(Author's note -- for the purposes of the story Eve is still with W&H and Xander has yet to hear about Cordy's fate)
***
I woke up and passed out again numerous times after that. Each time Michael assured me that I was going to be fine. I wanted to take his word for it, but what with Cordillia and Angel both assuring me that having things shoved into your body no only hurts like a bitch but is hard to get over. I thought I was justified in being somewhat nervous.
When I finally woke up and stayed that way I looked around. I was in an ultra-modern hospital suite. Michael was standing to one side. Looking at blotchy images that looked very much like an ultrasound.
"Like I said kid good call on the blood loss. You caught the nick in the wall of the liver. Newbies usually get distracted by the big cuts and miss the small stuff." That was coming from a smaller balding doctor. "Where did you do rez?"
"A hospital in Budapest things got kind of …weird."
"I'll bet. "
I looked around and saw Angel lurking in a corner along with an attractive girl who was trying way too hard to be cute and cuddly. Angel had the relaxed air of a Jungle cat about to pounce on something, anything. .
The doctor turned to Angel "I'm willing to leave the patient in the kid's care, he has good instincts. "I think Mr. Harris will be fine in a few more days."
I croaked. My dry throat robbing me of voice. I started gesturing for water which both Angel and Michael rushed to serve me in an ice-cold glass. They managed to tell me at the same time to drink slowly. I have no idea why people say that. If you need a drink as badly as I did right that second, slowly draining the glass is not on the agenda.
The cold liquid gave me back my voice, so I tossed the question out generally. "How long have I been out."
"About a day or so, the surgery was easy but you had some scaring from the fastener that punched into you." Michael smiled, he was obviously enjoying being a doctor again.
"Welcome to the club, Xander." Angel quipped
I ignored him, then realized Angel had told something close to a joke. Evil forces must be afoot.
Michael looked at Angel and me I decided to explain. "Within our circle of friends are an even smaller group who have survived implement. Angel was one, Buffy was another. And…"
"And Xander is the latest." Angel's quick interruption forestalled me saying Cordy's name. I promised myself to ask later how that crisis was going.
He continued fixing Michael with a baleful stare. "I'm Angel we haven't had a chance to really talk so we should get the introductions out of the way. You are an unknown quantity, normally for good reasons this means you would be mulch but Xander thinks the world of you and your sweetie. I respect Xander; so for the immediate future I plan to pretend you are exactly who he thinks you are. If that turns out to be wrong I'll devote the resources of this firm and my infinite patience to causing you as much pain as possible before killing you in as gruesome a fashion as I can invent."
Michael visible shuddered.
"Angel threatening the allies is strictly verboten." I said weakly from my Bed
"I've been telling him that since he came here." This was from the pretty girl "I'm Eve, I work with Angel now. You must be Xander Harris, the file on you in R& R is impressive for a mundane."
I looked at Angel, he shrugged "She came with the deal and I feel better knowing that I have her where I can see her."
Eve strolled sensuously over to Michael. "And, you are the infamous Michael Corvin Medical School prodigy, darling of Budapest General Hospital and the first of a new breed of preternatural creature. Mommy must be so proud."
"How does everyone know so much about me "
"Michael, I can call you Michael can't I? There isn't much Wolfram & Hart can't find out about you if we want to. The Senior Partners really want to cut a deal with you. I mean, they really want you working for us. Name your price. Your family taken care of, the vampires hunting you killed, we might even be able to swing getting you your Girlfriend back… even the dead one."
"How about giving him a mocha and some space," Angel growled.
Eve smiled again, "one mocha coming up, if you want to discuss, Michael, you can find me. I'm always…close to hand. "
She sauntered from the room. I have seen some hot girls make exits and entrance and that had to be right up there with Buffy's raincoat entrance to the library. However, where Buffy had made me uncomfortably hot; this just made me uncomfortable.
"Is my flesh supposed to crawl when she does that." Michael asked
"I'm dead and mine does." Angel supplied.
"Ok, hate to be the wet blanket but the bad guys have a day and a half on us. And they didn't lay a hand on Michael what's going on." I asked shifting in my bed
"We are trying to find out. " Angel assured me
"We have to get Selene, she could be dead." Michael seemed to see the rescue of his ladylove as a means to keep his head anchored in this strange new territory he was lost in.
"She was alive when I saw her last" I reported
Angel paced the floor thinking out loud "If they haven't killed her yet then it is a good bet they need her for something even if they are still just trying to capture you, they need her alive."
"How much longer am I going to have to sit this out" I was trying to get out of bed but the pain in my side was just that side of excruciating.
Angel shook his head "You are on the sidelines for the rest of the game champ. Michael you and I are going to figure out where this Kravan would try to take her that was more secure. "
"Sorry I'm new to this supernatural Cloak And Dagger BS , , I wasn't that good at the ordinary Cloak And Dagger."
"We all learn, you already have the trick of hiding in plain sight, and I'm betting your sweetie has already taught you about kill or be killed, never hesitate. "
"I don't, I'm starting to realize the stakes."
"Good that means we can depend on you when things get hectic."
I finally decided to find out for myself how bad things were likely to get. "Angel Wes said that you guys had heard from Buffy And Giles. Does that mean Everyone's on their way back here."
"Hopefully yes, Willow and Kennedy said they had to meet some big wigs that might help out. But Giles And Buffy are still working on a solution to the Dawn situation, once that is done they are coming back home. "
"Do we have the time to wait for them. "
"Until we figure out where Kravan and Selene are, we are going to have to wait anyway. "
"I can track her." Michael stated hopefully. "My skills are already good enough for that"
"I can tell you where they have been." Angel said quietly "It's where they are going that's the question and what they are up to that is the mystery."
I nodded and grabbed Michael's hand. "We are professionals Michael and if Angel thinks this is a good plan then I'd agree." If Angel was shocked at my endorsement, he wasn't the only one. All I can say is that I had come a long way from Sunnydale and so had he. If I could change then maybe he had as well.
"So when is everyone going to be here." I asked
"Well I already told you about Willow and company. Buffy and Giles will be along as soon as they are finished setting things up with Dawn "
I must have visibly flinched because Angel got quiet when he said, "You know, you could always…."
I cut him off while trying to keep my voice neutral. I wasn't bitter --much "General Summers has an army to run. Us mortals just get in the way. Besides, it's long past time I grew up and stopped running to Mommy-Buffy every time there is a supernatural boo-boo that needs kissing better. "
"That wasn't what she wanted and you know it " Angel snapped. His defense an eerie reminder of the way Buffy would get when I was bashing Angel in the old days.
"So, Dead Boy how is Dawn." I asked, we all have strategies for dealing…my favorite is avoidance
He took the hint and moved on resignedly. "She is holding it together but if Buffy and Giles don't figure a solution we may have to face the worst."
"What is the latest plan?" I asked him
"Register her for school "
"You're kidding. "