By 10:00 all the slayerettes were assembled in the library. Buffy and Callie were going through the weapons locker, deciding on their accessories. Callie chose one of the two crossbows, put a dagger in each boot, and disguised one dagger as a hair clip. Buffy chose a cross bow and a few stakes. She handed a couple to Callie. "Can't be too careful." Callie hid these up her the sleeves of her leather jacket.
She turned to face the group. "Okay, heres the deal. I'm fighting the Master. Buffy, Spike and Angel are keeping vampires off my back and you four are getting any they miss. So get your stakes crosses, holy water, heck get a dagger. They'll work in a pinch. Other than that I'm solo." She turned from the group and went into the stacks, under the pretense of doing some research. Buffy and Angel exchanged a look, then Angel followed Callie into the stacks. He found what he knew he would, Callie huddled on the floor, making sure she did not let her emotions show. He knew she was terrified and she had every right to be.
"Callie, come on. You know you can't hide your feelings from me." He knelt in front of her.
"Yeah, but I can hide them from Buffy and everyone else and from myself. Angel, I know your worried, but I can't let myself feel right now. Not until this is over. Which by the way, is in a few hours. So lets get back."
Angel sighed and stood up. He extended a hand to Callie, which she took. When she was on her feet, she kissed him tenderly. "I love you. No matter what, know I love you forever."
"I know. I love you too."
The day passed quickly....too quickly. Soon the sun dipped below the horizon and Callie braced herself. It ended tonight. One way or the other.
They stood outside the entrance to the Masters' lair. Callista was ready and eager. Even Buffy wouldn't have wanted to take her on at that moment. "All right guys. It's time. Remember what I said, cover my back but other than that stay out of it." Callista took Angels' hand and led him a little ways away from the others. They looked into each others eyes, saying more than words could express. He grabbed her arms and pulled her against him roughly. He took her chin in his hands and kissed her fiercly, passionately. They both knew that this could be the last kiss that they shared. Slowly he released her and watched her walk away.
Callista walked away from Angel, vowing that this would not be the last time they kissed. She was going to play for keeps. She got a running start and kicked in the door. She fought her way through the guards, with the others getting what she missed. Withing a few moments she found herself in front of the Master. He was waiting and ready. So was she.
"Aaaah. Callista, so nice of you to visit."
"Can we skip the 'feeble banter' part of this? I want it over."
"Very well. You will pay for your disobediance and betrayal." Without warning he lunged at Callie knocking her back. She was back on her feet in a instant. She realized that she had vamped but she didn't care. She let the demon thrive, take control. She welcomed all the suppressed anger, and hatred. It was almost breath taking to watch them fight. They were matching each other blow for blow. Callie leaped in to air and flipped over him. She pulled out one of her daggers and drove it into his spine. He screamed in pain and Callie laughed. Now the tide began to turn. She forced him back, slowly gaining the advantage. Without warning she jumped on top of him, tearing open his throat with the dagger in her hand.. Then she pulled out the stake and drove it home. She was left sitting on his skeleton.
For a long moment she just sat there, hands covered in blood. She stood and walked over to a small pool of water. She washed the blood from her face and hands. She turned to Angel. "Get a sledge hammer. This time we're doing this right." She reached for a long wooden plank and pulled it over to the Masters remains. She muttered a spell lifting the corpse onto the plank. Angel handed her the sledge hammer. She began to crush his bones Slowly methodically. Then she built a large fire and threw the plank and the Masters body into the flames. An hour later when that was done and the fire was out. She cast a spell causing the ashes to spiral into the air and disappear.
The others stood silent. Buffy pitied the girl, she remembered what this felt like.
Callie looked around the room, then at the last remains of the ashes and fell to her knees sobbing. Angel knelt and took her into his arms. *Deja vu* The last time this had happened it was with the slayer. She sobbed into his shoulder. She couldn't believe it was over. That the Master couldn't hurt her anymore. Angel pulled back a little. He checked her over for injuries. She had several deep cuts, that needed immediate attention, some bruises, but other than that she was fine. "Come on Callie. Let's get you home and cleaned up." The girl didn't move. He sighed and lifted her into his arms, cradling her like a small child.
"Angel, perhaps it would be better if we all stayed together tonight. In her current state she needs a lot of support and supervision." Giles looked worried, even for Giles.
"Yeah, thats probably a good idea. Why don't we swing by the library, get your First Aide Kit and figure out where we're going to go." Angel looked relieved at having someone to help him look after Callie. He'd never seen her like this. She normaly bounced back from shocks like this so well. But now, he didn't know if she could pull her self out of this one.
"Agreed"
Soon they arrived at the library, where they retrieved the first aide kit and then left for Willows. Her parents were out of town for a month so it wouldn't cause any problems. Willow leading the way, Angel carried Callie up to Willows room and laid her on the bed. While Giles, Willow Buffy, and Cordielia took care of the cuts, Angel went to his place and got clothes for himself and for Callie.
When Angel got back it was total chaos. Callista had tried to leave, to go hunt and the others had told her no. That led up to a fight between Spike and Callista. Callie was now back in bed unconcious, while Spike was bleeding in Willows bathroom. Angel gave a tired chuckle. "This is going to be a long night."
"You're not kidding mate." Everyone turned to see Spike coming down the steps with a nice deep gash on his forhead. "Vampire claws are nothing to bloody joke around with. 'Course I didn't expect her to go Miss Kitty on me. I forgot how dirty she fights."
Angel laughed. "She may have went down but she always gets her licks in."
Spike came down and flopped onto the couch besides Cordy. She looked at him and just shrugged *Oh, well as long as he doesn't bite who cares.* "So," She said, "What do we do now? Willow do you have any good movies?"
"Uh....Scream."
"Thats sounds good." Callies voice came from behind them. She walked around the couch and sat down beside Spike. "Sorry about that Spike. I didn't mean it." She looked at him sheepishly.
"It's all right love. You've had a rough night."
"People please! The movies starting." Cordielia steered to safer waters with her ususal tact.
As they sat and watched the movie everything seemed just about normal. Everytime someone died Callie moved closer to Angel, Cordielia moved closer Xander, Willow moved closer to Oz and Spike and Buffy just looked at each other. How everyone laughed when at an especially bloody part Buffy jumped right into Spikes lap and he stood up dumping her on the floor! They couldn't decide who looked more embarrassed.
Angel began to relax when Callie laughed with everyone else. Maybe once it sank in she'd be all right. She would realized that he couldn't hurt her anymore. Maybe it just needs time to sink in. He hoped that was the case.
Callie knew that Angel was worried about her. But she really was feeling better,Spikes' last punch had finally knocked some sense into her. She was with her friends acting like a normal teenager and he was dead. He couldn't hurt her anymore. For the first time in a long time she felt free. When the movie was over Callie got up and went out onto the porch. She stood there gazing at the stars when she felt Angels' presence right behind her. She leaned against him, grateful for his love and support. "Angel?"
"Yeah?"
"Lets go for a walk. I just need to get out for a while."
"All right, I'll just tell the others we're going out."
"K"
Angel returned and they walked into the night. Angel kept his arm around her protectively. Callie was touched, but she needed him to quit worrying and the easiest way to distract a guy was to appeal to his hormones. She turned to face him and kissed him passionately, he fell backwards under the assault and landed with her on top of him laughing. "Oh, Angel you're too much!"
"You think its funny huh?"
"Yep."
"Lets see how funny you think this is!" Grinning roguishly he reversed their positions so that now he was straddling her stomach. She looked at him and then laughed harder. She attempted to tickle him off of her but laughing he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head. She laughed harder still until she realized how close he was to her now. Their eyes met and slowly his lips met hers. She felt the familiar tingle his touch always brought and the kiss became more passionate. Suddenly she was the one on top hanging on for dear life. She was not happy when she heard a rustling in the bushes.
"Angel..."
"I heard it. They picked a really bad time." They walked towards the bush to find Xander spying on them. Angel was more than annoyed, in fact he dragged Xander, by the hair, all the way back to house and Callie literally kicked him into the house. She took a deep breath and composed herself.
"XANDER! YOU ^$%&&^%&^^/! Poor timing very poor timing!!! I should let Angel rip your throat out!"
Buffy and Willow looked up severly. "What did he do now?"
"He was spying on us." Angel answered. Antartica held more warmth than his voice.
"And he interrupted something important!" Callie added.
"Yeah, they were mating." Xander didn't seem to realized how much trouble he was in.
"Xander!" Willow was angry. "What now you're spying on Callie and Angel. Why he's not with Buffy anymore! Get a life!"
Xander looked shocked. Callista laughed and the tension broke. "Oh well, this is the most fun I've had in a long time." Things were pretty good. "Cordy, do something with him!"
"Oh I will."
Callie walked away laughing at the frightened look on Xanders' face.
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