Timeline

Chapter 34

The group had had the night to themselves and had all made they're way to the foyer first thing in the morning. Buffy and Angel were one of the first to gather there. Wesley , Illyria and Giles were next , only a short time after .Willow and Faith came down about half an hour later. Everyone else came in small groups. Once they were all there Buffy stood and sighed.

"We all know what we have to face tonight. This is what we do guys. I have spoken to Andrew and he is coordinating the strikes on the lawyers offices tonight. If it is successful then Wolfram and Harts Senior Partners should be weakened,their hold on this reality should be weakened too, that's not to say that this fight will be easy, I don't expect it to be. We know that the demons in question will be numerous and vary from vampires to helgas beasts.We know that there will be the turoc- khan's , what apocalypse would be complete without them huh? "The group gave a nervous laugh." The Senior Partners themselves are essentially very ancient beast's , demons that ascended to a higher plane and were cast out. We have more girls arriving later this morning that have been sent here from London. These girls are highly trained . I will divide you into groups and you will be given your positions later. For the most part, it will be Angel , Illyria , Spike and myself on the front line.Willow and Kennedy will be on the roof. Willow will create a mystical barrier , should they get past that then she knows a few more spells that will help. We also have found a spell that is the mystical equivalent of a band aid, meaning that Willow will perform it and hopefully seal the dimensional tear. Once that's done , our goal is to get the ones that did come through , and dispatch them as quickly as possible. Last thing we need is police or the national guard turning up.The trap is set behind the hotel. That means the hotel will no longer be here at the end . This is a mainly hand to hand , so take what weapons you can manage , don't get bogged down with extra weight.I'll let Angel go over any battle strategies with you guys. Wesley and Giles will go over any particular facts that they expect to arise in tonight's fight. I believe Giles actually used the word remarkable! So , bet your asses it's going to be a huge help." She stopped pacing the top step of the lobby entrance and hung her head . Layton would have arrived in Ireland by now . Got to concentrate on the here and now , she shook it off and handed the floor over to Wes and Giles. She sat next to Angel and they held hands while they listened to the two ex- watchers.
" First of all girls it would appear that we have a very strong position as far as the Wolfram and Hart offices are concerned . We also have Illyria and one of the strongest wicca's working with us. We believe that we can do this , we are not just one slayer and a few humans , we are an army of slayers. Right , we have discovered the Senior Partners do in fact have another weakness . They have a 'Child'. One they call the liaison. It is an incredibly powerful being that has their life force flowing through it's veins, we interpret that as being the blood of the Senior Partners. If we could ascertain the whereabouts of this being and if we could destroy it , they would be weakened further. We would like to send Spike and Angel after this being once we find out it's location." Giles said . Wesley nodded his agreement.
" So , that's the remarkable , is it" Buffy said , her voice showed no emotion.
"Yes " Wesley replied " If we can kill this being then it would put us in a very strong position. It could be the break we are looking for"
Buffy just shrugged.Angel stood up , still holding her hand as she sat .
" Where is it?"
Spike came to Angels side " I'm in so long as I don't have to wear jewellery of any kind "
Giles continued " It's in what they call the white room , in the Wolfram and Hart offices here"
" Been there , I know the code to get in" Angel said " Lilah took me there once . "
Everyone looked at Angel , waiting for the explanation , they didn't get one.
" So , we saddle up and get this shit done then " Spike said shrugging his leather coat onto his shoulders for effect .
Angel retreived his favourite sword and threw an axe at Spike.
" Back once it's done" He paused in front of Buffy . " Don't worry , we'll be O.K. "
Spike and Angel ran to the car and headed out of the car park.
Wesley and Giles continued to inform the girls about the new data they had come up with and went over battle strategies.


" So, you think we can really go in there , kill this thing and be back in time for tea?" Spike asked
" I don't know , there was a little girl in the white room when I went there with Lilah before. "
" Little girl , that should go fine then " sarcasm oozed through the sentence .Spike continued " We both have our souls, d'ya think our souls are going to let us just snuff out a l'il bit?"
" She's not a little girl , she's an instrument of evil" Angel said , anger building up in him.
" Right , you tell yourself that then"
"Spike , shut up"
" Just saying "
"Spike"
"Where do you get off telling me to shut it , you git"
" Look, if I had my way I would have someone else with me "
" Yeah , you would have Buffy " Spike said , bitterly.
Angel gripped the steering wheel tight , his knuckles white with tension. He huffed .
Spike spoke " You always had her , dunno why , frankly I think your a ponce that don't deserve her . But she has this big old yen for you. It's always been you , even after you ditched her with your pathetic excuses." He paused "But she wouldn't be able to kill the kid , we have enough darkness in us to do this , soul or not , that's why the watchers sent us."
" You still love her " Angel voice was soft , hiding the pain and anger he felt inside.
" Yeah , thought she might have loved me at one time. She told me she loved me just before I burnt up and died. She didn't mean it , she told me what I wanted to hear. "
They pulled into the car park of Wolfram and Hart.
They exited the car and went to the elevator .
" So this little girl , you think we can just spank her and tell her she's grounded and that be it?"
Angel actually smiled . The elevator opened and they stepped into it. Angel pushed the buttons , the large white button appeared ." Ready?"
" As ever" Spike said twisting his axe in his hand.
Angel pushed the white button.Ten seconds passed in silence . The elevator opened and disappeared from around them , leaving them stood in the white room.
Empty.
"Hellooooo"
"Well that's rude " Angel bought his sword up , ready for anything.
"D'ya think she could be dead already?"
"No, I doubt it" Angel looked deep into the white
A shaded form was making it's way towards them , slowly.
" O.K. I think I can say , that's not a child, definitely not child size" Spike lifted his axe.
" Tall , big ..... shit" he looked at Spike and raised his brows " still wanna spank it?"
"Pass on that sire."
The form stood a metre or so from the two vampires . He was taller than Angel , his broad shoulders and chest evident , even through the very expensive looking suit.
" I'm Hamilton, new liason for the Senior Partners, what are you doing here?" He smugly smiled at them.
Angel and Spike looked at each other and shrugged . This new development made their job easier .
" To wipe that smug look off your face and to take you out" Spike said as he walked up to him.
Hamilton pulled on his sleeves and slowly raised his hand to Spikes chest and hit him effortlessly.
Spike shot across the room at speed and landed in a heap.
Angel punches Hamilton hard in the stomach, but doesn't make a dent, he sighed."Did that hurt at all? "
Hamilton didn't register the punch
"Little bit." He grabbed Angel by the windpipe, Angel winces as he's lifted off the ground "But it's all part of the job." he threw Angel across the room hard.Hamilton picked Angel up off the floor , holding him by the lapels
"The Senior Partners have expended an awful lot of time and resources on you. Personally, I would have told them not to bother."
He threw Angel across the White room and walked toward Angel.
"You're gutter trash, and that's where you should have stayed, drinking and whoring your way through an unremarkable life. But the fates stepped in and made you a vampire, with a soul, no less. A champion. A hero of the people. And yet, you still managed to fail everyone around you. Doyle. Cordelia. Fred. They're all gone. Now it's time you followed. " Hamilton smirked
"I figured you were the one I needed to be alone with." Angel said
"Why? So I could kill you? " Hamilton said , reaching down and picking Angel off of the floor.
"Well, I thought the fight would be going a little better. "
"Oh. Right , because both you and Spike are the heroes?"Hamilton threw Angel . He landed on the floor next to Spike.
Hamilton pummelled Angel , punching him repeatedly in the face, but Angel manages to get on his feet.Spike gets up on his feet .
"Why do you keep fighting? You signed away your Shanshu. There's nothing in it for you anymore." Hamilton shouted.
Angel punched Hamilton in the face "People who don't care about anything will never understand the people who do. "
Hamilton punched Angel hard, sending him across the room again
"Yeah, but we won't care."
Angel writhed on the floor, groaning as Hamilton picked up a stake . Hamilton walked over to Angel, knelt to pick Angel up by the lapel as he reared back ready to plunge the stake into Angel's chest. But before he can do it, Spike punched him in the face, sending him flying across the room away from Angel. Hamilton slid into a wall the other side of the white room.
Spike and Angel teamed up to fight Hamilton. They fought hand-to-hand, kicking, punching, and reigning blows on him.
Hamilton head-butted Spike. "What is with you people?" He threw Spike into the wall, where he collapsed to the floor again.
Angel yelled " Spike!" He tried to go to Spike, but was blocked by Hamilton.
Angel tried to fight Hamilton but was thrown across the room by him again. Angel lands on the concrete , getting annoyed at being thrown all the time.
Hamilton straightened his tie, walked toward Angel.
"Let me say this as clearly as I can. You cannot beat me. I am a part of them. The Wolf, Ram, and Hart. Their strength flows through my veins. My blood is filled with their ancient power."
Angel and Spike got to their feet.Both smirking , Angel replied Hamilton.
"Can you pick out the one word there you probably shouldn't have said?"
Angel and Spike looked at each other ,transforming into their vampire façades. They attacked Hamilton, biting him painfully. Both vampires drank from him, holding on tenaciously as Hamilton struggled to get free. Hamilton was finally able to pull Angel's head away from his neck, and he threw him across the room again, but this time Angel controls his motion, managing to rotate in the air and land on his feet.Spike backed off , wiping his mouth.
"Wow." Angel said as he wiped his lip " You really are full of it."
Hamilton swung at Angel, but Angel ducked. Spike came and stood beside Angel.
"What was that you were saying about ancient power?" Spike said
Hamilton threw another punch at Angel, but Angel caught his arm and punched Hamilton in the ribs. Hamilton swung with his free arm, hitting Spike in the face, but Angel returned the favour, punching Hamilton in the face.
Hamilton grabbed Angel's windpipe again, holding him in the air.
"You don't really think you're gonna win this, do you? You don't stand a chance. We are legion. We are forever."
Angel broke free of Hamilton's grip and punched him repeatedly in the chest and stomach. Hamilton stumbled backwards.Spike sweep-kicked him in the ankles, bringing Hamilton to the floor. Hamilton struggled to get up.Hamilton got to his knees, but Angel punched him in the face.
"Then I guess forever..." Angel punched Hamilton in the face again, and again. " just got a hell of a lot shorter."
Finally, Angel punched Hamilton in the face so hard that it broke his neck. Hamilton fell to the ground with a final grunt. Angel sighed. As he stood over Hamilton.
Spike got to his feet. "Is he dead?"
"Yeah, he's dead."
The building started shaking and rumbling. Walls are cracking. The
building was coming apart.
"Uh, that's not good, is it?" Spike asked
"Wolfram & Hart. Looks like they're taking the gloves off. " Angel answered
"What do we do? "
"We go home.The concrete support beam fell from the ceiling onto the floor .
" Lets go home...now. " Spike shouted over the noise. " They'll try and destroy us tonight , won't they .
"As long as we stand together, they can't." Angel realised
The building rumbled as yet another concrete ceiling joist fell, crushing the white room.
" Go." Spike and Angel ran to the elevator .


They arrived back at the hotel , beaten, but still feeling the energy coursing through their veins. Senior Partner blood was just as powerful as slayer blood , if not , more so.Buffy ran up to Angel and hugged him tightly, tears were running down her face.Angel winced and she let go , seeing his injuries , she dragged him and then Spike to the circular seat. Faith and Wesley grabbed first aid kits and started dressing wounds.
"So , it's done then" Wesley finally asked
" That weren't no little girl " Spike said
"It's done. Wolfram and Harts buildings destroyed as well" Angel grimmaced as Buffy dressed his ribs.
" The word from Andrew is that other teams are ready , in position and just awaiting the call" Giles said.
Spike had less injuries, so he was fixed up and stood near Illyria.
" Well , Senior Partners child is gone , not that it was a child, more like some big steroid filled terminator,why wait?"
"Spike has a point. Can't they just go in and destroy them" one of the young girls said
"We need it to coincide with the battle, to weaken them and to split their concentration" Giles replied.
Angel and Spike were cleaned up and patched up. The girls had been told the battle plan and had their orders for later.
The door to the lobby opened and a tall , muscular man walked in , looking confused at the crowd that was sat around. Angels view was obscured by the pillar , he moved round and stared at the man.
"Groo?"
He had changed , back were the battle leathers and long hair , he looked more like Conan , the old Groo.
"Angel , my friend, tis good to see you this day" He hugged Angel and man slapped him on the back.Angel looked uncomfortable, not just because of his ribs , but by the gesture.
"What are you doing here Groo?"
"I came to see my princess , after a strange occurrance back in Pylea"
Angel rubbed his forehead, how to tell him she was in a mystical coma and also about the war that would rage tonight?
"Groo, she is in a hospital somewhere , in a coma , and we don't have time to give you a full run down of why . We are facing something tonight that we may not live through. Here's the address of the hospital"
"Las Vegas ? Where is this place?"
"Miles away , which is where we want her for her own safety." Angel said .
"Why , what is this danger you all face tonight?" Groo asked .
"Is he always so smily and churpy" Buffy asked
Angel smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders.He placed a kiss on her head " Yes, this is the Groosulug, he's from another dimension known as Pylea."
" But he's a good guy , right?"
" Yes, he is a good guy"
" Pleased to meet you , you came at rather a tense time " Buffy said , stress showed on her face.
" Angel , is it something I could help you with maybe?"
" Groo , that's kind of you , but I don't think Cordy would like it if I got her boyfriend killed"
" I would like very much to help , I am a strong warrior , would take much to kill me , I am the Groosulug"
"Full of himself , much?!" Buffy said as she left Angel and the strange man .
Angel patted her on the ass as she walked away , earning himself a smile .
" I could do with all the help I can get , to be honest.Wolfram and Hart will be starting a war with us all tonight."
"The Wolf , the Ram and the Hart have withdrawn from Pylea, I saw it as an omen.I understand that omen now , I am here to help you now. Tell me why it is they have waged war with you Angel."
"That's is another long explanation , which I won't bore you with , needless to say , here we are , hours from a war we doubt we will survive"
"You will have me to help you do battle , I shall stand with you , shoulder to shoulder" Groo stood proud as he said it.
" One more strong warrior , just what we need , here , lets go and show you what we know already" Angel led him over to the front desk, making a few introductions here and there.
Spike went and chatted to Buffy while Angel showed Groo the plans .
" What the hell happened to you and Angel?"
"Apart from the beating of our lives? We won , the liaison died " Spike didn't feel the need to fill in the blanks .
" I gathered there was a beating to be had , look at you both, but you both seem , angsty and almost buzzing. What did you both do?"
"What we had to Buffy , now just drop it"
Buffy couldn't believe he had been so short tempered with her , she put it down to nerves. Still , her curiosity wouldn't leave it.
" You fed off him , didn't you?"
" Like I said slayer , we did what we had to" Spike left her and went up to his room .
Things were getting serious . Everyone had gathered in the lobby and had their weapons by their sides. Angel had ran through everything with Groo. Their time now down to just a couple of hours. Illyria had scouted the local area and reported back to Angel. Nothing was out of place.

Two hours. Seems such a short time , but when your all wired up , knowing the battle of your life is coming , it seems like an eternity. Everyone was getting nervous. Most just sat in silence, others clung to their friends or loved ones.
Angel watched them all . How many would survive? He didn't want to think like that , but he just couldn't help himself. Guilt was already laying heavy on his heart.
Spike tussled with Groo, he was curious as to what this new comrade could do. He wasn't disappointed.
Willow sat with the two watchers and did some last minute preparations .
Angel went into his office and sat with his feet up on the desk and pulled out a picture of Layton.Buffy saw him through the window and went and joined him.
" I want you to promise me something Buffy"
" If it's to get out of here and leave , I can't"
" It's not that , not exactly"
" Then don't ask me , whatever it is"
" If the fight turns bad , and it looks like we're going to lose, I want you to run"
"Angel I'm not leaving here t'il it's over one way or the other. I won't leave you . I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you ."
He looked up at her and saw the tears threatening to fall if he said anything more.
" You ready ?" He said , changing the conversations direction.
" Yep, got my scythe and the crews all kitted up , everyone's pretty much good to go. What about you?"
" Got my army and swords , and a belly full of evil demon spawn blood. Powerful stuff I might add"
"Good to know and ewww" They both laughed . Angel got up and slid Buffy across the desk to him. He wrapped his arms around her, engulfing her and kissed her .
" Lets go upstairs , get some time to ourselves" He asked , looking at the clock ," We have a little time".
Buffy turned and looked at the clock " I guess we could , wouldn't they know and what if they need us?"
Angel looked out through the window at the group " I think they all have other things on their minds"
They both walked out of the office and slipped upstairs unnoticed.Once they were in their room they wasted no time, tearing clothes off and only breaking their kiss to take their tops off. Angel threw Buffy on the bed and leapt on her.Angel was gentle and took his time . He couldn't rush it , this could be the last time he would ever get to worship her body , last time to hold her and kiss her. Tears fell as they both poured their love into this one act .No words could have said as much as their love making did tonight.They didn't surface until they were both spent.