Disclaimer:All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Buffy, and Angel the series.

Synopsis: Cordelia's unexpected arrival is arriving fast and the rest of the team, along with Lindsey, have to find a way to get her out of Wolfram and Hart before it's too late.

Chapter Six

They had all moved to the new office. Lindsey's, now on the upper floors, and started research. Lindsey had ordered that anything Wesley asked for he received and that started the research party. At least after the shock of the word succubus had worn off a little. Very little.

Cordelia, after getting some real clothes, had settled onto the sofa with Angel. A look from him and Lindsey had warned off any comment of her growing size. As she grew tired Angel took the book from her and let her fall asleep, head in her lap. Meanwhile Wesley took the desk and Gunn and Lorne both chairs. Lindsey tried to help with researching but seemed incapable of sitting calmly and so did better at directing the interns to bring in more information.

As another couple came in with books Lindsey nodded and sent them to the wall, "Over there, over there." They quickly set them down and left. Lindsey sighed and turned to Wesley. "Anything at all?"

Wesley was just as frustrated as the others but he ran into nothing but the same information over and over. "It's all the same information. Succubi are not born but created. Out of a sort of – of trauma."

Lindsey huffed a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "A trauma from a man."

"Yes and typically, all newer reports show that the woman then goes into a coma of sorts. A long one, and a fever that eventually breaks. They either wake up changed or, not at all."

Angel frowned and set aside the book, careful not to wake Cordelia. "She had a fever, it caused a seizure and she was unconscious, just not long."

Wesley removed his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. "Yes, well they tried speeding up the pregnancy and by doing so seem to have sped up the cycle as well. There is, er, good news, however."

All eyes turned to him as if hoping for the word cure, instead Wesley dropped his eyes from Angel and looked to Lindsey. "This may take care of the problem with the visions. A succubus - "

"A succubus would survive." He answered softly and looked over to Cordelia, a war reading on his face. Would it be worth it and would she believe it to be?

Angel looked confused, "What do you mean survive? Survive what? Wesley?" He nearly growled.

Lindsey was the one to answer, confusion finally winning. "You didn't know? The visions, the doctor she saw said the visions were killing her. "

Angel went to stand and stopped when hands came up to warn him off of waking Cordelia. This was not how Wesley, or Cordelia, had planned on telling Angel but perhaps it was for the best. If for no other reason than it kept him calm. With a look meant to scathe he sat back again as Cordelia made a small noise and got comfortable again on his lap.

"No, I didn't know, I take it I'm the only one?" A look around showed Lorne offering a hesitant smile and Gunn shaking his head.

"Hey, I had no clue!"

"Let's just say I got an idea from that last reading angelcakes. The princess wanted to deal with it by herself."

Angel nodded and glanced down to her, brushing her hair from her face. "Well now she doesn't have to." He looked up at Wesley. "Tell me more about how this could save her."

Wesley nodded relieved and grabbed the text, putting his glasses back on. "Well, the visions are dangerous to humans from what I gathered at the doctor's office. The human brain can't take the constant connection and damage from seeing beyond. However, Succubi are capable of controlling dreams among other things, and replenish through feedings. If, if she could control it, the feedings, then she could heal herself from any damage as well as sustain the connection better."

Lindsey walked over and knelt by Cordelia, he brushed along her face and then looked up at Angel. "First we need to know if that is what is happening or if it's the baby. We have to do the tests."

AA

They decided not to talk about Angel being up to speed when they woke Cordelia. They waited until the very last moment to do so. Taking the time to set up a new room for her, Lindsey left the office and left Cordelia to Angel's care. The room was smaller, much more like a private hospital room, with a regular bed, no restraints and only a few instruments to monitor her and the baby if need be. By the time they woke her up she was feeling a bit better, but still nervous about any more tests. As the room was smaller, only a few went in with her. Gunn and Lorne taking up positions outside.

Getting Cordelia onto the bed, Wesley took her hand and stood by her while Angel and Lindsey watched the doctor.

"You will take only a small blood sample to test for DNA changes and then the amniocentesis to check on the child. Nothing else." Lindsey repeated to the doctor. The man pulling gloves on and nodding.

"Of course Mr. McDonald. The amnio will tell us more about what the child is and definitive paternity. The carrier's – er mother's fate will be easier to surmise from the results."

Taking the vial of blood was nothing but the amnio had Cordelia more than a little nervous. She squeezed Wesley's hand and he bent closer, a hand to her head. "It's perfectly safe Cordelia. Many women have it done and it will be over quickly."

She looked up at him and nodded, grateful he was there. Closing her eyes as the needle went in she held her breath until Wesley reminded her to breathe. All in all it was over in only a few minutes and Lindsey escorted the doctor out with the samples to make sure that nothing else was done. He commented about returning with the results and Lorne and Gunn stepped in then. Now, it was more waiting.

AA

Lindsey waited in the lab while the tests were run. As he walked away with the folder and stepped into the elevator he found himself in a white room. Looking up his face fell. "Oh not yet."

A little girl smiled at him and took his hand. "It's time for tea!"

AA

The waiting was getting to them all and Cordelia was oddly only calm while talking to Wesley. He smiled and mentioned that there might be good news, and that's when it happened. Angel turned to look at her, arms behind him.

"Wesley thinks that it might be what saves you from the visions. The ones that are killing you?"

Cordelia's mouth worked and she looked at Wesley. For his part he sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I'm sorry Cordelia. We were trying to find all we could and as Lindsey already knew. . . "

If Angel was planning on being upset that quickly fell as Cordelia's face did. As soon as she looked like there would be tears he stopped and stepped closer.

"Cor, I just, I want to help. I don't want you to hide things from us. Especially things like this. Why couldn't you trust me?"

She sniffled and wiped at her face determined not to be this bag of out of control emotions any longer than she had to be. "You would have tried to take the visions away."

"Of course I would have! They are killing you!"

"They are part of me! If, if you found out having a soul was somehow, decaying you and you'd die, really die, would you want us to take it away?"

"That's different, without my soul -"

"You aren't you. Well without my visions I'm not, I mean I just, I wasn't anything Angel. I know some people spend their lives trying to figure out what they are, or why they're here. I know! I know and I won't lose it now. Even if, if it means I have to be something other than human."

Suddenly everyone was quiet. In a few short sentences she had summed up how they all felt about their lives, why they did what they did. So Angel nodded and came over to the bed. He kissed her on the forehead.

"Fine, you keep the visions. But no more secrets. Deal?"

Relieved she nodded. "Deal."

A/N: We will get answers soon I promise! As for the father of the baby, you will never guess! I dare you.