Chapter 17 "The Beginning of the End"
"Let's go down to the basement. When Dr. Martin and I came down from upstairs I went into the kitchen and while I was making an ice cream Sunday for Cordy I heard the basement door open. I went to check on who was there but I didn't hear or see anyone. Fred, Buffy and Spike are upstairs and you guys just came in." Angel and the others, including Dr. Martin went down stairs. Angel went to the door and found that it was unlocked so that anyone could come in. Angel and Connor were trying to pick up the scent of anyone that had been down here. Connor was over by the fuse box and picked up a scent that didn't belong to anyone in the hotel.
"I think I picked up something over here." Connor said. Everyone came over to where he was standing.
"What did you find?" Wesley asked.
"I am picking up the scent of a stranger to the hotel in this area." Connor said. Wesley opened the fuse box and checked for anything unusual. What he found was new wiring.
"There is new wiring in here and I don't think it has been here very long." Wesley whispered as he followed the trail of the wire up to the ceiling. Whoever had put the wires up here had hidden them behind older wires. It kept going until it went to the area right below Angel's and Wesley's offices. Another one to the area below the lobby counter and the middle of the lobby. Gunn found where another wire ran off of the original one and lead over to the area below the dining area and kitchen. Other wires lead up into a pipe that they figured must go up into the bedrooms on the first floor. At the end of each wire, except for the ones going through the pipe, they found a listening device. Angel motioned for them to follow him upstairs and out to the front where there was enough shade to keep Angel safe and hopefully too much noise from the traffic for anything to pick up what they were saying.
"It looks like we found how they are getting in to plant their listening devices. Wesley can you find out from David what the most sophisticated listening device detectors are out their now and get us one. I want to make sure of exactly where they are right now. Once we know where they are we are going to put on our own little theatrical play here in the hotel." Angel said.
"What is the play about?" Gunn asked. Angel turned and looked at Connor.
"Spike and Connor are going to kill me, but first they are going to try to find out who is putting the contract out on me and why." Angel said.
"That's very interesting Angel. How have you decided that you are going to die?" Wesley asked. Angel was smiling. "Can you think of someplace we can go to discuss it?" Angel asked.
Wesley rubbed his chin in thought.
"Lets go where we know they won't follow and the place is to big for them to get anyone else in it to plant any listening devices." With a big grin on his face Wesley put his arms around Gunn and Connor and said 'Men, we are going to Church tonight.'
"I presume you mean to go to Fr. Barris's church?" Angel asked. "That is my first choice since he knows all about us." Wesley said.
"Does anyone know how big it is?" Angel asked. No one answered. "Gunn why don't you get Fred, she's been there hasn't she?" "Yes, I'll be right back."
"What if they have something going on there tonight do you have some place else in mind?" Angel asked Wesley.
"The only other place that I can think of is the Cathedral downtown. It's big and even if there is something going on there it's so big that we can carry on a conversation without bothering anyone and still have the protection of the church and a crowd. If Fr. Barris's church is big enough though we should go there."
Fred and Gunn came out to the front of the hotel.
"Fred can you tell us how big Fr. Barris's church is?" Wesley asked.
"It's big. It has 50 rows of seats down the middle and 20 on each side. They have a small alcove that is set off to the right that is partitioned off from the rest of the church." Fred said.
"Excellent it's just what we need. I'll call Fr. Barris and ask him if we can use his church to have a meeting." Wesley said. "I don't suppose you have his phone number on you Angel?"
"It just so happens that I know it." Angel gave him the number and Wesley called Fr. Barris and asked if their was anything going on at the church tonight. "Great that will be perfect. Are you sure that no one will mind? .......Okay, great. Thank you."
Everyone was standing around just waiting. They couldn't tell from Wesley's side of the conversation as to what was going on. "So what's the word, go or no go?" Angel asked Wesley.
"We can meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the church. There will be a wedding rehearsal going on and there will be so many people that they won't even notice us in the back." Wesley told everyone.
"I'll let Buffy, Spike and Cordelia know what's going on." Angel said.
"Where are Buffy and Spike anyway? I haven't seen them today yet." Gunn asked.
"They're upstairs in they're bedroom. They're going at it again." Angel looked away when he told them.
"Oh my goodness. That's not natural. That couldn't possibly be good for Buffy." Fred said. Her face was a bright red.
"According to Spike she is the one that initiates it." Angel said.
"What is she a nymphomaniac?" Gunn asked. He was smiling as he said it. Fred slapped him on his arm. "Gunn, it's none of our business." "It is when they make the walls shake. After all, this is an old building and I don't think they had earthquake building codes back when they built this place." They all started laughing. Angel was laughing with the rest.
"Spike is just lucky that Buffy is a Slayer. She heals fast just like a Vampire does." Angel looked at Fred. "Uh, Fred could you excuse us for a few minutes." "Oh I understand. Boy talk. I'll be upstairs." Fred went back in and upstairs.
"When we were on our honeymoon Cordy and I did it 5 times on the 4th or 5th night I think. The next day she went over to Buffy and Spikes bungalow and spent the night with her and Buffy sent Spike to stay with me. The next day when Cordy came back she put limits on me and said she didn't have the recuperative powers that Buffy had. She told me that the next day after we did it 5 times she could hardly walk. I guess that's where the recuperative powers come in." Gunn and Wesley were just staring at Angel. "I said it once before and I'll say it again, you're my hero." Gunn said.
"I wonder if I'll be able to do the same thing?" Connor asked no one in particular.
"I don't know but considering how good you felt after doing it 3 times in only 2 hours I would guess the answer for that would be yes. Just remember what I said my experience with Cordy was." Angel said. Connor had the biggest grin on his face that anyone had ever seen.
"Wesley, Cordy and I will go by ourselves. We'll meet you at the main entrance to the church at 7 p.m. sharp." They all went into the hotel and to the kitchen. Buffy and Spike came downstairs along with Cordelia. They all made sandwiches for themselves and of course blood for Spike and Angel. When they sat down for lunch Spike finally noticed how the men and Fred where looking at him. He was just about to take a bite out of his sandwich when he once again felt everyone's eyes on him. "What are you guys looking at?" Spike asked but no one would say anything.
"They are envious Spike. Can't you see the green tint to their eyes?" Dr. Martin said.
"What are they envious about?" Spike asked before he took a bite of his sandwich. Once again no one would say anything and of course Dr. Martin spoke up.
"The men are jealous because you are able to have sex with Buffy so often. Cordelia told Fred and I how she had to put limits on Angel as to how many times they could have intercourse in one night because she didn't have the recuperative powers that Buffy has. Angel just told the men about it also. So now you know why they are so jealous of you."
Dr. Martin looked at Buffy and Spike. They were looking at each other. Buffy's face grew bright red. The tips of her ears were practically on fire as she looked down. Then it seemed as though some of the courage that she so often displayed when fighting vampires and demons suddenly came into her.
"What can I say guys but that both Spike and I just got lucky. Would you like another glass of blood Spike or another sandwich or perhaps both? I don't think you have to worry about eating both food and drinking blood because I know that you will work off all of those calories and you do have to maintain your strength you know." Buffy said as she looked at Spike and did her trademark batting of the eyelashes as though she was completely innocent.
"No thank you Luv I think I am good for now. Thank you though." Spike said as he shoved the last bit of the sandwich into his mouth and washed it down with the rest of the blood.
"Well then I guess since your done and I am done I think that I will go down into the basement and work out for awhile. If you want to join me you are perfectly welcome." Buffy got up and as she turned to go to the basement she looked at Fred and Cordilea and said "You know girls, it's in the Watchers Chronicles that my William here was called Spike because he liked using railroad spikes to kill his victims before he got his soul back, but that isn't the real reason." Buffy just looked at them and raised her eyebrows a few times. Then turned around and walked to the basement door and Spike joined her. Wesley, Gunn and Angel looked at each other and busted out laughing.
Cordelia got up quietly and started picking up the dishes. She went into the kitchen and started cleaning up. Fred started to pick up the dishes at her end of the table and started to go into the kitchen. Angel got up and took the dishes from her. "I'll take these Fred and I'll help Cordy clean up." "Okay Angel thank you I have some work to do upstairs anyway. Tell Cordelia that I'll be upstairs working on the last room that we were cleaning." Angel smiled at her and said that he would tell her. Angel went into the kitchen and started helping Cordelia to put the dishes in the dishwashing machine. She wasn't saying anything or even looking at him. She just continued to put the food away. When they were done she turned the dishwasher on and left the kitchen. She didn't say anything she just left to go upstairs. When she came out of the kitchen she saw that Dr. Martin was gone so she went to the Doctors room. A few minutes later she came out of the Doctors room and went to Angel's and her room. She sat on the bed and reached out to Angel with her mind. Angel had talked to her about the bond that they had between them. He said that it was something like the bond that he had with Spike except he wanted to be able to hear and feel her mind over long distances if she should need him. He taught her how to concentrate on that bond and to practice whenever she could by calling out to him. A few minutes later she heard him coming upstairs. She got undressed and crawled in under the sheets. When he opened the door he saw her in the bed. He came over and sat on the edge of the bed. She reached over and placed her hand on his. "Your getting pretty good at that. By the time we have children to worry about will probably be able to talk to each other." Angel said.
Cordelia was sitting up and leaning against the headboard. She had been holding the sheet up with her left hand but when he came in and sat on the edge of the bed she let it fall. He could see that the bruises were all better and you could hardly see them anymore.
"When everyone was talking about Spike and Buffy it suddenly occurred to me that I have neglected you. I think I am ready to correct that now." Cordelia said as she started to unbutton his shirt."
"Are you sure Cordy? We don't have to do this until your really ready." Angel placed his hand gently over hers. He could feel her trembling.
"I want to try Angel. I love you and I want to do this." "Cordelia I felt you trembling as soon as I put my hand on yours. You weren't doing it when you touched my hand." Angel took his hand off of hers. He turned away and looked towards the balcony. The sun was still up but Cordelia had made sure that the curtains were closed tight. Only a little light shown around the ends of the curtain.
Cordelia got up and kneeled on the bed behind him. "I want to try something Angel. I don't want you to touch me with your hands unless I take your hand and put them where I want them. Don't move them over my body unless I tell you to. If I start shaking again don't stop. If I can't stand it I'll take your hand away. I have to conquer this feeling Angel. I don't want to continue with feeling this way. If I don't conquer it then it will be as though they are continuing to rape me. I will be letting them continue to control me. I talked to Dr. Martin and she suggested this. She said that I am completely healed from the surgery but as to whether I can take you inside me or not only I can tell. Do 'you' think you can do this?" Cordelia said as she kissed his neck softly and lightly ran her fingers through his hair. "For you Cordy I can move mountains. All you have to do is point to which one you want moved and where and I'll move it even if it's one shovel full at a time." Cordelia continued to run her fingers through his hair then down to his chest. Angel didn't have a lot of hair on his chest but he did have some and she liked running her fingers through it. She started to unbutton his shirt and pulled it over his head. She got up from the bed and stood in front of him. She didn't have anything on and she could see that he was having a hard time restraining himself from touching her so she picked up one of his hands and pulled it up to her face. She turned it over so that she could see that imprint of Dr. Martins ring in the palm of his hand. She kissed his palm then put it on her breast and bent over and kissed him. She pushed him back on the bed. While she was kissing him she reached down and felt him starting to get aroused. She rubbed him through his pants. He played with her breast until she pulled his arms up and over his head while she continued to kiss him all over. She was smiling when she pulled her head up. He looked up at her and smiled back. "It's nice to see you smile again. I will never get tired of seeing your million dollar smile." "Shhh, no talking." Cordelia said. She reached down and started to unbuckle his belt and pulled it off. She ran her fingers very lightly over his body then bent down and blew lightly on his stomach and gradually went down further. When she got to just above his belt he bent over and protected his stomach. "Stop that your driving me crazy." Cordelia just laughed softly and pushed him down and unzipped his pants. She pulled off his shoes and socks and then pulled the rest of his clothes down and off of him. He was ready for her but she was having a hard time getting to that point. She delayed taking him into her by continuing to kiss him and play with him. She pulled down his hand and placed it between her legs. He started playing with her but he did it very slowly and tenderly. He watched her for any sign that she was getting scared. He could feel her body preparing to take him into her but at the same time he could feel her trembling again and he could feel the wet tears that she left on his chest. Cordelia didn't want to look at him because she was crying.
"You don't have to do this yet Cordy. We can wait a few more weeks until you are ready." Angel said. "No I have to do this Angel. I love you and I want to be a good wife to you. I won't let them control me any longer." She reached down and guided him into her opening. She went down on him very slowly. It was painful but she did it very slowly and was able to take all of him into her now. The fact that she was able to take his full length into her encouraged her and she had the strength within herself to finish what she had started. They both were able to climax at the same time and she fell on him and laid on him for awhile while she regained control of herself. He pulled out of her and looked down and checked to see if she had left any blood on him. Their was none. He pulled the covers down from underneath them then pulled them up again as he climbed into bed beside her. He pulled her to his chest and tucked the comforter around her. Then laid his head down. He kissed her on her forehead and even though she was asleep he said "Yes, the Martin women are strong."
Angel woke two hours later and looked at his watch. It was 4 p.m.. Cordelia was still facing him. She leaned into his chest and hid her face against him. She looked like a little girl that was hiding and seeking the comfort of Daddy's arms. He leaned over and kissed Cordelia on her forehead.
"Cordy, wake up. We have to get up now and get ready to go to the church tonight." Cordelia opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him. She reached up and pulled his head down into a gentle kiss.
"How do you feel now? Any pain?" Angel asked as he rubbed her stomach and ran his hand up her back. He moved his hand in a massaging motion.
"I feel good. I feel like I've thrown off a big weight that I was carrying on my shoulders. All I want to do now is take care of whoever is making our lives so hard." She reached up to his face and let her nails lightly glide over, what was commonly called, his 5 o'clock shadow. "You need to shave. I am going to go and take a shower and see if their was any damage." Cordelia said as she started to pull away. "I checked and you didn't leave any blood on me so I am guessing that your okay as far as anything tearing goes. Do you want to take a shower together?" "No, we have to concentrate on getting ready to go tonight. If we take a shower together we might get distracted. Why don't you go and take a shower and I'll go to my room and take a shower. I'll meet you downstairs." Angel got up and went into the bathroom and started the shower. While he was standing in front of the shower and waiting for the water to get hot Cordelia came up behind him and put her arms around his waist. "Angel, thank you for being patient with me and waiting until I was ready to confront my demons." She kissed his back then pulled a robe on and went over to her other room. Angel concentrated and tried to send his love for her along the thin bond that went between them. He could feel her smile along the bond but even though she tried she couldn't send him anything more. But Angel could feel the microscopic thin bond of steel that ran between them and he knew all was well with her.
They both were downstairs by 5 and everyone else was downstairs also. Dr. Martin came downstairs just after Cordelia and Angel did. They all stared at her as she came downstairs. She had a new skirt and blouse on. The skirt was made of a dark blue heavy material that went down to the floor. It moved so gracefully that it reminded Cordelia of the skirts that the women wore in the 1800's. Her blouse was white and appeared to be made of peachskin. Peachskin was a soft but heavy material that kept you warm when it was cold but not so heavy that it was uncomfortable during the warm summer months. It had full length sleeves that hung gracefully around her wrists. Her shoes had a 1 ½" heel and were made of black patent leather. Dr. Martin had long brown hair that hung to her waist. Tonight her hair was a mass of curls and was being held back with a large clip. She walked down towards them and stood still for a minute then twirled around. "How do I look?" she asked.
Cordelia was the first one to regain control of herself. "You look fantastic. In fact you are right down beautiful. I'm glad I don't have to go up against you in competition for a man."
"Thank you, Fred helped me to go shopping this afternoon. Then she did up my hair for me. If the older nuns could see me now they would be so, so scandalized." She could see that the men were still staring at her. "Ladies get control of your men please they're drooling on the floor." Dr. Martin said. Buffy elbowed Spike, Fred elbowed Gunn and Cordelia elbowed Wesley and just yelled at Angel. "Angel close your mouth. You don't want to get in trouble with her husband do you?" "Uh, no. Not after going through so much. I'm sorry Dr. Martin you just look so beautiful." Angel ran his hand across his face and got control of himself. "Let's go ladies. Wesley Dr. Martin will be going with Cordelia and I. Well meet you at the main entrance to the church. We will be there at 7 p.m. sharp." They started walking to the back where his car was. He opened the door for the ladies and they left.
They arrived at Fr. Barris's church at 6 p.m.. Angel let the ladies out at the front and parked the car. When he came back to the front he opened the door for them and they went in. The church had been rebuilt back in 1972 after the big earthquake that caused so much damage in 1970 in Los Angeles. They tried to keep as much of the original church walls as they could but most of it was down and could not be reconstructed in the same way. The inside was big and almost cavernous like so many of the Catholic churches were in the southwest.
Dr. Martin placed a large scarf over her hair that she had purchased that afternoon. Cordelia took Angels hand. She sensed his reluctance to go in any further. She looked up at him. His eyes were fixated on the alter. When she put her hand in his he looked at her and started to follow her when she started to walk and her hand pulled him forward. Cordelia followed Dr. Martin. When Dr. Martin approached the alter she turned around and looked for Angel. It took them a while to reach her when they did she held out her hand and took Angels.
"Do you remember the first think you do when you enter a church Angel?" Dr. Martin asked.
"Yes, I think so. You bless yourself with the holy water then before you sit down in the pews you genuflect." "Yes that's right. But the last time you went to church they genuflected while looking at the alter. Do you remember why?" Dr. Martin asked.
"No. Back then you did what you were told and if the good sister told us why we did it I don't remember hearing her because I was always screwing around instead of listening." Angel said with a guilty look on his face. "Well you genuflect because you are coming before Christ, who is represented by the Blessed Sacrament that is in the tabernacle that was usually on the alter. That was when the priests back was towards everyone and the whole mass was kind of a mystery to us. After Vatican II they turned the alters around so that the people could see what the priest was doing and they started to say the mass in the language of whatever country you were in. Some of the old churches left the tabernacle where it was which was right underneath the crucifix. The old alters were left where they were and a new larger one was placed in front of it and the priest says the mass with his back to the old alter. In the new churches they started to put the tabernacle to the side someplace. So now when you come in if you have never been in the church before you have to look for it. Then as you are looking at the tabernacle you genuflect."
"Why do we genuflect anyway? Why can't we just sit down?" Cordelia asked. Dr. Martin looked at Cordelia as though she was shocked by her question. When Cordelia saw the look on her face she said "I screwed around when I should have been listening also." "If you go before the Queen of England a woman curtsies and a man bows down. It is a sign of respect for her station or for the crown. You would do the same thing if you came before the President of the United States. So out of respect for Christ our Savior everyone descends to one knee. Even the Pope does it. You also genuflect every time you pass in front of the tabernacle as we are going to do now." Dr. Martin took Angels hand again and led him to the right side where a small area was blocked off. She genuflected as she walked in front of the tabernacle and crossed herself. Cordelia did the same but Angel didn't. As Dr. Martin stood up again she took Angels hand again and guided him over to the small alter that had a short wall around it so that the people that sat in the pews before the alter could have some privacy. This alter was protected from the rest of the people because it was where the Blessed Sacrament was always on display. They sat here for the next 45 minutes.
At exactly 6:55 p.m. Angel got up and went to the front of the church and waited for the rest to come in. The wedding party that came to practice for the wedding next week was quickly filling in the front part of the church. They were making a lot of noise that would help to cover Angels group.
Wesley and Fred came in first followed by Gunn, Connor, and Buffy who was pulling a reluctant Spike. Lorne came in last with a large hat and his collar pulled up. Wesley sat down first and the rest sat down around him. Connor was looking all over instead of paying attention to the conversation that was going on. He had never been in a church before and he was fascinated by the statues, paintings, and windows. He would have to walk through here with Dr. Martin before they left so she could explain what everything was.
"So what is your plan Angel? Wesley asked.
"My plan is that Spike is going to kill me. They hear us arguing all of the time so one of our arguments is going to go just a little bit further. Spike and Connor is going to go down to the basement and start talking about how much they hate me and so forth. Then they are going to go out to a few bars and do a lot of loud complaining. What you need to do is draw out someone that is interested in your complaining. After you make contact your going to kill me, Cordy is going to play the widow and Spike and Connor are going to try and contact the main guy. Let's make sure that my bedroom is free of listening devices because I am going to have to keep out of sight in there for as long as it takes for you two to make contact with the main guy. Don't give up until you meet the top guy. Once your sure that you have him I'll come out of hiding and we will go after him." Angel leaned back and then asked everyone "What do you think?"
Spike looked at Connor with a grin on his face. "My killing you sounds good to me." Connor looked at Spike. "I don't have to get drunk do I? I want my last encounter with alcohol to be my first and last. Spike you can get drunk and I will have to stay sober so that I can drive you back." "You don't drive yet do you?" Spike asked. "No, but I still refuse to get drunk." "Then we can always take a taxi." Spike said.
"What do you think Wesley, do you think it will work?" Angel asked. "Yes, but I am only saying that because I can't come up with anything else. But let's not write anything down in stone yet. Let's play it by ear for now." Wesley said. "Anyone else have any ideas on the plan?"
No one said anything. "Okay then let's go." Angel got up and everyone else left but Connor, Cordelia and Dr. Martin. Angel saw Connor talking to Dr. Martin and they started walking around the inside of the church. Angel heard the door open again. He turned to see who it was and he saw Buffy come back in. She came over to Cordelia and Angel. "I told Spike to go ahead. He was real nervous about being in here and I wanted to look around in here. I'm going to go and join Connor and Dr. Martin."
"I guess we can sit down for now. God must be reeling in two of the freebies." Angel said smiling to Cordelia. She went back to the pew and sat down. "Let's say our rosary Angel I don't remember doing it today yet." Angel pulled his out of his pocked and they started. He led the prayer and she finished each one. By the time they were done Connor, Dr. Martin and Buffy were back. They were dodging little kids that were running up and down the isles in the church. Angel had been having a hard time concentrating with all of the noise and he was eager to leave when he saw the group coming back. Cordelia and Angel got up to leave and at the same time 2 little boys were chasing a little girl down the isle. Angel was so anxious to escape the noise he didn't notice them heading right for him. Just as he put his left foot out into the isle the little girl ran into him. The little boys, being little boys, weren't paying attention to their surroundings and ran right into him and the little girl. They knocked them both down and when Angel fell his right foot caught in between the kneeler and the bottom of the pew in front of them. He didn't want to scare the children so he kept his face down and bit into his own hand to keep from crying out in pain. Unfortunately he had hurt the very foot that the vamps had smashed when they nailed him to the cross. When they were at Dr. Thompson's and had taken x-rays of his legs, hands, and feet Dr. Martin had seen on the x-rays that the bones in his foot that was so badly injured didn't seem to be in the right place but since Angel seemed to be walking ok she didn't want to do anything to correct it. The kids jumped up right away. "Gee were sorry mister." Cordy helped them. "He's okay kids go back up to the front and stop running around."
Once the children were gone Buffy and Connor helped him up. They helped him to sit down at the very back of the church that had seats along the back wall. Dr. Martin started to pull his shoe off but it caused him so much pain that he made her stop. "Let's get him over to the rectory where I can take his shoe off and examine his foot." "Give me a minute." Angel said. He was in so much pain that he leaned over and hid his face behind Cordelia. When Angel was in pain or was surprised by something where he felt threatened he would sometimes lose control over his features and his vampire face would appear and this was why he had leaned against Cordy. He didn't want to lose control and have someone see him. After a few minutes the pain subsided and he was able to get up but he had to lean on Buffy and Connor. "Put me down, put me down. It hurts too much when I have to lean on Buffy. Buffy I am sorry to say this but your height is causing me a real problem. Connor ask one of the men that's tall enough to come and help us. See if you can find one that's at least as tall as I am." Connor ran up to the wedding party and approached one of the men that appeared to be as tall as Angel and asked him if he could help him take his Dad over to the rectory. He explained what had happened but that Angel didn't want to make to big of a deal out of it and scare the children. When the gentleman came over to Angel Dr. Martin explained he had previously hurt his foot and the accident just twisted his ankle again but that she could take care of it. Angel was still in considerable pain so he let the others do the talking. "Hi I'm Bill. I am so sorry that they caused this problem but you know little kids they can't stay still for more than a few minutes. Please let me help you." Bill put his hand under Angels arm and Connor did the same. They put his arms over their shoulders and helped him to the rectory. Dr. Martin opened the door and yelled for Fr. Barris. She directed Bill and Connor to take Angel over to the kitchen where the light was usually a lot better. She thanked the gentleman and walked him to the door and promised that Angel would be okay. Fr. Barris came down the stairs just as she started walking back to the kitchen.
"Angel I want you to sit on top of the table." Connor helped him to get up and sit on the table.
Dr. Martin started to try to take Angels shoe off again. Once again he stopped her.
"Fr. Barris I don't suppose you would have some good whiskey around?" Angel asked. "I sure do but I have some Royal Crown I think it will have the proper effect that your looking for a lot faster." Fr. Barris left and was back in just a few seconds. He took the cap off and handed it to Angel. Angel took a big gulp. Since his heart was beating at a regular pace because of the pain he felt the effects of the drink a lot faster than he normally would. He took a few more drinks and laid back on the table and closed his eyes. After a while he opened his eyes and took another big gulp. After 15 minutes it started taking affect. He opened his eyes and sat up and put his hand out to Dr. Martin and pulled her closer to him and hugged her. "I love you Dr. Martin. You've done so much for me. Don't go home. Isn't their a convent in your order that you could transfer to?" "No Angel we don't have any on the west coast." Dr. Martin said. "If there was would you come out here?" "Angel, well talk about this later okay?" "Okay, but I mean it. I don't want you to leave. We all still need you. Your like my mother and I don't want my mother to leave me again." Angel had tears in his eyes. He let her go and drank some more of the Royal Crown. He spotted Buffy and grabbed her and kissed her. "Angel. What do you think your doing?" She pushed him away from her and stepped back. He looked around again and grabbed onto the next person that he recognized as a woman. "I know I came in with 3 women and 2 of them weren't Cordy so you have got to be Cordy." Angel grabbed Cordelia this time and picked her up and kissed her. His hands started to wander over her body. Cordelia pushed him away from her. "I think he is ready for you to take his shoe off now. I don't think he is in any pain anymore." Angel took another drink and emptied the bottle this time. He looked at the bottle and held it upside down. "No more. No pain no gain." He laughed at his own joke. Angel put the bottle down and looked around and spotted Connor. Unfortunately Connor was standing to close to Angel. He put his arm around Connor and pulled him over to him. "When I was a young man and looking for a girl to spend the night with that's what I would do to find one that looked and tasted good. Since I was usually drunk they wouldn't be to mean to me. I might get slapped by one of them but it always worked and I got me bed for the night and a shapely wench to keep me company." Angel laughed wickedly as he imparted one of his secrets to his son. Cordelia and Buffy were laughing at Angel. He was so drunk that not only did he not realize that Dr. Martin had taken his shoe and sock off and was examining his foot but he had reverted back to his Irish accent. Buffy had never seen Angel drunk but Cordelia had.
"Were lucky that Angel is a happy drunk otherwise we would probably be in trouble."
"What do you mean that he's a happy drunk?" Connor asked.
"Some people when they get drunk they get mean and confrontational. It's very unpleasant being around them. People like Angel though are very entertaining and fun to be around. All of their inhibitions are gone. All thought of propriety are gone." Cordelia said.
Dr. Martin got up from where she was kneeling on the floor. "Fr. Barris, do you have anything that I can wrap his foot up with and can you find me something that can serve as a splint?" "I have plenty of rags for you to use and I'll see what I can come up with for a splint. I'll be right back." Fr. Barris said and then left to go upstairs.
In a few minutes he came back with a large piece of cloth and some pieces of wood that looked like they were for stirring paint. "How will these do Sister." Dr. Martin looked at the cloth carefully. It looked familiar to her. Then it suddenly dawned on her as to what it was. "Fr. Barris, I can't use this. This is an old alter cloth." "Sr. Mary, what better cloth to use then to bandage the foot of one of Gods champions on earth. Especially one that has suffered so much. When you remove the cloth don't throw it away. I have a young man in mind to give this too. He is a young man that lacks courage. The older boys pick on him unmercifully. I will give this cloth to him and explain to him about the man that it was used on. Don't worry though I won't tell him about Angel, as to who he is, but I will tell him about his courage. If you should get blood on it don't wash it before you give it back to me. This cloth has not seen the end of it's days yet."
Dr. Martin looked at him and smiled. "You would have made a good psychiatrist. I think I have chosen an excellent priest to help Angel." She tore one long strip off of the cloth then carefully folded it. "May I keep the rest Fr. Barris?" "Yes, I am sure that you will put it to good use Sister." Dr. Martin got down on her knees again. "Connor would you break this stick in two? Try to make it the length of Angels foot and without any jagged edges." Connor took the stick and checked it against Angels foot and went to the counter and took one of the large knives and broke it into the proper length then gave the two pieces to Dr. Martin. She put the piece that Connor broke on the sole of Angels foot. Then started to wrap his foot. She did it in such a way that Angel couldn't move his foot at all. When she maneuvered his foot so that she could wrap it she looked at Angel and she saw that he was so drunk that he didn't know what was going on.
"Are you ready to go Angel?" Dr. Martin asked him. "All done already. I didn't feel a thing. That Royal Crown was good. Do you have any more Fr. Barris?" Angel asked. "No Angel that was the only one I had." "How about some alter wine?" Angel asked. "No Angel you know you can't have that it's only for Mass. Since your asking I would bet that when you where a boy, you and your friends must have stolen some from the church and went behind the barn and drank it until you were drunk." Angel put his head down and said "yes I did." Then he started laughing. He grabbed Connor again and whispered something in his ear. Then he jumped off of the table and would have fallen if Connor and Buffy hadn't caught him. "Let's go home. Here are the keys Cordy. Take your drunken husband home." As Cordilea took the keys and turned to leave. Angel swatted her on the behind and yelled "And make it fast woman." "Oohhh. She is going to make you pay for that." Connor said. "That wasn't to smart Angel. I'm not even married and even I know that was a mistake." "She won't do anything to me Father because she thinks I am to drunk to know what I am doing." "Okay Angel. It was nice knowing you." Father said it with a grin on his face as he lead them to the front door.
Cordelia was waiting with the door open. Buffy and Connor took Angel over to the car and carefully got him situated then piled into the car also. Dr. Martin was sitting in the back with Angel and Buffy. Connor sat up front with Cordelia. Angel was still awake and trying to play with Buffy and Dr. Martin. Dr. Martin was starting to get irritated because he was starting to touch her as though she where a tavern wench. They could barely understand him because his Irish accent had taken completely over and plus his words were slurred. Dr. Martin tried a different tactic after pushing his hand off of her for the last time.
"Liam my darlin boy. Why don't you lay down and put you wee head in your mothers lap and I'll sing a song to you while you go to sleep. When we get home I'll wake you up." It worked. Angel put his head in her lap and put his feet up on the side of the car so that his bandaged foot was sticking out of the car and right in Buffy's face. Buffy didn't care for that but at least he was quiet now and his hands were being kept off of her. Dr. Martin started to sing Ave Maria. Angel listened to the whole song while watching the stars. It was cold outside but they had to leave the top down or else they wouldn't have been able to get Angel into the car. By the time she was finished with the song Angel was asleep.
"That was beautiful Dr. Martin." Buffy said. "Thank you. It always seems to help him to go to sleep when I sing something to him. He says it reminds him of when he was a little boy and his mother would sing him to sleep." She was running her fingers through his hair like a mother would. Buffy was watching her. "Your starting to look at him as though he was your son aren't you?" Dr. Martin looked at Buffy. The tears in her eyes sparkled in the city lights. "Unfortunately, yes. He appears to be the same age that my son would have been if he had lived. Ever since I've been here I've thought about Jimmy a lot. Jimmy was my sons name. I put a picture of Jimmy on the computer and ran a program that predicted what he would have looked like at 27 and he looked almost exactly like Angel. So far I have been able, with God's help, to keep my emotions under control and they haven't affected my handling of my patient. I think though if I don't go home soon and get into my regular routine of prayer and work I just may lose that control." They were quiet the rest of the way home.
TBC.................
Please R & R