Part 16<\/b><\/p>\n
Wesley couldn\u2019t decide if he should stand or go sit behind his desk. After careful consideration he decided to sit, standing made him feel like he was on the defensive. Wesley was the boss of Angel Investigation.<\/p>\n
They were in his office; therefore Wesley would sit behind his desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve questions.\u201d Wesley decided to grab the demon by the proverbial horns.<\/p>\n
Angel stopped his pacing. \u201cA few.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley tried not to squirm at the anger- induced sarcasm that dripped from Angel\u2019s tone. \u201cOf course, what did Cordelia tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust enough to make me have more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich are?\u201d Wesley wasn\u2019t so much surprised at Angel\u2019s angry tone as his hesitation to get to the point.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could you let her go fight a Gorgon?\u201d Angel glared, settling on the first question he had for Wesley since he returned.<\/p>\n
Great. He had to start with that one. Wesley wished Angel would go back to pacing.<\/p>\n
Luckily, Wesley knew how to answer that question. He had not stopped thinking about it since Cordelia was killed as the result of his decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, Cordelia is a part of Angel Investigations. She wants to be a part of it. At the time of the call, we thought we were dealing with Gorgon larvae. We took precautions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPrecautions? What precautions? Cordelia was killed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, our information was incorrect as to how long the Gorgons had been in their cocoon state. They hatched before the spell was complete.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should\u2019ve never let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn hindsight, you may be correct.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn hindsight, Wesley.\u201d Angel swung around. \u201cIf she wasn\u2019t an Immortal, she\u2019d be dead. DEAD, Wesley.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley instinctively leaned back at the forcefulness of the vampire\u2019s words. Wesley pushed at his glasses and took a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realize that Angel, how could I not. Gunn and I watched her bleed to death. I was holding her cold hand when the doctors declared her dead. Believe me, I know. And had that been the case, it would\u2019ve been a guilt I would\u2019ve carried with me always.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think the fact the she\u2019s alive now absolves you for your poor judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it gives me leave not to dwell on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Wesley. I trusted you to keep her safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou left, I made my decision. Cordy wanted to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat makes it okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes it my decision and hers. You weren\u2019t here and honestly, if you were chances are you wouldn\u2019t have said ‘No’ either. You\u2019re even worse than I am at telling her no. Orders don’t work with Cordy, they never have, and you know that better than anybody. Angel, please understand Cordelia feels a very strong need to be an active part in what we do.\u201d Wesley decided on the \u2018we\u2019 rather than the empathic \u2018you\u2019 he wanted to shout to the high heavens.<\/p>\n
Wesley wasn\u2019t sure if Angel or Cordelia were quite ready to explore their feelings for each other any more deeply. \u201cShe wasn\u2019t having the visions. She was feeling useless and unnecessary- she wanted to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s stupid. The visions aren\u2019t what makes her who she is or why I need her.\u201d Angel started to pace again.<\/p>\n
Wesley blinked at Angel\u2019s choice of pronoun. Maybe Angel had taken his time away to explore his feelings for Cordelia. \u201cOf course, but she does feel that way, ridiculous or not. And the presence of Gabby has upset her further, unfortunately Cordelia has been taking her feelings out on Gabby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about this Gabriel. I mean do you trust her, she seems a bit a much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has been having visions and she\u2019s very nice just eager. Don\u2019t let Cordelia\u2019s feelings influence you in that regard. Gabby is trustworthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy said she got her killed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a mistake. If Cordelia would just be objective in regards to Gabby, she would admit that her own readings of her visions in the past weren\u2019t always 100 percent accurate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe never got one of us killed. I trust Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Wesley sighed. \u201cGabby is your seer, you have to give her a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever.\u201d Angel sat down in the chair and studied his hands. His head shot up. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t she tell me that she was dying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley took a deep breath. Good lord, Wesley had thought he already answered the hard question. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Angel. She didn\u2019t tell anyone. She said it was because there was nothing anyone could do. However, after seeing her reaction to Gabby, I believe that it has more to do with she was scared that we WOULD find a way to take her visions. She had the opportunity in Pylea and she chose not to. Cordelia\u2019s very protective of her visions and of you.\u201d Wesley took a chance with that last bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cStupid.\u201d Angel looked up again. \u201cShe could\u2019ve gotten rid of them in Pylea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes and before you ask I didn\u2019t know until all of this came out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow? Nevermind, I don\u2019t want to know, I have a feeling I\u2019d just get angrier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would agree there\u2019s no point to that discussion.\u201d Wesley was relieved he didn\u2019t want to have to explain the whole \u2018comshucking\u2019 prophecy with Angel.<\/p>\n
Angel pushed himself out of the chair and started to pace again. \u201cHow could you let a stranger live here? You should\u2019ve called me. Cordelia is my responsibility not this MacLeod\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCall you? Do remote Tibetan monasteries have phones now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a village surrounding it. It had phones.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you know this because you made all those phone calls to us informing us of your whereabouts and how you were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley brought up his hand to halt the vampire. \u201cAngel, we understand why you left. Buffy\u2019s death was very tragic and quite a blow especially to you. You obviously needed the time. But we couldn\u2019t just sit still and wait for you to return. Duncan and Methos were here they had the information that Cordelia needed to cope with her new status. Duncan had more than enough skill to teach her how to defend herself. He, as well as, Methos has been a great benefit on some of our case and Gabby\u2019s visions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDefend herself, right. What to do know about this Game?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately enough to know its true, but not enough to explain it completely or understand its purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can you be sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMethos and Duncan introduced me to a man, Joe Dawson. Joe is Duncan\u2019s watcher. Through him, I was given access to information on Immortals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA watcher?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Immortals have watchers. The watchers have a Council, a Council that is historically connected to my former but centuries separated from it now. An Immortal\u2019s watcher is a mortal that knows the existence of Immortals and records the Immortal\u2019s life for the benefit of knowledge and history. That\u2019s all they do, they don\u2019t interfere in any way. In most circumstances, Immortals don\u2019t know they have watchers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut obviously, Methos and Duncan do. Cordy has one of these watchers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMethos doesn\u2019t have a watcher. During a part of his life he infiltrated the Council and destroyed many of the references to his existence. Duncan found out through the negligence of his watcher and they eventually became friends. A friendship that is not looked well on by the Council, but again none of the Council has interfered with it. It\u2019s seems that a while back Duncan and Joe discovered some renegade watchers who were attempting to kill all Immortals. The council feels they owe the Highlander for cleaning up their mess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy\u2019s watcher, does she have one? Some stranger watching her recording her movements.\u201d Angel repeated the only part he cared about.<\/p>\n
Wesley stood and raised the sleeve of his right arm showing a circular designed tattoo on the inside of his wrist. \u201cJoe with his influence has convinced the Council that I, having some experience as a slayer\u2019s watcher as remote as it is to their purpose, be Cordelia\u2019s watcher. Without telling either council of Cordelia\u2019s true history, we- Duncan, Methos, Joe and I- felt that because of Cordelia\u2019s past connection with the Powers and her connection to the vampire with a soul that the recordings of her Immortal life be provided by someone that could edit where appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means I submit monthly reports on Cordelia\u2019s activities as I see fit. Cordelia was not happy about it. The first month she stole my report and sent a copy of a People Magazine article on Jennifer Anniston. Nevermind.\u201d Wesley said in response to Angel\u2019s puzzled look. \u201cNow, I\u2019ve taken to hiding my reports and only showing her after I\u2019ve sent it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel slowly nodded. \u201cHave you discovered any thing else about the Gathering?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing except that every Immortal believes it to be true. An inherent instinct I believe-when its time, all Immortals still alive will be drawn to the place of the Gathering and fight until only one remains. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of when or where that is to occur.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd these rules, the ones that say I can\u2019t interfere if Cordy\u2019s challenged?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are real and true. They must be abided by or it\u2019s chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re saying that Cordelia has no choice in this Game or its rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what is indicated in the writings. She\u2019s an Immortal, Cordelia is now living by their destiny and rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stared hard at his friend and turned quickly only to face Wesley again. \u201cSo then, MacLeod or Methos don\u2019t have a choice. They would fight and try to kill Cordelia if it came to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but they are no danger to Cordelia until then, which could be centuries or longer. Methos has been alive for over 5000 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they will be when the Gathering happens if they\u2019re still alive, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded and left the room.<\/p>\n
Wesley slumped back and rubbed the bridge of his nose. That didn\u2019t go too badly. Now, if he could just ignore how Angel\u2019s last statement sounded somewhat menacing. He looked up as Methos entered.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs the vampire more receptive to the changes that have happened since he\u2019s been away?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley sighed. \u201cNot that I don\u2019t appreciate all that you and Duncan have done since you been here, but it may be time for you to leave. Angel, the vampire, is back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be a no then. Problem with your suggestion, which I agree with, is I\u2019m not sure Duncan\u2019s ready to leave not without Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley stood up. \u201cHe has to be. I find it very unlikely Cordelia will change her mind about leaving LA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s been talking more about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was before Angel came back. She isn\u2019t going to leave him and he\u2019s not going to let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not his decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that, you know that, Angel even knows that, thing is I don\u2019t believe he\u2019ll care. Anyway, it doesn\u2019t matter. Cordelia doesn\u2019t want to leave him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we are dealing with a jealous vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be that way, not if you and Duncan leave now. Where is he by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUpstairs talking to Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease tell me that Angel went anywhere but upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat.\u201d Wesley leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face harder.<\/p>\n
Part 17<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel watched from the landing as Duncan exited the vampire’s suite. Duncan paused momentarily at the sight of Angel and then continued towards him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave Wesley and Cordy answered all your questions?\u201d Duncan stopped.<\/p>\n
Angel studied the Immortal. \u201cSome, I imagine, will never be answered. That\u2019s the way of life. But, I\u2019m clear on the important stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d The Highlander nodded and turned to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cMacLeod.\u201d Angel called as the Immortal tried to go past.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you\u2019ve been training Cordelia and Wesley has told me how you\u2019ve been helping with the visions- I should thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have\u2026\u201d Duncan stepped a foot closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t. I said I should. The thing is we don\u2019t need your help anymore. Cordy doesn\u2019t need your help anymore. You\u2019re what 450 years old, I\u2019m sure you have a life to get back to, I suggest you do it. You\u2019re done here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia is my friend. I\u2019m done when she tells me to leave.\u201d Duncan\u2019s friendly tone choked in his throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cFriend? You\u2019re an Immortal. You aren\u2019t her friend. You\u2019re a potential threat. What you need to understand is that since the first day Cordelia came into my life she became my responsibility. I will remove all threats to her that I can. I will keep her safe not you, not anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a threat to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stared. \u201cYou\u2019re not now but you will be if you\u2019re alive when the Gathering occurs. Just like any other Immortal. And I won\u2019t let anyone take Cordelia\u2019s head. I like it where it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t interfere if she is challenged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel laughed softly. \u201cI\u2019m a vampire, not much practice in following rules. But, who said anything about interfering. The way I see, I kill the Immortal before the challenge. It\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019ll find Immortal\u2019s difficult to kill.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, the sword. I can hold my own, but the funny thing is – I don\u2019t need one. I\u2019ve learned in my mere 250 years that there is more than one way to separate a head from shoulders; one of my favorites back in the day was just ripping them off. I kind of got off on getting my hands dirty back then.\u201d Angel shrugged with a cold smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you threatening\u2026\u201d Duncan said with disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Cordelia came out of Angel\u2019s bedroom.<\/p>\n
Angel stepped away from the Immortal. \u201cNothing, just thanking MacLeod for all his help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh uh.\u201d Cordelia glanced back and forth between Duncan and Angel. She hadn\u2019t heard what they were saying. But she recognized the tension between the two men.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Angel stepped closer ignoring the Immortal that his intention had been so focused on, pointing to the duffle bag in Cordelia\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cPacking, duh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going anywhere.\u201d Angel moved quickly ready to grab the bag out of her hand and throw it and her back in the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I am, or were you planning to let me have your room. Here, make yourself useful,\u201d Cordelia swung the bag that Angel had been ready to grab. \u201cWhile I get the rest of my stuff. Oh and find me a room that has a comfortable bed and good water pressure. Shoot, probably all the good ones are gone. This place is getting too crowded,\u201d Cordelia grumbled as she turned back into Angel\u2019s room. Cordelia popped her head back out the door. \u201cMaybe, I should just go back to my apartment. I miss Dennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll find you a good room. You\u2019re staying here for the time being.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmph. We\u2019ll see. Hey, have you eaten yet? Wesley brought back some blood for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure, because you\u2019re awful grumpy? I\u2019ll fix you something in a minute. See ya later, Duncan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you will, Cordy. Angel.\u201d The Immortal nodded went downstairs.<\/p>\n
Angel shot a dirty look at the Highlander\u2019s back and then hurried to find Cordelia a comfortable room, preferably one that was close to his.<\/p>\n
Part 18<\/b><\/p>\n
“The vampire just threatened me.\u201d Duncan leaned up on the counter next to Methos.<\/p>\n
“What did you do?”<\/p>\n
“At the threat or what did I do to get threatened?”<\/p>\n
“I already know what you did to get threatened. What did you do at the threat? I assume he’s not a pile of dust up there.”<\/p>\n
“I walked away.”<\/p>\n
“I think its time we both not only walk away but fly our asses back home.”<\/p>\n
“I’m not ready to leave yet.”<\/p>\n
“Why not? Duncan, the deal was to stay until Cordelia had someone that could train her. That person’s here, okay, he’s a melodramatic vampire but so what? Cordelia doesn’t have a problem with that so why should you.”<\/p>\n
“He actually cut her.”<\/p>\n
“Do you know how insane that sounds? Cordelia admitted she set it up. She’s an Immortal so no harm and again, so what. That sort of thing happens when training.”<\/p>\n
“I’m not sure he’s any good, probably relies too much on being a demon how\u2019s that going to help Cordelia.”<\/p>\n
“I’ve a hunch he’s good enough- look, Mac, how about we go look for Cassandra. Weren’t you just the other day expressing concern that we hadn’t heard from her?”<\/p>\n
“And didn’t you say so what?”<\/p>\n
Methos shrugged. “I just think our time would be better suited traipsing around Eastern Europe looking for Cassandra than staying here and pissing off a potentially dangerous demon.”<\/p>\n
“I’m not leaving until Cordelia tells me to. Until then, I’ll assume that she needs me to stay. I\u2019m not sure I trust the vampire.”<\/p>\n
“He’s one of the good guys. Power’s warrior and all.”<\/p>\n
“You said that meant nothing.”<\/p>\n
“Well, it does mean he’s not evil.”<\/p>\n
“Right, you heard what Wesley said about the past year, what the vampire did to Cordelia.”<\/p>\n
“Wesley was just talking, giving history, not given us carte blanche not to trust the vampire, every mortal in this hotel trusts Angel, Cordelia also. That’s all that matters. Let’s just go look for Cassandra; maybe she needs saving or something. She needs some better advice on research material that’s for sure.”<\/p>\n
“What do you mean?”<\/p>\n
“That book she sent us for is useless. It\u2019s just a spell book. There’s more historical data on Baba Yaga in Brother’s Grimm.”<\/p>\n
“I don’t understand. A fairytale?”<\/p>\n
“Baba Yaga is Eastern European folklore. A prototype for Hazel and Gretel, among others.”<\/p>\n
“Legends have a way of being true.”<\/p>\n
“Of course, but that book Wesley bought is full of spells. It would be like doing a biography of Julia Childe and using her recipes as research material.”<\/p>\n
“She must have some use for it.”<\/p>\n
“Well, if we go look for her we could ask.”<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m not leaving and Joe is checking with Cassandra’s watcher. If there’s a problem he’ll let me know and then I’ll decide if I need to leave.”<\/p>\n
“Wonderful. Let\u2019s just ignore the obvious danger to ourselves.\u201d Methos shook his head.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia wandered down the hallway, peeking in unoccupied rooms. Where did that damn vampire go with her stuff? She swung her knapsack over her shoulder. He better not have had gone to the third floor. That floor was a disaster.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head resisting the urge to just yell out at the top of her lungs. If Angel didn’t show up soon she was going to camp back out in his room. Damn. She turned towards the direction she came. She might as well pack another bag while she waited for the vampire to bless her with his presence and her new room.<\/p>\n
Cordelia tossed her bag on the bed and headed towards the dresser drawers. She was pretty sure that she got everything out but she better double check. She didn’t want Angel to freak if he found her panties and bras mixed in with his boxers. Cordelia flipped through the neatly folded material trying not to wrinkle anything. Who folded their underwear? Her hand rested on a soft pair of orange boxers with bright yellow smiley faces on them.<\/p>\n
Hmmph. They still had the tissue around them. Damn. The vampire never even wore them. That was the last time she spent any of her hard earned money on him or tried to liven up his sense of black as a fashion commandment. Hmmph. Well, if he didn’t want them she’d take them back. They were cute and real silk- awesome sleepwear. That vampire had no sense of fun that’s for sure.<\/p>\n
Cordelia jerked as she heard something bang in the bathroom. She stuffed the boxers in the Knapsack. Damn. She thought she glued that shelf on right the last time. Didn’t Angel ever put anything on it before? What’s a shelf for if not to hold stuff? Cordelia grabbed her other knapsack. She might as well start emptying the bathroom. Maybe she could prop the shelf up again. Angel wouldn’t know. And if it fell later, it’d be his fault not hers.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stopped once she entered the bathroom. The shelf hadn\u2019t fallen. She scrunched her face as she heard more banging. She moved cautiously towards the vibrating far wall. That’s weird. She’d been in Angel’s room for over three months and had no previous signs of a ghost. She moved closer scanning the cracks in the wall, her finger tracing the very uniform vertical line that reached up from the floor to the ceiling. She bounced back as the line became a crack and expanded. She moved to push at the door.<\/p>\n
“Okay whoever dead person you are, stop it, Angel’s going to blame me…Stop, whoops.\u201d Cordelia fell through the doorway landing in Angel’s arms.<\/p>\n
“Don’t scream.”<\/p>\n
“I wasn’t going to, lug head, what the hell.\u201d Cordelia pushed away from Angel’s grasp and looked around. “What are you doing in here, where is here?”<\/p>\n
“Your new room.” Angel shrugged.<\/p>\n
“My new what? Where did it come from?” Cordelia looked back to Angel’s bathroom. The cracks in the wall now clearly showed a doorway.<\/p>\n
“It’s always been here. It’s a big suite.”<\/p>\n
“It has not.” Cordelia strode into the middle of the room, yanking at the door across the room.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ll get it.\u201d Angel pulled using his weight. The door groaned and then opened. “See. It just sticks a little.”<\/p>\n
Cordelia peered out into the hall of the first floor. Sure enough it was a real room. How come she hadn’t noticed it before? Cordelia looked closer at the hall wall. Gee. That answered her question. The door had been wall papered over.<\/p>\n
“You want me to stay in an aromatically sealed room. Do you want me to asphyxiate? Do the windows even open and where’s the bathroom.”<\/p>\n
“You said you wanted a comfortable bed. It was the best I could find. Unless you want to kick someone out of their room.”<\/p>\n
“How about I kick you out? Where’s the bathroom.”<\/p>\n
Angel pointed to the room that Cordelia just exited.<\/p>\n
“That’s your bathroom, dumbass.”<\/p>\n
“Best water pressure. Unless you…”<\/p>\n
“Want to kick someone out. I’m still thinking about you.” Cordelia studied the doors. “There\u2019re no doorknobs.”<\/p>\n
“There’s plenty unused ones in the hotel, I’ll just take a couple.”<\/p>\n
“Right, Mr. Vamp Handy Man. Brute force might’ve unsealed this tomb but you’ll need tools to do that.”<\/p>\n
“I can do it and look at this way, you won’t have to move your stuff from the bathroom.”<\/p>\n
“You mean share…with you.\u201d Cordelia said in shock. “You who bitched and moaned all last summer when we had to share at my apartment.”<\/p>\n
“I did NOT. I merely wanted you to pick your wet towels.”<\/p>\n
“You did TOO. You couldn’t wait the blasted ten seconds it took Dennis to swoosh in and toss them in the hamper.”<\/p>\n
“I still can’t believe you make poor Dennis clean up after you.”<\/p>\n
“WHAT? He likes it.”<\/p>\n
“Right, all dead guys like to pick up after messy girls.”<\/p>\n
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. “Did you or did you not, DEAD guy, fold all my clothes, put my shoes in neat little pairs and line my lotions all in a row. In for what the two and half minutes I left you to warm your dinner.”<\/p>\n
“You’re exaggerating. Anyway, it’s easier to move if neat. I didn’t like to do it.” Angel kept his thought out of his statement. It would’ve taken him even less time but he had to drag the mattress from all the way down from the room at the end of the hall and break the showerhead of its bathroom.<\/p>\n
“No, you’re just freakily anal.” Cordelia took a deep breath. “Where’s my bag?”<\/p>\n
“I put your clothes in the drawer.”<\/p>\n
“I haven’t even said I like this room.”<\/p>\n
“There’s nothing wrong with this room. Check out the bed.” Angel sat bouncing slightly on the mattress.<\/p>\n
“Right, it’s been under wallpaper for probably a hundred years, moldy and stinky.”<\/p>\n
“It’s not.”<\/p>\n
Cordelia wandered over to the bed, testing it slightly. “I guess it’s okay, but what about the sheets, they’re probably all mothy and stuff.”<\/p>\n
“I put new sheets on it.”<\/p>\n
“When? Geez. We need to hire you out for those maid service gigs. Angel, have toilet brush and will travel and as a bonus will kill any pesky demons you may have as well.”<\/p>\n
“You said you wanted a comfortable bed and the best water pressure. This is it.”<\/p>\n
“A room that is connected to yours by a bathroom that we have to share.”<\/p>\n
“It is what is.\u201d Angel nodded philosophically.<\/p>\n
“Fine, but if I hear one peep of complaint from you about sharing the bathroom, your ass is on the third floor.”<\/p>\n
“I don’t complain.”<\/p>\n
“And here, I thought you didn’t have a sense of fun.\u201d Cordelia snorted. “Well, don’t just sit there with that goofy ass grin go get me some doorknobs.”<\/p>\n
“Right.” Angel ran down to the lobby to find Gunn figuring Gunn was the most likely of the Angel Investigations family who had any real experience with the handy man stuff.<\/p>\n
Angel sure didn’t and unless there was an instruction booklet Wesley would be useless.<\/p>\n