TITLE: The Nightmare Returns
AUTHOR NOTE: This is written in the third season of Angel (before Cordy became a demon, but after Connor was born.) and Sixth Season of Buffy.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story, and I do not claim to own them.
It was decided.
Cordelia Chase had at last convinced an overprotective Angel that she would be more than fine taking Connor for a walk, alone.
It is daylight after all. She reasoned. And besides, the kid could use some sun.
Ensuring the baby was secured safely in the stroller and tucking in his blue blanket extra tight, Cordelia opened the weighty doors of the Hyperion Hotel and pushed the stroller outside. Noticing the way that the child squinted when the sun hit his face, she carefully pulled the top of the stroller down in order to stop the rays assaulting his eyes. As though grateful, the baby blurted contently and she took this as a signal to commence the walk.
I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier. She thought.
The sun tickled her skin, making her body feel warm and secure. As she sauntered by a nearby construction site, she overheard the exclamations of several builders.
"Look at her, Man! I want some of that."
"Too bad, looks like she's taken."
"And with a kid too!"
I've still got it after all. She smiled. Not that any of those guys would ever have a chance with me.
Arriving at the local park, it was only then that Cordelia realized how tired she felt. Her eyes scanned the park searching for a seat. Finding what she desired, she unceremoniously fell into the chairs embrace, spinning the stroller around so that Connor faced her. She watched as in a peaceful sleep, his small chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.
"You must have been tired too hey buddy?" She cooed
Almost hypnotized by the motion of his breathing, her eyes were fixed on the little boy in front of her.
The familiar tingling in her brain, alerted her of a vision that would follow.
"Please not now." She pleaded.
But to no avail, her body began to spasm, as she slid off the bench and onto the grass below. The distant chatter of children disappeared and was replaced by the thundering rush of blood to her head. The peaceful park scene evaporated before her eyes only to be replaced by lightning fast images.
The deafening screams of a newborn, his arms punching thin air.
Read blotches clouding his porcelain face.
A flash of red.
And a laugh,
The laugh was so sickeningly elated and happy that Cordy tumbled out of the vision with bile threatening to explode from her mouth.
Forcing herself to swallow, she did not move a muscle. Paralyzed by what she had witnessed in the vision. Slowly, the sounds of children laughing on the play equipment bought her back to her surrounds. She opened one eye cautiously, her head throbbing in protest.
"Are you alright miss?" A voice asked.
Opening both eyes slowly, she took in the sight of an elderly man looking down at her concern clouding his face.
Finding her voice she gasped. "Fine, thank you" and then added to explain her behavior "…I have epilepsy."
Good job Cordy, lie to the nice old man. She scolded herself. Well I suppose I couldn't exactly say. "Oh I'm fine just another message from the Powers That Be, you know how it is, anyway thanks for caring!"
"Would you like me to call an ambulance then dear?" he questioned further, absently tucking his shirt into his pants.
"No, no. Really I'm fine." She insisted, and then added. "Thank you for your kindness though."
As the man wandered off, somewhat dejectedly. Cordy panicked.
Connor. The thought spurred her into action. From her position on the ground, she spun the stroller around. Heaving a huge sigh of relief to find him still contently sleeping.
That kid could sleep through an apocalypse… and probably will.
Using all the strength she had to pull herself up onto the seat, Cordy took out her mobile phone and pressed the number that was on autodial.
"Angel Investigations." A polite, English voice answered.
"Wesley, thank god." came a hoarse voice from the other end of the phone.
"Cordelia, is that you?" the polite voice was gone, and the concerned voice in place.
"Yeah, it's me. Vision, bad one." She explained quietly.
"Oh dear. Where are you?"
"Robinson Park-."
"I'm coming now. Stay where you are Cordy." Wesley quickly replaced the phone in its cradle and sprinted out of the office grabbing Angel's keys as he went.
Jumping into Angels prized Plymouth GTX, Wesley quickly started the engine, pushing the gear into drive as he pulled out of the Hyperion Hotel.
It's a good think I didn't go to lunch as the others did. Wesley decided.
While Fred and Gunn had taken a walk to the nearby café to enjoy lunch together. Wesley had decided to stay in his office, in case something urgent should arise. Angel, after all was patrolling the sewers and Cordelia had taken Connor to the park, so that just left Wesley. He had decided that as lovely as lunch would be, three was, in this case, definitely a crowd.
Wesley was now thankful that he had made right decision. If Cordy had not gotten on to any one at the hotel, she would be virtually stranded.
Especially now that the visions take such a horrible toll on her. He added silently.
It wasn't long ago when Wesley had watched his friend be severely burnt and scarred by the visions, when Wolfram & Hart had hijacked her connection to the Powers That Be and began sending their own sickening visions. Memories of Cordelia's hospital visit, two years before, still stung vividly in Wesley's mind. It was at that moment that Wesley had begun to research more deeply the origins of his friend's visions. He was helping in the only way he knew how, with a book in his hand and some lengthy translation. While Angel would fight the monsters that tormented his seer, Wesley settled for finding out as much about the visions as he possibly could, intending to stop the burden Cordy carried. She was like family to him after all…
Family.
A word that Wesley had never been particularly familiar with, that is until he came to Los Angles and joined the good fight alongside Angel and Cordy. They both genuinely cared about him and Wesley cared for them in away he had never felt for anyone ever before. Then Gunn joined the team, and Wesley embraced him as a brother. Followed by Fred.
An image of the striking but shy young woman filled his mind as a small smile emerged.
Now is not the time to think of Fred. He scolded himself. Cordy's in trouble… and besides Fred and Gunn looked rather chummy heading off to lunch together. She obviously isn't interested in me…
Pulling up onto the curb, almond brown eyes scanned the park. Children played and laughed, running wild on the play equipment nearby. Two teenagers, sat intertwined on a checkered picnic rug, staring longingly at each other. His eyes then registered what he was searching for.
Cordelia sat on a park bench in the foreground, gently caressing Connors cheek. Turning off the car and slamming the door behind him, Wesley ran over to his friend, when he reached his friend he sat down next to her, placing a comforting arm around her shuddering shoulders. Finally recognizing his presence, she turned to look up at the Watcher. Wesley was startled at what he saw. Mascara ran haphazardly down both of her pale cheeks, white teeth chattered audibly and her eyes seemed only to be half open, as though she was looking through him rather than at him.
Embracing his friend fully, he whispered reassurances. "It's okay Cordy…Shh, I'm here now. Everything is going to be fine."
She remained gathered in his arms, silent for a moment as though working up the strength to speak. "Thanks Wes. I'm glad you're here… But we really need to get out of here."
"You saw something?"
"Of course I saw something Wes!" She said indignantly, but Wesley noticed her stricken face when he mentioned the vision.
This can't be good. He sighed, his mind conjuring horrible images of apocalypses and death. I have a feeling this could be the worst thing we've come up against yet, if the look on Cordy's face was anything to judge by.