Authors Notes, Disclaimer and Intro
 

PART SEVEN -- Lost Initiative
 
 

He couldn't leave Sunnydale.  Not until he knew for definite.

Angel waited in the sewers with his bag.  At first he headed to the mansion for his car but then he turned and walked in the direction of the campus.  When you've lived for 248 years, passing the hours until day break seems almost trivial.

Angel just prayed that she wouldn't be there.

When the poles of light through the grating holes didn't strike through anymore, and his watch read six thirty, Angel pulled back the manhole cover and climbed out right up against Lowell house.  He walked in, without caring to knock and followed the smell of Riley and a Buffy musk up stairs until he came to a door.  Angel knocked quickly and firmly, then waited.

It wasn't long until he appeared, his hair ruffled and his white t-shirt crumpled.

"What are you doing here?"

The tone wasn't so much threatening, more weary.  It didn't seem to matter that they hated each other, not when this was happening with Buffy.

"Is she there?" Angel asked in a soft voice.

"No."

"Good," Angel licked his lips.  "Can I.. Uh.. Come in?"

"Oh that's right.  You need to be invited in, don't you?" Riley said snidely.

"Yeah.  I do."

"Then I'm thinking not," Riley started to close the door over.

"It's about Buffy."

Riley froze and then opened the door widely.  "What about her?"

"Can I come in or do you want me airing this in public?" Angel said impatiently.

"Fine.  Wait there," Riley said, leaving the door open.  he went to his bed and pulled one of Buffy's crossbows from underneath.  She sometimes left weapons there after patrol.

He aimed it at Angel and gritted his teeth.  "Come in."

Angel chuckled for a second and came in.  When closing the door behind him, he placed his bag down beside the doorframe.  "Nice to see you're being so hospitable."

"Yeah well it's not a vampire prejudice thing.  I'm always this nice to my guests," Riley deadpanned.  Angel faced him like it was a firing squad.

"I needed to see you--" Angel started to explain but couldn't take his eyes off it.  "Is that thing really nessecary?"  Riley said nothing as Angel sat down.  "Really.  Riley, if I was going to kill you -- and granted there's a fair bet on thhat -- I would have done it already and that thing wouldn't stop me.  No way.  Not in a million years."

Riley shrugged and then placed it slowly to his side, on his chest of drawers.  "What about Buffy?"

"I just wanted to check that she'll be OK.  That you'll take care of her.  Not that she needs it.  But sooner or later, everyone needs someone to take care of them," Angel finished in a low voice.

"Don't worry about me not taking care of Buffy.  I'm completely in love with her.  I wouldn't leave her if you paid me to," Riley promised solemnly.

Angel stood up quickly.  "That was a little more than I wanted to hear.  A simple 'Yes, I'll take care of her' would have been great."

"Well you know what it's like."

"What what is like?" Angel played dumb, having an idea of what he meant.

"Being in love with Buffy," Riley answered.

"Yeah.  I know that," Angel sighed.  Angel picked up his bag again and put his hand on the door knob.  "You know that if you screw her around, I would kill you."

"One of the perks of being the ex-boyfriend," Riley said in a low voice.

"There's no perks in being the ex-boyfriend.  Not when it comes to Buffy."

Angel opened the door before Riley spoke again.  "I know I'll never replace you."

Angel shut the door slowly and turned round.

"I know that," Riley shook his head.  "And mostly, I don't want to.  I don't want to be the Angel follow up.  And sometimes, when I think really hard about it, I don't even hate you anymore.  I can't.  Because you can't be with her.  And if I was you... That'd kill me.  So mostly, I just feel sorry for you."

Angel swallowed and nodded, unable to say anything in reply, and then left.

Riley pushed his hair back roughly and sighed loudly.  Then he stared at the door.  Grunting, he went over to the door quickly, opened it and looked around for the vampire.

To his surprise, Angel was waiting for him.

"Me and you.  Let's go and see Forrest," Riley said steadily.

"Why?" Angel asked, defeated.

"Because I don't think you can leave without knowing why.  Or knowing that you'd done something."

Angel nodded and gripped his bag tightly.  "Let's go."

Willow edged the door open slightly and saw her friend lying on her bed, zoned out.  Staring at a spot on the wall.

"Hey," Willow tapped the door gently.  Buffy looked up immediately.

"Hey."

"So Angel.."

"Yeah," Buffy cut in, forcing tears away.  "He left me again."

"I'm sorry," Willow said simply, sitting down on Buffy's matress.

"He said he wouldn't," Buffy whimpered, laying her head down in Willow's lap.  Willow assumed the best friend position and stroked her hair.  "And he did.  Again."

"He's Angel.  He wants the best for you."

"But that's not Riley.." Buffy hiccuped.  "I feel like I can't live anymore.  I just don't want to."

"Here  we are," Riley announced as the two men were faced with Forrests door.  "What are we gonna do?"

"We're not gonna kill him," Angel said quietly.  "We can't.  Remember that."

Riley nodded and then drew breath to knock on the door.  A few seconds later it opened and Angel's face darkened.

"Finn.. And vampire.." Forrest said slowly, looking back and forth.

"Invite him in," Riley said plainly.

"Wh--"

"Invite him in," Riley stepped forward, going jaw to jaw with his friend.

"Come in," Forrest said through his teeth.  He back away and into his room.  Riley and Angel looked at the mess around them.

"What you want Ri?"

"What Angel told you last night..  That's what we want.." Riley advanced on his friend.

"Look man.. I don't know anything about this bull that's going round OK?  I never touched your girlfriend--"  Riley swung and his Forrests jaw, throwing him back onto the bed in a heavy punch.

"Don't think about calling Buffy a liar," Riley warned.  Angel watched from the back as Riley turned on his best friend.

"Shouldn't of done that Finn," Forrest chuckled low.

"Why?  What are you gonna do?  Discharge me?  Let's explain to the guys at the Pentagon why I hit you.. See who's side they take and who they believe.."

Forrest reached behind him back and pulled out the revolver jammed in his belt.

"Thought you guys would come after last night's display," Forrrest touched his lip and waved the gun at Riley.

"Someone is already dead," Angel spoke up, walking slowly forward with one hand out.  "Because of you.  And someone wishes they were dead.  Because of you.."

"Steven killed himself all on his own.." Forrest pointed out, backing away from Riley and the vampire.

"Because of what you did and his part in it," Riley growled.  Forrest trained his eyes on Riley, making sure he didn't move.  The gun was pressed against Riley's chest.

Angel took the oppurtunity to move at vampiric speed, crushing Forrests hand and pushing him back into the wall.  However, Angel pushed him so hard that plaster shook and crumbled.

Forrest fell down in a cloud of white dust.  Angel flipped the gun open and emptied the bullets and then handed it to Riley.  Angel walked forward, clenching one hand and unclenching it, trying to control himself.

Forrest stayed in a ball on the floor.  Angel reached down and clamped a hand around his throat, dragging him upwards to face him.

"Next time I see you, I'll be the last thing--" Angel shifted into his vampire visage, "--As you take your last breath. Understand?"

Forrest nodded as much as he could before Angel threw him back and walked out of the room, using all of his strength to overcome his demon.  And his humanity.

"We've undertaken a huge investigation into the Initiative major," the voice from the central speaker crackled in the boardroom.  "Maggie Walsh, her creation, it's demise, and the units use in Sunnydale.  As we understand it, there's such a thing as a vampire Slayer there, keeping the HST population under control.  We feel these men would be of better use somewhere else.  The vision was an excellent one and our decision to dismantle the Intiative maybe a delayed one, but it was the one we knew was coming.  It is the unanmoius decision of this council at the Pentagon, that the Intiative shall be no more."

The Next Day
 

Spike looked around, checking no one was looking and opened up the secret Initiative entrance with his package in a bag.  He was 'Suffering for his art', wearing a 'poofy' green commando jumper borrowed from Xander and combats.

"All right," he murmured, entering the white corridors, closing the door behind.  "And where would that bloody lab be..?"

From memory, Spike traced his steps and found a long corridor that led out into the huge area where the pit was located.  "Bloody Hell.. Too many commando buggers.."

Spike retreated and found stairs leading downwards, hopefully to the basement.

"There should be bloody guards.. Where are they all?" Spike growled.  he didn't like this.  He didn't know that everyone was gathered in the main area to be told that they were being shipped out and debriefed.

At the bottom of the steps, Spike opened the door and found the boiler room.  "Score."

He chose the largest tank and ran over to it.  He brought the bomb out his bag and duck tape.  He taped it on with yards of the stuff, making sure it was secure.  Then he tried to remember how to activate it.  he flipped on the switch and then pressed 5-0-0 and the green button.

To his delight, the counter beeped and started the countdown.  Spike looked at his own watch, swetting the time,and grabbed his bag.

"Say ta ta to the hellmouth Commando boys," Spike smiled as he slammed the boiler room door and took the steps two at a time.  "because you're going directly to Hell.."

He opened the door that lead back into the corridor and was caught by a patrolling officer.

"Hey!"

"Shit," Spike swore, taking off in the direction of the exit and found another officer in his path.  Then the red lights atrted blaring and sirens screeched, knwong that a hostile was on the loose.  Spike pulled his bag over the officers head and ran past him as fast as he could.  He let out a steady stream of swear words as he made for the exit.  He didn't lok back but slammed the door open by thrusting his hand out.

When the door opened, he tumbled out into the cemetery and started running again through the woods."Come on Spike, bloody run!" He willed himself, heading for college campus.

So much for the stay and watch it blow up plan.

Spike ran to the edge, stopping to see that no one was following him.  Then he caught sight of Lowell house.  Prime position to see it blow up.  He smiled happily and brought out a cigarette.

As he lit it, he saw Willow, Xander, their girlfriends, Riley, Buffy and his Sire all head in the double doors.

All in one go?  I should be happy, Spike thought.  He looked at his watch.  Half a minute.  I should be happy.

Getting rid of the Slayer -- His vampiric ambition ever since he knew what they were --  and Xander who usually annoyed the Hell out of him.  Good kid though.  Willow, who he has a soft spot for.   Anya who was like him in a lot of ways.  Tara, Will's girl -- sweet enough.  And his Sire.. Angel.. Angelus.. Gone..

"Oh bloody Hell.." Spike cursed his chip for making him soft.

Hopefully they weren't too close for the bomb detonating.

Three.. Two.. One

They were only in the hallway as the bomb went off.  Buffy clung to Angel as the first explosion took hold of the frat house.  As the house recovered temporaily, Buffy grabbed Willows wrist and watched as Angel grabbed fistfuls of Xander and Tara's shirt, pulling them back and out the door. They sat on the front lawn, looking at the now peaceful house.  Had there just been an explosion at all?  Then puffs of smoke billowed out the windows.

Xander's eyes showcased terror as he came to.  "ANYA!" He screamed, and got up to go back in.  Angel stumbled to his feet and and pushed him back down with one hand, taking off into the building again.  Through the smoke he saw an outline of Riley and Anya on the floor, hiding behind a couch.  Angel ran over to them as a ceiling beam fell down.

He slipped an arm around Anya's waist and she turned to him.  Angel nodded and then threw her over his shoulder.  Riley glanced at him and smiled.  Angel took a hold of his shoulder and guided him out through the smoke.

Once the whole gang was out on the lawn, wheezing and coughing, Angel gently put Anya down.  Immediately, Xander threw his arms around her, holding her tightly.

"Always takes me dying for you to show your feelings," Anya noted, trying churn out words when she didn't have a clue what to say.  For once.

Riley turned to Angel and gave him a grateful look as Buffy slipped her hand in Angels.  Angel half smiled at Riley and then turned to Buffy who was inspecting a cut above his eyebrow.

"Angel.." She shook her head.  "Always the hero."

"Look who's talking," he murmured as she smiled.  he winced as she touched him and then looked abck to the house.  "What was that?"

"They were having a meeting everyone was to attend today," Riley said.  "I was blwoing it off."

"Rebelling, way to go Riley," Willow smiled, holding Tara closely.

"The bomb wasn't for the house, it was for the Intiative," Riley told them all. 

Angel felt something inside, boiling.  His connection to his childe.  One was near.  And judging from the rage inside him, the childe was Spike.  Angel turned and looked directly in the far corner, near the woods and caught sight of his bleach blonde son having a smoke and saluting to him, before walking away.

Angel clenched his teeth and knew Spike planted the bomb in his gut.  Of course he'd deny it later on when Angel and Buffy cornered him.

"The other people," Angel said out loud.  "Everyone in there."

"Well I guess we help them," Riley agreed, getting ready to help them.

"I don't know if you should," Angel said to the rest of them.  "You all need oxygen.  I don't.. There's smoke.."

"Ooh!" Willow snapped her fingers and brought out a bottle of water.

"No thanks, not thirsty," Xander waved a hand.

"No.  We can breathe if we have wet cloths over our mouths," Willow explained.  "Just rip your shirt or whatever and we can go in."

"OK," Angel said in a low voice.  "I'll go in now and follow when your ready."

"Be careful," Buffy said softly, letting go of his hand.

"You too."

They managed to get most people out, and luckily, most were out anyway.  A flaming ceiling beam fell on Angels leg leaving it weak and ineffecient for the moment and a window combusted, cutting Riley's face but apart from that, they'd been lucky with injuries.  They were all going upstairs together.  Riley doubted any people would be there, but they had to check.

Over the roaring flames, a voice became more apparent as they moved closer.

Help ME!!

"Do you here that?" Angel asked Buffy, who nodded through her cloth.

They looked around, kicking open doors and standing back in case of fireballs.  As they came closer to Riley's room and the Intiative elevator, it was more desparate.

And Riley recognised it.

"The.. Elevator.." Riley mumbled.  Buffy and Angel heard him, thanks to supernatural senses.

Buffy led the way and immediately she noticed the lack of the door or mirror that covered it.  She saw fingers gripping the edge and looked to Angel.

"Who is it?" Angel yelled, waving the smoke from around him.

"Gates!  Let me up!  Please!"

"Forrest?" Riley blinked.  He looked over the edge and saw his ex-friend dangling over the edge.

"Yeah.. Riley..."

Everyone looked at each other, nervous and unsure.

"HELP ME!" Forrest screamed to everyone from the edge of the elevator shaft.  His fingers, white with grip were the only things keeping him from falling over the edge.  The Initiative falling under his feet, the frat house decimating under the explosions from the government labs.

Buffy glanced at Angel and then to Xander, Willow, Giles, Tara and Anya who were made up in their minds.  Then to the bloodied face of Riley who looked upon his best friend's fingers with disgust and apathy.

"PLEASE!  I'M SORRY!" He shrieked.

/She's a hero you see.  Not like us/

Buffy closed her eyes, and tried to close her Soul to the possibility.  She grunted and then gritted her teeth.  Buffy strode to the side, hearing everyone's cries of shock around her.  She reached down at gripped Forrests clothes, hauling him out of the side of the Hellmouth and onto solid ground of the Frat house again.  He looked up, equally shocked as everyone else, at the Slayer.

Not Buffy.

The Slayer.

She rubbed her forehead and turned back away from him, letting him catch his breath on the side of the hole.

Buffy traded glances with Angel who nodded understandingly.

"I think we're done," Buffy yelled over the rumbling coming from deep within the Initiative.

"We're done," Angel reached out and took her hand, nervously slipping his fingers in her palm.  She looked up, feeling so much emotion flow under and through her that she didn't feel the world crumble around her.

"I think this is gonna collapse on us!" Xander hollered back.  Then another creaking rumble shook the Frat house and the government labs beneath.

Forrest fell against the wall beside the opening.  He gripped on tightly to the panels in the wall as he rode out the torment.

"Let's get out of here!" Willow yelled to Buffy and Angel.  They nodded and started off in the direction of the stairs, before the house was taken down with the Initiative.  Angel paused and hobbled backwards.  He stumbled as the wall opposite crumbled into plaster and brick.  Everyone watched the wall crumble as Angel reached Forrest.

He stared at the boy straight in the eye; as if reading his conscience.

And all Angel saw.. Was fear.  Fear for his own life.

Angel nodded softly, as if to turn away, but with a snarl, Angel swiftly thrust out his leg, kicking Forrest hard in the shins, felling him backwards.  Forrest lost complete footing as another quake rocked the Scoobies.  He fell backwards and with a piercing scream as his epilogue, disapeared into the abyss of the elevator shaft to his death.

Riley's eyes widened and filled with tears before he roughly brushed them away.  Giles, Willow and Xander thanked Angel silently for what they would have done.

Angel sighed and limped out of the Frat house with Buffy supporting him on his right side.

When they all reached the green plain on the college campus, they turned and looked at the Frat house decimating, burying a secret government  unit that no one would ever know.

Angel watched more explosions claim the building, conquering all of it.  The bomb had ignited all of the fire power supplies the government kept, like a line of dominoes.

He remembered Forrests face as he kicked him - signed, stamped and sealed his death warrant. A life that wasn't his to take and sins that weren't up to him to avenge?  Or were they?

He looked at Buffy beside him.  A look of peace on her face that had been missing the past week.

And for that look, the extra black stain on his Soul was worth it.

It would always be worth it for Buffy.
 

END OF PART SEVEN