Part 20<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, hey, I got her. Gunn jumped towards the vampire, reaching to help him carry Cordelia as the vampire stumbled.<\/p>\n
Angel growled pushing past Gunn moving into the doctor\u2019s office, readjusting his hold on Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Gunn puzzled at the vampire’s misstep. Angel was damn strong and Gunn, in all of the times he’d witnessed Angel holding Cordy\u2019s unconscious body, Gunn had never seen Angel falter. In fact, it always seemed that Angel grew stronger as if his strength and will could flow over the young woman and make her well again.<\/p>\n
Gunn studied the vampire intently. \u201cMan, you don\u2019t look so hot.\u201d He finally concluded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, are you not feeling well? Are you? \u2026What\u2019s that?\u201d Fred\u2019s concern was interrupted momentarily by the sight of a metal chair up against the wall in the office.<\/p>\n
The chair had way too many long twisted steel appendages to be a normal chair. Clamps and vice grips seemed to grow out of each attached rod. Fred tentatively moved closer studying the chair that looked a lot like a large metal spider, a very scary large metal spider.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of Dr. Lota\u2019s patients have more than the standard number of legs and arms and an aversion to be poked and prodded.\u201d Lorne answered. \u201cAngel, put the princess over here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Fred winced, grateful that Lorne had directed Angel to a harmless looking hospital gurney. She shook her head retrieving the point she had been trying to make before,” It’s a doctor’s office, Angel, maybe it has blood, if you\u2019re hungry. Is that why you\u2019re not feeling well? Are you hungry?\u201d The worried look back on her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan ya wait to we get back to the hotel,\u201d Gunn said looking around at all of the other strange and alarming equipment in the room.<\/p>\n
Fred\u2019s eyes widen in more worry. \u201cCharles, do we have any? I didn’t pick up any fresh with Angel being gone and anything else we have is over a month old.” Fred squinted at Angel. “Is that too old? Have you eaten anything since you\u2019ve come back, you must be starving.\u201d Fred looked quickly around the room searching for anything red.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d Angel growled.<\/p>\n
“We’ll get some on the way home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, Charles,\u201d Fred continued to look at Angel with concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he was fine and this isn\u2019t any kind of doctor\u2019s office I\u2019d be wanting to be hanging out in or snackin,\u201d Gunn raised his brows at the long metal rod he had picked up, eyeing the grisly sharp pinchers at the tip. \u201cIt looks Dr. Frankenstein\u2019s Shop of Horrors. This guy can help Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Frankenstein was a quack.\u201d A tall very pale male with translucent skin showing prominent blue veins on his hands and face walked into the room plucking the rod out of Gunn\u2019s hand, his red eyes glowed through the spectacles he was wearing, his white coat fell loosely over his thin body covering what had to be more bright blue trails under transparent skin. \u201cAs for blood, I\u2019ve an excellent selection of various specious and types, you can never have enough. If the vampire is hungry- in the back room, rather there than us, I\u2019d say.\u201d The thin tall doctor chuckled, pleased with his joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said – I was fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The demon peered at Angel from over his glasses. \u201cI\u2019ve seen healthier specimens, but nothing that a couple humans won\u2019t cure. Joke.\u201d The doctor held out his hands at Angel\u2019s expression and Gunn\u2019s grunt. \u201cNo sense of humor. Fatal flaw in some demons AND humans. Now,\u201d he said rubbing his hands together towards Cordelia\u2019s body. \u201cWhat do we have here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has a device in her neck that needs to be removed as soon as possible.\u201d Lorne said quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that it?\u201d the doctor looked disappointed. \u201cWhen you told me it was the part demon seer I was hoping for something more exotic, maybe a chance to cut open her brain. You\u2019re sure the device is in her neck?\u201d The doctor perked up. \u201cMay I should cut the brain open just to make sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Frankenstein was a quack?\u201d Gunn moved simultaneously with Angel towards the doctor.<\/p>\n
The doctor waved them a way. \u201cFine, I\u2019ll take an X-ray. Possibly, as payment for my services, when the seer does die, I could have her brain? It would be a coup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne stepped quickly between a growling Angel and the doctor. \u201cJust remove the device, Angel isn\u2019t interested in your enthusiasm over his seer\u2019s lovely brain, which will be staying in her especially lovely head.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d the doctor sighed. \u201cVampire, I would have to agree with your companions, you do need to eat. You\u2019re pale and your extreme rudeness visibly indicates hunger and that\u2019s a medical opinion. The other room,\u201d he pointed. \u201cI will not let your neglect of your body\u2019s needs disturb this operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPale? Doc Wierdo has room to talk, I can practically see through him,\u201d Gunn leaned into Fred’s ear.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo talking either, better yet, leave. It is a easy operation, rest assured but I will not tolerate growling and chattering.\u201d The demon chastised leaning up from his patient.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not leaving.\u201d Angel growled louder.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Lorne pulled at the vampire. \u201cHe\u2019s right. Let\u2019s all just go wait outside, she\u2019ll be fine. He\u2019s temperamental but good. You should probably eat something. Dr. Lota said he had a variety. I\u2019m sure he said he had animal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t but I do. But, vampire, animal doesn\u2019t carry all the nutrients that the demon needs, human is the proper source of sustenance for your kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, stop with the pushing of the human stuff, Angel\u2019s on a pig diet.\u201d Gunn interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why the vampire is unwell. Human.\u201d The doctor lectured pulling down his spectacles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is everyone worried about my diet? And I’m not sick. Cordelia,” He growled emphasizing his priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, like a vampire\u2019s eating habits shouldn\u2019t be something worrisome. Maybe we should check out the supply, make sure it isn\u2019t spiked with anyone we know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShh, Charles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat bad things can only happen in three\u2019s, hate to mention it, girl, but we\u2019ve passed that clich\u00e9 a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCharles,\u201d Fred chided.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrumbcake, grumpy vampire\u2019s are not fun to be around.\u201d Lorne rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDangerous, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCharles,\u201d Fred repeated sternly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t talking about Angel\u2026.not exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust make her better.\u201d Angel growled and left the room, heading for the room of blood.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s hand automatically reached out for the bag of human blood. He wasn\u2019t sick not in any normal definition of the word but the hunger that had ate away at him in his imprisonment hadn\u2019t yet gone away. The smell of the room just made it more urgent.<\/p>\n
His demon was craving constant nourishment in an instinctual need to make its body whole and to calm its fear of another bout of forced starvation. Angel paused, turning searching until he smelled selections of animal. He moved towards it. Again, he paused; this time growling and going straight back to the human.<\/p>\n
He grabbed the bag and bit into it, drinking it in one gulp. He savored it for only a moment, half grateful and half cursing it\u2019s cold congealed state.<\/p>\n
He wanted warm and flowing, but the bag of human blood was all that was available. The warm alive humans in next room he couldn\u2019t touch, he knew that. But it didn\u2019t make wanting them in his embrace less enticing. Angel grabbed another bag. He leaned against the counter, this time drinking more slowly, feeling the blood working it\u2019s relief.<\/p>\n
The dead faces of Robbie and Laurie flashed in his mind. Angel ignored them, they had served a purpose, just has the human blood did now. He was still weak from his imprisonment and he needed to be ready when it was time to tear apart the ones that made Cordelia feel pain once done and he was whole again then he’d deal with his increased craving for human blood.<\/p>\n
Part 21<\/b><\/p>\n
Dr. Lota looked around the empty office. He should\u2019ve known better. He kept swearing over and over again that he would never ever do business with a vampire-they were untrustworthy. Not only didn\u2019t he get a promise of the woman\u2019s brain, he didn\u2019t get paid and the bloodsucker drank four of his best human blood specimen\u2019s, leaving a mess. Vampires, even with a soul, you couldn\u2019t trust them.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel remained seated at Cordelia\u2019s bedside waiting for the anesthetic to wear off.<\/p>\n
Gunn cleared his throat. \u201cAh, Angel, don\u2019t you think that it’s time that you let all of us in the loop. I don\u2019t know, for example, what’s Wes’ deal and how and where’s Cordy been? What the hell\u2019s happening? Just for example.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head. \u201cIt can wait until she wakes up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, it can\u2019t really- I mean I want to know- and she\u2019s sleeping- prognosis fine- so now would be kind of perfect, no interruptions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, Angel.\u201d Fred chimed in softly. \u201cCordy will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelcakes, come on, I\u2019m confused and I\u2019m rarely confused, bewildered and befuddled okay maybe but not confused.\u201d Lorne added.<\/p>\n
Angel glanced up from Cordelia then to his friends and proceeded to tell them everything that he knew.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Fred finally interrupted the silence that had descended the room once Angel stopped talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell Charles, you were right, Cordy wasn\u2019t on the moon, she was being held captivate for a month by Wolfram & Hart,\u201d Fred\u2019s voice was brittle, quiet but giving every indication that it would crack and explode in a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s was there being tortured for a month by Wolfram & Hart and Angel was at the bottom of the ocean put there by his son, who we couldn\u2019t find because he\u2019s being held by Wolfram & Hart, we didn\u2019t know, didn\u2019t find them, didn\u2019t save them,\u201d she swung around to her boyfriend her voice finally snapping.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of detectives are we? We\u2019re beyond BAD. And Wesley, what kind of double agent is he- I watch movies- spies are supposed to tell the good guys what the bad guys are planning before they do it, not after. Probably too busy sleeping with that skanky bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her relief that Wesley wasn\u2019t really working for Wolfram & Hart had turned by leaps and bounds to criticism at Wesley\u2019s perceived methods. She twirled and landed back in the chair her arms firmly across her chest glaring at everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cGirl. He was doing a job. Sure, the bitch is kind of hot, but\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHOT? I believe I said she was a SKANKY BITCH.\u201d Fred\u2019s glower focused entirely on her boyfriend.<\/p>\n
Gunn jumped back his dark face, blanching more than a few degrees. \u201cI said she was a bitch,\u201d looking for support from the other men and wondering at the same time why Fred was getting so upset.<\/p>\n
Sure, Wes and Lilah doing the bedroom tango wasn\u2019t a pretty picture, but sometimes a spy\u2019s got to what a spy\u2019s got to do. Gunn was just glad it wasn\u2019t him.<\/p>\n
\u201cKiddies. Wesley\u2019s undercover \u2018undercover\u2019 mission isn\u2019t the issue as torrid as it is. Angel cakes, are you sure about Wesley\u2019s loyalty?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel briefly looked up from Cordelia. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkaydokie, since you\u2019re the one that tried to smother him, we\u2019ll follow your say so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence again settled over the room. Angel went back to studying Cordelia\u2019s sleeping form. He jerked as he felt her hand move.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d Cordelia said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy.\u201d Angel pulled her up in a tight hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cUhuh.\u201d She said pushing back again. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t a Power\u2019s trip- what was it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWolfram & Hart\u2019s device-it blew up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Creepy Polly didn\u2019t tell me it could do that,\u201d Cordelia moved trying to get up.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I feel fine, a little whoosy and groggy, but fine. No permanent damage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Lota removed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d Cordy reached for the bandage on her neck. “Am I going to have a scar? I mean that’s what my stomach’s for.” Cordy shook her head. “Nevermind, hi guys.\u201d She waved to Gunn, Fred and Lorne.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Cordy, we\u2019ve been looking for you. Honest. Really. We just didn\u2019t find you. We\u2019re so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m found now,” Cordelia smiled at the forlorn expression on Fred’s pretty face. “It’s okay.” Cordy to the vampire hovering next to her. “Angel, I\u2019ve a plan.\u201d She yawned.<\/p>\n
\u201cSleep.\u201d Angel pushed Cordelia back on the bed. \u201cTomorrow you can tell us your plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy sighed,\u201d You too,\u201d she yawned again, pulling the vampire down next to her.<\/p>\n
Gunn and Fred looked at Lorne, both a little surprised that the vampire hadn\u2019t at least pretended to protest at the proposed sleeping arrangements.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on kiddies, the lovebirds need their rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLovebirds?\u201d Fred said once in question then a great smile over came her face. \u201cThank goodness, something went right.\u201d<\/p>\n