Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Just borrowing them…
Summary: 5 years into the future (after season 4), Angel Investigations have settled into the Wolfram and Hart building and the usual ups and downs of helping the hopeless. However, the sudden reappearance of some familiar faces turn their world upside down once again and learn not to judge someone until they have seen their true colours.
Chapter 1
It was eight o'clock on a cold winter morning and the Wolfram and Hart building in the City of Angels began another day of demon fighting and mystery solving. Angel emerged from entrance to the sewers and started towards his office, greeted by smiles and 'morning Mr. Angel's. Upon entering his office, he noticed a note on the floor. He picked it up and unfolded it. On it, was a messily scrawled message:
Angel,
Need your help. I have a friend who refuses to see you. She needs help desperately.
Meet me outside the Wolfram and Hart building at 7:30.
An old friend.
Angel looked at the note, bemused.
"What's that?" Cordy walked in with large pile of folders under her arm.
"A note." Angel handed the note over, "From and old friend apparently."
"Huh." Cordy handed that note back along with the folders.
"All new cases?" Angel looked down wearily.
"Yup."
"Good luck." Cordy smiled and left.
Angel set the folders down on his desk with a sign. This was going to be one heck of a day.
*~*
Angel stepped out of the Wolfram and Hart building and looked around for his 'old friend'. He checked his watch. It was 7:26.
"Angel." A familiar Irish accent sounded behind him.
Angel turned around. "Doyle?"
*~*
Doyle sat down nervously in the kitchen of the old mansion. Angel handed him a cup of coffee and sat down opposite him.
"So… New place, huh?" Doyle nodded slowly. "Nice."
"Yeah. It was pretty run down when we got it. We had it refurbished and repainted." Angel looked down at his mug of blood.
There was an awkward silence that followed.
"So… How, exactly did you get back?"
"Er… Not entirely sure myself." Doyle took a gulp of his coffee, "I just sort of appeared."
"Right… And your friend?"
"S-. She's in a bad way. She's just not getting it into her head that she's alive. Again. And why she's alive. I think she's going mad."
"What do you mean, again?"
"Had a second chance. I think she's on her third now."
"OK…" Angel inhaled deeply.
"And er… She's refusing to come see you."
"Why?"
Doyle cleared his throat and shifted nervously in his seat. "I'm not sure I should say."
"Why?"
"She can be very vicious you know. Nearly knocked me trying to get away."
"I'm don't get it." Angel frowned.
"She… well let's just say she has some history. Bad history."
"What's that got to do with me?"
"A lot." Doyle looked at his friend, "Can't you smell her?"
"Lost me."
Doyle banged his head on the wooden table. "Think about it! It's obvi-."
The front door slammed shut.
"Cordy's back." Angel stood up.
Doyle paled considerably. "Cordelia lives here?"
"Yup. With everyone else."
"Hey! I'm back and I'm really hungry. Take away anyone?" Cordy's voice floated through to the kitchen.
"What am I gonna do?"
Angel shrugged. "Just stay here. She'll find out sooner or later."
"I'd rather she found out later." Doyle made a break for the door.
*~*
"So let me get this straight." Cordy sat down next to Angel, "You're back. You're alive. This isn't a dream-."
"You dream about me?" Doyle asked hopefully.
"I'm not hallucinating. I'm not on drugs, I'm not drunk. So…" Cordy paused. "So… why the hell did you not call earlier?"
"I was afraid you might not like me any more." Doyle fidgeted.
"That is such a lame excuse." Cordy rolled her eyes. That's a lie! He is soooooo cute!
"I know."
Cordy grinned broadly. "At least we're still your friends."
"Yeah." Doyle grinned back.
"Now about your friend" Angel interrupted.
"Ah, yeah. Well… she's sleeping it rough. Very thin. Probably hasn't eaten in… days?" Doyle shrugged. "I don't know."
"But this isn't a supernatural problem?" Cordy asked.
"Nope." Doyle sighed. "Do you have anything to eat? I'm starving."
*~*
"This is it huh?" Angel stood at the entrance of the small alleyway.
"She should be in there." Doyle led the way down. "Can you smell anything?"
Angel stopped. "It can't be her."
"You bastard!" A dark figure dashed out from a shadowy corner. "You promised me you wouldn't tell."
Doyle was pushed back as the figure ran towards the street outside.
"Darla! Wait!" Angel yelled.
*~*
Angel sprinted and followed her. He caught up with is former love at the end of the street. She fought to get away as Angel wrapped his arms around her and held her to him.
"Let me go." Darla stopped struggling and collapsed against Angel's large form. "Let me go." Sobs shook her whole body.
Angel took off his long coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. Although she was very thin, Darla had a remarkable amount of strength.
"Let's get her back to the mansion." Angel nodded at Cordy and Doyle who had just caught up.
"I'll drive." Cordy offered, or rather, insisted.
"But it's my-."
Cordy coughed and looked pointedly at Darla.
"Oh right." Angel gently pulled Darla along to where they had parked the car.
*~*
"Eat this." Angel put a steaming bowl of tomato soup on the table in front of her.
"I'm not hungry."
"You have to eat something. You're skin and bone."
"I said I'm not hungry." Darla muttered through clenched teeth.
Angel sighed and picked up a spoon. He dipped it into the soup and blew on it to cool it down.
"Eat." He placed the spoon at her lips.
Darla shut her eyes and opened her mouth. Angel smiled with relief as she swallowed.
*~*
Doyle sat back in the squishy armchair and put his feet up on the footstool. "Ah, this is the life."
Cordy laughed and switched on the T.V. as credits rolled across the screen . "No! I missed Passions!"
Doyle chuckled and spilled some of his hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course!).
Cordy pouted and flickered through the different channels.
The front door opened and shut. Connor walked into the lounge.
"Hey, who's this guy?" He nodded towards Doyle.
"Doyle. He's an old friend of ours. Doyle, this is Connor, Angel and Darla's son."
Doyle spat a mouthful of hot chocolate. "Son?!?!"
"Oh, yeah. Long story."
"Doesn't that mean they slept together?" Doyle's eyes widened.
"Duh? Do you need a class on conception?" Cordy rolled her eyes.
"Did he lose his soul?"
"No. Had and epiphany."
"Oh good." Doyle sat back.
"I've been pregnant too you know."
"You what?"
"I'm gonna go upstairs." Connor ran up the stairs and out of sight.
"Whose was it?"
"Connor's… but that was because I lost my memory after I 'ascended'. Then I gave birth to a hell spawn which put me in a coma for a year and a half and ate people."
Doyle's mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"Do you want me to go through that again?"
*~*
"So much has happened." Darla sighed as Angel tucked her in tightly. "Not so tight, I can't breath."
"Sorry." Angel untucked her a little. "You're OK with everything I've told you right?"
Darla nodded. "I think so."
"Right. Well, if you need me, just yell." Angel stood up and opened the door.
"Sure."
Angel nodded and closed the door behind him. He found himself face to face with his son.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Er…"
"Dad."
Angel closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Wait here." Angel entered the room again.
Darla sat up. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing… Connor wants to see you."
"Does he know who I am?"
"I don't think so."
Darla bit her lip. "Let him in."
To be continued…
A/N: Whaddya think of the first chappie? All feedback is appreciated.