Chapter Three

The bar was relatively empty when Angel and Wesley walked in; Wesley figured that mid-afternoon was too early for demons to want a drink while Angel was convinced something was wrong with this picture. Wesley stood in the doorway as Angel stalked the room; he watched as Angel walked up to the barkeep and muttered something. The barkeep looked petrified as he emphatically shook his head; Angel nodded and walked back across to Wesley. He didn't say a word, just brushed past him and back out of the bar. Wesley swallowed hard and followed him; Angel clearly wasn't in the mood for being messed about today.

Angel's silence continued until they reached another demon bar in a long abandoned corner of L.A.'s seedy underworld. Wesley followed Angel in and looked on in amazement as Angel walked straight up to a large blue demon and tapped him hard on the shoulder. Wesley wasn't close enough to hear what was said before Angel punched the demon hard in the jaw; the demon didn't fall but squared up to the vampire. Wesley stepped forward to stop Angel but it was too late, Angel dived on top of the huge beast and started punching and kicking him, Angel stood up and drew out his battle axe, burying it in the demon's head. He wiped a sleeve across his mouth, turning to Wesley and shrugging, he kicked the dead demon aside and stalked out of the bar leaving Wesley to stand there in shock. What the hell had just happened?

"Angel, what happened in there? What did that thing say to you?" asked Wesley, concernedly as he turned the key in the ignition.

"Nothing," he growled. "Guy didn't know anything, can we just go? I want to get back to hotel, make sure Fred hasn't found Cordy yet,"

Wesley nodded and started to drive in the direction of the hotel, secretly hoping that Cordelia would calm Angel down. True, he hadn't really said much about their mission but his silence was a clear indicator of how much he was feeling.

Cordelia was sorting through the filing cabinets in reception when Angel and Wesley burst through the side door. Angel stalked silently across the room and slammed his bloody axe down on the counter before turning to walk upstairs. Wesley was looking ready to kill someone and it seemed as though his anger was focused on Angel.

"What's going on, guys?" asked Cordelia.

"Ask Angel. He thinks he can deal with Fred's death by killing anything that won't help us or gets in the way," shouted Wesley. Angel turned and walked back into the centre of the foyer to face Wesley.

"Look, Wes. They didn't know anything and they were looking for a fight, I gave them one. You're just sore because you didn't have a chance to question them, don't go crying to Cordelia about me just because I know how to hold my own," he hissed through gritted teeth before turning on his heel and disappearing swiftly up the staircase.

"What the hell happened?" asked Cordelia, still looking at the staircase wishing that Angel hadn't disappeared again. Who knew how long it would take him to come back down this time?

"I told you. The demons didn't know anything so he just killed them; it was like he was possessed. I've never seen him like that before, well, not with a soul anyway,"

"You don't think I was right? About Fred tipping him over the edge?"

"I'm sure he has gone over the edge in some way but he's still got a soul, Cordelia. Nothing could have taken that away from him, there was nothing happy about the situation,"

"I know that but he wasn't like this when Buffy died. He was all quiet and reflective, he never shouted at anyone. I'm really worried, Wes,"

"Well, don't be. Angel still has a soul, there's nothing to worry about," scolded Wesley. Cordelia frowned, Wesley could deny it all he liked but there was no way Cordelia was stopping her worrying just yet. Not while Angel was still in such a divided frame of mind.

"I'm going to see him," she said firmly, placing her files down hard on the desk and starting to walk up the stairs.

"Just be careful, he's clearly upset," said Wesley, pouring out a mug of strong black coffee.

Cordelia heeded Wesley's words but still knocked loudly on Angel's bedroom door, a groan from inside was all the invitation she needed, she pushed open the door and stepped inside letting it slam behind her. She walked across the room and sat on the edge of the bed waiting for Angel to emerge from the en-suite bathroom.

"So, are you gonna tell me what happened today?" she called. Angel came out of the bathroom in his trademark black trousers and white vest, Cordelia had seen him dressed like that a thousand times but recently it was just making her realise how powerfully built he was. A fresh wound was bright on his left shoulder but he shrugged on a black shirt to hide it from her.

"Nothing to tell. Nobody's heard anything, nobody's seen anything. Lorne didn't even know she'd turned," he mumbled, looking around his room for nothing in particular. Cordelia knew he was just avoiding sitting still.

"Angel, please talk to me. You're really freaking me out, Wes is obviously upset and I don't know what's going on,"

"I'm fine, Cordelia. I just want to find out where Fred is and deal with it. The faster this is all over then the happier I'll be," he said, sitting down beside Cordelia. She sighed heavily and placed her hand upon his knee, squeezing gently. He allowed her to place her head on his shoulder, she was glad to have the support system around her even if he was a cursed vampire and not a gorgeous, smart multi-millionaire as she'd always imagined.

"Do you think we're being too hard on Gunn?" she murmured. Angel reached down and took hold of her hand; she lifted her head and looked up at him.

"I think when we've all calmed down, we'll be able to let Gunn back into our lives," he smiled. Cordelia nodded but couldn't keep herself from gazing up into those deep brown eyes, she knew she was losing herself but what good was logic in the face of those cheekbones? Angel swallowed and leaned down, kissing her gently on the lips. Cordelia returned the kiss for a moment before leaping up from the bed, she turned to look at him, pointing her finger but the words wouldn't come. "I'm so sorry,"

"No, we were upset," she babbled. "It's just a reaction to the grief, people do stupid things, even you said that. Look, I've gotta go home, I'll see you tomorrow,"

Cordelia practically ran from the room and slammed the door behind her. Inside, Angel placed his head in his hands and sighed loudly, things were getting more complicated every day.

"Anything?" asked Wesley as Cordelia ran down the staircase and stopped in reception to catch her breath.

"What do you mean? Oh right, no he's fine. He's just a little upset; we all are so I guess stuff is kind of forgivable, right? Anyway, I've decided to go home a little early, I'm sure Dennis is worried about me," she babbled, grabbing her bag and playing with the strap.

"Are you okay? Did something happen up there?" asked Wesley.

"No," said Cordelia sharply. "Why would you say that?"

"You just seem a little…"

"No, I'm not a little anything, I'm fine," she sighed. Wesley was about to nod in agreement when Cordelia fell to the floor with a little yelp of pain. Wesley rushed around the desk to cradle her head in his lap; her hands were at her temples in a vain attempt to stem the flow of pain.

Once again, Cordelia was subjected to flashes of incomplete images; a dark alleyway, two hooded figures walking quickly, one starting to run away while the other attempted to stop them. She cried out as her mind flashed red and black, she frowned and winced as Wesley tried to stop her convulsing with distress. The figures were standing in a courtyard now; they looked like tramps or vagrants and kept looking over their shoulders. Cordelia heaved in a shocked breath as she saw who they were running from; two figures appeared from the darkness of the alley behind them. Both wearing their vampire faces but both still familiar; Angel and Fred, they darted towards the tramps with their vampire speed and Cordelia's eyes snapped open. Wesley looked down at her, both concerned and questioning but Cordelia couldn't find the words. She threw her arms around Wesley's neck and started to sob. They were in trouble, they were in deep trouble.