Chapter Three
"Oh my God, Cordelia!" Angel exclaimed as he saw his best friend sitting there. Granted, Cordelia was being straddled by Eve, but she was there. She was awake. It was a medical marvel, but there she was. It was as he always hoped it would be. For once, he could rid himself of the guilt built up inside of him for taking over Wolfram and Hart. His one hope for agreeing to it was met. Cordelia was back. "How are you?" he asked as he walked inside the room.
"Freaked!" Cordelia exclaimed loudly as she once again tried to push Eve off of her. "Angel, where am I? Who is this crazy woman with fabulous shoes?" Cordelia said. Her voice trailed from one of disgust towards one of slight respect. This other woman might be crazy, but at least she had good fashion sense.
Angel exchanged a glance with Gunn. Gunn nodded as he walked over and grabbed Eve's thin arm and pulled her off of Cordelia. "Eve, we've been over this," he stated as he pulled her into an upright position. "Cordelia's straight, and…woah, Cordelia's awake." He had realized it earlier, but the reality had not hit him until just then. He released his hold on Eve and went to hug Cordelia. "How do you feel?"
"Gunn," Cordelia said simply. "You…have hair," she said in shock.
Gunn nodded. "What, did you think I was prematurely bald?" he joked as he released his hold on her. He transferred her over towards Angel's receptive arms. Cordelia did not answer him.
"Hey," Angel said as he too hugged Cordelia. "How are you? Honestly."
Cordelia shrugged. "Ok, I guess," she said.
"Do you remember…" Angel started.
"Every second of it," Cordelia admitted. She did not want to remember it. The things she did. Sleeping with Connor. Nearly killing Willow. Killing the innocent young woman. She remembered it all. The one thing she did not remember was this other woman. She turned her focus back to Eve. "Angel, who is she?"
Angel exhaled deeply. "Cordy, things have changed," he started. "A lot more than you realize."
Cordelia shrugged. "You can explain it to me on the way back to the hotel," she said simply. "I mean, as far as I remember, there were not many hospitals near the hotel. Closest one was at least twenty minutes by car."
"Cordelia, there is no hotel," Angel started. He exhaled deeply. This would be a long story.
"You sold your soul to the devil," Cordelia announced once Angel had finished telling her of how he acquired Wolfram and Hart. She took one look at Eve. Cordelia now knew who Eve was, and she did not like anything that woman stood for. "And the devil wasn't even that tempting," she added. "They could have done better."
"Cordelia, don't think like that," Eve interjected,
"Eve, don't be here," Angel groaned in frustration. He had to get her out of there. He needed an excuse. Something. Anything.
Eve shook her head. "I have a right to be here," she stated. "It's a free world."
"It's my law firm," Angel rebutted. "So get out."
Eve shook her head. "Oh, I don't think you really mean that," she said. "If I leave, I can put your little friend here back into her coma. I have the power."
