Title: Please, Don't Leave Me

Rating: PG-13

Author: Michele          

E-mail: WP82787@aol.com

Summary: Angel's finally reached his Shanshu and rushes back to Buffy. Wesley and Cordelia continue the business when they get a case and Cordelia is deathly injured.

Couples: Cordelia/Angel, Angel/Buffy friendship, Buffy/Spike, Xander/Anya.
Feedback: Yes please! Much needed!

Disclaimer: Angel and crew belong to the magnificent Joss Whedon and company. Nothing is mine, just my imagination. *g*     

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Chapter Three

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"You know…I'm actually glad we have at least one intelligent person down in that world."

"Yes, Willow is quite ahead of her time." Said the woman, complimenting her on her high intelligence.

"How come we didn't make her a warrior?" the woman ignored his incompetent question.

"Hopefully this will be the direction he needs to actually realize his purpose."

"Lets hope so."

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Cordelia and Wesley arrived at the place in her vision. It was a dark and dingy house. It had looked like it had caught on fire. The windows had been shattered and there were no lights. It was covered in ashes and all, they guessed, the families' belongings had been destroyed. It was a disaster. They just hoped the people were okay.

They quietly walked around the house searching for clues or the demon that did this. They had their flashlights as their guide and weapons at their side prepared for anything. Well, so they thought. Right as they entered one of the rooms a brown, scaly, 6-foot creature appeared and rammed into Cordelia knocking her to the far corner of the room. The creature had 2 horns on his head and a very long nose. He had long arms and fingers with nails that could slash a person to pieces.

"Cordelia!" Wesley screamed in concern.

The demon pinned her to the floor and began to attack. Wesley, concerned and very pissed off, jumped on the demon and began to punch it with full force. The demon threw him across the room like he was a fly on a horse. Cordelia struggled with demon trying to keep the upper hand. She pulled out one of the knives tucked away in her coat and stabbed the demon long enough to escape. She rushed over to Wesley who was groaning and trying to stand.

Cordelia noticed a family of four huddle in a near by corner. Scared, they huddled together the mother, father, a boy and a little girl. They were covered in ashes and trembling. She made eye contact with the little girl. All she saw was fear, true fear in the dark green eyes of that helpless little girl. She looked no more then maybe 4 years old. Cordelia turned back to Wesley.

"Wesley, go and get that family to safety. I'll deal with this demon bastard."

"But…"

"Again with the questioning…JUST DO IT!" Wesley warned her to be careful and ran to the family.

"Hello. I'm Wesley Wyndham Price and I'm from Angel Investigations. I'm here to help you so, lets get you guys to safety." Wesley took one more last look at Cordelia fighting the demon, trying to keep her ground, and then escorted the family safely out the building and called the police. The family thanked him but then the little girl tugged on his shirt. Wesley looked down at her and was taken aback by the concern and moistness in her eyes.

"What about that lady?" Wesley was so involved in the family that he had forgotten about Cordelia. He just hoped he wasn't too late. He ran back into the ash filed air of the house and called out to her.

"Cordelia! Cordy! Cor…" He stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw. The demon lay lifeless on the ground covered it's own green blood, a gash deeply driven in it's chest. But what he saw next ripped his heart into pieces.

Cordelia lay only a few feet away, unconscious, swimming in a pool of her own red blood mixed with the green blood of the demon. Wesley ran to her side and gasped at the condition she was in. She was covered in bruises and gashes all over her body with one deep slash going across her stomach. The wound was red, swollen, very deep and bleeding, *heavily*. Wesley pulled off his jacket to apply pressure to the wound.

He knew that she needed to get to a hospital and soon.

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Wesley burst through the double doors of a hospital carrying Cordelia's unconscious body in his arms.

"I need assistance right away!" a couple of nurses dressed in their white attire attended to the former watcher. They placed Cordelia on a stretcher bed and wheeled her into the O.R. with Wesley by her side. When they reached the operating room they worked furiously attaching I.V's to her and trying to stop the internal bleeding.

"What happened?"

"She was attacked by some type of creature." Wesley lied hoping that was enough.

"Is she allergic to any medication? Is she on any medication or drugs?"

"No, no she's clean. What…what is her condition?"

"We don't know but we need you to please wait outside while we do our job."

"Is she…?"

"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave." One of the nurses attempted to push Wesley away as the doctors worked furiously on Cordelia.

"But…"

"Sir, I know your concerned about your friend but the doctors need to do their job and they can't with you interfering." Wesley sighed and allowed the nurse to direct him to the waiting room.

"Please wait here and we will be with you as soon as we're done." The nurse hurried back to the operating room and Wesley sat with his head in his hands. He just hoped that Cordelia would pull through.

Wesley paced back and forth in the waiting room not caring the stares he received. He knew he had to do something. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number of the person who needed to be here the most.

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It was 4 in the morning. Dawn trudged down the stairs at the sound of her phone ringing. Who in the hell would be calling at this hour? She answered the phone in a *very* groggy voice.

"Hello?"

"Yes, I'm terribly sorry for calling so late…"

"You mean early? It's 4:00am…"

"Yes…well, I know but I have very urgent news for Angel. Is he there?"

"Yup, but he's sleeping right now. Something you should be doing. Call back when it's a little later."

"Yes I know but I must…" Dawn hung up the phone not wanting to talk to that weirdo again. No more then 15 seconds later the phone rang again. This time Buffy, Willow and Angel had arrived downstairs and Buffy answered the phone.

 "Hello…Wesley? What are you doing? Do you know what time it is?"

"Yes I do and I'm so sorry but I have really important news for Angel. Cordelia is in the hospital and he must get here…NOW!"

"Oh My God! Is she ok? Yeah he's here, let me get him." Buffy covered the receiver with her hand and told Angel the news.

"Angel, Its Wesley. He says Cordelia is in the hospital."

"What?!" Angel took the phone from Buffy.

"What the hell are you talking about Wes? …What? …When did this happen? …Why didn't you call me sooner? …Yeah…ok…I'm on my way." Angel put the phone back on the base and turned to the three girls.

"It seems Wesley tried calling before but someone hung up on him." They all turned to Dawn and she gave them a nervous smile.

"Sorry! I thought he was selling something or a stalker or whatever." Buffy shook her head. Her and Dawn needed to have a talk later.

"I need to leave now. I can't wait any longer. She needs me."

"Well, what happened?" asked a very concerned Willow.

"See, we thought that once I reached my shanshu that she wouldn't get the visions anymore but after I left she was hit by one. She went to help Wesley and was attacked by the demon. Wesley says he doesn't know what type of demon it was but it slashed her in the stomach. He says the wound is pretty deep and that she won't stop bleeding." Angel sat down on a chair and threw his head into his hands.

"Oh god, why didn't I just stay with them. I knew she needed me somehow. How could I have been so stupid?" Buffy put a reassuring hand on his back.

"It's not your fault Angel. It just happened. I know Cordelia will pull through. She's a tough girl and she won't go down without a fight." Angel lifted his head and Buffy smiled at him.

"I hope your right." Buffy looked at Willow and she nodded. It was time to tell him the truth.

"Angel, I've gotta talk to you." Willow pulled Dawn back upstairs to give them their privacy. But of course Dawn resisted.

"No…wait…I want to hear this. Willow…come on…"

Angel chuckled and Buffy rolled her eyes. "Cute sister."

"You have *no* idea."

"So what do you need to talk to me about?" Buffy sighed and looked down. She had to do this.

"Angel, I know you came back to be with me because of our past. But notice that it's our *past*. We have been through so much together and you have showed me so much." Buffy took a hold of Angel's hands and looked up into his eyes.

"I love you and you will always have a special place in my heart but we are two different people now. We have both grown and live in different worlds. You have Cordelia and I…I have Spike."

"Spike? What does he…no…way?" Angel began to laugh. Buffy gave him a serious look.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I'm sorry…it's just…Spike? You could have a least…stuck with Riley." Buffy lowered her head feeling a tad of embarrassment. Angel stopped laughing.

"I'm sorry Buffy. Spike really is important to you isn't he?" Buffy nodded.

"Well, then I'm very happy for you."

"Do you mean it?"
"Entirely." Buffy smiled at him but soon remembered their situation.

"I know this must be a lot for you right now. I'm sorry about Cordelia. You need to go to her and tell her how you feel." Angel shot his head up.

"What do you mean?"

"Angel, I saw how you defended her against Xander and how every time you talked about her you lit up. You love her and right now she needs you."

Angel stopped and thought about it for a while. He did miss her greatly and every time he mentioned her name or just even thought about her he got shivers all through his body. She was a very important part of his life and right now even with Buffy sitting right in front of him, he still felt an emptiness that only Cordelia could fill. He then remembered how she begged him to stay and the way she had said it.

From her heart.

She loved him too and he was too blind to see it. Now it might be too late. He needed to get to her. He needed her to know just how much he loved her and wanted to be with her. He was so worried about his past when he couldn't see his future that was right in from of him no more then hours ago. Buffy's soft voice brought him back to reality.

"Angel, go to her. Tell her you love her before it's too late."

"I will. I need her and right now she needs me." Angel stood and ran upstairs to get his belongings but Buffy stopped him.

"We're going with you." Angel gave her a warm smile and went to get his things.

No more then an hour later Willow, Dawn, Buffy, Spike, Xander, Anya, and Angel all piled up in his car and were headed for L.A.

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Wesley, still pacing back and forth in the waiting room, waited eagerly for Angel to get there. He hadn't heard anything about Cordelia and it was already 2 hours since he had brought her in. Just then 7 people burst through the double doors of the hospital.

"Where is she? How is she?" Angel rushed over to Wesley and demanded answers.

"Wes! Where the hell is she?" Wesley lowered his head not wanting to see his eyes as he told him the news.

"I don't know. I brought her in here *2 hours ago* and I haven't heard anything." Angel let go of the watcher and stumbled to a near by seat. He felt like his knees were going to give out on him any moment. He dropped his head in his hands.

"I love her, Wes. I love her and she may die on me." Angel cried quietly in his hands and Willow wrapped her arms around him.

Buffy stood, in the arms of Spike, looking at Angel. She had never really seen him cry before. He must really love her. She looked up at Spike with a loving look and he looked down at her.

"What's wrong luv?"

"Nothing. Remember how I told you that I would explain to you what was going on?" Spike nodded. "Well, the reason Angel really came back was because he still had feelings for me."

He knew Angel was up to something.

"Yeah well, that's the poof for ya. Always thinkin about himself." Buffy slapped him in the arm.

"OW! I was just bloody kidding." Buffy rested her head on Spike's chest.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him that I was with you and that what we had was in the past."

"Damned right." Buffy shook her head and continued to watch Angel and the rest of the gang. Just then a doctor came in to bring the news to them. Angel got up at the sight of the doctor.

"How is she doctor?"

"Are you here for Ms. Cordelia Chase?" They all nodded.

"I'm Dr. Robert Anderson. I was the one that operated on her. It seems that Ms. Chase has developed a case of seizures followed by continues rises in body temperature. She has multiple cuts and bruises and has a pair of broken ribs. Our main concern was the gash on her stomach. She lost a lot of blood from that wound and had to have at least 30 stitches. I don't know what attacked her but whatever it was activated the temperatures in her body to become hotter with each seizure she has. She is in stable condition right now but is in a coma and we don't know when she will come out. If we don't find a cure for her soon…I'm sadly to say that…she might die." Dr Anderson hated to bring news like this to people. But it was his job.

"Can we see her?" asked a very concerned Willow.

"Yes, but only briefly. She needs her rest. And one at a time." Dr. Anderson led them to her room.

"I must warn you though you may not recognize her for she's lost a lot of blood and a lot of color to her body. She's very fragile and she is very pale looking. You have 20 minutes. Is either one of you related to her? I need someone to fill out some papers for Ms. Chase." Wesley spoke up knowing he knew enough about Cordelia to fill them out.

"I will. I'm a…distant…cousin." The doctor eyed him but decided not to bother.

"Ok…then. Follow me please." With that the doctor left them followed by Wesley.

Dawn was the first to go in.

"Hey Cordelia. This is Dawn, Buffy's little sister. I don't know you all that well but I hope to get to know you. So, come back to us. Angel really needs you." 

Anya was next.

"Wow Cordelia, you don't look so good. Sorry! I just don't understand these kinds of things. First Joyce then Buffy and now you. All I know is that you're needed here in this world so you need to come back to it."

Spike was next.

"Hey there luv. I hear you're in love with the poof. Yeah well, you'd probably laugh if you heard the slayer and I were an item. I'm a good guy now. Yep, got my soul back. It's not the greatest bloody thing in the world but I deal. But, ya know you laying here isn't helping. The poof really needs you and there are people who actually care about you. So bring your pretty little ass back to us, ya hear?"

Xander was next.

"Hey Cor. I know we didn't really get along a lot in high school and then we had that fling and then I betrayed you with Willow and then we went back to bickering…but the truth is…I miss you. I really do and to see you laying here breaks my heart. You need to come back to us. Dead boy really loves you. Hell, he almost killed me because I said…never mind that's not important. But you do need to come back to us. Your needed here."

Willow was next.

"Hey Cordy. Wow it's been almost 4 years since I last saw you. I know we weren't all that close in high school and then we lost touch in college but you have to know that you're still a good friend to me. You should have seen the way Angel talked about you when he was in Sunnydale. Wouldn't shut up. He loves you so much. He needs you and so you need to tally on back. We miss you and you will be my friend no matter what happens."

Wesley had come back from filling out her papers and was next.

"My dearest Cordelia. I am truly sorry for not helping you out with that demon. I was so caught up in that family…but that's no excuse for me being so irresponsible. I should have been there fighting that demon. I should be there lying in that bed. You were so weak and yet so brave. You are truly an extraordinary woman. You have doe so much and have made everyone proud. *I'm* very proud of you Cordelia Chase. But now you need to return to us. You are desperately needed here. Nothing will ever be the same without you. You have your whole life ahead of you so you must return. For our sake and the sake of Angel. He needs you."

Buffy was next.

"Hey Cordelia. It's been like forever. I miss you greatly although we didn't along much. Angel says you've grown in many more ways then one. You should be very proud of yourself. You know…I hate to admit it but I've always been kinda envious of you. Weird huh? Just because I'm the Slayer doesn't mean anything. What I wouldn't have given to be normal just like you. You had money, guys, nice clothes and two parents. I know you said that they didn't love you but I don't believe that. You're a very special person and I bet they would be proud of you right now. I sure am. You've done more then what I could ever have done. Yeah I've saved the world and died for it but that's nothing. You sacrificed your dreams and a normal life to help the helpless. You took on a responsibility that no slayer could handle. Cordelia Chase, you truly are a champion. Now you need to come back and keep doing what you do best."

Last but not least, Angel. Everyone else had gone back into the waiting room. It was just him and her.

He looked down at his seer. Her face was colorless and didn't give off the brightness that he once saw. She was really skinny from the loss of blood and pale. She had bruises on both eyes and a cut on her lower lip.

He sat down in a chair next to her bedside and grasped one of her hands in his own. He placed a soft kiss on her pale lips.

"Hey Princess. God, where do I start? Well first let me say that I am *so* sorry. I was being selfish and not thinking about you or Wesley. I realize that now. But you can't leave me. I need you Cordy. You mean so much to me. You have made me what I am today. You have showed me so much and have sacrificed everything to be by my side. You never let me give up and now I won't let you give up. I'm here and I love you. Yeah that's right. Cordelia Chase, I'm in love with you. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out. I tried to bring back the past and I couldn't. Buffy's now with Spike and I want to be with you. But I need you to come back to me. Doyle left me and now all I have is you. I can't bear to sit here and watch you like this. Please Cordy…I love you."

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Buffy, Spike, Xander, Anya, and Dawn waited silently. Wesley and Willow had gone to the Hyperion to research on what they knew about the demon that attacked Cordelia.

"Do you think she'll make it?" asked a concerned Dawn.

"I don't know. Hopefully Wesley and Willow can find a cure to help her." Buffy said reassuringly. But she herself didn't know if Cordelia would pull through. She just hoped that whatever Angel was telling her was getting through.

Wesley and Willow had finally returned with the information just as Angel descended from Cordelia's room.

"Where did you guys go?" Wesley and Willow tried to catch their breaths. Wesley finally spoke up.

"We…went back to the hotel…to research on what we knew…about the demon."

"Well? What did you get?" Willow sat down and handed Angel a picture of the demon that attacked Cordelia.

"He's called an Ukobach. He's a demon that is known for controlling hell's fire. He possesses the power to call upon the fires of hell and can destroy anything. The effect he has on humans is that he has razor sharp claws that with one scratch the person loose all control over his or her body temperatures. And that's what makes them go in to uncontrollable seizures. As the seizures endure, the body breaks into multiple fevers and in the end burns the body from the inside. It's a very painful death."

"Did it say if there was a cure?" Willow lowered her head and gave him no answer. Angel took hold of her shoulders lightly shaking her but Willow didn't look at him.

"Willow? Is. There. A. Cure?" asked Angel carefully enunciating hoping there was. Willow slowly shook her head and Angel's heart totally stopped beating.

"No Angel…there isn't. We looked everywhere but couldn't find one. The person usually just dies…of body over heating." Angel tore up the paper that he was holding of the picture of the demon and sank into one of the chairs. He felt like his whole heart was being ripped away from his body.

Dammit.

If he would have just seen what was coming. Because of his blindness and stupidity, the love of his life was in a hospital bed, slipping away and there was nothing he could do about it.

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Yeah Dr. Anderson was my imagination again. I'm starting to get teary-eyed. I don't like sad stories but I thought it would be a new challenge for myself. Well, I don't really have much to say. Oh, again thank you Corinne. Your advice and suggestions were so helpful! Well, tell me what ya think. Peaceout! ~Michele~