Author: Anika
Disclaimers: If it appears in this story and seems like a good idea, then I probably don't own it.
Warnings: Um...big huge crossover would probably cover it. Anyways, this had to be written.
Author's Notes: This is only the first two chapters...I am in the process of coming up with the last two as I type, so be looking for it soon!
Chapter 1
Buffy walked into the run down office building with a small sigh. "How did I get suckered into coming back to L.A.?" She thought. "Could someone please tell me?"
"This place sure hasn't changed," she muttered under her breath. Buffy walked down the few steps into the reception area.
"Can I help you?"
The blonde turned quickly to see a woman at the desk that Cordelia usually occupied. Her long red hair was pulled back with two braids at the sides, and she was watching the Slayer with intense green eyes.
"Who are you?" Buffy asked, feeling on edge, "And where's Cordelia?"
The red head slowly unfolded herself from her position and stood. She was at least four inches taller than the other girl.
"My name is Talitha," the woman spoke. For the first time, Buffy heard the faint Irish brogue in the stranger's voice.
"I'm an...assoiciate of Angel's. And as for your friend, as you can see, she's not here."
The blonde raised an eyebrow as the other woman circled her.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked. Talitha laughed.
"No, no, Blondie. It is I who ask the question here. What do you want with Angel?"
The Slayer stiffened. This was starting to get out of hand.
"Its really none of your business," she retorted back.
"I beg to differ," Talitha countered coolly. "It is entirely my business."
Buffy rolled her eyes and brushed past the red haired woman and towards Angel's office. As she reached for the door handle, an arm shot out to block her way. The blonde glared at the Irish woman, but she only smirked.
"You're going to regret that," she hissed.
"Doubt it," Talitha laughed.
Buffy grabbed her wrist and held it in an iron grip, twisting it back. The other woman, however, brought her leg up and kicked her in the stomach.
The Slayer yelped and jumped back, holding her bruised ribs.
"Oh, it is SO on!" She gasped. Talitha only gave a feral grin and beckoned Buffy towards her.
The blonde charged her, intent on landing a left hook, but the woman blocked it. As well as the right jab and two roundhouse kicks she performed. Then, Talitha went on the offensive, swinging her leg down and around, tripping Buffy so that she landed flat on her back.
Before she could regain her stance, Talitha was over her. She had produced a rather dangerous looking sword from her black trench coat, and positioned it precariously over Buffy's jugular.
"What are you?" Buffy asked.
"Talitha?" Angel's voice floated through the room.
"Over here, Angel," she called out, not moving her sword from its new resting place. "Blondie here thought she'd start some trouble, but I've got it under control."
Angel sighed from the doorway of his office.
"Let her up, Talitha."
"But..."
"Now, please."
It was the Irish woman's turn to sigh, but she let her capture up, disappointedly. Buffy's hair and clothing where in disarray, and she looked a bit frazzled.
"Buffy?" The dark haired vampire choked back a laugh. "What are you doing here?"
The Slayer straightened her clothing and gave Talitha a glare.
"Cordelia called me and told me that you were having a demon problem. Things were slow in at the Hell mouth, so, here I am."
Angel groaned inwardly. Now he had to deal not only with Talitha, Cordy, and Doyle (Yup, he is still alive in my story!! Why? 'cause I like Doyle, that's why!) getting in his way, now he had to deal with Buffy.
"So, where's Cordy?" the blonde asked, fingering the papers on the desk. Talitha gave Buffy a dark glare and snatched the documents out of her grasp. She rolled her eyes and looked at Angel expectantly.
"She's at an audition. Talitha is filling in until she gets back."
Buffy gave the red head a sidelong glance.
"You're the secretary?"
She nodded, grinning mischievously.
"And Talitha, this is Buffy. She's the Slayer."
Talitha laughed. "No wonder the Hell Mouth is overflowing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The Irish woman put her hands behind her back and gave her an innocent look.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Ladies," Angel broke in. They glared at each other. He put his arm around Talitha and pulled her off to the side. She gave him an odd look, then pushed his arm off with a finger.
"Listen," he whispered, "I know you mean well, but Buffy is...and old friend. Please, don't try to kill her or anything."
Talitha sighed. "You're no fun."
"Excuse me," Buffy interrupted, "All I need to know is where Cordy lives. Then I can be out of your hair."
Angel turned and gave Talitha his best grin.
" 'Litha, do me a favor?"
She raised an eyebrow. He only called her 'Litha when he wanted something.
"It depends on what this 'favor' is."
"Run Buffy over to Cordy's for me."
Talitha glanced over to the seething blonde, and then back to her boss.
"Someone might die..."
The dark haired man dangled his car keys in front of her eyes.
"You can drive my car."
The Irish woman grabbed the keys and glared at him.
"Fine. But I get paid overtime."
With that, she stalked out of the office, brushing past Doyle, who was coming in.
"Whoa, what's wrong with her?" he asked Angel. Buffy turned around, and Doyle responded.
"Oh. That. Okay, I get it now."
Glaring at the Irish demon, Buffy followed Talitha out of the office. Over her shoulder, she asked Angel,
"Where did you find her?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Rolling her eyes, Buffy departed. Leaving Angel leaning against the doorframe of his office, Doyle came up and leaned on the other side of it.
"Ya know," he said after they both heard the door slam soundly. "I hope Talitha doesn't hurt her...to much."
Chapter 2
Talitha loved driving Angel's car. There was just something so cool about black convertables that she adored. Then again, she pondered, she would be having more fun without Miss Twenty Questions in the passenger's seat.
"So, what are you? Demon? Dampire? Or just another evil spawn from the Dark One himself?"
Talitha laughed at the girl's forwardness.
"Since you're the Slayer, I guess I should tell you, so you won't get in my way." The Irish woman answered. "I'm an Immortal."
"An Immortal, huh?" Buffy replied. "Sounds like fun."
The older woman shot her a sidelong glance. "Don't tell me you've never heard of the Immortals before..."
Buffy glared at Talitha. "So what if I haven't? That just means that you haven't tried to kill us yet."
The red haired woman leered. "Yet."
Buffy turned to her and threatened, "If you even think of hurting Angel-"
"Puh-lease, Blondie." Talitha interupted. "If I wanted to hurt him, I would have done so a long time ago. We go way back, Angel and me. Met in England, about two hundred years ago. He was pretty messed up then. Tried to Vamp me, the crazy bastard. But it didn't work. Us Immortals are well....practicaly immortal."
"What are your weak points?" The Slayer inquired.
"Do you ever stop asking questions?" she sighed. "I guess not. To you, I'm just a new evil to be fought, huh? Well," the Immortal continued, "The Immortals are too busy killing each other off to even think about humans. Normaly, we wouldn't waste our time. You see, we are at the time of the Gathering-"
"Gathering?"
Talitha sighed. "Generaly, where a whole bunch of Immortals get together in the same vicinity and kill each other. We can only be killed by decapitation with a sword."
Buffy snorted. "Doesn't sound to hard."
The red haired Immortal smirked. "I've had six hundred years to refine my swordsmanship. And there are Immortals older than that. Not many, mind you, but there are."
Talitha rounded a corner and almost audibly cheered as she saw Cordelia's apartment in the distance.
"We're here," she said, pulling the car up to the curb. Buffy got out and grabbed her bag. As she started towards the building, she heard the Immortal call out to her.
"Hey Blondie."
Clentching her hands into fists, she turned back to her.
"Just a warning. Steer clear of us Immortals. There are many who would not hesitate to kill you, Slayer."
"Thanks, but no. If I see anyone fighting, then I jump in. Slayer's duty."
Talitha shrugged. "It's your funeral." Then she sped away in the black convertable, leaving Buffy outside the apartments.
"Waitaminute," the Slayer muttered, digging around in her purse, "I don't have a key!"
~*~*
Doyle was sitting in Angel's office, feet propped up on the desk. Hearing a car door slam, he yelled down the hallway to Angel,
"Hey, your friend is back!"
Angel poked his head into the office and glared at him.
"I know. Sensed her coming."
"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Psychic," the Irish demon retorted.
Talitha strode into the building, and halted on the steps.
"What's that smell?"
The two men glanced at each other and said in unison,
"The coffee!"
All three of them ran to the percalator, only to see it overflowing with the rich brown liquid. Talitha rolled her eyes.
"Both of you over two hundred years old, and still can't make a decent pot of Java."
AS they were despairing over the lost caffine, the door to the office opened.
"I can't leave you boys alone for a second, can I?"
They turned to see Cordelia standing in the doorway looking smug.
"Good, your back." Angel said, straightening up from the mess on the floor. "Buffy's waiting for you at your apartment."
"Buffy?" the brunette spat. "Why is she here? Did you tell her she could room with me? I hope not, or your all in serious trouble."
"You mean you didn't call her to come out here?" Doyle asked.
"No, I don't even like her," she said with a snort.
Suddenly, Doyle grabbed his head in pain, and he fell to the floor, dropping the dampened paper towels he had been holding. Crying out in pain, he squinted his eyes shut. Both Cordelia and Angel kneeled immediatly beside him.
"What is it?"
"What's going on?"
Doyle looked up from his misery, and his vision cleared.
"The Slayer's in trouble."
The trio of investigators leapt up and started for the car.
"Wait a minute!" Talitha cried. "What the hell just happened?"
Angel ran back and grabbed her arm.
"I'll tell you in the car."
~*~*
Buffy fought off yet another of the demons, kicking out and around, causing the creature;s neck to snap. It fell on the ground, unmoving.
Four more of the ugly, gray, wrinkled creatures surrounded her.
"You guys want some more, huh?" she gasped, out of breath. She had already annialated five, and wasn't looking forward to fighting thses ones.
"Prepare to suffer, Slayer," the tallest demon hissed. Then, all four rushed her in unision. As she went to hit one, two grabbed her from behind. She flipped over their arms and kicked low, causing them to trip onto the the hard concrete of the parking lot behind Cordelia's apartment.
The three that were left standing sneered at her befor charging. THey pushed her over, and before she could regain her footing, began to beat her mercilessly.
Out of nowhere, howere, one of the demons went flying. In his place stood a very pissed of Doyle. The other two whirled around and came face to face with the tall red head. Grinning, she unsheathed her sword and beckoned them towards her. THey rushed her, but she spun around, bringing the thin blade down in a diagonal cut, her coat flaring out behind her. The move had diced both of the demons and they burst into ash.
Doyle was just finishing up with the last demon when they heard Buffy moan. They ran over to her, where she was holding her stomach and grimacing in pain.
"You okay, Blondie?" Talitha asked, annoyance twinging her voice.
"Yeah," she shot back as Doyle helped her up. "Where's Angel?"
"Hiding in the car," the Irish demon at her side quipped. As he helped her to the car, Talitha felt a presance behind her. A very old presance. A tingling feeling crept down her back, and she felt slighty queasy in her stomach.
She held her sword in readiness. "You guys had better hurry and get out of here," she called to the others, "There may be a battle."
A dark cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows and stood a few yards away from the sword yeilding woman.
"So, O'lanney," it chuckled. "You're defending mortals now."
"Stonagal," she hissed. "What are you doing here?"
The figure laughed maniacly, and lifted his hood, reveiling a dark man with cold black eyes.
"That is none of your business, young one."
Talitha snarled back, "I'm about to make it my business, old man." She raised her sword in readiness. "Arm yourself!"
He grinned, his black hair falling over his face. "Not this time, my sweet. There will be another time for us." He walked towards her, and took her unarmed hand in his.
"Ce'st la vie, mon petite cher," he whispered as he raised her hand to his lips. Then, he was gone, as quickly as he had appeared.
Talitha kept her hate filled eyes fixed on the smooth-talking man until he had dissapeared into the shadows. THen, she made her way back to the car.
"What was that about?" Cordelia asked, having witnessed the action from the passenger's seat.
"It was an Immortal. A very powerful one at that," she answered. Turning to Buffy, she asked, "How is it that even though you don't know any Immortal, they all want you dead?"
"What are you talking about?" she growled back, wincing at the pain in her side.
"She's saying that this Immortal wants you dead," Angel broke in. "I've seen him around before. He hangs around the office building sometimes. Want does he want with Buffy?"
Talitha shrugged. "My guess is that he has enlisted the aid of these demons to help him in the Gathering, the coniving bastard. And he wants Buffy out of the way so he can have as many 'slaves' for his cause as he can."
"Then we have to stop him," the Slayer stated.
"No, Talitha has to," Doyle broke in. "Since she's an Immortal, she will have to take his head."
"And I plan on it," the Irish woman hissed.
End Part One