Subject: [BA_Gutter] Dream Once More 20 Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 04:20:04 -0000 From: "Tracy" Dream Once More 20 Author T. Claybourne Disclaimer, Fox ME, Joss and the others they do not endorse this but it's only for entertainment so please no suing guys. Spoiler of Angel up to Destiny Buffy comes to LA, but it may be too late: Spike is with someone else, and Angel is not the same as she remembers. NC-17 eventually but mostly less Feed Back- Like an elephant at the zoo, and peanuts, I always perform so much better. So, yes please!!!!! ----------------------------------------------- Part 20 Wes dropped Buffy at the hotel and rushed back to Wolfram and Hart. Taking his satchel out from under his desk, he went into the archive and pulled all the books he could carry. Then he remembered he'd seen big garbage bags in the break room kitchen. Leaving the other books, he proceeded there. Harmony was there heating Angel some blood. Wes could hear her muttering under her breath. "Harmony, get me more blood. Harmony, more, more, more, more. Suddenly he is Mister Insatiable With the Blood man." Wes stood back and watched her fill too mugs, then shake some sort of white spice into them. "Harmony?" The little blonde vampire turned around. "Wes, where have you been? Angel was looking for you." "What is that you're doing?" "Getting him more blood. He's had 6 mugs since he came back from wherever he went." "No, in the shaker, what is the spice?" "Oh, that's something Jareth showed me. A powdered version of burba weed makes the blood more, ah, spicy. Angel likes it; I've been using it, like, forever. When I run out Jareth brings me more." Harmony turned and left. * * * * Angel sat behind his desk. Then he stood and paced. If he was losing it, he should tell some one. But who? Fred? No, she couldn't handle it. Wes, maybe, yeah maybe Wesley. Gunn might help too. But where were they? He should send someone to the garage to dispatch the vampires. Had he created all of them, and if so, when? And Drusilla, how could he not have known she was there? Harmony came in with more blood, interrupting his thoughts. "You're really hungry today, aren't you, boss. Should I bring..." "Leave, Harmony, and if you can find Gunn or Wes, send them to me." "I just saw Wes; I told him you were looking for him." "Tell him it's urgent." * * * * Wes brought all of the books into the Hyperion and piled them on the reception desk. "I brought anything with references to the Master or Angel." Emma smiled. "And we have to go through them until we find the answer." "Love, you don't have to look so bloody happy about it." She forced a frown. "Oh, I'm not; mad and disgusted describe my feelings better," Emma smirked. Spike kissed her on the cheek. At three the young slayers returned from school and the four researchers went upstairs for more quiet. Spike directed the girls to do their homework and told them that later they would all train. About an hour later, Emma suggested they get dinner delivered. "Eureka!" exclaimed Wes. Buffy giggled. "Giles used to say 'Oh lord,' or if really bad 'Oh dear lord.' I like this 'eureka' better; easier to know when you have something." "Well, it's not much but I discovered an entire passage on how to re- raise the Master; it may be of some help." Spike came from the kitchen area drinking from a travel mug. "Emma, we're out of burba; where's the Tabasco?" "Interesting," commented Wes. "Harmony was using a powdered version of that herb for Angel." "Powdered? Doesn't sound too soddin' appetizing to me; I prefer fresh with my weed." "That's how it is with all herbs; I prefer to use fresh when I cook," commented Wesley. Buffy cocked her head. "You cook?" "Yes, I quite enjoy it when and if I have time." "Like what?" asked Emma. "I like to cook Indian, curry or vindaloo; I also enjoy Tuscan pastas and, well, then there are things like Beef Wellington..." "Stop, I'm starving. You know, we haven't eaten since breakfast, remember?" Spike cocked his head and lifted his eyebrow. Emma saw him shift his eyes to stare at Wes. This would be the real test. If Buffy were indeed getting close to Wes, Spike might change his mind. Seeing your love stop have feelings for you is a different feeling from seeing him or her have them for someone else, as Emma knew all to well. The pizza came and they finished it off between the four of them. Buffy stood to stretch and walked to the living area's window. The sun was setting. They had been at this a long time. Wes was trying to cross-reference anything from the passages on the Master to the ones about Angel, without much success. Spike saw her and spoke up. "Buffy, you look tired. Why not go into the bedroom and take a nap?" Buffy gave him an 'as if' look at the suggestion. Right, she would go lie on the very bed he and Emma...no, she couldn't even think about it. "Maybe you'd be more comfortable on the couch? I have a nice afghan," added Emma. Buffy was tired; all the research was wearing her out. She nodded at Emma and the other slayer went to get the blanket. Buffy fell asleep right away. For the first time in months she dreamed of Caleb, the preacher the First had used. She woke hearing Caleb saying, "This is never going to be over, little dirty girl." Wes was shaking her. "It's a dream, Buffy, wake up," Wesley whispered gently in her ear. Buffy sat up and hugged him. "Oh, thank god it was just a dream." Then Buffy looked over to Spike. "It was Caleb, he was back." "I doubt that, pet, unless they have discovered a medical miracle to put two halves of a body together again." "Caleb, that was who exactly?" asked Emma. Buffy and Spike explained and Emma shivered. "It's bad enough we have to worry about Angel; we definitely don't want that creep around." Suddenly screams ripped through the hotel. Spike looked exasperated but he and Emma went to investigate. Wes and Buffy followed behind. There at the bottom of the stairs lay Angela; her neck wound confirmed a vampire attack. Spike morphed into game face, his anger overwhelming him. This had happened and he had been here. They followed the screams to the training room. There, one more young slayer lay dead on the floor. The others hid behind little Stephanie, who was holding a cross and stake. Spike checked and no vampire was present, so he changed his face to human. Stephanie dropped her things and rushed to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Emma and the others went to help the other girls. Spike pulled the girl off of him and knelt. "Steph, what happened?" "Vampire, big one, killed Julie; we couldn't run, I didn't know what to do but the cross, then he just left." "You did brilliant, saved the others." Stephanie plopped to the ground. Spike took in a deep breath; fear was thick in the room, as was the blood, but he caught a faint scent. "Angel!" He stood in the door. " You were right all along, Spike, slayers do taste good. And hey, Buffy, he was right about them being a bit of an aphrodisiac too." Wes, shocked, stared at the vampire resembling Angel. "Angel?" "Oh Wes, here you are. I've been trying to get a hold of you; I'm having a little problem." Angel motioned to the dead girl. Spike put on his game face and charged Angel. Buffy and Emma concentrated on getting the girls out and up into each slayer's own room, where Angel would have to be invited in. On the way back down, they checked on the staff. All dead. Wes watched as the two vampires battled. Spike's anger and resolve seemed to strengthen the younger vampire. Wes jumped in, trying to end the fight without bloodshed. Something was wrong with Angel and he wanted to try and save him. Angel threw him and he hit the wall. Wes lost consciousness then. Emma and Buffy returned. Buffy saw Wes lying in a heap and rushed to him. After checking his pulse, she motioned Emma to the weapons room. The slayers returned with stakes and crossbows. Buffy aimed and fired hers, hitting Angel in the shoulder. He glanced up from his fight with Spike. The vampires flew back and forth between the walls. Buffy fired again; Spike was holding Angel, and she missed altogether. Emma looked to Buffy and after seeing how close the arrow had come to Spike motioned her to stop. The slayers rushed to help subdue Angel while Spike held him to the wall. Emma was on his left and felt Angel brush her arm. She looked down to see him pulling the arrow from his shoulder. "Buffy, the..." She didn't have time; she saw the arrow heading for Spike's chest. Emma let go of Angel and slid in front, shielding Spike. "No!" she yelled as the arrow punctured her own chest. TBC