Title: Mystery Helper
Author: Angel4cc
Posted: 03-09-2002
Part 1
The silence that filled the lobby of the Hyperion was too familiar. They had convinced themselves they had moved on, but the silence just confirmed the pain they all shared. The pain that had stayed with them since the day it happened.
The sound of the computer keys tapping echoed throughout the lobby. The rustles of paper as the pages of books were turned. To an outsider it would seem like they were just really busy, which they were. But they were you busy trying to forget. Trying to not experience the images of pain and sorrow. The memories played fresh in their minds. Like it had only happened yesterday. But they knew better, they knew it had been well over a year since the terrible night when all their worlds came crashing to their feet in millions of tiny pieces.
Footsteps were heard echoing down the stairs as they slowly turned their heads to see Angel stepping towards them.
“Anything?” he asked, his voice flat and showing no emotion.
He only seemed to come downstairs whenever they had a case, which these days weren’t often. But they were used to it. He hardly spoke and when he did his voice showed no emotion and he got straight to the point.
“No,” replied Wesley, his voice equally showing no emotion. They watched as Angel turned and started up the stairs.
The door opened and a scruffy looking Lorne entered, carrying what looked like a folder. He walked to the front desk where Gunn and Fred were seated and he slammed the books down. The loud THUMP of the folder falling made Fred jump, but no one noticed.
“What’s this?” asked Gunn as he lifted it and eyed the photos, which it held.
“Photo’s of the victims.” He replied.
“We don’t need them, we were there remember!” stated Gunn.
“That’s not why I bought them,” Lorne answered curtly.
“Then why?” asked Fred looking curiously at the photos Gunn passed onto her.
“Look at the way this person kills.” Lorne continued, “There’s pattern to the way its killing, no technique, just rage.”
“What do you mean?” asked Wesley as he stepped out of his office and walked over to where the rest were standing.
“What I mean is, normally with demons or with humans you see a technique, something that helps you identify the demon, even the way they fight, their motive.”
“So what your saying is..?” asked Gunn impatiently.
“This person is just killing from pure rage, no plan, just kill. Ruthless.”
“So?”
“How many humans do you know that can kill a whole flock of demons? And you can’t even say Angel because he was there, even he couldn’t handle them, this person-,”
“Woman” interrupted Fred. “It was a woman”
“Okay, woman then! She kicked major butt! She’s helped you guys more then once, jumping in whenever you guys are in trouble, kills whatever you’re fighting without breaking a nail, literally.”
“So? We have our own protector, I ain’t got a problem with that, so why we researching trying to find out who she is?” asked Gunn.
“We have to know who she is Gunn, and why she continues to help us and asks nothing in return.” Replied Wesley as he replaced the photos in the folder and turned to look at Gunn.
“Why? She’s helping us for no reason saving our Asses I say we let her! Better then getting killed!” He yelled but stopped as the memories again came flooding back and he slowly backed away from the group.
“Gunn” Fred spoke softly reaching to touch his arm. He briskly brushed it away and turned to walk out of the hotel.
“I’m going, page me if you find anything.” He muttered, his voice breaking.
************
Angel sat in his chair, blank expression on his face and he stared at the wall in front of him. He could hear the soft murmur of voices downstairs but he ignored them.
He felt helpless as the sudden rush of memories flooded back to him.
************
Cordy standing with a look of shock on her face as she stared at the scene. There in front of her stood the scoobies looking eagerly around the lobby of the Hyperion.
She looked to see Buffy glaring at her seeing how close she stood next to Angel.
She could feel anger erupting inside her and was about to yell at her but was cut off as Angel nudged her in the stomach, stopping her before it was too late.
“Buffy!” sighed Angel happily as he stared upon the former love of his life. She smiled him a sexy smile but stopped as everyone heard Cordy snort.
“You made it!” Angel said happily ignoring the glares Cordy was currently shooting to the slayer.
Angel stepped forward and embraced Buffy in a warm hug, but stopped as he felt her cling onto him. He pulled himself from her and was shocked when she reached up and kissed him desperately on the lips.
Cordy couldn’t help the groan of sadness that escaped her lips looking at Angels back and seeing Buffy’s hands cradling Angels neck.
Angel stepped back from Buffy shocked at her actions, she seemed saddened by his sudden release and looked at him curiously.
“Angel?” she whispered, but before he could respond Gunn walked forward helping the Scoobies, who were still standing at the entrance, by picking their bags and carrying them up the stairs with the help of Wesley and Lorne.
Cordy stepped forward and tagged on Angels arm telling him she needed to talk to him about something.
Grateful for a distraction from Buffy, he escorted her into Wesley’s office closing the door behind him.
“What's wrong?” he asked concerned.
“What’s wrong?” she repeated, “What is she doing here? I thought you said it was just gonna be Willow!”
“It was, but I guess they all decided to come, I can’t exactly kick them out now can I?” He pleaded, he shuddered at the idea of Cordy and Buffy in the room was same room, let alone practically living together!
“I don’t see a problem with that,” she muttered.
Angel couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on his lips.
“Cordy, you know we can’t just kick them out, especially after they travelled all this way!”
“Pttf!” she snorted. She looked at him and saw him giving him the puppy dog eyes and couldn’t help but smile.
“Fine,” she sighed, “but if she tries anything then I can’t be held responsible for my actions! And with that she turned on her heal and with her head held high she stormed out the office.
************
Cordy groaned in disgust at the scene before her.
In one corner were Willow, Wesley and Giles talking about their spell for restoring Angel’s soul permanently, in another corner was Angel looking embarrassed as Buffy edged closer to him, hands exploring his arms and chest. Gunn sat across from them staring at Buffy unable to keep his eyes of her legs and beside him sat Fred looking very annoyed at the way Gunn was checking out Buffy.
‘Yuck!’ thought Cordy as she saw Buffy now practically on top Angel’s lap. ‘Desperate much?’
She was suddenly cut off from her thoughts a sudden rush of pain jerked her body. She saw images of a group of badly dressed vampires in an alley gripping tightly onto a scared couple. The flashing in her head stopped and she opened her eyes to see Angel cradling her to her chest, while Buffy glared at them for such close contact. She turned to see the rest of the AI and scoobs all looking at her worried.
Gunn rushed towards her with a glass of water in one hand and tablets in another. She ignored the water and reached for the tablets as she placed them in her mouth and gulped them down.
“What’d you see?” Angel asked.
************
Half and hour later all hell had broken loose. Angel, Gunn and Buffy were fighting the vampires. When they had reached the alley Cordy had seen in her vision they’d seen there were over ten at least.
Wesley, Giles and Fred had sat in the car. Cordy stood beside willow who was busy helping the trio fight, using her magic, while Cordy was helping the couple in trouble to escape.
As soon as they had reached safety Cordy turned to see a vampire strike Willow from behind. Before she could warn willow, out the corner of her eye she saw as a vampire was sneaking up behind Angel, stake in hand poised to his heart from behind.
She immediately ran towards him and saw that Gunn and Buffy were too busy fighting off two vamps each. She quickly ran over and kicked the vampire from behind. She watched as he fell to the floor and immediately got up and advanced towards her.
She saw as Angel staked the vampire he was fighting off and now was running over to help her.
She saw as Buffy was being gripped by the throat by one of the vampires, while the other kicked her in the stomach making her yelp.
“Angel!” Buffy cried as she saw him. He turned to see her being beaten.
Cordy watched as the vampire in front of her drew out the stake again, she went to punch him, but he was too fast. Before she could react she felt a sharp pain in her chest and looked down to see a stake embedded in her heart.
“Nooooooo!” she heard Angel cry as he ran and immediately staked the vampire and turned to Cordy who was now slumped to the ground, bleeding heavily. He reached down and hugged her tightly, cradling her to his chest.
“Cordy,” he whispered.
By now Gunn and Buffy had managed to stake the vampires and ran over to an injured Cordy.
“We gotta get her to a hospital.” Buffy exclaimed as she helped pick up Cordy.
“No!” Cordy whispered. She watched as Willow slowly rose and walked over to them trembling closely follwed by a shocked Wesley, fred and giles.
Cordy felt the pain take over her as she looked up into Angel’s eyes and whispered, “I love you.” She closed her eyes and blackness evaded her.
Part 2 (of ?)
The group entered Caritas, Angel leading and went to sit at a table in the far corner. They sat in silence as they heard a demon singing a very bad version of ‘112 Peaches and Cream’. Gunn snorted in disgust as he eyed the demon singing the lyrics excitedly.
A few minutes passed, when Lorne appeared from behind them looking neater then before. He came and sat down beside Fred and looked to see the blank expressions around him.
“Well?” asked Angel getting annoyed. All he wanted to do was get this over and done with and go back to sitting in his room brooding as he recalled each and every memory of Cordelia he possessed.
“Well,” began Lorne, “I’ve been reading quite a lot of demons and have managed to find out information concerning this ‘mystery helper’ of yours. Apparently she’s
been helping a lot of people. She’s already killed half the demons Wolfram and Hart have summoned to kill,” he sighed, as he looked Angel, “well you.”
“So who is this and why is she doing this?” Wesley asked unable to hold the pleading tone in his voice. He wanted to know who this woman was and thank her for
saving his life a number of times.
“No one knows, she’s been around for quite a while but no one seems to know who she is. She’s been followed loadsa times and every time she seems to just
disappear. There’s a rumour about her being the chosen one, who will rise to protect the innocent and banish evil from the world.”
“Wow, this is exciting, anyone seen what she looks like?” Fred asked eagerly.
“Apparently she only reveals her face before she kills her victims, people have tried to take a look or even speak to her, hear her voice but, nothing.” He sighed.
“Wow she going for the dark avenger theme?” Gunn asked. He received blank stares at his pathetic joke. “Okay well this is useful! What do we do now?”
The group remained silent not knowing how to use this information and what to do with it.
“O great!” muttered Gunn as he looked toward the entrance of the karaoke bar. They all followed his gaze and their eyes landed on Buffy and Spike standing
staring at them.
“Indeed.” Whispered Wesley.
************
They watched as Buffy walked over to where they sat, with Spike following closely behind.
“Buffy.” Said Angel as he stood and stared at her.
They hadn’t seen each other since Cordelia’s death and even looking at her bought back memories of the night Cordy died.
She looked at him and sighed at the state she saw him. The last time she’d seen him, his eyes were filled with pain and sadness as they stood in the waiting room of
the hospital. The doctor entered and told the group silently that Cordy was dead, there was no saving her no matter what they did. Angel sat in the corner away
from the hushed discussion between the group and the doctor. The doctor and muttered an apology at the loss of their friend and departed the waiting room. Angel
walked over to where they stood, a look of hope in his eyes. He looked at the faces of his friends and immediately knew. They watched as he broke down in front
of them, tears streaming down his face, shaking vigorously. They went to comfort him but they could see he wasn’t aware of their presence. His world has shattered
around him and there was no going back. She remembered as he stood by Cordy’s bed, holding her hand wishing her to come back to him. He wasn’t even able to
tell her how much loved her. How she had become his world. They had all watched him crying non-stop, growling whenever someone entered the room. He didn’t
care that he was his friends saw him cry. When they had finally taken him to the hotel locked himself in his room. He refused to eat, he never allowed anyone near him. He hadn’t even come out of his room for at least a month.
Buffy hadn’t seen him since then; she had called regularly to check on him. And always heard the same story of how he only came out of room to eat and check up on how things were going. Then he wouldn’t reappear for days on end.
Now Buffy stood and looked into Angel’s eyes and saw nothing. No sadness, no pain, no hurt. Nothing. He was just…gone. No longer cared. He felt nothing. He
Looked pale and so weak. Nothing like the Angel she knew. He looked so helpless.
“Buffy?” he asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
He was surprised to see her here. She was the last person he expected to see, especially with Spike.
“What’s he doing here?” he asked, gesturing towards Spike.
“He’s here to help,” Buffy chimed in, before Spike had the chance to respond.
“With what exactly?” asked Wesley, stunned by the appearance if Spike.
“With your little helper who no-one knows.” Spike stated.
“So how can you help?” asked Angel, shocked at how Buffy behaved so comfortable with him.
“I know who she is.”
Part 3 (of ?)
“What? You know who this woman is? How?” asked Wesley suspiciously.
“I’ve got contacts.”
“So who is it?” Angel asked starting to get frustrated.
“OK peaches but be warned.”
“Geez will you spill already?” Gunn commented dryly.
“Hey-,”
They stopped as they saw Lorne running to them.
“Hey where’d you go?” Gunn asked.
“Not now, your little helper is in town fighting a group of demons.” He quickly wrote down the address and shoved it to Angel. “Well go!” Lorne shouted gesturing to them to start moving.
They all started to walk out the door followed by Spike and Buffy.
“Finally. A little action,” muttered Gunn.
************
They reached the location that Lorne had written within 10 minutes. It turned out to be an alley behind some grocery stores. They all walked down the dark and
dank alley, Angel in lead. They turned when they heard grunting and the sound of someone being pushed into a dumpster. They all ran to the sounds.
They looked round to see at least 8 big demons, fighting a figure in black.
Angel and Buffy both ran and started to fight against the demons that were now
surrounding the black figure. Before they could they were grabbed from behind and thrown into a wall.
Spike quickly grabbed one of the demons from behind and threw in to the floor and started kicking it aggressively while Wesley and Fred ran to help up Angel and Buffy.
Gunn attacked another demon knocking it to the ground before grabbing a pole from the floor and stabbing the demon in the head.
They all turned at the sound of a roar and turned to see the figure in black beating three demons at once.
She was moving with surprising speed and soon killed the
demons she was fighting. She turned to see another 5 demons running toward her. They all watched as she jumped up in the air and was soon behind the demons,
before they could turn around she kicked one of the demons in the back sending it flying in a window. The others soon followed as she swiftly punched and kicked
them with incredible strength.
The AI group, Spike and Buffy watched in awe as she lifted the last demon swinging him high above her before sending it smashing
onto the ground beside her. In one swift kick she knocked its head of his shoulders.
The head rolled on the floor to where the group was standing.
“Damn,” muttered Gunn.
Angel, Spike and Buffy watched the mysteriously stranger curiously.
Angel saw as she started to walk out the alley and using his vampire speed he was quickly at her side, holding her by her arm. The rest of the group followed him as they walked to where Angel and the girl stood.
The girls face was hidden by in the shadows. They wouldn’t even have seen her if Angel hadn’t been holding her arm.
“Who are you?” Angel asked in a low voice.
They watched as the girl stepped forward out the shadows into the light. No one could help but gasp as they saw the girls face, they all stared at her wide eyed and jaws hung in shock.
“Barbie?”
Part 4
“Cordelia?” Wesley whispered, eyes wide in shock trying to understand how his best friend who was supposed to dead was now standing in front of him alive and well.
“Oh my god,” Buffy sighed as she looked into the familiar hazel eyes.
There stood Cordy, wearing tight fitted leather pants, with a matching leather jacket with the zip slightly down to show a low cut black top underneath. Her hair had grown and was now well below her shoulders, her eyes looked blank as she looked around at the surprised gasps and mutters around her.
Her eyes finally landed on Angel, as she looked into his eyes and saw the love and joy building up tears in his eyes.
Finally he spoke as he continued to stare at his beautiful best friend, realizing just how much he was in love with her.
“Cordy?” he looked into her eyes seeing her eyes light up only slightly and then fade again becoming unreadable.
“Oh my god Cordy!” yelled Fred as she brushed past the group and hugged her friend as tightly as possible.
Cordy remained limp in her arms, causing Fred to step back. “Cordy?” she whispered. When she didn’t get an answer she felt her eyes well up and tears flowed freely down her face. She couldn’t believe how Cordelia didn’t respond and just stood there as if not recognizing them. Not recognizing her family.
Again Cordy passed glances at the faces around her, and then locking eyes with Angel she spoke without emotion, “I’ll be around.” And with that she walked off into the night without looking back. Leaving the group stunned as they watched her disappear into the night.
*
A few hours later the AI team plus Buffy and Spike sat in silence in the lobby of the Hyperion, each lost in their own thoughts. Each remembering the events of that night. The silence became unbearable until Gunn finally broke it.
“That was Barbie right?”
After what seemed like an eternity Wesley spoke, “Yes it was.” Again the group became silent not knowing what to say. They were all confused at how Cordy could still be alive, but also at how she didn’t react to them, Like she had forgotten who they were.
Everyone turned to look as Lorne strode through the entrance. He looked around finally resting his eyes on Angel.
The silence became intense as everyone stared at Angel who was concentrating on the floor, avoiding the looks.
“How did you know it was her?” he finally asked as he looked questioningly at Spike.
Everyone turned to look at Spike who continued to look at Angel.
“Rumors, no one was sure if it really was her.”
“How did she come back? I mean she was dead, right?” asked Buffy as she turned to Wesley looking for an answer.
“Actually, I can answer that,” Lorne spoke, “it seems she was sent here from the Powers that be.”
“To do what?” asked Gunn.
He looked around and then stopped to look at Angel studying his expression. After a few minutes he finally he sighed looking down.
“What? Why is she here?” Angel asked confused at how Lorne tensed up.
“To kill you.” Came a the familiar voice, everyone turned to see Cordy standing behind Lorne, stake in hand glaring at Angel.
Part 5
“Cordelia?” asked Wesley, shocked at what she said as she stood still glaring at Angel, her grip on the stake becoming tighter causing her knuckles to go white.
“Cordy.” Whispered Angel standing, as he stared at his love, how beautiful she looked standing in the light. She had become even more beautiful then he remembered.
They all stood there motionless, waiting for Cordy to make a move. Buffy watched as her former love just stared at Cordelia, love and joy in his eyes, he hadn’t even heard what she said.
“Kill him?” asked Fred scared at how Cordy didn’t respond to them, to Angel.
“That’s right,” Cordy replied, her gaze fixed on Angel as she edged closer.
“The powers want you to kill him?” asked Wesley, confused as to why the PTB would want one of their warrior’s dead.
Cordy said nothing as she continued moving toward Angel ignoring the way everyone tensed up. Angel just continued staring at her completely oblivious to the conversation around him. All he saw was his love had finally come back.
As she stepped closer, he reached out a hand tracing his finger down her cheek. Everyone watched as they stood there, Angel gazing her at, Cordy just motionless. Suddenly in one swift movement she had grabbed his arm, twisting it around while kicking him hard in the stomach.
Everyone moved forward as they heard Angel cry out in pain, Spike and Gunn ran up to Cordy attempting take her down, but she easily tossed them across the room, advancing on Angel.
Buffy was helping up Angel when she saw Cordy approaching. She quickly moved forward attempting to block her path but was quickly shoved out the way by Angel.
As she fell on the floor she turned back shocked, staring at Angel.
“Angel?” she asked, confused at why he had pushed her when she was trying to help him.
He ignored her as he watched Cordy raising the stake in her hand. He didn’t resist when she punched him hard, sending him crashing into the wall.
“Do something!” Fred cried as she saw Cordy racing toward Angel.
Cordelia reached Angel in an instant and poised the stake at his heart. Angel slowly raised his head, looking into Cordy’s eyes, seeing nothing.
“No!” the loud cry echoed in the lobby as everyone saw Cordy ready to stake Angel.
Angel continued looking at Cordy as she slowly pressed the stake onto his chest above his heart.
“Cordy, ” he whispered looking into her eyes. “I love you.”
Part 6
Cordy froze as she stared at him, stake still placed over his heart.
By now everyone had lifted themselves off the floor and had gathered round, getting ready to attack Cordy, but froze when they heard Angel’s whisper.
Cordy continued staring at him, seeing the love shining in his eyes.
“What?” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.
“I love you.” He repeated.
Cordelia couldn’t help the tear that slid down her face, her eyes glistened over as she stared at him in shock.
“You, you do?” she asked smiling slightly.
His hand reached up to wipe the tears that escaped her eyes.
“With all my heart.”
Cordy couldn’t help the joy she felt ripping through her heart at Angel’s words as she looked into his eyes. Tears were now falling freely down her face as she closed her eyes, taking a step back. In an instant Angel was by her side holding her by the arm before she walked away.
“Cor?” he asked.
Slowly her eyes opened as she turned to face him.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen. All were still tensed not knowing what she would do.
“I, I,” she stammered. She stopped and looked around at the faces of her friends. She saw the bruises on Gunn and Spike’s faces. She saw the look of happiness and relief on Fred’s face. The curious stares Wes and Lorne were sending her. Finally her eyes rested on Buffy’s cold expression, she saw relief but also a glimpse of hate.
She turned back to face Angel. “I’m so sorry.” She whispered. After a moment she turned to the room. “I have to go,” she stated.
Before anyone could stop her she had left the hotel. Angel stood staring at the doors of the Hyperion closing slowly. Everyone looked at Angel, seeing him still staring, with shock written on his face, at the doors that Cordy had just walked through.
“Cordy.” He whispered. “Cordy!” he shouted as he saw that she had left him. Again.
“Where she go?” asked Fred. “And why did she say she’s sorry?”
“I dunno, pumpkin.” Said Lorne as he saw Angel running to get his coat before racing out the doors of the Hyperion.
“But I got a feeling we’re gonna find out.”
Part 7
"Cordy!" yelled Angel as he followed her scent through the dark alley. Behind him he could hear the mutters of his friends as they tried to take in their surroundings, which were bathed in darkness. Only Angel's shouting was leading them to wherever they were going.
Angel felt a presence at his side and turned to see Spike sniffing the air, trying to place a direction in which Cordelia had headed.
As he felt Angel's gaze on him, he turned giving him an annoyed look before saying. "Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I ain't gonna help." Angel stood for a moment trying to process what he had just said, slightly surprised at his words.
"Thanks" he said after a moment.
"No problem." Replied Spike.
They continued following Cordy's scent, coming up to a door leading into an abandoned warehouse. Angel and Spike stopped just staring at the door not knowing what to do, until they felt Fred and Wes bump into their backs, followed by Gunn snickering.
After a moment Fred asked, "She in there?" The only response she got was silence until Angel reached and tugged at the door making it creak open.
They all stared into the darkness for a moment. Hesitantly Angel stepped inside, looking around catching glimpses of metal from the moonlight that filtered in through the cracked windows. The rest followed him as they looked round trying to catch any signs of movement.
A loud squeak caused them all to jump; a loud shriek was heard. Everyone turned round to look at Wesley, breathing hard, hand over his chest.
"Wesley," laughed Gunn. "It's just a rat."
Wesley now looking embarrassed sighed before replying, "Yes well you never know."
"Shut up," said Angel.
"Well I was just saying-,"
"No I mean shut up." He said again walking forward.
They looked at each other, before walking behind him. As they continued walking they got hear a sound of someone sobbing. As the got closer the sobbing got louder. Finally they reached a corner of the big warehouse, they looked the corner bathed in the light revealing a figure huddled on the floor. Loud sobs filling the air.
"Cordy." Whispered Angel as he felt tears stinging his eyes.
"Oh my god." Buffy whispered, as they saw Cordy slowly look up revealing her face, her eyes red and puffy, tears streaming down her cheeks, mouth slightly agape as she stared at Angel.
Angel, now feeling his own tears falling, slowly moved toward her. She continued staring at him, her eyes filled with tears that slowly escaped her eyes leaving a wet trail down her cheek.
"Angel." She whispered. "I, I." She stopped just looking his eyes.
"I love you too."
TBC