Act Five<\/b><\/p>\n
Scene 1<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
The moth was taunting him. It buzzed and dove around his head, grazing cold skin covered in shadows but never lingering long. The need for the life-giving light and heat of the lamp was too strong. Scraping its hungry wings against it, the creature was repelled by the scorching warmth it yearned for and flung back into the icy depths of darkness where he stood. Over and over again, the sad dance of the moth to the flame was playing out in the corridor outside the apartment.<\/p>\n
And here he was, the virtual human embodiment of that tragic tango. Mothman desperately winging his way to the light and heat of his flame praying he wouldn’t be burned this time. Trusting that this time the sun he flittered toward would welcome and consume him instead of thrusting him back into the black gloom.<\/p>\n
He was prepared. Angel had asked the others if he could have some time alone with Cordy tonight. They had understood and perhaps were a little relieved, appearing worn to the bone after all the stress and carnage of the day. So he had taken Wesley back to the office for his car, picked up what he needed from his wall safe, and had just said goodnight to Lorne and Fred at her car. Now all he needed was to somehow get into this stranger’s apartment, and he hoped he had the answer in his hand.<\/p>\n
He knocked. Nervously tapping his leg with his twitching hand, he waited but got no response. He knocked again, longer and louder. The eerie silence was broken by what sounded like glass shattering, a muffled scream and then someone stumbling toward him. The door flung inward and Angel was transfixed by the sight.
\nBefore him stood, he assumed, the current tenant. To say the man was disheveled was too kind. He was a mess physically and by the wild, tormented look in his eyes, mentally as well. Angel had seen those eyes many times as the Scourge of Europe, so he recognized the fear in them as well as the smell of it oozing from his pores. If the rest of the image hadn’t been so comical he might have been growling and vamping out to enjoy the sensation fully. But he could only smile knowing what was obviously happening here.<\/p>\n
The man’s arm had pierced a lampshade that was still attached to his bruised limb just above the elbow. There was a page of the LA Times stuck to the sweat of his neck. Covering his head and dripping down over his eyes was the entire contents of a very large mayonnaise jar. If the smell hadn’t confirmed it, the part of the jar with the Kraft label was perched on top of his head for easy identification. And what good is a condiment without the meaty goodness of bologna, chunks of which were sticking out of his ears and, oh god, his navel.<\/p>\n
The rest of his body appeared to have been processed on the frappe setting. His pants and shirt were basically just shreds and his feet were tangled in several\u2026well many\u2026electrical cords, which explained the stumbling earlier. And Angel could pretty much guarantee part of that was also caused by the rest of that lamp that was attached to one of the cords he was currently dragging behind him.<\/p>\n
And yet he somehow managed to be oblivious to his appearance. He held his head high and asked Angel in a civil tone, “Can I help you?”<\/p>\n
Angel watched the coup de gr\u00e2ce when one of the moths from the hall landed in the mayonnaise and got stuck. He couldn’t help it, he giggled. When the man cleared his throat in impatience and displeasure at the laughter, Angel tried to regain his composure.<\/p>\n
“Uh, yes, you can help me. I need to borrow your apartment for, oh say, forever.”<\/p>\n
“And why on earth would I do that?” The man looked at him like he was crazy, and Angel thought it hilarious considering it was coming from the-crazy-on-the-other-foot man wanting to stay in this haunted torture chamber.<\/p>\n
“Well, in addition to not dying, you might find $20,000 a good enough reason.” Angel opened the briefcase he was carrying to flash him the crisp packets. Angel saw ‘condo down payment’ flash behind the mayo drenched eyes.<\/p>\n
The beleaguered former renter didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the case from Angel, said, “Welcome to your new home,” and exited running.<\/p>\n
Angel cautiously crossed the threshold hoping Dennis would be kind to the new boarder and interloper in his dead life.<\/p>\n
Scene 2<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSee I told you he\u2019d get rid of that idiot.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Dennis pffted. \u201cI was doing just fine. I had him on the ropes. He was just about to scream for his mommy.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you\u2019re the man, Dennis,\u201d<\/i> Cordy appeased.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat man? Your man?\u201d<\/i> Dennis swirled around the room causing a slight tornado of debris in hopeful excitement.<\/p>\n
The sudden whirl of papers, shards and sharp objects around Angel halted his advance into the living room. \u201cHi, Dennis. Nice work with the haunting. I\u2019m betting a certain former cheerleader may have helped a little, huh?\u201d Considering the state of the room before him, Angel thought it wise to sooth the pissed off spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cDennis, stop it. You\u2019re scaring the vampire. And, no not my man. The man. Ya know. The big Kahuna. The real cool cat. The cat\u2019s meow. Any of this workin\u2019 for ya?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose he\u2019s your man. I still don\u2019t think he\u2019s good enough for you.\u201d<\/i> With that he launched a thankfully abridged Webster\u2019s Dictionary at Angel\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
Angel put his arm up to deflect it. \u201cOkay, Dennis. I get that you don\u2019t like me very much. But I did help you with your tenant problem, so maybe you could help me a little? May I please talk to Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDennis. Stop showing off. I know you could dust him with one flick of a wooden spoon. But he\u2019s really trying to be nice, and I need to talk to him.\u201d<\/i>Cordy imagined her head tilted forward, her eyes peaking out and her lower lip pushed out in her favorite pouting pose.<\/p>\n
When there was no movement of any kind to his request, Angel upped the ante. \u201cDennis, if you help me talk to Cordy, I\u2019ll make sure that no matter where Cordy wants to live we\u2019ll find a way for you to be with her. In fact, if she wants to live at the hotel, you\u2019ll even have friends. I know quite a few people had untimely deaths there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee? I told you I wouldn\u2019t leave you, and Angel\u2019s got some pretty powerful people working for him now. He can do it. C\u2019mon Dennis. Do it for me.\u201d<\/i>She consciously fluttered her eye lashes and flashed him the big smile.<\/p>\n
Dennis humphed but relented. \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll do it for you. But I don\u2019t trust him and if he tries anything funny, I\u2019ll pull out the Ticonderogas and write his future in his dust.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel felt something nudging his legs and turned to see one of the armchairs had been positioned behind him. He sat and the coffee table moved in front of him. A pad of paper and pen moved from the floor and landed on the table. Dennis began to write.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Angel. It\u2019s me. Birkenstocks? Who knew the key to bringing someone out of a coma was really ugly earth shoes?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel laughed. She was really here. He felt a phantom pounding in his chest and his palms felt clammy. \u201cHi, Cordy. I can\u2019t believe you\u2019re here. I\u2019ve missed you so much. How are you?\u201d He suddenly felt pretty stupid talking to a pad of paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling pretty non-solid right now. Did you save the little girl? Are you hurt? Is everyone okay?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, slow down. We\u2019ve got all night. The girl\u2019s fine. Fred got a little slashed up, but she\u2019ll be fine. I\u2019m…well…I\u2019ve had worse impalings. That time with Spike and the torture vamp springs to mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss bandaging you. Pretty silly, huh?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel smiled and relaxed into the chair. The memories of her warm hands on his skin after a battle filled him with contentment. \u201cMmmm. I miss that, too. The Wolfram & Hart medics don\u2019t have your soft touch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince you brought it up, how\u2019s working for the enemy panning out? Is it everything you dreamed an evil law firm would be?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He flinched and sighed. \u201cCordy, that\u2019s a long conversation which I\u2019d rather have with you face to face. Can we not do it now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019d rather see my face and hear the tone of my voice when you try rationalizing this mess to me, then we can wait.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI get how this might be easier on me if we do it now, but I don\u2019t want to fight with you. Please. I just want to be with you and talk about getting you back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. We\u2019ll wait. But trust me it won\u2019t be long mister. So how are we getting me back? Is a Ouija board involved because those things creep me out?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The irony that a disembodied soul speaking through a ghost found Ouija boards creepy made Angel grin. He decided to ignore it and began filling her in on Fala and Wesley\u2019s soul healing theory. The explanation didn\u2019t sound as off-the-wall as he thought it might coming from his mouth, but he wasn\u2019t sure she would buy it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy soul is cracked? I don\u2019t feel broken. Is Wesley sure about this? Maybe Wesley\u2019s cracked. What if it doesn\u2019t work? Is there a plan B?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel hadn\u2019t even considered it wouldn\u2019t work. Fala was obviously a powerful being of some sort and Wesley\u2019s idea seemed logical considering all the crap that had happened to Cordelia in the past year. What if it didn\u2019t work? Could any of them handle the aftermath if it didn\u2019t? Imagining the disappointment and pain in all their faces and thinking of Cordy just nowhere forever made him just plain furious. \u201cNo! It will work. Failing is not an option, Cordelia, so just don\u2019t even go there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, calm down, oh great and noble leader. I trust you. So…um…who\u2019s the lucky Dr. of Soul? The plasterer of my cracked-up walls? The tab A to my slot C? The Abbott to….\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cMe. I would be Tab A.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel waited. And waited. The pen didn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy? You still there? Hellooooo. Dennis, where is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
The table vibrated and then his chair beneath him. More papers and knick knacks flew across the room. The wind picked up and garbage came at him from everywhere.<\/p>\n
The pen skirted across the page and Angel bent down to read it. \u201cKnife rack! What the…\u201d He looked up just in time to duck and deflect the incoming paring and cleaving weapons. A nice serrated bread slicer lodged in the cushion between his thighs.<\/p>\n
Suddenly it got deathly quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn oldie but a goody, Dennis. Thanks for the warning. Okay, Cordy, I\u2019m sensing a little discomfort with this idea. Can we discuss it calmly?\u201d<\/p>\n
The pen became the storm as it attacked the paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cSensing discomfort? Are you channeling Dr. Phil now or are you just insane? Have you all stepped through the looking glass into bizarro land? Did you shanshu or something, because the last I heard you were still a vampire with a pretty thin hold on that soul of yours, and we are not risking the big bad here. Not for me and not for anybody. You are not doing it. I\u2019ll just go away before I let that happen, so just forget about it.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
God she was so infuriating. Even more so when he couldn\u2019t grab onto her shoulders and shake some sense into her. The best he could do was stand and start pacing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am going to do this and you will go along with it because it\u2019s the only way, dammit! I want to do it. I need to do it! Why can\u2019t you just let me be the strong one for once? Why can\u2019t you just put a sock on that big pride parade you\u2019ve got going and admit for once that you need me! Dammit, Cordelia. Why do you have to piss me off so much?<\/p>\n
Angel heard the scratching of the pen and went back to the table. He was still fuming and in no way ready to sit.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I can? And \u2018put a sock on the big pride parade\u2019? Can you say hanging around Lorne too much?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cFunny, Cordy. But that\u2019s not getting us anywhere.\u201d He wasn\u2019t about to let her joke her way out of this. \u201cThe healing can only take place between two souls that are emotionally bonded … intimately connected. You\u2019re my seer. I\u2019m your champion. It has to be me.\u201d He wanted to say so much more. He wanted to say it had to be him because he loved her and she loved him, but saying that through Dennis was not going to happen. He\u2019d waited this long he could wait a little while longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I do need you. I\u2019m sorry if I don\u2019t…didn\u2019t say that enough. And, yes, I am more connected to you than anyone else. But the risk is just too great. You said your soul had to be released to join with mine and we both know Angelus comes with that scenario. Besides I don\u2019t feel that messed up, really. I\u2019m sure joining with Wes or even Gunn…\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cNo! Definitely not Gunn. He\u2019s not…something\u2019s not right…not Gunn. And not Wesley. He has to be here if something does go wrong. And don\u2019t even think about Fred. Her wacky soul would probably just send you screaming back to the higher planes. And Lorne\u2019s mystical connections can\u2019t be tampered with. So that leaves me. Me first and me last. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, what about Angelus?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, you said you trusted me. We\u2019ve thought this through carefully. It\u2019s really not a big deal. I\u2019ll be chained up and drugged. There will be no unleashing of Angelus. And once our souls are separated, the re-ensouling is a snap. I mean how many times have we done this now? Twenty…thirty times?\u201d He was calmer now and allowed himself the small attempt at humor.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly twice. Don\u2019t be a smart ass. As Wes would say, twice is only a coincidence not a pattern. I swear if I wake up and have to stake you, I\u2019m going to kill you.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI get that.\u201d Ah, there it was. Cordy logic. Nothing sounded sweeter. Angel knew he could relax now so he sat back down to spend a quiet evening alone with a homicidal ghost and the most wonderful disembodied bitch he\u2019d ever known.<\/p>\n
Scene 3<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
It bothered him. She bothered him. He\u2019d lost control for a few minutes and that wasn\u2019t like him. It wasn\u2019t at all the new and improved King Gunn. The weird ass kid had done something to him, and he didn\u2019t like it. If he didn\u2019t have control then what was he? Just Angel\u2019s flunky. Lower than a demon.<\/p>\n
But that girl. What did she do to me?<\/i><\/p>\n
As soon as he\u2019d reached the offices he\u2019d gone straight to the White Room. He needed it. The charge that comes from stroked fur. The stature that comes from the long, lean, outstretched body. The clarity that comes from the cold black and white vision. The cleansing of doubt that comes from the rhythmic laving of the rough tongue.<\/p>\n
As Gunn relaxed and recharged the purring, soothing voice filled his mind and reaffirmed his goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow. It is time. Tomorrow.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The thought was thrilling. \u201cTomorrow. Yes. She\u2019ll be back tomorrow and then I can face her. Then I can see the pain on his face when he knows she\u2019s gone. Just before I kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. During the healing. Kill him while he sleeps. He will be gone and she won\u2019t be able to return without him. Pounce when no one expects it.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Something was nipping at him. A tickling itch at the base of his spine. \u201cNo, I must face them. They have to know it\u2019s coming and that it\u2019s coming from me.\u201d He squirmed to scratch it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are the king. You decide what is right. Is it not wiser to wait in shadows and watch? Does it not show strength to stalk and attack at the weakest link? That is how you survive.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Damn. There it was again. Just the slightest irritation working it\u2019s way up. \u201cYes, it is smart. But it\u2019s…it\u2019s….cowardly. They must know who is the master. Who has destroyed them\u201d Now the itch was just below his shoulder blade. He couldn\u2019t reach it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not important that the dead know anything. The living will know. They will be stunned by your cleverness. They will be afraid to challenge you. Their fear will make them follow.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThe dead are not important.\u201d Something whispered…prickled at his ear…Alana.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThe dead know nothing. The dead feel nothing. The dead will be nothing. Tomorrow.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Then there was nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scene 4<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Wesley had spoken to Angel at 9:20 and was off the phone with Fala\u2019s mother by 9:32. It was arranged that the ritual would begin at 2:00, but that Wesley would meet them at the apartment at 1:00 to be schooled on the ritual. Fala had told him what he needed to gather and the general process, so he had plenty to keep him busy until then.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t want the healing to be performed at Wolfram and Hart. And she had insisted her body be moved to the apartment as well. She refused to wake up in evil town, as she\u2019d put it. Or, rather, as Angel had informed him she\u2019d put it. He hadn\u2019t actually spoken to Cordelia yet. And though he was anxious to do so, there was far too much to be done.<\/p>\n
So, he was in charge of arranging for medical personnel and the safe transport of Cordy\u2019s corporeal form. Moving her worried him tremendously since she was already very fragile and such a trip could put an end to her barely functioning systems. But what Cordy wants… He smiled warmly at that thought. \u201cIt\u2019s good to have you back.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was just picking up the phone to order the re-ensouling orbs from office supplies when Fred and Lorne knocked and then peaked in.<\/p>\n
\u201cMornin\u2019 Wes. We got your message. We just dropped by to see if there\u2019s anything we can do to help with the healing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley waved them in. \u201cAh, Fred…and Lorne…yes, come in. Have you seen Gunn yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne and Fred both shook their heads in the negative. \u201cBut I did see his truck in the garage, so he must be here. I can go find him if you want?\u201d Fred was out of her chair and already leaving when Wesley stopped her.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Fred, that\u2019s fine. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s around some place. I just want to make sure he\u2019s aware of the schedule. Fala said it was imperative that her closest family be in attendance for guidance and support.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes that mean we\u2019ll all be…I dunno…going on some psychedelic soul trip? Oh! Is there peyote involved? Because that stuff can really mess you up.\u201d Fred\u2019s eyes glistened slightly and the corners of her lips edged up into a hopeful grin. She saw Lorne and Wesley staring at her like she wasn\u2019t speaking English. Fred\u2019s smile faded and she fussed with the folds of her skirt. \u201cWell, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve heard any way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne patted her arm knowingly. \u201cFred, my little roach clip, I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll be riding that particular magic bus today, will we Wes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, no. You\u2019re absolutely right, Lorne. No magic bus for us. As I understand it, our spirits are there to surround them and keep the two who are being joined centered. Apparently, without that support, they can get lost in each other and never return. So it is vital that we all be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne took a sip of his Bloody Mary. \u201cLord knows we don\u2019t need those two getting any more lost in each other than they already are. So count us in, right sugar lumps?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, sure. I wouldn\u2019t miss it. This is just so excitin\u2019. I mean the whole joinin\u2019 and healin\u2019 and then gettin\u2019 Cordy back. It\u2019s gonna be the best day of my life next to comin\u2019 back from Pylea, of course.\u201d Fred\u2019s grin was infectious and both men caught it.<\/p>\n
Then there was the uncomfortable silence. Lorne and Fred looked at each other and passed eye signals and twitches between them. Wes thought they might have something more to say, but when neither spoke, he felt the need to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right, then. If you\u2019ll excuse me, I have a million things to do to get ready…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, about the whole bein’ Angel\u2019s dad thing…,\u201d Fred piped up. \u201cWe were just wonderin\u2019 how you were feelin\u2019 about that. I mean it\u2019s got to be really strange to wake up one day and find out you were your best friend\u2019s dad. That kinda thing happens all the time in Texas, but I\u2019m guessin\u2019 not so much where you\u2019re from. And then, on top of all that, your son is a 250 year-old vampire!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat tidbit is trying to say is we can see how this might be a little awkward and, well, we just want you to know that there\u2019s no need to feel that way. I\u2019ve always known you and Angel were connected at a deep level…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew?\u201d Wesley asked amazed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not that specifically. I just read auras. I don\u2019t pick up the souls-of-my-life channel. Strictly out of my range. I just mean I knew there was something very strong that you two had in common, so it doesn\u2019t surprise me or any of us really.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred tried to help. \u201cYeah, we all knew you two were a lot alike. All hero like, and you both can brood like nobody\u2019s business, and how you both were attracted to Cordy…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn that respect, sweetums, we are all soul brothers.\u201d Lorne thought it best to cut her off before she helped them out of jobs.<\/p>\n
Wesley smiled and felt warmed by their concern. \u201cI\u2019ll admit when Fala first said that I had been Angel\u2019s father, I was more than stunned. And that there was some awkwardness immediately thereafter goes without saying. But I\u2019ve thought about it, and I find it neither troubling nor important. I am obviously not really Angel\u2019s father. I have no memories of that life, so it\u2019s not as if I must treat him as my son or apologize for anything his father may have done to him. I am Wesley Wyndham-Price and whatever lessons I\u2019m destined to learn in this life I will do so as Wesley Wyndham-Price. Nothing has changed except another piece of the puzzle is in place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re not gonna ask Angel more about his father…uh…about what you were like back then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll talk more on the matter at times. But just as I don\u2019t see myself as his father, Angel doesn\u2019t regard me as that either. Even if he did, what his father never gave him was approval and respect. He already has that from me. If that gives him some measure of peace, then I\u2019m more than happy that it worked out this way.\u201d<><\/p>\n
Scene 5<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSo Wes is your dad? I\u2019d better not find out that I was your sister, because that would just be ewwww.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
They had stayed up most of the night talking until finally Angel collapsed on the bed at about 4:30. He and Dennis were now cleaning up the results of yesterday\u2019s hauntapalooza so the place would be conducive to the important ceremony to come in only little more than an hour.<\/p>\n
Angel picked up a soaked roll of toilet paper and scrunched his face at the thought of where it might have gotten wet. \u201cNo, Fala\u2019s mother was my sister. So you don\u2019t have to worry about that. Maybe you were my mother.\u201d He was so helpful.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, you realize you can never touch me again, and that whole leering hungrily at my breasts takes on a whole new meaning.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He read the paper floating in front of him and laughed. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about that. And I don\u2019t look at your breasts hungrily. I\u2019m a leg and ass man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re putting me to sleep with that fairy tale. You\u2019re a boob man all the way. Ass is second and legs are third.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel was shocked she had him pegged. But he wasn\u2019t about to let her know she was right. He pulled the meat cleaver from the front door frame and prodded, \u201cJust how do you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimple moron. You stare at my boobs coming and you stare at my ass going. And I\u2019ve caught you more times than I can count looking at my cleavage instead of my eyes when I\u2019m talking to you. Why do you think I wear all those low-cut shirts anyway? Because you like my teeth?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He rolled up a ball of twine while he read. \u201cThat\u2019s not proof of which I prefer. I never said I didn\u2019t like breasts, just that they weren\u2019t my first choice. And what sane man wouldn\u2019t look at your cleavage if given the opportunity? Do you really wear that stuff for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to keep pretending I\u2019m wrong, fine. Whatever. But once I get back I\u2019ll prove I\u2019m right. And, I wear what I wear for me first and only secondly for whomever I feel deserves me.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He stopped sweeping when he read that last line. \u201cAnd that would be me? You feel I deserve you?\u201d He heard pounding in his ears like the heartbeat he didn\u2019t have. He waited and waited what seemed a lifetime for the next words to appear on the page.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to answer the door, dufus? Or are you just going to stand there and drool some more?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\n
Scene 6<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
The atmosphere changed from the Angel and Soul Cordy flirt festival to one of a funeral home with the arrival of her body. When they rolled her in on the gurney, the apartment become suddenly very tiny. A horizontal person takes up so much more floor space than a vertical one.<\/p>\n
They moved the dining room table into the kitchen so the portable bed and all the equipment could be set up in its place. Angel would be occupying the bedroom once it was time.<\/p>\n
After the staff finished setting up and made sure her vitals were stable, Angel instructed them to leave but stay close by in case they were needed. Once they were gone, Angel watched as Dennis pulled a soft blanket from a closet and gently covered her, carefully tucking it under all the wires connected to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Dennis,\u201d Angel said. He went to her side and picked up her hand. \u201cCan you feel that, Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The pad and pen appeared before him. \u201cNo. I\u2019m not in there, Angel. But don\u2019t stop. I can imagine how it feels.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
He held on and just looked at her. Even though he\u2019d been talking to her soul out of this body for the last eight hours, he still couldn\u2019t believe she wasn\u2019t in there. Dennis created a light breeze to push a strand of hair from her forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, did you tell someone to bring me some clothes? Because I really hate that cotton bag they\u2019ve got me in right now and the first thing I\u2019m going to want to do is take that off.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cOh, damn, I\u2019m sorry. I forgot about clothes. I\u2019ll call Fred right now.\u201d He pulled out his cell and punched the speed dial for Fred just as the door opened and Wesley entered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello,\u201d Wesley announced. Angel waved him in and the pad of paper sped to his face. Wesley was taken aback by its sudden appearance but watched curiously as Dennis scribbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations daddy! Imagine the 250 years of Father\u2019s Day presents you\u2019ve missed out on.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Wesley just frowned. \u201cLove you too, Cordelia. Hello Dennis. Nice to see you again. I don\u2019t suppose we could never mention this again, Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot likely. And Dennis says hello and back atcha. Wesley, I just want to say thank you for doing this. Angel told me what happened. I\u2019m glad you didn\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Wes. Thanks for not giving up. I\u2019m not sure I said that before.\u201d Angel had put his cell back in his pocket and crossed to Wesley to relieve him of some of his packages when he saw Cordy\u2019s message.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re both welcome, although I did give up and I\u2019m not proud of it. But, no matter, because Cordelia had a vision, Dennis gave us the message and the Powers That Be have seen fit to provide us with a small miracle. Said miracle should be here any moment, and I need to begin setting up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley set his bag on the floor and stepped just outside the door while Angel carried his parcel into the kitchen. \u201cFrank! Sam! Bring the rest of the equipment up. And don\u2019t forget the heavy chains.\u201d<\/p>\n
That last part was yelled into the intrigued face of Angel\u2019s neighbor, Scott, who\u2019d just come home for lunch. He stared at Wesley as he passed and winked. Wesley just grinned uncomfortably and said, \u201cYes, that\u2019s right. Chains. Perhaps you\u2019d like to drop by later for a little test run.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLove to. And who should I oil my whip for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel. Just ask for Angel.\u201d Wesley went back into the apartment and closed the door. The message was in his face immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are my hero. Dennis.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI doubt Scott or Angel will feel the same. I wish I could see it, though,\u201d Wesley whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take notes.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Dennis. You really are very thoughtful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s thoughtful?\u201d Angel asked as came from the kitchen sipping from a cup of freshly warmed blood that Wesley had brought with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Dennis is. He just offered to carry this bag into the kitchen for me.\u201d The bag lifted and teetered in mid air and then floated gracefully out of sight.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo are we set, Wes? Did you bring everything we need?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I believe so. The guys are bringing up the rest including the chains. How\u2019s Cordy doing? Her body I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe seems fine.\u201d Angel was interrupted by knocking at the door. Wesley turned and opened it to allow the rest of the W&H team in followed by Fala and Tekla.<\/p>\n
Angel and Wesley greeted them with warm smiles. Angel set his cup of blood down and proceeded to shake Tekla\u2019s hand and Wesley followed suit.<\/p>\n
Fala spoke sensing their discomfort at what to say next. \u201cWesley, is everything here? We should review the ritual before the others arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, of course. I thought we would set up in here.\u201d Wesley indicated the living room and he and Fala disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve the necessary items.<\/p>\n
Angel realized he was alone with Tekla and tried to think what would be the proper thing to say to a woman he didn\u2019t know who used to be his sister but doesn\u2019t remember him being her brother. The pad flew in his face and Tekla was startled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk your sister to come in and sit down, dumb ass.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cHuh? Oh! Please come in. Have a seat, and don\u2019t mind the flying paper. It\u2019s just Cordy speaking through her ghost.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I see. But, no thank you, I can’t. I\u2019m just dropping Fala off. She explained to me the ceremony and the purpose, and I can\u2019t intrude. It\u2019s a family matter. But here\u2019s my number…two numbers actually. Call me when Fala\u2019s done, and I\u2019ll pick her up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can bring her home when we\u2019re done. It wouldn\u2019t be any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, okay. But call first, because I may be out picking up some things to patch up Fala\u2019s room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel felt totally stupid. And inadequate and selfish. Here this woman was trusting him with her daughter, who was doing them the biggest favor anyone could ask, they\u2019d totally destroyed part of her house in the fighting, and now she was expected to go to Home Depot and buy her own replacement windows and install them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. I should have…this is completely…” Exasperated by his own verbal fumbling, he finally stopped, calmed himself and made his point. “Let me help. You\u2019re doing so much for us. I\u2019ll make a call right now and have her room back to normal before she gets home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to…really? Because that would be a big relief.\u201d Tekla couldn\u2019t believe her good fortune. She and Fala barely scraped by and the thought of the expense and work involved in repairing all the damage had weighed on her heavily today.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, absolutely. Why don\u2019t you go home and my guys will be there in 30 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay!\u201d For the first time since he\u2019d met her, she smiled and Angel caught a tiny glimpse of Kate. His lungs involuntarily sucked in a small bit of air at the unexpected sight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Angel. I appreciate it. Good luck. Fala, goodbye sweetheart. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBye mommy.\u201d She waved to her as Tekla left and closed the door.<\/p>\n
Angel stared at the closed door for a second and then was distracted by the note Dennis placed in front of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was really nice, big guy. I\u2019m proud of you. I guess W&H is good for something after all.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThank you and you\u2019ll find they\u2019re good for lots of things. Like all the designer clothes you could ever want.\u201d He flipped open his cell one more time and called his secretary. As he told her what he wanted, another message floated by.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are so not tempting me with that, Satan\u2019s toady. Although I will be needing a few modest outfits. Nothing special. Perhaps something vintage. In red silk preferably. Surprise me. You\u2019re so good at buying women\u2019s clothes. Damn! I caved already.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel finished the call and was about to gloat when the rest of the family arrived. As soon as he saw them all, he began to feel anxious. He had been having so much fun with Cordy, he\u2019d forgotten the seriousness of what was about to happen.<\/p>\n
He was about to lose his soul…again. And, whether or not she came back to him, to them all, depended on whether he could help heal her. His chest tightened followed by every muscle in his body. Whoever listens to these kinds of things, please listen now. Give me the strength to save her. After that, I don\u2019t care what you do with me.<\/i><\/p>\n
\n
Scene 7<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
“Comfy?”<\/p>\n
“Oh, yeah, Wes. Where do you buy your chains? They’re so soft and cuddly. Not at all restraining, heavy or reminiscent of other torture devices I’ve known.”<\/p>\n
“There’s a new place in Noho. Victoria’s Secret Chamber. I’ll give you the number.”<\/p>\n
Angel grinned and struggled to test them one more time. He was satisfied there was no way he’d get out. “Okay. I’m ready. Hit me with the good stuff.”<\/p>\n
The doctor was about to inject him with the tranquilizer when Dennis flashed a message in front of him.<\/p>\n
“Angel, you don’t have to do this. I’m scared.”<\/i><\/p>\n
“I’m not, Cordy. And I want to.”<\/p>\n
“And if you can’t get back?”<\/i><\/p>\n
“Then we’ll be floating in the ether together which doesn’t sound scary or horrible to me, and Wes will stake my ass. I don’t really see a downside.”<\/p>\n
“Now I’m really scared. Do I have to float around with you forever?”<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel just smiled. Still covering up her true fears with jokes. “Okay, maybe there’s a downside for you. Sorry.”<\/p>\n
He turned his head to the doctor with the needle. “Let’s do it.”<\/p>\n
As the liquid entered his body and the delicious darkness fell over his eyes, he promised, “See you soon, Cor.”<\/p>\n
Wesley made sure he was under and confirmed it with the doctor before ordering him to leave. Heading back into the living room to join the others, he was stopped by another message.<\/p>\n
“Don’t let him die, Wesley. No matter what happens, he doesn’t die. Got it?”<\/i><\/p>\n
He was about to argue with the pad of paper, but thought it pointless. He knew he wouldn’t be able to give up on Angel if anything went wrong any more than he could give up on Cordelia. “Message received, Cordelia. I won’t let anyone die.”<\/p>\n
“I’m hugging you right now whether you like it or not.”<\/i><\/p>\n
He knew it was just his imagination, but he thought he could feel her warm arms wedge themselves between his hanging limbs and torso and wrap around his waist, and the weight of her head against his chest just where it should be. He held the sensation for a few seconds longer than he would have allowed in real life, before composing himself and entering the ceremonial ground of the living room.<\/p>\n
The room was ready. The shades were down and drapes drawn, and candlelight bathed the room in an amber glow. Fala stood in the middle of the room with a small pedestal table. On the table was a hand-thrown earthen bowl containing the ingredients required. All of the herbs and roots were traditional healing varieties and were nestled in fresh soil. Beside the bowl was a carafe of water, another small bowl with salt and matches.<\/p>\n
The furniture had been either removed or pushed back as far as possible to reveal enough space for the rest of the soul team to sit in a circle surrounding Fala. Wesley sat with his back to the picture window, Fred on his left with her back to the front door, Gunn was opposite him seated closest to the bedroom, and Lorne on Wesley’s right facing away from the fireplace.<\/p>\n
Fala had directed where they should sit and explained the importance of each one. “Wesley, you are north and winter. You are the compass that guides and blanket that covers the family and keeps them directed and bound. Fred, you are east and spring. You are the hope of new day and the vessel of creation. Gunn, you are south and summer. You are the equator, the center fulcrum that balances the light and the dark. Lorne, you are west and autumn. You are the peace at the end of day and the harvester of life.”<\/p>\n
Yeah, whatever. Gunn couldn’t give a rat’s ass about all this crap. All he cared about was the fact that she had put him in the best place to accomplish his mission. Of course, little miss saves-a-lot-of-souls had no clue she’d just helped him take one. Make that two. His satisfied grin turned grim when he felt that prickling sensation on the back of his neck again. This time he knew the source and looked up to see Fala’s cool gaze trained on him.<\/p>\n
She didn’t blink or bend from her stony stance as she asked, “Gunn, are you ready to do this?”<\/p>\n
There was an edge to her question. A double edge that should have worried him, but his adrenalin-coursed blood was pounding too loudly. It drowned out any subtleties in her voice.<\/p>\n
He didn’t hesitate to meet her glare with his steely resolve. “I’m always ready.”<\/p>\n
She slowly left his gaze and lifted the matches. The scraping of the match head against the rough edge and the sound of the resultant blaze drew everyone’s attention to the flame. Fala spoke the words known to her for an eternity and dropped the fire onto the parched leaves. The white smoke from the burning herbs and the ancient chant wound around the soul of the sleeping demon. There was no tugging or gut wrenching pangs. The soul left the body like a slow mist rising to reclaim its rightful place in the sun\u2019s rays.<\/p>\n