Sacrifice

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in the following story. They belong exclusively to their creators. This story is intended for non-profit use only.

Sacrifice

Cordelia Chase drove like a woman possessed. Since Angel's pronouncement that she, Wesley, and Gunn were fired, she'd tried to reason with him, tell him what was happening to him, but he refused to listen to her. Now, she was resorting to one final measure; this had to work!

She pulled up in front of a familiar house and climbed out. She smiled slightly; the place hadn't changed.

Cordelia rang the doorbell, and a teenage girl with dark, brown hair answered the door.

"Can I help you?" the girl asked.

"Um yes, I'm looking for Buffy Summers," Cordelia answered.

"Oh my sister, she's up in her room brooding over her boyfriend," the girl groaned.

'Sister?' Cordelia gasped silently. Since when did Buffy have a sister?

"May I see her?" Cordelia asked.

"Who are you?" the girl replied.

"My name is Cordelia; I'm an old friend of Buffy's," was the answer.

"Oh yeah, I remember Buffy mentioning you a couple of times. Oh sorry, I'm Dawn," the young girl stated.

"Nice to meet you," Cordelia said and shook her hand. She nearly ran up the stairs and straight to Buffy's room.

Buffy was sitting on her bed holding one of her old teddy bears when someone knocked on her door.

"Buffy, someone's here to see you," Dawn said through the door.

"I'm busy right now," Buffy said trying not to sound like she was crying. The door opened anyway, and a familiar face popped in.

"Hi Buffy, it's me," Cordelia stated.

"Cordelia?" Buffy gasped as she stood up to give her former arch-nemesis a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you, Buffy; it's about Angel," Cordelia stated. As if Buffy's face couldn't be any whiter, she paled even more.

"What about him?" Buffy asked. Cordelia sensed Dawn listening to them.

"Um, do you mind if we discuss this in private?" she asked.

"Dawn, could you please excuse us?" Buffy asked. Usually, Dawn would give her 'sister' a smart remark, but the tiredness in her eyes and voice made her change her mind.

"Okay," she simply said and closed the door.

Once Dawn left, Cordelia sat down in the chair next to Buffy's bed.

"So what's up?" Buffy asked as she tried to wipe her eyes. Cordelia could tell that something was not right.

"Maybe I should ask that question first? What's wrong, Buffy?" she asked worriedly.

"What do you mean?" Buffy said trying to avoid the subject. Cordelia glared at her.

"Buffy…your eyes are bloodshot, your hair looks like it's been in a wind tunnel, and your mascara is dripping down your cheeks. Now spill it!" Cordelia said firmly. What happened next took Cordelia by surprise. She watched as the usual calm, in-control Buffy fell to pieces.

Buffy hated feeling vulnerable, but she just needed to say some things. She didn't anticipate saying them to Cordelia, but once she started, she couldn't stop. Word after word seemed to pour from her mouth. She told Cordelia everything- her sleeping with Spike, Riley sleeping with a vampire, his envy of Angel for being so close to her, and her letting him go without even saying goodbye.

Cordelia listened with tears in her eyes; she wasn't the only one going through hell on earth! She clasped her friend's hand, and Buffy welcomed the warm gesture.

"Don't worry, Buffy, I'm sure Riley will be back. Then, you two can start over and do things the right way," Cordelia said confidently. Buffy smiled softly.

"Thanks, Cordy, sometimes, I miss having you around," she quipped.

"Anytime, Buff, anytime," Cordelia replied. Buffy wiped her eyes and became serious.

"Now, enough of the mushy stuff, what's up with Angel?" Buffy asked. Cordelia took a deep breath.

"I better tell you everything, but it's a long story," she stated. For the next two hours, Cordelia explained the events leading up to the present.

She told Buffy about Wolfram and Hart, and the things that they'd done. About the Oracles, and how she was now Angel's seer. About how Angel was prophesied to become human once his job was finished. How Darla had been resurrected, and how Angel had risked his life to protect her. About Drusilla, and Darla becoming a vampire again. And lastly, how Angel had let an entire room of people be massacred by Darla and Drusilla.

When Cordelia spoke about Darla and how Angel protected her, Buffy good hear a slight hint of longing in her friend's voice. She realized that Cordelia wished that Angel would treat her like that, at least somewhat.

By the time that Cordelia finished, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her hands were shaking in her lap. Buffy was alarmed at how vulnerable she looked.

"Damn, Cordelia, you've been through hell!" Buffy gasped.

"Yeah, but I'd do it again. After Vocah opened my mind to hear all the cries of the people in trouble, I realized that what Angel was doing is right. The city needs him to fight for it, but right now, he's too angry to do anything helpful," she said sadly.

"Cordelia, Angel has his own little 'temper tantrums' sometimes; I'm sure that he'll calm himself down in a few days," Buffy said confidently. Cordelia shook her head defiantly.

"Usually, I'd agree with you, Buffy, but it's a lot worse than you think. Angel isn't Angel anymore…" Cordelia stopped to try and compose herself for what she was about to say, "…Buffy, Angel's lost his will to care! He simply doesn't care anymore. He doesn't care about himself or anyone, including myself, anymore. It's worse than Angelus coming back. Angel has a soul, but his heart is completely gone!" Cordelia's knuckles were turning white with how tight she was squeezing her hands together.

Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing! How could Angel lose his will to care?

"Cordelia, please tell me you're kidding?" Buffy nearly pleaded. The brown-haired girl shook her head.

"I'll prove it to you, Buffy." Cordelia hadn't wanted to do this, but she had no choice. She lifted up her sweater, and Buffy gasped when she noticed a large bruise on the left side of Cordelia's ribcage.

"He hit you!" Buffy nearly shouted.

"No…no…no…not directly anyway," Cordelia said sadly and covered her bruise back up. "Let me explain…"

Flashback to three days ago…(Angel's hotel)

Cordelia packed up her things from behind her desk. She still couldn't believe what Angel had done.

"Well, that should just about do it," Wesley stated flatly.

"Yeah, um, you and Gunn go on ahead; I want to try to talk to him one more time," Cordelia said with hopeful smile.

"Cordelia, right now, Angel could care less what we say to him," Wesley said sadly.

"I know, but I still have to try," she replied.

Cordelia walked down into the basement where Angel was throwing knives at a dartboard. She walked down the staircase and stopped.

"Angel?" she said softly. Angel ignored her.

"Cordelia, I don't really want to talk right now," he growled. Cordelia glared at him slightly, and her temper started to flare.

"Angel, you can't just abandon them," she said forcefully. Angel stopped and looked at her with a bored expression.

"Abandon who?" he asked already knowing what she was talking about.

"You know 'who', Angel; all those people out there on the streets that need your help," Cordelia answered.

"Know something, I didn't ask to be made the people's savior, okay. I'm tired of laying everything on the line and losing it all for nothing. I'm not doing that anymore! I'm not playing 'The Powers That Be' game anymore; they can find someone else," Angel nearly hissed.

Cordelia walked in front of him. She grabbed his hand that held the knife and brought it to the center of her chest.

"What are doing?" Angel demanded. Cordelia didn't flinch.

"Kill me, Angel," she simply replied.

"What?" he gasped. He tried to step back, but Cordelia held his hand in place.

"Go on, Angel, kill me. If you've lost your will to care about people, then you won't mind killing an innocent person. So, kill me!" she hissed.

"You're nuts!" Angel shouted.

"Yeah, maybe you're right, but you know what? If it helps to save someone's life, I'll gladly go insane." Cordelia stepped back and stood in front of the target. "Come on, Angel, kill me or don't you have the guts!"

"I'm warning you, Cordelia," Angel growled.

"Yeah right, don't gimme your bullshit threats; I've heard them all remember! Come on, Angelus, I know you're in there somewhere. I've got innocent blood ready and waiting for you; you just have to take it!" Cordelia knew that what she was doing was dangerous, but she had no choice.

Angel felt his demon awakening at her statement, and he had to fight it back with everything he had. He felt the hunger welling up within him. Angel walked towards the stairs, but Cordelia got in front of him and blocked his way.

"Move!" Angel ordered, but Cordelia didn't flinch.

"No, Angel, I won't until you either kill me or give me reason to let you walk by," she hissed. Angel bared his fangs, and Cordelia met his gaze fearlessly. Angel couldn't believe that Cordelia was still standing there!

"I don't kill the innocent," he said firmly. Cordelia slapped him across the face hard!

"The hell you don't, Angel. Every minute that you sit here wallowing in your own self- pity is another minute that could have been used to save someone's life. I didn't ask to be your seer. I didn't ask to fight demons, vampires, and God knows what else! I do it because it's part of who I am. I may be a weak human girl, but I do what I can. I don't have special strength or eternal life, and I don't care that I don't. I help people anyway that I can. You used to know what that felt like!" Cordelia finished. She saw his eyes twitch, and his fangs disappeared. She hoped that Angel had changed his mind.

"You know, Cordy, everything you said is true, but you forget one thing. Most people don't want to be saved." Angel grabbed her right shoulder and forcibly shoved her out of the way. Cordelia's left side hit the corner of the railing, and she winced in pain. Angel stalked up the stairs and out the front door.

End flashback…

"I haven't seen him since," Cordelia said as she wiped her eyes. She reached for a Kleenex and grabbed her side in pain.

"Cordy, you okay?" Buffy asked worriedly. Cordelia's face contorted in pain, but she fought it back.

"Yeah, I'm okay, just a little stiff," she replied.

"Cordelia…you're not telling me the whole truth…is that bruise all that's there?" Buffy demanded. Cordelia sighed and shook her head.

"No, not exactly, one of my ribs was partially fractured when he…you know," she replied. Buffy's eyes lit up with an angry fire.

"I'm going to kill that guy!" she growled.

"Buffy, don't be angry with him. Angel needs help right now. He's consumed with rage and doesn't know what to do with it. He's become obsessed with getting back at Wolfram and Hart because they took Darla's humanity from her again. He doesn't care who gets hurt or what happens to him as long as he gets revenge!" Cordelia said softly. Buffy shook her head in astonishment.

"Cordy, you've changed girl. I guess loving Angel makes you act that way towards him," she said with a smile. Cordelia drew back at her statement.

"Wait a minute, Buffy, I never said anything about…" Buffy cut her off.

"Cordy, you don't have to. I could tell by the way you talked about him. You don't stand in front of Angel and offer your neck to his demon side without loving him. Only someone who loves him would be that crazy!" she laughed.

"Um Buffy, I haven't talked to him about you because I didn't want to hurt him anymore than he was hurting already, but I think he still loves you," Cordelia choked out. "I remember when you came to LA to see him. After you left, he was miserable. I could tell that he wanted nothing more that to have you back. I know that he would do anything to be with you again. I'm sure of it, Buffy!"

Buffy smiled at her friend and took her hand. She shook her head, and Cordelia looked at her curiously.

"No, Cordelia, Angel and I stopped loving each other a long time before I came to LA- romantically at least. That just stirred up some old memories. Now though, both he and I have found the perfect people to be with, and we both shoved them away. I pushed Riley away, and he pushed you away," Buffy said sadly.

"Buffy, I know that Angel cares about me as his friend and his seer, but I highly doubt that he loves me," Cordelia objected. Buffy grinned at her.

"Trust me, Cordy, I know Angel pretty well, and I'm pretty sure that deep down inside he knows that he loves you just as much as you love him!" she said firmly.

"Buffy, I know that you're busy here in Sunnydale, but I need your help. Angel won't listen to me or any one of his friends anymore. That's why I came here. I think that he'll listen to you!" Cordelia stated.

"You want me to come with you don't you?" Buffy asked. Cordelia nodded her in confirmation. The slayer took a moment to think things over. Helping out Angel would help take her mind off of Riley's absence. Plus, she still needed to pound him for hurting Cordelia.

"All right, Cordy, you've got yourself a slayer!" Buffy laughed. Cordelia hugged her friend tightly and winced from the pain, but she didn't care.

"Thanks, Buff, I only hope that you can talk some sense into him," Cordelia said with a questionable smile.

"Don't worry, Cordelia, if I can't talk some sense into Angel, I'll just beat some sense into him!" Buffy said with a smirk. Both girls laughed together and enjoyed the brief moment of comic relief.

Buffy picked up her phone and called Giles at the Magic Box. She explained to him what had happened to Angel, and that she needed to go to LA. Next, Buffy called Willow and Xander to let them in on the situation. She'd need someone to watch after the place while she was gone. Finally, Buffy walked downstairs to talk to her mom.

It took a good hour and some help from Cordelia, but Mrs. Summers consented to let Buffy go to Los Angeles. Buffy quickly packed a few clothes and some other 'necessities', namely weapons, for her road trip. As she walked to the front door, Dawn was standing there waiting for her.

"Dawn, I need you to watch after mom for me, okay. You're the big cheese around here now, so act like it okay," Buffy teased. Her 'sister' smiled at her and nodded.

"Watch yourself okay Buffy," Dawn said warmly. Buffy opened her arms and hugged the younger girl tightly.

"All right, I'll be back as soon as I can," Buffy added as she headed out the door. Buffy gave her mom a hug goodbye, and Mrs. Summers hugged Cordelia as well.

"Good luck, you two," she said with a smile. Buffy and Cordelia headed back to her car and climbed on board. Then, with a final wave, to Dawn and Mrs. Summers, the two young women sped off down the road, bound for Los Angeles and a reunion with a vampire.