"Have a good day at school, Dawnie," Xander said the next morning when he
dropped her off.
She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek, then hopped out of the car and made her way to the school. Xander watched to make sure she got there okay, worrying despite the explicitly sunny nature of the Southern California morning. He failed to see the uniformed police officer approaching his car.
"Excuse me, sir," the officer said.
Xander rolled down his window. "Good morning. Can I help you?"
"Are you. . . " the man checked his notepad, "Xander Harris?"
"Yes. Is something wrong?"
"Would you step out of the car, sir?"
"What?"
"Step out of the car, sir. Now."
Xander turned off the car, unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his door.
"Can I ask what the problem is, officer?"
"Please turn around and face the car, Mr. Harris."
"Am I being arrested?"
"Please turn around and face the car, Mr. Harris, I don't want to ask you again."
Xander turned around, and the officer cuffed him. "You're not being arrested," he said. "We just want you to come in for some questioning."
"Are the cuffs really necessary then?" Xander asked.
"Just a precaution," said the officer. "I've read your file."
"I have a file?" Xander asked.
The officer led Xander over to the his squad car, placed him in the back, and sped off.
* * * * *
Xander had been sitting in a featureless room for almost an hour now. There was a mirror, which Xander assumed led to an observation room, a table, and a tape recorder.
"Alexander Harris?" asked a middle aged woman, stepping into the room.
"Yeah," he said. "What's this all about?"
The woman sat across from him. "I'm Detective Wooderson. Do you mind if I tape this?"
"Feel free," Xander said. "Wooderson, huh? Like in Dazed and Confused?"
"Excuse me? I'm not familiar with the reference."
"Oh, it's from a movie. Wooderson, was played by uh. . . Matthew McConaughey. He was one of those guys, you know? Always hanging around the high school, hitting on high school girls. Sleazebag, but kinda funny, in a sick way."
Wooderson grew very quiet at this. "You think older men who hit on little girls are sick?" she asked.
"Um. Yeah. Doesn't everyone?"
"Mr. Harris, I'm going to ask you a few questions. If at anytime you feel uncomfortable, just ask me to stop. You're not under arrest, but you're entitled to have a lawyer here. Would you like a lawyer?"
"I'd like to know what this is about," Xander said, a little agitatedly.
"Is that a no to the lawyer, then?"
"Yeah, for now," Xander said.
"Would you like some water?"
"I'm fine, I just want to know what's going on."
"All right, Mr. Harris. Where do you currently work?"
"Jameson Construction," he said.
"And your job there?"
"I was recently promoted to Head of Carpentry," he said, with a little pride.
"Congratulations," said the woman.
"I get the feeling that was less than sincere."
"What is your relationship with Dawn Summers?"
Xander was a little thrown by the change in topic. "Uh. . . she's a cool little girl," he said. "I'm dating her older sister Buffy. I look out for her, take her to school pretty often on my way to work."
"Mr. Harris, do you know the age of consent in the state of California?"
"Excuse me?"
"The age of consent in the state of California, Mr. Harris."
"Uhh. . . eighteen?"
"Eighteen. That's right. And how old is Ms. Summers?"
"Thirteen. Detective, I don't like what this line of questioning is implying."
"Well maybe you should have thought of that before you-"
Wooderson cut off as glass shattered against the door, which opened moments later. "Uhh, detective? We. . . have a situation."
Wooderson turned off the tape recorder and stepped outside.
Xander sat in the room, angry at the implications that had been laid before him, and getting angrier by the minute. The door opened, and Xander was surprised to see the entrant.
"Joyce, thank God," he said.
"Dawn saw you being taken away and called me. What's this all about?" she asked.
"They haven't exactly told me anything yet. But, I get the feeling they're about to charge me with doing something to Dawnie. Joyce, I swear, I would never-"
"I know, Xander," Joyce said. "I would never believe that of you. We're going to get this all sorted out somehow. I'm going to call the school, and have Rupert pick Dawn up. We'll get this all sorted out."
"I don't know how this happened, Mrs. S," he said. "I've never even thought about -"
"I know. It's okay. We're going to work this out."
* * * * *
"Once again, I would just like to apologize on behalf of the entire department," Detective Wooderson said.
"Well maybe next time you'll actually investigate something before jumping to a ludicrous conclusion," Joyce said. "This type of gross incompetence is so typical of this department. You people disgust me."
Joyce grabbed a teary-eyed Dawn by the arm and dragged her to the Jeep. Dawn wrenched her arm away from her mother and ran back to Xander, flinging her arms around his neck.
"I am so, so, so sorry, Xander, please please please don't hate me, please, I swear I won't do it again, please don't hate me."
Xander hugged the girl reassuringly. "I don't hate you, Dawn, but you need to go with your mom now."
Dawn walked sullenly back to her mother, who was not amused. Giles and Xander stood there.
"Can I get a ride to my car?" he asked.
"Of course," Giles said, leading the way to his Citroen. They rode in silence for a few minutes, until Giles broke the awkward silence.
"Xander," he said, "while I in no way wish to undermine the seriousness of such a charge, while at the same time emphasizing that in no way would any of us ever have believed such a ridiculous thing, I should make you aware of one thing."
"Yeah, Giles?"
A slightly evil grin broke its way onto Giles' face. "When I tell Faith, she is never going to let you live this down."
* * * * *
"Wow," Buffy said upon entering the Magic Box later that day. "Mom is *pissed*."
"Well, I'd say she has every right to be," Giles said. "It is a huge hassle, and extremely irresponsible. I mean, she, she, she spread rumors in school about certain. . . activities with Xander, was overheard by administration, and Xander was arrested!"
"Oh, I'm totally with you on this," Buffy said. "Besides, I'm the only one who gets to do those things."
"Oh, come on. It's not like she meant to get me arrested," Xander said.
Giles shot Xander a look.
"Yeah, okay, the law of unintended consequences, I know, she should be more careful. But it's kinda. . . " Xander said.
"If you even think about being flattered, you are so not getting any for the whole week," Buffy said.
Xander snapped his jaw shut.
"So what has your mother decided to do?" Giles asked.
"Well, for starters, Dawn is grounded until she's forty, and I think she's going to be doing some big time public groveling for Xander," Buffy said.
"Oh, that's really not necessary," Xander said. "I mean, no harm, no foul, right?"
"Xander," Buffy said, "you had to call your job and say 'I was in police custody for supposedly sleeping with my girlfriend's thirteen year old sister, so I won't be coming in today.' I don't know about you, but I consider that harm, and foul."
"Yeah, well, that was a little embarrassing, though I didn't word it quite like that," he said.
"You're not freaked out by this?" Buffy asked. "How are you so calm? You were taken into custody because of my *sister,*" she said.
"Uh. . . I dunno, Buff," he said. "I guess I haven't really given it much thought. Teenagers do dumb things."
"Xander!" she almost-yelled. "You were almost arrested because my sister is an irresponsible little brat, and you're telling me you haven't thought about it? You're not even a little mad?"
"I don't know," he said. "I was, I guess. But, what am I gonna do about it? She's not my responsibility, and being mad about it isn't gonna get me anywhere. Besides, when have I ever *really* been able to stay mad at a Summers?"
"Umm. . . junior year, when I wanted Willow to put Angel's soul back?"
"Okay, so that's a good point," he said. "But, in defense of my current position, that was something I had an opportunity to influence."
Buffy conceded his point with a nod. "Okay," she said. "But I still don't get how you're not a little irked."
"Well, I am, a little, but it's Dawnie. I can't stay mad at her."
"You're the only one," Buffy muttered.
"Now, that's not true," Xander said. "You know full well that Giles has absolutely no staying power against your sister. Less than I do."
"Yes, but he's a big softie, you're supposed to be a manly man."
"I'm standing right here!" Giles said.
"I'm sorry, Giles," Buffy said, turning to her watcher and pouting a little. "You know I love you."
"Yes well. . . just see that it doesn't happen again," he said, before going back to stocking his shelves.
Buffy turned back to Xander, her expression just radiating 'I told you so.'
"X-man!" came a shout as the bell over the door jingled. "Way to go cradle robber!"
Xander smacked his forehead down on the table. "Hi, Faith," he said, his voice completely devoid of emotion.
"Ahh, come on, champ!" she said, making her way over to the table. "Come on, where's your little trick?"
"Hey," Buffy said, protesting weakly. "That's my sister you're talking about."
"Yeah, but I'm not the one who's interested in her goods," Faith said as Riley walked into the store.
"I'm not interested in Dawnie's goods," Xander said.
"Actually," Riley said, "just the other day, weren't you using her as an example of somebody who's as much younger than you as Faith is than me?"
Xander groaned.
Buffy patted him on the back and kissed his shoulder. "Don't worry, sweetie," she said. "This should only continue for another couple months."
Xander groaned again and started repeatedly smacking his forehead into the table.
"Well," Giles said. "At least, if he breaks it, he can build me a new one."
* * * * *
"You work too slowly," Maggie Walsh said as she paced her office in the Initiative.
"I test their abilities. Ranged fighting. Hand-to-hand. They are. . . skilled."
"They are too close. Soon, it will hurt him too much."
"Soon? He already has. . . feelings for her."
"Yes. And they grow."
"He loves her."
"He does *not*!"
"You are too close to the boy. He clouds your vision."
"He is my most apt pupil. He will be the greatest of our soldiers."
"Your soldiers, Mother. I am but a humble servant."
"You shall sit at my right hand. My greatest creation."
"And the boy?"
"I love him, too, like a son. He will join us," she said, sitting in her chair and resting her head in her hands. She sighed a heavy sigh. "Or, he will die."
"It will not come to that."
"See that it doesn't."
* * * * *
Frustration.
Frustration was the word that would best describe Cordelia Chase's feelings at this point. She had no idea how to face the monumental task in front of her.
"Just pick a pile and start sorting," Angel said.
Cordelia looked up at him, he who was responsible for the complete mess that was their office, he, who was leaning so casually against the door frame, and she glared at him so hard he was entirely surprised he didn't burst into flames, despite the distinct lack of sunlight or fire.
"Sorry," Angel said, raising his hands in surrender and beginning his retreat back into his own office. "I'll just. . . let you get to this in your own way."
Cordelia grunted at him. "Stupid demon fighting boss fighting stupid demons in the office. Someone should just blow this place up." She had just decided to start on a pile, when a post-it note caught her eye, so she picked that up.
"Wesley!" she yelled, recognizing the handwriting. The British man soon entered from the hall, where he had been reading a newspaper.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Why are you calling the Magic Box about your mom and um. . . fish?"
"What?" Wesley asked, taking the note from her as she rested one hand on her hip. "Oh," he said, recognizing the note. "I didn't know this was the number from the Magic Box, although I did recognize the area code. I suppose I should have assumed that any mystical requests coming from that locale would naturally involve the 'Scooby Gang.'"
"Your mom and fish are mystical requests?"
"Fish? Oh, Pike. No, he's someone I met on the road during my time as a rogue demon hunter. He called requesting information on The Mother, a witch from around the turn of the 19th century, if I'm not mistaken. Why he, well, they I suppose, need information on her is a mystery to me. It was my understanding she died hundreds of years ago."
"She did," Angel said from the door, causing both Wesley and Cordelia to jump.
"God, don't *do* that!" Cordelia said.
"Sorry," he said. "Why did they want to know about The Mother?"
"I didn't ask," Wesley said. "You're certain she's dead?"
"I should be," Angel said. "I was with Darla when we killed her."
"Whoa," Cordelia said. "You killed someone else who was evil, *while* you were Angelus?"
"Well, we did that from time to time," he said. "You know, for the challenge."
"You understand I will commit my life to making sure you never ever get laid?"
Angel rolled his eyes. "It's not like I'm planning it anytime soon. When did Sunnydale call?"
"Earlier this week," Wesley said. "But it was an acquaintance of mine from my time-"
"As a rogue demon hunter, we know," Cordelia said.
"Yes, well. He called me on my cellular phone and requested any information I had. It seemed he might have been having some problems with her, but of course, we now know that is impossible."
Angel nodded. "Well, whatever they're on is probably important, so you should get back to them soon."
"Yes, of course, I shall get right on that," Wesley said. He looked around the office. "Um. . . where is the phone?"
Cordelia looked around. "I think it's under one of the piles over by the desk."
Wesley made his way over to the desktop, found the phone and dialed.
[Magic Box, this is Faith.]
Wesley's voice broke.
[Hey, it's your dime, pal. If you're just gonna be breathin' at me, I'm hangin' up.]
Wesley held the phone away from his ear, looked at it and hung up. "The timing wasn't quite right," he said.
"What kind of timing do you need?" Cordelia asked. "Just pick up the damn phone, dial, and say 'Hi, this is Wesley calling about your witch. She's dead, Angel killed her, look somewhere else.'"
"You don't think they'll be wanting any explanation about why it is I who is returning Pike's phone call?"
"What, it's that hard to explain the council canned you because you lost both your slayers and now you work for Angel, but you met Pike on the road?"
"No. . . I suppose not. Did you know Faith works for Rupert?"
"Uh huh," Cordelia said, flipping through a few papers. "Xander said she really works the male customers well. I guess that's her inner slut coming out."
"Cordelia!" Wesley said, aghast.
"Oh please," she said. "You haven't been shocked by anything I've said in over a month. Hey, is talking to her what you meant by bad timing?"
"Well, we've not really spoken since I. . . "
"Attacked her ruthlessly behind the backs of the people who were trying to help her, in order to send her to a bunch of stuffy pricks in England who probably would have ended up killing her?"
"Yes, quite," Wesley said. "I'd say I'm a tad uncomfortable confronting her."
"Afraid she'll bite your head off?"
"A bit, yes."
"Well, look at it this way," Cordelia said. "You can either call now, and apologize to her, and face whatever she has to say, or you can find Giles' home number, call him later tonight, and then spend the next few months being ridiculed by me for being a little girly man."
Wesley looked at her for a few seconds, judged her to be completely serious, and picked up the phone again.
[Magic Box, this is Faith.]
Wesley cleared his throat. "Hello, Faith. This is Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. How are you?"
There was a pause.
[Wes, hey. I'm good.]
"Excellent. The reason I am calling is a young man whom I met on the road contacted me recently about some information regarding someone named 'The Mother'."
[Right, witch bitch. Got anything?]
"I do, actually. She's dead."
[We heard that version too] Faith said, [but we're not buying.]
"Oh, it's most accurate, I assure you."
[Yeah? How do ya know?]
"I am working for Angel now, and it was he, or rather Angelus, along with Darla, his sire, who killed the Mother."
[Oh. That's pretty solid. All right, I'll let the kids know. Anything else?]
Wesley paused. "Yes, there is. Faith, I feel I must apologize for-"
[Forget it, Wes. You were doin' your job.]
"That is no excuse for not doing the right thing, and as a human being, I am ashamed of my behavior, both as a Watcher. . . and a man."
Faith sighed. [Yeah. All right. Then I guess I should apologize for tryin' to kill ya, along with the rest of the Scoobs.]
"Of course," Wesley said. "You are forgiven."
An awkward silence ensued.
"Well, I have some work I must get back to."
[Yeah, and I got some customers. Thanks for the info, it's a help.]
"Of course, Faith. Anytime."
Wesley hung up the phone.
"See? Now that wasn't too hard, was it?" Cordelia said.
Wesley just glared.
----------
End Chapter 15
She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek, then hopped out of the car and made her way to the school. Xander watched to make sure she got there okay, worrying despite the explicitly sunny nature of the Southern California morning. He failed to see the uniformed police officer approaching his car.
"Excuse me, sir," the officer said.
Xander rolled down his window. "Good morning. Can I help you?"
"Are you. . . " the man checked his notepad, "Xander Harris?"
"Yes. Is something wrong?"
"Would you step out of the car, sir?"
"What?"
"Step out of the car, sir. Now."
Xander turned off the car, unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his door.
"Can I ask what the problem is, officer?"
"Please turn around and face the car, Mr. Harris."
"Am I being arrested?"
"Please turn around and face the car, Mr. Harris, I don't want to ask you again."
Xander turned around, and the officer cuffed him. "You're not being arrested," he said. "We just want you to come in for some questioning."
"Are the cuffs really necessary then?" Xander asked.
"Just a precaution," said the officer. "I've read your file."
"I have a file?" Xander asked.
The officer led Xander over to the his squad car, placed him in the back, and sped off.
* * * * *
Xander had been sitting in a featureless room for almost an hour now. There was a mirror, which Xander assumed led to an observation room, a table, and a tape recorder.
"Alexander Harris?" asked a middle aged woman, stepping into the room.
"Yeah," he said. "What's this all about?"
The woman sat across from him. "I'm Detective Wooderson. Do you mind if I tape this?"
"Feel free," Xander said. "Wooderson, huh? Like in Dazed and Confused?"
"Excuse me? I'm not familiar with the reference."
"Oh, it's from a movie. Wooderson, was played by uh. . . Matthew McConaughey. He was one of those guys, you know? Always hanging around the high school, hitting on high school girls. Sleazebag, but kinda funny, in a sick way."
Wooderson grew very quiet at this. "You think older men who hit on little girls are sick?" she asked.
"Um. Yeah. Doesn't everyone?"
"Mr. Harris, I'm going to ask you a few questions. If at anytime you feel uncomfortable, just ask me to stop. You're not under arrest, but you're entitled to have a lawyer here. Would you like a lawyer?"
"I'd like to know what this is about," Xander said, a little agitatedly.
"Is that a no to the lawyer, then?"
"Yeah, for now," Xander said.
"Would you like some water?"
"I'm fine, I just want to know what's going on."
"All right, Mr. Harris. Where do you currently work?"
"Jameson Construction," he said.
"And your job there?"
"I was recently promoted to Head of Carpentry," he said, with a little pride.
"Congratulations," said the woman.
"I get the feeling that was less than sincere."
"What is your relationship with Dawn Summers?"
Xander was a little thrown by the change in topic. "Uh. . . she's a cool little girl," he said. "I'm dating her older sister Buffy. I look out for her, take her to school pretty often on my way to work."
"Mr. Harris, do you know the age of consent in the state of California?"
"Excuse me?"
"The age of consent in the state of California, Mr. Harris."
"Uhh. . . eighteen?"
"Eighteen. That's right. And how old is Ms. Summers?"
"Thirteen. Detective, I don't like what this line of questioning is implying."
"Well maybe you should have thought of that before you-"
Wooderson cut off as glass shattered against the door, which opened moments later. "Uhh, detective? We. . . have a situation."
Wooderson turned off the tape recorder and stepped outside.
Xander sat in the room, angry at the implications that had been laid before him, and getting angrier by the minute. The door opened, and Xander was surprised to see the entrant.
"Joyce, thank God," he said.
"Dawn saw you being taken away and called me. What's this all about?" she asked.
"They haven't exactly told me anything yet. But, I get the feeling they're about to charge me with doing something to Dawnie. Joyce, I swear, I would never-"
"I know, Xander," Joyce said. "I would never believe that of you. We're going to get this all sorted out somehow. I'm going to call the school, and have Rupert pick Dawn up. We'll get this all sorted out."
"I don't know how this happened, Mrs. S," he said. "I've never even thought about -"
"I know. It's okay. We're going to work this out."
* * * * *
"Once again, I would just like to apologize on behalf of the entire department," Detective Wooderson said.
"Well maybe next time you'll actually investigate something before jumping to a ludicrous conclusion," Joyce said. "This type of gross incompetence is so typical of this department. You people disgust me."
Joyce grabbed a teary-eyed Dawn by the arm and dragged her to the Jeep. Dawn wrenched her arm away from her mother and ran back to Xander, flinging her arms around his neck.
"I am so, so, so sorry, Xander, please please please don't hate me, please, I swear I won't do it again, please don't hate me."
Xander hugged the girl reassuringly. "I don't hate you, Dawn, but you need to go with your mom now."
Dawn walked sullenly back to her mother, who was not amused. Giles and Xander stood there.
"Can I get a ride to my car?" he asked.
"Of course," Giles said, leading the way to his Citroen. They rode in silence for a few minutes, until Giles broke the awkward silence.
"Xander," he said, "while I in no way wish to undermine the seriousness of such a charge, while at the same time emphasizing that in no way would any of us ever have believed such a ridiculous thing, I should make you aware of one thing."
"Yeah, Giles?"
A slightly evil grin broke its way onto Giles' face. "When I tell Faith, she is never going to let you live this down."
* * * * *
"Wow," Buffy said upon entering the Magic Box later that day. "Mom is *pissed*."
"Well, I'd say she has every right to be," Giles said. "It is a huge hassle, and extremely irresponsible. I mean, she, she, she spread rumors in school about certain. . . activities with Xander, was overheard by administration, and Xander was arrested!"
"Oh, I'm totally with you on this," Buffy said. "Besides, I'm the only one who gets to do those things."
"Oh, come on. It's not like she meant to get me arrested," Xander said.
Giles shot Xander a look.
"Yeah, okay, the law of unintended consequences, I know, she should be more careful. But it's kinda. . . " Xander said.
"If you even think about being flattered, you are so not getting any for the whole week," Buffy said.
Xander snapped his jaw shut.
"So what has your mother decided to do?" Giles asked.
"Well, for starters, Dawn is grounded until she's forty, and I think she's going to be doing some big time public groveling for Xander," Buffy said.
"Oh, that's really not necessary," Xander said. "I mean, no harm, no foul, right?"
"Xander," Buffy said, "you had to call your job and say 'I was in police custody for supposedly sleeping with my girlfriend's thirteen year old sister, so I won't be coming in today.' I don't know about you, but I consider that harm, and foul."
"Yeah, well, that was a little embarrassing, though I didn't word it quite like that," he said.
"You're not freaked out by this?" Buffy asked. "How are you so calm? You were taken into custody because of my *sister,*" she said.
"Uh. . . I dunno, Buff," he said. "I guess I haven't really given it much thought. Teenagers do dumb things."
"Xander!" she almost-yelled. "You were almost arrested because my sister is an irresponsible little brat, and you're telling me you haven't thought about it? You're not even a little mad?"
"I don't know," he said. "I was, I guess. But, what am I gonna do about it? She's not my responsibility, and being mad about it isn't gonna get me anywhere. Besides, when have I ever *really* been able to stay mad at a Summers?"
"Umm. . . junior year, when I wanted Willow to put Angel's soul back?"
"Okay, so that's a good point," he said. "But, in defense of my current position, that was something I had an opportunity to influence."
Buffy conceded his point with a nod. "Okay," she said. "But I still don't get how you're not a little irked."
"Well, I am, a little, but it's Dawnie. I can't stay mad at her."
"You're the only one," Buffy muttered.
"Now, that's not true," Xander said. "You know full well that Giles has absolutely no staying power against your sister. Less than I do."
"Yes, but he's a big softie, you're supposed to be a manly man."
"I'm standing right here!" Giles said.
"I'm sorry, Giles," Buffy said, turning to her watcher and pouting a little. "You know I love you."
"Yes well. . . just see that it doesn't happen again," he said, before going back to stocking his shelves.
Buffy turned back to Xander, her expression just radiating 'I told you so.'
"X-man!" came a shout as the bell over the door jingled. "Way to go cradle robber!"
Xander smacked his forehead down on the table. "Hi, Faith," he said, his voice completely devoid of emotion.
"Ahh, come on, champ!" she said, making her way over to the table. "Come on, where's your little trick?"
"Hey," Buffy said, protesting weakly. "That's my sister you're talking about."
"Yeah, but I'm not the one who's interested in her goods," Faith said as Riley walked into the store.
"I'm not interested in Dawnie's goods," Xander said.
"Actually," Riley said, "just the other day, weren't you using her as an example of somebody who's as much younger than you as Faith is than me?"
Xander groaned.
Buffy patted him on the back and kissed his shoulder. "Don't worry, sweetie," she said. "This should only continue for another couple months."
Xander groaned again and started repeatedly smacking his forehead into the table.
"Well," Giles said. "At least, if he breaks it, he can build me a new one."
* * * * *
"You work too slowly," Maggie Walsh said as she paced her office in the Initiative.
"I test their abilities. Ranged fighting. Hand-to-hand. They are. . . skilled."
"They are too close. Soon, it will hurt him too much."
"Soon? He already has. . . feelings for her."
"Yes. And they grow."
"He loves her."
"He does *not*!"
"You are too close to the boy. He clouds your vision."
"He is my most apt pupil. He will be the greatest of our soldiers."
"Your soldiers, Mother. I am but a humble servant."
"You shall sit at my right hand. My greatest creation."
"And the boy?"
"I love him, too, like a son. He will join us," she said, sitting in her chair and resting her head in her hands. She sighed a heavy sigh. "Or, he will die."
"It will not come to that."
"See that it doesn't."
* * * * *
Frustration.
Frustration was the word that would best describe Cordelia Chase's feelings at this point. She had no idea how to face the monumental task in front of her.
"Just pick a pile and start sorting," Angel said.
Cordelia looked up at him, he who was responsible for the complete mess that was their office, he, who was leaning so casually against the door frame, and she glared at him so hard he was entirely surprised he didn't burst into flames, despite the distinct lack of sunlight or fire.
"Sorry," Angel said, raising his hands in surrender and beginning his retreat back into his own office. "I'll just. . . let you get to this in your own way."
Cordelia grunted at him. "Stupid demon fighting boss fighting stupid demons in the office. Someone should just blow this place up." She had just decided to start on a pile, when a post-it note caught her eye, so she picked that up.
"Wesley!" she yelled, recognizing the handwriting. The British man soon entered from the hall, where he had been reading a newspaper.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Why are you calling the Magic Box about your mom and um. . . fish?"
"What?" Wesley asked, taking the note from her as she rested one hand on her hip. "Oh," he said, recognizing the note. "I didn't know this was the number from the Magic Box, although I did recognize the area code. I suppose I should have assumed that any mystical requests coming from that locale would naturally involve the 'Scooby Gang.'"
"Your mom and fish are mystical requests?"
"Fish? Oh, Pike. No, he's someone I met on the road during my time as a rogue demon hunter. He called requesting information on The Mother, a witch from around the turn of the 19th century, if I'm not mistaken. Why he, well, they I suppose, need information on her is a mystery to me. It was my understanding she died hundreds of years ago."
"She did," Angel said from the door, causing both Wesley and Cordelia to jump.
"God, don't *do* that!" Cordelia said.
"Sorry," he said. "Why did they want to know about The Mother?"
"I didn't ask," Wesley said. "You're certain she's dead?"
"I should be," Angel said. "I was with Darla when we killed her."
"Whoa," Cordelia said. "You killed someone else who was evil, *while* you were Angelus?"
"Well, we did that from time to time," he said. "You know, for the challenge."
"You understand I will commit my life to making sure you never ever get laid?"
Angel rolled his eyes. "It's not like I'm planning it anytime soon. When did Sunnydale call?"
"Earlier this week," Wesley said. "But it was an acquaintance of mine from my time-"
"As a rogue demon hunter, we know," Cordelia said.
"Yes, well. He called me on my cellular phone and requested any information I had. It seemed he might have been having some problems with her, but of course, we now know that is impossible."
Angel nodded. "Well, whatever they're on is probably important, so you should get back to them soon."
"Yes, of course, I shall get right on that," Wesley said. He looked around the office. "Um. . . where is the phone?"
Cordelia looked around. "I think it's under one of the piles over by the desk."
Wesley made his way over to the desktop, found the phone and dialed.
[Magic Box, this is Faith.]
Wesley's voice broke.
[Hey, it's your dime, pal. If you're just gonna be breathin' at me, I'm hangin' up.]
Wesley held the phone away from his ear, looked at it and hung up. "The timing wasn't quite right," he said.
"What kind of timing do you need?" Cordelia asked. "Just pick up the damn phone, dial, and say 'Hi, this is Wesley calling about your witch. She's dead, Angel killed her, look somewhere else.'"
"You don't think they'll be wanting any explanation about why it is I who is returning Pike's phone call?"
"What, it's that hard to explain the council canned you because you lost both your slayers and now you work for Angel, but you met Pike on the road?"
"No. . . I suppose not. Did you know Faith works for Rupert?"
"Uh huh," Cordelia said, flipping through a few papers. "Xander said she really works the male customers well. I guess that's her inner slut coming out."
"Cordelia!" Wesley said, aghast.
"Oh please," she said. "You haven't been shocked by anything I've said in over a month. Hey, is talking to her what you meant by bad timing?"
"Well, we've not really spoken since I. . . "
"Attacked her ruthlessly behind the backs of the people who were trying to help her, in order to send her to a bunch of stuffy pricks in England who probably would have ended up killing her?"
"Yes, quite," Wesley said. "I'd say I'm a tad uncomfortable confronting her."
"Afraid she'll bite your head off?"
"A bit, yes."
"Well, look at it this way," Cordelia said. "You can either call now, and apologize to her, and face whatever she has to say, or you can find Giles' home number, call him later tonight, and then spend the next few months being ridiculed by me for being a little girly man."
Wesley looked at her for a few seconds, judged her to be completely serious, and picked up the phone again.
[Magic Box, this is Faith.]
Wesley cleared his throat. "Hello, Faith. This is Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. How are you?"
There was a pause.
[Wes, hey. I'm good.]
"Excellent. The reason I am calling is a young man whom I met on the road contacted me recently about some information regarding someone named 'The Mother'."
[Right, witch bitch. Got anything?]
"I do, actually. She's dead."
[We heard that version too] Faith said, [but we're not buying.]
"Oh, it's most accurate, I assure you."
[Yeah? How do ya know?]
"I am working for Angel now, and it was he, or rather Angelus, along with Darla, his sire, who killed the Mother."
[Oh. That's pretty solid. All right, I'll let the kids know. Anything else?]
Wesley paused. "Yes, there is. Faith, I feel I must apologize for-"
[Forget it, Wes. You were doin' your job.]
"That is no excuse for not doing the right thing, and as a human being, I am ashamed of my behavior, both as a Watcher. . . and a man."
Faith sighed. [Yeah. All right. Then I guess I should apologize for tryin' to kill ya, along with the rest of the Scoobs.]
"Of course," Wesley said. "You are forgiven."
An awkward silence ensued.
"Well, I have some work I must get back to."
[Yeah, and I got some customers. Thanks for the info, it's a help.]
"Of course, Faith. Anytime."
Wesley hung up the phone.
"See? Now that wasn't too hard, was it?" Cordelia said.
Wesley just glared.
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End Chapter 15
