Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel woke up bright and early the next day, smiling as the sun stung his sleepy eyes until he adjusted to the brightness. He had purposely left his curtains open so he could wake up to feel the morning sun grace his face. Last night he had gotten a little chilly but was too tired to get up and fetch an extra blanket from his closet so he had cocooned himself in his blankets and now he was sweating.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor God\u2019s sake!\u201d he grumbled as he tried to disentangle his body from the sheets holding him in place. He tugged at an edge but only succeeded in tightening another section round his thighs, he growled or what might have passed as a growl, and expected the sheets to untangle themselves. \u201cAh, they we go\u201d Angel said happily as he rolled around a little and felt the sheets loosen around him. He plonked his feet to the floor, hissing as his warm skin made contact with the cold wood flooring.<\/p>\n
\u201cColdcoldcold\u201d he gasped as he stood up in a hurry. The experience of having a freezing cold wooden floor on hot skin wasn\u2019t very nice but Angel also it felt kind of soothing at the same time. It had been a long time since he had been able to feel differences in temperatures, although going from warm to freezing didn\u2019t seem as nice as Cordelia had made it out to be. There had been a really hot day last week and she had sighed dreamily when she managed to cool down. What was dreamy about it? \u201cGod damn\u201d Angel hopped from one foot to the other.<\/p>\n
His impatience was heightened by a tingle in his groin area, Angel made a maniac dash for his bathroom and sighed in relief as his feet touched the bathroom carpeted mat. He rubbed his hands together as he eyed the toilet and looked down at his tingling groin. That was a feeling he didn\u2019t think he could ever get used to, it felt weird and strangely painful at the same time. \u201cDon\u2019t think about it Angel\u201d he said to himself as he grimaced and prepared to go. It wasn\u2019t the first time since he became human that he had to take a pee and nor would it be the last.<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t help but feel a little disturbed at having to hold his thing while he went but it had to be done. At least men got to stand up and not squat like women had to do. It wasn\u2019t just the holding it was drying it after that held a cringing factor for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhhh!\u201d he sighed with relief, the slightly painful tingling dissipated to leave a pleasant sensation. Angel couldn\u2019t stop the little rush of pride flow through him as he turned to wash his hands. Desperately. \u201cCheck me out, I have a morning ritual\u201d he commented to his reflection.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello?\u201d he asked as he prodded the glass mirror with a finger, he waved at his reflection and turned his face this way and that way. \u201cI need a shave\u201d he commented as he closely scrutinised his face.<\/p>\n
He ran a hand through his messy, bed hair not being able to help smiling as the man in the mirror did the same thing. Angel set about a morning ritual, washing his face followed by brushing his teeth and now he was about to style his hair. The water came first, he watched the mirror carefully as he combed the water through the brown mop. \u201cNow the gel\u201d Angel muttered to himself.<\/p>\n
A generous dollop of gel was squeezed into the palm of his hand before rubbing them together and combing his hair upwards. Angel eyed his art work continuously as he lifted and separated chunks of hair.<\/p>\n
Finally, he was done. The ex-vampire looked long and hard at his reflection; yes he could finally say his hair was perfect. He sauntered out of the bathroom and noticed that the sun had moved quite a bit and his internal clock told him it was almost noon. Angel\u2019s jaw dropped as he realised he had spent just over two hours styling his hair and looking at his reflection. That was almost as long as Cordelia took to put her make-up on. \u201cI\u2019ll just keep that little fact to myself\u201d he said as he hurried to get his clothes on.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that it?\u201d Doyle\u2019s image on the screen asked the camera, \u201cAm I done?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia reached out to touch the screen with shaking fingertips, her lips turned inward as she fought to keep her tears from falling. She hugged her knees to her chest as she leaned her chin on her kneecaps. \u201cDoyle\u201d she bit her lower lip, scrunching her face up and rocking her body for comfort.<\/p>\n
When she had walked into the office that morning, Cordelia had opened and closed the door twice but as she expected, nobody answered her arrival. The resounding silence had destroyed her hopes and brought the all too real memory of Doyle\u2019s heroic death flashing before her very eyes.<\/p>\n
Those haunted, sad eyes roamed the room she stood in; Angel\u2019s office was silent and empty. His apartment was bare all bar the few things he had left that weren\u2019t necessary to take to Sunnydale. Doyle\u2019s usual seat, now cold with a day of un-use was what caused Cordelia to choke back her strangled whimper and her weak legs to stumble.<\/p>\n
He never even had a special coffee mug, he should have had one but he didn\u2019t. It seemed to Cordelia that there wasn\u2019t any proof of Doyle\u2019s existence, that he was just a figment of her imagination. \u201cNo, he was here and he did exist\u201d she said suddenly in defence of her sanity.<\/p>\n
The sound of the phone ringing disturbed the silence that followed her weak defensive outburst.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at the phone as her breathing grew deep and heavy, anger bubbled inside her aching chest. She grabbed the phone, ripping the wire out of the socket and hurled it at the wall, watching as it smashed and plastic pieces scattered to the floor below. \u201cMuch better\u201d she said as she scrunched her face up in another effort to not cry anymore. She was Cordelia Chase, yes a crappy thing had happened and yes she hurt like hell but she would deal with it and move on.<\/p>\n
Shaking hands smoothed down last night\u2019s clothes, hair got swept back from her face and tucked behind her ears. Her hazel eyes shone brightly with tears and the will to survive. She had things to do, places to go and people to see. Starting with Harriet, Doyle\u2019s ex-wife and then she would have to go to Sunnyhell and break the news to Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least he\u2019ll have sweet, pint-sized Buffy to help him deal\u201d Cordelia said bitterly but that was just another she had to deal with. She couldn\u2019t, and wouldn\u2019t, blame Angel for Doyle\u2019s death just because he was off living, in the literal sense. Even if he had been there, Angel wouldn\u2019t have been able to shut off that light because he was human. But if he had been here then she wouldn\u2019t have to go through this alone like she was.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on Cordelia, for God\u2019s sake\u201d she hissed to herself angrily, \u201cDoyle\u2019s dead, stop pretending he\u2019s going to walk in any moment now. Pull yourself together and quit being a CryBuffy\u201d<\/p>\n
Spinning on her heels, Cordelia marched numbly out of the office to go home, get cleaned up and show this world what she was made of.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel handed the translated text over to Giles. \u201cI translated most of it last night\u201d the new human explained as he put his hands in his pockets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you Angel\u201d Giles responded graciously, \u201cI didn\u2019t expect it right away you know\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know\u201d Angel told him, \u201cI kinda had nothing to do with Buffy out on patrol so I finished it\u201d he still couldn\u2019t figure out why Buffy kept evading his questions about patrolling with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see, thank you again\u201d Giles repeated as he took the translated version of the text to the back room of the Magic Shop to put it aside ready to be typed up and catalogued. The Englishman walked back to Angel and noticed that the other man hadn\u2019t moved a single inch. \u201cWas there something you needed?\u201d Giles asked as he walked round the counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, well, I was hoping I could talk about Buffy\u201d he had tried countless times, over the course of the day, to get in touch with Doyle but there was no answer from either the half-demon or Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Giles looked at Angel with a guarded expression on his face, \u201cIs there a problem with Buffy I should know about?\u201d he asked, watching Angel intently for a reaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no problem with Buffy I think\u201d Angel replied as he shifted, \u201cI don\u2019t know to tell you the truth, every time I bring up patrolling with her, it\u2019s like she avoids me\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t this something you ought to take up with her?\u201d Giles asked pointedly, insinuating that their relationship was none of his business.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried last night and she all but ignored my questions\u201d Angel told him as he turned questioning eyes to Giles. He also had the feeling that being asked to translate the text had been a diversion to stop him from going out on patrol with her. They couldn\u2019t build a relationship based on mistrust and paranoia over what the other was really thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cForgive me but this is something you need to speak of with Buffy, I am in no position to give advice one way or other\u201d Giles responded kindly but firmly. He refused to lie for Buffy, even if his opinion wasn\u2019t in favour of their relationship. In an attempt to steer the subject away from slaying and Buffy\u2019s diversion tactics, Giles asked a question he genuinely wanted an answer to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you planning to do now that you\u2019re human?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s lips curled down at the edges as he took a seat around the table in the front of the shop. \u201cI don\u2019t know to be honest\u201d he replied, allowing Giles to change the subject, honestly not wanting to put him in the middle of a lovers\u2019 quarrel. They had only been back together for barely the length of a working week and they were already starting on the not trusting issue. Wasn\u2019t that supposed to come after twenty years of marriage?<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what are you good at doing?\u201d Giles asked as he joined Angel at the table, suddenly feeling as though he had acquired another kid and fatherly advice now came second nature to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides my past hundred years or so of questionable skills?\u201d Angel asked ruefully.<\/p>\n
Giles chose not to dwell on the words that made him think of how those skills were used against Buffy and Jenny a few years ago. \u201cYou are obviously an expert martial artist Angel, I\u2019m sure you could do more than coach a class in that area\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really like the thought of teaching kids how to fight\u201d Angel replied, \u201cI was thinking of opening up another detective agency but there wouldn\u2019t be much point since there\u2019s already a Slayer here. Cordy said that she copyrighted the name\u201d<\/p>\n
The Englishman gave a wry chuckle at the mention of Cordelia Chase, \u201cHow is Cordelia? She was working for you at the time you became human wasn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can call professional procrastination as working then yeah, she was\u201d Angel replied<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we talking about Cordelia Chase? Xander\u2019s ex-girlfriend?\u201d Anya asked as she breezed past them and headed straight towards the cash register. \u201cShe can\u2019t have him back, he\u2019s mine, Xander said so\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think Cordelia wants to be Xander\u2019s girlfriend again Anya\u201d Giles commented lightly as he silently agreed with Angel to let the subject they were talking about drop until later.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood\u201d Anya replied with a beaming smile, \u201cIf she knew how great he was at giving orgasms she would\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnya\u2026\u201d Giles began while Angel\u2019s eyebrows rose in amusement, he barely knew Xander\u2019s new girlfriend and yet here she was talking about their sex life.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh sorry, I forget how humans don\u2019t like to talk about sex and orgasms when they\u2019re not getting any\u201d Anya somewhat apologised then turned to Angel with an unimpressed look on her face. \u201cSo this is Angelus, hmm I thought you\u2019d be taller from what Darla told me\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s mouth opened and closed a few times, \u201cI was Angelus yes, but I\u2019m human now\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s nice\u201d Anya replied, not really listening anymore as she began counting the money in the cash register. The ex vengeance demon turned to Giles, holding up two handfuls of money pointedly. \u201cWe should advertise, we can make more money\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Buffy stood up as the bell sounded, signalling the end of her class, assignment in one hand and bag in the other. \u201cAre you seeing Angel tonight?\u201d Willow asked as she followed her friend towards the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to surprise him at the mansion,\u201d the Slayer replied with a smile, \u201cBetween slaying and college, we\u2019ve hardly spent any time together. I was going to rent a movie and introduce him to the wonder of home cooked food\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy?\u201d Riley came up to Buffy and interrupted the girls\u2019 conversation and holding his hand out expectantly. \u201cThe two weeks is up\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know and I have it right here\u201d Buffy replied smugly as she waved her assignment in Riley\u2019s face. \u201cSee? All written with the correct word count\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYay you!\u201d Willow congratulated her friend with a pat on the back, \u201cI\u2019ll see you later okay? I want to get a quick soda before I suffer with Professor Filly\u2019s Psychology class\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll meet you back at our dorm later?\u201d Buffy asked for confirmation, \u201cWe can go over today\u2019s notes and get some studying done\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll be studying\u201d Riley commented disbelievingly as he crossed his muscular arms over his chest and gave her a look.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudying will be done\u201d Willow spoke up innocently, \u201cFor about five minutes before she gets distracted and decides to hit the town on a party spree. You do know about Buffy\u2019s alcohol problem right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow!\u201d Buffy punched her arm and rolled her eyes, \u201cI don\u2019t have an alcohol problem\u201d she said seriously to the T.A in front of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure you don\u2019t\u201d Riley agreed with a teasing tone and a quirky smile. The little blonde girl was kinda weird in the cute sense of weird. Her blue eyes seemed to shine prettily as she joked with her meek red headed friend about a none-existent alcohol problem. Her blonde, wavy hair moved lightly around her shoulders, yes she was pretty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, here you go Mr. Finn\u201d Buffy jolted Riley out of his general guy thoughts by handing him her assignment. \u201cAll signed, sealed and delivered as promised\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow smiled at Buffy\u2019s subtle flirting with the good-looking blonde guy, inside she couldn\u2019t help but still feel bitter about how nobody seemed to care that Oz had left her. All her friends were going about their little lives while not caring if she was hurting or not. She wanted to shout \u201cHello, heart-broken girl here\u201d but she doubted if any of them would listen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll see you later okay Buffy?\u201d Willow asked quickly, not being able to stand around to watch their coy flirtation. It was too sickening. Without waiting for Buffy\u2019s responding answer, she turned and headed for the door.<\/p>\n
Both Riley and Buffy watched her sudden exit, \u201cShe okay?\u201d he asked in friendly concern of Willow\u2019s sudden change in attitude.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe will be, I think she just needs time to get over Oz, her boyfriend, they broke up not long ago. Big high school sweetheart thing\u201d Buffy explained with a sympathetic sigh as she looked up at Riley. She couldn\u2019t help but notice how his blonde hair seemed to compliment his lightly tanned face, making his liquid-like green eyes stand out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for this, even if it is two weeks late\u201d Riley broke her trail of thought, \u201cI need to get prepared for the next lot of hellhounds\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019ll see you on Friday then, bright and early\u201d Buffy exclaimed enthusiastically, \u201cThe early bird catches the worm is what I always say!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless you\u2019ve been on a drinking binge\u201d Riley deadpanned easily with a smile that created dimples at the corners of his mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d she joked right back. \u201cI\u2019ve done things with Tequila that would make your hair curl…\u201d Buffy wanted to take her Slayer strength and use it on herself. Maybe there was a spell or something that would stop her foot-in-mouth syndrome from getting worse. \u201cSeeyaFriday!\u201d she ran for cover.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia rubbed her tired eyes as she searched through the books Angel had left in his apartment for work use, looking for a way to make Phantom Dennis able to leave her apartment. If she had to go too Sunnydale, then she wanted at least one person on her side. Telling Harriet about Doyle\u2019s death had been hard for her, having to relive one of the worst moments of her life but the other woman had been so kind.<\/p>\n
Dennis floated a cup of hot chocolate over to Cordelia as he gave comfort anyway he could. He had tried to stroke her hair but only ended up in making it look like she had been caught in a hurricane. \u201cThanks Dennis\u201d she told him gratefully as she took the mug offered to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t find anything, I don\u2019t even know what to look for\u201d Cordelia sighed in frustrated as she put the mug carefully on the coffee table. \u201cI\u2019m not going anywhere without you Dennis, friends are supposed to stick together not go rushing off with the first blonde, small chested femme fatale that springs their pants. Or die\u201d<\/p>\n
The helpless ghost could only flutter the air around her, careful not to disturb her hair again, not when she had meticulously styled it. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m going to do, what can I do?\u201d Cordelia asked her phantom roommate. \u201cMy parents are in jail, Doyle is dead and Angel is off playing Life with CryBuffy. You\u2019re all I have now and where you go, I go\u201d<\/p>\n
The sad brunette tucked her hair behind her ears as she began researching for ways to move a ghost. She went through three more books before she found what she was looking for. \u201cOkay, I need an urn made of solid oak, a rock and something that belonged to the ghost\u201d Cordelia looked up at Dennis\u2019 wall. \u201cDo you have anything still here? I have a solid oak jewellery box that might work and I\u2019m sure I can find a rock outside. I don\u2019t feel right putting you in an urn even though you are dead\u201d she added as she got up.<\/p>\n
Grateful she had something to occupy her mind; Cordelia went rummaging around her bedroom for the oak jewellery box so Dennis could go with her. She couldn\u2019t afford to take time to think about Doyle or how she was going to break the news to Angel. It wasn\u2019t like she could just waltz into his life and announce \u201cHi Angel, great to see ya, you\u2019re looking well. I\u2019m fine and dandy thanks for asking. Doyle died last night, so how was your week?\u201d was it?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know where we\u2019re going to live, but I\u2019m sure Angel will have room if he\u2019s staying at the mansion. If he\u2019s living at Buffy\u2019s then he\u2019ll have lots of room, because hello! Mansion!\u201d<\/p>\n
Dennis watched through invisible eyes as Cordelia pushed her grief to an inaccessible part of her mind and began to invent the spell to her liking. He wished he could give her hug and be the real, live friend she said he was. Unfortunately, thanks to Mother Vorhees as Cordelia called his mother, he could do no more than take her mugs of chocolate and wrap blankets around her.<\/p>\n
But those little gestures, Dennis knew for a fact, made all the difference in her world of pain.<\/p>\n