Okay, I almost finished the story now. Have just sent the last chapters to my brilliant bèta. So as soon as I got them back, I'll post the rest of the story (just have to write one more thing and an epilogue)
Enjoy!

LA – Hyperion Hotel.

The sun was up, bright morning sunshine peering through the half-closed curtains, the rays sliding over the hardwood floor, trying to reach the bed where two still figures lay resting.

A moan as she slowly left her dreams behind, too much light in the room. Moving up to a sitting position, stretching out as she stiffened a yawn, then her hand reached out to touch the figure next to her. A sigh as she realised he was still asleep...

'Oh Angel.' She said, getting up as she checked his blood supply... The dark liquid dripping from the bag into his body through the plastic tubes. It was pig's blood, his usual dinner. But somehow it didn't seem good enough now. He'd had been given the cure, and he did wake up for a moment, but he wasn't better, he wasn't healing. He'd regained some colour but he was still weak and pale.

Wesley and Fred said that all the vampire needed now was a steady blood supply and rest.

'Well...it's not helping.' Cordy huffed as she reached out and touched her love's cheek, resisting the urge to pull back when she felt how cold his skin was.

A kiss upon his forehead, then she slipped into the bathroom, leaving his pale figure alone in the darkness of the shadows.

--

Cordy's POV

Splashing some cold water into my face, I try to reset my thoughts. Since when did my life become so complicated? Okay, wrong choice of words obviously... My life's never been simple, I admit, and to be honest, it hasn't improved much since I met Buffy Summers and the other side to reality. Moving to LA and working for Angel with Doyle and later on with Wesley certainly didn't improve it – at? all. Now count the fact that I am part demon and a surrogate mother to a baby that technically shouldn't even exist, and you've got a whole new definition of complicated.

But even considering that, I never felt like this...so helpless, so useless.

I don't know where I'm at anymore. Angel's dying, and I don't know what I can do to help him.

There's one thing that's crossed my mind, and thought it over several times...

I know what Wes said about demon blood and vampires... but hey, I'm not a demon, not totally anyway. Truth is the pig's blood isn't good enough. Angel needs more, and I know it. He's slipping away from me, and it feels like I'm dying with him. That's why I'm gonna prevent it, take some action.

I open the small closet and take out a plastic bag. Turning it over a needle and a reservoir drop out...
I've hidden it here, knowing Fred, Gunn and Wes wouldn't look here. Then again, they won't even think I was up to this. To be honest... I don't know if I really am. But seeing Angel so pale and helpless, I find the courage that I need, putting the rope around my upper-arm, pulling hard. A deep intake of breath, then I plunge the needle in my throbbing vein...

--

Sunnydale

'Come again?' Xander asked, wanting to make sure he heard her right. She did say 'Looking for Spike', right?'

A sigh escaped her lips, 'I know he isn't your most favourite person, Xander, but he's a friend and he's helped us out so many times and...'

'He's a vampire Buff, and – you know how much I like helping people, but he's not a person. Besides, he's in LA. He called us. He's fine.' Xander reasoned, not really regretting the fact that the bleach-haired vampire had vanished.

'I'm going down there, and please, Xand, don't try to stop me. I...I need to do this, okay...'

And with that she left a stunned Xander behind.

Upon returning from her patrol-round, Buffy had taken Xander into the kitchen, asking him to keep an eye on Dawn while she was gone. She explained she was going to see Spike in LA, when she'd heard her sister's story of the vampire's phone call.

He'd tried to convince her, but wasn't really persuasive. But that didn't mean he had to like it. This is Spike she wanted to look for.

Granted, he really didn't like Spike, like he never liked Angel either... 'But hey, they're vampires, what's to like?' he added in his mind.

Then, okay, Spike had a chip, and was on their side now, but he'd rather see a pile of dust than a dysfunctional fiend. Buffy had grown towards Spike since she came back, he'd noticed. But he never would've thought she'd go after him like this. Her words earlier had surprised him. She'd called Spike a friend. If he didn't know better he'd say Buffy had a crush on Spike...

'Oh God!'