Part 8

Richard rushed to Gail's apartment only to find several police cruisers already there. His little fantasy that they were just here for protection when he saw a four pairs of rescue teams wheel two blood-covered gurneys out of the house. Giving a shout of despair, he shoved a few of the officers standing guard behind the erected cordon aside and ran towards the gurneys. Several policemen gave chase until they saw exactly where he was going. Shaking their heads in sympathy, they let him go. He got to one and pulled open the bloodstained sheets to reveal a badly mangled Barton Cheswick, he went to the other and saw how Gail looked. Seeing his friend gutted like some cheap piece of meat was the last straw in his mortal sanity. As if on autopilot, he studied the body and took notice of the missing body parts and realized that the left hand's finger with the engagement ring was also missing. Commissioner Fortuna led Todd away, asking if he knew any next of kin to contact. Richard blankly rattled a few names and told the Fortuna to look inside the house for Gail's address book for the complete list of kin. The commissioner saw the devastation in the young man's eye, he then remembered about another officer who was missing since yesterday.

“Have you seen Detective Cherolton?” he asked, “She hasn't reported today and I was wondering if she was all right.”

Todd lied that Christine was feeling a little sick and decided to take a day off since the events got to her more than it should. Fortuna nodded his understanding; this case was also getting on his nerves. It was close enough to the truth anyhow without telling the man she nearly died from the very same cause that killed Gail and Barton.

“You'd best go home, son.” Fortuna said, guiding him out of the cordon and escorted him to one of the police cruisers. He motioned to one of his men. “Sergeant, please escort this young man safely home - or to wherever it is he wants to go. Relax, son, the ride is on us - and we're sorry about your friends. We're doing all we can, just take care of yourself and be safe.”

------------------------------------

“I asked the sergeant to drive me all the way here.” Richard finished, his eyes regaining some semblance of emotion showing through. He looked at them and his gaze hardened to crystallized glares, his voice cold as ice. “Let's finish this tonight or die trying.”

“Isn't that too strong a word?” Xander said, which got him glares from the rest of the group. “Hey! I'm trying to lighten the mood here!”

It was Giles who spoke up first. “Richard's right. One way or another, that menace has got to be stopped tonight. The death toll has risen enough and I feel guilty enough as it is since we haven't gotten much on how to destroy it.”

“Call Angel.” Buffy said, head turned to face her Watcher. “We're going to need all the help we can get to stop that thing out there. Between Willow, and Giles; they may have enough mystic energy to be able to trap the thing temporarily with a spell or two. At least enough time for us to try and kill it.”

Max agreed; the plan they have of subduing the creature might work if they pooled all of their resources together - no matter how or why - the all have a slim chance of stopping it or die trying. Max wondered if Richard was up to it, but he could already see the cold determination in the young man's eyes. Quaylen could almost swear he saw electric lightning hiding behind those eyes, and that unnerved the former Archangel. He prayed he never got the receiving end of those glares, and was thankful to the lad for being on their side. His hope that everyone would get out of this alive went up a notch. He also hoped none of them will be too traumatized by the events that were about to follow. He offered up to heaven a silent prayer of protection, nodded towards them all, and led them to war.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Return


	Part 8 Richard rushed to Gail's apartment only to find several police cruisers already there. His little fantasy that they were just here for protection when he saw a four pairs of rescue teams wheel two blood-covered gurneys out of the house. Giving a shout of despair, he shoved a few of the officers standing guard behind the erected cordon aside and ran towards the gurneys. Several policemen gave chase until they saw exactly where he was going. Shaking their heads in sympathy, they let him go. He got to one and pulled open the bloodstained sheets to reveal a badly mangled Barton Cheswick, he went to the other and saw how Gail looked. Seeing his friend gutted like some cheap piece of meat was the last straw in his mortal sanity. As if on autopilot, he studied the body and took notice of the missing body parts and realized that the left hand's finger with the engagement ring was also missing. Commissioner Fortuna led Todd away, asking if he knew any next of kin to contact. Richard blankly rattled a few names and told the Fortuna to look inside the house for Gail's address book for the complete list of kin. The commissioner saw the devastation in the young man's eye, he then remembered about another officer who was missing since yesterday. “Have you seen Detective Cherolton?” he asked, “She hasn't reported today and I was wondering if she was all right.” Todd lied that Christine was feeling a little sick and decided to take a day off since the events got to her more than it should. Fortuna nodded his understanding; this case was also getting on his nerves. It was close enough to the truth anyhow without telling the man she nearly died from the very same cause that killed Gail and Barton. “You'd best go home, son.” Fortuna said, guiding him out of the cordon and escorted him to one of the police cruisers. He motioned to one of his men. “Sergeant, please escort this young man safely home - or to wherever it is he wants to go. Relax, son, the ride is on us - and we're sorry about your friends. We're doing all we can, just take care of yourself and be safe.” ------------------------------------ “I asked the sergeant to drive me all the way here.” Richard finished, his eyes regaining some semblance of emotion showing through. He looked at them and his gaze hardened to crystallized glares, his voice cold as ice. “Let's finish this tonight or die trying.” “Isn't that too strong a word?” Xander said, which got him glares from the rest of the group. “Hey! I'm trying to lighten the mood here!” It was Giles who spoke up first. “Richard's right. One way or another, that menace has got to be stopped tonight. The death toll has risen enough and I feel guilty enough as it is since we haven't gotten much on how to destroy it.” “Call Angel.” Buffy said, head turned to face her Watcher. “We're going to need all the help we can get to stop that thing out there. Between Willow, and Giles; they may have enough mystic energy to be able to trap the thing temporarily with a spell or two. At least enough time for us to try and kill it.” Max agreed; the plan they have of subduing the creature might work if they pooled all of their resources together - no matter how or why - the all have a slim chance of stopping it or die trying. Max wondered if Richard was up to it, but he could already see the cold determination in the young man's eyes. Quaylen could almost swear he saw electric lightning hiding behind those eyes, and that unnerved the former Archangel. He prayed he never got the receiving end of those glares, and was thankful to the lad for being on their side. His hope that everyone would get out of this alive went up a notch. He also hoped none of them will be too traumatized by the events that were about to follow. He offered up to heaven a silent prayer of protection, nodded towards them all, and led them to war. -0-0-0-0-0- next page Return