He didn't sleep much. Hell, he didn't sleep at all. It was more like a tossing Olympics. He tried every position he could and eventually every spot on the bed. He even tried sleeping on the floor. But as the hours ticked away, all he could do was stare at the ceiling.
Something was wrong. She was scared. Buffy Summers didn't get scared. She was the toughest little chick that he had ever met. Sure, she'd been through a lot lately what with the death of her mother and having to take over in the parenting department. But she was still strong. That was her way.
But she was also the Slayer which meant that she had those freaky dreams. Prophetic dreams. The ones that foretold the future and had a bizarre way of being sorta kinda accurate.
He shifted in his bed and sighed. He craned his neck to stare at the digital clock. 4:48. With a dramatic sigh, he pushed himself out of the bed. It was obvious that sleep wasn't going to happen.
He descended the stairs to the lobby of the Hyperion two at a time. There was only one light still left on and that was the one by the desk. He could see stacks of files that were in the process of being finished or worked on. Moving over to the desk, he picked one up.
"Do something useful.." he muttered to himself. "The Miller case.." he took a deep breath and shook his head. "Okay..this isn't useful. This is torture."
"I know.." a voice said from behind him. He turned and blinked.
"Cordelia? What are you doing up and around at this time of night?"
"I work for you don't I? Cordelia said, dropping a file on the desk. "Jane Miller called..apparently she's certain that her demon is hiding in her shower waiting to molest her. Gunn and I went over there to calm her. Her boyfriend.. Mr. Toiler Plumber just got home."
"So what are you doing here? Why aren't you at home sleeping..sounds like you've had a long enough night."
She laughed dryly. "That woman..well..you know." She smiled brightly and shook her head. "I just wanted to drop the rest of the file off. Gunn is going to drive me home." She started to turn away from the desk and then turned back. "Are you okay?"
He started to say that he was but stopped. This group had already had enough problems with not talking to each other. This was his family. For better or for worse. "No..I'm worried.."
"About Buffy?"
"Yeah..she had a dream..she sounds scared.."
Cordelia pursed her lips and thought for a moment. She reached out and touched his arm. "That's why she's coming to you..because she knows you'll make it better. You'll catch her. You always do."
He smiled appreciatively. "Thanks."
"Hey Cordelia..are we going or should I break out the sleeping bags and get to harmonizing some John Denver?"
"Perish the thought," she groaned, shooting Gunn a glare. She smiled back at Angel. "Asshole is calling. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he said with a smile. He turned away from her and started to leaf through the Miller file again.
"And Angel.." Cordy started. He turned to look at her. "If you need to be caught..this time..we'll be there." He dipped his head in acknowledgement and smiled. She returned the smile and then turned and walked out with Gunn.
He watched them go, still smiling. This group had come a long way and things were finally starting to feel right again.
*****
She stopped by the Starbucks across the street from the hotel at just after seven in the morning. She had been trying desperately to break herself of her caffeine habit but without much success. And today was not a good day to deal with a withdrawal headache.
She ordered a triple mocha, loaded it down with chocolate sprinkles and two packets of raw sugar and then drank it down in five minutes. She hastily ordered a second one and then turned to the day at hand.
Angel. And Faith.
And saying what needed to be said in case she never had the chance. She knew what she was and she knew where she stood in the grand scheme of it all. She knew her odds and she knew that eventually she would be just a step too slow. It was time.
She walked across the street slowly, studying her feet as they moved and noticing how they seemed to be framed by the black pavement. She was wearing blue and white Airwalks. Normally she wouldn't be but they went well with her overalls. Angel loved when she wore those. She blinked. No..this wasn't about that. Don't think that way.
The hotel was huge. Well of course it was. Angel always did like wide open areas with a lot of walking space. He was a footer and a place with a hundred vacant rooms and empty halls was right up his alley.
She pushed the door open and stepped in. It didn't smell vacant. She picked up the strong scent of french vanilla coffee brewing. In her mind she slapped herself for not waiting and instead wasting nearly eight dollars on it.
"Angel?" she called out, stepping into the lobby. The front desk was covered from side to side with stacks of folders, all color coded for some reason or another.
"Hey.." he said, sticking his head out. She wondered vaguely what room he was in because all she could see was his head and it presented a rather surreal visual.
"Hi," she giggled. He lifted an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
"Come out here.."
"Okay.."he stepped around the counter and moved towards her. She noted that in his hand was an oversized mug, presumably of coffee, that had a cow on it.
"Give me a hug," Buffy insisted.
"Okay.." he did as he was told, the fear starting to slip back into him. Not that he didn't love holding her but his natural instinct told him that she wasn't just saying hello; she was holding on. He leaned over and kissed her neck, allowing his lips to hold a moment against her soft flesh. Allowing the thoughts of fire and ice to spill through his mind..
"So what time do we go?" Buffy asked abruptly, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh..ten is the earliest. You in a hurry?"
"No!" she said quickly. Then she smiled. "No." She stepped back and looked up at him. She ran her palm over his cheek. "God..you're so beautiful."
"Likewise..baby..what's wrong?" Angel asked, eyes full of concern and love. She was breaking his heart.
"My dream...Angel.."
"Tell me." He reached over and took her hand, folding it into his own. "Tell me."
"Angel..I died. I kept falling.." Buffy said, looking away from him. She was about to move away when he caught her hand again and pulled her back close. He gave her a look, urging her on. "I don't know how but I was fighting..Glory I think..and then I was just falling..and I knew I wasn't going..Angel..I knew I was about to die."
"But you didn't die..you're right here.."
"Every other time.." she said, tears in her eyes. "I dreamed that the Master killed me..and he did. I dreamed that Dru killed you and you did leave me..in a way you did die.."
"But we both came back.."
"How many times, Angel?" Buffy challenged. "We're not gods and eventually I am going to die. Last night..I saw it.."
"You can change that. You always do..you always defeat prophecy.."
"Not defeat..go around.."
"Just the same. You're still here. And so am I. We'll figure our way out of this one too.."
"Maybe," she said, giving in a bit. Then she looked up at him. "But if I don't..I want these things said..I need them said.."
He looked at her and then finally nodded. "Me too.."
"I couldn't stand the idea that you might think.."
I don't. I know. God, Buffy..I always know," he interjected. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips past hers. "Calm down, love. Calm down and we'll talk, okay?"
She nodded slowly. "I'm a little wired."
He glanced down at the coffee cup in her hand and shook his head, eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "I imagine." He took her free hand. "Come on. Come up stairs with me.."
"Why Angel.." she said with a laugh, "I'm a lady.."
He grinned impishly,"This ain't no first date."
She laughed and it felt good. "Lead on my love, lead on."
*****
"Honey.." Angel said softly, giving the small blonde a gentle push. "Honey.."
They were lying on his bed, the cool morning air drifting in underneath the pulled blinds. There were glints of sunlight around the room but they all managed to stay clear of both his bed and his walking space.
It was just after ten in the morning and she was out. Like a light. Her head was rested against his chest and she was in a gentle rhythm.
He gave her another gentle shake and was about to say her name when he saw one of her eyes crack open. "Angel," she muttered. "Do you like being dead."
He blinked. "No. Yes. No. Huh?"
"Never wake a Slayer up..you know better."
He grinned, "Sorry. It's after ten.."
"Oh," she said, sobering up. It was like she was suddenly hit with the memory of why she had come to Los Angeles. She started to rise up out of the bed but he put a hand up and slowed her.
"Easy..no hurry."
"Isn't there?"
He looked down and away, glancing at the wall.
"Angel? What..what's wrong?" she asked, moving towards him.
"No hurry," he repeated. He looked up at her and then in a very quiet voice said, "I guess I just wanted to spend time with you."
She smiled and her eyes lit up this time. Reaching across, she stroked his cheek. "After I talk to Faith..we'll spend the day together, okay?"
He brightened considerably, almost like a child. "Okay." Helping her to her feet he said, "Well let's go then.."
*****
Wesley looked up when the couple descended the stairs, holding hands. He paused for a moment, eyebrow lifted. "I missed something," he said simply, obviously.
"How was your day off?" Angel asked, stepping around Wes to pour himself another cup of coffee.
"Fine. Any problems around here?" Wesley fished, eyes still on the tiny blonde who was looking through files.
Angel just smiled. "Nope. We'll be back in a couple of hours. Gunn and Cordy probably won't be in for awhile..they were up rather late last night."
"I know," Wes said with a sigh. "They called me.."
Angel chuckled. "Crazy kids. Hold the fort, Wes."
"As always.." Wes replied with a smile. Then he turned back to the coffee pot, "It's not my day to make coffee..that was yesterday.."
Something was wrong. She was scared. Buffy Summers didn't get scared. She was the toughest little chick that he had ever met. Sure, she'd been through a lot lately what with the death of her mother and having to take over in the parenting department. But she was still strong. That was her way.
But she was also the Slayer which meant that she had those freaky dreams. Prophetic dreams. The ones that foretold the future and had a bizarre way of being sorta kinda accurate.
He shifted in his bed and sighed. He craned his neck to stare at the digital clock. 4:48. With a dramatic sigh, he pushed himself out of the bed. It was obvious that sleep wasn't going to happen.
He descended the stairs to the lobby of the Hyperion two at a time. There was only one light still left on and that was the one by the desk. He could see stacks of files that were in the process of being finished or worked on. Moving over to the desk, he picked one up.
"Do something useful.." he muttered to himself. "The Miller case.." he took a deep breath and shook his head. "Okay..this isn't useful. This is torture."
"I know.." a voice said from behind him. He turned and blinked.
"Cordelia? What are you doing up and around at this time of night?"
"I work for you don't I? Cordelia said, dropping a file on the desk. "Jane Miller called..apparently she's certain that her demon is hiding in her shower waiting to molest her. Gunn and I went over there to calm her. Her boyfriend.. Mr. Toiler Plumber just got home."
"So what are you doing here? Why aren't you at home sleeping..sounds like you've had a long enough night."
She laughed dryly. "That woman..well..you know." She smiled brightly and shook her head. "I just wanted to drop the rest of the file off. Gunn is going to drive me home." She started to turn away from the desk and then turned back. "Are you okay?"
He started to say that he was but stopped. This group had already had enough problems with not talking to each other. This was his family. For better or for worse. "No..I'm worried.."
"About Buffy?"
"Yeah..she had a dream..she sounds scared.."
Cordelia pursed her lips and thought for a moment. She reached out and touched his arm. "That's why she's coming to you..because she knows you'll make it better. You'll catch her. You always do."
He smiled appreciatively. "Thanks."
"Hey Cordelia..are we going or should I break out the sleeping bags and get to harmonizing some John Denver?"
"Perish the thought," she groaned, shooting Gunn a glare. She smiled back at Angel. "Asshole is calling. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he said with a smile. He turned away from her and started to leaf through the Miller file again.
"And Angel.." Cordy started. He turned to look at her. "If you need to be caught..this time..we'll be there." He dipped his head in acknowledgement and smiled. She returned the smile and then turned and walked out with Gunn.
He watched them go, still smiling. This group had come a long way and things were finally starting to feel right again.
*****
She stopped by the Starbucks across the street from the hotel at just after seven in the morning. She had been trying desperately to break herself of her caffeine habit but without much success. And today was not a good day to deal with a withdrawal headache.
She ordered a triple mocha, loaded it down with chocolate sprinkles and two packets of raw sugar and then drank it down in five minutes. She hastily ordered a second one and then turned to the day at hand.
Angel. And Faith.
And saying what needed to be said in case she never had the chance. She knew what she was and she knew where she stood in the grand scheme of it all. She knew her odds and she knew that eventually she would be just a step too slow. It was time.
She walked across the street slowly, studying her feet as they moved and noticing how they seemed to be framed by the black pavement. She was wearing blue and white Airwalks. Normally she wouldn't be but they went well with her overalls. Angel loved when she wore those. She blinked. No..this wasn't about that. Don't think that way.
The hotel was huge. Well of course it was. Angel always did like wide open areas with a lot of walking space. He was a footer and a place with a hundred vacant rooms and empty halls was right up his alley.
She pushed the door open and stepped in. It didn't smell vacant. She picked up the strong scent of french vanilla coffee brewing. In her mind she slapped herself for not waiting and instead wasting nearly eight dollars on it.
"Angel?" she called out, stepping into the lobby. The front desk was covered from side to side with stacks of folders, all color coded for some reason or another.
"Hey.." he said, sticking his head out. She wondered vaguely what room he was in because all she could see was his head and it presented a rather surreal visual.
"Hi," she giggled. He lifted an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
"Come out here.."
"Okay.."he stepped around the counter and moved towards her. She noted that in his hand was an oversized mug, presumably of coffee, that had a cow on it.
"Give me a hug," Buffy insisted.
"Okay.." he did as he was told, the fear starting to slip back into him. Not that he didn't love holding her but his natural instinct told him that she wasn't just saying hello; she was holding on. He leaned over and kissed her neck, allowing his lips to hold a moment against her soft flesh. Allowing the thoughts of fire and ice to spill through his mind..
"So what time do we go?" Buffy asked abruptly, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh..ten is the earliest. You in a hurry?"
"No!" she said quickly. Then she smiled. "No." She stepped back and looked up at him. She ran her palm over his cheek. "God..you're so beautiful."
"Likewise..baby..what's wrong?" Angel asked, eyes full of concern and love. She was breaking his heart.
"My dream...Angel.."
"Tell me." He reached over and took her hand, folding it into his own. "Tell me."
"Angel..I died. I kept falling.." Buffy said, looking away from him. She was about to move away when he caught her hand again and pulled her back close. He gave her a look, urging her on. "I don't know how but I was fighting..Glory I think..and then I was just falling..and I knew I wasn't going..Angel..I knew I was about to die."
"But you didn't die..you're right here.."
"Every other time.." she said, tears in her eyes. "I dreamed that the Master killed me..and he did. I dreamed that Dru killed you and you did leave me..in a way you did die.."
"But we both came back.."
"How many times, Angel?" Buffy challenged. "We're not gods and eventually I am going to die. Last night..I saw it.."
"You can change that. You always do..you always defeat prophecy.."
"Not defeat..go around.."
"Just the same. You're still here. And so am I. We'll figure our way out of this one too.."
"Maybe," she said, giving in a bit. Then she looked up at him. "But if I don't..I want these things said..I need them said.."
He looked at her and then finally nodded. "Me too.."
"I couldn't stand the idea that you might think.."
I don't. I know. God, Buffy..I always know," he interjected. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips past hers. "Calm down, love. Calm down and we'll talk, okay?"
She nodded slowly. "I'm a little wired."
He glanced down at the coffee cup in her hand and shook his head, eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "I imagine." He took her free hand. "Come on. Come up stairs with me.."
"Why Angel.." she said with a laugh, "I'm a lady.."
He grinned impishly,"This ain't no first date."
She laughed and it felt good. "Lead on my love, lead on."
*****
"Honey.." Angel said softly, giving the small blonde a gentle push. "Honey.."
They were lying on his bed, the cool morning air drifting in underneath the pulled blinds. There were glints of sunlight around the room but they all managed to stay clear of both his bed and his walking space.
It was just after ten in the morning and she was out. Like a light. Her head was rested against his chest and she was in a gentle rhythm.
He gave her another gentle shake and was about to say her name when he saw one of her eyes crack open. "Angel," she muttered. "Do you like being dead."
He blinked. "No. Yes. No. Huh?"
"Never wake a Slayer up..you know better."
He grinned, "Sorry. It's after ten.."
"Oh," she said, sobering up. It was like she was suddenly hit with the memory of why she had come to Los Angeles. She started to rise up out of the bed but he put a hand up and slowed her.
"Easy..no hurry."
"Isn't there?"
He looked down and away, glancing at the wall.
"Angel? What..what's wrong?" she asked, moving towards him.
"No hurry," he repeated. He looked up at her and then in a very quiet voice said, "I guess I just wanted to spend time with you."
She smiled and her eyes lit up this time. Reaching across, she stroked his cheek. "After I talk to Faith..we'll spend the day together, okay?"
He brightened considerably, almost like a child. "Okay." Helping her to her feet he said, "Well let's go then.."
*****
Wesley looked up when the couple descended the stairs, holding hands. He paused for a moment, eyebrow lifted. "I missed something," he said simply, obviously.
"How was your day off?" Angel asked, stepping around Wes to pour himself another cup of coffee.
"Fine. Any problems around here?" Wesley fished, eyes still on the tiny blonde who was looking through files.
Angel just smiled. "Nope. We'll be back in a couple of hours. Gunn and Cordy probably won't be in for awhile..they were up rather late last night."
"I know," Wes said with a sigh. "They called me.."
Angel chuckled. "Crazy kids. Hold the fort, Wes."
"As always.." Wes replied with a smile. Then he turned back to the coffee pot, "It's not my day to make coffee..that was yesterday.."