Four Corners
Part: 6/?
Rating: PG-13
Couples: Same as previous chapters.
Spoilers: Set in Angel around 'Billy'. Set in Buffy after 'Wrecked'.
Feedback: Love it…so send it!
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 This chapter was based on the fact I had an unhealthy obsession with using italics. Weird huh? Also, as a warning, the humor level in this chapter's decreased drastically. But hopefully by the next chapter it'll be up again. I'm estimating about two more chapters. Thanks for all the feedback so far…please leave more!
Chapter 6
~*~Cordelia~*~
Who would've thought that Spike could be such a barrel of laughs?
The two of us were uncontrollably laughing after our 'jealousy plan'. We were mainly cracking up over my pathetic laughing and acting.
Okay, so Angelus was right about it!
" That look on Angel's face was priceless." Spike stated as I nodded.
" He was all, 'what the bloody hell is she doing'?" I said through giggles.
" Yeah…hey you're using my phrases!" He declared.
" Did I mention how great you look. You lose weight?" Spike asked. I laughed.
" Weird. You've asked me that before. When you were…uhhhh *chipless*."
" Well…weight's always a thing I note. It determines how much blood's in a person."
" Ewww…*details*!" I shrieked as a huge grin appeared on my face.
I swear. We aren't drunk.
Well *I'm* not.
Spike's company was just really great. I haven't been happy in a long time. That's what I needed right now. Laughs…happiness. An entertaining friend.
God, if I told him I considered him a friend he'd flip on me!
" Cheerleader, I hate to admit it…but you're a good mate." Spike said seriously after calming down.
Ok, perhaps he *wouldn't* flip on me.
" Me? Really?" I paused, he nodded in agreement and I sensed his sincerity.
" Aren't you a little mortified confessing that? You…*Spike*." I declared.
" Nah…sometimes you just have to tell someone how you feel about them." The blonde vampire informed me as he gave me a faint smile. I gave him my 100-watt grin back.
" 'Though sometimes the person doesn't really give a damn 'bout you." Spike added as he glanced over at Buffy.
I sighed.
" Spike you know…" I began when suddenly a wave of pain flooded through me. My head jolted back as images flooded my mind.
A teenage girl running away from a herd of vampires. Small letters.
I screamed out in pain as Spike tried to hold me down and yelled for Angel.
The girl tripping. The vampires surrounding her. Small W.
" Cordy!" Angel's voice echoed in my mind combined with the blur of mind-numbing visions. It still wasn't over.
Two of the vampires held up the crying girl. Another one leering forward. Small H.
" Angelus, what's wrong with her?" Spike asked Angel worriedly. I could tell my body was shaking. Spike's voice joined the mass of voices, echoes and thuds in my brain.
" Is it over?" Buffy enquired, concerned.
" I don't know," was Angel's reply. I would have yelled at them to shut up…to let their voices leave my brain, but I was already screaming out loud in pain.
The vampire stooping towards the girl's neck with one motion bit her neck and began to suck her blood. A door to a room closing.
A feeling of nausea flooded over me, mixed with the difficulty to breathe and grief for the girl. Tears flooded from my eyes as the vision continued.
The vampire extracting his fangs from the girl's neck and dropping her lifeless carcass onto the graveyard floor before retreating. The letters WH engraved on the closed door.
The vision finally ended. The images faded out of my throbbing cranium. I could hardly remember them.
The pain I was feeling was immense…I knew I was going to fall unconscious soon.
I needed my pills…*now*!
" Cordelia…" Angel's voice questioned.
" I-I saw a…" I stammered in response, trying to remember the vision, my voice a tiny whisper. The menacing hurt in my head made me unable to recall what I had just seen.
" Cordy…shhh. We can't help anyways." Angel responded quietly. Tears sprung from my eyes at the though that I received such an excruciating vision and I couldn't help.
I had collapsed on to the bed. Angel was next to me, holding my hand. Spike and Buffy were on the other side.
" P-pills…in my purse. I n-need them." I spluttered with difficulty pointing to a corner of the room. Angel quickly stumbled towards my purse and opened it.
The effects of this vision were agonising. Several times I would fall to the floor or receive excruciating migraines after a vision…but nothing this bad. It felt like my brain had split.
Through my blurry eyes I saw Angel pull out my bottle of pills as he walked over to me. I was about to sigh in relief when Angel spoke.
" C-Cordy…there's none left."
" What!" I exclaimed, pulling myself up so I could see my champion. He waved the empty bottle at me.
No! This couldn't be happening. Tears flooded from my eyes. How was I going to survive without them? A wave of agony caused me to crumple back onto the bed.
" Cordy it's okay…you'll be okay." Angel reassured as he quickly sat down on the bed next to me and stroked my cheek.
" A-Angel, I need them. I-I really *really* need them." I cried. I knew I was about to slip into the unconsciousness. Spike and Buffy looked uncomfortably at me.
" Buffy check if there's any aspirin in the first-aid box." Angel ordered the slayer as he stroked my hand.
" Nothing will work. O-Only them." I spat weakly. My eyes were only slightly open. My vision distorted due to tears. I heard Buffy mumble that there wasn't any medication in the first-aid box.
I could sense Angel's worry.
" C-Cordy, you'll be okay…Cordy…" Angel's call was the last I remembered as I faded out.
~*~Angel~*~
" Cordy…*Cordelia*!" I called out to my seer. She didn't respond. Her eyes remained shut.
" I-Is she…?" Buffy asked with a few tears trickling from her eyes. Spike held her comfortingly in a hug.
" No!" I retorted. I noticed Spike's similar cry. We could both sense her heartbeat…a faint thump. Nevertheless…she was still alive.
" W-what happened?" Spike asked, a tone of fear in his voice. He cared for her. He had realised Cordy's significance like everyone else.
" Vision." I informed. I held Cordelia's hand in my palm, pressing it soothingly. She was still with me. She couldn't leave me.
" Is this the first time it's been this bad?" Spike asked me.
Memories suddenly flashed in my mind.
A sedated Cordelia lay in a hospital bed, no longer shaking from the continuous visions she was receiving. I took hold of her left hand and promised that I was going to fix this and. I was going to get her back. I needed her back. Then, as I clutched her hand I noticed a black symbol on the back of it, the cause of the never-ending visions.
I looked at Cordelia's hand, searching for a symbol. There was none.
Another memory cascaded my mind.
Cordelia lying in her bed… boiled, burned and scarred. She told me that she didn't want the visions anymore. She tried to be brave, but she was scared. All the time. I held her hand reassuringly, attempting to reassure her otherwise.
I searched Cordelia's prone body for any scars. There were none.
" Angel?" Buffy prompted, cutting through my thoughts.
" No. This isn't the first time." I said. I got up and quietly walked to a corner of the room.
" Oh." Spike said. I could feel the two's eyes follow my path.
Was someone sending these killer visions to Cordelia on purpose like the past times?
Flashes of Cordelia's body in pain and agony after visions passed through my head.
Or was this what her visions were usually like now and I just never seemed to notice?
She wasn't scarred. She wasn't marked. That was the only plausible answer.
Anger bubbled inside me. Anger at myself.
Why did Cordelia end up in these positions? Why did *she* receive these unbearable visions for *me*?
*Me*…the person who the visions are meant for.
Why must she suffer for *my* redemption?
Irately, I punched the wall of the room. A horrible crack echoed throughout the room as my fist collided with the wall.
The wall didn't even crumble at my punch. It almost broke my fist…but the wall remained flawless.
Frustrated, I continued to viciously pound my way at the wall with both fists. A while later a hand stopped me.
Buffy.
" Angel. *Stop*." Buffy pleaded, pushing my bleeding hands away. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at her.
" This is happening to her because of me, Buffy. *Me*." I cried.
" No…this is happening because of the people who put us here." Spike spoke up from behind me. I looked at him and he indicated the wall with a lit cigarette. Nothing had happened to it, despite my violent blows. I turned to Buffy for assurance and she sighed.
" Pounding that wall won't help Cordelia." She replied quietly. She then grabbed my hand and reluctantly led me to the coffee table, where I was forced to sit down with her and Spike as Buffy put some bandages on my bruised knuckles.
My eyes distraughtly glanced at my cataleptic seer. Buffy placed her hand on my arm for comfort.
" Don't worry about her. She's strong." Buffy replied and I nodded. She was right. Cordelia's the toughest person I know…well other than Buffy…you know being the slayer and all.
" What was Cordelia's obsession with those pills?" Spike asked curiously. My attention turned to the little prescription bottle clenched in my fist. Cracks visible on it from my slamming.
" What are they?" Buffy asked. Her tone was a mixture of curiosity and familiarity. Did Buffy know something I didn't?
" Uhhhh…S-seltrex. I wonder what that is?" I read off the little label. Why was this medicine so significant to Cordelia? I turned to look at Buffy and Spike who gasped.
" Whoa! That's some powerful medication." Buffy replied in shock.
" Those visions must be doing a number on her if she has to resort to taking Seltrex." Spike declared. Both looked shocked…so was I.
" So you mean the visions are so…wait…how the *hell* did you both know that?"
Well, that seemed like the most important question!
Last time I checked, neither of them were doctors…or to be honest…*smart*.
~*~Buffy~*~
Angel's question lingered in my mind. Bad memories of my mother's death surged through me.
" My mom was prescribed Seltrex for her tumor. They thought it would lessen the pain, before her operation. I gave them to her a few times." I replied quietly to Angel's questions.
God, please don't let the same thing happen to Cordelia!
When Angel mentioned Seltrex…I know I was baffled. I knew Cordy was hiding her pain…I knew more than Angel.
*But*, I didn't know it was *that* bad!
Tumor bad.
" I-I'm sorry." Angel stammered in response. He was clearly embarrassed at his sudden question, arousing painful memories.
" It's okay." I replied sincerely as I placed my hand in Angel's. A cough and a gust of smoke suddenly caught my attention.
My blonde vamp lover was glaring at me.
" How'd you know what they are Spike?" I said inquisitively, removing my hand from Angel's grasp. I was astonished that Spike was familiar with the medication. He didn't really strike me as the medicinal type.
" Well, sometimes, when I *accidentally* hit…" He paused. He uncomfortably looked at me, sighed (unnecessarily I may add), and continued.
"…or *bit* a human, the migraines I receive from this damn chip are hellacious. I need painkillers." Spike tapped his forehead, signifying his chip.
Oh yeah. A memory I'd forced myself to forget.
Spike drank *no*…he *fed* off someone when Drusilla came back. He forgot all the shreds of humanity he had obtained. The *teeny weeny* shreds of humanity. All was forgotten when his precious Dru came back.
Drusilla…the vamp that everyone obsessed over. Angel…Angelus…Spike.
She was Spike's world.
His obsession.
His love.
Despite *claiming* he loved *me*…despite *promising* to stake Drusilla for *me*- he didn't.
He had met her again after she had come here. And he had apparently *almost* killed her…but he didn't. And why was that?
Because he *couldn't*.
Drusilla meant too much to him. She was the, as he put it, face of his salvation. She had saved him from poorness. They had roamed continents together for hundred years. He told her that Drusilla surprised him…took him to new depths. Touching her made him feel lucky.
To him, killing *her* for *me* would be like me staking *Angel* for *Spike*.
Wait…that didn't come out right.
Why would I even *consider* killing Angel for Spike? I don't love him.
And he doesn't love me either. As much as he says he does.
I know better.
Whatever he's feeling for me isn't love. He *can't* love me because *he* doesn't have a soul.
Whoa! Déjà vu.
I was tied up in Spike's crypt, along with Drusilla. Drusilla had told Spike that she had known he loved me, before he did. Spike had responded by telling me that we both felt something between us. I declared words to a similar effect of him not being capable of loving someone, until Drusilla interrupted me and declared:
" Oh, we can, you know. We can love quite well. If not wisely."
What *did* Drusilla mean by that?
Did she mean that since vampires chose their loved one sensibly, Spike had chosen the right person to love?
Was that person her or *me*?
" I tried those pills out…gave up on 'em though. They made me woozy for days. Really powerful stuff." Spike responded with a puff of smoke. The smoke in my face made me come out of my thoughts.
I had totally missed the conversation between Angel and Spike about Cordelia's health. I was too busy thinking about Spike.
No…I was too busy thinking of Spike's *relationship* with Drusilla. Not *just* him.
" They're *that* powerful?" Angel asked. He worriedly glanced at Cordelia.
" Sorry man, but…she would've only had to use 'em if she was in real pain." Spike answered.
" She was hiding this from me. I knew she was hiding something." Angel replied, as he took an un-needed intake of air.
" I'm g-going to sit with her. Till she wakes up." Angel mumbled to Spike and me, before getting up and sitting next to Cordelia's prone body.
" Where were you?" Spike suddenly asked me.
" What?" I replied, puzzled.
" When I was talkin' to Angelus. You seemed out of it. What's wrong?"
" Nothing. I was listening to you two."
" C'mon Slayer. You were totally spaced out. What were you thinkin' 'bout?"
" Why is it any of your business?" I protested.
" Just curious." He replied with a puff.
" You'd laugh if I told you. You'd mock me like you usually do…" I was really tempted to tell him.
" Tell me…then I'll consider not mocking you." He replied.
" I-I was thinking of Drusilla…surprisingly." I blurted.
" *Dru*?"
Oh yeah…how dare I use her full name with Spike. Gasp, I called her Drusilla. Spike would never understand what I'm saying now.
Arggggh…I hate Drusilla!
~*~Spike~*~
Now *this* isn't weird. Here I was thinking that Buffy was probably reminiscing about her mother when she was distant during my conversation with Angelus. But no…she was thinking of Dru.
Should I be worried?
" Yes. *Her*." Buffy bit out.
" *Why*?" I asked, putting out my cigarette.
" I-I dunno. One thing you said led to memories of her."
" And you were in deep thought over *Dru*?" I asked, still confused. I was met with a snarl from the slayer at the mention of her name.
It's official. I can't understand women at all.
*She's* the one who brings up my ex…and then *she's* snarling at me for saying her name!
It was as if we were an old married couple.
Whoa! Bad thought. Bad thought.
I know I love the chick…but a couple though? Nuh-uh.
" Yes. It doesn't really matter now all right? I was thinking of some things Drusilla had said to us…when she came over and almost made you evil…again. That's it."
" Us? We're an 'us' now?" I picked up. Buffy suddenly glared at me and retorted.
" *No*! Stuff she said to us…*individually*."
" Ah." I proclaimed.
The blonde slayer has me so freakin' confused. One moment she's yelling at me…then she's kissing me 'n' stuff…then out of nowhere bringing up Dru. She's so erratic.
That's why I love her…I think.
I took out a cigarette from my pack. I needed something to relax. Something to relinquish thoughts and feelings I despised having. Loving feelings for the slayer.
Annoyance suddenly covered Buffy's face and she yanked the cigarette from me and smashed it.
" Hey! I was gonna smoke that." I retorted. She wasted a perfectly good smoke.
" Stop smoking…it's not good for your health." She declared defiantly.
See! Unpredictable ain't she?
I liked smoking. When I smoke…I rarely have to listen to people.
" My health? I'm dead inside slayer. Smoking won't kill me." I retorted as I pulled out another one. Looks like the chosen one forgot about the basic characteristic of a vampire.
We're *dead*.
" It'll kill *me*. And anyone else in this room. Like *Cordy*. Just…stop okay? For me?" She pleaded, taking the other cigarette from my hand. I glared at her for a moment.
For *her*?
Now she was using my feelings for her to her advantage. I hated how she thought she could always manipulate me into doing what she wanted. She *always* wanted to be in control.
I shrugged in response.
" I'll do it…but for *her*." I stated as looking in Cordelia's direction.
I needed to peeve her off. The slayer had too much control over me. She couldn't win every battle.
" Fine. Do it for her. Just don't smoke again while you're in here with *all* of us." Buffy huffed.
" Fine." I snapped. The two of us glared at one another.
" How totally incompatible are we?" Buffy suddenly spoke.
" Huh?" I raised my eyebrow at her sudden rhetorical question.
" Look at us…we're fighting over you *smoking*. We bitch over *everything*. We've never seen eye-to-eye and we *never* will. [she paused] And *they* think we *love* each other." Buffy proclaimed, pointing at our two companions.
I looked over at them.
" They told you that?" I asked curiously.
" We bonded." Buffy replied.
" They told me the same."
" Weird, how they think *we* should be together. But don't realise how much *they* love each other."
" You noticed that too?"
" It's *so* obvious."
" Yeah."
" Y'know Angel was persuading me to *be* with you? *Angel*!" Buffy declared, laughing slightly. I looked over at Nancy Boy…he was too caught up gazing at his seer to be eavesdropping.
" Really? Then why the bloody hell did he feel the urge to gut me!" I proclaimed.
" It's his way of getting closure apparently." Buffy mumbled.
" Cordelia?"
" Yeah. You two seemed to bond well." Buffy responded with a raised eyebrow.
" We laughed…she's a good friend. Not that many people have made me smile y'know? *But*…she needs help right now. And I can't give that to her…not now."
" You're right. She needs to be in a hospital right now. Not detained in this room."
" Yeah, but who knows how bloody long we'll be here. We don't have a single clue as to who put us here *or* how to get out." I affirmed. Suddenly, I noticed that Angel had shot up in his seat.
Cordelia was awake.
Buffy and I went over to the two of them as Angel consoled her.
" Hey. You okay? You had me worried."
" Not too good. I-I remember some of my vision." Cordelia whispered huskily.
" Cordy, w-we can't…" Angel began.
" I-I know. But it had something else to it. An extra image…one totally unrelated to the visions. I-it was W and H…on the door. On *this* room's door." Cordelia stammered as she used Angel as support to get up on the bed.
" WH? W and H?" Buffy asked confusedly. I was confused too.
" Wolfram & Hart." Angel bit out angrily.
~*~*~*~
" What! H-how did they…*you*!" Lilah shrieked as she accusingly pointed at Lindsey.
" What Lilah? What'd I do?" Lindsey asked sweetly. The two had once again proceeded to watch the monitors and had heard everything, including the revelation that they had put Angel and his friends there.
" Don't play innocent with me Lindsey! You fixed her vision. You *made* her see those letters. You called Bryan and fixed this all up. Is this what you were really up to? Now they *know* it's us!" Lilah bit out.
" Aw, c'mon Lilah. It adds to the excitement."
" Excitement?!? This is an *assignment*, Lindsey. Not a game of hide and seek!"
" I prefer tag." Lilah groaned at his response. She was obviously panicked.
" Once word of this gets out…we're *both* in trouble. They'll torture us and they'll have our heads. [she sighed] Why do I always do this? Why do I *always* go along with one of *your* plans? I always end up fearing my life and my job. I've *always* defended you, Lindsey. I respected you for your sacrifice. [she pointed at Lindsey's newly plastic hand] But…the way you *use* me. I'm *sick* of it." Lilah spat out acidly, nose-to-nose with Lindsey.
"Do you know what will happen to us once Linwood finds out?" She continued. Her hands placed threateningly around Lindsey's collar.
" Find out what?" A voice asked. Lindsey and Lilah turned to see Linwood Murrow standing at the room's door. Gavin Park at his side.
" I hope I'm not interrupting a *private* moment." The division president of special projects stated as he walked further into the office.
" No sir. Lindsey and I were just discussing the…*project*." Lilah said turning to her superior. A fake smile plastered on her face.
" Mr. McDonald. It's a *pleasure* to meet you." Linwood greeted the new member of the firm.
" You haven't met before?" Lilah asked, perplexed.
" Lindsey's plan sounded…very *motivating* from the beginning. His past record…although scratchy…is impressive. A man of such *brilliance* and experience does not need to have been seen to be chosen back into the firm."
" Yes sir, Lindsey is very *loyal* to Wolfram & Hart." Lilah bit out, giving Lindsey a glare.
" We haven't met. I'm Gavin Park." Gavin introduced himself to Lindsey.
" My replacement, I gather." Lindsey noted, ignoring Gavin's extended hand.
" You could say so. I've been distracting Angel's friends in LA while you execute this plan. I put them on false cases and…"
" You know, you aren't evil enough." Lindsey interrupted.
" Excuse me?"
" I don't get the I-want-to-kill-innocents-and-let-bad-people-get-away vibe from you. I get more of a *building* code violations giver. [he paused and looked down at Gavin's feet] With nice shoes. Gucci?" Lindsey asked coolly, causing a snort from Lilah.
" You've studied me." Gavin proclaimed. Lindsey neared his colleague.
" Advice…*Gavin*. In this firm…you *always* have to be aware of your *competition*. Remember that." Lindsey replied as he patted Gavin on the cheek with his plastic hand. He was met with a glower.
" Now if you shall all excuse me. I have to get on with my…*experiment*." Lindsey said as he walked out of the office. He then quickly back-pedalled.
" Oh and Lilah, don't get too *excited* watching them. " He chuckled and blew her a kiss.
" Bye. Hope you all like my plan. It was a *pleasure* working with you." Lindsey replied with a cynical smirk as he closed the office doors.
" What did he mean by…?" Gavin started to ask, but was interrupted by a small noise.
A noise that mortified Linwood.
A noise that caused Lilah to shriek.
A click.
A click that locked the office doors…trapping them inside.