A Crossover Into Hell

[Evilyn]

W.I.P

DISCLAIMER: None of the characters belong to me, all belong respectively to Fox, Mutant Enemy, etc, etc.

SPOILER ALERT! There will be spoilers for Buffy Season 8 and Angel: After the Fall. So if you haven't read the comics yet, and don't want to be spoiled, you probably shouldn't read this story. If you haven't read the comics and don't intend to, then by all means, read the story. Maybe I will perhaps intrigue you enough to start reading the comics. If you know what's going on in S8 and A:ATF, then I'm trying to stay as close to canon/fanon as I possibly can. I'm going to try to keep certain things exact, but this is a fantasy, so some things aren't going to be straight canon.

Summary: This is my take on a crossover of Buffy Season 8 and Angel: After the Fall. It has been reportedly repeated that there wouldn't be a crossover of the two comics for some time yet, and well, I think they should definetely coincide. Spoilers up to Season 8 #12 and Angel: After the Fall #5. In the first chapter, Buffy has just found out about what has happened in LA and is preparing to jump in, so to speak. This is 100 an B/A ship, though I may throw in a little Spuff, somewhere for some drama, I don't know.

Side note: This is my third attempt at fanfic, and I would hope that I'm improving, though I know my grammar and spelling isn't the best at times. I've already posted this story at fanfiction.net, but I also wanted to post it here. The BB is like family and I value the opinion of you guys here a lot. So, please read and review. I can take constructive criticism, but just don't be outright mean. Thanks and enjoy!



The road to Sunnydale, Just Outside of L.A.

"Buffy, I'm not sure you fully understand the ramifications of what you are about to do."

"I don't need to fully understand, Giles. All I need to fully understand is that Angel, Spike and thousands of innocents are trapped in hell. They need help, and I'm here to give it. Tell me again, why exactly are you here? It's not like you care what happens to them. I mean, after all, you are partially responsible for this situation, aren't you?" Buffy stated, poking her finger at the plasma like sphere surrounding outer LA.

"Buffy, that's not fair, Giles didn't know. We all thought Angel was evil again, I mean, he was heading up the most evil law firm in THE WORLD."

"Well, that's the problem isn't it, Xander. You all thought Angel and Spike were evil again. Not a single one of you asked me what I thought. And here I thought I was the leader of this big slayer army, extremely capable of making up my own mind and everything. Guess I was way outta line in that department, huh?"

She stood, facing Xander and crossed her arms, waiting for his response. None came.

"Now, if you are all through trying to justify your actions to me, I'd like to get this over with."

She looked at each of her friends, her family. She knew they had done what they thought was best, but it didn't matter. If innocent people were trapped in hell, she should be there to free them, and she should most definetely be there fighting beside Angel and Spike.

"Uh, Buffy, what about Twilight?" Willow asked.

"What about him? How do we know that he isn't some how responsible for what is going on here?"

"Well, I guess we don't, but still. Buffy, this is HELL. A few days to us out here could be years to you, in there. Are you completely sure you want to do this, and alone to boot. You have an army that can help you, Buffy. You don't need to do this by yourself." Willow said, taking Buffy's hand in hers.

"Will, I'm sure. I've never been more sure about anything in my entire life. For once, I know where I'm supposed to be, and it's in there, fighting for the greater good. The world has 1800+ slayers out here, in there, not a one. I think they could use the odds in their favor, don't you? I mean, you had the dream too, you know what it's like in there. They are slaves, Will. All of them and he's in there fighting for them, as a human no less. He needs me, and I need to help him. I can't let him die, not without trying. Come on, let's do this, ok?"

Willow looked at her friend. Buffy had obviously been in an odd place for a while. She still wasn't sure about everything, but if she had learned anything over the years, it was to trust Buffy's instinct. And, after all, she did have the same dream, both she and Buffy were there and saw the madness that was LA.

"All right, let's do it then." Willow said with a smile.

24 hours prior, Scotland

Buffy woke, drenched in sweat. She sat up, trying to decipher the images she had just seen in her dream. All of them a bit too far fetched to be real, but somehow she knew they were. She looked next to her, where Satsu slept and thought about waking her. She decided against it and rose to grab her robe from its resting place on the chair. She slid her arms in and enveloped herself in it's warmth. She made her way to the window, looked out over the moor and recalled the images that had flooded her mind, only a few moments earlier.

'They keep coming. Hope Connor got far enough away. First heat down. Where's Spike? Oh. Dragon's helping our odds. Where's Gunn? Where's Gunn?'

She could hear his thoughts, feel his emotions. She watched as he was teleported to the top of a building and she was sucked up with him. Even in dreams, teleportation made her queasy. He was looking around, confused.

'Where? Teleported? Get back to the fight. Zombie? Tacky. Have to get back to the fight.'

It was then she noted she could feel something more than his emotions. As he started to jump from the roof, she screamed for him to stop. It was no use, he couldn't hear her.

'Quick beheading. Back to the fight. Heart racing. Where was Gunn? He'll be fine. No he was dying. People screaming. Heart racing?'

She ran after him and stopped at the ledge, afraid to look down. Then his thoughts spoke to her, once more.

'Legs broken? Back, too. Heart racing? Oh.'

He had hit the top of a car and landed badly on the pavement. She breathed a sigh of relief. He was still thinking, which meant he was still living, for the moment. She watched as Wesley approached him. He said something to him and then Angel passed out, probably from the pain.

She closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them from her face and turned to leave the room. She tip-toed quietly to the door, as to not wake Satsu, and opened it. Buffy peered down the hall, and made her way down the stairs to what Xander liked to call the "Danger Room". It had something to do with X-men he had explained. He was always referencing something to do with comics. She'd never been much of a reader, didn't really have the time to. She scanned the room, and saw that Willow was there, looking at one of the monitors. Just then, she remembered another part of the dream.

Angel was laying on a table, holding a book that looked as if it was made out of skin. He also had some sort of leech things stuck to his body in various places.

"Ts'nad Hc-Iz T'guerhr Ev! Nella!" Angel chanted

"Ts'nad Hc-Iz T'guerhr Ev! Nella!" Wesley repeated

Buffy realized she was no longer alone. She turned to see Willow standing next to her.

"What are they doing?" she asked Willow.

"It's black magik. A healing spell, but dark magik none the less. That's the Necronomicon he's holding there in his hand" and Willow pointed to the book Angel was reciting the spell from.

"Okay, next it says you're supposed to put one hand on your hip and the other kinda like a spout-" Angel told Wesley.

"Wait...really?" Wes asked.

"No. Tnuets-Ne'Zal Gnav! Snem'ed!"

Nice to know he could still keep a sense of humor, even while being stuck in hell and in obvious pain.

"How long do you suppose it's been that way?" Buffy asked Willow, sitting down next to her to peer into the monitor.

"Months I'd say. I remember Angel saying something about feeling wounds from two months ago, so at least that long." Willow sighed.

"I can't believe that I didn't know for two months! I mean, somebody had to know something. Did you know?"

"No, Buffy, I didn't know. Not at first anyway." Willow said, looking away from her friend.

"What do you mean not at first?"

"Well, I found out about a month ago. I wanted to tell you, but Giles insisted not to concern you with it. Because we couldn't help now anyway, what's done is done and they're in hell."

"Yeah, well, I don't believe that. I may not be able to get an army of slayers in there, but I sure as hell can get in there. And you, are going to find me a way."

 

[Evilyn]

Road to Sunnydale, Outside LA

She hastily paced back and forth in front of her friends. She was trying to come up with some sort of pep talk, to lighten the mood a bit. In reality though, it was her mood that was darkly heavy. No matter what she did, nothing helped. All right, she decided just to wing it. Surely something good would come out of her speech, she hoped. How long was it going to take the Mystic Slayers to get the portal open, anyway?

"So, obviously I want to say something to you all, but I really don't know where to start. You guys know how I feel about you, I love you all. Each and everyone of you. This is just something I feel like I have to do. I appreciate the concern that you guys have, but it really is misplaced. I mean, how many apocolypses have we faced together? What's one more, huh?"

"That's just it, though Buffy. It's not we, it's you. You're heading off into battle alone. We just want to help you." Dawn said, with tears in her eyes.

"Please Dawn, do not let those tears fall. We will be knee deep in saltwater if you do." Buffy said with a smile.

"Buffy, we're ready." Willow said, from behind.

"Well, here goes. Remember, if I don't make it out in two days time, here, send someone after me. Love you guys."

She walked to the circle the mystics and Willow had formed on the ground. Each girl was working in pairs, six in all. They started to chant an incantation and Willow joined Buffy in the circle. She took Buffy's hand and proceeded to give her instructions.

"I'm going to be the portal, so to speak. I'm your way in. This is going to be like last time, so be prepared for the whole sickyness factor. Because I'm not going with you, you won't be able to come back through. The only way you can get back is if we send someone in with a key and it has to be used in a specific time and place. Got it?"

Buffy nodded her head.

"Here goes everything." She said

Willow began the chanting along with the other girls and Buffy noticed a swirling purplish, blue light begin to form around the circle. Wait, where were the mirrors. She distinctly remembered mirrors the last time. Maybe it was because it was a one way trip. Oh god, the spinning. She had to focus on Willow. Focus, dammit, focus. Her body felt as if it was being pulled in a hundred different directions at once. And as quickly as it began, there was a loud pop. She was falling, hard and fast. Oh, and there's that spontaneous sickness.



Inside LA, during the battle for the Lord of LA


Angel heard that distinct pop that came along with teleporting. It was so loud, it sounded as if it was right above them. "Great", he said to himself, "a teleporting demon is going to crush us from above."

He looked over head to where he had heard the noise and braced himself for battle. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Buffy was falling from the sky. Before he could warn the others, she hit him with full force, and landed on top of him.

"Buffy..?"

"Hold that thought..." she said, as she wretched just to the side of him.

When she was done heaving, she looked around to see that they were surrounded by hundreds of demons and enslaved humans. Apparently she had fallen right in the middle of the Lords challenge. The funny thing was, no one moved, no one made a sound.

"Slayer?" except Spike.

"I have stopped time for only a moment. Get the slayer a weapon, we must fight now." A blue haired woman said.

Angel started to hand her his sword, but she stopped him

"Keep it." She said, giving him a knowing look "You're gonna need that more than me. Besides, my weapon of choice is on its way."

A second later there was another pop, and Buffy raised her hand to catch her scythe out of the air.

"Thanks Will!" She exclaimed, "Now, let's kick some demon ass!"



Scotland, 22 Hours Prior to Landing in Hell


"What do you mean you're going to LA, now, without me?" Satsu exclaimed.

"It's urgent, and I have to leave, NOW! Please don't make this anymore difficult than it all ready is, Satsu. I can't go into detail, you just have to trust me on this ok?"

Buffy knew she was hurt but, professionally, she was under Buffy's command. Which meant she needed to obey orders without question, especially now. She didn't have time for a lengthy explanation.

"Okay, but I don't have to like it." Satsu rose from the bed, and wrapped herself in the sheet. She walked over to where Buffy was changing and stilled her by placing a hand on her shoulder. Buffy turned to look at her and saw the concern in her eyes.

"Just be careful okay? And if you need help, I'll come swooping in to save the day." Satsu said, while she tucked a stray tendril of hair behind Buffy's ear.

"I will. Thank you, Satsu, for everything."

Buffy looked at her and smiled. Satsu cupped her face and gave her a quick kiss.

"All right, I need to go before things I get all wet. I meant crying, face wet, from crying." Buffy said, embarassed, and backed out the door and right into Willow.

"You all set and ready to fly?" the redhead asked.

"Not exactly. I don't think I'll ever get used to Air Willow, but it's the quickest way to get there. Besides, Andrew gave me some Dramamine, so I should be cool." Buffy stated with a nervous grin.

"Thought anymore about what you're doing?" Willow asked.

"Don't need to."



Back in LA


"Angel, DUCK!" Buffy screamed, and attempted to behead the She-Skip.

"Buffy, her armor, you have to remove her armor!" He yelled back.

"Right, well, any ideas how exactly? Ooof."

The She-Skip had punched her in the stomach. Buffy countered with a sound blow to the head, via the scythe. As she scanned her opponent, the demon took another swing and Buffy ducked, this time parrying with a kick to the demons head. It was then that Buffy noted a piece of the armor had loosened atop the demon's head. Taking quick advantage of the situation, Buffy did a quick handspring and locked her legs around the she-skip's head, and flipped her forcefully to the ground. Quickly, while she still had the female demon's head viced between he knees, she pried the piece of armor the rest of the way off with the scythe. Just as quickly, she stabbed the demon through the brain, effectively killing her.

She stood up and scanned the area, and listened as the humans cheered and chanted "Slayer!" at her.

"That just leaves the blob then, any ideas on how to take that thing out?" Connor asked, coming to stand beside her.

"Some bleach and a little bit of elbow grease." She quipped.

Angel stood on her left side, while Spike and his blue-haired friend stood next to Connor. The other two girls, whom she hadn't yet become acquainted with, came to stand at Angel's left and all prepared to do battle. Buffy scanned the gelatinous opponent, trying to find someway to kill it.

"Hey, Electro-girl, think you can charge up my scythe without frying me in the process?" Buffy asked

"First off, my name is Gwen and sure I can. I'm not real sure about the not frying you thing, though, that scythe is mostly metal."

"If I grip here, at the stake end I should be ok. Look," she said and turned to face Angel, "here's my idea. Gwen can charge up my scythe and keep a charge on it and I slice this thing open wide. When that happens, you run in and take out the heart. Easy peasy."

"Yeah, easy." He said, with a nervous look on his face. He ran his hand through the back of his hair and sighed. "Sounds good, let's do it."

"All right, Gwen, whenever you're ready." Buffy said.

Gwen electrified the scythe and Buffy took off running, full tilt, Angel just a step behind her. A few feet in front of the demon blob, she lept in the air and brought the electric blade down, creating a large slice in the ooze. When her feet hit the ground, Angel lept over her and made a downward thrust with his sword and fully pierced the thing's heart. They both rolled back as the ooze was closing the wound and they didn't want to be trapt inside. As the last of it closed, the blob started to tremor violently, and suddenly exploded, covering everyone in the immediate path with demon blob gel. Angel retrieved his sword from the now dead demon's heart and turned back to look at Buffy.

"I could kiss you right now, but then Spike might get jealous." He said with a grin.

"Haha, very funny. I think you need to address your new subjects first, Lord Angel." she said, pointing to the cheering humans and the frowning demons.

"Yeah, guess you're right. But after, we need to talk, ok?" He asked.

Buffy nodded her head in agreement and turned to walk back to the gang with him. When they reached the others, Spike grabbed her up and spun her around.

"I don't know how you did it, pet, but I'm sure glad you did." He said as he set her back on the ground.

"Well, I'm glad she did too. Or else, we'd have been here a lot longer and there would probably be less of us. I'm Connor by the way." he said and extended his hand to her.

"Buffy, nice to meet you, though it could have been better circumstances."

"Yeah, but that's the way of it. Well, you all ready know Gwen, this is Nina and that's Illyria and the green guy headed this way, his name is..."

"Lorne! The name is Lorne and I'm so glad to finally make the acquaitance of the infamous Buffy! You are just too cute for words, buttercup." he said and kissed each of her cheeks.

He was a green demon, with red hair and horns and dressed from top to bottom in gold lame. To say he was extravagant was an understatement.

"It's good to meet you too, Lorne." She said with a smile.

"Well, looks like Angel's wrapping up his speech. For a champion, he's not much of a public speaker." Lorne said with a laugh.

As Angel finished his speech, he turned back to the others. He saw that Lorne was chatting with Buffy, and Spike was talking to Illyria. Nina looked as if she was ready to rip Buffy to shreds, he should probably intervene, quickly. He walked back to where they were gathered and placed his hand on the small of Buffy's back, an intamite, but slightly possesive gesture. She turned her head to look at him and smiled.

"I just want to thank you all for helping. You didn't have to, I didn't ask you to, but you did and my appreciation is endless. You especially, I don't know if we'd have made it through without you." He said, smiling at Buffy, and hugged her.

"Well, folks, I think that's our cue. Let's leave the new Lord and his Lady to talk, shall we?" Lorne said and everyone agreed.

As they all left, Spike muttered something about a poof and Nina something about blondes. Buffy didn't hear any of it, because the only sound she heard, was Angel's heart, beating rapidly in his chest.

 

[Evilyn]

Scotland, 22 hours prior to LA jump

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you mean she's going to LA. I thought that we had left all our nasty little grievances in Sunny California. Not to mention, things she's not supposed to know about Like say, Spike being alive." Xander said.

"She knows. She had a slayer dream and that's why we're awake at 3am, preparing to leave for LA. I had the dream too, even though I'm not a slayer. Only thing I can figure is someone reached out to us and now we've got to give a helping hand." Willow told Xander.

She moved around the room, gathering essential items she would need to teleport Buffy into Hell. She was worried, about what would happen to Buffy in there, but she also knew that the slayer could hold her own.

"Does Giles know anything about this?" Xander asked.

"Probably not, I mean, you know they aren't exactly talky talky with one another right now." Willow said with a sigh.

"Yeah, well, should one of us call him? Let him know what she's about to do. He may not be here, but I think he still has a right to know."

"Oh, I'm not callin' him. If you wanna be, Mr. Tattle Tale, you go right ahead. I want no part of it." She said and walked out the door.

Xander picked up his cell phone, entered a number and hit send. A moment later he was connected with a weary Giles.

"What in God's name do you want at this hour Xander? Is it Buffy, is she in trouble?" Giles asked with a bit of concern in his voice.

"Well, no and yes. She found out about the big Hell that is LA and is on her way there. She had one of those prophetic Buffy dreams and won't listen to reason. I thought maybe it would be in everyone's best interest if you knew and could possibly intervene. She and Willow are getting ready to take off as we speak, so if you could meet us in LA."

"Yes, yes, of course. When are you preparing to leave?" Giles asked.

"We leave in 2 hours."

"See you then."

LA, Beverly Hills

"Of course she wants to talk to the big Poof first. Not like she was surprised to find out that I'm walking with the corpreal again."

"Spike, why is there so much frustration about the slayer? I do not understand. I thought you enjoyed your pets. If this girl makes my pet so unhappy, then she must be destroyed." Illyria said.

"No, no, luv. We really can't have that. Peaches would surely stake me to make up for it. I do have one question though. How did you manage to stop time back there? Thought you couldn't do that anymore after you nearly blew us all to bits." Spike asked.

"I know not, Spike. It was a reaction and it worked. I will retire to my room now Spike. I am weary after battle."

Wolfram and Hart building, what remained:

He lead her into the building, taking a moment to caution her about the damage.

"Not exactly a lord's palace, but it works for now." he said with a grin.

"Sooo, just you and Wesley in this wreck?" Buffy asked.

"How did you know about Wesley?" Angel asked, confused.

"I had a dream, saw everything that happened. One of Buffy's famous cameo's in your world type thing. The rest of them don't know you're alive, do they?"

He was quiet as he lead her to his shambled room. He motioned for her to sit as he walked to the mirror and looked at himself.

"No. And this is not exactly how I pictured you finding out. I had this little fantasy of making it out of here and coming to surprise you in Rome."

"Rome? Why on earth would you think I was in Rome. I've been in Scotland for a little over a year. I've never been to Rome." She said, confused.

"But Spike and I came to find you, heard you were in trouble and Andrew told us that you were with the Immortal and happy. We even saw you." He said, sitting on the bed adjacent to her chair.

"Andrew? Oh my gosh! You saw a Buffy double! The Immortal thing was all Andrew's idea. So what, you thought you'd come swooping in with a new found heartbeat and wisk me away from the big bad?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Something like that." He frowned.

"How long do you think you can keep this up? Pretending to be vampy and healing yourself with dark magik?"

"As long as it takes to put things right again, I guess."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help keep this from happening."

"It's ok, it wasn't your fight. Besides, I don't think you could've helped stop it, I think for some reason it had to be done this way."

She stood up and paced the room. She wasn't sure if she believed that. Surely she and the other slayers could have taken a huge toll on the demons that took LA. She turned to look at him and saw him watching her. He smiled when their eyes met. She thought he looked happy, as happy as he could be for someone who was stuck in hell. She couldn't help but wonder if they made it out, could they have a future together. Afterall, the things that had kept them apart were really no longer an issue. With his newfound humanity, it was like he was given a fresh start. Could they have a fresh start too? She didn't want to let her thoughts go there. She didn't want to be that hopeful little girl again, only to have her feelings crushed. What if they didn't make it out, should they make the best of it in here, with what little time they had?

"So, how exactly does time work in here? Like how does it convert to real time?"

"I do believe that 1 year here is equal to 1 day out there, if my sources are correct." An english accented voice spoke from behind her.

"Wes, uh hi, how are you?" She asked, and turned to look at him. "You're looking, awfully, thin?"

"Yes, well, the afterlife is a bit hard on the, body. Angel, I didn't know we had a visitor and considering it's Buffy, I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about. If you need me, you know where I'll be." and with that, Wesley disappeared.

"Sooooooo, 1 year in here is 1 day out there. Hope I'm not all wrinkly by the time we make it back to the real world." She said, scrunching up her nose.

"How long before they come in after you?" He asked, a bit delighted at the information Wes had just given them.

"2 Days." She said, simply.

"So, looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together?" he asked in a hopeful manner.

"Yeah, I guess we will." she said, with a slight smile and took a step towards him.

He rose to meet her halfway, and took her hand. He looked down at it and then brought it to his chest.

"Buffy, I don't know where you stand? I mean, I'd like to have a relationship with you, as much of one as we can have here anyway. I don't know that I'll make it out of here, all I do know is that you were a big part in me trying to fulfill the shanshu. I don't want to waste what little time I may have as a human. I guess what I'm trying to say is, are you done with your me time? Could you possibly find time for, us?"

"Angel, I don't know. I mean, I don't know if it's such a good idea right now."

"Look, I know things are confusing, but this may be all the time we have, here, now." He said, pulling her closer to him.

He put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up. When he looked in her eyes, she was holding unshed tears there. He remembered a time, that seemed so long ago now, when she had looked at him the same way.

"I'm just afraid that it won't be enough time. What if we start this here and one of us doesn't make it out? I don't think I could stand to lose you again, Angel. If I let my guard down where you're concerned, I'm afraid of what might happen." She said.

The tears threatened to spill over and she didn't want to cry, not in front of him for like, the hundreth time. She looked back down at the ground and wiped the tears from her face. She turned back toward the door and sighed.

"So, where can I stay?"

"I, um. Well, I don't know if it's such a good idea for you to stay here. You'd be in way too much danger, and I don't want you that accesible by the Senior Partners. I think you should stay in Silver Lake, with Lorne. It's a peaceful santurary there, and a bit euphoric. I think you'll like it."

"Oh, ok. Silver Lake it is then. Think I'll be able to find a change of clothes and a shower? I've still got demon ooze all over me."

"I'm sure Lorne can get you all fixed up. On that note, do you mind waiting while I take a quick shower?"

"No, go right ahead." She said, and sat back down in the chair.

Angel left the room and she looked around. She wondered what he had been eating since he'd become human. She also wondered what it was like for him to see his reflection in the mirror. She could remember when he hadn't had any mirrors at all around, and now he had two in his room. Why had she backed off earlier? Should she have taken the chance at any bit of happiness they could find together? Especially since they would be stuck in hell, for a while with one another. She looked down by her feet and noticed a book lying between her chair and the bed. She picked it up to thumb through the pages when something fell out. It was a tattered picture of her. Taken in her junior of senior year of high school. She couldn't really remember.

"Ready to go?" He said, startling her as he entered the room. He looked at what she was holding.

"Didn't know I was your book mark of choice." She said with a nervous smile.

He didn't have to look at the picture, he had it memorized. But these last few months had been lonely, and looking at it had brightened his day, given him a bit more hope.

"Yeah, come on. Let's get you to Lorne's." He said, took the two things from her and threw them on the bed.

Silver Lake

The car ride had been a little tense. Neither spoke on the way to Lorne's, both lost deep in their own thoughts. As Angel pulled the car into Lorne's drive way he turned to look at Buffy. He still couldn't believe she was there, right next to him. He wondered exactly how much she knew, what she had dreamed of. There was time to ask her about all of that later. She looked exhausted, and he would let her rest before he started grilling her on the specifics of how she was there, in the seat, right next to him.

He heard her say as he put the car in park and applied the brake. "Guess fancy cars are one of the perks to heading up and evil law firm, huh?" She asked him.

"Yeah, guess so. You look worried, you shouldn't be. You'll be fine here and I'll be in touch every day." He tried to assure her.

"It's not me that I'm worried about. It's you. You're going to be out there, trying to fix this all by yourself. You aren't invincible, Angel. I'd feel a lot better if you promised not to make any hasty decesions without letting me know, but I know you. I know you'll try and keep something from me to try and save me from getting hurt." She said as she turned to look back out the passenger window.

He put his hand on her shoulder and forced her to look back at him. "I guess I deserve that, after everything. Look, I know you sacrificed a lot to come here, so how about if we make a deal. We can be like partners, back each other up, consult one another about things. Would that help?"

"You mean like cops or something?" She asked. What would they call themselves, the Hell Police?

"Well, kind of, but not really. Just partners. We'll work on stuff together and I won't do anything without your backup. And I promise not to make any big decisions without talking to you first, ok?"

"Sounds good to me. What about the others, aren't they part of the fight too?"

"Only if they want to be. I won't ask anything else from them, not ever again. I've all ready asked more from them than I should have." It was his turn to turn away from her.

"Angel," she whispered as she took his hand in both of hers, "We'll fix it. I know we will. Now, enough brooding. I need a shower."

He turned to look at her and said, "Yeah, you're right. You're ruining the leather seats and I'm not sure if I'll ever get that smell out."

Her mouth fell open as an apalled look took her face. He couldn't help but laugh at her as she punched his arm. "Owww, that hurts. Human now, remember, that hurts more." He laughed out.

She couldn't help but giggle with him, "I know I stink, you so don't have to rub it in."

They both got out of the car and walked to the door. Before Angel even had a chance to ring the doorbell, the door flew open and they were greeted with an exuberent Lorne.

"Angelcakes! Buffypie! Come in, come in!" he exclaimed as he waved them into his house. "When Angel called and said you needed a place to stay, to say I was thrilled would be an understatement. I know we will have so much to talk about, and you will just HAVE to sing for me. I wanna know all I can about the most famous slayer ever!"

Angel and Buffy exchanged amused looks and followed Lorne into the living area.

"Anything I can get you two lovely champions? Sea Breeze, Pina Colada?"

"Honestly, just a shower and a bed for me. I'm beat and well, I stink." Buffy said, as she surveyed his living room.

"Oh! Of course, sweetie. How rude of me! Come on, I'll show you to your room."

She turned to look back at Angel as she and Lorne walked from the room. "Will you be here for a while?"

"Yeah, for a little while. I need to talk to Lorne, but then I've gotta get back. You go get cleaned up and rest, I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Ok." was all she said as she left and followed Lorne to her room. As they made their way up the stairs, Lorne was explaining to her she wasn't the only person staying here with him. He offered refuge to a few different humans and other mystical beings until they could find a place of their own in Silver Lake. When they reached the landing, she noted that there where 4 doors on the landing. She assumed three bedrooms and a bath and figured she'd probably be sharing a room with someone. They stopped by the first door and Lorne ushered her in to the room. She was surprised to see it was made up for an individual and not roomates. She was also pleasantly surprised to find she had her own bathroom.

"The house doesn't look this big from the outside." She said, astounded.

Lorne just gave her a wink and said, "Oh, well, looks can be deceiving. Go on now, get freshened up. If you need anything, anything at all, Buffy dear, just ask."

"I will, and Lorne, thank you." she said as he opened the door to leave.

"Oh no, no! Don't thank me, why I should be thanking you!" and with that, he smiled and shut the door, leaving Buffy to herself.

Buffy and Angel were standing in the hallway of the police station.

"You should've told me what was going on." she said to Angel.

"I didn't, I didn't think it was your business." he said.

"Not my business?"

"I needed more time with Faith. I'm not sure..." he paused.

"You needed? Do you have any idea what it was like for me to see you with her? That you, went behind my back..."

"Buffy! This wasn't about you! This was about saving somebody's soul. That's what I do here, and you're not part of it. That was your idea, remember? We stay away from each other."

"I came here because you were in danger."

"I'm in danger everyday. You came because of Faith, you wanted vengeance."
She came awake with a start. She was still in her bath robe, lying diagnolly on the bed. She must of dozed off right out of the shower. He had been right. The last time she had come to LA, it was for vengeance, but she also thought he was in trouble. She should have known he could handle things back then, she had been angry and worried and acted hastily. Was that the case now? Should she have left him on his own to put LA back the way it was? No, she shouldn't have. She had the dreams for a reason, someone had wanted her to know what was going on. This time, she was here to help him save some souls, including his own.

She rolled off the bed, stood up and stretched. She looked at herself in the dresser mirror and noted that her hair was a mess. What she wouldn't give for a little mousse and a curling iron. Not to mention a good mouisterizer and some make-up. She hadn't really looked around before she passed out. She wondered if there was something here she could wear, since the clothes she came in were ruined. She opened the dresser drawer and noted that it was full of underwear. Bra's, panites, all from Victoria's Secret and all her size. She opened the next drawer to find a few pairs of pajama pants and some camisoles, once again all in her size. "Ok," she said, "this is just a little strange."

She walked over to the closet and slid back the door. Inside she was stunned to find clothes of all sorts, all her size, yet again. There was everything she could possibly need in there. From jeans to dresses to operative gear. And shoes, oodles and oodles of shoes. "If I didn't know I was in hell, I would swear this is heaven. I've never seen so many shoes!" she squealed.

As she picked out an outfit and laid it out on the bed there was a knock on her door. "Who is it?" she called as she tightened her robe around her.

"Just Lorne, sweety. Can I come in?"

"Sure, just a second though, I'm changing.

Buffy hurriedly changed into her outfit and went to let Lorne in. He smiled when he saw her.

"I see you've found the closet. I was hoping I got everything right, and it seems I did. Why, I don't think anyone has ever looked so breath taking in a simple tank top and jeans ensemble." he gushed.

"Oh, stop it. You are so full of it, not that I mind, but you'll spoil me with you flattery. How in the world did you get all this together so fast?" She asked.

"Well, I've been keeping this room for you for a while, honey. You see, I knew you were coming, I'm the one that sent for you." he beamed.

 

[Evilyn]

Pssst....If any Mods are paying attention, I'd like for this to be up there in the beginning of the first post....hint, hint, nudge, nudge....

If not, then just leave it here. The very best adopter in the whole wide world made this for me, and it sooooo belongs here, so I'm posting it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/Evil-Lynn/crossoverintohelllm7.png

This has inspired me to finish up Chapter 4 and 5 this weekend!!!!