Part 15
Angel entered the church with a predator’s skill honed by time and experience, his soundless movement stopped cold by the fusion of raw emotions assaulting his senses. Scanning the vast space, almost swallowed in darkness by the dwindling candlelight, his sight landed on the crumpled heap of fabric. Dread weighted each step heavier than the one before it as he approached the familiar garment.
Lifting it from the floor, he held the soft silk against his face smothering his senses in her sweet scent. His throat began to spasm trapping the blended aromas. Resisting the urge to take in another breath he leaned against the nearest structure for support forcing his constricting throat to relax. Sparse control regained he inhaled once again this time separating the scents, male and female. Hatred. Hunger. Desire. Need. Fear. So much fear it strangled his concentration.
Pushing himself forward the vampire stood straight and tall, his spine a stiff iron rod. The beast roared from within its constraints, angry his actions of so long ago could take from him the one thing that gave his empty existence meaning. The demon was in charge now; the soul would wait its turn. He had been robbed of what was rightfully his and such an act would not go unpunished.
Her scream shrilled ripping through the heavy air and piercing his dead, un-beating heart. With the speed of a master vampire, Angel charged toward his target. The heavy wooden door, ripped from its hinges, flew into the room splintered and broken.
At the sight before him, the demon broke free of the last remaining chain that held him prisoner. Lungs dormant for centuries became full expanding his already massive chest. The overflow of white heat gushed up squeezed from its limited space. Candlesticks rattled, flames flickered, the long silent church bell set loose a vibrating hum from its tower, every creature living and not trembled in hushed stillness as the beastly roar resonated throughout the age-old structure of faith and hope.
Bane felt the grip of large, steel hands only a second before his body was flung across the room. His heavy form slammed against the solid masonry wall with a hard thump, landing in a twisted mass on the grime covered floor. His thoughts centered on his prize he was not prepared for the intrusion so soon. The reason for the game was no longer important. Darcy Bane’s only purpose now, the final reward.
Bane looked at the object of his obsession crouched against the headboard, the white sheet, crisp with its newness, clutched tightly under her chin. With a familiar smirk, his sight drifted to his onetime companion. Angel stood at the foot of the bed, Cordelia’s abandoned robe still clinched in his fist, his glared fixed on his most reviled enemy.
“Ah, Angelus, welcome. I see you discovered the last clue. I must admit old friend, I did not believe you would find our treasure quite so soon.” Bane rose from the floor with the privileged grace of his time, his hands sweeping the powdery dust from his expensive clothing. “As you can see I had obviously believed the fair Cordelia and I would have more time to become acquainted. But no matter, we shall have an eternity of cherished moments once I have disposed of you once and for all.”
Feral growls emanating from his chest in short, gruff howls became loud, the sound much like the snorted snarls of a wild boar seconds before its charge. “You…will never…touch her again. This sick game ends here.”
“You are such a fool Angelus. I can’t imagine what Darla ever saw in you except that you were so easily manipulated she could create what she wanted then recreate you once she grew bored. Do you honestly believe I intended our final game to end with Cordelia’s death? Mon ami mon frère. I assure you no harm shall come to *this* girl. I hold no desire to break her spirit, only to tame it.”
Wesley eased through the unobstructed doorway, his crossbow loaded and aimed at their enemy’s soundless heart. “Cordelia, are you alright? Can you walk?” At her slight nod, he fisted the crumpled sheet with his free hand releasing it from the confines of the bedcovers with a quick jerk. “Then come with me. I’m going to get you out of here.” Confusion covered her face as she looked from Wesley to the two vampires. “Angel will take care of our Mr. Bane and join us shortly but we must leave here now.”
Cordelia lifted from the headboard enough to wrap the sheet around her too near nakedness. Rising from the bed she reached for Wesley’s extended hand only to jerk back wrapping her arms around her trembling body when Bane spoke.
“Mr. Pryce, how good of you to join us. Honestly I did not expect us to meet again after our little encounter in Arizona.”
“Yes well, it was only a tampered fuel line. Hardly worthy of contemplation…and the name’s Wyndam-Pryce… No one ever gets it right …Mr. Wyndham-Pryce. You will excuse us Mr. Bane, Cordelia and I will be leaving now. My responsibility is to insure her safety. Angel will have the pleasure of ridding the world of your evil existence.”
Wesley turned his attention to Cordelia dismissing the pompous vampire’s portentous derision as trivial banter. His eyes softened, his clinched jaw relaxed just a little revealing the gentle man she remembered so well but his voice stern with determination gave up nothing to their enemy. “Cordelia come with me now, sunrise is only a few hours away. We wouldn’t want Angel to be trapped here once he has finished with Mr. Bane.”
Wesley once again extended his free hand to Cordelia. This time she took hold of the offered assistance and stood from the bed, the sheet wrapped snuggly around her. Her eyes remained fixed on Darcy Bane’s smug face and the back of Angel’s head. Angel had not spoken to her since entering the room and Cordelia tried to remember if he had even looked at her. “Angel?” Nothing, not the slightest movement. Did he think her tainted? She felt tainted, not because some monster had almost succeeded in forcing himself on her but because the man she trusted most wouldn’t look at her. “Angel?”
His eyes blinked for the first time in what seemed like hours. The fear and insecurity slid off her shivering form soaking into his pores. If he could smell her fear then so could the other animal and Angel was certain Bane would use it to his advantage just as he was certain it would weaken his ability to protect her. Darcy Bane had always been stronger than him, faster than him, smarter than him and Angel knew his only chance in defeating him was to release the beast he had spent the last hundred years trying to keep imprisoned. “Cordy go. Leave with Wesley now. I can’t do this with you here. Please, just go.”
“Do what? What are you talking about?”
Angel wanted to be angry with her. He needed to be angry. Anger would push down doubt. Doubt that would lead to failure. If he failed to defeat Bane then his sweet girl, his woman would be doomed to face the ultimate defeat. Wesley, he knew, would give his life valiantly but the man would be hardly more than an inconvenience at best. “I can’t concentrate if I’m worried about you. I need to know you’re safe. You know that; why are you questioning it now? Do as I say Cordelia. Do not disobey me. Leave now.”
“Diso…” The word fell silent on her parted lips. Angel hadn’t called her Cordelia for days and his tone so similar to Bane’s she wrapped the sheet tighter staving off the cold tremors that scuttled up her spine.
Cordelia scanned the length of Angel’s rigid form. He had not made even the slightest tilt in her direction. She looked at the extended muscular expanse of his back and shoulders. Her eyes trailed down to his hands, his long, sharp-nailed fingers curled into loosely clinched fists. Angel didn’t see her as tainted or defiled, he saw himself, his demon as unworthy. What did he intend to do, save her then leave her as he did Buffy? Run away from what they had only just started out of some kind of misguided attempt to do the right thing? Oh hell no Cordelia silently declared to fate. She had been kidnapped, hogtied, made to endure a sick ritual of knife foreplay, not to mention her second time of sex had been just minutes from being with a psycho vamp out for revenge against the vamp that wasn’t technically even her boyfriend yet.
“Oh. Hell. No.” Cordelia repeated, this time wanting not only fate to acknowledge her deliberate defiance but the asinine man-pires as well. “Angel look at me.”
Bane studied his adversary for signs of weakness at the woman’s demanding pleas. Finding it a glint of victory sparked in his eyes for only an instant. “My dear, sweet Cordelia, Angelus is not ready for you to witness the beast that lays hidden from you. Have you listened to nothing tonight?”
“Oh I listened. I just didn’t hear anything new.” Cordelia’s retort not as biting as she had hoped willed her voice to cooperate and lose the tremble in its tone. “What is it with you vampires? Is it just my bad luck to meet two stupid men that were turned or is dumbass a vampire requirement like the boring nothing on the menu but blood thing? Angel look at me and you…” Keeping one hand securely attached to her sheet, Cordelia pulled her other hand free of Wesley’s grip to point an accusing finger at her kidnapper. “…you even twitch and my friend here will put his pointy, wooden arrow in that dead heart of yours. Angel, look at me damn it!” The changing direction of her anger so swift even the master vampires were slow to follow.
Angel tilted his head slightly in her direction, his face a mass of rippled and bumpy muscles, fangs extended and sharp did little to mask the dread evident in his eyes swirling with amber and lava gold. “Cordy, I…”
“Don’t you Cordy me. What the hell has gotten into you? I know who you are, what you are. I always have. I never bought into all that crap about you being two different people and I didn’t think you did either. I always thought that was for Buffy’s benefit. Was I wrong?”
“No, you weren’t wrong.” Angel answered his line of vision remaining centered on the enemy waiting to strike at any glimmer of weakness.
“Then why? You never seemed uncomfortable showing your vampire face in front of me before. Why now Angel?”
“I told you Cordelia, Angelus has not yet prepared you to be loved by the beast that is hidden inside.”
“OK first, not talking to you right now. In fact, you talk way too much and really need to keep your over-educated trap shut for a minute.” Cordelia began to pace, her free arm flinging out in frustration. “Angel is he right? Gees, I knew you were a dork and I knew you were a social retard and the black on black, don’t even get me started on the wardrobe. Those were all things I could work with but this…” Cordelia stopped mid sentence swinging her arm up and down at Angel as though the three men should understand her arm-waving accusation. “Angel I know that the demon wants me. I’ve known for a while now. It was the soul I had doubts about but I don’t anymore. The doubts are gone Angel, for me anyway. I know you love me. I know that all of you loves me just like I love all of you. But that doesn’t matter right now if you don’t know it, if you don’t believe it. So tell me Angel because I’ve dealt with all the crap I can handle for one night. Do you know that I love you? Do you know that you love me? Do you know that if you try that it’s for the best if leave crap on me I’ll kick your undead ass to hell and back?”
The erratic pacing stopped as abruptly as it had started. Cordelia smacked her palm against her forehead now throbbing with exhausted aggravation. “Gees now I have a headache. You two jocks will have to finish this without me because right now, I so need a bath.”
Relieving the two vampires of her angry assault Cordelia snatched up the sheet wadded around her feet and sauntered over to her much-needed escort out of there. “Come on Wesley let’s go and you’re making me nervous with that crossbow. You’ve been holding the thing so long your hand’s beginning to shake.” Casting one last glare at Angel as she and Wesley moved toward the door-less exit Cordelia issued a final warning. “Angel don’t disappoint me. If the wrong vampire comes knocking at my door I’ll have Wesley find a spell to bring you back just so I can kick your ass for letting that pansy stake it.”
“Cordy?”
The intimate version of her name brought a small smile to her face. The fact that it was laced with a vampy growl had little effect on her. Angel had often hissed her name with a frustrated growl but now she was not in the mood. She was the victim and damn it she wanted to be pampered and cajoled like any beautiful victim deserved.
“What?” Cordelia made sure the venomous hiss outmatched his own.
Angel had immediately known upon entering the room he had arrived in time to save Cordelia from the nexus of Bane’s lustful hunger for revenge just as he had known his in the nick of time arrival could not pardon Bane of a painful end. “Bane will die, I promise you but how much pain that death involves is up to you. What did he do to you? Tell me now. Once he’s dust, he can’t be punished for it. When you leave here this has to be over for you. If you can walk out of here, find closure, then I can leave this in the past once it’s finished. “
Cordelia couldn’t believe what Angel was asking her. She was dreading the questions she knew would come far sooner than she would be ready to answer; but this? Did Angel actually want details now for everyone to hear? Well hell, Cordelia admitted, only she and her would be rapist actually knew she still had on her underwear. Of course Angel was anxious to know what the monster had done to her before he could find them. “He…he…”
“Cordelia.” Darcy Bane’s raspy, commanding voice elicited a familiar spine-tickling fear, the raw memory much too recent to ignore.
Taking a tentative step back into her chamber of horrors Cordelia sifted through Angel’s words searching for the ones he needed her to hear. “Find closure…leave in the past” Angel had listened to her rant, he just needed that last push of reassurance they would be OK when this was over.
Cordelia faced the evil that had caused her to tremble with unimaginable horror having no doubt it would be the last time she looked at the face of this particular vampire. “The creep didn’t do anything that a long soak and brisk scrub with the loofah won’t get rid of but that’s no reason for you to go easy on him. Just because I’m not naked under this sheet doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have been if you had been any slower getting here. So the way I see it Angel you need to kick some demon ass and take your time so you can get it right. I told you lord…whoever of wherever and who the hell really cares anyway. I told you that you’d be dust if you touched me. Did you not listen to anything I said?” Purposely mimicking his own condescending tone Cordelia severed any remaining ties the foolish vampire believed to still exist. “Your mistake was picking the wrong female to be your victim. I’m Cordelia Chase and Cordelia Chase is no one’s victim.”
She was finished now, surely Angel could see that. Just because Angel had ripped the door from its hinges didn’t mean she couldn’t close it behind her. Turning back to Wesley waiting patiently at the doorway Cordelia dismissed the vampire as nothing more than an inconvenient run-in with the past. “Let’s go Wesley and put that crossbow down before you shoot the wrong vampire. Gees, men.”
Angel watched as his woman latched onto the ex-watcher’s arm and yanked him through the doorway. Performance understood, Cordelia had managed to assure him they would be Ok and provide a much-needed kick in his doubting vampire ass. God I love that woman.
Head cocked, Angel listened to their footsteps become fainter as they trailed down the hall; their life signs fading silent as the huge front doors of the church banged shut behind them. Good, with his friends, his lifeline now safe from harm he could focus all his energy on the creature that tried to take her from him.
Bane’s dark, molten eyes glowed with hatred for his onetime companion and forever nemesis. His visage wavering between human and vampire as his body shook with rage over losing Cordelia.
“Before we do this I want you to know that I’m sorry for what I did to Constance and to you but the truth Darcy, is that you lost Constance the instant I turned you. She would have never been safe with you and I think you know that.” Angel pointed out to the enemy that would no longer wait for his revenge.
“How is it then Angelus that your precious Cordelia is safe with you now?”
“Because I have a soul.”
“A soul you say and how did you come about acquiring this soul?”
“You don’t expect me to believe you weren’t aware of my soul before now.”
“You could indulge me, Angelus…for old time’s sake.”
The two vampires circled each other in a tactful stance as their conversation progressed, equally matched as both predator and prey. Each a master in the art of the kill, their talents painfully perfected by experience, the role of prey would not be easily decided.
“It was given as a curse…as punishment.” Angel explained. “For a hundred years I struggled with this unwanted conscience. It was nothing more than an unbearable burden and I hated it. Even after I had found love because of it, I continued to despise its existence and it continued to torment me. Then I came to LA trying to escape that torment and The Powers chose me to be their warrior. I don’t know what they have planned for me but I know that plan allows me to have her in my life. I’m no longer being punished because I’m happy and I will not let you take that away from me. I can’t change what I did in the past and I’m not going to lose what I have now because of that past.”
“You don’t have her yet, Angelus. You have to make it out of here for that dream to become reality…and let’s say you manage to accomplish that task; how can you be so certain the beast that fights against this imposed soul will not break free and harm your precious girl?”
“Because the demon loves her. It’s not *because* of the soul that Angelus loves her. The soul allowed Angelus to admit he could love Cordelia without hurting her. For once, the demon and the soul agree and this endless battle can finally end. That woman is our salvation, our chance to live and not just exist in a world that shuns us as an aberration. For me this battle is over. I just need to finish this one last thing. I am sorry for the pain I caused you Darcy but it’s all I knew, it’s all either of us knew for a very long time.”
“Well then, perhaps we should commence. We would not want to keep the fair maiden waiting. Let us see Angelus which warrior shall reap the saving grace that awaits at heaven’s gate.”
Unprepared, the slamming heel of a hand to his jaw landed with the power of a sledgehammer, driving him back several feet. Keeping his balance by a miracle, Angel dragged his mind off Cordelia and the possibility of heaven having a gate that would open for him. That’s where Bane had wanted his opponent’s thoughts at the moment of impact and taking advantage Bane followed up with a second strike, this time in an arc aimed at the neck.
Recovering quicker than Bane expected, Angel allowed his body to fall back with the impact and catching himself with his hands before hitting the floor, Angel kicked his legs up and out, his large booted feet striking Bane square in the chest. The hard force, unexpected, Angel sent his opponent flying into the stonewall behind.
Sent flying back, Bane’s upper body collided with the solid masonry; his head connected snapping back with a sickening crack. Rage flamed like a stoked fire. He may have drawn the first blood, but it was his own that trickled down the masonry blocks mixing with the grit and grime on the floor. With an angry roar that reverberated throughout the building, Bane bent at the knees, simultaneously pushing away from the wall and sprung forward, the impetus sending him airborne almost instantly, and flew into Angel.
Prepared this time arms out and elbows locked, Angel caught Bane and swiveled on his heel, taking the impact easily and flung him across the room. Anything in their path was obliterated; furniture became kindling as it skidded and toppled over; its solidity useless against the vampire’s momentum.
All semblance of humanity was gone and the room shook under the rumble of duel growls. Fangs long and sharp, lips stretched back, jagged teeth displayed as they snarled at one another. Large hands sporting fingers fitted with pointed nails razor sharp became natural weapons.
Time for pain and punishment so that life could move on, Angel decided and did not wait for his opponent but followed him to where he’d landed. Powerful fingers curled around long, razor sharp nails as they pierced through both sides of the fallen vampire’s neck.
Bane let loose a howl eerily akin to a wounded animal as Angel lifted his twisted body up, throwing him once more in a collision course with a wall. Bane’s body, now coiled in agony hid the steel-like fist, until his arm snaked out to punch hard into Angel’s groin, the fist relaxed and claws extended to dig deep into flesh before ripping across a thigh.
The agony Angel felt radiating out and through his body from his groin temporarily masked the added pain of the ripped flesh. Not yet ready for a defensive maneuver, his body still hunched with white-hot pain gave up costly seconds, enough for Bane to continue his attack.
The sharp nailed fingers swiped up from Angel’s thigh cutting through his midsection before slicing into his throat. The dagger like hand turned to close into a fist, pulling back to deliver another stunning blow, but Angel caught it in motion, diverting it and adding his own force to drive it into the wall behind him. Bone splintered and the sound of the crunch of pulverized knuckles was muted by Banes beastly screams of agony. Holding onto the fist, Angel slammed the meaty pad of his free hand into the curve of Bane’s elbow shattering any remnants of usefulness.
Bane’s uninjured arm swung up between their whisper close faces, his fist colliding with Angels chin. His head snapped up at the same moment as his knee drove into Bane’s groin and they fell apart for a moment. Both mouth and knuckles were smeared with shared blood, as they eyed each other warily.
Retching from Angel’s grip Bane finally stumbled back. Catching himself on an overturned table his sight settled on a familiar sanctuary icon.
Angel blinked in surprise at the smell of burning dead flesh. The force of Bane’s thrust dug it into his chest but the blunt edge, sanded round and smooth kept the penetration shallow.
The cross protruded from his chest less than an inch from its intended target and in a gasp of pained relief Angel gave thanks to whatever deity that must have overlooked most of his first one hundred and fifty years. His flesh burned and gave off a retched sulfur stench as his opponent stared back for a moment with intense disappointment at missing his intended mark.
Taking advantage of Bane’s temporary distraction, Angel ripped the wooden cross from his chest and with the flick of his wrist sent it sailing across the room.
Bane then laughed devilishly while Angel realized the too-close call that could have left Cordelia’s fate in the hands of the wrong demon. Rage renewed by his fear of failure, and what it would mean, gave him a renewed burst of energy and he charged his enemy, fists swinging in wild abandon.
Having only one defending arm, Bane couldn’t block every blow seemingly coming from every angle, sending him further, his legs beginning to fold under him as his strength began to waver.
Wanting this to end, Angel’s need to be punisher quickly faded into the background as he spun his body and dropkicked his opponent’s stumbling form. He continued to spin and kick, each impact from his heavy boot harder than the one before as he pummeled Bane’s body until the final blow threw him backwards.
The door Angel had ripped from its archway less than an hour before now lay beneath the beaten and bloody vampire. A long shard of warped and splintered wood had pushed through his back and the vampire stared at the jagged edged jutting out of his chest. “Nooo.” Bane’s last howling cry echoed through the holy place as his body crumbled, blending with the dust in the long forgotten refuge.
***
Cordelia pulled the sheet higher trying to cover her shoulders. Shivers ran through her, the cool night air teasing the clinging fear that would stay until her vampire was safe. “What are you doing?” Cordelia asked her escort as the car slowed, moving just barely off the road before coming to a full stop.
“You looked as though you were cold and I realized yet again I had forgotten to put the top up. Haste makes waste I always say.” Fastening the final latch to secure the roof Wesley contemplated his hastily offered idiom. “That doesn’t really fit in this situation does it? Haste makes waste?”
“Not really, if you’re trying to keep my mind off things you need to do it better.” Cordelia’s tone was light but the forced smile seemed foreign to her features.
“Right you are. I shall endeavor to improve my aptitude in meaningless ramble but for tonight, you must forgive my sorely lacking rambling skills. A near death experience certainly limits one’s ability in concentration.”
“Near death experience? I was the one kidnapped by lord psycho vamp.” Cordelia was appreciating Wesley’s company and hoped he wouldn’t ruin it by whining.
“Yes but I was the one subjected to Angel’s demonstration, albeit expertly of course, of his motor vehicle’s flying capabilities.”
“Flying capabilities? Wesley did you hit your head? You’re talking even funnier than usual, well usual for you that is.”
“No need to fret about me, quite unscathed under the circumstances.” Wesley noticed the start of grin on Cordelia’s face. “I only mentioned the airborne events of the evening hoping to interject a bit of humor into an otherwise humorless situation.”
Cordelia began to laugh at the nerdy Englishman. “Wesley didn’t you use your seatbelt? I know Angel can be high-strung sometimes, well all the time.”
“This scrap of a thing?” Wesley asked waving the age worn buckle in front of his face. “I had it strapped so tightly into my gut I thought I may lose a kidney.”
“Well as long as you didn’t lose it before my rescue, that’s the main thing.”
“Indeed. A rogue demon hunter worth his weight would never lose an organ before saving the damsel.”
Cordelia laughed harder and Wesley joined her knowing the laugh was too much, too forced to the surface by the other emotions riding under it. Tears began to stream down her cheeks, her body heaved as chortles turned into retching sobs. Wesley put his arms around Cordelia pulling her into a protective embrace. “It’s alright now, go ahead and let it out. Have yourself a good cry Cordelia. You’ll feel better afterwards, I promise.”
Needing to be comforted, Cordelia allowed herself to sink into Wesley’s hug. She was grateful that she wasn’t alone right now and that she and Angel had not had to deal with Angel’s past rearing its ugly head on their own. “Thank you Wesley for helping us tonight and for…well for this.”
“You are most welcome Cordelia. I’m glad I was here. You know if you would like to talk about your experience, I can assure you I would never share our conversation with Angel unless you asked me to. It might be easier to put this behind you if you talk about it.”
“Thanks Wesley, but I’m OK…really. Nothing happened…you know…everything is still intact. I was telling the truth when I told Angel he got there in time. It was still really scary though. Sometimes I didn’t even feel like it was me he was seeing. That guy is definitely insane but right now I’m a lot more worried about Angel and I’ll stay worried until Angel is with me where he belongs.”
“I understand and I’m relieved that your suffering under the hands of that fiend was interrupted before he could inflict worse.”
“Me too Wesley but I worry that Angel will get distracted because he’s too worried about me.”
“I believe Cordelia any seeds of doubt in Angel’s mind were effectively prevented from taking root. Dare I say that your garden shall be forever free of any strangling weeds.”
“Is that you taking another stab at the metaphor thing?” Cordelia asked between sniffs and runny nose wiping.
Wesley reached for his handkerchief relieved he had not used it in the warehouse earlier. Wiping the tears from her face before releasing Cordelia from his embrace Wesley offered up the small, moist towel for sniffle swabbing. “Shall we go and wait for Angel at your apartment?”
“Yea, let’s go…and Wesley…thanks for you know…being my friend.”
Wesley eased the car back onto the road, a warm smile etching onto his face. So this is what friendship feels like. This perhaps shall be my greatest achievement.
“My pleasure…Cordy.”
“Let’s not risk cracking the board that’s up your butt.”
“Right. A little too much perhaps.”
***
Angel leaned against the cold, damp wall of the alley. The gasping breaths wrenching in and out of his lungs making him question whether they were in fact unneeded. Blood oozed from the clawed gashes that covered his body, his coat saturated in its own share of blood doing little to hide it. If he didn’t know better Angel would swear that with each beat of his heart blood pulsed from the jagged fang punctures on his neck and face. Tonight he proved one of his fears to be right, his only chance of defeating Bane was permitting the full reign of the demon to be unleashed.
An easy smile crept onto his face, the dried blood cracking from the stretch of his lips because the more powerful fear had been proven wrong. Angel pushed himself from the wall. The night had barely more than an hour left and he wanted to get his girl home before the impending sunrise could force their journey into the sewers. His step was lighter, the harsh, gripping pain in his gut just a little easier to endure as his bloody, ravaged body trudged toward his waiting prize.
Cordelia Chase saw him for all that he was, she always had. He had just been a fool too lost in the past to see it. The young woman did not love him in spite of his soulless past but embraced it as the saving catalyst that made him what he is. This woman, his Cordy loved him for all that he had been, for all that he was now and for all that he would be.
His mind drifted to his time in Sunnydale and The Slayer’s unresolved struggle to come to terms with loving a vampire. He had caused her so much pain in his selfish pursuit to be loved at any cost. Angel offered a silent, heartfelt apology, hopeful in time she would be able to forgive his selfishness. He promised himself that he would face Buffy with the truths they both had so desperately ignored. He owed her that much before moving on with his discovery of life as it was meant to be. Once he and Cordelia put this terrible night to rest and had a little time to settle into their new life together he would ask her to return with him to their past one last time.
Finding himself in the familiar hallway Angel’s aching body heaved a heavy sigh. Taking the few last steps required he stood at her door. Choosing to ignore the blood and possibly tiny bits of his challenger’s flesh that were clinging to his shirt Angel eagerly knocked. “Honey I’m home.”
The door swung open by seemingly invisible means just seconds before the squealing, young woman lunged through it. “Oh God, Angel I was so worried. What took you so long?” Immediately wrapping her arms around him Cordelia failed to notice the blood drenched clothing before pressing her clean clothed body against them. “Ewe Angel, you’re wet. Oh my God Angel you’re covered in blood. It’s not your blood is it? Well get in here what are you waiting for?”
A big dorky grin plastered on his face Angel looked down at her with a hint of disbelief. “You told me to be thorough…and I’m waiting for you to let go of me and move just a little.”
“Oh well why didn’t you say so? Pfftt. Didn’t know you were in such a hurry you didn’t have time for a welcome home hug. Now get in here so I can check your wounds. Gees Angel you’re dripping blood in the hallway and you know the super doesn’t like it when the hallway’s messy.”
Angel didn’t bother to hide his contented smirk. He had realized quite some time ago that Cordelia’s use of snippy sarcasm was a way of dealing with her fears. Forgetting the now partially dried blood on his hands, he gently cupped Cordelia’s face lifting her to him as his lips lowered to hers. The touch was soft, barely more that a feathery brush but it was enough to sate his need for the moment. Keeping his lips slightly against hers his words blew a cool breeze against her moist lips. “I’m trying to baby but you’ve got to give me room to walk.”
Her simple response was to yank Angel into the room. “Dennis, blanket please. I don’t need blood all over my sofa.” The selected blanket already marred with numerous stains was swished from the closet and spread across one end of the sofa. “Sit.” Cordelia commanded as she pushed Angel down onto the blanket-protected cushions. “Thanks Dennis, maybe you and Wesley could take care of the hallway while I check out our free bleeder here.”
“Hey! Got a lot of injuries woman. I’m not a free-bleeder. I don’t think a vampire can be a free-bleeder, not that I’m really sure what that is.”
“Pfftt. Why not? It’s not like you can’t replace it anytime you need to. Uh, Wesley…the hallway. Dennis can’t be expected to do everything by himself.”
“What? I mean, yes…of course. I’m on it.” Wesley considered where he might find the proper cleaning supplies for removing blood from the hallway belonging to an evidently picky landlord. His quick turn was interrupted when his face collided with a rather smelly, overused sponge. “Ah, yes, Dennis.” Wesley muffled into the puffy sponge before jerking his head away from the foul smelling, bacteria laden cleaning apparatus. “Thanks ever so much for your assistance. If you will follow me please.” Wesley walked toward the door, a sloshing pail of water and ammonia following his lead.
“OK big guy your turn. I’ll get the antiseptic and bandages, you strip off what’s left of that shirt.”
Angel proceeded to remove his coat and shirt as instructed, his grin turning into a grimace as his movements made the pain more apparent. Finally bare from the waist up Angel leaned against the cushiony soft sofa concentrating on the sounds of Cordelia’s rapid movements. The smell of blood wafted over his tongue and he knew replenishing his blood loss was first on her list of medical necessities. God he loved that woman. If he lived a thousand years that would be the mantra that echoed inside his head. Angel quickly cleared his head of thoughts concerning any lifespan that wouldn’t likely include Cordelia. He would focus only on the here and now. The future he would deal with, well in the future.
“Here you go big guy just the way you like it, a perfect ninety-eight point six. Sorry I can’t offer it in something a little more enticing than cheap china.”
“This is perfect Cordy. Just the fact that you prepared it, that you brought it to me makes it absolutely perfect.” His words dropped to a low whisper meant to be shared only by them. “Everything you do is perfect.”
“Oh Angel…OH Angel! Look at you. That monster practically ripped you to pieces.” Cordelia stared at what must have been a gaping hole just an inch or maybe less from Angel’s heart. The fact that the wound had already begun to close offered little comfort. “That one was a little close. You’d think by now you’d know to pay attention and not let yourself get distracted.”
“I didn’t get distracted. Bane’s that good. I’ve never beaten him before tonight.” Angel laid his hand over Cordelia’s, her fingers brushing across the fading wound that could have been their doom. “I always thought it was because he was better than me but now I know it was because there was never anything worth winning before.”
Cordelia felt her heart squeeze, tears threatening once more were quickly chased away. Angel had fought for her. He was her hero and heroes deserved to be pampered. Cordelia knew her time for pampering would come after Angel had time to recover. “Are you hurt anywhere else? I need to see Angel.”
“Baby you can see anything you want but anything below the belt you’re gonna have to look at in the bathroom not out here in plain view.”
“Oh don’t be a big baby. It’s not like you have stuff Wesley and Dennis haven’t seen before. Well…and me too I guess.” Cordelia cleared her throat trying to hide her sudden embarrassment of reminding Angel she had seen his male stuff. “Gees there’s no need for anyone to get flustered over you dropping your pants. So…”
“So what?” Angel asked enjoying the shyness Cordelia rarely let anyone see.
“So drop your pants Angel. I don’t think you have to worry about being the smallest one in the locker room. Crap, I can’t believe I just said that. Look, don’t say anything it’ll just make it worse.” Cordelia had already removed one boot and was moving to the other. Too many emotions were still bouncing inside her head and she wasn’t ready to deal with Angel’s manly parts just yet. “Just unbuckle your belt big…uh…Angel and drop your pants.” Cordelia suddenly slapped her hands flat against Angel’s thighs causing a smart sting in his lacerations. “Uh, you’re not…uh…going commando are you?”
“No Cordy.” Angel hissed through clinched teeth. His lacerated thighs still stinging from her last minute intervention of his pants dropping. The already unbuckled belt dangling from the loops on his pants Angel lowered his zipper in a slow tease. “Step back baby, you shouldn’t be so close when I do this.”
“Oh please. You are a big baby and a big ham. Just get on with it. I’ll get some soap and water so we can clean you up before we bandage your wounds.”
The scrapes and cuts on his legs already felt better no longer being scratched by the irritating, rough fabric. Not willing to admit it but Angel definitely agreed with Cordelia’s idea of dropping his pants.
Returning with a bowl of soapy water Cordelia set it next to her on the floor. The space of the small coffee table was already taken up with the various antiseptics, packs of gauze and medical tape. “Now that wasn’t so hard was it and I bet it feels better too?”
“Maybe a little.”
Cordelia lobbed her head to the side giving Angel a big roll of her eyes.
“Alright yes it feels better, a lot better. Thank you Cordy. Happy now?”
“Yes, very; and again was that so hard?”
“God I love you woman and God help me you make me crazy.”
“Well of course and…well of course. Now stop talking so much and let me do this. You’ve taken up too much time with your whining already. Just sit back, close your eyes and I’ll be finished in a jiffy and don’t think I haven’t noticed you didn’t finish your blood.”
“Jesus woman you haven’t given me time to finish it.”
“Pfftt. You’re a vampire. How much time do you need to gulp down a little cup of blood?”
“Whatever you say. Just do whatever you want. I’m all yours.”
“Mmm, I like the sound of that but maybe later. Right down you’re not so desirable.”
God give me strength. God I love this woman but give me strength.
Wesley rejoined his cohorts, the blood from the hallway now swishing inside the dark stained pail of water and embedded in the grungy sponge he definitely intended to drop into the garbage receptacle. He skipped a step, arching a brow at the almost nude vampire that seemed to be sleeping as Cordelia bandaged the last of his freshly cleaned wounds. He cleared his throat to bring attention to his presence but was interrupted before he could utter the first syllable.
“Don’t. Don’t say a word. This is what Cordy wanted, so…”
“Say no more Angel. I’m sure Cordelia wants me to clean my bucket anyway.”
“Thank you Wesley and you too Dennis.”
“You are quite welcome Cordelia. From both of us I’m sure.” Wesley yelled from the kitchen as he washed his dirty bucket.
“There, all done big guy. You can put your pants back on but the shirt is history. The only two buttons left on it are broken anyway.”
“Good. You go pack some things and I’ll re-pant myself. Then young lady we’ll be on our way so Wesley can get some sleep.”
“On our way?”
“Yes, on our way. You’re going home with me. Right?”
“Well I guess so, I mean…”
“You don’t want to go home with me?”
“Well yea, sure I do…it’s just…I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”
“Well I have and I want us to go home. Let me take you home. Let me take care of you. I can’t be apart from you right now Cordy…not so soon after almost losing you. I need to have you close to me for a while before I can handle you being out of my sight. Do you understand?”
Out of his sight? What the hell does that mean? Gees we have so much to talk about. “Of course I understand Angel.”
“Good. Now go pack and I’ll explain to Wes that he’s staying here tonight.”
“OK but you better let me explain to Dennis that Wesley’s staying and I’m leaving.”
“Sure baby, whatever you want.”
Pfftt. Sure big guy, whatever I want.
His pants now covering his skimpy, silk boxers Angel made his way to the kitchen joining Wesley at the table. Lacing the boots now back on his feet the vampire cleared his throat before jumping into his explanation of their sleeping arrangements. “Uh Wes, Cordy’s getting a few things and then we’ll be heading home.”
“Home?” The grin resisted by his stiff facial muscles still managed to flash a twinkle in the cool blue of his eyes. “I thought this was Cordelia’s home.”
“Oh it is, well it’s her apartment that she shares with Dennis. You’ve met Dennis, a nice guy but honestly a bit too clingy in my opinion.”
“Clingy you say. My we wouldn’t want that; would we?”
“Funny Wes. Really, had no idea you were such a comedian. Cordy won’t like it if I throw him over the balcony and let him sleep in the alley. Anyway, we thought you’d be more comfortable sleeping here. You can come over to the office tomorrow…but not too early. We’re all really tired and I’m sure you’d enjoy sleeping in.”
“Yes sleeping in would be rather nice. Thank you for thinking of it Angel.”
“OK Wes, I can see you’re enjoying yourself at my expense.”
“I do apologize Angel but yes it is quite entertaining watching you finagle the situation to your liking. I do appreciate the hospitality though and I’m sure Dennis and I will get along just fine.”
“Then you’re OK bunking with a ghost?” Angel asked surprise evident in his voice.
“Well it does sound a bit odd on the surface but since my short tenure in Sunnydale odd has lost a good bit of its punch.”
“Good. Glad to hear it. You know Wes if you’re OK with planting your roots in LA you could join Cordy and me. It’s just the two of us since we lost Doyle and I could use the extra muscle, not to mention your research skills. We don’t have anything fancy but it works for us.”
Wesley’s existence had lacked purpose since leaving the counsel. Pressured by his father’s urgings, his life had been dedicated to the counsel to the point that anything else was almost foreign to him. What Angel was offering him was a chance to make a new life for himself. “Oh my, I must have gotten some of that ammonia in my eyes.” Wesley removed his glasses using the table linen to wipe the stinging ammonia from his watery eyes. “Thank you Angel. I would be honored to work with you and Cordelia. You know Angel…” SNIFF “…your agency may be small but it has a nice homey feel to it, much like a family.”
“Yea, like a family…” Cordelia added joining the two men in the kitchen. Cordelia laid her hands on Angel’s shoulders giving them a tight squeeze. “…and now that you’ve joined us our family is a little bit bigger again.” Cordelia had listened to Angel’s simple reference to their fallen friend knowing the volume of emotion that lay hidden behind his almost blank expression. She had briefly joined Wesley in his disguised tears hearing Angel not only offer him a job and a home but inviting him into their small family as well.
“You ready to go home baby? Wes has decided to stay here for the night and he’ll join us at the office tomorrow.”
“Yea talked things over with Dennis so I’m ready to go but Angel technically it is tomorrow. We better get a move on or I’ll need an ash tray to carry you in.”
“Everyone’s a comedian.” Angel rolled his eyes in mocked irritation.
“Did my vampire just try to be funny?”
Angel grabbed his coat and Cordelia’s overstuffed bag flinging them over his shoulder. “Get to the car woman.”
“Oh wow my vampire is trying to be funny. Goodnight Wesley, goodnight Dennis, see you guys tomorrow.”
“Goodnight you two and I’ll see you at the office tomorrow but not too early. If you don’t mind Angel I’d like to sleep in.”
“Funny Wes.”