New Possibilities
The night has been frustrating to say the least - called up at an ungodly hour to go back to the office; spending her night watching creepy, cop lady weep about her various issues; getting a gun drawn on her; going to the police station … only to find Angel had had the whammy put on him and now he was just as creepy as cop lady.
By the time she got home she was ready for a bubble bath and then bed. Fortunately, she now had a ghost for a roommate and Phantom Dennis ran the bath for her while she made a herbal tea and tutted every time she remembered Angel asking 'what's the magic word?'
That grouchy mcvampire had dared to lecture her on consideration of others!
Still, she thought as she took her robe off and slipped beneath the bubbles, basking in the warmth of the water, at least it wasn't her that had been stuck trying to get Mr. Sensitivity home for the night. That job had fallen to Doyle - once he'd managed to pry their boss off Kate and put a stop to the group hugging.
She closed her eyes and luxuriated in the heat.
Actually, Doyle had handled the whole evening pretty well. She hadn't been able to contain her frustration with Angel once he'd got in touch with his sensitive side - what a sap! But Doyle had managed to work around his impatience. Managed to get Angel to follow along with their plan of breaking into the police station, managed to get him out into the office where the bad guys were …
… and he'd taken one of the bad guys' guns himself.
Doyle wasn't much of a fighter. Well, he wasn't very tall, and he was tragically lacking in the muscle department - he was more the run away type than the stand his ground and fight type; that was what he was good at, wriggling out of danger, fleeing the scene. But even so - tonight he'd kicked a bad guy in the face and taken his gun, and used it to make sure no more bad guys came at him or Cordy, while Angel dealt with Little Tony. It had been kind of … impressive.
Not that she hadn't been impressive. She'd been right there with him. She was the one who had stepped on the gun to make sure the bad guy couldn't pick it back up again. It was her quick thinking that led to Doyle being armed. And her careful aim that had allowed them to break in in the first place. Her and Doyle actually made a pretty good team, got things done when Angel was incapacitated - just like they had that time Spike had kidnapped him.
And then - once it was over - Doyle had sent her home, allowed her to get off and promised to sort Angel out himself, telling her not to worry. That was good of him. He didn't have to do that - but then that was just what he was like, he was always so thoughtfu…
...Ck. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Oh hell. She was thinking about Doyle while she was naked again. He must never find out she did this.
She remembered what Kate had said to them - to her … about opening her heart to new possibilities. She flushed, feeling an overwhelming and uncomfortable heat that was nothing to do with the bubble bath. No. He must never know.
