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Rescue and Sacrifice	By : QueenC Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Het - Male/Female > Connor/Dawn Views: 2678 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own AtS or BtVS. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Title: Rescue and Sacrifice (4/?)

Author: QueenC

Rating: R

Pairings: Dawn/Connor; Angel/Cordelia; Buffy/Spike

Disclaimer: Joss owns all. All hail Joss.

Spoilers: Anything and everything is fair game.

Summary: Willing to do anything to get his son back, Angel enlists the help of an unlikely candidate.

Author's Notes: Ok, this story has been rattling around in my brain since halfway through 'Common Ground'. This story is slightly AU. Basically, Dawn discovered that she could use her Key powers early on, and has been working with Tara to perfect her skills and Groo never showed up at AI. Also, Buffy isn't quite as hostile to Spike. In fact, they have a tentative friendship. I think those are about the only major changes. And, as in all my stories, Angel is Spike's sire because I simply refuse to believe anything else. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in 's are thoughts, and words in ~'s are dreams.

******

Sunnydale

Buffy wasn't sure which emotion she felt anymore. Anger, sadness, fear, betrayal; they were all rolled into one.

"How *dare* he! He was willing to risk losing his soul over *Darla*?" she spat, stalking through the streets of Sunnydale. She wasn't paying any attention to where she was going, what was going on around her. All she knew was that she was that the more she thought about what had happened; the more upset she became.

"Buffy, wait!" Spike called, following a safe distance behind the Slayer. He had only seen her this angry a few times, yet he knew that she was on a search and destroy mission. So, he continued to follow a few feet behind her, calling her name in between her rants.

"Ooh! He's *such* a hypocrite! He tells *me* to get on with my life, then, *where* does he turn the minute he's in trouble?" the blonde growled, blinking back tears. "It's *so* not fair! Why in the *hell* does he get to gamble with his soul and be rewarded with a kid? I mean, I've died...twice! And, I've lost my mother, gained a sister, saved the world who knows how many times, but do *I* get a reward? Nooooo! He gets a child and what do I get? Bills, debt? Yeah, *that's* balanced!"

Spike had heard enough. "Damn it, Slayer, stop it!" he snapped, covering the distance between them quickly. He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around, peering into fac face.

Buffy seemed to stare through him for a minute, and Spike was reminded of the time she'd gone catatonic when facing Glory. Then, she blinked and began sobbing.

The vampire was stunned. He wanted to pull her in his arms and cradle her tiny body against his. However, he wasn’t certain how much she would appreciate that gesture. Therefore, he merely patted her shoulder, gasping in shock when she suddenly wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

"Shh, luv," he whispered, "Don't cry. It'll be all right. You'll see. We've faced worse."

"It's not fair, Spike!" she wailed, her voice muffled. "He didn't even think about the consequences. He just did what he wanted. If he had lost his soul..."

Spike stiffened a wave of fear washing over him at that terrifying thought. "But he didn't. And, now, there's a kid to think about. We need to decide if the Bit is strong enough to get the little bugger back," he replied, sounding calm and in control. However, inside, he was seething.

Buffy sniffed, looking up at him. "You're right. This isn't about Angel. This is about helping an innocent baby," she sighed, reluctantly stepping out of his comforting embrace. Shaking her head, she cleared her mind of that train of thought. Finally, she looked around, taking in her surroundings. They were standing in front of the rubble that had once been Sunnydale High School.

She stared at the building; memories of the three years she'd spent there washing over her. That in and of itself was nothing new. Virtually every time she passed this particular area, she was reminded of what she had seen and done within those walls. However, this time, it was somehow different, as if she was seeing it all for the first time.

"You know, Spike, I hate it. This town, I mean it. All of the memories...no matter where I turn, I can't escape it. I saw the Hellmouth open twice while I went to that school. I killed the Master here. Ms. Calendar..." her voice trailed off as fresh tears filled her eyes.

"Now, Slayer, don't forget me," Spike spoke up, sounding almost indignant. "I almost killed you here."

Buffy rolled her eyes, a small smile playing across her lips. Her tears were all but forgotten as she turned to face him, her hands on her hips. "You did not!" she taunted, grateful for the familiarity that their bantering brought.

"I did, too! And, if your mum hadn't hit me in the head with that axe, I would have bloody well succeeded, too!" he protested.

She laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, right! Spike, I could have staked you at any day!"

The vampire crossed his arms over his chest, raising his scarred eyebrow. "Really?" At her nodding, he questioned, "Then, why didn't you?"

Buffy paused, her eyes wide. "I, uh, I need to get back," she replied, walking past him and heading back to her house. She knew that she was taking the coward's way out.

Spike watched as she walked away, sighing and shaking his head, a slight smirk on his face. "Go ahead and run, Slayer. I'll catch you, soon enough," he murmured.

******

LA

Wesley couldn't believe he was actually considering this. However, he also knew that he was willing to do anything to try to make amends for his betrayal. Therefore, if risking his now pathetic existence brought him one step closer to redemption that is what he would do.

It was with that goal in mind that the former Watcher found himself sitting at a small café, sipping a cup of watered down tea, and waiting for his connection to the infamous law firm to arrive.

"You know, for someone who said they were sure they wanted to help, you certainly look conflicted."

Wesley closed his eyes, forcing back the grimace that threatened to cross his face. Keeping his voice steady, he calmly said, "Hello, Lilah."

Lilah Morgan smiled, walking around the man and sitting across from him at the small table. "Hello, Wesley. I must admit, I was surprised to hear from you. I was *positive* I was going to have to do some more...convincing," she stated, placing her briefcase on the table. The smile never wavered from her face as she opened it and pulled out some documents.

The English man raised an eyebrow, watching as she shuffled the papers, then set them down before him. He glanced at them briefly, then raised his eyes back to her. "Time to sign away my soul, is it?" he asked calmly.

She laughed, handing him a pen. "Well, you know us. Considering the type of business we're in, we have to be thorough, to say the least," she answered coyly.

Wesley studied the pen, his mind working in overdrive to find a way out of this without arousing suspicion. Finally, he opted to stall until an idea occurred. "And which business would that be, precisely? The law, or the aiding the darkness?" he questioned dryly.

Lilah smirked at him. "Is there a difference?" she replied. Then, her face grew serious. "Now, if you don't mind, I have an appointment this afternoon. Just sign beside the X, and I'll be on my way."

He swallowed, skimming over the writing. After a moment, he laughed darkly. "What, you don't require blood?" he wondered aloud.

She shook her head, the smirk returning. "That comes later. For now, just your signature will suffice," she responded.

Wesley nodded, slowly placing the pen down. Crossing his arms, he leaned back in his chair and studied the woman before him. "You know, on second thought, I'm not entirely certain that I'm ready for this type of commitment. When I contacted you a mea meeting, I merely meant that I wished to discuss precisely *what* it was your firm wanted from me. I wasn't necessarily agreeing to anything short of a conversation between myself and the senior partners," he announced.

The lawyer stared at him, her face a picture of shock. "B-But, that isn't possible," she stammered. Taking a deep breath, she quickly got control of herself. "The senior partners don't just *meet* with potential employees, Wesley. That's what I'm here for. Once you've signed the papers and shown your loyalty, *then* you *may* meet them."

He smiled, rising to his feet. He rummaged through his pocket for a moment until he found what he was looking for. Pulling out a few dollars, he placed them on the table for the waitress, then turned and proceeded to walk away.

"Wait!" Lilah called. She sighed in relief when he stopped and glanced back at her. She laughed nervously, slowly standing. "I'll see what I can do, all right? I'm not promising anything."

Wesley shrugged. "Neither am I," he replied. He then faced forward once more and left the café, disappearing into the crowd of people on the sidewalk.

"Damn," Lilah swore, slumping back in her chair. "I almost had him." She sighed, shoving the contract back into her briefcase. "No matter," she assured herself. "I *will* get him, one way or another."

Wesley didn't slow down until he was less than a block from his apartment. Only then did he allow himself to pause for a moment and collect his racing thoughts. Although he knew that getting the book was of some urgency, he was also aware that selling his soul to the enemy was certainly going to be frowned upon by the Powers That Be. However, seeing as how his only way into the building was now gone, at least temporarily, he was at a loss for what to do next.

Sitting down on a nearby bench, he ran his fingers through his hair, sighing deeply. "I must find a way to get that damned book," he muttered softly.

"You know, of all of the people that I met during my time in LA, you were one of the *last* ones I thought I would see talking to himself. What's the matter? Angel finally drive you insane with his anal retentive behavior and constant brooding?"

Wesley froze, his eyes closing in sheer frustration. Aloud, he harshly demanded, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be somewhere else, hiding like the coward you are?"

Lindsey McDonald made a tsking noise, his smug smile widening. "Now, now, Mr. Price. That's no way to speak to someone who's come to help you," he scolded mildly.

The English man opened his weary eyes, turning his head to pin the former lawyer with a dark look. "What *possible* help could you provide?" he spat.

The young man's smirk grew as he walked closer until he was eventually standing in front of him. "*I*," he replied cockily, "Know how you can get the book you need."

******

Sunnydale

The moment Angel heard his Childe's singsong voice, he knew that all hell was about to break loose. Jumping to his feet, he rushed towards the front door, just in time to see Dawn cross her arms over her chest and demand, "Let's try this again, psycho bitch. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?"

The souled vampire paused a few feet away, surprised. The young woman standing before him was very different from the whining, sniffling little girl that he had known when he had lived in Sunnydale. Rather than scream and run farther into the safety of her home, Dawn seemed to actually be considering a way to take out the evil vampiress and get back to the issue at hand without causing an uproar in the living room. However, Angel couldn't allow her to do that. No matter *how* good of a fighter she may be, Drusilla was his responsibility. Therefore, taking a deep, unnecessary breath, he walked up behind the teenager, glaring at his Childe.

The insane woman grinned as her Sire came into view, something that looked eerily similar to relief passing across her face. "My Angel," she crooned. "The stars whispered that you would be here, plotting and planning, searching for a way through the delicious pain."

Angel fought the urge to roll his eyes, instead sighing heavily. "Dawn," he said quietly, not looking away from the vampiress, "Go back into the living room. I'll be in there in a minute."

Dawn stepped out of the way, allowing him a clear path to the unwelcome guest. However, she didn't move anymore than that.

The former Scourge of Europe glanced at her, hoping to frighten her into obedience with a stern look. "*Now*, Dawn!" he ordered.

The teenager raised an eyebrow, shaking her head. "Nope. Sorry, Angel, but this is *my* house. So, I can stand where I want," she answered. Then, as an afterthought, added, "And, just so you know, if *that's* how you're planning on getting Connor to listen to you, you'll want to work on the look. That was *so* not scary."

Snarling, Angel slipped into game face, turning and growling at her. Dawn squeaked, taking a few steps back. "Ok," she amended, "*That* was scary!" Then, she darted back into the living room, not daring to look behind her.

Once she was back with the group, the souled vampire placed his attention on an amused looking Drusilla, his human mask back in place. "Dru," he asked wearily, "What are you doing here?"

"That's what the hell *I'd* like to know!" Buffy snapped, walking up the sidewalk, Spike beside her. "I leave for a few minutes, and when I get back, *you're* acting like you're going to bite my sister, and Drusilla, queen of the loony tunes, is standing on my front porch!" Pulling out a stake, the blonde paused at the bottom of her stairs, eyeing them. "Now, please give me *one* good reason why I shouldn't stake your sorry ass."

"Because, if you do, we're going to be in a whole world of trouble," Cordelia announced, coming to stand beside Angel. She looked at Drusilla, a small smile on her face. "Isn't that right, Dru?"

The other woman merely nodded, moaning softly and swaying once more. "The light came through the dark, burning me. Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle. Then it was all clear again," she whispered.

Buffy raised an eyebrow, exchanging a confused look with Spike. "Ok, what is *that* supposed to mean?" she demanded.

Cordelia turned her gaze to the Slayer. "I just got another vision. Believe it or not, she's here to help. In fact, the Powers That Be themselves sent her," she explained. She then turned her attention back to Dru. "And, I think you can stop pretending now. You and I both know you aren't that crazy anymore."

******
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Rescue and Sacrifice