Timeline

Chapter 36

Spike poured every emotion he was feeling into the fight. Every demon he met with , he defeated , pain and grief overtook his every move. He was mad at Liam and mad at Angel for continuing the plan, how could he do that to her? He knew himself that the last thing the slayer would want , is to become one of them. No he thought , she had made her mind up before they got there, why else would she have been in bed with that monster. Still didn't make it any easier. So he poured the guilt, the grief and the pain into beating back and defeating these creeps. Come tomorrow he would have a slayer turned into a vampire to deal with. The next in the long line of the demons fell as he ran it through with his sword.Not content with just killing it he beheaded the thing and stabbed the hell out of it.
Illyria watched him, she had underestimated his feelings for the slayer. Watching him fight she could only shrug . "Impressive" was all she muttered as she walked through the hoard, ramming her fist through anything that was stupid enough to be in her way or were idiotic enough to take her on. The two fighters were doing more than their fair share of damage to the demons that the Senior Partners had set upon them.
Faith had herself a crowd of over anxious demons. One had huge claws and had caught her with them on more than one occasion. Clutching her side, she managed to keep on top of them. Her strength was ebbing though. All she needed was one of them to get a lucky strike in and she would be at their mercy, something Faith found hard to admit. One thing Faith was always known for , was her strength and her ego. 'Large and in charge' that was Faith, although , that wasn't the case right now. Angel held the scythe in his fist and had made his way through the crowd to her. He cut down the few demons that were left. Faith looked up into his eyes as he held the scythe out to her.
"This belongs to you now " he choked out.
"No ... no .. it's B's .... it's not mine" she knew what it meant. She could see it in his eyes
"She won't need it now" He broke down , falling to his knee's , still gripping the scythe.
Faith placed her hands on his shoulders " How"
She had to ask that didn't she! He cleared his throat and wiped the tears away. " Me"
"You got alot of explaining to do later, right now we need to get this done, you with me?"
Angel couldn't believe her, why hadn't she judged him?She was right,there was a job to do. He handed her the scythe and drew his sword up in one hand , a stake in the other. Angel went back into the crowd, his heart heavy with guilt and grief.

Gunn and Groo were at the back of the fight, Groo had defeated more than his fair share of demons, Gunn doing a fine job of it too. Neither fighter had taken any bad hits to their bodies. Back to back they pulled in a large group of demons that now surrounded them. They looked at each other and nodded, Groo's battle cry alerted the demons to the next onslaught, too late for some of them as their swords and sliced through flesh and bone and sinew. As they spun to take out the rest , one demon caught Gunn's shoulder in it's mouth and sunk it's teeth in deep. Gunn screamed out and bought the sword up and dug it into the head of the demon. It slumped to the ground , gasping for breath.Groo, concerned , swept him up , supporting his partner , still cutting through the crowd. He put Gunn down behind a dumpster.
"Stay here while I take care of the rest, I shall defeat them and come back for you my friend"
"You just make it through, don't worry 'bout me man"
"I will be triumphant " He said as he marched back into the fight.
Gunn sat there holding his arm to his chest and feeling the bite at his shoulder. His shoulder was shredded and blood ran from it. If he didn't get help soon , it was likely to be fatal. He slumped further into the pavement.

Back at the warehouse, Willow and Kennedy were taking care of Buffy's body and getting the ritual ready. They had placed the candles in a circle around Buffy. The herbs were bound together and the sacred sand had been poured around Buffy's make shift alter. All they needed was Angel.
"Are you sure this will restore her soul?" Kennedy asked , nervously biting her nails.
"So long as this spell is done within twenty four hours after her ....... death , yes"
" When did Angel do this?"
" Three hours or so ago, look don't worry. I bought her back from heaven didn't I? And I ensouled Angel himself, this is a piece of cake , a big piece of cake , but still, you get me?"
"Still not sure, sorry, just unno , vampire slayer turned vampire, gives me the heebies"
"She'll be fine, just a little more bumpy "
Kennedy just shook her head at Willow's flippancy.
Truth be told , nobody knew what to expect, myths and legends had been circulated regarding the true nature of slayers that had been turned.Some said that the slayers true calling overpowered the nature of the demon. Some said that the slayers were driven mad and they ultimately tried staking themselves or walking out into the day, only to burn to dust . One said that they were more powerful than any known vampire and used that force to become the deadliest of vampires. Truth was still the same, nobody knew what to expect once Buffy rose.

The battle was still raging. Demons were few now but the champions were tiring. They had all converged to one area, almost back to back.
"It's time" Angel shouted
The group started towards the Hyperion, drawing the demons with them.
"Thank god they're complete idiots" Faith said
"When I say break , we all run for it , got it?" Angel looked around at the crew
Giles nodded " To the rendezvous point yes?"
"Yes" Angel hadn't told her Watcher yet .He figured it would be his undoing and possibly cause his death. He had enough of a burden to deal with.
" Ready?"
Everyone made ready to make a break neck run out of the alley.
Angel stood firm.
"Go"
The crew ran from the alley and Angel depressed the trigger he had held in his pocket all night. He ran after his team.
A loud rumble was felt from under the tarmac and dirt. The air grew dense. The first explosion went of at the top end of the alley, swiftly followed by the next one and then the next. It wasn't long before the whole alley was alight with explosions and fire, chunks of rubble fell from the hotel, glass smashed, car alarms went off nearby. High pitch squeals and shrieks and loud thunderous roars were heard . Then silence.
The battle was over.
Angel had fallen , Giles and Wesley rushed to him, quickly followed by Spike and Illyria. Groo stood proud , his sword held firm but it's point on the pavement.Faith crouched , leaning against a building, trying to catch her breath. The remaining potentials stood huddled together watching the rest of the group.
"It won't be long before sunrise , we best get our asses back to the warehouse" Spike yelled over the noise from the fire. "Plus I feel like my ass is toast ere" he pointed to the fire "Can't be good for peaches either" He scouped up his elder and dragged him towards the van. Faith caught the other side of Angel . The rest followed them to the vans.
They all drove in silence.

It was just before sunrise when they all entered the warehouse. Willow startled by the arrival and rushed over to help with the wounded. Kennedy grabbed the first aid kits and handed them to the members that weren't seriously hurt.
"Where's Angel , is he Okay?" Willow sounded desperate.
"He's in the next van, Spike and Faith are with him" Wesley said " He's in a bad way" he looked at Buffy.
Willow tore her face away from him to look at her. " She's ..... she's ......."
"Oh my god , Willow she isn't , please tell me she isn't ....."
"Not exactly" she couldn't continue as Giles spotted her and went to Buffy's side.
"What happened?" Wesley's voice was slightly angered
"Liam tried to turn her and Illyria sent him through a portal, they tried to get there before it happened but they were too late. She would have died , but Angel........."
Nothing more needed to be said.
Giles sat in shock.
Wesley sunk to the floor.

Spike sat taking care of Angel.
Illyria stood in the shadows .
The potentials hung in the back room dressing their wounds.
Angel was almost catatonic. The room was a haze around a pinpoint of clarity. Sound was muffled , like being underwater. Only one word penetrated through to him.
Buffy.
Slowly he raised his eyes to Spike's.
"I'm sorry"
"Don't " was all the blonde vampire could say.Anger blurred the egdes of the word.
What more was there to say? Sure, Spike felt like ramming the largest of wooden objects through the wankers heart, but in the end , he had no choice.
"You best get everybody somewhere safe , away from her when she wakes, and , you know what I have to do."
Spike huffed.
"What if she's ........." Spike's voice was a whisper , hoarse with grief.
"If she won't?"
"Yeah"
"I'll have to sta......" he couldn't say it.
Spike grunted before he carried on the sentance " Stake her"
Angel nodded , tears in his eyes
"Why not get one o' the newbies to do it"
"They won't be strong enough. I did this to her and got to live with it as much as I will if I need to stake her. I'll have to live with that, don't see why it should fall to someone else" Tears stained his face.
Spike finished the first aid on his elder and raised himself up to his full height. Slowly he placed a comforting hand on Angel's shoulder before he walked away.
Nothing would bring comfort to Angel again.
Spike walked over to Giles. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes never left the floor. He had seen the slayer in the slumber of death once too often, knowing that she was to be reborn to the newest member of his 'family' , made him sick. Last thing he wanted for her , well now anyway, a few years ago maybe, but not now.
"Rupert, can I have a word" His voice still soft.
Giles looked up at him. "What" His hatred for anything remotely vampiric was there, no hiding it.
Spike just gestured to a quiet corner.Giles got up from his slayers side and followed him.Wesley watched intently
"We need to go somewhere before she rises, might not be safe for the rest, and Angel don' want you lot here in case"
Giles rubbed his temples , eyes and bridge of his nose, fighting back the anger and tears.
"Why not? Does he not think the damage is already done? That I would leave her to him now? It's completely out of the question. Move the others if you think that best, but trust me, I will not be going anywhere"
"As you wish, but I have to warn you, she may want to kill anyone she thinks ties her to her humanity, and there's a ritual Angel will have to carry out, you might not wanna see that. He might have to stake her, slayers going vamp don' tend to go too well Rupert."
"I am well aware of the ritual and rest assured I will not attempt to stop him should he need to stake her"
"So , makes us three then"
"Aren't you leaving?"
Spike almost laughed " Yeah righ' , like i'll leave you 'ere to be 'er first meal ! Someone's gotta watch your back"
Spike walked away and rounded the group up. Willow took charge and got everyone into the van's.
They didn't know where to go , all they knew was they had to not be there to see the vampire slayer rise. Faith had been one to fight the abandonment , but she being a slayer , was not the best person to hang back. Spike had pointed out the dangers. Faith complied .Willow stayed , she had to do the spell, Kennedy stayed with her to protect her.


Hours had past. The sun was up and light flooded through broken windows . The vampires and Giles had moved to an area at the back of the warehouse. Angel sat on the arm of the sofa, Giles sat on a upturned crate a metre or so away from them and Spike huddled against a wall in a corner, his coat pulled around him as if he was cold and in need of some comfort. No one spoke.
Spike lit up his last cigarette.

Finally sunset.
Spike looked up at the still body.
Angel finally stirred.
Giles still oblivious.
A twitch.
It was time.

Willow did the last preparations, Kennedy stood over her with the scythe raised ready.
Spike sat with Giles behind Willow .
Angel sat next to Buffy waiting for her to come round.
Both vampires could feel her demon clawing it's way forward into consciousness.
Angel looked at Giles and Spike and nodded, then placed one hand on her chest.
Willow started to chant quietly
Buffy's eyes shot open.
"Angel".Her voice was soft , just as it had been when she had spoken it before.
Before.
Before when she had been human.
"Stay still Buffy. "
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that"

Angel couldn't answer her
Buffy sensed them without looking. She could smell them, could smell their fear. Could hear their heartbeats.

"Oh god no!! No, no , god no please!"
Angel bought her up to his chest and held her there. Both of them crying.
"Buffy , I had no choice , I had to, you were going to die and I'm sorry I was weak , I couldn't let you die like that"
Anger rose in her. She fought her way back from his embrace
"You mean you were to selfish to just let me die! What the hell is it with you all? Thinking you can save me everytime , well you don't! You just all damn me to hell!"
Her vampire visage came forth and she growled.
Angel bought his forth and grabbed her, pulling her back into his embrace.

Spike watched
Willow continued the spell.
Giles turned his back , choking back the tears .

Angel held her for what seemed to be hours. Finally Buffy calmed down.
"What now? " she asked
"There's a ritual"
"Lemme guess it's a whole big suckfest?"
Angel couldn't stifle the slight laugh that caught in his throat. Typical Buffyism.
"It's a little more intimate, but yeah"
"Groiny suckfest"
He didn't answer.
She reached up and touched his ridges " I look like this now, I must be hideous to you" she looked away.
"No, your still the beautiful girl I fell in love with Buffy. nothing will change that. You once told me that you didn't notice my true face and that you loved me despite it. I didn't believe you then, I do now, I don't see your demon , I see you, Buffy"
She looked into his amber eyes . Their lips met and their demons growled , begging for connection.

Spike turned away and nodded to Willow
"Best get the mojo up 'n' runnin' Glinda, the love birds are goin' for it"
Giles and Spike kept their backs turned.

Willow went into a trance , mumbling latin and threw some bones acoss the floor into the sand circle.
A flash of light around the two vampires alerted Angel that the spell was starting. Buffy was unaware, she was too engrossed in the act of joining Angel's demon with hers.
Willow cut her arm and dripped her blood into a wooden bowl and gave the knife to Angel. Angel sliced his arm and Buffy's, pulling her out of the lustful act.
" What are you doing" anger rose in her and her demon roared
Angel held their arms over the bowl
"Something that will make you better baby"
"Your giving me a soul?"
Willow took the bowl back to her sanctuary
"Yes" Angel's voice was unsteady, not knowing what her reaction would be.
Buffy pulled him back down to her lips with a growl at the loss of contact.
So far so good Angel thought.
The embrace heated
The vampires entwined in the act of making love.
Willow finished the ritual and cast the last part of the spell. Mist gathered above the wooden bowl and 'swam' around the wicca. It swirled around her head and leapt through her causing her to scream. It shot through Angel. He cried out , his demon growled, as it shot into Buffy.

Kennedy and Giles carried Willow out of the building once they were sure she had completed the spell. Spike hung back in the shadows.

Angel raised himself slightly from Buffy's embrace and looked deep into her eyes. Instinct told her what needed to be done. As their love making reached it's peak she buried her fangs into the soft flesh of his neck, as he slowly sank his into the mark he had given her only a few hours ago. The act sent them over the edge, causing them to roar in unison as they both came together.
A soft light began in her eyes, gradually it grew brighter. Angel had never seen anything so amazing.
Buffy arched her back and took a deep breath
She blinked and it was gone.


"Angel?"
"I'm here"
"I can feel it, I can really feel it"
"I know"
"It's amazing, is this how you felt?"
He kissed her forehead " No Buffy, my soul was tainted by the lives I had taken, your is still pure"
She smiled up at him and touched his face tenderly " It's amazing"
He smiled " Yeah, you sure your okay?"
"No, I'm still pretty mad at the whole vampire thing , me being one now is not of the good but, I know it wasn't your fault though"

Spike took himself outside

"There's a few things you will need to know Buffy" Angel pulled on his shirt.
"Vampire stuff, lemme guess, blood is food, prepacked only, no tanning unless bottled, it's okay , kinda know the drill already"
"No, I know that you know, but there's stuff you don't know"
Buffy sniggered " Could you possibly have used 'know' anymore in one sentence?"
Angel smiled. She didn't change at all .
"The demon will try and overpower you with it's natural urges Buffy "
" If Spike can do it, how hard can it be?"
Angel rested his hand on Buffy's knee and kissed her tenderly " Good point"
The two lovers left the warehouse and joined the rest of the group in the van.
"Lets go join the rest" Angel said to Giles