Chapter 26

“Oh, shit!” Angel exclaimed as the two vampires and two humans walked into the kitchen. Cordelia was sprawled on the floor, her head resting in Willow’s lap as her body thrashed from side to side. Dawn sat on the floor next to her with a pen and a notepad, writing down the words that Cordelia gritted out painfully. Buffy pushed past the men and went to the cabinet, grabbing a prescription bottle and a glass. “Vision,” she said to Xander as she filled the glass with water. Cordelia went limp in Willow’s embrace, then opened her eyes and grimaced. “Ow,” she said succinctly, taking the proffered painkillers and water from Buffy. “You’d think the Powers would be a little nicer to me and make that not hurt so badly,” she complained.

Dawn helped her up and settled her at the table, where she dropped her head into her hands. “What did you see?” Angel asked her gently. She grimaced again. “The usual, death and destruction, blah, blah, blah,” she joked. She looked up at Dawn. “Drusilla is going to attack the girls, the Slayerettes, in Sunnydale. I think it’s tonight. I saw her attacking your old house with three or four other vampires.” Dawn got up and rushed to the phone to call the house and warn the girls. Once she returned to the table, she looked around the group. “Well,” she said, “I guess this is what we’ve been waiting for.”

“Yeah,” Cordelia said, “I get that, but why do the Powers care? They usually don’t give a crap unless they’re involved in some way.” Angel answered her, “There’s really no way to know, but they are protective of future prophecies. It could be that there’s someone at the house who is needed later, and that person will get killed if Dru isn’t stopped.” Buffy broke in, “Doesn’t really matter anyway – we’ve got to get there. Dawn, how soon can you and Jase and Sara be ready to go?” Dawn answered, “Soon,” and dashed away to get ready. Buffy turned to Xander. “We have a van that’s sun proofed, so the rest of us can take that.” He nodded, and she turned to Willow. “Wills, we need you with us; are you up to doing a little mojo at the house? Just a few wards and bolstering the de-invite spells?” The redhead nodded.

Angel looked at his Seer, whose head was resting on her arms. “Cordelia won’t be in any shape to travel until tomorrow. Will you be OK here?” he asked. Xander spoke up, “I think I can find you some company for tonight, if you’re up to it, Cordy. I think maybe Brooks could be persuaded to come hang for a while.” Cordelia smiled wanly at his light tone and nodded. With their assignments decided the group dispersed. Angel swept Cordelia up in his arms to take her to bed, followed by Buffy, who carried the water glass and prescription bottle.

Xander remained seated at the table. Spike walked behind him and dropped his hands onto the human’s shoulders. “This is it, isn’t it?” Xander said. “Yes, luv, this is it. You ready?” the vampire’s voice was soft. Xander leaned back, and Spike wrapped his arms around his lover, bringing his head down to nuzzle against the deliciously warm neck. After a moment, Xander’s arms came up to wrap around Spike’s neck. “I’m ready,” Xander said. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Willow opted to join Dawn and her family in the SUV, while Spike, Xander, Angel and Buffy piled into the plain van that had no windows except those in front. The back of the van was curtained off from the front, rendering it completely lightproof. Buffy settled into the driver’s seat, and gave Xander a dirty look when he grinned and looked at her questioningly. “Yes,” she groaned, “I finally learned to drive well enough for Angel.” At the vampire’s snort from the back she added, “OK, OK – he still won’t let me drive his convertible.” She rolled her eyes.

Xander climbed into the back and settled himself next to Spike on one of the two long seats. Angel sat sideways across the other. Spike and Xander exchanged a look as Buffy pulled the van out of the parking garage with a squeal of tires. “We may get killed,” Xander whispered, “but at least we don’t have to sing.”

Shortly after they reached the highway, Spike shifted around in his seat so that he could lean back against Xander, who obligingly wrapped his arms around the vampire’s chest, holding him close. He snuggled his nose into Spike’s neck and inhaled the scent of smoke and rain. Within minutes, both men were asleep. Angel sighed as he looked at them. He rarely got to see his childe so relaxed. In sleep, Spike’s features dropped the ever-present tension – he was beautiful. His blond hair gleamed against Xander’s dark sweater, and a few tendrils of the human’s sable hair had fallen forward against his pale neck. Xander’s face smoothed out in repose, and Angel took the opportunity to really look at the young man. The years had changed him, bringing new lines and furrows to his handsome face, yet he still had the same cupid’s bow mouth that Angel had noticed the first time he’d seen the boy. He saw a notepad on the floor of the van and stooped to retrieve it. It had a pencil secured in the metal coil at its top, and he eased it free and began to sketch the study in contrasts before him.

The only sounds in the van were Xander’s breathing, Buffy singing along quietly to the radio and the gentle scratch of pencil on paper.