Four Corners

Part: 4.2/?
Rating: PG-13
Couples: Same as previous chapters.

Spoilers: Set in Angel around 'Billy'. Set in Buffy after 'Wrecked'.

Feedback: Don't make me pull out my brainwashing skills!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. The storyline was derived from the episode "Secrets and Lies" in ER. The name of the fic was taken from the episode "Four Corners" also in ER.

A/N Here's the second half of the chapter. I apologise for late updates…I try to be ahead one chapter in my writing than posted chapters. As you can tell…I'm failing at it! Sorry!  If you haven't noticed yet, I'm trying to have the other couple (e.g. Buffy & Spike) notice the others' relationship (e.g. Angel & Cordelia) and reflect on them in their POVs.  How confused are ya now? Hehehehe…sorry! Anyhoo…here's Buffy and Spike's bit!

Chapter 4-Part Two

~*~Buffy~*~

" Why'd ya do that?" I asked turning to Cordelia. Cordelia had managed to convince Angel into renewing the battle the two had paused a while ago.

" 'Cos, that's the way Angel gets closure. Fighting. He won't accept you and Spike as 'whatever-you-are' until he kicks the crap outta him. That and time." Cordelia stated. I turned to her dumbfounded.

" How did you know that?" I asked.

In the past, when I was with Angel, there was no way I would have known that. How he got closure. No way.

How did she?

" You work side-by-side with a guy for three years, you're bound to know his habits." Cordelia alleged straightforwardly.

" So you know him pretty well?"

" Yeah. At times." Cordelia responded. A flash of sadness fluttered through her eyes. I caught it.

Thank you slayer sense.

" If you don't mind me asking…what happened with this whole Darla situation? Wasn't she dead?" I asked awkwardly.

Well, she had pried me out of my feelings for Spike…I had to return the favor!

" Nothin' important." Cordelia choked out, her voice conveying obvious hurt. She focused on the guys, avoiding my look.

" Cordy…" I began. Whoa, this Darla/sex thing was really hurting her!

" Buffy…it was a really bad time for me okay? It hurt. And now I found out it was worse. I for one…am not looking for closure…yet." Cordelia insisted.

" Sorry. I just thought talking 'bout it might help you feel better."

" Talking about what?" She bit out angrily. Angel obviously did something…bad.

I attempted to respond but was cut off by Cordelia. Who currently seemed to be talking to herself rather than me.

" Should I talk about the way Angel left me, Gunn and Wes? How he fired us when he needed us the most?" She began.

" I-I d-don…"

" Or how about I talk about how he became so insanely obsessed with Darla, who was brought back, and Drusilla that he neglected us and assisted in the massacre of many people? Or should I talk about the fact that the only time I saw him after the 'firing' was when Wesley got shot or when he *threatened* me. Maybe I should talk about how he left me with the visions that are meant to help *him* shanshu?" She took a deep breath as some tears welled up.

" And *now*…when I thought we were finally rebuilding our friendship. I find out that he *slept* with *Darla*…after I even *questioned* him about it. To be honest…it hurts." Cordelia replied in a whisper. Tears were threatening to pour.

She had just subconsciously revealed her feelings to me. And I gotta say…I'm shocked.

I had a stunned look on my face. Awkwardly, I looked up at Spike and Angel fighting.

Spike was mainly fighting and Angel sorta seemed to be distracted…he kept looking uncomfortably at Cordelia. It was then I realised.

He had heard everything.

Of course my lover, Spike, who too had probably heard Cordelia's emotions was capitalising on Angel's weakness. Angel, I could tell, was so desperately fighting the urge to come over and comfort Cordy, instead of fighting.

Spike suddenly then managed to knock Angel down and punched him, causing Angel to finally battle back and focus fully on Spike.

I unnervingly turned to Cordelia, expecting a broken down, tearful girl, who would dive into my arms the moment I would extend them out to her.

I was wrong.

Cordelia had managed to wipe her tears quickly away and had a look on her face, which brought back flashes of Queen C.

Cordelia Chase's cover up.

" Cordelia?"

" Buffy, forget I said anything."

" Cordy. Hey, I'm sorry for the pain that Angel put you through." I replied sympathetically.

" I said forget it." Cordelia replied coldly.

" He hurt you bad. I know…I've been on the receiving end of it myself. When you love someone so much, even the smallest things hurt." I blurted, before realising what I had spoken. Cordelia's emotionless visage flickered.

Cordelia turned to me, now with a look of pure disbelief on her features.

" *Love*? I-I don't *love* Angel. He's my friend." Cordelia spluttered.

I wanted to take a hammer and whack myself in the head. Why was I persuading a former rival to hook up with my ex-boyfriend?

Time to take everything back and re-word it.

" I just meant…not love…but when you care about someone. You tend to get hurt."

" I know." Cordelia replied quietly. The 'Queen C' look was fading away.

" And I know you'll probably never forgive him…" I began, planning on a 'forgiveness' speech.

" Buffy. I know Angel hurt me…but I will forgive him. I always will. He can put me through hell…but I always tend to forgive him." Cordelia cut me off. 

Now once again…I was amazed.

" You'll *always* forgive him?" I repeated. Wow! There were so many times in my past that I wanted to forget and forgive Angel for the hell he…sorry *Angelus*…no wait…he *and* Angelus put me through. But I never could.

" It takes some time. But Angel's done so much for me. He's saved my life so many times. I owe him." Cordelia stated. I nodded.

Why did she respect Angel more than me?

Our eyes drifted back to our respective vampires, still combating. Angel's mood had changed since I last glanced at him. Now when he looked over at us, he'd produce a small smile.

All because Cordelia had forgiven him.

Cordelia flashed Angel a huge grin, which by the way I think was totally forced!

Then when he focused back on Spike she turned to me and quietly whispered.

"So tell me how was dying?"

Huh?

~*~Spike~*~

" Some chick you've got there. I know if I were here…I'd *never* forgive you." I stated dodging a few slashes from Angel. We both had heard Cordelia's confessions and her forgiveness.

" If *you* were *her*…I'd kill myself." Angel scoffed. 

" That suits me fine." I replied, and decided to poke him with my sword. Angel casually flicked my sword away after a few pokes.

" Are you *poking* me? Stop being a sissy…and fight like I taught you…like a man!" Angel retorted. He reminded me of my dad.

" Uhhhh…*vampire* here." I declared as Angel sighed in frustration. Why did the guy need to sigh? He had no breath.

" You fightin' or not?" Angel asked angrily. To be honest, my hand was getting tired, but I was not going to be the first to give up!

" En garde!" I replied as I mockingly put a hand on my hip, flinging my sword toward him. Buffy and Cordelia looked up from their intense discussion at me. Cordelia stifled a laugh and Buffy had a grin on her face. Angel turned to them, astounded by their amusement for *me*.

" When'd you get so funny Spike?" Cordelia asked me with a huge smile.

Whoa, I think her teeth blinded me! To my surprise I was tempted to grin back. But I do have *some* dignity…so I just ahmmmm gave her a small smile.

" It's all natural babe." I said, giving her a small wink too. Cordelia giggled in response.

My attention turned to Angel who looked mortified. His eyes kept switching from me to Cordelia.

I smirked. Hehehe…guess he didn't like the flirting.

Cordelia turned back to Buffy and the two started to intently whisper. Angel's eyes were glued on her.

I stood enjoying her ignorance and his frustration.

" Don't eavesdrop into our conversation you guys…especially *you*." Cordelia ordered Angel, when she noticed both of us had our eyes glued on them.

" Me?" He squeaked.

" Yeah *you*…go fight or something." She responded. Angel was about to stammer a reply when she ignored him and continued to speak to Buffy.

I snickered.

" Awwww…poor Nancy Boy. Hurt are we?" I mockingly asked my sire.

" No!" He snapped at me. I noticed that he was clutching his broadsword hard. If someone put holy water on the handle his hand would've burned off.

Hmmm…mental note: remember that.

" Come on…I wanna pummel you." Angel bit out angrily. I think he was 'bout to vamp.

Aren't we the jealous type?

" Aren't we the jealous type?" I spoke. Oooops…that was meant to be a thought.

" Jealous? Of *you*?" Angel spat.

" Yeah. I made her smile. I made her laugh. *You* made her *cry*." I replied, whipping my broadsword around. I caught him off-guard and Angel began to fidget and weaken.

My advantage.

I slashed the front of his shirt, hints of blood peeking out. Angel then snapped out of his 'broody' mode and fought back.

" You made her cry." I repeated. Attempting to get the same response. He remained emotionless.

" I know." He replied quietly, in a dead voice. Hehehehe…dead voice. Ironic ain't it? And sorta poetic. Suddenly Angel's sword scraped my knee.

" Bloody hell!" I retorted back. I had to continue to weaken him.

" You made her sad."

" I know."

" You made her angry."

" I know."

" You love her."

" I know." Angel replied straightaway. He then realised what he'd said.

" Haha! I knew I was right." I declared. Angel quickly looked over at the girls to make sure they hadn't caught it.

Dammit! They were to engrossed in a conversation.

" Shut up Spike. If you mention that to her I'm gonna…"

" Kill me?"

" Yeah." He replied, growling. The guy was really moody.

" You couldn't if you tried!" I taunted.

" Really?" Angel said before attacking me. I fought back. And once gain we battled, this time more intensely than previously.

" You love Cordelia." I said quietly, hoping to strike a nerve.

" Shut up!" Looks like I did strike a nerve. Angel lunged at me and I retaliated.

" You love Cordelia." I stated my voice slightly rising.

" Shut up!" Angel shouted, putting more energy into hurting me.

I attacked his shoulder, causing a gash to appear. Angel groaned in pain. His anger increased. Hmmm…perhaps that wasn't a good move.

" You love…" I began again, but swiftly stopped. A sudden wave of pain sped through me. I looked down to see Angel's broadsword in my gut. I yelped in pain.

" Bloody hell!" I yelled as I through my sword at Angel, before collapsing to the floor. My broadsword landed perfectly through the previous gash on his shoulder. Angel howled in pain as well as he fell to the floor on his knees.

Revenge!

Our two girls noticed us sprawled on the floor in a pool of our own blood and ran towards us. Buffy to me. Cordelia to Angel.

" What the hell happened?" Buffy asked me as I covered my wound with my hands. My blood quickly stained them. Surprisingly, Buffy helped me and pressed her own hands to my injury. Buffy then helped me up to one of the beds and continued to berate me with questions.

" Slayer! I'm sorta bleedin' here!" I yelled as she furiously tried to help me.

" For someone who's meant to heal quickly…you're pretty crap at it." She bit out.

" Well I do have a gaping hole through my gut!" I shouted back. She glared at me. My eyes then averted to Angel. He, too, was on a bed and his shoulder was bleeding. Cordelia was scolding him too and was repairing his shoulder. His eyes caught mine and we glared at one another.

Suddenly, I smiled at him. Realisation had just set in as to what had put us in this position.

The girls.

We weren't fighting over them. We weren't fighting each other. In essence we were fighting the girls themselves.

We weren't p.oed at each other…we were pissed off because the *girls* didn't notice us madly in love with them.

Angel, after a few minutes smiled back.

~*~*~*~

" Vengeful? Me?" Lindsey asked his colleague. He smiled at the events that he had just witnessed on the monitor.

" What is all this Lindsey? Why'd you suddenly want Angel and his friends to die miserably? You were pretty buddy-buddy with him before you left." Lilah stated sipping from a drink she had made.

" I put things in prospective when I was gone."

" Prospective? Like what?"

" Events that made me leave. You know Lilah…I was happy once…until…"

" Angel chopped your hand off?"

" Yeah. And I'll never forgive him for that…and I'll never *forget* that."

" But you also left 'cos of Wolfram & Hart. After they did the whole 'killer hand' thing to you."

" I know. And believe me…I won't forget *that* either." Lindsey replied acidly. Lilah raised an eyebrow in surprise.

" Hmmm…you know what *really* has me wondering. I'm starting to wonder why Wolfram & Hart accepted your 'plan'  and *you* back so quickly. You two have a lot of bad blood between you."

" I did a lot for this company in the past."

" In the *past* Lindsey. You may have done a lot for these people…but you *lost* them a lot too. You are the only guy I know who betrayed this company and has lived to tell about it."

" I made a proposal, they accepted it."

" Doesn't sound like Wolfram & Hart."

" Linwood pulled some strings…and I'm in. I'm back Lilah…and there's nothing you can do about it." Lindsey then preoccupied himself with the screens as the two shared a brief silence.

" What are you up to Lindsey?" Lilah suddenly asked. Lindsey remained quiet and continued to glare at the monitors, small shrieks of pain echoed throughout the office.

" Lindsey? There's something different about you. You're not telling me something." Lilah paused, noticing a shimmer of something in Lindsey's blue eyes.

" We're not best friends Lilah. I don't tell you everything I know or think." Lindsey bit out.

" You know…you behaved like this before. Before you *betrayed* us." She paused, noticing Lindsey's intent fixation with the screens.

" Lindsey…*this* isn't your plan is it? You have something up your sleeve don't you?" Lilah realised, indicating the screens.

" You'll find out soon Lilah. *Soon*. For now…just sit and watch our adversaries bask in a pool of their own blood."

~*~*~*~

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