Go TeamC/A
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Title: Boxers or Briefs?
Author: Onlyanne
Posted:
Email(none at present)
Rating: N-17
Category: romance & adventure
Content: C/A
Summary: C/A go undercover to a couple's retreat...
Spoilers:
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Please ask first
Notes: This story acknowledges that the whole 'Darla' story arch took place, BUT it takes place after it is all completely over. I just got tired of being not real happy with the show. So I moved this ahead to my own little world, where Angel is still my favorite vampire. There is no angst, just realization of romance between C/A.
Thanks/Dedication:
Feedback:Is always appreciated :)
Chapter 1
"Boxers or Briefs?"
"Uh?" stuttered Wesley looking up from his book.
"Come on, Wesley, boxers or briefs? You know, which are you, a boxer man or a brief man?" Cordelia was sitting on her desk, her bare legs swinging loosely as she held up a magazine. "It says here, that you can tell a man's personality by the type of underwear he wears. So which is it? Or, ewww," her face scrunching up. "You do wear some, don't you? Stop! Don't answer the mental imagine is wigging me out."
"Don't worry, I wasn't planning on answering your irrelevant, asinine and highly personal question." Wesley retorted returning back to his reading.
"Umph." Putting the magazine down. "I am bored Wesley. No visions, no nasty evil doers to pummel." Cordelia rolled her eyes. "I can't believe that I want some death and destruction, well actually not like real world ending death and destruction, but maybe a little slime demon type action."
"Cordelia, you should take advantage of the peace and calm. It won't last," Angel commented as he walked into the room. Angel smiled to himself as he looked at his restless seer. Cordelia's manicured fingernails were taping on the desk. Her bright knee-length skirt was edging up ever so slowly as she swung her long goreous legs in the air. Angel noticed how her hair draped over her shoulder like a dark curtain of silk. The v-neck T-shirt pulled against her full breasts as she sighed deeply. The vampire's inward smile turned to a frown as he realized that he was staring at the beautiful young girl in a less than platonic or objective manner.
When had he started noticing how beautiful his seer was? Well, he had always known she was beautiful, it was hard not to notice her classic features, bright smile, warm eyes, thick dark hair, lush body, but when had her obvious beauty started to effect him? Angel looked over to Wesley. The former watcher seemed to be oblivious to the innate charms of Cordelia. Angel knew that one time, Wesley had been attracted to the young girl, but it was if knowing Cordelia, really knowing her had transformed his attraction into a brotherly type affection. While knowing Cordelia, had had the direct opposite effect on the vampire. It seemed the longer he knew Cordelia and cared for her, the more attractive, the more irresistible she became to him.
"Right," Cordelia sighed. "But it is not just calm, it's boring. No visions, no clients. You don't think that the world has suddenly gotten to be a happy safe place do you? Nay," she said shaking her head. "But, there is no new demons to research...."
"Cordelia, you could just try to read a book for the knowledge in it, rather than wasting your brain on that drivel," Wesley interrupted pointing to the magazine.
Cordelia rolled her eyes not acknowledging the former watcher's comment. "Anyway, all the paperwork is done and there haven't been any demons to research. I mean how many times can I paint my toenails." She swung up her bright red toes up for Angel's inspection. Angel looked at her freshly painted toes, forcing his gaze not to wander up the length of her legs. "Ergh," Cordelia continued in total ignorance of Angel's thoughts. "And, I have already answered all of these oh so insightful personality quizzes," she said picking up the magazine. "Only to find out, what I already knew...that I am a smart, outgoing, secure, funny chick."
"You cheated," Wesley interrupted dryly.
Cordelia stuck her tongue at her friend. "Am to, see I scored between 100-150. That's me a dependable, intelligent, extrovert." She held up the quiz pointing to the relevant paragraph. "Anyway, everyone cheats on these things. You don't think that people actually want to know that they are insecure, lazy or dumb, now do you?" Cordelia shook her head and leafed again through the magazine. "Pajama's or nude," she asked her head still in the magazine. Cordelia scrunched up her face at Wesley. "Don't answer Mr. Skin and Bones, the mental picture...." She shivered in mock disgust. The dark haired girl looked at Angel expectantly. "Oh, nevermind," she stuttered as she realized that she didn't want to know the answer.
"Nude," Angel answered.
Cordelia blushed as she imagined a naked vampire in bed. His long lean body stretched out. His broad rippling chest, his tapered waist and hips, his strong muscular legs, his...she stopped her thoughts in a panic. "Oh," she said as she burying herself back into the article, her long hair covering her expression. "I so did not need that mental picture," she grumbled to herself fidgeting on the desktop.
Angel had no idea why he answered her silly question. Nor did he know why the sight of his seer's embarrassment and her low comment made him somehow pleased.
"Anyway," Cordelia said trying to regain any part of her composure. "I am...!" Her body tensed in preparation for the oncoming pain that accompanied a vision. Angel had the young girl in his arms before she had time to cry out in agony.
"Wesley," he called as he stroked her pain-racked body. Wesley went to get Cordelia's water and aspirin.
"Owww, that hurt. The next time I start commplaining about NOT having these mind mumbing freak shows, send back to the psych ward." Blinking her wide eyes at the vampire.
"Cordelia, are you okay?" Angel asked continuing to caress her back. She grimaced then smiled weakly and nodded.
"The vision?" Wesley asked handing Cordelia the water and pills.
"Thanks." Cordelia took the pills from the former watcher and uncousciously leaned into Angel's chest. The vampire tightened his hold trying to comfort her. God, he hated it when Cordelia was in pain. "Right, the vision. It made less sense than usual, if that is possible. You would think that for such all-powerful and higher type beings they could just be a little clearer wouldn't you? But no, they have to be all vague, mysterious and painful," she griped.
"Cordelia, the vision?" Angel asked gently.
The young girl took a deep-frustrated sigh. "I don't understand it. I didn't see any nasty demon type or screaming tortured victim, just a place and a weird symbol. The symbol was all curvy and spirally," Cordelia grabbed a pen and started scribbling on a piece of paper. "It wasn't on anything just there." She handed the paper to Angel. "And the place was," she scrunched up her face. "It looked like one of those spa-y new agey retreats. You know, with a lot of 'Ummming' and white sheets. It was this big building surrounded by smaller buildings. It had several pools, natural springs and mud pits; it was actually quite 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'. It was called 'The Eros Center'. I didn't see any danger or evil, but I did sense that it was coming. Something bad like is going to happen in that idyllic rich person's self-help get away. I just don't know what. But I did see that it was night time and the moon was full." She looked apologetically at Angel.
"That's okay. We will figure it out. Are you okay, now?" Angel slowly got up. Cordelia nodded and grabbed at his hand as he gently pulled her up.
"First thing, we need to do, is find out more about this 'Eros Center'. Cordelia?" Angel said motioning to the computer.
"Okay, searching for the rich type retreat with major evil potential."
Chapter 2
"Found it," Cordelia called a short while later. "It's in the valley. It's one of those touchy feely, we can solve the problems of your life sort of places. Here is the address." She lifted the paper up to Wesley.
Angel grabbed the address and started towards the door. Cordelia rolled her eyes at the vampire's back. "Angel, Angel," she called.
"What?" he said puzzled. "Is there more?"
"I am sure there is. But daylight, sun, valley, burnt to a vampy crisp, any of this sounding familiar?"
Angel scowled. "Wesley, go get Gunn and check this place out. And come right back."
"Done." The watcher said exiting the hotel.
"Angel," Cordelia called in puzzlement.
"What did you find?" The vampire came up close behind her chair.
Cordelia shot him a look over her shoulder and squirmed in her chair at his closeness. "Uh, personal bubble, remember," she coughed self-consciously.
Angel startled. "Sorry," he said moving a step back. Cordelia sighed. Angel studied his seer he couldn't tell if she sighed in disappointment or relief. He hoped it was disappointment, the vampire thought to himself. Angel brought his mind up short. Stop that, he chastised himself. Cordelia was his friend, his seer, and that was all. It didn't matter, if Cordelia wanted or didn't want him to be near. "What is it?" Angel said trying to ignore the warmness growing in his groin.
"This 'Eros Center' it is one of those new age, find your inner peace, blah, blah, type of places. It is a little wacky, but I can't find anything remotely evil or vision worthy about it. I mean look at their topics of lectures or seminars; 'How to Find Your Inner Child', 'Rekindle the Love of Your Spouse', 'Learn to Love Yourself and Others', and 'Ten Easy Steps to Self-Fulfillment'." The Center daily courses, weekend courses, weeklong courses. They have on-grounds accomodation for those that choose the weekend or weekly course. Hey, look, they have a five star chef, well, I guess the blood-only connoisseur of the family wouldn't care. But the Center also has massages, mud baths, etc. Wow." Cordelia scrolled further down the web site. "But no evil stuff. Hey, do you think maybe they are like a nutty cult thing. You know, like let's kill ourselves, then beam us up, new age Scotty, so we can take a joy ride on a passing comet?"
"I don't know, keep checking."
"Okay. Wow, would you look at those suites," Cordelia exclaimed as she scrolled further down the page.
Chapter 3
"So, what exactly are we suppose to do?"
"Go in and try to find out why Cordelia saw this place in her vision."
"Are you sure she actually had a vision?" Gunn looked around at the beautiful landscape. The 'Eros Center' was definitely built for the wealthy. "Maybe she just wanted a vacation."
"Come on." Wesley ignored Gunn's comment.
"What? You want to just walk in the front door?"
"Why not? Politeness and a little deception can go a long way."
Gunn shrugged. He was not use to actually walking into places and asking for answers under the guise of politeness and subterfuge. The street kid had always gone for the more direct burst in, grab someone and threaten them until they gave you the necessary info type of approach.
A little man clad in all white greeted Gunn and Wesley in the antechamber of the main reception area. "Hello, you two. I understand from our little Gloria outside, that you are interested in our facilities and possibly interested in our next seminar series. Wonderful, we are equipped to handle every couple's problems. Sexual orientation, matters not. What it is important is the inner soul and to help the two individuals cultivate and maintain that first spark of passion and love that they had in the begining." The white clad little man looked at the two men with raised eyebrows. "Ooh, I see some distance between you two. We can help you rekindle that feeling of ecstasy when you first fell in love." The man gave a big smile.
Wesley and Gunn looked at each other with wide questioning eyes.
"Oh, I know it will be difficult, but it can be done," the little man nodded assuredly. "Obviously, if you are here than you sense the need to reconnect with each other. Lovely. Follow me."
"Uh," Wesley gasped. Gunn hit him in the stomach with a pamphlet that he picked up from the counter. Wesley read it. He looked at Gunn with a panicked look on his face. Wesley looked back at the brochure. It advertised a weekend course on how to 'Recover the Joy and Passion with Your Significant Other'."
"Uh," gasped Wesley again.
"Hey, man, you were the one that wanted to go the front door way. I wanted just to sneak in beat somebody up and find the answers," Gunn whispered.
"Oh, gentlemen, why so hesitant? You have come so far in acknowledging you problems, just by coming here."
"It is not me," Gunn ad-libbed. "It is him, he just is so...uncommunicative. He is English, you know," Gunn whined uncharactisically.
"Well, hopefully, we can help. But you have to be receptive," The little man reprimanded the former watcher.
Wesley waited until the man moved ahead. "That was uneccessary," he grumbled to the smiling street kid.
"Come on, he is about to give us the tour, I will distract, you look, okay? And don't worry, I won't tell any one that you are a closet homophobe."
"I am not," Wesley said clearly offended.
***
"Well, that was a waste of time," Wesley said to Gunn. They had just returned to the truck after a two-hour tour of the facilities.
"Yeah, I didn't see anything evil or dangerous. But this place must be bad news, nothing that saccharine could be good for you."
"Yes, let's go back. And Gunn, I am not homophobe, it is just the idea that somebody could actually think that I would be attracted to you, is well offensive."
"Back at you, Wesley man," agreed the tough street kid.
Chapter 4
"Nothing, you found nothing?" Angel repeated again.
"No. The guide, a smiley obnoxious little fellow, showed us around the compound. We saw nothing out of the ordinary, or to be moe accurate, we saw nothing indicating a evil waiting to happen nor did we see anything that remotely resembled the symbol."
"Well, I could go tonight and look around." Angel commented.
"Angel, we don't know what we are looking for." Cordelia thought for a moment. "I know, we can go undercover, like real detectives. We could sign up for one of their touchy feely enlightening course, and then explore," she said excitedly.
"I'm not going," interjected Wesley.
"Me either," Gunn chimed in.
"Why not?" she demanded.
"Because, we aren't okay," answered Wesley.
"But..." Cordelia looked back at the computer reading the 'Eros Center's' web page. "Oh, god, I would have loved to have seen it. What did you do, say you were interested in the next uplifting, life altering course, so you could look around? 'How to Rekindle the Love and Passion in Your Significant Other'. No wonder you did find anything out." Cordelia laughed. "You two a couple? God, that's classically mindboggling and a huge step back for gay rights."
"Cordelia, it wasn't funny."
"Yes, I bet it was," the dark haired girl continued to laugh at the two men's discomfort. "Men, are such babies. Well, Angel it's you and me. Cool, like real detective work, not just Ow, vision, kill demon, save helpless person. We go in mingle, detect, ferret out the bad news, find it, kill it, Cool. And look at these suites," she exclaimed showing the vampire the printout of 'Eros Center's' accomdenations. "How many days do we have until the full moon."
"Three days," answered Wesley.
"There you go, Angel and I could sign up for one of the weekend sessions that are starting up. It looks like it would have to be the 'Significant Other' one." She paused, scrunching up her face, remembering the imagine of a naked vampire on the bed. No, it would be okay, she convinced herself. She could be alone with Angel for a weekend pretending to be his significant other, couldn't she? Cordelia shook her head clear of any doubts, she could handle this. "Angel, we could be at the Center during the full moon. If we don't succeed in doing the detective bit before the evil thing happens, at least we would be on site to fight it when it arrives."
"Told you, Barbie just wants a vacation," Gunn whispered to Wesley.
"I can't go," Angel said pointing to the sunlit picture of pools and palm trees.
"Yes, you can. You can stay and look around inside, while I explore the outside. And the bad stuff is going to happen at night. Would you look at this natural spring?" Cordelia said excitedly. "Of course," she frowned. "It is pretty expensive, and we don't really have a client to bill. Ump, well, the PTB, think it is important, so I guess we need to break into the petty cash." Cordelia scrunched up her face. "Do we have any petty cash?"
"Cordelia, I don't know." Questioning the first part of her suggestion.
"Angel, we can't just go barging in. We don't know what we are bargining in for. This is the only way, unless I have a clearer vision."
The men looked at her expectantly. "Gee, guys, sorry, it doesn't work that way and you know it." The seer scowled at them. "Angel, it has to be us. Wienie boys here won't go together. And I can't go with one of them, I am sure they have already been labeled as the most dysfunctional, truly uncompatiable gay couple in all of the California area. And I can't go alone; it's a couple seminar. Couple, as in two people."
Angel was hesitant. He actually understood and agreed with Cordelia's logic. Which was kind of scary in it's own right. But the idea of going with Cordelia, pretending to even be an unhappy couple in such an idyllic setting was unnerving even if it was just for a weekend. Maybe, he hoped that they would find the evil early on, like really early on, like when they walked in the door. Otherwise, well otherwise, he didn't want to think about it.
***
"I have to go pack." Cordelia said waving to the men.
"Um, Angel," Wesley said trying to draw Angel's attention from the departing girl.
"Angel," he repeated.
"Yes, Wesley?"
"Are you sure that this is a good idea? I mean we could just stake out the place. There is no reason that you and Cordelia have to go undercover as a couple."
"Wesley, what are you worried about?"
"Um, nothing, really, but...You and Cordelia..." Wesley stalled. He didn't know how to broach the subject of the obvious attraction the vampire and his seer had for each other.
"Yes?" Angel said blandly.
"Nothing, Gunn and I will try to find out more information the Center." Wesley nodded convincing himself that there was nothing to worry about. After all, Angel and Cordelia were alone a lot together, and they never did anything about their attraction for each other. Wesley wasn't even sure that they realized that they were drawn to each other. This undercover mission wouldn't change anything he rationalized.
Chapter 5
"Wow, Angel. Look at this." Cordelia was sitting in the passenger side of Angel's convertible waving the 'Eros Center's' brochure in the vampire's face.
"Cordelia stop waving that thing in my face." Angel swatted at her hand. Cordelia had been finding something to 'ooh' and 'aw' about in that stupid phamplet every five minutes.
"Ummp," she pouted. "You would think that in over 248 years you would have developed a better appreciation for the finer things in life."
"Cordelia, I do appreciate the finer things, they just don't happen to be the material things in life."
"Like what?"
"Beauty, friendship," he said glancing over to the young girl. The lack of a top on the car allowed the gentle night breeze to lift and float her long hair up and around her lovely face. "The sun, for another."
"Sun." Cordelia turned to the vampire, her expression unreadable. "Ummp, the sun is overrated."
"Not, for someone that hasn't seen a sunrise in over 248 years," the vampire said with a tinge of melancholy in his voice.
"No, it is overrated," Cordelia answered firmly. "It can be bad for you. It causes premature aging and cancer. I for one don't go out in it, unless I am coated in SPF 45. I don't want to get rawhide leather skin, ewww."
"Right." The vampire rolled his eyes.
"No, really. You better remember that when you become mortal guy, sunscreen, Angel, and lots of it, with your complexion and lack of tan base, you will fry up in a minute. Anyway," she said softly laying a delicate hand on his arm. "The night is just as awesome. See." Cordelia pointed up at the sky. "Look, how wondrous the stars are. You know it is amazing that by the time we see their brightness, poof, they are gone. And best yet, the moon doesn't cause cancer of ugly brown deforming spots on your skin," she said knowingly. "Hey isn't that our turn off."
Angel smiled. She did it again. His seer's unique brand of Cordy wisdom had diverted him once again from feeling sorry for himself. "Um, Cordelia." She smiled questioningly at the vampire.
"Thanks," he said simply. Angel could see her answering bright smile through the darkness of the night.
***
"Hello, Hello." The same white clad man that had shown Wesley and Gunn around earlier greeted Cordelia and Angel and the door. "You must be Cordelia and Angel. I am so pleased that we were able to accommodate you both for the upcoming seminar. It was touch and go there for awhile, but we had a last minute cancellation. Come in, come in, don't be shy." The little man beckoned to the couple standing in the doorway.
"My, aren't you two just the loveliest of couples. Don't worry, we here at the 'Eros Center' will be able to guide you both in rediscovering and cementing your passion for each other. By, the way, my name is Gerard." He sent a giant smile.
Angel and Cordelia remained standing in the doorway, both pairs of eyes wide and staring at the small effusive man.
"After you." Angel motioned to Cordelia to go ahead. "Remember, this was your idea," he whispered into her ear as she passed by.
Cordelia gave Angel a shaky smile. "It will work. We just go through the motions of the seminar, find the evil, then get the hell out of here." Before anything is discovered or cemented, she added to herself.
Gerard led them to a large suite, it's balcony over looking the pool area. "Ah, I think you will be comfortable here," he said gesturing to the luxiourous sitting room. "The bedroom is right through here." The little man opened the large set of double doors. Cordelia eyes widened as she saw the bed. It was huge; it overwhelmed the big room.
"Well, I will leave you young people to settle in. Believe me, you have made the right decision to come here. We can help you reconnect to what you have lost. Now, the introduction to our program will be at 8:00 am in the main convention room. Goodnight." Gerard backed out of the room bowing and smiling.
Chapter 6
Angel waited until he was sure Gerard was gone, before he opened his suitcase.
"Um, Angel," Cordelia said nervously. Angel looked up with his broad sword in hand. "Um, I thought I saw a bar refrigerator in the other room, give me your bags of meals."
Cordelia took the containers of blood and went into the sitting room. Cordelia took a deep breath and leaned up against the bar. She watched Angel through the open doorway unpacking his sword and stakes, hiding the latter in various places in the bedroom. Cordelia didn't know why she was so nervous about being alone with Angel in this room. It wasn't like she had never been alone with the vampire. They had lived together for godsake, of course Wesley had always been in and out of her apartment. But still, they had spent alone time together, well, sort of if she didn't count the ghostly presence of Dennis. But he didn't really count, her phantom roommate had left them alone before. Cordelia had never felt wiggy or anxious about being with the vampire. Until now. It had to be this place, all this talk about discovering passion. It was just giving her weird impossible notions about Angel. Cordelia sighed as she saw Angel take off his long leather duster. She really wished that he hadn't told her that he slept in the nude. Concentrate, she commanded herself. Vision, bad things were brewing, don't think about Angel naked on that large, really big bed.
"Implements of death to all things evil stashed?" the lovely brunette asked coming back into the bedroom.
"Except for these," Angel held out some stakes. "Put these around the sitting room."
"Okay." Cordelia grabbbed the weapons and went towards the couch. "But then let's go look around the place. We can start with the grounds. Come on, it's not like you can go exploring tomorrow."
"I think you should stay here." Angel shrugged on his long coat.
"Pooh," she answered grabbing at his hand and tugging him towards the door. Angel grabbed the remaining stakes Cordelia was still holding and put them in his pockets. With a sigh and slight smile on his handsome face, Angel let his enthusiastic seer pull him out the door.
***
Angel and Cordelia walked around the grounds. So far, they had not seen anything suspicious, just various couples roaming about; some talking and holding hands, others barely able to look at each other.
"Angel, why are some of these people wandering around in their robes?"
"I have no idea." Shaking his head. They stopped as one of the robed couples came up to them.
"Hi, you'll must be new," the middle aged man laughed. "All the first timer's have that look of fear and hesitation, wondering what they have got themselves into. And of course, the clothes are a dead give away," he laughed again. "But don't worry you will love it. My name is Bob, this lovely lady is my wife, Carol." The man indicated to the attractive middle age woman standing next to him.
"Hi," Carol smiled sweetly. "Bob is right, you will love it here, this is our fifth time. We originally came to rediscover our love for each other and it worked." She gazed lovingly at her husband. "Now we come because it is fun and allows us to maintain our special love."
"Clothes? What do you mean the clothes are a dead give away?" Cordelia looked at the white robes the handsome couple was wearing.
Carol patted Cordelia on the hand. "Honey, when the seminar starts, no more clothes. Just the robes, if you feel the need. Elliot, he is the instructor, says that clothes just inhibit the relaxation process. By the end of the program, you won't even notice." Carol tugged at her robe.
"Oh," Cordelia gulped.
"Oh, honey, I was nervous the first time, too. I mean look at me; I no longer have the body of a twenty-year old. But it was amazing, after only a few sessions I was secure in myself, my sexuality, it was all very liberating and once I let go of my self-doubts, I could concentrate on Bob and why I fell in love with all those years ago." Bob and Carol's eyes met again in an loving embrace.
"Carol and I were about to take a skinny dip in the pool. Would you care to join us?"
"No, thank you," Cordelia squeaked out.
"Of course, you are obviously still nervous, but never fear; soon you will freer than ever before." Bob assured the young girl.
Cordelia watched stunned as the older couple disrobed and jumped playfully into the pool.
"Angel," she squeaked.
"Yes, Cordelia," Angel said tonelessly.
"They are naked."
"Yes."
"All these people are naked under their robes."
"Yes, it would seem so."
Cordelia turned into the vampire roughly clutching the front of his coat. "Angel, you will go find the evil now. I will not be naked. Understand, go, now, find the bad guys, defeat the evilness. Go. You can start with that smiley Gerard person. Torture him if you have to, I will not be naked."
"Now, Cordelia, you won't really be naked, they obviously will give us robes. And you were the one that wanted to go undercover, so to speak. And think of the accommodations, the pool and the mud baths. Angel tried to block the smile that was trying to form on his face. He had to admit that when Carol had mentioned the lack of clothing requirement to the seminar; Angel felt the same as Cordelia, but for different reasons. It wasn't that he was modest, 248 years of being a vampire cured him of that human quirk.
But being unclothed did leave one vulnerable; there was no place to hold any weapons. And then there was the thought of spending any length of time with Cordelia, knowing that with a quick tug on a belt, she would be standing before him gloriously nude, was slightly unnerving. But, Cordelia was adorable in her panic. Her face was flushed and her breast heaved against her shirt as she took rapid little breaths. Actually, Angel thought, drinking in the tantalizing picture she made, it really might be better to just go torture that little man for some answers.
"Come on let's go back to the room. I will look around later, okay?" He said reassurdely.
Cordelia nodded quickly. "Right, okay, we will go up, then you will go find the evil, then we can go home, fully clothed."
Chapter 7
Cordelia was pacing the floor when Angel returned from his late night excursion. "I thought I told you to try to get some sleep."
"Sleep, why? We are leaving now, right? Evil defeated, right?" Her vigorous noding turned to shaking as she saw the vampire's expression. "Nothing? Gerard?"
"No, Cordelia, I didn't torture the poor man. If there is something going to happen here, we are going to have to wait until it gets closer to the full moon."
"Angel, that's tomorrow. A whole day of running around in little robes, listening to Bob & Carol, seeing Bob & Carol. Ewww," Cordelia whined. "Angel, I don't want to see them or anyone else naked and I sure don't want them to see me. That's the true evil in this place. If God wanted human beings to run around without clothes he would not have allowed for Versace, Calvin Klein or Donna Karan."
Angel stoopped the growl rising in his throat. He hadn't thought about that, he had just been thinking about his own reaction to Cordelia's luscious nude body covered only in a robe. It hadn't occured to the vampire that other men would also get to see her. Maybe, it wasn't too late to find Gerard. No, he calmed himself. They could do this. After all, those robes would cover almost as much of Cordelia's body, as her normal formal fitting clothes. Angel would just have to make sure that her robe couldn't be pulled off with a tug of the belt.
"Did you talk to Wesley," Angel asked clearing his head of the imagine of a nude Cordelia.
"Yes," she said falling on the bed. "He e-mailed." Cordelia lifted her hand dejectedly at the lap top computer on the dresser. "They haven't really been able to find anything, either. He forwarded what he could find out about the history of the area. So far, there is no indication of any past history of weird and supernaturally bad stuff. Wesley suggested that we try to get a list of past clients. He wants to try to track any of them down and see if they know anything."
Angel nodded. "I saw the Business Office. It was closed up pretty tight with a state of the art burglary system. It would probably would be easier to wait until the daytime to try to get a list."
Angel went to sit next to the young girl. "Cordelia, what's wrong? It isn't just about the robes."
"No, the idea of traipsing around naked with nothing but a blah white bath robe on doesn't make me dance with unbridled joy, but I will do it. After all we need to blend in with all of the other robe wearing seeking enlightenment idiots. No, its..." She paused biting her lip.
"Cordelia, what is it?" Angel asked concerned at her forlorn expression. Cordelia rolled over to her side to face the vampire. "Angel, it's the vision. Why couldn't I see the danger? Could I have missed it? I have been wrong before," she sighed.
"Cordelia, that was not your fault. All of us reacted to quickly on that one."
"No, Angel I should have realized that the demon was protecting that woman, not trying to kill her. It was my fault that you killed one of the good guys." Tears pooling in her eyes. Cordelia rolled back to her original prone position and stared at the ceiling. "How am I suppose to help you, if I suck as a seer?" Her voice broke.
Angel lay down and pulled Cordelia to his side. Angel felt guilty that he hadn't realized how that past mistake had upset Cordelia. She hadn't really said anything about how she was feeling afterwards. His seer had just tried to comfort him and tell him that his redemption would happen and that she would be with him always. How many times had she done that, ignored her own feelings too comfort him, too make his guilt easier. How many times had he selfishly accepted her compassion while obliviously neglecting her needs?
Cordelia sighed and curled closer into his strong body. Cordelia was always amazed how safe Angel's arms felt around her. She just wished...no, she thought this was enough.
"Cordelia," he said softly caressing her back. "You do not suck as my seer. And you do help me, everyday. You help me by not only being my seer, but being my friend. And for that I thank you."
"Really?" she whispered.
"Really. Now try to get some sleep." Angel made a move to get off the bed.
Cordelia pulled him back. "Stay here, please. Just hold me." Hold Cordelia, while lying on a bed, well, he thought that would give him both pleasure and pain. But he culdn't deny her soft plea. Angel nodded and settled back placing Cordelia's head on his shoulder.
"Goodnight, Cordelia." Angel placed a gentle kiss on her dark head. She smiled into his shoulder and fell asleep.
Chapter 8
Both Cordelia and Angel jumped out of the bed as a loud and continuous charming sounded through out the room. "What the hell is that?" Cordelia grumbled her hands clutched over her ears.
"I imagine it's the wake up alarm," Angel winced. The high pitched clanging was irritating his sensitive vampire hearing.
"Well, we are awake, now, so you can STOP," she yelled. Thankfully, almost on cue, the chiming stopped. "Whew." Cordelia fell back on the bed. "That was truly eardrum splitting annoying."
Angel nodded in agreement. He paused as he heard the door of the suite open. He motioned for Cordelia to go into the bathroom.
The uniformed young woman glanced as Angel came into the room. "Good Morning, sir. Breakfast?" She gestured to her cart. "We have fresh fruit, french toast with powdered sugar, eggs benedict, scrambled...."
"Just leave it, thank you," Angel interrupted.
The young woman smiled at the vampire. "Of course, enjoy your stay." She said backing out of the room.
"Angel?" Cordelia called from the bedroom.
"Breakfast, some samples from your five star chef, imagine."
"Really." Cordelia ran to the cart, picking up various silver lids. "Yum," Cordelia grabbed a strawberry. "Angel, you go take a shower, I'll just have some breakfast."
Cordelia fixed herself a small plate of fruit and yogurt. She took bites of her toast as she walked to the small refrigator. Cordelia grabbed a packet of blood out of the refrigator. The young girl walked back towards the cart still muching on her toast holding the bag and balancing a glass of water. Cordelia took the pan of eggs off of the chafing dish and poured the water in the bottom of the dish. She checked the flame as she placed the packet in the water to warm. Cordelia sat down to her plate alternating popping pieces of fruit in her mouth and turning the packet of blood over. Cordelia got up another piece of toast, she headed into the bedroom.
Cordelia stopped short at the sight of Angel, exiting the bathroom wearing a towel around his lean hips. Cordelia took a deep breath; she tried to ignore the butterflies that were dancing merrily in her stomach. This has got to stop, she thought. It is just Angel, Angel the vampire she saw every day, the vampire whose bare chest she has bandaged too many times.
"Breakfast." Cordelia got her breathing under control and handed the vampire the steaming cup.
"Warm?" he smiled.
"I am not sure Emily Post would approve," she smiled in return going into the bathroom. "Hey, 'grr' guy, you forgot this." Cordelia threw him a robe.
"They haven't actually told us to wear them, yet. So for now, I think..."
"Clothes," she agreed. Please, put on some clothes, she thought gazing at the vampire's muscular back. It was really quite nice how his muscles rippled every time Angel moved.
Angel could sense Cordelia gaze on his back. Angel could feel warmth forming in his loins at her continued stare. He started to feel nervous. Hell, maybe he was getting modest. "Shower," he reminded her holding the towel tighter around his waist.
"Right," she started.
Angel sighed in relief as he heard the door close and the water turn on.