Go TeamC/A
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Title: Cold Clarity
Author: Califi
Posted:
Rating: R
Category: Angst/romance/a smidgen of humour towards the end.
Content: C/A
Summary: What if Cordelia had been shot instead of Wes? How would Angel deal with it?
Spoilers: set The Thin Dead Line.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution:
Notes: Okay, a part in this fic is very similar to another archived out there somewhere, so if I end up offending someone out there, I'll apologise now- it wasn't meant and I found out after I'd started the fic. It is only a small scene that follows a similar line. AN: Yeah, I realise it is a crock/sucky ending and not too good an in-between, but going from angst to humour is quite a feat that I'm not sure I'm up to that well, especially as I've been very under the weather and maybe should have waited until I was in a better frame of mind to do it [oops]…but I do hope you enjoy it. crock/suck & all.
Thanks/Dedication:This is a personal challenge from Sunscorched. She doing one of mine, so I have to return the favour, Thanks babes! And to Lysa for betaring the fic.
Feedback:
Part 1 He couldn't believe what he was seeing! Wesley came running up the street behind the cop. "Wait! Officer, wait! This man is a friend of mine, a very good friend. I'm sure he hasn't committed any..." The cop spun around and aimed casually towards Wesley, and pulled the trigger- but before Wesley could react a body came out of nowhere and pushed him out of the way.
Wesley staggered from the impact, hitting a nearby wall looking looked at the cop in disbelief then, his attention was drawn to the slumped figure still hanging onto his jacket.
"Oh my God- Cordelia?"…***
"Wesley!" Gunn wasn't sure exactly what was happening; all he heard was the sound of the gun going off, pointed towards his friend, and tackled the cop, knocking the gun from his hand. Rondell darted in and picked it up. The cop hit Gunn, knocking him aside and reached down to his ankle.
"He's got another gun!" George yelled a warning as the cop pulled out his hideout gun and without pause, Rondell shot him twice, dropping him to the ground.
"Oh man! Oh man!" Rondell repeated in shock, unable to believe he'd shot cop. Killing demons was an entirely different matter. For one, no fear of being arrested for murder.
"Lets get the hell out of here." George begged panicking and tugging on his arm.
"Help me get Wesley." Gunn called out to them and hurried over to find not only Wes, but also a limp, familiar figure cradled in his arms. Rondell was still frozen to the spot. He dropped the gun, staring at it in horror.
"Cordy's hurt," The shock in the Watchers' voice and face surprisingly balanced the young black man, who shook off his own shock and reached out to help with the crumpled and dazed young woman.
"It's okay now. We're gonna take you some place warm." Gunn reassured Cordy gruffly. "Help me pick her up! Come on! Come on!" Gunn looked over his shoulder frantically, trying to ignore the growing bloodstain on her light top.
George shook his head and went over to help him; Rondell Continued to stare at the dead cop, shock written on his features.
"I shot him! I shot a cop!" His hushed voice carried a trace of rapidly growing panic, and Gunn again glanced over his shoulder.
"Not a lot of choice." He snapped out, his attention mostly on the brunette that the three men now propped up.
"Gunn? Feel cold- when did it get cold?" Cordy's voice slurred, and Gunn felt his gut plunge in fear.
"Where the hell did she come from?" he muttered under his breath, not expecting an answer; Wes was in no state to reply, soothing Cordy with a shaky hand and looking like he was in his own private hell.
It should have been him! Where the hell did she come from? They'd left her safe in her apartment.
"We got to move." George's eyes flickered from the wounded brunette to the fallen cop with nervous eyes; he didn't want to be here, but at the same time the girl needed help.
"I killed a police officer. Look at him. He's dead!" Rondell's voice was now higher-pitched- and then the police officer sat back up.
"Don't look that dead." The sick feeling in Gunn's gut almost overcame him; Wes was in shock and Cordy was practically unconscious. From what he could tell, the bullet had entered just above her stomach, and the bloodstain was growing by the second.
"Let's go!" George insisted, and the four of them ran as best they could with Cordy supported between them; although Wes was in no fit state to be of real help.
The cop reached up to the radio clipped to his shoulder. "We have a situation." He spoke almost mechanically; the voice on the other end was just as cool. "Are there any loose ends?"
"We have witnesses. I need back up." The cop replied as Gunn and the others hurried down a street.
"Hold up. Hold up. I got to try and stop this bleeding." Gunn pointed to a hole in a chain link fence, and they slipped through it, and then went around the corner of the building. "Around here. - Put her down. Easy! Take it easy!" They eased her down until her back rested against the wall. Gunn pulled of his jacket and wadded it up, pressing it against the wound. "Wes, hold this steady.
"Nine one one. You've got to call 911." Wes muttered hazily, doing as he was asked; Rondell glanced anxiously at Cordy
"Screw the cops! They're the ones that did this to her!" his heart beating ten to the dozen; Gunn flicked him a look.
"An ambulance." He explained briefly. Rondell nodded his head. "Oh."
Wesley pulled out his cell.
"Alright." He turned to Rondell. "Go down and keep watch." Rondell hurried back to the hole in the fence, while Gunn dialed the phone.
"Tell them no siren." George advised nervously.
"911; what is your emergency?"***
Angel ignored the phone's shrill ring as he entered the lobby; he wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone- regardless of who it may be. He reached the bottom of the stairs just as the answer machine took the call.
"Angel? Just heard something you may want to be informed of." Kate Lockley's no nonsense voice echoed through the lobby, and the vampire paused at the top of the stairs; he hadn't long left her. "Your secretary; Cordelia Chase? She was involved in a shooting - Zombie cops." Angel froze, unable to move even if he wanted to.
Who was shot? How the hell did it happen? - Weren't Gunn and Wes supposed to be looking out for her… intense guilt followed rapidly- would it have happened if he hadn't abandoned her?
"The news so far is she took a gut wound, and she's at present on her way to A & E along with her associates." Before she'd finished speaking, mobility had came back to the vampire and he was out the door before she'd even put down the phone…***
Before Angel could enter the hospital room, hard hands had pushed him back out. He glared down at both Wes and Gunn, but they refused to be daunted.
"What do you want, Angel?" Wes spoke first, his voice tired but implacable.
"I want to see Cordelia." Angel replied just as curtly and pushed forward again. Wes lifted a brow of disdain.
"What? Are you going to physically remove us?" He asked coolly. "Because that is the only way you are getting in here. Angel looked over their heads, taking in the slim still form lying in the hospital bed, a needle in the back of her hand leading to a bag of blood.
"What happened?" he asked instead. If he'd found out she'd been hurt because of them…. A small growl left his throat unawares, causing the two men to step back a little subconsciously noting the threat to them.
"We had an….incident with some Police Officers who weren't exactly-" the vampire frowned impatiently.
"I know about them- Just tell me what happened," he asked again, getting more irritated by the second. Gunn's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You knew? Pity you didn't do something about them; our girl wouldn't be in here after losing nearly half of her body's blood!" Angel's eyes darted to the younger mans, not deigning to reply. Wes stepped forward a little.
"I am hoping right now that Angel knew because he helped end it." He placed a calming hand in his friend's arm. He had a feeling he was right- but what worried him more right now was the way the vampire's eyes had flared amber at Gunn's unconsciously possessive 'our girl'.
Now was not the time to do this. Cordelia was safe and settled, and he wanted it kept that way. "We were dealing with one of Cordelia's visions; you know, the one's she has for you?" he couldn't help but remind the dark figure towering over him, and was surprised when Angel retreated a step.
"One of the zombie cops pulled a gun on me," Gunn added, his voice softening as he recalled the scene in his head, "Wes was meeting us there- he got the cop's attention and he turned it on him." The young man flicked an almost apologetic look towards the ex watcher. "Then Cordy just came out of nowhere and pushed him outta the way." Both men shuddered at the memory. Angel raised a hand sharply.
"And Cordy was there, why?" His teeth ground together as he attempted to stop himself slamming their heads together. Wes Glared icily at him.
"Please, stop with the recriminations- we could go on and on about how you abandoned Cordelia in the first place- us too…but Cordelia?" He shook his head tiredly, not feeling the slightest bit ashamed of throwing that one in the vampire's briefly repentant face.
"Cordelia rang me from her apartment. I made my way to help Gunn alone, Angel." Wes rubbed his face roughly. "Believe me, we were as shocked as you to find her suddenly there… She took a bullet that was intended for me!" silence filled the corridor for a long moment, then Wes gathered himself and looked the vampire directly in the eye.
"The wound was clean and missed all of her vital organs; God knows how." He glanced behind him. "I know the sight of her pale and receiving a blood transfusion is something we never ever wanted to see, but Cordelia is, surprisingly, okay." Wes folded his arms, his expression becoming hard, as did Gunn's.
"I suppose we're lucky we aren't preparing for her funeral. Go home, Angel, you aren't welcome here." There was no hint of softening in the man's eyes as he added, "You gave up all rights to her well-being when you fired her."
So many emotions raged through the vampire as he listened to Wes; guilt being the main one. The man was right. This was his fault. This would never have happened if they'd been under his added protection, and he really had no one to blame but himself. Cordy had nearly been killed because he'd forgotten that his Seer would never walk away from the helpless.
When they'd worked together as a team, Angel had had at least some say in the brunette's whereabouts when visions were dealt with- and even if she had been with him, he would have looked out for her… or was that strictly true? How many times had she been in danger even when with him?
Without a word, Angel retreated, swiveling around with a swish of his long black duster and strode down the corridor and out of sight.
As Wes watched him go, he wondered if that really was the last of it; but then again, the vampire had abandoned her, hadn't he? Injury and death was part and parcel of their mission. Once upon a time, Wes would have found it inconceivable for Angel to ever let go of Cordelia- but that was before he chose Darla over her. that had hurt her most, he figured.
After several hours of taking turns at Cordelia's side, and no sign of a return from the vampire, both men settled down for the rest of the night in the corridor, sleeping fitfully and feeling unable to relax completely until their friend was once again safe in her own home...
From the rooftop opposite, Angel finally straightened from his crouched position. From his bird's eye view, he could not only see the hospital room, but part of the corridor, and when his ex colleagues finally drifted off to sleep, he put his plan into action…
Part 2Angel watched her for endless minutes. Taking in her pale sleeping face and the plaster placed on the back of her hand where they'd removed the needle. Feeling a cool draft touch his face, he rose from the edge of her bed and walked over to the window, silently closing it mostly shut; his entry into the room, and soon to be their exit.
As Angel turned back to her bed, the door opened, and for a split second he tensed up, waiting for either one of their familiar faces and inevitable anger at his unwelcome presence.
"What are you doing in here- and who are you?" the middle-aged nurse hovered near the still-open door as she warily eyed the dark and rather dangerous looking man. She couldn't deny his good looks, but his pale skin and rather unkempt clothes and hair gave her a little cause for concern.
"I'm her boyfriend; I was away on business and only just got back after hearing the news via cell from Wesley." Angel replied smoothly, seeing the instant relaxation of tensed shoulders at the name of the English gentleman who had been one of the two to accompany the young woman.
"Hmm, well, they didn't mention you- but" she added even as his mouth opened, "neither of them were up to saying much, what with their obvious concern for your girlfriend." She smiled in understanding as she made her way over to the bed.
"She was lucky; the wound isn't so bad and you may be able to take her home in the morning." Angel smiled with not totally feigned relief. Good. That meant he wouldn't be risking her health by taking her a few hours earlier.
Once Wes and Gunn had her back in her apartment, which he didn't doubt was now barred to him, as well as the reception he'd mostly get from Dennis too, the ever-protective ghost, Angel knew he'd have no chance of seeing her any time soon.
"As long as she takes her painkillers for a week or so, and has bed rest for at least a week, I can see nothing but good news regarding her recovery." The nurse indicated a small paper bag on the bedside cabinet that the vampire assumed was her take-out meds.
After checking her pulse, her temperature and asking Angel to turn his back for a moment so she could check the bandages, the nurse nodded with a smile and left the room. He waited for several minutes until he heard her footsteps fade then the sound of a door closing, then pulled the covers off Cordelia, lifting her slightly to wrap a blanket around her sleeping form; cradled her tight to his chest, then pocketed the small bag and left the way he'd come.***
"Nurse! Anyone- what?" Gunn turned his scowl on his friend who'd grabbed his arm and started dragging him down the corridor. "English! We gotta-"
"I think we know what happened to Cordelia; and these people won't be able to help," a light dawned in Gunn's eyes, rapidly followed by anger.
"So that's why the window was open- you don't think he left that way, do ya?" Thinking of the possible jolt to the girl's wound. Wes shook his head even though he believed he did just that; Angel was like a big cat, and Cordelia most likely never even twitched.
"Let's go," he released Gunn's arm to punch the button to the elevator. He doubted the vampire would have taken her anywhere but the hotel- the apartment being off limits.
Wes swallowed hard at the thought of the coming confrontation. The fact that he'd taken her in the first place didn't bode well for convincing him to release her into their hands. The only good thing about his reaction was that fact that the incident had obviously reawakened the vampire's protective feelings towards his Seer enough to pull him out of his Darla funk.
And to be entirely truthful with himself, a large part of him hoped for that; they'd almost lost someone dear because they weren't equipped to deal with the supernatural on their own, as much as he would like to deny their need for the vampire.***
It wasn't until Angel walked into his rooms that he noticed how untidy it had become. His bed was rumpled and clothes were strewn about. Carefully placing his precious bundle onto the quickly cleared couch, he set about stripping the mattress and putting clean sheets and a comforter on it.
After unwrapping the blanket, he gently placed the sleeping brunette into the freshly made bed, he then proceeded to clear and clean both rooms of all traces of his uncaring phase before going off for a much-needed shower.
Once under the hot water, so many questions went through his mind- the main one being, what the hell was she doing turning up out of the blue? Had she seen the cop pull a gun in a later vision? That had to be it…. wondering how many other times she'd turned up mid-fight made him shudder with fear and probably unjustified anger. Could he really blame Wes and Gunn? Cordelia was a force to be reckoned with- and he was a vampire, for God's sake! What chance did two mere men have under that hot, stubborn gaze?
There was no point in playing guessing games now, though, he'd wait until she was up to answering his questions; and then the yelling would begin, though Angel doubted it would be one-sided. He himself had a lot to apologize for. How many times had she nearly died because of his selfish decision? Well, that was all about to change. Darla be damned.
The sooner he dusted his Sire and Childe the better.
Feeling marginally refreshed if not better, Angel entered his room and finally turned on the bedside lamps. He loomed over the sleeping beauty in his bed and tucked a stray strand of silky hair behind her ear, frowning briefly as he took in the rather worn hospital gown they'd put her in. Walking over to his closet, he rifled through until, satisfied with his choice, pulled out a soft, pure silk burgundy shirt he had yet to wear- if ever.
With a forced efficiency, Angel pulled back the covers and set about removing the gown; his eyes flickering briefly over her plum satin-covered curves before slipping the shirt around her and buttoning it up with slightly trembling fingers. With a deep sigh of relief, he again pulled up the covers and tucked them under her arms. Satisfied with the result, he finally settled into the bedside chair and both watched over his charge and listened out for the almost inevitable loud entry of Wesley and Gunn…***
"Gunn, wait a moment." The young black man paused in his move to kick open the hotel doors and glanced over his shoulder.
"Remember, no matter how angry we are, Cordelia is in there, we don't want to cause her more distress by charging in and making a scene," Wes explained quietly, he understood Gunn's fearful rage; hell, felt it himself, but they had Cordelia to consider. Gunn reluctantly nodded after an internal struggle.
"You're right- but hell, he took her from the hospital… man! I figure Barbie won't be too pleased herself to find out what the bastard's done- and probably wouldn't expect us to pussyfoot around." He figured the vamp had finally hit rock bottom- ditching them was one thing, but taking their friend was way too out there for him to really be able to calm down anytime soon. "Why would he take her?" He scratched his head, eyes screwing tight. "I don't get it." Wes sighed heavily, moving past Gunn to open the door.
"God knows what's going through his head right now, Gunn, or for the past few months - but I do know one thing; he wouldn't hurt Cordelia," he cracked a bitter smile, "not physically anyway. Come on." They both entered the dark and dusty lobby, crinkling their noses at the musty smell.
"Smells like dead people in here," this drew another smile at the irony of it.
"How apt" Wes muttered under his breath. As one, they slowly ascended the stairs, not really that surprised to find the vampire waiting for them at the top.
"Angel," Wes refused to drop his gaze, absently taking in the change in the vampire's appearance. Fresh, clean hair and clothes that were no longer rumpled. He also looked a lot less paler the earlier. For one awful moment his thoughts turned to the young woman in his care, but he inwardly shrugged It off. Even Angel knew he'd be asking to be dusted- and not just by them, if he fed off a human.
"Wes." Angel shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels, but his casual demeanor didn't lull them into any sense of security.
Angel had noted the tight look on his face and the fleeting fear that touched the ex watcher's eyes, and for a moment felt enraged that the man would think he would do such a thing…. but then again, his behavior recently had been less than acceptable, he realized with self-disgust. "She's asleep."
"Did it not occur to you that we'd worry on finding her gone?" the chastisement in Wes' tone hit home.
"I assumed you'd realize where she was," Angel deliberately shrugged off his concerns, causing Wes to frown in anger.
"In our line of 'business', Angel, we learn pretty quick not to assume anything." Gunn remained at Wesley's side, his silence more condemning that any words. Angel had the grace to look away, rubbing his neck roughly.
"You know I wouldn't let anyone get to her-"
"Unless they happened to be zombie cops?" Gunn finally sniped angrily. Angel didn't bother to answer; there was nothing he could really say in his defense. He doubted the young man would want to hear of his own 'mission' that night.
"She needs to go back to hospital; are you going to stop us?" Wes asked bluntly. The vampire instantly straightened to his full height.
"The nurse said she was to be discharged this morning, so why return her just to have her sent home?" he countered evenly.
"Sent home- not here, this isn't Cordy's home." Gunn took a step forward, bristles rising at the vampire's apparent unconcern; ignoring his sudden stillness.
"While she's ill, it is. She's staying here." The even tone hardened to steel, his dark gaze pinning the younger mans. Then he turned to look directly at Wes. "I will take care of her, Wes." The Ex watcher didn't doubt it- and that's what had his internal alarms going off; how far was this possessiveness going to go? He decided to find out.
"Very well, but we still want to see her." Angel lifted a dark brow as he contemplated Wes' demand, then nodded and led the way back to his rooms. On reaching the door, he paused.
"She's resting; don't wake her up," the words were soft, but that remaining thread of steel stiffened their spines.
Once they had reassured themselves that Cordelia was comfortable, with only a silent llift of an eyebrow at her change of clothing from Wes, they all retreated to the door, Angel hung back once they'd entered the hallway.
"I have no food in. As it's daylight I'm sure you won't mind getting some for her."
Wes nodded, adding, "Suitable clothing is needed too, I see." Angel merely looked hard at him before attempting to close the door, but Wes put out a staying hand.
"We'll be back soon- and then we're staying until she's on her feet. We aren't leaving her here by herself, Angel."
"Cordy isn't alone." His pale lips tightened at the insinuation.
"Try telling that to her when she wakes up." Gunn added angrily as he finally closed the door.***
Cordelia woke to the gentle touch of cool fingers brushing her midriff, but try as she might, the blurry haze wouldn't lift. When her head rose weakly from the soft pillows she lay on, an equally cool hand eased her back, whispering calming words that touched her subconscious mind. Her brow furrowed as she attempted to connect to voice to the face, but gave up to the sleep that tugged at her mind.
Angel waited until Cordelia had settled back down before returning his attention to her bandages. Luckily in their line of business, medical supplies were a necessity- not that they'd used them for a while. He'd missed that luxury; the brunette tending to his wounds as he now tended to hers.
His mouth relaxed when on removing the stained gauze; he found that the wound was an almost neat circle with no tearing. As he bathed the slowly healing injury, Angel wondered if it had gone straight through, or she'd been lucky enough to get a surgeon who took into account how distressed a young and pretty woman would feel if the bullet had be yanked out with no care to causing more injury.
Having no medical insurance sometimes seemed to make so-called Doctors less than efficient or caring. Then he felt guilt all over again- this time for not even thinking to ask, and also for Cordy not being in a position to afford insurance.
Regarding details of her injury, at the time, all the vampire had wanted was her safe at home with him. He had many enemies, and a public hospital was a free-for-all for any vengeful vampire or demon he hadn't yet dusted or killed. His Seer would have been the perfect way to get the vampire where it hurt.
He swallowed sickly as he thought of all the time he'd more or less left her to fend for herself, not thinking of anyone but Darla and his own failure for not saving her human soul.
In that frame of mind, would they have really been any safer with him? Hindsight now made him realize Cordelia would have most likely stood a better chance where he could at least see her. After gently but firmly securing the fresh bandage, Angel eased her onto her side and checked her back. He was pleased to see flawless skin only marked by a faint white scar from the rebar of Sunnydale, and the almost iridescent sun and moon tattoo that graced the small of her back, the end disappearing under the lace band of her plum-colored panties.
His fingers followed his eyes for a moment, running across the tattoo and slipping under the edge of her panties, before reason came to him with a soft curse. There were names for men like him! That thought had him easing her back and quickly smoothing down the shirt before tucking her back in.
When his feelings had changed for his Seer, Angel really wasn't sure. Yeah, he'd noticed her beauty for sure, but a vampire with so many generations tucked under his belt, even her classic beauty then wasn't quite enough to draw his attention… until that terrible day and night when Vocah had cursed her with unending visions, and then her importance in his life hit him about the head like a ton of bricks; from then on, he fell under her spell day by day- but it was only this time when he'd almost lost her again that Angel realized just how deep his feelings went.
On the way to the hospital last night, he'd been physically sick with fear at the thought of losing her, even having to pull up at the curbside and retch as that fear got out of hand. And the relief at finding her relatively safe had been as close to bliss as was possibly safe for him; Angelus had actually snarled with frustration that the bliss had been laced with guilt.
That left him in another quandary- so he possibly was in love with her, but he knew from painful experience how that worked out! He'd once told Buffy that it wasn't the demon that was weak, but the man… unknown to Buffy or anyone else, Angel had been far from a monk in the many years he'd been cursed; unfortunately only triggered by first Buffy- and would most definitely be by Cordelia.
Angel was pulled out of his maudlin thoughts when a whimper alerted him to the woman in question, and instantly he was at her side. Her eyes were stilled closed in drugged sleep, but she tossed and turned restlessly, kicking the covers aside and exposing her long golden limbs to his avid eyes. Tearing his gaze away, the vampire straightened the covers and tucked her in again.
The weak man in him rebelled, and it frightened the unlife out of him.***
Oh god, the bliss of a pain-free life-even if it…CRAP!
Cordelia's body arched off the bed as the first vision since her run-in with a bullet tore her out of her blissful drugged state. As she cried out, cool arms wrapped around her and pulled her to an equally cool chest, but the shock of the pain after nearly two days of semi-consciousness was too much for her to take in her surroundings or the person who held and soothed her gently. Other voices entered her head and it was too much on top of the vision.
"Under the pier…. big slimy-scaly demon," a cool palm swept her sweating brow as she frowned, "no, no- too much; you can't go, Wes, Gunn- too big- way too big...need Angel, God!" Then the cool grip eased away and a warm hand curled around her shoulders, holding a glass to her lips.
Her blurred vision made out the Englishman's face blurring in and out through the fog of the strong painkillers and the meltdown of her brain. "Shhhh, take these, Cordelia- don't worry, everything will be okay." As she hoarsely insisted they not go yet again. The pills were swallowed, and after more gentle soothing and rocking, Cordelia once again slipped into blessed unconsciousness.
"I'm sorry about that, Angel, but the combined shock of seeing you would have been too much for her; Gunn." The young black man lowered the crossbow aimed at the heavily glowering vampire.
When they'd first heard her screams, they'd both ascended the stairs armed, not entirely sure what they'd find on arrival. Both men had sighed an inward breath of relief to find Cordelia in the throes of a vision. The scenarios that had gone through their minds at the time didn't bear thinking about now- or ever.
Then had come Wesley's insistence of dealing with her vision, and he'd received a heavily growled no. All the English man could think of was the young woman's reaction on top of the vision, at seeing the vampire who'd tossed her aside so cruelly, and refusing to deal with the fallout had asked Gunn to help back him off. He'd known the vampire had only retreated for fear of the young man accidentally hurting Cordelia, but it had given him a chance to get to her side before she opened her eyes.
Angel walked over to the bed as soon as the crossbow was pointed to the ground, quietly straightening the tumbled covers and smoothing her sweat-soaked hair as the other two looked on silently. Neither could fault the vampire's dedication to their friend, although they had become anxious at the limited time he'd give them with her, never leaving them alone for a second.
"She can't be left alone," Angel finally muttered. He'd heard her fears about the demon, and her worries for the human's welfare; he'd also heard her clearly mention him. " Wes, you stay here, and I'll take Gunn." He added before either man could protest. Straightening up, he moved away from the bed, reluctant to lift his gaze from the young woman sleeping there until he reached the bedroom doors, then he glanced Gunn's way.
"You ready?" without waiting for an answer, Angel walked swiftly through the living areas, grabbing his leather jacket on the way.
"Gunn? Be careful." The men high-fived and the younger man left the room. Sighing wearily, Wes walked over and settled in the chair by the bed.
Knowing the vampire, they wouldn't be long…
Less than twenty minutes later, Wes heard a noise downstairs. Surprised that they could possibly be back so soon, Wes leaned over to peck Cordelia on the forehead then made his way to the lobby- grabbing the stake he'd brought in earlier from an occasional table on the way.
On reaching the lobby, Wes looked around carefully; he could have sworn he'd heard the main entrance door. Shrugging, he turned to ascend the stairs-
And then everything went black.