From: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com (Buffyfic-digest) To: buffyfic-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: Buffyfic-digest V2 #42 Reply-To: buffyfic@xmission.com Sender: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk Buffyfic-digest Wednesday, February 25 1998 Volume 02 : Number 042 In this issue: BUFFYFIC: Re: Buffyfic-digest V2 #41 Re: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 2/6 BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 3/6 Re: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 3/6 BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 4/6 BUFFYFIC: (No Subject) BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 6/6 See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the buffyfic or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 15:40:42 -0500 From: Ken_Houldsworth@pgatourhq.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: Re: Buffyfic-digest V2 #41 Is there a discussion group out there about the actuall episodes? And spoilers and all? Just wondering! - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 15:56:43 EST From: LMcint6188@aol.com Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 2/6 I am a major Buffy Fan (1.5 years) and XFiles Fan (since the begining) And this is true to both of them! you really have your characters down pat! - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 98 16:19:27 PST From: "Sapphire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 3/6 Title: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 3/6 Author: Sapphire Category: XF/BtVS Crossover Disclaimer and notes in part 1 Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 3/6 by Sapphire sapphire@chaos.taylored.com "Heya, Buff! What's up for tonight?" Xander ran to catch up with Buffy and Willow as they left school. "Hey, Xander. Just homework, and then the normal vamp hunting. Call me social girl." Buffy told him. "Oooh. Sounds like *loads* of nifty fun." he quipped. Willow threw him a side glance. "Xander, they have 12 step programs for that sarcasm problem of yours, you know." "Nope, sorry, Will, I tried 'em all. This is one habit this addict ain't gonna break." "Geez, guys, put away the gloves, would you?" Buffy interrupted. "With Angel on the opposing team, I hafta work harder now. I want you guys to study at Xander's house or something. Some place that he can't go in, okay?" "Buff, I thought I could come with you. I can use a stake, you know." Willow said. "And I'm not taking no for an answer." She threw in a firm head nod at the end of that statement. Buffy looked at Willow a moment, about to protest, but there was something in her demeanor that told her Willow would come with or without her blessing. "Willow, you amaze me. Everyday you seem to be blossoming like a flower...shut up Xander." Xander just stood there with his mouth still forming the first word of his retort to that comment. _______________________________________________ Giles heard a knock on the door, calling his attention away from his reading. He looked out the peephole before he opened the door, and saw a familiar face looking back at him, although he wasn't sure it was one that he wanted to see. He unlocked the door. Jenny Calendar walked through the door without saying a word, waiting for Giles to close it behind her. "Hello, Jenny. Might I ask why you're here?" Giles asked her. "Giles, I..I know that you may not trust me after what I kept from you, but you have to understand..." "Understand? What exactly is there to understand, Jenny? That you lied to all of us, under the guise of friendship, and..and *more* just so that you could use us to keep a watch on Angel and Buffy? That you betrayed our confidence and kept vital information from us that could potentially have prevented this whole disaster? That..that *what* you kept from us caused Buffy an enormous amount of pain and suffering that could have been averted? Is that what I am supposed to understand, Jenny?" "Giles, you don't understand the pressure that *I* was under. Among my people, we honor our elders, and we do as we are asked. It was my duty to watch Angel and keep my identity a secret. Gypsies are of a different ilk, they live by a different set of ideals and priorities. I was raised to be a watcher myself, of sorts. I was trained to watch Angelus, the most vicious, blood-thirsty vampire ever created. The vampire that practically destroyed my people almost 90 years ago. That curse was meant to make him feel human, to make him feel guilt and torment for what he had done for eternity...to make him suffer as our people have suffered ever since. The Romany people still feel that pain. You don't understand that. I didn't know what would happen if Angel and Buffy found happiness together. They didn't tell me. They didn't tell me what could happen. They didn't tell me that if Angel and Buffy...that if Angel found his moment of happiness without the constant guilt, without the remorse..one moment that he forgot his sins...that the demon would take over again. If there was *anything* I could have done, I would have done it. I didn't realize that they were falling in love. You have to believe that." "I want to, Jenny, I truly do." Giles said quietly, not meeting her gaze. "Giles, the reason I came here was not to beg your forgiveness. I came because I've found something." "Found something? Something to restore Angel?" Giles interrupted her. "Yes." Jenny told him. Giles motioned for her to sit down and she continued. "I have been reading the texts of some of my people. I went digging through some old manuscripts and diaries that I found through the internet. I found some of the old magic that was thought to have been lost. I have some information on the curse that was placed on Angelus." "Y-you did? What did you find out? A way to change him back?" "There are two choices that we have, Giles, and you aren't going to like either one." _________________________________________________________ Mulder hopped up on the cemetery wall, taking a rest. "What are you doing Mulder?" Scully asked. "Just enjoying the wonderful night air in the local cemetery, Scully." Mulder joked. "At this rate we aren't going to find anything. It looks pretty dead out here tonight." "Ha ha, Mulder. What are we really doing in this cemetery anyway?" Scully asked. She was tired, cold, and annoyed. They were getting nowhere walking around the Sunnydale cemetery. "Nothing, I guess. I just had a feeling about this place. I can't explain it." Scully stood facing Mulder as he sat on the wall, looking into the cemetery itself. She could see the rows of tombstones, and the occasional mausoleum interspersed throughout. She didn't like this place, which seemed ironic considering her choice of professions. As a forensic pathologist, she was surrounded by death every day. Suddenly, Scully noticed movement out of the corner of her eye, somewhere inside the cemetery. She turned her head to look in that direction and saw nothing. She laughed, and turned back to face Mulder, who was looking at her with a strange expression. "Mulder? What's the matter?" "Scully, I don't want you to panic, but I think you better turn around. *now*." Mulder said emphatically. "What?" Scully whirled around as Mulder jumped off of the wall to stand beside her. She saw three men, moving in on them. They didn't look normal, however. She noticed that they appeared to have masks of some kind on, and they seemed extremely hostile. They both pulled their guns at the same time. Mulder called out to them. "Freeze! FBI!" The three men continued to move closer. Scully yelled again. "We are agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigations! Stop where you are or we will shoot!" The men ignored the second warning, advancing slowly. Scully noticed that they were actually snarling. "Scully, whaddaya say to my vampire theory now?" Mulder asked her. She ignored his. "Stop now or I will shoot!" Scully warned them again. One of them actually laughed. "Go ahead, bitch. Do your worst." Scully shot one in the leg, and aimed for the other while Mulder put one bullet into another's thigh. Both fell to the ground, seemingly dazed, but unhurt. A voice came from Scully's right. "Okay, fellows. It's time to break up this little party. The guest of honor has arrived." All five of them looked at the young blond who had spoken up. "Get out of here!" Mulder yelled, "these men are dangerous!" "I know." Buffy said. "And they aren't men. They're vampires. And I'm going to kill them all." "Awww..." the middle one said, "Slayer wanna pway wid us? Isn't that cute, boys? Let's rock!" The first ran at Buffy, as she ducked low to avoid his onslaught. She swung back with a kick, sending the vampire to the ground. Buffy whirled around, drawing a stake from her jacket. She did a somersault that ended with her kneeling over the dazed vampire's body, and thrust the stake into his chest. The vampire disappeared in a cloud of dust. The other two had recovered while Buffy dealt with the other, and were now coming after Mulder and Scully. Scully emptied her gun into the vampire attacking her, doing no damage, while Mulder did the same. Neither had seen the fate of the third vampire. The one attacking Mulder delivered a blow to head, knocking him to the ground. Buffy grabbed the vampire away from Mulder, tossing him against a tree. She pummeled the vampire up against the tree, dodging his return blows. In the meantime, Mulder was laying dazed on the ground. Scully was trying to fight off her assailant, but he had her backed up against the cemetery wall. His head lowered towards her neck as she struggled. Suddenly the vampire shattered into a million dust particles, leaving Scully staring at a meek looking dark-haired girl holding a wooden stake in her hand. The blond was helping Mulder up off of the ground, making sure he was okay. The other assailants were nowhere to be seen. Mulder looked over at Scully as he found his legs. "Scully, I defy you to find a scientific explanation for *that*." _______________________________________________________ End of part 3 feedback ::whimper:: sapphire@chaos.taylored.com - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 15:35:39 -0600 (CST) From: "Cathleen M O'Brien" Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 3/6 KUDOS!!!!!! Oh, this is great! I'm new to the X-File family, but WOW! This is stupendous! The banter in all cases is excellent and I wanna read the rest!!!!! I loved Mulder's last line in part three! So typical and perfect!!! MORE, I say MORE! KitCat ******************************************************************************* Quinn: Don't worry, it's fake. Daria: Aww, you got a tattoo to match your personality. -from Daria (Road Worrier) ******************************************************************************* - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 98 16:50:18 PST From: "Sapphire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 4/6 Title: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 4/6 Author: Sapphire Category: XF/BtVS Crossover disclaimer and notes in part 1 Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 4/6 by Sapphire Mulder and Scully sat in the house of Xander Harris. The agents had told the girls who they were and demanded to know what was going on. The girls would not explain anything to them back at the cemetery, however. They had said that it wasn't safe, and insisted that they come here. Both Mulder and Scully were inclined to agree with them. Scully sat on the couch, looking at the three teenagers who sat across from her and Mulder. "So," Mulder started, "would you mind telling us what just went on out there?" Buffy spoke. "Basically, those guys were vampires. They were vampires, and I am the chosen Vampire Slayer, so I slayed." Scully scoffed at her words. "Vampires? Vampire slayer? Do you expect us to believe this? Vampires are creatures out of myth and legend. There is a disease that causes some to burn in the sun, and many think that's where the vampire legend came from. But as for demons who die in sunlight and live forever, there is no scientific basis for such imaginary creatures." "Um, excuse me, ma'am, " Xander spoke up, "I hate to tell you this, but your dry cleaner will be removing your 'scientific evidence' = when they clean that suit you're wearing." Scully looked down at her suit, that did indeed have dust covering it. Mulder watched this exchange, and laughed as Scully looked at her dust-covered suit. He liked this kid. "He's got a point, Scully. You can't deny what you saw out there." Mulder's gaze landed on Buffy. "Now you mentioned being a vampire slayer? What exactly does that mean, Buffy?" "Oooh, too bad Giles isn't here," Willow said, "he loves this part." Xander nodded emphatically. "One girl in every generation is born to be a vampire slayer. I was the chosen one. I hunt them, and I kill them. Case closed." Buffy told them. "Who is this Giles you mentioned, Willow?" Scully asked. "Giles is my Watcher." Buffy explained. "He does research, helps me train to fight, reads old books and prophecies and stuff to help me fight the evil stuff that hangs out here. This place is..." "Boca del Infierno..." Mulder continued, "I have read about this area myself. We... I specialize in strange phenomena." "The FBI is actually wasting money investigating the hell mouth?" Xander asked incredulously. "Something like that, yes." Scully answered. "We investigate crimes that seem to be unusual, or have aspects that seem to be unexplainable..." Mulder continued. "Paranormal phenomena, extraterrestrial encounters, genetic mutants, we get 'em all." "Well, then, welcome to the strangest place on earth my good g-man. You've reached the promise land for strange happenings." Xander told them. "I'm noticing this." Mulder replied. "Buffy, you seem to have...special fighting ability. Is this learned, or innate?" He was extremely curious about this girl. "A little of both, I guess." Buffy answered. "I'm a lot stronger than most men. And I train with Giles." "Buffy rules. She can bend a shotgun barrel, can't she, Xander." Willow told them. Mulder's eyebrow raised at Xander's nod. This girl didn't look that muscular, yet she was obviously had some sort of super strength and fighting ability. Scully was having a little trouble swallowing all of this, despite what she had seen. She still remained convinced that there was an explanation that she could accept. The idea of a chosen one who fought evil was interesting, if not inspiring, considering what this girl had devoted herself to, but not something that one would exactly base in science fact. "So, the 'vampires' are the reason for the deaths and disappearances? Is that what you are telling us?" Scully asked her. "Uh, yea. That, and other things..." Willow told them. "Internet demons, Armageddon warriors, weird freaky aliens that lay eggs, witches, werewolves...did I miss anything guys? Xander asked the girls. "Uh, yeah," Willow reminded him, "you forgot man-eating bugs and Incan Mummy girls." Xander threw her a look. "Thanks *so much* for bringing *them* up again, Will. Just twist that knife just a little more to the left will ya." Mulder and Scully just watched the exchange between the three teenagers. This town was obviously very busy and these kids seem to be involved in all of it. Mulder spoke up. "So, you don't just fight the vampires, then. You take care of all the strange phenomena that goes on around here?" He asked. "Yeah, pretty much." Buffy answered. "Giles keeps up on all the weirdo things that happen around here, plus, I guess it is kind of instinct for me to jump in and take charge when bad things happen, whether they are vampires or not." "Buffy is just your all-around good-doer." Willow told them. Scully was becoming inpressed with this girl, despite the fact she didn't believe in vampires. "And the local authorities attribute all of this to PCP gangs?" Scully questioned them. "The people of Sunnydale don't *want* to know what is going on. Freaky things happen here all of the time, and people don't question it. There = have been so many public incidents, it isn't funny. At school, shopping = malls, the Bronze...people seem to like living in their happy little world, and all the bad stuff that goes on here just doesn't fit in. They stick all of the bad stuff in the back page of the paper and we never hear of it." Buffy explained. "So no one has questioned the high occurrence of missing or dead young people right in your own school?" Scully asked them. "It is almost like people forget the bad stuff when it is over. This place has that affect on people, I guess." Willow told them. "We appreciate your candor with us, kids." Scully thanked them. "Hey, after what you two saw, there wasn't much point in beating around the bush. And you aren't the first FBI agents that have visited here. You guys seem to know what is going on." Buffy said. "Really?" Mulder replied, "There isn't any record of any other investigations here. That is strange." "That doesn't surprise me either. An invisible girl isn't something that would be broadcasted around the FBI." Buffy told them. Mulder was intrigued by that comment, but didn't pursue it. "I'd like to speak with Giles." Mulder informed them. "Can that be arranged?" Buffy hopped up off of the couch. "Sure, no problem. We can take you to him." ________________________________________ Mulder pulled up in front of the house just as the kids instructed. They were crammed in the back seat, chattering away at each other like young people do. He found it interesting that these kids could this light-heart= ed and easy-going knowing all they knew. He could tell that there was a deep sadness in Buffy despite appearances, almost a resignation to some fate = that she neither wanted nor could deny. He knew that Scully was not really buying into the vampire theory, despite what had happened in front of her very eyes. She was probably convincing herself at this very moment that we were all having a psychotic episode due to some kind of = chemical spill from a local industrial plant. He was eager to talk to thi= s Giles character to see what his take was on all of this. He had put together enough from their conversation to deduce that Giles was the school librarian. He was curious about the man Buffy called the Watcher. The kids led them up to the door, and Buffy knocked. A middle-aged man answered. "Oh, hello, Buffy. You are just the person we needed to see." Giles looked past the three teenagers to the two FBI = agents, giving them a questioning look. "We'll explain everything, Giles." Buffy assured him. He ushered them in. _______________________________________ Scully could feel the tension in the air. There was obviously a history with Buffy and the woman that Giles introduced as Jenny Calendar, a computer teacher at Sunnydale High School. In fact, she could feel it from everyone in the room. It was obvious that Buffy = wanted an explanation as to what Miss Calendar was doing there. Buffy exp= lained to Giles who they were and what happened in the cemetery. He seeme= d concerned about their involvement and the fact that they knew so much about the situation. And she could tell that there was somet= hing else weighing on this man's mind. "As much I would like to talk to you, Mr. Mulder, I'm afraid that a situation has arose that requires immediate attention." Giles told him. "What is it Giles?" Buffy asked. "Buffy, I'm afraid it's about Angel." Giles said quietly. "What about Angel?" Buffy asked in a low voice. Mulder noticed Buffy's reaction to that name. He gave Willow a questioning look. Willow looked over at Buffy, who nodded her consent. Willow spoke in a soft voice to Mulder and Scully. "Angel's a vampire who was cursed by some gypsies so that he would have a human soul, so he didn't kill people anymore. He used to help us fight the other vampires and other bad stuff, and he and Buffy got...really close. But his curse... got lifted and he is bad again. Those are the basics." Mulder nodded at Willow, silently thanking her for the information. He was dying to know more about it, but it seemed to be a sore topic. >From the look on Buffy's face, he wondered just how *close* they had gotten. It seemed like such a troubled life for a girl that young. Scully was thinking the same thing. This girl seemed to have a lot of pain touching her life. And if what happened between Buffy and Angel was what she thought it was, having him go crazy would be devastating to a teenager, even one like Buffy. "Buffy, Jenny believes that she found out some information about the curse that was put on Angel." Giles told her hesitantly. "What? Can you put the curse back?" Buffy asked expectantly. Jenny looked at Giles before speaking. She seemed as hesitant as Giles did to tell them what she found. "Well, Buffy. I did find out one way for Angel to get his soul back, *but*, it isn't what I had hoped for. It wasn't what you had hoped for." = Jenny told her. "Tell me." Buffy demanded. "You see, Buffy, Angel lost his soul because his...love for you made him forget his sins as a vampire. His suffering stopped, even if it was for = just one moment, and he forgot the things he had done." "This is old news, Miss Calendar. Get to the important part." Buffy interrupted. "Buffy, Angel's soul will be restored if he kills the one he loved enough to break the curse to begin with." Jenny looked at Buffy, waiting for a reaction. "You mean..." Willow started to ask. "She means Angel has to kill me before he becomes Angel again." Buffy said quietly. "The purpose of the curse is to make Angel suffer for his crimes against = my people for eternity. He stopped suffering, so the demon was given control again. If he kills Buffy, that soul will take control again, leaving Angel to live with the anguish of killing the woman he loved. He will be left to suffer even more than he did before." Jenny finished. "Damn, you gypsies don't play around with your curses, do you?" Xander said in a low voice. "This is also a good time to add, Miss Calendar, that I have always enjoyed your class immensely." Buffy threw Xander a nasty look. This was no time for sucking up. "No, Xander, they surely do not. They were quite thorough in their quest for revenge." Giles told them. "So," Buffy spoke up, "Where do we go from here?" Jenny answered her. "There is one other option that I found. There is an ancient magic that I found, that would give him a human soul again. It's very old, and risky, and I am not even sure it will work. This spell only claims to work during a certain lunar and solar phase. It also calls for = a circle of eight people. I haven't translated the last set of instructions= yet to know more about the details. The problem is we have to move quickly, because the lunar and solar phases that are necessary happen tom= orrow night. After that, we have to wait another 40 years for the conditi= ons to be right. But, it could kill him if everything isn't exactly right= ." "Does it really matter?" Buffy asked. "What difference does it make if = it kills him? As he is now, I'll have to kill him eventually." "I also don't know what it will do to those participating. I still have = some research to do. I am going to need eight people *besides* the spell = caster, which would be me." Jenny told her. Willow spoke up. "Oz will do it! And what about Cordelia?" "That makes six." Giles replied. "We still need two more." All five pairs of eyes fell on the two FBI agents who had been silently listening to the conversation. "You want *us* to participate in this?" Mulder realized. Scully shook her head, unable to absorb all that she had heard. She wasn't thoroughly convinced that vampires really existed, that what she and Mulder had witnessed hadn't been some sort of psychotic episode due to some chemical spill nearby. "I have serious doubts about the existence of these so-called vampires, and I have even more doubts about what I have heard here today. There is absolutely *no* evidence to substantiate the existence of such creatures." "Other than your own eyes, no there really isn't." Giles told her. "Or possibly your dry-cleaning bill, Scully." Mulder joked. She gave him her 'Scully' look while Xander gave Mulder the thumbs up sign. Xander liked this guy. "And you all could be experiencing delusions, and us with you, for some reason that is perfectly explainable." Scully continued. Mulder spoke up at that. "Scully, after everything we've seen, everything we've been through, why can't you open your mind to extreme possibilities? How many times do I have to ask you that? Would it be that bad just to try and see what could happen?" Scully could tell from Mulder's tone that he really wanted to do this. He was intrigued by all this, and for once he could actually get close = to something that was beyond the realm of possibility. Still unconvinced, she decided that this time, she would follow Mulder's beliefs, and put = her faith in them. "Okay, Mulder, we can try." "So we have our eight, as long as Cordy and Oz come through." Buffy confirmed. "There is one other thing, guys." Jenny told them. "Angel has to be present during the ritual." "What??" Giles spoke up this time. "You didn't mention that before. How are we supposed to do that, pray tell?" Buffy looked at them with determination. "Don't worry. He'll be there. = Leave the fun stuff up to me." _________________________________________ End of part 4 feedback...::plead:: sapphire@chaos.taylored.com - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 13:55:36 -0700 From: "Lady Cietdubh" Subject: BUFFYFIC: (No Subject) Title: Jenny's Lament Author: Lady Cietdubh Distribution: Ask first, email ladycietdubh@geocities.com Responses: either here or to the address above. Disclaimer: All characters are the property of Joss Whedon, etc. no infringement is intended. Notes: This is a poem, not a story, but I figured this was the best place for it. "Jenny's Lament" Listen! Can you hear? the spirits whisper in my ear,whisper things I should have knwn, should have guessed. A fallen angel has shattered my fragile hope. Crystalline pieces fall uselessly to the floor. I should have spoken sooner, the spirits tell me. I should have let myself be known. But how could I know then, the things I know now? How could I have guessed love would beget violence, replace one obsession for another? I followed my heart, my past, to what I thought was right. Too many people, hurt by my betrayal, broken and bruised for my people's pride. As I see myself now, laying in your bed, my last regret is that I was never allowed to say "I love you", but once...and never again. - --February 24, 1998 For Jenny Calendar, R.I.P. Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! http://www.mailexcite.com - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Feb 98 20:10:29 PST From: "Sapphire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 6/6 Title: Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 6/6 Author: Sapphire Category: XF/BtVS Crossover Welcome to the Hellmouth, Scully 6/6 by Sapphire They all stood in the dark room, lit only by a single candle that Jenny had burning in the center of the circle, holding hands. Scully had a fleeting thought that this seemed ridiculous, but she pushed it to the = back of her mind. If she believed in a higher power than herself, then she had to open her mind up enough to consider the possibility of other powers = as well. She looked over at Mulder, noticing how involved in this he seemed. She had to admit, the atmosphere felt very...well, magical. That was the only way she knew how to describe it. The vampire in the cage was restless, occasionally saying things that were meant to taunt and injure Buffy. He seemed to know exactly what they were doing, and Scully got the feeling that he knew it could work. He was furious, and she was sure that if he managed to get out, they would all be in trouble. Jenny began chanting in a language that Scully had not heard before. She assumed that it was probably the Romany language. As she chanted, the flame of the candle burned higher and higher. Scully could feel the air around her come alive, making her skin tingle in a pleasant, yet disturbing way. It was like the air was charged with an energy that made her feel powerfu= l, electrified, and surprisingly unafraid. Scully watched as ripples of ligh= t began to swirl slowly, first around the candle, then radiating slowly out to the rest of the room. As Jenny picked up the Claddaugh ring and droppe= d in the fire, a burst of blue flame flew out of the candle, and Scully fel= t a wave of heat flow through her and out of the circle. With that heat came a feeling of what she could only describe as loving, and wonderfully peaceful. She glanced at Mulder and could see him looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. She knew that he had felt it as = well. The feeling was disturbing, in that she *knew* that the source of the feeling had been Mulder. She couldn't explain it, but she knew. It = was the same feeling that she had for him, and from the look on his face, he was experiencing the same thing as she was. His grip on her hand had increased, and she returned it. Scully heard a loud, tortured growl coming from the vampire as the wave hit the farthest reaches of the room. Jenny recited the final incantation and stopped, tossing some type of her= b into the flame. The candle went out immediately, bathing the room in darkness. The vampire was silent, as were the rest of them. Light returned as Jenny lit an oil lamp she had sitting on the table in = the circle. "Well, that should have done the trick." she said wearily. The circle broke slowly. Everyone, including Scully, felt a bit dazed. Buffy went over to the cage, afraid to speak to the caged vampire. She didn't know what she would do if it wasn't Angel in there right now. "A-Angel?" she said tentatively. The vampire was laying on the floor, seemingly unconscious, but he stirred at the sound of her voice. They all watched, and waited. "B-Buffy? Is that you?" He managed to say as he came to. "Angel? Is that you?" Buffy asked. She was cautious, knowing that he fooled her once before right after he had changed. She knelt beside the cage, waiting for him to wake up more fully. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their collective breath. Angel struggled to sit up, and looked up at Buffy. She let out a sob as she looked into his eyes, seeing what she knew was her answer. Love. She reached up to the lock, fumbling with it, and when she was unable to = open it, she gave a primal growl and ripped the lock right off the door. Both Mulder and Scully had raised eyebrows at the display of Buffy's strength. She crawled inside the cage, helping Angel to sit up, and huggi= ng him at the same time. She could not speak; all she could was sob into his neck as he held her, making soothing sounds to comfort her. It was a trul= y touching scene. Willow felt as if they were all intruding on a very priva= te moment, yet couldn't bring herself to look away. When Buffy finally pulled away, she helped Angel up, and they came out of the cage into the main room of the library. "So, I guess the vamp I love to hate is back again?" Xander said hopefull= y. Angel looked at him. "Not quite." That was all he said, leaving them to = wonder what he meant. Buffy looked at the window, seeing the first signs of light outside. Panicked, she ran over and closed the shutters to the window. "We have to get you out of here, Angel, the sun is rising." "Wait, Buffy, that isn't necessary." Angel stopped her, placing a finger = on her lips. "Are you insane, Angel?" Giles said, astonished. "We didn't go through this just to see you burn in the sun." "I won't. Not anymore." Angel said quietly. He reached out and touched the cross that hung around Buffy's neck, not flinching or showing any signs of pain at the contact. Buffy just stared. Mulder spoke up, with wonder in his voice. "The spell didn't just restore his soul. It made him human again." Jenny couldn't believe that. "That's impossible! No spell could do that..= . It didn't say it would do that..." Angel interrupted. "You translated wrong. The spell you used is ancient, and more powerful because of what it entails. The conditions must be exactly right, or the vampire is killed. But it does restore humanity if = the love is strong enough." "How do you know what we did?" Jenny asked. "How do you think you found that spell, Jenny?" Angel asked her. "The demon had taken control again. I was still there, but this time I was senscient. I could project myself into your dreams and unconscious thoughts. That wasn't how it was before I was cursed. I was never aware, never knew the horrible things I was doing, not until my soul was restored. I think that my awareness was also a part of the curse. I was forced to know what the demon was doing. You gypsies sure know how to write a curse." Mulder was eating this up. "Amazing! Vampires, curses, demonic possession, astral projection, and ancient magic." He looked at Scully = like an excited child who had had his fondest dreams come true. She understood his excitement. She herself was not unaffected by all of this. This man was not the same creature that Buffy had lured into that cage. After what she had experienced in the circle, she could not even consider schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder. She had *felt* the magic. Angel looked at Mulder and Scully. "I'm glad that you're here. They couldn't have done the spell without you. I can see that the suggestion = I planted in your mind worked." He looked at Mulder for a moment. Realization dawned on Mulder. He suddenly realized what had propelled him to look through the Bureau records to even check up on recent exsanguination cases. He remembered the dream, and he remembered Angel. Scully spoke up. "Why us?" She asked him. For once, it didn't even occur to her to question what Angel said. She just knew it was true. Everything fell into place. "Because he is a Believer, Agent Scully, and you are a believer in him, despite the front that you often put up. Together you are very strong." = Angel said simply. Jenny had been reading through the spell again, realizing her mistake. = She also found another. "Angel, this spell says that not only does an object of love have to be sacrificed, Love itself has to be sacrificed." She said in confusion, wondering how she had missed this before. "Not sacrificed. Shared. But to do that, everyone in the circle had to = have love for another in the circle to share. A deep, long lasting, true love.= " Angel explained. Angel looked at Buffy, then at Oz and Willow sitting together, then to Giles and Jenny, and Xander and Cordelia. Cordy just looked at the floor, while Xander looked at her with a new expression. Then Angel's gaze fell upon Mulder and Scully. "Us?!?" Scully asked him, pointing a finger to her chest. He nodded. Scully was embarrassed, not liking that this kind of information would come out in such a manner. It was too public, the information too privat= e. But, she couldn't, and wouldn't deny it. Mulder just looked at her, knowing that what he felt during the ritual was real. Neither said anythi= ng. "Go, Agent Mulder!" Buffy teased. "I knew it all along." Willow smiled at them. You guys are *so* the perfect couple." "Just like us, Will." Oz told her. "I told you you were the girl of my dreams." Willow seemed to melt at that. "Let's...not discuss this right now." Scully said hesitantly. She noticed= that Mulder was amazingly quiet. She had expected at least one joke or = retort from him, and he didn't deliver. She was not going to get into a conversation with Mulder about something they had avoided for five years in front an audience. The sunlight had begun to shine through the shutters and lighten the room= . Angel walked over to the shutters before Buffy could stop him and threw them open. He stood there, bathing in the sunlight, unharmed. He looked over at Buffy with tears in his eyes. "Your love gave me this." Buffy recognized the look of his face from her dream. "This was what my dream was trying to tell me. What *you* were trying to me." Angel nodded. "There are lasting effects of being a vampire, though. I seem to have kept some of the strength I had before. I can feel it. And = my senses are still elevated. I can still smell things and hear things a hum= an wouldn't necessarily notice. But there is a purpose for that as well. I = must hunt vampires now, as long as I live. If I don't, the spell will be broke= n." "That isn't in the spell book, Angel. How do you know that?" Jenny asked him. "I just know." Angel said quietly. "Buffy, would you like to go for a wal= k? I would like to enjoy my first sunlight in 242 years. And I want to see = you in it." She smiled, tears streaming down her face. "Absolutely." They walked out of the library hand-in-hand. "Isn't that just the most touching thing that you've ever seen?" Xander said in a hammed-up sobbing voice. Giles nodded. "Honestly, yes, it is." "I think that the vampires in Sunnydale are in *big* trouble now." Oz sai= d matter-of-factly. "B-but not werewolves." Willow said, patting Oz's hand. "Werewolves?" Mulder asked. Oz nodded, pointing to his chest. "That would be me." "Why am I not surprised?" Scully said, shaking her head. This town was definitely not normal. ______________________________________________________ Mulder and Scully sat on an airplane bound for Washington D.C. In front of him, Mulder had his notes on the case. Both he and Scully were unsure about how to address this case. It wasn't unsolved in their eyes, but the= re was no culprit to apprehend. The perpetrators were too numerous, and were out of reach of the FBI. Mulder knew that as long as Buffy and Angel were in Sunnydale, things would be taken care of. He looked over at Scully. They had not discussed what Angel said about the ritual, about them. It seemed like Scully was not ready to address the topic yet. Maybe it was best that they just forget it and go on. But, Mulder couldn't help remembering that he never heard a denial from her. He decided that now was as good a time as any. "Scully..." "Mulder..." They spoke simultaneously. "Scully, about what Angel said..." "Yes, Mulder?" Scully asked. "What...are you thinking?" Mulder asked awkwardly. Scully paused for a moment, unsure of how to say what she was thinking. "Mulder, I can't deny that I have those type of feelings for you, just = as much as I don't think that you can deny having them for me. I am just... not sure that we're...ready to..." "Explore the extreme possibilities?", he finished for her. She nodded. = He reached over and put his hand on hers. She was right. The knowledge of what was there for the future was enough for them right now. When they were ready, they would know. Right now, this was what they needed. Right now, this was enough. Someday, though.... The Hellmouth turned out to be a pretty good place after all, Scully thought. The End Sapphire: sapphire@chaos.taylored.com X-Over Crossover list admin: X-Over: XF Crossover archive http://www.busprod.com/aclaybor/xover/ Gossamer XF Specialty Archive: http://www.busprod.com/aclaybor SPCDD; LOMIG: http://www.busprod.com/aclaybor/lomig ; G-Woman #3 Keeper of Willow's mometary obsession with sore thumbs - - ------------------------------ End of Buffyfic-digest V2 #42 ***************************** To subscribe to buffyfic or buffyfic-digest, send the command subscribe buffyfic-digest or subscribe buffyfic to majordomo@xmission.com. You will need to go through a confirmation process, and the listowners have to manually approve your subscription request, so it may take some time. 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