Part 50<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWow, there\u2019s a lot a people out on Saturday afternoon,\u201d Fred hung over the passenger car door, taking in the sight of people milling along the promenade.<\/p>\n
She frowned and looked towards both Duncan and Methos. \u201cI guess you\u2019ll knew that, uh, maybe, I don\u2019t know, I should get out more.\u201d She bit her lip in a self-depreciating gesture. \u201cStill little nervous, I guess,\u201d she shrugged apologetically.<\/p>\n
Methos leaned up. \u201cFred, when you\u2019re ready, you\u2019ll be fine and you\u2019re getting close, aren\u2019t you. You\u2019re out now.\u201d He said encouragingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I am.\u201d She smiled tentatively. \u201cI am.\u201d She said with more confidence. \u201cI\u2019ve never been in a magic book shop before, they don\u2019t have that in Texas. I never even believed magic existed,\u201d she shrugged, and giggled with more self-deprecation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, silly me.\u201d She laughed, looking back out at the various people walking about. \u201cThey don\u2019t even know that\u2019s so mind boggling. More so than Imaginary Time, which was pretty mind boggling before I just had to accept that time could be measured by using imaginary numbers- imaginary numbers- magic, you just have to accept some things.\u201c Fred looked straight at Methos.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think that I\u2019ll figure this all out? I want to, I want to help Angel, Cordy, Wesley and Gunn, they all are so brave, I want to be like them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Methos smiled gently. \u201cYou already are, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred gave a quirky unsure smile and leaned back out the window.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, this doesn\u2019t look like any magic shop that I know of, well, I don\u2019t know any but still I thought, I don\u2019t know, maybe it would be darker, more something, you know, dark stuff, eerie lights, spooky, this looks like a cross from the Barnes and Noble and the general store in my home town. I would\u2019ve never known, well, except for that,\u201d Fred pointed to the small symbol discreetly in the corner of the glass window.<\/p>\n
\u201cI recognized that, it\u2019s on all the bags Wesley brings home, it\u2019s a sign that it\u2019s an occult shop, a real one, not a tourist one.\u201d Fred nodded happily that she saw something she\u00a0felt comfortable with.<\/p>\n
Duncan was the first to react, jerking as a bullet hit him in the chest. Methos turned at the loud bang moving in front of Fred, the book secure under his arm. He was pushed back the one bullet turned into a burst of fire, shards of glass flying out and around them. Methos flinched as two bullets hit him, one in the leg the other the stomach, he swirled around grabbing Fred, throwing her on the ground and covering her with his body.<\/p>\n
Fred\u2019s scream choked in her throat as she slammed her hands over her ears to keep the repetitive loud sounds out of her head. She squeezed her eyes against her tears as Methos\u2019 body covered hers, jerking and jumping at each earsplitting blast. Fred wanted to scream, but Pylea had taught her to keep quiet.<\/p>\n
She flinched as she felt warm liquid saturating her back. She tried to open her eyes. Fred immediately closed them as she saw figures in black approach, weapons in hand.<\/p>\n
Where were the police? Where was someone? Anyone? She opened her eyes peeking under Methos dead weighted arm that covered her head. Numbers. Fred concentrated on the license plate of the van that sped off with the shooters and the book as Methos\u2019 dead weight pushed her into the concrete and into unconsciousness.<\/p>\n
Part 51<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHow much longer, Jesus, did Gabby map out to the other side of town.\u201d Gunn groaned as he pulled up a muck-coated boot. \u201cDon\u2019t see why we couldn\u2019t have drove.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia slumped her shoulders spinning to face the black man, her brows at a dangerous Angel. \u201cDaylight, hero dust, burnt to a crisp. DUH.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201dI get it, back up, evil woman,\u201d Gunn raised both hands in front of him. \u201cI\u2019m just saying us daylight folks could\u2019ve taken the car, vamp guy could enjoyed the wonders of the sewer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley stepped up, pushing Cordelia behind him. \u201cThat\u2019s not quite accurate, Charles, Gabriel\u2019s map is best understood from this position.\u201d Wesley pointed to the mess of paper he held before him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, but where next, the boy, is a dead boy if we keep wandering the sewers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t say that, we\u2019ll find him.\u201d Cordy twirled fixing Gunn with a true lethal glare.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Gunn backed up. \u201cWes, where next?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the map, that way,\u201d he pointed to the left.<\/p>\n
In a group Wesley, Gunn, Cordelia and Angel, surged forward, Angel taking the lead.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The group entered a wide convergence in the sewer tunnels. They all looked to the various choices of paths to take.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, which behind the door,\u201d Gunn raised his axe.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked his head, pulling out his sword. \u201cAll of them.\u201d He swung as vampires poured from every opening.<\/p>\n
\u201cShit.\u201d Gunn swung his sharpened fine point bat, banging and pushing at the attacking vampires.<\/p>\n
Wesley expertly pulled out a crossbow shooting and automatically replenishing the weapon quickly.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s sword was out, swinging and taking heads, she jumped back as dust settled around her feet.<\/p>\n
Angel moved his sword was gone for now, it had a vampire speared to the sewer wall. He moved quickly, dusting the two before him, a stake in both demons\u2019 dead heart. He turned, grabbing his sword, as the vampire fell to the ground, Angel swiped at the vampires\u2019 neck, and more dust fell on him.<\/p>\n
Angel took a second, focusing on Cordelia. She was battling two vampires. Their attacks kept at bay by her sword. Angel ran grabbing one and ripping the other’s head from his shoulder. Cordy yelled as more vampires crowded her.<\/p>\n
“Angel, Wesley.\u201d She yelled pushing at the ugly demon that was in her face. “Angel,” she yelled as she was dragged out of the fight. Cordy tried, but the blow that smacked her, was causing her head to vibrate.<\/p>\n
Part 52<\/b><\/p>\n
Momentarily dazed, Cordelia couldn\u2019t resist the vampires that were dragging her deeper into the tunnel away from her friends.<\/p>\n
Angel swung his leg in a high arch, his boot impacted on the chest of a vampire that was separating him from Cordelia, knocking the demon against the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cShit, this a few?\u201d Gunn grumbled spearing an attacking vampire. \u201cWhere\u2019s the kid?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley concentrated on loading his cross bow not answering.<\/p>\n
Angel growled, leaping over another vampire that blocked his path to Cordelia. Angel\u2019s mind rang with the sound of the blow that the demon inflicted on the young woman, his rage fueling his jump.<\/p>\n
He grabbed the nearest vampire, breaking the arm that was holding Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman blinked away her haze as the pain of her head injury disappeared. \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d She elbowed the remaining vampire that was gripping her other arm.<\/p>\n
Angel swung the staggered vampire around, plunging the stake that appeared from the sleeve of his coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d Cordy smiled. \u201cGuess, I still need you to save me, uh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head, gently cupping her chin. \u201cI always will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia grin disappeared as she pointed over Angel\u2019s shoulder. \u201cThe boy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel saw the child at the same time as Gunn. Both started to run as more vampires converged on the crying, scrambling child.<\/p>\n
Cordelia scanned the floor of the sewer grabbing up her fallen sword, heading towards the boy. \u201cWesley.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man nodded pointing his crossbow, shooting the vampire nearest to the child.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are they all coming from,\u201d Cordy yelled as she was knocked to the ground by a vampire that dropped from an over hang along the ceiling. \u201cWes,\u201d she screamed as she kicked at the vampire that was pulling her along the ground. Her fists joined her feet, smacking at the vampire trying to get back to Wesley.<\/p>\n
Wesley was engaged in his own close quarters fighting as another vampire dropped from the ceiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Cordy yelled, in panic as the vampire swung Wesley around exposing his neck.<\/p>\n
Cordelia screamed again as more vampires appeared yanking her further away.<\/p>\n
\u201cShit.\u201d Gunn grunted looking over his shoulder and plunging his large stake into a vampire.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked, cracking the neck of the vampire he was holding.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I\u2019ll get the boy,\u201d Gunn urged the vampire towards Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s he going? Hey, kid.\u201d Gunn watched as the striped t-shirt of the child vanished around the bend. Gunn shrugged, the kid was alive, healthy, running, and no vamps were following. He turned his attention to his friends.<\/p>\n
Gunn took off in a run as Wesley\u2019s body shook in spasms under the power of the vampire sucking him dead.<\/p>\n
Angel leapt shooting his feet forward impacting with the vampire\u2019s head. The demon jerked back as Gunn scrambled on his knees towards the fallen man \u201cWes, Come on Wes, man, come on,\u201d Gunn pulled at his friend.<\/p>\n
Angel dropped the vampire that he was about to decapitate. \u201cWhere is Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn cradled an injured Wesley close. \u201cShit.\u201d His hand clapped over the blood spurting from his friend\u2019s neck wound.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet him out of here, to a hospital.\u201d Angel picked up Cordelia\u2019s abandoned sword, disappearing into the depths of the sewers following the scent of Cordy and her abductors.<\/p>\n
Part 53<\/b><\/p>\n
Walter counted to twenty then counted again at the silence. He peered out from his hiding place under the counter feeling fairly confident that the shooting finally stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell?\u201d He looked disgusted at the damaged glass plane window. Guns, bullets weren\u2019t the norm at all. Sure, he had his share of rambunctious demons, but guns. He shook his head. What was the world coming too?<\/p>\n
He groaned peering through the broken window. Dead people. Dead human people. Walter groaned again, dead humans meant police, police meant loss of money, no customers would want to come with the police asking a bunch of questions.<\/p>\n
Walter blinked. Okay, now he had questions. But at least maybe there would be no police.<\/p>\n
Walter watched as the both supposedly dead men moved, slowly getting to their feet, blood and bullet holes peppered their shirts and coats.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred.\u201d Methos quickly bent down brushing at the unconscious young woman\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she alright?\u201d Duncan knelt down.<\/p>\n
Methos searched for injuries. \u201cNot shot. Unconscious. Fred.\u201d He called again.<\/p>\n
Walter slunk back into the store. Just great, just great. Those were the same men that had questioned him about Cordelia Chase and wasn\u2019t Fred<\/i> the name of the other human female under Angel\u2019s protection.<\/p>\n
He could have sworn that was what he heard. Walter groaned thinking about migrating to Arizona, it was sunny there. He just knew somehow the vampire would blame him.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Duncan and Methos breathed sighs of relief as Fred moved and moaned.<\/p>\n
Methos helped her up to a seated position. Fred straightened her glasses. \u201cWere we just shot at?\u201d She asked shakily. Her eyes widened as she saw the blood on the Immortals\u2019 clothing. \u201cOh my god, you both were shot? Are you\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fine. Immortals remember.\u201d Methos smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight. Wow,\u201d her eyes widened again on Methos. \u201cYou saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Methos stood, holding out his hand for the young woman. \u201cDon\u2019t look at me like that young lady, I\u2019m not a hero, I just needed someone to fall on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred narrowed her eyes. \u201cYou did TOO save me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duncan smiled as his friend fidgeted under the young woman\u2019s awed gaze.<\/p>\n
Methos shook his head, scanning the ground. \u201cThe book.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred shook her head up and down frantically. \u201cThe men who shot us, they took it, I saw it, drove away in a black van, not the book, but the men with the book.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLittle overkill to steal a book.\u201d Methos looked around at all the damage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suggest we take this conversation away from here, before we have to explain why we\u2019re not dead or we both will end up on tabloid cover.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 54<\/b><\/p>\n
Lindsay tossed the book on Lilah\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n
She reached for the text. \u201cThis is what\u2019s so important?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsay shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s a spell book.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lilah flipped through the pages. \u201cWhich one has our Immortal so interested?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInconveniently none had a big red X exclaiming read me, read me<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lilah rolled her eyes. \u201cAny problems?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNope, just another example of city violence- luckily no deaths or reportable ones anyway. What about the vision?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot quite so successful. Cordelia Chase was taken but it seems Wyndham-Price may still live.\u201d She shrugged. \u201cBut we have the book, live or die, he won\u2019t using that research brain of his on it. Though, I wouldn\u2019t mind knowing just what he was reading.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsay picked the book back up. \u201cI said there wasn\u2019t a big red X, but there is this,\u201d He opened the book showing coffee ruined pages.<\/p>\n
Lilah grabbed at the text. \u201cGet it to research, they may be able to do something with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought our partner wanted it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFunny, how you don\u2019t always get what you want. We need to know what\u2019s going on. I don\u2019t trust her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t trust anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you do?\u201d Lilah scoffed.<\/p>\n
Lindsay nodded conceding her point. \u201cI assume that we have Cordelia then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told our men to keep her safely under lock and key. The Immortal will get her when we know exactly why she wants her.\u201d Lilah paused and answered the shrilling of her phone.<\/p>\n
Lilah listened getting more agitated. \u201cChrist. Find her.\u201d Lilah slammed the phone down. \u201cThe team sent to intercept the vampires has been compromised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood guess, but no, it seems our Immortal doesn\u2019t trust us either. Took a few heads and Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsay picked up the book. \u201cI think I\u2019ll just hurry this down to research while you handle your little problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur problem, our problem,\u201d Lilah called after him. \u201cDon\u2019t forget this is both our asses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsay waved the book and kept walking.<\/p>\n
Part 55<\/b><\/p>\n
Duncan stripped off his jacket throwing it on the couch. Methos mimicked his actions. \u201cFred?\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman winced as she peered at her hand. \u201cI think I got a splinter of glass,\u201d she held out her hand.<\/p>\n
Methos studied the young woman\u2019s palm. \u201cYep, do you have any tweezers around here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst aid kit. It stings a little.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay. You probably think I\u2019m a baby, whining about a tiny piece of glass after you just have been shot to death. That had to have hurt. Are you sure you\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Just in dire need of a shirt change and a new jacket. But first, let\u2019s get you all healed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duncan\u2019s bemusement at Metho\u2019s rare show of concern for anyone other than himself was interrupted as the front door burst opened and Gunn straggled in holding up Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus, what happened?\u201d Duncan hurried to help Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cVamp bit him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh god, Wesley.\u201d Fred ran up to the men. \u201cCharles, put him on the couch, hurry. Shouldn\u2019t he be in the hospital?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley groaned. \u201cI\u2019ll be okay, the bleeding has stopped. Fred, perhaps you could get me some bandages?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh god, of course.\u201d Fred ran to get the first aid kit.<\/p>\n
Gabriel paused on the bottom steps, her wide eyes blinking, and hands clasped over her ample chest. \u201cOh, what happened? Wesley,\u201d she cried her blue eye\u2019s tearing up. \u201cIs he going to die?\u201d Gabriel started to sob.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, he\u2019s not dying.\u201d Fred glared running past Gabriel back to Wesley a roll of bandages in her hand. She started pulling long strips of gauze. \u201cCordy, usually does this,\u201d she muttered nervously.<\/p>\n
Duncan looked around. \u201cWhere is Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn flopped down on the seat next to Wesley. \u201cThe vamps took her. Angel went after them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Methos frowned. \u201cTook her, not bit her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t get it\u201d he shot a look towards Gabriel. \u201cIt was more than a few, girl. The place was crawling with vamps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel sniffled. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t my fault, I only can tell you what I see. I only saw a few.\u201d She whined.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boy?\u201d Fred bit her lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cEscaped, the blood suckers seemed more interested in getting Cordy and snacking on Wes.\u201d Gun shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t get it, man,\u201d the black man repeated, rubbing his smooth head in frustration. He stopped as she noticed Duncan\u2019s bloodied shirt and then Methos\u2019. \u201cWhat the hell happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were shot outside Walter\u2019s and the book stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn\u2019s eyes went directly to Fred. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d They both asked.<\/p>\n
Fred nodded. \u201cMethos saved me, threw me down, covered me with his body. He died, they both did. How\u2019s that Wesley?\u201d She gently smoothed the tape over the gauze securing the bandage to his throat.<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded. \u201cPerfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you need anything else, aspirin, food, don\u2019t they give crackers to people that donate blood?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be fine.\u201d Wesley tried to stand. Gunn caught him as he started to fall. \u201cMan, stay down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I need to get to my office.\u201d Wesley took a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, Charles is right, you should lie down.\u201d Fred chewed worriedly at her lips.<\/p>\n
Wesley shook his head, stopping when his gaze landed on the Immortals. \u201cWhere\u2019s Cassandra?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Duncan asked in surprised.<\/p>\n
Methos let out a loud breath. \u201cDamn.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley glared at the man. \u201cYes, damn. You should\u2019ve come to me sooner. Cordelia\u2019s life is in danger. If anything happens to her\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, Wes, what loop are we out of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWes.\u201d A deep restrained voice penetrated the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Gabriel ran up, brushing at her tears. \u201cI was so worried about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel didn\u2019t acknowledge the woman except to push her away. \u201cWesley, what do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d Fred asked, yanking at Gabriel keeping her at arms length from the vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lost her,\u201d the words choked in Angel\u2019s throat. Rage forced Angel motionless. \u201cWesley, what do you know, will it find her? I need to find her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d Wesley closed his eyes briefly at the need exposed in Angel\u2019s dark gaze. \u201cWe need to find Cassandra, where is she?\u201d He asked the Immortal\u2019s again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
Methos interrupted Duncan and faced Wesley. \u201cWe don\u2019t know. Duncan asked Joe to find her watcher. He hasn\u2019t called yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley took a step closer to the Immortal, his voice tense. \u201cYou called Dawson, you should’ve come to me. I AM Cordelia’s watcher, I’ve access to the same information.\u201d<\/p>\n
Methos shrugged.<\/p>\n
Wesley swayed as he turned too quickly. \u201cWes.\u201d Gunn lent an arm to steady his friend.<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded his thanks. \u201cMy office.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel resisted his urge to grab the injured man by the shirt and shake some answers out of the watcher. But, Angel recognized the need for patience; Wesley was preparing to tell what he knew. Angel just hoped that whatever Wesley had to say gave him the ability to find Cordelia and a responsible party to kill.<\/p>\n