Part 12<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia hummed under her breath as she locked her car, twirling the keys around in her hand as she enjoyed yet another day without the incapacitating vision pain that had become her life.<\/p>\n
The sun was shining, the birds were singing, it would have been a perfect day if it weren’t for the possible serial killer on the loose. Her steps stuttered to a stop as the awful images of Amy’s bloody and broken body skittered through her brain.<\/p>\n
Not my fault, she told herself, but something inside her whispered that that wasn’t entirely true. If she’d just let Angel go on his own, if they hadn’t argued, if, if, if….<\/p>\n
Shaking her head with a sigh, Cordelia strolled towards her apartment, forcing down the if’s to the same quiet place where she’d hidden the fact that she was dying. Hindsight may very well be 20\/20, but it wasn’t going to help them catch Daniel.<\/p>\n
And they would<\/i> catch him, they had<\/i> to, because if they didn’t….<\/p>\n
She couldn’t even bare to finish that thought.<\/p>\n
They’d catch Daniel and make him pay for the lives he’d torn apart. It was as simple as that.<\/p>\n
But first, Cordelia needed a shower.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yeah, I’ve got my priorities straight,\u201d the brunette murmured wryly as she walked through the small entryway to her apartment. Cordelia frowned when her apartment key refused to turn in the lock. She jiggled it, hoping some divine force would strike down from the heavens, magically triggering the mechanism into working.<\/p>\n
It didn’t, of course.<\/p>\n
\u201cDennis, it’s me,\u201d Cordelia whispered, her ear pressed to the door to see if she could hear any signs of unlife. She was greeted with nothing but silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuit playing around, Dennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
She tried to turn the key again, and failed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDennis, open the damn door!\u201d Cordelia hammered her fist against the door, an even thump thump thump that echoed between the walls as her patience quickly snapped like an old pair of shoelaces.<\/p>\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed and leant her forehead against the door, \u201cis this because I didn’t came home last night?\u201d she asked her ghostly protector quietly, \u201clook, we talked about this-\u201d The sentence skidded to a stop in Cordelia’s mouth as her foot brushed against something hidden in the deep shadow that cloaked the small entryway.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the…?\u201d she squinted at the blur of colour she could faintly make out and bent down to pick whatever it was up.<\/p>\n
Roses. Someone had left her roses.<\/p>\n
The smile that had threatened to light up her face died as she saw the dried, crusting blood that marred the sunshine yellow petals.<\/p>\n
\u201cEw!\u201d Cordelia exclaimed with disgust, throwing the parody of affection to the floor and wiping her hands on her pants.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of sicko would….\u201d<\/p>\n
A chill raced up and down her back, prickling goose bumps across her skin and making her stomach flip with dreadful understanding .<\/p>\n
….this guy knows you now, if things go wrong you’ll be the one he goes after, I’m not willing to take that risk….<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cDennis! Open the damn door!\u201d Cordelia banged both fists against the door, panic washing over her in stifling waves.<\/p>\n
The unmistakable scuff of footsteps sounded behind her, making Cordelia freeze like a deer caught in headlights.<\/p>\n
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Cordelia,\u201d the slick, oily voice she recognised from the stake out in the club was enough to confirm Angel’s fears.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel had tried to be civil, he really had. It just took too damn long.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, OK!\u201d Merle finally relented, his feet dangling impotently above the ground as Angel held him against the wall by his throat, \u201cI’ll tell ya what I know!\u201d<\/p>\n
The demon snitch didn’t even have time to blink before an enormous fist barrelled into his nose, forcing the back of his skull to collide painfully with the wall with a satisfying crack.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I’d tell ya!\u201d Merle groused, even more nasally than usual.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, habit,\u201d Angel shrugged a vague apology as he let Merle slip to the ground. He didn’t like Merle, there was just something about him that grated on the vampire’s nerves, and he sure as hell didn’t trust him. The only reason they came to Merle for information was because he was so low down on the food chain that he was able to crawl through life without being noticed.<\/p>\n
If you’re plotting the end of the world, are you going to worry about the ugly green demon stinking of Old Spice at the next table?<\/p>\n
Exactly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you broke my nose,\u201d muttered Merle as he gingerly fingered the mangled mess that was his face. Angel winced guiltily as the wet crack of broken bones being irritated resounded in disturbingly tidy apartment. But the guilt dissipated as Angel’s gaze fixed on a row of jars that sat atop a television that looked almost new. Each jar was adorned with a little white label, telling the world its content in suspiciously neat cursive.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby’s livers, Merle?\u201d the vampire growled with disgust as he picked one of the jars up, the small organ sloshed around in the clear fluid that contained it.<\/p>\n
\u201cA guy’s gotta pay the rent,\u201d Merle shrugged, wiping the back of his hand across his face defensively, \u201cwe can’t all be big gay crime fighting super heroes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby’s livers?\u201d said Angel, again, as though he couldn’t quite believe the snitch had sunk so low. \u201cTell me again why it is that I haven’t killed you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Merle took a nervous step back as Angel took a threatening step forward.<\/p>\n
\u201c’Cos of my sparkling personality and my infectious sense of humour?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMerle….\u201d Angel continued to stalk towards him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about because I know something you need to know?\u201d Merle said as his back bumped into a wall, he has nowhere else to crawl, so he may as well tell the big mosquito what he knew.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t have all day, Merle,\u201d growled Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d the snitch muttered under his breath as he spat out a thick glob of blood, \u201cso what am I gonna get in return with for tellin’ ya what I know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about, you tell me and I won’t push my fist through your brain?\u201d Angel raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms over his chest and stared the other demon down.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like a deal,\u201d Merle nodded. He patted his pockets, digging out a crumpled pack of cigarettes, he offered one to Angel who declined with an almost imperceptible shake of his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re lookin’ for the guy that made chutney out of those three pretty little girls, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel’s only reply was a long, hard, silent stare. The one he used on Cordelia when she tried to make him eat her cooking.<\/p>\n
Merle carried on regardless. \u201cRumour has it you were meant to be protecting the one that got her intestines wrapped around her neck last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire’s jaw twitched.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan’t save ’em all, huh?\u201d Merle sneered gleefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m gonna hang you by your own entrails, you pathetic excuse for a-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow’s that seer of yours?\u201d he cut off Angel’s threats of evisceration with five simple words.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Angel narrowed his eyes suspiciously.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty girl, that Cordelia. If ya like that kinda thing,\u201d Merle sniffed, dragging his sleeve across his still bleeding nose, \u201cthis guy you’re looking for? Likes ’em pretty and young, doesn’t care is they’ve got family, ain’t scared of nothing. Don’t know what kinda demon he is, heard he’s more human than demon, anyway,\u201d Merle rattled off what little information he had.<\/p>\n
He sucked deeply on his cigarette, his cheeks hollowing dramatically around the thin white stick as peels of blue smoke danced around him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat all you got?\u201d Angel asked, his words dripping with annoyance.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour girl’s real<\/i> pretty,\u201d Merle nodded absently, ignoring the vampire’s unwavering glare, waiting to see if the bloodsucker would ever put two and two together, \u201cneed to look after a tasty little treat like that, don’t know what might be in the lurking in the shadows, waitin’ to take a bite out of her….\u201d<\/p>\n
Merle didn’t see Angel move, but he must have because one moment he was a great hulking mass of undead and the next there was nothing but the sound of his heavy boots thundering down the apartment corridor.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn vampires,\u201d grumbled Merle as he slammed the door shut, triple bolting it, just in case.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
I’m going to die<\/i>, was the only thought that existed in Cordelia’s panic seized mind.<\/p>\n
A cold sweat of dread blanketed her body, she would have shivered if she weren’t so terrified.<\/p>\n
I. Am. Going. To. Die.<\/i><\/p>\n
Blood beat loudly in her ears, drowning out the birds song and distant thrum of traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere’ve you been? I was worried about you,\u201d Daniel crooned softly as he brushed a few stray strands of hair behind Cordelia’s ear. The brunette flinched at the contact, like his touch alone might contaminate her. Maybe it would.<\/p>\n
There was blood on his clothes, she noticed absently. Long splatters of red covered his pants like a macabre Jackson Pollock, crimson smears that stood out like a scream against the crisp cream chinos.<\/p>\n
Oh, shit<\/i>, Cordelia’s brain woke up at the same time her body remembered how to move. She jerked backwards, moving as far away from Daniel as she could, until her back was pressed desperately against her apartment door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s wrong, baby? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,\u201d Daniel frowned, stepping back into her personal space, his fingers, cold and as red as his pants, trailed along her jaw, his thumb tracing the curve of her bottom lip.<\/p>\n
Cordelia swallowed heavily, silently screaming at Dennis to open the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re so beautiful, Cordelia. Like the first flower of spring,\u201d he whispered wistfully, his breath, horrifyingly peppermint fresh, licked over her cheek.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shuddered with revulsion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere were you all night, Cordelia? Where were you? Tell me baby, we shouldn’t keep secrets,\u201d Daniel pressed his clean shaven cheek against Cordelia’s, \u201cwhy’s you’re heart beating so fast? What’s wrong, tell me,\u201d he brushed the tip of his nose across the slope of her cheekbone, inhaling her scent.<\/p>\n
Cordelia’s heart dropped to her stomach when she felt him stiffen with tension against her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stink of another man,\u201d Daniel snarled, tender words so quickly replaced with the back of a hand crashing across Cordelia’s face. Her head snapped to the side, pain lancing through her jaw as a supernova of lights burst behind her eyelids.<\/p>\n
\u201cFucking whore,\u201d her attacker grunted, shoving her roughly until Cordelia stumbled to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201c-trusted you, all the same, spread your legs for anyone, you bitch, you fucking bitch<\/i>, would have given you anything-\u201d Cordelia watched the man that had torn Amy to pieces pace like a mad man in front of her. He looked no different from the night they’d met at the club, bland and uninteresting, the kind of man you’d pass in the street and wouldn’t look twice at. Short, cropped light brown hair. A beaky nose. Thin, uninteresting lips. Eyes…his eyes weren’t…right<\/i>.<\/p>\n
\u201c-did you think I wouldn’t find out? Wouldn’t smell<\/i> it on you, wouldn’t smell him<\/i> on you? I’m gonna tear him apart-\u201d Daniel continued to mutter and pace.<\/p>\n
Slowly, so slowly that she wasn’t even sure she was moving, Cordelia edged up off the floor, the pebbly wall scraped against her shoulder-blades and gave her something to think about that wasn’t the maniac in front of her.<\/p>\n
I am NOT going to die,<\/i> her brain informed her forcefully.<\/p>\n
Adrenaline coursed through her body like a wild fire, sparking movement into her nerves, the sharp crackle of determination that had kept her alive whilst growing up on the mouth of hell.<\/p>\n
Get up, get up, get up!<\/i> Cordelia’s body screamed, run, get to the car, just get to the damn car!<\/i><\/p>\n
The only problem with her body’s plan was the killer in front of her. She needed a weapon, something big and fatal, like, say, a broad sword.<\/p>\n
But Cordelia wasn’t in the habit of carrying a handy broad sword around with her everywhere she went. All she had were the keys in her hand and her purse.
\nCordelia’s eyes widened. Of course! Her purse! And inside her purse was the thing that would get her out of this!<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, psycho boy!\u201d Cordelia shouted before she could think better of it, Daniel’s attention snapped to her like a bolt of lightening.<\/p>\n
She watched, like an outsider to the scene, as he turned and began to stalk towards her, mouth twisted and ready to spit vitriol.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stood up, shoulders straight, chin raised and plunged her hand into her purse.<\/p>\n
She was Cordelia Chase, dammit, and she wasn’t<\/i> going to die.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The atmosphere in the Hyperion lobby was quietly subdued, the only noise to be heard were the soft swish of pages being turned and the occasional whispered thought.<\/p>\n
Wesley sat the counter, hands cradling his head as he poured over the large tome in front of him. His hair had the kind of messed up quality that came with a sleepless night and too much strong coffee, like he’d pulled his hand through it too many times. The way Gunn had once said he liked.<\/p>\n
Lorne was stretched casually on one of the small red sofas while he read. At his feet sat Fred, glasses occasionally slipping down her nose as she devoured the world of words in her book.<\/p>\n
While they looked like the very picture of single minded concentration, the truth was they were getting nowhere with the research.<\/p>\n
And getting nowhere slowly.<\/p>\n
The Physicist grunted with annoyance as she reread the same paragraph about the mucus and mating habits of Fyarl demons. She didn’t need to know this, so why was she reading it? Her neck was starting to cramp and her eyes were hurting, she also had the feeling that Wesley was just pretending to read and was actually asleep.<\/p>\n
The tension, and slight paranoia, seeped out of her body as a familiar hand settled at the base of her neck. Long, elegantly masculine fingers kneaded the tight muscles until they were soft beneath his fingers. Fred tilted her head back and smiled her thanks to Lorne.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re welcome,\u201d he whispered, so as not to break the heavy silence, and leant forward to press a quick kiss on her forehead. Fred felt something warm and wonderful spread through her chest, making her want to jump up and dance like a fool.<\/p>\n
It was a feeling she was becoming addicted to.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wanna rent movie tonight?\u201d Lorne asked her, running a hand through the thick waves of Fred’s chestnut hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we make popcorn and order pizza and-\u201d<\/p>\n
The basement door crashed open with a dangerous thud, making the inhabitants of the lobby jump in their seats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is she?!\u201d Angel bellowed as he strode towards the office, cell phone pressed tightly to his ear.<\/p>\n
\u201cEr, who?\u201d Wesley asked, unsure if it were he that Angel was shouting at or some unfortunate person on the other end of the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe’s not answering her phone, why isn’t she answering her phone?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know who-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia!\u201d Angel snapped his best friends name as though they should have known without having to ask. He cursed under his breath when Cordelia’s answer phone picked up once again, snapping the phone shut like it was responsible for all this.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe went back to her apartment, remember?\u201d Fred frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, what’s going on?\u201d Wesley joined the vampire, who’d thrown open that doors of the weapons cabinet like he was about to go to war.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s gonna go after Cordelia,\u201d Angel growled as he snatched an axe and a sword out of the cabinet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho….Daniel?\u201d Fred felt her stomach fall to her knees as she scramble from the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Christ,\u201d the Englishman grunted, picking out his own weapon of choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere’s Gunn?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s not back from talking with his source yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShit. Fred, bring the car round the front, park in the shade,\u201d Angel threw the Plymouth’s keys at the Texan, who caught them with ease, \u201cLorne, keep trying Cordy’s number, maybe she’s in the shower and can’t hear the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne nodded without comment, the vampire’s deep set scowl and twitching jaw spoke silent volumes about his state of mind. He wasn’t a demon to mess this at the best of times, but if Cordelia was in danger then it was best to duck and cover until enough blood had been shed to quell Angel’s anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he hurts her….\u201d Angel let the sentence fall away through gritted teeth. They all knew what would happen if Cordelia was hurt.<\/p>\n
Fred was the only one that noticed the front door swing open. Her shoulders sagged with a relief so palpable she could almost taste it.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys!\u201d Fred called over her shoulder.<\/p>\n
One by one, Angel, Wesley and Lorne turned their attention to the fifth person in the room.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stood, the sleeve of her blouse ripped, broken shoe in hand, purpling bruise marring the left side of her face.<\/p>\n
She swatted her hair out of her face, like she was shooing away mosquitoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe so<\/i> have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia stood up, shoulders straight, chin raised and plunged her hand into her purse.<\/p>\n
She was Cordelia Chase, dammit, and she *wasn’t* going to die.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have given you everything!\u201d spat Daniel as he lurched ever closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, but no thanks,\u201d Cordelia smiled her head cheerleader smile, then sprayed an entire can of mace into his eyes. Daniel roared with pain and dropped to his knees, thin, pianist fingers clawed at his eyes, trying to gouge out the irritant.<\/p>\n
Faster than she realized she could ever move, Cordelia ran. Her heart was lodged firmly in her throat as she dashed out of the apartment block, keys clasped so firmly in her hand she was sure they would leave their mark on her.<\/p>\n
*Run, run, run, don’t look back, just keep-*<\/p>\n
Cordelia yelped as she was tugged backwards sharply by her hair, she stumbled, scrabbled to get away, but his grip was strong, too strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re not going anywhere,\u201d Daniel hissed into her ear. Cordelia tried to jerk out of his grip, but it only caused her sleeve to tear at the seems where his free hand held her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I really am,\u201d Cordelia gritted her teeth against the stinging pain in her scalp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t think so, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, think again, *baby*,\u201d in a move that no one had taught her but herself, Cordelia snapped her leg up behind her, firmly imbedding the heel of her shoe into Daniel’s groin….<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then he dropped to the ground, wailing like a great big baby woman while I got in the car and broke every speed limit in the State,\u201d Cordelia finished, slumped slightly on one of the lobby’s sofas.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you OK?\u201d asked Wesley as he handed Cordelia an ice pack for her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I look<\/i> OK?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not particularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s your answer, then,\u201d she muttered, exhaustion bleeding through her body like a drug.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is bad,\u201d Fred chewed her bottom lip, \u201cthis is really<\/i> bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I kinda figured that out when I was running for my life<\/i>!\u201d Cordelia snapped, causing the Texan to flinch like she’d been slapped.<\/p>\n
A tense silence swept over the lobby like a poisoned gas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn’t Fred’s fault,\u201d Angel murmured from where he was sitting next to Cordelia, holding the ice pack gently against her face.<\/p>\n
They were the first words the vampire had spoken since Cordelia had stepped into the lobby.<\/p>\n
It wasn’t Cordelia’s fault, none of this was.<\/p>\n
It was Angel’s. He should never have agreed to use her as bait, he shouldn’t have let her come with him the night Amy died, he shouldn’t have-<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s not your fault either, Angel,\u201d Cordelia said gently, reading the thoughts that were so clearly etched across his face. She laced her fingers through his, squeezing his hand tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’ll pay for this,\u201d Angel swore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d she nodded, unable to hide the wince that contorted her face as the movement irritated her aching scalp.<\/p>\n
Angel put the ice pack down and ran his fingers through Cordelia’s hair, checking her head for bumps and cuts. He found none, but continued to trail his hands through the messy brown locks.<\/p>\n
Angel had to keep touching her, had to make sure she was really here and relatively unhurt. Cordelia let her eyes slip shut and leant her head back against the comfort her best friend gave, concentrating on his touch rather than the what ifs that demanded to run through her brain.<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed.<\/p>\n
Angel was really good at this comfort thing….<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d Wesley coughed, feeling as though he were intruding on an intimate moment, which he didn’t like, at all. Angel and Cordelia shifted away from each other as though they’d been caught doing something wrong, which made the Englishman feel slightly more at ease.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I suggest you and I go to Cordelia’s apartment, he’s probably still in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight,\u201d Angel nodded, \u201cwe can grab a few things for Cordy too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a minute-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what if he turns up here when you and Wes are gone?\u201d Fred unknowingly cut Cordelia’s protest off, \u201cI mean, he could, right? He knew where she lived, he’s probably gonna know where she works.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, what do you mean lived<\/i>-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKitten’s right,\u201d Lorne backed up Fred, \u201cnot that I’m not up for protecting the women folk all by lonesome, but if Ted Bundy junior shows up all slash happy, I doubt my noodle arms are going to be of much help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don’t have noodle arms,\u201d Fred frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, but you’re biased,\u201d he winked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ll page Gunn, and then he can stop here with the girls while Angel and I check out Cordy’s apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWorks for me, although I do<\/i> take offence at being labelled as one of the girls,\u201d Lorne sniffed theatrically.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Cordelia stood up, tired of being talked about as if she weren’t there. \u201cWould someone like to tell me why<\/i> I’m having a bag packed for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re not<\/i> going back to your apartment,\u201d Angel read her mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd where else am I meant to live?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked at Angel slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I don’t think so,\u201d she shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d Angel frowned, she couldn’t honestly think her apartment was safe, could she?<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause…because<\/i>….\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed. \u201cAngel, can I speak to you in private, please?\u201d Before he could respond, Cordelia dragged him manually from the lobby and into the office, kicking the door shut behind them with a slam.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the dumbest idea you have ever<\/i> had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel blinked. \u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUs living together is not part of the plan!\u201d she hissed, flailing her arms around with every word. Angel shuffled away so as not to be hit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur little…arrangement<\/i>? Remember? Staying the night was bad enough, but actually living<\/i> together? Nuh huh, I don’t think so. That way will only lead to badness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel watched Cordelia pace the short width of the office, she bobbed up and down without one of her shoes on, it would have been an amusing sight if Angel weren’t so angry.<\/p>\n
Which he was.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, shut up and sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n
The brunette froze in her pacing, she whirled around, fully intending to let loose on the vampire for talking to her like that, but the look on Angel’s face made the retorts dry up and die in her mouth. She dropped down into one of the office seats like a sack of potatoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis plan you keep talking about? It doesn’t exist,\u201d Angel held up his hand to silence her when he saw Cordelia about to argue.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it also doesn’t matter. You’re not<\/i> going back to your apartment, Cordy. Not until this guy is dead. It’s not like we’ll be sharing a room, there are dozens of bedrooms to choose from. Where else are you gonna go? Do you really want to bunk up with Gunn or Wes? Those two are imploding right now, I can smell the misery on them. Lorne? All that colour will give you a headache. No. You’re staying here. Deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel crossed his arms over his chest. He would not be swayed.<\/p>\n
Cordelia swallowed and, to the vampire’s horror, buried her face in her hands as she began to cry.<\/p>\n
For a horrible second Angel didn’t know what to do. Cordelia never<\/i> cried, she just…didn’t<\/i>. She was the strong one, the one that kept them all together. She laughed and bitched and whined but she never cried<\/i>. But, now, she was. Cordelia was crying, crumpled in on herself, sobbing into her hands like a lost child.<\/p>\n
Snapping himself out of his shock, Angel was kneeling in front of Cordelia in a non-existent heartbeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d he whispered, \u201cI’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry, you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to, we’ll figure something else out,\u201d Angel desperately trying to stop her sobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was at my home<\/i>,\u201d Cordelia whispered hoarsely, letting her hands fall into her lap as the tears still streamed down her cheeks.<\/p>\n
Her hands were shaking, Angel noticed. In fact, all of Cordelia was shaking, like she was cold. Or in shock.<\/p>\n
Angel swallowed her small hands in one of his.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did he know where I lived? How did he know so quickly, Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know,\u201d the vampire answered quietly, cupping the side of Cordelia’s face with his free hand, careful not to irritate the angry bruise.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t understand any of this,\u201d Cordelia shook her head, \u201cwhy wouldn’t Dennis let me open the door? It doesn’t make sense. Daniel was waiting for me, at my home, my home<\/i>, Angel. I don’t….\u201d\u00a0 Angel listened as her words trailed off to nowhere. When her hazel eyes finally met his, the vampire decided he was going to cut Daniel to shreds before he killed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made me scared, really damn scared,\u201d Cordelia admitted.<\/p>\n
Angel didn’t care about plans or uncrossable lines. He didn’t care about what Wesley and the others might think. Angel didn’t care about anything else but the fear he saw in Cordelia’s eyes, and making sure that it would never have the chance to live there again.<\/p>\n
Threading his hand through her hair, Angel pulled Cordelia to him, pressing a kiss that meant more than he realized against her forehead. He held Cordelia, her head tucked into the crook of his neck, her heart beating against his chest.<\/p>\n
Slowly, Cordelia’s sobs eased to a shudder and then to a final, wet sniff. Angel crooked his fingers under her chin and wiped her tears away with the sleeve of his sweater.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, I didn’t mean to fall apart all over you,\u201d Cordelia smiled weakly, embarrassment clouding her eyes as she struggled to regain her composure, searching desperately for her mask of Queen C just as she always did during times like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cS’OK, we all need to fall apart every now and then,\u201d Angel shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess,\u201d Cordelia breathed deeply, fully intending on pulling out of Angel’s embrace but actually burrowing closer into the vampire’s side.<\/p>\n
The office clock ticked the seconds away and Angel wanted to smash it beneath his boots just so the moment would never end.<\/p>\n
\u201cI broke my shoe,\u201d the young woman sighed, her head resting on Angel’s shoulder as she dangled the strappy sandals from her index finger.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tripped up the steps in the courtyard,\u201d Cordelia admitted with a self deprecating snort. Angel hid his smile in the crown of her hair, tightening his arms around her as though she were a precious jewel.<\/p>\n
To hell with the damn plan.<\/p>\n