| Chapter one �Willow come on I know you can do it.� Xander reached down and grasped her hand. �Two more blocks to Dead Boys and then we�re home free.� Looking over his shoulder to see if their pursuers were close he pleaded his best friend to get up from the ground. �Wills look at me.� Bringing his eyes level with hers he held them for a moment. �Two blocks, that�s all I�m asking. Then the king of brood can help.� Willow wiped at the tears falling from her eyes and nodded. Trying to stand she cried out in pain, as the cut on her thigh burned in protest. Xander started running, practically dragging Willow behind. He didn�t know if he could make it two blocks, but he refused to die at the hands of Glory�s scabby minions. ************************ �Lindsey I told you never to come back.� Angel approached the young man. �And I told you; I blew a tire outside the city limits. I tried to have it fixed but all my credit card accounts are frozen, and I don�t have enough cash on me to get the truck fixed.� Lindsey knew this had been a stupid idea. But being so close to LA, and Wolfram and Hart. Lindsey knew that if he were spotted he wouldn�t last the night. �Born again having cash flow problems doesn�t qualify as a soul saving mission.� Cordelia crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Lindsey. �Plus he has that �evil hand� issue.� Angel rubbed his eyes in frustration. It would have been easier if everyone had gone home early as planned. This confrontation would have lasted maybe five minutes, ending with Lindsey�s ass on the sidewalk outside. But here he was stuck with a group that had to argue things to death. Not to mention Wesley�s new position as �boss�...more like boob. �Cordelia if we throw him out he could get caught by Wolfram and Hart. His death would be on our hands.� �If we throw him out he could get hit by a bus Wesley. It�s not our fault that he sold his soul.� Gunn shrugged and sided with Cordelia. �IN COMING!� The doors crashed open; Xander and Willow came crashing through them with such force they nearly fell down the front steps. Everyone in the room jumped in surprise. Angel ran across the room to help them up when four demons appeared behind the two Sunnydale residents. �Give us the book.� One of the robed demons demanded. �Give us a break.� Xander shouted back. �Our Glorious Shiny One wants the book, and she will have it. The two of you are nothing, except your fate and hand over the book.� Willow crawled further into the hotel, away from the entrance and Glory�s little spawn from hell. The slash across her thigh was still bleeding, leaving a trail of blood as she scooted across the floor. Angel took a threatening step forward, and the smaller demons took a step back. �Leave!� He roared at the demons, which took a step back. �Her eminence sent us to get the book from these humans; we will not let her down.� The leader of the four said. Gunn came up with weapons, handing Angel an ax. �I�m giving you one more chance, leave.� Cordelia hurried over to Willow and helped her stand, walking her further away from the door. �Are you okay?� Cordelia wiped the redhead�s hair from her face. �There were so many of them, we couldn�t stop...� �Shh..It�s okay. You�re safe now.� Cordelia looked over to Xander who was appeared on the other side of Willow. �Why didn�t you guys call us and let us know you were in town?� �We didn�t have time...Giles sent us here, only to have us turn around and go back to Sunnydale.� Kneeling down Xander ripped Willows jean leg to get a better look at her injury. �Damn Willow.� He moaned. Angel and Gunn attacked and had the demons dispatched with just a few moves, and now Wesley was helping in the clean up of the slain bodies. Angel rushed over to Willow and kneeled next to Xander to inspect Willows wound. �What happened?� Lindsey stood back and watched in awe, as Angel�s group took care of the crisis with ease. It was like watching a choreographed ballet. Everyone knew what to do, and when to do it. If it weren�t the words of confusion he would have thought that this was just a drill. No wonder he could never beat them. �We came to get a book for Giles and Glory�s little goons followed us. After we got the book they attacked. We were so damn stupid! No weapons, no back up plan. Willow tried casting a spell, but they must have had a protection spell or something because it backfired miserably.� Xander�s hands were shaking as he told Angel the story. Not only because of what had happened, but also because the whole fight with Glory was pushing the Sunnydale group to the point of an emotional break down. In the past no matter what big bad they were fighting they always knew there was a string chance to win. But with Glory, they had run out of ideas. All but one last chance that the book represented. �What is going on down there? Why didn�t any of you call for help?� Angel nearly yelled at Xander, as he kept an ear open to Willows pulse beat. �It�s not like you all don�t have your problems here! Excuse me if I�m wrong Dead boy, but don�t you have a she bitch by the name of Darla to dust? Or some freaky law firm to dismantle?� Xander defended himself and the others. Sure *now* it sounded like the smart thing to do, but in reality the two groups were drifting apart, barley keeping in touch. It really never crossed their minds. �Angel she�s wont stop bleeding.� Cordelia eyes filled with worry. Angel took off his shirt and ripped a piece off, tying it around Willow�s upper thigh. Picking her up he started handing out orders. �Wesley you need to call Giles let him know what happened. How bad does he need the book?� Xander looked start into Angel�s eyes. �It�s life or death.� Angel nodded gravely, thinking for a moment. �After Wesley calls Giles, I want the three of you...Xander, Wesley and Gunn to take the book to Sunnydale. Take weapons this time. Cordy come on.� Lindsey waited for a moment, realizing that he was being abandoned. �What about me?� Everyone in the room stopped and stared. �You can leave.� Angel said over his shoulder. �Angel he can�t.� Wesley protested. Angel stopped and swung around. �Fine you stay here. We�ll be back.� Everyone jumped going in opposite directions, leaving Lindsey standing alone in the Lobby. ************************** |
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