TITLE: Viva Las Vegas
SPOILERS: This is an alternate take on what might have happened pre-Epiphany. I started writing it during the whole Beige Angel arc, so it differs quite a bit from the end of the season.
DISCLAIMERS: Joss owns all, I own nothing! I'm just borrowing them for a teensy bit.

I forced a smile for the thousandth time that evening. And when I say forced, I mean forced with every fiber of my being. It's pretty darned hard to stay perky when your feet are hurting because of the three inch stilts you've been wearing for four hours straight and your ass is black and blue from being pinched by every old goat who's had a few drinks and thinks he's God's gift to the world.

But apparently this old goat couldn't tell the smile was forced. He brightened visibly when I smiled at him, and I gritted my teeth.

I knew what was coming.

"Hey, sweetheart.. I'm having a lucky streak here." He leered at me, leaning closer, and I cast a worried glance behind me. No high roller look alike anywhere in sight. So far, so good. "You wanna sit here with me for a while?"

"Sorry." I kept the smile in place, aware of the pit boss in charge that night standing a few tables away. "Looks like this table is all full."

"Thass okay." His speech deteriorated as his hopes rose. "You can sit right here." And with a tug, he pulled me down on his lap, then leaned close to my ear, his hot breath on my cheek. "I don' mind."

"But I do." The voice was calm, but I could hear the potential for violence in it. I tried unsuccessfully to free myself. The man holding me turned to face Angel.

"Hey, go fin' yer own girl. This one's mine." I could see that we'd attracted the pit boss's attention, and I glared at Angel. Another incident I *didn't* need. Not if he expected me to keep this job, as hellish as it was.

Angel either didn't see my look or didn't care. He just kept staring at the drunk. "I'd say she disagrees. Let her go."

"Now."

Something in that too-calm tone must have gotten through to the man holding me because he finally let me go. I struggled to my feet and retrieved my tray from where it had fallen to the floor. Fortunately it was empty. I turned back to the customer with a smile, but he had already turned back to the game. "Sir, would you like a drink?"

"No, I'm good." He was huffy now, and with an inner sigh I wished him a good evening and turned towards another table.

My shadow followed me.

"Angel," I hissed, having finally gotten tired of his interference. "Are you *trying* to screw this up for me?"

"Screw it up?" He stared incredulously at me. "That guy grabbed you, Cordy. What did you expect me to do, just sit there and watch while he mauled you?"

His voice had risen, so with a wary glance at the pit boss, I pulled him back behind several of the slot machines. The whirrs and dings that filled the place hid our conversation from all the customers.

"No, I did *not* expect you to sit and watch that guy maul me."

"Well, that's good, 'cause there's no way I'm gonna just sit there and do nothing while someone.."

"What I expected you to do," I had to interrupt before he got started. I already knew what he was going to say anyway. "..was sit and watch while I took care of myself."

He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes not quite meeting mine.

"Do you not trust me? Do you think I can't do it?"

"Of course not. That's not the point anyway." He still couldn't look me in the eye. "It's not that I don't trust you. It's just..."

"Just what?" I had to fight to keep my own voice down now. "Just that as always you have to rush in and help poor helpless Cordy because she can't take care of herself. Don't bother to deny it. We've had this talk before. Several times. Same bat time, same bat channel. Look, I have a job to do here, and I don't mean serving drinks and fending off drunken pick-ups. There's a case here, you do remember that, right? Lyddie? All the other girls? If someone doesn't quit following me around and fighting my battles for me, I'm going to be fired. And that makes my usefulness as demon bait pretty null and void."

Without giving him a chance to reply, I turned and headed back towards the bar to refill my tray.

* * * * * *

I watched her walk away, mostly because there was little else I could do. She was right. Deep down I knew that. She did have a function, a job to perform, and my interference was hindering her in that job.

But there was something that *she* didn't understand. Something that none of them had understood. Something I wasn't really completely understanding myself. It's not like I planned on jumping up and going after the old guy who'd bothered her tonight. Or the two tourists who'd gotten a little overly familiar two hours previously. Or the convention-goer this afternoon, or the croupier last night or any of the other dozen or so jerks I'd scared off in the last five days. But there was just something about seeing those idiots try and.. and paw her, and take advantage of her. Hell, if I was honest just the sight of one of them putting their hands on her period was enough to set me off.

This wasn't something new. Not exactly. Rescuing Cordelia was... well, I'd say it was an occupational hazard, except for the fact that it wasn't a hazard. More like a.. a bonus. A reward. There was that quick smile, warming her face and making her eyes glow. If I was lucky, I might even get a hug. And if said rescuing sometimes included some Cordy Comfort Time, hey, who was I to complain?

But ever since the whole mess with Darla, there was something different about Cordelia. She seemed more independent now. More sure of herself, more in control of her own destiny. There was a new air of confidence about her, almost a new swing in her step.

Problem was, there was something different about me too. I felt more protective of her than I ever had before. Every time I saw one of those jerks trying something with her, I wanted to rush right in where Angels fear to tread.

And now I was making bad puns in my head. I sighed before craning my head, trying to see where she'd gone.

* * * * * *

Freshly filled tray in hand, I began making my way through the tables once more. Angel was nowhere in sight, so maybe I'd be able to finish out a shift in peace.

"Big money at roulette four. He's asking for you," one of the other cocktail waitresses whispered to me in passing, and I nodded to her before heading towards the table she'd mentioned. I caught Wes's eye as I manouevred my way through the blackjack tables. He'd been surprisingly adept at handling the cards, and he'd been moved up to one of the $25 tables pretty quickly. Made me wonder if he'd had his own "Ripper" days, in the grand tradition of Sunnydale's favorite Watcher.

I finally reached the table in question, then stood to one side, waiting silently until the current round was complete. High rollers tended to tip better overall, but they were a lot pickier about their service, as I'd discovered my first night at the casino. Hey, how was I supposed to know setting a drink down in front of someone just as he hit on 4 to 1 odds wasn't a good idea? Besides, the casino agreed to clean his suit, so I really don't think it should have been *that* big a deal.

Anyway... once the round was complete, and everyone had a chance to get their reactions out of the way, I slid in between two of the players, smiling at the table in general. I began serving drinks, trying to figure out which of the high rollers had asked for me. Jack, the croupier, made it easy for me. "And here's our Cordelia," he said in his charming Cockney accent which did NOT remind me of Spike at all.

A very distinguished looking older man two people down from me nodded. "Just as pretty as you said, Jack. I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Cordelia."

"Thank you, sir," I said demurely. "Would you like something to.. to..." And then it hit me.. that dart of pain like a spike through my forehead, the dizziness, the disorientation.. I managed to set the drink tray down on the table before both hands went to my head.

Dammit, where was Angel? He'd shown up at all the most inconvenient times ever since we'd arrived in LA. Now that I needed him, he was nowhere in sight.

But just as I went down, I felt strong arms close around me. [Thank goodness he caught me] was all I had time to think before the vision was on me.

* * * * * *

I tried to pay attention to the game, but it was hard when I couldn't see her. No brunette head bobbing around, no flash of irritation in those brown eyes when I tried once again to rescue her. Abruptly I got to my feet.

"Sir, this hand isn't over yet.."

"I'm out," I muttered, then headed off to find Cordelia.

But after ten minutes of wandering through the casino, I had to admit defeat. She wasn't anywhere in sight, and I couldn't just stroll into the employee's area. So I did the next best thing.

"Wesley, have you seen Cordelia?"

"Really now, Angel, you're going to have to give the poor girl a break. She can hardly step six feet without you..'

"Can it, Wes, this is serious." I leaned towards him. "I haven't seen her in quite a while, and she isn't scheduled for another break for at least an hour."

"Are you sure? I mean, I know you've been watching her closely, but perhaps you missed her somewhere..."

"She's gone, Wesley. I've been all over the casino and she's not anywhere in sight. We've got to find her."

Something in my tone must have finally reached him. "I'll get Gunn. You keep looking."

I nodded, and he walked off. But as I turned to face the casino again, I knew we weren't going to find her. She was gone. I could tell it somehow. Feel it almost.

Where was Cordelia?