This Angel Is Whose?

Chapter 8

Author: Nitrowugs

Chapter 8 Written: 08/09/2009

The news from Willow was not good. It seems that Claire had not been in classes all week. According to her roommate she had been called home due to a death in her family and was not due back for the rest of the semester. Willow had confirmed this by calling Claire's home in Bayville and speaking with her personally and verifying the death with the local Bayville newspaper.

As for Tom and his friend, Angel found them at Tom's parents' home. Tom admitted he was at the party, but when he saw Buffy enter he and his buddy quickly left through the back door. One of the conditions of his parole was that he would never go near Buffy or Cordelia again. When asked how he got invited to the party, he said that there was an invitation in his mailbox two days before. He thought it was sent to him as a welcome to UC Sunnydale since this was his first semester as a student at the school. Angel could tell he was telling the truth; he even gave them the invitation. He did say that he noticed several others leaving at the same time that he did. He didn't think anything about it at the time.

Lorne reported rumblings of a planned attempt on the slayer from the demon grapevine but he could not find anyone who knew anything specific.

Wesley's report was similar to Lorne's, but he wanted to see Angel in person and he would not tell him what it was about. He had reserved a room at a small motel on the outskirts of Sunnydale and asked Angel to meet him there at midnight and to come alone. He knew there was practically no chance that he would run into Cordelia at the seedy motel but he did not want to take any chances.

Angelus, who still had not forgiven Wesley for abducting Connor, was suspicious from the beginning, but he also wanted to know why Wesley was taking what seemed like such a clandestine approach.

After assuring himself that Buffy was sound asleep, Angel left the hospital and arrived at the motel as requested. He was shocked as he listened quietly to Wesley as he voiced his concerns about what had happened to Buffy and the person he suspected was involved. Wesley told him about his conversation with Cordelia the day that Buffy was attacked, her reaction to the news that Buffy was alive and her phone call to him before she left for Sunnydale. Wesley ended with. "I know this is difficult for you to accept, but I urge you to take a closer look at Cordelia and be very wary of her intensions toward Buffy and toward you."

Angel was steadfast in his belief in Cordy's innocence and refused to believe a word that Wesley had said. He believed that she was right - Wesley was upset because she did not want him. Angel still firmly believed that Cordy felt only true friendship for him.

Wesley changed the subject. "Angel, what do you plan to do about Angel Investigations?"

"I plan to relocate and move the business to Sunnydale. I am coming back to LA when Buffy is better and explain everything to the team and give everyone the option of coming with me. In any case there are three months left on the current lease for the Hyperion Hotel. I will not be renewing it. If you and Gunn decide not to move to Sunnydale, you are welcome to stay at the hotel for the next three months."

"Under normal circumstances I would've liked very much to relocate to Sunnydale and continue working with you and AI, but considering the lack of confidence that you obviously have in my opinion, I don't see that my staying with the business is an option for me."

"Wes, it's not that I lack confidence in your opinion, it's just that I cannot believe that Cordelia would try to kill Buffy."

"I pray to God you are right."

Angel left the motel highly disturbed. "Why do you find it so difficult to believe? Did you not hear what Wesley said? Or are your feelings for the bitch more than friendship?"

"You know better than that. Buffy has owned my heart and soul since that first time I laid eyes on her."

End of Chapter 8