Disclaimer- I don't own the shoes I'm currently dancing in what's the
likelihood I own anything in Joss' universe? I own the original novels. . .
I bought them in Borders, and I own the DVDs. I don't however make money
off of this I just seem to spend a lot on it. I in no way intend to
infringe copyrights. I'm just entertaining myself, honestly, I'm shocked
that anyone's read it.
Setting: I fall to pieces, some conversation stolen from said ep. And In The Dark.
Warning: SLASH Angel/Doyle. Don't like, don't read, don't flame.
Dedicated to Jack for going to Vermont.
Section rating: R
Part 4/?
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"We need money, and for money, we need to charge." Said Cordy as she flipped through the bills. "And I need a raise."
"You've worked here for a month. . . But you are right, and I do agree. Angel needs to start charging. He just hates bringing up the finances with the clients. He likes playing the hero, - walking off into the dark with his long coat flowing behind him in a mysterious and attractive way."
"Is this a privet moment? Because I can leave you two alone."
He rolled his eyes knowing Cordy meant no harm, "I'm just saying he's projecting a certain kind of image and asking for money isn't part of it. He's sensitive about that."
"Yeah, well while he's being Mr. sensitive some of us need the heat to stay on, we're not all cold blooded."
"Ok, yeah, no you have a point. Go out for a while, get some coffee, see friends, go shopping, whatever, I'll talk to him."
"And by talk, I do hope you mean you'll fuck some sense into him." She said grabbing her bag and heading to the door.
"Someday I'm going to teach you the art of tact."
"My tact is reserved for losers who can't handle the truth." She said as she reached the door. She looked back, "And you're not a loser."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Doyle came down in the lift to where Angel was reading on the couch. He walked over and slumped down next to him. "The bills came. And Cordy wants a raise." Angel looked up with a smirk. "Look, bud, I know it's not your favorite thing, but you've got to do what's right." He said as he rested his head on Angel's shoulder.
"You think its right to ask people in trouble for money?" asked Angel impassively.
"No."
"So we agree." Said Angel going back to his book.
"No."
"We don't agree." said Angel looking like a confused puppy.
"Cordy's right in some ways. We need money, they're threatening to cut the heat, lights, and water. And you like your showers. It seems that it's either whore ourselves out or charge."
Angel smirked. "I'm not letting you whore yourself out."
"Aren't master vampires supposed to have money?" said a befuddled Doyle.
"I do, but it's all ill gotten. It makes me feel slightly queasy using it."
"Well, I don't know what to say, those are our three options, yeah?"
"We'll muddle through, they're not gonna cut anything off power wise, I promise. Maybe I should promise Cordy too."
"She's out."
"She's out?"
"I sent her out. Where's Spike?"
"Out gambling for kittens." Leaning into Doyle for a kiss.
"Oh, I used to love that game!" said Doyle filled with sudden elation and forgetfulness about his pervious intentions.
"You gambled for kittens? I mean I know you're in for a good time, but kittens?" said Angel quirking one eyebrow.
"A lifetime ago, I wasn't in it for the sport I was in it for the kittens. Not to eat." He added hastily looking at Angel's expression bemused smile. He shrugged, "I taught third grade and we would always have a few classroom cats."
"You taught third grade? The one with children? That is so hot." Said Angel pulling the smaller man into his lap.
"I didn't know you like kids." Said Doyle.
"Love um, couldn't eat a whole one but there ya go." Said Angel with a wry grin. "Tell me about yourself, Doyle, I want to know everything about you but you always block me out. I love you, you can tell me anything, I want to know everything."
"I sent Cordy out so I could get some Angel lovin' not so that we could have 'story time with Doyle the half-man'." He rolled his eyes at his own obstinacy. "Ya really wanta know? Allan Francis Doyle was born to a loving mother in a little town outside of Dublin in 1975. He grew up in a nondescript fashion, with his single mother and many aunts, and had his teaching credentials by age 19. He wanted to make a difference in the world." He said bitterly.
"He's clean cut and filled with anticipation for the wonderful, meaningful life ahead of him. He met a lovely young girl while volunteering at a shelter, she wanted to make a difference too. Full of false and asinine ideals he and Harry were married. Young and stupid they started to plan a life together. Age twenty-one Francis sneezes and suddenly has green skin, red eyes, and blue spikes all over his face. It turns out his father was a demon and his mother never told him, hoping the genes would never rear their ugly green heads. Suddenly Harry thinks it might be best to not have the children they were planning. The two bicker over everything, and he eventually manages to push her away. Flash forward a few years to far too much drinking, and gambling, and other sorted affairs and the sweet young teacher has lost his job. He's living hand to guzzling drunken mouth.
"One day a spiky blue man turns up at his house and wants Francis to save his whole family. Not yet ready to deal with his own life Francis tells the man to fuck off. Later that night he has his very first vision: the family men, women, and children have been slaughtered and it's all on his head. He runs hoping to escape all of his problems and he finds himself here in the city of lost angels. And he's not Allan Francis Doyle he just Doyle. And even though he's ran from it all, he's still trapped by his past and who he is. So that's the story of Allan Francis Doyle, aren't you glad you asked?" he said shying away from Angel with eyes bright from unshed tears. In his own mind he felt the need to get away from the imminent judgment and dismissal.
Angel pulled him back towards him. "I love you, you're not going anywhere." He whispered, directly into his ear, seemingly reading the young man's mind. Doyle's body was quaking from the power of internalized sobs. "Shhhh, now calm down. You told me, and I don't hate you, and nothing's changed. . . except I might start calling you Francis." Doyle made to laugh but instead broke down and sobbed into the taller man's shoulder. Making no move to stop him, Angel sat silently rubbing his back in small soothing circles. Suddenly Doyle went rigid, he was having a vision. Filled with concern Angel held him tighter. "You ok?" he asked when Doyle stopped shaking.
"Melissa Burns, works at Pardell Paper Products." He muttered.
"You ok?" asked Angel again.
"I'm fine, just go."
"I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Kay." Said Doyle and smiled weakly. "Thank-you. . . for not hating me."
Shaking his head sadly Angel pulled the boy in for a kiss. "We'll talk more later."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I scared her." Said Angel coming into the office Cordy and Doyle were looking something up on the internet.
"Seems to me like she was scared to begin with." Said Doyle. "She's freaked as hell, Angel, something is seriously wrong, but you can't force her to be helped"
"Am I intimidating? I mean - do I put people off?"
"Well, as vampires go, you're pretty cuddly. Maybe you might want to think about mixing up the black on black look." Said Cordelia. Angel and Doyle both looked at her. "Well it can't possibly hurt."
"If she wants us, she'll call." Said Doyle resolutely.
The phone started to ring. "Please let it be a paying customer, please let it be a paying customer," begged Cordy. "Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless. . . come in right away." She said and hung up. "Melissa is coming in."
"I've got to change my shirt."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a long discussion it was decided that Doyle would follow the girl until the situation of her being stalked was resolved. Melissa was nice a person who was easy to follow around.
"You know you really don't have to stay with me all day." She said smiling.
"Protect and serve. It's entirely my bag. As long as I'm not in the way."
"Oh, no. I like it. As long as you're not bored."
"No, no. I'm good. I have a word jumble right here. That should keep me occupied, sadly, for most of the day." He said with a rueful grin.
"I do feel better having you all on the case. I guess Angel has handled a lot of cases like this."
"Dozens. Hundreds. Dozens of hundreds." He said getting overly enthused.
"Wow, it happens that often?"
"Well, exactly like yours? Not quite so many. But protecting young women such as yourself? Yeah, there've been - ah - 4. And 3 of them are very much alive." She gave him a shocked look and Doyle felt the sudden urge to change the subject. He picked up a photo on her desk, "Is that you?"
She smiled, "Ah, yeah. Bungee jumping."
"I've always meant to do that, but I intensely don't want to, so I haven't gotten around to it yet."
"It's fun. Scary."
"You don't seem like the thrill seeker type."
Melissa took the picture from Doyle, "Well, I used to.. - You know, I used to do a lot of things.. - before.."
"Don't you worry. When Angel is finished with this case I can guarantee you'll be wanting to jump off a bridge again. Or rather-" he started to explain but Melissa just laughed.
"What's the deal with Angel? What does he get out of all of this? He said it wasn't about money, I guess a lot of the work you guys get is pro-bono. So what does he get out of it?"
"Angel is a do good-er if you can pay then yea, we get to pay the water bill if not it doesn't mean he won't still help you. It's just what he does, he's in it for the warm feeling inside."
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"Where are the white hats?" asked Spike as he walked into the office shortly after dusk. He deposited five kittens on the desk after producing them from his deep pockets and handed a sixth to Cordelia. "Here, Princess."
"Doyle is walking a client home to protect her from her stalking doctor and Angel is out following some leads on the case. And I am painting my nails." Said Cordy as she gingerly stroked the tabby kitten with the palm of her hand. "Game go well?"
"Beautifully, Princess. Seven kittens that's a nice pickings." He said throwing himself on the couch.
"There's only six." Said Cordy.
"I got snackish on my way home."
"Ewww! There is such a thing as an over share and that was it." The phone rang. "Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless. . . hi, ok we'll come, eww detachable body parts? See you in a bit. Bye!" she hung up and turned to Spike. "Stalker boy turned up and went transformer with detachable hands and now we're wanted over at little Miss I'm-so-wounded- that-I-need-everyone-and-am-not-conciderate-enough-even-to-care-about- Cordilia's-nail-care-system-being-disrupted's place."
"For someone who needs to breathe that was impressive." Said Spike with an awed expression.
"You don't win bitch of the year by breathing, you need to get ahead of the game. Now put the kitten's in a cardboard box and let's go."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kate Lockley was on the scene by the time they arrived. Talking to her was Angel, Doyle was standing with a shaken Melissa. Every once in a while Doyle would throw a furtive look at the pair while stroking Melissa's hair and talking in a soothing voice. Sidling over to the couple Spike took pity on the self-esteem challenged youth. "Who's the bitch with Angel?" he asked.
"Detective Kate Lockley, and what makes you think she's a bitch?" asked Doyle not meeting Spike's gaze.
"Just Angel's body language. He clearly hates her. Look at the way his hips are positioned away from her, it's like his body is trying to run away."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah." Spike smirked and started adding a soundtrack to the pair's movements. "How can I thank you, you mysterious, black-clad hunk of a night thing? For saving the damsel when we, the police, are so incompetent? No need, little lady, your tears of gratitude are enough for me. You see, I was once a badass," he looked at Melissa, "guy, but love and a pesky curse defanged me. Now I'm just a big, fluffy puppy with bad teeth." Kate started to move towards him but Angel jumped back. "No, not the hair! Never the hair! But there must be someway I can show my appreciation." He said as Kate twirled her hair around her finger. "No, helping those in need's my job, say no more. Evil's still afoot! And I'm almost out of that Nancy-boy hair-gel that I like so much. Quickly, to the Angel-mobile, away!" he said throwing a hand up in the air superman style, he then acknowledged Melissa for the first time and put a hand out to shake. "'M Spike you must be Melissa, this is a dreadful business but we'll get it sorted. Kitten?" He offered pulling one out of his pocket and holding it out to her with a warm smile and lounged with the two against the ambulance. She took the calico with a look of bemusement and absentmindedly patted it. Angel was walking away from Kate and Spike said. "Go talk to the poof I'll wait with the girl."
"Hey," said Angel as he reached Doyle. "How's she doing?"
"Numb, did they get prints?" he asked as he straightened Angel's collar. "Then they can put him away for four seconds before he skitters through the bars. Fuck, this is messed up. Not to put a cowardly point on it. But he's killing everything that's coming between him and his obsession, that's us man, what are we gonna do?"
"His parts can't survive without circulation. We need pumping blood and oxygen to stay alive. . . well not we as in me, but living things, which he is." He said awkwardly trying to correct himself.
"So what are you saying? Break him down and box him up?" said Doyle tilting an eyebrow, "That's sounds practical." He said sarcastically, "Can't we just blow him up?"
"Of course that's just a theory."
"Hmm. What do we do in the mean time?" he said looking back at Melissa and Spike who were laughing at the kitten who was attacking an oxygen bottle in the ambulance.
"Protect her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They had gotten Melissa settled in the apartment with a cup of tea. A phone call had been made and Angel had a meeting set up with the doctor about his "ill wife" for the middle of the night. He was just about to head out when Doyle grabbed him and dragged him into the stairwell for a conversation. Laughing Angel smiled at his boyfriend. Then he saw the angry and fear in Doyle's eyes and stopped. "What?" he asked defensively.
"The part where Melissa stays here? Good plan. The part where you go and face psycho boy on your lonesome? Bad plan. The fact that he called five minutes after we stopped him from harassing Melissa doesn't seem odd to you? He saw you, man, he must have. This is a sting. He wants you to go there. You're playing right into his hands."
"What else can I do, love?" said Angel bleakly.
"I don't know. Nothing? You're not going into the lion's den alone, I'm coming with you."
"Alright, say do you know where I can get some steel boxes this time of night?"
"Yeah." Said Doyle Angel gave him a look, "What? You never know when you're going to need a nice strong box at four AM."
"I don't want to know. You lead, I'll follow." He said as he gave Doyle a slight push towards the stairs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The doctor and Angel had a short conversation wherein Doyle was proved right. Within twenty seconds Angel had been shot with a tranquilizer dart. Ronald made some speech about killing his wicked cheating fiancé also known as Melissa the girl he went out for drinks with once. Waiting outside the door, as Ronald, the evil doctor, walked out he greeted by Doyle and punched directly in the nose. Like a sack of bricks he fell to the floor.
Leaning down Doyle did the most disgusting thing he could imagine. Pulling back Ronald's eyelids, he popped the orbs out of their sockets and placed them in a small metal box and dropped it into his pockets. After grimacing he repeated the process with both Ronald's hands, feet, and teeth. Upon entering the office he saw Angel lying in a heap. He pulled Angel up and sat him on the desk. After gently smacking his face a few times Doyle got Angel to wakeup. Smiling slightly he asked, "Ok, Angel man?"
"Did he get away?" he asked crestfallen. Resting his head on Doyle's shoulder as a wave of vertigo flowed through him.
"I left him out in the hall, so your guess is as good as mine. But I'd wager as I have his feet right here," he said brandishing the box, "No. I need your help getting apart the large limbs, it'll be dismemberment fun for the whole family." He started to move away but Angel clung to him.
"You saved the day. We'd be fucked if you hadn't come." Said Angel.
Doyle laughed, "Thank me later. Right now let's get chopping before he wakes up."
"Oe late 'or tha." Said a lispy voice.
"To late for that? Why is he lisping Doyle?" asked Angel.
"I took his teeth." Angel gave him the look for the second time of the night. "Think of the black knight when he has no limbs left what does he threaten? To bite their knee caps off. And I don't know about you but I like my knee caps where they are."
"You are an odd Irish man. Life is not Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail."
"Hey you're Irish too!" said Doyle indignantly. "And while we're on the subject of race could you get Spike to stop calling me the Mortal Mick Mix and Triple M? Only Cordy asked me what type of a mix he meant by it."
"I hate to interrupt," called Ronald, "But there are more urgent happenings going on here. And anyway I thought I killed you tranqu-boy."
"No, it was rather ineffectual." Said Angel as he pulled off one of the Doctor's legs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laying in bed together later that night Angel was thinking over the days events. Slowly he pulled Doyle closer to himself. Running fingers through black hair he thought of what he was going to say when the kitten Spike had given Doyle jumped on top of him. He screamed like a girly man.. Erupting in laughter Doyle scooped the kitten off Angel's chest. "Did the scary, evil kitty cat scare you?" he asked.
"Nothing is meant to be that agile: it's unnatural." Angel cynically himself.
"Ok down you go, Felix, the big, bad vampire is scared by you." Said Doyle as he kissed the top of the kitten's head and put him on the floor.
"I love you." Said Angel as a preface to whatever he was going to say.
"But if we get attacked by a large cat you'll use me as a human shield?" interrupted Doyle with a smirk.
"No. . . well yeah maybe." Conceded Angel with a laugh. "They play the snakes to my Indiana Jones." He shook his head, "But that's not the point. I love you. And whatever you did or didn't do in the past doesn't matter because a) it's done and b) you are a good man. . . no matter what you think. You did nothing you should ashamed of. You were scared and young that doesn't mean you were evil. You're amazing, you're beautiful, you're fucking effulgent. I wish I could make you see how magnificent you are." Doyle laughed. "I'm serious! I am physically hurt that you can't realize your greatness. It makes me feel ill that you can hate yourself so much when there are such wicked people out there who are so self-righteous." Angel was nearly in tears with the power of his conviction. "Why can't you see brilliance?"
"I love it when you get indignant." Said Doyle as he cradled himself against Angel. "And moreover, kettle, I maybe a black pot, but you still win first place in the self loathing pageant. And you are far more righteous than I am. I had no choice in fighting the good fight you did."
"Ok, well in the morning kiss Cordelia. The meeting between demon and human would transmit the visions to her. Then you can get out if this isn't your scene."
Doyle stared at him angrily, "I'm not d-"
"Exactly, you might not have chosen it, it doesn't mean you won't partake, you could get out and lead a normal life. I could never have that so why not submit? If I could get out, I would do it in a heart beat. I would get all of us out of this and fuck the rest of the world. So don't say I'm the moral one. I am not a good man, not with a soul and not without one. When I was alive, I was one of the worst examples of human kind. And when I became a vampire I lost all my inhibitions. The only thing that makes me a better man now is a ton of guilt. Without that I would still be a total dick. But you're not like that."
"I-" started Doyle.
"You know you're not like that right?" said Angel.
"Yes," said Doyle dejectedly.
"Well that's a step in the right direction." Said Angel with his lopsided smile and he pulled Doyle tightly to him. "I love you." He said one final time and then they both drifted into troubled sleep.
Setting: I fall to pieces, some conversation stolen from said ep. And In The Dark.
Warning: SLASH Angel/Doyle. Don't like, don't read, don't flame.
Dedicated to Jack for going to Vermont.
Section rating: R
Part 4/?
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"We need money, and for money, we need to charge." Said Cordy as she flipped through the bills. "And I need a raise."
"You've worked here for a month. . . But you are right, and I do agree. Angel needs to start charging. He just hates bringing up the finances with the clients. He likes playing the hero, - walking off into the dark with his long coat flowing behind him in a mysterious and attractive way."
"Is this a privet moment? Because I can leave you two alone."
He rolled his eyes knowing Cordy meant no harm, "I'm just saying he's projecting a certain kind of image and asking for money isn't part of it. He's sensitive about that."
"Yeah, well while he's being Mr. sensitive some of us need the heat to stay on, we're not all cold blooded."
"Ok, yeah, no you have a point. Go out for a while, get some coffee, see friends, go shopping, whatever, I'll talk to him."
"And by talk, I do hope you mean you'll fuck some sense into him." She said grabbing her bag and heading to the door.
"Someday I'm going to teach you the art of tact."
"My tact is reserved for losers who can't handle the truth." She said as she reached the door. She looked back, "And you're not a loser."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Doyle came down in the lift to where Angel was reading on the couch. He walked over and slumped down next to him. "The bills came. And Cordy wants a raise." Angel looked up with a smirk. "Look, bud, I know it's not your favorite thing, but you've got to do what's right." He said as he rested his head on Angel's shoulder.
"You think its right to ask people in trouble for money?" asked Angel impassively.
"No."
"So we agree." Said Angel going back to his book.
"No."
"We don't agree." said Angel looking like a confused puppy.
"Cordy's right in some ways. We need money, they're threatening to cut the heat, lights, and water. And you like your showers. It seems that it's either whore ourselves out or charge."
Angel smirked. "I'm not letting you whore yourself out."
"Aren't master vampires supposed to have money?" said a befuddled Doyle.
"I do, but it's all ill gotten. It makes me feel slightly queasy using it."
"Well, I don't know what to say, those are our three options, yeah?"
"We'll muddle through, they're not gonna cut anything off power wise, I promise. Maybe I should promise Cordy too."
"She's out."
"She's out?"
"I sent her out. Where's Spike?"
"Out gambling for kittens." Leaning into Doyle for a kiss.
"Oh, I used to love that game!" said Doyle filled with sudden elation and forgetfulness about his pervious intentions.
"You gambled for kittens? I mean I know you're in for a good time, but kittens?" said Angel quirking one eyebrow.
"A lifetime ago, I wasn't in it for the sport I was in it for the kittens. Not to eat." He added hastily looking at Angel's expression bemused smile. He shrugged, "I taught third grade and we would always have a few classroom cats."
"You taught third grade? The one with children? That is so hot." Said Angel pulling the smaller man into his lap.
"I didn't know you like kids." Said Doyle.
"Love um, couldn't eat a whole one but there ya go." Said Angel with a wry grin. "Tell me about yourself, Doyle, I want to know everything about you but you always block me out. I love you, you can tell me anything, I want to know everything."
"I sent Cordy out so I could get some Angel lovin' not so that we could have 'story time with Doyle the half-man'." He rolled his eyes at his own obstinacy. "Ya really wanta know? Allan Francis Doyle was born to a loving mother in a little town outside of Dublin in 1975. He grew up in a nondescript fashion, with his single mother and many aunts, and had his teaching credentials by age 19. He wanted to make a difference in the world." He said bitterly.
"He's clean cut and filled with anticipation for the wonderful, meaningful life ahead of him. He met a lovely young girl while volunteering at a shelter, she wanted to make a difference too. Full of false and asinine ideals he and Harry were married. Young and stupid they started to plan a life together. Age twenty-one Francis sneezes and suddenly has green skin, red eyes, and blue spikes all over his face. It turns out his father was a demon and his mother never told him, hoping the genes would never rear their ugly green heads. Suddenly Harry thinks it might be best to not have the children they were planning. The two bicker over everything, and he eventually manages to push her away. Flash forward a few years to far too much drinking, and gambling, and other sorted affairs and the sweet young teacher has lost his job. He's living hand to guzzling drunken mouth.
"One day a spiky blue man turns up at his house and wants Francis to save his whole family. Not yet ready to deal with his own life Francis tells the man to fuck off. Later that night he has his very first vision: the family men, women, and children have been slaughtered and it's all on his head. He runs hoping to escape all of his problems and he finds himself here in the city of lost angels. And he's not Allan Francis Doyle he just Doyle. And even though he's ran from it all, he's still trapped by his past and who he is. So that's the story of Allan Francis Doyle, aren't you glad you asked?" he said shying away from Angel with eyes bright from unshed tears. In his own mind he felt the need to get away from the imminent judgment and dismissal.
Angel pulled him back towards him. "I love you, you're not going anywhere." He whispered, directly into his ear, seemingly reading the young man's mind. Doyle's body was quaking from the power of internalized sobs. "Shhhh, now calm down. You told me, and I don't hate you, and nothing's changed. . . except I might start calling you Francis." Doyle made to laugh but instead broke down and sobbed into the taller man's shoulder. Making no move to stop him, Angel sat silently rubbing his back in small soothing circles. Suddenly Doyle went rigid, he was having a vision. Filled with concern Angel held him tighter. "You ok?" he asked when Doyle stopped shaking.
"Melissa Burns, works at Pardell Paper Products." He muttered.
"You ok?" asked Angel again.
"I'm fine, just go."
"I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Kay." Said Doyle and smiled weakly. "Thank-you. . . for not hating me."
Shaking his head sadly Angel pulled the boy in for a kiss. "We'll talk more later."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I scared her." Said Angel coming into the office Cordy and Doyle were looking something up on the internet.
"Seems to me like she was scared to begin with." Said Doyle. "She's freaked as hell, Angel, something is seriously wrong, but you can't force her to be helped"
"Am I intimidating? I mean - do I put people off?"
"Well, as vampires go, you're pretty cuddly. Maybe you might want to think about mixing up the black on black look." Said Cordelia. Angel and Doyle both looked at her. "Well it can't possibly hurt."
"If she wants us, she'll call." Said Doyle resolutely.
The phone started to ring. "Please let it be a paying customer, please let it be a paying customer," begged Cordy. "Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless. . . come in right away." She said and hung up. "Melissa is coming in."
"I've got to change my shirt."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a long discussion it was decided that Doyle would follow the girl until the situation of her being stalked was resolved. Melissa was nice a person who was easy to follow around.
"You know you really don't have to stay with me all day." She said smiling.
"Protect and serve. It's entirely my bag. As long as I'm not in the way."
"Oh, no. I like it. As long as you're not bored."
"No, no. I'm good. I have a word jumble right here. That should keep me occupied, sadly, for most of the day." He said with a rueful grin.
"I do feel better having you all on the case. I guess Angel has handled a lot of cases like this."
"Dozens. Hundreds. Dozens of hundreds." He said getting overly enthused.
"Wow, it happens that often?"
"Well, exactly like yours? Not quite so many. But protecting young women such as yourself? Yeah, there've been - ah - 4. And 3 of them are very much alive." She gave him a shocked look and Doyle felt the sudden urge to change the subject. He picked up a photo on her desk, "Is that you?"
She smiled, "Ah, yeah. Bungee jumping."
"I've always meant to do that, but I intensely don't want to, so I haven't gotten around to it yet."
"It's fun. Scary."
"You don't seem like the thrill seeker type."
Melissa took the picture from Doyle, "Well, I used to.. - You know, I used to do a lot of things.. - before.."
"Don't you worry. When Angel is finished with this case I can guarantee you'll be wanting to jump off a bridge again. Or rather-" he started to explain but Melissa just laughed.
"What's the deal with Angel? What does he get out of all of this? He said it wasn't about money, I guess a lot of the work you guys get is pro-bono. So what does he get out of it?"
"Angel is a do good-er if you can pay then yea, we get to pay the water bill if not it doesn't mean he won't still help you. It's just what he does, he's in it for the warm feeling inside."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where are the white hats?" asked Spike as he walked into the office shortly after dusk. He deposited five kittens on the desk after producing them from his deep pockets and handed a sixth to Cordelia. "Here, Princess."
"Doyle is walking a client home to protect her from her stalking doctor and Angel is out following some leads on the case. And I am painting my nails." Said Cordy as she gingerly stroked the tabby kitten with the palm of her hand. "Game go well?"
"Beautifully, Princess. Seven kittens that's a nice pickings." He said throwing himself on the couch.
"There's only six." Said Cordy.
"I got snackish on my way home."
"Ewww! There is such a thing as an over share and that was it." The phone rang. "Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless. . . hi, ok we'll come, eww detachable body parts? See you in a bit. Bye!" she hung up and turned to Spike. "Stalker boy turned up and went transformer with detachable hands and now we're wanted over at little Miss I'm-so-wounded- that-I-need-everyone-and-am-not-conciderate-enough-even-to-care-about- Cordilia's-nail-care-system-being-disrupted's place."
"For someone who needs to breathe that was impressive." Said Spike with an awed expression.
"You don't win bitch of the year by breathing, you need to get ahead of the game. Now put the kitten's in a cardboard box and let's go."
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Kate Lockley was on the scene by the time they arrived. Talking to her was Angel, Doyle was standing with a shaken Melissa. Every once in a while Doyle would throw a furtive look at the pair while stroking Melissa's hair and talking in a soothing voice. Sidling over to the couple Spike took pity on the self-esteem challenged youth. "Who's the bitch with Angel?" he asked.
"Detective Kate Lockley, and what makes you think she's a bitch?" asked Doyle not meeting Spike's gaze.
"Just Angel's body language. He clearly hates her. Look at the way his hips are positioned away from her, it's like his body is trying to run away."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah." Spike smirked and started adding a soundtrack to the pair's movements. "How can I thank you, you mysterious, black-clad hunk of a night thing? For saving the damsel when we, the police, are so incompetent? No need, little lady, your tears of gratitude are enough for me. You see, I was once a badass," he looked at Melissa, "guy, but love and a pesky curse defanged me. Now I'm just a big, fluffy puppy with bad teeth." Kate started to move towards him but Angel jumped back. "No, not the hair! Never the hair! But there must be someway I can show my appreciation." He said as Kate twirled her hair around her finger. "No, helping those in need's my job, say no more. Evil's still afoot! And I'm almost out of that Nancy-boy hair-gel that I like so much. Quickly, to the Angel-mobile, away!" he said throwing a hand up in the air superman style, he then acknowledged Melissa for the first time and put a hand out to shake. "'M Spike you must be Melissa, this is a dreadful business but we'll get it sorted. Kitten?" He offered pulling one out of his pocket and holding it out to her with a warm smile and lounged with the two against the ambulance. She took the calico with a look of bemusement and absentmindedly patted it. Angel was walking away from Kate and Spike said. "Go talk to the poof I'll wait with the girl."
"Hey," said Angel as he reached Doyle. "How's she doing?"
"Numb, did they get prints?" he asked as he straightened Angel's collar. "Then they can put him away for four seconds before he skitters through the bars. Fuck, this is messed up. Not to put a cowardly point on it. But he's killing everything that's coming between him and his obsession, that's us man, what are we gonna do?"
"His parts can't survive without circulation. We need pumping blood and oxygen to stay alive. . . well not we as in me, but living things, which he is." He said awkwardly trying to correct himself.
"So what are you saying? Break him down and box him up?" said Doyle tilting an eyebrow, "That's sounds practical." He said sarcastically, "Can't we just blow him up?"
"Of course that's just a theory."
"Hmm. What do we do in the mean time?" he said looking back at Melissa and Spike who were laughing at the kitten who was attacking an oxygen bottle in the ambulance.
"Protect her."
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They had gotten Melissa settled in the apartment with a cup of tea. A phone call had been made and Angel had a meeting set up with the doctor about his "ill wife" for the middle of the night. He was just about to head out when Doyle grabbed him and dragged him into the stairwell for a conversation. Laughing Angel smiled at his boyfriend. Then he saw the angry and fear in Doyle's eyes and stopped. "What?" he asked defensively.
"The part where Melissa stays here? Good plan. The part where you go and face psycho boy on your lonesome? Bad plan. The fact that he called five minutes after we stopped him from harassing Melissa doesn't seem odd to you? He saw you, man, he must have. This is a sting. He wants you to go there. You're playing right into his hands."
"What else can I do, love?" said Angel bleakly.
"I don't know. Nothing? You're not going into the lion's den alone, I'm coming with you."
"Alright, say do you know where I can get some steel boxes this time of night?"
"Yeah." Said Doyle Angel gave him a look, "What? You never know when you're going to need a nice strong box at four AM."
"I don't want to know. You lead, I'll follow." He said as he gave Doyle a slight push towards the stairs.
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The doctor and Angel had a short conversation wherein Doyle was proved right. Within twenty seconds Angel had been shot with a tranquilizer dart. Ronald made some speech about killing his wicked cheating fiancé also known as Melissa the girl he went out for drinks with once. Waiting outside the door, as Ronald, the evil doctor, walked out he greeted by Doyle and punched directly in the nose. Like a sack of bricks he fell to the floor.
Leaning down Doyle did the most disgusting thing he could imagine. Pulling back Ronald's eyelids, he popped the orbs out of their sockets and placed them in a small metal box and dropped it into his pockets. After grimacing he repeated the process with both Ronald's hands, feet, and teeth. Upon entering the office he saw Angel lying in a heap. He pulled Angel up and sat him on the desk. After gently smacking his face a few times Doyle got Angel to wakeup. Smiling slightly he asked, "Ok, Angel man?"
"Did he get away?" he asked crestfallen. Resting his head on Doyle's shoulder as a wave of vertigo flowed through him.
"I left him out in the hall, so your guess is as good as mine. But I'd wager as I have his feet right here," he said brandishing the box, "No. I need your help getting apart the large limbs, it'll be dismemberment fun for the whole family." He started to move away but Angel clung to him.
"You saved the day. We'd be fucked if you hadn't come." Said Angel.
Doyle laughed, "Thank me later. Right now let's get chopping before he wakes up."
"Oe late 'or tha." Said a lispy voice.
"To late for that? Why is he lisping Doyle?" asked Angel.
"I took his teeth." Angel gave him the look for the second time of the night. "Think of the black knight when he has no limbs left what does he threaten? To bite their knee caps off. And I don't know about you but I like my knee caps where they are."
"You are an odd Irish man. Life is not Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail."
"Hey you're Irish too!" said Doyle indignantly. "And while we're on the subject of race could you get Spike to stop calling me the Mortal Mick Mix and Triple M? Only Cordy asked me what type of a mix he meant by it."
"I hate to interrupt," called Ronald, "But there are more urgent happenings going on here. And anyway I thought I killed you tranqu-boy."
"No, it was rather ineffectual." Said Angel as he pulled off one of the Doctor's legs.
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Laying in bed together later that night Angel was thinking over the days events. Slowly he pulled Doyle closer to himself. Running fingers through black hair he thought of what he was going to say when the kitten Spike had given Doyle jumped on top of him. He screamed like a girly man.. Erupting in laughter Doyle scooped the kitten off Angel's chest. "Did the scary, evil kitty cat scare you?" he asked.
"Nothing is meant to be that agile: it's unnatural." Angel cynically himself.
"Ok down you go, Felix, the big, bad vampire is scared by you." Said Doyle as he kissed the top of the kitten's head and put him on the floor.
"I love you." Said Angel as a preface to whatever he was going to say.
"But if we get attacked by a large cat you'll use me as a human shield?" interrupted Doyle with a smirk.
"No. . . well yeah maybe." Conceded Angel with a laugh. "They play the snakes to my Indiana Jones." He shook his head, "But that's not the point. I love you. And whatever you did or didn't do in the past doesn't matter because a) it's done and b) you are a good man. . . no matter what you think. You did nothing you should ashamed of. You were scared and young that doesn't mean you were evil. You're amazing, you're beautiful, you're fucking effulgent. I wish I could make you see how magnificent you are." Doyle laughed. "I'm serious! I am physically hurt that you can't realize your greatness. It makes me feel ill that you can hate yourself so much when there are such wicked people out there who are so self-righteous." Angel was nearly in tears with the power of his conviction. "Why can't you see brilliance?"
"I love it when you get indignant." Said Doyle as he cradled himself against Angel. "And moreover, kettle, I maybe a black pot, but you still win first place in the self loathing pageant. And you are far more righteous than I am. I had no choice in fighting the good fight you did."
"Ok, well in the morning kiss Cordelia. The meeting between demon and human would transmit the visions to her. Then you can get out if this isn't your scene."
Doyle stared at him angrily, "I'm not d-"
"Exactly, you might not have chosen it, it doesn't mean you won't partake, you could get out and lead a normal life. I could never have that so why not submit? If I could get out, I would do it in a heart beat. I would get all of us out of this and fuck the rest of the world. So don't say I'm the moral one. I am not a good man, not with a soul and not without one. When I was alive, I was one of the worst examples of human kind. And when I became a vampire I lost all my inhibitions. The only thing that makes me a better man now is a ton of guilt. Without that I would still be a total dick. But you're not like that."
"I-" started Doyle.
"You know you're not like that right?" said Angel.
"Yes," said Doyle dejectedly.
"Well that's a step in the right direction." Said Angel with his lopsided smile and he pulled Doyle tightly to him. "I love you." He said one final time and then they both drifted into troubled sleep.