Deep Into The Well

[deird_lj]

An AU ficlet, from Angel season 5.

Deep Into The Well

 

It stretched across the world, destroying as it went. A new disease, cause unknown, with only one certainty: that an agonising death would be the end result. It began, without fanfare, in California, and moved slowly east, decimating cities. Vegas, Phoenix, Denver: all caught in its grasp. So much life extinguished.

 

They watched it happen, with stoic faces.

 

Dozens of scientists were soon at work trying to find a cure – none more dedicated than Winifred Burkle, physicist.

She worked in her lab for days on end, analysing data, compiling statistics, and still was at a complete loss. No common factors except location, and not even complete isolation in a sterile environment could prevent contagion. It was inexplicable.

 

Angel redirected funding into Practical Science from every department, and sent chinese food up at regular intervals.

Spike was a constant presence, helping with labwork, and listening to every frustration.

And neither of them told her the truth.

 

Every day more were taken, as it ripped into person after person, leaving only shredded remnants in its wake. It spread through Kansas, Illinois, and Kentucky, and Fred kept searching for an answer.

It never seemed to occur to her that the answer was right in front of her, helping her work – that the cause was bringing her coffee and urging her to get some rest.

It was ironic, in a way.

She had a map right in front of her, showing the affliction’s gradual spread – and not once did she notice the line stretching from start to eventual finish. Not once did she think back and wonder whether health might come with a price attached.

 

As the weeks turned into months, and New York fell to the infection, Fred stopped talking “cure” and started thinking about preventative measures, to stop a spread further south, or north, or back towards them.

They knew it was unnecessary, that the blight hadn’t deviated even an inch from its path, but even hinting at that would have raised questions. So they sat with innocent faces, helped her to form biohazard units, and kept silence.

 

It tore into everyone it reached, felling them like dominoes. Thousands died in gasping despair.

And while the world crumbled, they watched – still resolute. They had made their choice.

Fred saw the devastation and wept over all the loss, all the pain. But they knew better. She was stressed and upset, but she was alive. Working in her lab, solving the problems. Analysing the science. And loving them all.

And that made it all worthwhile.

 

Blood stained the streets.

But despite the cost, they knew they wouldn’t take it back, not for worlds.

After all, over the centuries the two of them had slaughtered millions. And Fred was alive and well, so all things considered, what was a few thousand more?

Comments

[timeofchange.livejournal.com]

This gave me chills, but it is very believable.

[deird1]

Thank you!

[dreamincolor.livejournal.com]

So dark, and so good.

I think a part of every Fred-lover who watched that episode wished, at least little bit, that they had done that.

Beautifully written, the last line especially.

[deird1]

Thanks!
The last line is actually the first bit I came up with. Just had to write it after that...

Glad you liked it.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

What a chilling fic.

[deird1]

I'm glad you liked it! (I'm going to assume 'chilling' was said in a complimenty kind of way...)

[snowpuppies]

Very nice.

[deird1]

Thanks!

[lyr]

Oh, grim and lovely. I often wondered what might have happened if Spike and Angel had accepted that price to save Fred; it's good to finally see that explored.

[deird1]

Thank you. Once I thought of this, I just had to write it...

Glad you liked it.

[eternalabyss543.livejournal.com]

Wonderfully written, particularly the closing bit.

100 percent loved it.

[deird1]

Thanks!

[lavastar.livejournal.com]

O.O

Aaagh, so creepy. I love how it unfolded all slow-like, so it took you a while to realize what was going on. (or at least it did for me)

Very chilling.

[deird1]

Thanks!

I had so much fun writing this. (I think I must be very disturbed, or something...)

[shapinglight]

Had missed this when you first posted it. Very chilling and dark, and I can almost see them doing that, especially after being at W&H for a while.

[deird1]

Glad you liked it!

(And really not surprised you missed it, given that this was story... um... 6? Not many people had found me by then...)

[(Anonymous)]

Why didn't it follow the path from Los Angeles to the Deeper Well? That's what it was supposed to do. What's it doing wandering off to New York? Did Angel and Spike take the scenic route?

[deird1]

Why didn't it follow the path from Los Angeles to the Deeper Well?

It is, actually. I figured out the locations in this fic by drawing a line from Los Angeles to the UK. New York is en route.

[cmyundies-09.livejournal.com]

Wow...that's all I can say. Wow, and I mean that in a very good way.

[deird1]

Thanks!