Go TeamC/A

Title: Curiosity Killed the Cat
Author: Helen
Posted:
Rating: PG-13 for now (likely R/NC-17 later)
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Category: angst
Content: C/A
Summary: Fred ignores Angels order to stop tinkering with time travel and gets herself and Cordy in a boat load of trouble, namely her (Cordy's) past self and Angel.
Spoilers: S5 AU
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Please ask
Notes: Set in Post AU S5 and Cordy runs her own agency[part of Lost & Found Series
Thanks/Dedication:
Feedback: Yes please!




PROLOGUE

CORDY – Wolfram & Hart (Present Day)

Cordy walked warily into the lab, uncomfortable in the alien atmosphere of stark white walls, cabinets, and counters. Not to mention hulking machinery that hummed like a multitude of ticking bombs and glass containers and vials filled with noxious looking liquid.

"Fred" she called out, still holding open the door to make a quick getaway, or at least hoping for one anyway.

Science was not her 'thing'; never had and never would be. Add the lab being buried in the belly of Wolfram and Hart and it was no wonder she was feeling squicky about being here. With no answer she was forced to go deeper in search of the elusive scientist.

"This is just great Fred. You ask me to come and then when I do you're not here". She said out-loud, edgy frustration lacing her tone. "I knew I shoulda just stuck with a firm 'no'" She grouched in self recrimination.

It had taken some persuading on the Texan's part to convince her to come here. Wolfram and Hart, Los Angelus Branch, might be run by Angel but to her mind corporate beasts don't change their spots never mind who's in the driving seat- or thinks he is; she added with an eye roll.

Plus one of them had to stay on the outside to run to the rescue when it went belly up, and with everyone else in her family neck deep in the firm from hell, it was left to her; hence her rarely stepping foot over the spotlessly tiled threshold.

Fred's call had caught her in the middle of a workout and given it was out of business hours Cordy hadn't bothered to change out of her sneakers, track pants and vest top, only adding the matching jacket to the pants before heading out. Now her sneakers squeaked on the grey flecked lino floor as she crossed to another set of swing doors.

"Fred where the hell are-", she called out before she'd even cleared the door, then halted in her tracks, "-you"? She finished lamely and stared at the sight of Winifred Burkle tied up and gagged with Wesley holding a dinky little crossbow trained diligently on the wide eyed scientist.

Her brows napped down on seeing that crossbow swinging in her direction. "Well this looks kinky even to me" she mocked lightly; "what's the problem lose your handcuffs, Wes"? The lightness was a front for the rather sharp annoyance currently prodding the temper she was struggling to keep a lid on.

"Don't think you can fool me. I know you're not the real Cordelia Chase so you can just drop the masquerade now". The crossbow waggled with each word, and Wesley visibly gulped. Cordelia's eyes narrowed on the glasses being hurriedly pushed up a sweaty nose.

"Since when did you go back to wearing glasses, Wes"? Asked Cordy thoughtfully, then tossing Fred a look caught the rapid blinking of frantic brown eyes, following by the pointed look at a monstrously large, metallic grey container, with all kinds of weird and bizarrely shaped pipes and thick electric cords coming out of it.

Understanding came with a brief flashback to a lunch date with Fred last week and her clear annoyance with Angel over his abrupt cancelling of her time travel project at the last minute. Obviously Fred had decided to try out a new rebellious streak.

"Jeezus, I don't believe this" she muttered, "this is just not happening".

"Oh I can assure you it is" interjected a nervy yet exultant Wesley, thinking he had them running scared. "You're nefarious kidnapping attempt has run afoul I am happy to say".

"I bet" agreed Cordy feelingly, and then spreading her hands she tried a more logical approach, fervently wishing Fred had called someone other than her. She may have improved over the years but calming down situations like these was still not her forte.

"Look, Wesley. This isn't us trying to kidnap you. It's just a mistake- they happen" she glared at Fred who shrugged helplessly as much as her bindings would allow.

"Just put down the crossbow and let's sort this thing out. We can fix this, if you'll let us" she offered as soothingly as she could and tried a step forward, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the younger version of her friend.

Wesley didn't believe a word of it. "Back, evil thing" he yelled excitedly and holding the crossbow at full stretch curled his lips in a sneer.

"Do you really think I'll believe it's a simple mistake that I've landed in a future where Angel works for Wolfram & Hart. After all the evil they've perpetuated in this world" he scoffed. Then added, "No, this is an attempt to corrupt me or trick me into betraying my employer and I won't stand for it".

Cordy's immediate flash of heated temper at being called an evil thing, a sensitive subject to her for obvious reasons was deflated by his last statement. Crap, he had a point and without the equivalent of a full slide show presentation, impossible to explain without getting the audience lost in a shit load of confusion.

She tried anyway. "I get that it's hard to believe; believe me I do. But-" she faltered and sighed heavily, wishing Fred had kept her mouth shut. "It's kinda hard to explain". Cordy admitted dryly.

"Well let me relieve you of the problem" replied Wesley, "get into the container" he demanded jerking his head towards the grey monstrosity.

"What"? Growled Cordy guessing what he had in mind; "you're kidding right- like that's gonna happen" she retorted sarcastically and folded her arms in display of defiance. "I guess you're just gonna have to shoot me".

"Not necessarily" shot back the Englishman triumphantly. "If you don't do as I say. I'll shoot her".

Her- being Fred looked less than happy with the prospect as a droplet of sweat swept down her pale brow. Stumped Cordy stared at him, weighing her options as well as the distance between her and him.

ANGEL – Wolfram & Hart (Present Day)

The elevator ride to his office was never pleasant and getting worse as the strong urge to simply hand it all back and go back to the hotel permanently kept getting more and more tempting with every passing day. Tonight was different though, Cordelia was here.

The call from security came through on his cell just as he was pulling into his assigned space in the underground lot, instantly filling him with a mixture of surprised confusion, wary surprise and anticipation.

Why was she here? Had something happened? A myriad of thoughts raced round his head as he impatiently waited for the cage to stop at his office. The doors barely opened before he slipped through and scanned the office; nothing, no perky brunette awaited him. Frowning he strode over to his desk and pressed for Security.

"She's not here. Find out where she went and meet me in the lobby" Angel barked into the phone and disconnecting, swiftly headed back to the elevator to press for the lobby.

If this was nothing more than a misunderstanding, then fine, but his instincts were telling him it was something else. After the debacle of recent years he tended to listen to them now, and the other thing he'd learned was it was never too early to start panicking.

Two guards met him at the lobby, and with starched brown uniforms nearly choking them they practically stood to attention as he exited the elevator. "Well"? Asked Angel without preamble, hands on hips and anxious impatience ringing in his deep voice, also mirrored on his taut face.

Flustered they looked at one another then spoke up at the same time. "Science Division, downstairs Labs".

Angel almost skidding in his impatience to get there now raced off in a blur, leaving them gaping after him and then after swapping shrugs, following in his wake. They found him a few minutes later staring at a chair with the remnants of a sliced fire hose draped over it while next to him a large metallic cocoon shaped thing was still humming.

"Get Wesley here now" He whispered tonelessly and when they didn't move quick enough to satisfy his building panic, looked at them and yelled "Now" loud enough to leave their ears ringing and hearts beating a terrified tattoo.

CORDY, FRED AND WES (LA-3 years earlier)

"This is just frickin' great, Fred" yelled Cordelia batting away a scaled arm trying to swipe her head off, following through with a swift kick to its middle to knock it back. Damn this thing was heavy. Staggering under the impact herself, she whirled around and ducked, narrowly missing being ventilated by its spiked knuckles.

"Sorry Cordy" yelled back Fred, smacking a trashcan lid she'd swiped up of a can into the face of her own opponent, while standing over the bloodied and unconscious figure of the ex-watcher, currently lying sprawled on the dirty warehouse floor.

Luckily they only had the two demons to worry about, which was bad enough considering that with the Englishman out for the count they had no idea of origin or killing tactics and were literally flying by the seat of their pants on how to get out of this alive.

Cordy spotting the crossbow that'd been knocked out of Wesley's hand when they'd first been jumped; dived to the floor reaching underneath the tower of pallets for the missing weapon.

Her desperately straining fingers just snagged the trigger when her feet where grabbed and she was yanked backwards, going with the motion, she rolled and brought up the crossbow finger primed and ready to depress the trigger, only to stop and stare in shock at the familiar handsome face staring back down at her.

Hazel eyes travelled over the tall black coated figure, one hand holding a gory sword dripping blue blood from its tip, held carefully at his side. "Hello Angel" she said and grinned sheepishly. His face remained entirely expressionless including a pair of fathomless dark eyes.

Then a new voice intruded sharp with both fear and indignation. "Hey that is not me. Angel, kill it".

TBC...

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