From: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com (Buffyfic-digest) To: buffyfic-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: Buffyfic-digest V2 #66 Reply-To: buffyfic@xmission.com Sender: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk Buffyfic-digest Sunday, March 22 1998 Volume 02 : Number 066 In this issue: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 8/9 BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 Re: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 BUFFYFIC: Episode schedule BUFFYFIC: Hope (31/?) BUFFYFIC: Hope (32/?) Re: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 BUFFYFIC: Death of a Slayer (1/1) 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: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 20:27:39 -0800 (PST) From: "Jeff R. Harris" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 8/9 TITLE: Tomorrow Mourning 8/9 AUTHOR: Jeff Harris EMAIL ADDRESS: caliban@wizards,com DISTRIBUTION: Please ask first FEEDBACK: If you want to. SPOILER: None really. Takes place before Lie to Me. RATING PG-13 SUMMARY: A mysterious man comes to Sunnydale with a warning for Giles and Angel. CONTENT WARNING: Violence. I tried to keep to the tone of the show DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters. All characters belong to Joss Whedon and the WB. No copywrite infringement is intended. NOTE: I started writing this right after Halloween aired and so I figure its off in it's own little buffyverse "Willow, wait." Said the slayer, as she and her friend approached the gallery. "Why?" Asked Willow. "Something feels wrong." Buffy said. "You wait here, I'm going to go in and check on mom." "No way. If there were something wrong I'd rather stick with you. I mean what if you go in and something sneaks up behind me out here?" "Good point. Come on." With that the two girls entered the gallery. The lights were on, but there was no one to be seen. "Hello? Mom?" Called Buffy. "Are you here?" "Maybe she's just in the basement of something?" Willow said, trying to sound confident. "And leave the gallery open with no one watching it? No way. Something is definitely out of whack here. Let's go check out her office." The girls headed towards the back of the building. As they got half way in a voice called out. "Well look what we have here. The guests of honor for our little get together have finally arrived." Buffy and Willow looked back towards the front door. Standing there was Spike, the newest addition to Sunnydales's nightlife. Buffy felt a sudden sense of dread. "Where's my mother you bastard?" She yelled. "Not here." Replied the blond vampire. "Never was to be truthfulfor once. Lucky for me one of my kiddies is a gifted mimic. Got you and your little friend to come here. Which is good considering all the trouble I went though preparing this booze up for you." As spike spoke more vampires revealed themselves, a lot more. "We really wanted to do this tomorrow night." Spike continued. "But then a little bird told me that you and your garden society were going on holiday. No bother though. It just means that Dru never got to bake the cake. Shame too, she was really looking forward to it." By now over two dozen vampire had surrounded the teens. Buffy pulled out a stake, which caused the vampires to laugh. "That little stick against all of us? My but you are confident, aren't you?" Spike taunted. Xander couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So you guys knew Spike was planning something and instead of telling us you decided to get us out of town." He said from the back seat of Giles car. "Basically." Said Angel from the passenger seat. "You lied to us." He said to Giles. "It seemed prudent at the time." Giles responded as he silently cursed how slow his car was. "And This Alex guy, where does he fit in?" Asked Xander. "That's too complex to get into." Answered Angel hoping to deflect the question. "What I'd like to know is where he is. He told me to go get you while he continued to question the vampire we caught." "What for?" Asked Giles "After all, you said that Spike hadn't told him where the ambush was going to happen. "This is Alex we're talking about. I have no idea how his mind works." Angel responded. Xander wanted to ask more questions, but couldn't figure out what. He was out of his mind worrying about Buffy and Willow. "If anything happens to either of them I'll never forgive either of you." He said. Angel turned to say something back, but his words stuck in his throat. Xander's eyes had a cold look in them. The same look that Alex's eyes always had. Angle felt an ache in his soul. (We've failed all three of them.) He thought. "We're here." Said Giles as he pulled up to the art gallery. Buffy was getting tired. There were too many vampires to fight. She had managed to dust two of them, but two more just took their place. They already had Willow, but hadn't hurt her yet. From the way they were fighting it was apparent to Buffy that their goal wasn't to kill her outright. "Give it up Slayer." Taunted Spike from the sidelines. "All you're doing is getting yourself all sweatyOn second thought keep it up for a while. I think sweaty is attractive. I'm kind of sad that way. (Oh how I wish I could think of a witty comeback for that bastard.) Thought Buffy. Giles, Angel, and Xander chose that moment to rush into the gallery. "Where the hell did all these bloodsuckers come from?" Asked Xander. A look of realization came over Giles face. "Los Angeles. All those disappearances. It was Spike, building up his forces." He said. "Whatever." Yelled Angel as he launched himself at the group of vampires surrounding Buffy. Xander and Giles started trying to use their crosses to wade their way through the other vampires to get to Willow. "Now this is what I call a party." Called out Spike. In a mad rage Angel managed to stake two of the vampires on Buffy, just to have more join in from the sidelines. "Good timing." Said Buffy. "Could have been better." Was Angel's reply as he and the slayer fought on. Xander had managed to break through the horde of undead and get up to the vampire holding his lifelong friend captive. The vampire released Willow and lunged at Xander. (Must be a newbie.) Thought Xander as he impaled it on the stake he had in his hand. Suddenly Spike was in front of Xander. "Now was that nice?" Asked the vampire mockingly. Xander stabbed at Spike with the stake, only to have it batted out of his hand by the blond vampire. He tried to get his cross up, but before he had a chance Spike had him by the throat. Grabbing Xander's hand, Spike squeezed until the pain made the cross fall from the boy's hand. "That's better. Now we can be friends." Said Spike. Then he yelled across the room. "Hey Slayer, look at what I got." Buffy had been busy trying to keep up with the constant onslaught of vampires. Three of them had grabbed angel and were holding him down. Giles was also being restrained, so she was on her own. At the sound of Spikes voice the ones fighting her had backed off and gave Buffy a chance to look at him. The sight of Xander in his grip terrified her. "Let him go spike!" She yelled. "Oh right." Responded the vampire. "Like that's going to happen." Willow leapt at Spike, hoping to help Xander. All she got for her trouble was a vicious backhand. "Not now little dove, I'll get to you later. Now where was I. Oh yeah. This is the guy who saved you, isn't it Slayer? The one who breathed life back into you when the Master sent you to the old dirt nap. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have to be dealing with you right now." "This is between you and me Spike" Yelled Buffy. "Leave Xander out of it. You and me, that's the way it's suppose to be, isn't it?" "Oh yeah, that's right. I let the dweeb go and you and I get it on. I don't think so. We're a little too evenly matched for my tastes. When I fight, I want to have an unfair advantage. That's why I brought so many friends. But I'll tell you what; I'm feeling generous. You surrender yourself to me and I'll let your savior go. If not I'll just disembowel him right here. It's not like you or Angelus can get through my kids here fast enough to stop me." "Buffy don'taack." Xander tried to yell, but Spike squeezed his throat. "Now why would you be going all noble on us? Hey Slayer what do you think? Why is he trying to be all noble? You don't suppose he loves you do you? That would be stupid, what with you all tinglely about Angelus and all." Spike Taunted. Those last taunts nearly brought Buffy to tears. She knew exactly how Xander felt about her. He hadn't ever bothered to hide the fact. Despite her open affection for Angel and the fact that she had turned him down outright when he had asked her out, Xander still loved her and now it seemed he was going to pay the ultimate price for that love. That left Buffy feeling that she had very little choice. "If I surrender to you, do you promise to let him go?" Asked Buffy. "Buffy no!" Screamed Angel. Don't" "I have to!" She cried out. "I can't let Xander suffer because of me." "That's right Slayer, you can't." Said Spike with a sneer. "So we have a deal. I get you and your not so secret admirer goes free. Who knows, maybe the next Slayer will avenge you. Now come here and I'll let the boy go. I'll even let you give him a good-bye kiss." The Undead cleared a path between Buffy and Spike. Giles and Angel Struggled against the vampires holding them, both yelling at Buffy not to do it as she approached the Spike. Even Xander struggling against Spike's grip was shaking his head no. Only Willow said nothing, though that was more due to being too stunned from Spike's blow to be aware of her surroundings. As Buffy approached her eyes met Xander's. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you." She said with tears in her eyes. The sound of crashing glass suddenly rang out. All eyes in the gallery turned to see a man come bursting through one of the gallery windows. He threw something from his hand, which landed in the middle of a group of six vampires. There was a flash and the six found themselves on fire, which lead to them quickly becoming ash. "Alex, thank God." Said Giles. Spike stared at the new comer with a look of disgust. "And who exactly the hell are you?" He demanded. "You killed the woman I loved." Answered Alex, returning Spike's stare with a look of open hatred. "You'll have to more specific that that mate." Said Spike "All right. I'm the one who has returned the favor." Alex announced as reached under his coat and threw something at Spike's feet. Spike looked down and saw an old fashion doll. The same kind that "Drusilla!" Screamed Spike as he released Xander to lunge at Alex. Alex sidestepped the attack and hit Spike in the die with his right palm. Spike's momentum combined with Alex's blow sent the vampire flying into a pair of his minions. Buffy used the distraction to attack the Vampires holding Giles down. Xander, who was still trying to recover from the abuse to his throat, went to check on Willow. Angel still found himself being held down by a trio of vampires. Spike got back to his feet and pointed at Alex. "Grab that bastard, but don't kill him. I want to make him suffer a long time." He ordered. At that command four vampires rushed the time traveler. Alex killed one of them right away, but was hit from behind by another. Satisfied that Drusilla's killer would be taken care of Spike turned his attention back to his main target. He saw Buffy fight two of the vampires that had been containing the watcher. It was obvious from the way that she was fighting that she was exhausted. She would be easy picking now. He ran across the room, closing the distance between him and the slayer. He hit her form behind knocking her to the ground. He stood over the stunned girl with a look of satisfaction. "I win." He said. As he started to bend down towards Buffy. The sound of someone yelling made him turn around and look. Xander was charging at him, stake in hand. "Oh please." He said sarcastically as he stepped forward to meet the boy. Xander collided into Spike at full speed. The impact caused Spike to actually back up a couple of steps. The two looked at each other for a moment, both having looks of surprise on their faces. Then Spike crumbled to dust, leaving Xander still holding the stake in his hand. "Buffy?" He asked. "I'm fine." She said as she shakily got back to her feet. He looked down at himself and then back at her. "I love you." He said and then collapsed. Buffy rushed to his side. "Xander! Xander!" She yelled She saw a red spot spreading out from his stomach "No!" She cried out. "You can't die!" Seeing that their leader was gone, The remaining vampires lost morale and fled. As soon as they were gone Giles rushed to join Buffy. Angel went to check on the unconscious Willow. Alex weakly got to his feet. "Giles do something." Begged the crying slayer. "I'll do what I can." He said as he removed his coat and started pressing it down on Xander's wound. "Alex call for help." "I can't Giles." Alex responded. "What? Why not?" demanded the watcher. "My mission is done. Buffy and Willow are safe and Spike is destroyed. The spell is ending. I'm going back." Was the reply. "I'll call the ambulance." Called Angel as he got up from Willow's side and started towards the gallery office. Giles spared Alex a glance as he tried his best to stop Xander from bleeding to death. A great deal of emotion played on his face. "What kind of future waits for you?" He asked the time traveler. "I have no idea." Answered Alex, who was beginning to glow. "I may not have a future. If my younger self dies I can never have existed there. Not that oblivion is so bad a fate after what I've been through." "What is he talking about?" Buffy asked Giles between sobs. "He's from the future" Answered the Watcher as he turned his full attention back to the wounded boy. "He's Xander from the future." As what Giles said sunk in, Buffy stopped crying and stood up She walked over to Alex who was now surrounded be an increasing yellow glow. Alex's face was showing signs of discomfort, bordering on pain. "Xander?" Asked Buffy. "Yes." He answered. "But how." "You'll have to ask Giles later. Just know this now. I loved you enough to risk coming back and changing time. No matter what happens to me now or in the future please remember that." As Alex said those last words the glow grew in brightness until it was too difficult to look at him. Buffy heard him yell out in pain and then both the glow and Alex where gone. End of Part 8 - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 20:30:22 -0800 (PST) From: "Jeff R. Harris" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 TITLE: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 AUTHOR: Jeff Harris EMAIL ADDRESS: caliban@wizards,com DISTRIBUTION: Please ask first FEEDBACK: If you want to. SPOILER: None really. Takes place before Lie to Me. RATING PG-13 SUMMARY: A mysterious man comes to Sunnydale with a warning for Giles and Angel. CONTENT WARNING: Violence. I tried to keep to the tone of the show DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters. All characters belong to Joss Whedon and the WB. No copywrite infringement is intended. NOTE: I started writing this right after Halloween aired and so I figure its off in it's own little buffyverse The last five hours had truly been the longest of Rupert Giles life. First nearly losing Buffy and Willow to Spike and then having to enduring the horrible waiting as a team of surgeons struggled to save Xander's life. They had managed to stabilize him, but he was still in grave danger. The only good news was that Willow only had a mild concussion and would be fine. Giles was glad she had gone to sleep before anyone had told her about Xander. "Want some company" Giles looked up from his brooding and saw Jenny Calendar. The look of concern in her eyes was evident. "Yes, please." "So what really happened?" She asked as she sat down beside him. She looked across the waiting room to where Xander's parents were standing with Joyce Summers. "Mr. Harris said something about Xander hurt defending Buffy from a wild dog." "It was the most believable story we could tell. Spike's claws did considerable damage before he crumbled to dust." Giles went on to tell her everything. When he was done she sat there for a moment trying to process everything he had told her. "I can see why you didn't want to let on what was really happening. I'm not thrilled that you left me out mind you, but I do understand." She finally said. "I'm glad to hear that. I can only hope that Buffy will be as understanding." "Where is Buffy?" Asked Jenny. "She's at Xander's bedside. She absolutely refuses to move. She isn't taking this well." "I can't say that I blame her. What do you think will happen?" "I don't know." Admitted the Watcher. "My conduit to the future is no longer here. I just hope that where ever he is that he is at peace." His first conscious that was that no one could be in so much pain and still be alive. As he tried to gather his thoughts together he became aware of voices, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. He tried to open his eyes but the brightness of the light forced him to close them again. As more of the pain subsided he could make out the voices more clearly now. They were calling something out. If he concentrated he could almost understand them. "Xander? Xander can you hear me?" One of the voices said. Xander; that was his name. No wait, that's not right. It used to be his name. He went by Alex now. Why was the voice calling him Xander? "Xander can you move?" The voice said. It was a male voice. "Why are" Alex trailed off for a moment "Why are you calling me Xander?" "That's you name. You're Alexander Harris. Do you remember that?" Alex opened his eyes. The light was too bright but it was getting better. His head was clearing too. He was on a bed, in a room that was unfamiliar to him. He looked at the man speaking to him. It was Giles, but something wasn't right. Giles was standing next to him. "What happened to your wheelchair Giles?" He asked. "I've never had one." Answered the Watcher. Alex sat up and looked at Giles. "Yes you have. You've been in once since.." (Since Buffy put you in one.) Alex finished in his head. "Xander, listen to me. You're suffering from a kind of temporal jet lag. You still have the memories of the timeline you left. In a few days those memories will fade until they are like a kind of half remembered dream. Your memories of the current timeline will slowly take their place. Until then I would recommend pretending that you have the flu and stay here at your home, otherwise people will think you've gone right around the bend." Alex sat back and took in what the watcher was saying. He had survived and succeeded in changing the timeline. "But what about Buffy?" Asked Alex anxiously as he tried to stand up. "What about me?" said a voice behind him. Alex whipped around at the sound of the voice and almost lost his balance. Giles steadied him. Alex looked at the source of the voice. Buffy stood in the back of the room smiling at him. He looked at her in amazement. His mental pictures of Buffy were either the girl she was or the vampire she had become. The woman he looked at now was neither of those. She was a beautiful woman in her thirties. Alex felt as if he had misplaced his lungs. "I'd have to say that the reaction was definitely worth the wait." She said as she approached him. Alex was overcome with emotion. Tears started to roll down his face at the sight of her. He had done it. She was alive. And soon his memory of what had happened would fade. The nightmare he had been living since he was sixteen was over. Buffy stopped right in front of him. He thought she was going to pull him into an embrace. Instead she pulled him forward and kissed him passionately on the lips. As their lips parted Alex... Xander was to stunned to say anything "Welcome home Xander." Said Buffy The End. - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 00:48:47 EST From: LMcint6188 Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 It was really great, but now I want to know what happened to Willow and Angel.... Maybe you should keep going?!?!? Lins - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 00:54:11 EST From: LMcint6188 Subject: BUFFYFIC: Episode schedule Does anyone have an episode schedule.... more importantly (to me) Whats going to be on this Tuesday..? Thanx Lins ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Keeper of Angel's visit to Willow's room... ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 22:11:31 PST From: "Sara Barton" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Hope (31/?) Author: Sara B. Sara114@hotmail.com Rating: Varies...will be posted at beginning of each part. Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its characters, yada yada yada belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar, WB, and Fox.... I'm just borrowing them, (although I wish Angel was mine!) Everything else belongs to me! Author's note: This is your usual generic story. Angel is still good, so basically in my story surprise/innocence didn't happen. Willow and Oz are together, and Xander and Cordy are still hiding their secret utility closet rondevu's. This is going to be a long story, and will take some time so be patient with me. I'm not very good at story telling, so if this totally sucks and isn't read-worthy, just let me know.Oh yeah, and I want feedback, feedback, and more feedback. I don't care if it's good or bad, just tell me what you thought of it. PART 31 PG-13 Buffy slowly opened her eyes to find herself unable to move. She wiggled her arm free and pressed her hand against her forehead, feeling blood trickle out of a small cut. She looked over to her right and saw Cordelia lying unconscious. “Cordelia...wake up,” she whispered but had no luck. Turning her head to the left, she came face to face with the front seat. Buffy groaned and realized that the car was upside down. “Is anybody awake?” She said aloud. She felt movement at her feet and saw Xander. “Xander! Are you okay?” He looked at her and smiled faintly. “Yeah, I’m okay. How are you holding up?” “I’ve been better. I’m stuck between something, can you help me get free?” She said, struggling to move. “Yeah, hold on,” he said, and managed to sit up. “Oh jeez,” he said, looking around. “What? What is it?” Buffy asked. “This is bad,” he said, and managed to open his car door. Xander pulled himself out of the car. “Ouch!” He said, as he felt a sharp pain in his arm. He looked to see a piece of glass had cut his arm open and blood was coming out fast. “Shit,” he grumbled, and pulled off his striped sweater, wrapping it around his arm. He walked to the other side of the car and opened the door. He could see Buffy was wedged between the seat and Cordelia. The slayerette reached in and pulled Cordelia out of the car. He gently slapped her face to wake her up, but she remained unconscious. He could feel her warm breath on his arm as he laid her gently in the grass. Buffy groaned as she forced herself out of the vehicle. “Damn,” she said. She wasn’t too injured, but had a few bruises. She looked in the front seat to see something stirring. “Giles? Jenny? Hope? Are any of you okay?” Opening the door, she saw the three lying on top of each other. Hope slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Buffy helped her friend out of the car. “Are you okay?” Buffy breathed. Hope sat in the grass next to Cordelia. “Yeah, I think I’m okay. I just feel a little dizzy, that’s all,” she told her friend. “Just sit and rest, you should feel better soon. I don’t see any cuts, and you don’t seem to have any broken bones...and since your a slayer, you have the ability to heal very fast,” Buffy said. Hope smiled weakly. “Ah, a fringe benefit.” “Buffy, come help me get them out,” Xander yelled at the Slayer. Buffy moved to where he was standing. “I’ll get Willow out, and you get Giles. Be really careful, we don’t know what kind of injuries they have.” Buffy nodded, and ducked into the back seat. “Willow,” Buffy said to her friend, “are you okay?” She gently touched her friend. “Buffy?” Willow said softly. She looked up to see Buffy help her out of the car. “Am I dead?” “No, Will. You aren’t dead. How do you feel?” “I feel okay. My wrist really hurts, though.” “Let me see,” Buffy said. Willow held her wrist up to her friend and Buffy felt it lightly. “Can you move it?” Willow moved her wrist slowly, wincing in pain. “Yeah, but it hurts like a bitch.” Buffy’s blue eyes widened in surprise. “Like a bitch? That’s not a phrase in your general vocab.” Willow smiled. “I know, but it just *really* hurts.” “Well, I know it isn’t broken, so you just probably sprained it,” Buffy told her friend. “I don’t know a lot about injuries, but I’m sure Giles does so he can look at it.” She looked over at the unconscious Cordelia. “Hope, could you keep trying to wake her? I am worried about her.” Hope nodded. Buffy turned to face the damaged car to see Giles pull himself out. She ran over to him and he leaned against her for support. “Oh Buffy! Are you okay?” he asked desperately. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just a little cut and a few bruises,” she assured him. “What about you?” “I feel fine. The only thing that hurts is my head,” he said, feeling a large bump on the back of his noggin. “Just lie down and rest for a minute. Cordelia is unconscious, but Willow and Hope seem to be fine, except for Hope’s wrist.” “Is it broken?” he asked, looking at the small girl who sat next to Cordelia. “No, she can move it, but it might be sprained,” she said. “Just go help her.” Giles nodded and went to Hope. Buffy turned back to the dented car to see Xander pull Jenny out. Her eyes were open, and she could walk. He helped her over to where the rest of the group sat. Buffy walked over to her friends. “How are you, Ms. Calendar?” The Slayer asked her. “Not good,” her slurred voice said, as she collapsed in his arms. Giles rushed over to help her lay down. Giles rubbed his head. “I can’t believe this has happened.” “You guys, we need to get Cordelia to a hospital, NOW,” Xander said. Everyone looked at him in surprise. “What?” He asked innocently. “I just want to make sure she is okay, that’s all.” Buffy frowned. “Xander is right. Cordelia may by really hurt.” “Mom?” a faint voice said. “I don’t want to wake up. No, I hate school.” Cordelia’s eyes fluttered open and she stared at Xander, who was in front of her. “Oh, I Xander. I love you,” she said, and fell back into unconsciousness. Xander’s mouth was gaping open and he was astonished at her confession. So was every one else. “She _loves_ you?” Willow asked. Xander shrugged his shoulders and tried to play it off. “She’s just delirious,” He said, and bent down to pick up her car keys that lay beside her. As his hand grabbed the keys, it grazed the surrounding grass. Xander was puzzled to find it damp. He brought his hand up and saw blood covering it and the keys. Xander bent down to get a closer look, but it was dark and he could barely see anything. Feeling the grass, he felt a puddle of blood trailing from Cordelia’s leg. “She’s bleeding!” He yelled to his friends, as he pulled up her short skirt to reveal her slender leg. He was horrified to see a stake stuck into her thigh. Giles ran over to him and saw the bloody mess that surrounded them. “Take off your sweater, Xander,” he commanded immediately. Xander pulled off the garment quickly, almost taking off the shirt he wore underneath it, and handed it to the Watcher. “No, hold it. I am going to pull out the stake, and as soon as it is out of her skin, you press the shirt hard on the wound, to limit her blood loss.” Xander nodded earnestly as his friends stared on in fright. “I am going to count to three,” Giles gripped the bloody stake. “One.......two.......THREE! NOW, XANDER!” He reacted quickly, forcing his now soiled shirt onto her wound as her warm blood flowed through the open cut onto his hands. She stirred, opening her eyes slightly, staring into Xander’s handsome face. She smiled, oblivious to her injury. Her crimson lips turned slowly into a frown, as she noticed the creases in his face were filled with worry. “Xander? What’s wrong?” She whispered, trying to sit up. Buffy ran over and gently held her down so she wouldn’t see the blood on her leg. Cordelia felt fear rise in her mind and body when she realized that things were not okay. “Shh,” Xander breathed, “Just relax. Everything is fine.” He gazed into her face lovingly, trying to hide his fear. “Don’t be frightened.” His soothing words touched her heart, and she once again smiled. Buffy was the only one to notice the strong connection between her two friends, as they looked intently into each other’s eyes. Giles looked at the teenagers, feeling horrifying guilt over the situation. < They are my responsibility, and I’ve let them down > he thought, trying to bury the overwhelming feelings deep down. “We need to get to a hospital immediately,” Giles said, breaking the silence the hung heavily over the group. Cordelia’s eyes widened. “Hospital? Why?!” Not wanting Cordelia to know about her injury, Hope spoke quickly. “Willow’s wrist is sprained, and she needs medical attention,” “Oh, okay,” she said with semi-relief. < As long as she doesn’t notice her wound, she won’t feel the pain > Giles thought. He looked at the still worrying Xander and saw that the blood was finally beginning to clot, but the shirt was utterly soiled, and another was needed. Buffy noticed this also and frantically searched for something to replace the bloody garment. Cordelia saw everyone staring at her leg and began to wonder what they were hiding from her. She craned her neck upward and glanced down at her blood skirt. She strained her neck farther and saw Xander’s crimson hands and crimson sweater, then realized she was hurt badly. Her leg instantly began throbbing violently, and she screamed out in pain, startling those around her. The agony and blood caused her to suddenly faint, and Buffy caught her head before it slammed into the ground. “Give me the keys, Xander,” Giles ordered, grabbing the keys from him. Xander only stared at Cordelia, not knowing what to do. Hope pulled off the lavender cardigan she wore over her while camisole tank top and jeans, and pressed it over the blood drenched sweater. “Xander, I’m going to pick her up slowly, and I need you to continue to press the clothes on her leg, okay?” she said, and Xander nodded. Slowly she lifted the limp body off the ground, as if it were weightless. Buffy stared at Giles. “We’d better hurry. After we take Cordelia to the hospital, I’m going to the Hellmouth to check out what is going on,” Buffy said. Before Giles could open his mouth in protest, she cruised past him toward the road. He slowly turned to follow her and the rest of the gang, leaving the old car in the field. “Can someone get the door?” Hope said, standing in front of Cordelia’s red car. Buffy opened it for her, and Xander got in, helping Hope ease the girl into the back seat. Willow got in after her, and Buffy next. Carefully, the laid her body on top of them. Giles carried Jenny into the front seat, and Hope helped him get her body inside. The Watcher started the car as the seats belts were fastened, and drove in the direction of Sunnydale Hospital. ***** Giles pulled up in front of the large hospital. Xander got out of the car and carried Cordelia through the front doors. He yelled for help, and was immediately greeted by a hospital doctor. Xander rambled at him, and the doctor shouted at another doctor, who pushed a bed over to them. Xander lay her body down on it. The doctors took her to the emergency room and made Xander wait behind. He protested loudly, but a nurse continued to refuse him, and two orderlies had to hold the boy back. Giles, Hope, Willow, and Buffy, who carried the still unconsious Jenny came in right behind him. They rushed Willow and Jenny up to the front desk, so they could receive help. Because it was a car accident, they were looked at immediately. Giles, Hope, and Buffy watched as the two girls were separated, taken different ways. Jenny to an emergency room, and Willow down a hallway, disappearing into one of the rooms. “This has been a long night,” Hope said with a sigh. “Well it definitely isn’t over. We still have to save Angel,” Buffy said, looking at a clock by the front desk. “It is 8:15. If the ceremony took place, and Angel has been made the master, we don’t have much time.” “Buffy, how do you plan to fight this battle?” Giles asked. She pondered his question. The truth was, she didn’t know how she was gong to beat this. < I have fought against some tough things, but I don’t know if I can do this. > “I will know how to do when it comes time.” Giles looked very skeptical. “I don’t think you should do this alone.” “She won’t be alone. I’m here,” Hope said, with more confidence than she ever knew she had. “I--” Giles stopped, and looked into Buffy’s eyes. He saw her commitment, willingness, and profound determination that Giles would never be able to fathom. He knew in his heart that this was the right thing to do, and he knew that he had to let her go, although his mind and soul screamed against it. Silently, he bid his farewell to her, as if it was his final good-bye. His soulful eyes watching her walk through the doors, toward her possible death. His Slayer, his Buffy, she was as much a child as she was an adult. The responsiblity that weighed heavily on her shoulders was her only obstacle to a normal life. He looked at her as if she was his own daughter. She was his responsibility. His duty to her was more important than anything in the world. Trying to hold back the tears that threatened to run down his aged face, he choked back a sob. < Dear God > he prayed silently < watch over her. Guide her in the right direction. Keep her safe and from harm. I don’t know what I would do if she died. She is my life. > ***** The cool night air stung Buffy’s face as she stood beneath the pale night sky. She usually enjoyed the night. It soothed her and comforted her, despite the hellish creatures that plagued the earth, that threatened the very existence of man. But tonight, evil filled the air. She breathed in its horrid smell. She could taste it’s revolting residue in her mouth. She could smell its stank presence. Angel filled her thoughts. He brought a small frown to her face. She loved him with every inch of her heart and soul. She felt his happiness, she felt his pain, and right now she couldn’t feel him. His presence in her felt empty, as if he has dispeared from the earth, as if he has died. She winced at that thought. Her body shuddered as she walked toward the Hellmouth. Her fear grew intensely as she became more aware of its pernicious presence. The memories of her death resurfaced in her mind. The last time she was there she had died at the hands of the Master. This time, the plausibility of déjà vu was high. Hope walked silently beside her friend. She was still amazed at things she had seen in the last two days. Vampires, slayers, souls, prophecies, demons, the Hellmouth. She wondered why all of this was kept in such a secrecy that only a small number of mortals were aware of the dangers that surrounded their lives. She marveled at the thought of how oblivious the world was. She thought back to last year when her five year old cousin was a vampire for Halloween. He had wore a long black cape with a frilly while shirt beneath it. His hair was slicked back and he had a small pair of plastic white fangs that he inserted into his mouth. She silently chuckled at how different people’s perception of vampires was to the reality of what they actually were. Sure, the movies and books portrayed the demons to be evil creatures that suck on blood and only go out in the night. But what they didn’t know is just how evil they were. Their faces an image of hell. Their actions so horrifying that the average horror movie was just child’s play in comparison. As the Hellmouth grew nearer, Hope’s awareness to the evil grew stronger, and she tried to mentally prepare her for the inevitable fight that her future held for her. Not just a fight of the body, but of the mind. She had to stay focused, and keep all fear and panic out. Any mistake could cost her her life, and the life of mankind. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 22:17:32 PST From: "Sara Barton" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Hope (32/?) Author: Sara B. Sara114@hotmail.com Rating: Varies...will be posted at beginning of each part. Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its characters, yada yada yada belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar, WB, and Fox.... I'm just borrowing them, (although I wish Angel was mine!) Everything else belongs to me! Author's note: This is your usual generic story. Angel is still good, so basically in my story surprise/innocence didn't happen. Willow and Oz are together, and Xander and Cordy are still hiding their secret utility closet rondevu's. This is going to be a long story, and will take some time so be patient with me. I'm not very good at story telling, so if this totally sucks and isn't read-worthy, just let me know.Oh yeah, and I want feedback, feedback, and more feedback. I don't care if it's good or bad, just tell me what you thought of it. Part 32 Spike pulled his car up into the small driveway of 1630 Rovello Drive. He got out of the car and stared at the house in glee. Angel pulled his car up on the curb, knocking over two trash cans and a mail box. He threw open the door and stepped out of the large, black BMW, slamming the door shut behind him. He stormed angrily up to Spike, and grabbed his shirt. “This is Buffy’s house,” he hissed, “why the hell are we here?” Spike removed Angel’s hand off of him. “Relax, man. I just have to pick up a meal.” Spike grinned. “The Slayer is MINE,” Angel growled. “Oh, no. You don’t understand. I don’t want the Slayer. I want her mother.” Angel blinked in surprise. “You...you want...her mother?” Spike nodded. Angel suddenly howled in laughter. Tears welled up in his eyes from his hysterics. Spike glared at him in annoyance. “What the hell is so funny?!” Angel took a deep breath to calm himself down. He stifled another emerging chuckle. “It’s just that I love how you think!” he said, slapped Spike hard on the back, causing him to stumble foreword. “Watch it man! I don’t think that you realize how strong you are,” he growled, adjusting his jacket. Angel grinned. “So what do you plan to do with Mrs. Summers?” Spike took a moment to ponder his fellow vampire’s question. “Well, I haven’t decided yet. Either I’m going to kill her right in front of our pretty little Slayer’s eyes, or make her one of us. That way Buffy will have to kill *her*.” A small rumble of a car engine interrupted the vampires’ conversation. The sound drew closer until the car was visible. It pulled up next to the curb behind Angel’s BMW. The door flew open and Joyce Summers got out, angrily shutting the door behind her. “What are you doing in my driveway?” She asked in a huff, walking up to Spike and Angel. Drusilla and the woman remained in the car, their faces pressed against the window’s eagerly awaiting for something to happen. Joyce came face to face with Angel. “You’re Buffy’s friend, aren’t you. What was your name again? Angel?” She asked. Angel nodded. “That’s right, Joyce..uh...May I call you Joyce?” he asked, sweetly. “I’d prefer Mrs. Summers.” She turned to Spike. “Who are you?” “Spike,” he replied. “Well, Spike, would you and Angel please leave? I just got back from a long trip and am tired. Buffy probably isn’t home.” < she never is > Joyce thought bitterly. “I’ll tell her to call you when she gets home.” She walked toward the front door of her house. Spike grinned at Angel, who quickly pushed himself in front of the woman. “Not so fast.” She put her hand up to her fore head and rubbed hard. Her head ache was growing larger by the minute. “*Please* get out of my way.” “I’m sorry, _Mrs. Summers_ , but you’ll have to come with us,” Angel said. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Now LEAVE!” She tried to push her way around Angel but he grabbed her arm and squeezed. “Your hurting me!” “Like I said,” his face slowly transformed into his vampire face. He watched her face immediately fill with astonished horror and fear. “You will have to come with us.” ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - - ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 23:06:24 -0800 (PST) From: "Jeff R. Harris" Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Tomorrow Mourning 9/9 On Sun, 22 Mar 1998, LMcint6188 wrote: > It was really great, but now I want to know what happened to Willow and > Angel.... > Maybe you should keep going?!?!? > Lins > When I wrote the story I had a solid idea of how everyone ended up in the future, including Willow and Angel. If I do write the sequels I will defintaly be exploring that. Jeff H. - - ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 08:45:28 EST From: Isis212 Subject: BUFFYFIC: Death of a Slayer (1/1) Title: Death of a Slayer Author: Aramat! Email: Redfire98@aol.com Spoiler: "Surprise" Distribution: Ask me, please? Feedback: Yes, please. Thank you =) Disclaimer: Buffy and Angel, cute as they are, aren't mine. They belong to this guy named Joss Whedon. They most likely belong to other people, too, but right now I can't remember who they are. Anyway, I'm borrowing Buffy and Angel for a little bit. When we're finished playing I'll give them back. Okay, enough nonsense, on with the story. Note: This story is something I thought up during a case of writer's block (which I'm stil having). It switches the current situation around. In this story B & A's one night together transfers his demon to her. So, Buffy's an evil vampire on a killing spree, Angel's a guilty human on a mission, and one has to destory the other. One more thing, since I was in writer's hell while I wrote this, the story is kinda short. I concentrate on Buffy and Angel's fight. I couldn't come up with any stuff to make up a longer story (despite there being plenty to work with). But if you can, feel free to. I'd be interested to see where this could go. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Angel paced the length of his room lost in deep thought. As much as he tried to forget, the events of the past few days kept playing over and over in his mind. He saw the look of hope and disbelief on Buffy's face when he told her that he loved her, he remembered the desire in her eyes when he kissed her lips. He could still hear the sounds of her pleasure as if she was still moaning them in his ears. But all that was gone. Because of one night, one exquistely perfect night, his Buffy was gone, replaced by something evil. If he had known that sharing something so special, daring to be with the woman he loved so completely, would transfer his demon to her, he never would have given in to her demands. It pained him to think of Buffy now, her soul gone, his demon now in control of her body. He couldn't forget the way she was before. But that Buffy was gone. And if he and the others were going to survive, he'd have to destroy her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Angel stepped into the cemetery, his eyes searching for and finding Buffy. She was sitting in her usual spot, waiting for him. As he watched her he could almost believe she was still his Buffy, he could almost believe that things were the same. But, deep inside, he knew they weren't, and as much as he wanted Buffy back, he knew it wasn't going to happen. With sorrow in his heart for what he must do, he walked toward Buffy, determination replacing the pain. Tonight would be their final fight. When it was over, one of them would be victorious, the other dead. Angel had every intention of coming out a winner. "I see you made it," Buffy said as she turned to greet him. There was a smile on her face as she approached the man who, just three days ago, she had loved more than life itself. He nodded, watching her intently. "Of course," he answered his voice low, emotionless. "You didn't think I'd miss this, did you?" She shrugged. "I don't know, I figured you weren't strong enough to kill me. We've been so close." "Let's get this straight. I remeber who you used to be and I have no trouble distinguishing between the two. You're not Buffy, at least, not my Buffy. And I have no doubt that I'm strong enough to kill you." Angel said these words calmly, smiling inside when he noticed that Buffy didn't too much like what he had to say. He stepped toward her menancingly. "So, let's stop talking and get down to business." Buffy wasted no time. She stepped forward fists swinging, legs kicking. But Angel was not to be outdone. He blocked her shots, throwing a few of his own, all of which connected. Buffy fought strong, landing a punch here, a kick there. Angel rallied, each fist on a special mission to destroy what had taken what he cared about the most. "You know, you did this to her," Buffy said as she paused between punches. "If you had just said no, she would be here right now. You're the one who killed her." So stunned by the words of the demon, Angel dropped his guard. It was the one opening she needed. Buffy took advantage of his distraction, sending a savage kick to his midsection. When he doubled over in pain she grabbed him, tossing him effortlessly against the wall of a tomb. She grabbed a stake from her sleeve and pushed it against his chest, directly above his heart, positive that victory was hers. "Killing you will be so much fun," Buffy whispered softly to him, digging the stake into his skin. "I'm sure Buffy will thank me." She leaned forward, brushing his lips with hers. Angel instinctively opened up to her, forgetting momentarily that she wasn't his. But his lapse was a short one. As Buffy pressed closer to him, he made his move. Taking the stake from the small of Buffy's back, he thrust the weapon through her back and into her heart. Buffy pulled away, looking up at him, stunned. She'd lost. And soon, she was nothing but a pile of dust. Angel looked down at where the demon now lay and he breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. She was gone and no one else would be hurt. With one last look at the dusty ground, Angel turned and walked away. As he faded into the night, the wind blew faintly and he could have sworn he heard Buffy, his Buffy, whisper, "Thank you." The End - - ------------------------------ End of Buffyfic-digest V2 #66 ***************************** 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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