Credits: There is a little piece of info in here concerning hyenas. I got this tidbit from Kinetic, a Xander/Angel slash site. I'd give you the link, but it always shows up blank when I upload the page.

Spoilers: The highschool years (i.e. Season 1-3), and especially The Pack. If you've never seen this episode -- I pity you, really. But there are huge spoilers for it in the second half of this fic. Also, some spoilers for Phases, because I mention Larry, and some stuff he confided to Xander about. Oh, and Angel Season 1 vague spoilers, for some mentions of Doyle, and things he did/said around Cordelia.

Author's Notes: Thanks go out to my extra-special, inspiring beta, dora! Go read her Spike/Anya fic, or her Giles/Anya fic, they're awesome! If it hadn't been for her wonderful constructive critiquing, I wouldn't be posting this now. She also gave me the idea for the next chapter, which should be pretty funny, with a dash of angst. So thank you dora!

No real warnings for this chapter -- if you've read the other 4 chapters, this one's pretty tame, though there is talk about sexual orientation -- but nothing any more risqué than on Buffy. Wesley and Angel have both had one-on-ones with Xander, now it's Cordelia's turn.

Ten minutes later, Xander was walking at a leisurely pace down the grand staircase, his hair still slightly damp from the refreshing (and somewhat relaxing) shower he'd just taken. Looking around, he only saw Cordelia, sitting behind the register counter, watching the phone and door. "Hey," he called, trying his best to be casual.

Cordelia eyed him slightly appraisingly for a moment before smiling and returning, "Hey, yourself. Feeling clean now?"

Xander fell back into his role and smiled lopsidedly. "You know me too well, Cor. So," he started, hopping onto the waist-high counter, "where is everyone?"

Cordelia shrugged. "Angel came down here, threw me out of Wes's office, they talked for a while, and then they came out and left. Angel yelled at me that I should watch the phone. We haven't had a client in weeks!" Suddenly, she turned to look up at Xander thoughtfully. "Hey, we're helping you with your demon-y problem..."

"No," Xander said, recognizing the gleam in Cordelia's eyes. "I'm poor. I have no money. You have to have a job to have any kind of money."

Cordelia glared at him. "I have a job, and I don't have any money! Well, I have some, but not enough to go out and buy things."

Xander didn't know how to respond to that, so he stayed silent. Both of them sat thinking for a while in companionable silence.

"I don't think it'll be as bad as you think." Cordelia's softly spoken words made Xander twist around to look at her. "What makes you say that?"

Cordelia shrugged. "Well, I knew a guy who was half-demon. I didn't actually know about it until just before... he left, but still. He didn't know he had demon in him, and it took him totally by surprise. But he was a nice guy. He kinda reminded me of you, actually. Wise-guy, kinda cowardly, but... he was a hero when it counted. And, aside from the whole, 'sexual orientation' thing, I don't think this demon thing's gonna totally change your life."

Xander digested what she said, then nodded. "Thanks, Cordy."

Cordelia nodded seriously. After a pause, she spoke blithely, "And the whole 'sexual orientation' - it's not like you ever had that pegged, anyway."

Xander, tired of twisting around, lifted his feet onto the counter and sat looking at her sideways. "What do you mean, I didn't have it pegged?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Xander, Larry was more of a man than you are, most of the time. And Larry was gay. What do you think that says about you?"

"I think it says I overestimated your opinion of me -- which is surprising, because I never thought it was that high in the first place."

Cordelia huffed in frustration. "Xander, you're a guy. You said it yourself - everything makes you think about sex. Don't tell me you've never thought those thoughts about another guy."

Xander glanced away from her uncomfortably. Sighing, Cordelia suddenly said, "Doyle thought Angel was attractive." Xander's head snapped back so quickly, she thought he might have pulled something. "What?"

Cordelia nodded, but then amended, "Well, actually, he thought when Angel walked away, coat billowing out behind him, it was attractive."

Xander hunched forward, wrapping his arms loosely around his knees. There was no way he was going to tell Cordelia, but he remembered the first time he'd seen Angel, at the Bronze, talking to Buffy. He'd griped to Willow that Buffy hadn't told them Angel was attractive. He hadn't told Willow, but he had been attracted to Angel when he first saw him. And then he'd realized that Buffy was attracted to him also, and that had made Xander even more jealous of the guy. "Could we please talk about something else? Please?"

Cordelia sighed, trying to think of something else. Finally she said, "Well, if it's any consolation, I don't hold a grudge against you for sucking face with Willow anymore."

Xander looked at her as if she were deranged. "Uh... thanks... I think."

Cordelia tossed her hair, leaning toward him slightly. "We obviously weren't meant to be. I mean, if you hadn't cheated on me with some girl... eventually, it would have been some guy."

Xander shut his eyes, just short of grimacing. He finally remarked, "You have the most peculiar way of comforting me." He looked back at her and Cordelia merely grinned widely at him. After a moment, Xander found himself responding with a smile of his own.

The sight that greeted Angel and Wesley as they entered the hotel later that night wasn't what they expected; Xander lay on the register counter on his side, facing away from them, his head propped up in his hand. The sound of Cordelia's voice indicated that she was still sitting behind the register counter, watching the phones. Angel was about to announce their presence, when he heard what they were talking about.

"And that's a Vorash demon."

"Gah! What is it with demons and spikes? They all look like some sort of dinosaur!"

"Vampires don't have spikes," Cordelia pointed out. "They have the bumpy foreheads, but no spikes... unless you count their teeth..."

"Yeah, but vampires aren't demons."

"What? Hello? You know as much about vampires as I do, Xander! They are demons."

"Actually, if you wanna get technical, they're not. The demon controls the vampire, but technically, they're possessed."

"And how did you come up with this theory?"

"You know a vampire makes another vampire by feeding blood to a dying human, right? Well, the tainted blood does something, I don't know, but it makes the human body receptive to the vampire demon. It kinda weakens its defenses so the demon can possess it, kicking the soul out. The forehead and teeth are just the... manifestation of the demon. Why couldn't I have thought of that while I was freaking out when Wesley said the 'aspect of the demon'?"

"'Cause you're forever making a fool of yourself? And how do you know so much about possession versus demons, anyway?"

"Sophomore year, our field-trip to the zoo? I ended up being possessed by a hyena spirit."

"Nuh-uh! I don't remember that!"

"That's 'cause you were still living in your own little world. Remember Principle Flutie being eaten by wild dogs?"

"Yeah--Oh, God. You didn't..."

"No! No, not me! Kyle and the others. I was locked up in Giles' cage 'cause I'd tried to mate with... err, never mind."

"Didn't our mascot get eaten that same day?"

"Well, yeah. I was part of that -- but I had nothing to do with Principle Flutie!"

"You ate a live pig?! Eeew!! That's gross, Xander! I can totally see you in a pack with hyenas, though. So, who all was in this 'hyena' group?"

"Well, most of the bullies - the ones that got transferred later on. Kyle DuFours, Rhonda Kelley, Tor Hauer and Heidi Barrie."

"Oh, I remember them. They were jerks. So, what, you took orders from Kyle? He was the leader, wasn't he?"

"Heh, actually... I was the leader."

"What?"

"Yeah, it was weird, but... see, hyenas are pack animals, so it's more a group than a 'ruler and servants' sorta deal. We worked together. But... I was the one who decided things."

"Were you really?" Wesley couldn't help but asking. The new voice startled Xander, and he tried to lean back to see who all was there. He tilted his head back too fast, however, and went crashing three feet to the floor. "Oh, God..." he moaned, staring up at the high ceiling from the position he'd landed in on his back.

"Xander!" Cordelia cried, leaning over the counter to look at him worriedly. "Are you alright?"

"Ask me when I can feel my legs again."

Wesley and Angel had rushed over to him, and Angel leaned slightly over his head, looking upside down to Xander. "Can you move?"

"Pssh!" Xander said, waving a hand as if to brush the question aside. "I've been a Slayerette for five years, I've had a lot worse things happen to me." He winced as he tried to sit up. "None of them are coming to mind, though. I think I bruised my spine -- can you do that?"

Cordelia glared down at Wesley from over the register counter. "You could have told us you were here! You don't just say something and surprise people like that!"

"I'm very sorry," Wesley apologized to Xander, who was now sitting up gingerly with Angel's help. "I didn't mean to startle you, it was just... you were the pack leader?"

Xander stared at Wesley incredulously. "How long were you listening?"

Slightly abashed, Wesley said, "Long enough to hear your theory on vampire demons possessing human bodies."

Xander sighed, allowing Angel to take hold of his arm and help him to slowly stand up. He winced as he tried to straighten his back. "Wow. I think I really did bruise my spine. Yeah, I was the 'pack leader'. So?"

"Well, it's just interesting..." Wesley trailed off, unaware for a moment that everyone was watching him. "Wes?" Xander asked. "What's interesting about it?"

"Oh! Er, well, hyenas are matriarchal. That is to say, they're led by females."

Xander glared at Wesley crossly. "So, what? This is just another sign I should have realized something was wrong with me?" he asked caustically. He didn't know why he was suddenly so upset with Wesley. They guy hadn't meant to frighten him off the counter. "Sorry I never paid attention. Besides, if I was possessed by a female hyena-spirit, how do you explain my trying to 'mate' with Buffy? Ow!" Xander cried, turning instinctively toward the pain in his arm -- only to see Angel's stony face staring down at him. Angel's hold above his elbow, which had been just enough to steady Xander on his feet, was now a painful grip that Xander wouldn't be surprised to find was bruising his arm. He didn't say anything, however -- the look on Angel's face was enough of a warning that he'd said too much already. Now he remembered why he tended to stay quiet when he was angry: speaking up usually led to bruises.

Wesley cleared his throat, trying to dissipate the building tension. It just wouldn't do to have Angel angry at Xander. "Xander? Angel and I need to speak to you -- privately," he added, noticing Cordelia perk up at the words.

Xander glanced from Wesley's face to Angel's and knew that whatever it was, it was serious. Fun-time was over. He silently followed the two into the private office.

Bum-bum-bumm! Next Chapter: After some miscommunication between Wesley and Xander, Angel's idea is revealed! Also, if any of you are still guessing on the pairing, that will be revealed as well. I think I've hinted so much that you should be able to tell who Xander's going to be with, but it's pretty obvious to me, since I'm the author and I've always known. Please review and tell me what you think!

BTW, I do have an explanation as to why Xander tried to mate with Buffy. The hyena-spirit, although being female, recognized that the body it was in was male, and Buffy was a suitable counterpart, simple as that.