Chapter 14
Two weeks later Angel and Cordelia returned along with Spike and Buffy. The Scoobie gang had returned to Sunnydale the week before. Spike and Buffy were leaving the next evening. Dr. Martin said she wanted to have a few more sessions with Angel so she wouldn't be leaving for at least two weeks. Except for Dr. Martin still being there they had returned to their regular routine. Cordelia returned with her first vision in the past 2 months as soon as she stepped back into the hotel.
Dr. Martin had never seen one of Cordelia's visions that sent them on a mission. At first it scared her, then she saw how quickly Cordelia recovered. The men and Buffy went running out the door as soon as Cordelia told them what was happening and where. Within 20 minutes Cordelia was up and taking their luggage upstairs. Dr. Martin and Fred helped her with the luggage.
"How did this happen Cordelia? You left with 2 suitcases and one overnight bag. Now on your return you have 5 suitcases." Fred asked.
"Angel told me not to pack too much because we could buy whatever we needed in Hawaii. Plus we bought things for the rest of you."
Fred was sitting on the bed with her legs folded in front of her and Dr. Martin had taken a chair by the bed.
"So tell us what did you do when you got their? I mean besides sex that is. How was flying first class? Did you see any volcanoes? Did you go out dancing? I heard that they have a superstition that if you take any of the rocks from the volcanoes that the goddess Peli will curse you and you'll have bad luck until you return it. You didn't take any rocks did you? I mean because we have enough bad things happening to us without any bad luck coming to us because you stole a rock. But that doesn't mean that I really believe in things like that but if you did steal a rock from the islands I hope you send it back. None of you stole one did you?" Fred asked. She fired off one question right after the other.
"Breath girl breath. Your going to pass out." Cordelia said.
Fred took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Alright, Im okay now. Sorry about that."
Dr. Martin was laughing. She thought she could get in one of her own questions now though.
"How's the love life Cordelia? Anymore problems?"
"No, we took it easy on the third night we were there. He knows exactly how far he can go now. I tell you that man has stamina. We did it 5 times on the fourth night we were their. I almost had to throw him out of the bedroom so I could get some rest." Cordelia had a worn out look on her face.
Dr. Martin and Fred were laughing so hard tears were coming out of their eyes.
"It's not funny. I was so sore the next day I could hardly stand. I asked Buffy if I could stay with her one night. Of course Spike heard me and he piped up with 'Wow, two at a time, that's ok girls I can take it.' Buffy slapped him on the back of the head and told him he was going to stay with Angel that night. He protested of course and Buffy sent him out of the room."
"What did you two do that night?" Fred asked.
"We got drunk and I slept like a baby. The next day I had to put limits on Angel. I told him I didn't have the recuperative powers that Buffy had and I just couldn't take it. Of course that made him feel real bad. What is it about seeing a man cry that tugs at our heart strings and we give into them?"
"It's called maternal instinct. Those maternal instincts are so strong that when a woman, that's nursing her baby, hears the baby's cry her body starts producing milk. For men it's the instinct to protect. It's the Tarzan effect." Dr. Martin beat her chest lightly as she said this. Cordelia started laughing.
"Angel did exactly that the next morning after our wedding. He jumped on the bed and started acting like Tarzan. Didn't you hear him. He was doing it so loudly."
"Yeah, I did hear that but I thought someone had their television on to loud." Fred said as she was laughing at the mental picture of Angel standing on the bed making like Tarzan.
"What did you do during the days when Angel and Spike couldn't go out?" Fred asked.
"We laid on the beach most of the time. Other times we went shopping. The nights were more fun though. One night Angel and I went to Spikes and Buffy's bungalow and played strip poker with them."
"Who lost the most?" Dr. Martin asked.
"I did. All they left me with was my hat. We were to drunk to go home though so we spent the rest of the night on the couch."
"How could you do that Cordelia? I would of died of embarrassment." Fred's face was bright red just thinking about it.
"Don't tell me you never did it in college. I know you used to smoke weed which is the same as getting drunk."
"Yeah but I never played strip poker. Did anyone else lose anything?" Fred asked.
"I think Buffy got down to her bra and panties. Spike lost his shirt, shoes and socks. Angel lost his shirt and that's all. I think we better go downstairs, I hear noise."
As they made their way downstairs they heard and saw everyone coming in. They all seemed to be in good spirits even though they were dirty and covered in some nasty smelling goo.
"How did it go?" Cordelia asked.
"It felt good to have some action again. We found a group of teenage Vampires harassing people at a restaurant just like you said. We sent Buffy in to chase them out to the ally where the rest of us were waiting." Angel answered.
"Where did all of that goo come from if they were all Vampires?" Fred asked.
"Some demon that was traveling with them was out in the alley. He came to help his fellow delinquents. When Gunn put his axe through him he splattered all over Gunn and I. The others were further away so they got less." Angel said.
"What was it?" Fred asked.
"I believe it was a Grendack. Their vegetarians. Their bodies resemble cactuses and that's why his body fluids are so gooey. He appeared to be a teenager also." Wesley said.
By the time everyone had returned and reported on the situation it was 3 in the afternoon.
"Why don't you all go and get cleaned up. I'll have something ready to eat in an hour." Cordelia said.
They all dragged themselves upstairs to get cleaned up.
"You need some help old man?" Spike said to Angel as they slowly went up the stairs.
"I can beat you any day boy." Angel said as he started to take 2 steps at a time.
"We better hurry up and take our showers because these two like to take long hot showers." Buffy said to Wesley, Gunn and Connor.
"That's because you like me nice and hot." Spike said as he grabbed Buffy and threw her over his shoulder. When Buffy started to protest he gave her a smack on the behind and said "Quiet wench when the Lord of the manor speaks all woman are to keep silent." Buffy was silent as they went to their room.
Wesley, Angel, Connor and Gunn were following them and they all saw the look on Buffy's face.
Gunn said to the others as Spike closed the door. "She is going to hold that over his head and make him suffer for the rest of his un-dead life." They all laughed at that. Poor Connor didn't have a clue as to what they were talking about. He thought he would ask Gunn about it later.
"Better him then me." Angel said.
"What did you have to do to get back into her good graces when you did something wrong." Gunn asked.
"With me I was usually in the dog house because of an argument we were having. So I usually tucked my tail between my legs and said I was sorry. That's when I would use my big soulful brown eyes, as Cordy calls them, to my advantage." By the time he was done he had reached his room and Wesley, Connor and Gunn had gone on to theirs.
When everyone came down Cordelia had hamburgers and fries ready. Two tall mugs of warm blood for Angel and Spike. She also served them each vary rare steaks.
"How do we rate these?" Spike asked Buffy.
"I thought you were going to give me a different type of stake after that terrible thing I said to you. Of which I am truly sorry my luv." Everyone was watching Spike and Buffy. They were enjoying seeing Spike crawl. But Buffy didn't do anything. She sat down across from Spike instead of her usual place next to him.
"That's alright Spike, after all it's true, I did promise to love, honor and obey." She said the last 3 vows slowly then smiled sweetly at him. Buffy picked up one of her fries. Looking directly at Spike she licked the salt off of the french fry. Slowly, from one end down to the other she ran her tongue along the fry. Then she flicked her tongue at the end of it. She never took her eyes off of Spike and he was staring at her. Buffy licked her lips slowly then put the french fry into her mouth almost to the end where her fingers where. Then she drew her lips back showing her teeth and bit down hard. So hard that you could hear her teeth click. She pushed the little piece of french fry left in between her fingers so you could see the length of the piece that was left. She looked over her fingers at Spike.
"You wouldn't, would you?" Spike said hopefully. "Your just joking, right?"
Buffy just smiled and batted her eyelashes at him as though she was the personification of innocence itself.
"Why Spike, whatever do you mean?" She said as she batted her eyelashes at him again.
Everyone cracked up. Gunn was laughing so hard he almost fell off of his chair.
"That's impossible isn't it Dr. Martin?" Spike asked.
"Well actually Spike it did happen. The wife didn't bite her husbands penis off completely but since it was engorged with blood at the time though he almost bled to death."
All the men put their hands under the table and had a pained look on their face as their imaginations took over.
"Alright that's enough Buffy. I think you've tortured Spike enough. You still have the old fashioned way of getting back at him." Dr. Martin was starting to feel sorry for Spike when she realized that Buffy actually had the strength to do what she was hinting at. She knew it was time to call an end to the little game.
Dr. Martin had finished her dinner so she rose from the table and took her dishes into the kitchen. She stopped at the table again before she went upstairs.
"Buffy would you come up to room 412 in one hour please."
"Yes Dr. Martin." Buffy answered.
"Ohhhh! Your in trouble now. Sister is going to give you a whack across the knuckles now." Spike said.
"I wouldn't joke about it Spike. You could do with a few sessions with Dr. Martin. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have what I have now." Angel said as he reached for Cordelias hand. "In fact as your Sire I am ordering you to talk with her."
"Your ordering me?" Spike responded.
"Yes, I am ordering you." Angel stood up to emphasize his right and ability to force him to do it.
"Buffy, Dr. Martin doesn't want to talk to you because of what just happened. I asked her to talk to you. I know you had a session with her already, but I had a long talk with her before the wedding about all that I know about you and what you have had to deal with. I suggest that you both go together. Cordelia sat thru several sessions with me. I can tell you from experience that you'll need each other for support. Now what is it going to be, Dr. Martin or me?"
Spike started to protest and Angel walked up behind him. "Do I have to remind you that I now have the strength of a Master Vampire. Not even Buffy could win over me now."
"You wouldn't!" Buffy said.
"Try me." Angel answered.
"I think we better do as he says Luv. I've seen Angelus do some wicked things to a persons body." Spike told Buffy.
Angel was still standing behind Spike. He grabbed Spike at the back of his neck and whispered something in his ear.
"Sure thing Sire. You will forgive me if I forget now and then. It's kind of hard to break a habit that's been in place for over 100 years."
"I'll think about it." Angel said with a wicked grin on his face. He patted Spike on his back and sat down again.
Buffy really didn't want to go to talk with Dr. Martin. She knew it was going to be hard on her and she would have to face things that she didn't want to face. She got up from her chair and carefully put it back under the table. She went over to Angel and wormed her way onto his lap.
"Angel, please don't make me go. I've been so happy lately. I don't want to be unhappy and sad and crying. You don't want that to happen do you?" Buffy put her arms around his neck for more emphasis.
"Do you actually think this is going to work?" Angel asked her as he held her on his lap as though she was a little girl. Buffy started playing with his shirt just like a little girl would do.
"Is it working Daddy?"
"No, of course not, and stop calling me Daddy." He grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and stood up as he lifted her up off his lap so she could stand.
"Buffy, I will always love you and you will always have a special place in my heart. Leaving you was the hardest thing I had ever done up to that time. I did it because I wanted you to have a chance at the normal life that you wanted. I chose to walk the fires of hell for the past 2 months because I wanted Cordy and I to have a chance at having what we wanted. Now I am telling you that you need to walk at least a small portion of your own hell if you and Spike expect your marriage to work."
Angel turned away and started walking to the back where his car was.
"Okay I'll do it but I'm still going to call you Daddy just because I know it gets your goat." Buffy yelled at him as he walked away.
"That's a good girl. I was afraid Daddy was going to have to take you over his knee. Lets go for a ride to the beach Cordy. I miss hearing the waves already." Cordy ran to his side and they held hands as they went to his car.
Buffy looked at Spike.
"Rats, this is tough having a daddy again. It was bad enough having Giles now my former lover is my father in law. Rats, rats, rats."
"Which one is worse, having Giles mad at you or Angel?" Gunn asked.
"Giles is much worse. He can make me feel so guilty by just saying a few words. I'll feel terrible until I correct whatever I'm doing or apologize." Buffy said.
"What did Angel whisper to you when he had his hand on your neck?" Buffy asked Spike.
"He said he would beat me to a bloody pulp if I ever called him Angelus again."
"Well I guess it's my turn to face the music. How are you getting away without any lectures from the good Doctor?" She asked Spike as she stood up to leave.
Spike had his head down and he was playing with what was left of his steak. "Don't worry about it Luv. We talked all of the time that we were taking care of Angel. She's very tricky. She gets you starting to talk about one thing and leads you to another without you even realizing it. Since I was so excited about actually practicing all that I've been learning in books that I didn't realize she was wearing her other hat as well."
"Was she able to help you?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, and that's all I will say on the subject. It's your turn now." Spike grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him, stood up, and gave her a kiss. "My only advice to you Buffy is to listen with an open mind and with your heart." Spike let her go then and she went upstairs.
"Well men lets give Fred the night off and clean the kitchen." Spike said as he started to pick up the dishes and glasses.
Since Fred was the only one of the women left at the table Gunn, Connor and Wesley started to pick up the dishes also. "Thank you gentlemen. I think I'll go take a walk in the garden for awhile." Gunn wanted to have some fun teasing Spike so he didn't mind clearing the table.
"Hey Spike, what shall I do with the rest of Buffy's french fries?" Gunn said. As he walked to the kitchen table Spike nailed him with the sprayer from the kitchen sink. Wesley signaled to Connor to join him at the dining room table. "Let's get out of here. By the time those two get done playing around we'll be out of sight and they'll have no choice but to clean up by themselves." Just as Wesley and Connor started for the stairs Buffy was coming down.
"Wesley gather every one that's left and we'll head for the beach. I have a feeling that Angel and Cordelia are in trouble." "But what makes you think their in trouble, they only left a few minutes ago." Wesley said. Spike came up behind them and said "Lets do what she says, she has never been wrong before."
"I'll get my SUV and meet you at the front. Gunn why don't you take your truck also. Fred and Connor can go with you." Wesley said as he went running out of the back. Gunn was right on his heels. Dr. Martin came running down the stairs with her black bag and ran to the large kitchen where all of the medical supplies were. In just a few minutes she was outside with the rest. Buffy, Spike and Dr. Martin rode with Wesley and as planned Fred and Connor rode with Gunn. As they rode along the beach Connor spotted Angel's car at the public parking lot on the beach. Both Gunn and Wesley parked along side of Angel's car. Spike and Connor jumped out as soon as they came to a stop. They walked out a ways to see if they could sense which way Angel and Cordelia went.
"What's wrong?" Gunn asked.
"We can't smell either one of them. The ocean breeze is wiping there scents away." Spike answered.
"Then lets split up. Fred and Dr. Martin stay here in case they come back." Wesley, Spike and Buffy went to the left and Gunn and Connor took the right.
Wesley, Buffy and Spike came upon them first. Angel was being held down by six Vampires and 4 more were having fun raping Cordelia. Cordelia was screaming and fighting for her life. They saw how they had pushed the sand up to make a little mound so that it would be easier to get to her. Angel had his hands full with the other six until one of them hit him over the head with a piece of wood and he fell backwards. Wesley, Spike and Buffy watched for a minute to access the situation. "Wesley, go and get the rest." As soon as he left Spike and Buffy jumped in among the Vampires. Spike went after the Vamps that were on Angel and Buffy went to help Cordelia. Without them knowing it though their were 5 more Vamps down closer to the water and were more difficult to see in the dark. They ran to the side of the Vamps that were fighting with Buffy. One of them was busy getting his turn at Cordelia and the other 4 were fighting Buffy. They came up behind her and one put his arm around her neck and the other 2 grabbed her arms. They had her in such a way that she couldn't maneuver her way out of their grip. Spike had his hands full also. Angel was starting to come around while Spike was fighting off 3 vamps at the same time. He started to help Spike when he saw that they had Buffy also. He pulled off two of the vamps that had Spike and managed to stake them before they were able to get up again. When he heard Buffy scream he turned to see them starting to tear her clothes off and then someone hit him in the back of the head again. This time though it felt like a steel pipe. Just as he was starting to shake it off the same vamp that hit him aimed the steel pipe at his legs and broke both of his legs below the knee cap. He heard the crack of the bones before he felt the pain, and then the pain hit him and it was so intense that he passed out.
When he came to again he could hear Spike, Wesley, Gunn and Buffy's voice. Then he remembered where he was and what had happened. He had a splitting headache but then he remembered Cordelia and started to get up but his legs wouldn't support him. He went down hard. It felt like someone had broken his legs again and was twisting his leg around. The others were busy with the last of the vamps so he started to drag himself over to where he saw Dr. Martin and Fred. Once Connor and Gunn had pulled the vamps off of Cordelia Dr. Martin and Fred ran to take care of her. They found that she had been badly beaten. One eye was swollen shut. She had bruises all over her body. One shoulder was dislocated and the area below her waist was badly bruised. They could actually see hand prints on her breasts and where they had grabbed her legs and forced them apart. She had blood all over her legs and Dr. Martin could see where it had soaked into the sand. Fred was crying as she looked at Cordelia's beaten and ravaged body.
Buffy and Spike were questioning the last vampire. Spike was holding him with one arm around his neck and the other hand was holding his arm behind his back.
"Why did you guys go after Angel and Cordelia?" Spike asked.
"We were just looking for some fun man. We didn't know who they were?" Spike didn't like his answer so he pulled his arm back further which had the desired effect.
"If that's true then why didn't you kill Angel once you saw how strong he was. You must have figured it out that he was a Vampire?" Spike said.
"I'm telling you we were just looking for some fun."
Buffy came up to him slowly. She had Spikes coat on since the other vamps had pulled her pants off and torn her blouse. "Does anyone have a knife or something sharp?" Buffy asked.
Gunn handed her his knife that he carried strapped to his leg.
"Now you tell us the truth or I'm going to make sure that you are never able to rape another woman again." Buffy had the tip of the knife at his throat and slowly dropped it down to his crouch.
The vamps eyes grew wide. "You wouldn't. That's worse then what we did to her."
"I threatened the man holding onto you with just the same thing only a few hours ago. I did it because he hit me and told me I had to obey him because of our marriage vows. Now I haven't been able to do what I threatened yet so I might just take it out on you because I'm still pissed off at him."
The Vampire thought about his chances for escape for a few moments. "Alright I'll tell you all I know. The word is out that Angelus is out of the picture permanently. Anyone and everyone that can either encourage Angel to close down and leave Los Angeles or permanently get rid of him is in for a big reward."
"Who put the word out?" Spike asked as he squeezed harder on the Vamps throat.
"I don't know." Spike squeezed harder. "I told you I don't know. Who ever it is just sent people out to all of the bars that demons and Vampires hang out at and put the word out."
After a few minutes Spike let him go. "My advice to you is to get out of town as fast as you can and whatever way you can."
Buffy and Spike went back to help with Angel and Cordelia. While they had been questioning the last vampire Angel had pulled himself over to where Dr. Martin was checking on Cordelia. They didn't notice him behind them until he called out Cordelias name.
"Cordy, Cordy....." He dragged himself further over to her and held her in his arms.
"Angel, she's just unconscious. They beat her pretty badly. Her left arm is dislocated so be careful until I can fix it."
"She's so pale, they must have drunk from her." Angel said as he cradled her in his arms and unconsciously started to rock her.
"Yes but I think they only took enough to subdue her." Dr. Martin said.
As he cradled her in his arms he looked down at her legs and all the blood soaking what little clothes she had left and where it was just dropping into the sand. Angel let go of Cordelia for a moment and let her rest against his chest. He took his jacket off and layed it over her. He felt very possessive of her body now that she was his wife. He had seen the breasts that were for him alone to look at or touch. They were bruised and scratched now. The stomach that was so flat and tanned and would one day hold and nourish his child was now also scratched and bruised. Her beautiful hips and thighs still held the imprint of their hands as they forced her legs apart. It was part of the reason he covered her. He didn't want anyone to see her and he couldn't bare to look at her battered body anymore. Angel was so angry at what they had done to her and his inability to do anything about it that he just threw his head back and screamed until his voice was hoarse. Dr. Martin was crying as she went to him and put her arms around his shoulders. "She'll be okay Angel, she'll be okay. Cordelia is a tough woman she'll come out of this okay."
Angel looked down at Cordelia's battered face and his tears fell down onto her face. He used the moisture of his tears to wipe away the blood on her face.
Dr. Martin got up and went to Wesley, Gunn, Connor, Buffy and Spike as they stood to the side watching Angel. Buffy was leaning against Spike crying. Spike was holding her and trying to tell her that Cordelia would be okay. As Dr. Martin approached them Spike pointed to Angel.
"Look at his legs. They broke both of them below the knees. The bones are protruding through the skin of his legs and he's lost a lot of blood also. Look at the trail of blood from where they left him and where he dragged himself to her side."
"Yes, I saw them. I've never known anyone to endure so much pain. I've treated patients before with legs broken like that. They were usually in so much pain that they would come into the hospital unconscious from it. We were always able to set the legs and put a cast on without them regaining consciousness." Dr. Martin said as she wiped her tears away and blew her nose.
"Gunn and Wesley do you think one of the vehicles could make it down here? I want to move both of them as little as possible. Carrying them would probably be to painful and cause them to bleed more."
"Yes, my SUV is a 4 wheel drive." Wesley said.
"If the seats can fold down flat to make a bed do that please." Dr. Martin instructed him as Wesley and Gunn went back to where they were parked. They had been gone only 15 minutes when they heard Wesley, and apparently Gunn, coming up the beach where the sand was harder. Fortunately it was low tide and it provided a lot of space for the vehicles to easily travel over it.
Wesley pulled up alongside of Angel and Cordelia. He had the two back rows of seats down and a blanket on the top of them.
Dr. Martin went over to Angel and put her hand on his shoulder gently.
"Angel we have to go now. Let Spike take Cordelia. Connor and Gunn will pick you up and put you in the back then. Okay?"
Angel looked up at her. In the light of the cars she could see how bad off he was. One eye was swollen shut and he had numerous cuts on his face and body. Reluctantly he let go of Cordelia. Spike, as gently as he could, picked up Cordelia in his arms. Connor and Gunn picked up Angel and put him in the back alongside of Cordelia. Dr. Martin had gotten in the back first and Spike had laid Cordelia in her lap.
They all piled into the two vehicles and made their way back to where Angels car was. As they got back up onto the pavement Angel sat up and looked around.
"Wesley pull up along the left side of my car. There should be a hose there. Once I'm out I want you and Gunn to turn your vehicles around so that they point against my car." Dr. Martin asked him what he meant to do, but Angel didn't answer.
"Wesley tell Gunn and Connor to come and get me."
Wesley did as Angel told him to and Gunn and Connor came over to get Angel.
"What are you going to do Angel?" Gunn asked.
"Take me over to the hose and put me on the ground. Dr. Martin I need you to help me." Angel wouldn't answer any questions.
Gunn and Connor picked up Angel and took him over to the hose.
"Gunn cut my pant legs just above the knee."
"Dr. Martin, I need to set the bones in my legs now. I can feel them starting to heal which means their going to heal incorrectly. I want you to clean the wounds out as best you can with the water from the hose. When your done see if you can push the bones back underneath the skin. If you can't then we'll have to do it the old fashioned way. When I pull you push them back into place and under the skin."
Dr. Martin was silent for a moment while she thought about it.
"If anyone can do it Angel you can. Don't move your feet too much, let me do the moving. Someone turn the water on. Fred come here and hold the hose so that the water hits where my hands are. Gunn do you have a hard pipe or something that Angel can hold onto?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
Gunn went to the cab of his truck and pulled out a thick pipe that was about 3 feet long. "Got it Doc." Gunn said.
"Okay just hold it for now until we see if I can get the bones back into place. Okay Angel I'm going to start."
Dr. Martin started to move the skin and sinew around and carefully checked for any grains of sand. When she couldn't find any more she tried moving the bone back in place but they wouldn't slip back in. She started cleaning the other leg and tried moving the bone back into place. This one worked. The bone easily slipped into place and she placed everything back into its correct position. Dr. Martin stood up and took her slip off. It wasn't a regular women's slip. The sisters made more sturdy long lasting slips and usually out of cotton. The pockets were in the slip and not in the skirt so she had to empty the contents first. When she was done she proceeded to rip it apart and use it as a bandage for his leg.
"Angel your right leg bone slipped into place but the left one didn't. Where going to do that one the old fashioned way."
It was taking him a few minutes to recover from the intense pain of resetting his right leg. "It doesn't feel right. Take the bandage off and lets pull on it."
Dr. Martin pulled the bandage off.
"Let me do the pulling Angel. It should take very little to make everything go into place. Gunn give him the pipe to hold onto and you hold onto it also." She waited for Gunn and Angel to get ready. "You read Angel?" "Yeah, go ahead." "Okay, on three, 1,2,3. She pulled on the leg until she felt the bone move.
"How does that feel now." Dr. Martin asked him.
The pain was making Angel breath more rapidly and the blood flowed more freely with the increased beating of his heart.
"Yes, it feels right now. Don't bandage it yet. Lets do the other one. Im getting weak from the loss of blood."
"Spike, come over here and hold his leg. Let Angel do the pulling, he'll know when it's back in place as he pulls. I'll be clearing the path for the bone to fall back into place. Ready when you are Angel."
Angel began to pull on his leg. The pain was excruciating. "Hurry up Dr. Martin. I don't know how much longer I can stand it."
"Sure you can Angel. This isn't half as hard as delivering a baby. Don't you dare pass out. You're the one that wanted to do it like this. Yell, scream, do whatever you have to do but you stay conscious. If you can't take it Angel then you have no right to help Cordy deliver her first baby."
She felt him start to pull again and she was able to clear the rest of the sinew and the bone slipped back into place.
"Okay Angel you can pass out now." Which is exactly what he did. "That little speech always works." Dr. Martin said as she looked at Buffy.
She wrapped the legs again and Spike and Connor placed Angel back into Wesley's SUV.
"Wait a minute everyone. Does anyone have a cell phone with them?" Dr. Martin asked.
"Yes I do, it's in the cab." Wesley answered.
Dr. Martin got in and called a friend of hers that was a gynecologist. After 10 minutes she came out and gave Spike a slip of paper with an address on it. "Just in case we get seperated Spike here is the address where we are going to take Cordelia and Angel. This is the office of a friend of mine that's a gynecologist. I don't have the equipment to take care of Cordelia at the hotel so he is going to meet us at his office and help me take care of her. Gunn I want you to go back to the hotel. Fred go with him. Prepare everything just like you did when you had to prepare it for Angel. Spike why don't you and Buffy drive in Angels car and follow us.
Wesley pulled Connor and Gunn to the side before they left. "When you get back to the hotel I think you had better start looking for any listening devices and cameras. Some how their getting into the hotel, without us knowing about it, and planting listening devices all over. It's the only way they could have know that Angel and Cordelia went to the beach. Start with the dining room area first." "Okay Wes. Call us when you know how Cordelia is. We'll see you back at the hotel." Gunn said. Gunn, Connor and Fred climbed back into his truck and left.
The rest piled into the vehicles and left for the friend of Dr. Martin. When they arrived Wesley went to the back door and backed up as close as he could. Dr. Michael Thompson was waiting at the door with a bed. Dr. Martin got out and briefly greeted him. Wesley opened the back of the vehicle. Spike jumped in and brought Cordelia out and put her on the bed.
"We better bring Angel in also. He should be waking up soon. Mike do you have another bed we can use?" Dr. Martin asked. "No, but we'll be transferring Mrs. Martin to the exam bed. Then well bring this one out and get Mr. Martin."
"Mr. Who?" Spike said.
"That's Angel Martin and Cordelia Chase-Martin." Buffy said as she elbowed him.
"Oh I forgot. Im not used to Angel having a last name."
Dr. Thompson came out and Wesley and Spike took Angel out of the back and placed him on the bed. They put him in a room next to where Cordelia was. Wesley, Spike and Buffy went into the kitchen to get some coffee while the doctors worked on Cordelia.
Fortunately Dr. Thompson had a few bags of O positive blood to give Cordelia so they were able to replace her lost blood right away. One hour later both doctors came out and Dr. Martin went to check on Angel. He had been awake since shortly after they brought him in and he had just laid their listening to what was going on next door.
"I see your awake. Good, this is Dr. Mike Thompson. He's an old friend of mine. He's also a gynecologist. We have been examining Cordelia and cleaning her up. Right now we're replacing the blood she lost. Fortunately Mike keeps a few bags of blood for emergencies."
"Mr. Martin." Dr. Thompson extended his hand to shake Angels. Angel responded and asked him to help him sit up and put his legs over the edge.
"As Dr. Martin said it's all good news. Your wife is okay. We've replaced the blood she lost and her color has returned. Her insides, for the most part, are also okay. She is going to be very tender for several weeks so of course that means no sex but she probably won't let you even touch her for a few days. Mrs. Martin bled a lot because of the length of her vagina is unusually short. I believe she has what is called a prolapsed uterus. Dr. Martin and I agree that we can fix this easily right here in my office. I have a small surgical room here. What we will do is just reposition the uterus and more or less anchor it in it's correct position. Her uterus was most likely torn from it's original position when she had the accident with the metal pipe going through her side. While were in there will check everything else out at the same time. The hard part Mr. Martin will come when she wakes up. Physically she will heal rapidly in comparison to the psychological wounds. It always happens like this. There is a 50/50 chance that she will either call for you or be repulsed by all men for awhile. It's just going to take time. Fortunately you have Dr. Martin here. Angel was silent. Then he looked up at Dr. Martin.
"She's waking up. Get me a wheelchair and call Spike and Wesley." Dr. Thompson brought in a wheelchair with Spike and Wesley following. "Help me get into the wheelchair."
Spike and Wesley picked him up and put him into the wheelchair. Cordelia was starting to scream and calling for Angel. Dr. Martin went to Cordelia right away. "Cordelia calm down. Your okay." "Where's Angel? I want Angel. Where is he?" Just then Angel came into the room with Wesley pushing the wheelchair.
He tried to get up so he could hold her but his legs wouldn't hold him up so he settled for just holding her hand. Angel looked up at the tubes going into her. "Can you take these tubes out of her?" Dr. Thompson pulled them out and as soon as she was free Angel pulled her into his lap. Cordelia was crying her heart out. Angel just hugged her to his chest and rocked her back and forth. It was all that he could do for her right now. Everyone went out to give them some privacy.
As Cordelia continued to cry Angels tears joined hers. As his tears fell down his face they fell on her forehead and joined hers at the corner of her eyes then down to her chin and onto her chest. The saying that is often used to describe a bride and groom came to his mind:
"As two are made one."
After 30 minutes Dr. Thompson knocked at the door softly.
"Come in Dr. Thompson."
"How did you know it was me?" Angel never raised his head to look at Dr. Thompson. He kept his eyes on Cordelia and continued to just hold her and rock her back and forth. She had cried herself to sleep with her arms wrapped around his neck.
"I could smell you. Everyone has a distinctive scent. I'm sure Dr. Martin has told you about me?"
"Yes and I must admit I'm a little afraid of you." Dr. Thompson said with a nervous grin on his face.
"You don't have to be afraid Doctor. I haven't killed a human in many years."
"I came in to tell you that since today is Sunday Dr. Martin and I have decided to perform the surgery now."
"How long will it take?"
"One to two hours. It all depends on what we find."
When Angel finally looked up at Dr. Thompson he made no attempt to wipe the tears from his eyes. They were tears of love and he was not ashamed of them. He lifted Cordelia up so that Dr. Thompson could take her and put her on the bed. After Cordelia was back on the bed Dr. Thompson went to the other side and started hooking the tubes back up to her. Angel wheeled himself closer to the bed and took her hand in his and kissed it.
Dr. Martin came in and looked at Angel. He looked up at her. She could see that he was crying and had been for awhile. His eyes were swollen and bloodshot. Dr. Martin took out her handkerchief and wiped his eyes.
"Angel I promise you that we will give her back to you with all of her physical wounds corrected." She kissed him on the forehead and pushed his wheelchair out of the door. Dr. Martin called out to Buffy and Spike to come to her. When they came around the corner Dr. Martin told Spike that they would need his help. "Buffy would you take Angel please and give him a nice big glass of warm blood." "Sure Dr. Martin. He can keep me company." Buffy wheeled Angel over to the office kitchen. "While you were with Cordy Spike and I went to the local slaughter house and bought some nice fresh blood for you and him." "I didn't know their was any place around here to buy it. Although I'm not really sure where we are." Angel said. "As Spike said 'The nose knows.' He went right to it. If you ask him he can probably tell you exactly but I have absolutely no idea where it is." The microwave signaled that the blood was done. Buffy gave it to Angel and he drank it slowly at first just to see how it was. He put the glass down on the table but kept his hands around it. He liked the feel of the warmth of the glass.
"When she needed me the most Buffy I couldn't save her. I heard her calling me and all of my strength didn't do me any good. I fought and fought those guys and they kept coming at me. I saw them beating her and taking her and I couldn't get to her. I heard her screaming as they forced themselves on her and I couldn't do anything to help her. The last thing I heard before they knocked me out the first time was her screaming my name. When I came around she was quiet and I saw them all around her. They were all taking their turn at her. When I jumped them this time I was able to stake several of them before they knocked me out again. I don't think I will ever be able to forget that picture of her lying on the sand. She had blood all over her. When we find out who is behind all of this Buffy I am going to make them pay for everything that they have done to us."
"What if they're humans that are behind this Angel? The demons and vamps might just be working for the humans. What are you going to do then?" Buffy asked. "Don't forget that the cardinal rule for us is that we do not kill humans. That is why Faith got into so much trouble, remember."
"I don't know Buffy but I will take care of it so that nothing like this ever happens again. I don't want anyone in our family ever... hurt... again." Angel was so angry that he broke the glass that was in his hand. Buffy couldn't tell which was Angels blood and which was the pigs blood. She grabbed some paper towel and wiped his hand and then the blood and glass on the table. She pushed his wheel chair over to the sink and washed the blood off. She took several pieces of glass out of his hand and gave him some more paper towel to hold in his hand.
"Why don't you lay down for awhile Angel and get some sleep. I'm sure Dr. Martin will wake you to let you know how Cordelia is." "Yeah I'm pretty tired. I'll sleep for just a couple of hours." Buffy helped him onto the couch and put a blanket on him. She then turned the lights out and took the other couch.
TBC........................................................