The vampire nodded and was about to add something when they approached the building.
MacLoud looked at the heavy lock on the back door. It had a chain around it. MacLoud was about to pick it when Angel reached it and broke the chain. MacLoud looked at him startled, Angel only shrugged.
The vampire pushed open the door. They walked into the building, and MacLoud had his sword at the ready. And they were met by twenty armed guards.
Angel shouted, "Run! This way!" MacLoud only looked at Angel for a moment before the vampire took off at a dead run. Angel didn't want to be shot. It hurt like hell. He had been shot twice over the past three years and didn't want to relive the experience.
Angel looked behind him, the Immortal was running from the armed guards, moving fast, but not fast enough. Then Angel saw a heavy steel door. He didn't sense anyone inside it, so he grabbed MacLoud and busted it open.
He locked the door behind him and looked around the room. MacLoud said, "Well we fount the place."
Angel asked, "Okay then, now what?"
MacLoud shrugged as they began to pace the room. Angel looked up for an air-conditioning vent, then he gasped. He saw vents, but they weren't air-conditioning vents. They where gas vents. MacLoud cursed, "Son of a bitch."
Angel had led them into a trap. He heard the guards milling about outside when yellow gas seeped from the vents. MacLoud started to waver as he said, "Its knock out gas."
"Damn," Angel cursed as MacLoud passed out on the ground. The gas wouldn't affect him, Angel was technically dead and didn't need to breathe. The door started to slowly open. Angel quickly laid down on the ground and closed his eyes, giving the illusion that he was asleep.
The guards picked up MacLoud first then Angel, dragging them onto an elevator. Angel opened one of his eyes for a moment, reading the number that the guard pushed. He read 20, the top floor, inwardly, Angel cursed.
They were dragged to a room and sat in chairs. Every self defense mechanism demanded that Angel snap the neck of the guard that was hand cuffing his hands behind his back. Angel tugged slightly at the chains, keeping the rest of his body limp. If push came to shove, he could break them with no problem.
A familiar voice cried out, "Ohmygawd! Angel! Let him go you bastard!" So Cordelia was all right, for now, that was a small comfort to Angel.
Beside him, MacLoud slowly awoke, Angel pantomimed the actions. He looked up at Draken groggily.
Draken was sitting in a lush chair behind an antique desk. Cordelia was standing beside him, her hands cuffed behind her back. Angel looked at her, hoping she would get the message to keep quiet.
MacLoud asked, "What are you doing, Draken?"
Angel was aware of the ten armed men in the room, two of them pointing machine guns at their heads. He cautiously looked around. The office was expensive, filled with fine pieces of art and statues in glass cases.
Draken answered, "I'm going to be the only One left Highlander."
Angel twisted his handcuff chains behind his back, he felt them start to give way.
MacLoud asked, "How are you gonna do that Draken?"
The blond Immortal sadistically smiled as he pointed at the armed guards. Draken answered, "It's simple really. Xavier St. Cloud came up with the basic idea."
Angel didn't know the name, but the spark of anger in MacLoud's brown eyes showed he did. MacLoud hissed, "Your capturing other Immortals, shooting them, and while they're dead, you cut off their heads."
Draken's laugh was sadistic as he exclaimed, "Yes! Isn't it brilliant?"
Angel said, "No, it just shows that you're a coward."
Draken walked over to Angel and struck him. Angel glowered up at him and laughed, "Is that all you have, Draken?"
Cordelia shook her head and suggested, "Um, Draken, I don't think getting him angry is a good idea."
Draken leered at her and replied, "Thank you for your concern my sweet, but I can take care of myself." Angel felt the handcuffs slowly give way under his grasp.
Cordelia tossed her long, dark hair as she said, "Just thought I should warn you."
MacLoud struggled and snapped, "Let the mortals go. They have no part in this game."
Draken walked behind the desk, as he did he lightly caressed Cordelia's cheek. Angel wanted to beat him to a bloody pulp. Draken replied, "Well the lovely Cordelia would be so useful and the boy needs to die. He knows about us."
Angel felt that the chain was near breaking. Draken said, "Say good bye to your friend, MacLoud."
Cordelia looked nervous, and Angel knew the feeling. MacLoud said, "Draken, you don't want to do this . . . "
Draken nodded at the armed guard and said, "Kill the mortal."
The guard grinned and aimed his gun. Angel rose up in one fluid motion, showing the broken handcuffs. The guard blinked in surprise. Angel smiled and said, "I don't think so, boy."
Then he disarmed the guard and pointed the gun at the other armed guard. Another guy rushed at him, Angel spun around and grabbed him. Angel snapped the guy's neck without much thought. Draken looked surprised.
Angel reached behind MacLoud to brake his handcuffs, but MacLoud had already gotten out of them. Draken shouted, "Shoot them!"
Bullets reined on them. Angel dove behind the chair, so did MacLoud. MacLoud said, "Give me the gun."
Angel handed the Immortal the automatic weapon. MacLoud stood up and fired a few rounds. Angel rose up and launched himself toward Draken and Cordelia.
He felt the flesh of his face quiver as it changed. His brow became heavy, calloused, and jutted out. His canines grew and sharpened into gleaming fangs. He blinked his eyes and when he opened them they glowed a predatory gold.
Draken blinked as Angel towered above him on the desk. Angel smiled and said, "I'm not human." Then he lifted Draken up with one hand. Angel said, "I'm beyond your comprehension, Immortal."
Draken's ice blue eyes widened in terror, good. Angel smiled and lifted Draken closer to him. From behind Draken Cordelia shook her head and said, "See, I told you not to tick him off, but no." Then the sharp, searing pain of a bullet sliced into his arm. Growling in pain, Angel dropped Draken.
MacLoud shoved Angel off the desk and shouted, "Get the girl!" Then MacLoud noticed Angel's face. Angel growled at Draken and tried to reach for Cordelia. Draken grabbed Cordy in one fluid motion and dove behind his armed goons. Angel snarled and looked for some way to grab Cordelia.
MacLoud cried out and fell to the ground. "Damn it!" A bullet hole went through the Immortal's gut. Angel grabbed MacLoud, he wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse. "Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn it!" Angel kept cursing as he slung MacLoud in a fireman's carry over his right shoulder.
He kicked the door and closed his eyes for a moment. He opened up his senses to their fullest, groping for a way out that was near the Thunderbird. He ran out of the door, bullets shattering things around him. A bullet hit its mark in Angel's left shoulder. He growled in pain, but kept on.
Angel ran down the fire escape stairs, the goons following close behind him. More gun fire followed him, and he shouted as a bullet went through his left lung, close to his heart. He stumbled a step, but kept running.
Angel finally reached the first floor. He paused for a moment, winching at the pain. He saw a window. Angel grinned as he ran through it. Pieces of glass sliced into Angel's flesh, but he ignored it. He only had one thought on his mind, escape.
Angel ran as fast as he could to the black T-bird. Luckily the top was down. He placed MacLoud in the passenger's side and jumped in the driver's side. He took MacLoud's keys from his pocket and started the engine.
Angel gave the building one last look as he drove away.
As he drove Angel felt each wound, he flinched, but kept his mind on driving. MacLoud gasped for air, Angel looked at him in amazement. MacLoud was fully healed, Angel wished he was that lucky.
MacLoud rubbed his face and groggily asked, "What happened?"
Angel flinched, he answered, gritting his fangs in pain, "You died. I got us out."
MacLoud asked, "What about the girl?"
Angel swallowed and looked a head, the guilt was almost elispeing the physical pain. He didn't answer. It was sometimes the easiest thing to do. Sometimes he was too guilty to answer, and that bothered him.
MacLoud sat up and said, "Draken still has the girl."
Angel nodded, winching as he did. He said, "Yeah, he does."
MacLoud said, "Pull over." Angel looked into the Immortal's angry face and did as he was instructed.
"Now what?" Methos sarcastically asked Joe as they stood in front of the empty warehouse. Draken wasn't there, nothing was there except a few rats. Methos didn't like rats, discussing, plague carrying filth.
Joe shrugged and answered, "Well, I'll call up the Watchers and see if they know anything about this. Or we can wait for MacLoud and the vampire to get back."
"Angel, Joe, his name is Angel," Methos corrected.
Joe uneasily shrugged and pivoted away from Methos on his cane. The Watcher might not want to admit it, but they made a good team, and Methos was fond of the bitter mortal. Like he was fond of Amanda. They both amused him. He respected MacLoud. There was just this pure goodness in his soul that inspired others to do good.
The classic black T-Bird pulled up in front of them. Methos sensed MacLoud's presence as the younger Immortal and vampire immerged from the vehicle. They both were the worse for wear with their clothes covered with bullet holes and damp with blood. Methos leaned up against Joe's van and said, "I don't think you've been to some block party, so what happened?"
MacLoud gave the vampire a dirty look, the vampire returned the favor, except he growled a little bit. MacLoud answered, "We fount Draken."
"And?"
Angel answered before MacLoud did, "We were out numbered and out gunned."
MacLoud whirled on the vampire and sneered, "You could have left me and got the girl you know that."
Angel stepped closer to MacLoud. Methos knew a fight's beginnings when he saw them. The vampire was inches away from MacLoud's face as he growled, "Well, next time you're dead and someone wants to cut your head off, I'll let them!"
MacLoud moved closer as he spat, "The girl's still in danger. She could be dead right as we speak!"
Angel snarled, "Don't you think I know that? No one could have gotten Cordelia back with all that firepower Draken had at his disposal. Besides, he doesn't want to hurt her."
MacLoud moved closer and snapped, "What, the big, bad, blood sucking fiend couldn't go through a wall of armed humans?"
"What the hell is that supoce to mean?" the vampire snarled. Methos and Joe watched as they were practically on top of each other.
"I don't know, do you want to make something of it?" MacLoud fired back.
Methos, sensing his cue, tried to pull them away from each other. His efforts got him shoved against the warehouse door. He stood up and waited.
Angel asked, "Do you? Because, I can do just fine on my own."
Then, as Methos knew he would, MacLoud punched the vampire. Angel's head was snapped to the side. Any other person would have been rearing from that blow, Methos knew that from personal experience. Angel looked back at MacLoud and said, "Fine, if you want a fight, then you'll get a fight, Highlander." Then Angel returned the favor with a right cross.
MacLoud reeled back and straitened up. He spun around, sending a good, solid round house kick at the vampire. The blow connected with Angel's mid section. The vampire doubled over for a split instant and then snap kicked MacLoud in the chest. They rushed at each other, trading blows furiously.
None of them was winning anyways. Joe was shouting for them to stop, but, they were having too much of a good time beating the crap out of each other. Methos looked up and sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening. Then he rushed in between them, making the sign of the cross to ward off Angel.
Methos held his cross shaped fingers at the vampire. Angel looked at him like he was insane. MacLoud was catching his breath as he watched Methos. Methos asked, "Can we act like normal adults and try to save the girl?"
Angel laughed. Methos didn't believe it. Here he was, the oldest known Immortal, and some leech was laughing at him. Angel laughed again, almost doubleing over. Methos looked at him in disbelief and pushed his makeshift ward of evil at him.
Angel asked, "How many vampire movies have you seen?"
"Why?" Methos asked, noticing that his fingers weren't having any affect on the vampire.
Angel shook his head between bouts of laughter. He slowly stopped laughing and said, "It's been years since I've had a good laugh."
Methos asked, "What's so funny?"
MacLoud chuckled, "The ward against evil doesn't work on him, Methos."
Methos shoved his hands into his ratty trench coat and shuffled defensively. He said, "Well, it was just a thought."
Angel said, "Okay, now, what about Cordelia? Because I'm into this as thickly as you are, and if you tell me to keep out of it, I won't. It's a stubborn little habit I've picked up during the years."
Cordelia couldn't help the sly grin that formed on her features as she watched Draken pace around his office. He asked, "That was a vampire, wasn't he?"
Cordy grinned and quipped, "Boy, and did you see the look on your face when he picked you up? I swore you were about to piss all over yourself when he growled at you."
Draken smiled sadistically and said, "Well I can cut off his head and MacLoud's in the same night. Your little creature of the night doesn't scare me."
Cordelia grinned. Angel was like a Timex, he took a licking and kept on ticking. He may fall down, but he would always get up swinging, and he would always win. She told him, "You don't know Angel, do you? Boy, you're about to get your ass kicked."
Draken sneered at her as his fist contacted with her face. She shouted in shock and pain as she fell to the ground with the force of the blow. He jerked her up and twisted her arms roughly behind her back with savage force. She herd the sound of hand cuffs clicking shut behind her. She whimpered in fear, most of her bravado gone, when he tilted his sword at her throat.
He jerked her up, sending sparks of pain up and down her arms, and pulled her face close to his. Draken snapped, "You, my dear, sweet child will be bait for both MacLoud and the bloodsucking fiend."
"How connected are the Watchers?" Angel asked as Joe talked to someone on his cell phone. Methos shrugged and stuffed his hands into his coat pockets.
MacLoud rolled his eyes and rubbed at his soar jaw. Next time MacLoud knew to end a fight with a vampire quickly. Angel packed quite a punch. He answered, "The Watchers are all over the world. They're connected, and they can all get information from each other."
Angel nodded and said, "That could be useful. If another Immortal was bothering you, and you didn't know who they were you could just ask Joe."
"Or me," Methos said with a wry grin. Angel ignored him and looked back at MacLoud, asking, "Did that get Joe into any trouble?"
MacLoud's grin was bitter as he answered, "You could say that."
Angel leaned up against the T-Bird and asked, "Why are you here in L.A.?"
For someone who didn't like people, the vampire sure asked a lot of questions. As an explanation, the vampire said, "Los Angeles, the City of Demons. If you're wanting to fight evil, this is the place, but if you're not, it defiantly isn't."
MacLoud shrugged. He really didn't have any idea on why he was in L.A. He got tired of Paris, and it brought up too many painful memories. Like, where he, under the influence of the demon Ahriman, decapitated his ex-student, and one of his best friends, Richie Ryan. The young Immortal didn't have a chance. He just walked down the esclateor and MacLoud sliced his head off.
He eventually defeated Ahriman, and came to terms with Duncan MacLoud, of the Clan MacLoud, and decided to come back to America. He then started up his antique shop again, hoping for a little piece, and to protect a couple of mortals.
MacLoud asked, "Why did you come to Los Angeles?"
Angel half smiled and looked wistfully up at the sky. He answered, "The obvious reason."
MacLoud smiled, "A girl."
Angel nodded and said, "You don't know the half of it." He half smiled and said, "I don't think I even understand half of it."
Joe was on his cell phone once more, talking adamantly with a Watcher. He turned the phone off and said, "We fount Draken, he's at The St. Paul Catholic Church on Second street."
MacLoud frowned, he was on Holy Ground, he couldn't kill him if he needed to. Angel said, "Fine, lets get him then."
MacLoud told him, "No, we can't."
"Why not?" Angel asked.
"It's Holy Ground," MacLoud simply told him.
"That's not a problem, I can go into churches," Angel said.
Methos said, "No, Immortals can't fight and kill on Holy Ground."
"Why not?" Angel asked.
"Because it would be very bad," Methos answered.
Angel said, "Well, I'm not an Immortal, so there's no rule saying I can't kill him."
Cordelia looked around at the huge church. Street light filtered in from the stain glass windows, casting everything in a plum glow. Draken sat on the altar with all the arrogance of a king. Cordy couldn't wait to see Angel wipe that look off his face. Or even that MacLoud guy.
Cordelia heard the engine of a car parking. Draken smiled and said, "Ah, they are here."
Cordy twisted her hand cuffs. Why couldn't she have super strength too? She snapped, "Ass kicking time."
"Not particulary," Draken said with a smile.
"You could say that," Angel said as he entered the church, a long sword in his hand.
Angel saw that Cordelia was unhurt. Good. Now it was time to put his plan into action. MacLoud didn't like it, but, as Angel pointed out, no one had any other ideas than to wait for Draken to come out. Angel was going to make him run out of the church, right into Methos or MacLoud.
Angel clutched at the sword in his hand and easily swung it up. Draken smiled and smoothly said, "You can't kill me here."
"Why not?" Angel asked. He looked over to the side, changing his face, then facing Draken vamped out.
"Because you can't," Draken swallowed, less sure now.
Angel looked around and said, "Oh, yeah, because we're in Holy Ground. It doesn't matter, I'm not an Immortal."
Draken stood so that the altar was between them. Angel hoped that he didn't notice the porcelain basin filled with Holy Water to the side of him. Draken croaked, "Something could happen to you, to us."
"What?" Angel asked, "The portal of Hell opening up and swallowing us?" Angel smiled, purposely flashing his fangs, "Hell doesn't scare me."
"Yeah, he's been there," Cordelia called out.
Angel moved closer and whispered, "I'm already damned, it doesn't matter if I go to Hell this way, or some other."
"You're insane," Draken cried out.
"No," Cordelia said, "He's just about to kick your ass."
Then Angel growled and charged at him. He swung his sword down, cutting the altar in half. Draken screamed as Angel came at him again. Then, he ran out of the church.
Angel snapped Cordy's hand cuffs and asked, "Could someone tell me what's going on?"
Angel smiled and said, "It's a long story."
MacLoud brought out his sword as Draken ran at him. Draken shouted, histericly, "Oh my god, MacLoud, that vampire . . . He's insane. You gotta kill him!"
MacLoud said, "You should have thought about that before you kidnaped the girl and started killing Immortals like you did."
Draken's blue eyes went wide. MacLoud said, "There can be only One."
Draken brought out his sword and shouted, "And it's not going to be you!"
He charged at MacLoud. MacLoud blocked his blow and swept his legs out from beneath him. He had his head then, but MacLoud wasn't ready to take it yet. Draken sprang back up and swung his sword at him. MacLoud deflected the blow and sliced his sword across Draken's arm.
MacLoud said, "That was for Marcus you bastard."
Draken looked at the bleeding gash and sneered, "I'll have your head for that MacLoud."
MacLoud brought his sword up and said, "I don't think so." Then, with one clean swipe, he cut off Draken's head.
Angel watched the lighting charge through the stain glass window. Cordelia asked, "What's going on?"
Angel took her hand when the electricity finally stopped. He said, "Well, lets go see."
MacLoud was leaning on his sword when Angel and Cordelia emerged from the church and Methos and Joe came to join him. Angel said, "Looks like he lost his head."
Cordelia exclaimed, "Eeeeeewwwww! Gross, beheadings."
MacLoud said, while still catching his breath, "It's over."
It was a few days later when Angel walked into MacLoud's shop. MacLoud shook his cold hand and asked, "How are you?"
The vampire nodded and said, "Fine, and you?"
MacLoud answered, "Good."
Angel said, "Thank you for helping me get Cordelia back." MacLoud replied, "Thank you for helping me stop Draken."
They nodded at each other. Angel said, "Well, maybe we should keep in touch, incase I run into an Immortal and you run into something else."
MacLoud nodded in agreement, "We should do that."
Then they shook hands. MacLoud smiled and said, "I'm going to find out what happened with you and the reason you came to Los Angeles."
Angel raised an eyebrow at him and said, "I don't even think forever is going to be enough time for you to find that out."
MacLoud laughed and the vampire smiled. Then Angel said, "Okay, the painting, how much is it?"
Angel placed the portrait in the closet. Cordelia stood behind him and asked, "Why aren't you hanging it up, it's a good picture?"
Angel shook his head. The mortal wouldn't understand. Then she said, "Okay, the MacLoud guy and the lighting, I want answers . . ."
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