Part 6<\/b><\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t sure if she could do this, her heart was racing and her hands felt clammy as she clung onto Dennis\u2019 jewelry box. Cordelia shifted her weight from one foot to the other and knocked again, \u201cPlease be in\u201d she uttered under her breath, \u201cDon\u2019t be in\u201d she contradicted quickly. \u201cDon\u2019t be in so I don\u2019t have to do this. I can\u2019t do this; I don\u2019t know what to say\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u201d she knew she had to pull herself together for this but she couldn\u2019t seem to, she\u2019d never had to tell someone that their friend had died. It was hard enough coping with the knowledge herself but she didn\u2019t know what to do if Angel started to get all guilty and stuff. \u201cI have to do this\u201d Cordelia stated, her voice shaky but stronger, \u201cIt\u2019s happened, Angel has to know it\u2019s as simple as that. Nothing I can do about it\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia?\u201d Buffy asked whoever she was expecting to be there it certainly wasn\u2019t Cordelia. The surprise she felt was showing clearly on her face as she looked the brunette over and watching the brunette mutter to the box she held and fidget on the spot. It wasn\u2019t hard to spot a nervous person, and from what Buffy could tell either Cordelia was highly nervous or she had lost the plot.<\/p>\n
The last person she ever expected to show up in Sunnydale had showed up, so she asked her thoughts. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked at Buffy standing in the doorway wearing a robe and her hair mussed up, the obvious came straight to mind and she decided she didn\u2019t want anymore information so she pushed it aside. Like she said in her car, this was a get-it-done situation, so she got directly to the point. \u201cBuffy, is he here?\u201d much to Cordelia\u2019s surprise, her voice came out less shaky and much stronger than before. She didn\u2019t mean to sound bitchy but politeness and \u2018how-do-you-do\u2019s\u2019 could come later.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d Buffy questioned for confirmation that Angel was who Cordelia asked for. The slayer didn\u2019t miss the fact that the other girl had evaded her original question that left her still wondering what Cordelia was doing in Sunnydale and not in L.A. with that other man. For the most part, the brunette looked good, but then she always had, but there was something not right with her. The other girl was fidgeting nervously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and then Buffy noticed the tears Cordelia was trying to blink back.<\/p>\n
A familiar feeling of dread began in Buffy\u2019s stomach; whatever her friend-come-nemesis had to tell Angel, wasn\u2019t good in the least. \u201cYeah he\u2019s here, please come in\u201d she urged and stood aside, frowning as the brunette edged past her and watched her fidget in the living room. \u201cI\u2019ll just get him for you\u201d<\/p>\n
Clutching tightly to Dennis\u2019 box, Cordelia fought against the tears gathering in her eyes knowing that she needed to do this. To see this through. Glancing at the door behind her, she simultaneously considered bailing on the idea. If only she could get Buffy to give Angel the news. Then she wouldn\u2019t have to look him in the eye. \u201cIf he\u2019s busy just tell me. This can\u2019t wait, Buffy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s initial reaction was to tell her that she might have to wait, but she swallowed back her words once again noticing the glistening eyes and white-knuckled grip on the oak jewelry box. The urgent strain in Cordelia\u2019s voice suggested that something was very wrong. Whatever little comment Buffy was about to make got swallowed back when she noticed the other girl blinking back tears and the white-knuckled grip she had on the oak jewelry box. Nodding, \u201cI\u2019ll just get him for you, sit down\u201d she gestured to the sofa before making a move to get Angel.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t want comfort. Not here. Not now. She wanted to say what needed saying and get the hell out. \u201cNo thanks, I\u2019ll stand because I\u2019m not staying long. If you could just get Angel\u201d her voice was now desperate and shaky as she continued to think about what the hell she was going to say. What was she going to say? Her thoughts were getting all jumbled up in the rapidly rising panic caused her breath to choke up in her throat, she used her free hand to waft air onto her face in an effort to cool down some.<\/p>\n
Buffy frowned in concern and hurried upstairs towards Angel\u2019s bedroom; keeping her voice as quiet as possible she rushed into the room, calling for Angel. \u201cAngel, are you finished in the shower? Cordelia\u2019s here and I think something\u2019s wrong\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel came out of the shower completely naked and toweling his hair dry, \u201cWhat? I missed that\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia\u2019s downstairs, I think something\u2019s wrong with her\u201d the Slayer repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy\u2019s here?\u201d he stated in surprise, he knew that she\u2019d rather have her teeth pulled out by an amateur dentist then come back to Sunnydale. The fact that Buffy had said something was wrong had deep concern showing in the form of a frown. \u201cDid she say what was wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
Buffy shook her head, \u201cNo, she just said that this couldn\u2019t wait, but she looks really upset\u201d<\/p>\n
That made Angel\u2019s frown and concern go deeper, had Doyle done something wrong? Had something happened? Then his stomach started to churn, had something happened to Doyle? \u201cCan you tell her I\u2019m just getting dressed and I\u2019ll be right down?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, I\u2019ll try to find out what\u2019s wrong\u201d Buffy gave him a quick kiss on the lips and headed back downstairs only to see Cordelia talking to the box she held. Concern for the other girl increasing and offhanded thoughts questioning her sanity began to form. \u201cWhy are you talking to a box?\u201d she asked, not knowing who Dennis was or the fact that he was in the box made her inquiry sound like she had voiced her concerns for Cordelia\u2019s sanity.<\/p>\n
Startled, Cordelia turned to look at Buffy \u201cDennis is inside so I\u2019m not going crazy\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t implying that you were\u201d she insisted calmly, if it hadn\u2019t been for Cordelia\u2019s obvious panicked state, Buffy would have been a little more firm with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Angel?\u201d Cordelia demanded, while Buffy had been gone she had a small chance to get her scattered thoughts together and decided it was best to get this over and done with. So she had sucked up her grief and thoughts as best she could with full intentions of telling her ex-employee straight. Though she had just done that, panic was still making her nerves rattle and she shook slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s getting dressed and he told me to tell you he won\u2019t be long\u201d Buffy replied tightening the belt on her robe. \u201cJust a wild shot in the dark here, but is there something wrong?\u201d trying to get whatever it was out of Cordelia might help to calm her down somewhat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just need to talk to Angel\u201d Cordelia replied defensively, her eyes and tone of voice telling the blonde that it was clearly not something she wanted to talk about with her. Sneaking a glance of anticipation at the stairs, she waited for Angel to come down and wished he would hurry up because she didn\u2019t know how much longer she could hold it together.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, I was only asking\u201d Buffy held up her hands before giving Cordelia a look that said she wasn\u2019t being nosey, the slayer then disappeared into the kitchen to make some coffee. Seeing by now that she wasn\u2019t going to get anything out of her, Buffy decided to let Angel handle her and let the matter go.<\/p>\n
Hurriedly buckling his belt as he walked to the stairs, Angel had been going over and over in his head what it was that had brought Cordelia back to Sunnydale and hoping it wasn\u2019t what he thought it was. Even without his vampire senses, he could see the tear stains on her face, he could see the way her lithe body trembled slightly and saw the way she held herself. Shoulders squared, head held high and her chest rising and falling with forced ease, she looked like she was going into battle.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d the old nickname came with ease, although his voice was laced with concern as he waited for her to actually focus on him. Angel knew just as soon as Cordelia locked her gaze onto his.<\/p>\n
A choked whimper bubbled up and spilled from her throat, Cordelia\u2019s lower lip wobbled as she tried to hold it back. But the care, friendship and concern in Angel\u2019s brown eyes were all it took for her world to crumble and fall around her. One minute she had been standing tall, the next she was crying into his safe embrace and clutching his shirt with her free hand.<\/p>\n
Buffy watched as Angel had enclosed the other girl into a deep, swallowing hug and let her cry. The feeling of dread turned to sadness at the heartbreaking tears that fell from Cordelia\u2019s eyes. She had a feeling it was something to do with the man who had worked for Angel. It wasn\u2019t right that things happened to the good guys, it wasn\u2019t right at all. Though she had never known him, it didn\u2019t make it any easier that a fighter had been lost.<\/p>\n
Catching her boyfriend\u2019s gaze, Buffy gave a quick, acknowledging nod and left them alone by quietly slipping out of the back door.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Handing Cordelia a cup of hot coffee, Angel sat opposite her at the kitchen table and waited patiently for her to tell him what happened. Not that he didn\u2019t already know the outcome but he thought it would be better for both of them if she talked. Guilt was ever present, feeling as though Doyle\u2019s death was his fault for leaving the fight though he realistically knew he couldn\u2019t have done anything. But even if he couldn\u2019t, Cordelia wouldn\u2019t have been alone to deal with this tragedy.<\/p>\n
The hot, hazelnut colored liquid burned her throat but it also soothed her panic somewhat. A humorless smile flirted at her lips, \u201cNice coffee, maybe you should have given me lessons\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI doubt it would make any difference, for me to give you lessons that would mean you have to listen to me\u201d Angel gave her a tight smile back at her little attempt to make this easier on both of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me to listen, you would have to talk with some sense\u201d Cordelia gave back, it amazed Angel how she could be so lost and still give a good comeback. Then it really shouldn\u2019t surprise him, he\u2019d always known that she was stronger than she looked.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you feel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI should prob\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
After a few moments silence, they had both spoke at the same time leaving them both a little tongue tied. Angel conceded, \u201cYou go first\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u201d Cordelia took a deep, encouraging breath and told him what had happened. \u201cThere was a group of pure blood demons that had plans to kill everything with humanity inside. Half-breed demons especially. They had this light that burned the humanity from the outside in and Doyle had to shut it off.\u201d As she told him how it happened, her voice became distant as recent, tormenting memories escaped that place at the back of her mind. The place where things she didn\u2019t want to immediately deal with were put safely.<\/p>\n
The horrors of what she saw flashed past her eyes, the sound of Doyle screaming out in pain stung her ears and the deafening silence that had followed haunted her.<\/p>\n
Not even trying to imagine it, Angel simply nodded and placed his hand on top of hers, gripping lightly. He knew she would be alone if she went back to L.A and he doubted she had anyplace else to go or anybody else to turn to. \u201cI\u2019m sorr\u2026\u201d he began to say but was instantly cut off when Cordelia held up her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u201d she said a little too sharply, \u201cThere\u2019s no point in being sorry, I don\u2019t need or want it because it won\u2019t do any good. It\u2019s happened, nothing can be done about it and no amount of sorry can make it any different so please don\u2019t\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowering his eyes, Angel felt guilty for being sorry but she was right what was the point in being sorry? What good would it do now? \u201cI just wish I could have been there for you\u201d he rephrased gently and kindly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell you weren\u2019t\u201d she snapped without meaning too. Taking another deep breath, Cordelia apologized for the way that must have sounded. \u201cI\u2019m sorry but I\u2019m just a little bit stressed right now. I have a lot going on what with Doyle\u2019s death and moving to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMoving where?\u201d Angel asked curious concern filtered through his grief he wondered if Cordelia had any family anywhere besides Sunnydale. He carefully gauged her reaction; feminine, well manicured hands started to fidget with the oak box again, her eyes diverted from his and hair got flipped over her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the acting gig didn\u2019t turn out, I started looking to break into modeling\u201d Cordelia embellished a little. \u201cI found an agent in New York who\u2019s more than interested so that\u2019s where I\u2019m headed. The Big Apple\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho are you staying with?\u201d he asked next, already knowing she would fib some more. Angel wasn\u2019t sure whether he should be angry at her for lying to him or admire her for her independence. She might not like it but Sunnydale was her home, she had friends and people who cared about her here. She wouldn\u2019t be alone in a place like New York where anything could happen to her and he wouldn\u2019t know about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have enough money for a hotel until I get settled in my own apartment\u201d Cordelia continued to fib. She wanted to stay in Sunnydale with Angel; he was all she had now well, apart from Dennis. She wanted to stay where she wouldn\u2019t be alone but at the same time she didn\u2019t want to admit that she couldn\u2019t be by herself. \u201cAnd I\u2019d get another job obviously, that would help\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would you do?\u201d Angel inquired next, he didn\u2019t like the fact she didn\u2019t feel as though she could come to him. He could feel the loneliness coming from her, could see the sad acceptance in her tear-glazed eyes and witnessed who she was behind the hair, make-up and clothes.<\/p>\n
Underneath the womanly guise she created, Cordelia was lost, alone and scared of being that way. He\u2019d never really gave much thought to her when he became human, sitting here now and seeing her like this he wished he\u2019d kept better care of her. Angel might not know her all that well, but he knew better than to show her pity or sympathy because those were things she didn\u2019t need right now. What she needed was a friend and if she\u2019d give him the chance, he could be that friend.<\/p>\n
The more Cordelia spoke the more she realized how silly she sounded, biting her lip to keep from crying again she tried to fathom in her own head exactly what she would do. \u201cI have retail experience so I could easily start a career in retail management. I have secretarial experience so I could go into administration if I wanted\u201d she answered too brightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, please just stop okay\u201d Angel halted her next words before they had begun, \u201cYou can\u2019t just pack off and leave, not yet\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be fine Angel, really I will\u201d she turned pleading eyes on him, even if she didn\u2019t realize it the plea was for him to help her not be alone. She just didn\u2019t want to be alone anymore, once over it would have been fine but not now. Not after she knew what it was like to be accepted for who she was and liked because of who she was. Doyle had given her that; he had given her acceptance and she was sure he would have given her love.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you really want to leave?\u201d not beating around the bush, Angel asked her directly since he figured that was the way he\u2019d get more than fibs out of her.<\/p>\n
Lower lip wobbling, tears making the hazel irises shine like jewels and hand grasping his strongly. Cordelia shook her head softly. \u201cWhat do I have here? I don\u2019t have any real friends\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks\u201d Angel commented wryly, clasping her soft hand back and subconsciously taking note of just how soft her skin was and how neatly her nails were manicured. Short, practical and still feminine; even in a crisis she could carry off still looking her best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t mean you\u201d she sniffled through a laugh, \u201cBut I don\u2019t have anything of my own, my parents are in jail for tax fraud and my\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have me\u201d he told her firmly and cutting her off again \u201cUntil you get yourself back on your feet you can stay with me.\u201d He didn\u2019t want to see her go it alone and in a sense, he owed her.<\/p>\n
Shaking her head in denial, Cordelia declined his invitation to stay with him \u201cNo, I can\u2019t do that Angel, I have to learn to depend on myself sometime and I may as well start learning now\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can learn while you stay here, just for the time being\u201d he tried to make her see that she would be better here with him than going things alone.<\/p>\n
To Cordelia, staying with someone she trusted and counted as a friend sounded like heaven but still, she would lose what independence she had gained. \u201cYou could come and go as you please, no rules and you could keep a pet beagle if you wanted too\u201d Angel didn\u2019t know if she was a pet person but she could have one if she wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be any trouble?\u201d it wasn\u2019t so much a question as it was a statement. Cordelia\u2019s eyes started to fill with hope when Angel denied she would be any trouble. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t get a pet beagle, so don\u2019t worry about that\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a relief\u201d he replied dryly making another sniffled laugh escape from her, a little more seriously now Angel, still holding her hand, asked her if she was going to stay. \u201cDoes that mean you\u2019re staying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nodding her answer, she felt as if a weight had been lifted off her chest and immediately, her world became better as hope shone through the dark cloud. Then Cordelia realized she hadn\u2019t mentioned she had Dennis with her, she was sure that wouldn\u2019t make a difference but he might not want his home haunted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what I said about not getting a pet beagle?\u201d Cordelia inquired her once-teary eyes now full of innocence, sweetness and light. Although he was glad he had taken away a part of the sadness, Angel found himself grow cautious at that look.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d he said slowly, watching her carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about a pet ghost?\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Later that evening, Cordelia found herself stood outside of Giles\u2019 apartment, half hidden behind Angel. She wasn\u2019t sure if she could face any of the others just yet, she could just hear their questions, thoughts and little comments behind her back. Well, if they didn\u2019t like the fact she was back then that was their problem because until she got herself back on her feet, she was staying right here in Sunnyhell.<\/p>\n
Once again sucking up her guts, Cordelia pushed so she stood in front of Angel and found herself knocking on the door. Refusing to let her nervousness or sorrow show, she pasted the biggest, brightest welcome-me-home smile on her face. The door opened revealing Anya who looked her over once or twice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t have him back\u201d was the first thing said to Cordelia who blinked once or twice before recognition set in.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re wish girl\u201d Cordelia said loudly and pointed at her, \u201cYou\u2019re dating the guy I wished revenge on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes and you can\u2019t have him back\u201d Anya stated again not even moving aside to let Cordelia and Angel into Giles\u2019 apartment until Cordelia firmly said she wasn\u2019t there to get Xander back. \u201cYou can\u2019t come in unless you tell me you don\u2019t want Xander\u201d she said as much.<\/p>\n
Angel moved his eyes from Anya to see how Cordelia would react to the ex vengeance demon. He didn\u2019t really know what had happened between her and Xander, all he knew was that she had ended up in hospital the same night he and Buffy broke up.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve me when I say I really, really don\u2019t want Xander back\u201d the brunette stated very firmly. \u201cYou\u2019re more than welcome to him. Can we come in now? I don\u2019t want to spend all night on the doorstep, knowing my luck somebody would throw quarters at me\u201d<\/p>\n
Why had he thought she would be any less than who she was? Angel shook his head lightly, greeted Anya and followed Cordelia into the apartment. If it wasn\u2019t enough that he was still getting the stares from the group, it seemed Cordelia was subjected to the stares now.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, you\u2019re here\u201d Willow exclaimed with wide eyes though Buffy had informed them she had come back she wasn\u2019t expecting her so soon. \u201cYou\u2019re in Sunnydale\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really, I\u2019m just a figment of your imagination\u201d Cordelia replied her tone just a little sarcastic. After the last few days the last thing she need was the Scooby gang form of the Spanish Inquisition. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you too Willow\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t mean it wasn\u2019t good to um, see you but it\u2019s just, well\u2026\u201d Willow found herself just getting in deeper the more she talked and was relieved when Xander spoke up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat Will means is it\u2019s a surprise to see you here again, after all wasn\u2019t it you who said she would rather suffer a thousand fiery deaths than come back to Sunnyhell?\u201d Xander pointed out with a welcoming smile on his face. Though it hadn\u2019t been quite a year since he had last seen her, she hadn\u2019t lost her presence and was as beautiful as ever.<\/p>\n
Looking at her first steady boyfriend, Cordelia could see the changes in him; his face showed a little more maturity, he had filled out and developed shoulders, and he held a kind smile on his face. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you too, Xander\u201d she replied with an amused smile on her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut not too good though right?\u201d Anya immediately questioned, looking suspiciously back and forth between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that good trust me. He still has the awkward limb thing going on\u201d Cordelia assured her with a grin at Xander that showed him Queen C was still in there.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah and her brains haven\u2019t yet migrated to her head yet\u201d Xander commented, \u201cSo no, not that good\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s good that it\u2019s that good to see each other\u201d Anya nodded with a beaming, friendly smile in Cordelia\u2019s direction now that she was satisfied she wasn\u2019t after her Xander. \u201cIf you need more vengeance I can recommend\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Cordelia quickly exclaimed, holding up her hands to stop Anya there and then, \u201cNo, I had enough of vengeance in high school\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell better late than never\u201d Giles calm voice floated into the living room, with Spike closely behind him. \u201cHow are you Cordelia?\u201d Buffy had warned him the brunette was in somewhat of a bad way when she arrived at Angel\u2019s mansion earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine, it\u2019s nice to see you again Giles\u201d she greeted back a little shyly, she had always thought him a handsome man for his age. Well educated, good natured and very well spoken, and although he dressed in tweed it suited his persona. \u201cStill wearing tweed I see\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNever bloody changes\u201d the blonde muttered, looking the brunette girl up and down. \u201cHello pet, still looking smashing I see\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks\u2026Hey! You did this before\u201d Cordelia half yelled, looking around in question. \u201cWhy isn\u2019t anybody killing him? He\u2019s Spike! Evil vampire! Why isn\u2019t he dead? Angel?\u201d turning frightened eyes up to the silent ex-vampire next her, she asked silent questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve asked myself that very same thing\u201d Xander spoke up in glee, \u201cWell, that\u2019s an extra vote on my side\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSpike\u2019s harmless Cordy\u201d Angel reassured her, \u201cHe can\u2019t hurt humans anymore\u201d he gave a smug grin in Spike\u2019s direction. \u201cHe can\u2019t perform\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSteady on mate, don\u2019t go telling the little lady about my performance\u201d Spike glared at Angel before addressing Cordelia. \u201cI perform just fine pet, better than that bloke next to you\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEw and will you stop talking to me as though we\u2019re friends?\u201d Cordelia demanded hotly with an equally hot glare. \u201cLast time I saw you, you had Angel chained up and had him tortured. Give me one good reason why you think you have the right to talk to me\u201d she challenged the blonde.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what?\u201d Xander spoke up happily, \u201cI\u2019ve missed her. Welcome back Cordy\u201d the old nickname slipping in easily which earned him a stern glare from Anya.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, welcome back\u201d Willow piped up at last after berating herself for her earlier comment. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to sound weird before, it\u2019s just\u2026\u201d she shrugged helplessly with a small smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s okay, I know you didn\u2019t. Believe me, I didn\u2019t want to come back here because hello! Hell hole\u201d Cordelia remarked. Looking around now, she saw everyone apart from Buffy and Oz; she guessed the blonde was off fighting something and she didn\u2019t know where Oz was, but she hadn\u2019t noticed a full moon tonight. \u201cWhere\u2019s Oz?\u201d she inquired after a moment or two.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe left\u201d Willow answered, not looking at the brunette or anyone else; none of them really seemed to care that he had left her. So she figured why tell them anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, wow. Um, sorry things didn\u2019t work out\u201d Cordelia responded a little softly, she could sympathize with the red head. After all, in a way Doyle had left her but it wasn\u2019t as if they had ever been high school sweethearts or even a couple.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. Buffy should be back soon, I think Riley\u2019s coming with her\u201d Willow told the group before flinching when she remembered Angel was still in the room. Risking a sideways glance at the man standing silently observing them, she saw him look at her with familiar eyes. The witch recognized those as questioning eyes and waited for the interrogation to follow.<\/p>\n
\u201cRiley? That\u2019s the T.A right?\u201d Angel looked at Willow and waited for her response with crossed arms. The timid witch gave a small nod in confirmation and explained in more detail than what Buffy had.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s also part of the Initiative, they\u2019re like this secret government facility that\u2026\u201d Willow began the explanation before being cut off by Spike.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a bunch of little boys with toys that go around ruining vampire\u2019s lives is what they are\u201d the blonde vampire voiced with undisguised hatred.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me guess\u201d Cordelia asked in an amused manner, \u201cThey\u2019re the ones who made you fangless. How\u2019d they do that anyway? Did they hand you over to a vampy dentist to have your fangs removed?\u201d this elicited a chortle of laughter from Angel.<\/p>\n
Spike just glared at her, his piercing blue eyes showing how much he wanted to hurt her right then but as usual, as soon as the violent thoughts entered his head the warning bells went off. \u201cNo, they put a damned behavioral chip in my head\u201d he growled \u201cCan\u2019t even think of hurting you bloody humans, much less anything else\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s a good thing right? Not for you of course but for the rest of man and womankind it\u2019s a good thing\u201d Cordelia replied with a humored smile. She had expected things to be awkward but she had been pleasantly surprised. In a way, she had Anya and her bluntness to thank for that. \u201cAlso good for the ex-vampires of the world\u201d she turned her attention back to Angel. \u201cCan you imagine the carnage if Spike had been able to play get-your-own-back on Angel?\u201d Cordelia stated ruefully. \u201cYou\u2019d be in serious trouble mister\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can handle Spike, vampire extras or no vampire extras\u201d Angel told her, a little put out by her wording.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure you could\u201d Cordelia relented, patting his shoulder soothingly in an aid to pacify his childish outburst of I\u2019m-tougher-than-he-is malarkey. \u201cSo Buffy\u2019s with G.I Joe and Oz is off in the blue yonder somewhere. Wow, here\u2019s me thinking things would never change\u201d<\/p>\n
As if to realize she might have unknowingly hurt Willow\u2019s feelings, the brunette turned apologizing hazel eyes on her. \u201cSorry, I got a little carried away there\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cS\u2019okay\u201d Willow replied meekly, why should she expect anything else? If her best friends didn\u2019t care about her torn and broken heart, how could she expect someone who had only come back to be sympathetic? One day, they would all have broken hearts and they would turn to her for advice but she would be darned before she gave it to em.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that we\u2019re all reacquainted\u201d Giles commanded their attention with a cough and a statement. The Englishman shuffled a few sheets of paper, pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and looked at them all, Cordelia\u2019s smiling face in particular. \u201cWe all have research to be getting on with\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot me mate, I got to get me some violence\u201d Spike made his excuse, giving Cordelia a quick wink that unnerved both her and Angel. His blue eyes twinkled and the little smirk that flitted his lips gave him a devilish, almost irresistible charm that Cordelia refused to find likeable.<\/p>\n
Sauntering past Angel Spike paused, raised an eyebrow before whacking his ex-grandsire across the back of the head.<\/p>\n
\u201cOww!\u201d they yelped at the same time, Angel curled his hand into a fist, ready to hit back but when he saw the vampire holding his head he stopped before his fist made contact. Cordelia stepped forward, whacking Spike on the back of his head, adding to the pain he was already feeling. In turn, Spike snapped his head up, growling at the brunette who was smirking at him and looking at him as if to say nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what you get\u201d Angel stated smugly instead of hitting him.<\/p>\n
Shaking the vestiges of pain away, Spike rubbed his chiseled jaw and grinned, \u201cBloody worth it though. See you folks later, don\u2019t fancy wading through musty books and waiting for G.I Jane to show up\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBye Spike, happy growling people to death\u201d Cordelia said in a sickly sweet voice that had the vampire giving her a tight, sarcastic smile in reply. Sighing to herself, she found herself smiling from ear to ear, \u201cI never thought I\u2019d say this but I\u2019m glad to be back\u201d and she got smiles in return.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Angel was the only one not really smiling. He was too busy thinking about the reasons why Buffy had never given him details about the Initiative and her involvement with them. Or how deep her involvement with Riley actually was. He would have a chance to talk to her when they went out on patrol later that evening and they could talk. That was another thing, why did Buffy keep insisting that she patrol alone?<\/p>\n
Angel made a vow to himself to find all this out when they went on patrol.<\/p>\n