Wesley sat behind the counter, flipping though the book in front of him. At first, it had been the simple desire to get a vague idea of the contents, so that he'd know when it would be good to drag out for in-depth research. Well, slightly more detailed than the fact that it pertained to ancient Egyptian funeral rites and sorcery. He'd wanted to know what researchers had been involved, if it connected to any particular types of demons or possibly surviving mystical groups.
He hadn't expected mentions of soul-magic. There had been a small reference to the embalming practice containing spells to bind the ka to the body, in order that the spirit might have an eternal existence on Earth as well as in the next life. His mind had seized the mention, wondering if it might be something applicable to Angel, some way to prevent him from ever becoming Angelus again. Now if he could just determine if there was any sort of details, something beyond a tiny mention...
The front door opened, and Willow and Cordelia walked in. Casually, as if they hadn't been completely out of contact for the past few days. At least the sunshine outside made it clear that they hadn't been turned, and neither one appeared to be seriously injured, though Cordelia was rubbing at her temple.
"Ladies, it's good that you've finally seen fit to come back. Perhaps someone could tell me what has been going on?" Wesley tried not to yell.
"Wesley, I had an acting job," Cordelia began. "Name one occasion when one of those went smoothly, with no greater complication than a broken nail?"
He managed not to scoff. "I don't think you've ever had an acting job without some form of complication or problem. What happened?"
"Well, you did know that I was called back to be Princess Mirabanna, for the Galaxy Quest series, right?" Cordelia asked.
"Yes. How does that connect to you disappearing?" Wesley demanded.
"It's…" Cordelia's reply was cut off as her phone rang, and she glanced at Willow. "Can you finish explaining while I answer this? It's Jason."
Willow nodded as Cordelia moved off to the waiting area. "Okay, the big shock is that there's actually a race of aliens out there that thought the original Galaxy Quest series was a series of historical broadcasts, their enemies attacked, they came here looking for their heroes, had a chaotic fight, the Thermians were saved, the series was renewed, and they began the second run. Apparently, they're still watching, and they caught the first appearance of the Princess, and there was this accidentally taped fight with a monster. So then they thought that the Princess and her Handmaiden were heroes too, and something bad happened, and they came back and grabbed all of us, and we had to help them try to capture some nasty would-be galactic conquerors. Apparently, that pig-thing that you and Angel fought was an alien thing, and led to a rock-monster. They said something about putting it on the moon…"
"You're what?" Cordelia's angry voice carried very clearly. "Because of that? You arrogant, self-centered jerk!"
For a moment, Wesley stared at Cordelia, wondering what Jason had said. Shaking his head, he turned back to Willow. "You mean that you really were kidnapped by aliens?"
"More like borrowed unexpectedly," Willow agreed. "But we're back now, and information that was shocking to everybody has been shared, and Jason doesn't seem to be handling the whole vampires are real thing very well."
"No, I do not understand, you idiot! You're dumping me because you can't handle the real world!" Cordelia's angry voice was nowhere near quiet.
"It's good to know that you came back safely though…" Wesley murmured, staring at Cordelia as she paced. "Is she going to be alright?"
"I think this will call for some ice cream and then Cordelia going off to pamper herself," Willow offered. "So, did we miss anything exciting here?"
"Well, there was a rather large rock creature stomping through downtown with an SUV wrapped around its foot. It seemed to just vanish, but apparently you were already aware of that. Fred is still at he physics conference, and Gunn has been spending time with his old associates," Wesley paused, trying to think if there had been anything else come up. "I did find something that bears further investigation as a means to secure Angel's soul."
"You did? Really?" Willow seemed to bounce, looking excited. "What did you find?"
"I don't have an answer yet," he cautioned. "But this mentions that part of the Egyptian embalmment included spells to bind the ka, or spirit, to the body. I thought that if we could find those spells…"
"Just a break, hah! As if I'm going to fall for the oldest break-up line in the book. It's never just a break," Cordelia growled, hurling her phone away as she stomped towards the kitchen. "Just because he can't handle things in my world doesn't mean that he had to break up like that."
Willow looked at Wesley. "Okay, you see if there's any phone to rescue, I'll take care of Cordy, we can finish explaining the last few days and discussing Egyptian rituals later?"
"Agreed," he quickly said, moving towards the couch. Jason Nesmith was obviously a fool.
End part 59.
Angel wanted to stay with Gwen, wanted to do quite a few things with Gwen. Unfortunately, there was that annoying Clause, and the chance that he might not be willing to stop before things went too far. So after a few very enjoyable kisses, they parted, and she walked out the door into the sunshine. Out where he couldn't follow.
"What did you do with my people? They've been gone, with no idea what happened, no way to get in touch," a gray haired man was screaming at Angel. " Now we're behind schedule. Do you have any idea how much their absence cost this studio?"
Angel spun with a growl, glaring at the little man. "There are more important things than making moving pictures. Sometimes, there are dangers more terrible than people like you ever know, things lurking in the shadows behind the lights. Those actors were called upon to help fight such a danger."
The man made a few noises, stepping backwards with a look of utter terror. "What… who… what…"
"I keep people like you safe from things that you don't even want to imagine, so that your life goes on, so that you can keep making moving pictures and signing paychecks. They helped fight, and you should be careful of Jason's ribs for a while, they were cracked. This wasn't their fault, and it wasn't my fault. If I learn that you're causing them problems because of this…" Angel growled, taking some of his frustration out on this annoying man.
The man's hands were moving frantically in a 'no' gesture, and he backed a little further away. "No problem, it won't cross my lips again…"
"Good." Angel turned and stalked away, going towards the basement level where every sort of imaginable prop was stored. Behind him he could hear the faint quaver of 'what was he?', but Angel ignored the man. There was also an underground utilities access, and he pulled the cover aside and dropped down into the tunnels.
There was a single vampire that was unfortunate enough to encounter him in the tunnels, and also slow enough not to get away. Angel beat him down before finally twisting off his head, unsure if he was annoyed that he lacked a stake or relived to have an acceptable target for his frustration. He'd rather be kissing Gwen. He'd rather not have to fear for his soul. He'd rather not be a potential danger to everyone and everything that he cared for.
Wiping the dust from his hands, he started moving again, back towards the Hyperion. Aliens were really real. It still seemed a little amazing, almost hard to believe, though the last traces of bruising where that bug-alien had tried to choke him were a reminder that everything had really happened. But now that they were back home, now that the alien excitement was over with, things could get back to normal.
By the time he was underneath the Hyperion, he felt a little calmer, and was starting to feel guilty for growling at that man on the set. It had been… well, maybe not uncalled for, but certainly excessive. At least, the fangs had been a bit much. On the other hand, he hadn't maimed him, even though it had been rather tempting.
The Hyperion seemed too quiet. He couldn't hear any music, no television, no ringing phones. Moving upstairs, he called out, "Hello? Guys?"
"Angel," Willow glanced up from a table, with a stack of books spread between herself and Wesley. "Hey."
"Research already?" He looked around, frowning slightly. "Where's Cordelia?"
"Upstairs, pampering herself. Jason couldn't handle the scary side of life and they broke up, so don't mention him for a while," Willow explained. "I don't think he needs dismembered or anything, not yet at least."
"Here, take a book and start looking for Egyptian soul bindings for the funeral practices," Wesley pushed a stack of tomes at him.
"Soul bindings?" Angel repeated, feeling a bit of hope. "Does that mean…?"
"It seems like a strong lead, but we need more information to be certain. Hence the books," Wesley said, gesturing at the table.
Angel settled into a chair, and grabbed the top book. "Are you certain Jason doesn't need a little lesson in manners? And will Alex be needing a few of those unhappy words as well?"
"Jason probably could, but I don't think it would help very much, and might be bad for Cordelia's acting efforts," Willow said, eyes never leaving the book that she was flipping though. "No mention of soul spells in this one. Alex is a bit disturbed, but I'd already told him about magic being real, and he seems to be coping. He's a bit surprised, and sort of shocked, but dealing."
"At least everything isn't falling apart then," Angel grumbled. Trying to push back the anger that some idiot actor had upset one of his people, Angel focused on the books. It wasn't an answer, but it was a lead, and if there was a possibility that this might secure his soul, might forever banish Angelus to the realm of dark and ugly past, then he'd look though a stack, a dozen stacks of thick books.
There was just something nagging at him about the whole adventure. Had they killed all of the vampire minions of the aliens? Had the Protector caught the shuttle that had launched from the ship? While he was wondering, "Why did the Thermian doctor have a partially used bag of Cordelia's blood?"
"Umm, that would be because of the brain surgery…" Willow stammered.
"Brain surgery?" Angel nearly wailed. "And nobody thought to mention this earlier? Is that why she keeps touching her head like that? What did they do to her?"
"It's supposed to help, Angel. Those visions, they're not just leaving headaches, and they were getting worse. They were leaving an imbalance in her brain, and if something wasn't done, she would die." Willow's words were low, still nervous. "Who else can we turn to for help? I haven't been able to find any spells, we don't have any demon doctors that we can trust, and a human doctor would think she was crazy."
"Lord help us all…" Angel sighed.
end part 60.
Gwen DeMarco picked up her keys, feeling relieved to be back on Earth. Back where everything made sense, instead of being just like something from television. Galaxy Quest was a job for her, she didn't want it to be her lifestyle. Granted, there were worse possibilities, lifestyles that lacked indoor plumbing and chocolate, but still… It was good to be home.
She was still relieved as she made her way towards the door, pausing as she heard Marty complaining about the schedule and the budget. She felt for him, really, but they'd been borrowed by aliens. They'd had to save the world and more from an alien threat… and it was almost incredible that she'd actually thought that. Marty started to yell at someone, apparently confident that he'd found either a scapegoat or someone too afraid to run away. Something growled.
She glanced over, seeing Marty yelling at Angel. She almost turned back, though she wasn't certain if she was trying to save Angel from Marty or to save Marty from Angel. After a few moments, she just shook her head and continued out the door. Marty yelled too much anyhow, and she didn't feel like getting ranted at on top of everything else that had happened.
The LA traffic promptly killed her joy at being home. Hundreds of cars, none of them going anywhere quickly, horns blaring, radios being played too loudly and with conflicting noise ranging from classic rock to hip-hop, techno, talk radio, the top forty, something about hair loss, some football game, and Dr. Phil. It took her an hour to get twenty miles from the studio.
Gwen closed the garage door behind her, and went into her small house. Her plants needed watering, the mail was in a stack inside the door, and her answering machine light was blinking at her. With a sigh, she watered the plants, and then started sorting the mail into categories - things to throw away, bills, credit card applications, and anything that looked like it might be of interest. Dropping the junk-mail into her trash can, Gwen pressed play on the answering machine, starting though her messages.
She didn't get the small part in the movie. A hang-up. Someone wanted to sell her life insurance. A man looking for Ginger West. Another hang-up. She didn't get the part of the secretary/spy in that action movie with Wesley Snipes. Someone looking for Tommy Keppler. A man's voice cursing the 'damned machine' and then hanging up. Her sister wanted her to call back so they could talk about Melissa.
Gwen blinked at that one, and then picked up the phone. She only rarely talked to most of her family, but got along fairly well with her sister and niece, but something had sounded wrong. Like Elaine was afraid, or trying not to be angry. Her sister didn't get angry, or afraid, that was why she was a teacher.
"Elaine? This is Gwen, what's going on?" Gwen settled herself into her favorite chair, preparing to listen.
:I think Melissa has a stalker. There's this man that's started following her. He's got a shop near her school, just down the street, and it's full of weird old books. She's seen him watching her at her swim lessons and karate class.: Elaine paused, and there was a rustling sound. :I think he's been watching the house a couple times too.:
"A stalker? I know we've got good bone structure, between my agent and the make-up artists I hear that all the time, but she's only twelve, that's awful young." Gwen paused, and her mind conjured all sorts of ugly fears. "I assume that you've checked the known sex-offender's list?"
:I've checked, and he doesn't look like anyone on the list. I can send you a picture of him. So far, I don't think he's tried to talk to her, but…: The familiar beeps of a computer were audible, and a tapping sound. :I'm worried. Melissa's my little girl, I don't want anything bad to happen to her. I just don't know what to do.:
"What do you mean? Umm, send me the picture. Have you talked to the police?" Gwen asked, her fingers tracing the pattern on the chair's upholstery.
:The man has a business, that just happens to have a window facing her school. Everyone's allowed to go for walks and her karate lessons happen to be at a public gym. Hundreds of people go to the mall or the gym for exercise. You can't call the police on someone who might have been walking down the sidewalk in front of your house.: Elaine sighed, and continued:He hasn't called the house, he hasn't sent anything to us in the mail. As far as I know, he hasn't tried to talk to her, or to… I don't know, go through the trash or her locker or anything like that. He's just… there. Watching.:
"I assume that her room has good blinds and nice thick curtains?" Gwen asked, now agreeing with Elaine that something sounded not quite normal.
:Of course. I just… It's freaking me out a little.: Elaine's voice was soft. :I'm hoping that you can help me out here, sis.:
"Well… maybe," Gwen sat up, remembering that Angel and his friends were private detectives. "I know some people, private detectives. I can talk to them, and they can figure out who this guy is and why he's always watching Melissa. Would that help?"
:Oh, yes, that would be wonderful. Thanks, Gwen: Elaine's relief was obvious. Maybe she had that much confidence in her sister, or maybe it was just that there was finally a plan for dealing with the strange man that happened to be in so many of the same places as her daughter.
She dialed the number for Angel Investigations, hoping that they could deal with something as ordinary ad a most-likely human maybe-stalker. Of course, talking to Angel would be nice anyhow… She felt a tiny pang of disappointment when the phone was answered by Wesley.
:Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless, how may we help you: Wesley's crisp tones made the phrase sound much more dignified than Willow or Cordelia managed.
"Hey Wes," Gwen offered.
:Ah, Gwen. Would you like me to give the phone to Angel: He sounded slightly amused. Muffled, she could hear him say to someone:No, not the budge, try the translation by Jackson.:
"Not quite yet. I've actually got some professional matters as well as personal." She turned on her computer, deciding to see if the picture that Elaine was going to send was there yet. "Apparently, my niece might have a stalker."
:My goodness. What do you know for certain: Wesley asked, not even arguing. :I assume that you'd like us to find out who and why:
"My sister said that she had a picture… yes, she sent it to me, I'll forward it on to you. This man apparently opened a bookstore down the street from Melissa's school. He ends up in the mall that has the gym where she has her karate lessons. He happens to be walking down the street where they live, at least twice a week." Gwen paused, clicking the picture to take a look. The man seemed so… ordinary. He could have been anywhere between thirty and fifty, not particularly handsome, but not ugly. His hair was a blondish brown that could have hidden gray, and he had light eyes. His clothing looked a little more formal and old fashioned than most, but even that was hardly enough to be weird anywhere, and certainly not in LA.
:Of course we'll look into the man.: Wesley's tone made it sound like a given, as if there was no other option for them than to look into the man. :Did you want me to pass the phone now:
"What are you researching in there? You said something about translations?" Gwen asked, curious. She still wasn't certain about everything that they did for their businesses.
:A bit of research on Egyptian funeral rituals, it's nothing that you need to worry about.: Wesley paused, and there was a thump, the sort that could have been a heavy book landing on the table. :What can you tell me about this man? Where is this shop, and when does your niece have the lessons that the man always happens to be watching:
"She goes to Eastwood Middle School, and the book store is supposed to be just up the street and on the other side, though I'm not certain the name of the road." Gwen sighed, and walked towards the drawer. She was almost certain that she had a program from the last school production that Melissa had participated in… Gwen explained the details of the school and her sister's worry as she searched for the program.
:Hello Gwen.: Angel's voice made her insides feel warm.
End part 61.