Protected
Chapter Four
Decisions
AN: First, thank you everyone so much for reading and replying. Your support means a lot to me. Particularly WhiteRabbit who has faithfully replied to all my chapters on both of my stories. Also, Izmadi, I would bring in Lindsey and Kate, but see I've only been watching Angel for a short time. Since the episode before the Rain of Fire. So, I know that Lindsey is a lawyer from Wolfram and Hart, but I don't feel that I could do the character justice just by what my friend tells me. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter. I've already got ten chapters typed, and I'm working on the eleventh.
The sun rose brilliantly, early the next morning. Angel held back in the shadows with one simple message for Buffy. "Tell her as soon as we fix this here, we'll be there to back her up against the First."
Willow nodded before turning to Mercy.
"I'll try out that spell. And be careful here!"
"You, too, Willow. Just, you know, page me if you need me."
Willow gave her a warm smile, before embracing her.
Faith tapped her foot, impatiently. "Let's blow, Willow!"
"Just a second."
Faith looked up at Gunn and gave him a quick kiss. She fled to the car, not even bothering to tell the others farewell. Willow looked surprised, but gave the others a small wave, dashing out to the car. Connor passed by her, after shutting the trunk, filled with their bags. Connor nodded to the rogue Slayer and the Wicca before entering the house, slamming it shut, the lobby filling with darkness. "So, do we know about the hideout yet?"
Mercy had been observing Cordelia Chase for her first three days in Los Angeles. Something about the visionary rubbed her the wrong way. She seemed nice enough, but she was hiding something. She thought it might be the baby, but it seemed like something else. Her aura was gray, not at all a good sign. It signified she was torn between something, possibly an inner conflict, between good and evil. Her aura continued to get more black, every day a little less pure. Mercy was afraid Cordelia held some kind of evil, that was finally coming out. Mercy knew that Cordelia had inherited her visions from a man named Doyle before he died. That meant Cordelia was now half Brachen-demon. Maybe the demon was more evil than anyone thought or possibly Cordelia couldn't control it. She wasn't sure. Mercy jumped, turning to find Connor putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Wesley wanted you. He needs to speak with us about your father."
"What? Why on Earth would he...Oh, Goddess, I have to go back."
"What? No!"
Connor stroked her healing cheek. Her right eye was finally fully opened, so two trusting blue pools stared back at him.
"You're not going back. Wesley won't let that happen. None of us well. If your dad tries to take you, you and I can get away from LA. He won't find us. We could live on our own."
"You and me?"
"Yeah."
His eyes had flashed momentarily, as though he regretted saying those words. Mercy smiled at him all the same, leaning forward, kissing his cheek.
"Thanks."
She took his arm as they headed for Wesley's office.
Wesley was pacing the floor. Fred sat cross-legged on the desk. Gunn and Cordelia stretched out on the couch. Angel stood in the corner and Lorne was in a chair. Finally, Fred reached out and grabbed Wesley's arm. He slowed, turning to lash out at the person who had stopped him. Fred stared at him with wide, doe eyes and he felt his anger melt away. Movement from the door caused him to look away. Mercy was leaning against Connor, looking the most vulnerable he had ever seen her. His entire face softened.
"My contacts said Father has arrived in Los Angeles. My guess is he'll put in his appearance after he checks into a hotel. He'll either come to forcefully remove her, play with her mind, or inform us that he plans to take the matter to the courts. I don't want Mercy to be alone. She needs to have someone to help her keep my father away."
"I ca..."
"You are perfectly capable, Mercy. I know. Father can catch you off guard sometimes. We need someone who is detached from him."
Connor spoke up, almost shyly, "I'll help Mercy."
Wesley studied the boy before nodding. No body noticed the look of anger that passed of Cordelia's face as she subconciously patted her stomach.
"Good. Fred, you'll help me find a way to fight this. Angel, dig into my father's past, stuff that happened that I wouldn't necessarily know. Gunn, you can relieve Connor when he gets tired. Cordy, Lorne, keep up the company. I have not forgotten about the Galrok. We will continue our search for the Beast's master. We just need to focus on this momentarily."
Mercy cut in. "Connor and I can research this Master person, while you all work on keeping me here."
"Mercy, I don't-"
"Cor, Wesley, you know I'd do a smashing job! I'm good at researching."
Her eyes were fiery and Wesley realized it was futile to argue with his younger sister.
"All right. You can use my books and computer."
Mercy awarded him with a dashing smile.
"Okay. I think we should get to work."
Mercy handed Connor several books and they headed into the lobby.
Chapter Four
Decisions
AN: First, thank you everyone so much for reading and replying. Your support means a lot to me. Particularly WhiteRabbit who has faithfully replied to all my chapters on both of my stories. Also, Izmadi, I would bring in Lindsey and Kate, but see I've only been watching Angel for a short time. Since the episode before the Rain of Fire. So, I know that Lindsey is a lawyer from Wolfram and Hart, but I don't feel that I could do the character justice just by what my friend tells me. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter. I've already got ten chapters typed, and I'm working on the eleventh.
The sun rose brilliantly, early the next morning. Angel held back in the shadows with one simple message for Buffy. "Tell her as soon as we fix this here, we'll be there to back her up against the First."
Willow nodded before turning to Mercy.
"I'll try out that spell. And be careful here!"
"You, too, Willow. Just, you know, page me if you need me."
Willow gave her a warm smile, before embracing her.
Faith tapped her foot, impatiently. "Let's blow, Willow!"
"Just a second."
Faith looked up at Gunn and gave him a quick kiss. She fled to the car, not even bothering to tell the others farewell. Willow looked surprised, but gave the others a small wave, dashing out to the car. Connor passed by her, after shutting the trunk, filled with their bags. Connor nodded to the rogue Slayer and the Wicca before entering the house, slamming it shut, the lobby filling with darkness. "So, do we know about the hideout yet?"
Mercy had been observing Cordelia Chase for her first three days in Los Angeles. Something about the visionary rubbed her the wrong way. She seemed nice enough, but she was hiding something. She thought it might be the baby, but it seemed like something else. Her aura was gray, not at all a good sign. It signified she was torn between something, possibly an inner conflict, between good and evil. Her aura continued to get more black, every day a little less pure. Mercy was afraid Cordelia held some kind of evil, that was finally coming out. Mercy knew that Cordelia had inherited her visions from a man named Doyle before he died. That meant Cordelia was now half Brachen-demon. Maybe the demon was more evil than anyone thought or possibly Cordelia couldn't control it. She wasn't sure. Mercy jumped, turning to find Connor putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Wesley wanted you. He needs to speak with us about your father."
"What? Why on Earth would he...Oh, Goddess, I have to go back."
"What? No!"
Connor stroked her healing cheek. Her right eye was finally fully opened, so two trusting blue pools stared back at him.
"You're not going back. Wesley won't let that happen. None of us well. If your dad tries to take you, you and I can get away from LA. He won't find us. We could live on our own."
"You and me?"
"Yeah."
His eyes had flashed momentarily, as though he regretted saying those words. Mercy smiled at him all the same, leaning forward, kissing his cheek.
"Thanks."
She took his arm as they headed for Wesley's office.
Wesley was pacing the floor. Fred sat cross-legged on the desk. Gunn and Cordelia stretched out on the couch. Angel stood in the corner and Lorne was in a chair. Finally, Fred reached out and grabbed Wesley's arm. He slowed, turning to lash out at the person who had stopped him. Fred stared at him with wide, doe eyes and he felt his anger melt away. Movement from the door caused him to look away. Mercy was leaning against Connor, looking the most vulnerable he had ever seen her. His entire face softened.
"My contacts said Father has arrived in Los Angeles. My guess is he'll put in his appearance after he checks into a hotel. He'll either come to forcefully remove her, play with her mind, or inform us that he plans to take the matter to the courts. I don't want Mercy to be alone. She needs to have someone to help her keep my father away."
"I ca..."
"You are perfectly capable, Mercy. I know. Father can catch you off guard sometimes. We need someone who is detached from him."
Connor spoke up, almost shyly, "I'll help Mercy."
Wesley studied the boy before nodding. No body noticed the look of anger that passed of Cordelia's face as she subconciously patted her stomach.
"Good. Fred, you'll help me find a way to fight this. Angel, dig into my father's past, stuff that happened that I wouldn't necessarily know. Gunn, you can relieve Connor when he gets tired. Cordy, Lorne, keep up the company. I have not forgotten about the Galrok. We will continue our search for the Beast's master. We just need to focus on this momentarily."
Mercy cut in. "Connor and I can research this Master person, while you all work on keeping me here."
"Mercy, I don't-"
"Cor, Wesley, you know I'd do a smashing job! I'm good at researching."
Her eyes were fiery and Wesley realized it was futile to argue with his younger sister.
"All right. You can use my books and computer."
Mercy awarded him with a dashing smile.
"Okay. I think we should get to work."
Mercy handed Connor several books and they headed into the lobby.