Chapter 2<\/b><\/p>\n
It was often said that it took a special person to really appreciate working the graveyard shift. Typically it meant a fondness for bland fluorescent lighting, skin slightly more pale than the light, chain smoking, and an intake of diet caffeine that actually equaled the mass intake of lab rats.<\/p>\n
The graveyard shift peeps are\u2026different. Out of the box. Edgy. Non conformists. The Graveyard shift begins, for many, just at midnight. When the sky is bathed in ink, those souls of working America stumble out of their homes and lift their pasty faces to the twinkle of starshine before heading off to another day, another FICA\u2019d dollar.<\/p>\n
Cordilia Chase had found a whole new meaning to \u201cgraveyard shift.\u201d For one thing, it could literally involve graveyards. The smokin\u2019 was more\u2026dust related, after the correct application of a stake. Caffeine was still king, however, and had a nice caramel flavor.<\/p>\n
And the sky. It went from twilight\u2019s gift of ribbons streaked across west in tendrils of pink and orange all the way to velvet blue-black, then slowly lightening to a dusty grey when the day awoke. And then she slept. And then woke to a new night.<\/p>\n
It had not been easy. She loved the sun. She tried to maintain in shifts, so she could have the best of both worlds, but it meant draining time from Angel. All in all it was workable, she had some sun, and she had the Broodmeister too. It was her new reality. Night was her new day.<\/p>\n
Tonight the sky was not offering a palate of hues to welcome the dark. It was raining outside; gently spilling down the windows making the air thick and muggy. Cordy stood at the front, quietly watching the rivulets wind their way down the glass as her hand pressed to the pane.<\/p>\n
In her musings, she imagined the droplets to be crystals, diamonds even; streaming just out of reach of her touch. The stillness was nice and even the whimsical thoughts had a contented air to them. This was her life.<\/p>\n
Not the one she thought she\u2019d have, not what she ever expected; but then, did anyone ever really get exactly what they thought they would in life?<\/p>\n
A subtle tingle at her throat shimmied; her hand lifted to cover the mark of Angel\u2019s bite just before she felt his body a whisper away, standing behind her as he rested his head to hers. His hand reached to cover her smaller one as it lay against the glass, pressing gently to her warmth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Cor? Rain got you all blue?\u201d There was an intimacy to his voice, hushed and warm as his breath tickled her ear.<\/p>\n
She smiled at the question, her gaze never leaving the spatters of rain. \u201cNope, no blue here. Just\u2026welcoming night.\u201d She turned and her smile lifted further before she tilted her head up to slide a kiss to his mouth. \u201cGood evening\u2019, handsome. Sleep well?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSleep of the dead.\u201d He pulled back, his forehead resting against hers briefly before lifing his head and peering outside. \u201cGloomy night. It been doing this all day?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink so. Just got up an hour ago myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded, threading his fingers with hers before tugging her away from the window, backing towards the lobby and pulling her along. \u201cYou know this means maybe a busy night. Don\u2019t know why, but crappy weather hauls demons out of the woodwork like ants at a picnic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if by chance it IS busy, you\u2019re not gonna go all Neanderthal on me and think up some lame ass excuse for me to stay behind are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
He shook his head, his eyes carefully solemn. \u201cOf course not, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I am\u2026\u201d She nodded, prodding him to finish the sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cStrong and capable.\u201d He parroted her earlier declarations perfectly. She nodded in satisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if you treat me like I\u2019m fragile and useless, that makes me\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCranky.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. Cranky. And if I am cranky\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThings will get ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if things go so far as to get ugly\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Happy will not get any and be cranky, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly!\u201d she beamed as if he\u2019d finally mastered a difficult equation. She patted his arm as she smiled up at him. \u201cNow, was that so very hard?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was about to tell her exactly what was getting hard when Fred popped around the corner, a shy grin lifting as she saw them standing together. \u201cHey, Angel. Hi, Cordy. Um\u2026rainy day, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy smiled, feeling an ever present mixture of comfort and exasperation around the brainiac. \u201cHey, Fred. Rainy, but it\u2019s all good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred turned her grin to Angel, fleeting before a look of startled awareness brightened in her eyes. \u201cOh! I took a message, hang on\u2026.\u201d And she rummaged through her pocket, pulling out a post it note. \u201cUm, it was a really bad connection, and the guy had some kinda accent. It was like totally the phone call from hell. Metaphor, Angel.\u201d And Angel relaxed again.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome guy from Pakistan, who was going on about a scroll, cuz otherwise he has a stroll, and maybe even a stroller, and I\u2019m not sure what that means, cuz we\u2019re too far away to babysit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Sorry. Anyway, I think he said scroll, and he said, and I quote, the tree will moan and reheat the nun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence grew, and no one moved for a full minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry?\u201d Angel leaned in slightly, as if he had trouble hearing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know! It makes no sense! But I swear, that\u2019s what it sounded like. Then I started thinking, ohhhh, maybe it\u2019s like, spy talk and he\u2019s some kind of agent or something\u2026\u201d She trailed off. \u201cYa know, there\u2019s a possibility I misunderstood him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cultured voice flowed into the quiet, authority in the tones. \u201cIndeed. There are no moaning trees or heated nuns.\u201d All eyes turned to the entry, where a drenched Giles stood, fatigue drawn upon his face. He looked around a bit before spearing Angel with a glance. \u201cYou live in a hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles!\u201d Cordy tugged her hand free and walked to Giles, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him. \u201cHoly cow! What are you doing here? Why didn\u2019t you call? We would have picked you up at the airport!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia.\u201d He patted her back, awkwardly, before pulling back and smiling down at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re looking well. I had heard\u2026.\u201d He paused a bit, as if choosing his words carefully. \u201cI had heard that you had developed a…skill.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed softly. \u201cOh, a thrill of a skill. And I didn\u2019t develop it as much as\u2026get infected with it. Enough about that, it\u2019s boring.\u201d And she skittered aside, brushing off the subject.<\/p>\n
Interesting, Giles thought. He and Ms. Chase were going to have to sit down and discuss this thrill of a skill later. \u201cGiles, this is Winifred Burkle. She\u2019s a genius, lives here and helps with the agency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles nodded at Fred. \u201cThe agency?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy nodded towards Angel. \u201cYeah, Angel Investigations. We help the helpless.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles stared at Angel. \u201cAs opposed to killing them.\u201d Angel didn\u2019t blink, just stood there, his expression carefully blank. Giles sighed and rubbed his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. It was a long flight. I was going to inquire as to a recommendation for a good hotel, but\u2026.it appears that problem is solved, if it\u2019s acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, heck yeah! Wesley is here, he\u2019s going to be glad to see you! You know, the English homie stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles paused at the idea of a British homie. \u201cWell that\u2019s that then. It\u2019s good that Wesley is here; we may need all the help we can get.\u201d He paused a bit. \u201cI\u2019ve sent for Faith. If the connections hold true, she should be here tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
A curious thickness filled the room, as though something was waiting to be unleashed, barely contained. It was a dread, and it was strong. Giles shook his head briefly and looked at Angel. \u201cIf I might freshen up just a bit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded and picked up one of Gile\u2019s suitcases. He smiled easily at Cordy and Fred. \u201cHey, I\u2019ll get Giles settled. Why don\u2019t the two of you order in some Chinese. Chinese ok?\u201d He glanced at Giles, who nodded. Angel glanced at Cordy and started up the stairs, Giles following behind.<\/p>\n
The girls stood there, unmoving for a full minute before Cordy spoke, her voice flat. \u201cI think the word you\u2019re looking for, Fred, is crap. Holy, stinkin\u2019 crap.\u201d She sighed, sitting down on the stair. \u201cWhatever it is, we\u2019ll deal. I can deal. I\u2019m used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred nodded and sat down beside her. \u201cIs this Sunnydale stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Giles is part of the Sunnydale stuff, but this could be bigger. He hates Angel. Only something really bad would make him come to talk to Angel.\u201d She thought a moment. \u201cFaith. Jeeze.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFaith?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. A slayer. And a superskank. Can\u2019t imagine how she\u2019s involved. One thing I know for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is big, and it\u2019s bad.\u201d She glanced at Fred. \u201cMaybe way more than you ever signed on for.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. I say that to myself every day. I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n
And it was quiet. And Giles was here. And whatever was coming was going to make the graveyard shift look like a party.<\/p>\n
TBC…<\/b><\/p>\n