Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
He should have just gone in.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what she wanted, what she had needed. She wanted to be somewhere familiar, with him, and what did he do? He just left her there protected only by the bodyguards he had outside. No electricity and no phone. She might need help and she wouldn\u2019t even be able to call for it.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d stood there for a while and just watched her after he had shut the balcony doors, and had fully intended on staying there until just before sunrise. But when she finally slipped into a peaceful sleep, he had suddenly been unable to look at her. It was too painful, too familiar, too much like the vision she had been for the last four months. So he had left, stealthily leaping from the balcony\u2019s edge and into the L.A. night, leaving her there, in his bed, alone. What an ass.<\/p>\n
He should have just gone in.<\/p>\n
Angel stopped and leaned against the streetlamp post. It would be light in about an hour. He ran a hand through his hair as Cordy\u2019s words taunted him. \u2018..you\u2019re a champion, at least you were.\u2019 He couldn\u2019t understand it. He was being a champion now, her champion by sacrificing everything for her. His soul, the mission, their family, anything and everything to keep her safe. Isn\u2019t that what women dreamed about, some dark hero that would give up everything to make the woman he loved happy. At least that is what he had thought. But Cordy wasn\u2019t happy and she didn\u2019t see him as some legendary hero either. To her he had just become some sellout in a fancy suit. She wanted him back to what he was, but he wasn\u2019t sure he knew how to get there from here. One thing he did know, was that the sacrifices, the deals, the flirtation with his darker self, none of it was worth it if he didn\u2019t have her. He had to get her back, make her see how much he needed her, how much he loved her, but where did he start?<\/p>\n
He should have just gone in.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where he could have started. That\u2019s what she was waiting for. She needed him to help her through this, to comfort her and help her accept the way things were, the way they had to be. He looked up at the sky, he needed to get below ground. He scanned the area and found the closest sewer entrance. He hadn\u2019t used them since making the deal with Wolfram and Hart. He\u2019d traded that particular mode of transportation in for sports cars and limos. Maybe he was a sellout.<\/p>\n
Angel jumped down the manhole and headed west. He thought about their lives before Holtz, before the Beast, before Jasmine. He thought about Cordy and all the opportunities he had had to be with her, to love her, before his life turned into a literal hell on earth. He thought about all the time he had wasted. He wondered if it was too late. Angel stopped and looked back. He should have gone in. That\u2019s what she wanted. Cordy was giving him an open, telling him exactly what she needed and wanted, a way to prove to her he hadn\u2019t changed too much for her. She was doing what Cordelia Chase did best, fixing his mess of an existence, showing him how to live.<\/p>\n
Something crept into his soul, something almost unrecognizable due to its long absence. Hope. He headed east, his pace increasing with each step. The sun was rising now and he wanted to make it back to the hotel before she woke.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Spike\u2019s head throbbed. He promised himself that he would remember the feeling the next time he tried to drink away the torturous emotions his soul caused. He tried to lift his head from the table, or open his eyes, but both felt like lead and the cramp in his neck made it all the worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cRise and shine. Time for all formerly evil now questionably good, hung-over vampires with souls to wakey wakey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bugger, that voice was way too chipper to be one of the many that roamed free in his head. He cracked open an eye and tried to focus on the blurry brunette that stood over him.<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked down at the vampire, her eyebrows raised as if she expected him to jump at her command.<\/p>\n
\u201cBloody Hell,\u201d he murmured and closed his eye. He couldn\u2019t see her anymore, but he knew she was still there, hovering over him, waiting. Well, she\u2019d just have to wait. He heard her give a little huff and it made him want to smile. Even with a soul, he still found a little pleasure in tormenting people. He heard another huff and then a sizzle. What the\u2026 \u201cOw!\u201d he jumped from the chair and across the room, noticing the small cross that Cordy held out in her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, but I told you to get up. You should have listened. Now, we have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time,\u201d she said matter-of-factly as she turned to the door. When she realized that Spike wasn\u2019t following her she turned back around. \u201cLook, I need my family back, but I can\u2019t do it all on my own, you want to find someone you care about but you don\u2019t know where to look. I think I can help you if you\u2019re willing to stay here and help me for a while. Deal?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike took a cautious step forward. \u201cYou don\u2019t know where she is.\u201d It wasn\u2019t a question.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you\u2019re right. I don\u2019t. But I have a lot of contacts in this city, or at least I did. And Wesley\u2019s got a whole rolodex in there full of contacts. We\u2019ll find her, it just may take some time, and in the mean while, you can help me get my family back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike didn\u2019t know what to do. The prospect of finding Buffy filled him with hope, but he knew it couldn\u2019t be as easy and as straight forward as she had put it. And even if they could find her, she may not even want him now, if she ever really did. Well, one thing was for sure. He had no where else to go. \u201cAlright, tell me your plan, but first put down that thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cross?\u201d Cordy eyed the religious symbol in her hand. \u201cOh it stays,\u201d she said as she clasped it around her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m different now. I told you that last night. Didn\u2019t I?\u201d his memory was a little fuzzy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, you told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you know that I\u2019m good, just like Angel. I have a soul, so I won\u2019t hurt you. I can\u2019t,\u201d he said with almost childlike innocence.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s face lost all of it\u2019s forced carefree appearance while the words \u2019good\u2019 and \u2019soul\u2019 and \u2019just like Angel\u2019 played in her mind. She looked at him with a bewildered expression. \u201cYou really believe that, don\u2019t you,\u201d she stated as she turned to the door. \u201cYou really are new at this redemption thing then.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Fred walked into Angel\u2019s office, where Gunn, Lorne and Wes were already waiting. \u201cHe didn\u2019t come back last night, did he?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
Gunn stared off in thought and shook his head no.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what are we waiting for?\u201d she looked at each man.<\/p>\n
\u201cPuddin\u2019, I\u2019m not so sure any of us are ready. Besides, we know all isn\u2019t too wrong over at the old homestead because Angelcakes called this morning and had the company turn on the phone at the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a long time since we left,\u201d Wes looked up at her with gentle eyes. \u201cI\u2019m not sure any of us can go back there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, and if the big guys found out about it man. We could get into a shit load of trouble,\u201d Gunn\u2019s eyes seemed to finally join the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe you!\u201d Fred shrieked, causing all three men to jump. \u201cI\u2019m sick of doin\u2019 what Wolfram and Hart says and I\u2019m sick of bein\u2019 afraid all the time!\u201d Fred took a cleansing breath as each man in the room stared at her in amazement. \u201cNow, I\u2019m goin\u2019 to get my friend, or at least talk to her or at least find out what happened to her and Angel last night because they could have gotten into trouble or they could have just decided to stay there but none of us will know if one of us doesn\u2018t get off of his or her \u2026 ya\u2018 know \u2026 and go over there and find out. And if you guys want to come along then that\u2019s just fine and if you don\u2019t well that\u2019s just fine too, but I\u2019m goin\u2019 so \u2026 bye,\u201d she gave a little wave and walked out the door.<\/p>\n
Gunn, Wes, and Lorne looked at each other for less than a second before rushing after her.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Spike stared at the folders littering the office floor, trying to soak up Cordelia\u2018s hurried explanation of how they had experienced their own \u2018apocalypse\u2018 leaving her in a coma for four months and her friends in the clutches of some evil, demonic law firm. \u201cSo, I help you run this business, be your muscle so to speak, and you\u2019ll help me find Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy. That was the SHE he was talking about. Well, made since in a sort of twisted and perverted way. \u201cSo do we have a deal or not?\u201d she was all business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere do you want me to start?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, first we have to get in touch with some of our old clients. I\u2019ve started organizing the files, you wouldn\u2019t believe what a mess they were in. You can help me finish that before we start calling anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike picked up the Adams\u2019 file that lay on top of the stack and looked around, finding a spot on the floor with a sticky note that had the letter \u2018A\u2019 written on it. He laid the folder down and reached for another.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Cordelia looked at him and blinked her eyes in confusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelping you. Adams, A,\u201d he pointed to the sticky note above the folder he had just laid down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Adams go in the \u2018U\u2019 pile,\u201d she explained as if it were common knowledge.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Spike looked at her as if waiting for more. \u201cWhy?\u201d he prompted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were the couple we helped with the big ugly house,\u201d she opened the front of the folder and showed him the \u2018U\u2019 and the words \u2018Ugly House\u2019, both written in red marker across the top of the first page. \u201cSee.\u201d<\/p>\n
The witty comment that lay on the tip of Spike\u2019s tongue was forgotten when the phone startled them both.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think anything in this place worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t, but this morning, when I came in the office to start on the files the phone rang. Scared the crap out of me. It was a Wolfram and Hart secretary making sure the phone company had turned on the line. Per orders of \u2018Mr. Angel\u2019\u201d, she finished with contempt at the title. \u201cSo I put in a few calls before I woke you up.\u201d She stood and answered the phone on the third ring. \u201cAngel In\u2026 I mean \u2026hello. Can I help you?\u2026.Yes\u2026.Yes we are\u2026.No, we\u2019re not operating under that name any longer. We\u2019re under new ownership\u2026.it has\u2026.Again?\u2026.of course. We\u2019ll meet you tonight\u2026..eight o\u2019clock. Thank you Mrs. Sherrill.\u201d Cordelia hung up the phone and smiled at Spike. \u201cWell partner. We have got our first case and it isn\u2019t even seven-thirty yet. I\u2019d say this is going to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell that\u2019s just grand and all but you\u2019re forgetting that I\u2019m recovering from a demon of a hangover, pet. I\u2019m not sure I\u2019ll be ready for a fight, if that\u2019s what it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I forgot about you\u2019re little booze fest last night. Tell ya\u2019 what. You stay here in case we get anymore calls. Write down all the information and tell them I\u2019ll call them back within the hour,\u201d she instructed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd just where do you think you\u2019re goin\u2019,\u201d he held out a hand to stop her exit.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo Frank\u2019s. It\u2019s a butcher shop a couple of miles away. You need some blood, you look like hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to go out, in the daytime, and buy blood. Just like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t tell me you were paying black market prices in Sunnydale. That\u2019s just dumb. Butcher shops practically give it away. No questions asked,\u201d she walked out of the room and shut the office door just as the door to the basement opened. Cordelia was shocked. She knew he would come back, eventually, to either beg or bully her into leaving. She just didn\u2019t expect it to be this soon. She walked toward the basement door, stopping a few feet away from Angel.<\/p>\n
He stood in the doorway, too nervous and focused on Cordelia to sense the other vampire. He could do this. He could do this for Cordy. He took a tentative step inside the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d Cordelia\u2019s heart raced and her stomach filled with thousands of butterflies.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi,\u201d Angel rocked back and forth on his heels. \u201cI came back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I see,\u201d she had to remain calm. Stick to the plan. He\u2019s got to do it on his own.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came home, just like you wanted,\u201d he offered hopefully. Ready for her to fling her arms around him in praise for his attempt.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you don\u2019t work for Wolfram and Hart anymore?\u201d she cocked a questioning brow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, yes but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you\u2019re not home,\u201d she stated coldly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither are you Cordy. This isn\u2019t home anymore,\u201d he would convince her to leave. If the penthouse was too much they could get her her old apartment back. He could do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe not to you, but for me it is. Don\u2019t worry. I know that you own the hotel and I\u2019m going to pay you rent. That is as long as it\u2019s reasonable. Meaning very, very low.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to pay me rent,\u201d he wanted to laugh. \u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe income we earn with our paying clients, that\u2019s what,\u201d she said defiantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to try and run Angel Investigations all alone?\u201d she was just trying to be impossible now.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m going to run The Chase and William Agency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just as Cordy had announced the name of her new business Spike opened the office door. \u201cCordelia, Mr. Smith wants to know if we take Visa or MasterCard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at Angel\u2019s shocked expression, \u201cAnd I\u2019m not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned and left Angel just inside the lobby, and walked back to the office. She had never even heard the phone ring. She picked up the receiver from the desk and spoke in a professional tone despite the raging emotions that consumed her. \u201cMr. Smith? We take both actually. No, you don\u2019t need to come in. We\u2019ll meet you tomorrow night\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike still stood in the office doorway, enjoying the pain on Angel\u2019s face. He gave him his best smart ass smile and then slowly shut the door.<\/p>\n