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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 Angel episode Somnambulist written by Tim Minear.
Chapter 12: Night of the Living Dead
Angel could smell the girls terror as she ran away from him and it was intoxicating. The chase, it had been so long since he had a good kill. With quick moves, he was ahead the girl and she ran straight into him, terrified and frozen in fear. He bared his fangs and ran his iron clad finger across her cheek, drawing blood before he violently sank his teeth into her throat.
Angel sat up on the bed, gasping for air that he didn't need. He jumped as he felt a soft hand on his lower back and he spun around to look. He met with Buffy's sleepy but concerned eyes and he made a sad attempt to give her a assuring smile.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice husky from the sleep.
“I'm fine, go back to sleep”, he said and ran his hand through her hair, images of slicing into the girls skin ran through his mind and he pulled his hand away.
“A nightmare?” she questioned and fully sat up sliding closer to him. He tried to calm himself, he could hear her blood running in her veins and the bloodlust increasing inside of him.
“I'm okay”, he assured her and pushed down the demon.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” she questioned but he shook his head. “Are you sure, it might help.”
“I'm sure. Let's just go back to sleep. You've got class tomorrow”, he said and laid back down pulling Buffy with him and folding her in his arms. He pressed a soft kiss to her head and closed his eyes only for them to snap open again as the images of the girl ran before them.
Buffy packed her bag while keeping an eye on Angel, he was starting to worry her. He placed the last plate to the drying cabinet and turned around to look at her, he had felt her eyes on his back the whole morning but tried to ignore it.
“You look tired”, she stated not succeeding in covering the concern in her voice.
“I'm fine”, he assured her and turned around, trying to find something to do and keep his mind occupied.
“You keep saying that”, she said and went to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at her, she could see the pain in his eyes and it was making her insides twist as if it was her own pain.
“It's just the nightmares. Nothing to worry about”, he said and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She didn't believe it was just ordinary nightmares but she let it go for now, she'd push him later.
“I'm gonna go upstairs, I think I smelled Cordelia making coffee”, he said and pulled away from her heading towards the elevator.
“Are you sure you want to drink Cordy's coffee?” Buffy questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“It's strong enough to melt a esophagus, so maybe it will wake me up.”
“You're braver than I am. I'll come up in a minute, as soon as I have found my psych notes.”
“Look under the bed”, he said with a smirk and pulled the elevator gate down.
“Ha ha!” Buffy said after him but then headed to the bedroom anyway.
Angel stepped out of the elevator looking around but only seeing Cordelia. “Who were you talking to?” he asked, he was sure he had heard more than one voice.
“Nobody. And Wesley. So you remember that license plate we got on that runaway case?” Cordelia answered with a slight frown mixed with a apologetic look. Angel headed straight to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup, just the smell was enough to make him have second thoughts on drinking it.
“I remember you were going to follow up on it”, he answered to her question and took a sip from the mug, grimacing at the horrible taste of the liquid.
“No go. The BMV is totally stalker-phobic. And wow, you look half-dead!”
Angel turned to look at her with a strange look, he didn't want to remind her that he was technically dead but she seemed to remember the little fact by herself.
“Which for someone, who’s completely dead, would be kind of neat?” she conceded with a shrug. Angel sighed tiredly and gave her a irritated look.
“Maybe you could have police woman run it for us on the Q.T”, she suggested innocently.
“Kate”, Angel stated.
“Bad idea. I think we should avoid keeping contact with her if we can help it”, Buffy said while walking into the office.
“Buffy, she is a police officer, she might be able to help.”
“She's already pointed a gun at me twice”, Buffy stated placing her hands on her hips.
“It wasn't her fault...” Angel tried but was interrupted by Buffy.
“Yeah, I know it was during the whole sensitivity thing, you really creeped me out by the way. But that doesn't make me feel any better around her, I don't take it too well when people or vamps threaten to shoot me.”
“Yeah, that whole dumbly smiling and constantly hugging Angel really gave me chills too”, Cordelia stated.
Buffy laughed but then her eyes landed on the clock. “I have to go. I'll see you later”, she said and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before dashing out of the door.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I mean for a guy who’s 200 plus, you’re not usually with the bags”, Cordelia questioned and waved her fingers under her eyes. There was something off about him, he looked tired and distracted.
“I'm fine. I’ll do this now”, Angel said slightly irritated, he grabbed the piece of paper with the license plate number and headed towards the door.
“Angel...” Cordelia started to warn him but Angel spun around loosing his patience and interrupted her.
“Look, I’m fine, Cordelia. All right?!”
“All right”, Cordelia conceded pissed that he had just blew up on her. Angel pulled the door open and jumped back as the sun shone in, burning him. He turned to Cordelia somewhat sheepishly.
“I’ll take the tunnels”, he stated and headed back to the elevator.
He walked through the well memorized tunnels to the police station and made his way to Kate's desk.
“Hey”, he greeted and her head spun to look at him, again he had managed to sneak up on her.
“Angel. Hi”, she responded wanting to slap herself for sounding like a gushing schoolgirl.
“I need a favor.”
“Sort of figured that. What do you need?” She sighed inwardly, of course he was there just because he wanted a favor.
“A license plate”, he stated and handed her the piece of paper. She glanced at it, then lifted her gaze back to his.
“You know I’m not supposed to release that kind of information to a civilian, Angel”, she said.
“I know”, Angel stated with a acknowledging nod. She let out a audible sigh.
“If it were anyone else...” She let the sentence hang in the air.
“I appreciate it, Kate.”
“I know you do. I’ll run it myself. To be honest, I won’t mind getting my head out of this case. Even for a minute”, she said rubbing her forehead and signing absently at the case file on the desk.
“Tough one?”
She breathed deeply and opened the file. “The first victim, Reggie Sparks volunteered as a crossing-guard. Jinny Markem just started the tenth grade and Jessica Halpren, 25, worked as a waitress. And what do they all have in common? What he did to them. That’s all.” She getting frustrated with the case, it was going nowhere and she didn't like not being in control.
A female officer walked to Kate's desk and handed her a new file. “Here are the crime scene photos you wanted”, she stated before walking away. Kate thanked her and ran through the folder.
Angel stepped closer and looked at the photos in front of him, the dead woman's terrified face flashed in front of his eyes, he could almost smell the blood. He didn't even notice that Kate was talking till he managed to pull himself together.
“Pretty grim, isn’t it? I’ve spent the last 48 hours putting together a suspect profile and believe me, being inside this guy’s head hasn’t been a whole lot of fun. The tabloids are calling him the Pope. Probably thinks he’s doing God’s work.”
Angel didn't take his eyes off the pictures as he shook his head. “No. It's just the opposite. This is about mocking God”, he stated almost like talking to himself till he noticed Kate staring at him and he knew he had to cover it.
“That’s my guess”, he added and Kate seemed to be satisfied with his answer. As he attention was drawn elsewhere, he used the opportunity to leave.
The class was finally dismissed and Buffy couldn't be happier. Melissa rushed after her and caught her by the door. “Hey!” she greeted happily.
“Hey”, Buffy yawned. Melissa gave her a concerned look and gently turned her to face her.
“You look really tired”, she stated.
“Thanks”, Buffy said with a wry smile and took a deep breath before explaining more. “Angel's been keeping me up all night.”
Melissa gave her a crooked grin. “I bet he has”, she said and Buffy rolled her eyes.
“Not like that! He's been having nightmares.”
The grin faded from Melissa's lips. “Nightmares? As in plural? Is he okay?”
Buffy shook her head with a sigh. “He says he is. But you know guys. And Angel says he's fine even when he has trouble standing.”
“Have you tried talking about it?”
“Angel isn't exactly Mr. Talkative. But I'll corner him once I get home”, she stated and glanced at the clock, thankfully she only had one class left but unfortunately it was psych. After the whole professor Clift possession thing, she hadn't been all that comfortable in the class and it didn't help that he was just as big of an asshole without the demon controlling him.
Buffy and Melissa parted at the class door and she tried to make it to her seat as quickly as possible without Clift noticing her. “How nice of you to join us today, miss Summers”, Clift's voice stopped her and slowly she turned around, trying not to glare at the man and fighting against the need to sink into the ground.
“I haven't missed your class in weeks, professor Clift”, she defended herself.
“Try to pay attention today, I have noticed you show up but that is all you manage to do. I am not here for your entertainment, I expect all my students to pay attention”, he said with a clipped tone, he didn't expect an answer, he just turned around back to his notes. Buffy sent a icy look at his way, knowing it was for nothing since his back was turned to her, and she made her way to her seat hoping the class would be over as painlessly as possible.
Cordelia shut down the lights in the office one by one. “I'm so glad to get away from Mr. Broody”, she said to herself and grabbed her bag.
“Oh no, I'm talking to myself. I've spent way too much time with these people”, she sighed and stalked to the door. She yanked the door open and let out a shriek as she almost collided into Wesley.
“Wesley!” she yelled accusingly placing her hand on her chest and trying to steady her breathing. Wesley walked past her looking around himself in a hurry.
“Where is Angel?” he asked and she frowned not understanding what was bothering him.
“Not here.”
She turned at the door and noticed the stake in his hand. She couldn't believe it.
“And what is that?!” she asked with a accusing tone.
“Exactly what it looks like”, Wesley answered and seemed to settle down.
“You brought a stake to a vampire's home? Doesn't exactly scream house warming gift. It could be misinterpreted.”
Wesley didn't seem to listen to her, he just pulled out a clipping from a news paper and showed it to her. “You recall earlier this morning that mix up with the dentists mail and newspaper? That’s when I saw this.”
Cordelia's eyes widened and she grabbed the piece of paper from his hands. “You cut up Dr. Folger’s newspaper? You’re going to get us kicked out of this building”, she accused him and Wesley had a urge to roll his eyes.
“Cordelia! The clipping”, he pointed out.
“Third body found in alley. So? Not exactly front-page news”, she dismissed it.
“Actually that is the front-page, but still, note the modus operandi? The mutilation of the corpse with a religious icon?” he pointed out and Cordelia was still not following.
“I’m against it?” she suggested causing Wesley to sigh and look heavenwards. He grabbed the clipping from her and went to sit down, opening his bag and pulling out a folder.
“While executing my duties as a watcher in Sunnydale, I did extensive research specifically on Angel, given his uncomfortable proximity to the Slayer”, he explained.
“He looked pretty comfortable to me”, Cordelia stated dismissively but again was ignored.
“When I saw this story today it rang chillingly familiar. So I reacquainted myself with certain facts, unfortunately confirming my grim suspicions. In the late 1700s it was Angelus’ custom to sign his victims by carving a Christian cross into their left cheek...” he didn't get to continue further when Cordelia slammed the folder closed and jumped to her feet.
“Okay, you get to leave now. You’re not gonna come in here and accuse Angel like this! I don’t care how many files you have on all the horrible things he did back in the powdered wig days!” Cordelia yelled at him.
“And I agree with Cordelia”, came Buffy's voice from the front door, making both spin around to look at her.
“Buffy...” Wesley tried, he didn't like the grim determined look on her face.
“No, Wesley. We're not going to take your accusations, Angel's my friend and and nothing you say will make me turn on a friend!” Cordelia said firmly, pulling Wesley's attention to two different directions, being caught between two defensive females was not his idea of a good place to be in.
“Cordelia. He’s right”, Angel's voice came from the doorway making everyones eyes turn to him.
“You’ll stake him and I’ll cut his head off”, Cordelia said to Wesley and Buffy's mouth dropped in disbelief.
“Nobody is beheading anyone”, she stated.
Wesley Wesley quickly made his way to Angel and thrust a cross to his face. “Come no closer!” he threatened. Angel turned away from the cross, his face distorting in pain.
“What do you think you're doing?!” Buffy yelled at Wesley and started coming closer, ready to throw him out of a window but a sign from Angel made her stop.
“I’m not going to hurt you”, Angel said but didn't seem to get much confidence from his employee or the ex-watcher.
“Is that what you told Miss third body found in alley?” Cordelia accused.
“Why should we believe a word you say?” Wesley questioned and Angel let out a short chuckle before batting the cross away from his hand and grabbing him. He pulled Wesley's hand behind his back and held him by the throat.
“Because this is how fast I could take you if I wanted to”, he stated. He could smell the fear coming from him and see the slight alarm in Buffy's eyes, not a sight he wanted to see.
“We’re listening”, Wesley squeaked and Angel let go of him, pushing him away.
“I have no memory of doing any of these things.”
“Not exactly the confidence inspiring denial I was looking for.”
“Angel, you can't actually believe you did those things”, Buffy denied and made her way to him. Wesley wanted to warn her to stay back but figured it would be more safe to stay away from the lovers business, she still hadn't lost the stubborn look from her face.
“I’ve been having dreams”, Angel stated.
“The nightmares?” Buffy said, more of a statement than a question.
“They're killing dreams. Always the same. I stalk them, toy with them, mark them while they are still alive. And before they can die from their fear, I feed on them. But they're not nightmares. I enjoy them”, he told them, glancing at Buffy with shame evident in his eyes, no one else in the room knew or experienced the demon inside him like Buffy did. She swallowed harshly but held her eyes firmly on his, she knew how hard it was for him, especially with her present.
“And you fear that these may be more than just dreams, that you are acting them out in some sort of hypnogogic state”, Wesley stated.
“Hypnowhatic?” Cordelia questioned with a frown.
“Sleepwalking”, Buffy explained.
“Thank you, college girl”, Cordelia said sarcastically but without the usual bite in her voice. Then she seemed to think of something. “But vampires can’t sleepwalk. He’d take one step out of the front door and his pj's would burst into flame!”
“Unless it were happening in the pre-dawn hours. Which is when all these murders took place”, Wesley explained directing his gaze to Angel.
“No way! I sleep in the same bed as he does and he's not been running around the town”, Buffy denied the accusation.
“Buffy, you might have been sleeping through it, only waking when I do. There is only one way to be sure.”
Buffy shook her head, not ready to give up. “No, I don't sleep that well when you're not next to me.”
“Okay, I really don't want to hear about your sleeping arrangements. What I'd like to know is, if he's doing the whole Elm Street thing”, Cordelia stepped in.
“Freddie killed the victims in their sleep not when he was asleep”, Buffy corrected the brunette.
“What ever. I just don't want to be his next victim, it would not be good for my starting career”, Cordelia stated waving her hand absently. Everybody ignored her.
“I think we should chain me for the night. Make sure I won't be going out”, Angel stated going back to the matter at hand.
“Very well. I believe you have chains we could use”, Wesley said in very business like manner and Angel nodded in conformation.
“I really don't want to know”, Cordelia sighed and Buffy shot her a strange look. What was that supposed to mean?
They went down to the apartment and Buffy headed to look for the chains. “Where should we chain you?” Wesley asked looking around for a good place to tie a person, in this case a vampire.
“The bed”, Buffy answered while dragging the pile of chains to the bedroom.
“But Buffy...” Angel started to protest but was interrupted by her.
“You take the bed, you'll be more comfortable and the bedpost is handy to tie you in. One night on the couch won't kill me.”
She didn't want any more protests, she just dragged him into the bedroom by his shirt and pushed him down to the bed before putting the manacles to his wrists. “Make sure it's tight”, Wesley instructed Buffy and Cordelia who was tying Angel's feet.
“Like I need instructions from you. This is my glamorous LA life, I get to make the coffee and chain the boss to the bed. I’ve got to join a union”, Cordelia griped and yanked at the chain in emphasis.
“Cordelia, I think that’s tight enough”, Angel pointed out, he didn't have any circulation but it didn't mean he didn't feel the chains pressing into his leg.
“And if it turns out that we’re back on the liquid lunch. Better safe than cocktails!” Cordelia remarked and got up to her feet.
“Well, all we can do now is wait”, Wesley stated.
“Yeah. And no offense Angel but maybe you are committing those horrible crimes just in your dreams. But even so, I don’t want to stick around for your nocturnal commissions”, Cordelia said giving him a apologetic smile.
“I understand”, Angel said and nodded.
“Well, pleasant... I mean, sleep tight”, Cordelia said patting his leg and left.
“That’s pretty much a given”, Angel stated looking at the chains that held him firmly in the bed. Buffy sat next to him and ran her hand through his hair.
“Don't worry, I'll be here. And I have no doubt about this whole things, it's not you behind those killings. I think you just wanted to be chained to the bed as a payback to me for hogging the covers.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, that was my intention”, he answered. She leaned down and gave him a brief kiss.
“Do you happen to have any tea?” came Wesley's voice from the kitchen. Buffy glanced at the door way and turned back to Angel.
“I guess we're not going to be alone tonight, so your virtue will be safe”, she said with a crooked smile.
A young woman in few centuries old clothes ran through the dark streets of the village. Her fear was intoxicating to him. She stopped to bang on a door but no one answered, when she spun around, she was cornered. The fear in her eyes only made his hunger grow. He took a firm grip of the girl and ran his iron glad finger across her cheek, making a cross before sinking his teeth into her throat. He let the body drop to the ground and just stared at it, unfeeling.
“There now, isn't that better”, came male voice from behind him. He spun around to look at Angelus looking down at him and the corpse. He straightened up.
“Better”, he answered an let his face change back to its human form.
“First kill. Aptly done”, Angelus praised.
“It’s strange. She was my sister.”
“And yet you feel nothing”, Angelus stated.
“No. I feel hungry”, he said and turned to look at Angelus who gave him a satisfied smirk.
“Ah, you do learn very quickly.”
“My father would disagree.”
“Ah, then perhaps it’s time you shared with him just what a fine student you’ve become.”
“My father. Yes. They’ll all be sitting down to dinner now.”
Angelus pulled him under his arm, pleased by the idea. “A feast. Excellent. When they invite you in, savor it, Penn. You’ll not recapture the moment. Family blood is always the sweetest.”
Angel jerked awake with the chains rattling at the sudden movement and waking the other people in the room. Buffy lifted her face from the bed, she had fallen asleep in one of his lush chairs that she had moved next to the bed and somewhere during the night, she had shifted so she was half laying on the bed next to him.
“Angel”, she whispered, feeling alarmed by the scared look in his eyes.
“Wakie, wakie!” Cordelia said cheerfully as she trotted into the bedroom holding a news paper in sight.
Wesley, who had been woken by Angel, slowly started to rise from the chair he had been keeping post for the night. “We made it”, he stated in relief.
“And great news, sport’s fans, there has been another killing. Well, maybe not so great news for the, you know, dead person, but at least now we know that Mr. I’m so tortured didn’t do it”, Cordelia said and handed Wesley the news paper. Buffy made a move to unchain him but Angel's words stopped her.
“Yes, I did.”
Cordelia and Wesley just stared at him in shock but Buffy managed to shake herself off it. “Don't say things like that. You haven't moved anywhere all night”, she said and started opening the chains. He sat up rubbing his wrists, they had been chafed by the manacles but were already healing quickly.
“It's Penn. And I made him”, Angel stated grimly.
“As in Angelus siring him, made him?” Buffy asked and Angel nodded avoiding her eyes.
“And teaching him everything he knows”, he added.
“A real Psycho-wan-Kenobi”, Cordelia stated.
“200 years practice. I imagine he has it down by now”, Wesley added.
“No lie. Gallagher’s changed his act more often than this dude has in the last two centuries. Why do you think he’s still doing the same old schtick?” Cordelia asked.
“Well, I mean, it’s a classic, isn’t it? Every time he smashes that watermelon with a sledgehammer I just...” Wesley said with a smile getting excited but soon quieting at the silent looks everyone was sending his way.
“I don’t know why”, Angel stated.
“You don’t suppose it’s his way of trying to draw you out? That he knows you’re here. That might explain the dreams”, Wesley analyzed.
“No. I used to have a connection with those I sired. It just means he’s close, that’s all”, Angel dismissed it getting frustrated. Buffy took a hold of his hand and gave it a small comforting squeeze.
“That's great. We can’t find him and the cops stand absolutely zero chance of stopping him”, Cordelia said throwing her hands in the air in surrender.
“Kate. She doesn’t know what she’s dealing with, what she’s up against”, Angel said quickly jumping to his feet with Buffy following. He headed towards the door but Wesley jumped to his feet and stepped into his way.
“And you’re going to tell her what exactly? Think about it. You can’t walk into a police precinct with intimate knowledge about these murders and claim a 200 year old Puritan is responsible. You’d be locked up faster than Lady Hamilton’s virtue!” He turned his eyes to Cordelia, somewhat sheepishly. “My apologies.”
“That’s okay. I don’t know what that meant”, Cordelia said little confused.
“She’s a good cop. She has resources we don’t. Eventually she will find him.”
“Bad for her then”, Cordelia stated.
“Or good for us”, Angel added. Buffy frowned, it was no secret she didn't like Kate.
“And I was hoping we wouldn't have to involve her and her gun into this”, she muttered. Angel turned to her and took a hold of her hand, drawing her eyes to his.
“Buffy, she was under...” he started but Buffy interrupted him.
“...Some seriously creepy mojo. I know. Maybe I'm just being slightly jealous with her making googly eyes at you and pointing a gun at me, twice”, she muttered and tried to ignore the crooked grin on Angel's face.
“You admitted you're jealous”, he stated not loosing the grin.
“I said slightly”, she said with a pout. He let out a chuckle and bent down to press a kiss to her lips. Before neither of them knew, they had deepened the kiss and were wrapped in each others arms.
Cordelia tried to get them to pull apart by clearing her throat but it was useless effort. She sighed and rolled her eyes before making her way upstairs. “Umm... I... I'm going to follow Cordelia's example”, Wesley stuttered signing to the stairway and leaving as he noted he wasn't going to be acknowledged.
Few minutes later Angel pulled away with a self-satisfied smile. She was breathless from the kiss but still managed enough brain function to slap him. “Sometimes you're such a guy”, she breathed out and then glanced around herself, noting Cordelia and Wesley were missing.
“Looks like we're all alone”, she stated.
“They went up few minutes ago. I'll make you breakfast”, he said and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before going to the kitchen. She followed him and sat to the table, watching as he cooked.
“What's cooking in that big brain of yours?” she asked. He stopped and turned to look at her, giving her a innocent look.
“What?”
“Come on, you have a plan. Am I going to like it?” she questioned but answered her own question with a frown.
“Probably not.”
“Don't worry. I know what I'm doing”, he assured her.
Angel walked into the police station, making straight line to Kate. “Hey. I have the info on your license plate”, Kate said but noticed that he seemed nervous. “Angel, are you okay? Not that the brooding man of mystery thing isn’t working for you. I mean it is. A lot”, she continued now getting nervous herself.
“Can we talk somewhere in private?” he asked wringing the Claddagh in his finger.
“Sure, of course”, she conceded and lead her to a private room with crime scene photos pinned to a board on the wall.
“What is it?” Kate asked going to business.
“How’s the investigation?” Angel asked and walked to the board looking at the pictures before turning to her.
“It’s nowhere. Some of your more inconsiderate serial killers often fail to leave us any clues”, she stated and Angel turned back to the pictures as she started playing with her cross necklace. Memories of Penn's dead family played in his head bringing him into a revelation.
“He’s reliving it”, he stated to himself.
“What’s going on?” Kate demanded and Angel turned around to look at her, forcing himself not to wince at the cross.
“It’s complicated.”
“So make it simple.”
“Kate, do you trust me?” he asked.
“You know I do.”
Angel turned back to the board and pinned the drawing in his hand into it. “Trust me when I tell you, this is the man you’re looking for”, he stated. Kate looked at him stunned, not sure what to make of the situation.
“Where did you get that? How could you possibly...”
“Do you trust me?” Angel repeated the question.
“Are you protecting a source? Yes, I trust you.”
“His next victim will be a white male, adolescent. He’ll take him off the streets in a low rent neighborhood, probably near a bar or liquor store and he’ll kill him just like he did these others. Unless you use every resource this department has to make sure he is not successful this time”, he told her before leaving her standing stunned in the room.
He made his way down to the garage where Wesley was waiting him in the car. “So, I take it you told her everything”, he stated as Angel sat into the drivers seat.
“Just enough to get her killed.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see that it doesn’t happen. You do know Buffy isn't going to be pleased.”
“I know. But I'll worry about it later. Once you hook this up, if Kate finds something, we’ll know about it”, Angel said and handed Wesley a police radio.
“Where did you get the police radio?” he questioned turning it in his hands.
“Police car”, Angel stated nonchalantly and Wesley almost dropped it.
“Oh dear”, he breathed out and quickly hid the scanner under the seat.
Angel and Wesley heard the police radio inform about Penn's whereabouts and Angel quickly drove to the scene. Police cars were surrounding the exits and he could see Kate go inside with gun held in sight. He backed the car out of sight and looked around himself at the building, noticing the pipe going to the roof.
“I'll meet you back here”, he said and got off the car before starting to climb up the wall along the pipe. Once he got to the roof, he listened carefully, trying to extract the sounds from the inside from the ones outside. He heard two gunshots and quickly made it to the spot, kicking the roof till it gave off and he fell gracefully down to the floor under it. His eyes landed on Penn, his appearance had changed since he last saw him but so had his own.
“Angelus?” Penn questioned in wonder. “Oh God, it's been a lifetime”, he said with a laugh and patted Angels arms delighted to see his mentor.
“At least”, Angel stated.
“We were to meet in Italy, remember?”
“I remember.”
“Well, I waited for you. Hell, I waited until the 19th century. What happened?” Penn asked still not loosing the smile of happiness from meeting his hero after so many years.
“Got held up in Romania.”
“Romania? What’s in Romania?” he asked slightly confused.
“Gypsies”, Angel answered dryly. He could hear Kate calling for back up in the radio and Penn's attention turned to her.
“Join me for a drink”, he said clapping his hand on Angel's shoulder still happy to see him. Angel stopped him, looking into his eyes grimly.
“That’s not why I’m here.”
Penn turned to look at him, now questioning his presence. “Yeah, why are you here?”
“To kill you”, Angel stated and his face morphed into vampire features. He took the element of surprise to attack him and they both went sliding across the floor. They traded powerful punches and Angel seriously regretted that he had thought him how to fight. Pen slammed him to the floor, hitting him repeatedly till Angel managed to grab him by the jacket and throw them around. He brutally hit the younger vampire but Penn jumped to the ceiling, slamming Angel's back against the hard surface, managing to separate them on the landing. Angel threw him through a wall and turned to Kate, not caring that his face was in its demon features.
“Kate! Go! Get out of here! Now!” he ordered but was tackled down to the ground as Penn came flying through the hole in the wall. They jumped to their feet.
“You know its name? Angelus, what happened to you?” Penn asked incredulously. Angel swung his fist at him but Penn managed to grab him by his hair, momentarily keeping him in place.
“People change”, Angel stated.
“We’re not people”, Penn answered and threw him at Kate who had his gun pointed at them. Angel flew against Kate, tackling them both to the ground and when he managed to jump to his feet, Penn was gone. He turned to look at Kate, letting his face change back to human features, and soon the room was fool of police officers.
He stepped to the side as Kate talked to another officer before making her way to him. “I shot him three times. I know I did. And he got up”, she said still not understanding how it was possible. Angel took a step closer to her but found himself facing the barrel of her gun.
“If I pull this trigger, are you going to get up too? What are you?”
“You already know the answer to that”, he stated and slowly she lowered her gun. “Details have been left out of the press reports. Something you held back, isn’t that right?”
“What do you know about it?” Kate demanded skepticism clear in her voice.
“Puncture wounds. The victims have all been drained of their blood, haven’t they?” Angel could see the surprise and recognition in her eyes, confirming his claim.
“And should I trust you more or less because you happen to know that?”
“You’re not going to stop him, Kate. Not like this”, Angel warned her.
“What you mean?”
“It’s going to take direct sunlight, decapitation or a stake through the heart”, Angel gave her the list matter-of-factly.
“You’re telling me children’s stories”, she brushed him off walking away.
“I’m telling you the truth”, Angel stated and she spun around, clearly not believing him.
“No. I don’t believe you”, she insisted.
“I know you don’t. Even after what you saw you won’t let yourself, which is why you’ll lose”, he said and walked closer to her.
“I’ve heard enough”, she said but he didn't let her flee, he grabbed the cross in her necklace and she watched with wide eyes as his skin started smoking. He ignored the pain from the burning flesh and concentrated on her.
“No, you haven’t heard a word, and you won’t. Not now, not yet. Because there are some things in this world you’re just not ready to face”, he stated vehemently and walked away.
Buffy sat in front of the kitchen table with several books open in front of her and a cordless phone cradled on between her head and shoulder.
“Should you be watching your what? I'd stare at you blankly but I figured it looses some of its power on the telephone” she questioned with a frown.
“Occipital. The lobe in the back of your brain. You know, like should I be watching my back? But you know, the ... back of my brain”, Willow explained to the phone. Buffy smiled shaking her head.
“Apparently not.”
“Oh, but I like this. This is something I have been dreaming for years, you and me debating on school stuff... Although I imagined it would be both of us here in Sunnydale, going to the same college and not with you far, far away in LA but it still doesn't lower the greatness factor.”
“I'm sorry I'm not there. I miss you guys. And I too wanted our debate to be face to face so you could see my blank expression when you use words I don't understand”, she said with the mood toning down.
“Have you talked to Dawn?” Willow asked since they hadn't had the time to discuss slayer related topics yet.
“I called her earlier but she hung up on me. She's getting tired on the check up calls”, Buffy answered and directed her gaze to the doorway when Angel walked down the stairs. A bright smile lit her face when he stepped into view and she invited him over with a movement of her finger. She covered the phone with her hand and pulled him into a quick kiss before coaxing him to sit next to her.
“Was that Angel? I thought I heard smooching”, Willow questioned on the phone.
“How could you hear that, I covered the phone!”
Willow laughed and turned to look at Tara who lifted her gaze from the magic book at the sound. They shared a smile, almost like reading each others minds. “Oh, I guess I just know you too well. Tell him we said hi”, Willow said innocently.
Buffy turned to Angel, putting her hand over the phone. “Willow and Tara says hi”, she said and her eyes caught a quick glimpse of the burn in his palm. “Umm... Wills, I need to hang up now. I'll call you tomorrow, okay”, she said to the phone not letting her eyes off his.
“Okay. Behave yourself. Bye”, Willow said with a crooked smile and hung up.
Buffy put down the phone and quickly grabbed Angel's hand, revealing the cross shaped burn in his palm and burned slices all around his first. “Care to explain”, she told him and he looked at her guiltily. She got up from the table and quick took a small jar of something green from the refrigerator. She sat back next to him and started spreading the ointment to the burns.
“Be free to explain. I may be a blond but I can spread this stuff and listen at the same time”, she stated.
“The police found Penn, I went after him, Kate was there and she saw me on my vamp face.”
“I take it wasn't a happy family reunion”, she commented and ran her other hand through his hair, revealing a cut in his hairline, it had already stopped bleeding.
“Let's just say he has daddy issues”, Angel stated dryly.
“Who doesn't”, Buffy muttered nearly quiet enough that Angel didn't hear.
“Have you seen your father?” Angel asked and stopped her hand by placing his own on top of it, it's not like the ointment did anything but eased the burning. Slowly she let her eyes drift to his and he hated the lost little girl look she had that just mentioning her father had put in to her eyes.
“No, he's still in Spain and every time I called before he was busy, if he answered at all”, she answered quietly. She took a long calming breath and gave him a weak smile.
“Let's not talk about it. I get it that Kate saw you go grrr, but that doesn't explain how you got cross burns”, she changed the subject and Angel wasn't going to push the topic of her father, he knew how hard it was for her.
“She went on denial, wouldn't believe what she saw, so I gave her a demonstration.”
“And you couldn't find a less painful way?”
He shrugged innocently and Buffy couldn't help but roll her eyes. Men!
Angel put down the book as he heard the voices coming from upstairs. He made his way up and found Penn in the office, Cordelia was standing in front of a open window.
“Well. Look who’s back from his up with people meeting”, Penn said animatedly and let out a amused laugh. Angel glanced at the stream of sunlight separating him from Penn and darted his eyes back to his childe.
“Give me a stake”, he said to Cordelia without leaving his eyes from Penn.
“It’s like 8 in the morning”, Cordelia protested incredulously. “Oh! You mean like...” Cordelia realized and made a stabbing sign before quickly leaving the room.
“What? You don’t drink, so now no one gets to?” Penn questioned not loosing his happy mood.
“I don’t expect you to understand”, Angel stated.
“Oh, I understand. I was a puritan, remember?”
“It’s gotta end.”
“Why? Because you say so? And how does that work exactly? You just wake up one morning and decide, Okay, now I’m good!” Penn laughed without humor. “No, Angelus. It doesn’t end, it never, ever ends. It just goes on and on”, he continued.
“That’s not the only thing that goes on and on. Here, dust him”, Cordelia said while coming back to the room and handed the stake to Angel, he still didn't let his eyes off of Penn.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you, Penn, for what I turned you into”, he apologized and Penn gave him a strange look like he had said something funny.
“What? A first class killer? An Artist? A bold re-interpreter of the form?” he questioned cockily.
“Try cheesy hack”, Angel shot back and Penn's face fell.
“Look at you. You’ve been getting back at your father for over 200 years. It’s pathetic and clichéd. Probably got a killer shrine on your wall, huh? News clippings, magazine articles, maybe a few candles? Oh, you are so prosaic”, Angel taunted him, playing with the stake in his hand but not letting his gaze wander off of the younger vampire.
Penn slowly back away towards the door when Wesley walked through it not seeing him. “Nothing on the streets about a new vampire in town”, he stated and suddenly Penn grabbed him from behind, wrapping his arm around his throat. Angel made a step forward but the stream of sunlight between them stopped him from getting to them.
“Which is maybe because he’s here. And has me by the throat”, Wesley choked out.
“Let him go!” Angel commanded.
“You’re right, Angelus. My work was getting stale. I appreciate the critique”, Penn said barely controlling his anger.
Buffy opened the door and saw the situation. Angel didn't let himself look at her, keeping his eyes firmly on Penn and Wesley as she soundlessly pulled a stake out of her bag and crept towards Penn.
“So look for something new, innovative, something shockingly original. Just think of the worst possible thing you can imagine. I’ll see you there”, Penn threatened and spun around, throwing Wesley at Buffy, knocking them both down as he grabbed his coat and fled through the door. Buffy pushed Wesley off of her, grabbed her stake and ran after Penn but when she got outside, she had already lost him. With a disappointed sigh she returned inside, Cordelia had pulled down the curtains and Wesley was sitting by the desk, rubbing his abused throat.
“That was Penn?” she asked and Angel nodded grimly.
“He's up to something. I think I need to talk to Kate”, he added more thoughtfully but not loosing the brooding look from his face.
“I don't like that idea”, Buffy stated but despite that, after sundown she and Angel were standing in front of Kate's apartment door. “I still don't like this idea”, she muttered.
He knocked on the door and moments later Kate opened it. “Hi. Can we come in?” he asked politely.
“Oh, that’s right. You have to be invited in, don’t you?” Kate shot to Angel and then turned her gaze to Buffy. “Do you know what he is?” she asked her accusingly.
“I know exactly who he is”, Buffy stated pressing the word 'who'.
“So you're a vampire too? I knew there was something strange about you.”
“No, I'm not a vampire. I could walk right inside uninvited but I won't, because I still have my manners. Unlike some people”, Buffy shot back.
“Buffy...” Angel tried to protest but Buffy gave him a look.
“So you know what he is. And it doesn't bother you at all. Well, it bothers me, I did some research. Like for instance, I learned that his friend has been in LA before, did you know that? Yeah, he's been here at least twice. Once in 1929 and again in 1963. Oh and there is something in Boston in 1908. If I were you I'd choose my friends more carefully.”
“So you believe me?” Angel asked drawing her attention back to him.
“Yes, I believe you”, Kate stated still shooting daggers at him with her eyes.
“Good. Because he is planning something...” Angel started to say but didn't get to finish when Kate interrupted.
“Angelus. Isn’t that what he called you? Angelus? I looked it up. The demon with the face of an angel. A particularly brutal bastard by all accounts. Oh, and no, you can’t come in. Neither of you”, she said coldly.
“I can’t make up for the past, Kate. I know that”, Angel tried but again was interrupted by Kate.
“No, you can’t. In fact all of this what’s happening now is really because of you, isn't it. You made him, didn’t you?”
“Hey! It wasn't Angel, he has a soul. Who sired Penn was Angelus, not Angel. Two different beings!” Buffy defended her boyfriend but Angel took a hold of her hand and quieted her, it wasn't the right time for the conversation.
He turned back to Kate and asked with a quiet voice, “Let me help end it, please?”
“Please? Now there is a word I imagine you heard quite a lot in your time. Please... No... Don’t? Thanks for the offer, but I don’t need your help. I know what to do. Drive a stake right through the son of a bitch’s heart. And when that happens I suggest you don’t be there because the next time we meet, I’ll do the same to you”, Kate said coldly and slammed the door shut in front of the couple.
“Bitch”, Buffy muttered.
“Buffy”, Angel chastised as they started walking away.
“Well she is”, Buffy stated defensively.
“It's just a human reaction. We better find Penn before she does. She doesn't understand just how strong he is, he'll kill her before she can stake him. Or possibly turn her, he isn't exactly original.”
“Oh, come on, like he could top Angelus”, she stated rolling her eyes. Angelus was still a sour subject to her but no matter what, she still knew he was the best at being a brutal, bloodthirsty killer.
The ride back to the office was quiet, bringing up Angelus had brought bad memories to them both. Inside they started researching Penn's movements, especially the killings Kate had told them about.
“Ha, here it is!” Cordelia yelped victoriously as she found a article on the computer. “Los Angeles Globe, 1929. 'The Regent Gardens Hotel manager said, that the suspect seemed like a quiet, normal type. The search is ongoing.’ No kidding. What are we looking for exactly?”
“I don’t know yet”, Angel answered reading rest of the article over her shoulder.
“In 1963 the police tracked the killer to a residential hotel called the Clover Wood Apartments. By the time they made their move, he’d already fled. They never caught him”, Wesley said showing them a large news book. Buffy stepped closer, looking at the pictures from the book to the computer.
“It's the same place”, she stated.
“New name and a face lift. Not the first time that’s happened in this town”, Cordelia commented.
“Good old predictable Penn”, Angel stated with a lazy shake of his head.
“Who's in for some breaking and entering?” Buffy questioned with a crooked smile and fake enthusiasm.
They had gone to Penn's hotel room and to their horror found a detailed plan on attacking school bus. Despite her strong protests, Angel got her to go to class the next day, revealing his plan and appealing that he needed to do it for closure.
The next day Angel informed Cordelia where they were going and got Wesley to drive the car as he hid under the blanket. Wesley drove to the parking garage. “We’re in”, he informed and Angel threw the blanket away. There was police officers running around the garage and cars heading out.
“I still don’t understand. What about the school children? Shouldn’t we be...” Wesley started but quieted as a officer jumped in front of the car and stopped them before signaling police cars to drive by.
“He’s here”, Angel stated and got off the car, making his way to the tunnel access. He followed Penn's and Kate's scent and found them in the tunnels.
“...I’m not going to kill you. But when I’m finished, Angel will”, he heard Penn say to Kate, he had her by the throat against the wall.
“A bus full of school children, Penn? You really thought I was gonna fall for that?” Angel questioned as he walked into the area. Penn spun around to look at his sire.
“Well, you could have”, he protested.
“Nah. Too original”, Angel stated and walked casually towards him. Kate used the moment of distraction to throw holy water to Penn's face. He screamed in pain and angrily threw her against the wall.
“Well, you were right about one thing, Angelus. The last 200 years has been about me sticking it to my father. But I’ve come to realize something. It’s you!” Penn said like rebellious child before attacking Angel and kicking him to the stomach.
“You made me!” he yelled and kicked Angel again before hitting him.
“You taught me!” he continued and kicked Angel to the ground, he jumped into his back grabbing his hair. “You approved of me in ways my mortal father never did! You are my real father, Angelus.”
“Fine!” Angel stated and got up to his feet before violently slamming Penn to the ground. “You’re grounded”, he added.
“And I say, get over it. We all have daddy issues”, Buffy said and grabbed Penn by his jacket, throwing him against the wall.
“Buffy? How? Aren't you supposed to be in school?” Angel questioned surprised to see her, he was almost as dazed as Penn from her presence.
“I skipped and Cordy told me where you went. Wesley spilled the rest”, she answered and turned to Penn who had scrambled to his feet. He looked at Buffy scrutinizingly, taking long whiffs of air then suddenly started laughing.
“Oh, this is rich. The Slayer! Come on, the great Angelus in bed with the Slayer”, he giggled incredulously.
“Has any one said that the whole smelling thing is gross”, Buffy stated with a frown.
Penn looked at the two before giggling again. “I think I went after the wrong blond”, he said and started circling the couple like a pray.
“You like the sound of your own voice, don't you?” Buffy questioned with sarcasm dripping from her voice. She grabbed her stake and handed another to Angel.
“I've never killed a slayer before”, Penn stated and attacked.
“And you never will”, Angel shot back and grabbed him before running him into a wall. He kicked Penn into the stomach and kneed him to his jaw, sending him staggering back.
Before he could recover, Buffy sent a roundhouse kick to his head and several powerful punches to his stomach till she grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Penn coughed blood but managed to surprise Buffy by kicking her to the back, sending her falling to the ground. He straddled her and bent down to bite her but stopped dead as Angel shoved a stake through his back. Penn burst into dust and before it had settled to the ground, Angel pulled Buffy to her feet.
“Are you okay?” he asked checking her for injuries.
“I'm just fine”, she assured him.
“You shouldn't have come here. I almost got you killed”, he insisted and she looked at him like he had said something funny.
“And how did you figure that?”
“I made him, I taught him everything...” he started but with a sigh she interrupted him.
“You really need to work on your people separating skill, Angelus turned him, not you. Try to let it sink into your thick skull that Angelus is not you, you two are separate beings and if you go on guilt tripping about this I'm gonna sick Cordelia on you.”
He gave her a quick smile and turned his gaze to Kate who looked a little shaken, clutching a piece of broken wood. “I should make sure she's okay. And you should go back to class”, he said firmly. She gave him a pout but he shook his head signaling that it wasn't working although he had to turn his gaze back to Kate just to make sure the pout wouldn't work.
Angel walked to Kate and sat down next to her while Buffy looked at her suspiciously, the piece of wood in the cop's hands was making her nervous.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly and she turned to look at him, letting the wood drop to the ground.
“Never better”, she answered.
Angel was sitting on the roof deep in though as he heard Cordelia walk to his and lean against the brick railing.
“Buffy said you were brooding up here and told me to pound some sense into your big head. She said something about my lack of tact that might make you listen. What is she talking about? I have tact! I have plenty of tact! And in case if you're wondering why this vein on my temple is doing the cha-cha, it’s because I just had one of those bone-crunching, mind-splitting vision headaches”, she stated and handed him a piece of paper. He took it and read the name before shifting his gaze to her for the first time.
“I was just thinking about how much this place is like where I grew up”, Angel said thoughtfully and directed his gaze back to the city lights.
“Right. I could see that... Except I can't”, she said looking at him wondering what was going on in his head.
“It’s not that different. Makes me wonder if anything ever really changes.”
“Sure it does. You have. They were just dreams and they weren’t even your dreams”, she insisted bluntly, not understanding why he was still wallowing in it.
“But I enjoyed it”, he stated.
“It would probably be okay if you never mentioned that part ever again”, she said with a grimace, she could still remember the months Angelus was loose and she did realize he went easy on her, she couldn't even imagine what it was like for Buffy. Of course then she didn't really care what Buffy was feeling.
“It’s still in me, Cordelia”, Angel stated grimly.
“Sure it’s in you. We all have something, but it’s not the only thing that’s in you. You’re not him, Angel. Not anymore”, she said vehemently.
“That's what Buffy tells me.”
“And for once she's right! The name I got in my vision, the message didn’t come for Angelus, it came for you. And you have to trust that whoever that The Powers That Be be. Are? Is? Anyway, they know the difference. They want you and people do change. So snap out of it.”
Angel slid down to the roof and gave her a smile, she was blunt but she could make sense when she wanted to. “Cordelia. I can't ask this from Buffy, so if the day ever comes that I...” he started uncomfortably.
“Oh, I’ll kill you dead”, she insisted.
“Thanks.” He gave her a relieved half-smile before they started walking towards the door.
“What are friends for”, she answered casually.
