Cordelia, Wesley, Lorne and Gunn backed up against the wall slowly. Cordelia was the only one who stopped backing up and spoke.
"Angel! This isn't you! I know you're in there somewhere." She said taking two steps towards Angelus.
"Cordelia don't." Wesley said grabbing Cordy's arm and pulling her back towards him, "It's useless Cordy; Angel cannot overcome Angelus without a soul."
"Aww, Cordelia Chase; are you afraid you'll never see your precious Angel again? Well you're right." Angelus said laughing, "I don't plan on letting him come back this time. He is nothing with that pathetic soul. I am the real Angelus, and I won't let him take over me again."
"You don't mean that. You know you don't Angel." Cordy said.
"Angel was useless, honey, and with that pitiful soul he's just pathetic demon, if you can even call him that. He's almost as bad as you useless humans. Oh don't be sad little human, you won't be alive to miss Angel much longer." Angelus continues to laugh.
Cordelia couldn't take this. She couldn't see the man she loved in front of her, yet not see him. This thing looked like him, but without his soul, the real Angel was locked somewhere deep inside. The Angel that she knew and deeply loved was lost. She needed him to come back. To comfort and protect her. The Powers That Be had brought her back, to what? See the man she loved turned into this terrible monster? How was she supposed to save Angel if he was lost to this soulless demon, Angelus?
"Angel, please don't let him take over you." She said slowly, the tears now falling down her soft face, "Please come back to me Angel." She said pulling herself free of Wesley's grip and stepping closer to Angelus.
"You're a foolish girl Cordelia. You think he's stronger than I am? That he can break through because he had a soul? Think again sweet girl, he's gone!" Angelus said grinning evilly at Cordelia.
"I know that Angel is stronger! He can fight you, and win too! You're nothing!" Cordelia said wiping the tears from her cheeks and stepping further forward.
"Cordelia don't do this!" Wesley tried to say, but it was too late.
With that being said Angelus lunged forward and took Cordelia by the neck. He tightened his hand around her thin throat and lifted her clear off of the ground. Cordelia struggled to breathe and kicked her legs towards Angelus, in a hopeless attempt to get free.
"Put her down Angelus!" Wesley demanded now stepping forward also.
"Do you really think that's a good idea? I could snap her neck in a second so maybe you want to rethink coming any closer to me. You were right by the way, I can hurt her. I can kill her too if I want to, and I do." Angelus said squeezing his fingers tighter around Cordelia's throat.
"Don't do this Angelus, what is it you want here?" Gunn asked stepping in front of Wesley protectively.
"What do I want? What do I want? What the hell do you think I want? I am a vampire and a damn good one at that! I want to kill this stupid bitch and all you stupid humans too!" Angelus said.
Despite the struggle to breathe Cordelia was hurt by the terrible words. She kept telling herself that it wasn't Angel, but it didn't help and the tears stung her face again.
That moment Angel was knocked down and quickly jabbed by a needle.
"What the?" Gunn asked quickly helping Cordelia up from where she had fallen to the ground.
"Is he? Is he...dead?" Cordy asked walking closer to Angelus.
"Nope. He'll be fine later. This stuff could bring down any demon in a few seconds. The name's Andy, I work in the lab." Andy said smiling. "Are you all okay?"
"Um yes, I suppose, but how did you know?" Wesley asked looking confused.
It was only then that the group noticed Harmony on getting up from the floor and brushing herself off.
"I told him! Wasn't that awesome? Did you totally see me knock that sucker over?" Harmony asked excitedly.
"Harmony? How did you know he was Angelus?" Gunn asked.
"Duh! I am a vampire yah know. God do you people know anything? I can sense these things. I knew the second he entered this lobby that he wasn't Angel anymore. I rock don't I? See I can come in handy too yah know!" Harmony said puffing her chest out with pride.
"Uh huh. So what do we do with Angelus?" Wesley asked. "We can't exactly let him go can we?" Gunn said.
"No. We have it all under control now. We'll have to hold him in the under ground compounds." Andy said calmly, as the rest of the research team came in to take Angelus downstairs.
"Is he going to be okay? I mean can we get Angel back?" Cordy asked worriedly, wiping the tears off her face.
"Its okay honey, we'll sort this all out." Lorne said putting his arm around Cordelia's quivering shoulders.

***

Later on down in the holding compounds.

"Angel I'm so sorry. I know we'll get you back. I love you." Cordelia said to Angelus, as he lay still unconscious with his back to her.
"Oh how touching!" Angelus, who apparently had woken up said as he rolled slowly over.
"You love me do you? Well the feeling is not reciprocated, Hun." He said grinning at her.
"Angel will beat you, and you know it. We are going to do the spell and get him back as soon as possible. You'll be history then!" Cordelia said turning to walk off.
"Is that so? And you're going to do this spell are you?" Angelus asked.
"No as a matter of fact we have the perfect person to do it. She'll perform the spell and you can kiss your soullessness goodbye!" Cordelia said turning her head and grinning at him.
"We'll see, we'll see." Angelus said as Cordelia walked off.
We will see, Cordy thought as she walked off. We will bring Willow here, and she'll save Angel's soul, again. She'll help us, and we won't have to kill Angel. Everything will be okay. She hoped.

TBC...