Here's where things pick up a bit. Thanks to the people who have reviewed so far. You guys and gals are great. I want more reviews!! Please, pretty please.
Chapter Three – Bad Coffee
The next morning Cordy sat at her desk, twirling her hair, bored stiff. No cases, all the filing done, nothing to do. Not even any visions. And no guys. I guess they all want to stay away from me, she thought. The evil, uber bitch that she had become in the past couple of weeks would probably scare off anyone.
Make coffee, she decided. That will bring Angel down and maybe Frick and Frack will decide to join them. She noticed a new brand of coffee sitting right in front of the machine. The note on it read, "For you. Try it." Not very original, but Cordy didn't care one bit.
It smelled delicious even before she opened up the bag. It smelled even more heavenly when it was brewing. By the time she had finished her first cup, she was practically moaning. This was the best coffee she had ever had. She had to have another.
"Gonna share that," Gunn announced from the other side of the counter.
"This is the best stuff. Angel must love me. You have to try some." Cordy handed him a cup, which he took eagerly.
Gunn took a sip and put it down. "Damn woman, this stuff sure is bitter. How much grounds did you use?"
Cordy smiled at him. No come back. No snarky comment. "If you want, I could make another fresh pot."
Gunn shook his head. Maybe Angel's yelling had finally gotten through her thick skull. "No, that's OK. I've already had some. Where's Angel and Wes?"
"You know, I don't know. Do you want me to phone them? I could if you want."
OK, now the woman was taking the nice, nice too far, Gunn thought.
"You OK? Because you are never this nice to me in the morning." He backed up some just so he could duck if she threw something his way.
"Must be the coffee. It's such a great morning. You know what, we should polish your weapons today. Then maybe I can take you to lunch. How about it?"
Ms. I'm-so-cheap-with-her-friends wanted to buy him lunch. Either she's possessed or she's had way too much coffee. He'd keep an eye on her today, just in case.
When he heard the front door, Gunn breathed a sigh or relief. Maybe the pompous Englishman would help him decide what was up with Cordy.
"Gunn, morning," Wesley called to him.
"Hey, Wes sweetie," Cordy waved to Wesley. Wesley stopped short.
"Hello, Cordelia," he said slowly, looking around for someone or something to jump out at him.
"Want some coffee. This is the best stuff I've ever had." Cordy held up a cup to him.
"It's bitter," Gunn whispered to Wesley as he walked by.
"Excuse me? The coffee or Cordelia. She's not going to crash me over the head or something?" Wesley whispered back.
"Not sure at this point."
Wesley took his cup from Cordelia and tasted it. He grimaced, putting it down. "Not in the mood for caffeine at the moment. I've already had my tea at home. So . . . "
"It's been really quiet around here. I thought maybe this afternoon the two of us could look at the filing system. Maybe redo a few things."
Wesley cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out the puzzle that was Cordelia. "Um, if you think so," he answered, not knowing that if that was the response she wanted.
"Great, then it's a date. Now I have to help Gunn with his weapons."
Wesley raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Gunn.
"Don't even think that. Gutter, Wesley." Gunn made motions like Wes was falling into one. "The real ones."
"Oh, Oh. Right. I'll just review that research I had started yesterday before Angel sent us home."
Cordelia put her hand on his arm, stopping him from going to his desk. "I just want to apologize for that little tiff from yesterday. You were right, I was wrong. Last night, I had an epiphany. If we are going to work together so closely then I'm going to have to treat you differently."
Since it was warm that morning, Wesley had worn a regular oxford shirt and brought his jacket. He could feel her warm, slim hand through his shirt. He could also feel her thumb rubbing back and forth just slightly. It made him a bit uncomfortable and a bit warmer than he already was.
"Apology accepted. And you're right. We do have to work together very closely. And I'm sorry if I said anything untoward regarding you." At least he had come in here with a plan. She was blowing it all to shreds.
He looked over to where Gunn was standing, next to the weapons closet, eyes bugging out. Cordelia finally let go of his arm and walked over to greet Gunn.
She looked back at him and smiled. But not just any smile. He knew that smile. She had flashed that smile at him in Sunnydale when she flirted with him. She wanted something from him, was all he could conclude. And it must be either dangerous or expensive.
"Here, why don't you start and I'll be back in a moment," Wesley heard Gunn tell Cordelia. He handed her a dagger and a rag.
"Sure," she answered as she started to polish it.
Gunn rolled his eyes as he approached Wesley. "Alright, who kidnapped Cordy and put an alien in her place," Gunn whispered.
"Something's up. I can tell. She did that smile thing. Like she wants something. She must be playing us." That was the only thing Wesley could think of for the moment.
"Well, we'll just watch her today. Somethin' ain't right. I can feel it."
The two of them watched as Cordelia bent over to retrieve another weapon. Both had a spectacular view of her behind. It was almost like she did it on purpose, Wesley thought.
"Yes, I think you're right. Maybe Angel can shed some light on the situation."
"Whenever he gets his lazy, dead ass down here today."
-----
Angel made an appearance finally after lunchtime. Cordelia and Gunn were still not back and that worried Wesley. When had the two ever gone out to lunch together? Was he just jealous?
"Morning. Or should I say afternoon. It's one thirty," Wesley grumbled to Angel.
"Sorry. I was up late. Not sleeping well."
Angel turned when he saw Gunn and Cordelia come in the front door. Both were smiling and laughing, just like best friends. She rubbed his shoulder as he walked down the stairs.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" she asked as she came up behind Gunn.
"You have some of the best jokes, Cordy," Gunn told her.
Angel just shook his head and headed for the coffee pot.
"Do you want me to make you a new pot, Angel?"
The three men turned to her with bewildered looks on their faces. She never offered to make coffee unless they were in trouble or going to die a horrible death because of some demon.
"Um, no. That's OK. It's still warm." Angel looked back and forth between the two other men. He took a sip of the still warm coffee and grimaced. "Kind of strong, isn't it?"
"I could make some more. It's new coffee. It must take less grounds." Cordelia happily picked up the almost empty pot to take it and rinse it out in the bathroom.
"OK, what's going on here guys. I sleep in late and Cordy's offering to make coffee for me. Is there another apocolypse coming or something?" Angel was prepared for the worst.
"We don't know what's going on, Angel. She's been very nice to each of us all morning. She even took Gunn out for lunch," Wesley told him.
Angel frowned at the younger, dark man. He was not jealous, no way. How come she never offered to take him out? She usually threw a take-out menu his way and told him to fork over some cash.
"Then why is she being so nice? Oh, she must want something," Angel concluded.
The two nodded their agreement.
"Well, I know this for sure. You won't believe what she did at lunch."
"What?" Angel and Wesley said at the same time.
"She sat beside me. Smiled at me the whole time. Asked me questions. Conversed with me like she was some human being or somethin'. Freaked me out. But here's the kicker."
Both men leaned in to hear what he had to say. "She touched me at least three times."
"Cordelia doesn't do that unless she wants something. She wants something. Maybe a raise. You think?" Angel asked Wesley as Cordelia came out of the bathroom with the rinsed coffee pot.
"Cleaned it all up."
"I'll make it," Gunn offered as he took the pot away from her.
"Sure. Thanks, Gunn. You're so sweet. OK, Wes, how about that filing system?"
"Uh," Wesley answered, not remembering their conversation from the morning.
"We were going to look over it. Adjust where we need it."
"You want to change the filing system, Cordelia?" Now Angel was scared. No one touched her filing system. The woman must be out of her mind.
"Yeah. I had an epiphany, OK. I can have those. I can be nice you guys. Don't look at me like that."
Each turned away from her quickly, not wanting to hurt her feelings. She had them all trained well. Wesley followed her to the filing cabinets while Gunn and Angel walked out into the lobby.
"As I told Wes this morning, it's like someone kidnapped her and replaced her with good Cordy."
"Hey, maybe she's right. We've all been a little snippy lately. Maybe this is just her way of dealing with it. Trying to bring us all together." Angel didn't believe a word he was saying. Gunn might though.
"Maybe. We'll see. Keep an eye on her though. If anything seems funny, then we'll know," Gunn said as he started to make more coffee.
"Know what?"
"Whether we have to kill her or not."