{"id":7068,"date":"2015-08-02T00:58:07","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T23:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=7068"},"modified":"2024-11-11T20:47:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T20:47:04","slug":"to-be-alive-or-to-live-3-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/02\/to-be-alive-or-to-live-3-7\/","title":{"rendered":"To be Alive or to Live. 3-7"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter Three<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t just stay here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, be\u2026rati\u2026reas\u2026just think would you. Lorne said that there was nothing we could do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNO. I won\u2019t believe it. I don\u2019t believe it. I wil\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, please give me the opportunity to research what Lorne said. Possibly there is an answer. We can\u2019t be sure that more harm won\u2019t be caused, if you go see Cordelia, right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, wonderful all the good guys stacked neatly in a row.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLorne?\u201d Wesley looked at the out of breath demon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know I\u2019m not looking my best, but I thought I should warn you that Cor\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGreen guy, were you about to talk about me behind my back.\u201d Cordelia stood in the entrance of the hotel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, not Pri\u2026Cordelia. Um, just wanted to be here in case I was needed. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, right. I thought we covered all of this. What did you take, the sewers?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to fill in the boys, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordy?\u201d Angel stood still.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, ..Groo, Wesley, Gunn\u2026Hi. Actually, Groo, goodbye. The Powers have spoken, you are going home. It seems that they have gone with the warrior with tenure and shaky track record. Go figure, huh. Oh, and Angel, Wesley and Gunn, there\u2019s a crustacean demon on the docks, killing people. So, you better skittle. Save the hopeless and all that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, go. I had a vision. You\u2019re the warrior. Or are you giving up that too?\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvil demon killing innocent people. Fight now, talk later. While you’re gone Fred and I, Hi Fred, will move the stuff back.\u201d Cordelia looked around at the lobby of the Hyperion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou were right, Wesley, this place is perfect and now it seems that we will need the UV protected tunnels. It wouldn\u2019t do for the warrior to go up in a burst of flames. No more sunbathing for you, hmm,\u201c Cordelia glanced at Angel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou had a vision.\u201d Wesley stared at the beautiful girl. Her eyes were clear, there was no sign of puffiness or dark circles, nothing that would have indicated that she had one. She looked\u2026.perfect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRepeating myself, Crusty Demon on the docks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, you don\u2019t seem\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWeak, whining and ugly. No, barely even felt it. Which, I must say I\u2019m grateful for, all that scrunching and wincing was doing a number on my complexion. Gone on much longer, I would have had the wrinkles of a fifty year old. Ewww. Guys, go. This is what we do. Save the hopeless. The victim in my vision s certainly qualified. Why do all the hopeless have smell? \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrinces\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s eyes never left Cordelia. They raked over body, studying it, until they reached her face. There was nothing in her bearing or expression that he could read. Until then, until Groo spoke. Then he saw her tense, her spine straighten as she turned to the Pylean. If Angel hadn\u2019t been studying her so closely, he would have missed it. But he had no idea what it meant, what any of it meant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGroo, I\u2019m not your princess, I\u2019m no one\u2019s princess, I\u2019m a seer, Angel\u2019s seer. You\u2019ve been fired. Sorry. But if you really want to help you can help Fred and I move the heavy stuff at least until the whirling hole shows back up. It should be soon, but you could probably get in a couple of the bigger boxes, first.\u201d Cordelia turned back to Angel and Wesley.<\/span><\/p>\n

She met Angel\u2019s questioning stare calmly. \u201cAngel, go, bad guys to kill, hopeless to save.\u201d She shooed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter four<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrincess\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGroo, thanks for the help, but I really think that you should go with Lorne now. The portal to Pylea will be opening anytime and you don\u2019t want to miss it.\u201d Cordelia led Groo to the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Princess, you need\u2026.\u201d Groo kept stopping and looking down at the young woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just it. I don\u2019t need you.\u201d Cordelia forced herself not to roll her eyes. It was difficult, but it wasn\u2019t his fault. He couldn\u2019t help being annoyingly clingy and dumb. She plastered on a big smile. \u201cGroo, it was really great how you jumped right in. But, boy, I just bet Pylea is falling apart without your wisdom and strong arm to guide it. Think of the people. They need you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lorne leaned up against the doorframe, his arms crossed, and eyes rolling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut..\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo\u2026I\u2019ll miss you, but go. Groo long goodbyes are such sweet sorrow. It would be easier for me if you left right away.\u201d And people thought she couldn\u2019t act.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs you wish, princess. I can not cause you pain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia stood and watched Groo leave. Her smile firm on her face, her hand alternating between wiping her eyes and waving in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordy are you all right? I know you cared about him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia turned and looked at Fred. \u201cYou did? Sorry, you were wrong. What a pain in the ass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred blinked at Cordelia\u2019s cold tone and decided to change the subject. \u201cUm, do you need any aspirin or anything? I mean you did just have a vision\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike an hour ago. Weren\u2019t you paying attention when I said, pain gone, hardly noticeable. Were you drifting in and out of LALA land again? Really, Fred you need to start paying attention. You are in the real world, now. You keep doing the space cadet thing, people will begin to thing you\u2019re nutty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred opened her mouth than shut it. She didn\u2019t know how to respond. Cordelia\u2019s tone was borderline harsh, not at all the friendly teasing tone that she usually used with Fred. Fred liked that tone. In an odd way, it made Fred feel accepted and it made her giggle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred watched as Cordelia busied herself in the lobby. Well, Cordelia looked perfectly fine, very beautiful, not a hair out of place. So, maybe the vision hadn\u2019t hurt her. Fred shook her head. It was just that up until now, the visions had done nothing but cause Cordelia excruciating pain. Everyone had been worried.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred didn\u2019t understand. But no pain was a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey have been gone a long time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho has?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred widened her eyes in disbelief. \u201cAngel, Wesley, and Gunn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHave they? I hadn\u2019t noticed. What, you worried?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia shrugged. \u201cI imagine if something was wrong they would have called or something. Damn\u2019t, it is late.\u201d Cordelia looked at her watch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred sighed. That\u2019s better, she was used to an anxious Cordelia, who was always worried about her friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve missed my nail appointment. Thanks a lot, Groo. If he hadn\u2019t been so damn hard to get rid of, I could have made it. Now look.\u201d Cordelia flashed out her nails. \u201cI have to wait another couple days. Look,\u201d Cordelia grimaced at her nails.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred looked at the flawless red nails. \u201cThey look fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHmmph, really Ms. Fashion plate. Maybe for a cave. This color is so 24 hours ago.\u201d Cordelia picked up the phone to make another appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred turned to look at the door. She wanted the others to come back, obviously because she wanted to know that they were safe, but also, because she didn\u2019t want to be alone with Cordelia anymore. Fred didn\u2019t know what was going on, but this Cordelia made her nervous.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter five<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Gunn and Wesley came in dirty and limping, holding a bleeding Angel between them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel.\u201d Running up to the trio. \u201cIs he all right?\u201d Fred looked fearfully at all the blood that coated Angel\u2019s shirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia put down her magazine, got up, and wandered over. She looked at Angel\u2018s wound, pulling the torn shirt aside. Angel stared at the young woman. Hope crept in his pain filled eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s alright. I\u2019ve seen worse. A couple hours of sleep and he\u2019ll be all healed. The benefits of being a vampire, uh Angel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The hope fled from Angel\u2019s face as he looked into her eyes. There was nothing there. The light that had always been present in Cordelia\u2019s beautiful eyes was gone. There was no care, no joy, and no pain. Nothing that Angel could connect with or hold on to. Cordelia shrugged at Angel\u2019s bleak expression and went back to her magazine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia\u2019s right, I\u2019ll be fine. I just need to lie down.\u201d All signs of emotion had fled from Angel\u2019s countenance, leaving nothing but blank stone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTold you. \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, all that blood.\u201d Fred gulped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe shouldn\u2019t go fighting on a full stomach. It\u2019s sort of like squashing a mosquito that just bit you. \u201c Cordelia said, her eyes never leaving her magazine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia.\u201d Wesley looked shocked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? I\u2019m right aren\u2019t I? Angel, you had some blood before you went out didn\u2019t you? Hmmph.\u201d Cordelia turned the page, not expecting or wanting Angel to answer her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going upstairs.\u201d Angel shook off Gunn and Wesley\u2019s aid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordy? Aren\u2019t you going to help him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a big vamp, he can take care of himself. Oh, all right,\u201d She said at Fred\u2019s shocked look. \u201cHey, Angel do you need my help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank you Cordelia.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia shrugged. \u201cI offered, satisfied? Look, Fred, if you think Angel needs help you do it. It\u2019s not exactly difficult just go wipe up the blood and slap some bandages on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy won\u2019t you do it?\u201d Wesley said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia met Wesley\u2019s contemplative look straight on.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne, I don\u2019t want to. Two, he doesn\u2019t need it. Three, I don\u2019t want to. Four, he doesn\u2019t need it.\u201d Cordelia checked off each statement with a finger. She waved her thumb. \u201cDo you need to hear my fifth reason?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you all looking at me as if I\u2019ve grown two heads? If you think Angel needs help and was lying when he said he didn\u2019t then one of you go help. Fred will do it. She is just dying to go up there and kiss him all better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, it\u2019s no secret that Fred has a crush on Angel.\u201d Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cOh, don\u2019t be embarrassed Fred, it\u2019s perfectly understandable he did save you from your total non existence in Pylea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, we all will go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia raised her brows at Wesley.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExcept you of course Cordelia as you don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t need it. But, if you all feel the need to go and hold his hand, then by all means. Go and leave me in peace.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter six<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell is going on with Cordy? When did she become Bitch Barbie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is she being so mean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley shook his head and opened the door to Angel\u2019s suite. Angel was sitting on the side of his bed, his shirt off, displaying hideous criss- cross slashes along his chest. He was mechanically wiping the blood up. There was a roll of bandages and tape lying next to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, let me.\u201d Wesley held out his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need help. Just go. All I need is some sleep. Cordelia is right; it\u2019s a benefit. Now, just leave me alone.\u201d His brown eyes blank and dull.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel, Cordelia is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlive and no longer suffering. That\u2019s all that matters. Now, leave me alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a bitch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe is alive. Now leave.\u201d Angel said lowly and firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell is going on?\u201d Gunn was getting very impatient. Wesley and Angel knew something. It was time for one of them to spill. And obviously, it wouldn\u2019t be the vampire. \u201cEnglish.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDownstairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike I want to be subjected to the princess with a \u2018tude\u2019 again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe is just not being very nice. She’s not like Cordy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut she is alive.\u201d Wesley sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what is that supposed to mean. That\u2019s what Angel kept saying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter seven <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBack so soon, told you he didn\u2019t need help. Angel is fairly self-sufficient, hence the long life and all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe will be fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m going home. I\u2019ll call if I have a vision. I should’ve just called the last time, Dennis is more entertaining than you guys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUm, Cordy.\u201d Fred fidgeted nervously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow what.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred blinked. \u201cUm, Are you still going to my lecture?\u201d Fred didn\u2019t want to ask her, but Cordelia had said she would go and give her moral support when she did her project for her physics class.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though, Fred wasn\u2019t sure that the young woman standing before her was capable of giving anyone moral support.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would I want to go your boring old lecture? Listening to a bunch of egg headed geeks ooh and aah over god only knows what is not my idea of a good time. Life\u2019s too short for that mind numbing garble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred flinched as if she had been struck.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo home.\u201d Wesley said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my plan. Bye all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Fred.\u201d Wesley placed an awkward hand on her shaking shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Angel turned from the top of the stairs and went back into his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStart talking English.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley took his glasses off. He began to wipe them roughly against his shirt and started to repeat all that Lorne told Angel and him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 8<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter Three \u201cI won\u2019t just stay here.\u201d \u201cAngel, be\u2026rati\u2026reas\u2026just think would you. Lorne said that there was nothing we could do.\u201d \u201cNO. I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7068"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13523,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7068\/revisions\/13523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}