Buffy had sent him to hell again. Being teamed him up with Cordelia Chase was only going to hinder the whole mission. This was not a treasure hunt. There would be a fight to the finish against unknown odds in order to follow the signs of this prophecy. Babysitting a talkative cheerleader was not his first priority.<\/p>\n
Being manipulated by Buffy grated Angel\u2019s nerves. Anger welled up like a rising force he had to consciously temper. Patrol was their time together even on the occasions when the others were tagging along. Now she had made a conscious decision to end that by separating the group into teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs everyone settled on his or her assignments?\u201d Giles\u2019 voice filtered through Angel\u2019s thoughts registering despite his distraction.<\/p>\n
If this worked out as Buffy hoped, then Cordelia would quit after the first patrol. By rights, he should make it tough on the girl and force her to change her mind about staying with the Scooby Gang. He would have her out of his hair and win some points with Buffy.<\/p>\n
Those bright eyes darted toward him before turning back to her watcher. \u201cYup, all settled. We\u2019ve got twelve cemeteries to cover tonight. I\u2019ll handle the east side of town with Willow & Xander.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got the west side,\u201d volunteered Faith before Giles could choose.<\/p>\n
That left the central part of town and its four cemeteries assigned to him. Those were the closest to the mansion and very familiar ground to Angel, which would make the search easier.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had other opinions. She puffed out her cheeks like a blowfish, rolling her eyes as she huffed, \u201cUgh, it figures I\u2019d get Old Sunnydale Cemetery. It smells and it\u2019s really creepy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hard glare she sent his way made it seem like she expected him to fix that. Cordelia had not stopped staring at him since they had both agreed to Buffy\u2019s plan. There was no hint of the soft, sensual glances she used to send his way before she learned he was a vampire. None of the sweet appealing charm that had been so distracting back then. The truth was that he never knew how to handle that or her fast-talking, no-nonsense chatter.<\/p>\n
The language of death was something he understood and he had that in common with Buffy. It did not require talking.<\/p>\n
Despite his anger, Angel went along with Buffy\u2019s plan. There was a need to take care of the threat and the suggestion to split into groups actually had some merit. That did not make him like it any better. He would deal with it and Cordelia.<\/p>\n
She was the real victim here. Recognizing that was the only thing that made him decide to let her quit of her own accord. He would not make it worse on her just to send her packing. If Cordelia chose to stay, so be it. She would just have to learn to keep up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe prophecy contains the clues we need to identify this powerful demon before he reaches our dimension,\u201d Giles\u2019 visible reaction to Cordelia\u2019s comment faded as he gave them all last-minute advice. \u201cYour research has provided us with the key to interpreting each clue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander quipped, \u201cNow we get to find out if the indigestion was worth it,\u201d referring to their late-night pizza sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are we looking for?\u201d Faith wanted to know. She had missed half of the group meetings for reasons she chose not to share. Now that the action was about to begin, she was back on board.<\/p>\n
Angel watched Giles struggle for an answer. Truthfully, the prophecy was not very clear, or even complete. There was some doubt that they had been able to identify all of the Signs of the Prophecy leading up to its main event. Tonight, however, was an exception. The eruption of two volcanoes on opposite sides of the world was clearly mentioned in the scroll, a precursor to something far closer to home.<\/p>\n
\u201cA discovery will be made,\u201d the watcher suggested this would be less of a sign and more of a physical object. \u201cA bone relic amongst the stones of the dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVague much?\u201d Cordelia spoke as she strolled across the room to stand beside him. He just was not sure if she was asking or just being sarcastic. \u201cWhat are we supposed to do\u2026 knock on every crypt to ask if anybody\u2019s into home decorating?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was guessing sarcastic. Answering, \u201cThat\u2019s a start,\u201d Angel met her gaze long enough to realize he was staring.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust look for anything unusual,\u201d Giles told them. \u201cWe know for a fact that tonight is the night. The objects described within the prophecy are likely to be vital to its fulfillment. Should you locate the relic let no one interfere in obtaining it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy stood cross-armed next to her watcher visibly mulling over his advice. \u201cSo you\u2019re thinking there might be trouble. Demon minions? Bad guys looking for the same signs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite certain. The followers of this demon god will be watching for the same signs we have discovered,\u201d Giles readily cautioned. \u201cIt was written that an awakening will occur to spread the news of its coming. Once the first sign is noted, the prophecy texts provide a countdown to the final days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCreepy,\u201d Willow shuddered.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d the soft voice next to him was probably not heard by anyone else. Angel glanced down at Cordelia who was staring down at the stake in her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cStick close,\u201d Angel advised only to see a flash of anger and defiance in her eyes as her head snapped up.<\/p>\n
Cordelia opened her mouth in preparation to respond only to be cut off by Giles giving them one last instruction. \u201cPlease gather back here at the library sometime between two and three o\u2019clock to compare notes.\u201d<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t until Faith called to Cordelia that he realized he escaped from a tongue-lashing. Having witnessed the rapid-fire response Cordelia could dish out during some of her tiffs with Xander, Angel knew it would be hard to avoid.<\/p>\n
Watching her move across the floor, following the natural sway of her body as his eyes lingered the line of her back, the curve of her hips and the subtle flexing of her toned calves, he caught himself thinking patrol would be a lot more pleasant if his partner was gagged for the duration of the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnjoying the view?\u201d Xander\u2019s voice jerked him out of his thoughts, a hint of territoriality laced in the words.<\/p>\n
Failure to notice the boy sneaking up on him suggested that Cordelia was going to prove to be a distraction on patrol, too, obviously a bad sign from the start. Angel glared back without bothering to dignify his question with a verbal response. Xander Harris had eyes enough to see that he had been looking at Cordelia. Clearly, any man would like what he saw, but Angel was not just a man.<\/p>\n
The insignificant threat Xander posed still managed to irk Angel into glowering at him in a way that would cause most humans to shrink into a shaking mass of flesh and bone. The kid surprised him by standing his ground, but he watched the hard shell weakening as Xander\u2019s dark eyes revealed a sense of pain and loss, something with which Angel was all too familiar.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch out for her,\u201d Xander pleaded with him. \u201cCordelia really doesn\u2019t know what she\u2019s getting into. We tag-teamed to handle a vamp or two when Buffy was out of town, but this is different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pissed off at the idea, Angel scowled as he concluded. \u201cSo you want her out, too.\u201d The subtle growl rumbled in his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut?\u201d<\/p>\n
The confused look Xander produced told Angel that he knew nothing of Buffy\u2019s plans for ousting Cordelia from the ranks of the Scooby Gang. It was all genuine concern with a measure of guilt on the side.<\/p>\n
\u201cN-no,\u201d Xander stuttered. \u201cI just want her safe. She got into this because of me. I don\u2019t know why she\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Revenge was high on Angel\u2019s list of theories. Show the young fool what he was missing out on. Cordelia was not about to let wounded pride get in the way of what she wanted, whatever that was. Angel could only guess at her motives, but he had to admire the fact that she walked back in with her head held high.<\/p>\n
Strange as the feeling was to him, Angel also had to give Xander some credit for facing him now. There wasn\u2019t exactly any trust built up between them. While Xander accepted Buffy\u2019s decision to place his ex-girlfriend with him for the duration of this mission, he stepped forward to ask him to watch over her.<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2019know, it\u2019s not that Cordelia looks for trouble,\u201d Xander shrugged his confusion as he rambled on. \u201cIt\u2019s just that trouble seems to find her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax, Harris. She\u2019s my responsibility now,\u201d Angel assured him gruffly and then left him standing there.<\/p>\n
Buffy tugged at his coat sleeve, stopping him on his way to the spot Cordelia and Faith had chosen for their little talk. He saw their eyes lingering on him and tried to catch the gist of their conversation. He heard no more than a whispered word or two before the distraction of Buffy\u2019s voice drowned them out.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Xander give you a little pep talk?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could call it that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, great.\u201d Buffy seemed to want to say more, but started to edge away from him. Settling for a peppy smile that didn\u2019t quite reach her eyes, she said, \u201cGuess we oughtta get started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stopped her. \u201cNot so fast. I know you\u2019re avoiding me. Don\u2019t think I didn\u2019t notice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to talk, Buffy.\u201d He saw a hint of fear before her gaze darted over to Giles. The watcher was already on his way out the door, holding it open for Faith who pointed at Cordelia as if reminding her of something from their conversation. When Angel\u2019s attention turned back to Buffy, her eyes glistened brightly with unshed tears as if his request to speak to her privately was too much to take. \u201cI just want to spend some time with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She caught her lip between her teeth, nibbling on it before blurting, \u201cI can\u2019t. We can\u2019t. I\u2019m not ready for that. That\u2019s why I asked you to stay away,\u201d her furious whisper crushed any guilt he might have felt for pushing her too fast.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe I should leave,\u201d Angel dropped his hold on her arm, stepping back to await her reaction.<\/p>\n
Buffy gaped at his words, almost hopefully. She looked almost eager to get rid of him. He realized that was precisely what she was thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to get going, Buffster,\u201d Xander interrupted as he slung his arm around her shoulder. \u201cThe clock\u2019s ticking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel let her go. She huddled with Xander and Willow at the counter reviewing the status of their weapons and snacks. He had never known Buffy to be afraid of anything, except him, apparently. Maybe not him, he corrected, them.<\/p>\n