Part 75<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Angel is coming back.\u201d Fred said again just to be sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cLater tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes Cordy know?\u201d Gunn jumped on the counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t get that impression.\u201d Wesley shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, he\u2018s coming back, fine, but did he dump Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel would be surprised if he had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Gunn, I am aware of that, but Angel wasn\u2019t making much sense. He\u2019s under the impression that Cordelia was yelling and trying to kill the punching bag, just like I\u2019m sure he would attribute her slamming around upstairs to the fact that she doesn\u2019t want to go to the doctors not because he is going to see Buffy, his I quote \u2018old girlfriend\u2019. In fact, he expected Cordy to go with him but for the doctor\u2019s appointment. Of course, Angel didn\u2019t tell Cordy any of that.\u201d Wesley began to rub at his temples again.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 250 year old vamp, he\u2019s not real swift in the ladies\u2019 department, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have to agree that, he’s a dumbass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred chewed on her thumbnail, hating to agree but she had to add her meek \u2018me too\u2019.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, are you ready to the go to the doctor\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you, I\u2019m not going.\u201d She glared at her watcher.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you are. If I have to tie you up and drag you there.\u201d Wesley glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. Angel\u2019s just paranoid. Probably just doesn\u2019t want his seer\u2019s head to blow up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good thing to want, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you got to go, girl.\u201d Gunn nodded strenuously.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t either of you EVEN TRY to start telling me what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, you have to go, if not for you than for our peace of mind. Please.\u201d Fred asked.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wanted to yell at the young woman. But she just couldn\u2019t get mad at the pleading young woman. \u201cFine.\u201d Cordy grunted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll drive you.\u201d Wesley went for his keys.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can drive myself.\u201d Cordelia huffed.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, I said I could drive myself. Don\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t duck it.\u201d Cordelia slammed the door on her way out.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Wesley,\u201d Fred pushed at her glasses, finally noticing what the others had still missed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did Cordy have her bags with her? Why would she need her clothes to go to the doctors?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShit.\u201d Gunn jumped off the counter as Wesley grabbed for his keys again.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, we should have told her first that Angel was coming back tonight and that girl with the funny name was an \u2018old\u2019 girlfriend.\u201d Fred ran after the men.<\/p>\n
Part 76<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel yanked at the radio, finally shutting it off as he sped further down the road. Cordelia should\u2019ve told him that she was going to the doctors before he talked to Buffy and made arrangements to see her.<\/p>\n
There was no question that Angel was happy and more than a little amazed that Buffy was alive but it was more than that, Buffy had sounded a little off on the phone and that\u2018s why he had to verify that not only was she alive but also alright with his own eyes. But it could\u2019ve waited until after Cordelia had gone to the doctors.<\/p>\n
Damn. Cordy had been so mad in the basement, which probably meant she was scared. Angel wanted to kick himself. He should\u2019ve called and rescheduled the meeting with Buffy once the shock of the telephone call wore off and he realized the meaning behind Cordelia\u2019s anger.<\/p>\n
Angel pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and made sure it was on.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel pulled into the diner. The old diner was located on the bluff outside Sunnydale’s town limits. It was the place that Angel and Buffy had come during their old romance when they had the infrequent time to be able to shut out the hell mouth and everything else.<\/p>\n
Angel hadn\u2019t wanted to meet Buffy surrounded by all the Scoobies and it seemed Buffy didn\u2019t either as she readily agreed to meet him at their old place. Angel glanced out of darkened car window. Good, the sun would be going down soon.<\/p>\n
Angel was getting nervous. Maybe it was good that Cordelia wasn’t with him, but she could’ve probably joked, teased, whined, and\/or talked him out of his nervousness, she always did before. Angel checked his phone and watch again as he waited. He had been on the road for three hours, how long did a cat scan take?<\/p>\n
Angel shoved the silent phone back into his jacket and got out as the sun hit the horizon and a dark SUV pulled in the parking lot.<\/p>\n
Angel smiled as the pretty petite blonde climbed out the driver\u2019s window. Angel forgot how beautiful she was, but she was small. Not like Cordelia…Cordy was…lush, full, firm, begging for his touch. He shook the comparison from his mind as he welcomed the sight of a live Buffy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel and Buffy stared at one another for minute, not sure how to react. Finally they both gave a small chuckle and reached out their arms for tight hug. Angel\u2019s body enfolded around Buffy\u2019s he face nuzzling into her hair.<\/p>\n
Buffy pushed back. \u201cAre you sniffing my hair?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust checking, yep, you really are alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuh. Walking, talking, breathing, and\u2026my hairs smells? That\u2018s a sign of life now? Should I be flattered or insulted?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFlattered. It smells like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill not sure of the flattering bit, but I\u2019ll take your word for it.\u201d Buffy smiled.<\/p>\n
Angel grinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa that\u2019s a happy smile, not too happy I hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould I be running for my stakes?\u201d Buffy blinked at the laughing vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can laugh, Buffy, and I\u2019m happy to see you, but no need for any stakes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, since, you haven\u2019t tried to kill me or anything evil, I\u2019ll believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d Angel\u2019s smile dimmed. Buffy said she believed him but she was still eyeing him cautiously. Damn, had he never laughed in her presence before except as Angelus.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou hungry? We can go in.\u201d Angel asked to move past the descending uncomfortable silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really a blood diner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can drink coffee, eat too, we’ve gone in before. .\u201d Angel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh sure, right. I knew that. You just never do, just stare as I slurp, you sure you want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, I drink coffee all the time now, I think I\u2019m addicted, I blame it on Cordy,\u201d leading Buffy towards the diner.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia,\u201d Buffy nodded going past Angel into the small restaurant. \u201cWillow said she was still working with you\u2026as a belly dancer.\u201d Buffy cocked her brows. \u201cBikini top and bangles. Quite the sight around the office, uh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, oh,\u201d Angel realized suddenly what Buffy meant. \u201cNo. She doesn\u2019t wear that around the office, though it would be a sight.\u201d Angel smirked imagining Cordelia in the revealing costume running around the office. The small top exposing warm flesh barely hiding the breasts that ached to be touched, the bangles along the low waist swaying with her hips, the shimmering translucent scarves that covered but showed everything of her long legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Buffy coughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh.\u201d Angel blinked. Shit, he had been about to visualize which garment he would take off first. Angel quirked a small smile, squirming in his seat, adjusting his pants. Rule one. Don\u2019t fantasise about Cordy when not alone or when she wasn\u2019t in grabbing distance. Otherwise, it\u2019s uncomfortable and potentially very embarrassing.<\/p>\n
Angel shook away the remainder of the vision. Shit. His fantasy Cordy just winked and flashed him before she disappeared. Damn, she was a tease even in his thoughts. He needed to get home soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, what. Oh. That wasn\u2019t a belly dancer outfit. She had to wear that when she was made a Princess in Pylea. I don\u2019t know even if she still has it.\u201d Angel wrinkled his brow. He\u2019d have to find out when he got home and if she did, he had to make sure it stayed in their bedroom. Angel shook his head at the new image that was forming trying to concentrate on Buffy.<\/p>\n
\u201cPylea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHell dimension. Cordy got sucked through a portal. We had to go get her. We had just gotten home when Willow told us\u2026.about\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe dying, right.\u201d Buffy looked up as a waitress came by. \u201cCoffee, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy- a princess of a hell dimension, some how that doesn\u2019t seem so surprising.\u201d Buffy twirled the sugar packet on the table.<\/p>\n
Angel puzzled, not sure how to respond so he changed the subject. \u201cHow are you?\u201d He chuckled self-consciously, \u201cthat\u2019s a stupid question, but\u2026how are you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy raised her eyes. \u201cLaughing, chuckling, everything changes doesn\u2019t it.\u201d She sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy, what is it? Are you not all right? Tell me,\u201d he reached over and covered her small hand in his, picking it, studying the delicate hand that hid such tremendous strength. \u201cYou look sad, great, but sad, talk to me. I\u2019m here for you.\u201d Angel dropped her hand as his phone rang.<\/p>\n
\u201cHold on.\u201d He scrambled in his pocket. \u201cI\u2019m expecting a call. God, I hate these things,\u201d he cursed at the cell phone.<\/p>\n
Part 77<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, where to?\u201d Gunn said from the front seat of Wesley\u2019s car.<\/p>\n
\u201cAirport? Oh, god, you don\u2019t think, Cordy went to Duncan, do you? He wanted her to leave with him. Maybe, I should call Methos.\u201d Fred suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cMethos? What\u2019s with you and him, girl?\u201d Gunn shot over the seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith? Nothing, I just thought if Cordy went to Duncan\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, why don\u2019t we start with the doctor\u2019s office? Cordy, said she was going there.\u201d Wesley took a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould we call Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShit, it\u2019s the damn vampire\u2019s fault she all freaky.\u201d Gunn shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you stop with the \u2018freaky\u2019.\u201d Wesley retorted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with freaky?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a word.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, stop. Wouldn\u2019t Angel want to know that Cordy took her bags and left?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe just left the hotel, we don\u2019t know that she left the city, let\u2019s not panic. Look for a parking space, the doctor\u2019s office is over there,\u201d Wesley indicated a large high rise.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me, Excuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYoa,\u201d Gunn pounded on the counter, ignoring the glances of the patients waiting in the lobby, when Wesley\u2019s polite attempts to get the receptionist attention resulted in a blank stare and a back.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, this is a doctor\u2019s office.\u201d The horned rimmed blue haired woman pinched her lips at the young people huddled around her space. \u201cNo disturbances, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn hung over the high surface. \u201cThen tell us where Cordelia Chase is then I won\u2019t pound anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmph.\u201d The woman lowered her glasses and peered at a chart hidden on her desk. \u201cShe\u2019s with the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d Wesley pulled at Gunn. \u201cSit down, we\u2019ll wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred leaned over Gunn who had sprawled his large frame in a small chair, to tug on Wesley\u2019s shirt. \u201cYou will tell Cordy right away that Angel is coming back, right? That he didn\u2019t mean to dump her, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Gunn turned the children’s magazine upside down.<\/p>\n
“There.” Fred jumped up in her chair, pointing at the word hidden in the mismash of letters.<\/p>\n
“Cool.” Gunn circled where Fred indicated.<\/p>\n
“It’s just like numbers, you just got to know what you’re looking for. There,” Fred happily pointed out another word.<\/p>\n
Gunn narrowed his eyes. He was getting killed. He turned his attention elsewhere, throwing the magazine over his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hours, Wes man, three hours, what kinds of tests are going on back there?\u201d Gun shifted uncomfortably in the shrinking chair.<\/p>\n
Fred jumped quickly grabbing at the magazine.<\/p>\n
Wesley shook his head, put down the scientific magazine, and went back to the counter. \u201cExcuse me, Mam, MAM,\u201d Wesley said louder.<\/p>\n
The older woman pushed at her hair sprayed colored bouffant, taking a loud breath. \u201cYes.\u201d She sighed with the burdens of the world on her shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Chase, is she done yet.\u201d Wesley tried to maintain his patience at the caricature’s attitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Miss Chase, left over an hour ago, through the exit,\u201d She pointed into some hidden maze beyond her shoulder.<\/p>\n
Wesley lowered his head, bright pink spots flared over his fair skin, settling around his neck. He calmed his urge to throttle the old woman. \u201cWhy weren\u2019t we informed, I believe you had to know that we were concerned about her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re her friends?\u201d She peered over her horn rims.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we were asking about her, why we were concerned. Why we’ve been waiting three hours, obviously one hour too long.\u201d Wesley said tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, then she said to give you these.\u201d She handed Wesley a large vanilla envelope. \u201cI believe she left you a note.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d Wesley squeezed out the words of gratitude, forcing down the expletives that rolled on his tongue.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d Gunn waved the X-rays in the air. \u201cThe red is good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe red is good. This X-ray looks the same, as the one taken after she became Immortal that last vision did no damage. The report says the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCool.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, this means we leave her alone,\u201d Fred fluttered the paper filled with Cordelia\u2019s scribble stating clearing I\u2019m at home with Dennis, do not call, come by or anything. I\u201dLL<\/b> call if I get a vision\u2019<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you going to tell Angel\u201d Fred leaned in between the two front seats.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Cordelia is healthy.\u201d Wesley dug into his jacket for his cell phone.<\/p>\n
Part 78<\/b><\/p>\n
Buffy wrinkled her brow she listened to Angel\u2019s half of conversation on the phone. It was a little bizarre.<\/p>\n
He had just been in the middle of comforting her begging her to talk, when in a blink of a telephone ring, she was out of his mind. She couldn\u2019t remember a time when they had been together that his attention hadn\u2019t been completely focused on her and\u2026 he had a cell phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo damage at all?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy watched as another unexpected smile appeared on Angel\u2019s face, only bigger than before. She listened closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me talk to Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean I can\u2019t? Why not? She\u2019s still mad isn\u2019t she? Damn. Put her on the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you meant you can\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, where is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHome? Why aren\u2019t you with her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you to go with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know again that everything is fine?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell tell her to call me. I\u2019ve my phone. It\u2019s on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSarcasm is unnecessary Wesley, just tell her to call.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel frowned as he flipped the phone shut.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything all right?\u201d Buffy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, great, I think. Cordy had a doctor\u2019s appointment. She didn\u2019t want to go. But she promised- she had a \u2026slight problem earlier in the year, just checking that it didn\u2019t come back. Wesley said the reports were fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, why are you frowning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Wesley to go with her, she was scared to go. But, did he listen to me, no, he let her bully him into going alone. She shouldn\u2019t have had to go alone. I should probably call her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, she\u2019ll call me, though she should\u2019ve called me when she found out. She\u2019s mad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d Buffy wrinkled her brow again. \u201cUm. Do you need to leave?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked at his watch. \u201cUm\u2026.\u201d Then looked at the blonde. \u201cNo, she’ll call, I\u2019ve got plenty of time, where we\u2019re we? Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy bit her lip. She didn\u2019t want to have to tell Angel that he had been on the way to make her feel better. His presence, his concern almost seemed to be normal, the way things should be, well, minus his smiling, his coffee addiction and seeming need to interject Cordelia\u2019s name in every other sentence. She took a deep breath.<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t wanted to tell him how she was really feeling anyway. Buffy had already made that decision before she came, she hadn\u2019t wanted to burden Angel with the fact that her friends had dragged her from heaven’ that she had been in a place that was safe where she was warm and loved, where she was complete and now she felt like she was in hell.<\/p>\n
Buffy had thought it was because he would react badly, blaming her friends, feeling guilty, aching for what she lost, but now she began to think that it was because he wouldn\u2019t feel so much. Life had changed since she died, she knew that, but she just thought\u2026.<\/p>\n
She leaned her head against the back of the tacky booth. Buffy just hoped that seeing Angel would give her the rush of feeling something. She remembered when seeing him brought a flush to her cheeks, causing her heartbeat to speed up, and a tingling in her belly.<\/p>\n
But now, it didn\u2019t. God, she needed to feel something other than the loss of that peaceful place she had been, making her unfeeling to her family, making her blame them for her loss. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here.\u201d Buffy said suddenly jumping up.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh. Okay.\u201d Angel pushed his cell phone into his pocket after making sure that he hadn\u2019t inadvertently shut it off.<\/p>\n