Chapter 5

Buffy stumbled to Yasmine’s side. She placed her ghostly hands over the Guardian’s which were pressed against the wound in Faith’s abdomen. A pale, glowing light emanated from the women’s hands, and Faith took a raspy breath of air.

“Dyin’ sucks ass,” the dark-haired muttered.

“You’ll get used to it,” Buffy said. She glanced up at Spike who had staggered back against the wall beside the steps that led up out of the Hellmouth.

“Not planning on doing it as many times as you have, B.” Faith struggled to her feet.

“Oh no!” First Faith appeared next to the Slayers and Yasmine. It was dressed in the same tight leather pants and tank that the real Faith wore. In the same place that the real Faith was wounded, a wound appeared on First Faith. “Ow. This mortal would is all itchy. You pulled a nice trick. You came pretty close to smacking me down. What more do you want?”

Buffy growled. “I want you to get out of our face.”

“Hey, Faith, try this for a change.” Andrew tossed Faith the Slayer weapon, and she caught it with a feral grin.

“Shiny.” Faith swung the scythe which knocked three Ubervamps back down over the cliff into the swirling mass of ghostly Guardians and the back lines of Turok-Hans.

“Oh bollocks,” Spike grunted. Out of the amulet hanging around his neck, a burst of bright light shot up into the air where it knocked a hole in the ceiling. It disappeared into the building above. Suddenly the light turned orange. “Buffy.”

“Spike?”

The orange light started to shoot out of the amulet in bright rays that reminded Buffy of sunlight. Behind her, Buffy heard the Ubervamps dusting when the shafts of powerful light hit them. The ground shook violently, and Buffy made her way to Spike’s side.

“Everyone out. Now!” Angel yelled. He could see the walls of the pit starting to crumble. He picked up Yasmine, and he started towards the seal’s entrance. He knew Andrew was on his tail. “Faith! Let’s go.”

“I can feel it,” Spike said in an astonished voice.

“What?”

“My soul. It’s really there.” Spike smiled at Buffy. Soon, they would be together again. He had no idea if he’d be in Heaven with her, but at least he wouldn’t be on the Earth without her. “Kind of stings.

“Faith!” Angel cried out again.

“But…”

Buffy turned to her sister Slayer with tear filled eyes. “Go on, Faith. Get out. It’s up to Spike and me.”

“You’ve done enough. He can still get out.” Faith looked like she was going to pull Spike towards the stairs.

Spike shook his head. “No, Rogue. I’m ready. I’m gonna join m’girl here. I won’t live without her again.”

Faith shook her head. Instead of continuing to argue, she raced up the stairs.

“Silly vamp.” Buffy leaned into Spike’s body, and she put her arms around his body. “I love you.”

“No, you don’t, but thanks for saying it.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Soon, we’ll have a very long time for me to convince you otherwise.”

Spike put his arms around Buffy. He was amazed that it actually felt like she was pressed against him and that he could hold her in his arms. The light coming out of the amulet intensified, and Spike burst out laughing. He was going to dust in the arms of the woman he loved above all else. His skin singed, burning away to expose his muscles and bones. The last thing he saw before he dusted was a bright flash of light from the amulet.

Then, the Hellmouth crumbled away taking the town of Sunnydale with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Angel and Andrew dashed towards the front entrance of the school. Once they burst through the doors, Angel put Yasmine on her feet while Andrew opened the car door for the vampire. Angel leapt into the car, and he scooted behind the wheel. He was thankful for the tempered glass that had already been installed in the Wolfram and Hart vehicle. Being CEO was the greatest. Angel started the car.

Andrew slid into the passenger seat beside Angel. He was careful not to let the sunlight get to the vampire. He looked back at the school doors. “I hope they hurry up.”

Yasmine sat in the back seat. She let out a startled cry when Maeve appeared beside her. “Maeve, thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome, Lady Yasmine,” Maeve said. She nodded her head. “It was an honor to fight by your side. The Mouth is collapsing. You need to go like the wind before you are caught in the collapse.” Then she faded out of sight.

Just then, Faith burst out of the school. She ran to Angel’s car, and she dove in through the door Yasmine opened for her. “Drive, Angel.”

Angel put the car in drive, and he floored it. He was glad that the streets were deserted. In the rearview mirror he could see Faith looking out the back window. “Where’s Spike?”

“He stayed behind,” Faith said. “Buffy too. You better go faster. The sinkhole is catching up with us.”

Angel pressed down on the accelerator. He could feel the rumbling of dissolving earth behind the car. The car’s speed increased, and in a few minutes they shot past the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign.

“I think we’re clear,” Faith shouted.

Angel skidded to a halt. He turned the vehicle around so he could get a good look at the destruction that they’d caused. He couldn’t get out of the car to get a closer look though, but the others stumbled out to look at the destruction more closely.

While Faith, Andrew, and Yasmine took the time to edge towards the brim of the crater, Angel took out his cell phone. With one punch of a key, he was connected with Wesley. “Hey, Wesley. The Hellmouth is closed, and Sunnydale is gone.”

“Are there any casualties?” Wesley asked with a concerned voice.

“Yes, there were.” Angel looked at the crater with sadness. Buffy and Spike were gone. He could feel a gaping hole where their presence in the world used to fill. As much as he hated his Grandchilde, he was proud of Spike in ways that Angelus never could be. “Buffy’s gone. She was the one I had you do the ritual for. They kicked her out of her own home, Wes.” In a few quick words he explained what had happened to the Senior Slayer at the hands of her friends and sister. “Spike’s gone too.”

“Spike?” Wesley sounded puzzled. “You mean William the Bloody?”

Angel nodded. “One in the same.” He chuckled under his breath. “Love’s bitch. He got that one right.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing, Wes.” Angel sighed. “I don’t want to see Giles and the others right now. I might rip their heads off for what they pulled with Buffy. Tell them Andrew and I made it out of Sunnydale unscathed.” The last sentence was filled with contempt. He knew he played with everyone lives in the hopes of protecting those he cared about, but he wasn’t at all happy with Buffy’s friends and sister.

“If you’re sure,” Wesley said in an unsure voice. “I’ll let them know. Anything else I need to know?”

Angel looked out at Faith who was doing a victory dance around Andrew and Yasmine. “They might have a new Slayer with them. Faith died for a few moments. You don’t need to let them know she’s alive either.”

“If that’s what she wants.”

“I’m sure it is,” Angel replied. “See you in a few hours.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

“What was that?” Willow turned to look out the back window of the bus. Where Sunnydale once stood a dust cloud billowed up into the air.

“It’s gone,” Xander whispered.

“What’s gone?” Giles asked from where he was observing Rona’s transformation.

“Sunnydale.”

“What?” Giles was on his feet, and he joined Willow and Xander at the window.

“Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business,” Xander quipped.

“There’s another one in Cleveland,” Giles said absentmindedly.

Xander shook his head. “They saved the world. Two vampires and a nerd.”

“And Faith.” Wood stopped the bus. He joined Giles at the window where they watched the dust cloud settle back down into the crater.

“It’s so unfair,” Kennedy muttered. “I’m the one that deserves to be the Slayer. I’ve worked the hardest and the longest.” She was quite put out that the Fates had made Rona the next Slayer.

“That’s what you think, bitch. Before he was killed, I’d been with my Watcher since I was two.”

“And you are?” Kennedy sneered. She turned to find a very forgettable looking girl sitting a few seats away. There was nothing about this S.I.T. that stood out and made her noticeable in a crowd.

“Dominique, and I’m the non-Slayer Potential that’s gonna kick your ass.”

“Any time, any place,” Kennedy scoffed. “We’ll see who kicks whose ass.”

“How about now?” Dominique stood up. “Open up those doors, Principal. I need to show the rich bitch who’s the boss.”

Wood hesitated for a moment, but a glare from the two Potentials changed his mind. He didn’t want to get in the middle of a cat fight. He opened the doors with great reluctance. Wood glanced back to see if Giles had caught the exchange, but the Watcher was busy talking to Willow and Xander.

The Potentials that were able to move all swarmed to the windows on the side of the bus where Dominique and Kennedy were facing off.

“So Cleveland?” Willow asked. “What about the Council and the girls?”

“I’ll look up a few of the older Council members that were retired or otherwise occupied.” Giles pulled off his glasses for a good polish. “Wesley’s father survived the blast. He retired to his estate a few years back.”

Willow snapped her fingers. “That reminds me. I should call Wesley.” She pulled out a trac phone. She quickly dialed in Wesley’s number. “Hey, Wesley. It’s Willow.”

“I see you survived,” Wesley said with a chilled voice. “Angel and Andrew did too, by the way.”

“Faith’s dead,” Willow blurted out. “Rona’s the new Slayer.”

“I see. Anything else?”

“Uh, are you mad at me for some reason, Wesley?” Willow asked in soft voice. There was no way he could know what had happened to Buffy, was there?

“Angel doesn’t want to see you right now. Any of you. I suggest you not stop here in Los Angeles.”

“Okay.” Willow gave Giles and Xander a worried look. “If that’s what you think is best. We’re going to go to Cleveland anyway. Giles says there’s a Hellmouth there.”

“That might be for the best.”

“Can I call back in a few days with our progress?”

“If you must.” Wesley rolled his eyes.

“All right. Well… bye?” Willow’s voice was filled with uncertainty. She heard a click on the other end of the phone. Wesley had hung up with saying good-bye. She gave Giles and Xander a sheepish look. “Guess Angel knows about what happened to Buffy. He’s kinda mad at us.”

Wood sauntered up to the trio of ex-Scoobies. “Your girlfriend is getting her ass whooped out there. You might want to go save her.”

Anya looked away from the window. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a while. Don’t break it up yet. Just wish I had some popcorn.”

“Ahn,” Xander protested. He moved to her side where he could look out the window too. He had to suppress a laugh. “Kennedy’s getting the snot beat out of her.” She may be Willow’s girlfriend, but he really didn’t like Kennedy.

Willow and Giles joined Xander. Outside Kennedy lay on the ground bleeding from her nose and mouth. Bruises were starting to form around her eyes and cheeks. Her opponent stood above her with a cool, calm look on her face.

“Should we break it up?” Xander asked.

“Looks like it’s over,” Giles commented. “Which Potential is that one?”

“Dominique,” Vi spoke up. “She’s quite impressive.”

As cool as a cucumber, Dominique turned and mounted the stairs into the bus. “That’s what you do to rich bitches who think they’re all that and a side of bacon too.”

The Potentials burst out laughing. They huddled around Dominique, congratulating her on her victory over Kennedy.

Kennedy hobbled onto the bus. “Wait till my father hears about this,” she muttered.

Dominique glared at Kennedy. “I don’t care who your father is, bitch. He doesn’t scare me. My parents are dead, killed by vamps when I was little. My Watcher is dead, killed by Bringers. I have no home, no possessions, and no friends. Nothing. Other than my life, there’s nothing he can take away from me.”

“That can be arranged,” Kennedy muttered under her breath. She went to her seat where she plopped down, and she crossed her arms over her chest. She glared at Willow before she turned her gaze out the window.

“I say we get this show on the road,” Rona announced. She looked at Giles. “What’s our first stop, Oh fearless leader?”

“The next hospital by the looks of it.” Giles gestured towards the driver’s seat. “If you would, Principal Wood.”

“You know, having your school disappear into a sink hole isn’t exactly good lookin’ on the resume,” Wood said. He went to the front of the bus to take his seat.

“We’ll think of something. It isn’t like they can blame you for it.” Giles returned to his seat also. “Let’s get out of here, girls. Time to go home.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

NINETEEN DAYS LATER, ANGEL’S OFFICE AT WOLFRAM & HART

Angel picked up an envelope on his desk. He weighed it in his hand before he started to rip it open. “Meanwhile we do the work … our way, or one thing at a time. We will deal with whatever comes next.” He tipped the envelope.

An amulet tumbled to the floor. A black whirlwind filled with golden flakes and tiny flashes of light swirled up out of the piece of jewelry. The papers on Angel’s desk started to flutter when the whirlwind turned an ashen color, and something started to form out of the dust. A skeleton appeared first, slowly filling out until it became a human being. The wind faded, and before the amazed members of A.I. stood two blond figures entwined around each other.

It was Spike and Buffy.

“Aah!” Spike groaned. He pulled Buffy closer in pain.

“Spike?” Wesley said softly.

“Buffy?” Angel stared in astonishment.

“Spike!” Andrew cried. “Buffy.” He rushed towards the still hugging pair, ready to embrace them.

Spike braced for impact when he saw the incoming nerd. However, when Andrew got to them, he passed right through both Spike and Buffy. Everyone in the room cringed when Andrew slammed into Angel’s desk.

“Ouch!” Andrew screeched.

“Bugger.” Spike frowned.

Buffy pulled away from Spike, and she looked around. “Heaven didn’t look like this last time.”