Part 1<\/b><\/p>\n
Every nerve in Angel\u2019s body was on high alert, his ears buzzing as the vampire equivalent of adrenaline rushed through his system. After a moment of incredulity when Cordelia passed out, he rushed frantically to her side, calmed only slightly by the steady heartbeat and even breathing.<\/p>\n
She lay still on her back, sprawled out on the floor, her hair pooling around her head, one arm curled up near her face. Her features were peaceful, ironic considering how she\u2019d come to be lying there. Angel gently snuck one arm under her neck, her head lolling back as he lifted her, the ends of her short hair brushing the floor. His other hand came up to stroke the soft skin of her cheek, then moved down her body as he checked for signs of injury.<\/p>\n
Finding none, he tried to revive her. \u201cCordelia, wake up.\u201d He shook her gently, but she remained impassive. \u201cCordy, baby, it\u2019s Angel. Wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley looked on anxiously, his attention focused on Cordelia, but he still noticed Angel\u2019s unintentional endearment. He shook his head briefly, a reflex action to accompany his thoughts. When were those two ever going to get on the same wavelength? They were obviously in love with each other, but neither of them were unbiased enough to stand back and view each other objectively. Someday, maybe they\u2019d take off the blinders and grasp the possibility of bliss that was staring them in the face.<\/p>\n
Shaking himself from his musings, Wesley knelt on Cordelia\u2019s other side, clinically assessing her condition. Having seen many unconscious people in line of work, Wesley realized that Cordelia probably wouldn\u2019t come around for awhile yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Wesley addressed him softly, the confident steadiness of his voice drawing Angel\u2019s worried gaze to his face. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you lay her on the couch in the lobby? It\u2019s not uncommon for people who are affected by paranormal objects like this to be unconscious for a long while.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though Wesley meant to reassure Angel with his suggestion, he could see that it had the opposite effect. Angel\u2019s face had darkened considerably when Wesley\u2019s implication sank in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean, \u2018a long while\u2019?\u201d Angel said, his voice nearly a growl.<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s eyes darted everywhere but Angel\u2019s face as he frantically backpedaled. \u201cAhem, well, um . . . I\u2019m fairly certain that she\u2019ll wake within the next few hours,\u201d he said, knowing that he really had no idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019d better,\u201d Angel said, his tone indicating that Wesley would be held responsible if Cordelia didn\u2019t wake up in that time frame.<\/p>\n
After one more stern look at his friend, Angel did as Wesley suggested, never breaking his watchful gaze on Cordelia\u2019s face as he picked her up gently and carried her to the sofa. Only when he laid her tenderly on the velvet surface did he turn to face Wesley, his face carefully neutral.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your plan, Wesley?\u201d Angel said. His mouth was set in a grim line, and he crossed his arms as he stood facing him, his feet planted firmly. His stance screamed \u201cmeanacing authority,\u201d but Wesley had seen that before and wasn\u2019t intimidated by it.<\/p>\n
He was taken aback by the question, though. Angel\u2019s made it sound like Wesley should<\/i> have a detailed, well thought out plan, and right this instant. He had nothing. All he knew was that he\u2019d received this object mysteriously; besides that, he had jack squat. The only thing he could think of was to call Sunnydale, a task that didn\u2019t excite him in the slightest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I\u2019m going to call Giles. Cordelia thought it was from him,\u201d Wesley finally answered, shrugging his shoulders in frustration. He faced Angel, crossing his arms and mimicking Angel\u2019s stance.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guess<\/i>?\u201d Angel said angrily. \u201cI hope you can do better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly do you want me to do, Angel? That thing<\/i>,\u201d Wesley gestured dramatically to the orb on the floor, \u201cis as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. I don\u2019t have all the answers.\u201d He was starting to get pissed that Angel was backing him into a corner like this.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t as if he\u2019d shoved the orb into Cordelia\u2019s hands and said, \u201cHere, twist this, please.\u201d Cordelia got into enough trouble on her own, thank you very much. Angel should be thanking him for trying to stop her, not blaming him for her current state.<\/p>\n
Then again, Angel could never be accused of being a slave to logic. His methods might be generally successful, but his reasoning was often driven solely by emotion, throwing common sense completely out the window. Wesley had grown exceedingly tired of trying to predict the vampire\u2019s mood swings, especially where Cordelia was concerned.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you think Giles might be able to help?\u201d Angel asked, mildly placated by the fact that Wesley at least had one option.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the only thing I\u2019ve got right now. I can research, but we all know that takes forever to produce anything useful, and I honestly don\u2019t know what this thing did to her. We may not have time; we may have forever. I just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel sighed, He began pacing the section off floor in front of Cordelia\u2019s prone figure, one hand rubbing his jaw .<\/p>\n
After a moment of contemplation, Angel nodded, then sighed, obviously not needing the breath but needing the release of frustration.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn it. It just had to be Sunnydale.\u201d Angel shook his head ruefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there something particularly wrong with the package coming from Sunnydale?\u201d Wesley attempted to make the question sound innocent, but he was really curious to find out what had Angel so irritated.<\/p>\n
Hesitating, Angel tried to decide how to answer that two-edged question. Hell, he didn\u2019t even know if he knew<\/i> the answer, but he supposed Wesley should have all the information if he was going to be successful in reversing this disaster. \u201cI just didn\u2019t want to see them again for awhile. When I went to see Buffy after she came back, it was . . . weird.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word was inadequate to express what Angel was feeling and both men knew it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeird as in awkward, or weird as in \u2018My God, that was hellish\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
A grim smile crossed Angel\u2019s face at Wesley\u2019s uncharacteristic question. He was tempted to say the latter, but it hadn\u2019t been quite that bad. Almost, but not quite.<\/p>\n
His long lost love hadn\u2019t been as anxious to see him as he\u2019d thought she\u2019d be. She was edgy, nervous even, the whole time they were together. She was different somehow, and that, combined with the fact that Angel had already said goodbye to her forever, made the meeting intensely uncomfortable. At the time, it had felt like a splinter under his skin, irritating and chafing; painful, but virtually irremovable.<\/p>\n
That feeling had rushed back in full force when Wesley had revealed the package\u2019s origins.<\/p>\n
Angel searched Wesley\u2019s confused eyes, the vampire\u2019s expression revealing his frustration. \u201cI\u2019d eventually moved on after she died, and when she came back, I didn\u2019t know what to think. That trip away last summer helped me sort everything out in my mind, and I was able to bring an ending to that chapter in my life. While it was a painful experience, it felt good to have closure.\u201d He paused again, not finished, searching for words.<\/p>\n
Wesley held still, not wanting to interrupt one of these rare glimpses into Angel\u2019s soul.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen when I came back home, I saw Cordelia, and I just . . .\u201d he trailed off, staring down into Cordelia\u2019s sleeping face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just knew?\u201d Wesley said, finishing the sentence for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Angel said, unfolding his arms and rubbing the back of his neck absently, his other hand sliding into his pocket. \u201cI just knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked up at his friend, the naked truth shining in his eyes. \u201cI love Cordelia, Wesley, and it scares the hell out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunnydale<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the bloody hell do you mean, she won\u2019t wake up?\u201d Spike demanded, his face contorted in an expression of frustrated helplessness.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust what I said, Spike. Nothing I\u2019ve tried to revive her will work,\u201d Giles said, exasperated with the vampire. Giles was just as worried, arguably more so, but he wasn\u2019t one to wear his heart on his sleeve.<\/p>\n
Giles\u2019 heart had nearly stopped when he\u2019d seen Buffy fall to the floor earlier, the orb rolling from her fingers. He\u2019d rushed to her side and tried to wake her, but nothing he\u2019d done had had the slightest effect. All he knew to do now was wait. Her vital signs were all normal, and it seemed likely that she would wake up soon.<\/p>\n
It seemed<\/i> likely – but it didn\u2019t make anyone any less nervous.<\/p>\n
The former watcher glanced around the main room of the Magic Box, noting the anxious expressions on all the faces gathered. Willow sat at the table, worrying the rings on her fingers anxiously. She\u2019d wanted to try a spell to revive Buffy, but Giles had immediately shot the idea down, stating that more magic would probably make things worse. They didn\u2019t know what had happened, so they couldn\u2019t risk undoing it the wrong way.<\/p>\n
Dawn had arrived at the Magic Box earlier that evening, seen her sister\u2019s condition, and had reacted badly. It had been agreed that her hysteria wasn’t helping matters, and Giles had quickly arranged for her to stay at one of her friend’s houses for the time being.<\/p>\n
Anya was her usual implacable, tactless self, taking inventory and dusting the shelves while the rest of them sat around, waiting for Buffy to wake up. Nothing seemed to surprise or shake her anymore, not that anything ever had.<\/p>\n
Xander had just exacerbated the problem rather than be of help in any way, butting heads with Spike, who retaliated by provoking him into anger. The vampire, in his characteristically abrupt fashion, had made no attempt to hide his anxiety over Buffy\u2019s condition. This had gained him no small measure of grief from Xander, who insisted on using his own worry as an excuse to remind Spike that nothing concerning Buffy was any of his business.<\/p>\n
Spike had nearly given into his rage, the pain caused by the chip not enough of a deterrent when faced with the young man\u2019s cutting words. Only Willow’s intervention by stepping between them had prevented an all-out fight.<\/p>\n
Buffy lay sprawled on the floor, a pillow under her head. Giles was very wary of moving her, and since there was really no place to lie down in the shop, he\u2019d made her as comfortable with what was available. The minutes ticked by slowly as everyone waited anxiously for the slayer to return from oblivion.<\/p>\n
So far, she had been unconscious for 45 minutes and everyone\u2019s nerves were frayed. Giles decided that they needed some activity to alleviate some of the tension. He stood and faced the room\u2019s occupants.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe aren\u2019t going to help Buffy at all by standing around like this. We need to figure out what happened to her. Let\u2019s go over what we know, shall we?\u201d He stared pointedly at the young people as they reluctantly gathered around him.<\/p>\n
Satisfied that the group was sufficiently attentive, Giles went into full-blown Watcher Mode. He picked up the stone sphere and grasped it carefully in his hand, holding it up so that everyone could examine it. \u201cI received this orb in the mail yesterday. The return address was in L.A.; I\u2019d assumed that the orb was from Wesley, but there was no note. I believe we should contact him immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow,\u201d he turned to the redhead, who raised concerned eyes to him immediately. \u201cI need you to do some research. Let\u2019s see if we can figure out what language is inscribed on the orb. Xander, please channel that aggression into something constructive and help her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander had the grace to nod briefly before making his way over to the redhead, avoiding any eye contact with the glowering vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m<\/i> not doing any research,\u201d Spike growled, heading Giles off before he could speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t expect you to,\u201d Giles said, his tone purposefully void of emotion. \u201cI wanted to ask if you\u2019d go on patrol. Buffy said that the number of threats lately has been higher than usual; and since she\u2019s not able to go out herself, you\u2019re the logical choice to take her place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike\u2019s eyes drifted down to Buffy\u2019s face, lingering on her peaceful features. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave her,\u201d he said, almost to himself.<\/p>\n
Giles looked over at Xander and Willow. Thankfully, they were immersed in research and hadn\u2019t heard Spike\u2019s comment. Moving closer to the anxious vampire, he spoke in low, soothing tones. \u201cSpike, while I don\u2019t approve of this attachment you have to Buffy, I do realize that your feelings of concern are genuine. But you won\u2019t be doing her any good by pacing around her. When she wakes up, I don\u2019t think she\u2019s going to appreciate you hovering over her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike hated it that the man was right, but he stalked out the door anyway, grabbing a vicious looking axe off the shelf, his duster flaring dramatically behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Anya yelled after him, her eyebrows coming together in a fierce scowl. \u201cThat\u2019s for sale, not for dismembering devil spawn!\u201d<\/p>\n
The slam of the front door and the resulting tinkle of the bell were her only answers.<\/p>\n
Anya huffed as she turned back into the room, only to find that everyone was staring back at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d she asked defensively. \u201cHe\u2019ll get it all gooey. And it\u2019s not like he ever thinks to clean up after himself. I\u2019ll be the one left to scrub that thing until it\u2019s fit for the showroom again. It\u2019s thirteenth century weaponry, not non-stick cookware.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rolling her eyes, Anya stalked back behind the cash register, popping it open and ruffling through the bills inside. \u201cMen are irresponsible and thoughtless,\u201d she muttered, shooting a pointed look at Xander, who quickly turned back to the ancient pages in front of him.<\/p>\n
L.A. \u2013 The Hyperion<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel paced in front of the couch where Cordelia lay, growling impatiently. He\u2019d insisted that Wesley at least attempt to revive Cordelia, and the Englishman had reluctantly brought some cold water and smelling salts. They\u2019d proven ineffective, and now they lay scattered across the room, having shattered against the wall they\u2019d hit when Angel had hurled them in frustrated anger. Nothing they\u2019d tried had worked, and Cordelia remained unconscious but at least stable. He glanced down again at her peaceful face; if she didn\u2019t wake up soon, someone was going to die.<\/p>\n
After Angel\u2019s violent display, Wesley had retreated into the office, intending to call Giles. He\u2019d not been gone more than a minute when all hell broke loose.<\/p>\n
One instant Cordelia lay peacefully still, the next her face scrunched up as if she were in pain. She tossed her head back and forth, moaning and saying, \u201cNo, stop!\u201d<\/p>\n
Frantic, Angel knelt at her side and placed his hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently. \u201cCordy, wake up. It\u2019s just a dream. Don\u2019t be scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s struggles only became more pronounced as Angel spoke to her, his fingers caressing her cheek as he tried to soothe her with his touch. Her hands came up and grasped his biceps, pushing against them. Her grip was quite painful.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, stop! Don\u2019t touch me. Get away from me!\u201d Cordelia groaned, her eyes still closed, her face contorted in fear and pain.<\/p>\n
Angel spoke louder, thinking that maybe the volume of his voice would wake her up. \u201cCordelia, wake up. It\u2019s just me, Angel. I\u2019m not going to hurt you. You\u2019re dreaming.\u201d<\/p>\n
His words caused Wesley to rush back into the room, the cordless phone clutched in his hand, forgotten. \u201cWhat\u2019s happening?\u201d he asked, feeling helpless as he watched the vampire struggle to subdue her.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s ability to control her flailing body was waning. He could feel her power growing, and it frightened him. Cordelia was not normally anywhere near this strong. \u201cShe\u2019s dreaming. She thinks I\u2019m trying to hurt her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you try\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO!!! Leave. Me. Alone!!\u201d Cordelia\u2019s scream broke into Wesley\u2019s suggestion. She shoved on Angel\u2019s arms, putting more space between them. Her eyes shot open, one knee coming up, her foot planted firmly against his torso. With one violent thrust, Cordelia sent Angel sprawling across the room, the force of the kick so hard that he slid on the floor for a few feet before he came to a halt.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my God,\u201d Wesley said breathlessly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can say that again,\u201d Angel groaned, his hand reaching up to gingerly examine his cracked ribs.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared up at Wesley, her eyes wide and clear as her coherence had returned. She was frightened by her own power. \u201cWhat did that freaky little bowling ball do to me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ignoring Cordelia\u2019s question, Angel raised himself awkwardly to his feet, keeping his distance from her for the time being.<\/p>\n
\u201cCall Giles, Wesley. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The watcher\u2019s eyes rested on the closed door of the Magic Box for some minutes after Spike exited. He knew there was something going on with Spike and Buffy, and truth be told, he wasn\u2019t at all surprised. Buffy had a weakness for vulnerability and darkness, and despite his tough exterior, Spike had both in spades.<\/p>\n
Not being surprised didn\u2019t keep him from worrying, though; Spike was relatively harmless now, but they had no way of knowing if he would be incapacitated forever. And chip or not, he still didn\u2019t have a soul.<\/p>\n
Buffy deserved better than that.<\/p>\n
The object of Giles\u2019 thoughts groaned softly behind him. He went quickly to her side, kneeling down and touching his hand to her cheek. Buffy\u2019s eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, then wide and clear when everything came flooding back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened, Giles?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re not quite sure, Buffy,\u201d Giles said, frustrated at not being able to explain her condition. \u201cWillow and Xander are working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you feel, Buff?\u201d Xander asked, having rushed over with Willow when they\u2019d seen she was awake.<\/p>\n
Buffy frowned and slowly raised herself to a sitting position. She groaned, clasping her hand on her forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay, I think. I feel kind of weak, like I\u2019ve been drained of my strength. It\u2019s totally weirding me out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles took charge, taking Buffy\u2019s hand and helping her to stand up. He led her to the table where Xander and Willow had been working. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you sit here and rest. If you feel up to it, Willow will get you a book to read. We\u2019re trying to figure out what language is inscribed on the object.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething tells me we have hours of fun ahead of us,\u201d Buffy sighed sarcastically, the sight of the books piled on the table increasing the volume of the marching band in her head.<\/p>\n
Pointing to a particularly thick volume, Buffy told Xander, \u201cPass me that one, Xan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander grabbed the book next to the one she\u2019d requested.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, the one with the bunny on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anya\u2019s eyes narrowed as she rushed over to them. \u201cWhere\u2019s the bunny?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s some kind of furry demon, not a bunny, honey,\u201d Xander said, his tone soothing his phobic girlfriend.<\/p>\n
\u201cBunny, honey. Heh, heh. You rhymed,\u201d Buffy giggled, pointing at Xander. \u201cYou\u2019re funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow looked at her strangely. \u201cMaybe you should just rest, Buffy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no,\u201d Buffy said, cracking open the Bunny Demon book. \u201cI\u2019m okay. Fine and dandy. Peachy keen. That\u2019s me.\u201d She said it in a sing-songy voice, the rhythm of her words matching the pulsating beat in her head. Somehow it alleviated the pain, weirdly enough.<\/p>\n
She finally looked up, noticing that everyone was scrutinizing her. \u201cWhat?\u201d she said, silence her only answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, so the jackhammer in my head isn\u2019t exactly making concentration easy. I know I\u2019m kinda loopy, but I\u2019m fine. Really.\u201d She said, her \u201cnormal Buffy\u201d face placating them somewhat.<\/p>\n
After a few minutes of heavy reading, Buffy slammed her book shut, jolting everyone else at the table. \u201cSomething tells me we aren\u2019t going to find anything very easily,\u201d she sighed, weariness lacing her tone.<\/p>\n
Sitting back in her chair, she looked around the room, noticing the absence of Dawn and Spike. Rarely was anything going on when they weren\u2019t at least there on the sidelines to watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s everybody else?\u201d Buffy asked, her thoughts mainly on the blonde vampire.<\/p>\n
Giles scrutinized her intently before answering. \u201cDawn is staying at a friend\u2019s. Being naturally upset by your condition, we thought it best. Spike is patrolling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Buffy said, trying not to sound too disappointed. She stared at the etching on the cover of the book in front of her, unable to concentrate. Why was it that Spike occupied so much of her mental time?<\/p>\n
Okay, so he was great in bed. Fantastic, even. And he was built. Those washboard abs, that ass . . . She shivered in remembrance, her palms beginning to sweat. But aside from the physical, what did he have going for him?<\/p>\n
Zip. Zilch. Nada.<\/p>\n
Not exactly a lot of items to add to the pro column. The cons, on the other hand, were numerous.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s a vampire; but so was Angel.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s annoying; but so is Anya.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s got a foul mouth; but so had she, lately!<\/p>\n
He doesn\u2019t have a soul.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what the real problem should be; but since Buffy felt like her own soul was AWOL, it didn\u2019t seem such a glaring lack as it should.<\/p>\n
Buffy was ripped from further contemplation by a sharp, shooting pain in her head, multiplying the force of her headache exponentially.<\/p>\n
Xander grabbed her arm as she teetered to the side, her hands grasping her head at the temples, groaning. Suddenly, everyone in the room was surrounding her, standing by helplessly as she twitched and spasmed in what almost looked like a seizure, mewling cries of pain escaping from her.<\/p>\n
Abruptly, her eyes cleared somewhat and she looked up at the sea of faces, searching for her watcher. \u201cOh, God, Giles,\u201d she whispered, the pain and dismay filling her face, tears streaking down her cheeks. \u201cNo, this can\u2019t be happening! There was so much fear, so much pain! S\/he\u2019ll die if we don\u2019t do something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Realizing that she must have had a premonition of some kind, Giles knelt carefully in front of her; placing his palms reassuringly over her knees. \u201cWhat did you see, Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get the words out, the shrill ring of the phone startled them all.<\/p>\n