"That looks painful," Caitlin commented.
"It is," Giles grunted, while Buffy helped him up. "Why don't we take a break," Giles offered as he took of his padding. Buffy grabbed a bottle of water and seated herself at the table where the rest of the group was sitting and planning a strategy for the ritual.
"So where is the ritual going to take place?" Xander asked.
"Well it has to be someplace where no one can see it happen, or interrupt," Caitlin explained.
"The cemetary?" Willow offered.
"No, to many souls floating around there," Caitlin took a deep breath. "The chance that the wrong soul could be caught in the pull is to great."
"The park," Jenny Calendar called out from the doors of the library.
"Aren't people there at night?" Caitlin questioned.
"Not in this section of town. Usually the crowds are down by the Bronze," Cordelia interrupted walking into the library.
"Cordy what are you doing here? I recall you saying 'I'm not wasting my Saturday sitting in the library again. I have more important things to do. Like my nails,' " Xander seemed shocked.
"Well I’ve never been a part of anything this big. I want to help," Cordelia replied.
"Well the park sounds good to me," Caitlin agreed. "The only other problem is getting Angelus there."
"I'll be the bait," Buffy volunteered.
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Giles doubted.
"Buffy's our best chance. All she has to do is lure him to the park, and I'll take care of the rest," Caitlin explained.
"How are you going to get him to follow her?"Cordelia inquired.
"He'll come looking for Buffy. I'm sure physco girl told him trouble's here helping the Slayer. He'll want to know who," Caitlin inferred.
"Drusilla?" Giles guessed.
"Yeah. I knew Drusilla when I was younger. She gets these visions of what's to come. I was kind of surprised when I found out he brought her across."
"You think she told him about the ritual?" Jenny asked still standing by the doors.
"No. Before I came I cast a little spell to keep her in the dark, so to speak. She doesn't know what's going on."
"What if she shows up with him?" Willow asked worriedly.
"I doubt she will, but if she does we'll manage. I won't let her mess this up," Caitlin smiled. Willow nodded, obviously put at ease by Caitlin's comforting words. "So we have a plan worked out. That's step one. Step 2 is setting it up, and step 3 is actually casting it," Caitlin confirmed.
"We should all meet at the park at 8:00. You'll all keep out of sight, I'll look like I'm hunting, and when Angel comes looking for me..."
Caitlin cut Buffy off, "I'll ruff him up a bit, while you all get the circle ready. Set up the candles in one circle, all of you in a bigger circle around them, and I'll get him where he needs to be. Deal?" Caitlin asked.
"Deal," Everyone answered in unison.
"Tonight we bring Angel back," Caitlin assured.
That night, Buffy, Caitlin, and the rest of the gang met up in the park at 8:00 as planned, where they began setting up the ritual. "Are you sure he's going to come?" Buffy asked glancing around nervously.
"Trust me, he'll come," Caitlin assured. "Okay, let's set up the candles over there," Caitlin suggested, while pointing to a small clearing set back a little behind a large tree. Jenny took the sack she had been carrying off her shoulder, which contained the candles, and set it on the ground. Willow, Xander, and Cordelia began gathering the candles and arranging them in a circle, in the spot Caitlin pointed out. "You guys can hide in those bushes over there beside the clearing, and I'll be up in this tree," Caitlin offered.
"I'll get him by the tree and..." Buffy started.
"And I'll take care of the rest," Caitlin finished. "As soon as I have his attention, all of you get the larger circle formed around the ring of candles," Caitlin informed them.
"Is there anything other then forming the circle we need to do?" Willow questioned.
"Yes, it's extremely important that the circle is not broken in any way. Which means your hands must be joined at all times, until it's finished," Caitlin explained.
"Why?" Xander asked confused.
"Because, if we are all joined the pull will be concentrated inside the circle. If the circle is to be broken in anyway, that very same pull could attract something outside the circle we don't want," Giles added.
Caitlin smiled. "I see you've read the book."
"Yes. Yes it-it was quite fascinating material."
"I can feel him near," Caitlin said abruptly. "Let's get into our places," she ordered. The others scurried to obey, and kneeled down behind the bushes Caitlin had pointed out earlier. "You know what to do?" Caitlin asked Buffy. Buffy nodded and swallowed nervously. "This is it," were Caitlin's parting words after giving Buffy a reassuring hug. Then she climbed up into the large tree out of site.
Buffy was sitting on a swing, lightly swaying when Angelus approached minutes later. "Well if it isn't my darling Buffy," he greeted.
"What do you care?" Buffy asked coldly, pushing down her nervousness.
"Oh, I care. I don't just pick any girl to become my obssesion. They have to be special to me," Angelus smirked.
"I'm touched by your devotion. Almost really," she retorted, and began walking towards the designated tree. Angelus followed.
"I just need some information, and then I'll leave you and your friends alone for tonight. Tomorrow's a different story," Angelus stated.
"Sorry, I don't know the secret on how to go to hell. But don't worry I'm sure you'll find it," Buffy quipped.
Angelus laughed. "You are quite humorous. Actually, I heard something interesting."
"Oh really?" Buffy arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, I hear there's a new girl in town. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find her, do you?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do."
Buffy and Angleus were now standing under the tree. "You want to meet her?"
"That might prove interesting. Where is she?"
Buffy smiled slyly at him and he was momentarily taken back with confusion. That moment of confusion cost him when he was hit by something above.
Caitlin was a blur of motion when she leaped from an extending branch up towards the top of the tree and pounced on him, knocking him to the ground. Caitlin loomed over him. "Remember me?" Caitlin asked anger playing over her features. Angelus' eyes widened in disbelief, and before he could answer or react, her fist lunged out and connected solidly with his jaw. He jumped up quickly and backed away from her, rubbing his jaw in pain and slipping into his game face.
"Caitlin! Little sister, your supposed to be dead," Angelus greeted.
"Yeah, well you didn't do as good of a job as you thought," Caitlin threw back.
"Now!" she yelled to the others.
Before Angelus could find out what was going on Caitlin came after him again distracting him from finding out what they were doing and running off. The others quickly came out of their hiding place and were greeted by Buffy. They began to form the circle around the already existing one of candles. The grasped each others hands tightly and waited.
"You killed them all, you bastard!" Caitlin screamed at him. She kicked him hard in the stomach, which caused him to stumble back, closer to the circle.
"You're going to join them!" he growled.
"I doubt it," she informed him. Caitlin spun around and delivered a kick to the side of his head, blood began to seep down the side of his vampire visage, but Caitlin could care less. Angelus was weakening and this was the chance she was waiting for. She kicked him again, this time in the shin, which brought him to his knees. Caitlin then grabbed his head and brought her knee up to connect with his head, which landed him right into the middle of the circle. Caitlin quickly rose her arm and the candles ignited. She kept lifting her arm higher and higher, causing the flames to expand and rise, creating a wall of flames allowing no escape. The wind had also picked up creating a eerily howling sound. Caitlin quickly lowered her arm and grabbed Buffy and Giles hands completeing the circle. She closed her eyes and began chanting words that seemed foreign to the others.
"No!" Angelus screamed, but his protests were cut off by the roaring of the flames. What felt like an eternity later, which in reality had only been a few minutes, Caitlin's chanting died. The wind returned to normal, and the fire from the candles was no more, but there in the center layed an unconscious Angel.
"Did it work?" Cordelia asked, breaking the silence.
The group let go of each others hands, and watched silently as Caitlin stepped towards the unconscious vampire. "We'll have to wait and see," was her answer.
"You have a stake on you?" Caitlin asked Buffy.
"Yeah," Buffy answered and fished a stake out of the sleeve of her jacket. Caitlin kneeled on the ground next to the unconscious vampire, and gently shook him.
"Angel," she called out. When he began to stir she got the stake ready. Angel moaned softly, and brought his hand to the side of his head where Caitlin had kicked him.
"Ow," he murmured.
"It's not that bad. You'll be all better in a few hours, unless I have to stake you," Caitlin informed him. His opened his eyes slowly and looked directly into Caitlin's.
"Caitlin," he whispered. "How..I...you. This is all a really bad dream."
Caitlin chuckled. "Nope, not a dream. I'm really here." Caitlin helped him stand up dropping the stake in the process, while the others backed off a little to give them some room.
"But, your dead. I..." he trailed off.
"That's a really long story," Caitlin reiterated.
"I don't understand, and I don't care," were his last words before he pulled her into a crushing embrace. "You did it? You restored my soul?" he asked after realization hit him.
"Yes, with a lot of help from your friends," Caitlin answered.
"Is it permanent this time?"
"Yep, nothing and I mean nothing will ever take it away from you again."
Suddenly the events of the past few weeks crept into his memory, and he choked on a sob. "What have I done?" he asked guilt edging it's way into his voice.
"Nothing. Listen to me it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could do to prevent it," she replied firmly.
He released her from the hug and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She hadn't even realized she was crying. "I make everyone cry," he whispered.
"No they're happy tears. Really, really happy tears," she smiled at him.
He turned away from Caitlin towards the rest of the group. They could see his dark brown eyes clouded over with self-hatred, guilt, and sorrow. He didn't know what to say them, and vice-versa. Angelus had made all there lives a living hell the past few weeks, and what he did was not something you forgive and forget. He felt it to be the best course of action, to walk away and out of their lives completely. Only to be seen to help fight some dark force that would come into town, or to warn of a possible danger to the Slayer's existence. He looked directly at Buffy and whispered almost inaudibly, "I'm sorry." Then he turned back around to Caitlin and spoke into her ear. "Will you meet me by the Bronze when your finished here? It's on the other side of town, you can't miss it," he almost pleaded with her. Caitlin nodded agreeingly and watched as he picked up the stake she dropped earlier when he hugged her and walk out of the park. Buffy started in the same direction Angel had just left in, until Caitlin grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked angrily. "I want to see him."
"Let him come to you, Buffy. He needs time to deal with everything that has happened,"
"But I love him," she admitted.
"I know you do. It's all a matter of time." Buffy took a deep breath and nodded, the whole time looking forlornly in the direction Angel previously had left in. "We're finished here," Caitlin informed. "Thank you for all your help. You don't know how much this means to me, and to him. Can you all make it home alright?"
"Yes, we'll be fine. Go help him," Giles assured.
"Thank you."
"If it's any consolation to Angel, tell him Xander doesn't hate him. Even after the window incident. He'll get a kick out of that one," Xander joked.
"I'll tell him that," Caitlin chuckled. "Always the funny one of the group." They watched Caitlin go and Giles turned towards Buffy.
"Are you ok?" he asked concerned.
"Just peachy." she said.
When Caitlin reached the exterior of the Bronze she saw Angel leaning up against a wall, waiting for her. "Hey," she greeted. "What are we doing here?"
"I live right over here," Angel answered. "I think we need to talk."
" You're right."
Angel nodded sightly and led Caitlin down an alley and through a doorway at the end. They went down a small stairway and stopped in front of another door while Angel fished a key out of his pocket and unlocked it. Angel ushered Caitlin in and then closed the door behind himself.
"What do you think?" Angel asked wanting her approval.
"It's so you," Caitlin smiled as she glanced around the apartment.
"It serves its purpose," Angel chuckled slightly. Caitlin sat down on Angel's recliner and stared at him for a long moment before speaking.
"I'm going first. Then you can ask your questions," Caitlin stated.
"Alright, but I'm not promising you anything but listening."
"That's all I ask."
"Spike, something is wrong," Drusilla realized.
"What is it love?"
"She took my Angel away. I can feel the goodness within him," she whined.
"The girl returned Angel's soul," Spike asked giddily.
"Yes, he's gone Spike. My Angel left me again."
Spike wheeled his chair over to where Drusilla was sitting on the cold ground of the warehouse, and helped her up. He sat her on his lap and softly stroked her hair with a wide grin plastered to his face.
"It's alright pet. I'm here for you. We don't need him." he cooed softly in her ear. Drusilla slowly lifted her head from his chest, and Spike quickly wiped the smile from his face as fast as it had come.
"Do you love me Spike?" she asked sadly.
"You know I do," he answered honestly.
"You won't leave me like my Angel did, will you?"
"Never. I'll always be here for you," he stated firmly. Drusilla smiled at him and gently laid her head on his chest once again, and began humming a soft tune. Spike smiled widely once more when Dru wasn't looking. Now that Angelus was out of the picture Dru was all his, and only his.
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