Go TeamC/A
Part 8 Angel wasn’t sure that he believed a word that he was hearing. But they did and in their version of events Cordelia Chase had walked out of Sunnydale. He needed that version to be true.
“Angel,” they all jumped.
“You want to know where Cordelia Chase is.”
“Yes, please.” Wesley shoved at his glasses.
The door burst opened, Jack ran in. He skidded to a halt. “Hey, you didn’t kill them. Fuckin A. Business. A four horned, snaggled toothed grizzly large fucker about to decimate a man in the parking garage under the Lincoln complex.”
Wesley stood. “A Vortual. I’ll need a sword.”
“I’m going need an axe,” Gunn looked at the vampire. “Got a weapon’s cabinet in this place.”
“Where do you think you both are going?” Angel stared.
“With you, man.”
“Yes, Vortual’s are very prolific fighters. They have the strength of ten very strong men. A match even for a vampire with your skills, you’ll need us.”
“I work alone.”
“No anymore. Hey, English, found ‘em.” Gunn stood in front of an armory, pulling out a sword and tossing it.
Wesley caught the sword easily.
Gunn yanked out an axe, then a large broadsword. “Here.” He tossed the vampire’s sword to him. “I call shot gun, you still have the Plymouth right.” He asked as he headed out the door, Wesley following. “Charles, normally, I sit in the front seat.”
“I called shot gun, tough.”
Angel blinked at the retreating men, then at Fred. “I work alone.”
Fred waved smiling at the vampire. “Be careful.”
“What are you doing sitting at my desk,” grumbled Jack.
“Go away,” Fred shooed the rumbled man.
Part 9“That thing wasn’t such a bad ass. Whooped his tail.” Gunn headed back into the office.
Fred looked up from her computer. “I didn’t think Vortual’s had tails.”
“They don’t, Fred.”
“Oh, where’s Angel. Oh, hi, Angel.” The young woman smiled as the vampire entered. “Is any one hurt? I found the first aid kit.”
“No, we're cool.”
“Good, because that’s Cordy’s job.” Fred sat down. “I ordered some food, coffee and tea are over there,” she pointed to a table by the window.
“Hey, girl, you got some clothes, what happened to the bag.”
“I think I offended Lorne, or just brought back bad memories of Plyea. He came back by with some clothes. Angel, would you like me to get you some blood.”
“No.” Angel stared at the young woman, who had taken over his office.
“Are you sure? Cordy told me which spices you liked best in your blood.”
“Girl, you know he hates cinnamon, just doesn’t have the balls to tell her.” Gunn laughed.
“Oh, you really don’t like cinnamon in your blood?”
“I can’t ever imagine even trying it.”
“Oh. Right.”
Angel stared at the humans. Wesley going straight to Angel’s desk, digging back through some books, and writing on a pad.
Gunn was perched on the edge, cleaning the axe he had been using, even though he had already cleaned it before leaving the parking garage. Angel hadn’t wanted to admit but both had been helpful in his fight with the demon. They handled their respective weapons with confidence, working together as a team, seeming to know when to let Angel fight and when he needed their help. They knew him, but he had no idea who they were.
He had been completely confused at their light banter and friendly insults as they rode to the garage or their exaggerated bragging in an attempt to out do the other on their prowess on the ride back.
“Angel.”
The vampire looked at the self-proclaimed rogue demon hunter. That label no longer seemed so foolish.
“You were going to tell us where Cordelia is.”
Angel stared then sat down, making his decision. “When I left Sunnydale, she was in private hospital right out side the town, attached to life support. Dead to the world except she still breathed. If she’s been transferred to another facility I don’t know, don’t want to know.”
Gunn’s fist swung slamming into the desk covering the gasps coming from Fred.
“What happened to her?” Wesley said in a valiant to keep his composure.
“Wesley,” Fred jumped up, tears clouding her eyes. “We have to go. We have to be with her, she can’t be alone, she can’t.”
“Her parents?” Wesley asked the vampire.
“Dead.”
“Wesley.” Fred cried. “Charles tell him, we have to go.”
“Fred.” Wesley hugged the young woman. “Fred, we can help best by finding out what went wrong, okay. We’ll fix it. Will get her back, okay.”
Fred blinked slowly nodding. “Right, sorry,” she gulped down her sniffles, wiping at her face. “I just…”
“Fred, we all love her.”
Fred gave a small smile and nodded again.
Wesley took a deep breath turning to face the vampire. “What happened?”
“What happened?” Gunn shot out. “I’ll tell you what happened- Angelus, that bastard did it.”
Angel waited for Gunn’s angry glare to rest on him, to blame him, but the black man’s eyes remained on Wesley.
“Gunn, it couldn’t have been, if something had happened to Angel and Angelus managed to get that close to Cordelia, he would’ve turned her, not put her in a coma. That’s not how Angelus wanted her. You remember what Angel said when Angelus was brought forward the last time. He said that Angelus’ plan in 1898 was to turn her, not…well…not kill her.”
Angel narrowed his eyes at Wesley, but the man was too concentrated in his own thoughts to notice. Angel looked again at the human’s in the room, starting to believe them. There was no way possible that Wesley knew that unless Angel had told him. And the fact that Angel did showed that the vampire had trusted the humans.
“Then what happened to her?” Gunn turned to the vampire.
Angel braced himself for hearing the words that he would have to speak and for the anger from the human’s that obviously loved Cordelia Chase.
“Gunn, Angel wouldn’t know.”
“What do you mean he wouldn’t know? He was there.” Gunn insisted.
Angel remained silent, also wondering what Wesley meant.
“His memories are affected by whatever went wrong. Car accident?”
“A car accident?” Gunn jumped up. “We’ve got Cordy running from two fucking Angelus and you choose to believe that she got hit by a car, now that doesn’t make any damn sense.”
“But it would, it would explain him,” Wesley pointed to Angel.
“Wesley?” Fred blinked. “I…”
“If Cordelia is in a coma in Sunnydale, she couldn’t come to LA. And that’s the result.” He pointed to Angel. “ Cordy wouldn’t have been here to meet Angel, she wouldn’t have received the visions from Doyle. This,” He waved his hand around the office. “Was where Angel and Doyle were before Cordy came and took over, making it Angel Investigations, before Wolfram & Hart blew it up.”
Angel was really starting to hate that law firm. He had some dealings with them but not enough for him to care one way or another. But to repeatedly try to kill Cordy and blow up his home. He was getting pissed.
“But, without Cordy, no Angel Investigations, because she didn’t talk Angel into accepting paying clients as well as help the helpless. She wasn’t here to be with Angel after Doyle died. She wasn’t here to give him her friendship and love. Hell, she wasn’t here to give him us. I know I didn’t work with this Angel, he works alone….”
Angel narrowed his eyes again at the man. Angel didn’t like his tone on that last bit.
“And Gunn, it was her idea for Angel to pay you.” Wesley continued.
“It was? Cheap bastard.”
Angel glared at the black man. Angel didn’t like his tone either.
“And Fred would still be in Plyea, because Cordy wouldn’t have gotten herself sucked in the portal.”
Fred nodded. “Yeah, it wasn’t me he came to save. Angel’s so wonderful the way he’s always jumping in Portals to save Cordy.”
Angel was beginning to like the young woman.
“So, you see without Cordy, you get him, sullen, anti-social, dark broody, probably way over the top melodramatic.” Wesley pointed to Angel.
“I am not melodramatic.” Angel said suddenly. “I’m in the room you know.”
“You are too.” Gunn rolled his eyes and focused back on Wesley. “I get without Cordy we get the whole vamp loner with a grudge against life and a guilt trip to match, but I’m not buying a car accident.”
Angel growled a tiny bit. Obviously, Gunn didn’t get the fact he was in the room.
“But, Gunn.”
“But, no, Wes. A car accident? You really think Angel would let Cordy get hit by a car. The vamp as the reaction of,” Gunn snapped his finger. Angel slightly nodded totally agreeing with Gunn on that point.
“Not if he was dead.”
“Dead?” Gunn pointed. “He’s right there.”
“Not him. But Angel. If Angelus killed him in 1998, then he wouldn’t be there to protect Cordelia.”
“Wes, man. You said that in 1898, Angel beat the shit out of Angelus and I saw it in the hotel, Angel would’ve killed him if we hadn’t tranqed both of them.”
Angel really liked that. What a feeling of satisfaction that must have been.
Fred cleared her throat. “Wesley, Angelus couldn’t have killed Angel.”
“He’s not infallible, and…”
“Wesley, if Angel didn’t send Angelus back then who did? “ she pointed to Angel. “Soul. If Angelus didn’t go back, then he wouldn’t have been cursed by the gypsies.”
“Possibly, Giles. If Cordelia didn’t have any other options left to protect herself from Angelus, she would’ve gone to Giles and Buffy.” Wesley suggested.
“Would that be before or after she got hit by your car?” Gunn rolled his eyes.
“I’m just saying, that Angelus wouldn’t leave Cordy in a coma.”
“Maybe he fucked up, didn’t get the chance to make her into another crazy dead bitch or maybe he just changed his mind. Why make this shit up, just ask the vamp if he knows how Cordy ended up tied to a hospital bed.”
The three humans’ gazes locked on the vampire.
Part 10“Do you?” Fred asked.
Angel nodded slowly.
“It wasn’t a car accident, it Angelus wasn’t it?” Gunn asked.
Angel nodded again.
“Told you,” Gunn shot a look at Wesley.
“But, Angel, you, well not you said…”
“That Angelus had wanted to turn the dark haired woman filled with beauty, spirit and fire, the one that he had marked, the one that he remembered in flitting images but never her identity or face over the years, just a lasting impression of want. And that Angelus, if he ever came across that woman again, would want to finish what he had started in 1898.”
“Yes.” Wesley took off his glasses. “Not with so much detail though, but yes.”
“I never had that conversation with you, I wouldn’t have, it’s a conservation I wouldn’t ever want to have to admit, not with my soul in my being, but it is true and Angelus would never change is mind.”
“So he fucked up. What was Angel doing during all this? Cordelia was safe when she wrote that letter. Angel went to Sunnydale on the day she wrote the letter. He wouldn’t have left her alone to get caught by Angelus. He wouldn’t have.”
Angel took a deep breath. “You all keep talking about past Angelus and other Angel’s. There was only one Angelus in Sunnydale in 1998 and that was me.”
“The other one got her, fuck. That still doesn’t explain what Angel was doing.”
Angel stared at the black man, he seemed angrier at an absent Angel rather than the vampire right in front of him that brutalized his friend.
Wesley shook his head. “Of course. I was being stupid.” He studied Angel. “You aren’t the Angelus that was present when Angelus from 1898 and Angel and Cordelia were in 1998….”
“Whoa, Wes, are you now saying there were three of them?”
“No, it worked. We know that Angelus of 1898 was returned. Angel was successful, I imagine he had Cordy’s soul safely in the orb and left the teenage Cordelia in what he believed to be in a safe environment from Angelus of that times’ notice….”
“Wesley, he already noticed her, Cordelia said so in her letter.”
“Yes, but that Angelus would have no memory of the period during the time anomaly.”
”Angel remembered Cordelia from 1898.”
“Yes only after he went back to save Cordy. Angel only connected the dots when we returned, and then he had a face to go with a vague memory, one that we couldn’t prevent because Angelus had already bitten Cordelia. But Angelus hadn’t remembered any of the specifics of the Portal or the fight with Angel. No, no matter if Angelus of 1998 did notice, he would’ve forgotten once Angelus of the past was gone and Angel and Cordelia were gone. Things should’ve have been as they were. Angelus still having the dream, that couldn’t be helped but not realizing that the teenage Cordelia was the girl, because of Angel’s love for Buffy and Angelus obsession with the slayer.”
“Wesley, Angel and Cordelia weren’t successful.”
“I think they were or least they thought they were. Something must have happened, something not obvious to them or they would’ve never left the teenage Cordelia, but something did happen that changed the course of Angelus’ interaction with the teenage Cordelia. The question is what? That’s what we have to find and prevent from happening.”
“This time crap gives me a headache.”
Wesley nodded. “Angel, in 1998, what happened between you and Cordelia?” He faced the vampire.
Angel stared, and then looked away.
“Angel, we have to know.”
Angel closed his eyes hearing Cordelia Chase’s screams flowing around him as her blood warmed him, as he tore into her digging further and further into the fire. Needing the heat for as long as possible before taking it away from her forever, leaving him with his vampire mate. Content as the blood drained away, tasting slowly savoring every tantalizing drop. Finally ready, the bloody incision on his chest where his heart would never beat bleeding, pulling the broken body close, growling as he prepared for her to drink. Jumping, dropping the body as Buffy broke the door down. Angel fought the slayer with a rage so furious, as the moronic boy followed the slayer, taking Angelus’ desire away in his arms.
Angelus would’ve killed the slayer that day, but Buffy didn’t wait around for the finish, she had jumped out the window leaving sunlight in her wake. After that day, Buffy had always been more than willing to kill Angelus. The vampire just never gave her the chance. Settling on the best way he could to make her live a living hell, promising one day that he would kill her for his loss.
“Angel, please.” Wesley urged.
“One night I saw her at the bronze with Buffy, Xander, Willow and the werewolf, and I knew. I started that night to follow her, to send her ‘gifts’. I wanted to give her the moron boy’s head on a platter; instead I gave her parents’ heads…” he stopped at Fred’s small choked gasp and Gunn’s curse.
“Yes, Angel, perhaps you misunderstood me, we do not need to hear or want to know the details of the atrocities I’m sure that Angelus did commit to Cordy, it is enough to know the result -she’s in a coma. What we need to know is specifically what triggered Angelus notice. You said, one night at the Bronze. Tell us about that night. What had happened?”
Angel nodded, his eyes shifting from Fred's green expression and Gunn's murderous glare. “I was in Bronze, looking for Buffy trying to figure out a new way to spook her. They were sitting at a table and I remember hearing Cordelia’s voice over the others. She was bitching and complaining, blaming Buffy about something. I didn’t understand at first. But, then Cordy, took off the scarf she was wearing around her neck and pointed to the vampire bite marks on her neck. She was blaming Buffy for somehow getting her bitten. Her argument didn’t make much sense. For that matter Buffy’s retorts didn’t either. She told Cordelia that it wasn’t her fault if an imaginary vampire bit her. Cordelia was back to yelling about the bite, yelling that they weren’t imaginary. She didn’t even remember getting bit. Buffy wondered how the hell that was her fault. Cordelia argued back that Buffy was a slayer she needed to be out there hunting down rabid dead guys, not wasting time pouting over me and my lost soul” Angel gave a ghost of a smile. “Actually, she was a lot more colorful in her choice of words. Then the whole table joined in trying to calm them both down. I was intrigued. Cordelia had apparently been bitten by a vampire and lived, but didn’t remember it, none of them knew how it happened. So, when Cordelia left to go to the bathroom I followed. I came up from behind, grabbing her sensing the bites. That’s when I knew. I didn’t understand, I still don’t really, but there was no denying that the wounds weren’t place there by a vampire having a snack. My scent was deep in the wounds. I had marked her, more than once, the smell of her blood intermingled with my scent. I saw her, really saw her then. How could’ve I forgotten those eyes. She was the dark-haired beauty from my dreams. I didn’t understand, but I did know. I was stunned, she screamed, Buffy and the rest ran up before I had a chance to take her out of the Bronze.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I realize that but that’s what happened.”
“I’m not disputing you, but the marks you describe weren’t ever on a 17 year old Cordelia. Cordelia was twenty when Wolfram & Hart kidnapped her and tossed into 19th century that’s the body that Angelus bit. And Angel’s marks…”
“Angel’s what,…” the vampire asked in surprise.
“Yes, well Angel did well mark her…I can only say that was a tense moment.”
“Tense? I wanted to stake his ass when I saw the fresh wounds, I would’ve killed him too, if Cordy hadn’t started yelling at the top of her lungs.”
Wesley nodded. “Cordy explained that while it was none of our business, she and Angel agreed that Angel would mark her to remove that taint of Angelus. Of course, Angel never said anything, but he wasn’t real happy with her telling us even that, though how he thought we wouldn’t have noticed is beyond me.”
“Guys, he wasn’t trying to keep it a secret and it wasn't any of our business. It was personal between them.”
“Not our business that he was snacking on Cordy.” Gunn shook his head.
“He wasn’t snacking. Cordelia explained it more to me later when we were out shopping. She said that when they got back from London, Angel had been mad her. You remember how he was.”
“That was because she tried sacrifice herself to Angelus so Angel and I could get away. It was stupid.”
“Wesley, she didn’t know about the prophecy or rather that it meant her and not Buffy. But, Cordy said that wasn’t really what made Angel mad. He had been angry that she let Angelus mark her. Which if you ask me wasn’t really fair, Cordy told me that the only reason she did it was because Angelus lied to her and told her that he wouldn’t kill that other woman and he didn’t tell her it was mark, just that he wanted to bite her. Of course, he killed the girl anyway, Molly, I think that’s the name Cordy said. Anyway, Cordy told me that having Angel redo the marks was the only way she could think to make sure that the memory of what Angelus had done, what she had done, wouldn’t come between them. Cordy said that she wasn’t Angelus’ didn’t want to be Angelus’ and she wouldn’t never be his, just Angel’s, isn’t that sweet.”
“No.” Gunn shook his head. “It’s …NO. And he still does it. You telling me the issue of Angelus comes up after friggin time they have sex.”
“Charles,” Wesley said sharply. “We agreed that Cordy and Angel’s intimate moments were not open for discussion or censure. They are consenting adults in love.”
“I’d agree if they kept it in the bedroom, but you can’t even go in the basement anymore. And you have to knock on every friggin closed door just in case you walk in on them.
“Charles, the hotel is their home.”
“It’s OUR office and I didn’t see you so damn calm when you saw them on your desk.”
Wesley winced. “Don’t…I’ve been trying to forget that.”
“It’s so sweet, they love each other so much.”
“Damn’t girl, you think everything they do is sweet, even them splitting our ear drums when they decide to see who is the loudest when they get to arguing.”
“Kyerumption and Moira, it’s so romantic.”
“Girl” Gunn threw up his hands.
Angel was still gapping when the human’s finally fell silent. He gulped. “Cordy and I are lovers? MY soul?”
“Oh, yes. Your soul was bound when…”
Fred squeaked. “Don’t.” holding her hands to her head. “I don’t want to hear about Darla sex.”
“Who does?” Gunn rolled his eyes.
“Darla is dead.” Angel said completely confused.
“No shit Sherlock, she’s a vampire.”
“She’s dust.”
“Oh, The lawyers- they brought her back to mind fuck with you. It worked pretty well until you had some epiphany while boinking the ex.”
“Charles, I said I didn’t want to hear it, I heard it once already today, I don’t want to hear it again. It’s disturbing.”
“Fred, Angel and Cordy hadn’t even realized that they loved each then. He wasn’t cheating on Cordy, okay.”
“Still, it’s disturbing.” Fred glared and crossed her arms.
Angel flinched a bit that was the first time the young woman actually glared at him. “I didn’t do it,” he defended.
“Oh, right.” Fred smiled.
“I don’t get it, you can go all gooey eyes at Angel snacking on Cordy, but you can’t handle….”
Fred held up her hand. “Charles, I mean it.” She glared at the black man.
“Damn, girl, you’ve been hanging around Cordy too long.” Gunn looked at his shoes.
“Cordy, Cordy, Cordelia.” Wesley shouted.
“What?” the room jumped, even the vampire.
“Cordelia, not her sex life with Angel, is our concern. We’ve digressed into the gutter. Now let’s take our self out and continue with our problem.”
Angel frowned. He wanted to hear more about his sex life with Cordy. Angel couldn’t believe the teenager that his demon wanted, still wanted, ever loved him and let him mark her, repeatedly and that he complied with what seemed to be very little guilt. It didn’t make any sense, but the idea was intriguing and a balm to his memories.
“As I was trying to explain, Cordelia hadn’t been marked when she was 17. Damn. Angelus must have marked her before Angel and Cordelia returned home. But, Angel must have realized that would leave the teenage Cordy vulnerable.”
“Maybe he just had to get the hell out there.”
Wesley shrugged. “Bringing back Cordy was of course his priority, but so would keeping the teenage girl safe, after all she would become the woman that Angel loved. But, that has to be it.”
Angel interrupted. “You talk as if the future Cordelia and the 17 year old Cordelia are the same but obviously not.”
Wesley puzzled.
“You keep harping on the 17 year old body, but say nothing about the 20 year old one as least not in regards to 1998.”
“Oh, yes, well, this time Wolfram & Hart didn’t kidnap Cordy and toss her through a portal. They transported her soul, I imagine it was too delay us from figuring out they entire plan, we wasted a lot of time trying to understand why our Cordy fell into a coma. We couldn’t be sure if it was medical or mystical. Lorne read her and told us that her soul was gone. When Angel left, Cordelia, her body rather was with us.”
“You’re no longer a rogue demon hunter are you?” Angel asked the man.
“Actually, I’m the boss of Angel’s Investigations.” Wesley nodded at the subtle complement from the vampire.
Angel raised his brows.
“So, we agree what we need to do.”
Gunn wrinkled his brow. “We decided something? I get that the marks were what sets Angelus off, but what else have we decided.”
“If Fred is finished with the spell, I will go through the portal and warn Angel.”
Gunn shook his head. “That we haven’t decided. What are you planning to warn him about- Hey, Angel don’t let Angelus bite Cordy. I’m guessing the vamp already knows that one.”
“But not the importance.”
“Do you really think knowing will make him what- more protective of Cordy. I’m saying changing history is the last of his concerns. He’s got be on high alert as it is. Telling him isn’t going to change that or make him more protective. We’re talking about Angel and Cordy here. When has the vamp ever not risked anything, his soul, us, portals to save her?”
Wesley grumbled his agreement. “I will stay and help him make sure that it doesn’t happen. As concentrated, as Angel may be bad things do happen. Cordy was put in danger.”
“Then why can’t I go? You got to go to 19th century.”
“I lived in Sunnydale, I familiar with the town.”
“Then we’ll both go I’ll follow your Boy Scout preparations. ”
“Wesley,” Angel interrupted.
“Yes.”
“I’m going.”
“Angel, I don’t think that’s wise. If you go, there will be four of you running around Sunnydale, it could get very confusing. And the possible time mishaps are mind-boggling.”
“Wesley, I’m going. It’s my present you’re screwing with, it’s my past you’re changing.”
“I…”
“Do the spell.”
“There may be a problem with Angel and Cordy trusting you.”
Angel shook his head. “Gunn is right. Angel is on high alert, but if one of the Angelus marked Cordelia, it was because he failed to protect her. Who is in the best position to make sure that he doesn’t do it again? Angel stared.
Wesley considered. “Okay, but don’t mention anything to Angel about Cordy being in a coma by your hands, I think that is information that would not be beneficial to a trusting relationship.”
"Ya think?” Gunn rolled his eyes.
Fred cleared her throat. "What if Cordy was bitten before Angel got there?"
"Fred?"
"She did say in her letter that her plan to stay unnoticed didn't work. Being bitten, well, that would mean the plan didn't work."
"She didn't say that in her letter."
"That doesn't mean it didn't happen though. Cordy wouldn't write that in her letter. That would be something she would've waited to tell Angel in person. She would've known how that would've upset him."
"What are you suggesting, Fred?" knowing that the young woman had more on her mind.
"That we send Angel back a few days before Cordelia's letter was written. That way well...."
"Yes, I see," Wesley took off his glasses, turning to the vampire. "We will send you before Angel arrives. You can protect her until then, though; I would caution you about approaching her unless there is an immediate threat. But otherwise, you will need to stay out of sight. We can't be sure what you're presence maybe do to the time-line. We're sending you to fix it, not make it worse."
Angel nodded. There was no denying that he needed to see a healthy beautiful teenager, one that would have existed had he not destroyed her, he wanted to know the Cordy that her family loved and that loved a vampire with a soul. Yet, he was also frightened that if he did approach her that some she would know and hate him for what he had done.***
Wesley, Fred, and Gunn sat around the office, all quiet in their contemplation. Fred broke the silence. "I hope this works."
Wesley nodded. "If not," he handed out the wafers to his friends. "We'll know."
Part 11Angel surveyed the Chase Estate among the trees that cloaked the property in an illusion of safety and seclusion from the dangers of Sunnydale.
He saw the shadow of the young girl cast against the transparent curtains moving around her bedroom. Angel flinched with a pang of disappointment as the lone light turned off hiding the dim figure from even his night sight. He glanced up to the faux balcony resisting the urge.
How many times had he stood there without a soul, peering through that window, staring at the young girl sleeping, making plans on the many different ways he would feel her warmth before taking it away.
In the beginning, he just watched unnoticed and unseen. Moving too soon would've alerted Buffy and her little gang of fighters and Angelus had wanted that time alone with just Cordelia. He couldn’t have the white hats cutting off his fun before he was ready. Angelus had known that Buffy and Cordy weren’t the best of friends but he did know that the moron would insist that the wagons be drawn and his girlfriend protected if the danger came to light. So Angelus started slowly with harmless things, leaving a rose by the window, in her car, and then the drawings, just enough to spook Cordelia and put Buffy on edge but not yet triggering the slayer into full protective mode. It had been exciting, his courtship of the girl, watching as her annoyance, became confusion, then fear and he had the added bonus of watching the moron arguing with Buffy at her hesitation about hunting and killing Angelus.
Angelus had been surprised how long it had taken for Cordelia’s annoyance to change to real fear. But then the girl he wanted was full of spirit and courage. But, the fear came, Angelus made sure of it.
Her horse's head propped up against the window, the dark dead eyes peering into room, being the first thing that Cordelia would see as she opened her curtains in the morning. How Angelus had wished to be there when she saw it, when she realized that he wasn't just playing games. But he had seen the fall out in the library that night.
Cordelia finally breaking down in tears, the moron demanding that Buffy kill Angelus, the others agreeing. It was then that the little group realized that Angelus had made Cordelia his mission. Angelus had so wanted to laugh at the slayer’s tears as those closest to her urged her to protect Cordelia by his death, the watcher with stern lectures, Xander with angry words and the little witch with compassionate stuttering reasoning.
Angel closed his eyes, pushing away the memory. If Wesley was right, he would never have to have that image and the ones far worse in his head. Angel reached out his hand in the air as to gently brush at the window through the distance. He slowly lowered it and stepped back into the darkness. His eyes glued to the window as his other senses searched and identified the night sounds and smells that ventured too close to the house. Angel remained Cordelia's silent sentential until the morning light forced itself over the horizon, signaling the changing of the guard, a bright sun to take his place.
Part 12Angel watched from the shadows of Sunnydale High. He had returned to Cordelia’s as soon as the sun had set but she hadn’t been there, he had decided not to panic until after he confirmed that she wasn’t at the school. He had been relieved when he sensed her within the building.
He mentally chastised the young woman for walking out to her car alone. She knew of the dangers housed in the night. He followed her car and scent through the streets of Sunnydale.
Angel kept his distance as the young woman ran into her house carrying a bag full of movies. Angel stood back keeping his vigilance gratified that Cordelia had obviously planned an evening at home, though he was a bit a puzzled at her calmness. Angel wondered if Wesley had sent him back even before Cordelia’s soul had been transported. The young woman wasn’t acting at all like he would’ve expected her to react finding herself back in Sunnydale of 1998.
His curious footsteps brought him closer to the first story window. Cordelia was sitting on the couch, looking more casual than he had ever seen her.
Angel watched, studying the line of her profile, tracing in along the glass planes. God, she was truly beautiful. He closed his eyes remembering, the feel of the smooth skin, the softness, and delicacy as he had learned the body that had haunted his dreams, the one that he claimed so long ago. Angel willed the whimpers and tears out of that image, trying to pretend that sweet warm body hadn’t been trembling in fear, trying to forget that his tender touches had been nothing but teasing foreplay for the oncoming terror. Angel leaned his forehead against the window, wanting to bash out the screams and cries that wouldn’t be pushed aside, wanting to bash out the desire to touch that softness again.
His self-flagellation was diverted by the real cry coming from the young woman. Angel watched astounded as he recognized what was happening. The picture of Cordy on the couch, her fists slammed into her eyes as her body rocked. It was a vision one that carried with it more pain than Angel had seen his seers' experience in the past. Cordelia was crumbling within herself at the onslaught. Angel pushed at the window, needing to get to her. The sound of the glass breaking never reached the young woman, her mind filled with pain and the vision. Angel jerked as the invisible barrier prevented him from entering. Angel growled, just stopping himself from begging to be let in.
Cordelia was moving now, her body straightened. Angel watched in amazement as the young girl took in the pain, forcing her body to cooperate with her will. She had not cried out again.
Angel growled in frustration as he lost sight of her as she went up the stairs.
He ran jumping to the balcony of her window, waiting for her.
Angel leaned in as Cordelia came into the bedroom going through her drawers, stuffing her jacket with crosses and small perfume bottles. His surprise was palpable as she busted up her night side table and then disappeared out of the room.
Angel leaped to the ground, digesting what he had observed. Cordelia Chase was going to go on the vision. Angel blinked after the little red car as it sped off. He shook off his stupor and ran.***
Angel stalked the young woman as she entered the graveyard, staying close at all times.
So lost in his amazement at her taunting and fighting two vampires he almost missed the importance of what he had seen or the familiar scent drifting through the air. He moved quickly, remaining hidden by a large gravestone but near enough to intercept any attack by Angelus.
What he saw next would change his perception of the young woman forever. Cordelia Chase not only didn’t run, she kicked Angelus in the balls and incapacitated him. Her fear was contained and controlled. She hadn’t faltered until she heard and saw Buffy and the Scoobies. Then she screamed, while she pushed Angelus to run. She fell into the moron’s arms like a damsel in distress.
Angel stayed still, ignoring the chaos of the conversation, high pitch questions, angry retorts, and whining of the teenagers, concentrating on Cordelia. She may look like the teenage Cordy, but Angel knew now that the young woman was the one that Wesley, Fred, and Gunn had spoken of with love and regard.***
Angel wasn’t sure how long he had been walking, his thoughts too confusing for his feet to stay in one place. Wesley had said that the 17-year-old Cordelia didn’t have his marks. But she did, Angel knew in an instant as the second vampire apologized, the fear coating his scent before she staked him.
Angel had thought that when he was in the Bronze and sensed the marks on beautiful brunette that he had found the woman that had haunted him since 1898, but it hadn’t been her. It was the woman that stood up to Angelus, the one that surprised him with a kick to the groin, the one that had visions and saved the victims at the risk of her own life- how did he forget she had faced Jack the Ripper and ended up feeding the serial killer to Angelus. That was woman that he wanted with a passion that fueled a century of desire. And she loved a vampire with a soul. It was too much.
A low growl emitted from the vampire as he realized where his wandering had brought him and the scene that was taking place above. He wanted to leap and crush the vampire at the window, not wanting Angelus to subject Cordelia to his evil. He kept still though knowing that the vampire couldn’t reach the young woman.
Angel’s relief at Angelus departure was smashed by the guilt and futility of any desire to know that woman or be loved by her. Cordelia had whispered into the night that she knew Angelus’ secrets, but she didn’t. She didn’t know his. Angel’s guilt forced him to his knees. Angel could never be the vampire with a soul that was loved by such an amazing woman because he had destroyed the beautiful teenager not allowing her to become that woman.
Part 13Angel wondered what he was still doing there. He should’ve gone back and told Wesley that Cordelia already had the marks. He should’ve gone that first night. With that information, maybe Wesley could devise another plan. But, Angel couldn’t leave.
Angel sighed staring at the young woman trying to imagine what she was thinking what she was feeling. He had watched her now for two nights in a row. He half expected her to have another vision. Twice he followed her as she fought the vampires in her visions only to end up confronting Angelus.
The night before had been worse and better than the first. Worse, because he had seen the Angelus from the past, arrogant asshole, thinking that he had first and only rights to Cordelia Chase. His pleasure at seeing Cordy slice into him with words and wood had been short-lived as the other Angelus stole her from under him.
Angel had been prepared to interfere, so fearful that Cordelia would be taken by Angelus’ ruse. Angel had the unfamiliar urge to smile though when she turned the tables on the bastard, telling him as she plunged a stake in the vampire that he didn’t kiss as well as when he had a soul.
Angel had wanted to run to the woman at her words but the lingering knowledge that he had never kissed Cordelia with love made him pause.
Angel gazed into the window of the house. He shouldn’t be there. The more he saw of Cordelia Chase the more he wanted her, the more he was falling love with her spirit and courage, her beauty becoming secondary in his desire.
Angel jerked, his senses drawn to the front of the house.
He growled as the vampire ran up the steps, knocking on the door insistently. Angel wondered which Angelus was stupid enough to think that Cordy would just politely ask him in.
He waited with eager expectation for Cordelia’s slashing insults as she opened the door.
His eyes widened as Cordy blinked gulped and squealed out that she loved the vampire’s shirt and that she loved him.
Angel barely heard the vampire’s response. She was being fooled. The door slammed, shutting the vampire and young woman alone in the once safe house.
Angel paused as stood on the steps, the sounds, and words becoming clearer. His feet veered from the door to the window. A pang of something, close to rage, close to despair smacked against his skull and wrenched in his soul. Cordelia hadn’t been fooled. Angel stared as the young woman flung herself in the vampire’s arms, arms that held her securely, as she kissed him happily.
He cringed. Shut up and kiss me. And he did. Only it wasn’t Angel, it was the other vampire with the soul.
He slid down the side of the house, cradling his head in his hands. He had almost forgotten. God. Angel wanted the last two nights back, nights of seeing Cordelia strong and beautiful, nights that he could believe that she could love him and with that love give him the forgiveness he graved. Reality hurt like hell when it crashed into a dream.