Part 11<\/b><\/p>\n
Wesley sat at the table nibbling his toast and sipping his freshly brewed tea as he scanned the age worn text for a spell that would protect a vampire\u2019s dwelling. His chafed legs feeling much better since changing into the cotton slacks he had discovered inside his valise. \u201cHmmm\u2026no.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel had been anxiously pacing back and forth in front of the sofa for the past hour waiting for the irritatingly thorough bookworm to complete his task. \u201cYou pretty much know hmmm is gonna be followed by no.\u201d Angel sniped mid pace.<\/p>\n
The arrival of Cordelia and the threat of Bane had opened Angel\u2019s eyes to a very serious issue in their relationship. This was his home and if this would one day be Cordelia\u2019s home, Angel had to make sure she would be safe from the array of demons that was sure to intrude on their lives. So far, Wesley had not been able to locate a spell designed to protect a demon\u2019s home from other demons.<\/p>\n
The smart thing to do would be to take Cordelia to her apartment. The irritating ex-watcher had already suggested that very idea twice to the stubborn vampire. Angel did not intend to argue with himself that he was in fact stubborn, selfish and maybe just a tad egotistical. He wanted Cordelia safe here, in his home. He wanted this to be Cordelia\u2019s home even if he had to settle for home away from home for the time being.<\/p>\n
Cordelia has been comfortably stretched out on the sofa filing her nails and trying to ignore the annoying vampire and his even more annoying nonstop pacing. \u201cGees, will you relax Angel, you\u2019re really beginning to get on my nerves with all that pacing. Besides Wesley can probably think better now that he\u2019s wearing his comfy and loose cotton trousers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s suggestion that they simply take her home before continuing their search for the evil Darcy Bane had made Cordelia inwardly give herself a hard smack on the head. Frightened by the evil vampire\u2019s call, she had forgotten that he couldn\u2019t come in without an invitation. So she had no one to blame but herself. In a moment of panic she ran straight to the one person she knew would protect her. And now that she was here, the thickheaded, overprotective vampire wouldn\u2019t let her leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell if someone wasn\u2019t taking up the entire couch I would sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPfft. You\u2019ve got a big ole leather chair in the next room, sit your fat butt on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alarmed by her straightforward and rude comment, Angel twisted his upper body around so that he could view his backside. \u201cYou think I\u2019m fat?\u201d Angel almost squeaked in panic.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly your butt.\u201d Angel quickly cupped his butt cheeks checking for extra baggage. \u201cYou are so easy. Maybe you were a girl in a past life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was human in a past life. A very male<\/b> human.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot in those pants you weren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel leaned down resting one hand on the back of the sofa and the other on the sofa arm that supported Cordelia\u2019s head. He hovered over her face just close enough that his whispered words could force a cool breath against her pouty lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of fat butts, maybe yours needs to be spanked.\u201d Brushing his parted lips against her mouth, his tongue snaked out for a quick taste.<\/p>\n
By the time Cordelia could inhale a nervous breath, his looming presence was gone. \u201cMy butt\u2019s not fat and where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo change.\u201d Angel growled before slamming the door to his bedroom. Even though he was angry over Cordelia\u2019s remarks about his leather pants and his obviously huge ass, it at least gave Angel a few minutes alone to gather his thoughts.<\/p>\n
Angel knew he should follow Wesley\u2019s advice and take Cordelia home. But he had already admitted that he was selfish. They couldn\u2019t have a real relationship if Cordelia would never be safe here without him. And while he had the watcher\u2019s knowledge of spell casting available, Angel was determined to make use of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYep so easy you can hardly call it a challenge.\u201d Cordelia was relieved to have a few minutes away from Angel.<\/p>\n
His pacing and unexplained obsession with Wesley being able to cast an uninvite spell on the apartment was freaking her out. And she was already freaked out more than she was letting on. Cordelia already had a possessive psycho vamp in her life and now an evil psycho vamp that wanted to rip out her heart was being added to the mix.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter?\u201d Angel asked as he returned to find Cordelia still slouching on the sofa.<\/p>\n
Cordelia smiled as she looked at Angel dressed in his trademark black on black and not a smidgen of Angelus panache in sight. \u201cAh, there\u2019s my big, strong, broody hero.\u201d<\/p>\n
It only took a morsel of flattery from Cordelia to reduce Angel to a bashful, lovesick schoolboy. \u201cHero huh. Hey Cordy, maybe after\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEureka!\u201d Wesley shouted from the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a new word. Doesn\u2019t sound like a word that would be followed by a no either.\u201d Cordelia smiled at Angel knowing he would likely pounce with a barrage of questions as Wesley joined them from the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a spell, quite old actually; it was used to protect one\u2019s guests when the master of the house was away. Perhaps it will work in this instance. Cordelia is a guest here and you do plan on being away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat.\u201d Angel\u2019s reply was direct and simple, impatient for Wesley to step up his pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a small catch.\u201d Wesley hesitantly added under Angel\u2019s anxious expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways is.\u201d Cordelia snipped, having no concern for the sarcasm in her tone. \u201cGo ahead Wesley; read us the big bad off the warning label that\u2019s sure to bite me on the butt after Angel ignores it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh yes, well it seems with the limited travel options, guests might stay with a particular friend or relative for months at a time. It would only be natural for them to grow accustomed to the place and began to, as one might say, feel as though it was home away from home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Home away from home; that\u2019s perfect.<\/i> \u201cWhat are you getting at Wesley?\u201d Angel questioned, twitching his hands in a motion for Wesley to continue with his explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems that in order for this particular spell to be effective Cordelia must regard this dwelling as her home or at least her home away from home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, sounds good; let\u2019s try it.\u201d Angel instructed as Cordelia rolled her eyes at Wesley in an I told you so fashion.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright then Angel, you need to remove your presence so you won\u2019t be included as an occupant. Since the upper level will not be protected by the spell, it should be sufficient for you to wait in your private office. Keep the door to the stairs closed until I call out for you to attempt to enter the apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel bounded up the stairs, the door slamming shut behind his exit. \u201cAlright Cordelia just make yourself comfortable and\u2026ah\u2026think homey thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia settled herself on the sofa, this time curling herself into the corner with her knees pulled tight against her chest.<\/p>\n
Have homey thoughts. Is this home? Angel didn\u2019t even ask me if I felt like this was home. Did he just assume if I were told to, I would follow orders? He didn\u2019t treat Buffy this way. But of course, Buffy could kick his ass. Maybe he likes having me around because he can be in charge. He never got to be in charge when Buffy was around. Crap Chase you\u2019re not exactly having the positive, homey thoughts; are you? And Wesley\u2019s already started the spell. Must have because I\u2019m hearing all that mumbo-jumbo pig Latin.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThere, that should do it. Angel see if you can come downstairs without Cordelia inviting you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The door slowly opened with a long squeak. They listened to the sound of Angel\u2019s footsteps moving closer and closer as his heavy boots hit each wooden rung. Stepping into the apartment without any interference Angel continued his slow walk to the sofa, towering over the infuriating girl.<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked up in shock at the angry and disappointed face. \u201cDon\u2019t look at me Angel. Mr. Spell-caster is over there. He must have done it wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so Cordelia. Perhaps the spell simply will not work here. Angel we need to move on to more pressing matters. If Bane isn\u2019t stopped\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you think I know that Wesley! I know what Bane is capable of, after all I taught him; didn\u2019t I?\u201d Angel backed away from the sofa, rubbing his hands over his tired and tense face. \u201cWesley, give us a minute. Go have some more tea and toast.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel we nee\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne minute Wesley. OK?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well Angel.\u201d Wesley left for the kitchen wandering if perhaps Darcy Bane wasn\u2019t their most urgent problem.<\/p>\n
Angel reached down and grabbed Cordelia\u2019s arm, pulling her from the sofa. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo where?\u201d Cordelia shrieked as Angel proceeded to drag her toward the bedroom. \u201cAngel, I don\u2019t think now is the time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHush\u2026and sit down.\u201d Angel ordered in a harsh whisper as he pushed her into a seated position on the edge of the bed before kneeling in front of her. \u201cCordy look at me.\u201d His tone softer now but every bit as commanding. \u201cDon\u2019t you think of this as your home? Don\u2019t you feel safe and\u2026wanted here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I feel safe here Angel. It\u2019s the first place I came running to when the evil vamp called.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what is it?\u201d The commanding tone now almost completely eclipsed by the desperate rasp in his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2026maybe it just happened too fast. Wesley said have homey thoughts. You just assumed the homey thoughts would come pouring in. It just happened too fast. Everything is happening so fast Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know baby. A lot has happened in the last few days.\u201d Angel released his grip from Cordelia\u2019s arms and cupped her face. \u201cCordy I meant everything I said to you this morning. We are linked. I know we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Angel that\u2019s because of the visions. The PTB know I won\u2019t be as strong as Doyle and they probably\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Cordy. They couldn\u2019t cause what happened between us. That was just us. I\u2019ve been trying to tell you that for days. Everything that\u2019s happened has been between us and only us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley listened from the kitchen between sips of his now lukewarm tea. The coupled tones resonated through the closed door in a mixture of apprehension and desperation.<\/p>\n
So this relationship is rather new. Perhaps only days old. Well then, Miss Summers may not yet know. Should I be fortunate enough to survive my encounter with Darcy Bane, I may get to enjoy her reaction after all. Quite snotty girl really.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAlright Angel. But I think Wesley\u2019s right. We have to concentrate on stopping this Bane guy, then we\u2019ll talk; OK?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Cordy you\u2019re not safe here. We have to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen take me home, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Angel questioned in disbelief as her words spoken with confidence and clarity echoed inside his head<\/p>\n
\u201cTake me home. Then you and Wesley can do the hero stuff without having to be worried about me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel had been jerked back and forth from fantasy to reality too many times to count in the past few days. This current slap in the face of cold reality was one too many and he was in no mood for turning the other cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. You want to go home. I\u2019ll take you home. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel\u2026\u201d The impact of his words angry and harsh and full of disappointment, Cordelia beckoned him to wait but fell silent realizing matters of the heart had to be set aside and dealt with later.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You\u2019re right. Wesley\u2019s right. We\u2019ve wasted enough time on this. My priority should be stopping Bane. It\u2019s time I remembered that. Get your things so we can go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leaving the bedroom, Angel walked over to the cabinet on the far wall that housed his weapons collection. \u201cWesley do you have a weapon preference for demon extermination?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have my crossbow and stakes.\u201d Eyeing the available choices in Angel\u2019s superior collection, Wesley decided one more wouldn\u2019t hurt. \u201cPerhaps that Dagesse Sword.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel tossed the centuries old sword to his temporary partner. \u201cGood eye Wes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia watched as Angel readied for battle, his face somber and bare of emotion. The eyes that had allowed her to see his soul closed off, empty except for the intense concentration of his purpose. Angel attached a wrist sheathe to each arm before loading them with well-sharpened stakes. Both men strapped large knives to their ankles, the razor-sharp edges glistening even under the sallow basement level light.<\/p>\n
Slipping on his coat, Angel eyed the ex-watcher for signs of weakness. Seeing none, Angel pushed down his surprise as he slid his favorite broad sword from its leather case, whipping it with perfected skill to its place inside his coat.<\/p>\n
His eyes focused on nothing, Angel turned toward the stairs. \u201cLet\u2019s get this over with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silent comrades fell in place behind his lead. Reaching the stairs, Wesley stepped aside for Cordelia to follow Angel up first. The warmth in his fleeting glance gave her hope at least one of them understood.<\/p>\n