Title: Shadows and Glimpses (4/?)
Author: QueenC
Feedback:
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Cordelia/Lucius
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. AtS belongs to Joss Whedon and HP belongs to J. K. Rowling.
Distribution: Anywhere I send it. Anyone else wants it just let me know.
Spoilers: Through 'Birthday' on AtS. The first four books of HP.
Summary: What happens when you mix an amnesic Death Eater with a recently demonized Seer?
Author's Notes: Okay, so I'm changing a few things in the AtS world to make this fic work. First of all, Angel and Cordelia are not in love. They are just extremely good friends. Second, Holtz was never pulled from the past. Connor is still here. He's just a baby and staying that way. And finally, Cordelia's apartment is a two bedroom. I think that's it, for now. I'll let you know if anything changes. As always, Angel is Spike's sire. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in ::'s are thoughts, words in ~'s are dreams, and words in ^^'s are flashbacks. Enjoy!
Special Thanks: To everyone that reviewed this fic so far. It's good to know that I'm not just writing this for the sake of my muse. You all are great!
******
Cordelia drove as fast as she could, her heart hammering in her chest. Dennis had not only put his code in the text message he'd sent, he'd also left several 911's. Of course, considering she had only last week berated the spirit for calling her unnecessarily, she could only assume that something was very wrong. And she had the sinking sensation that it was somehow going to tie in to Lucius.
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, she swerved around a pickup that was only going ten over the speed limit. Although she wasn't certain what she was going to find when she got to her apartment, there was one thing she did know for a fact.
Whatever was there was in for a world of hurt.
"It figures. The first lunch I get to take away from the hotel in months, and my *ghost* calls me away from it," she muttered, hastily pulling into her parking place. Barely remembering to take the key from the ignition, she jumped from the vehicle. Running to the trunk, she opened it and pulled her trusty crossbow out.
Slipping a small knife into the waistband of her pants, Cordelia loaded the crossbow, shut the trunk, and turned toward her building. "All right. Time to clean house. *Nobody* interrupts my free time."
Head held high, she marched into her building. Looking from the stairs to the elevator, she decided to ride up. :: No need to be all hot and sweaty by the time I get there. :: Stepping into the elevator, she pressed the button.
It was just as the doors were sliding closed that she caught a glimpse of the door to the stairwell open and something in all black walked out.
******
Snape watched as a pair of doors slid together, and various numbers above the door began lighting up. Stepping completely into the lobby, he looked around, relieved no one else was there.
Turning, the Potions Master motioned the others to come out. Waiting until they were all there, he said, "Seeing as we had no luck in there, I suggest we disguise ourselves as Muggles and attempt to look around the area. Perhaps he hasn't ventured too far. Ms. Granger, since you and Mr. Potter obviously have the most experience in the Muggle world, perhaps you two should be the ones to handle our clothing situation."
Nodding, Hermione pulled out her wand. Within moments, all of the robes were gone, replaced with jeans and shirts. Once finished, she placed her wand in the pocket of the light jacket she was now wearing and smiled brightly. "There we go. Now, provided we all act civilized," here, she gave Malfoy a dirty look, "We should blend right in."
Snape nodded in acceptance, glancing toward the door that led to the busy streets outside. "Very well. Let's go. We haven't much time," he ordered. Turning on his heel, he strode toward the door, silently missing the feel of his black robes swishing about him as he walked.
Exiting the building, the group paused, looking in all directions. It wasn't as if they hadn't been in the Muggle world before. Even Malfoy had visited London a few times. However, none of them had ever been to Los Angeles, California. And, the differences were quite noticeable.
Only Hermione seemed completely unfazed. She had traveled enough with her parents to easily adjust to foreign areas. And, she'd also read enough books about The United States that she felt adequately prepared for the challenge they faced ahead.
"Um, Professor Snape?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?" he replied absently, watching as a couple skated past them, the girl wearing a scrap of clothing that he could only assume were meant to be shorts.
"I know it doesn't seem like a good idea, but perhaps we should split up. Los Angeles is a large city and we really will get more accomplished if we're in groups," she said.
Snape nodded, forced to admit that she was right. At this point, they hadn't the first clue where Lucius was, if he was even alive or dead. Glancing at the Junior Aurors, he stated, "Mr. Malfoy, go with Ms. Granger. Mr. Potter, you and Mr. Weasley are with me. We will meet back here in precisely two hours." Not waiting for a response, or from the argument he knew Draco had with the arrangement, he stalked away.
Harry and Ron gave Hermione wide eyed looks, not knowing if they should feel sorry for her or themselves. Then, they turned and followed the Potions Master down the street.
Hermione sighed, glancing at a seething Draco Malfoy. "Well, I guess we'll go this way, then," she said, her voice holding more confidence than she felt.
Malfoy narrowed his eyes, glaring daggers at the young woman. "Listen here, Granger. If you think I'm going to start taking orders from you like Scarhead and Weasel, you can forget it. Just because your filthy Muggle upbringing may come in handy doesn't mean you can boss me around," he growled.
Hermione returned his glare, her brown eyes flashing with anger. "Draco Malfoy, you listen and you listen well. If you make *one* more insult to my lineage, I will make certain you do not return from our search. Voldemort is dead, and with him died the prejudices he held so dear. Now, we are going to go in this direction because they went that way, and there will be no discussion on the matter!"
Stalking away, she stopped after a few feet and looked back at him. "Oh, and it would do you well to remember that this *Mudblood* is possibly the only person who can find your father." That being said, she continued walking, her entire body rigid with anger.
Draco watched her go, a look of astonishment on his face. Slowly the shock gave way to something close to respect. "Well, well, Granger. This may not be so bad after all," he murmured, moving quickly to catch up with her.
******
Lucius was worried.
Not only was Cordelia *not* at the hotel, but Angel and Gunn were both gone when he and Fred finally returned. Moving to the couch, he stiffly sat, watching with a sinking heart as the young physicist excused herself and went upstairs, presumably to where her room was.
Looking down at the bags of clothing that surrounded him, he wondered what he was expected to do with the packages. It wasn't as if Cordelia had agreed he would be staying permanently with her. And considering this was a hotel, logic told him that he would soon be shown to a room.
Why did that bother him so much?
Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the front door, willing Cordelia to walk through it. Focusing all of his concentration on that, he didn't notice he wasn't alone until the voice spoke.
"Hello, Lucius. I trust your shopping trip went well?" Wesley asked, pausing a few feet away.
Lucius jumped slightly, glancing at the man. "It was...an ordeal, actually," he admitted. "I was beginning to think that it would never end."
Wesley chuckled softly, moving to sit in the chair across from the man. "Ah, yes. Cordelia is rather infamous for her ability to turn shopping into an exercise," he agreed. Tilting his head sideways, he suddenly questioned, "Do you mind if I ask you a few things?"
Lucius blinked, taken aback. "Not at all. Although I'm not certain how much help I'll be. I really don't remember much beyond waking up in the alley Cordelia found me in," he replied.
Wesley nodded. "It's all right. I simply wish to do a word association test, perhaps see if we can find anything to jog your memory," he explained.
The man shrugged. "If it helps in reversing my amnesia, I'm not about to object. Go right head," he answered.
Wesley gave him a small smile. "Very well. Now, I'm going to say a word and I want you to say whatever word enters your mind." Leaning toward the man, he studied his face and pulled out a small tape recorder. "Let's begin. Tree."
"Blood," Lucius answered instantly. Idly, he wondered where that answer came from. However, before he could analyze it, Wesley had continued.
"Money."
"Power."
"Child."
"Betrayal."
Wesley raised an eyebrow at his answer, although said nothing. Not missing a beat, he said, "Love."
"Pain."
"Magic."
Here came one of the two answers Wesley wished to hear. Instantly, Lucius replied, "Destruction."
Licking his lips, Wesley finally managed to say the last word he'd decided upon for this little 'game'.
"Voldemort."
Lucius paled, fear filling his eyes. Instantly, his right hand shot to his left forearm, unconsciously covering his Dark Mark. In a whispered tone, he shakily replied, "Death."
Total silence filled the hotel. Wesley was too numb to think of what to say. He had been certain that this man was lying, for some reason pretending to be in need. However, Wesley knew that *no* one was that good of an actor. The fear rolling off of Lucius at the moment was enough to make the former Watcher cringe.
This man was, quite simply, terrified of the mere *thought* of Voldemort.
Nodding, Wesley stood. "Thank you. I apologize if this has bothered you. Perhaps some tea would help?" he politely offered.
Lucius shook his head, trying to calm himself. "No, thank you. Although I would like to know who this Vol..." Shivering, he continued, "Who it was that you mentioned that had such an effect on me. Surely, if I have no memory, my mind can't be afraid of someone I've never heard of."
Wesley sighed. "Actually, in all likelihood your subconscious still has your memories. They are locked away somewhere, but they aren't entirely gone. That would explain why you are able to remember not only your name, but also have associations with words that otherwise should have no real meaning." Forcing a smile, he explained, "This means that there is a very good chance that your memories will return."
The blonde gave him a skeptical look. "Somehow, I don't think that this test was merely to determine if my amnesia is permanent," he said dryly.
Wesley shuffled, forcing himself not to look away. "I'm not sure what you mean, Lucius," he lied easily.
Before he could respond, the door opened and Angel came limping into the hotel, followed closely by Gunn. Looking up, Lucius gasped, his eyes widening at the state they were in.
Both men were covered in dust and blood, their clothing was ripped, and they were each wearing a look of pain. Suddenly, he was glad that he was sitting down, lest he run the risk of collapsing.
Wesley frowned at his co-workers as they trudged into the lobby. "I thought Cordelia said there was only a nest of vampires," he commented.
Gunn laughed harshly, dropping down on the couch next to Lucius. "The cheerleader is slippin'. That wasn't no damn nest. That was a bloodsucker convention," he replied, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
Raising an eyebrow, Wesley turned his attention to Angel. "Were you at least successful in saving the victims?" he asked quietly.
Angel nodded, hobbling across the lobby to the mini-fridge behind the counter. Pulling out a pack of blood, he poured it into a glass and set it in the microwave. "Yeah. They ran as soon as we got there." Pulling out the now-heated blood, he took a large drink. "You know, just *once* I'd like to be thanked for saving someone's life. Is that really too much to ask?"
Gunn groaned, rolling his eyes. "Great, now you're starting to sound like Cordelia. Don't you think *one* of her is bad enough?" Seeing the sharp glare Angel sent his way, he shook his head. "Still can't take a joke, neither."
Wesley sighed, shaking his head. "Yes, well, be that as it may, at least you both survived relatively intact. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a meeting." Nodding to the three men, he walked out the front door.
Gunn watched him go, frowning. "Is it just me or is English acting funny, even for him?" he asked no one in particular. Sighing, he slowly stood up. "Well, I'm going to go get cleaned up. See ya'll in a bit." Then, he began limping up the stairs to his room.
Lucius turned his attention to Angel, watching as the vampire read an article from the newspaper while drinking the blood. He noticed a small hole in the man's shoulder, and winced, unable to imagine what kind of pain he must be in.
Still reading the article, Angel calmly stated, "It'll heal."
Lucius frowned. "Excuse me?"
Angel raised his head, locking eyes with the blonde man. "The wound on my shoulder. The one you keep looking at. It'll heal. Once I finish feeding and Cordelia bandages me up, I'll be good as new," he explained.
Lucius nodded, ignoring the jealousy he felt at the thought of Cordelia touching Angel's bare chest. He had no right to feel that way. For all he knew, she could easily be involved with any of the members of Angel Investigations.
Although he really hoped she wasn't.
Angel finished his blood, then studied the blonde man for a moment, his brow furrowed in indecision. Finally, he asked, "So what were you and Wes talking about?"
Lucius grimaced slightly. "He asked me if I would participate in a word association test in hopes that we could...jog my memory, I believe is how he put it," he said softly.
The vampire nodded, moving around the counter to come sit in a nearby chair. Leaning forward, his elbows resting on his thighs, he questioned, "How did it go?"
The blonde man shrugged. "I honestly couldn't say. To me, it made little to no sense. I remembered virtually nothing from before, and my answers seemed extremely bizarre. Although..." He trailed off, not sure if he should try and explain the reaction he'd had to Vold...that name.
Angel locked his dark gaze on the man. "It's all right, Lucius. I'm here to help you, remember? Anything that you may remember will only assist me in helping you," he assured him.
Lucius nodded slowly, although his instincts told him that the only person he could truly trust was Cordelia. However, since she wasn't here, and he really needed to speak to someone, he decided to take the vampire at his word. "There was a name...the last word that Wesley said. It caused me to..."
Suddenly, the door opened and Cordelia walked in, anger filling her face. Storming through the lobby, oblivious to the conversation that she had interrupted, she snapped, "You know, I am getting so sick of people breaking into my apartment and not stealing anything! I mean, my stuff isn't *that* bad, people! And, unless someone takes that crap-o-rama stereo I have, I'll never get the insurance money to buy a brand new, state of the art one!"
Tossing her purse on the counter, she took a deep breath, then turned to Angel and Lucius, a smile on her face. "So, how's it going? I take it that nest of vamps is dust?" she asked.
Angel nodded. "Yeah. Although, the next time you say nest of vamps, make sure to really say 'entire building full'." Walking up to her, he motioned toward his shoulder. "And, do you think you could..."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "You just insulted my descriptive skills, and now you want me to bandage you up?" Snorting, she shook her head. "You really don't learn, do you?"
Lucius couldn't help but smile at her, watching as she pulled a first aid kit from behind the counter and then ushered Angel into a chair. "Is everything all right with Dennis?" he asked, watching with something close to jealousy as her fingers swept across the vampire's skin.
Not looking up from the wound she was bandaging, she nodded. "Yes. Like I said, nothing was taken. But somebody *was* there. I actually think I just missed them," she answered.
Angel winced as the antiseptic began stinging his skin, then suddenly raised his head and locked eyes with his Seer. "Wait...did you just say someone broke into your apartment?" he questioned.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yes I did, Oh Oblivious One. What do you think I've been talking about since I got here?" she snapped.
Ignoring her tone, he looked around as best he could. "So, where is all your stuff?" he wondered. "Unless you left it in the car like last time."
Lucius frowned, wondering what he was talking about. Surely Cordelia wasn't going to be staying here? Of course, if she was, then so would he, and perhaps then it wouldn't be so bad.
The Seer gave Angel a confused look. "My stuff? Why would I bring my stuff over? There was a break-in, not a fire," she said calmly. Standing back up, she smiled at her handiwork. "There you go. Should be good as new in no time. Just *don't* do anything too..." Sighing, she shook her head. "Why do I bother? I know you'll be running downstairs to train the first chance you get."
Angel slowly stood up, gently fingering the bandage. "Cordelia, you can't stay at your apartment if someone just tried to break in. *Especially* if they didn't take anything! That means that whatever they were looking for wasn't there, which most likely means you!" he exclaimed.
Cordelia raised her eyebrow. "Excuse me? Angel, I'm not going to be run out of my apartment by...whoever they are. It's my home and I'm staying there," she said. Walking over to Lucius, she added, "Besides, I'll have Lucius there too. If they realize that a man is there, they won't come back. Most burglars only break in when it's single women."
Angel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Right. Unless they're *evil*!" he retorted. Shaking his head, he moved toward his Seer. "Cordy, listen. Why don't you and Lucius just stay here for a few days, just to be on the safe side? I really don't want anything to happen to you."
The woman looked unconvinced. "Angel, I'm fine. Really. And I already said no, so just drop it," she replied in an even tone.
Lucius tensed slightly. He may not know these people very well, but he could sense the tension coming off of Cordelia, and instinctively knew that a large fight was about to occur. Swallowing nervously, he gripped the snake head on his cane tightly, for some reason the action making him feel more secure.
The vampire's lips slowly formed a thin line, a slight scowl filling his face. "Cordelia, I mean it. You are *not* going back to your apartment! Now just call Dennis and tell him to pack you a bag. I'll have Wes pick it up on his way back here." Not waiting for a response, he moved past her and toward the office.
Cordelia stared at him in shock, for once unable to think of a response. However, the phenomenon only lasted a second or two, before she tapped into the 'Queen C' persona she had stopped using after high school.
"Excuse me?" she exclaimed, her voice stopping the retreating vampire in his tracks. Narrowing her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips and fixed him with a glare that would send most men running in fear. "Just who in the *hell* do you think you are, Angel? You don't tell me what to do!"
Slowly, Angel turned back around, staring at her. Suddenly, realization dawned on him. He had pushed her too far. Swallowing, he held up his hands in a gesture of peace, and began trying to backtrack.
"Cordy, I didn't mean it like that..."
Raising her eyebrow, she cut him off. "Really? Because the last time I checked, when someone says you *aren't* doing something, they're pretty much telling you what you will do. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't I your boss now? Wasn't that the deal you made after the whole disaster that was Darla?" she demanded.
Angel nodded, looking down. "Yes. You're right. I'm just worried..."
Cordelia snorted, far too upset to care. "You're damn right you should be worried, and *not* about me, either! Now, we're going to settle this once and for all. You are not my boss. You don't tell me what to do, order me around, or even make strong hints toward what my behavior should be. I am a full grown woman and I'll do what I damn well please. And if you don't like that, then maybe you should start looking for another Seer!" she cried. Not bothering to give him a chance to speak, she continued, "Now, Lucius and I are going to *back* to my apartment. Alone. And I damn well better not see you lurking about there later on!"
Finished, she snatched up her purse, gathered up a few of Lucius' bags, and stormed toward the door. Quickly, Lucius stood up and followed in her wake, casting a worried glance at Angel.
The vampire looked like he was torn between being angry, devastated, and just plain confused. Standing in the lobby of the hotel, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging partially open, he was truly a picture of someone unfortunate enough to incur the wrath of Cordelia Chase.
Shaking his head, Lucius exited the hotel behind Cordelia. As they silently made their way to her car, he began to wonder if he was truly safer with her than with Angel and the others. With a temper like hers, anything he said could easily set her off.
However, as he sat down in the passenger seat and watched her cross in front of the car, the fading sunlight silhouetting her face and hair, he couldn't help but smile. If he was going to be verbally torn down by anyone, at least it would be by a beautiful woman.
A woman that he was quickly developing feelings for.
******
Author: QueenC
Feedback:
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Cordelia/Lucius
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. AtS belongs to Joss Whedon and HP belongs to J. K. Rowling.
Distribution: Anywhere I send it. Anyone else wants it just let me know.
Spoilers: Through 'Birthday' on AtS. The first four books of HP.
Summary: What happens when you mix an amnesic Death Eater with a recently demonized Seer?
Author's Notes: Okay, so I'm changing a few things in the AtS world to make this fic work. First of all, Angel and Cordelia are not in love. They are just extremely good friends. Second, Holtz was never pulled from the past. Connor is still here. He's just a baby and staying that way. And finally, Cordelia's apartment is a two bedroom. I think that's it, for now. I'll let you know if anything changes. As always, Angel is Spike's sire. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in ::'s are thoughts, words in ~'s are dreams, and words in ^^'s are flashbacks. Enjoy!
Special Thanks: To everyone that reviewed this fic so far. It's good to know that I'm not just writing this for the sake of my muse. You all are great!
******
Cordelia drove as fast as she could, her heart hammering in her chest. Dennis had not only put his code in the text message he'd sent, he'd also left several 911's. Of course, considering she had only last week berated the spirit for calling her unnecessarily, she could only assume that something was very wrong. And she had the sinking sensation that it was somehow going to tie in to Lucius.
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, she swerved around a pickup that was only going ten over the speed limit. Although she wasn't certain what she was going to find when she got to her apartment, there was one thing she did know for a fact.
Whatever was there was in for a world of hurt.
"It figures. The first lunch I get to take away from the hotel in months, and my *ghost* calls me away from it," she muttered, hastily pulling into her parking place. Barely remembering to take the key from the ignition, she jumped from the vehicle. Running to the trunk, she opened it and pulled her trusty crossbow out.
Slipping a small knife into the waistband of her pants, Cordelia loaded the crossbow, shut the trunk, and turned toward her building. "All right. Time to clean house. *Nobody* interrupts my free time."
Head held high, she marched into her building. Looking from the stairs to the elevator, she decided to ride up. :: No need to be all hot and sweaty by the time I get there. :: Stepping into the elevator, she pressed the button.
It was just as the doors were sliding closed that she caught a glimpse of the door to the stairwell open and something in all black walked out.
******
Snape watched as a pair of doors slid together, and various numbers above the door began lighting up. Stepping completely into the lobby, he looked around, relieved no one else was there.
Turning, the Potions Master motioned the others to come out. Waiting until they were all there, he said, "Seeing as we had no luck in there, I suggest we disguise ourselves as Muggles and attempt to look around the area. Perhaps he hasn't ventured too far. Ms. Granger, since you and Mr. Potter obviously have the most experience in the Muggle world, perhaps you two should be the ones to handle our clothing situation."
Nodding, Hermione pulled out her wand. Within moments, all of the robes were gone, replaced with jeans and shirts. Once finished, she placed her wand in the pocket of the light jacket she was now wearing and smiled brightly. "There we go. Now, provided we all act civilized," here, she gave Malfoy a dirty look, "We should blend right in."
Snape nodded in acceptance, glancing toward the door that led to the busy streets outside. "Very well. Let's go. We haven't much time," he ordered. Turning on his heel, he strode toward the door, silently missing the feel of his black robes swishing about him as he walked.
Exiting the building, the group paused, looking in all directions. It wasn't as if they hadn't been in the Muggle world before. Even Malfoy had visited London a few times. However, none of them had ever been to Los Angeles, California. And, the differences were quite noticeable.
Only Hermione seemed completely unfazed. She had traveled enough with her parents to easily adjust to foreign areas. And, she'd also read enough books about The United States that she felt adequately prepared for the challenge they faced ahead.
"Um, Professor Snape?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?" he replied absently, watching as a couple skated past them, the girl wearing a scrap of clothing that he could only assume were meant to be shorts.
"I know it doesn't seem like a good idea, but perhaps we should split up. Los Angeles is a large city and we really will get more accomplished if we're in groups," she said.
Snape nodded, forced to admit that she was right. At this point, they hadn't the first clue where Lucius was, if he was even alive or dead. Glancing at the Junior Aurors, he stated, "Mr. Malfoy, go with Ms. Granger. Mr. Potter, you and Mr. Weasley are with me. We will meet back here in precisely two hours." Not waiting for a response, or from the argument he knew Draco had with the arrangement, he stalked away.
Harry and Ron gave Hermione wide eyed looks, not knowing if they should feel sorry for her or themselves. Then, they turned and followed the Potions Master down the street.
Hermione sighed, glancing at a seething Draco Malfoy. "Well, I guess we'll go this way, then," she said, her voice holding more confidence than she felt.
Malfoy narrowed his eyes, glaring daggers at the young woman. "Listen here, Granger. If you think I'm going to start taking orders from you like Scarhead and Weasel, you can forget it. Just because your filthy Muggle upbringing may come in handy doesn't mean you can boss me around," he growled.
Hermione returned his glare, her brown eyes flashing with anger. "Draco Malfoy, you listen and you listen well. If you make *one* more insult to my lineage, I will make certain you do not return from our search. Voldemort is dead, and with him died the prejudices he held so dear. Now, we are going to go in this direction because they went that way, and there will be no discussion on the matter!"
Stalking away, she stopped after a few feet and looked back at him. "Oh, and it would do you well to remember that this *Mudblood* is possibly the only person who can find your father." That being said, she continued walking, her entire body rigid with anger.
Draco watched her go, a look of astonishment on his face. Slowly the shock gave way to something close to respect. "Well, well, Granger. This may not be so bad after all," he murmured, moving quickly to catch up with her.
******
Lucius was worried.
Not only was Cordelia *not* at the hotel, but Angel and Gunn were both gone when he and Fred finally returned. Moving to the couch, he stiffly sat, watching with a sinking heart as the young physicist excused herself and went upstairs, presumably to where her room was.
Looking down at the bags of clothing that surrounded him, he wondered what he was expected to do with the packages. It wasn't as if Cordelia had agreed he would be staying permanently with her. And considering this was a hotel, logic told him that he would soon be shown to a room.
Why did that bother him so much?
Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the front door, willing Cordelia to walk through it. Focusing all of his concentration on that, he didn't notice he wasn't alone until the voice spoke.
"Hello, Lucius. I trust your shopping trip went well?" Wesley asked, pausing a few feet away.
Lucius jumped slightly, glancing at the man. "It was...an ordeal, actually," he admitted. "I was beginning to think that it would never end."
Wesley chuckled softly, moving to sit in the chair across from the man. "Ah, yes. Cordelia is rather infamous for her ability to turn shopping into an exercise," he agreed. Tilting his head sideways, he suddenly questioned, "Do you mind if I ask you a few things?"
Lucius blinked, taken aback. "Not at all. Although I'm not certain how much help I'll be. I really don't remember much beyond waking up in the alley Cordelia found me in," he replied.
Wesley nodded. "It's all right. I simply wish to do a word association test, perhaps see if we can find anything to jog your memory," he explained.
The man shrugged. "If it helps in reversing my amnesia, I'm not about to object. Go right head," he answered.
Wesley gave him a small smile. "Very well. Now, I'm going to say a word and I want you to say whatever word enters your mind." Leaning toward the man, he studied his face and pulled out a small tape recorder. "Let's begin. Tree."
"Blood," Lucius answered instantly. Idly, he wondered where that answer came from. However, before he could analyze it, Wesley had continued.
"Money."
"Power."
"Child."
"Betrayal."
Wesley raised an eyebrow at his answer, although said nothing. Not missing a beat, he said, "Love."
"Pain."
"Magic."
Here came one of the two answers Wesley wished to hear. Instantly, Lucius replied, "Destruction."
Licking his lips, Wesley finally managed to say the last word he'd decided upon for this little 'game'.
"Voldemort."
Lucius paled, fear filling his eyes. Instantly, his right hand shot to his left forearm, unconsciously covering his Dark Mark. In a whispered tone, he shakily replied, "Death."
Total silence filled the hotel. Wesley was too numb to think of what to say. He had been certain that this man was lying, for some reason pretending to be in need. However, Wesley knew that *no* one was that good of an actor. The fear rolling off of Lucius at the moment was enough to make the former Watcher cringe.
This man was, quite simply, terrified of the mere *thought* of Voldemort.
Nodding, Wesley stood. "Thank you. I apologize if this has bothered you. Perhaps some tea would help?" he politely offered.
Lucius shook his head, trying to calm himself. "No, thank you. Although I would like to know who this Vol..." Shivering, he continued, "Who it was that you mentioned that had such an effect on me. Surely, if I have no memory, my mind can't be afraid of someone I've never heard of."
Wesley sighed. "Actually, in all likelihood your subconscious still has your memories. They are locked away somewhere, but they aren't entirely gone. That would explain why you are able to remember not only your name, but also have associations with words that otherwise should have no real meaning." Forcing a smile, he explained, "This means that there is a very good chance that your memories will return."
The blonde gave him a skeptical look. "Somehow, I don't think that this test was merely to determine if my amnesia is permanent," he said dryly.
Wesley shuffled, forcing himself not to look away. "I'm not sure what you mean, Lucius," he lied easily.
Before he could respond, the door opened and Angel came limping into the hotel, followed closely by Gunn. Looking up, Lucius gasped, his eyes widening at the state they were in.
Both men were covered in dust and blood, their clothing was ripped, and they were each wearing a look of pain. Suddenly, he was glad that he was sitting down, lest he run the risk of collapsing.
Wesley frowned at his co-workers as they trudged into the lobby. "I thought Cordelia said there was only a nest of vampires," he commented.
Gunn laughed harshly, dropping down on the couch next to Lucius. "The cheerleader is slippin'. That wasn't no damn nest. That was a bloodsucker convention," he replied, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
Raising an eyebrow, Wesley turned his attention to Angel. "Were you at least successful in saving the victims?" he asked quietly.
Angel nodded, hobbling across the lobby to the mini-fridge behind the counter. Pulling out a pack of blood, he poured it into a glass and set it in the microwave. "Yeah. They ran as soon as we got there." Pulling out the now-heated blood, he took a large drink. "You know, just *once* I'd like to be thanked for saving someone's life. Is that really too much to ask?"
Gunn groaned, rolling his eyes. "Great, now you're starting to sound like Cordelia. Don't you think *one* of her is bad enough?" Seeing the sharp glare Angel sent his way, he shook his head. "Still can't take a joke, neither."
Wesley sighed, shaking his head. "Yes, well, be that as it may, at least you both survived relatively intact. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a meeting." Nodding to the three men, he walked out the front door.
Gunn watched him go, frowning. "Is it just me or is English acting funny, even for him?" he asked no one in particular. Sighing, he slowly stood up. "Well, I'm going to go get cleaned up. See ya'll in a bit." Then, he began limping up the stairs to his room.
Lucius turned his attention to Angel, watching as the vampire read an article from the newspaper while drinking the blood. He noticed a small hole in the man's shoulder, and winced, unable to imagine what kind of pain he must be in.
Still reading the article, Angel calmly stated, "It'll heal."
Lucius frowned. "Excuse me?"
Angel raised his head, locking eyes with the blonde man. "The wound on my shoulder. The one you keep looking at. It'll heal. Once I finish feeding and Cordelia bandages me up, I'll be good as new," he explained.
Lucius nodded, ignoring the jealousy he felt at the thought of Cordelia touching Angel's bare chest. He had no right to feel that way. For all he knew, she could easily be involved with any of the members of Angel Investigations.
Although he really hoped she wasn't.
Angel finished his blood, then studied the blonde man for a moment, his brow furrowed in indecision. Finally, he asked, "So what were you and Wes talking about?"
Lucius grimaced slightly. "He asked me if I would participate in a word association test in hopes that we could...jog my memory, I believe is how he put it," he said softly.
The vampire nodded, moving around the counter to come sit in a nearby chair. Leaning forward, his elbows resting on his thighs, he questioned, "How did it go?"
The blonde man shrugged. "I honestly couldn't say. To me, it made little to no sense. I remembered virtually nothing from before, and my answers seemed extremely bizarre. Although..." He trailed off, not sure if he should try and explain the reaction he'd had to Vold...that name.
Angel locked his dark gaze on the man. "It's all right, Lucius. I'm here to help you, remember? Anything that you may remember will only assist me in helping you," he assured him.
Lucius nodded slowly, although his instincts told him that the only person he could truly trust was Cordelia. However, since she wasn't here, and he really needed to speak to someone, he decided to take the vampire at his word. "There was a name...the last word that Wesley said. It caused me to..."
Suddenly, the door opened and Cordelia walked in, anger filling her face. Storming through the lobby, oblivious to the conversation that she had interrupted, she snapped, "You know, I am getting so sick of people breaking into my apartment and not stealing anything! I mean, my stuff isn't *that* bad, people! And, unless someone takes that crap-o-rama stereo I have, I'll never get the insurance money to buy a brand new, state of the art one!"
Tossing her purse on the counter, she took a deep breath, then turned to Angel and Lucius, a smile on her face. "So, how's it going? I take it that nest of vamps is dust?" she asked.
Angel nodded. "Yeah. Although, the next time you say nest of vamps, make sure to really say 'entire building full'." Walking up to her, he motioned toward his shoulder. "And, do you think you could..."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "You just insulted my descriptive skills, and now you want me to bandage you up?" Snorting, she shook her head. "You really don't learn, do you?"
Lucius couldn't help but smile at her, watching as she pulled a first aid kit from behind the counter and then ushered Angel into a chair. "Is everything all right with Dennis?" he asked, watching with something close to jealousy as her fingers swept across the vampire's skin.
Not looking up from the wound she was bandaging, she nodded. "Yes. Like I said, nothing was taken. But somebody *was* there. I actually think I just missed them," she answered.
Angel winced as the antiseptic began stinging his skin, then suddenly raised his head and locked eyes with his Seer. "Wait...did you just say someone broke into your apartment?" he questioned.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yes I did, Oh Oblivious One. What do you think I've been talking about since I got here?" she snapped.
Ignoring her tone, he looked around as best he could. "So, where is all your stuff?" he wondered. "Unless you left it in the car like last time."
Lucius frowned, wondering what he was talking about. Surely Cordelia wasn't going to be staying here? Of course, if she was, then so would he, and perhaps then it wouldn't be so bad.
The Seer gave Angel a confused look. "My stuff? Why would I bring my stuff over? There was a break-in, not a fire," she said calmly. Standing back up, she smiled at her handiwork. "There you go. Should be good as new in no time. Just *don't* do anything too..." Sighing, she shook her head. "Why do I bother? I know you'll be running downstairs to train the first chance you get."
Angel slowly stood up, gently fingering the bandage. "Cordelia, you can't stay at your apartment if someone just tried to break in. *Especially* if they didn't take anything! That means that whatever they were looking for wasn't there, which most likely means you!" he exclaimed.
Cordelia raised her eyebrow. "Excuse me? Angel, I'm not going to be run out of my apartment by...whoever they are. It's my home and I'm staying there," she said. Walking over to Lucius, she added, "Besides, I'll have Lucius there too. If they realize that a man is there, they won't come back. Most burglars only break in when it's single women."
Angel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Right. Unless they're *evil*!" he retorted. Shaking his head, he moved toward his Seer. "Cordy, listen. Why don't you and Lucius just stay here for a few days, just to be on the safe side? I really don't want anything to happen to you."
The woman looked unconvinced. "Angel, I'm fine. Really. And I already said no, so just drop it," she replied in an even tone.
Lucius tensed slightly. He may not know these people very well, but he could sense the tension coming off of Cordelia, and instinctively knew that a large fight was about to occur. Swallowing nervously, he gripped the snake head on his cane tightly, for some reason the action making him feel more secure.
The vampire's lips slowly formed a thin line, a slight scowl filling his face. "Cordelia, I mean it. You are *not* going back to your apartment! Now just call Dennis and tell him to pack you a bag. I'll have Wes pick it up on his way back here." Not waiting for a response, he moved past her and toward the office.
Cordelia stared at him in shock, for once unable to think of a response. However, the phenomenon only lasted a second or two, before she tapped into the 'Queen C' persona she had stopped using after high school.
"Excuse me?" she exclaimed, her voice stopping the retreating vampire in his tracks. Narrowing her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips and fixed him with a glare that would send most men running in fear. "Just who in the *hell* do you think you are, Angel? You don't tell me what to do!"
Slowly, Angel turned back around, staring at her. Suddenly, realization dawned on him. He had pushed her too far. Swallowing, he held up his hands in a gesture of peace, and began trying to backtrack.
"Cordy, I didn't mean it like that..."
Raising her eyebrow, she cut him off. "Really? Because the last time I checked, when someone says you *aren't* doing something, they're pretty much telling you what you will do. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't I your boss now? Wasn't that the deal you made after the whole disaster that was Darla?" she demanded.
Angel nodded, looking down. "Yes. You're right. I'm just worried..."
Cordelia snorted, far too upset to care. "You're damn right you should be worried, and *not* about me, either! Now, we're going to settle this once and for all. You are not my boss. You don't tell me what to do, order me around, or even make strong hints toward what my behavior should be. I am a full grown woman and I'll do what I damn well please. And if you don't like that, then maybe you should start looking for another Seer!" she cried. Not bothering to give him a chance to speak, she continued, "Now, Lucius and I are going to *back* to my apartment. Alone. And I damn well better not see you lurking about there later on!"
Finished, she snatched up her purse, gathered up a few of Lucius' bags, and stormed toward the door. Quickly, Lucius stood up and followed in her wake, casting a worried glance at Angel.
The vampire looked like he was torn between being angry, devastated, and just plain confused. Standing in the lobby of the hotel, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging partially open, he was truly a picture of someone unfortunate enough to incur the wrath of Cordelia Chase.
Shaking his head, Lucius exited the hotel behind Cordelia. As they silently made their way to her car, he began to wonder if he was truly safer with her than with Angel and the others. With a temper like hers, anything he said could easily set her off.
However, as he sat down in the passenger seat and watched her cross in front of the car, the fading sunlight silhouetting her face and hair, he couldn't help but smile. If he was going to be verbally torn down by anyone, at least it would be by a beautiful woman.
A woman that he was quickly developing feelings for.
******