Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss Whedon and David
Greenwalt.
Sorry about the delay in this installment, I have had
exams so this has taken a backseat. I really appreciate all the reviews, it's always
great to know a) people read these things and b) that they like it. Okay so
this chapter moves things along a little, let me know what you think of plot
and characterizations. Hope Angel and co are somewhat true to form. Further
installments to come but for now, on you go, to hopefully enjoy this chapter of
Body Armour.
He's not going
to let this go. He'll keep pushing and pushing until he finds out about what's
been going on, about Jarod.
"I cannot believe you are missing this party.
It's like, the party of the month, if not the season."
Serena's irate voice sliced through her,
knifing her back to reality. Blinking, Cordelia found herself staring at her
apartment complex, the building darkened with night. Pulling her eyes from the
cab window, she caught the expectant gaze of the driver in his rear view
mirror.
"That evens
out at seventeen dollars."
"Right."
Slipping her bag from a tanned shoulder, Cordelia fumbled for her wallet.
"Seventeen dollars. Right."
Beside her,
Serena exhaled moodily. "I mean everyone wants to go Cordy. At least
everyone with a functioning brain."
"Mine's
not. Functioning that is." Cordelia tugged a twenty-dollar bill from a
tight pocket of her wallet and creasing it, she offered the note to the driver.
"It's tired and mushy and it needs sleep." She managed an apologetic
smile. "I'll make it up to you Serena."
"Whatever,"
Serena answered with cool dismissal. Shifting slightly, she crossed her legs
smoothly and fixed a dark gaze on her friend.
"If you ask
me, you need to get a new job. That Angel guy works you to death and he acts
like it's okay to do it. Friend or not, you need to get out of there."
I need more than that. Much, much, more.
Cordelia clicked
the door handle, a smile gripping her face. "Maybe you're right. Look,
I'll call okay and you know, just have a good night."
"Guaranteed."
Serena told her aloofly, pulling a compact from her own bag,
"Guaranteed."
****************
The door whined plaintively
as Cordelia pushed it open, it's moan echoing through the shadowed apartment.
"Dennis.
It's me."
A sudden light
bathed the living room, the radio clicking to life as she slimmed out of her
jacket.
"Thanks"
Cordelia murmured, impatiently discarding the wine jacket. She dropped to the
floor, a harried search in her bag retrieving her cell-phone. Powering it to
life, Cordelia dialed the number and waited, her body twitching with nervous
anticipation.
Please be there. Please just be there.
"Hello?"
Relief embraced
every tingling nerve. "Jarod."
"Cordelia?
Is that you? Where are you?"
A slow safety
settled deep within, the aching warmth of his voice promising sanctuary.
"At home. I'm at home."
"All
right" Jarod said slowly, "Are you okay?"
"It's
Angel," Cordelia answered haltingly. "He and I had an argument, he
said, he thinks there's something wrong, he thinks I am…"
"In
trouble?" Jarod quizzed gently.
Cordelia flexed
the phone wire taut and letting it go, she watch it spring back into a curl.
"Yeah," she confessed. "That's his theory. Angel can be pretty
persistent when he puts his mind to something Jarod. If he thinks I am in
trouble, well, he won't give up, no matter what I say. He'll just keep pushing.
I'm afraid he will…"
"What are
you afraid of?" His voice anchored her, stemming the flowing cold fear.
She took a
breath, forcing oxygen around her trembling body. "I am afraid he'll find
out about you. I am afraid he will take you away. And that can't happen
Jarod."
"Why not
Cordelia? Why can't that happen?"
She paused, some
vague sanity reminding her that Angel was her friend, Angel her anchor. That
thought grounded in fact drifted meaninglessly through her mind, swallowed by a
sudden desperate longing.
The visions,
The seeing, Jarod.
The words
tumbled from her lips, feeling locked into every one. "I need you."
There was a
silence, a pause and for a half breath Cordelia feared she had lost him, her
confession too much.
He cleared his
throat. "That's not enough."
Confusion
swamped her. "Not enough? Enough for what?"
"To protect
you. To protect us. Angel won't willingly allow you to leave him
Cordelia."
"Leave him,
I don't want to leave him, I just want him to understand…"
"He won't ever
understand Cordelia. Angel will fear our friendship and he will do everything
in his power to prevent it." Jarod's voice rang with self-belief.
"You cannot stay with him, if we are to be friends. I can't show you what
I know, if he is fighting for your mind, your loyalties. You must make a choice
Cordelia. Are you Angel's Seer, are you bound to him? Or are the visions for
you, your own gift?"
"I can't
fight the demons I see…" Cordelia managed weakly.
"So don't
see them." Jarod answered swiftly. "You see what you want to see,
I've shown you how. You don't have to be cursed by images of people you can't
help. So its time to make a choice Cordelia, that's where we are at. I won't
become involved in a battle against Angel, I will walk away if that what you
want. I'm not going to force you to do anything. Can you say the same for him?
You make the choice. You can call me later, let me know what you have
decided."
Thump. Thump.
In one single
heartbeat, the choice was made. She couldn't, wouldn't walk away.
The visions,
The seeing, Jarod.
"I can do it Jarod. I can leave. I just need to
forget, you know? I need to see, that's all I need. Can you please come get me?
Please?"
She could hear
the smile in his voice, her heart soaring at his words.
"I'll come get
you Cord. From now on, it's just me and you."
*********************
Giles often
bemoaned California's constant humidity. Wesley himself found the lack of rain
and temperamental weather changes rather refreshing. He quite enjoyed a day one
could depend upon, at least weather wise. In his line of work there were few
other certainties. Tonight, if anything proved as much. Pulling his eyes from
the neon lit city speeding by, the ex Watcher cleared his throat. "Right
then," he said cheerfully, addressing the silent driver, "What's the
plan again?"
"We didn't
make a plan Wesley." Angel gazed steadily ahead, one hand guiding the
steering wheel.
"Yes, well
that's really the part I am having difficulty with." Wesley blew a deep
breath "You see, in a delicate situation like this, we really should have
a plan. Plans are good."
Angel threw his
employee a sideways glance. "Fine. How's this for a plan? We find
Cordelia, we fix her. We find who ever is behind this, we fix them."
Wesley raised an
ironic eyebrow. "Well, it's a plan."
"That it
is."
The Englishman
shifted, allowing his hand to dangle over the edge of the convertible. "It
won't be an easy fix"
Angel's head
snapped around, "What's that then?"
"Cordelia.
She won't be an easy fix."
Angel's jaw
tightened, his frame stiffening. "Any tips?"
Wesley adjusted
the side mirror. "The texts all say the same. The Seer's dependency on the
powder is linked to his or her exposure to it. The most comparable drug in
societal terms is heroin. The Seer craves not the powder itself but the bliss
of the vision. Take away that bliss and you have one very angry, vulnerable,
helpless individual, experiencing appalling withdrawal symptoms."
The vampire's
gaze alternated between the road and his friend. "Such as?"
"Severe migraine,
vomiting, sweating, delusions, weakness, exhaustion, bouts of sudden energy.
Emotionally you can expect uncontrollable rage, anxiety, upset. Like any other
addict Angel."
Angel's grip on
the wheel tightened imperceptibly. "How long will it last?"
"A few
days, three, four at most if she does it cold turkey. However we could try
weaning her from the powder, reduce her use over a week, maybe two"
"The
risks?" Angel prodded, his mind mulling over every possibility.
Wesley
sighed. "Complete withdrawal is
the safest way. There's the potential of flashbacks or prolonged visions with
extended use of the powder."
Angel nodded
quickly as he slowed for a red traffic light. He glanced at Wesley. "So,
we take the hard route."
Wesley thought
for a moment. "Not at her apartment, her neighbors…"
Preparing for
the light change, Angel flicked his gaze back to the road. "I know. Look,
I'll tell her I need her back at the office for some research or something.
Downstairs is secure, we won't be disturbed there.
Wesley swallowed
hard, an unpleasant taste settling in his mouth. What they were going to do,
what they had to protect Cordelia from, she was going to hate them,
"Angel…"
Angel nodded
again, his eyes unfathomable. "I know Wes. I know."
*********************
Cordelia held
the candle reverently. She could feel the energy, the untapped power within.
"It's
beautiful," she breathed.
Jarod smiled,
intertwining his fingers through her own. "The strength you feel in this
small candle is nothing comparable to the joy you will experience in its
burning. The powder will fill every sense, open you to new sensations."
She lifted her
eyes. "And visions?"
He laughed,
smoothing his fingers up and down her hand. "Yes Miss Impatient.
Visions."
Mirth rolled
through her in waves, promised joy tantalizingly close. "Lets begin. I
want to try to extend it, last as long as I …"
The loud rap of
the doorknocker silenced her, ecstasy fading as her eyes darted to the doorway.
"Damn it."
"Cordelia?
You in there?"
Jarod tightened
his grip on her hand, demanding her attention. Cordelia forced herself to calm
and relaxing she relinquished the candle to him, watching him drop it into the
case. Drawing herself to her feet with slow, quiet movement, Cordelia indicated
to the bedroom.
"In
there" she mouthed, "He'll go away."
"Cordelia,
I need to speak with you." Angel's muffled voice insisted outside.
Painfully aware
of the vampire's perceptiveness of life and movement, Cordelia eased her feet
from her shoes and barefoot, allowed one foot to glide past the other, Jarod
behind. She paused and mentally calculated the steps to her bedroom, ruminating
over the route that would avoid the creakier floorboards when a sudden cold
rush filled the room and lifting appalled eyes from the floor, Cordelia's gaze
jumped to the doorway, her heart filling with dread.
Dennis
wouldn't.
Dennis did. The
front door flung open, swaying back to reveal a familiar figure. Angel paused,
caught momentarily off guard. He looked around the room with a sharp nod, as
though in gratitude to his dead accomplice before transferring his steady gaze
to Cordelia. With almost deliberately slow movement, the vampire stepped
inside, his eyes fixed firmly upon his young Seer. Behind him, an anxious
looking Wesley followed.
Somewhere, from
the desperate lurching of her stomach, Cordelia found her voice. "Angel,
Wes."
Their names were
about all she could manage.
"Cordelia"
Angel greeted her evenly. "You didn't hear me at the door?"
"I knew, I
knew Dennis would get it." Cordelia forced the words out, her throat
tightening with grim apprehension. Angel lifted that merciless gaze from her
and for a moment, she allowed herself to breathe. A bare moment for Angel
stared past her, his eyes resting inscrutably on,
"Jarod."
She whispered his name.
"Jarod"
Angel repeated, cocking his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'm
Angel, a friend of Cordelia's, nice to meet you. This is Wesley."
"Likewise."
Jarod moved forward, looping an arm around Cordelia's waist. She rested against
him, uncertainty stiffening her limbs. "Cordelia talks about you a lot
about you both."
His eyes
glinting, Angel inclined forward. "I can't say the same about you, I'm
afraid." His eyes drifted back to Cordelia. She was gathering some
semblance of control for she had straightened, her hands flitting to her
side. Somewhere in the dark corner of
his mind, the demon howled but Angel dismissed it with practiced ease. Jarod
could wait. Cordelia was his priority. Heeling back, his stance relaxed, Angel
allowed a hint of apology to seep into his voice. "Sorry to interrupt but
we need you back at the office. A case has come in and it needs the entire
team."
His young Seer
moistened her lips, one lip rubbing against the other in slow nervousness.
She always
does that when she's nervous.
Jarod squeezed
her slightly, quietly pulling her attention to him. She turned her eyes
darkened with misery to him. His own gaze filled with warm understanding, an
acknowledgement of her fear, an acceptance of her. And deep within his eyes,
she found a message, a silent communication.
It's time.
Banishing the
dread and the sudden urgent craving for the candle bundled into his small case,
Cordelia nodded and turned back to the vampire.
"Angel,"
She forced herself to meet his eyes, resolve in her voice. "I've been
meaning to talk to you. About working for you, that is. About, how I don't want
to, anymore. Starting from now."
She could have
sworn Dennis had deliberately silenced every tap, every creak, every noise
familiar to the apartment. A ghostly silence descended upon the room, it's
occupants mute as the vampire surveyed his young associate, deep thought
settling on his face. Cordelia clung to the breath she was holding, afraid that
if she released it, she would forget how to haul another into her burning
lungs.
It's done.
I've done it.
Wesley inched
forward. "Cordelia" he said gently, predictable candor in his tone,
"This seems like a rash decision."
She gratefully
flicked her gaze to the Englishman. "It's not," she said with sudden
brightness, "I mean you guys know the detective thing wasn't exactly my
gig or career choice. I haven't been happy in some time and I've been doing a
lot of thinking lately and you know, it's time to pursue acting, seriously
commit myself to my future?"
"So what,
Jarod's your agent?" Angel inquired.
Reluctantly
returning her attention to the vampire, Cordelia found him as she had left him.
His posture relaxed, his face calm, his tone light and easy. Anyone else might
feel relaxed by his apparent nonchalance. Knowing him as she did, Cordelia was
anything but relaxed. This was classic Angel. He might outwardly appear
unperturbed but inside, he was churning. Thinking a thousand times faster than
she ever could, pulling every piece of information he could find useful from
the room, from her. Planning. Calculating. Deciding.
I know him. I
know every inch of him. He can't damn well intimidate me.
"Jarod's my
friend." She answered softly, controlling a sudden fire inside. "And
yes he has helped me to make this decision. He supports it."
Angel nodded
slowly, his hands disappearing into his coat pockets as he half circled back at
Wesley. "Looks like we're just a double act now Wes." He raised a
questioning eyebrow, confident that Wesley would interpret his meaning.
We make a move?
"It would
appear so," Wesley answered with a brief nod of affirmation, knowing in
his heart, this battle was a long way from won. Angel might bundle Cordelia
Chase's body into the car behind but Wesley was quite certain, her spirit was
far from this room.
Angel shifted
his attention back to the others, longing to focus it directly on Jarod. He was
human, of that Angel was sure. A supreme confidence leaked from him, shone on
him. He didn't fear Angel.
Yet.
That last
thought comforting him, Angel ambled to the coffee table, his hand smoothing
the small metallic case perched there.
"Be
careful" Cordelia took a step forward, slowing as Angel raised an
interested gaze. She swallowed, "That's Jarods."
"Oh
sorry" Angel backed up, somewhere in the movement sliding his hand
forward, the case tumbling to the ground. It flipped open exposing a set of
small candles, rosy hue against the cream carpet. "Oh damn it, I'm
sorry." Angel apologized again as he leaned down to pick them up. He
slotted them back into the case, propping each into an individual holder. He
held the last, twirling it in his hand.
"You like
candles Jarod?" Angel asked quietly, carefully replacing the last in the
case. He slotted the lid down, resting the small metallic box on the coffee
table once more.
Jarod shrugged.
"From time to time. Candles are wonderful to use in meditative practice.
They've been traditionally used in spiritual ceremonies since their very
conception. I guess I'm old fashioned, stick with simple tools."
Placing his
hands on his knees, Angel rose to his feet in one limber movement. "That's
a good way to be." "Cordelia."
She almost
jumped at the sound of her voice and pulling her eyes from the box safely
encasing the precious powder, Cordelia glanced at Angel.
"Are you
serious about this?"
A sudden pain
darted through her as she caught a hint of something in his expression. She was
hurting him. This hurt him.
I need the powder. Get this done.
"Yes"
she croaked, the word drying in her throat.
Angel nodded, a
sudden wisdom carved in his face. "I don't accept that."
Cordelia
hesitated. "You don't have a choice."
"Sure I
do," Angel answered lightly. His eyes rested on Jarod. "We all have
choices." The vampire turned and heeled back toward the door. "Come
on Cordelia, we'll discuss this at the office."
Her feet rooted
firmly to the ground, strength deepened within her. "Angel, you're not
listening to me. I quit, I'm not going with you."
Angel stilled.
"Cordelia." He spoke softly, not turning around. "The car is
outside, get in it. Now."
She took a deep
breath and curled a hand around Jarod's. "Wesley, get him out of
here."
The Englishman
looked at her, compassion digging into his gaze. "Cordelia, we merely want
to talk with you. You know we have been worried about you recently and now you
say you want to leave on the spur of the moment? Come down to the offices, we
will talk this out."
Quiet
desperation tore through her. "I will call you tomorrow Wesley, just
please go now." Cordelia turned pleadingly toward him. "Get him
out."
Wesley heaved a
breath of regret. "Cordelia, we can't walk away from you. You know
that."
"So
drive." Jarod said meaningfully.
Angel turned,
his face implacable. " Sorry Jarod. You don't get to have an input on
this. It's business related."
"I get to
have an input when my friend is upset. That bothers me." Jarod smiled
lightly, half nodding to the vampire.
Angel nodded
back. "You know, I think you are right Jarod. I think maybe you and I need
to have a long talk about what's bothering Cordelia. In fact maybe we should do
that right now."
The vampire
stepped forward, dark meaning in his eyes. Cordelia instantly side-stepped, placing
herself between the two men but she was too late. Angel had caught it. The
slight glimmer in Jarod's gaze, the half quake backward of his left boot, the
sudden hesitation. For a half breath, Angel had scared the other man witless.
Angel permitted himself a half smile, relishing his success, enjoying the other
man's countenance. Jarod knew it too.
"Angel,"
Cordelia's breathless voice focused his thoughts and looking down, he found
himself looking into twin pools of misery, conflict and longing. This had to be
fixed now. "Angel, stop it."
Her warm breath
tickled his chin. Ignoring the sensation, Angel picked his words carefully.
"Cordelia, if you won't talk to me, maybe he will. However I convince him.
You can't expect me to let you walk away without a conversation. You can't
leave me and Wes worrying about whatever the hell is going on here. You've
found yourself a new life, I can accept that. I can't accept you walking away
from the old one without a damn explanation. Which is why I insist we talk."
The tight grip
on her gut loosened.
He doesn't know anything.
I go back.
I talk to him, relieve his damn worries and walk away.
I walk back to Jarod.
For Good.
I can do this.
I can convince Wesley.
Hell I can convince Angel.
I can do this.
I'm damn actress for Christ's sake.
Her expression
grew cautious. "Just talk?"
Angel half
shrugged. "I'm asking, no, I am insisting on an hour of your life
Cordelia. Is that so much to damn well ask?"
Cordelia bit her
lip. "All right, I'll come. For an hour." She backed around to Jarod.
"I won't be any longer than that, I promise." Her voice dropped to a
whisper. "I promise."
Raising a thumb,
Jarod rubbed it across her lips. "I know you won't" His smile, filled
with promise, comforted her and Cordelia turned away, joy lightening her
exhausted face.
"Let's
go."
The vampire held
Jarod's attention for a half moment, communicating a thousand silent menaces in
one single gaze. Cordelia slid past him, hovering expectantly nearby. She
wasn't about to step out of hearing range, knowing Angel's habit of barely
muttering threats.
She knows me so damn well.
Satisfying
himself with the thought that he and Jarod would inevitably have that long
conversation he had promised, Angel backed up. Digging his hands into his
pocket, the vampire retrieved his set of car keys and flung them to Wesley.
"How about
you do the honours Wes?"
Wesley nodded
smartly. "Nice to meet you Jarod."
The other man
inclined his head slightly. "You too Wesley."
Cordelia
squeezed Jarod's hand one last time. "You'll stay?"
He nodded, his
voice quiet. "Like I promised."
Wesley was
already striding through the open doorway, out to the car beyond. Placing a
hand on Cordelia's shoulder, Angel guided her out, the girl flashing a final smile
to Jarod on the way. They stepped into the night and freedom ahead.
Turning, Angel
pulled the door over, a half smile directed darkly at the man left standing in
the center of the room. Much as he would like to leave him with dark promises
of injury and worse, Angel controlled himself. He had gotten Cordelia this far.
He had managed to get her out of her, remarkably on her own two feet and he
wasn't about to jepordize that for anything.
A sudden thought
occurred to the vampire.
Subtle threats
are the best kind
"Dennis"
he said lightly as he pulled the door closed. "Be sure and look after
Cordelia's houseguest while she is gone." Pulling the door closed, Angel
was quite certain that Jarod was about to be treated to hospitality, Phantom
Dennis style. The thought of the protective ghost's grim revenge might have
been enough to cheer the vampire where it not for Cordelia and the hours,
nights and days ahead.
Cold Turkey.
