Title: I Saved Yo Evil Ass part 9

Authors: Lilyana_Vamp & Sunscorched

Email: Lilyana_vamp@yahoo.com Aurora_plym_uk@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-15

Summary: Some vampires are just ungrateful

Content: C/Aus

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: We own nothing

Distribution: Just ask

Part 9, Choosing Sides

Buffy looked at Giles in horror. This couldn't be happening. "You knew?! You knew all this time...all day and you didn't tell me!" she accused, her hands flying to her hips.

Giles had the decency to look a guilty, "I had to go over the options on the best course of action to take. You must understand that this is a delicate matter Buffy"

"I don't care how delicate it is. This is my...boyfriend? Would he still be considered my boyfriend? We never actually had a break up conversation. And Cordelia! I had a right to know! This is my sacred duty, to protect the world and all that crap you're always spouting at me! You should have told me!"

"I know how hard this must be for you, but you must also realize that Angelus has basically held Cordelia hostage in her own house. Using our lives as a bargaining chip over her head" Giles replied evenly. "Even she wouldn't give me all the details, this must be very hard on her"

Well, I'll make it easy for her." Buffy turned around, ready to go yell some sense into the cheerleader and froze in the doorway to the living room. "Oh shit!"

"What do you mean? Oh Shit?" Xander asked as he went from watching Giles and Buffy to looking where Buffy was looking.

Buffy ran to the apartment door and cursed again. "She took your car!" she yelled back as she began running the direction of Cordelia's house.

"Oh for the love of..." Giles rushed out of the kitchen to find his keys had been taken, he went to his front door and his car was indeed gone. "Bloody hell"

Buffy increased her pace to the point she was sure her lungs would burst or her legs would give out beneath her. She was so gonna have it out with the two of them, thinking they could have a little tryst under her nose. She wondered how long something had actually been going on between them.

*********

Angelus rolled Cordelia over onto her side to face him, "Open your eyes Cordelia, look at me" he whispered.

Cordelia opened her eyes and glared at him. "What do you want? I came back. I'm here. Let me go to sleep."

"Why did you come back to me? You could be safe with your little goody- goody playmates. Why do you want to be here? I don't want to hear you say it's because you're mine, that goes without saying, I want you to tell me in your words why you came back"

"You know, if I knew the answer to that question, it might make my headache go away. I've been trying to figure that out myself. The whole time I was gone, all I could think about was ways to get back here. Not to mention listening to you blabber in my brain...so not attractive. I was a complete basket case and frankly, I don't feel like turning into that again," she fumed at him, narrowing her eyes. "So maybe you have the answer to your own question. Why did I come back to you?"

Angelus didn't answer; he didn't know how to answer. Why had he been so concerned with getting her back? He didn't know and he didn't like the fact that he didn't know. Angelus simply looked at her as he tried to figure that out himself.

"Well, now that we're both baffled, I'm going back to--" Cordelia was cut off by the sound of her front door slamming. "What the hell was that?!"

Angelus growled at the intruder as he got out of bed, he'd be damned before anybody took her away again. "Angel? Cordelia? Where the hell are you?" Buffy's angry voice bellowed through the house.

Cordelia jumped out of the bed and ran to the door before Angelus could stalk to it. She ran down the stairs and grabbed Buffy by the arm. "Buffy, you need to leave. You can't be here."

"Why? So you can cuddle up to my boyfriend for another three days?" Buffy hissed as she shook Cordelia's hand off her arm. She quivered with anger and tried to hold back from hitting the other girl.

"Look Buffy, this wasn't a planned thing. If I could stop it, I would. But it's too late and you have to leave before he comes down here."

"You think I'm scared of him?"

"You should be," she told the slayer seriously, hearing Angelus' heavy footsteps approaching the top of the stairs. She didn't know why he was taking his time, but she didn't want Buffy to be there when he came down those stairs.

Buffy shook her head, "Listen to me you vapid whore, I'm going nowhere until I know how long this has been going on between you two"

Cordelia stared at the slayer in rage. "I know you didn't just say that."

"Didn't say what? Vapid whore? Oops, I said it again, bad me"

Cordelia pulled her hand back and slapped Buffy across the face. "You of all people have no right to say that to me. You're the reason all this is happening in the first place. If you hadn't gotten all horizontal with Angel, we wouldn't have Angelus anyways. So don't you be calling me a whore of any kind, and you can leave our house. You aren't welcome here."

"Our house? OUR house? Do you even hear yourself? Or has your ears gone like your mind? Yes Angel lost his soul because of me, because I'm the one he loves, not you" Buffy said the words then stopped and chuckled slightly. "Oh I get it, is that why you're with Angelus? Because you couldn't get Angel and decided you'd take him any way you could"

Cordelia stared at the slayer again, this time in hurt. "Do you really think I asked for this? Would you have? Do you hate me so much that you think I would actually want for this to happen to me?"

"I don't know you came back didn't you?"

"That wasn't my choice."

"You could have stayed at Giles place, you could have been safe there. You came back because you've...you're" Buffy stared like a goldfish at the brunette for a second before continuing. "Oh my God, you are, aren't you?"

"I'm what?" she asked.

"You have...feelings for him, for that"

"You could even begin to understand what I'm feeling Buffy. The day that you hear him in your head every time you're away from him, that you're reduced to a bundle of sobs, you tell me what I'm feeling, that is if you can figure it out. I haven't been able to. I came back here because I had no choice. I couldn't stay with Giles. I physically couldn't. My body felt like it was dying every second that I was away from Angelus. You couldn't even begin to understand."

"You're right, I couldn't. Because I would never let him get that far with me. You were probably willing to open your legs to him just like every other jock you open up for"

Cordelia's sorrow came rushing back to her at Buffy's words. "Angelus doesn't like things that have been touched by someone else," she repeated his words quietly and turned around. She didn't want to see Buffy's face anymore.

"Don't you dare turn your back on me" Buffy spun Cordelia back round to face her. "You expect me to believe that you, the town tramp, were sweet and innocent before he got his hands on you? I believe that when I see a pig take off"

Cordelia threw Buffy's hands off of her. "Don't pretend like you know me Buffy. You only know what I want you to know. And I guess there's going to be an invasion of flying pigs because yeah, I was. Happy now?"

"No, I'm not happy. How can I be happy when you have been sleeping with my boyfriend? MY boyfriend. So how long has this been going on?"

"Okay, first of all, Angelus isn't your boyfriend, Angel was. And nothing was going on with Angel, although I never could figure out why he would choose you," she bit back, her voice full of venom.

"Angel could see you for what you really are" Buffy shot back, her own voice just as full of venom. "A spoilt, conniving, vindictive bitch who only has the friends she does because of who Daddy is. Those are the reasons why Angel loved me and not you, because I'm nothing like you are"

"That's right Buffy, you're nothing like me! At least I wouldn't wish this or think that someone would actually choose this! I think you have the bitch label backwards here!" She wondered if Angelus was enjoying this fight from him vantage point at the top of the stairs. She could feel him there, watching.

"You made your bed, you can lay in it. Where is your bed buddy anyway?"

"Well Buffy, I think you're more worthy of the Queen title than me. You can have it because I could never be as much of a bitch as you. And Angelus is standing up there, probably getting off watching us fight."

Buffy turned around to see Angelus watching them both with a highly amused smirk on his face, clearly enjoying every second of it. "What about you?" she asked the vampire, "Are you enjoying being with her?" she spat out.

"Immensely," he answered simply.

"I don't know who to feel sorry for, you or her," Buffy said with a look of disgust on her face. She turned back to Cordelia, "You're wrong, I'm nowhere near your level of bitchiness, I don't go around stealing other people's boyfriends"

"Why steal him when you already have him panting after you like a dog?" she shot back angrily.

"He doesn't pant after me, he loves me. Anyway, looks like he's got his head up your ass now, doesn't it?"

"Are you that dumb Buffy?" she asked with a laugh.

"I'm not the one that's dumb, I'm not the one shacking up with a demon"

"No, you already did that. But I wasn't referring to him. I was referring to my boyfriend, the one that spends more time asking you if you're okay or if you need anything than with me. He'd follow you to the damn gates of Hell if you wiggled you little finger at him."

"Shouldn't that tell you something?" Buffy asked with a smirk of her own. "Angelus is only with you because he knows I wouldn't accept him without a soul. He can't feel anything without a soul, you know. There's no way he could love you. Hell, Xander has a full human soul and he can't love you. So it should tell you something" she told Cordelia and watched to see her expression. "Nobody really cares about you, you're nothing but a waste of spa..."

Cordelia punched Buffy as hard as she possibly could. "Get out," she ordered angrily.

Angelus came down the stairs and held Cordelia's arms. "Now now girls, let's not fight," he grinned.

"I've been waiting for you come down here," Buffy hissed angrily as she got ready to punch the living daylights out of both of them.

Cordelia relaxed a little at his touch, who the hell did Buffy think she was telling her she was a waste of space? If Buffy could hit her where it hurts, she could hit back just as hard. "Why is it you're so desperate to get one up on me?" she asked with her own smirk as she warmed up. "I know the reason why you hate me so much and it has nothing to do with Angelus and I" she began.

"It's because I'm living the life you used to have, the life you want back but can never have. The normal life. I have friends that go shopping on weekends and don't hang around reading up on the demon of the week. I date who I want, when I want without having to consult with my Slayer schedule. I'm head cheerleader, what you used to be if my memory serves me right. I have the life that you want back and you hate for it"

"Did we miss the bloodshed?" Xander asked breathlessly as he stumbled through the door. "Did you really have to steal the car?"

"Oh look, it's the Slayer's lapdog" Cordelia snarked as she warmed up to giving him some verbal time. "Do you drool all over her pillow? Or does she make you sleep on her rug?" She laughed, "I know, she has a doggy kennel in her back yard labeled Snowy for when you stay over. Or maybe she has a nice, warm doggy bed with your initial on it. Go ahead Xander, tell me I need some entertainment, make me laugh"

Xander looked at Cordelia with shock and confusion. "What did I miss?"

"Only your owner hearing a few home truths" Cordelia replied with a smirk. "Gee, you're kinda whiffy there Xander, when was the last time Buffy took you to a grooming parlor?"

Giles walked in upon hearing the argument. "That is quite enough from both of you. This is not solving anything."

"No you're right" Cordelia agreed, "The only thing that will solve anything is if you all go away and get out of our house"

"Cordelia, just come back with us. We'll make things right," he spoke gently.

"She's not going anywhere with you" Angelus growled and tightened his hold on his girl.

"Cordelia, I promised you that I would keep you safe from him," he reminded her, doing his best to ignore the vampire.

"She is safe with me," Angelus answered before Cordelia could speak for herself.

"Why don't you let her speak Angelus? Afraid that she might go against you?" Xander asked angrily.

"Go ahead Cordelia" Angelus gave her the opportunity to speak. "Speak for yourself. Where do you want to be? With those who don't care about you? Or with me?"

Cordelia hesitated. She had become unfamiliar with the opportunity to choose.

"I tell you what" Angelus began, "I will walk away right now if you don't want and need me. I give you my word that I won't hurt you if I don't like your choice" He let her arms go as a point.

Cordelia began to shake at the thought of him not being there, everything in her body telling her what the answer to his question was. "I'll die, won't I?" she asked him almost silently.

Angelus thought about telling her yes just to keep her with him but he wanted her to be with him of her own accord. "No, severing our link will be painful, but you won't die from that or me. I'm giving you a choice now Cordelia, without consequences, do you want to go or stay?"

She looked at him in confusion. Why was he doing this to her. Why was he making her choose? She asked him as much. "I can't make this decision."

"Why can't you?" he asked, his eyes melting into hers, "All it takes is a yes or a no Cordelia" his voice lowered to a whisper. "You know what I want from you, I'm giving you one last chance"

She looked into his eyes and felt her lower lip quiver. "Angelus...I'm sorry." She turned to the group. "I'm sorry, but you all need to leave. I'm where I belong. For once I belong, and someone knows who I really am. Please leave."

Angelus smirked as he replaced his arms around Cordelia as he watched the others in the room. Giles threw his hands up in defeat while Buffy just stood there it was Xander who spoke first.

"Cordy you cannot be serious! He's a vampire, a soulless one. What the hell are you thinking?" he demanded hotly. "You're supposed to be my girlfriend and you're going to stay with-with him?"

"How long did it take you to notice that I was gone in the first place Xander? I am serious. I can't leave. I'm in too deep. It's too late," she told them and leaned against Angelus, hoping he would support her as the conversation was leaving her exhausted.

Angelus felt her exhaustion, "Gee, it's been swell having you guys over, but what she said. Bye bye"

"Cordelia, listen to reason," Giles tried again.

"No, I've heard enough and I was given a choice and I'm choosing. I want, need to be here with him. I think you should all go now, I'm tired and I want to get some sleep. Something I haven't had much of lately" Cordelia replied with regret at her lack of sleep.

Buffy lunged for Angelus, determined to kill him for humiliating her. Cordelia stepped in front of the slayer. "No Buffy. Leave."

Buffy pushed Cordelia out of her way with one hand while pulling her trusty stake out with the other. Cordelia's eyes went wide as she pushed Angelus out of the way. As Buffy's stake entered Cordelia's upper shoulder, the brunette screamed out in pain. She fell to her knees, clutching the wooden object that penetrated her skin and the muscle underneath.

Buffy stepped back, shaking in shock unable to believe what had just happened. She couldn't take her eyes off her stake in Cordelia who was still on the ground, screaming.

Angelus quickly got down next to her, "Cordelia, look at me" he ordered as he gripped the stake. Cordelia forced herself to look at him, crying loudly. Nothing he had even done to her hurt as bad as this. She could feel the blood running down her body.

"Xander, call 911" Giles urged as he went to help Cordelia. "Buffy, go and find some towels to stop the blood flow" he said to bring the blonde out of her shocked trance. "Now"

Cordy reached out for Angelus, needing to feel something solid, something she could hold on to, and she squeezed his arm in pain.

"Cordelia listen to me" Angelus told her calmly, "I'm going to have to pull it out, it'll hurt but you'll be okay. You won't die" she nodded and held onto him tightly.

Angelus pulled quickly and sharply, removing the blood-covered stake from her shoulder. Cordelia screamed and gripped his arm so tightly it made him wince, "Take it easy, I'm just a vampire" He couldn't wait until he got his hands around Buffy's neck for doing this. The vampire supported Cordelia as she collapsed against him.

"Ambulance is on the way," Xander told them all as he watched the blood trickling down her top.

"Good" Giles replied as he went to touch Cordelia's other arm. "Buffy, we need a towel" he yelled.

Fear and shock was making Cordelia's blood flow faster, Angelus had an idea. "Cordelia, I need you to trust me, can you do that?" he asked.

Cordelia was getting dizzy, "What? I c-can't hear you? I'm to dizzy"

"Never mind" Angelus quickly moved the hand that wasn't holding her up to her neck, stroking lightly. He then moved his thumb across a certain part of her pulse, immediately rendering her unconscious.

"What the bloody hell have you done?" Giles demanded when he saw Cordelia go limp.

"Fear was making her blood flow faster, it slows down when you sleep. I'm stopping her from going into shock, where's the damn Slayer with the fucking towel?" Angelus growled, "Get your hands off her"

"Here" Buffy numbly handed the vampire the towel she had found and quickly stepped away.

Angelus held the towel tightly to Cordelia's wound, stopping the flow of blood as much as he could while whispering to her even though she was unconscious. He resisted the urge to do a quick save by turning her, if he did she'd be thoroughly pissed and hit him with the baseball bat again.

Xander came up behind her, "Buff, it wasn't your fault, you didn't know she was going to go all kamikaze. Come on, we'll go wait outside for the ambulance"

Buffy stared at Cordy and began to shake. "Oh god, I didn't mean to, I swear. I was trying to kill Angelus, not Cordelia. Oh god oh god I'm so going to hell," she rambled shakily.

"It's alright Buffy" Giles said to her, "She was the one who dived in front of you"

"It's not alright," Buffy told him. "She's human. I'm not supposed to kill humans."

"You're right, it's not alright," Angelus growled, glaring at the slayer. "You thought I wanted to kill you before..."

"And you won't kill her now" Giles told him evenly, "This was quite clearly an accident"

"I don't care what it was. No one hurts what's mine!" The vampire yelled, holding Cordelia to him possessively.

"You hurt her yourself, what does it matter if somebody else does?" Giles asked angrily.

"Because she's mine," he answered in a low growl, warning the Watcher to back off.

"Guys, the ambulance is here" Xander ran back in, stopping whatever argument was going to happen.

Angelus growled again as the paramedics pulled Cordelia out of his arms.

"Sir, we need to treat the patient please give us some room" the paramedic told him calmly.

Angelus backed up slightly but kept within touching distance of her. "What are you doing to her?"

"I'm sorry sir, but we need to concentrate" the paramedic answered as he unwrapped some sterile gauze and pressed it hard over the bleeding wound as the other paramedic took her blood pressure.

"We need some questions answered. What is the patient's name?"

"Cordelia Chase," Giles answered calmly.

"It might be better if we did this on the way to the hospital, she needs some blood. Who is going with her?"

"I am," Angelus answered, daring anyone to dispute him.

"Very well sir, we have to go now."