Part 22<\/b><\/p>\n
Wesley flattened his tall frame against the surface his body blending into the wooden fence and concentrated on the house across the street. He wouldn\u2019t think about his beautiful friend lying in a pile of dust on bedroom floor or his part on how it happened.<\/p>\n
It could be fixed.<\/p>\n
Do this and Cordelia will never have experienced any of the horror. His lovely friend and Angel would be back where they belonged. He watched and waited outside Buffy\u2019s house for the Angels and Cordelia to show up.<\/p>\n
Wesley moved back even further into the darkness as he saw the vampires and the girl. Wesley was grateful that Cordelia was with them. Had she not been, he would\u2019ve never known which Angel was which.<\/p>\n
They were identical in every way except in clothing, but even that was similar both wore leather jackets and dark pants, their shirts being the only thing of any real difference. But, Wesley had no doubt which vampire was his friend.<\/p>\n
There was no mistaking the vampire that was engaged in a whispered futile argument with the young woman. The vampire rubbed furiously at his temple while his other hand kept a protective hold on Cordelia, his body between hers and the other Angel. It was a common enough scene, the contest of their wills coupled with obvious love.<\/p>\n
Wesley stayed still as Angel pushed the young woman towards Buffy\u2019s house. When the vampires had left he followed hoping that the Angels would keep their speed at a human rate. He couldn\u2019t lose them but he couldn\u2019t interfere, not until the Angeluses were dealt with.<\/p>\n
Cordelia had said that the Angeluses had been taken care of, he couldn\u2019t take the chance that his presence would mess that up -too much had already gone wrong.<\/p>\n
Wesley paused, holding back, puzzled that the vampires were heading into Sunnydale High School. He understood as soon as they reappeared. Angel B was carrying a rifle. He nodded and began to follow again.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley shook his head at the sight before him. Two vampires, looking exactly like his friend brutally fighting, while two others stood and peppered them with tranquilizer darts. He moved closer as the Angeluses crumbled, raising his crossbow as soon as the threat of the soulless vampires was contained and he was free to shoot.<\/p>\n
With frustration, Wesley tried to find a shot but the vampires weren\u2019t cooperating with his silence curses and instructions. He knew from earlier the differences between the vampires\u2019 shirts, but both broad leathered-coated backs looked the same.<\/p>\n
Wesley lowered his weapon as both vampires each swung an unconscious burden over their shoulder, deciding to follow and wait a little longer for a better opportunity.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley debated whether to get any closer to the apartment. There was some validity to the plan of surprising Angel B, shooting first and explaining later. But sneaking up on a vampire was problematic. Wesley moved closer making his decision. Hopefully, the vampires would be preoccupied with the Angeluses and the spell. He couldn\u2018t keep standing on the street not knowing when Angel B would decide to betray Angel.<\/p>\n
Wesley opened the door. The scene before him unfolded in slow motion. Angel turning is back to the closing portal, speaking. Angel B, answering raising the rifle. Wesley jerked out his weapon calling to Angel. Both Angel\u2019s turned, one in surprise then other with his rifle raised. Wesley flinched as the dart knocked him back, his crossbow falling to the floor.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s exclamation was cut off as he felt the twinge of a prick enter his shoulder. He lurched away from the vampire grabbing for Wesley\u2019s disregarded crossbow. The arrow left the weapon as another dart pierced his chest. Angel\u2019s last sight before losing consciousness was his attacker still standing, the arrow embedded in his chest, but not his heart. His last thought was fuck. His last feeling was fear for Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Angel B winced yanking at the bolt and stripping off his bloody shirt. He had wanted to explain- to tell Angel that Cordelia would always be safe, reassuring the vampire before he died but there wasn\u2019t much point to it now. He looked down at Wesley\u2019s slumped form. Angel B didn\u2019t want to kill the human. Wesley was supposed to be his friend.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t too late. Just do the spell go back to his time. The drugs would where off both the vampire and the human soon enough. They would be fine and go together to get Cordelia. They would wonder about his actions, but they ultimately wouldn\u2019t care because they were alive and Cordelia safe. It could work.<\/p>\n
Angel B looked back to the fallen vampire with a soul. That vampire would go back, would touch Cordelia, would love her be loved by her. Never Angel B, because he would cease to exist, he would never touch or hold Cordy in love. No. Angel B buried any guilt for what he was about to do. It would be worth it. Angel B reached down grabbing Wesley\u2019s neck and twisted.<\/p>\n
It was okay. Wesley hadn\u2019t felt the pain of death and neither would the vampire.<\/p>\n
Part 23<\/b><\/p>\n
Fred yelled louder than needed. Gunn poked his head up from the basement, looking to where the young woman was pointing.<\/p>\n
He ran to the opening in the atmosphere. He waited expectantly as the chasm got larger. He glanced at Fred.<\/p>\n
Fred crossed her fingers.<\/p>\n
A vampire clad in leather jumped through. Gunn moved closer. \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, and more importantly,\u201d he held up a glowing globe. \u201cCordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley?\u201d Fred asked looking behind the vampire into the portal that was closing.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked to the young woman. \u201cUm\u2026he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot what we wanted to hear.\u201d Gunn shot his darts.<\/p>\n
The vampire fell. The globe in his hands shattered against the floor, the light fleeing from the confines traveling upwards towards the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn.\u201d Gunn shouted. \u201cI\u2019ll take care of the vamp, you go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred was already running for the stairs.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordy shot up on the bed. She was home. She scrunched her brow as Fred burst through the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy,\u201d the young woman flung herself onto the bed taking Cordelia in a huge hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred?\u201d Cordelia pushed at the young woman noticing her tears. \u201cFred, what happened?\u201d Cordelia looked around. \u201cWhere\u2019s Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so awful.\u201d Fred hugged Cordelia again.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still awful, I think.\u201d She squeezed, mumbling into Cordy\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
Cordelia gave in and let the woman hold her tight. After a moment, Cordelia moved her arms off her. \u201cFred? Where\u2019s Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred shook her head, tears flowing freely.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred, speak, please.\u201d Cordelia said tightly, the ache that she had felt in Buffy\u2019s house intensified. \u201cHe\u2019s fine,\u201d Cordelia denying the inexplicable twisting of her heart. \u201cHe said so, he did the spell to get us home. Everything was fine.\u201d She insisted over the feeling of loss and wrongness.<\/p>\n
Fred shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn\u2019t Fred, talk to me.\u201d Cordelia yelled.<\/p>\n
Fred gulped and nodded. \u201cUm\u2026Okay\u2026.I don\u2019t know where to start,\u201d she sniffled wiping at her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cStart with where is Angel.\u201d Cordelia demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not sure. Okay, that\u2019s not going to work. What do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? What do you mean you\u2019re not \u2026.\u201d Cordelia attempted to rise from the bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, Cordy,\u201d Fred begged, her hands still covering the other woman\u2019s pulling her down.<\/p>\n
Cordelia took a deep breath. \u201cI was at my parent\u2019s house. Angel showed up, then the another Angel, Angel B, Wesley sent him because something went wrong, we fixed it, Angel and Angel B went to send Angelus 1 back and make sure Angelus 2 didn\u2019t cause trouble. I was at Buffy\u2019s. I felt something, it wasn\u2019t a vision but it was real, something happened to Angel, so I left Buffy\u2019s but Angel found me, he was alright, we came home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred nodded, really happy that Cordelia had labeled all the Angels, the chart was already taking shape in her head. \u201cOkay, we don\u2019t remember sending Angel B, don\u2019t know him. But, since we did, it was because Wesley\u2019s potion must have enabled us to realize that something had gone wrong. Anyway, we – Wesley, Gunn, and I, were waiting for Angel to come through the portal with your soul in the orb. It had been about an hour when it happened. Your soul safe in the orb and who we thought was Angel\u2026did you just call him Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, oh. \u2026 He\u2019s Angel A.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMakes perfect sense.\u201d Fred nodded approvingly. \u201cWe thought it was Angel A, but it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Angel,\u201d Cordelia shook her head. \u201cIt was. He was wearing\u2026\u201d she puzzled, remembering the shock of the ache, the feeling that was still present. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought everything was fine, so did you sort of. You did express some concerns to Wesley but I didn\u2019t know that until later. Anyway, that night after Wesley and Gunn had left, Angel, the alleged A, came into my room and carried me into your room, we\u2019re going to have to call him Angelus B or Angelus 3, I\u2019ll have to think about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus.\u201d Cordelia whispered. \u201cNo\u2026no.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShush, you were there, a vampire. You staked Angelus B3,\u201d Fred nodded at her compromise.\u201d and told me to go hide in my room and call Wesley. \u201cYou, Cordelia…\u201d Fred puzzled,<\/p>\n
“Cordy the vamp, told us what had happened. Angel B killed Angel A and took his place, but he forgot his soul wasn\u2019t bound.\u201d Fred looked up. \u201cThat was really an important thing to forget, how do you forget something like that.\u201d She shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway\u2026you, Cordelia must have had sex with Angel B, thinking he was Angel A,\u201d Fred scrunched up her brow. \u201cThat would\u2019ve had to been the reason right? Right.\u201d Fred answered her own question not noticing the blood disappear from Cordelia\u2019s expression or the panic in her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Angelus B3 and then Cordy the vamp. You didn\u2019t have your soul, that\u2019s what you said, but you were being nice except for killing Angelus B3, but actually that was a good thing, so it wasn\u2019t bad. Cordy the Vamp told Wesley he had to go back and make sure that Angel B didn\u2019t kill Angel A and that he had to kill her, you, Cordy the Vamp. That it wasn\u2019t safe to let you live. Wesley killed you and left. Gunn and I took the wafers to protect our memories from any change in the time line and Angel, we don\u2019t have a clue if its A or B, came through the portal with the orb and your soul but no Wesley. Wesley\u2019s gone. He\u2019s not here. We don\u2019t know where he is. He could be dead, we don\u2019t know. Angel, whichever, is tranquilized.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared. Cordelia didn\u2019t know which was scarier, Fred\u2019s words or that Cordy understood everything she had said. The question was did she believe it. She knew she didn\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFred, we need to know what happened to Wesley.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree. But you didn\u2019t know for sure, until well, from what Cordy the vamp said until after having sex with Angel B by mistake, thinking it was Angel A, Cordy the Vamp didn\u2019t actually say that, but it’s the only thing that makes sense and you, Cordy the Vamp I mean, seemed pretty mad at Angel B and you, she, did kill Angelus B3.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia rubbed at her face, trying to find words and not screams. \u201cFred, I said talk, not sex.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred nodded. \u201cRight, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 24<\/b><\/p>\n
Gunn came out of one of the spare rooms, stopping when he saw Fred and Cordy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d he grunted a smile pulling Cordelia into a hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d Cordelia hugged the black man back. \u201cI need to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomebody\u2019s got to figure this out and fix it. You don\u2019t know for sure which Angel is in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGirl, you messed up once and that was a big one.\u201d Gunn warned.<\/p>\n
Cordelia squeezed her fist, digging her fingernails into her palms, fighting the desire to scream, cry and kill. \u201cI\u2019ve heard. But\u2026\u201d She looked back up to Gunn his expression solid in his resolve. \u201cCall Lorne.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded. \u201cCordy,\u201d<\/p>\n
She paused at the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going with your \u2018gut\u2019 or the vamp\u2019s attire. We\u2019re trusting you not to do anything until Lorne verifies which vampire is in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia lowered her head in a slow nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharles, that was mean. Nobody realized it. \u201c Fred glared. \u201c And she was right before when you and Wesley couldn\u2019t tell the difference between Angel and Angelus 1.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSlept with the wrong vamp,\u201d Gunn reaffirmed his position.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe told Wesley her doubts, he rationalized them away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGirl, I\u2019ll bet money that Cordy\u2019s \u2018gut\u2019 will be right, but I ain\u2019t betting her life, yours, mine or Wes\u2019 on it. Now she knows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 25<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia walked around the unconscious vampire. Gunn was wrong. She could tell. She plucked at her father\u2019s sweater. He stripped Angel and then killed him. Bastard. Cordelia now knew what the pain that pounded through her at Buffy\u2019s signaled, what the continuing ache was.<\/p>\n
It was obvious she had felt Angel die. She no longer was under the illusion that Angel B with his broody soul wouldn\u2019t be capable of such treachery. She believed Fred. She couldn\u2019t ignore the dread flowing inside, the one she denied because there had been a vampire before her with Angel\u2019s face and her dad\u2019s sweater.<\/p>\n
God, what a dangerous fool she had been. And Wesley was dead because of it.<\/p>\n
Cordelia glanced around the room. The nightstand had four quite lovely stakes for the making.<\/p>\n
She shook her head. Cordelia had promised Gunn. She wouldn\u2019t act until Lorne read the vampire. Still she had to hear the justifications of a vampire with a soul that could kill Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWakey, wakey,\u201d Cordelia slapped at the vampire\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
He growled, jerking at the chains. He blinked. \u201cCordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYep. You\u2019re in the Hyperion. I\u2019m home. Back to myself.\u201d She twirled to the vampire, showing him her present body.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d He tugged at the chains again.<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn,\u201d she sat on the edge of the bed. \u201cHe’s a bit doubtful about your identity right now. You know how he is about Angelus and for that matter about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat little problem you had with going evil all of a sudden still gets him spooked. And we did just come back from a place that was sporting two evil guys and a strange Angel. You can\u2019t really blame him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell him I\u2019m not Angelus. You know.\u201d Angel said. \u201cYou know it\u2019s me, right.\u201d He pleaded.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s eyes drifted back to the nightstand. It would be so easy. She took a deep breath. \u201cI know you have a soul.\u201d She smiled. \u201cBut, my say isn\u2019t enough. Gunn isn\u2019t impressed with my clothing arguments. He just doesn\u2019t trust you and I can\u2019t blame him. After all, all I can say is that you have a soul. I can\u2019t tell him which Angel you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, it\u2019s me.\u201d The vampire\u2019s rose in panic.<\/p>\n
Cordelia cocked her head, pointing at the sweater. \u201cMy father\u2019s. So, it has to be. Unless, Angel B changed shirts with my Angel before killing him, but how could that happen. Angel B has a soul. He wouldn\u2019t betray his soul like that. Would he? Could he?\u201d Cordy shrugged, looking at vampire. \u201cLorne will read you and then we all will know the truth.\u201d She got up from the bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have my soul. I AM Angel. Cordy, let me up. I love you, let me touch you, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia raised her brows. \u201cSorry. You know I can\u2019t go against Gunn on this. I\u2019m surprised that you would expect me to. Lorne will be here in a flash, Gunn will apologize, and you will say you understand. You do right, you should.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d Angel stared at the young woman\u2019s frank stare.<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
Cordelia beamed and sat back on the bed. \u201cI\u2019ll keep you company and you can tell me what happened to Wesley.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley.\u201d Angel hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. He\u2019s missing. He followed us, or actually followed Angel B as a back up plan. But, I didn\u2019t see him in 1998 and well, Gunn and Fred are pretty damn positive that they sent him and he\u2019s not here. So, where is he? Do you know? You must have seen him, after all, if you\u2019re here that means he stopped Angel B from killing you. So, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia interrupted him. \u201cWas it Angelus? Did he kill him? I could understand that- Angelus is a soulless vampire. Evil, capable of anything and everything, whoa, killing you, me, Wesley, no surprise but Angel with a soul doing horrendous acts, I don\u2019t know. I\u2019ve always had a hard time getting that because with it he\u2019s such a good man, with the biggest heart of anybody I know. Yet, I do know he\u2019s capable of cutting off his humanity, living in the dark, cutting off his friends and family. That Angel has always been scarier than Angelus, too many layers to be a cardboard villain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you talking about me in the third person.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAm I? Oh. Well. As I was saying even knowing what I know about Angel and his capability of being cold and dangerous, I never ever would imagine him killing Wesley or allowing Wesley, an innocent- not an evil lawyer, mind you, but an innocent- to be killed. To reject his soul to such an extent would be an act that couldn\u2019t be forgiven, never understood. So, what happened?<\/p>\n
Angel blinked at the chill flowing off the young woman. \u201cAngelus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded. \u201cSo, he told you before Angelus, which one by the way? Angelus 2 wouldn\u2019t even know that he was a threat, hadn\u2019t met Wesley yet, so was it Angelus 1. He could\u2019ve remembered that Wesley was with Angel when they saved me in 1898, he could\u2019ve remembered that Wesley and Gunn shot him down like a dog when he came to the future and did the spell that threw him back. I guess. Was it Angelus 1?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel slowly nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Wesley told you that Angel B was going to kill you, that Angel B being evil as well as stupid, forgot his soul wasn\u2019t bound, had sex with me, became Angelus B3, and turned me into Cordy the vamp? And then Angelus 1 killed Wesley? And you let him? That\u2019s so unlike you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou weren\u2019t a vampire. You aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but lets say that this all happened before. That Wesley, Gunn, and Fred realized what happened before Angelus B could kill them. So, Wesley being Wesley goes back. Only he hasn\u2019t returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy.\u201d Angel mind was spinning. Was the young woman speaking the truth? Had he really forgotten that? Had he let Angelus touch her once again? Oh god. \u201cCordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel. Why haven\u2019t you asked why Angel B would want you dead?<\/p>\n
Angel winced as her glittering glare and cold voice brought the truth to him. \u201cI\u2026Cordy, I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t, I don\u2019t care. I thought I did but I don\u2019t. All, I care about is that you killed Angel and most likely killed Wesley too when he tried to stop you. I promised Gunn that I wouldn\u2019t act until Lorne arrived. But as soon as he gold stars your warped fucked up soul, you\u2019re dust. I don\u2019t settle. There is only one vampire I want and you aren\u2019t him. But, don\u2019t worry I\u2019ll get him back. Time is a funny thing, you can fix you\u2019re mistakes. You have his beautiful face, but that\u2019s all you got.\u201d She moved to the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, I have a soul. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no version of me that gives a damn.\u201d She slammed the door.<\/p>\n