Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
THE PIT (Where we left off)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The pain had been beyond incredible, impossible even. So much so that it\u2019d crowded everything else out until finally, blessedly cancelling itself out as well. Then he felt nothing for a while. Until suddenly it was back, sharp and searing. His eyes were shut but he still saw the red haze of pain \u2013 like blood.<\/p>\n \u201cKick him again\u201d, said Drachnar to the heavily muscled guard. A heavy foot thudded into the fallen vampire again, aimed straight at the vicious wounds on the chest and body. Nothing \u2013 no response this time, not even a moan of pain.<\/p>\n Angel felt it, but he was too far gone for it to reach him properly. He floated in and out of awareness \u2013 even vampires can let go and just float away when the body became unbearable to be inside. That\u2019s what happened here. He heard voices but only snatches \u2013 sounding as if they were underwater and almost impossible to understand.<\/p>\n \u201cPut them back \u2026\u2026. in \u2026\u2026\u2026 her \u2026\u2026\u2026 survive \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026 next \u2026\u2026. round\u201d, there was laughter and then a single last word that filtered into his head, \u201c\u2026hours\u201d.<\/p>\n Angel and Wesley were dragged up from the pit by their arms. Drachnar watched as the rope was tied to their wrists so that their bodies, unconscious not dead, could be hauled up the stone walls.<\/p>\n He turned to one of guards still down in the pit with him, \u201cmaybe he\u2019ll eat her\u201d. He smiled grimly at the thought and then grasping one of the ropes tossed down; climbed up the wall, fast and agile despite his weight and bulk.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n WOLFRAM & HART<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell it appears we\u2019ve found out exactly \u2013 nothing\u201d. Said Giles resignedly; giving up trying to help. He stood out of the way and watched Cordelia as she flipped through papers and looked under books \u2013 frantically searching for a clue on where the vampire had gone.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, other than the fact that by the looks of things, Angel has done well for himself\u201d. He continued, mildly envious of the spacious apartment and lovely old antiques.<\/p>\n Cordelia didn\u2019t seem to hear him, still busy rummaging around. However after a few seconds she surprised him by agreeing in a calm tone. A fa\u00e7ade totally ruined when she threw up her hands, \u201cThis is do damn typical of Angel \u2013 GOD!<\/i>, I could scream sometimes\u201d. The volume of her frustrated voice gave some credit to that threat.<\/p>\n \u201cMe, I get yelled at and threatened with house arrest if I cause him the slightest teeny tiny bit of worry. But it\u2019s OK for him to do it to me? NOT<\/i>\u201d. By the time she was finished ranting she was breathing deeply and her eyes were narrowed to angry sparkling slits in her flushed face.<\/p>\n She seemed to forget the Englishman was even there as she stormed over to another set of elevator doors. Smaller and more discreet than the one they\u2019d used to come up in. She punched the button to call it hard enough to break a slim finger causing Giles to flinch and eye her stormy face warily.<\/p>\n As the doors of the elevator opened with a muted ping, she whipped around and pointed a finger at him. \u201cWhen I find him, I\u2019m gonna kick his<\/i> ass and see how he likes it, Asshole<\/i>\u201d. Giles raised a brow at that rather surprising statement, but forbore to comment.<\/p>\n If there was one thing he\u2019d learned over the last \u2018far too many\u2019 years watching over temperamental females, was never contradict them when they were in total indignation mode. He especially had no intention of letting it slip that right at that moment he greatly sympathized with the missing vampire.<\/p>\n She was still silently simmering when they stepped out into Angel\u2019s office. A gentleman at heart, Giles had automatically stepped back to let Cordy out first and so when she halted in her tracks, after barely clearing the door; he almost ploughed into her back.<\/p>\n \u201cHey there Sugarplum, come and join me for a drink. I just love Angel\u2019s drinks cabinet. I have no idea why but it always makes me thirsty\u201d.<\/p>\n Since he couldn\u2019t see over the blonde wig from behind her, Giles stepped around the motionless Cordelia. Only to stiffen in shock when his eyes lit on a brightly coloured demon, happily lounging back in a big leather chair and nursing some kind of exotic cocktail.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just who the devil are you\u201d? Giles demanded, moving to stand just a little in front of Cordelia, but enough for the demon to realize the woman wasn\u2019t alone and defenceless. Lorne\u2019s eyes widened as he took in the threatening stranger, protecting Cordelia<\/i>? From him<\/i>? He almost felt complimented but then remembered that wasn\u2019t his forte, he left the art of intimidation to a certain vampire that shall remain nameless.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Lorne, Host with the Most\u2013 or at least I was. Now head of Entertainment and you are?\u201d Asked Lorne genially; his red eyes gleaming with interest and a small smile tilting his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Rupert Giles, ex-watcher from Sunnydale. Say Hi to the nice demon, Giles it\u2019s OK, He\u2019s a friend\u201d. She arched a look at the still defensive man beside her who frowned darkly at her sudden humour. A rapid change in mood to say the least, he thought disgruntled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know<\/i> this creature?\u201d He asked her incredulously and then recovered enough to toss a frown at Lorne, and a quick apology \u201cSorry\u2013 it\u2019s just \u2026 a surprise\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it Handsome. I get it all the time \u2013 must be my stunning good looks that makes \u2018em jealous\u201d. He gave Giles a saucy wink and then chuckled at the expression on the Englishman\u2019s face. \u201cYou\u2019ll get used to me\u201d he advised cheerfully and raised the glass in a salute.<\/p>\n Do I have to<\/i>? Thought Giles but managed to keep that comment between his teeth. Who was he to judge people for having demon friends after all?<\/p>\n Then there was the fact that Angel was boss here in LA. That in itself was hard for him to picture; his memories of Angel consisted of a brooding, shadowy creature taking directions from the slayer but otherwise, solitary and silent\u2013 not precisely leader material.<\/p>\n Cordelia sat down in the chair next to the demon, an earnest look on her beautiful face. \u201cLorne, I need you to tell me what you know about where Angel and Wesley have gone\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cGone, but sweetcheeks, I thought Angel was with you, and please what\u2019s with the blonde wig\u201d? He was giving her a quizzical look that expressed his lack of admiration for the blonde confection still clinging to her head and covering those gorgeously glossy, brunette locks.<\/p>\n Self-consciously she patted the wig and then frowned at him, \u201cForget the wig, Angel and Wes are missing and we need to find them\u201d. She sat back in the chair, raising the hem of the skirt even further and causing Giles to uncomfortably avert his eyes from the long shapely limbs displayed by the short skirt.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a bad feeling about this Lorne and I hate having bad feelings, cos hey\u2013 worry lines\u201d. She flicked a hand at her face to emphasise the point and Giles couldn\u2019t prevent his eyes looking heavenwards as if praying for guidance from on high.<\/p>\n \u201cOh and don\u2019t we all Honey. Tell you what, why don\u2019t you sing a tune for me\u2013 might save me some time and you some extra wrinkles\u201d.<\/p>\n He smiled when she gave him a dirty look. Then turning to Giles he said cheerfully, \u201cFeel free to cover your ears, tuneful she isn\u2019t\u2013 just wish I could do the same\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOwww\u201d Lorne rubbed the throbbing part of his arm that she\u2019d punched with venom.<\/p>\n \u201cI can sing, I just don\u2019t have time for \u2013 you know, warming up and stuff\u201d said Cordelia; defending herself and glaring at her friend and then Giles too \u2013 just in case he decided to join in and gang up on her.<\/p>\n Giles held up a hand to halt the byplay, \u201cCan we just get on with it; otherwise we\u2019ll be here all day, discussing the merits of your singing abilities or lack of them\u201d. He was starting to get a headache and remembering Cordelia\u2019s singing from High school, wanted it over and done with as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does singing have to do with it anyway\u201d? Asked Giles, confused and irritated by the turn things were taking, he walked over to the desk and perched a hip on it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s anagogic \u2013 I sing and he looks into my soul and sees what\u2019s what in my life\u201d. Cordelia informed him absently all the while running through songs in her mind, discarding one after another and successfully hiding a mental cringe about having to do this.<\/p>\n Angel you are in such big trouble \u2013 this is gonna deserve a \u2018big, no expense spared and no complaining\u2019 shopping spree<\/i>.<\/p>\n Giles looked at Lorne with renewed interest while he digested the news about his abilities, \u201cReally\u201d? Then he looked confused again. \u201cHow will that help us find Angel and Wesley? We already know where Cordelia is\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe amount of time Angel and the Princess here spend wrapped around one another like the proverbial yin and yang. I\u2019m only surprised they haven\u2019t melted into a puddle of mutual lust. This\u2019ll work \u2013 trust me\u201d.<\/p>\n Cordelia took a deep breath, as did Lorne and Giles when they realised she was ready. Then steeling herself, she launched into a song that she secretly loved and listened to obsessively, when Angel wasn\u2019t around of course.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you cried i\u2019d wipe away all of your tears\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Giles watched intently as Lorne stared into Cordelia\u2019s face. The red eyes of the demon entirely focused on the young woman. He saw the glass the demon was holding, tilt and the liquid inside pour out onto his bright blue suit pants; but Lorne didn\u2019t notice, glued to something now flashing before his horrified inner eye.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019d scream I\u2019d fight away all of your fears\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n A bright light, jagged rips in reality and a feeling of being in a cage. Masked monsters and stone slabs dripping with blood and entrails<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ve held your hand through all of these years\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n A dark pit lined with stones. Wesley falling, fighting and death, sharp prongs and finally a ripping pain followed by a red haze.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you still have all of me\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n A dark pitiless room, more pain only from someone new and then feeding, blood filling and surging, bringing\u2026.<\/p>\n Lorne jerked back so hard he toppled the chair backwards. It righted itself before it hit the floor but Lorne slid off it and onto the carpet. He sat slumped with his back to the chair. His eyes were open but glazed and unfocused and he wasn\u2019t moving so much as a muscle.<\/p>\n Cordelia stopped singing and leapt up to join Giles now kneeling beside Lorne. She grabbing the demon\u2019s hand and squeezed hard, trying to bring him round, desperate to know what it was that he\u2019d seen. Giles looked at her and raised a brow, a worried look on his questioning face. She shook her head not wanting to get into explanations of what was \u2018normal\u2019 \u2013 HAH, when did normal ever apply to them?<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cLorne, can you hear me? C\u2019mon a little sight seeing tour and you\u2019re all zombified \u2013 it won\u2019t wash with ex-vision-girl\u201d. She tried to make a joke of it but she was seriously worried now. This did not look good \u2013 not good at all.<\/p>\n Lorne choked and came back to life. He tried to get up but didn\u2019t have the strength or coordination so fell back again. His eyes searched for and then latched onto Cordelia\u2019s. Her heart sank into the pit of her belly when she saw his distraught expression.<\/p>\n Lorne told her; swallowed hard and fought back the feeling of despair that threatened to make him weep like a baby. \u201cIt\u2019s too late, they\u2019re done for\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s bullshit\u201d said Cordelia after a shocked silence. Then leaping up she towered over the demon with eyes blazing, shouting at him. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me that, Lorne \u2013 don\u2019t you ever<\/i> say that. There is always<\/i> hope\u201d. She grabbed him by his shirtfront to haul him back in the chair, helped by a stunned Giles.<\/p>\n She was almost in the demon\u2019s lap with her hands on either side of the armrest and leaning in to say, \u201cNow tell me everything you saw \u2013 everything\u201d. He gulped at the fire in her eyes and told her what he could remember.<\/p>\n Afterwards the three of them went silent, appalled at what they\u2019d heard about the hellish place that Angel and Wesley were trapped in. Cordelia was pacing backwards and forwards, whirling around and almost wringing her hands in agitation.<\/p>\n Every part of her body felt as if it was hurting and she couldn\u2019t possibly sit down or she\u2019d go mad. Lorne\u2019s description of them being only just<\/i> alive, reverberating around her head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no idea what caused the change from normal glimpse to \u2018all-out vision\u2019? She asked him. Not stopping her pacing except to throw a desperate glance at Lorne, needing to understand.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething took me over\u201d and Lorne was still recovering from the shock of that too. \u201cI could feel it hone in on me and then \u2013 whammo it was like a big screen surround sound with visual effects, the whole works\u201d.<\/p>\n Just saying it out loud made him feel it again, the sheer tunnelled focus of it and then the feeling of being zeroed in on. \u201cAfter that I saw what it wanted me to see\u201d. He looked at Giles, who was watching Cordelia with a distant look on his weather-beaten face.<\/p>\n Even with her arms hugging her body tightly, Giles saw the fine trembling in Cordelia\u2019s tightly held body and wished he could say something to make her relax. This was a side to Cordelia that he had never seen before and quite frankly it amazed him; so much for the self-absorbed prom queen image.<\/p>\n Cordelia stopped pacing and turned to face the two men. \u201cI won\u2019t lose him or Wesley and that\u2019s final\u201d. With her hands fisted at her sides and face filled with resolve, she continued. \u201cI don\u2019t care what it takes \u2013 I\u2019m going in there and getting them both out\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI realise its dangerous and that I\u2019m asking a lot but if I want to win this \u2013 well, I can\u2019t do it alone\u201d. Dammit<\/i>, she could feel her eyes start to water and squeezed them shut. Hating the loss of control at a time when she needed it the most. Before the green demon could scramble up to go to her, Giles strode over and took her hands in his callused ones.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you\u2019ll get him back, both of them and there\u2019s no question that I\u2019ll help you\u201d. Giles sighed and wished he was better at saying just the right thing. \u201cAt least we know where they are now and have a good idea how to get there\u201d. Awkwardly he patted her shoulder, wishing he was less reserved and able to just hug her.<\/p>\n Lorne had no such inhibitions and joined them. His red eyes filled with determination. He wrapped both arms around her in a big hug. \u201cMake that two of us, Princess. I\u2019ll just pretend I\u2019m Clint \u2013 riding into hell to save the day OK\u201d.<\/p>\n Cordelia gave a watery smile at the image of Lorne wearing leather chaps and a cowboy hat, just like he\u2019d intended her too. She hugged him back and smiled at Giles to reassure them both that she was done with the emotional stuff for now.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re absolutely certain that we can\u2019t use anyone from here?\u201d Giles asked Lorne. \u201cIt would be terribly useful to have some reinforcements\u201d.<\/p>\n Lorne shrugged \u201cAll I know is that someone from here started this whole thing but the problem is I don\u2019t know who. So who do we trust\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cAngel\u2019s had spats and fights with most of departments heads involved in the demon underworld and the way he works; you know<\/i> that means enemies\u201d. Agreed Cordelia; all business again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, we can only trust ourselves and maybe Gunn and Fred \u2013 do you know where they are\u201d? She asked Lorne.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I know the legal beagle\u2019s outta town with a client. But Fred\u2019s downstairs in the lab, shall I go fetch\u201d? Cordy nodded and made shooing motions with her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cHurry back with her but don\u2019t say why until we\u2019re all safely upstairs. Then we\u2019ll get suited and booted\u201d, She watched Lorne leave the room and then turned to meet Giles\u2019s questioning look.<\/p>\n \u201cSuited and booted\u201d? He asked.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Angel has a whole room filled with every weapon imaginable. It\u2019s a homicidal maniacs Disneyland up there\u201d.<\/p>\n Giles smiled at her quippy tone \u201cI\u2019ll tell him you said that\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t bother \u2013 I already did\u201d.<\/p>\n LOCKED UP<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Wesley woke up and then blinked to make sure his eyes were actually open. Again he saw nothing but blackness and that disoriented him even more. He felt a movement by his leg and reached out a hand.<\/p>\n His fingers touched cold leather, so he pushed slightly and was rewarded with a groan. He pushed harder when realising it was Angel\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cStop, that frickin\u2019 hurts\u201d grumbled Angel and moved his arm back and away. His chest, and all the way down to his navel felt like it was on fire. If he\u2019d had the strength he would have thumped Wesley for waking him further, he\u2019d been enjoying a fantasy of being far away from here and wherever Cordelia was. Thanks, Wes<\/i>.<\/p>\n Angel heard a rustle from Wesley as the man tried to sit up. Then he heard hissing noises as Wesley gritting his teeth to ignore the pain from his own wounds. He admired him for trying to move. There was no chance he was doing likewise; he\u2019d had enough of pain for the time being.<\/p>\n \u201cHow deep are the wounds\u201d? Asked Wesley from the blackness that even his vampire eyes couldn\u2019t penetrate.<\/p>\n \u201cDunno\u201d replied Angel after a few moments of appearing to thinking about it.<\/p>\n Wesley seriously didn\u2019t like the slurring of Angel\u2019s voice and worried even more now, he made his way over to investigate. His fingers touched sticky blood and felt the wounds weep further. Angel grabbed his hand and growled in anger at the fresh surge of agony.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the fuck are you trying to do, Wes\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cFind out how badly off you really are\u201d was the terse response. Wesley tugged his hand free and sat back. \u201cYou\u2019re still bleeding; shouldn\u2019t that have stopped by now\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, maybe \u2013 but those damn spikes nearly sliced me in two, so it\u2019s gonna take a while\u201d. Angel didn\u2019t mention the fact that he\u2019d lost a lot of blood, too much of it. His face was no longer human; having changed the moment he\u2019d come too and smelled Wesley\u2019s blood. That information wouldn\u2019t go down well and he knew it, so he kept silent.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens next do you know\u201d? Asked Wesley after a few minutes of silence as both mulled over their current predicament. Although he could guess, he preferred not to as in his current condition, he knew they were both dead if he was right.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what Drachnar said, we fight again. As for when \u2013 a few hours is my guess\u201d said Angel from his prone position on the damp floor. Wesley cursed, he\u2019d been right after all. \u201cWe won\u2019t survive another round. Not even you in the condition you\u2019re in\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u201d answered Angel simply \u2013 what could he say it was the truth. He was in no condition to fight anyone and wouldn\u2019t be for some time, certainly a lot longer than a few hours.<\/p>\n Angel licked his dry lips, God he was starving, hunger crawled up inside him and he shifted restlessly. \u201cWesley, move back\u201d he demanded harshly surprising the other man.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u201d asked Wesley but shifting further way anyway, curious at what had caused the harsh tone in the vampire\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI lost a lot of blood\u201d. Angel admitted and grunting in pain managed to sit up enough to move further away himself. Wesley stayed silent for a whole, pondering minute. \u00a0Angel would swear he could actually hear the wheels turning and he stiffened when a thought hit him.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t even say it \u2013 not one fucking word\u201d said Angel and each word was growled out in rage. Wesley sighed and laid his head back against the dirty wall. \u201cWhat good does both of us dying serve\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cI came here to save your life, not take it. Now shut the HELL up <\/i>\u201d.<\/p>\n Put like that, Wesley decided to shut up. It was all very to think about nobly sacrificing yourself for your friends but without any guarantee of success anyway \u2013 it was pretty bloody pointless.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry for getting you into this mess\u201d he offered as he tried to make himself more comfortable for the wait. He stiffened up again when he heard another growl.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s not bring that up either or I might change my mind. What the hell were you thinking about, going in alone like that\u201d?<\/p>\n Wesley winced and tried to muster a defence but got distracted by a weird shape forming in the far corner. At least he thought it was a corner, he blinked his eyes and stared. He could actually see some definition over there.<\/p>\n Angel saw it too out of the corner of his eyes and turned his head to it. Topaz eyes glinting now in the darkness as the growing light reflected from them. \u201cWhat is<\/i> that, do you know\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea\u201d replied Wesley. Both of them kept their eyes firmly trained on the now glowing corner, as an outline started to become visible. \u201cThere\u2019s a bundle of something directly underneath. Or am I seeing things\u201d? He asked the vampire.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I see it to, it looks like a body\u201d said Angel. Wesley tossed him a frowning look. \u201cHow come you didn\u2019t smell it then\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cWhat am I a blood hound? Gimme a break, there\u2019s a lot of blood between here and over there\u201d. Angel snapped back and then winced as the movement of his chest pulled at the wounds.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry\u201d said Wesley absently as finally the shape emerged fully. The glowing figure was definitely female and was crouched over the body. Both of them stiffened, wondering what was going to happen next.<\/p>\n \u201cHello again, Angel\u201d said the figure.<\/p>\n Great it\u2019s Casper the Friendly Ghost \u2013 where\u2019s Dennis when you need him<\/i>, \u201cEr, Hi, do I know you\u201d? Asked Angel meeting Wesley\u2019s perplexed look with one of his own and shrugging his shoulders, gasping again at the pain. Don\u2019t frickin\u2019 move, Asshole<\/i>.<\/p>\n Wesley did a double take when he saw Angel was in full fang face \u2013 knowing he only did that when he was either getting ready for a fight or simply overwrought.<\/p>\n \u201cWe never actually met\u201d. Said the figure. The face was clear as day and yet while definitely that of a woman; was too indistinct to tell individual features and it was the same with the body. \u201cYou knew me by the name of Cathy\u201d.<\/p>\n Wesley\u2019s face registered shock at the news, he looked at Angel who nodded towards the body. Wesley crawled towards it, watching the glowing figure warily. He reached the dirty bundle of rags that covered it and reached out to what he assumed were the shoulders. Just before he turned them towards him he looked up at the face close to him. \u201cDo you mind\u201d? He asked politely.<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead, Wesley. But its not a pretty sight\u201d.<\/p>\n Even forewarned Wesley flinched at the sight that met his eyes. The features of the woman who had befriended Cordelia were only just barely recognisable. \u201cI did warn you\u201d she said and then looked down at her physical form sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time I manage to heal myself, they come back and mangle me up again. That\u2019s why they keep me around \u2013 pretty crappy really\u201d.<\/p>\n Understatement<\/i>, thought Angel but just looked at the face of the woman. \u201cSo what are you\u201d? He asked indicating her less substantial self. \u201cSoul or something\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like that \u2013 but lets not worry about that OK. I have a proposition for helping you and maybe in return you can get me out too\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d love too\u201d. Wesley said carefully, trying not to be rude. \u201cBut if you can\u2019t help yourself how can you possibly help us\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cAngel needs blood to heal and get strong again. Only he can\u2019t take yours, Wesley or risk killing you. But there\u2019s plenty in there and I can\u2019t get much more damaged than I already am\u201d. She indicated her body and watched Angel\u2019s face.<\/p>\n Angel winced and shook his head, she grinned at him, \u201cNot too appetising huh\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cIts not that really\u201d, or maybe a bit that<\/i>. He shook his head again and leaned back to shut his eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t drink human blood\u201d. No matter how hungry I am he told his desperately starving self, ignoring the growing, gnawing ache.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not human or at least not just human. Nor am I demon and believe me my blood can heal you faster than anything else you ever dreamed of. Not to mention giving you a hell of kick\u201d. She cajoled him.<\/p>\n He cracked open his eyes as she approached him and shook his head from side to side vehemently. \u201cI\u2019m not drinking your blood\u201d. Cathy smiled a little at that incongruous statement coming from a vampire in full fang face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not, Angel. I don\u2019t need it at the moment and besides, a vampire bite is nothing compared to other things that have happened to me and some of those very recently too\u201d.<\/p>\n She looked over to Wesley as if appealing for his help in convincing Angel to drain her blood. Wesley looked down at the body by his feet and feeling slightly sick, picked it up in his arms. Even as weak as he was just then, he didn\u2019t struggle under the slight weight.<\/p>\n Now that the body was closer to him, Angel could smell the blood under the skin and he growled low in his throat, glaring at Wesley with as much fury as he could muster. \u201cGet that thing the hell away from me, Wes. NOW\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAngel, please think about it. If you don\u2019t drink my blood, you and Wesley and hundred of others will die and this place will continue. Is that what you want\u201d?<\/p>\n Wesley dropped stiffly to his knees beside the vampire and spirit, laying the body carefully on the floor. He looked into the face of the vampire he considered his friend and a part of his adopted family and said, \u201cI think you should do it \u2013 she\u2019s right, it\u2019s the only way\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThink of it as a gift, Angel. I give it to you freely and in return you may be able to save me from the possibility of an eternity of torture. Believe me when I tell you \u2013 bite away\u201d.<\/p>\n After a moment Angel sighed and gave in \u2013 he held out his arms. \u201cBring her here\u201d. Wesley complied, feeling weird and almost light headed about literally dropping Angels dinner in his lap. Ignoring his protesting chest, Angel sat up and arranged the body to give him access to the neck.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mind not<\/i> watching\u201d. He said to them; uncomfortable with an audience and they both turned away so that their backs were to him.<\/p>\n Angel turned the head gently and avoided looking at his \u2018victims\u2019 face. Mangled or not the features were still human and he did his best to ignore the part of him that wanted to celebrate in that fact. His fangs sank into the skin and closed his eyes at the sweet coppery of taste of blood \u2013 filling him and surging down his parched throat.<\/p>\n Wesley heard the sounds of the vampire feeding and managed not to throw up. When it stopped he turned around to find Angel had already laid the body on the floor, straight and covered again. He was about to ask how he felt then, when Angel stiffened and his head jerked back. His thick neck bowed and features scrunched up as if in agony.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell is going on\u201d? He yelled at Cathy and caught the heavy body of the flailing vampire. Yelling \u201cOuch\u201d, when the hand he put behind the dark head to protect it, was crushed against the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be OK soon. I told you my blood isn\u2019t human but he should be fine\u201d said Cathy standing out the away and giving him room, even though she was nothing more than air in reality.<\/p>\n Wesley stretched Angel out as best he could and sat back waiting for the spasms to subside. When Cathy knelt by Angel\u2019s thrashing head, he went to push her away but his hand passed right through. \u201cShould be\u201d he snarled, \u201cyou never mentioned \u2018should be\u2019 before he drank \u2013 did you\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019m sorry, Wesley but this is a first for me too. I\u2019m not normally around for the after effects ya know\u201d. They both gave a silent sigh of relief when the vampire went still. Helplessly Wesley watched as Cathy set a hand on either side of Angel\u2019s head \u2013 by the ears.<\/p>\n \u201cNow what the devil are you doing\u201d? He asked her; frustrated at not being able to prevent her from doing whatever she wanted.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last gift I can give is knowledge. These creatures have made it their life\u2019s work to fight, kill and maim and each generation has passed that knowledge on over thousands of years\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ones you faced where just babies really, still in training. The next ones won\u2019t be and so I\u2019m just evening the score a little. Being psychic and stuck here a while, I sort of soaked up that knowledge and now I\u2019m passing it onto him\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHandy little trick\u201d said Wesley still glowering at her. \u201cYou\u2019re just full of them aren\u2019t you. Remind me to finish my research on you when I get back\u201d.<\/p>\n Cathy just looked at him with a carefully blank expression and continued. \u201cAngel will know what they know \u2013 but will still be heavily outnumbered. So I\u2019m banking on his temper to make sure he gives out more than he gets\u201d.<\/p>\n The sudden and savage growling coming from the vampire in question had them both warily backing away. \u201cAngel\u201d? Realising his voice was croaking Wesley cleared it and tried again. \u201cAngel, how do you feel\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll give you three guesses\u201d came the gravelly reply from floor level.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n WOLFRAM & HART<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Giles stood staring in wonder at the array of swords, axes, cudgels and other medieval and modern paraphernalia of warfare. \u201cYou do realise some of these belong in a museum don\u2019t you?\u201d, he said to no one in particular \u2013 just satisfying an inner need to say it out-loud and thus relieve his guilt.<\/p>\n Guilt at the sheer excitement of actually being able to use some of them. Cordelia gave him an arch look as she passed him to reach inside a now open glass cabinet to casually unhook a large crossbow and quarrels.<\/p>\n \u201cYou try telling that to Angel and he\u2019s likely to take out your tongue. He loves this room\u201d. She rolled her eyes and mouthed \u201cpsycho\u201d to herself. Boys and toys \u2013 they were all the same<\/i>.<\/p>\n Giles caught her expression and flushed at being caught out. \u201cYes well, that\u2019s good then \u2013 lets get \u2018suited and booted\u2019 shall we\u201d. He smiled brightly at the others and still blushing, picked out an axe for himself and helplessly fondled the antique handle.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Giles \u2013 get a grip\u201d Snapped Cordelia and raised yet another brow. \u201cI knew I should have just picked yours out. We don\u2019t have all day Okay\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cArghhh, I think it\u2019s kinda cute\u201d said Fred and gave the Englishman a big supportive smile. Plus he is kinda cute too<\/i>, she thought to herself and fluttered her eyelashes at him. She was delighted when his face turned even redder.<\/p>\n \u201cEasy there Tiger, I think we need to let you out of the lab a bit more \u2013 get used to company ya know\u201d said Lorne, patting her dark head as he headed for his own choice. A heavy, metal spiked cudgel.<\/p>\n Fred went for the modern firearms as the older hardware was too heavy for her to use effectively. Anyway, Wesley had got her into using guns and she\u2019d been training with him for months now. She was pretty good, even if she did say so herself.<\/p>\n Cordelia tucked another knife into a sheath at her waist. That meant she had three, the crossbow, a hunting knife and the shotgun \u2013 just in case. \u2018Loaded for bear\u2019 as Gunn would say she thought in satisfaction. They were as prepared as they could be.<\/p>\n She checked them all out; all wearing black \u2013 check, no shiny stuff to give them away \u2013 check. \u201cRight let\u2019s get going\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cYo hold up, if ya\u2019ll think your goin\u2019 off fightin\u2019 without me \u2013 you\u2019re just crazy\u201d said a voice from behind them. They all whipped around and all but Giles relaxed when they spotted the large man in the suit.<\/p>\n \u201cGunn\u201d chorused three of them. \u201cWhere\u201d? Asked Giles as he scrutinised the thousand-dollar suit and neat black briefcase.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n BACK IN THE CELL\u00a0<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0BACK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Part 4 THE PIT (Where we left off) The pain had been beyond incredible, impossible even. So much so that it\u2019d crowded everything…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13806"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13841,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13806\/revisions\/13841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}