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Disclaimer: I don't own anything, please don't sue me, I have no money. Some of the dialog is from Buffy episode Family written by Joss Whedon and Angel episode Hero written by Howard Gordon.
Chapter 10: Old Ghosts
Angel and Buffy invited Giles to the mansion so nobody couldn't accidentally hear the conversation as they told Giles about Dawn. Giles was trying to digest the new information about the youngest member of the scooby gang.
“I don't know what to say”, Giles said and took off his glasses.
“Tell me about it”, Buffy sighed and looked at Angel gratefully as he took a hold of her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
“She has no idea of what she is and what is going on?” Giles asked and Buffy shook her head.
“No. She thinks she's my kid sister. And we can't tell her, she would freak, and that's the last thing we need right now”, Buffy said and jumped to her feet, starting to pace the large room. She stopped and turned to look at Giles. “We have to keep her safe”, she stated sadly and returned to her seat next to Angel.
“This... umm... woman, whatever she was... she knows you now. Should we be thinking about... sending Dawn away?” Giles questioned.
“Away where?” Buffy asked, she knew it was a innocent question but it didn't make it any less ridiculous.
“I don't know... your father's perhaps?” Giles suggested and Buffy gave a humorless chuckle.
“Yeah, that's a great idea... except he's in Spain. With his secretary, living the cliché. Besides, he doesn't care about us anymore, he's having the midlife crisis with all the trimmings, the secretary half his age, new sports car, bachelor pad and no ties to the life before”, Buffy said sadly. Giles didn't know what to say to that and Angel just wished he could make the pain less but he knew nothing he said could.
“I'm sorry”, Giles whispered sympathetically and Buffy gave him a sad attempt of a smile.
“I still remember... when he bailed on us, Dawn cried for a week”, she said the emotion clear in her voice. She lifted her gaze and stared at Giles with sad eyes. “But she didn't. She didn't even exist then. But I can still feel what it was like, hearing her cry in the next room, not being able to do anything.”
Angel wrapped his arm around her and pressed a soft kiss to her head. She leaned into him, taking solace in his presence. “It's okay”, he whispered softly and only Buffy could hear it. She took a deep breath and sniffed the surfacing tears away before turning back to look at Giles.
“They sent her to me for a reason. I think... I have to take care of her. I want to look after her.”
“It is understandable, your memories tell you that she is your sister”, Giles said.
“Yeah, the monks did the whole memory altering spell. But why didn't it affect Cordelia and why does Angel have two sets of memories, Angelus knew right away that she wasn't real?” she asked frowning.
“I am not certain but I would believe that Angel has two sets of memories because of Angelus, maybe the spell didn't have any affect on him because he is under Angel's dominance. And as for Cordelia, the monks must have been monitoring who is close to you and through you to Dawn and Cordelia wasn't part of your life then. But that is only my guess.”
“But how am I going to keep Dawn safe, punching her was like hitting a wall?”
“It can turn out to be a difficult task but always do manage. But do we tell the others?”
“No, we can't. They... they would act weird around her and it's safer for everyone if they don't know. The thing that's after her is strong, I don't want any of you getting hurt”, Buffy protested.
“I completely understand. But the woman that is after Dawn knows you, I believe it is for the best at the time being if you keep a little distance to your sister”, Giles said and quickly continued as Buffy was about to protest. “I am not saying to stay away from her, I am saying that as long as the woman doesn't know what she is, she will be safe and we all will look after her. We need find out what the woman is and what she wants from Dawn. I and the others will look into it here and you can use the resources you have in Los Angeles. I know you are worried, we all are, but we need to go into this carefully.”
“You're right. But it's gonna be difficult, staying away and knowing she's in danger”, Buffy said.
“I understand that. But as long as the woman doesn't know who she is, she is safe”, Giles stated.
“Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of”, Buffy mumbled.
The whole group came to a stop as they found Cordelia standing on the doorway with her hands on her hips and looking very pissed off. “Finally! You guys left me here looking after the shop while running after the little slayer, like she couldn't take care of herself. No offense”, Cordelia scolded the group tapping her foot to the floor and waving her hands animatedly.
“Sorry, 'Delia, but there was a situation in Sunnydale”, Doyle tried to explain but Cordelia gave him a stopping look.
“Isn't there always. It's Sunnydale. It has a mouth full of evil things. And we need to pick up the business, we barely have clients. But don't worry, I had time to think of a business plan while you abandoned me here all alone, we can make a commercial. I even wrote a script”, she continued and gave everyone their own piece of paper.
Angel raised his gaze from the paper and asked somewhat painfully: “The dark avenger?”
“I know, it's perfect!” Cordelia yelped excitedly as the others just looked at her somewhat frightened.
“Angel the dark avenger”, Buffy chuckled and looked at Angel who just gave her a scolding look.
“It's a perfect business idea. We can do it ourself in High 8”, Cordelia said and pulled out a video camera. “I'll charm a post-production house into doing the effects and...”, she continued and Angel turned around, heading to the elevator.
“Hey! I know a little something about self-promotion, Angel, and I'm telling you one commercial like this could get us out of the red... or the black... or which ever one means we're broke, because that's us. I'm just trying to save your business from going belly up!” Cordelia said after him and scowled as he pulled the gate down and descended to the apartment. “What's his problem?” she griped.
“He's not entirely wrong, you know? All I'm saying is advertising a superhero that can't really go out in the daylight might raise vampire suspicions, not to mention our pesky lack of an investigator's license”, Doyle reasoned but Cordelia wasn't happy.
“And who needs a license when we have no clients?” she shot back then turned to Buffy, just thinking something. “And what's the whole business with the sister? Since when have you had a sister?”
“Are you sure you wanna know? It's hellmouthy with monks and memory altering involved”, Buffy answered and Cordelia raised her hands in surrender.
“Sorry I asked”, she sighed.
“I'm gonna go unpack”, Buffy said and signed at the stairs before leaving.
“What's with the mirrored brooding?” Cordelia asked with a frown.
“I don't wanna go to class. It's not like I could concentrate on anything anyway”, Buffy said like a little child but only got a commanding look from her efforts.
“Buffy, you can't miss more classes”, Angel said in a fatherly tone and Buffy frowned.
“I could make it up to you”, she suggested with a seductive smile and climbed into his lap, circling her arms around his neck and hovering over his lips.
“You need to go to class”, Angel reminded her, his eyes fixed on her lips.
“You're no fun”, she stated with a pout.
“I can be lots of fun. Once you get back from school”, Angel said and gave her a brief kiss. She sighed deeply and climbed off his lap, picking up her schoolbag.
“It's a good thing we can't have kids, our daughter would really not like you when she would be a teenager”, she stated. She pulled on her jacket, grabbed her bag and gave Angel another quick kiss before making her way out.
Angel just looked after her with sad eyes and after a while, pulled his shirt off and started pounding the punching bag. He knew it wasn't right that he kept the forgotten day to himself, he had been considering about telling her since she had been talking about being open about things, but he couldn't tell her that he had given back their chance of ever having children. The thought was constantly in his mind, reminding what they could have had and he couldn't do that to her, especially now that she had found out that her sister was just a creation in her mind.
For over twenty minutes he let out his frustration and sorrow into the punching bag and kept on going even after Doyle came down to the apartment. “Is this a private catharsis or can anyone watch?” he asked but Angel kept on hitting the bag.
“What do you want?” he asked not turning to look at him.
“Well, there's a girl upstairs who's not quite sad enough to cry in may arms, but keep up the dark cloud. I might get lucky. Seriously, what's going on? I let you off the hook before because of your lady had series of emergencies back home but you're really getting depressing right now, so start talking”, Doyle ordered.
“It's nothing”, Angel insisted and hit the bag harder.
“It is something, you're even more broodier than normal. Is it about Dawn or the thing you wouldn't tell me about before?”
Finally Angel stopped hitting the bag and grabbed a towel from the chair before sitting on it. “Who are the Oracles, Doyle? Why didn't you tell me about them before?” he asked lifting his gaze to Doyle.
“What? The Oracles? Who told you about the Oracles?” Doyle asked surprised by the question.
“I told you about the Mohra demon that attacked the office. But what I didn't tell you was that the first time the Mohra demon attacked it got away”, Angel confessed.
“What you mean the first time?”
“I tracked it, I killed it, some of its blood mixed with mine and it made me mortal. That's when you took me to see the Oracles to find out what it meant”, Angel explained but Doyle seemed still confused.
“No, you see, I would've remembered a trip to the netherworld of eternal watching. That's just not something that happens every day”, he protested.
“The Oracles told me that I was released from my duty. Buffy and I could be together until...” Angel started to say but couldn't finish it, the thought of losing Buffy was something he couldn't even say out loud. “...we realized it couldn't be, I would be too much of a risk to her and she would... So, I went back to the Oracles and I asked them to turn back the clock... as though that day had never happened.”
“Human. You were a real boy, and Buffy... you could have had the little kiddies running around, the family you've dreamed of... You had the one thing in your unnaturally long life and you gave it back?!” Doyle asked having hard time believing it.
“Yes. Maybe I was wrong?”
“Or maybe Cordelia was right about you being the real deal in the hero department. See, I would have chosen the pleasures of the flesh over duty and honor any day of the week. Well, you can still get dirty but not the kiddies. I just wouldn't have that kinda strength.”, Doyle said still amazed of his sacrifice.
“You never know your strength until you're tested. And mine would really be in the test if she ever found out that I gave my mortality back, she would never forgive me that I messed with her memories”, Angel stated getting depressed all over again.
“Sure she would, maybe you'd be sleeping on the couch for few weeks but she'd forgive you. But you had the strength to give something so great back, something you desperately wanted, while I'm still trying to work up the courage to ask Cordy out for dinner. Not to mention the part about telling her that I'm half demon. That should probably come first?”
“Well, the Oracles said something bad is coming. Soldier of Darkness ushering in the end of days kind of bad”, Angel said and Doyle frowned.
“So much for the security of long term savings bonds, huh?” he joked.
“I feel something coming, Doyle. I don't know what it is, but I know we're a part of it.”
Buffy walked into the office, the day had been terrible, there was no way she could have concentrated on the things the professors talked about, her mind was on Dawn and how soon she could get into researching the demon she faced.
With a weary sigh she walked through the lobby and stopped dead as Cordelia suddenly jumped in front of her looking awfully sympathetic, a sign that sent warning bells ringing in her head. “Are you okay?” she asked and Buffy looked at her like she had spoken in another language.
“I'm fine. Why?” she asked suspiciously.
“No reason”, Cordelia waved it off and walked away before she revealed too much, Angel would definitely fire her if she told Buffy what Doyle had told her. Buffy looked after the brunette still not understanding what had just happened but she shrugged it off and went down stairs. There he found Angel who was going through his weapons.
“Hey”, she said and he turned around.
“Hey.” With few long strides he was in front of her and he pulled her into a passionate kiss.
“Wow. I take it you missed me”, she said breathlessly as he pulled away.
“Always”, he smirked.
Buffy glanced around her at the scattered weapons and then turned to Angel. “What's going on and why did Cordelia give me the pitying sympathy look?”
“What did she tell you?” he asked with chills running up and down his spine, surely Cordelia didn't tell her anything, she wouldn't have kissed him like that if she knew about the day.
“Just asked if I'm alright with a big weirdness factor”, Buffy answered with a frown, was Angel looking paler than usual?
“Doyle had a vision. We're heading out as soon as it's dark”, he told her, hoping it was enough to distract her from Cordelia's blunder.
“What did he see?” she asked going to business, they could talk about Cordelia's weird behavior later.
“People hiding from something, he said they were terrified”, Angel answered. Buffy nodded solemnly and glanced at the clock.
“It's still some time till sundown, maybe we could dip into the books and look if there's something about the woman... demon... what ever she was, that's after Dawn.”
“That's a good idea”, Angel stated and they went to the books, gathering stack to the table before settling down to go through them.
After the sunset they hadn't found anything useful on the books but it was time to head out. They found the place Doyle had seen in his vision, the building was barely standing. “Pretty low rent, even by demon standards”, Doyle stated looking around himself. There was holes in the walls and it looked like it could give out at any moment.
“You said they were hiding. It's a good place for it”, Angel stated and they walked into a room that still had food on the table.
“Signs of life”, Doyle commented as he looked around, heading towards the table.
“I smell something”, Angel said and sniffed the air. Buffy turned to look at him, then looked around herself.
“What?” she asked.
“The food's still warm. They left in a hurry”, Doyle said as he tasted the food with his fingertips.
“No, not food. It's fear”, Angel stated and crouched down on the floor, sweeping a carpet away. Doyle and Buffy gathered around the trap door and Angel pulled it open, reveling a group of scared demons.
“Don't be afraid, we're here to help”, Buffy said softly. Doyle and Angel offered their hand and helped the demons out of the hiding place. Some of them settled back to eating still not knowing what to think of the strangers. The last to be helped out of the small space was obviously the leader. He led the group away from the others as the both parties explained what they were doing there.
“...We gave all our money to a man who promised to get us passports and safe passage on a ship. It was stupid of us. He disappeared with our money and the ship never came”, the man finished.
“Where were you going?” Angel asked.
“Briole. It's a small island off the coast of Ecuador. Others of our kind have found sanctuary there”, the man explained.
“Sanctuary from what?” Buffy asked the question he knew they all wanted and needed to know. Before the man could answer, two younger demons rushed through the door, heading straight to the man they were talking to.
“They're close. They almost got us. We lost half of our supplies”, the other teen explained.
“Rieff, we have a guest. It’s the promised one”, the elder demon said and looked at Angel.
“Terrific”, Rieff stated sarcastically.
“I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding”, Angel said clearly uncomfortable in his new calling.
“Oh, I don't think so. Many of our prophecies are cryptic, but on one thing they are all clear. In the final days of this century the promised one will appear and save us from the Scourge”, the older demon said.
“Another prophecy”, Buffy mumbled to herself as Angel directed to the demon, “The Scourge?”
“He doesn't even know who they are. How's he supposed to protect us from them?!” Rieff questioned signing at Angel. “They're coming and no matter how many promised guys you throw at them, they're not going to stop until every last one of us is dead. You're going to get us all killed”, he continued and walked away.
“He's still young. Excuse me”, the older demon apologized and went after the teen.
Angel turned to look at Doyle who had gone to stand by a window, clearly lost in glum thoughts. Angel went to him. “What is it?” he asked.
“The Scourge”, Doyle stated.
“You know them. What are they?”
“Death”, Doyle stated with fear evident in his eyes.
“Death?” Buffy questioned moving closer.
“I've seen them happen before, when I was just found out I was a half demon, a Brachen demon came for my help, asking me to hide a bunch of them. He was scared, the Scourge was after them. I had no idea what it was, he told me they are a army of pure-blooded demons, hunting all of us that have human blood in us. They're very much into the pedigree. Hunts us down like animals”, Doyle told them.
“Doesn't anyone fight back?” Buffy asked with a frown.
“They do. All the time. But it's not much use, these guys believe in what they're doin' and they're ready to die for the cause.”
“It's hard to fight fanatics”, Angel stated.
“More like impossible”, Doyle added.
“What happened?” Buffy encouraged him to continue.
“I punked out. I'd only just learned that I wasn't entirely human. I didn't know what it meant, I wasn't ready for a big family reunion. The idea of having family obligations with guys that looked like big blue pincushions, it was just a little bit too much to take right then.”
“And what happened then?” Angel asked and Doyle looked away with shame written all over his face.
“I had my first vision. I thought I was having a stroke, I didn't know what the images meant. But I had to know if what they showed me was a dream... or real. And it was definitely not a dream. They were butchered.”
“You couldn't have known”, Angel tried but Doyle shook his head.
“These people are going to need more then their mythic promised one. The contractually-obligated 500 might be a start. You can't fight the Scourge, Angel, neither can the Slayer.”
“It won't come to that because we're going to get them out of here”, Angel stated but Doyle didn't seem to believe it was the answer on stopping them.
“We're gonna beat them, Doyle. We're not gonna let some fascists win”, Buffy added.
Buffy and Doyle waited for Cordelia to come with a truck while Angel went to talk to a guy he knew. There was a female voice in the hallway and they both knew it had to be Cordelia. Buffy and Doyle hurried to the hallway where Cordelia was pointing, what looked like a breath freshener at the demons.
Doyle quickly passed the group of demons. “Cordy! It's okay. We're here to help them.”
Cordelia looked at the demons and put the bottle away, giving them a polite smile. “Oh. Hi!” Then she turned to Buffy more sternly. “Where's Angel?”
“He's trying to secure documents to get them out of the country. Did you get the truck?” Doyle answered for her.
“Yes, it's out front. Hey, did you two notice that these folks are demons?” she questioned and looked at them like the two had lost their minds.
“We know that. But that doesn't make them bad people”, Doyle defended.
“Excuse us a sec”, Cordelia said to the demons and grabbed Buffy and Doyle, pulling them into another room.
“Mission statement check, aren't we supposed to be battling the forces of darkness? And you're the slay-gal, aren't you supposed to be pummeling them with your fists?”
“They're not forces of darkness. They're half-human, and they're in trouble. Now, we don't have a lot of time. Angel wants you two to go down to the LA harbor, pier 12, slip 4, the Quintessa. Use Angel's name. He knows the Captain”, Doyle told Cordelia.
“So we're booking them on a cruise?” she asked confused.
“Something like that”, Buffy answered.
“I'm guessing not Carnival”, Cordelia commented.
“The guy that Angel's talking to runs a freighter. He owes Angel some money and if he does this, they're even”, Doyle explained and Cordelia turned sharply to look at him, pointing her finger at him.
“Hey, hang on! This guy owes Angel money? Why aren't we collecting it?” she questioned and Buffy couldn't help but roll her eyes, Cordelia always had her priorities straight.
“Cordy, oppressed demon people here, they're not getting any safer! We need to know the ship is ready before we can move everyone”, Doyle reminded her and she let out a weary sigh.
“Bad things are coming aren't they?” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Very bad things”, Doyle confirmed.
“Cordy, go to the pier and we'll look after these people. And please hurry”, Buffy said to Cordelia who for once didn't question her and left. Buffy and Doyle returned to the others, just in time to hear the leader say that Rieff had ran off.
“I'm gonna go after him”, Doyle said and handed Buffy his cellphone.
“Wait for Cordy's call and get these people to the harbor, I'll bring the kid there”, he said to her.
“Doyle”, she started to protest but he shook his head.
“No, I have to go. You have the strength to look after these people, to keep them safe.. I'll bring him to the harbor”, he interrupted her and grudgingly she nodded her head. Doyle crouched next to the little girl and asked where the boy might have went.
Buffy got the call from Cordelia and she helped loading the demons into the truck. Once again she looked around herself before turning to the older demon. “Can you drive?” she asked.
“Yes, but...” he started to answer but she interrupted him.
“Then take them to the harbor. I'll go after Doyle. And I'm a lousy driver anyway.” The demon nodded and got into the car. Buffy waited till she couldn't see the truck anymore before she sprinted into run.
She slowed down as she heard loud yelling, she pinned against the wall of one of the buildings and looked as Doyle ran though the street with herd of demons following. He was in his demon form so Buffy figured he was using himself as a bait. She was about to go and help him but she stopped as she saw him being yanked into one of the buildings. The brief glimpse of a leather jacket and the tingling in her being was enough to tell that it had to be Angel. As the demons went inside the building, she used the opportunity to sneak into where the runaway was. He was so absorbed in watching the street that he didn't even notice her stepping into the room. But then he turned around and was about to yelp in surprise but Buffy was quickly in front of him and she pressed her hand to his mouth so he wouldn't make a sound. The boy calmed down as he realized who she was.
Few minutes later they saw the group of demons escorting Angel out of the building and it took everything in her not to go out and help him. But she restrained herself, she figured he had a plan since he could've taken the demons out, it wasn't like they were carrying stakes or bottles of gasoline.
“Angel, you better know what you're doing”, she mumbled under her breath. She crossed the street with the teenager following and they entered the building. Cautiously she led the way and her breath caught in her throat as she saw Doyle laying on the floor with his neck in a weird angle.
“Is he...” Rieff started to ask but then Doyle's eyes suddenly opened. He sat up and groaned.
“Man, I think I hate that plan”, he stated and wrung his neck back into place.
“Doyle! You scared me!” Buffy accused and slapped him.
“Auw!” Doyle protested, rubbing the place where she had hit him. “Go easy on me, I just got my neck broken by your boyfriend, I don't need a broken arm”, he said and tried to look innocent. She gave him a scolding look but helped him up to his feet anyway.
“Where's Angel?”
“He did a little infiltrating”, Doyle answered and Buffy scowled.
“He's so gonna be sleeping on the couch tonight. That's dangerous!” she griped.
Doyle let out a short chuckle and shook his head. “Alright, let's get this kid to the harbor, he's got a cruise to catch.”
Buffy, Doyle and Rieff ran to the ship where Cordelia and the elder demon were waiting for them. “You're alive”, Cordelia stated after Rieff had been led down with the others.
“And you're not happy?” Doyle questioned.
“We were worried.”
“Well, its all going to be okay”, Doyle assured her and suddenly Cordelia slapped him. He looked at the brunette surprised.
“What was that for?” he questioned and Cordelia gave him a hard stare.
“Why didn't you tell me that you were half demon? I thought we agreed that secrets are bad! And did you know about it?!” she shot and turned to glare at Buffy who raised her arms in surrender and took a step back.
“Leave me out of this.”
“I wanted to tell you. I was afraid. I thought if I did you'd reject me”, Doyle explained and Cordelia seemed to soften up a little.
“I've rejected you way before now! So, you're half demon. Big Whoop! I can't believe you'd think I'd care about that. I mean, I work for a vampire! Hello!?”
“It's true. I just...” Doyle didn't get to say more when Cordelia interrupted him.
“What do you think I am, superficial?!” she demanded and Buffy had to bite her tongue not to say anything to that. “So you're half demon. That's so far down the list, way under short and poor! Is there anything else I should know?”
“The half demons thing is pretty much my big secret”, Doyle confessed.
“Good, now that's done. Would you ask me out to dinner already?” Cordelia said with a big smile.
“Finally”, Buffy sighed but neither of them payed any attention to her.
“Cordelia... Would you like to...” Doyle started but their attention was steered to the land when Angel drove to the pier on a old motorcycle.
“Angel”, Buffy whispered in relief as he ran up the bridge to the ship.
“We have to shove off now”, he informed them.
“What's going on?” Buffy asked.
“We can't! I can't find my first mate!” the captain protested.
“And you won't. We need to leave right now. Get to the bridge”, Angel ordered.
“They're here”, Doyle pointed out as the group drove to the pier.
“Get below. Lock the doors. Now!” Angel ordered. Doyle and Cordelia ran to the others while Buffy stayed by his side.
“Buffy, go with the others”, he said but she showed no signs of leaving him.
“No, I'm staying right here with you”, she insisted.
“Buffy, go keep them safe”, he said and she could see he was serious. She didn't like it but she did it anyway, he could take care of himself but the demons below couldn't.
Angel turned to look at the demons climbing to the ship. “You lied to us, half-breed”, the demon accused.
“You catch on quick, footballhead”, Angel shot back.
“Kill him. Painfully”, the demon commanded and a group of demons attacked Angel who held his own easily.
As the minions were down, the leader attacked him. After a strong fight, the demon tackled him, sending them both stumbling down the stairs of the cargo hall. Angel jumped to his feet and tried to fight him off but they fell over the railing down to a lower staircase. He started to rise when his eyes landed on the device, already lit.
“It's going to detonate. Get out! Everybody out!” he yelled to the others and the demon behind him grabbed him and started choking him.
“Welcome to a cleaner world. Soon only the pure bloods will be left standing”, the demon boaster. Angel swatted his hands off his neck and grabbed him.
“Actually, pure boy, you'll be on your ass”, he stated and broke the demons neck.
“The doors are locked from the outside. We're trapped!” Doyle yelled. Buffy tried kicking the door but it didn't cause more than a small dent. Buffy, Doyle and Cordelia hurried up to the platform.
“What does that thing do?” Doyle asked afraid of the answer.
“Its light kills anything with human blood”, Angel answered glumly.
“Well, it's getting brighter and that doohickey... it's fully armed, isn't it?”
“Almost. If I pull the cable, I think I can still shut it off”, Angel said and Buffy grabbed his arm turning him to look at her.
“And how are you going to do that without touching the light?” she asked fear evident in her voice. Angel didn't answer, act that only increased her fear of the answer.
“Angel, that's suicide”, Cordelia protested.
“There's got to be another way”, Doyle added but Angel shook his head.
“There isn't.”
“No!” Buffy yelled and shook him, tears were already forming in her eyes.
“Shhh... It's okay”, he whispered and pulled her into a kiss, pouring into it all the love that he had for her. As he pulled away, she didn't have time to react as he hit her hard enough for her to loose consciousness. He caught her before she fell and handed her to Cordelia.
“Tell her I love her”, he said to her and turned to Doyle, laying his hand on his friends shoulder and giving it a small squeeze.
“The good fight, yeah? You never know until you've been tested. I get that now”, Doyle said and without warning hit Angel. He fell over the railing landing to the cargo hall floor. Doyle turned to Cordelia, took a step closer to her and kissed her gently. He pulled away, looking at her with sad eyes, tears were running down her face.
“Too bad we'll never know...” he started to say and morphed into his demon visage. “...if this is a face you could learn to love.”
Angel was already running up the ladder and yelling him to stop but as he reached the platform, Doyle jumped over the railing and grabbed a hold of the device.
Buffy started to come to and first her eyes landed on Angel, the relief was only temporary as she saw Doyle. “Doyle! No!” Angel yelled but he only smiled at them and turned back to his human form as he pulled at the cable.
“No”, Cordelia choked out, she wanted to scream but couldn't find her voice through the constricting feeling on her throat.
Doyle pulled the cable apart, right before he disappeared in a burst of light and the device went dark. Everyone just stared at where Doyle had just been seconds ago. Angel turned to look at the two women in his life, they both were crying openly. He took a step closer to them and pulled them both into his arms.
