Fred came down when she heard the commotion. Seeing Cordelia's face, she quickly went for first-aid supplies. Cordy insisted on canceling the ambulance, no matter what anyone said, she wouldn't change her mind. After taking some pain medication, she was finally prepared to sing for Lorne. Buffy and Xander slipped into the hotel not expecting to see everybody in the lobby. A few minutes later Angel slid up behind Buffy. He couldn't help but drink in the smell of vanilla and the scent that was uniquely her. His hand brushed down the back of her causing her to start. She pressed into Xander's side as he glanced over to see what was wrong. Buffy gave him a short shake of her head.
Xander met Angel's eyes over Buffy's head; his eyes grew hard as he stared into the others man's face. Angel moved away from Buffy, afraid he would do something even more stupid. Cordelia unaware of the added audience warbled out their theme song of 'We are The Champions.'
Lorne grabbed his head and nearly hit the ground, if Gunn hadn't caught him. The street fighter drug the large demon over to the couch and laid him down gently. Wesley and Fred exchanged glances that showed the obvious concern for their friend and the situation. Everyone heard Lorne's groan and turned around to find him shakily sitting up, still holding his head.
"Cordykins, what have you done to make the Powers so angry at you?" Lorne asked, hoping his friend would confess.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Lorne. I haven't done anything. I get the vision then tell what I see and we go fix the problem." Cordelia truly didn't regard ignoring the portions regarding Buffy as wrong.
"Honey, there is more to it than that, isn't there? Come on, we are your friends here it is just us three tell us why you didn't tell us everything you saw in the visions?" her eyes narrowed, "You tricked me. You didn't care that my brain is once again leaking out of my ears. No, you just want to know about her just like high school. Just like Angel, that is all anyone cares about whenever she is within ten miles of somebody. I mean what it is about her that is so special. She certainly isn't prettier than I am or more interesting, so what is it, TELL ME!" Cordelia shouted, ranted and marched in front of them. Her face was growing redder by the minute, as she raged on.
"Fine, you want to know. I saw her die, return, kiss Angel, and saw him in the sun, making love to her, a wedding and a baby crying. Are you happy? I had to watch Buffy Summers sweep in, and once again steal the life the life that's rightly mine. She would have just ..."
Buffy moved forward, "What, Cordy, stay dead? Sorry, I couldn't accommodate you but I wasn't given a choice whether or not to be dragged out of heaven." Freed gasped. "But as far as the rest, you could have saved yourself the pain and humiliation. I'm not in love with Angel any longer and he knows that. Oh and Cordy, I can't have children; so, your Powers weren't showing you me. Now if you will excuse us, we have a bomb to stop."
"Buffy, wait!" Angel rushed after her.
Ignoring him, she walked out the door with Xander. Angel pulled the door open to see them headed for their bikes. He still couldn't get over the site of Buffy on such a powerful machine. She just threw her leg over the seat after stowing her bag. She stood the bike up as she fastened on her helmet.
Angel put a hand on her arm. "Buffy, please, won't you talk to me?" She started the bike then looked at him. "You need to clean up your house, Angel. I don't know if you could have helped if you had known any of the things she didn't tell you. It really doesn't matter anymore. Just don't let her interfere with this mission. It's too important and too many people will die this time Angel, not just me."
Revving the engine she pulled off down the road but Xander just edged his bike forward. He bumped Angel with the tire shaking him from his thoughts. "If that bitch in there causes Buffy to be hurt. I'll kill her myself."
He took off after Buffy. She was driving like a bat out of hell. No matter the time of day, the streets of LA stood nearly at a standstill from traffic. Buffy swerved in and out of traffic, passing cars with mere inches between her and them. Xander finally caught her when they were only a mile from H.Q. When they pulled into the garage, he was off his bike and at her side in seconds. Buffy threw her helmet across the parking lot into a wall causing it to shatter into a million pieces.
"Damn her selfish soul. Glory had captured Glory, and I almost didn't get there in time, Xan. She knew they were supposed to help us, but because of me, she didn't say a word." Xander pulled her into his arms as he tried to comfort her. He tried not to think about the harm the seer had done or could have done. He just held her until she quit shaking in anger.
Buffy looked up at him. "I guess I'm not a very good agent, huh? I keep letting my emotions get in the way."
Xander kissed her lips. "I think that makes you a better agent. You care; that's half the problem with all the other ones - no heart. Let's go see what we can find out on the buyer." He pulled her into the building.
Angel walked back into the Hyperion. Ignoring everyone else, he wrapped his arms around Cordy hauling her face up to his. "Is there anything else? Tell me," he demanded.
Cordelia struggled in his grasp, trying to get away from him. "You're hurting me, Angel. Don't you understand I love you? I always have and you love me too. It was Buffy that caused us problems. Admit it you were happy with me. In my arms, in my bed, it wasn't her you slept with night after night it was me. Me, Cordelia Chase. I'm the one who gave you everything."
He laughed harshly, "Everything but the truth. Do you even know what that is? How can you even say you love me when you don't even know me? If you did, you would know I wouldn't gamble with innocent lives for my own sake. If that were true, I never would have left Buffy. Now tell me the truth damn you before I snap your pitiful neck!"
"You wouldn't dare! I'm your link to the Powers, without me you are just a broody vampire without a mission. All of you would be lost without me." Cordelia snapped at him. How dare he say that to me. I work for the Powers.
A bright light lit up the lobby. When it faded, there stood, Skip in all his metal glory. "I knew it was a mistake letting her be a seer. Too damn greedy deep down, but the one who passed it on saw something in her. He thought she could become something more," Skip stated.
"You mean Doyle?" Angel asked. His voice wistful. He missed the Irishman, more everyday.
"What do you mean, tin man? I'm a great seer for the Powers." Cordelia squirmed in Angel's arms.
He dropped her as if her skin burned his hands. "Sorry, doll, but you just aren't cutting it. Powers hoped some pain would kick your butt back on track but doesn't seem to be working. You don't have a choice; you have received all the visions you are going to get."
Cordelia screamed, "No, they can't do that." She started to protest but seeing Skip's face, she stopped. "Fine, then give me the other life, the one I turned down. I'll show you; I'll show everyone. Now I'll be a big star, everyone will know who I am."
Skip sighed to himself why do these lower beings always think they are going to get 100 chances. Well here goes nothing. "The Powers have something else in mind for you. So, if you are ready, we can get this show on the road."
Cordelia waited for Angel to protest her leaving but he didn't say a word. With a loud 'Humph' and her nose in the air, she strolled over to Skip and put her hand on his. "Take me to my new future, Skip, this one has gotten so last year."
Lorne tried to stop her. "Cordy, wait you don't..." Skip looked the Host in the eyes and Lorne's shoulders slumped. "Good luck, Cordy."
She swept the room with a turn of her nose. "I'm not going to need luck, just you wait and see. You will all be sorry that I'm gone; that you let me go." Cordelia glared at Angel. They disappeared in a flash of light.
"Now I'll never know what she saw." Angel shook his head. "That isn't quite true, Angelcakes. I can tell you what you need to know," Lorne explained Angel looked at his green friend with hope in his eyes. "Was Cordy right? Will I get Buffy back?"
Lorne shook his head. "That wasn't what her visions were trying to show her. Cordelia let her own hatred of Buffy cloud the way. You're also supposed to help her stop the sell, Angel. You also were meant to be there to help fight against that hell god. She wouldn't have died if we would have helped and you would have been closer to your Shanshu. We are going to need to be at the old warehouse on Tuesday at 3:00. Everything is going to happen then. Just remember your job is to stop the bomb, nothing else matters."
Lorne left the hotel quickly: he couldn't tell the others Cordy's fate. He really couldn't believe what was to become of her. She should have known better than to mess with Powers like that; he only hoped Angel would listen to him.
They brought in the buyer; an extremist, who had grown tired of the way the government. His name was Deacon Campton. He was a 45-year-old software analyst that lived with his mother until last year when she became gravely ill. Because he made too much money, she wasn't eligible for any government assistance. He loved his mother but he felt the government should pay since they had both paid taxes all their lives. He decided the country needed a good old-fashioned war.
Buffy and Xander watched the inter workings closely. It turned out he did all of his business with W&H via fax and telecom. Buffy didn't think a simple replacement would work so the lab was working up a prosthetic mask for an agent to wear. The agent would pose as Campton for the legalities. When the delivery was to take place, they would scoop up the bomb and Katrina, as well.
They ran through all of the possible people to impersonate Deacon and finally found someone with his height and body type. Everything was finally in place, while Buffy and Xander listened, as arrangements to meet at an old shoe factory were set into play.
Katrina was excited; this was going to be her big pay off. She would make enough money never to have to deal with these 'people' again. Pulling into the abandoned factory, Katrina got out of a black van to wait. She looked at her watch 2:55, with a large smile on her beautiful face she posed against the front of the vehicle.
A black sedan pulled to park a few feet away from Katrina. The driver's door opened and out stepped Deacon Campton. He moved in front of his car mirroring Katrina's stance. "Show me the bomb," his voice was gravelly, as he demanded to see the merchandise.
Katrina nodded and the vans door slid open revealing a large crate. "Now if you would be so kind as to provide confirmation of the money transfer, Mr. Campton."
Campton walked forward with his palm pilot in his hand. "Tell your man to leave the van and wait by the doors. I will meet you in the middle; when you confirm the transfer we will exchange keys and our business will be concluded."
A large muscular man stepped out from inside the van. He carried a small machine gun in his hand. Katrina told him in French to move to the doors but be ready. Buffy and Xander moved forward from their hiding place. The van blocked their movements while other agents circled the perimeter of the warehouse. When Katrina's muscle stepped into the open area of the door, he was quickly disarmed. The agents quietly told him that he had a sniper rifle aimed at his head. Angel, Lorne, Gunn and Wesley hid to the left and right of Campton toward the front of the warehouse.
Katrina looked at the transfer to her Swiss bank account. She used her own palm pilot to watch the money show up in her account then she looked up with a huge smile. "It has been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Campton."
Everything that happened next was almost laughable if it weren't so serious. A flash of green caught Katrina's eyes; she dropped her palm pilot with a clatter as she drew a gun from behind her back. Katrina pointed it at Campton's head. "What is the meaning of this? Who is here?"
Campton tried to see what she was looking at over his shoulder. "I don't know what you are talking about. Is this some kind of a double cross?" The confusion allowed Katrina's man to make a dash for the interior of the building.
Gunn tackled him at the same time Angel and Wesley moved in to take out the others. Buffy and Xander saw the mass confusion and tried to stop the AI team. Xander moved to help Gunn while Buffy went for Katrina.
Wesley found himself on the ground looking into a pair of blazing eyes. He thought he would die here as he felt a gun shoved under his chin. "I don't know who you are but don't move." Wesley froze in place.
Katrina seeing Buffy shrieked. "You! A little twit like you thinks you can catch me." Buffy froze when Katrina aimed the gun at her. Waving the barrel towards the van, she motioned for Buffy to move closer to the bomb. "I see I'll have to clean this mess up myself." Katrina noticed her help knocked out on the ground.
Buffy's body tensed, at the exact moment the other woman looked away, she made her move; in a burst of speed, Buffy was directly in front of Katrina, her hand grabbing for the gun. Her other swinging towards her head in a knock out punch. Angel saw the two women fighting and started towards Buffy.
"Angel, the bomb, remember the bomb," Lorne screamed. By the power, let, him listen for once.
He must have heard Lorne's prayer because he moved towards the large crate. A shot range out in the warehouse that echoed in the empty building. When everyone looked to see, who had fired and who was hurt. Surprise showed which quickly grew into worry and fear.
Screams echoed while Angel tore at his hair and chest. "Aah , No!" He fell to his knees.
Xander ran to Buffy, who was joined by Campton. The prosthetic mask was pulled off to reveal - Gibbons. Buffy moved to help Angel, but Gibbons grabbed her. Xander's arms quickly replaced his.
"Babe, you can't get too close. We don't know what's happening to him."
She buried her face in his chest as she hugged him tight.
"He's becoming human," Lorne told them as he watched Angel's metamorphosis.
"But how ?" Buffy whispered.
"A prophecy said he would attain his humanity when he atoned for his past," Wesley answered, brushing off his cloths.
The screams finally died down; it was only then they noticed the large hole in Katrina's chest. The sniper took her out the moment he saw the gun and had a clear shot. Katrina's bullet would have hit the bomb causing it to detonate if Angel hadn't stepped in. The bullet hit him directly in the heart. His Shanshu began, as his vampire body died being replaced with a very human Angel. Angel felt as if his soul was being ripped from his body, which was very close to the truth. The Powers pulled his soul clear stripping away the curse while he changed. Angel staggered to his feet once again feeling the beat of his own heart.
Walking towards Buffy, he stopped in front of her. "Buffy, you're safe and I'm human; we can be together, now."
Buffy shook her head. "No, Angel, we can't. You need to let me go, please." She looked up at Xander. "I love someone else and I want my life with him."
Xander bent down to kiss her. "'Bout time you figured it out, babe. I mean how long does a guy have to wait?" His eyes twinkled as everyone but Angel laughed at the lovers.
Angel walked out into the sun. He won the prize but lost what he wanted most. Buffy called after him.
"Angel!"
He stopped when she walked up to him, pulling his head down to hers; Angel held her close savoring the taste of her sweet mouth.
"I'll always love you, Buffy. No matter what. It's always been you."
"Learn to live, Angel, it can be quite wonderful. I hope you find someone who can be all of the things you need. Good luck and Good Bye."
She ran back to Xander's waiting arms, where he spun her around then kissed her passionately.
"I love you, babe. Let's go home and I'll show you how much."
Angel watched them walk off together then started walking back to the hotel with his head down.
"Angel, is that you?" She couldn't believe he wasn't burning in the sun.
"Oh, Anne, sorry I was lost in thought. How are you?"
Epilogue:
On a private island in the pacific: Buffy walked to the waters edge with two drinks in her hands. She only wore a short sarong and her golden skin was now darker from the sun. A loud splash was heard when a baldhead broke the surface of crystal blue water. Xander walked out of the water, showing all the world the fact that he wore no suit. He took the drink from Buffy, swallowing it in one gulp.
"Xan, those are strong," she protested.
"Well I better do something to burn off the alcohol."
He captured a bare nipple in his mouth. Buffy groaned at the cold from the drink on her heated skin.
"You're getting me all wet."
Lifting his head, he grinned.
"That's the idea, babe."
He pulled off her sarong and let his eyes roam over her bare body.
"Let me show you this area over here."
He threw her over his shoulder while his fingers caressed her bare bottom. Buffy's hands caressed his muscled back, while she tried to reach further down his body. He laid her on a two-person lounge, and followed her down to show her exactly what paradise felt like.
"Oh, for goodness sake, do I really have to watch this? I mean they're like rabbits," Cordelia yelled.
The scene changed to Angel on a date with Anne. Cordelia watched 'her' vampire mooning over a blonde-haired person with long hair.
"That's how this shit started. If it weren't for Buffy, I wouldn't be in this hell."
Cordy pounded on one of the four white walls. Scene after scene of Buffy's life showed repeatedly while people talked about the Slayer, praising her courage.
Cordy pulled on her hair, as she looked up to shout. "How long are you going to keep me here? People are going to worry about me. I'm Cordelia Chase, and you can't do this. Wesley and the others will look for me."
The scene changed again to show the Hyperion. Fred, Wesley and Gunn were laughing and joking around. There were teens everywhere since Angel donated the building to the shelter. Wesley and Fred looked at each other lovingly. Gunn's old posse worked at the shelter now. One beautiful young woman, named Jasmine, seemed to have caught Gunn's eye.
One of Gunn's old friends asked, "Hey wasn't there someone else that worked with ya'll?"
All three friends looked at each other in confusion. "Nope, just us and Angel."
"No, what about me? How could you forget me?" Cordy screamed then sat down on the floor to watch while her history was rewritten. A vampire killed her the summer before Buffy came to Sunnydale, and Harmony Kendall ruled Sunnydale High.
"No, its not fair, its not fair," she babbled. "I was there, it was me, Queen C. I was the queen. Me, I'm the queen, I'm the queen."
Buffy and Xander lay in each other's arms in the shade. "This is a pretty good life we have here, Xan. I think I'll stay around see how it ends."
The End