Chapter 28

The Broadcast

Once the train arrived in Chattanooga it was slow getting off. Everyone was cranky and tired and just wanted to curl up and go to sleep. It was 8:30 and the rain just wouldn't give up. The moonlight tried to break its way through any opening in the clouds. Once they got up to their hotel room Cordelia and Spike collapsed on the bed. Copper collapsed on the floor. His fur was matted and wet.

"Night Cop," Cordelia called down to him. Spike tucked a strand of Cordelia's hair behind her ear and brought her closer to him.

"Spike?" she questioned.

"Yeah Cordy?" he nuzzled his face into her damp hair.

"I don't want to go back to Arizona," she whispered.

"But we've come so far Cor. We can't go back now," Spike reasoned.

"No. But I want to stay with you. You and Xander and Fred and Wesley," she said.

"I would love you to come with us to Los Angeles," he said. She giggled.

"I'm so happy," she said.

"Do you want to watch some TV?" he asked. She nodded quietly and snuggled up next to him.

"This is Trisha McNeil coming to you live from the channel 8 studio. About 3 months ago John Chase found that his daughter Cordelia Chase was missing from their New York home. There have been absolutely no leads on her whereabouts besides the fact that most of her clothes are missing as well as her nine-year-old border collie Copper. Is this a case of a mere runaway or someone's wrong doing? Police believe if Cordelia was kidnapped the crime would have taken place between the hours of 2:30 AM and 9:00 AM. Cordelia is 17 years old and around 128 pounds. She has shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. If you have any information at all concerning the whereabouts of Cordelia Chase you are asked to call you local police agency immediately. Now on to the weather."

Spike turned to Cordelia to say something but her tears silenced him. The door that linked their room with Fred and Wesley's opened and the two walked in along with Xander, Angel, Willow, and Faith. No one said anything as Spike cradled Cordelia in his arms and allowed her to cry into his chest. Fred crept onto the bed and Spike let her take Cordelia in her arms. Angel sighed and moved a strand of Cordelia's hair away from her face.

"We have to do something about this Cor. We can't let them continue worrying."