After about ten phone calls begging whoever picked up the phone, Angel had managed to procure his release from hospital. He was beginning to wish he hadn't put the effort in though. He had three permanent nurse-maids in Cordelia, Spike and Darla, who couldn't agree on anything, Lorne was in and out and always loud and Wesley kept fluttering around. The only thing keeping him sane was the presence of Gunn and Anya. Gunn was just his usual cool self, coming and going as he did and playing video games with Angel for as long as he had time. That usually meant until one of the three Stooges kicked him out. Anya was a breath of fresh air. He loved her sense of humour – she was like Darla and Cordy without the bitchy filling. It was a comfort to him to have someone as lost as he was around. They spent the best part of the day watching TV and discussing their demon halcyon days. He found it soothing.
He was not allowed to leave his bedroom at all. He was under house arrest and practically guarded by the three meanies as he had come to know them. In a way it was good because he got the rest he needed to heal but it was driving him insane. He wasn't used to having to wait to heal. It was usually stab, drink bllod, sleep, all better. So having to wait around all day was grating on his nerves. By 4pm two days after he came home he had had enough and got himself out of bed. His ribs were killing him and his head swam as he stood but he was determined to go and sit downstairs. He pulled a t-shirt on and padded out of his room. He was shocked that he got that far, Spike usually heard him if he so much as breathed. When he got to the balcony he realised why he had got so far, the three meanies were having another fight…
"It's a normal human custom, just because neither of you know what its like to be human, don't try to criticise me!"
"'M just saying that it is a bloody stupid custom! How is it meant to help anyone?"
"I agree with Willie, humans never were that bright."
"Talking about your own kind there Granny."
"I think that you might want to rephrase that address William! Just remember who you are talking to!" Darla's eyes had narrowed to slits and her hands were curled into fists.
"A tragic fake blonde?"
"Yeah like you can talk! The eighties ended a while ago Willie. I realise that you're dead but that is no excuse for poor fashion sense."
"Don't you start Cheerleader! Or I might have to mention the conversation that I overheard the other day. Something about a ghost and a talent with massage oils…"
Angel saw Spike's triumphant smirk and had to admit that he too was curious about Cordelia's relationship with her ghost. Something told him that it went quite a way beyond what anyone would define as normal. By now he had made it to the top of the stairs. Luckily they were all too focused on one another to see him. As he started down the stairs he began to think that he had made a mistake in getting out of bed. His ribs were on fire and the room was starting to swirl around him. It was pretty that way. Although, he had to admit that had he stayed in bed he would be missing the very entertaining floor show. All he needed now was a bucket of pop-corn. Rather than continue down the steps he decided that he would rather sit than end up in a tangled heap at the bottom and so gingerly lowered himself to sit on one. Gunn noticed him and he put a finger to his lips, hoping that Gunn would take the hint and stay silent for a while longer.
"Listen Bleached Blunder – its rude to listen to other people's conversations. Haven't you heard of a little thing called tact?"
"Well you sure haven't." Angel could imagine the eye roll that accompanied Darla's comment. He was just waiting for Cordy to slap one of them and for the fight to begin. The image of Cordy, Darla and Spike engaging in a huge cat fight in the middle of his lobby began to play in the back of his head.
He could see it all happening in slow motion. Cordy would slap Darla, who, being Darla would retaliate by grabbing a fist full of Cordy's hair. Cordy would then screech in fury and start flailing about, one of her wild smacks hitting Spike squarely across the jaw. Spike would then roar in outrage and plough into the two women, catapulting all three of them to the floor. Once there they became a six legged, six armed, three headed beast. They were all writhing and flailing limbs and frustrated groans. He wasn't sure when the clothes came off or when the baby oil came out but they were interesting additions. A sharp intake of breath at the image of Spike and Darla and Cordy, caused him to hiss in pain and three pairs of eyes focused on him. He froze. He was so dead. He couldn't help laughing though as a permanent image of the bitch fight was engraved on his brain.
He slowly rose to his feet as they advanced on him. A three headed, six armed, six legged nursing machine.
"Uh, Guys? I can explain…"
Sensing that they might not be willing to listen to his reasoning he fell back on to plan B; he clutched his side and let out a pain filled whimper. Spike shot across the lobby and wrapped his arms around Angel taking his weight. He practically carried Angel down the stairs to lay him on the sofa. As the three of them scattered to fetch him painkillers, water and blankets and pillows he turned to Gunn and Anya. Both were looking at him in awe.
"That was impressive." Gunn had to laugh; Angel had the three of them wrapped around all eight of his fingers and both thumbs.
"Very." Anya smiled and moved to sit on the sofa with him.
"Why thank you. I'll be giving lessons all week. What were they fighting over anyway?"
Gunn and Anya exchanged looks before bursting out laughing. All that Angel could get from the gasps and the giggles was "Chicken soup."
Inside the air conditioned offices of Wolfram and Hart the only sanctuary that could be found was one from the scorching LA heat. Or that could just be the flames of hell that had been lit under the asses of all members of the Special Projects division. It would be quite wrong to say that the Senior Partners were angry because they weren't. They were raining fire and brimstone.
Not only had they failed to get Angel to turn into Angelus but more importantly they had lost Angel. The vampire with a soul, the one that they were relying upon to help bring about the Apocalypse was now human! He wouldn't be bringing anything about. Not a thing! There would be no apocalypse for a while now, unless they could find a way to give another vampire a soul and on a scale of one to ten with ten being the smallest chance they could find a suitable candidate… they weren't rating at all.
The fire and brimstone hadn't even begun to cover the Darla debacle. It was bad enough that they had lost Angel, but the fact that Angel had been lost to one of their schemes and the fact that said scheme was now human and therefore not going away anytime soon was not of the good. Had Darla died from the syphilis then there may have been some forgiveness. Had Darla been a vampire there may have been a little more forgiveness, but as it was, they were looking at the beginning of an eternity of pain and damnation. Being a lawyer was beginning to suck.
Lilah and Lindsay were both sat at opposite sides of the conference table watching Holland Manners define the meaning of furious. His eyes were popping out of his head and he was an unnatural shade of purple. They wouldn't have been too surprised to see steam pour out of his ears. In fact in this place, had he spontaneously combusted they wouldn't have battered an eyelid. He was very close to doing that right now.
"Tell me that we have some ideas on this! Because the Senior Partners are not going to be at all impressed if the best that I can give them in the morning is that we are thinking about the problem. It is bad enough that I have to tell them that the Slayer almost killed him. I do not want to go in there and tell them that we have nothing."
Lilah and Lindsay were both used to Holland's temper but on this occasion he was right. The Senior Partner's had an unhealthy interest in Angel. Unhealthy for anyone who got in the way of it. At the moment they had no clue as to how to solve this little problem and both got the sense that they wouldn't be leaving the room until it was solved. Work ethics really didn't count when you were working for very scary demons.
"Well at the moment sir we are looking over the files. I am sure that…"
"Don't give me that crap Lilah. I don't want platitudes or promises or implications. What I want is facts! What the hell do we know!"
Lindsay decided that no matter how much he loved watching Lilah stew in it, he was in just as much trouble as she was and that if anyone was going to go down, Holland wouldn't hesitate to implicate one of them. He just had to do everything to make sure that it wasn't him.
"What Lilah means is that we are looking and we'll call as soon as we have something."
Lindsay offered a tight smile to Holland and an amused grin to Lilah who seemed ready to eat him. Holland said no more he just swept from the room, the door shaking its frame as it slammed shut.
"You've invited her here? After what happened?" Cordelia was aghast. Angel had only been out of hospital for four days and somehow he had managed to decide to forgive Buffy and invite her and her cheer squad over for dinner tomorrow night. Who the hell said that he was allowed to think for himself anymore?
"Yes I have. They, including Buffy, are coming over, with food, after they finish a patrol of the demon areas of LA tomorrow. Apparently the slayer in Buffy is getting restless and she needs to have a good fight."
"Yeah, cos pulverising your skinny white ass wouldn't have been satisfying enough."
Cordy was not about to let this go, Lorne noticed. He admired Angel for being the good guy here but none of them could stop this girl if things got out of hand and she thought that Angel suited the shades of black and blue he was currently sporting.
"Look guys, I get that you are worried about me. I get that you don't like Buffy at the moment. I get that you are probably scared for yourselves too. But, Buffy is my friend and I have given you all chances. Darla, you turned me. Gunn, tried to kill me, as did Wes. Spike – do we have to go over the poker incident? And Cordy, well I have to put up with you…no seriously, you were also on the 'kill Angelus' squad. I have to give her a chance too – otherwise I am not a good friend."
"Bullshit Angelus! That girl has already sent you to hell and you are willing to allow her to try it again? I will not stand for that!"
"You don't have to stand for it, Darla. You aren't my Sire anymore and so I don't have to take orders from you. You are, however, my friend and a guest in my home. All I ask in return for that is that you tolerate my other friends. I don't ask that you are best friends with anyone or that you greet them with open arms. I do demand that you are polite with them, that is all. If any of you feel that you can't do that then I suggest you aren't here when they arrive. I want a nice evening and I want all of you there, more than I want the others there. However, if you are going to cause problems then please, for my sake, go home. I have said exactly the same to them."
"Angelcakes, I think that I speak for everyone here when I say that we are only being this way because you are our favourite ami. Everyone is used to you being the indestructible member of the group and to see you lying in that hospital bed was not a pretty picture to say the least. We're not comfortable in allowing small blonde and deadly in here not because we have a problem with her.."
"Speak for yourself."
"Ahem."
"Ok, some of us have a problem with her, but the main reason for all of us is that she hurt you. There was no justification to her actions. We wouldn't be good friends if we were breaking out the margaritas to welcome her here."
"I appreciate that Lorne but I had hoped that you can trust me enough to let me make my own choices about friends. I have respected you enough on this. Please do the same for me."
The group was silent. None of them were happy with this situation but it was obvious that Angel would not be moved on this issue. They had two choices. Accept it or leave. As no one was willing to lose Angel as a friend, and as Cordy and Darla were adamant that they would not lose anything to Buffy Summers, they all had to agree to his requests. At least he hadn't said that they couldn't act bitchy towards her, they just had to be polite about it. Each left the room with their own affirmation that they would try to support Angel in this and went downstairs to await Gunn and Wes' return. Only Spike, who had said nothing throughout the entire pow-wow, remained. He watched as Angel flopped back onto his bed, covering his eyes with his hands, feet still on the floor. He moved closer to the body splayed attractively on the bed.
"You alright pet? That was a bit brutal if you ask me." He watched Angel very closely. Angel didn't move.
"Fine. So, come on then, let's hear your opinion. After all, you are my biggest critic and you're not exactly silent on your opinion of Buffy. So, how stupid do you think I'm being?"
"Don't have an opinion."
"Now I know I'm dreaming, because I thought that you said you didn't have an opinion. You always have an opinion. You're the most opinionated person I know… after Cordelia. So I know that you have an opinion and call me a masochist but I want to hear it."
Spike shrugged his shoulders and took another step forward so that he was stood between Angel's legs, his jeans lightly touching the material of Angel's combats.
"Sorry luv but I don't have an opinion on this."
"I know I'm going to regret this." Angel uncovered his eyes so that he could see the game that Spike was playing. "Why don't you have an opinion Spike?"
"Cos Ducks, I am a lot smarter than those nits out there. Plus, I know what you're doin'."
At this Angel propped himself up on his elbows and cocked his head to the right so as to better regard the smug blond in front of him. For his part, Spike didn't think that he had ever seen a more enticing display and his cock twitched at the position he was in.
"And what is it that I am doing Oh Wise One?"
When Spike replied, Angel had to bite his cheek to prevent the bubble of laughter that threatened to overwhelm him at the upper class accent that Spike affected. Although it was pretty damn close to his natural one, Angel was so used to the bleached, punk Cockney that the voice seemed quite ridiculous.
"Your reasoning here is threefold. One, you actually do still care for Miss Summers and genuinely want to be her friend. To that end forgiveness is necessary. Two, you hope that in forgiving Buffy, the others will see their own errors in how they handled Faith. In doing so they might forgive her and then all can move on with their lives quite happily. Third and final, you hope that they can forgive you for all the damage that you caused as Angelus. That this makes you equal and you no longer have worry about the guilt. You can let it go."
Angel was awestruck. "You frighten me sometimes. When did you become so perceptive?"
Spike gave a small laugh. "Not perceptive Peaches, just know you is all."
"How is it out of everyone, you know me the best?"
"What can I say except people usually study that which intrigues them?"
"I intrigue you?" Angel wasn't quite sure how he felt about that.
"You could say that."
Spike obviously wasn't going to give anything away. Angel wanted answers. Angel suddenly became very aware of how close Spike was to him and the way that Spike was looking at him. His eyes were so dilated that instead of looking at the brilliant blue he was so fond of, he found he was staring into obsidian orbs that wanted to eat him alive. Enjoying the jolts of excitement that were tap-dancing their way up his nerves, he realised he knew how to get answers out of Spike. He wanted to play. Angelus was a natural seducer, was there any reason as to why he shouldn't use that to his advantage?
He allowed a little of his natural accent to flow into his words. "Why do I interest you Sweet William?" As he spoke he tightened his thighs around Spike's legs and jerked, pulling the blond down on top of him. Spike stopped himself by bracing an arm on either side of Angel's head, his lips millimetres from Angel's. Spike's eyes began to glow gold with arousal. He licked his lips.
"Well you're full of surprises ain't you pet?"
He moved closer. Unfortunately, he didn't get time to enjoy his position. In a movement worthy of the vampire he had been Angel grabbed Spike's wrists and flipped them over.
"I'll ask again. What is it about me that interests you?"
He let each word caress Spike's face. Spike's cocky attitude had vanished under the lust and shock that was coursing through his systems caused by Angel's actions. He opened his mouth to answer but he was intercepted by Cordelia yelling to announce to the others were back with dinner.
"I'll be right down." As if to demonstrate his words he ground his body down on to Spike and he kissed the air just over Spike's lips. As Spike leaned up, Angel hopped off the bed. He made to leave the room. Once he got to the door he paused, curling his fingers around the handle he turned back to the blonde on the bed.
"Coming?"
The voice that he adopted was neutral and innocent but the raised eyebrow and the curled tongue that he bit and held between his teeth were anything but. He left the room, just missing the pillow that crashed into the door, having been thrown viciously at his head. The strangled yell of "Fucking cock-tease!" followed him down the corridor.
He bounced down the steps. Gunn took one look at the grinning Angel and had to ask. "You look pleased with yourself."
Wesley also noted the chipper Angel and found his curiosity piqued. "Yes you do. What have you done?"
Angel took in their looks of keen amusement, curiosity and slight terror and let out the giggle that had been building in his throat. "Let's just say that I have finally rendered Spike speechless."
A pin hitting the floor could have been heard in the farthest corners of the hotel in the silence that followed that comment. Then as one they all clamoured to know how the miracle had been achieved. Shutting Spike up was a dream. It was the definition of perfection and had Angel achieved it… well, he would be an angel for real. Angel began to put away the weapons, affecting disinterest at the cacophony of:
"How?"
And, "What's the secret?"
And, "I've been trying to accomplish that since he arrived!" that resounded through the lobby.
Before he could share his precious secret Spike stomped down the stairs, making much more noise than was necessary. He was obviously pissed.
"Problem Spike?" Cordy enquired innocently, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. At times, her acting skills were really challenged.
Spike growled as he responded, eyes a dangerous golden colour. "Nothing that can't be fixed with a really good, violent kill."
He reached over Angel to grab a sword from the weapons cabinet. It wasn't until Angel innocently enquired, "Need a hand with that?", that he noticed his position. Angel was kneeling on the floor with Spike's crotch at eye level. The lick of the lips and the puppy dog eyes sent a bolt of lust to Spike's groin. With a hiss of "Bastard!" he stormed out of the hotel, leaving the others to deal with the madly giggling Angel.
They had been looking at the files for days. Numerous coffee cups and sandwich wrappers had been pushed to one end of the table. Lilah was now sat on the floor with her files spread around her, whilst Lindsay was still sat at the table, but had thrown his useless files on the floor. He flicked through the last one.
"Nothing."
"Same here. Unless we turn him again there is not that much we could do. Personally, I don't see the Partners going for us dragging any old vamp off the street to turn him and then shove a soul…"
Lilah trailed off as Lindsay leapt to his feet and started to flick through all of the files that they had. He was looking for something. A few minutes later and a triumphant look crossed his face. He threw two files at her and went to dial Holland. Lilah couldn't help the wicked smile that graced her face as she glanced at the files. One read 'Soul Restoration; Rosenberg, Willow.' The second read 'Drusilla'.
