Chapter 29: Confusion.

Title: Reunion time.

Author: Nikka

Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that English is not my native tongue so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more then welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.

Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.

Author's remark: My chapters as of ch 12 will no longer be reproof by Sigma due to the fact that I have no internet and I'm asking someone else to post the remaining chapters for me. I want to take this opportunity and thank sigma for all the help. And I hope you will continue reading my story even without the excellent work sigma has done. Thank you again sigma for all your great work.

She heard a knock on her door. "Who is it?" She asked.

"It's me." The voice from the other side of the door answered.

"Come in," she said and the door opened and Buffy came in.

"What you doing?" Buffy asked as she leaned over to see what Dawn was writing.

"Homework." Dawn said and covered the notebook with her arm. Buffy backed away and set on the bed.

"Did you want anything special?" Dawn asked when she noticed Buffy was still in her room.

"Just checking up on you." Buffy said while playing with one of Dawn's stuffed animals.

"I'm fine." Dawn replied and walked over to Buffy and took the stuffed animal and put it back in its place.

"Okay so you're mad at me, can I at least know for what reason?" Buffy got the hint.

"Like you don't know." Dawn return to her chair turning her back to Buffy.

Buffy got up and grabbed the chair and turned it so Dawn was facing her. "No I don't know, if I did I wouldn't have asked." Now Buffy was the one who getting mad.

"Leave me alone." Dawn said and tried to get up from her chair but couldn't.

"No until you tell me what's your problem." Buffy insisted.

"You're my problem, okay." Dawn snapped at her.

"Well nothing new here, I'm always the problem." Buffy wasn't buying her excuse. "You'll have to do better then that." Buffy let go of the chair and backed a few steps away. Her arms were crossed and she was waiting for an answer.

"Why don't you tell me anything? You still think of me as a child." Dawn lashed out.

"You are still a child and what is it I was suppose to tell you?" Buffy didn't understand.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Do you think I don't see?" Dawn got up and stood in front of Buffy. "I saw them bringing Cordelia who was unconsciousness. I know something is going on. I saw Angel and all the rest they looked like someone died and I know it's has something to do with Cordelia."

"Dawn I…" But Dawn cut Buffy off.

"And the worse part of it all is when every time ask anyone what's going on all they say is nothing and leave, like I'm contagious or something. And I bet that's because you told them not to tell me anything." Now she was finished.

"Dawn its late maybe we should talk about this tomorrow?" Buffy suggested.

"Get out." Dawn said to her and returned to her chair.

"Dawn?" Buffy tried to reason with her.

"If you're gonna treat me like a child who doesn't know anything I don't want you in my room." Then she turned her chair and faced Buffy. "I'm fed, bathed and almost done with my homework. You have no reason to be here. So, leave!" She said firmly.

Buffy wasn't in the mode for an argument so she decided to leave alone her for a while. "Fine." She said and left the room.

"And close the door!" Dawn ordered as Buffy left the room.

"How's Dawn?" Giles asked Buffy when she came into the living room.

"Mad." Buffy replied.

"About?" Giles inquired.

"As usual. Me. She's angry I'm not telling her what's going on." Buffy explained.

"She'll be all right. You're doing the right thing. She doesn't need to worry herself with all of this at the moment." Giles backed her up. It helped a little.

"I think we better go." Wesley said to Giles. "It's getting late and obviously Buffy needs her rest." Wesley explained. Giles looked at his watch. He hadn't noticed how much time has past. It was near 20:00.

"Don't leave on my account I'm fine, really I am." Buffy reassured them.

"Still we better go. Another day tomorrow." Giles said.

"Yeah, another day in Sunnydale." Gunn was disappointed.

"Don't you like it here?" Buffy asked.

"Don't get me wrong this place is nice and you've all been great but it's just not…"

"Home." Buffy continued the sentence and Gunn nodded his head. "It's okay I get it." Buffy smiled at him.

"Maybe you two should go to Xander's and get some rest." Wesley suggested to Fred and Gunn who looked exhausted.

"I don't feel right about leaving Angel here alone." Fred hesitated.

"And what am I? The nanny." Lorne reminded them that he was still around. "I can take care of the big guy while you're taking some time off. Besides I don't think he'll need much from anyone, at least until she's awake." That last sentence made everyone think about Cordy and be all gloomy again.

"Fred." She turned to face Gunn. "He has a point." Gunn said to her hoping she'll change her mind. As much as he loved Cordy and Angel he was so tired and he knew there's nothing they can do for them tonight.

"Okay." Fred came around. "But we'll be here first thing in the morning." She said to Lorne who didn't know if it was a saying or a warning.

"Well then, do you need a lift? Or…" Giles offered.

"No we're cool we have the van." Gunn replied.

"So I guess we'll see you all in the morning." Wesley said as he walked out followed by Fred and Gunn.

"Buffy, will you be all right?" Giles was concerned. obviously something was happening with her but he wasn't sure what it was.

"I'm fine. Go. Sleep!" She ordered as she shoved him towards the door. "Goodnight." She handed him his jacket and 'gently' let him out before he could say anything else. She closed the door behind him and sighed a sigh of relief.

"Had enough people for one day." Lorne who was still sitting in the living room with Conor asked.

"How could you tell?" She asked smiling and crushed on the sofa next to him.

"Besides the gloom stare and weary eyes? That sigh was my last clue." Lorne looked at her. He felt there was more to that then just tiredness but he didn't want to push.

"Lorne?" Buffy turned to him. "You read people right? I mean you can tell them things they don't even know about themselves?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah." Lorne was suspicious. He wasn't sure where this conversation is heading for.

"If I sing, can you read me and …" Lorne cut her off.

"No." He said without hesitation.

"What? Why?" Buffy was confused. "I thought that's what you do?"

"I help people who need guidance. People who have some idea about what they're looking for but just need someone to point them in the right direction." He explained.

"And?" Buffy still didn't understand.

"I don't tell people things they are scared to find out on their on." He looked at Buffy.

"I'm not scared. I need guidance." Buffy was irritated.

"No you don't. You have the answers in you you're just afraid to face them. And with that I cannot help you."

"What if I sign to myself and you accidentally read me?" Buffy was reaching.

"No!" Lorne stayed firm.

"Okay. I won't push you." Buffy smiled at him. "All you need is love, …" she began to sing.

Lorne tried to cover his ears but couldn't, he was still holding Conor. He looked angry. Buffy looked at him smiling. "So what did you see?" She asked anxiously. Lorne didn't answer back he just ignored her. "Come on Lorne I know you read me, at least part of me." Buffy tried to convince him to talk. "Lorne please, it's important. I need this." She looked at him and he knew he couldn't resist.

"Fine, but please let's do it properly." Buffy didn't understand what he meant by properly. "Sing again this time more then a line." He explained. Buffy took a big breath and sang again this time half the song. Lorne expression seemed fine at first and then it changed. He looked more gloomy and scared. Buffy noticed that and decided it was time to stop singing.

"Lorne?" she called his name when he didn't say anything when she finished singing. He got up and put Conor in his pram and then set next to Buffy on the sofa.

"I can't tell you everything, and don't argue." Buffy nodded her head for agreement. "I saw what you probably already know. I saw sadness, a bit of despair. I saw rivers of pain." His words were harsh. "I also so confusion and love." Buffy smiled.

"Love? Who do I love?" She asked curiously.

"Besides the obvious; meaning your friends and your sister. I saw old love that you still hang on to." Buffy knew who he meant. "As a new friend and a wise demon who have seen a lot, and especially as a person who knows the object of that love pretty well, all I can say is: let go. It's not what you need and it's only one sided." Buffy lowered her head. She was so sure she was over Angel. I guess she wasn't. "I also saw another kind of passion or maybe care, I'm not sure." Again Buffy knew who he meant. "I don't know what lays there but all I can say is it's not something you're sure of and it's something you're ashamed of." So far true, Buffy thought to herself.

"Is it love?" She asked hesitantly.

"I'm not sure, it wasn't clear. That's something you'll have to figure out for yourself. All I can say is there's something there, what? I can't tell." Buffy nodded her head. It wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear but still it was better then nothing. "Buffy." Lorne cut off her thoughts. "The pain I felt, some of it has happened some of it is happening, and some of it…" Lorne stopped.

"Some of it what?" Buffy was in suspense.

"Some of it will happen. And it's going to be bad, real bad." Lorne looked at her they both knew what it meant. He probably felt what ever it is that Cordelia saw in her vision, what ever it is that comes after them.

"Don't worry Lorne." She tried to reassure him. "I've been through at least 6 apocalypses and I'm still standing. True I died twice bur that never stopped me." She smiled hoping it will make him feel better. It didn't.

"Doyle can we stop for a second?" Cordelia stopped walking.

"Don't tell me your tired because technically you can't be." Doyle also stopped.

"I'm not, I just don't get what we're doing here? I mean yeah you explained and all, but we've been following younger me for at least 20 minutes…"

"Actually the time frame here is a bit different." Doyle corrected her.

"What ever." She brushed it off. "And we still haven't seen anything that resembles my vision."

"What's the hurry princess?" He smiled. "Don't you like hanging with me?"

"Of course I do, but things changed since I last saw you."

"I know." He said.

"So you know I've changed, I have responsibilities now. People depend on me and waiting for me."

"Don't like repeating myself, but I know. And don't worry their fine." Doyle tried to reassure her.

"How can they? I saw something. I don't remember what but it's bad and it's on his way to Sunnydale. Time is running out…"

"I told you time moves differently here." Cordelia didn't seem convinced. "I promise you, you'll get back in time to warn them and help them." She was still doubtful but consideration the options she decided to keep on.

"Come on." Doyle rushed her and they picked up the pace to catch up with the group of students.

"Class who can tell me what plant is this? You can use the information page I gave you." Several kids raised their hands to answer including Cordelia and of course Willow.

"Yes Cordelia." The teacher seemed both excited and surprised to see Cordelia raising her hand.

"May I go to the restroom?" Obviously young Cordelia's answer wasn't what the teacher expected to hear.

"Fine." Cordelia turned away when the teacher yelled out to her to meet them in the trees section. Cordelia waved and continued walking. Doyle and Cordy followed.

"So what now. I remember this. Nothing special happened." Cordy insisted.

"Fine then you don't mind we tag along." Doyle was not about to give up.

Cordy stood near young Cordelia who was just outside the restroom when suddenly she felt a breeze. She shivered and looked at Doyle. "How can I feel this, I'm not even here?" She asked him when she suddenly noticed young Cordelia felt it too. "Doyle what's going on? …" Another breeze. Both Cordy and young Cordelia turned and looked back. There was a shadow that was heading their way. Cordy moved aside and stood next to Doyle. The shadow kept on advancing towards young Cordelia. "Move. Run." Cordy yelled out to her, but she didn't hear her. She just froze. "Doyle make her move!"

"I can't. What has happened I can't change." He replied. The shadow kept advancing.

"Doyle help her, she's… I'm just a kid. It never happened." She grabbed his arms and shook him.

"Yes it did Cordelia. Yes it did. You just don't remember." Cordelia was confused. "Try to remember."

The shadow stood right in front of young Cordelia who stood still. She was awake and aware but she couldn't move or speak. The shadow circled around her and then got inside her.

"No!" Cordy yelled but no one heard her. "Doyle please." She bagged him.

"It happened, try to remember. If it happened and you're still here it means you lived. Relax and try to remember." He tried to calm her down.

"How can I remember something that never happened?" Young Cordelia started walking, she was obviously under the control of the shadow. She walked down the hall. Cordy and Doyle followed her. She entered a huge library filled with books, old books. Must botanical.

"Cordy?" Doyle looked at her. She wasn't scared anymore she was focused.

"I'm looking for something." She said and looked around walking after Young Cordelia. Doyle looked pleased she obviously started to remember.

"I was looking for…" She tried to remember. "A book." She said. "I remember it, I was here looking for a book I've never heard of before."

"What kind of book is it?" Doyle asked guiding her.

"I don't know. I only know its name." She answered. She looked dazed like she was hypnotized.

"What's its name?" Doyle asked.

"It's called… Dorkanious. I think." She looked at Doyle. she was herself again. "What is it? What was I doing here?"

"It's not over yet, look." He looked at her younger self, so did she.

Young Cordelia stood in the middle of the room with a frozen expression. Suddenly the shadow stepped out and quickly disappeared. Young Cordelia came to and looked around trying to understand were she is.

"Cordelia chase. I thought I told you to meet us at the tree section." Young Cordelia turned to see her teacher.

"I… I think I got lost." Young Cordelia tried to explain.

"Lost? The restroom was right behind us at the end of the hall. How lost could you have been." The teacher wasn't convinced by her explanation and seemed upset. "Let's go the entire class is waiting for you." She grabbed her hand.

"For me?" Cordelia asked confused.

"Yes, the tour is finished everyone are on the bus." The teacher explained.

"What about the tree section?" Cordelia asked.

"Cordelia!" The teacher was definitely angry. "I spent the last 40 minutes looking for you, so please no more games. I'll deal with you when we return to school." The teacher pulled her away towards the exit.

Young Cordelia seemed confused, so did Cordy. "40 minutes Doyle how can it be? I was here it didn't took more then 5 minutes surely not 40." Cordy was confused.

"I told you…"

"Let me guess, time moves differently." She answered her own question. "So what was it? What is the Dorkanious?" She asked Doyle.

"You tell me." He didn't seem to have the answers.

"Tell me is it your first gig as a guide? Because if it is I'll understand." She teased him.

"Come on let's go." He ignored her remark.

"Go where, back to school?" She laughed.

"Actually yes, but not what you mean." Doyle said.

"So where are…" Before she could finish the sentence she found herself sanding in the library of the high school.

TBC

Hi ppl,

I hope you like the story so far. I got some great reviews and after reading them I decided to change a few things. So if you have any more ideas, comments, or stuff/people you like to see more or less of, please write a review, I read them all and as you can see take them into consideration.

So As usual thank you.

Nikka.