New Way of Life
NOTE: I do not own these Angel and Buffy characters, but if you see anyone whom you do not recognize, he/she belongs to me.
A/N: This story takes place after Chosen, but before Conviction, meaning it's the summer in between. To put down a recap, Spike burned up, everyone (minus Anya) escaped on the school bus, Buffy and her friends haven't split up yet, and Angel Inc is preparing to move into W&H. On with the story…
CHAPTER 2
Fred sat on the side of Angel's bed, close to him. She wrung out a rag that had been soaking in ice water and patted it against his forehead. His fever just didn't seem to be getting any better. Angel let off moans every now and then, but he still wasn't even close to alert. Fred's heart ached badly for him, her concern growing by the minute. Her poor hero.
"Oh, Angel," she said softly. "What's happening to you?"
Gunn stood in the doorway, his careful brown eyes watching them. How could he have been so stupid? Why had he left Angel alone with the rest of those vampires and demons? Angel was more than known for being able to handle himself, but Gunn still should have known better. He looked on as Fred dabbed at Angel's forehead with the cold rag again, Angel letting off another moan.
Downstairs, Wesley sat behind the main desk, his face buried in a thick book, trying to find out just what was wrong with Angel. He had little to go on and what he did have wasn't exactly the most helpful.
"Geez," Lorne sighed, entering the hotel. "Dead night out there."
Wesley looked up at him. "Lorne, any luck?"
"Not a bit on the mojo girl Gunn was talking about," Lorne replied. "But I have every contact of mine on it. They should be able to dig up something."
Wesley just nodded, clearly a little disappointed at the lack of good news.
"Hey," Gunn greeted quietly as he and Fred headed down the stairs, going into the lobby.
"How is he?" Wesley asked.
"He's OK right now," Fred said. "His chills have eased a little, but his body is starting to get too warm and his fever is getting worse."
"Great," Lorne sighed again.
"What about you?" Fred asked Wesley. "Do you know who this woman is that poisoned Angel or whatever she did to him?"
"I haven't found anything," said Wesley. "Gunn, are you sure you didn't at least get a look at her?"
Gunn shook his head, attempting to think. "Got a flash of brown hair I think. She drained some kind of dark light from Angel, but that's all I got."
Wesley sighed deeply as if to make a decision. "Angel's only getting worse and we can't help him here."
"Maybe it's time to bring in Wolfram and Hart," Fred suggested. "They have resources that we don't and they could probably—"
"No," Wesley cut her off immediately. "We still cannot trust Wolfram and Hart. We don't know what they have planned for Angel."
"Plus them finding out Angel's completely alive and sort of kicking, not the best scenario," Lorne said.
"It's not good for any demons to find out that the world's champion has fallen," said Wesley. He stared into everyone's eyes seriously, showing that he wasn't kidding in the least. "He can't stay here."
Fred looked at him in bewilderment. "Wesley, what are you talking about? Where's he supposed to go?"
"Away." Wesley went around the desk before continuing. "The only other place where we can guarantee his safety is with Buffy."
"Buffy?" Fred repeated. That name had caused a dagger like feeling in her heart once. Luckily, afterwards she immediately got over her crush on Angel. "How are we supposed to reach her?"
"Angel said she was in Rome the last they spoke," said Wesley. "We have to call her up. She's the only one who can protect Angel in this state."
"Well, one of us has to go with him," Fred insisted. "He can't even move."
"I'll go," Gunn suddenly volunteered. All attention turned to him.
"Gunn, that's all right, but I should be the one," said Wesley. "I am the only one here who knows Buffy and the others."
"No, I got it," said Gunn. "Just give me some names and an address and I'm good. Besides, y'all need to stay here and keep this research going. See what you can find."
"All right," Wesley gave in, deciding not to argue the issue. "I'll phone Buffy's hotel. It's been years. She'll more than likely be thrilled to hear a familiar voice."
"Hello?" Buffy greeted into the phone. She and Dawn had just made it back to their room. "Oh, Wesley." The Slayer rolled her eyes, making Dawn laugh from where she sat on her bed. "Is this an apocalyptic thing? What?" Buffy's face flushed with concern. "Is he OK?"
Dawn got up from her bed and went to stand at her sister's side. "What is it, Buffy?"
"Are you serious? That can't be right." Buffy's heart actually skipped a beat. Angel human? It couldn't be. "Yeah, it's fine with me," Buffy continued her conversation. "The day after tomorrow? We'll be ready. Thanks for letting me know. Bye." She hung up then, the worried expression still on her face.
"Buffy, come on," Dawn nudged eagerly. "What was that about?"
"That was Wesley," Buffy explained, turning to her. "Angel got hurt in a fight and some demon lady put a hex on him or something."
"What happened to him?"
"He's human."
"He's—" Dawn stopped, realizing what her sister had just said. "Human? As in no more… grr?"
"Exactly." Buffy turned to pick up the phone again.
"Are you calling the others?" Dawn asked.
"No, I'm phoning downstairs. I have to tell them to send up a cot for Angel."
"But wait. Shouldn't we be telling everyone else about this? I mean from what I heard Angel will be here this week. Won't that be just a little shockish?"
"You're right," Buffy admitted with a sigh. "Come on. We'll call everyone's room and tell them to get over here. It'll be like a team meeting thing."
A few minutes later the Scooby gang, which wasn't as big as it used to be, was gathered in Buffy and Dawn's hotel room. Willow sat in an armchair while Kennedy sat on the armrest of the chair, her arm draped across the top of it. Xander sat next to Dawn on her bed, Xander's mouth never closing as Buffy explained the situation.
"OK," Xander started once Buffy was done. "My first reaction is… what the hell? While my second reaction is… what the friggin' hell?"
"I know it's a lot to take in," Buffy said.
"More than just a little, Buff," Willow piped up. "I mean this is Angel and he's coming here right out of the blue."
"Who is this Angel guy?" Kennedy asked, shaking her head in confusion.
Willow turned to her, realizing she had never exactly explained the Angel saga. "He used to be Buffy's boyfriend," she told her simply.
"Her psychotic, killer, not to mention vampire boyfriend," Xander added.
"Vampire?" Kennedy broke in.
"And whenever he's around stuff happens," Xander continued, his attention focused on Buffy. "You know like murders of people we like."
"Xander, you know that was a long time ago," said Buffy. "He's more than changed. He's gone to hell and back, literally."
"Oh, he's changed," Xander chortled with sarcasm. "Good one, Buffy. Using one of the classic excuses. We all know that the second you two are around each other that—"
"He's human now," Dawn spoke up, helping out her sister. "He does good and everything."
"Human?" Xander scoffed. "Sure that wasn't a tummy rumble watcher boy heard instead of a heartbeat?"
"Listen," Willow broke in. "Guys, can't we debate about this later? Angel's going to be here on Wednesday and we could all use some sleep and happy thoughts before the big reunion."
"Fine," Buffy agreed, releasing a breath. "Will, you want to come with me to the airport when he gets here?"
"Sure," the witch nodded with a little smile.
She stood then and headed out of the room, Kennedy right behind her. "Willow," Kennedy said once they'd returned to their own room, which was down the hall. "What's going on here? Why is everyone making such a big deal out of this guy? And what did Xander mean by vampire?"'
Willow sighed, wondering where to begin. "Well, he actually is… sort of a vampire. Think about Spike, only cuddlier." Kennedy gave her a look and she immediately added, "Not that I know from past experiences."
"He and Buffy have major history?" Kennedy asked, sticking her hands into her pockets.
"Major history?" Willow repeated incredulously. "That nowhere near begins that saga that is them. Angel was her boyfriend, Kennedy. Her real boyfriend. I'd never seen Buffy look that way towards anyone and total vise versa."
Kennedy still looked confused. "Then why aren't they still together?"
"A whole weird gypsy curse thing. They get together, perfect happiness results, and Angel turns into someone else. A killing spree someone else."
"Wow." Kennedy thought for a minute. "Does she date any living guys?"
"Well, yeah, but they're all pretty stale. And technically Angel's not dead anymore… I think."
"Everything is so weird. I mean I've only been a Slayer for a few days, but I know how this works. Slayer kills vampire. I never heard the part about Slayer loving not one, but two vamps."
"Actually, I think Spike was the only one in love in that scenario," Willow said. "Not really sure."
Kennedy sighed. "I'm going to bed." She went and lay in the queen sized bed. "Hopefully my head will be nice and clear in the morning."
A/N: Enjoyed this part? If you did, let me know. Please review!