Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
FRIDAY NIGHT<\/em><\/p>\n Angel had disappeared shortly after returning home. Saying if he couldn\u2019t get a cigarette, he might as well go out and drink. Buffy and Willow tried to convince him to do otherwise, but Angel wouldn\u2019t have it.<\/p>\n He was getting loaded, and that was final. That left the Scoobies to reheat dinner and discuss the night\u2019s events.<\/p>\n After Xander had sufficiently stuffed his mouth on breadsticks, he finally posed the question that was on everyone\u2019s minds. \u201cWhat the hell is up with him? One minute he\u2019s whooping ass like you wouldn\u2019t believe and quipping in a fashion to make our very own Slayer proud. The next he\u2019s all depressed and looking to drink himself into a stupor. What\u2019s up with that?\u201d<\/p>\n The girls shared knowing looks between themselves. Buffy took it upon herself to express the common theory. \u201cWe think that he\u2019s in love with Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n Giles and Xander stopped eating and looked at them in shock. \u201cCordelia? You mean the Cordelia that I used to date?\u201d Nods greeted the question. \u201cAnd when you say love, you mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe big \u2018L\u2019,\u201d Buffy sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was afraid to tell her,\u201d Giles mused. \u201cPerhaps he feared what would happen if he became too close.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr maybe she didn\u2019t return the feelings,\u201d Willow suggested.<\/p>\n The possibilities were considered as the gang munched on the leftover lasagna. They ate silently for several minutes until the front door opened. Moments later, Spike appeared in the kitchen. The vampire observed the scene before him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat must be takeout, because last time Buffy made lasagna, Dawn had to be given some Ipecac to bring it back up.\u201d Spike fell silent as a familiar sensation crept into his conscience.<\/p>\n \u201cOr it could have been made by Angel. He always had a knack for the culinary arts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you know Angel was here?\u201d Buffy asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt him,\u201d Spike answered as he sat down next to Dawn. \u201cSmelt him, too.\u201d Spike paused a moment. \u201cJust so we\u2019re clear, you\u2019re not planning on boinking him, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Buffy stared at him. \u201cWhy? Jealous?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d he answered honestly. \u201cPlus, the whole losing his soul bit isn\u2019t something I want to deal with. I\u2019m just starting to get used to having mine without dealing with a lack of his.\u201d Spike looked around and swiped a breadstick. \u201cSo where is Granddad? Perhaps gelling his hair or maybe saving a kitten from a tall tree?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s out getting loaded,\u201d Willow answered.<\/p>\n Spike considered that as he chewed. \u201cHe\u2019s having woman troubles then. Angelus never got drunk unless he was having problems with Darla. So who\u2019s the chit that\u2019s got his knickers in a bundle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCordelia,\u201d the collective group answered.<\/p>\n \u201cHis secretary? I liked her. Held a crossbow to me once. Didn\u2019t show any fear either. Girl had balls.\u201d Spike then patted around his coat searching for cigarettes. He frowned as he remembered that he quit.<\/p>\n The front door was heard to open again. Angel reappeared looking quite frustrated. \u201cCan you believe this shit?\u201d he ranted. \u201cI go to Willy\u2019s to drink, and the son of a bitch won\u2019t let me in. All because I killed some regular customers. I don\u2019t know if I want to live in a country where you can\u2019t drink just because you kill things.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel stopped at the edge of the dining room when he noticed Spike sitting at the table. The two vampires stared silently at each other for several moments.<\/p>\n \u201cSpike,\u201d Angel greeted hesitantly.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel,\u201d Spike returned. They were both silent as they contemplated what to say. The rest of the gang watched the interchange curiously.<\/p>\n \u201cSoooo,\u201d Angel drawled, rocking back and forth on his heels, \u201cI hear you got a soul now.\u201d Spike nodded that he did. \u201cHow\u2019s that working for you?\u201d<\/p>\n Spike shrugged. \u201cI initially went mad with guilt as years of unspeakable evil invaded my newly found conscience. Plus, the First Evil decided to make me insane by whispering into my ear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMad with guilt, then the First Evil screws with you,\u201d Angel repeated. \u201cI hear ya.\u201d<\/p>\n A few moments of silence reigned. \u201cSo how about you?\u201d Spike asked.<\/p>\n \u201cStill struggling to find acceptance into a world I don\u2019t belong in. Still have a problem being with the girl I love. Same old, same old.\u201d<\/p>\n Spike nodded. \u201cCan\u2019t find acceptance and can\u2019t be with the girl you love. I hear ya.\u201d The Scoobies continued to find the vampires\u2019 conversation fascinating. \u201cYou were wanting to go out drinking?\u201d Angel nodded that he did. \u201cI know a spot better than Willy\u2019s. They got Buffalo wings and a big screen television. At this hour they\u2019ll be showing rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRugby?\u201d Angel was intrigued. \u201cThat\u2019s a good Isle\u2019s sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Spike stood up and joined his grandsire. \u201cYeah, it\u2019s a sport for real men. Not like this football shit where they wear pads. Now, let\u2019s go drink ourselves into a stupor.\u201d<\/p>\n The gang watched as Spike and Angel disappeared to go on their drinking binge. Once they had gone, it was Buffy who spoke for the girls.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that\u2019s what you call vampire bonding?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Xander answered. \u201cThat\u2019s just typical male bonding. If it were vampire bonding, there would be a trail of bodies in their wake.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Charlie\u2019s Place was a distinctly human bar. But despite that, Angel and Spike were both enjoying themselves watching a rugby match between Manchester and Belfast. Spike dipped a pretzel in his Budweiser and popped it into his mouth. Angel took a shot of Jack before chasing it down with his own beer.<\/p>\n They both flirted lightly with the ladies that happened by, but made it quite clear they didn\u2019t want company for the evening. In a strange bit of bonding between a pair of beings that historically didn\u2019t care for one another, the vampires shared their stories of the past few years.<\/p>\n Spike told about how some commandos neutered him by installing a chip in his head. Angel was slightly amazed that Spike willingly began to aid Buffy and her friends. Spike informed him how he fell in love with Buffy and went to Africa to retrieve a soul.<\/p>\n Spike was equally amazed at Angel\u2019s sordid tales. He knew of Darla\u2019s return, but the fact that Angel had a human child with her shocked him beyond belief. A few betrayals later and an apocalypse diverted, Angel explained that he just needed to leave town.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s because of her,\u201d Angel slurred slightly. A half dozen shots of whiskey and a couple beers would do that. \u201cNow, I\u2019m not saying I was a saint. Hell, I did some horrible shit to her. I cut her away during my darkest hour. I went off and fucked Darla. She had reason to hate me.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what she did to me hurt. She says that she will always love me. Looks me dead in the eye and says it. And you know what? I was stupid enough to believe her. She loved me? Then why the fuck does she go and screw my son for? You think getting stabbed by your girlfriend and going to hell hurts? That\u2019s nothing compared to having your heart ripped from your chest and having your soul set on fire. The pain was infinitely worse than what Buffy did. Buffy was justified in what she did. Cordelia killed me just because she could. She killed me without knowing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Spike took a long swill of his beer. \u201cThat\u2019s a woman for you. No matter what you do, it\u2019s never enough. You try to become the man that they deserve, but all they can see is the flaws. You can worship her, put her on a pedestal, but that creates a problem. Once they are above you, the fact that you are beneath them becomes abundantly clear to the both of you.\u201d Spike took another sip before continuing.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen are more trouble than they are worth. And as a wise man once told me: Women. You can\u2019t live with them and you can\u2019t exsanguinate them.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel laughed when Spike said that. \u201cThat sounded good when I thought of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Spike smirked as the memory of that night returned. \u201cWhen you thought of it, you just had a fight with Darla, sucked a Parisian chambermaid dry, and got loaded up on cheap red wine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Angel conceded. He then grabbed his glass of beer and raised it up. \u201cI propose a toast then. I say to hell with women. We don\u2019t need them.\u201d<\/p>\n Spike concurred with that and the vampires clinked glasses and then drained the beer. Together they watched the conclusion of the rugby match. Manchester scored on a try and put the kick through to go up and win 35-28.<\/p>\n Disgusted, Angel reached into his wallet and threw a twenty on the bar in front of Spike. Spike happily took the money and informed Angel he would be picking up the tab as well. Angel tossed more money onto the counter in a huff and followed Spike out to the street.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Buffy, Willow, and Dawn were awakened by the most God awful noise they\u2019d ever heard in their lives. Rubbing the sleep from their eyes, the girls stepped out into the hallway in their nightclothes to see what the ruckus was.<\/p>\n Going downstairs, they found two vampires camped out on the sofa trading a bottle of whiskey. Worse than that, they were\u2026singing.<\/p>\n \u201cOoooohhhhh, I got friends in low places<\/em> \u201cOooohhhhh, I\u2019m not big on social graces<\/em> Spike took a long guzzle from the bottle of Jack Daniels before handing it back to Angel. Angel followed with an equally long drink. And through the bottle, Angel could distinctly see three forms on the stairwell watching them.<\/p>\n He thrust the bottle back at Spike and pointed to the stairs in disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at that! It\u2019s some of\u2026them.\u201d<\/p>\n Spike squinted to see what the hell Angel was talking about. Disgust quickly covered his face when he saw who was there. \u201cThem,\u201d he spat. \u201cWe don\u2019t need them. Their kind sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur kind?\u201d Willow asked curiously. This was just bizarre.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen,\u201d Angel stated. \u201cDamn, dirty women. Only thing your kind is good for is smelling pretty and breaking our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Spike agreed. \u201cHow can you live with yourselves? You walk around looking all beautiful and smelling the way you do. You give us false promises of love and then WHAM!\u201d<\/p>\n Spike slapped his hands together to emphasize his point. \u201cYou rip our hearts out and leave us wounded and bleeding. You should be ashamed of yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely ashamed,\u201d Angel concurred.<\/p>\n The vampires then began to fight each other over whose turn it was to get the bottle. Angel won. Spike pouted.<\/p>\n \u201cThose two have issues,\u201d Dawn observed. Willow and Buffy were inclined to agree.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Hannah, Emma, and Kayla walked quickly and quietly through the streets of Sunnydale. Avoiding attention and detection, the trio was determined to reach their destination.<\/p>\n Well, Hannah was determined to reach it. Emma and Kayla weren\u2019t so sure.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can we know if he will be here?\u201d Emma asked.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause our intelligence said he was,\u201d Hannah answered.<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, our intelligence was a drunkard who said Angel was living here FIVE years ago,\u201d Kayla reminded. \u201cDon\u2019t you think he\u2019s moved on by now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d Hannah admitted reluctantly. \u201cBut we have to take the chance. If he is gone, then she will tell us where.\u201d<\/p>\n The girls came to a stop as the Summers\u2019 house came into view. \u201cStrange,\u201d Kayla mused. \u201cA vampire falling in love with his mortal enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think he will know who we are?\u201d Emma asked.<\/p>\n \u201cShould,\u201d Kayla answered. \u201cHannah looks enough like her great-grandmother that he should know. And we\u2019ve all heard the stories that Angel and Sarah were\u2026close.\u201d<\/p>\n Hannah ignored the conversation behind her. They may not believe that he was here or that he could protect them. But Hannah was positive on both counts.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time to say hello,\u201d Hannah voiced. Emma and Kayla cast a quick glance at each other before following Hannah up to the house.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do we do?\u201d Willow asked. The girls had been sitting on the stairs for ten minutes watching the vampires.<\/p>\n Angel and Spike had finished off the bottle of whiskey. Now they were discussing rugby, weapons, and occasionally shouting lewd phrases in their direction.<\/p>\n Buffy rested her chin on the banister as she watched. \u201cI guess we close the drapes so they don\u2019t fry up at sunrise. I don\u2019t really want to drag them upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe only thing worse than a woman is a woman demon!\u201d Angel interrupted. Spike shouted his agreement.<\/p>\n Before Buffy could shout back a retort, a knocking at the front door sounded. \u201cGet that, woman!\u201d Spike taunted. \u201cIf you\u2019re opening a door, that means you\u2019re not stabbing me in the chest!\u201d Spike collapsed back on the couch and began to sing Can’t Get No Satisfaction to the ceiling.<\/p>\n Buffy would stake them both later, but now, she had to see who was knocking on her door at two in the morning. When Buffy got to the door, she found three girls waiting on the other side.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, hello,\u201d Buffy greeted.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you Buffy Summers?\u201d Hannah asked. Buffy nodded that she was.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Hannah. I came to see the vampire named Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Calvary, New York<\/em> Joseph didn\u2019t like the idea at all. It was dangerous, foolish, and insane. But as he took in the grim faced expression of the fair-skinned redhead before him, he knew that his opinion would not matter.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSarah,\u201d Joseph tried once more. \u201cPlease reconsider what you are about to do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Sarah remained silent for several moments. She crossed the bedroom of the old cabin and knelt in front of an oaken chest. She began to extract various herbs and potions she would need to perform the ritual.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSarah\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joseph,\u201d Sarah interrupted. They had had this discussion several times a day for the past three days. It didn\u2019t change her mind the first twenty-eight times, it wasn\u2019t going to change it this time. \u201cThis is the only way. He can save us, Joseph. Can\u2019t you see that?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Joseph knelt down in front of the young woman and grabbed her shoulders roughly. \u201cHe is a VAMPIRE, Sarah. He cannot be trusted.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Sarah\u2019s eyes sparked with a fury that frightened him. Joseph immediately let go of her. With a warning glance, Sarah shut the chest and walked back over to the doorway. At the right angle, she could peer into the kitchen and see him. He sat at the table and drank from a bowl containing warm chicken blood.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSarah,\u201d Joseph called softly. \u201cI know that you care for this\u2026thing. But he is not a man. He is a beast. And if you insist on going through with this ritual, I fear that it may hold dire consequences for our entire clan. Giving a demon such as this the power that you suggest\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt is only a temporary transfusion,\u201d Sarah reminded. \u201cHe\u2019ll have the power for a few hours or until I say the chant to retrieve it. Besides, Joseph, I trust him. This isn\u2019t a mere animal we speak of. True, he is a vampire, a demon. But look into the depths of his eyes and you will see a soul, and a good one at that. He already has so much power about him. I can feel it. He has the potential to be a savior. Our savior.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Joseph found he couldn\u2019t argue anymore. It was pointless. Once Sarah made her mind, nothing could change it. He watched as she entered the kitchen and smiled at the beast. He would never understand the affection she seemed to hold for the creature. If it were up to Joseph, this Angel would already be in Hell. But he would not risk the fury of Sarah by ignoring her orders.<\/em><\/p>\n After all, he had sworn to that fact. As had everyone in the village. They would trust her judgment. Even if that meant trusting a vampire as well.<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Angel began to immediately pull from his drunken haze the instant a strange voice uttered his name. Sobering himself up, Angel lifted from his seat on the couch and went to see who was at the door. Spike, seeing that Angel was on alert, also went about the mental process of sobering up. He didn\u2019t have as much luck. We he got drunk, he tended to stay drunk until nature took its course.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s imperative that I see Angel,\u201d the voice insisted. \u201cIf you know where he is, I need you to tell us. He is the only one who can help us.\u201d<\/p>\n Buffy was seriously considering kicking the three women out. But then Angel appeared behind her. The collective jaws of the women dropped. This was the being from Sarah\u2019s drawings. And wow. They did not exaggerate at all.<\/p>\n Angel was dumbstruck. Even in his intoxicated fog, Angel was easily able to remember this face. It was one he had not seen nor touched in eighty years. But how was that possible?<\/p>\n \u201cSarah?\u201d he asked hesitantly.<\/p>\n Hannah smiled widely at the recognition. This would make things so much easier. \u201cSarah was my great-grandmother. My name is Hannah. I\u2019m the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the Keeper,\u201d Angel realized. Hannah nodded that she was. \u201cWhat are you doing in California?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need your help. Merrick escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel\u2019s eyes darkened. \u201cHow is that possible? The magicks that bound him should have held for eternity. How did he break free?\u201d<\/p>\n Hannah looked down at the ground with guilt. She didn\u2019t know how it happened. But Angel was right. It shouldn\u2019t have been able to occur. \u201cThere was an electrical storm two months ago. We don\u2019t know how, but that seems to have aided in his escape.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Buffy looked between the two in confusion. \u201cOkay. Who\u2019s Merrick?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel glanced down into the eyes of the blonde before him. \u201cIt\u2019s a long story.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do I get the feeling I should make time for it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you should.\u201d He turned his focus back to Hannah. \u201cHe\u2019s near, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s very close,\u201d Hannah answered. \u201cCan\u2019t you feel him?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel closed his eyes and tuned out the world around him. His focused his entire consciousness trying to locate the force that he had not met in eighty years. On the edge of periphery, he detected a familiar tingling. Oh yes, Merrick was out there, and he was close.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not an immediate threat,\u201d Angel announced confidently. \u201cBut he will be soon.\u201d He turned to Buffy with a pleading look. \u201cI think they need to stay here. It isn\u2019t safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you tell me what the hell is going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Buffy smiled slightly and nodded. \u201cThen I guess they are staying here. Come on in.\u201d She glanced up the staircase to Willow. \u201cCan you get some blankets from the hall closet? Looks like we have some more guests.\u201d<\/p>\n As Willow went off to retrieve the blankets, Dawn observed the growing crowd with a sigh. \u201cWe should so be charging for board.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nWhere the whiskey drowns and the beer chases<\/em>
\nMy blues away!<\/em>
\nWell I\u2019ll be okay!<\/em><\/p>\n
\nI think I slip on down to the oasis<\/em>
\nWell I got friends!<\/em>
\nIn low places!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\n 1921<\/em><\/p>\n