Title: Beginning Alterations

Feedback: I love it…all kinds of it!

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine, blah, blah, blah…you know the routine.

Author's Notes: Some of the dialogues and storylines in this story are from BtVS. Again nothing's mine (except the names of Cordelia's parents) so don't sue me.

Chapter 2

It was now dark and Angel and Whistler, no longer driving the car, approached a cemetery. They watched from behind a nearby gravestone as Buffy landed flat on her back.

"Oof!" They watched as a vampire propped himself over her and growled menacingly. She looked very frightened as she looked around frantically for what to do. Angel looked at Buffy and then at Whistler with concern.

"Shouldn't we help her?"

"Just watch." Angel looked back at Buffy just as she spotted her stake. She couldn't reach it, so she got her hands underneath the vampire and pushed him off. He flew off and landed hard on his back.

"Oh god!" She rolled onto her hands and knees and scrambled on all fours to retrieve her stake.

"Oh god, oh god!"

She grabbed the stake and quickly got to her feet but looked unsure of what to do next. The vampire got up and lunged at her. On reflex she grabbed him and sidestepped him sending him to the ground. She looked at the vampire, amazed by what she just did and glanced back at her watcher. She looked down at her stake and then made her move to dispatch the vampire. She raised the stake above her head and plunged it into him, but got him in the gut instead of the chest.

"Oops! Go for the heart, the heart!" Angel continued to watch concern building rapidly. Buffy plunged the stake again, and this time made her goal. The vampire busted into dust as Buffy screamed landing on her butt.

"I'll never get use to that." Her watcher came up to give her a hand.

"Yes you will. You'll see. But do you see how strong you are?" Buffy accepted his hand and brushed the excess dust off of her.

"Whatever you say Giles. I guess it was ok."

"Don't worry, we'll do some more training and you will see soon enough." Buffy and Giles walked away continuing their conversation as Angel and Whistler emerged from their hiding place. Angel watched as the two disappeared around the corner.

"She's just learning?"

"Yup…and it's hard. She's only 16 and has so much in store for her." Angel thought about it for a while. He turned back to Whistler.

"I wanna help."

"Wow so quick…you're easier then I thought."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Uh…not important. Come on, we have one more stop to make." Whistler grabbed Angel's arm and pulled him in the direction toward Cordelia's house.

Angel and Whistler walked towards the house and no more then 5 feet away they could here the screaming.

"Why didn't you call?"

"Why does it matter?"

"We were worried about you."

"What I do is none of your business."

"You were suppose to go to Cordy's school today for Career Day."

"I'll just give her some money to make it up. Cordy!"

"Eric, it's not the same."

"Shut up Andrea." Angel and Whistler watched in the window as Cordelia descended from upstairs.

"Yes Dad?" Eric met her at the foot of the stairs.

"Look sweetie, I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your school today. I had some business to take care of but I promise I'll make it up to you. How about I give you the credit card and you can shop for whatever you want. How does that sound?" Cordelia sighed heavily but nodded.

"That's a girl." He passed his knuckles down the side of her face and passed his thumb over her bottom lip. Cordelia inwardly trembled at what her own father was doing to her but she wouldn't let those feelings surface. Angel watched from outside and a growl emerged from his throat. Whistler turned to him quite taken aback.

"Whoa there. Keep your growls to yourself." They turned back just as Mrs. Chase grabbed her husband's arm.

"Don't you dare lay your hands on her." Eric turned around and backhanded her in the face.

"Don't touch me you sorry bitch." Cordelia cried and ran to her mother on the floor.

"Mom! Stop it Dad just stop it, please!"

Eric angrily ran his hands through his hair and stormed out of the house slamming the door behind him. Cordelia helped her mother up from the floor and sat her in a nearby chair as they heard the tires screeching of Eric driving away. Cordelia fell to her knees and began to cry in her mother's lap. Andrea softly brushed her hair and cooed reassuring words to her as she began to tear up herself. Angel watched the young girl inside as she cried in her mother's lap.

"You see what I mean? Looks can be deceiving. Cordelia acts the way she does because…"

"She puts up a front and hides her feelings," Angel finished.

"Right. Oh and if this isn't bad enough something even more hectic is about to change her life."

"What?"

"I can't say but it's big and it's a major responsibility that I don't think she can handle." Angel sighed and looked back at Cordelia.

"So no one knows how she feels? She just bottles it up inside and acts tough?"

"That's the way she does it. Maybe you can help her open up?" Angel whipped his head around in shock and looked at Whistler.

"What? How can I do that?"

"Talk to her make her trust you. But not now, when the time is right and you'll know when it comes. Now you have to help Buffy." Angel smiled at the mention of her name.

"I see we have a thing for Miss Summers." Angel's smile fell quickly.

"No…I just think she's a strong girl taking on a challenge like that."

"Yeah and you think she's beautiful."

"Yeah that too…wait, no…hey!" Whistler shook his head and chuckled.

"Well my job here is done. I should be going. Buffy is about to fight another batch of vamps in a little while so I suggest you help. Nice meeting you Angel." Whistler extended his hand and Angel just looked at him.

"What…wait…where r u going? That's it?"

"Yup…they need me up there so I bid you farewell. Do good and you'll finally find what you're looking for." Angel took his hand and Whistler disappeared. He looked around and noticed he was in a different place then before, at the docks. He looked down and also noticed he had nice clothes on. Black slack, black shirt, and a black trench coat.

"Not bad."

"Ahhh!" Angel's head shot up and he ran in the direction of the scream. He hid behind some crates and watched as Buffy struggled with some vampires. He watched as a vampire grabbed her from behind and spun her around to face him. He was about to sink his teeth in when Angel jumped out. He grabbed him by the neck and swung him over the dock and into the water.

"Hi?"

"Hi." Buffy just stared at him and Angel turned her around to face the oncoming vampire.

"Fight now, talk later." They fought off the remaining vamps killing them all in record time. After regaining her breath Buffy turned to her helper and raised an eyebrow.

"Fight no more, talk now! Who are you?" Angel smiled and extended his hand towards her.

"I'm Angel." Buffy looked at his hand and then at him crossing her arms.

"Angel…" He lowered his hand seeing she wasn't going to take it and frowned.

"It's Angel, just Angel."

"Angel huh? Well *Angel* why were you following me and what do you want?"

"Oh I wasn't following you and I don't want anything…well yes I do but only to help you Buffy." Buffy rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

"I don't need your help and I don't want your help…" Buffy stopped short and spun around to look at him again.

"And how do you know me?"

"Um…it's a long story."

"Well I got all night." Buffy walked back towards him and crossed her arms again.

"Um…well I know who you are…and I know what you do. So, I'm here to help you." Buffy checked her watch and groaned.

"What's wrong?"

"I have to be somewhere."

"Patrolling?"

"How did you…?"

"I told you it's a long story." Buffy sighed and uncrossed her arms.

"Well if you know what I do then I guess you can come and patrol with me. I could use a *little* help. Then you can tell me who you are and how the hell you know me." Buffy walked up to him and got in his face.

"And don't you make *any* moves on *me* mister or *I* will *personally* make sure *no one* finds your body." She poked him in the chest with her stake punctuating each specific word and Angel winced trying to avoid the stake's point. She turned on her heel and started to walk away.

"I don't think *anyone* would find it." Angel spoke underneath his breath sighing heavily and followed his new apprentice.

TBC! Is it still good? Hope so. Review and tell me if so plus I love to hear from you guys. I'll be back with the next chapter soon. Love Ya! ~Michele~