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Chapter 26: Old Enemies Angel glanced at his watch and let out a deep sigh. Only thing worse than waiting a woman to get ready was waiting for two. “They still up there?” Gunn asked and nodded at the stairs as Angel turned to look at him. “Yes. Maybe I should go check on her”, Angel said frowning. Gunn chuckled and shook his head. “Angel, you should know by now that when Buffy is getting ready it's cutting it close but when she's with Cordy, you can just sit down and relax cause they aren't coming down any time soon”, he stated and sat down, taking a relaxed pose. Angel turned to look at the stairs leading to the second floor and listened carefully. He didn't have to wait long for Buffy and Cordelia to appear to the top of the stairs and he quickly made his way up them to Buffy. He had been overly cautious ever since the fall and wouldn't let her walk the stairs without help, she had already given up on complaining about it. “Are you ready?” he asked and she nodded. They were going to the hospital for a check up, it was done weekly now that she was on her last month of pregnancy and because of the fall, just to make sure nothing had happened. “I'm ready and I think I hate hospitals now even more than before”, she answered. A small smile twitched on Angel's lips and he brushed a soft kiss across her lips. “Think of it this way, the baby will be born soon and you don't have to go to the check ups anymore”, he comforted but she was still wearing a frown on her face. “Yeah, then we have to take the baby for the check ups”, she answered grudgingly. Cordelia rolled her eyes at her melodramatics. “Wesley is already waiting in the car”, Angel stated as they started down the stairs. “For how long?” Buffy asked with a smile tucking at her lips. “A good while”, Angel answered. “But it's one of those days when he's in his own thoughts so I'm sure he isn't too bored. If he keeps this up he'll get wrinkles that can be seen from space”, Cordelia stated and Buffy frowned, she had noticed the same thing. Wesley seemed to get more and more anxious by the day, he was constantly wearing a frown and cleaning his glasses. He also worked with his books day and night and was constantly calling Giles. It seemed he talked to Giles more than she did. “Have you talked to him? He seems a little stressed”, Buffy asked turning to look at Angel. “He says he's working on some translations”, he answered. “Maybe he should just move here, it's not like there's no room and he practically already lives here”, Buffy suggested as they made their way towards the car. “Maybe he likes having his own apartment but I'll ask him”, Angel answered deciding not to stretch the topic. “Oh please, how'd want to live in a place with a newborn baby if it's not his own?” Cordelia stated in her usual manner, getting a chastising look from Angel as Buffy glared at her. “What?” she asked innocently not understanding why she was getting the looks. “We better just go to the hospital”, Angel stated and steered the two women towards the car. Wesley was already sitting in the backseat and Gunn followed, jumping over the edge into the backseat. Angel gave him a dark look. “What?! I didn't scratch it”, Gunn defended himself but it did very little to placate the vampire's displeasure. “No jumping in the car”, Angel ordered looking at Gunn as he opened the front door for Buffy. “Angel's rehearsing his father-tone”, Cordelia stated cheekily, then turned to the two men on the backseat. “And could you two make some room in there?! Why do we have to take everyone into the hospital? It's not like she's going to pop the baby out already, it's just a check-up”, she added with annoyance clear in her voice. She gave the two men a menacing look and wisely they moved to the side enough to give her a good space. Angel didn't even bother to answer her, he just started the car.
Lilah was leafing through a file when the door opened and someone walked in. She let out a annoyed sigh and was about to snap at who ever just walked into her office without knocking but then she raised her gaze, it was Linwood. She immediately stood up. “Sit down”, Linwood ordered and she did as told. She didn't like this, it couldn't be a good sign that he was in her office. “What can I do for you, sir?” she asked with politeness she didn't feel. “Wolfram & Hart has decided to take the next step in harvesting the child. We want the mother and the child in our custody before she gives birth”, he stated matter of factly. “I'll make the arrangements”, she answered and Linwood nodded, she could see he had something else in his mind. “I want you to work with Gavin on this one. Given your track record, I believe it is for the best for you to join forces with him. He has done very well for himself, we have a video and audio connection to the hotel because of those exterminators he sent there”, Linwood added and Lilah could hear the smugness in his voice, guess Gavin was his new favorite. “I'll do that, sir”, she said controlling herself from grinding her teeth together. With a nod Linwood left the room and moments later Lilah stormed out of her room, directing her icy gaze to her secretary. “Give me Gavin Park's location right now”, she ordered and almost growled as the woman just stared at her with frightened eyes. “I said now or I'll skin you alive”, she ground out and returned to her room. After taking a few calming breaths, she grabbed the phone and made a call. As she hung up the phone, a satisfied smile was playing on her lips. There was a timid knock on the door and after getting permission, her secretary opened the door. She told Lilah where Gavin was at the moment and without giving the woman another glance, she walked out of the room. She stopped outside the room Gavin was in and with a smirk playing on her lips she opened the door, stepping in. “How'bout that? I just asked myself, if I were a cockroach where would I hide? And voila! There you are”, Lilah said and Gavin turned to look at her with exasperation. She didn't seem even a bit affected by him. “Linwood wants the baby. And the slayer before she gives birth. We're sending a team in”, she stated and walked past him, looking at the monitors. They all showed different parts of the Hyperion which seemed to be empty. “The slayer has a doctor's appointment”, Gavin stated. Lilah didn't even bother to look at him. “I know”, she stated and pulled out her cellphone, dialing a number.
“You didn't have to come, I said you didn't need to and to that you said that you were coming because the only magazines you hadn't read were Gunn's nudie mags pretending to be about cars”, Buffy reminded her. Gunn turned his head to the others as he heard his name being mentioned. Cordelia just shrugged her shoulders, dismissing the topic. “Whatever. I need some coffee”, she stated and started digging into her purse. “I'll come with you”, Gunn said and got up from his chair. He had gotten along just because Angel was paranoid after what happened with Riley and didn't want to leave anyone alone. Gunn knew he could take care of himself but he was worried about Buffy and wanted to be there just in case something was going to happen. The two turned to look at Buffy and Angel for permission, Cordelia's face pleading for them to let her go. “Go ahead”, Angel said and Cordelia fled the room with Gunn following. “You can get up now”, Dr Lang said to Buffy and went to her desk. “Thanks”, Buffy said and slowly moved to the edge. “And I meant to thank you for managing to get an appointment this late”, she added and doctor Lang turned to look at her. “No problem. You're my last patient for the day”, she answered and glanced at Wesley. “And I see you don't have to come to these last meetings alone”, she added. “I have a fear of hospitals. It's a phobia. Familiar people help”, Buffy said quickly, frowning at how she sounded. Angel gave a comforting squeeze to her hand, his lips curving slightly in amusement. Doctor Lang smiled and nodded. “Well, that is a good thing you have plenty of people as a support especially now that the baby is coming. Who is very healthy by the way but not ready to arrive yet.” Wesley removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose before putting them back on. He turned his gaze to the doctor before uncertainly approaching her. “Uhm... I've been meaning to ask you... umm... Is there a possibility the baby might be a twin?” he asked. “A twin?!” Buffy cried out, her eyes widening. “Uhm... there's been no sign of another baby in any of the ultrasounds”, Dr Lang answered, somewhat surprised by the question. “But is it possible? Perhaps the baby has been hidden behind the other?” Wesley questioned with a frown. Dr Lang sighed, considering the possibility. “It is possible but not very probable”, she answered and Wesley's face fell. “Oh dear”, he breathed out. A frown formed to Angel's face as he watched the back of Wesley's head.
“Is there something you aren't telling us?” Buffy asked Wesley as they left the room. Cordelia and Gunn got up from the bench by the door, both were holding cups of coffee. “Uhm... What... what do you mean?” Wesley asked as they started walking down the corridor, Cordelia and Gunn following. Angel turned his eyes to Wesley, he could hear his heartbeat speeding up. “The twin-thing”, Buffy stated. Wesley rubbed his forehead and turned his attention to Buffy. “It is nothing to worry about. Just curious. And the prophecy I've been working on mentioned a twin, or possibly a horse”, he answered knowing full well what the prophecy had said. “A twin or a horse? That's not a big stretch” Cordelia asked with a raised eyebrow. Wesley turned to look at her. “It is written on several different languages and some of them are practically extinct”, he stated little defensively. “Okay, sorry that I questioned your translating abilities”, she said and raised her arms in surrender. “We should go see Lorne and ask about the sanctuary spell, if it's possible to make it apply to demons and humans”, Angel changed the subject, he was all too used to the pickering. “Sure, but we have to stop by at the Hyperion first, I have something for Lorne. I'm feeling kinda bad for trashing Caritas”, Buffy stated. The group left the hospital and Angel parked the car to the side of the Hyperion. Buffy was about to get up from her seat when Angel stopped her. “I'll get it. Where is it?” he asked turning to her. “In my bag, the red one. I think it's on the bed”, she answered, she had no intention on getting up from the car if she didn't have to. “I'll be right back”, he said and closed the door, running towards the hotel entrance. He opened the doors and stepped in, the moment he did a strong scent of blood hit his senses. He looked around himself, the lobby was littered with bodies. Slowly he walked further into the lobby, looking around himself. “Angelus”, he heard a eerily familiar voice say and he spun around, his eyes widening in recognition. “I've been looking for you”, the man added. Angel couldn't believe what he was seeing, it couldn't be. “Holtz? My God”, he breathed out in disbelief. “You have no God, demon”, Holtz said calmly and walked closer to Angel who was still staring at him. Suddenly he was trapped by iron hooks that held his arms to the sides and one was pressed against his throat, a forceful move could be fatal. He looked around him from the corner of his eye and concluded who held him were demons. He turned his eyes back to Holtz. “How?” Angel questioned in a whisper, Holtz should have been dead 200 years ago. “You were the one that brought me here, you and your demon bitch”, Holtz said calmly but his voice was full of contempt. “I don't think that revenge alone is enough to throw you couple centuries to the future”, Angel answered and a wry grin rose to Holtz's lips. “You haven't changed”, he stated. “Actually, a lot of things have changed”, Angel answered. Holtz pulled a small bottle from his duster and sprayed it on Angel's face. He felt the burn of holy water and his face shifted into demon visage, soon turning back to human form. “I'm not seeing any change”, Holtz stated, then turned to his free henchmen. “Find the woman. Where Angelus is, Darla can't be far. Or has changed also?” Holtz turned his gaze to Angel challenging him with his eyes as the henchmen left the lobby. “Lot of things have”, Angel stated, hoping Holtz wouldn't find Buffy and the others even though it seemed unavoidable because they were waiting for him. Fear invaded his body and he struggled against the bindings. “Somehow I doubt things have changed that much”, Holtz stated, raising his sword and running the tip across Angel's neck drawing a thin trickle of blood. Buffy looked at her clock once again and sighed deeply. Wesley had tried to move the car and managed to break a tyre, now he and Gunn were trying to change it as Cordelia was watching over them as a moral support. “Where is he?” Buffy muttered to herself, she had a bad feeling. She looked back at the three changing the tyre and with a sigh, she grabbed a dagger from the glovebox slipping it to her jacket's inside pocket and got out of the car. She was almost at the door when she was grabbed by two demons, she didn't have time to reach for the weapon and she was dragged into the hotel. As Angel saw the two demons pulling Buffy through the doors, he was certain if his heart had been beating it would have stopped right then. He tried to struggle against his bindings but it was no use, he was trapped. Holtz turned to look at the newcomers, his eyes showing his surprise. “That's not Darla!” he stated and made his way to the three, throwing some water to Buffy's face from the same bottle he had used on Angel. “Hey!” she cried out in protest as the water splashed to her face. “You're not a vampire”, Holtz said and Buffy glared at him. “Thanks for telling me, I didn't know that already!” she responded, sarcasm dripping from her voice. Holtz turned his attention to the demons holding her. “Where did you find her? She's obviously with a child”, he questioned, knowing he had the wrong woman, a human at that but from the looks she and Angelus were giving each other he knew they were no strangers. “What is you connection to the demon?” he asked turning his attention back to the woman without waiting for an answer from his henchmen. “What are you doing to him?!” she shot back a question, she really didn't like the position Angel was being held in and she doubted they were just going to sit down for a cup of tea. “I am going to kill him, that is what you do to vampires”, Holtz answered. He was looking at her with sharp eyes, trying to find out how she fitted into the situation. “Over my dead body”, she ground out, her face darkening and her hazel green eyes staring down at the man in front of her. “I doubt it will come to that”, Holtz stated calmly. He turned around and slowly walked back to Angel. For a long while he stared straight into his eyes and then glanced at Buffy's heavily pregnant stomach before bringing his eyes back to Angel's face. “What is your relation to this woman, Angelus?” he asked tilting his head to the side. “Stay away from her”, Angel ground out through his teeth, barely managing to control his anger. “He is not Angelus”, Buffy stated with a hard voice and tried to yank her arm out of the demons grip. “Funny, he looks like Angelus. And it's a face I am unlikely to forget”, Holtz said and raised his sword, pressing the tip to Angel's neck. “No!” Buffy cried out. Holtz turned to look at her, raising an questioning eyebrow. “Why would you care if this demon lives or dies? I will have justice”, he said passionately, then turned his eyes back to the trapped vampire in front of him. “Will she know? Will that demon bitch of yours somehow feel your death and seek vengeance?” he taunted, enjoying the anger that radiated from Angel. “Darla's in a dust bin. And he is not Angelus! He has a soul now!” Again Buffy tried to free herself but it was fruitless. She could see the curiosity in Holtz's eyes. “Demons do not have souls, girl. Is that what he has been telling you, that he has a soul?” “Well, Angel has. There was a gypsy curse about a hundred years ago and now he has a soul”, she explained, then her face hardened. “And you are not going to touch him”, she added firmly. Holtz lowered his sword and walked closer to Buffy, stopping good distance away from her. “I believe you are in no position to say anything about the matter”, he stated and at that moment Buffy stepped into action. She stepped on the other demon's foot with her heel and as its grip loosened, she elbowed it to the stomach before striking hard to the face. With a swift move she pulled out the dagger, stabbing it into the other demon's chest before throwing it across the lobby, sinking it into a demon's head that was holding Angel captive. He attacked the other demon, quickly snapping its neck. With the grace that should have been impossible to a woman nine months pregnant, she ran to the counter where Gunn had left the sword he had been using earlier in the day. For once she was glad he ignored her new rules that all weapons should be locked up or too high for anyone under three feet tall. Holtz raised his sword but before he could attack her, she pressed the tip of her sword to his throat. Now he was convinced she wasn't ordinary human. Angel pulled the dagger from the demon's forehead and crossed the distance between him and his lover, he was worried and for a good reason. Holtz had littered the floor with bodies and now Buffy was against him. He tried to calm his blood lust that was growing from his concern for her and their baby. He placed a hand to Buffy's arm but she showed no signs of letting her arm down. He could smell the blood from the tiny wound she had pressed to Holtz's skin to remind him not to do anything stupid. “Leave. Right now”, Buffy said through gritted teeth, taking deep breaths to calm herself. “I don't kill people but if you don't leave now, I will make an exception to the rule”, she added with an eerily calm voice. The man had threatened Angel and endangered their baby, it was something that didn't make a good impression on her. Holtz stared at her for a good while before taking a cautious step back and slowly he backed off from the hotel, keeping his eyes on the couple till he was out of the door.
Cordelia raised her eyes from the two men that were struggling to get the new tyre in place. Something was not right with the scene. “Where's Buffy?” she asked and the men raised their heads from their task at hand. “I don't know. She was here just a minute ago”, Wesley answered confused and stood up straight, Gunn following. They all looked around them, there was no sign of anyone. “Just great! How can a person loose a pregnant woman?!” Cordelia cried out throwing her hands in the air. She let out an irritated sigh and grabbed her purse from the backseat before hurrying down the street. “I believe we should follow her”, Wesley stated looking at the woman's retreating back. His head tilted to the side, he had never noticed how fast she was with those high heels. “I think you're right”, Gunn said pulling him out of his musings and ran after Cordelia. Wesley sobered and did the same. Cordelia was the first one through the hotel doors and Gunn stepped in a beat later, colliding into her back. She turned to look at him and gave him one of her icy glares before descending down the steps. She directed her glare to Buffy who was still standing there with a sword loosely in her hand. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack!? You really shouldn't be running off like that! And what happened here? Cause all this blood is gonna be a bitch to clean up”, she said loosing her wind towards the end. She looked around herself at the lobby, there were both human and demon bodies all around the room. Cordelia's tirade was ignored. Angel turned to Buffy, touching her hand to get her attention. “We should go to Caritas to get the sanctuary spell”, he stated and Buffy nodded her consent. “Why is there a cage in the lobby?” Cordelia asked and only then did the couple notice the cage in the corner. Buffy swallowed hard and turned to look at Angel, she could see they were thinking the same thing. “I think the Wolfram & Hart did this”, Angel stated, a deep frown appearing to his face. “They want the baby”, Buffy added, soon she was wearing a similar frown. “They were going to put the baby into the cage?” Cordelia asked incredulously. “No. I think this was a capturing mission until Holtz showed up”, Angel answered. “Oh”, she sighed in relief, then seemed to think of something. “Who's Holtz?” “We don't have time to get into that now. We need to get that spell”, Angel answered, he was unnerved with the whole situation. His past was catching up with him at the worst moment and he couldn't help but be scared for his family.
Few hours later the gang returned to the Hyperion finding the lobby with no sign of the dead mercenaries, there wasn't even blood stains on the floor. Wesley and Lorne prepared to do the spell as Cordelia inspected the floor. “Maybe they're not all that evil cause I was sure this floor was ruined and I was going to be the one to clean it”, she stated but the others just seemed to ignore her. Buffy shifted on her feet and suppressed a yawn. She was tired, it had been a long day and her feet were killing her. Angel looked at her from the corner of his eye and turned to the others. “I'm going to take Buffy to get some rest, you go ahead and start the spell”, he said to them and started to guide Buffy up the stairs, she didn't even attempt to protest. Even though she hated that he thought she needed constant caring, she really was tired and knew he was too emotionally drained after the confrontation with a ghost from his past that he needed to make sure she and their baby were alright. They went into their room and Angel closed the door behind them, only then letting go of her hand. Buffy sat down to the edge of the bed and reached out to him, taking his hand into hers before pulling him to sit next to her. He let out a weary sigh, he knew what was coming. “So Holtz... He really has it in for you”, she stated leaving the sentence hanging. When he didn't answer, just stared at their hands she continued, “He's human but those minions weren't, so he's a bad guy?” She frowned as she noticed the scowl on his face only deepening. “Not exactly”, he answered softly, then shook his head in disbelief. “He should be dead. I don't understand how he's here, he's still human”, he continued, saying it more to himself than to her. “You think he made an agreement with a demon or something?” she asked and he turned to look at her, she could see just how much it was affecting him. The agony in his eyes was heartbreaking. “Yes. But I still don't understand. He detested demons, he hunted them. I just don't see him working with demons, it must have offered him something.” “Like your head on a silver platter?” she suggested, her own frown deepening. She didn't like the idea, they had enough enemies in the present. Angel nodded, his whole being darkening as he thought of the reason why Holtz would travel over two hundred years just to kill him. Buffy watched as Angel sunk deeper into the broodland as Cordelia called it and she had a bad feeling of the whole thing. “It wasn't just a gambling bet, was it?” Angel shook his head. “Not likely. Darla and I killed his family. He was a vampire hunter, followed us all over Europe, he was very persistent. So we went after what mattered him the most”, he said swallowing harshly. Now more than ever he felt the weight of what he had done. He raised his eyes to hers and all he found was sympathy, she wasn't judging him even when he felt he deserved it. “Darla and Angelus did that, not you”, she stated softly, not pushing the subject. “We didn't only kill his family, we turned his daughter. She was still a little child”, he continued, the cruelty of the deed hitting him even more throughly. His eyes drifted to her pregnant stomach, her eyes following his and she could almost hear his thoughts. Without saying a word, she brought his hand to her stomach, covering it with both of her hands. The baby moved. “I think Holtz is here now for a reason. There is too much good in my life and after all the evil I have done... it's a sign...” He didn't get to finish what he was saying. Buffy tried to slap him in the arm but was stopped by some kind of forcefield. Angel turned to look at her. “I guess they got the spell working”, she stated, then looked at him more firmly. “And Holtz being here is not a sign! It's probably something Wolfram & Hart did to get you off your game. You deserve the happiness”, she said sternly and pointedly covered his hand with hers, pressing it against her stomach. He looked down, his fingers spreading over the sign they were having a child. “I still feel I don't deserve this after all the things I have done”, he stated not taking his eyes off her stomach. She placed her fingers to his chin and turned him to look at her. “The things Angelus did. You are not him. And what about all the good things you have done? Like say avert an apocalypse.” He wanted to remind her he had also tried to end it once but changed his mind not wanting her to think about the time she had to send him to Hell. He knew she still blamed herself for it and despite his efforts to convince her she did what she had to, she wouldn't let go of her conviction. As he didn't say anything, even though she could see the wheels turning in his head, she decided to drop the subject. Angel would never let go of his guilt over the things Angelus had done but that didn't mean she wouldn't try to make it easier to live with it. “This is getting a little too angsty and I'm tired. Could you just hold me?” she asked softly. He didn't say anything, just got on to the bed and pulled her into his arms. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head and they just laid there in silence with him gently stroking her arm.
A/N: Some of the dialog is from Angel season 3 episode Lullaby written by Tim Minear. Well, not much of it but I thought I'd mention it anyway.
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