
“Well if it isn’t our runner-up champion, long time no see Angel, see you’re still playing the game then.” Angel’s eyes widened to inhuman size and he just stared at their newcomer, shaking his head and backtracking from him muttering to himself, “We saw you die, I saw it happen. What is going on?” Buffy saw that her lover was overcome with emotion
“Don’t I get a hug from me old boss…figuratively speaking o’course boss.” Buffy stepped forward to confront this newcomer.
“Who are you? What do you want? I’d fight you right now but I’m as you can kinda see I’m tired and exhausted of fighting evil right now, so could we just do this another night?”
“Well we could but I wouldn’t be able to take you on…well not anymore anyway.” Angel finally found his voice.
“What do you mean not anymore? What’s happened to you Doyle, it’s been too long. I forgave but never forgot what you did all those years ago.”
“Well you would never have imagined what happened after I died saving those guys? The Powers That Be decided that I should have a second chance. They made me human…with a few tweaks, still got my demon strength and my visions but I am a walking, talking human being how bout it?”
‘I thought you said to Cordy once that being human with visions was quite literally impossible…as in her head would’ve exploded after a time. What makes you so special that your head won’t implode for want of a better word?’ Angel asked rather more sharply than he meant to.
‘Dad who is this guy and why does everything about him not feel right?’ asked Connor carefully his senses on full alert.
‘Because boy I ain’t the only thing that is returning from beyond the grave…’ said Doyle, who was walking in between the new Slayers who had all stood up and were on tender hooks. They were looking at Buffy for some form of guidance.
‘Doyle what are you talking about? Just be straight with us, we’ve been through enough for one lifetime…we all have.’
‘All right. I’ll go one better for you I’ll show you shall I? I’ve been told to just drop this on the floor and then watch the fireworks…hopefully not literally’ they all cleared to the sides of the foyer, eager yet anxious to see what would come of this. Doyle walked into the centre, not particularly keen on all the attention (I mean I’m only a messenger, I’m not staying long) and gingerly put a very fragile necklace on the floor and ran for cover behind the right pillar of the foyer. The young Slayers and the older generation seeing his reaction all ran for cover
‘Everybody first floor now!’ yelled Buffy. in all the commotion Angel and Connor got separated and he wasn’t able to get upstairs.
‘Buffy where’s Connor?! I cant see him up here!’ Buffy, who was stood in Angel’s arms, ran her eyes quickly over the scene, and then she saw him lying unconscious on the ground right next to the necklace. She risked a glance over at Doyle, who was knelt on his knees and was talking in Latin, she knew she didn’t have much time. She broke free of his embrace and ran over to the banisters and threw herself over…just as Doyle finished his incantation. There was a blinding flash of light and a massive explosion, the Slayers screamed and chaos reined. Angel was yelling Buffy’s name as she had just jumped over the banisters as the world had imploded on itself and saw her lying on the floor by Conner, her head bleeding. No one else would have been to see either of them as the place had become full of smoke but he could. Angel didn’t thing he just leapt over the banisters and landed next to the two bodies, praying that there were still alive. He vamped out through sheer fear for his two most loved individuals in the world. He knelt by them and felt for their pulses……… then he felt a faint heartbeat under his fingers. He sagged with relief, then turned his full anger on Doyle. He stormed over to him and threw him against the pillar he had chosen to hide behind, his hand closing on his windpipe. By now the smoke had all but cleared showing a grotesque tableau and the Slayers hugging each other bound by fear, as they had all been through enough, but at this violent act they all ran to look over the banisters none of the brave enough to go down. However the older ones among them, tore down the stairs to grind to a halt 100 yards from Angel.
‘Look you great poufter, have you never heard of the expression don’t shoot the messenger?’ A figure emerged out of the clearing smoke and leant against the other pillar, fag in hand. He looked up toward the banisters and raised a hand of greeting to some of the girls he knew there. They all looked shocked…they had seen him die due to the very necklace that was now a smouldering hole in the floor. Then Angel, realising who it was turned so slowly to make sure his ears weren’t deceiving him…but he already knew what he would be faced with when he turned around. A former companion, adversary, friend, foe and lover of his girlfriend. His young protégé…
‘Spike’
‘Angel’
‘Huh?’
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