Title: Second Chances
Author: Si_Crazy
Posted: 02-15-2004
Email: si_crazy@pop.com.br
Rating: TV14
Category:
Content:
Summary: Angel wakes up to himself with a little help from a friend.
Spoilers: Season 2
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: AO. ST. If you want, just let me know.
Notes: This is the first fic that I wrote, so be nice… Anyway, this is for Scorch! The requests were:
· Cordy/Angel
· Cordy/Spike – friendship
· Wes/Faith – friendship
· Angelus in some shape or form
· Hot tub
Feedback: Yes, please.
Thanks/Dedication: I would like to thanks Kim, Stary and Kat. They supported me and helped me a lot!!! Thanks girls!!!! I love you!!!!The office was quiet, too quiet in Cordy’s opinion. A quiet office never boded well in the overall scheme of things.
“When things are quiet like this it probably means that something is going to happen.” Cordy thought out loud.
Wesley, who was recovering from his gunshot wound and was enthralled with researching the origins of the Dem’Sha Demon, just replied with a quick OK, not really paying attention to his friend and work mate.
“Lately, just means that we’re out of clients and soon enough we’ll have to start planning on how we will rob a bank.” Said Gunn only semi-joking, as he sat playing his Game-Boy.
“That’s not true!!!!! We’ve been having cases...” said Cordy in defense of their new business.
“Yeah, the vision cases. But those are not the paying type of cases. You have to admit, we’re screwed!”
Wesley’s head shot up at that. “We have to believe that things will get better. I’m sure that anytime now a client will come though that door. Positive thoughts! That’s the way to go.”
“Yeah! See Gunn? Wes is right! We have to have positive thoughts. Besides the only person that was always feeling sorry for himself was Angel, and hey! He is not even here anymore. So cheer up!!”
“Ok. I’m on board with the having of these positive thoughts. But just for the record, I’m damn bored!”
Cordy gave him a small smile and returned to reading her magazine, and Gunn went back to his game.
Everything stayed silent for hours as the team mates enjoyed the silent camaraderie until all of a sudden the door opened.
“Dear Lord!” “Oh my God!” – gasped Wesley and Cordy in unison at the sight of the person standing framed by the doorway – “Faith?!”
“Hey! How you doing?” Faith offered nonchalantly.
“I told you guys that something was about to happen.” Grumbled Cordelia, while she and Wesley slowly backed away and reached for weapons. Gunn observed how agitated they were and taking his cue from his friends, stiffened and got ready to fight.
“Whoa!!” Faith raised her hands demonstrating that she came in peace. “I’m not here to hurt you. Promise!”
“Well if you say so...” Cordy remarked sarcastically, aiming her crossbow at the slayer.
“Sorry Faith! But this time we’re ready for you. Things have changed since your last visit. I’m a fighter now. We can defend ourselves.” Warned Wesley.
“And so am I. Don’t know who you are, but if you try anything with English and Barbie, there will be hell to pay, and I’ll make sure it gets paid, so don’t even try.” Gunn growled aggressively at the perceived threat.
“Are you guy’s deaf? I’m reformed now! My parole came up and I’m trying to redeem myself.” Faith was becoming annoyed by the hostile reception, although what she had expected she wasn’t sure.
“You’re looking for redemption?!” asked Wesley surprised and at the same time not. “So, your first step is…”
“It was seeing Angel, but he was different, and not in the good kind of way. If I didn’t know better I would have thought that he was up to his old tricks.” Seeing the looks the three shared, Faith became worried. “He isn’t back to his old tricks, right?”
“Hmm… Maybe…Almost…” muttered Cordy.
“Maybe? Well, how can you lot not know? It’s a simple thing, did he have a happy and lose his soul, or is he still with the soul?” Faith was definitely annoyed now and extremely impatient, things were not going at all as she had imagined and she wasn’t getting any answers.
“Actually it’s not that simple, Faith” Wesley began to explain, but Gunn wasn’t understanding what was happening and he really didn’t like to stay in the dark.
“Hold on a sec, man. Who is this girl? Why did you both treat her as some sort of ugly monster when she first came in and now you’re having a conversation with her?”
“It’s a long story…” Faith began to explain.
“Excuse me! I wasn’t talking to you, ‘lady’.” Gunn glared at Faith, stopping her explanation before it could effectively begin, he wasn’t sure he would trust anything she said anyway.
“Gunn, this is Faith. She is a Slayer.” Wesley made an introduction.
“The psycho type” added Cordy.
Gunn eyed Faith up and down “I thought she was blonde and her name was Baff or something?”
“No that’s Buffy, and she is another one. I’ll explain it all to you later, Gunn.” Cordelia offered.
With all the commotion Faith had stopped her entrance just inside the office door, keeping herself near the exit. Even if Wesley had let his guard down a little, Cordelia’s crossbow was still aimed at her and Gunn was still in the position to start a fight. Years of slayer training, made Faith keep a clear line of exit in all threatening situations.
“Ok. She kills demons professionally just like us, still doesn’t explain the whole commotion.”
“She tried to kill us.” Cordy bluntly offered.
That was enough to make Gunn feel protective of his friends and watch every move Faith made. No one tried to kill his friends and got away with it, obviously this girl wasn’t to be trusted.
“So, how did you find our office, slayergirl?” asked Cordelia.
“After Angel’s I went to that bar Caritas looking for that green demon and asked where I could find you.”
“And the host gave you the address just like that? Yo English, we have to talk to him about this. We only help good folks.”
“He read me; he knew that I would present no harm to you, that’s why he told where to find you. He was like head security for you both, and all with a very colorful taste in clothes.”
“You sang to him?” asked Cordelia curiously, she wondered what song Faith had chosen.
“That’s not something I want to talk about. Now that things are clear, why don’t you fill me in on what the hell is up with Angel, Wes?” Faith asked Wesley, for some reason feeling sure that she was most likely to get answers from her former watcher than either of the others, they still seemed too hostile.
“You might want to take a seat; this is quite a long story.” Wesley invited Faith to sit.
“By the way, why are you in a wheelchair?”
“Another long story…”
“But you’re going to walk again, right?”
“Yes, I’m just recovering from a gun shot wound.”
“Oh, ok then, I’m sorry to hear that Wes.” Faith offered sincerely.
Faith seated herself in front of Wesley whilst Gunn remained standing in front of the door like a security guard and Cordy reluctantly put the crossbow down and warned the slayer “If you try to harm us in any way, I don’t care if you’re a Slayer or the Batgirl, I will kill you.”
“I got it C. Don’t worry!”
Not completely satisfied with the answer but feeling relief that Faith got the message, Cordy went back to the article she was reading, although she kept glancing at the slayer as Wesley filled Faith in on Angel’s Darla obsession.
“I can’t believe Angel threw away his mission for his sire!” Faith was truly shocked; since Angel had rescued her she had thought of him as a shining example of the fight for redemption.
“Well he did.” Gunn informed her bluntly.
“I mean he dusted her for B years ago, and now he took her side? I guess he really lost it!”
Seeing Wesley and Cordelia’s faces, Faith realized that they were upset, angry and disappointed. Feelings that she was pretty used to by now. Based on the reactions of Wesley and Cordelia and their behavior since she had arrived, Faith made a difficult decision.
“I came here to apologize to you both, especially you Wesley, for having… you know…”
“Tortured him almost to death? That’s just a wild guess here” Cordy said a little bitterly.
“Yes” muttered Faith.
“Look Faith, if I said that that’s ok, I would be lying. It’s not something I can just forgive and forget. The truth is, I’m having to control myself to not start a fight with you and get revenge for everything you did to me.” Wesley responded honestly to the apology.
“I understand.”
“But it means something that you came. You were my slayer, my responsibility, and I can’t help thinking that I’m partially to blame for what happened to you.” Wesley offered an olive branch.
“So now that I’m out, I’m gonna need a job, food, place to crash, and… a watcher.” Faith began hesitantly.
Seeing the look of surprise on Wesley’s face Faith explained – “I can’t leave town, and I’m still a slayer. A very problematic slayer that needs some guidance, and I don’t want to have to deal with the Council right now, so I was thinking that maybe you would consider the idea of being my watcher again.”
All of a sudden the room grew quiet and Faith regretted what she had said and started to leave, “On second thoughts, maybe I’d better go.”
“Wait!”
Faith turned back to Wesley – “Yeah?”
“I agree that you need guidance. Outside the jail things aren’t black and white, there’s lots of grey, and you need to learn and realize what is evil and what is good. Besides we could always use a slayer here at A.I.”
Faith gave a small smile to Wesley and thanked him. Cordy was about to protest, but didn’t - “Some extra muscle could be helpful, and if we don’t get paying clients she can carry the money out of the bank.”
“Huh?”
“Inside joke” – Gunn explained. “Welcome! Don’t betray us.”
“I won’t. Why is the agency still called Angel Investigations without Angel?”
With the offer from Wesley and begrudging acceptance from Cordelia and Gunn, Faith felt as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders. She vowed to herself to never let these people down, they would never know what it meant to her to be offered a second chance, but she would show them that she could be trusted.
“We’re changing it!” – all three stated in unison.
“You can stay here in the office for a while Faith, there is a small bedroom in the back, we use it for resting when there’s nothing important to do. We’re just starting off in business and we don’t have cash to loan at this very moment.” Wesley offered.
“And I’m not inviting psycho slayer to stay with me! Dennis still remembers her, and I wouldn’t blame him if he threw a lamp at her head.” There was only so far Cordy was willing to trust Faith just yet, maybe when she had proved herself, Cordy would be able to relax a little more.
“That’s why I suggested Faith stay here, I wouldn’t feel that comfortable with her in my apartment either, no offence Faith!”
“None taken. I understand.”
“Yeah, and I prefer that you stay here too, I don’t want to have to be worried that you’ll torture Wesley while he is sleeping. It’s just that I don’t know you enough to trust you.”
“I know. Besides, here is good. I won’t be late for work.” Faith joked to ease the tension.
“If everything is decided, I’m going home, ‘cause it’s late and I’m hungry and tired. Gunn, can you give me a lift?”
“Sure, Cor. Let’s go Wes!”
“Right, see you tomorrow, Faith” “Bye!” “Nite!” Cordy, Wesley and Gunn gathered their belongings and left for the night.
“Bye guys!” – And when the door closed she said “Thanks!”
***
“Okay, thanks boys! See you tomorrow!” Cordelia climbed out of the truck in front of her apartment.
“Bye Cor!” “Goodnight, darling!”
The truck didn’t move until they were sure she was safe inside her apartment. Gunn and Wesley had become really protective of Cordy of late. They both realised how important her well being was to them.
“She seems… like she is getting over the whole being fired thing, don’t you thing English?” Gunn asked hopefully.
“Strangely, yes. One would think that it would take more time, but she is recovering pretty fast. I wonder what is causing it.” Wesley mused.
“Don’t look at me! She hasn’t mentioned anything to me. Maybe she has a boyfriend.”
“Do you think? I mean she hasn’t told us.”
“Well, if she has, we better find out and see what his intentions are, the girl has gone through lots of changes lately and the last thing she needs is some jerk breaking her heart.”
“You’re right! We better pay close attention to her from now on.”
***
“Thanks Dennis.” – Said Cordelia as her ghost closed the door behind her and took her jacket. – “So, what have you both done today?”
“Nothing special, pet.” – Answered the blond neutralized vampire named ‘William the Bloody’ aka Spike, who was sitting comfortably on her couch with his feet on top of her coffee table.
Cordelia headed for the kitchen where she got a tub of Ice Cream and two spoons and went to sit by his side.
“That’s pretty much all you’ve been doing since you appeared passed out on my doorstep. And that has been almost two weeks now. I mean, I understand that it took a couple of days for you to recover from the arrow Harmony shot at your back and the hangover and all… but you have all that super healing stuff, you’re able to get over those things.”
“I’m still with a broken heart here. For crying out loud, I confessed my love to my mortal enemy. That’s sick and not to mention sad.”
“Yeah. And it’s sadder that she turned you down without a second though… Sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
“To what? Make fun of my pathetic unlife?”
“No, I wasn’t making fun! Back to the point, what I was saying is…”
“Sure, like your life is so much better.”
“Meaning? My life is going great, thank you! It’s not my perfect dream life, but I’m happy.”
“So happy that you had to open your heart and tell your problems to me?”
“You’re right, I was a little depressed when you arrived, featured word ‘little’, that’s all water under the bridge, or over the bridge, or whatever. I don’t even know why I told those things to you, I should have just staked you! Why do you have to be such an asshole?!” With that Cordy threw the Ice Cream at him and headed to her bedroom locking the door behind her.
Hearing the click of the lock, Spike realized that he had crossed the line. Cordelia was the only person ever that had fully accepted him; she had listened and taken care of him after all he had done. He knew that even if she faked being better she was torn inside, and he instantly regretted his words. He went to her bedroom’s door.
“Luv?”
“Go do nothing, Spike! Leave me alone!”
“Sorry, pet! You’re right. I’m an asshole! I wasn’t thinking.”
The door opened and he stared at her, made nervous by the look she was sending him, she looked pissed. Then she gave him a huge smile and he couldn’t help but give her a small grin. With that act he knew that she wasn’t upset with him anymore.
“Like you ever think!” – she teased him.
“Hey, I do think! Only when it’s very important things, like what we should have for dinner tonight. Chinese or pizzas?”
“Pizza. You go and order and I’ll take a hot bath. I need to relax a little. You won’t believe what happened in the office today.”
“Can I join you?
“Haha. As tempting as it sounds someone has to wait for the pizza. And I’m pretty sure that if Dennis receives it the delivery guy will let the pizza fall and run, and that wouldn’t be good, ‘cause I’m starving.”
“Ok, good point! But someday I will convince you to let me accompany you in that bath of yours.”
She smiled at him and went to her room. After she was out of sight Spike ordered the pizza and sat back down on the couch. “You know Dennis, you’re a lucky guy, to be able to live with such amazing woman. I always knew Angel was stupid, but sending her away from his lame life is dumber than any other bad choice he ever made. And the guy has made some ‘bad’ choices, believe me!”
Dennis turned the lamp on to show that he totally agreed with Spike.
Almost one hour later the pizza had arrived and Cordy had come out of her bedroom in a comfy T-Shirt and boxers.
“Hmm… That smells good.”
“So, are you more relaxed now?”
“Yes, feeling all new.”
“Good. Let’s eat! I recall you said that you were starving, isn’t that right?”
“Hell yeah.”
While they were eating Dennis brought two beers for them.
“Thanks, Dennis.”
“Well, I’m dying to find out what happened at your office today. So spill it!”
“Right. Do you remember Faith? I don’t know if you ever met her, but she was that slayer who went evil and helped that mayor in his quest to screw our graduation up.”
“Yeah, I know the bird, or I heard about her. Woke from a coma some years ago, and was after the scoobies, right?”
“Right. Well after she wreaked havoc in Sunnyhell, she decided to pay us a visit. And making a long story short, shot Angel, hit me and tortured Wes until she turned herself over to the police.”
“She just turned herself over? What caused her change of heart?”
“Who knows? That’s what Wes told me, so, anyway, she spent these last few months in jail and today she got out. And guess where she went after she visited our old friend Angel?”
“Your office?”
“Din din din the prize goes to the bleached vamp. Yeah, she showed up at the office and gave us this speech about being reformed and needing guidance, asking Wes to become her watcher again.”
“She just showed up?”
“Yes. Haven’t you heard what I just said?”
“I did.”
“The host told her where we were and she made her appearance”
“I thought the demon was supposed to be your friend?”
“He is.”
“He is? The chick tried to kill you in the past and he just points his finger to where your HQ is, that doesn’t sound very friendly to me.”
“The Host wouldn’t put us in danger, he knew she wasn’t thinking about hurting us.”
“’Cause he is an anorexic demon?”
“Anagogic demon. Now may I continue with the story? Or are you going to keep interrupting me?”
“Please, continue.”
“So now she is an employee of the agency and is sleeping there. I only hope that she doesn’t burn the place down, ‘cause we don’t have money to rent another place.”
“Are you sure that she’s clean now? I don’t like the idea of a killer being around you.”
“Are you saying that I should kick you out? Because last time I checked you were a mass murderer.” Teased Cordelia.
“But I got a chip. How about her? I doubt she has one. Although on second thoughts she was locked up in a government facility, they could be experimenting on the detainees.”
“You have a fertile imagination. I don’t think she has anything at all in her head. But do you want to know something odd? I think she might have changed. I don’t know, I saw something in her eyes, looked like shame and… hope. And we help those who need help.”
“Yeah, right!!!”
“Don’t mock me!! I helped you, didn’t I?”
“Yes” Spike answered sincerely.
“I was thinking and I decided that I’m going to tell the guys about you. I hate lies, and lying to my family this week made me feel like a hypocrite. So tomorrow I’ll explain everything to them and at night you could go there so they can see that you’re not so bad.”
“HEY! I’m bad! I’m just off my game for a while…”
“Whatever makes you feel better.”
“And I have a better idea. You go, tell them and I run for my life. I have a slight feeling that once they hear I’m at your place they’ll burst through the door and dust me before you can explain anything, and plus now they have the help of a slayer, and I’m done having my tight ass get kicked.”
“It’s a possibility, but I’ll make sure to clarify that you’re neutered before I say you’re here. Trust me!”
“Ok, what else can I do anyway?”
“Great. Now goodnight, I’m going to bed.”
“Sleep tight, pet.”
***
At the Hyperion, everything was dark and appeared lifeless but inside Angel was in his bad mood, which had been his only mood for weeks, training.
“I have to stop Darla” This had been his sole pursuit for the last few months. Every once in a while his thoughts would go to his friends but he always brushed them aside, he didn’t want them in the middle of his war. “It’s better for them to stay away from me.”
Tell me about it. I was sick and tired of that sorry excuse of a crew you had. All that whining, weakness, fear, it was disgusting whispered the little, but permanent voice that belonged to Angelus. But as much as that bothered me, I have to give you credit for Cordelia. Good choice!! I can imagine thousands of things I would do to that perfect body of hers. As his evil side continued to tease Angel, he started to demolish the punching bag. He really missed her.
***
The next morning, after Wesley had de-occulated the third eye of the Sharp girl, Cordelia found the courage to tell Gunn and Wesley about Spike. She wanted to use the time in which Faith had gone for a quick run, but she wasted so much time thinking about what she would say that Faith had already come back when she finally started.
“So, do you guys remember Spike?”
“What?” asked Gunn.
“Oh, I don’t think you know him, Gunn. Wes, do you remember him?”
“Spike is a he?!”
“Yes Gunn. He is Drusilla’s child, used to be called William-the Bloody, until he changed his name to Spike, because he used railroad spikes to torture some of his victims. He was sired in London in 1880.”
“So he’s a vampire, it’s not like we never fought one before.” Gibed Gunn.
“He is responsible for death of two slayers, one in China during the Boxer Rebellion and another in New York in 1977. And three years ago he and Drusilla moved to Sunnydale, the same year Angelus was set free. Although I have never met him, I know for a fact that he is a vicious killer.” Wesley explained in his through watcher manner.
“Thanks for the history lesson, English. So resuming everything, he is a vamp and if we ever meet him he’ll be on the pointy end of the stake.”
“I see we have work to do. Good, I can use some action. After all I’m well rested after almost one year on the reserve.” - said Faith as she came from her bedroom over hearing the end of Gunn’s comment.
“No! There will be no staking.”
“Are you nuts, girl? From what Wes said we have enough reasons to dust him, if you don’t count the fact that he is a vampire already.”
“But he’s neutered now!”
“I beg your pardon!”
“Last year he was captured by those commandos in SunnyD and they put a chip in his head and now he can’t hurt humans, only demons.”
“Oh, you lot are talking about Spike, right?!” – Faith interjected catching up with the conversation.
“Yeah. How did you figure that out?”- Wesley asked before turning his head to Cordy. ”How do know that?”
“Well, Willow told me.” – Cordelia said quickly, choosing to not reveal the big thing yet.
“And I met him last year and found out that he is like a fangless puppy.”
“Interesting. So Spike is now harmless? This chip is a great invention; I mean being able to restrain a vampire is quite fascinating. I wonder if the Council is aware of that…” After babbling a little more about this Wesley returned his attention to Cordelia – “Why have you brought this subject up now Cordy?”
“You see, ahmm, Spike is in L.A.”
“How do you know that, Barbie?”
At everybody’s expectant glare, Cordelia answered casually “Because he is at my apartment.”
“He is what?”
“Just what you heard Wes, he is at my apartment with Dennis. And he has been there for a week now.”
“Have you completely lost your mind, Cordelia?” prompted Wesley.
“Yeah, girl. What were you thinking?”
At this time Faith burst into laughter. Gunn and Wesley glared at her.
“What is so funny?” questioned Gunn.
“C has a weak spot for vamps.”
“I do not!!”
“Sure you do! Think about it, first you became friends with Angel, and now that he’s out of your life, you brought Spike into it. From here it looks like you enjoy vampires’ company.”
“Screw you, Faith!” snarled Cordelia. It was bad enough having to explain Spike to the boys, the last thing she needed was Faith making smart remarks.
“That’s enough! Cordelia tell us exactly why Spike is at your house.” Demanded Wesley.
“He appeared on my doorstep a week ago, I came back from the hospital after that night you got shot and there he was, passed out in front of my door. So I called Willow and after she assured me that he didn’t represent any danger to me, I pulled him inside. Then when he sobered up, we had a chat.”
“Ohh, so let me get this straight.” Gunn interrupted Cordelia’s explanation. “You’ve been lying to us this whole week, is that it?”
“I didn’t lie Gunn. I omitted facts, it’s different.”
“I’m not seeing the dif. You had a killer under your roof and hid that specific fact from us, in my opinion that counts as a lie. A big fat lie.”
“Calm down, Gunn. Let’s hear Cordelia’s reason first.” Prompted Wesley. Faith withdrew from the group not wanting to get into the fight unless she really had to, after all it was her first day with them and she didn’t want to take sides yet.
“I didn’t tell you befo…” started Cordelia only to be interrupted by Gunn.
“Because you knew it was wrong, a mistake.”
“Don’t put words in my mouth Gunn.” Snapped Cordelia. “I didn’t tell you anything because I knew that you would freak out, just like you are doing now. I knew that we would have an ‘intervention time’, but I never thought that you would attack me. Yes, Spike is a vampire but he is harmless, and was a mess when he came to me. He was feeling rejected and was suffering from a broken heart, and that’s why I could relate to him, that was how I was feeling after Angel fired us…fired me.”
With that statement Gunn felt like a jerk for having accused her. He knew that she missed Angel, but at the same time he felt betrayed by her.
“Ok Cordelia, I understand your actions, and I’m sure Gunn does too. We just worry about your safety. Sorry if we overreacted, but you have to understand that this news took us by surprise.”
“I know Wes. Sorry for not telling you both…”
Gunn remained quiet just like Faith had been since the discussion had started.
“That’s ok, Cordy. But if Spike will continue to stay with you, I would like the chance to say few words to him” stated Wesley.
“Yeah, I told him to come by later.”
“I’m gonna get some air.” Mumbled Gunn needing a little time to chill out, he was pretty angry and upset at the moment.
“Fine, Gunn.” Exclaimed Wesley. After Gunn had left Wesley turned to Cordelia - “Don’t worry about him, Cordelia. He’ll clear his mind and then you two can have a talk to set things right.”
“I hope so Wes. I didn’t want to hurt you guys, I just thought that it was better not to tell. I’ll call Spike and let him know that it’s safe to come now.” With that Cordelia went to her desk and called her apartment.
***
After the host had warned Angel about the Senior Partner coming to the meeting at Wolfram & Hart, Angel went to all his contacts searching for further information. None of them could help him so he went back to Merle.
“Where are my staff?” inquired Angel.
“What?”
“You heard me Merle. Don’t make me beat you up. I don’t have time to waste. Just give me the address, unless you want your head smashed against this brick wall.” Angel threatened angrily.
“Ok, ok. Here. Take this pamphlet. They were giving these out some weeks ago.”
Angel took the paper and left, when Merle turned around he was alone again. “I hate vampires!”
***
“I’m hungry. I’m going to go to that diner down the street and get something to eat.” Uttered Cordelia as she left the room without waiting for a reply.
Faith had been eyeing Wesley for some time and that was starting to bother him.
“What Faith?”
“What what?”
“What do you want?”
“I was just thinking, do you think Gunn will forgive C? I mean the guy was pretty pissed and he has been out for hours.”
“He will come around. He has a hate so strong for vampires, even working with Angel he was never truly comfortable. He just doesn’t want to lose another sister.”
“Right. So you guys are like a family around here.”
“Pretty much. We all either don’t have or are away from our relatives and this bond we have is stronger than that. We chose each other to be part of our own family.”
“Yeah.” Murmured Faith, deep down she was envying a little that feeling of acceptance.
Sensing this, Wesley assured the girl. “Give it time, Faith. Soon you’ll feel this and understand what I’m referring to.”
Faith smiled at Wes and truthfully said – “Thanks. For saying this to me, for giving me another chance, you know… everything.”
“You’re welcome!”
When Cordelia arrived back the first thing she did was search for Gunn in the room. “He’s not back yet?”
“Sorry Cordelia. Maybe he went to his neighborhood.” Wesley tried to reassure her.
“He will forgive me, right?” murmured Cordelia.
“Sure, he just needs some space.” Voiced Wesley, giving her a reassuring smile.
“Ok. Anyway, I bought you a sandwich.”
“Thanks Cordelia.”
Cordelia headed to where Faith was sitting.
“Here. I bought you one too. You must be starving, I didn’t see you eat anything today.” Said Cordelia handing the sandwich to the slayer who was taken by surprise by the act.
“Thanks C!”
“It’s ok. You’re part of our strengthened team, we can’t have you fainting in the middle of a battle now, can we?” Cordelia winked at her. Faith gave her a smile, thinking that maybe Wes was right and one day she would be part of their family.
After devouring her snack Faith felt bored and decided to patrol. “I’m going to patrol a little. I’ll be back in a while.”
“Ok, Faith. As I’m still recovering from this wound I can’t train you properly yet, but it’s good that you patrol, although you might be feeling a little rusty, do take care!”
“Sure thing, boss!”
After Faith went out, the office became silent. Wesley went back to his book and Cordelia kept looking at her watch, after all Spike was late for his meeting with Wesley. Just then the door opened “Finally! I was starting to think that you had skipped town already.” She started to say but when she looked at who it was, she gasped. “Angel?!”
Wesley had raised his head at the sound of the door opening, but when he identified the person he didn’t know what to say, so he went for the first thing that popped into his head – “Good Lord! May we help you?”
Without even look at them, Angel head to the bookshelf behind Cordelia’s desk and started looking at the books there.
“Excuse me! That area is for employees only.” Wesley objected.
“Yeah. You took all the books.” Threw out Angel. “Besides, most of these books are mine. I paid for them or stole them, so they belong to me.”
“Not anymore, buster. You gave them up when you gave up your mission, now they belong to us.” Cordelia defended.
“Whatever.” Murmured Angel, finding the book he was looking for and starting to leave. He didn’t want to have met his friends again; he was on a quest and couldn’t be distracted.
“Where do you think you’re going with that book?” inquired Cordelia very mad.
“Away.”
“Not so fast. We’re using it.” Stated the seer taking the book from his hand and placing it on her desk, and putting another in his hand. “Here, take this instead, we don’t need it anymore.”
When Angel looked at his hand he had a Cosmopolitan magazine, which he threw aside and leant in close to Cordelia, taking advantage of this act to inhale her scent. With that he smelt another familiar scent but couldn’t remember who it belonged to, so he just dismissed that. “Give me the book! Or I’ll take it.”
Cordelia just stared at him and Wesley decided to intervene.
“Give him the book, Cordelia.”
Still she kept her position. Then Wesley pushed himself up of his wheelchair and burst out with “Just give him the damn thing. Let him get the hell out of our lives.”
Cordelia then threw the book at Angel and stated – “Take it and go away! I regret the day I met you. You only cause us a huge pain….in the ass. I don’t even know what you are anymore.”
Her words hurt him, but he knew he had to keep his distance from them to provide them with the safety they didn’t have when he was around. And if hate and regret were the only way to achieve this, he would use that.
“I’m a vampire. Look it up!”
Angel slammed the door closed while Wesley collapsed in his wheelchair and Cordelia kept looking at the closed door. “I can’t believe him! He became such an asshole!”
“Cordelia…”
“A real jerk!”
“Cordelia…”
“I mean, if it was anybody else I would just say Get laid. But no! Not him.”
“Cordelia, listen…”
“One good orgasm and hello Angelus. Although thinking about it, it would be something useful; we could use that fact to dust him, ‘cause that’s what he really deserves, along with some torture.”
“Cordelia! Ambulance, please!” hissed Wesley.
“Oh my God, Wesley!” Cordelia hurried to call the ambulance, catching sight of Wesley’s re-opened wound, which was bleeding quite profusely from his efforts in Angel’s presence.
After the ambulance had taken Wesley to the hospital, Cordelia had stayed at the office in case Gunn or Faith returned.
“Knock, knock! Is it safe for Spike to come in?” announced Spike opening the door. “Ok. This is not the welcome party I was expecting. Where are the fighters, pet? I know that I’m a little late, it’s just that Passions was on and I couldn’t miss the end of the ep, you know.” Seeing Cordelia’s face Spike started to get worried, then he smelt blood in the air and crouched by her side. “What happened, luv?”
She didn’t answer him right away, instead she tightly embraced him. And Spike realized that she was crying. “Shh, pet! Tell me what is wrong. It’s going to be ok.” He had no idea what was going on, but he would do anything to make it ok.
After she calmed down, she explained to him everything that had happened. By the end Spike couldn’t believe Angel’s actions, sure he hated the guy, but Spike had to admit that he never thought that Angel would ever look like Angelus, cruel and cold. “The poof has gone nuts. He was always pathetic, but now he isn’t sounding like boring peaches, he is sounding more like…”
“Angelus.” completed Cordelia.
At this time Faith arrived back from her patrol. “Hey, check it out, if it isn’t Spike? Hi!”
“Hello. You must be Faith, the slayer, I heard about you.”
“And I heard about you. Actually I met you before.”
“You two already know each other?” demanded Cordelia.
“Really? I don’t recall ever trying to kill you, and speaking about slayers, I have a very good memory. So you must be mistaken.”
“I was in a different package and said something about galloping you until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled.”
“I so didn’t need to hear that.” muttered Cordelia.
“Bloody hell! I knew that was too weird to come out of the slayer’s mouth.” sniggered the vampire.
“I am a slayer Spike.” Faith winked at him. “Anyway, that’s past. Where is Wesley? Did he head home already?”
“He is at the hospital, Faith.” murmured Cordelia.
“What? Why?”
“I don’t feel like talking right now. Could you fill her in for me, Spike?”
“Sure, pet.”
“I’ll try to call Gunn one more time and then I’m going to see Wesley at the hospital.”
“Alright. I’ll go with you when you get ready.” stated Spike to the seer. Then he turned his attention to the slayer, who was still waiting for answers. “This is what happened…”
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