Disclaimer: I don't own the show. If I did own the show, Doyle would not have died.

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Doyle looked down at Cordy, who was currently smugly grinning at his ex-wife as if she were walking away with first prize in some competition. He put it down to the fact that Cordelia really didn't like Harry. Harry however was looking at Cordy as if she were a home wrecker. That made no sense at all. Harry was getting remarried next week and had asked for the divorce herself. Delia wasn't romantically involved with him at all. Shaking off these thoughts as Cordelia breezed by Harry with a firm grip on his arm, Doyle managed to escort both ladies out of the office.

"Now it's late ladies. Harry, I'll walk you to your car and Delia, I'll walk you home." Cordelia made an indignant noise but kept her vice-like grip on his arm. Doyle was sure that he was slowly losing circulation in that arm. He didn't really care though. It was Cordelia who hanging onto his arm for goodness sake!

Harry's gaze softened. She realized that Francis was just being his own protective self. L.A. was a dangerous city at night and he knew that Harry could protect herself. He was worried about his friend and coworker, Cordelia Chase. It seemed to Harriet that Cordelia had been a spoiled brat growing up, a prom queen in high school and was stumbling in the real world. Cordelia was probably still coming to terms with the fact that the things that go bump in the night are real. Harry was only slightly wrong.

They were standing on the street in front of Harry's car when a vampire attacked them. Cordy whipped a stake out of her purse and dusted the vampire in moments. Doyle, who had been holding the vampire still for her, blinked through the dust. Maybe Cordelia had already come to terms with the dark side being real. Harry was standing beside her now unlocked car in shock.

"Thanks for holding him for me Doyle. I guess today was one of my lucky days."

"Anytime, Princess." Doyle spoke wearing his unique half-smile, his Irish lilt soothing Cordelia's nerves.

"Lucky days? How long have you known about what goes bump in the night?" Harry incredulously asked Cordelia whilst shaking off her initial shock.

"Ever since I was sixteen and was kidnapped by The Master's cronies. That got me into this kind of life. Once you know certain things you can't go back again."

Harriet was staring at Cordelia, not believing that the brat had known about what went bump in the night for three years. She acted like she was still new to it. Alan Francis Doyle on the other hand didn't even blink an eye at the knowledge. He had opened the door for Harry and was motioning for her to get in her car. Harry slowly got in her car and thought almost absentmindedly that Francis looked rather handsome under the streetlight.

Doyle turned towards Cordelia and held out his arm. She took the proffered appendage and even laid her head on his shoulder for a split second. As they started to walk towards her apartment Doyle decided to ask Cordelia about The Master.

"You never said that you had been kidnapped."

"It's not exactly a fond experience, Doyle. Besides, why would I want to remember being chained up and hung from the ceiling when those creeps wanted to resurrect their vampire master?"

"They were going to sacrifice you weren't they?"

As Doyle spoke a hint of anger crept into his voice. A shiver went down Cordelia's spine. Oh yes, she was definitely going to have naughty dreams tonight. Dreams which starred her woefully sexy friend with an Irish accent would no doubt plague her all night long. Not that she minded those dreams or anything. Doyle noticed her shiver and slid off his worn leather jacket. He offered it to Cordelia, thinking she was merely cold.

"Yeah, they were. Not exactly the most impressive way to foray into the slaying side of life."

As far as Delia was concerned, the entire Sunnydale scene was old news and she did not want to talk about it. Doyle helped her put the jacket on and offered her his arm once more. They turned a corner and were right in front of her apartment building. That was when a demon decided to jump at them from out of nowhere. Cordy screamed and Doyle moved so that he was in front of her.

"You! You helped kill my master! You will die!" Its intent to kill Cordelia couldn't really get any clearer. Doyle had it dusted before the vampire took two steps. He could feel Cordelia's hands shaking as she tentatively touched his back. When he turned to face her Doyle saw true gratitude in her eyes. It looked like he'd managed to do something right for once. Delia stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek after giving Doyle a quick hug.

"I guess they're still mad at me. Thanks for the save, Doyle."

"Anytime, Princess. Anytime."

That Irish lilt spoke of promise. A promise that Doyle hoped he would be able to fulfill. A promise that she knew he could fulfill. Cordelia merely smiled brilliantly at him as he wrapped an arm around her waist and led her into the building. Once they had gotten into the elevator Doyle thought that Cordy had recovered from the attack and wouldn't like his arm staying where it was for much longer. However, she started shaking again once the doors were closed. Doyle had no idea that she was shaking to keep from jumping him. When the doors opened on Cordelia's floor they stepped out of the elevator and a scantily clad woman started to walk toward them from the other side of the hall.

"Notorious man stealer ahead." Cordelia whispered to Doyle fervently hoping that he would get the gist and not even look at the skank. In response he merely tightened his grip around Cordelia.

"My, my, my. Who is this handsome stud?" The stranger was quite conspicuously eyeing Doyle up and down.

"Name's Doyle miss." Doyle gave her a very strained very fake smile. Cordy laid her head on his shoulder.

"He's just walking me home tonight, Veronica. So don't get any ideas." There was an implied threat in her voice which Veronica wisely chose to heed. She scampered back to her apartment and left them in peace. They walked the two feet to her door and stood in the doorway for a moment.

"Thanks for the backup, Doyle. As well as for saving my life tonight and walking me home when I asked you.""Always a pleasure, Delia. Goodnight, Cordelia. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Doyle." Cordy kissed his cheek before closing the door. She had to. This jacket reeked of Doyle and Cordy was scared that she'd pin him against a wall. That was when Cordy realized that she was still wearing his jacket.

A/N It feels really weird to be writing Doyle as Francis. Harry's the only one to call him that too!