[Disclaimer] Blah blah blah, not mine. Let's not rub it in.
[Feedback] Love it, love it, love it.
[Pairing] A/C...kinda
[A/N] Sort of a Buffy X-over... sorry it took me so long to update this story. I ran into a writers blcok and the headache is just now subsiding :-)
"I love Cordelia as much as the rest of you, but I say we take the stakes, and find her." Gunn held a strong look on his face as Angel looked at him, partly in disbelief, partly in understanding.
"There has to be another way." Angel said, simply. "I can't just... Kill her. Again."
"Angel..." Wes started.
"I don't want to hear it. She's not coming back. You told me."
"For the first time in hours, Fred spoke. She had recently come downstairs after Angel went up to apologize immensely to her. "I don't think we should be afraid that she's not coming back. I think we should be afraid that Angel can." She said.
"What?" Wes, Gunn and Angel replied in unison, equally confused.
"Fred." Angel said, softly, "I will never ever hurt you again."
"I know that. What I mean is...Cordelia is stuck as a vampire. And she knows that. But she also knows that Angel can be turned, and that Wolfram and Hart can do that..."
"She's going to try and take Angel's soul again." Wes said, realization creeping across his face.
Angel grabbed his leather duster. "I've got to get there before she does. You guys stay here and keep looking. Maybe we can revise the curse to fit her." Without another word, he walked out of the Hyperion, and into the night.
*****
Lilah struggled to breathe under Cordelia's strong hand. The vampire had cornered her outside the office once more, and now had her pinned against the wall, a cold, manicured hand around her neck. "I don't know how to do it." She gasped. She could feel herself growing weaker.
Cordelia's vamp face did not look amused. "You did it once."
"No. I thought....I thought of the idea. I hired someone to do it."
"Where can I find this person?"
Lilah's eyes started to roll into the back of her head. Red was flooding her eyes and her vision was becoming foggy. "I don't know. She was a gypsy."
Cordelia's grip loosened, but not much. "A gypsy?"
"Yes, her name was-"
"Cordelia!"
Cordelia turned and saw Angel running towards her. She dropped Lilah in a heap on the cold concrete. "You better find this woman, or you'll find yourself dead." She hissed at her, before walking away and quickly turning a corner, into an alley out of sight.
Angel hurried after her, but stopped in his tracks when he found the alley empty. "Cordelia!" He yelled, "I know you can hear me!" He looked around, trying to find any clue that she was once there. "Cordelia!" He growled and turned back towards the main street.
From a balcony above, Cordelia watched him, amused.
*****
Lilah felt her body being pulled up, and she blushed. This is the second time that security guard had saved her. Maybe she should send him her thanks. An orange or something. She looked up at her rescuer and grew afraid. "Angel!" She said and pushed him away from her. "Get away from me!" She yelled and reached into her purse and grabbed a cross. At least this time she had the chance to defend herself.
Angel put his hands up in defense, but is expression was grim. "Where is Cordy going?" He demanded.
"I don't know." Lilah retorted, still holding the cross at arms length.
"Well, I need you to think."
"It's none of my concern."
Angel growled and pushed the cross away. He leaned in close so that he was inches from her face, and morphed into game face. "If she removes my soul, it will be your concern. So I suggest you think hard about where she may be going."
"I told her about the gypsy. That took your soul the first time."
"Gypsy, huh?" Angel growled again and pushed her away from him. "God, I hate gypsies."
*****
"Shhhhhh..." Allison tried hard to get the young child in her arms to quite, but he continued screaming. As if that wasn't bad enough, someone began to ring her doorbell. "Maybe it's your auntie!" She told Connor excitedly. The sooner this kid left, the better. She placed him down on her couch and walked towards the door. "Yes?" She said as she opened the door. The young man looked at her with curious eyes.
"Hello." He said with a defined British accent, "My names Wesley Wyndham-Price. Are you a friend of Cordelia's?"
Allison was on the defensive immediately. Was this the dangerous father? He didn't look dangerous. He looked rather fluffy, to say the least. "Yes. I am."
"Oh. Well," He produced a drivers license and a business card, "I work with Cordelia. She's asked that I pick up the baby."
"I don't have the baby." Allison defended.
Wes shot a glance to the baby toys on the floor. He knew Cordelia didn't have the baby at Wolfram and Hart, so she must have left him here. "I'm sorry, but I don't have time for games. If you look at my business card you'll see my name and hers. I am her coworker, and I've known her for years. Need more proof? Call our workplace, Angel Investigations, and speak to our employer himself."
Allison gave him an uncertain look before disappearing for a moment, and returning with Connor.
"Why, thank you miss. Cordy's asked that I pay you with this." He reached into his wallet and produced a 50 dollar bill. "Nice talking to you." He smiled at her before turning and walking down the steps to his car. Allison rolled her eyes and stuck the money in her pocket.
Wes stared down at Connor as he hurried to his car. "Glad to see you, little man." He said, "Really glad to see you."
*****
Cordelia smiled to herself as she approached her house. At least now she would be able to see Connor. Relax. She may be a vamp but she still knew how to pamper herself. She strolled up to Allison's doorway and rang the bell. Once. Twice. A minute later, Allison appeared, ragged and tired. "Yeah?" She said, hoping she didn't need to babysit.
"I'm here for Connor." Cordelia said, casually.
"....your friend already stopped by and picked him up."
"My what?"
"I-I thought you knew. He had an I.D. and everything and, oh gosh, that poor little baby, I'm so sorry. Oh gosh-"
"What did he look like? Tall, dark, broody?"
"No-no, he was tall. But not dark at all. Had a british accent and-"
"Wesley!!!!"
*****
Wes ran into the hotel and closed the doors firmly behind him.
"Is he ok?" Fred asked as she ran to meet him. She scooped the baby out of Wesley's arms and smothered him with kisses. "Oh, I'm so glad you're back!"
"Ouch!"
Wes looked towards the door as Angel came in, looking at the cross burns on his hand.
"I do hope those come off after this is all done." Angel murmured. He noticed Fred holding Connor and he ran to him, taking him gently out of Fred's arms and hugging his child to him. The sight and smell of Connor made him dizzy with relief.
"How did it go at Wolfram and Hart?" Gunn asked.
"Fred was right. She was there. Threatening Lilah Morgan to tell her how to take my soul again."
"Well what happened?"
"According to Lilah, she only knows that a gypsy did it. She doesn't know who."
"We can't that chance. Angel...we have to find her. She will kill innocent people if we don't."
"I know. I'm on it."
"Do we have to kill her?" Fred asked, shyly.
"I don't know." Wesley said, sadly.
"No. We don't." Angel argued.
"Angel, I care about Cordelia, too. I've known her for a long time and we have been working side by side for a while. I don't want to do this, but I will not be responsible for the deaths of innocent people. Of course it's hard on me, I love her just as much as you do."
"There has to be some other...I know. We need to get her in here. As soon as possible. Gunn, get all the weapons we can use. Fred, take Connor upstairs somewhere and lock the door. Wes, I need your help. Tell Lorne I'm going to need him. I have an idea."
*****
Cordelia sunk into her couch. She knew that Connor was at the Hyperion, but if she went to get him, Angel would get her. Her maternal instincts told her to forget Angel and go get him. But on the other hand, her survival instincts told her if she got Connor, she wouldn't be around long enough to get him home. Angel may not have the heart to stake her, but Gunn would, and maybe even Wes. She stood up and began walking towards the bedroom, but as soon as she took a first step, her door flew open, and in the doorway stood Angel. "What are you doing here?" Cordelia said, unphased by the dramatic entrance.
"Hmm, I thought you'd be happy to see me."
"Never."
Angel took a step towards her and she took a few steps back. "Get out of here." She said, annoyed.
"Please, Cordy. Come back with me. We can fix this."
"I don't want to be fixed. Im stuck like this now. I can never go to the beach and I can't go to college, because of you. If I have to be a creature of the night I may as well act like one."
"Cordelia. It doesn't have to be like that. Please."
"Get out."
"No."
Cordelia let out a growl and lunged at him. She was a good fighter, but with vampire strength she was that much harder. She continued to throw punches and kicks, and Angel defended them. Cordelia attempted to knock him off his feet with a roundhouse kick, but Angel grabbed her leg, and threw her to the ground. Before she could get up or protest, he was on her. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way." He said, trying to pin her down. She just growled at him. "Your choice." He said as he grabbed a vase off the coffee table and brought it down over her head. As Cordelia snoozed away, pieces from the vase began floating towards the garbage can. "Thanks Dennis." Angel said as he lifted Cordelia over his shoulder and began walking out the door. "I'll have her better soon...I hope."
*****
"Everyone ready?" Angel asked as he walked into the hotel, Cordelia over his shoulder.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Gunn said as he produced the chains.
"We need to hurry. She'll be waking any moment." Angel took the chains from Gunn and walked upstairs. "God, I hope this works."
*****
"Is this going to work?" Gunn asked.
"Angel thinks so." Wes replied. "I hope it does but...they don't have the best giving reputation."
"So tell me again why I have to danger myself with an angry vamp Cordy?" Lorne asked.
"Angel needs you to get him to the Conduit." Wes explained for the third time, "From there, he's hoping he can talk them into giving her humanity back, or at least her soul."
"And if it doesn't work?"
"Well then," Gunn said, "Angel's pissed, and Cordelia's pissed, and I'm going on paid vacation."
*****
"Im going to get you back to normal, Cordy." Angel said as he held Cordelia's hand. She was chained to his large bed in his room, looking awfully uncomfortable. "I'm going to work this out. I miss you."
He turned attention to the opening door as Wes, Gunn and Lorne walked in. Gunn and Wes were equipped with stakes and crosses. It hurt Angel to have to take such extreme measures against Cordy. Especially since it was his fault.
"You ready to go?" Lorne asked. Angel nodded. "Ok then. Let's get this party started, right?"
*****
Angel stood in the bleak empty cave which held the Conduit.
Why do you disturb us?
"I need your help." Angel said, hopefully.
You think you are worthy of our assistance?
"Please. My seer. She's a vampire. She's not good to me like this. I need her human."
That is your own fault.
"I know... it was a spell."
We need no excuses. You are the reason your seer is dead. We'll not bring her back. Leave.
"I'll do anything. I need her back. I can't live without her."
What are you willing to sacrifice for this vampryss?
"Everything."
*****
"Angel?" Cordelia stretched as she sat up in Angel's large bed. She didn't notice the crosses and chains on the floor.
"Hi." Angel whispered. Cordelia looked at the chair next to the bed. He sat, staring at her. He looked relived and stressed at the same time. He had sent Wes, Gunn, and Lorne downstairs a while. He wanted to be alone with Cordelia when she woke up.
"Angel, what's going on? What am I doing here? Why aren't I at home? How did I get here?"
Angel smiled, relief shining through, but not masking his sadness. "I'm glad you're ok." He said simply.
"What's wrong?"
He smiled again, "Nothing. Just a long day." He stood and gave her a kiss on her forehead. She looked at him, confused. "I'll leave now and let you sleep." He started to walk towards the door.
"Angel?"
He said nothing as he turned around to face her.
"Stay with me."
Angel climbed into his bed with his Seer. Cordelia laid back down as Angel wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled him close to her. He breathed in her scent, her human scent and closed his eyes.
"Angel, what's wrong?" Cordelia asked as she started drifting to sleep.
"Nothing." Angel replied, "Nothing can possibly go wrong now."
He didn't think he'd ever tell her. Maybe one day, far from now. He would tell her about the spell, and about how he turned her. He would tell her about their reign together and about how he got his soul back and how he brought her back to humanity. But...
He would leave out the part about giving her his shanshu. How he gave up his humanity so that she would live...She didn't need to know that.
*****
The End!!!
*****
Thanks for all the feedback! Melohdramatic, sorry about the lack of nakie Angel there! Thanks for all your encouragement!!!!
~*Shannon*~
