Cordelia woke up surrounded by white blankets and half stuffed pillows at the hospital. She had bandages around her legs and arms, and stitches in her hip; five stitches to be exact. She wondered where she was, but remembered quickly.

Anger spilled into her like hot lava. She felt violated and hurt…and after all she had done for them…

Just then, a nurse came in the room.

"Hello dear," she said kindly, "are you feeling better."

No, she thought, of course I don't.

"Yes, a little thank you." She replied. The swelling on her face had actually gone down a bit.

"How long have I been asleep?" She asked wearily.

"A long time dear, you've been out the whole day. It's nearly 11 o'clock." The nurse told her. "I think a friend of yours is here. He's been waiting for you all day."

Cordelia nodded, giving her the permission to let him in.

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Angel looked at her and tried to smile. She looked back with empty, tired eyes.

"Hey…" He said. He slowly attempted to move closer to her, not wanting to relive that morning.

"I'm so sorry…" she whispered, "God Angel I'm so sorry."

He sat next to her on the bed and held her hand. "Cordy you don't have to be sorry about anything."

"I didn't mean to push you away! I was just so scared!" she said.

"Darling, it's ok. It doesn't matter."

She collapsed into his arms and allowed him to hold her, something he'd wanted to do all day. He held her and soothingly whispered to her, assuring her that it would all be ok.

"It was so dark…I was just walking back to my apartment…it-it all happened so fast…" She whispered between sobs.

"I know love, I know…" The vampire just held her closer. He wiped away a tear from her cheek and kissed her forehead.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

After Cordelia was released from the hospital, the car ride back to the hotel was silent. She blankly stared out the window onto the darkness of L.A. Even passing by alleys made her flinch a little, but Angel would just hold her hand, and she could actually forget for a moment about all her fears.

And then they would all come back in an overwhelming tidal wave of pain.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The trees of the forest swayed in the evening breeze, looming above her like giant towers. She felt her hip bleed but it didn't matter. She had to get away no matter what.

She kept running, feeling them close behind her.

Every movement and every breath was painful, but she was determined to get away. Her lungs screamed but she kept going. Suddenly, she couldn't go any more; she collapsed to the ground.

He crawled to the ground next to her and waited. Oh, it's so much more entertaining when the victim knows you're there. No fun if she's not afraid. She'd done what he wanted, but he wanted more. Her job wasn't over yet.

She opened her eyes wearily and gasped when she saw him. He grinned and held up a sharp blade, twirling it in his fingers…

"NO!!!!!" Cordelia screamed. She panted and clutched her sheets closer to her.

Angel woke up with a start; he'd fallen asleep in the chair near her bed.

"It was just a dream, it was all just a dream darling." He assured her, holding her in his arms.

She nodded and wiped away her tears. "I'm just gonna get a glass of water…be right back."

She slowly walked up to Angel's fridge and grabbed a water bottle. Her hip was better, not as painful as before.

Angel looked at his lover, the woman who was hurt so badly, now starring out the window in an attempt to make everything disappear. No matter what happened, to him she still looked gorgeous. He could trace every curve of her body in her silky white nightgown.

"Cordy, it's been a week…we need to talk about this…" He said softly.

"I don't want to."

Angel sighed. "This isn't going to go away."

She slumped down into his couch. He was right, but she didn't want to admit it.

"Darling I know how you must feel-"

That's it, she'd heard enough. "Don't you dare fucking talk me as if you know! Damnit Angel! You can't fucking save me! No one can save me!" She stood up, screaming with rage.

"I didn't mean-"

"You don't have a goddamn clue about it so don't tell me that you know how I feel. You, Fred, Gunn, Wesley, none of you know what it's like! None of you know what it's like to be walking home to your apartment, minding your own fucking business and then out of nowhere…" she paused, not wanting to go any further.

Angel had tears in his eyes, he refused to let them fall but they were there.

"How many were there?" he dared to ask.

"Three…maybe four…" She replied softly, tensing a little. She knew the next question. "They were human."

He felt his lifeless heart sink. Deep down he knew that this was the act of no demon, but saying it made it all too real. He walked over to her and hugged her and kissed the top of her head. He wanted her to feel safe, and she did.

"I love you…" he whispered, "I love you so much."

"I love you too." She said between sobs.

"No one is ever gonna hurt you again I promise…I wont let them."

"I know."

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R-E-V-I-E-W find out what it means to me…