Title: Spellbound 5/8
Author: Hayley
email: Lamb@traverse.com
Summary: Giles' visit to Los Angeles has interesting consequences.
Rating: R-some naughty language, and some nudity. . . .all the good things in life.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the toys you see before you have been borrowed from the all mighty Joss.I just take them out and play with them. *yay me* Don't sue.
Feedback: Oh pretty please? Have you hugged your author today?
Distribution: You may put it wherever you desire and I'll be thrilled about it. Just let me know where so I can send all my friends there to check it out.
Spoilers: Most of Angel, and some of Buffy. . . . nothing too specific or earth shattering.
*~*~*~*~*
L.A City Hospital
Angel strode through the hospital corridors ignoring the stench of illness and death. He spotted Wesley outside the Emergency Room pacing back and forth.
"What happened?"
Wesley turned and revealed his black and blue bruised face, and caught Angel's arm and pulled him into a stairwell where they wouldn't be overheard. "We were coming out of the restuarant with some take out when we were cornered by a group of vampires. I was dealing with one, while the other went for Cordelia. . . .Angel it was as if she were frozen to the spot. By the time she moved for a stake in her purse, it was too late. . . ."
"How bad is she?"
"There were too many. . . when I finally got rid of the last one she'd lost so much blood. . ."
"Did it turn her?"
"No!" Wesley slumped against the wall. "Thankfully no. I staked him before he had a chance, but she's lost so much blood Angel . . . ."
"What did you tell the doctors?"
"That we were mugged. I didn't bother to try and explain the marks on her neck." He held up his bandaged arm. "Fortunately for us Cordelia and I are a match. They've taken as much as they could. . ."
Emerging from the stairwell, a doctor approached Wesley. "Are you a friend of Miss Chase's?"
"Yes. I'm her employer." Angel said. "She's got no immediate family in the area. How is she?"
"Very lucky considering." The doctor scubbed his hands over his face. This wasn't the first case like this he'd seen in his time in Los Angeles, but try as he might, it never got any more *real*. A young, otherwise healthy girl beaten to a pulp with two distinctive marks on her neck and no other explanations for so much blood loss. Shaking off his thoughts he motioned them out of the way of a passing gurney. "Most people that recieve that kind of damage don't make it." He held up his hand. "But because you got her here in time, and happened to be a match for her blood type, she's going to be fine."
"Will you keep her over night?"
"If she has no one to look after her, yes. I would rather be cautious." He continued. "She's very weak and anemic, we've given her B vitamin shots and plenty of iron. . . she's young and in excellent physical condition. I expect a full recovery. She's asking for you. . . " He added looking at Wesley. "You can both see her, but she needs rest more than she needs chit chat. So don't stay too long." He lifted a hand to Wesley's face, turning it to both sides. "I think you'll do, I'll have a nurse bring you an ice pack for your jaw."
"Thank you." Wesley and Angel both entered the small E.R room. "Cordelia?" Wesley winced at how pale she seemed in the stark white light.
"Hey. . . .where's my take out?" She struggled to lift herself up in the bed, only to have Angel's hand gently shove her back down.
"You almost were take out Cordelia. . . ."
"But you look lovely nonetheless." Wesley added.
"I like HIS bedside manner a lot more than yours Angel!" Cordelia pouted. "Well I've got to get out of here then. Cause I hate hospitals and I hate hospital food."
"You're staying the night here. And then we've got to talk about what to do next."
Cordelia's jaw tightened mutinously, and her arms folded over her chest. "What do you mean what to do next?"
"You can't continue on this way Cordelia. You could have been killed tonight."
Softening only slightly, Cordelia shot a sheepish grin to Wesley. "Thank you." Turning back to Angel she was glowering again. "What? You're gonna fire me? I don't think you can!"
"No. But I can ground you." Angel answered, not letting himself be bowled over by either her pouty face or her determined expression.
"In case you haven't noticed I'm a grown woman. You can't ground me!"
"I can. I will. And I have." Angel answered equally stubbornly. "This spell is making you a threat to yourself and others."
"Oh? And who's going to enforce this 'grounding'? You and what army Brood-Boy?"
"Now let's not get carried away here. . . ." Wesley attempted to interject a reasonable tone into the escalating argument.
"I'm 227 years older than you. I don't *need* an army. You mean a lot to me Cordelia. I've already lost one friend in Los Angeles, and I am NOT going to lose another."
"And I'm not going to be treated like a little girl Angel."
"I'm not. I'm treating you like a grown woman who knows damn well that tonight not only could she have gotten herself killed, but Wesley as well . . ." Ignoring the fast breath Cordelia sucked in, Angel continued. "You can't concentrate and you can't fight. You're a sitting duck here, so I'm going to take you to someone who can help. Until this spell is broken and you're ready to come back to work."
Eyes narrowed, Cordelia glared at her boss. "Who?"
"Giles." Angel returned. "Wesley, I've already called Dennis and told him to pack Cordelia's things. . . I need you to go to her apartment and pack Dennis."
"Pack Dennis?" Momentarily distracted Cordelia looked curious. "How do you pack a ghost?"
"Very carefully. I think I know where that spell is. I'll go by the office first."
Angel tossed him the keys. "I'll drive her from here."
"Will do!"
Once the door closed, Cordelia was so silent that Angel chuckled. "Cordelia. I'm really only doing this because I care about you."
"Oh yeah! Nothing says 'I love you' like being banished!"
"I do love you Cordelia . . . "
"Angel, I swear. If you say this is for your own good I will stake you myself and sprinkle your ashes in Graceland!" A scowl crossed her face. "Giles won't want me there." She admitted softly. "He doesn't want anything to do with me."
"He called me Cordelia. I hung up the phone from him seconds before Wesley called. He felt something through the spell. . .the bond between you told him you were in danger. He suggested that you should be in Sunnydale until this is straightened out." Angel didn't add that the Watcher had been uncharacteristically disturbed. . . .and that he'd mentioned that Cordelia might balk at the idea of living in the apartment right next door.
Cordelia sighed as Angel's cool hand brushed over her forehead. Tired. She was very, very tired. Before drifting off, she opened one eye, and met Angel's concerned gaze. "This vacation is paid right?"
hr
Giles
"Angel!" Xander, Willow and Anya scrambled to their feet. They'd been eating pizza on the floor of Giles' apartment waiting for the Slayer and Watcher to come back after hunting a demon.
"Cordelia!"
"Could you guys yell less? My head is killing me." Cordelia moaned as Angel carefully settled her on the couch.
"Are you all right?" Willow took in Cordelia's wan, listlessness, and caught a glimpse of bite marks on her throat. "Umm. . . .Angel?"
Hearing the trepidation in Willow's voice, Angel flinched. "No Willow. I didn't turn her. Cordelia's very much alive. There was a vamp attack, and she was hurt. Giles invited her to recuperate in Sunnydale."
"Yeah. I could have gone to Bermuda, but the Hellmouth just sounded like so much more fun." Cordelia drawled, then spoiled the effect by yawning widely.
Xander watched distrustfully as Angel reached into a bag and removed a small wooden puzzle box. "What's that?"
"Someone to look after Cordelia." Angel replied setting the box on the table. "Willow, before I do this, you should know that there's a ghost in this box. . . .he's harmless, so don't do any spells to get rid of him."
"He's a friend. And if any of you people do or say anything to hurt Dennis' feelings I will be REALLY mad." Cordelia added.
"Question. Do you have any *live* friends in L.A?" Anya asked.
"No. I find that the deader they are, the more likely they are to keep their mouths shut."
Angel opened the box, and a cool breeze filled the room, suddenly the small t.v turned on and flipped through the channels.
"Now Phantom Dennis. I know he doesn't have cable. . .but you've got to be reasonable! The man just got a real paying job!"
"You could always read a good book. . . ." Angel commented as a heavy tome flew at his head. "HEY!"
"Okay! Cable first thing Monday morning!" Cordelia soothed. "But no C-Span. That just makes you crazy." She smiled as she felt the pillow behind her back fluff. "Thank you Dennis."
"Um. . .okay. . .anyone want to share with the rest of the class?" Xander asked watching the strange scene.
"Introductions. . . Dennis, the red headed witch is Willow. The other girl and ex-demon is Anya, and the guy with the funny hair is Xander. Guys, this is Phantom Dennis."
"How come you never fluff *my* pillows?" Anya huffed.
"I'm not that whipped yet?" Xander suggested suggested as the lights flipped off and on.
"Then I'm not working hard enough." Anya surmised. .
"Cordelia, I've got to get going. Call me. . ." Angel ordered.
"Angel. . .aren't you going to stay. . . ?" Willow struggled briefly.
"No." Angel answered firmly before planting a kiss on Cordelia's forehead.
"Now that tall, dark and dead is gone, do you want to explain all this?"
Cordelia debated for a minute before reaching her answer. "No. Not really Xander. Giles can explain it when he gets back. I'm tired." Suddenly an afghan floated past Xander, slowly unfolding over Cordelia's prone body, and then the lamps on either side of the sofa went out, leaving the area in shadow.
"Cord-" Xander stepped forward only to have a book lift from the end table and smack the hand that reached out for her shoulder. "That HURT! I thought you were like Casper!"
"Dennis *is* friendly. To me. And really that's all that counts." Cordelia murmured snuggling deeper into the pillows.
Giles and Buffy walked into the apartment to be met by a floating tea cup. "Dennis?" Giles accepted it and took a sip, tasting the splash of whiskey. "Dennis. Good to not see you again." His lips curved in a slight smile. Feeling his Slayer tensing next to him, Giles placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's all right Buffy."
"You should be happy he didn't put hemlock in that tea. He's not particularly thrilled about the lack of cable. . ." Cordelia's head appeared from behind the sofa.
"Cordelia?! What are you doing here?"
"I missed our close friendship?" Cordelia offered insincerely.
Buffy watched with narrowed eyes as Giles crossed to the couch, and looked Cordelia over. "I didn't know they would bring you tonight. Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"
"The doctor said as long as I take it easy for a couple days, and I've got someone to watch for shock, and I don't get attacked by any more vamps and I don't have any more spells cast on me, I should be fine."
"I have the apartment next door furnished with some bare essentials."
"You knew this was coming?"
"I knew that the longer the spell lasted, the better the chance was that at some point you would have to return to Sunnydale." He replied quietly. She looked pale, and sleepy, tousled and breathtaking.
"Just like a man. . .you assumed I'd give up my demon hunting and *my* undead friends to follow you. . . .just once I'd like to see a situation where the ex-watcher gives up everything to follow the clumsy, accident/attack prone seer to *her* job."
"I'd rather face the Hellmouth than Los Angeles traffic." Giles responded.
hr
Giles'
"I don't want you to mistake the fact that I'm here for forgiveness. I'm still ticked at you."
"Oh good. I would hate to have you cooperative and helpful. Sulking and petulant makes things so much more enjoyable." Giles commented dryly from behind his book.
"I am not sulking and petulant. I'm mildly crabby."
"Would it make you slightly less crabby to know that I have a meeting tomorrow that will most likely lead to finding Ethan?"
Cordelia's eyes widened. "Really? You're not just saying that so I won't ravage you tonight?"
Coughing slightly Giles set aside his book. "No. I'm not just saying that. There's a small bookstore in Winter Haven that caters to magicians. I've placed a rare text book there knowing that once he was notified Ethan wouldn't be able to stay away. Once I've got Ethan I think I can persuade him to reverse this spell." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Giles stood and began to pace the small apartment. "What I can't figure out is why Ethan would go to all this trouble. Irritating me is something of a hobby of his. . .but why he should bring you into this escapes me."
"Sweet talker." Cordelia muttered dryly.
"What I mean is that if Ethan's goal was to humiliate me, or belittle me, what would be the point in making a beautiful young woman find me irresistable, and visa versa. His usual style would be to make me fall in love with a newt, or a chaos demon or something. This just doesn't feel like Ethan's usual work."
"You need a better class of friends Giles." Cordelia pointed out bluntly. "You know, I meant what I said on the phone. Spell or no spell, I don't know why you're so anxious to have things go back the way they were before. Where you're alone all the time."
"I'm very comfortable being alone Cordelia. I know that you may not understand yet. . . "
"OOH! I hate it when you do that!" Cordelia snapped. "You, Angel and Wesley I could just kill you for it! 'Cept for Angel cause he's already dead, but you get my point." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "You assume that just because I'm younger than you I'm stupid." She waved off his objections. "Yes. You do. I know a lot of things Rupert. I know how to throw an elegant dinner party for 200 while pretending that your mother isn't too high on valium and Stoli to come down from her room. I know how to make sure that my mother never found the reciepts for hotels in my father's dinner jacket. I know what it's like to run a household. I know what it's like to help wine and dine clients. And I know what it's like to go through life doing what you've got to do, and being totally, completely alone. You can tell me that you like being alone, but I know that's bullshit. No one wants to be alone all the time. There's this ache near your heart when you look at all the other happy families and lovey-dovey couples that makes you die inside just a little bit more because you can't figure out why you can't ever have that."
She paused for a deep breath. "So go ahead and lie to everyone. Tell them that it doesn't hurt, and you don't mind. But have the balls to admit it to someone. If not *ME* then at LEAST admit it to yourself!"
Cordelia's words were like a slap in the face of the careful mask he'd worked very hard to build. Kneeling in front of the sofa, Giles grasped Cordelia's arms firmly, pulling her forward so that they were eye to eye. "Is this what you want me to admit?" He growled, green eyes glimmering. "That I'm a lonely man whose days and nights are currently filled with thoughts of a girl young enough to be my daughter." Releasing his grip, Giles stood and shoved a hand through his hair. "Bloody hell. I should be shot."
"Absolutely." Cordelia nodded. "Then we'll just round up all the other people in the world that happen to desire someone else. All the other lonely people. And let's not forget all the men with libidos. . ."
"Will you please be serious?"
"If you're not going to be, I don't see why I have to!" Cordelia threw aside the afghan that had been covering her, and stood on her feet, arms akimbo, toe to toe with Giles. "All right, pop quiz Old Man. What do you see?"
"A stubborn, willful, rude, tactless, occassionaly thoughtless young woman who could quite easily drive me insane!" Giles snapped.
"Very good." Cordelia nodded approvingly. "Shows you've been paying attention! Now do you want to know what I see?" Not waiting for his answer, she rushed ahead. "I see a good looking older, sophisticated man who is intelligent, and yes, even *fun* if you can pull him out of his tweed suits once in a while." She tapped one manicured fingernail against her teeth as she circled him. "Good muscle tone. All his original teeth and hair. . . Very lovely eyes. Nice butt. . . ." She gave him a light pat on the backside. "The test drive was very enjoyable with the potential for true fulfillment if he'd get down off that moral high horse and let me seduce him properly."
"Cordelia. . . ." Giles didn't get any further in his thoughts before she stood on her toes, her body pressed flush against his, and slid her arms underneath his, touching his chest lightly. He could feel her chin pressing into his shoulder, and the warm puff of her breath against his ear.
"Come on Rupert. . . .be a good boy get naked, and no one will get hurt." She pressed her lips just below his ear savoring his low groan.
"Are you trying to drive me out of my mind?"
"Is it working?" Cordelia's voice resonated hopefully in his ear.
"Go upstairs. Go to sleep."
"No."
"Fine! Then you can sleep on the sofa and *I* will go upstairs and go to sleep."
"Fine! And I hope that you have a hard time walking up the stairs thinking about me down here in my skimpiest nightie."
"Sleep in whatever you feel most comfortable Cordelia. Just be warned that Xander, Buffy and Willow don't normally knock in the mornings." Giles shot back headed back up the stairs muttering under his breath about 'Lolitas'.
hr
Author: Hayley
email: Lamb@traverse.com
Summary: Giles' visit to Los Angeles has interesting consequences.
Rating: R-some naughty language, and some nudity. . . .all the good things in life.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the toys you see before you have been borrowed from the all mighty Joss.I just take them out and play with them. *yay me* Don't sue.
Feedback: Oh pretty please? Have you hugged your author today?
Distribution: You may put it wherever you desire and I'll be thrilled about it. Just let me know where so I can send all my friends there to check it out.
Spoilers: Most of Angel, and some of Buffy. . . . nothing too specific or earth shattering.
*~*~*~*~*
L.A City Hospital
Angel strode through the hospital corridors ignoring the stench of illness and death. He spotted Wesley outside the Emergency Room pacing back and forth.
"What happened?"
Wesley turned and revealed his black and blue bruised face, and caught Angel's arm and pulled him into a stairwell where they wouldn't be overheard. "We were coming out of the restuarant with some take out when we were cornered by a group of vampires. I was dealing with one, while the other went for Cordelia. . . .Angel it was as if she were frozen to the spot. By the time she moved for a stake in her purse, it was too late. . . ."
"How bad is she?"
"There were too many. . . when I finally got rid of the last one she'd lost so much blood. . ."
"Did it turn her?"
"No!" Wesley slumped against the wall. "Thankfully no. I staked him before he had a chance, but she's lost so much blood Angel . . . ."
"What did you tell the doctors?"
"That we were mugged. I didn't bother to try and explain the marks on her neck." He held up his bandaged arm. "Fortunately for us Cordelia and I are a match. They've taken as much as they could. . ."
Emerging from the stairwell, a doctor approached Wesley. "Are you a friend of Miss Chase's?"
"Yes. I'm her employer." Angel said. "She's got no immediate family in the area. How is she?"
"Very lucky considering." The doctor scubbed his hands over his face. This wasn't the first case like this he'd seen in his time in Los Angeles, but try as he might, it never got any more *real*. A young, otherwise healthy girl beaten to a pulp with two distinctive marks on her neck and no other explanations for so much blood loss. Shaking off his thoughts he motioned them out of the way of a passing gurney. "Most people that recieve that kind of damage don't make it." He held up his hand. "But because you got her here in time, and happened to be a match for her blood type, she's going to be fine."
"Will you keep her over night?"
"If she has no one to look after her, yes. I would rather be cautious." He continued. "She's very weak and anemic, we've given her B vitamin shots and plenty of iron. . . she's young and in excellent physical condition. I expect a full recovery. She's asking for you. . . " He added looking at Wesley. "You can both see her, but she needs rest more than she needs chit chat. So don't stay too long." He lifted a hand to Wesley's face, turning it to both sides. "I think you'll do, I'll have a nurse bring you an ice pack for your jaw."
"Thank you." Wesley and Angel both entered the small E.R room. "Cordelia?" Wesley winced at how pale she seemed in the stark white light.
"Hey. . . .where's my take out?" She struggled to lift herself up in the bed, only to have Angel's hand gently shove her back down.
"You almost were take out Cordelia. . . ."
"But you look lovely nonetheless." Wesley added.
"I like HIS bedside manner a lot more than yours Angel!" Cordelia pouted. "Well I've got to get out of here then. Cause I hate hospitals and I hate hospital food."
"You're staying the night here. And then we've got to talk about what to do next."
Cordelia's jaw tightened mutinously, and her arms folded over her chest. "What do you mean what to do next?"
"You can't continue on this way Cordelia. You could have been killed tonight."
Softening only slightly, Cordelia shot a sheepish grin to Wesley. "Thank you." Turning back to Angel she was glowering again. "What? You're gonna fire me? I don't think you can!"
"No. But I can ground you." Angel answered, not letting himself be bowled over by either her pouty face or her determined expression.
"In case you haven't noticed I'm a grown woman. You can't ground me!"
"I can. I will. And I have." Angel answered equally stubbornly. "This spell is making you a threat to yourself and others."
"Oh? And who's going to enforce this 'grounding'? You and what army Brood-Boy?"
"Now let's not get carried away here. . . ." Wesley attempted to interject a reasonable tone into the escalating argument.
"I'm 227 years older than you. I don't *need* an army. You mean a lot to me Cordelia. I've already lost one friend in Los Angeles, and I am NOT going to lose another."
"And I'm not going to be treated like a little girl Angel."
"I'm not. I'm treating you like a grown woman who knows damn well that tonight not only could she have gotten herself killed, but Wesley as well . . ." Ignoring the fast breath Cordelia sucked in, Angel continued. "You can't concentrate and you can't fight. You're a sitting duck here, so I'm going to take you to someone who can help. Until this spell is broken and you're ready to come back to work."
Eyes narrowed, Cordelia glared at her boss. "Who?"
"Giles." Angel returned. "Wesley, I've already called Dennis and told him to pack Cordelia's things. . . I need you to go to her apartment and pack Dennis."
"Pack Dennis?" Momentarily distracted Cordelia looked curious. "How do you pack a ghost?"
"Very carefully. I think I know where that spell is. I'll go by the office first."
Angel tossed him the keys. "I'll drive her from here."
"Will do!"
Once the door closed, Cordelia was so silent that Angel chuckled. "Cordelia. I'm really only doing this because I care about you."
"Oh yeah! Nothing says 'I love you' like being banished!"
"I do love you Cordelia . . . "
"Angel, I swear. If you say this is for your own good I will stake you myself and sprinkle your ashes in Graceland!" A scowl crossed her face. "Giles won't want me there." She admitted softly. "He doesn't want anything to do with me."
"He called me Cordelia. I hung up the phone from him seconds before Wesley called. He felt something through the spell. . .the bond between you told him you were in danger. He suggested that you should be in Sunnydale until this is straightened out." Angel didn't add that the Watcher had been uncharacteristically disturbed. . . .and that he'd mentioned that Cordelia might balk at the idea of living in the apartment right next door.
Cordelia sighed as Angel's cool hand brushed over her forehead. Tired. She was very, very tired. Before drifting off, she opened one eye, and met Angel's concerned gaze. "This vacation is paid right?"
hr
Giles
"Angel!" Xander, Willow and Anya scrambled to their feet. They'd been eating pizza on the floor of Giles' apartment waiting for the Slayer and Watcher to come back after hunting a demon.
"Cordelia!"
"Could you guys yell less? My head is killing me." Cordelia moaned as Angel carefully settled her on the couch.
"Are you all right?" Willow took in Cordelia's wan, listlessness, and caught a glimpse of bite marks on her throat. "Umm. . . .Angel?"
Hearing the trepidation in Willow's voice, Angel flinched. "No Willow. I didn't turn her. Cordelia's very much alive. There was a vamp attack, and she was hurt. Giles invited her to recuperate in Sunnydale."
"Yeah. I could have gone to Bermuda, but the Hellmouth just sounded like so much more fun." Cordelia drawled, then spoiled the effect by yawning widely.
Xander watched distrustfully as Angel reached into a bag and removed a small wooden puzzle box. "What's that?"
"Someone to look after Cordelia." Angel replied setting the box on the table. "Willow, before I do this, you should know that there's a ghost in this box. . . .he's harmless, so don't do any spells to get rid of him."
"He's a friend. And if any of you people do or say anything to hurt Dennis' feelings I will be REALLY mad." Cordelia added.
"Question. Do you have any *live* friends in L.A?" Anya asked.
"No. I find that the deader they are, the more likely they are to keep their mouths shut."
Angel opened the box, and a cool breeze filled the room, suddenly the small t.v turned on and flipped through the channels.
"Now Phantom Dennis. I know he doesn't have cable. . .but you've got to be reasonable! The man just got a real paying job!"
"You could always read a good book. . . ." Angel commented as a heavy tome flew at his head. "HEY!"
"Okay! Cable first thing Monday morning!" Cordelia soothed. "But no C-Span. That just makes you crazy." She smiled as she felt the pillow behind her back fluff. "Thank you Dennis."
"Um. . .okay. . .anyone want to share with the rest of the class?" Xander asked watching the strange scene.
"Introductions. . . Dennis, the red headed witch is Willow. The other girl and ex-demon is Anya, and the guy with the funny hair is Xander. Guys, this is Phantom Dennis."
"How come you never fluff *my* pillows?" Anya huffed.
"I'm not that whipped yet?" Xander suggested suggested as the lights flipped off and on.
"Then I'm not working hard enough." Anya surmised. .
"Cordelia, I've got to get going. Call me. . ." Angel ordered.
"Angel. . .aren't you going to stay. . . ?" Willow struggled briefly.
"No." Angel answered firmly before planting a kiss on Cordelia's forehead.
"Now that tall, dark and dead is gone, do you want to explain all this?"
Cordelia debated for a minute before reaching her answer. "No. Not really Xander. Giles can explain it when he gets back. I'm tired." Suddenly an afghan floated past Xander, slowly unfolding over Cordelia's prone body, and then the lamps on either side of the sofa went out, leaving the area in shadow.
"Cord-" Xander stepped forward only to have a book lift from the end table and smack the hand that reached out for her shoulder. "That HURT! I thought you were like Casper!"
"Dennis *is* friendly. To me. And really that's all that counts." Cordelia murmured snuggling deeper into the pillows.
Giles and Buffy walked into the apartment to be met by a floating tea cup. "Dennis?" Giles accepted it and took a sip, tasting the splash of whiskey. "Dennis. Good to not see you again." His lips curved in a slight smile. Feeling his Slayer tensing next to him, Giles placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's all right Buffy."
"You should be happy he didn't put hemlock in that tea. He's not particularly thrilled about the lack of cable. . ." Cordelia's head appeared from behind the sofa.
"Cordelia?! What are you doing here?"
"I missed our close friendship?" Cordelia offered insincerely.
Buffy watched with narrowed eyes as Giles crossed to the couch, and looked Cordelia over. "I didn't know they would bring you tonight. Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"
"The doctor said as long as I take it easy for a couple days, and I've got someone to watch for shock, and I don't get attacked by any more vamps and I don't have any more spells cast on me, I should be fine."
"I have the apartment next door furnished with some bare essentials."
"You knew this was coming?"
"I knew that the longer the spell lasted, the better the chance was that at some point you would have to return to Sunnydale." He replied quietly. She looked pale, and sleepy, tousled and breathtaking.
"Just like a man. . .you assumed I'd give up my demon hunting and *my* undead friends to follow you. . . .just once I'd like to see a situation where the ex-watcher gives up everything to follow the clumsy, accident/attack prone seer to *her* job."
"I'd rather face the Hellmouth than Los Angeles traffic." Giles responded.
hr
Giles'
"I don't want you to mistake the fact that I'm here for forgiveness. I'm still ticked at you."
"Oh good. I would hate to have you cooperative and helpful. Sulking and petulant makes things so much more enjoyable." Giles commented dryly from behind his book.
"I am not sulking and petulant. I'm mildly crabby."
"Would it make you slightly less crabby to know that I have a meeting tomorrow that will most likely lead to finding Ethan?"
Cordelia's eyes widened. "Really? You're not just saying that so I won't ravage you tonight?"
Coughing slightly Giles set aside his book. "No. I'm not just saying that. There's a small bookstore in Winter Haven that caters to magicians. I've placed a rare text book there knowing that once he was notified Ethan wouldn't be able to stay away. Once I've got Ethan I think I can persuade him to reverse this spell." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Giles stood and began to pace the small apartment. "What I can't figure out is why Ethan would go to all this trouble. Irritating me is something of a hobby of his. . .but why he should bring you into this escapes me."
"Sweet talker." Cordelia muttered dryly.
"What I mean is that if Ethan's goal was to humiliate me, or belittle me, what would be the point in making a beautiful young woman find me irresistable, and visa versa. His usual style would be to make me fall in love with a newt, or a chaos demon or something. This just doesn't feel like Ethan's usual work."
"You need a better class of friends Giles." Cordelia pointed out bluntly. "You know, I meant what I said on the phone. Spell or no spell, I don't know why you're so anxious to have things go back the way they were before. Where you're alone all the time."
"I'm very comfortable being alone Cordelia. I know that you may not understand yet. . . "
"OOH! I hate it when you do that!" Cordelia snapped. "You, Angel and Wesley I could just kill you for it! 'Cept for Angel cause he's already dead, but you get my point." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "You assume that just because I'm younger than you I'm stupid." She waved off his objections. "Yes. You do. I know a lot of things Rupert. I know how to throw an elegant dinner party for 200 while pretending that your mother isn't too high on valium and Stoli to come down from her room. I know how to make sure that my mother never found the reciepts for hotels in my father's dinner jacket. I know what it's like to run a household. I know what it's like to help wine and dine clients. And I know what it's like to go through life doing what you've got to do, and being totally, completely alone. You can tell me that you like being alone, but I know that's bullshit. No one wants to be alone all the time. There's this ache near your heart when you look at all the other happy families and lovey-dovey couples that makes you die inside just a little bit more because you can't figure out why you can't ever have that."
She paused for a deep breath. "So go ahead and lie to everyone. Tell them that it doesn't hurt, and you don't mind. But have the balls to admit it to someone. If not *ME* then at LEAST admit it to yourself!"
Cordelia's words were like a slap in the face of the careful mask he'd worked very hard to build. Kneeling in front of the sofa, Giles grasped Cordelia's arms firmly, pulling her forward so that they were eye to eye. "Is this what you want me to admit?" He growled, green eyes glimmering. "That I'm a lonely man whose days and nights are currently filled with thoughts of a girl young enough to be my daughter." Releasing his grip, Giles stood and shoved a hand through his hair. "Bloody hell. I should be shot."
"Absolutely." Cordelia nodded. "Then we'll just round up all the other people in the world that happen to desire someone else. All the other lonely people. And let's not forget all the men with libidos. . ."
"Will you please be serious?"
"If you're not going to be, I don't see why I have to!" Cordelia threw aside the afghan that had been covering her, and stood on her feet, arms akimbo, toe to toe with Giles. "All right, pop quiz Old Man. What do you see?"
"A stubborn, willful, rude, tactless, occassionaly thoughtless young woman who could quite easily drive me insane!" Giles snapped.
"Very good." Cordelia nodded approvingly. "Shows you've been paying attention! Now do you want to know what I see?" Not waiting for his answer, she rushed ahead. "I see a good looking older, sophisticated man who is intelligent, and yes, even *fun* if you can pull him out of his tweed suits once in a while." She tapped one manicured fingernail against her teeth as she circled him. "Good muscle tone. All his original teeth and hair. . . Very lovely eyes. Nice butt. . . ." She gave him a light pat on the backside. "The test drive was very enjoyable with the potential for true fulfillment if he'd get down off that moral high horse and let me seduce him properly."
"Cordelia. . . ." Giles didn't get any further in his thoughts before she stood on her toes, her body pressed flush against his, and slid her arms underneath his, touching his chest lightly. He could feel her chin pressing into his shoulder, and the warm puff of her breath against his ear.
"Come on Rupert. . . .be a good boy get naked, and no one will get hurt." She pressed her lips just below his ear savoring his low groan.
"Are you trying to drive me out of my mind?"
"Is it working?" Cordelia's voice resonated hopefully in his ear.
"Go upstairs. Go to sleep."
"No."
"Fine! Then you can sleep on the sofa and *I* will go upstairs and go to sleep."
"Fine! And I hope that you have a hard time walking up the stairs thinking about me down here in my skimpiest nightie."
"Sleep in whatever you feel most comfortable Cordelia. Just be warned that Xander, Buffy and Willow don't normally knock in the mornings." Giles shot back headed back up the stairs muttering under his breath about 'Lolitas'.
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