For the second time in the space of a day, Cordelia escaped from the clutches of darkness holding her in its ethereal grasp. Consciousness returned, this time to the sound of muddled voices and distant beeping. Even before she opened her eyes, she knew where she was: Sunnydale\u2019s Mercy Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s awake,\u201d Faith\u2019s voice sounded even before she could get out a decent groan of discontent. This was the last place she wanted to be and she did not care who knew it.<\/p>\n
Buffy let out a dramatic sigh. \u201cIt\u2019s about time.\u201d Oh, great, just who she wanted to see right now. Not.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank heavens,\u201d Giles\u2019 relief was clear, which made her feel a teensy bit better. Until he added, in typical no nonsense fashion, \u201cI should probably pop back to the cemetery soon. I wasn\u2019t quite finished gathering rubbings off of the obelisk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gee, thanks. Abandon me for an old rock why dontcha.<\/em> The incentive to actually open her eyes was not overwhelming at the moment.<\/p>\n Willow yelped, \u201cOuch, you stepped on my foot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Xander muttered from close by. \u201cAre you sure she\u2019s awake?\u201d<\/p>\n Maybe if she kept her eyes closed, they would all go away. Cordelia tried it for several seconds, but could feel the weight of their concern looming over her. Lifting one eyelid, she peeked out. Nope, it wasn\u2019t just the angsty vibes. It was them leaning over her bed staring at her.<\/p>\n \u201cGeez, give a girl a little breathing room.\u201d Cordelia smiled until she had them all smiling back at her. \u201cNot that I don\u2019t deserve the attention, but why am I here?\u201d<\/p>\n Xander gasped instantly jumping to worst case scenarios. \u201cOh no! Cor has amnesia.\u201d<\/p>\n She raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the faces in the room noting that there was one face conspicuously absent.<\/p>\n \u201cThe doctors said it was probably just a concussion.\u201d Willow hit him on the arm. Asking Cordelia just in case Xander was right, \u201cDo you remember your name? Your address? Us?\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia flicked a look toward Faith who stood cross-armed, staring at Willow as if she was the one who had been hit in the head by a meteor fragment. \u201cI think\u2026,\u201d she lifted a hand toward the small bandage covering her wounded head. \u201cYes, I\u2019m almost sure my name is\u2026Buffy Summers. Who are you people?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d Buffy, Xander and Willow parroted their shocked reactions.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps you should try that again, Cordelia,\u201d Giles pursed his lips in response. \u201cWithout the drama, this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Glancing up from the IV tubing that had caught her attention, Cordelia grinned at him. \u201cYou\u2019re no fun.\u201d Then to the rest of them, \u201cI don\u2019t have amnesia, you dorks. I just don\u2019t remember how I got here.\u201d<\/p>\n Faith supplied her with an answer. \u201cAngel carried you to the car. We brought you here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe got Giles\u2019 Code 6 page,\u201d Buffy shifted so that she was sitting on the edge of the bed. It sucked that they had a code for meeting at the hospital. \u201cThey told us what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia eyed Giles and Faith. \u201cUm, they did?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s cool, Cor,\u201d Faith immediately alleviated her fears in that direction. \u201cWe just went over the details about the meteor and the creep who attacked you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, good.\u201d<\/p>\n Buffy gave her an odd look. \u201cWhat\u2019s so good about it? You\u2019ve been marked as the next sacrifice in some demon ritual.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have other plans. Demon rituals are out this year.\u201d Cordelia squashed the fear that threatened to bubble up.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel & I won\u2019t let anything happen to you.\u201d Faith\u2019s confidence bolstered her up a bit, but she was quick to see the way Buffy reacted.<\/p>\n The two Slayers stared silently at each other until Buffy finally broke down to say, \u201cThe rest of us aren\u2019t exactly cheering for the demon. We\u2019ll be around.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia\u2019s eyes shifted around the room again as if half expecting to see Angel stepping out of the shadows. He was not there. She had not missed him the first time. \u201cPfft. Like I want you guys hovering over me all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Although, a little hovering would not be so bad if it was the right person. Even if he was kind of a jerk at the moment.<\/p>\n She half-listened as Willow reminded her that it was not just this kidnapping demon she had to watch out for. Drusilla and Spike were still out there somewhere, too.<\/p>\n \u201cSo where\u2019d the big guy run off to?\u201d Cordelia tried to sound casual about asking. \u201cDid he decide to go to the Blood Bank for a snack?\u201d<\/p>\n The room fell silent for a moment until Buffy admitted to being a little confused about Angel\u2019s whereabouts. \u201cAngel\u2019s not here. Left about an hour ago. Said he had something to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo much for being concerned about my safety,\u201d Cordelia huffed. Part of her stubbornly determined to stay angry with him. He\u2019d had the nerve to compare her kisses to Buffy\u2019s. \u201cWacky and Blondie could come in at any second, no invitation required.\u201d<\/p>\n Faith let out a short laugh. \u201cC\u2019mon, Cor, give the vamp a break. You started it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid not.\u201d<\/p>\n Then Buffy asked, \u201cAm I missing something?\u201d<\/p>\n They both responded, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Giles scrubbed a hand over his mouth and jaw, cleared his throat and walked over to stare out the window. Frowning at him, Cordelia wondered how long it would be before Buffy whined her way into making him tell her everything that happened at Shady Hill.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel asked me to stay until he got back,\u201d Faith explained that he planned to return all along. \u201cThat was right before these guys showed up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe ran into him in the hall.\u201d Xander shrugged it off uncertain why it seemed to be a big deal to any of them. \u201cDead Boy\u2019s always been the mysterious type. He didn\u2019t say what he was up to.\u201d<\/p>\n Willow gripped the side rails as she leaned in, \u201cHe looked kinda upset. I tried to ask how you were doing, but all I got was a grumpy growl. He just told us where to find you, said he had something to do, and then stalked off without another word, even to Buffy. That was rude, dontcha think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTypical,\u201d Cordy plucked at the neckline of her hospital gown, trying not to think about the way she could not get enough of him. Just the thought of those kisses and the way his big hands molded her body against his made her warm all over.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re looking kinda dazed,\u201d Willow pointed out, concerned.<\/p>\n Xander agreed, \u201cAnd flushed.\u201d He put a hand to her forehead. \u201cMaybe I should get the nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSheesh! I\u2019m fine, Xander. My head hurts a little, but I promise not to pass out on you.\u201d Cordelia pushed his hand away. \u201cWhere was all the concern the last time I was in this joint?\u201d<\/p>\n Ducking his head, Xander looked hurt. \u201cHey, I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia sighed and squeezed his hand. \u201cYeah, you did.\u201d<\/p>\n They were still holding hands when Angel walked in the door. He met Cordelia\u2019s gaze, looked for an instant as if he was going to rip their hands apart, and then simply stepped out of the way.<\/p>\n \u201cBev!\u201d Cordelia smiled instantly upon seeing her grandmother standing there.<\/p>\n Xander was standing in her path as Beverly Quinn made her way to Cordelia\u2019s bedside. \u201cOut of my way, young man. It\u2019s rude to stare.\u201d<\/p>\n They all backed off and stared at the older woman sitting beside Cordelia, almost alike except for the passage of years between them. \u201cWho is she?\u201d Buffy had to ask as she moved over to stand beside Angel.<\/p>\n \u201cCordy\u2019s grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n The two of them were talking, caught up in Cordelia\u2019s explanation of interrupted picnics and a meteor shower. Buffy wasn\u2019t sure what unsettled her the most: the idea that Cordelia actually had a grandmother or the fact that Cor had explained away patrol as some kind of a picnic with Angel.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you know?\u201d Buffy asked Xander and Willow. After all, they had known Cordelia most of their lives even if it was as their childhood nemesis.<\/p>\n No, they answered with the shake of their heads. Xander leaned in even closer. \u201cI always assumed aliens dropped her off at her parent\u2019s house,\u201d he said loudly just to gain their attention.<\/p>\n \u201cYou must be Xander Harris,\u201d Beverly surprised him. He grinned until she seemed to be inspecting him from head to toe. Apparently, Grandmother Bev had the same ability to make you feel like a squashed bug just by looking at you.<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026 yes, Xander, that\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand that you used to date my granddaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly nervous under her scrutinizing stare, Xander shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet. \u201cYes ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCall me Bev,\u201d she told him. \u201cWhen young men call me ma\u2019am, it always makes me feel like a naughty school mistress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrandmother!\u201d Cordelia gasped through the noise of Xander\u2019s squeaky response.<\/p>\n What was it with guys? Bev technically qualified as a senior citizen even though she still looked about twenty years younger than her actual age. They got flustered and gawky around her.<\/p>\n One by one the introductions were made. Though Giles was pleasantly polite in his very proper English way, Bev found him a little starchy. That made him an easy target for a little teasing. \u201cI think I\u2019d prefer it if you called me ma\u2019am, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n Giles fiddled uncomfortably with the tie that seemed too tight around his neck, let his gaze wander from face to face\u2014 all of them amused\u2014 and finally pointed at the clock. \u201cOh dear, is that the time? I really must be going. And you three,\u201d he ushered Buffy, Xander and Willow toward the door, \u201cneed to finish that project\u2026 for school.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProject?\u201d Xander asked then let out a choked cry as Buffy elbowed his stomach and Willow stepped on his foot. \u201cOw\u2014 of course! The school project.\u201d<\/p>\n They exited with hasty goodbyes and well wishes. Cordelia was relieved to see them go. Who knows what they would have said. Or what Bev would have said considering those oh-so-wrong conclusions about dating Angel. Although, it might have been worth it to see Giles pass out on the floor if Bev kept up with her flirtation. Bev might be nearly twenty or thirty years older than the Watcher, but she obviously still had it.<\/p>\n Cordelia was still smiling at the thought when Faith caught her attention. \u201cCor, I think I\u2019m gonna grab a coffee, give you guys some time.\u201d<\/p>\n Faith closed the door behind her leaving Cordelia alone with her grandmother and Angel. Her grandmother sat beside her, still holding her hand, looking back and forth between them. \u201cI could cut the tension with a knife. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d Angel answered. After all, Cordelia had been the one to say they forget all about it.<\/p>\n Cordelia huffed, \u201cNothing! Ugh, that is just\u2026 oookay, it\u2019s nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t \u2018nothing\u2019 she felt when she looked at him. Anger, frustration and a whole slew of things, but it definitely was not \u2018nothing\u2019. Cordelia saw that he had stopped to change before picking up Bev. \u201cYou changed clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n Though Angel was surprised by the subject change, he was grateful for it. \u201cYes, I didn\u2019t want to show up at Bev\u2019s home looking\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike you\u2019d just been hit by a meteor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026 yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Bev admitted, \u201cThough I was surprised to see Angel standing on my doorstep without you, I\u2019m glad the news came from him in person and not by a phone call.\u201d<\/p>\n She held out her hand to Angel, who stared at it for a few seconds before taking it. Bev pulled him down so that he sat on the opposite side of the bed and then casually moved his hand so that it covered Cordelia\u2019s. \u201cWhatever happened to upset you two, I\u2019m sure it\u2019s nothing that can\u2019t be forgiven considering tonight\u2019s events. There are far more important things than lovers\u2019 squabbles. One of you might have been seriously injured.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia remembered how she felt seeing Angel lying unconscious as the demon picked up that pointed branch. Still angry, a nasty thought flashed by. Too bad she saved him. If she had not interfered, he would be a big cloud of dust.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you wouldn\u2019t want that,\u201d Bev went on, forcing Cordelia to face the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really.\u201d Her gaze slid up to meet Angel\u2019s inquisitive one. Since he seemed so eager to hear her answer, she tagged on, \u201cWell, I wouldn\u2019t want you permanently hurt. Not seriously, anyway. Maybe just tortured a little. By me, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n That only brought a smirk to that handsome mouth of his. \u201cCordy, there are some games we shouldn\u2019t talk about in front of your grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n Snorting, Bev simply said, \u201cDon\u2019t mind me,\u201d while Cordelia slapped her free hand over Angel\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cOmigod! I cannot believe you just said that.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t anger that caused her to hold breath, pressing her lips closed tight as she leaned closer. She was barely containing her laughter. What was it about Mister Usually Monosyllable Guy and his ability to turn their relationship\u2014 in her grandmother\u2019s eyes anyway\u2014 into a kinky romance?<\/p>\n \u201cBev knows I\u2019m kidding.\u201d Angel reached up to drag her hand down.<\/p>\n Cordelia snatched it out of his grasp. \u201cPfft!\u201d<\/p>\n He was not kidding. There were probably many \u2018games\u2019 vampires liked and it did not surprise her that pain was one of them. While the spark of her own curiosity made her tremble, it left her wondering what else Angel liked.<\/p>\n When Bev lifted her hand away from theirs, Cordelia expected Angel to extract his own. He curled his fingers around Cordelia\u2019s hand, turning it, his thumb circling her palm. Then his other hand reached up, fingers threading through her hair and edging the tape holding her bandage in place before he dropped it down to his thigh. \u201cIf I could take back what happened, I would.\u201d<\/p>\n Did he mean the meteor, the fact that some creepy demon cop planned to kidnap and sacrifice her to his demon god? Or was he taking back the fact that he kissed her and had the gall to compare it to being with Buffy?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that easy, Angel.\u201d Considering that he\u2019d saved her life twice tonight, Cordy figured she should cut him a little slack. She offered him a way out, \u201cGo ahead. Take it back.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel stared back, sorely tempted to respond to her little dare in a way that did not involve words. \u201cIt\u2019ll have to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrust me, it should wait.\u201d<\/p>\n They glared at one another until Bev finally broke the silence. \u201cSheesh! Young people nowadays have to complicate everything. What is so blasted difficult about kissing and making up?\u201d She threw her hand up in surrender and then changed her mind about it, stubbornly crossing her arms. \u201cGo on. Say you\u2019re sorry. I don\u2019t care about what, just do it and mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n The amusement in Angel\u2019s eyes was apparent. Cordelia could not really blame him for succumbing to her grandmother\u2019s wishes. After all, Bev certainly had a way of getting under your skin.<\/p>\n When the bright glint faded, Angel\u2019s expression turned serious again. He pressed a brief kiss into the palm of Cordelia\u2019s hand before closing her fingers around it. \u201cI\u2019ve never known the kind of fear I felt tonight. Seeing that meteor coming down at us, knowing what might happen, what it meant, I suppose I just reacted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou suppose?\u201d Cordelia\u2019s huff was followed by her grandmother\u2019s soft, \u201cAhem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCordy, you know I want you safe. I\u2019m sorry that you\u2019re here, that I couldn\u2019t stop any of this from happening.\u201d Angel got off the bed, standing at her side and Cordelia knew that his apology was not going any further tonight. Not with Bev at their side.<\/p>\n Even though it wasn\u2019t exactly going to give away any Vampire or Slayer secrets just to admit he was a jerk for kissing her and comparing her to his ex. He was so going to pay for that later. She was already making a list when Bev reminded her that it was her turn.<\/p>\n Prompting her to say something, \u201cIf you take much longer, I\u2019ll be happy to show you how it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia was about to say, \u201cGo ahead,\u201d when she realized that Bev might actually take her up on it. Instead, she irreverently stuck her tongue out. \u201cYou wish,\u201d to which Bev merely laughed in response. Then she could not resist adding, \u201cBetter grab the chance while I\u2019m bruised and tied up to an IV pole. Just tell me I\u2019m not gonna be in here for a week and I\u2019ll let you have your wicked way with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Rolling her eyes, Bev promised, \u201cDarling, I may be in great shape, but even I don\u2019t have that much stamina.\u201d<\/p>\n Snorting softly, Cordelia turned to speak to Angel only to notice that he was no longer at her side, but had taken up a position by the door. \u201cHey, where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFaith\u2019s coming,\u201d he nodded toward the door. \u201cI should go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not done with you yet. Come here for a sec.\u201d Cordelia pushed the bed covers aside and climbed out of bed. \u201cWhoa!\u201d She grabbed her IV pole with one hand and the flap of her hospital gown with the other. \u201cKinda breezy back there.\u201d<\/p>\n Bev coughed, \u201cThere wasn\u2019t much to see anyway. In my day, that was called dental floss, not underwear.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel mused that if he asked what color, Bev would be happy to supply him with the information. She made Cordelia seem tactful in comparison. Standing beside Cordelia again, he told her, \u201cTake it easy for a day or two. I\u2019ll see you around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re leaving me?\u201d Cordelia could not hide the surprise in her voice. Okay, okay. So what if she\u2019d wanted to stake him a while ago? That was then, this was now.<\/p>\n She wanted him here with her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve asked Faith to keep an eye on you tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia glanced toward the door where she knew Faith was going to show up at any second. Angel had already said he had heard her outside in the hall. It was not that she did not trust Faith when it came to taking care of unwelcome visitors. She just preferred Angel to be there.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Faith. Great.\u201d<\/p>\n Though she tried to sound enthusiastic about it, Angel looked a little suspicious, or at least confused. \u201cWas there something else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really,\u201d Cordelia answered evasively, adding a casual shrug. \u201cI just wanted to thank you for bringing Bev to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat reminds me,\u201d Angel pulled out the keys to the Plymouth, tossing them onto the bed where Bev could reach them. \u201cYou\u2019ll need the car to get home tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia did not need to ask what Angel was up to, though he confirmed it when Bev suggested that he stick around long enough to get a ride home. \u201cThanks, but I\u2019m just going to look in on\u2026 some relatives.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t you wait for that?\u201d Cordelia grabbed hold of his arm when he started to move away again. \u201cGeez, Angel, you\u2019ve just missed being hit by a meteor. You\u2019re not invulnerable. I know you\u2019ve got to be banged up and bruised, so don\u2019t tell me this is the right time for a family reunion.\u201d<\/p>\n A little lost with the whole conversation, Bev chimed in, \u201cIt is almost two a.m., a little late for social calls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re night owls,\u201d Cordelia explained without turning away from Angel. \u201cPlease don\u2019t go tonight. Wait for Faith and Buffy.\u201d<\/p>\n She knew he was going to refuse. Dark intent filled his eyes. There was no use in trying to change him mind about it. Cordelia closed her eyes as Angel curled his hand around the nape of her neck, his thumb rubbing at the spot behind her ear. He leaned forward, his forehead touching hers. Then she felt the cool press of his lips against her cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I should\u2019ve had a second cup,\u201d Faith nearly closed the door again when Angel called out to stop her.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n Faith stepped back in. \u201cDoes she know the plan, GQ?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you mean that you\u2019re staying and he\u2019s going,\u201d Cordelia climbed back into bed and yanked the blankets up, \u201cthen I know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCool. So it\u2019ll just be us girls for a while.\u201d Faith moved past Angel and took a seat in one of the two bedside chairs.<\/p>\n After a brief look back at the three of them, Angel gently closed the door behind him. A second later, one of Cordelia\u2019s pillows crashed against the doorframe and plopped onto the floor.<\/p>\n Bev patted Cordelia\u2019s hand. \u201cIt\u2019s not likely that the hospital would let Angel stay the night instead. Give him a break, dear. He\u2019s obviously concerned about those relatives of his. With all of the meteors that came down, maybe he just wants to check in on them.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia crushed her only remaining pillow between her hands and looked like she was going to fling it at the next person who mentioned the name Angel.<\/p>\n When Bev\u2019s words sank in, Faith dropped her feet to the floor from their resting position at the bottom of the bed. \u201cDamn.\u201d She held up her hands and vowed, \u201cI swear I didn\u2019t know about that, Cor. Angel didn\u2019t say anything about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow ask me again what I think of the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n