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Chapter Nine
Angel got up quickly. They didn't have a lot of time and he was pretty sure that they wanted the two sitting in front of him on the floor.
"Right, Wes, get Cordy out of here. Take the sewers, get her somewhere safe. I'll get Faith and try to hold them off."
"An' what about me, poof?"
He turned and glared.
"You killed Lindsey, it's you they're probably after. So we're making a trade. They leave Cor alone, they get you."
Cordelia tried to stand up and Spike helped her to her feet but kept a hold of her arms.
"You are not going to sell him out!"
Spike's smile was slow and he stared at Angel. Angel wanted proof, oh he got it. Angel seemed taken aback.
"He kidnapped and tortured you! He killed Lindsey in cold blood!"
"No, Faith kidnapped us. And she tortured Wesley. That didn't seem to matter too much to you though did it? Took a weekend off to get to know her and make sure she didn't have to pay for her crimes!"
"Cordelia, that's not what happened, she. . . "
"Save it! Spike saved me. He helped me, and he killed Lindsey because, because of me, because he. . . "
She started shaking and Spike stepped closer, pulling her back to him.
"Shhh, 'ts done now, pet. Poof's right abou' one thing. Need t' get you out o' here."
Angel's voice got low, almost a growl.
"He what? Cor, what did Lindsey do?"
She shook her head and kept her eyes down.
"Cor!"
"Hey! She don' wanna talk abou' it, eh? Leave 'er be!"
Faith stuck her head back in then and looked around.
"Uh, hate to break up the love fest and all, but we got company."
Wesley moved around the bed and reached for Cordelia's hand.
"I'll take her home. They don't know where her apartment is and she could use the rest."
Spike snarled.
"Then I'll take 'er. You lot can deal with th' suits."
Cordelia threw her hands up.
"Uggh! Fine then I'm not going anywhere! If they're coming then we'll deal with it. Spike stay out of sight. If they are mad at the Lindsey thing then they might have another control."
All of them went to open their mouths to argue but she was already moving past them to the office. Wesley followed and as Spike went after her, Angel stood in his way and poked him in the chest.
"You stay away from her. I don't know what game you're playing, but you leave Cordy out of it."
Spike stared at the finger then looked up at Angel.
"Think th' bit should 'ave sommat t' say about it. Don' you?"
"She's been through a lot, and you obviously used that to convince her you're something you're not so. . . "
"What bothers you most mate? That she trusts me? Or that she don' trust you anymore?"
He grinned and pushed Angel's hand away before following them out.
In the office Wesley stood between the two women. Faith glancing to Cordelia as if wanting to say something, and any time Cordelia caught her she glared, and Faith looked away. The knock at the door caught everyone's attention. They were all on edge, sure a fight was coming, what they had not expected was Lilah to be standing there with a smile. She looked at Angel and gave a nod.
"May I come in?"
"What do you want Lilah?"
He nearly growled at her and as she stepped inside, he took a threatening step towards her and she held up her hands defensively.
"All right all right. Right to business then."
Faith snorted.
"What business?"
Lilah turned a glare to the slayer, looking her over and obviously sizing her up, finding her lacking.
"You know, I told Lindsey you were a bad idea. As a slayer you are a failure. Of course you've pretty much failed at everything you've tried haven't you? You've been through more watchers than any slayer on record. It's a wonder the council keeps you around."
It wouldn't hit Wesley later that she shouldn't know so much about the council or slayers. What he caught was the look on Faith's face of being ripped apart. He stepped next to her and glared at Lilah.
"What do you want, Ms. Morgan?"
Lilah smiled slowly and noted Angel also stood up behind Faith. She looked both men over then looked at Faith and winked.
"Oh, so that's how. Busy girl."
She stepped away before any of them could react and held her hand out to Spike. He had been enjoying the scalpel like precision with which Lilah had put the slayer in place, and more the way Cordelia had reacted seeing everyone go to Faith. He glanced at the hand then back at her.
"I just want to thank you. The Senior Partners seemed to think Lindsey was a golden boy and gave him way too much slack in dealing with the Angel situation. Thanks to you, I've been promoted."
Spike smirked.
"Oh yeah? Guess you lot owe me one then."
He reached for her hand and once he did she grabbed it with her other, covering his hand and a spark jumped through their hands. Spike screamed and fell back holding his head. Cordelia screeched and fell to her knees next to him. Lilah shrugged.
"Consider the debt paid."
Cordelia was lightly touching his face, his head, not sure what was going on. Spike growled and sat up rubbing at his forehead and glaring at her.
"What th' bloody hell was that!"
"The chip, has been destroyed. Unlike Lindsey, I follow through on my deals. Oh, and, the other offer is still on the table."
She glanced to Cordelia then to Spike. He was rubbing at his head and thinking then got her meaning and stood up quickly.
"Consider it denied, yeah? No one touches my seer."
Lilah smiled and glanced to Angel then back.
"Works for me."
Turning to leave she had just exited the door when she tossed over her shoulder a final warning.
"Oh, and fair warning, Spike. Sticking around Angel is bad for your health."
Spike was grinning and as if testing it, he changed his face a few times. Faith knew what the chip was and what it did and ran over to grab Cordelia's arm and yank her away. Cordelia was not happy and tried yanking her arm away.
"Let go of me you freak!"
"He's dangerous!"
"Oh and you're not!"
Wesley looked confused but tried to get Faith's attention.
"Faith, what is going on?"
Cordelia finally pulled away and rubbed at her arm.
"He's been de chipped. He had a chip, it kept him from being able to hurt people. If that woman got rid of it, he has no leash."
Cordy snorted.
"Please, if anyone needs a leash it's you."
Angel frowned but stood between them and Spike, who was standing there trying to look as innocent as possible.
"Cordelia, I understand you're upset, but Spike can't be trusted."
Cordelia shook her head sadly.
"You know what I noticed when Lilah came in? Not that she got rid of that chip finally, which by the way had already been messed with so that it only worked with their little remote, but that the minute she came in, you all rushed to the slayer's side. Like she was the one in danger, and not the one that started this mess!"
"Cor, we were watching Lilah, not abandoning you."
Cordelia looked at him disbelieving.
"This time."
"What?"
Angel was confused but getting this horrible feeling that this was not going to end well. Cordelia tilted her head, she was calm, too calm and her eyes were hard.
"You mean you weren't abandoning me, this time."
Faith bit her lip and tried to apologize.
"Cordelia I know that you don't trust me, and you really don't have a reason to but, I am. . . "
Cordelia whirled on her.
"I swear to god I'll kill you if you say you're sorry! How sorry were you when you were torturing Wesley! When you told him he couldn't make a sound! When you had a blow torch to him? How sorry were you when you were hanging out at my apartment like it was a vacation?"
Faith took a shuddering breath and lowered her head. Angel glowered.
"That's not fair, Cordy."
"Fair? You want fair? Okay sure, let's do fair."
She turned and grabbed Spike's hand pulling him for the door. Even Spike was surprised at that but followed. Angel went to block the door.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm giving you fair. So sorry to put you out with having to be rescued when you obviously had plans. I'm going home."
"Not with him you're not."
Cordelia couldn't hold back tears any longer and lowered her head growling as she smacked at Angel.
"You don't get to tell me what to do any more! You've got your new project! Only got a couple of months so get out of my way and get busy!"
She pushed past him and Angel panicked, he watched her leaving with Spike and didn't know what else to say.
"But, what about the visions?"
As soon as he said it he knew it was a mistake. She stiffened but didn't turn back. Spike put an arm around her and looked back at Angel.
"Sure I can cover it, mate. Seems you lot got your hands full as it is, wouldn' want t' take precious time away."
Angel lifted his lip in a snarl and Spike smiled. He mouthed 'mine' then turned to help Cordelia out and back to her apartment. Angel's shoulders slumped just as Wesley came up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. He looked back at Wesley who tried for a reassuring smile.
AA
Lilah walked into her new office and smiled. Sitting down into the large leather chair she sighed happily. That smile faded once she turned towards the door.
"Gavin."
"Settling in I see?"
"Well I was. What do you want, Gavin?"
"You let them go."
"Excuse me?"
"Just concerned. The Angel situation is in your hands now and the first thing you do is let a vampire go. From what I heard, there wasn't even a threat made towards Angel."
Lilah smiled.
"So sweet of you to be concerned, but I have it under control."
Gavin walked into the room and sat on the edge of her desk.
"Do you?"
She frowned.
"Get off my desk Gavin. Of course I do. What you idiots fail to realize is that Angel, can be his own worst enemy. I saw the tapes from Lindsey's little trap. The seer trusts the other vampire. I also saw the garage tapes. Angel, doesn't. While you keep trying to get to him through the seer, I'm letting her do it herself."
"Without that connection to the Powers, he's weaker. He also cares for her, and the watcher."
"EX watcher."
"Fine, ex watcher. We can only bring him down by killing them."
"Is that what you think?"
Gavin had gotten off the desk and stared down at her.
"You don't?"
"I think he needs to loose everything. Death is just one way to do that. Don't worry Gavin. I have everything under control."
AA
Cordelia entered the apartment and turned to invite Spike in but the door slammed. She blinked and went to open it again but it slammed out of her hands.
"Dennis! What are you doing?"
She heard the door click locked and then the answering machine.
"Dennis, it's Angel. Listen, we found Cordy, but she was hurt. She has a vampire with her, don't let him in! I'll come by and check on her later. Thanks Dennis."
Cordelia groaned.
"Dennis. He's okay, let me bring him in and I'll explain. Besides Angel didn't find me. Spike did. He helped me escape. Angel was, busy."
She reached for the door again and looked around making sure Dennis didn't do anything. Opening it she sighed and shook her head at Spike.
"Spike, come on in. Sorry, Angel left a message for Dennis to keep you out."
Spike looked past her before he came in. His brow furrowed.
"So where's th' bloke?"
"Bloke? Oh! Dennis. Dennis is a ghost."
Spike nodded.
"Right. So the poof didn' want me in huh?"
Cordy shrugged then went to flop on the couch. Rubbing at the back of her neck it was only a few seconds before a glass of water and a pill bottle came floating over.
"Bloody hell!"
"Thanks Dennis."
She gave Spike a small smile.
"He's a nice ghost, really. Sometimes I think he's my only friend."
As if in answer the answering machine clicked on again.
"Dennis, it's Angel. Listen, we found Cordy, but she-"
"Uggh, turn it off Dennis!"
Cordelia worked at the bottle and Spike came over and sat next to her. Took the pills and opened them for her.
"There ya go, bit."
"Dennis. I was gone three days. Spike took care of me, he got me out of there. Wolfram and Hart took us. Angel, was busy with the slayer. By the time he showed up were were already gone."
Her face seemed to crumple and Spike tossed an arm around her.
"Poof is in th' business of rescuin'. Jus' got busy wit' the others. Can' say 'm surprised. Always did have a thing for slayers."
He was speaking so softly, so soothingly and he felt like a heel. He knew it was only hurting her more, but he had to make sure she remembered. She couldn't count on them. Only on him. He pulled her into his chest as she started to cry and kissed the top of her head.
"Always got me, bit. If y' want me that is."
She sighed but looked up at him.
"Not really sure what's going to happen, with work and Angel and stuff. Honestly I'm too tired to care. I'd like if you stayed, though. Unless, you need to head back to Sunnydale."
He shook his head.
"Nah, nothin' there for me now. Has been a long few days though, pet. How about we get you sommat t' eat and some sleep."
She let out a relieved breath. She hadn't realized how much she wanted him to say he'd stay. With a small smile she nodded and got up to head to the kitchen.
"You don't have to have the couch. There's another bedroom, and I already have thick curtains up for you know, sun and. . . "
She stopped, fridge door in hand and looked in. There was still some blood, but that was about it. Someone had even put the last crusty bite of sandwich back.
"Hmm, looks like th' slayer cleaned you out luv."
Cordy sighed, too disappointed to care and closed it.
"Yeah. I think, just a hot bath and some sleep, some real sleep. Are, you going to be okay?"
He frowned at the fridge then nodded, shoved his hands into his pockets.
"No worries abou' me pet. 'm sure Dennis an' I can find sommat t' do. Go get some rest."
She smiled weakly then put a hand to his chest and leaned up to kiss his cheek before turning to her bedroom.
"Thank you."
He blinked and then smiled slowly as he watched her go into the bedroom and close the door behind her. He considered that a big step in the right direction and wouldn't lie about it being kind of nice. It wasn't a passionate kiss, she wasn't falling for him, but it was, simply done. Like she would a good friend. No worries about what he was. After he heard the water running he looked up and around.
"Oi! Dennis, don' s'ppse you know where the nearest market is? Gonna need more than some blood. Gonna need t' make sure there's sommat more solid in there."
The lights dimmed then brightened again. A book on the counter flipped open pages turning then stopped. Spike turned to look and saw a listing, a line drawn and then the market name. He nodded and headed for the door.
"Right, keep an eye on 'er. Won' be long."
AA
