Author: KJ COLLECTIONS

Dedication: To a very special man who is soon to pass, you have warmed all our hearts and will always be remember for the amazing person you are.

Based On: TV show – Angel (season two)

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to mutant enemy and Joss Whedon

Published: Saturday, December 30 2006

Rating: T

Genre: Supernatural/ Drama

Summary: (Set in the time of season two of Angel) Angel saves an innocent girl from a demon which has become a treat to the city of Los Angeles but is she as innocent as she seems? Can she teach everyone at Angel Investigations a little about themselves? And maybe she's not the only one who will turn things upside down.

Author's Note: My first fan fiction. All constructive criticism and ideas are welcome. Please read, review and enjoy, I'll up date soon!
- KJ


NOT AS IT SEEMS

Chapter One – It must be Tuesday

"What do you recon?"

"It's getting worse, she's had bad visions before but they never managed to knock her unconscious, at least not since…" Wesley trailed off not wanting to remember the last time Cordelia had a vision which put her in hospital.

"No, it's not possible" Angel glanced over at the girl laying on the couch, an aspirin in hand for when she woke. "That demon's gone and you know she's having visions of that Laytex demon. She said she feels power when she sees him; maybe she can't handle the feeling of that much power."

"It is a possi…" Wesley was cut off at the sound of Cordelia moaning in pain from the couch.

"Cordelia? Cordy are you ok?" Angel asked as he ran to her side handing her the aspirin and glass of water.

"How long was I out?" Cordelia asked, her voice shaky.

"Almost four hours" Wesley said as he too moved to her side and helped move into a sitting position.

"What did you see?" Gunn had walked through the door and quickly mad his way to join the others.

"Thankfully something that my need for a nap wont effect this time" There was a long pause while everyone waited for Cordelia to continue with her story. "There was a girl, about my age I suppose, she was attacked by Laytex in an old building, it looked as though it had been destroyed by a fire or something."

"Ok but how do you know it hasn't happened already?" Gunn asked.

"Because there was a radio in the back ground the host said 'it must be Tuesday' then something about the weather" Cordelia used air quotes around what the host said "and" she continued "the time was around eight … at night."

"So tomorrow night, at least this time we have time to find this place" Gunn said relieved it wouldn't be one of those stab in the dark things he and the other had grown so use to.

"You're right, we should find this place" Angel said "Wesley look in the phone book and the news paper, see if you can find anything that might match the description" Wesley moved to the desk and began to search for anything that might help while Angel continued "Gunn see what you can find out on the street and take my phone so Wes can call you if he finds something that needs checking out."

"Yo, Wes d'ya get all that?" Gunn asked as he walked to the door and left when saw Wesley give a nod of his head.

Angel turned to Cordelia who had taken a grate interest in her still half filled water cup.

"But…" Angel said slowly to her has he waited for her response. Angel had always had a knack for reading Cordelia, he could sense when she was concerned or not telling him everything and to tell the truth she found it rather annoying.

"But?"

"Cordelia?"

"What?"

"We are dealing with a demon that has killed a lot of people over the last month and we haven't been able to stop it, a demon that can send you unconscious with a mere glimpse of its power through a vision – come tomorrow night are you going to regret not telling us everything?"

"Ok, fine. I didn't sense…" Cordelia stopped when she felt Angel place his hand atop of hers and she quickly pulled away to brush a stray hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear. "I didn't sense fear."

"You didn't sense fear?" Angel asked slightly confused by what Cordelia had just told him.

"When the girl was attacked." Cordelia finished but still seeing the confusion in Angel's eyes and thought that it would be better just to start again. "When the girl was attacked I didn't sense fear, it was more like boredom and if you ask me that's not usually the first emotion that comes to mind when you're about to get the crap kicked out of you by anyone – let alone a demon."

Cordelia began to feel uncomfortable from reason unknown to her and quickly moved from the couch to Wesley's side at the desk beginning to help him search the multiple LA news papers for something, what exactly that 'something' was she wasn't sure. From his place on the couch Angel couldn't help but look at the bruises on Cordelia's arms and forehead and wished that he could take the pain of the visions away not only physically but mentally too. She had changed since Doyle gave her the visions in so many ways; she was no longer that girl from high school whose biggest concern was winning home coming queen. Suddenly she had more depth than that, more heart. All she wanted to do was help the people that she saw in trouble but at what expense? Angel couldn't help but think that Cordelia was different now the pain and hurt she saw changed her, they made her less superficial but took away her freedom. It wasn't in Cordelia's nature to turn away when someone asked for her help but that action alone took away her dreams of being an actress which took away her freedom. Angel knew all to well what it was like too loose freedom the one thing all humans deserved and he couldn't stand the thought of Cordelia loosing hers.