Chapter 8
Birthday
"Are you sure you want to go now?" Angel asked.
"Yes. Now is as good a time as any. I'm going to be getting even bigger and I want to get this in before I'm to fat." Buffy answered.
"All right. It's going to take a while to get there."
"I know. I've made it before."
"Well, let's go."
"Get in." Buffy said, waiting for Angel.
Angel gave a little sigh and opened the car door. He climbed behind the wheel and started the engine up.
"Besides, it's Cordy's birthday and I want to be there for her." Buffy continued. "I didn't buy this present to sit around and collect dust."
"I know. It's just, you were a little sick this morning when you woke up and I want to make sure you're going to be ok."
"Angel, it was just a little morning sickness. I'm fine now. Really."
"Are you perfectly sure?"
"We're already one the road. If I wasn't, it's too late now, but I'm sure. Cordy's your friend also and I think that you should be there for her birthday. It's not everyday you turn 21. I should know."
"It's a little more special for you though."
"Because I'm the slayer and I wasn't really supposed to have a 21st birthday. How many pregnant corpses do you know that have birthday parties where people are getting stabbed by demons that hide in walls and you can't even leave the house?"
"None. See, you are special."
"And Cordy isn't?"
"I didn't say that! I just meant that.never mind. I don't want to set off your hormones again."
"Good, cause I really didn't want you to either. Let's just get there."
Angel drove them the two hours to LA and then the extra 40 minutes just to beat traffic and get to the hotel. When they arrived, Buffy waited for Angel to help her out. She left the present in the car so Cordy wouldn't know they were throwing a surprise party. Buffy opened the door to find Cordelia's back to her and Fred sitting on the settee watching her.
"I'd - just like to say thank you. You believed in me when no one else would. Even in my darkest hours you were there for me and that means more to me that you'll ever know. I guess what I'm really trying to say is.I love you. To all my fans:" Cordy held up a scrub brush in plastic gloved hand, "this is for you!"
"Wow! That was just.wow. Cause...oh, and with the tears! I.I got chill bumps all up my arms!" Fred said, clapping.
"Yup. That's the famous speech. Not that I'll ever use it of course.unless they start handing out awards for best slime and grime. Oh, I swear. Next time Gunn decides to blow something up, he's cleaning his own scorch marks."
"Well, Cor, maybe you should tell him." Buffy said.
Cordy turned around, startled. "Buffy!"
"Hey."
Gunn walked in wearing a facemask and a hairnet carrying a spray bottle. "Ladies. Less yammering, more scrub." Then he noticed Buffy and Angel. "Hey Buff! What's up?"
"Nothing much."
"Doesn't anyone want to say hey to Angel?" Angel asked.
"Hey Angel." Cordy, Gunn, and Fred said together.
"My Gunn, don't you look sterile." Buffy said.
"Couple more hours of sniffing that industrial cleanser, I think I might be. Hey, I don't suppose you two wanna help out?" Gunn said.
"I would but, you know." Buffy pointed to her stomach.
"Angel?"
"Helping the wife." Angel said.
"Ok."
"You're screwed." Fred told Gunn.
Cordy started to come up to hug Buffy, but Angel intercepted. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.dirty people. Not touching the pregnant wife."
"But pig-drinking bloodsuckers are okay? I meant that in a nice way. Okay, I'm gonna go wash my hands, but when I get back I get first dibs on Buffy hugging." Cordy said.
"Glad to know that I'm so popular." Buffy said.
Once Cordy was out of hearing range, Angel asked Fred quietly, "Does she know?"
Before she could answer, Wesley burst through the doors opposite Angel and Buffy. "Where is she?"
"She's in the bathroom." Gunn said. "Got the stuff."
"Yes. Hello Buffy. Hello Angel. It's nice to see you."
"You too."
Wes pulled out a huge cake with Wonder Woman on it. Gunn came over and helped hold the cake while Fred lit candles. Cordy came out of the bathroom and almost walked right into them. Everyone started to sing happy birthday to her.
"Oh you guys. I can't believe you did this!" Cordy said.
"Don't just stand there. Blow out the candles, girl." Gunn said.
She bent over and blew out the candles.
"Did you make a wish?" Fred asked.
"I sure did. Ah, Jude Law was a little busy, huh?" Cordy asked.
"Oh, how disappointing for you. Well, I guess you won't be wanting the presents we." Wesley started.
"Oh, wanting. Wanting presents."
"Angel, sweetie, could you go out and get that present?" Buffy asked.
"Be right back." Angel jogged back outside to the car.
"Can I finally hug you Buffy?" Cordy asked.
"If you can make it to my neck, I guess." Buffy laughed.
Cordy came over and hugged Buffy. "You are absolutely glowing! What'd ya get me?" Angel came back in carrying a small, wrapped box. He handed it to Cordelia and stepped back beside Buffy.
Cordy opened the box and pulled out a beautiful white gold locket in a glass necklace holder in the shape of a cat. She opened it up and there was a picture of her, Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander, and Dawn in it. "Buffy.it's so."
"It was my mom's. I remember that you complimented her on it a while ago and I came across it about a week ago when I was cleaning out a closet. I thought you should have it to remember who your true friends are." Buffy said.
"God Buffy, you really didn't have to. It was your mom's." Cordy said, tearing up.
"And I thought that she would want you to have it."
"Thank you." Cordy hugged Buffy and then Angel. "You guys are the best."
"You have to forgive the wrapping. Some of us seem to have fostered a strange addiction to Scotch tape." Wesley said as he, Gunn, and Fred carried in a big wrapped box with a huge bow on it.
"Oh guys!" Cordy looked up from the locket, all smiles gone. "Take the cat!"
"What?" Angel asked.
"Take the cat! Take the cat!"
Buffy took the glass cat from Cordy just as a vision hit her.
"There's a teenager, a girl, she.she." Cordy started, but was suddenly blown back into the glass doors of the weapon's cabinet. She slumped to the floor, not moving.
"Cordelia!" Buffy called.
They all came to stand around Cordy.
"Is she all right?" Fred asked.
"I'm fine you guys. I'll be okay. I'm just." Cordy turned to see everyone surrounding her body. ".dead." Cordy said.
"Oh no!" Fred said.
"Come on Cordy, wake up. It's all over. Come back to us." Angel said.
"I haven't gone anywhere. Angel." Cordy said, her voice a little echoy.
"Please wake up."
"Angel is she." Wes started.
"NO!" Angel said at the same time Cordy yelled it.
"I'm not?" Cordy asked.
"She's still breathing. Her heart's still beating." Angel said.
"Yes! But. If I'm not dead then."
"She's just in some sort of trance or a coma."
"Like hell I am."
"Angel, let's get her over to the couch." Buffy said.
Gunn and Angel lifted Cordy's body and gently placed her on the couch across the room.
"Easy." Buffy said.
"All right." Gunn said.
"Ookay. I get it. This is some kind of bizarre birthday present you guys cooked up." Cordy said. "Alright. The joke's on me. Now put me back in my body!"
"It was a vision, wasn't it? I mean, she just started saying something about a girl." Buffy said.
"That's right. She's in a house on Oak Street the middle of Reseda. It feels like we have some time here, but.but you can't hear me at all, can you?"
"What's all the hubbub, bub?" Lorne asked, coming down the stairs. "Hey Blondie."
"Hey Lorne." Buffy said.
"Lorne! Thank god! You can hear me, right? Cause if there's some weird, other-worldly thing going on you'd still be able to." Cordy started as Lorne walked right through her. "Oh. That's not good." Suddenly, a black shadow passed overhead. "Did anybody else just see that?"
"Jumping Judas on a unicycle. What happened?"
"All we know is she had a vision." Buffy said.
"There is a lot we don't know. I think she dropped this." Fred said. She had walked over to wear Cordy had fallen and picked up a medication bottle.
"No Fred! Put that away. That's not important." Cordy said.
Fred handed Angel the bottle. "Seltrex."
"Oh God." Wes said.
"What's Seltrex?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing! It's just." Cordy tried.
"Seltrex is a highly powerful migraine medication." Wes said.
"Maybe we should get her to a hospital." Gunn suggested.
"So they can do what? Do what they did last time, strap her to a bed and tell us there's no hope?" Angel asked.
"Angel." Buffy said, putting her hand on his arm. He took it in his and squeezed it.
"Angel is right. Seltrex is potent but. it doesn't cause the catatonia" Wes said.
"I'm picking up some hardcore woo-woo vibes in the room. This ain't medical, kids. It's mystical." Lorne said.
"That's what I'm saying. There is so much we don't know. If Cordelia is taking a drug this powerful in secret, the visions are probably doing a lot more damage than she lets on." Fred said.
"This last one must have overloaded her." Gunn said.
"Don't say last! Okay? She'll come out of this. She has to." Angel said.
Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's waist and hugged him. He at first resisted, but Buffy wouldn't let go and Angel gave in and allowed her to comfort him.
"She will!" Cordy said.
"Okay. Look, if this is a mystical problem there has to be some kind of mystical solution." Buffy suggested.
"There you go! Great idea! Go Buffy." Cordy said.
"Gunn, you and Fred go to Cordy's place." Angel said.
"No! Bad idea. Listen to Buffy."
"See if she's been hiding anything. Anything that could tell us what's wrong with her. Wes?" Angel said as he picked Cordy up.
"I'll hit the books." Wes said.
"Buffy, come with me."
"Right." Buffy said as they all headed their own ways. Angel led her up to his old room and laid Cordy on the bed. Buffy brought in a blanket and covered Cordelia's still form. She turned to Angel who was sitting in a chair and staring at Cordy. Buffy walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll go make us some tea."
"Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you."
"I just thought I should tell you."
"I know." Buffy walked out of the room and headed downstairs. She found Wes in his office, flipping through books. "I remember that look."
Wesley looked up. "Hmm?"
"You. I remember walking into the library and seeing you and Giles and the rest of the gang hunched over the books."
"Yes. Getting nostalgic?"
"A little." Buffy poured some freshly made tea into two mugs. "You?"
"Sometimes. How is Angel?"
"He's worried about Cordy and me. He's putting way too much stress on himself. Which in turn, makes me worried about him."
"Would you like me to talk to him?"
"Hmm? Oh, no. You don't need to. Maybe by the time that Conner gets here, he'll be a little more relaxed."
"Let's hope."
"See ya Wes."
"See you later Buffy."
Buffy headed back up to Angel's room. She opened the door and found Angel talking to Cordy.
"Cordy, look. I know that you can't hear me, but. there is something I have to say. You really piss me off, you know that? I thought we trusted each other. But you've been lying. MRI's and CAT scans? It's been going on for over a year. Why couldn't you let me in? I could have helped you. You make me so furious."
"Angel?" Buffy said gently.
"She just.it really pisses me off that she could do this to me."
"I know." Buffy walked over and handed Angel one of the mugs. "MRI's and CAT scans?"
"Gunn called and said that he found a whole bunch of pill bottles and CAT scan sheets."
"Oh God. Cordy."
"Knock, knock. How is she?" Lorne asked, coming into the room.
"The same. You ready?" Angel asked.
"As I'll ever be."
"Ready for what?" Cordy and Buffy asked at the same time, only no one could hear Cordy.
"Lorne is going to see if he can find Cordelia and bring her out of this. Or maybe even contact the powers." Angel said.
"Although I'm sort of wishing I brought my helmet. Last time I tried this I got blown across the room." Lorne said, sitting next to Cordy.
Buffy and Angel watched as Lorne put his fingertips to Cordelia's temples and close his eyes. He started to make circles with his fingers.
"Cordelia? Are you there?" Lorne asked. "Cordelia?" Lorne took his hands away.
"What?" Angel asked.
"Cordelia's not in there. She's just gone."
Angel sat down and put his head in his hands. Buffy leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder blade. After a minute, he lifted his head. "No. This isn't gonna happen. I don't care how many favors you have to call in. I don't care how many gods you have to cross. You have a connection to the Powers That Be and you're gonna find me a way to talk to them. Understand?"
"A.Angel honey, it.it's not that easy. I mean, contacting the Powers is a muddy, not to mention dangerous, area. But this is a. this is a bit much to ask."
"I'm not asking."
Lorne sighed and walked out of the room while Angel sat back down, putting his head in his hands again.
Buffy kneeled in front of Angel. "Angel." He didn't respond. "Angel, look at me." He looked up. "I love Cordy too. I'm going to help you do everything to help her. We're a team. We're a family. Families stick together. Lorne is part of that family as is everyone else that we love. If you want their help, you're going to have to calm down and think rationally. We all know that the Powers are tough cookies when it comes to communication, so you can't just go around yelling at people because the Powers are pretty much ignoring us."
Angel stared at her a little while longer. To Buffy's surprise, Angel gently grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
"Oh great! You two are going to go at it while I'm sitting here locked out of my own body!" Cordy said, knowing they couldn't hear her.
Angel leaned back in the chair and Buffy sat on the floor. She laid her head in his lap and soon they were both asleep. Cordy had dosed off too. When she woke up, she turned to look at Buffy and Angel. Angel was asleep; arms crossed, leaning in the chair and snoring, while Buffy's head was in her arms on the bed.
"Finally!" Cordy said. "Okay, Wes, let's hope your books know what they're talking about." She walked over to Angel and sat down in the same position he was in. She was in Angel's body. She snapped the head up and stood Angel up. She walked him over to the dresser and picked up a marker. Lifting Angel's hand, Cordy wrote 171 Oak on the wall. Suddenly there was a shadow that flowed across the wall and knocked Cordy out of Angel's body.
Angel slammed onto the floor and woke up. Buffy sat up straight with a little shriek just as Wesley walked in.
"Angel?" Buffy asked.
"What are you doing on the floor?" Wes asked.
"I don't know. I had this dream that, uh.Cordy was here. She was.ah, trying to tell me something. Something really important." Angel said. He scratched his head. "It's weird."
"HOW are YOU a champion? In what WAY are YOU a champion?" Cordy said.
"Fred studied Cordy's latest CAT scans. The news isn't good. The tests show widespread neuro-electrical deterioration."
"That's just a fancy way of saying."
"She's dying." Angel said.
"I think I like the fancy way better."
"I'm still working on, ah, the mystical aspect: trance states, astral projection, spiritual possession. But so far I haven't been able to. Why don't you two take a break? I.I'll watch her." Wes asked.
"I don't know." Angel said.
"Come on Angel. The pregnant woman need some air and I need to stretch." Buffy said.
"Ok." Angel and Buffy left Wesley behind and went to talk to Fred. She was showing them CAT scans of Cordelia to them.
"That's from eight months ago. The red spots are what they call hot areas or what you'd expect from a healthy, functioning brain. This one is dated one month ago." Fred said.
"Cordy's doctors couldn't explain it." Gunn told them.
"See. green is a cold color, usually signifying dead areas of the cerebrum. Normally you wouldn't see a scan like that."
"Unless the person was a cucumber."
"How could we not know?" Angel said.
"Oh, for the love of god, somebody get me a sea-breeze." Lorne said, walking in. His clothes were torn and one of his horns was hanging by a shred of his skin.
"Lorne! What happened?" Buffy said.
"I can't really talk about it."
"Then how the hell are we supposed to find them so we can kick their asses?" Gunn asked.
"Ah, no. I mean I can't talk about it. They cast a spell. I went down to the lommahieahtoah. See?"
"Did you get any information?" Angel asked.
"Oh, why yes, Angel. My horn should grow back in a couple of days. So kind of you to be concerned. Well, they didn't say I couldn't write it." Lorne handed Angel a piece of paper. "Angel, all kidding aside, this isn't something to be taken lightly. Only a champion can deal with the conduit. And even then you have to la-argh arr..."
"I'll keep that in mind." Angel said as he head towards the door.
Buffy went after him, putting on her coat.
"What do you think you're doing?" Angel asked her when he realized that she was next to him.
"I'm going with you." Buffy replied sternly.
"No, you're not."
"Yes I am. Angel, I'm not going to sit around and be useless because I have a kid in my stomach. Cordy's my friend too and I'm going to help her."
"Buffy, if anything happened to you and the baby.I don't know if I could live with it."
"Then it won't."
"Buffy." Angel was cut off by a powerful fist to his jaw. He looked back at Buffy who had her hands on her hips and was staring sternly at him. "Ow."
"Exactly. Now come on. We have work to do."
"But you see, there is a slight problem: you don't belong here anymore" Skip said. He was a demon that had materialized out of the shadows that had been chasing her.
"Because I'm dead?" Cordy asked.
"Not yet. But you will be very soon unless you come with me."
"Well, I'll follow you on. on one condition. You have to tell my friends about this vision that I had."
"Sorry. No can do. I'm not a messenger. I'm just a guide." Skip held his hand out to her.
"I don't want to die."
"So don't."
Cordy reluctantly put her hand in skips and a flash of blue covered them.
Birthday
"Are you sure you want to go now?" Angel asked.
"Yes. Now is as good a time as any. I'm going to be getting even bigger and I want to get this in before I'm to fat." Buffy answered.
"All right. It's going to take a while to get there."
"I know. I've made it before."
"Well, let's go."
"Get in." Buffy said, waiting for Angel.
Angel gave a little sigh and opened the car door. He climbed behind the wheel and started the engine up.
"Besides, it's Cordy's birthday and I want to be there for her." Buffy continued. "I didn't buy this present to sit around and collect dust."
"I know. It's just, you were a little sick this morning when you woke up and I want to make sure you're going to be ok."
"Angel, it was just a little morning sickness. I'm fine now. Really."
"Are you perfectly sure?"
"We're already one the road. If I wasn't, it's too late now, but I'm sure. Cordy's your friend also and I think that you should be there for her birthday. It's not everyday you turn 21. I should know."
"It's a little more special for you though."
"Because I'm the slayer and I wasn't really supposed to have a 21st birthday. How many pregnant corpses do you know that have birthday parties where people are getting stabbed by demons that hide in walls and you can't even leave the house?"
"None. See, you are special."
"And Cordy isn't?"
"I didn't say that! I just meant that.never mind. I don't want to set off your hormones again."
"Good, cause I really didn't want you to either. Let's just get there."
Angel drove them the two hours to LA and then the extra 40 minutes just to beat traffic and get to the hotel. When they arrived, Buffy waited for Angel to help her out. She left the present in the car so Cordy wouldn't know they were throwing a surprise party. Buffy opened the door to find Cordelia's back to her and Fred sitting on the settee watching her.
"I'd - just like to say thank you. You believed in me when no one else would. Even in my darkest hours you were there for me and that means more to me that you'll ever know. I guess what I'm really trying to say is.I love you. To all my fans:" Cordy held up a scrub brush in plastic gloved hand, "this is for you!"
"Wow! That was just.wow. Cause...oh, and with the tears! I.I got chill bumps all up my arms!" Fred said, clapping.
"Yup. That's the famous speech. Not that I'll ever use it of course.unless they start handing out awards for best slime and grime. Oh, I swear. Next time Gunn decides to blow something up, he's cleaning his own scorch marks."
"Well, Cor, maybe you should tell him." Buffy said.
Cordy turned around, startled. "Buffy!"
"Hey."
Gunn walked in wearing a facemask and a hairnet carrying a spray bottle. "Ladies. Less yammering, more scrub." Then he noticed Buffy and Angel. "Hey Buff! What's up?"
"Nothing much."
"Doesn't anyone want to say hey to Angel?" Angel asked.
"Hey Angel." Cordy, Gunn, and Fred said together.
"My Gunn, don't you look sterile." Buffy said.
"Couple more hours of sniffing that industrial cleanser, I think I might be. Hey, I don't suppose you two wanna help out?" Gunn said.
"I would but, you know." Buffy pointed to her stomach.
"Angel?"
"Helping the wife." Angel said.
"Ok."
"You're screwed." Fred told Gunn.
Cordy started to come up to hug Buffy, but Angel intercepted. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.dirty people. Not touching the pregnant wife."
"But pig-drinking bloodsuckers are okay? I meant that in a nice way. Okay, I'm gonna go wash my hands, but when I get back I get first dibs on Buffy hugging." Cordy said.
"Glad to know that I'm so popular." Buffy said.
Once Cordy was out of hearing range, Angel asked Fred quietly, "Does she know?"
Before she could answer, Wesley burst through the doors opposite Angel and Buffy. "Where is she?"
"She's in the bathroom." Gunn said. "Got the stuff."
"Yes. Hello Buffy. Hello Angel. It's nice to see you."
"You too."
Wes pulled out a huge cake with Wonder Woman on it. Gunn came over and helped hold the cake while Fred lit candles. Cordy came out of the bathroom and almost walked right into them. Everyone started to sing happy birthday to her.
"Oh you guys. I can't believe you did this!" Cordy said.
"Don't just stand there. Blow out the candles, girl." Gunn said.
She bent over and blew out the candles.
"Did you make a wish?" Fred asked.
"I sure did. Ah, Jude Law was a little busy, huh?" Cordy asked.
"Oh, how disappointing for you. Well, I guess you won't be wanting the presents we." Wesley started.
"Oh, wanting. Wanting presents."
"Angel, sweetie, could you go out and get that present?" Buffy asked.
"Be right back." Angel jogged back outside to the car.
"Can I finally hug you Buffy?" Cordy asked.
"If you can make it to my neck, I guess." Buffy laughed.
Cordy came over and hugged Buffy. "You are absolutely glowing! What'd ya get me?" Angel came back in carrying a small, wrapped box. He handed it to Cordelia and stepped back beside Buffy.
Cordy opened the box and pulled out a beautiful white gold locket in a glass necklace holder in the shape of a cat. She opened it up and there was a picture of her, Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander, and Dawn in it. "Buffy.it's so."
"It was my mom's. I remember that you complimented her on it a while ago and I came across it about a week ago when I was cleaning out a closet. I thought you should have it to remember who your true friends are." Buffy said.
"God Buffy, you really didn't have to. It was your mom's." Cordy said, tearing up.
"And I thought that she would want you to have it."
"Thank you." Cordy hugged Buffy and then Angel. "You guys are the best."
"You have to forgive the wrapping. Some of us seem to have fostered a strange addiction to Scotch tape." Wesley said as he, Gunn, and Fred carried in a big wrapped box with a huge bow on it.
"Oh guys!" Cordy looked up from the locket, all smiles gone. "Take the cat!"
"What?" Angel asked.
"Take the cat! Take the cat!"
Buffy took the glass cat from Cordy just as a vision hit her.
"There's a teenager, a girl, she.she." Cordy started, but was suddenly blown back into the glass doors of the weapon's cabinet. She slumped to the floor, not moving.
"Cordelia!" Buffy called.
They all came to stand around Cordy.
"Is she all right?" Fred asked.
"I'm fine you guys. I'll be okay. I'm just." Cordy turned to see everyone surrounding her body. ".dead." Cordy said.
"Oh no!" Fred said.
"Come on Cordy, wake up. It's all over. Come back to us." Angel said.
"I haven't gone anywhere. Angel." Cordy said, her voice a little echoy.
"Please wake up."
"Angel is she." Wes started.
"NO!" Angel said at the same time Cordy yelled it.
"I'm not?" Cordy asked.
"She's still breathing. Her heart's still beating." Angel said.
"Yes! But. If I'm not dead then."
"She's just in some sort of trance or a coma."
"Like hell I am."
"Angel, let's get her over to the couch." Buffy said.
Gunn and Angel lifted Cordy's body and gently placed her on the couch across the room.
"Easy." Buffy said.
"All right." Gunn said.
"Ookay. I get it. This is some kind of bizarre birthday present you guys cooked up." Cordy said. "Alright. The joke's on me. Now put me back in my body!"
"It was a vision, wasn't it? I mean, she just started saying something about a girl." Buffy said.
"That's right. She's in a house on Oak Street the middle of Reseda. It feels like we have some time here, but.but you can't hear me at all, can you?"
"What's all the hubbub, bub?" Lorne asked, coming down the stairs. "Hey Blondie."
"Hey Lorne." Buffy said.
"Lorne! Thank god! You can hear me, right? Cause if there's some weird, other-worldly thing going on you'd still be able to." Cordy started as Lorne walked right through her. "Oh. That's not good." Suddenly, a black shadow passed overhead. "Did anybody else just see that?"
"Jumping Judas on a unicycle. What happened?"
"All we know is she had a vision." Buffy said.
"There is a lot we don't know. I think she dropped this." Fred said. She had walked over to wear Cordy had fallen and picked up a medication bottle.
"No Fred! Put that away. That's not important." Cordy said.
Fred handed Angel the bottle. "Seltrex."
"Oh God." Wes said.
"What's Seltrex?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing! It's just." Cordy tried.
"Seltrex is a highly powerful migraine medication." Wes said.
"Maybe we should get her to a hospital." Gunn suggested.
"So they can do what? Do what they did last time, strap her to a bed and tell us there's no hope?" Angel asked.
"Angel." Buffy said, putting her hand on his arm. He took it in his and squeezed it.
"Angel is right. Seltrex is potent but. it doesn't cause the catatonia" Wes said.
"I'm picking up some hardcore woo-woo vibes in the room. This ain't medical, kids. It's mystical." Lorne said.
"That's what I'm saying. There is so much we don't know. If Cordelia is taking a drug this powerful in secret, the visions are probably doing a lot more damage than she lets on." Fred said.
"This last one must have overloaded her." Gunn said.
"Don't say last! Okay? She'll come out of this. She has to." Angel said.
Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's waist and hugged him. He at first resisted, but Buffy wouldn't let go and Angel gave in and allowed her to comfort him.
"She will!" Cordy said.
"Okay. Look, if this is a mystical problem there has to be some kind of mystical solution." Buffy suggested.
"There you go! Great idea! Go Buffy." Cordy said.
"Gunn, you and Fred go to Cordy's place." Angel said.
"No! Bad idea. Listen to Buffy."
"See if she's been hiding anything. Anything that could tell us what's wrong with her. Wes?" Angel said as he picked Cordy up.
"I'll hit the books." Wes said.
"Buffy, come with me."
"Right." Buffy said as they all headed their own ways. Angel led her up to his old room and laid Cordy on the bed. Buffy brought in a blanket and covered Cordelia's still form. She turned to Angel who was sitting in a chair and staring at Cordy. Buffy walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll go make us some tea."
"Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you."
"I just thought I should tell you."
"I know." Buffy walked out of the room and headed downstairs. She found Wes in his office, flipping through books. "I remember that look."
Wesley looked up. "Hmm?"
"You. I remember walking into the library and seeing you and Giles and the rest of the gang hunched over the books."
"Yes. Getting nostalgic?"
"A little." Buffy poured some freshly made tea into two mugs. "You?"
"Sometimes. How is Angel?"
"He's worried about Cordy and me. He's putting way too much stress on himself. Which in turn, makes me worried about him."
"Would you like me to talk to him?"
"Hmm? Oh, no. You don't need to. Maybe by the time that Conner gets here, he'll be a little more relaxed."
"Let's hope."
"See ya Wes."
"See you later Buffy."
Buffy headed back up to Angel's room. She opened the door and found Angel talking to Cordy.
"Cordy, look. I know that you can't hear me, but. there is something I have to say. You really piss me off, you know that? I thought we trusted each other. But you've been lying. MRI's and CAT scans? It's been going on for over a year. Why couldn't you let me in? I could have helped you. You make me so furious."
"Angel?" Buffy said gently.
"She just.it really pisses me off that she could do this to me."
"I know." Buffy walked over and handed Angel one of the mugs. "MRI's and CAT scans?"
"Gunn called and said that he found a whole bunch of pill bottles and CAT scan sheets."
"Oh God. Cordy."
"Knock, knock. How is she?" Lorne asked, coming into the room.
"The same. You ready?" Angel asked.
"As I'll ever be."
"Ready for what?" Cordy and Buffy asked at the same time, only no one could hear Cordy.
"Lorne is going to see if he can find Cordelia and bring her out of this. Or maybe even contact the powers." Angel said.
"Although I'm sort of wishing I brought my helmet. Last time I tried this I got blown across the room." Lorne said, sitting next to Cordy.
Buffy and Angel watched as Lorne put his fingertips to Cordelia's temples and close his eyes. He started to make circles with his fingers.
"Cordelia? Are you there?" Lorne asked. "Cordelia?" Lorne took his hands away.
"What?" Angel asked.
"Cordelia's not in there. She's just gone."
Angel sat down and put his head in his hands. Buffy leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder blade. After a minute, he lifted his head. "No. This isn't gonna happen. I don't care how many favors you have to call in. I don't care how many gods you have to cross. You have a connection to the Powers That Be and you're gonna find me a way to talk to them. Understand?"
"A.Angel honey, it.it's not that easy. I mean, contacting the Powers is a muddy, not to mention dangerous, area. But this is a. this is a bit much to ask."
"I'm not asking."
Lorne sighed and walked out of the room while Angel sat back down, putting his head in his hands again.
Buffy kneeled in front of Angel. "Angel." He didn't respond. "Angel, look at me." He looked up. "I love Cordy too. I'm going to help you do everything to help her. We're a team. We're a family. Families stick together. Lorne is part of that family as is everyone else that we love. If you want their help, you're going to have to calm down and think rationally. We all know that the Powers are tough cookies when it comes to communication, so you can't just go around yelling at people because the Powers are pretty much ignoring us."
Angel stared at her a little while longer. To Buffy's surprise, Angel gently grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into a passionate kiss.
"Oh great! You two are going to go at it while I'm sitting here locked out of my own body!" Cordy said, knowing they couldn't hear her.
Angel leaned back in the chair and Buffy sat on the floor. She laid her head in his lap and soon they were both asleep. Cordy had dosed off too. When she woke up, she turned to look at Buffy and Angel. Angel was asleep; arms crossed, leaning in the chair and snoring, while Buffy's head was in her arms on the bed.
"Finally!" Cordy said. "Okay, Wes, let's hope your books know what they're talking about." She walked over to Angel and sat down in the same position he was in. She was in Angel's body. She snapped the head up and stood Angel up. She walked him over to the dresser and picked up a marker. Lifting Angel's hand, Cordy wrote 171 Oak on the wall. Suddenly there was a shadow that flowed across the wall and knocked Cordy out of Angel's body.
Angel slammed onto the floor and woke up. Buffy sat up straight with a little shriek just as Wesley walked in.
"Angel?" Buffy asked.
"What are you doing on the floor?" Wes asked.
"I don't know. I had this dream that, uh.Cordy was here. She was.ah, trying to tell me something. Something really important." Angel said. He scratched his head. "It's weird."
"HOW are YOU a champion? In what WAY are YOU a champion?" Cordy said.
"Fred studied Cordy's latest CAT scans. The news isn't good. The tests show widespread neuro-electrical deterioration."
"That's just a fancy way of saying."
"She's dying." Angel said.
"I think I like the fancy way better."
"I'm still working on, ah, the mystical aspect: trance states, astral projection, spiritual possession. But so far I haven't been able to. Why don't you two take a break? I.I'll watch her." Wes asked.
"I don't know." Angel said.
"Come on Angel. The pregnant woman need some air and I need to stretch." Buffy said.
"Ok." Angel and Buffy left Wesley behind and went to talk to Fred. She was showing them CAT scans of Cordelia to them.
"That's from eight months ago. The red spots are what they call hot areas or what you'd expect from a healthy, functioning brain. This one is dated one month ago." Fred said.
"Cordy's doctors couldn't explain it." Gunn told them.
"See. green is a cold color, usually signifying dead areas of the cerebrum. Normally you wouldn't see a scan like that."
"Unless the person was a cucumber."
"How could we not know?" Angel said.
"Oh, for the love of god, somebody get me a sea-breeze." Lorne said, walking in. His clothes were torn and one of his horns was hanging by a shred of his skin.
"Lorne! What happened?" Buffy said.
"I can't really talk about it."
"Then how the hell are we supposed to find them so we can kick their asses?" Gunn asked.
"Ah, no. I mean I can't talk about it. They cast a spell. I went down to the lommahieahtoah. See?"
"Did you get any information?" Angel asked.
"Oh, why yes, Angel. My horn should grow back in a couple of days. So kind of you to be concerned. Well, they didn't say I couldn't write it." Lorne handed Angel a piece of paper. "Angel, all kidding aside, this isn't something to be taken lightly. Only a champion can deal with the conduit. And even then you have to la-argh arr..."
"I'll keep that in mind." Angel said as he head towards the door.
Buffy went after him, putting on her coat.
"What do you think you're doing?" Angel asked her when he realized that she was next to him.
"I'm going with you." Buffy replied sternly.
"No, you're not."
"Yes I am. Angel, I'm not going to sit around and be useless because I have a kid in my stomach. Cordy's my friend too and I'm going to help her."
"Buffy, if anything happened to you and the baby.I don't know if I could live with it."
"Then it won't."
"Buffy." Angel was cut off by a powerful fist to his jaw. He looked back at Buffy who had her hands on her hips and was staring sternly at him. "Ow."
"Exactly. Now come on. We have work to do."
"But you see, there is a slight problem: you don't belong here anymore" Skip said. He was a demon that had materialized out of the shadows that had been chasing her.
"Because I'm dead?" Cordy asked.
"Not yet. But you will be very soon unless you come with me."
"Well, I'll follow you on. on one condition. You have to tell my friends about this vision that I had."
"Sorry. No can do. I'm not a messenger. I'm just a guide." Skip held his hand out to her.
"I don't want to die."
"So don't."
Cordy reluctantly put her hand in skips and a flash of blue covered them.