Okay, guys. I've rewritten this chapter five (5) times. I just can not satisfy myself with it. I give up. This is the first part of what I have. I refuse to change it any further. The rest will be posted as I fix it or give up, whichever comes first. AAAAAARRRGH! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Title: Don't Fear the Reaper 9/? Author: Ajay Rating: Disclaimer: Josh owns all. I just fantasize. Warning: Character 'death' and Buffy bashing to some extent. Description: Post 'Fade Away' a wish is made, a wish is granted and everyone will pay Feedback: Is there an author who's ever said 'No I don't want feedback'? I doubt it, so PPPPLLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEE! Still archived at: www.the-crypt.net and www.geocities.com/Jess_Lair. I think. =================================================== Cordy's knock on the door finally brought them out of their shared mope. Faith slipped upstairs to wash her face and Angel walked to the kitchen. Jaime slid out of the door as Angel was walking in. The friction between their bodies caused the vampire to take a sharp breath. He caught the wide stare from the blue eyes. Jaime looked away as he answered his cell. "Yeah? Oh, hey Allen. No I'm visiting with Faith and the gang. Yeah, she got in just a little while ago." He noticed Cordy hanging over his shoulder. He questioned her with a raised eyebrow. "Is that Allen? Tell him to come over." "The Lady C wants you to come over. Uh, huh. You know where the old Hyperion Hotel is, right? Yeah. That's where we are. No, we're fixing to have dinner so if you haven't eaten you need to tote you a lunch. See ya." He closed the phone and turned to the brunette. "He'll be here shortly. You got something going for my cousin?" Cordelia blushed. She noticed Angel relax marginally after hearing that Allen was related to Jaime. She smirked to herself. Angel was giving himself away, it would only be a matter of time before Jaime was as aware of his feelings as everyone else was. ==================================================== Buffy trailed after Dawn as she headed for the hill where the Acropolis once stood. Oh, yea. More piles of rubble from long dead people. Why couldn't Dawn understand that the only dead person she was concerned with was in Los Angeles? Was it too much to ask that she be allowed to just talk to Angel? She just wanted to see if Spike's other wish had been granted. Would she be able to have complete happiness? Or, at least as complete as it could be when Spike wasn't in her life? No one seemed to care that she was trying to fulfill his last wish. That she was working toward the life that he had once again died for her to have. Didn't any of them feel? **************************************************** Xander looked around him once again. For the last few days he had felt as if someone was watching him. It gave him the wiggins. Not seeing anyone he continued his stroll across the Watcher's compound. He couldn't explain to himself or anyone else why he felt the need to attend Wes' wedding but when the invitation had arrived he agreed to go. Maybe it was knowing that Willow was going to be bridesmaid, or it could have been the need to see Cordelia. He felt a distinct slap on the back of his head at that thought. He turned quickly around again. No one was there! Damn! He was losing it. Anyway, he was going to go to LA with Willow, Giles and Andrew at Thanksgiving to see stuffy old Wes marry some little book worm. Willow had insisted they all get together to talk clothes so that she would not be embarrassed by her old friends in front of her other friends. It would give him five months to come up with a wardrobe to meet her approval. He made a note to ask her if she was going to pow wow with Buffy to ensure that the slayer's behavior didn't embarrass her. He knew Buffy wouldn't turn down the chance to go to LA even if she did still dislike Wesley. No, Angel was there. And, it had been the last place Spike had been. Xander sighed. He still couldn't believe the vampire had died, again, for him and his friends. To insure that they would all be happy. 'Well, Spike, old pal I don't think that's going to happen for me. Sorry.' He jumped. He KNEW someone had slapped him. "Spike?" He felt like an idiot, but what other answer was there? Of course, there was no answer to his question either. He took only a moment to decide that his stroll should be a trot and took off across the lawn to throw himself in the front door and head long into Andrew. "Sorry, man. Umm, weird things going down." "Uh, huh. Okay." The younger man just nodded and walked away, his face still buried in the newest Harry Potter book. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Angel found himself enjoying Allen's presence almost as much as his crew's. The young man would've fit right in with the Scoobies, as well. He had to wonder if he was a remake of someone they all knew. Was he a 'real' person or was he a creation of whoever had brought Spike back to him? He paid close attention to Cordelia's rapt attention whenever the man spoke. His smile was bittersweet. He was sorry that things had not worked out between the two of them. They never really had a chance to see but he had a feeling that this was the way it was supposed to be. He just hoped that this young man was worthy of such an extraordinary woman. Cordy caught his speculative glance and blushed. She should have known that as her closest friend Angel would figure out her newest crush before anyone else did. Ugh! If she and Allen got together and Angel and Jaime did as well, would she and Angel be cousins? She giggled, attracting everyone's attention. She shook her head at everyone's questioning glances. No way was she going to explain. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Faith had been quiet throughout dinner and had spent only an hour talking to the gang afterwords. She excused herself saying she had left certain essentials behind, intending to buy them here. "If I don't find a store soon I'm not going to be able to open my mouth tomorrow." Taking in the strange looks from the people around her she rolled her eyes. "New toothbrush, toothpaste things like that." "Need someone to go with you?" Cordy volunteered. Faith debated. She didn't want to take Cordy away from Allen but she had a feeling she was going to need a confidante. "Sure, why not?" Fred piped up. "Can I come too? There may be a few things I need to get as well." Faith gave them a faint smile. "Sure." The look she exchanged with Angel spoke volumes. He silently agreed with her and she took her leave. Once they were in Cordelia's car the seer didn't hesitate. "What's going on, Faith? I can tell you're not really your usual self right now." "Thought you didn't like my 'usual self' Queen C?" Cordy snorted. "Well, at least that's a little more like it." "If I tell you guys something can you keep it a secret?" She turned to look at Fred in the rear seat. "Even from Wes? Just for right now." She clarified. Both girls nodded their assent. Faith took a deep breath. Let it out and took another before she could call her courage to the fore. "Angel thinks I'm pregnant. I'm going to get a test, or twenty, to find out until I can get to a doctor." Cordelia slammed on the brakes then pulled to the side of the road as traffic behind her made their displeasure known. She looked at the slayer. "Jaime?" Faith slowly nodded. "He's the only possibility. Angel thinks it's something supernatural, that whoever brought Spike back has something to do with it." Fred bit her bottom lip and met Cordelia's eyes in the rear view mirror. She smiled when she saw her reach out to pat Faith on the shoulder. "Just let me know what I can do for you. Okay?" Faith raised her brows at the other girl. "I've been through two mystical pregnancies. I got the accelerated version but I still remember." Faith's tears were no surprise to either woman. She hadn't had many friends in her life and had not expected support. Fred cleared her throat. "We may need to double up on the pregnancy tests, though." Cordy's jaw dropped. "Well, you little slut. Does Wes know?" "Noooo." Fred's drawl was making itself known. Faith smiled at her and Cordy turn to pat her on the head. As she turned the car back into traffic she said under her breath, "God. I hope it's not catching." The other two women burst out in laughter. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The men spent a few minutes joking about what the three ladies were really going after before the phone rang. The answering machine kicked in before anyone could reach it and the panicked voice on the other end rang out loud and clear. "Oh, God, oh, God. Is anyone there? You have to help me! There's a thing, I don't know what it is but it is sort of grayish purple with a big eye in the middle of its face. I think it's a face. It has sharp claws and and one fang in what I guess is his mouth. It's trying to eat my dog. Shit! It tried to bite my Rottweiler but Grim bit him instead. Oh, please come." Wes, Gunn and Angel had been gathering weapons while listening to the woman's voice, when she took a breath Jaime picked up the phone. "Ma'am, where are you?" "In my kitchen, are you coming?" "Yes, ma'am. But you have to give us an address." "OH! Oh, yeah. 728 Beechtree Lane. Please hurry." He hung up and took the broadsword Allen handed him. As he turned three surprised faces were staring at them. Jaime looked from one set of moon sized eyes to another. "Do you want to know the address?" Gunn was the first to come back to his senses. "Uh, yeah, man. Sounds like she really needs us." Jaime relayed the information and they headed toward the door. Until Angel bellowed. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?" They turned to look at him. "What do you mean? We're going to help this woman." "I'm not talking to you, or Wes. I want to know what he thinks he's doing?" Angel pointed at Jaime. The younger man raised his left brow. "I'm going to help you take care of this Laalomawrai demon. We either have to disable it long enough to defang it or we cut its head off. No big deal." Angel looked like a freshly landed fish with his mouth opening and closing the way it was. Actually, Gunn and Wes weren't much better. "How do you know what to do about the Laal?" "Um, let's just say I've had some experience with several species of demon, okay?" "No. It's too dangerous. I won't have you hurt by this thing." Jaime turned to Angel giving him a look that should have turned him to dust. "The Laalomawrai is only dangerous to dogs. They are its only source of food." "He's right, Angel. They only feed on canine blood." Wes assured the still glowering vampire. "Angel, we'll talk about this when we get back, okay? This lady really seemed to need us." Gunn interjected into the tense atmosphere. Angel finally nodded his head. He didn't like this. He wasn't going to lose Spike again. Not if he had a say in it. ##################################################### The ladies arrived back to an empty hotel. Faith laughed when she pointed to the note left propped by the phone. "Does Wes always do that? I mean sounds like they were in a hurry, but he took time to write you a note? You got him whipped, girl." She was happy that Fred was not jumping her over what she said even though the other woman was redder than Faith's leather pants. "Well, they don't know how long they'll be gone and he wouldn't want me to worry." Cordy rolled her eyes at Faith. "You'd think they didn't get together until recently, then both of them died or something the way they act." Her words were teasing but Faith could see a trace of pain in her eyes. "Well, I'm just glad you're all back. I can't imagine how hard it was..." Fred patted her on the arm. "It was really hard but we are all here now. And, you've joined us and we're getting married, Wes and me, and who knows maybe we'll have some new editions soon. Oh! I didn't even think. Do you want to keep the baby?" Brown eyes opened wide as she considered that Faith would not want her baby. "If I am pregnant, yes, I'm going to keep the baby. It may be my only chance to ever have a kid, ya know? Besides, if something nasty did have a hand in this they'd just arrange another way to get what they want. At least this way I have not only a reason to fight back but every right on Earth to kick some ass. Nobody's going to mess with my child!" Cordy clapped her hands. "Well, now that we know what you're going to do 'if' can we find out for sure? Do you have to wait until morning to take the test or can you do it now?" Faith read the back of one of the boxes. "Uh, this one says anytime but I'd rather wait until first thing in the morning." "Chicken shit. Fred?" "I'd kinda like to know now. I think I'll go ahead and do one and then the other in the morning. Just to be sure, you know?" "See Faith? That's the idea. You bought what, three of them? Use one now. I wanna know." Cordy whining was NOT a pretty sight and Faith gave in just to make her stop. "Geez, all right, anything to stop that noise." She and Fred stomped upstairs. Well, Faith stomped. Fred looked more like she was going to face the principal or a Fyarl demon. "You're hoping it comes back negative, aren't you?" "Not really, I just haven't been able to talk to Wes about it and I'd really like for both of us to be ready before it happens." "So, if it's negative you won't be upset?" "No, not upset, well maybe a little. I'd just like to be prepared, you know. But, if it's positive we'll deal, right?" Faith and Cordelia nodded at her before Cordy asked. "So, are you going to do this together or in your own rooms?" Fred looked down. "I think I'd like to be alone, if ya'll don't mind?" Faith nodded in agreement. "I'll let you know as soon as I do." She walked away leaving Cordy in the hall shaking her head. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% When the AI gang pulled up to Beechtree Lane they were faced with a mob of people. The purple head of the Laal could barely be seen above the people surrounding it. Angel caught one of the closest ones and asked what was going on. "We've all had problems with this thing the last few days. Three dogs have ended up at the vet and the Lindsey's lost their chihuahua." The Laal roared sending the crowd backing away quickly. Jaime and Wes looked at each other then made their way through the disintegrating sea of humanity to face the demon. "You want to circle round and will try from both sides?" Wes gave a nod at Jaime's suggestion and circled the snarling beast from the right. It kept it's eye on Jaime as he swayed in front of it. Angel got to the inner circle just as it lunged for him. "Spike! No!" He ran toward the demon only to come up short as he was splattered with hot liquid. Jaime had beheaded the Laal despite Angel's interruption. He turned toward the vampire. "I don't know who Spike is but I am not him. Please, try to remember that!" He turned to walk back to his car when he felt a hand grip his arm. "I'm sorry. I lost Spike due to my own stupidity. I,I lost them all. I can't do that again." Jaime nodded. "Maybe we can talk about it later, okay?" Angel returned the nod dejectedly as he watched the other man walk away. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Faith sat looking at the word 'PREGNANT' on the damned stick in her hand. Fuck! TBC ===== Are you a good witch or a bad witch? Normal people frighten me. "Why can't you people ever keep your feet on the ground?" Ardeth Bay 'The Mummy Returns'