Part 5<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAny news yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
The hope in Cordelia\u2019s voice nearly broke David\u2019s heart. He shook his head slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive them time, little one. They don\u2019t move at the same speed humans do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if they wait too long, it\u2019ll be too late! Angel needs me.\u201d She sounded determined, as if going back were a foregone conclusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re considering it, that\u2019s all I can tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are?\u201d Cordelia was suddenly breathless, her eyes shining with hope. She squealed, then trapped him in a bear hug that would\u2019ve threatened his life if it could have been destroyed. \u201cYou\u2019re the best, Davy!\u201d<\/p>\n
David sighed then returned her hug, squeezing her gently. His mind wandered back to the surreal meeting he\u2019d had with his superiors. He\u2019d finally psyched himself up to go speak with Raphael, the general of his order, and it made him unaccountably nervous. Inquiring as to Rafael\u2019s whereabouts, he\u2019d discovered that the general was in chambers with the Powers themselves. As everyone was welcome at these meetings, he\u2019d entered quietly and listened in on the proceedings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis problem will not go away.\u201d The female Power\u2019s voice was mellifluous, \u201cWe must intervene.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSister,\u201d the large man to her right intoned, \u201cwe have intervened without being heard. Our Champion\u2019s ears are deaf to our cries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rafael stood, his wings spread magnificently behind him as he bowed deeply before the tribunal. \u201cGreat ones, our enemies have masked our Champion\u2019s eyes, have covered his ears with their hands. They distract him with their own petty business and we are not able to penetrate their barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman frowned. \u201cWe knew it would be difficult if we allowed him to infiltrate the lair of the Wolf, Ram, and Hart. We should have anticipated this.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time, the other being, a gender-neutral angel, spoke up. \u201cWe did anticipate it,\u201d it reminded them gently. \u201cBut we felt we could overcome it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does not matter,\u201d the man said. \u201cWhat we should\u2019ve done is past. Now we must concern ourselves with fixing this current problem. Our champion did well when he restored the happiness of his son, but now that happiness is threatened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the life of our Champion hangs in the balance,\u201d the woman added. \u201cWe cannot allow these evil lower beings to prevail. We must get word to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d The angel asked, its face serene. \u201cHe no longer has a seer to give him our messages.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can send a vision to another of his associates,\u201d the man suggested. \u201cThe other vampire or the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman shook her head. \u201cNo. The other vampire would retain the visions permanently, and we have other plans for him. He is destined to help the Slayer as he did before. We cannot interfere with that. And the girl? She would not survive a vision of this magnitude. Neither would her lover.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the other human?\u201d the man countered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been corrupted,\u201d the woman dismissed him. \u201cThe Wolf, Ram, and Hart have infected his essence and would detect our presence. He cannot be used.\u201d<\/p>\n
They fell silent as the last of their options was taken away from them, the only sound in the room the faint fluttering of wings.<\/p>\n
In the audience, David shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had the answer, knew what could be done, and yet, he was afraid to speak. This was the tribunal after all. If he was deemed impertinent\u2014he shuddered at the thought. Disobedient angels were not punished lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave we no other recourse?\u201d the woman lamented.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady, if I may,\u201d Rafael said, bowing again. She nodded regally.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may consider sending him a new seer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man laughed derisively. \u201cHe would trust no one at this juncture. The vampire is overly distraught over the loss of his previous seer, and it is unlikely he will trust a new one in time to stop the evil beings from destroying him and his son.\u201d<\/p>\n
They seemed to contemplate this and David used the opportunity to spring into action before he lost his nerve.<\/p>\n
From his seat in the audience, he called out strongly, \u201cYou could send his former seer back.\u201d<\/p>\n
The silence in the room was shocking after his voice faded away. Not a wing rustled in the stillness and David gulped, wanting to sink through the floor and disappear as the silence dragged on.<\/p>\n
The man frowned fiercely, glaring at the crowd, then at Rafael. \u201cWho dares to speak without permission?\u201d His voice echoed in the sacred space, and everyone cringed slightly.<\/p>\n
David stood slowly and faced his fate. \u201cI did, your greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd who are you?\u201d the angel on the tribunal asked.<\/p>\n
Rafael had turned and glared at him, then motioned him forward. Turning back to the tribunal, Rafael put on an apologetic mask. \u201cHe is one of the guardians in my order, masters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how did you come to determine what is in our best interests, young one?\u201d The woman\u2019s eyebrows were raised.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am Cordelia\u2019s guardian.\u201d They nodded in understanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would you feel it necessary to tear her away from her heavenly reward, only to restore her to the pain and misery of human life?\u201d The angel seemed genuinely curious.<\/p>\n
David hesitated before answering. \u201cShe is not happy, Great Ones. She begs me daily to find a way to send her back. I fear\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped, hesitant to speak of such a forbidden thing in the Powers\u2019 presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you fear?\u201d the woman asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fear she will disappear.\u201d His eyes were sad. \u201cShe is beginning to give up hope, and she refuses to put her life behind her. She claims that our Champion needs her and will not heed any arguments.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Powers exchanged glances. Finally, the man spoke. \u201cDo you feel she will survive the shock of a return to human life?\u201d<\/p>\n
No one said it, but everyone immediately thought of the trouble the Slayer had adjusting to life on Earth after leaving their exalted presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d David said with conviction. \u201cShe has never let go of her life. She has not once enjoyed her stay here. She longs for him, and I believe she needs to go back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will decide what she needs, young one,\u201d the woman reprimanded him, but her tone was without malice. \u201cWe will consider your request. You are dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n
David bowed deeply, moving back, then running out the door. He didn\u2019t look once at his general\u2019s face, knowing that he\u2019d be in trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how do you know they\u2019re considering it?\u201d Cordelia\u2019s hopeful voice penetrated David\u2019s thoughts and brought him back to the present.<\/p>\n
\u201cI visited a tribunal meeting. They spoke of you,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n
She nodded. \u201cGood. Thanks, Davy! You\u2019re the best.\u201d She flashed him one of those smiles that made his heart melt and he gathered her into a hug.<\/p>\n
Waiting would be the hardest part of all.<\/p>\n
Part 6<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel knew he could do this. He was a master vampire for Pete\u2019s sake, not a weakling. He could get back out there. He could find someone to fill his lonely nights. He could.<\/p>\n
He just didn\u2019t think it would be with this particular woman.<\/p>\n
Nina smiled at him from across the table. \u201cI was so surprised when you called me, Angel,\u201d she said, her eyes soft. \u201cAfter the whole um, puppet thing, I didn\u2019t think you were interested. After we had breakfast together, you never\u2014\u201d she trailed off.<\/p>\n
That breakfast had shown him that he wasn\u2019t. Interested, that is. Despite what he\u2019d said. All he could think about was the fact that was betraying Cordelia\u2019s memory. But then his well-meaning friends had thought that this date could help him. That he should give it another try. They had suggested that this date could help him get over Cordelia.<\/p>\n
The mere thought of it was ludicrous and yet he was here anyway, sitting down to dinner even when he didn\u2019t eat.<\/p>\n
He shrugged an answer to her question. \u201cI just thought we could get to know each other better, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smiling again, she reached across the table to take his hand. \u201cI would like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He let her hold his hand, but he didn\u2019t smile.<\/p>\n
Nina spoke again after a few seconds of silence. \u201cI think we\u2019re good for each other, you know?\u201d she said thoughtfully. \u201cWe\u2019re alike. We\u2019re both freaks. We understand each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a moment, Angel\u2019s mind flashed back to another \u2018freak\u2019 he\u2019d met when Cordelia hadn\u2019t been herself. Gwen had thought there might be a connection between them, too. But there hadn\u2019t been. He sighed. Just like there wasn\u2019t now.<\/p>\n
Gently, he pulled his hand away from hers. \u201cWe aren\u2019t that much alike, Nina. I\u2019m a vampire. You\u2019re a werewolf. Big differences.\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned, \u201cBut lots of common ground, Angel. Do you know how hard it is to find someone who can relate and isn\u2019t evil?\u201d She shook her head. \u201cIt\u2019s almost impossible. But we\u2019ve found each other, and I think we should make the best of it. We can be good together. Why should we let the unknown take that way from us?\u201d<\/p>\n
Unwittingly, her words sparked something deep inside Angel. He jerked a bit, struck by a sense of betrayal so strong he almost couldn\u2019t function. This whole date was a sham. He couldn\u2019t do this. He didn\u2019t want to hurt her, but he couldn\u2019t do this.<\/p>\n
Maybe someday he could move on. Maybe. He doubted it, but it would take a long time. A very, very long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Nina. I just\u2014,\u201d he stopped, his eyes turning apologetic. \u201cI can\u2019t do this. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, why?\u201d she asked, confusion etched on her face. \u201cI thought, I mean Wesley said. . .\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley means well, but he doesn\u2019t understand me right now. I like you, Nina. I like you a lot. But I just can\u2019t . . . you know. . . with you.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI\u2019m still in love with someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Slayer.\u201d It was a statement, not a question. \u201cWesley told me about her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not Buffy,\u201d Angel said, shaking his head. He was distracted for a moment. Why would Wesley tell her about Buffy and not about Cordelia? \u201cI lost my best friend last year. I didn\u2019t realize I was in love with her until she died. I can\u2019t move on yet. It\u2019s just too . . . just too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sighed, leaning back in her chair. \u201cI get it. I knew this was too good to be true,\u201d she said, shaking her head and smiling wryly. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t enjoy a rare steak together, now does it?\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled back at her, relief coursing through him. She understood. It was more than he\u2019d hoped for. \u201cI suppose we could celebrate our common love of red meat,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteaks it is, then.\u201d She scrutinized him for a moment before reaching back to take his hand again. This time there was only friendship in the gesture. \u201cYou know that I\u2019m willing to listen if you need to talk, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was shocked by her offer considering how little they knew each other. \u201cThanks,\u201d he said, pulling his hand away. \u201cI think I\u2019ll be okay, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even as he said the words, his soul rebelled. In his waking hours he coped, but at night, his soul suffered the torment of her loss. He would never be okay.<\/p>\n
Never again would he be the same. Without Cordelia, he was lost.<\/p>\n
Part 7<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAw, shit! Anybody could\u2019ve caught that pass! My grandma plays better football than these pansies.\u201d Connor\u2019s voice was full of scorn for the team whose praises he\u2019d been singing all the way to the football game.<\/p>\n
Next to him, Jace smiled indulgently, taking a drink from the monstrous soda in his hand. \u201cTold you my team was going to whoop your team\u2019s ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up!\u201d Connor barked, but he grinned anyway, his eyes still glued to the field. \u201cBesides, it isn\u2019t like you don\u2019t get tweaked out when your team loses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because my team doesn\u2019t lose,\u201d Jace countered.<\/p>\n
Finally Connor looked at him, but only long enough to roll his eyes and laugh derisively. \u201cYeah. Sure. This from the man who practically demolished his living room last year when his favorite team got their asses handed to them at the Superbowl.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least they made it to the Superbowl,\u201d Jace said smugly, then handed Connor the nachos.<\/p>\n
Connor took the chips without comment, groaning when his team\u2019s quarterback got sacked. Again.<\/p>\n
The whistle blew ending the second quarter, and everyone around them began shifting in their seats, standing and stretching or going to the snack bar as the half-time show geared up. Jace watched Connor in silence, noting the young man\u2019s tired eyes. As if to underscore his observation, Connor stretched and yawned widely, slouching back in his seat as he propped his feet up on the now-empty row in front of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou okay, son?\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor swung surprised eyes to him.<\/p>\n
He forged on. \u201cYou\u2019re looking a little tired these days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou work me from dawn till dusk and you wonder why I\u2019m tired?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jace shrugged. It was true he\u2019d been working Connor to the bone, but they needed him to be ready. They would put their plan into action soon and Connor needed to be in top form. It didn\u2019t matter that the boy had no idea he was so important; he would be ready anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been working you this hard for weeks now, and it\u2019s only in the past few days that you\u2019ve looked so worn down. Making time for a girlfriend on the side?\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor snorted, \u201cHardly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Good. They didn\u2019t need the added complications. A smile graced Jace\u2019s face but it didn\u2019t reach his eyes. \u201cAre you having trouble sleeping?\u201d<\/p>\n
Frowning, Connor shifted in his seat uncomfortably. \u201cOh, you know,\u201d he said vaguely. \u201cBad dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh,\u201d Jace said in understanding, relieved that his charge wasn\u2019t having second thoughts about their training sessions. \u201cYour parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor\u2019s jaw tightened just a fraction. Dreams about his parents\u2019 accident hadn\u2019t haunted him in months, and they still weren\u2019t now. But should he tell Jace about his other weird dreams? About the dreams that seemed more like memories than anything else? He liked Jace, but there was just something about him that made Connor hold back, something not quite right.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, my parents. Keep dreaming about the accident,\u201d he lied. \u201cI get so tired sometimes and the exhaustion makes them come easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jace seemed to think about this. \u201cMaybe you should try meditating before you go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Connor said, but he wasn\u2019t really listening. His eyes were glued to the field and to the casual observer, even to Jace, it looked like the young man was enjoying the display of the voluptuous cheerleaders gyrating below.<\/p>\n
The situation couldn\u2019t have been more different. Connor\u2019s mind had gone back to the dreams he\u2019d had. After that first one, the one where he\u2019d fought the beasts he almost couldn\u2019t describe, then the terrorist scene where he\u2019d tried to blow up everyone he cared about, Connor had had others. Every night. Some were less disturbing, but all had the undercurrent of pain and heartache and he\u2019d really had to concentrate to pull his mind out of the dark place he entered during the dreams.<\/p>\n
Last night had been the worst of all. He\u2019d dreamed that his father, his dream father, not the one who\u2019d raised him in San Francisco, had turned evil. It was a Dr. Jekyl-Mr. Hyde transformation, and from his other dreams, Connor had known that this version of his father felt no love or responsibility toward his son. This was the one the old man in the beast-world had called Angelus.<\/p>\n
Connor\u2019s dream-self had been both fascinated and repulsed by his father\u2019s transformation. He\u2019d watched himself speaking to his father, watched himself be angry at him, taunt him, even as his heart cried out for love and acceptance.<\/p>\n
And then the dream had gone from bad to worse. The next flash had sent him to an abandoned warehouse where he\u2019d obviously been living, a mattress sprawled in the background. A woman was there with him, a woman that he cared about, a woman that he had conflicting emotions about. It startled him later to realize that she was the same woman who\u2019d been hooked up to explosives in his first dream.<\/p>\n
Whoever she was, she was important to his father, he sensed that. And for that his dream-self had wanted to hurt her. His dream-self had wanted her for his own, but his father loved her. And yet, there was something not quite right about her, either. Like she wasn\u2019t the way she should be.<\/p>\n
She had come to him, offered herself to him as a prize, as comfort when the world was falling down around them. His real self had retched as his dream-self gloried in her body. His dream-self experienced what he thought was acceptance and love when his real self, with an outsider\u2019s perspective, saw his father standing on a nearby building\u2019s ledge, watching them with pain pouring from his eyes.<\/p>\n
Connor had woken up breathless, clutching his pillow and crying, whimpering his apologies to an empty bedroom in that fuzzy place halfway between dreamland and the real world. He couldn\u2019t seem to stop himself from begging for forgiveness from a father that, as far as he knew, didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
As he watched the halftime show progress, Connor mulled over these perplexing dreams. Every one of them seemed connected. Every dream seemed to build off the last. He\u2019d discovered that they didn\u2019t move in a linear progression, but rather gave him snapshots of different points in time. Of a life he was certain he\u2019d never lived.<\/p>\n
And yet . . . they seemed so much like memories.<\/p>\n
But he knew where he\u2019d grown up. He knew who his parents were, and they were not a pair of vampires, as his dreams told him. He\u2019d been loved by his parents, loved by his sister, and he wouldn\u2019t trade those memories for anything. But something in these dreams called to him. Something told him that they were the truth, and his life had been . . .<\/p>\n
No. He couldn\u2019t think that. To think his entire life had been a sham would call into question who he was. Who he\u2019d become. He was proud of himself. Proud of his life. Proud to be his father\u2019s, his real father\u2019s, son.<\/p>\n
They were just dreams. They had to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere we go,\u201d Jace said from his side, motioning to the resumption of play on the field. He took the half-eaten nachos back from Connor. \u201cTime for my team to show your team how to play the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor snorted his derision, letting his anxiousness over the troubling dreams fade away for now. \u201cYou wish, old man. They\u2019ll come back. They always do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see about that,\u201d Jace said, smiling, and they both turned back to the game in silence.<\/p>\n
Part 8<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cDavid!\u201d<\/p>\n
Rafael\u2019s imperious voice made David jump in fright. He straightened up, trying to gather his dignity back to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeneral.\u201d He inclined his head, bowing to his leader. \u201cHow may I be of service?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, drop the diplomatic crap, Davy,\u201d Rafael said in annoyance. \u201cI\u2019m your older brother, so knock it off.\u201d<\/p>\n
David smiled slightly. Sometimes he forgot the familial connection; they rarely acknowledged it. Rafael\u2019s position didn\u2019t allow him to indulge himself in brotherly affection very often.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re wanted at the tribunal,\u201d Rafael continued. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cN-now?\u201d His voice squeaked slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, now, \u2018fraidy cat.\u201d Rafael rolled his eyes. \u201cYou were always such a ninny, even if you never looked like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
David frowned at this, raising himself completely to his impressive height. At his full strength, he towered even over his brother. \u201cVery well. I am ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better be,\u201d Rafael said, \u201cBecause I\u2019m not taking the heat for you. You got yourself into this, and I\u2019ve let them know that it was entirely your idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d David said, following him quickly down the corridor to the chamber. \u201cI accept full responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minutes later, he stood next to his brother in front of the council.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have discussed your suggestion,\u201d the woman said, \u201cand have decided that you may hold the answer to our dilemma.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever,\u201d the tribunal angel added, \u201cwe believe that some adjustments are in order before we send her back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite right,\u201d the man acknowledged, nodding his head. \u201cOur Champion\u2019s soul would be at risk due to their strong bond. It must be made permanent, or our problems will increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will link his soul to hers,\u201d the woman decreed. \u201cThey must bond and mate. She will retain immortality, he will gain the permanence of his soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is acceptable,\u201d the angel said. \u201cWe will send her back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may inform her of her good fortune,\u201d the man declared, pointing imperiously at David. \u201cShe will return tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
David could barely hold back his smile. \u201cThank you, great ones,\u201d he said, then bowed deeply, backing away from them and returning to his seat. He ignored the glare that his commander sent his way, knowing that when Cordelia left, he\u2019d probably be relegated to guarding the unruly spirit of a two-year-old. But it was worth it if Cordelia would be happy. She deserved to be happy.<\/p>\n
The tribunal stood, their robes fluttering around their bodies in diaphanous clouds. \u201cAs we have decreed, so it shall be,\u201d the intoned together, their hands raised.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet it be done.\u201d<\/p>\n