AUTHOR'S NOTE: I had no idea about this chapter was going to be about, I just rolled with whatever came from my muddled mind. Next chapter should be easier. (Man, this fic will eventually need a big rewrite)
CHAPTER 8 -GETTING TO THE POINT-
The night went on as Fred entertained Mabon with tales of her various misadventures, mean while nearly emptying the bar. Fred eventually became so inebriated that Mabon asked Lorne to call for Angel.
Angel arrived promptly and helped Mabon to guide the madly giggling Fred out of Caritas and into his car. The drive back to the Hyperion consisted mostly of Mabon trying to dissuade Fred from jumping out of the car "to see if she could fly". Both Angel and Mabon were relieved when Fred began to nod off.
"How much did she have?" Angel asked in disbelief.
"More than I would think was necessary to get her this drunk. She can hold in a lot."
"You should see her eat," Angel laughed. "We're here."
Angel hefted Fred's prone form up and carried her in. Upon entering Angel and Mabon were approached by Wesley.
"You're back. Is she alright?"
"She won't be once she wakes up tomorrow," Angel said.
"I see. Anyway, could you come over to the office? We have a guest."
"Who?"
Before Wesley could say anything Lilah stepped out of Wesley's office.
Angel leaned close to Wesley's ear. "What is she doing here?"
"I don't know. Just take Fred to bed and come back down."
"What's wrong with the twig?" Lilah smirked.
"Too much to drink." Angel gestured for Mabon to follow him upstairs.
As they left the lobby Angel could hear Lilah's voice. "Who's the kid?"
"A friend of Fred's."
"So the twig isn't a total social disaster?"
Angel looked down at Mabon. The elemental was glaring behind him, clearly he has heard Lilah.
"Don't mind her."
"Who is she?"
"She works for Wolfram and Hart. They're-"
"Bernard's told me about them."
Once in Fred's Angel laid her down on her bed. Fred mumbled something incoherent and held her pillow in a death grip.
"Is it okay, if I stay here?" Mabon walked next to Fred's bed.
"I don't see why not."
Angel exited the room and soon entered Wesley's office where he found everyone present and eyeing Lilah with varying degrees of mistrust.
"Okay, I'm here now."
"Good." Lilah wore her smirk like an effective shield against the looks she was getting. "I've heard you guys have been asking around about a certain statue."
"You here to tell us to stop?" Gunn asked.
"On the contrary. I want to stop the Casotrosian Brotherhood as much as you."
"Why is that? One would assume that Wolfram and Hart would be happy to help the Casotrosians get their army." Wesley folded his arms.
"The firm might, if the Casotrosians were our clients."
"Oh, so it's okay when your clients want to spread evil. But if someone who isn't paying you thinks of doing it, you turn all goody-goody?" Cordelia raised her eyebrow.
"Hey, if we can't profit from random destruction, we hate it as much as everyone."
"So, why won't Wolfram and Hart just take care of it? You have the resources."
"There's a catch to that. Like you must know by now, the Casotrosians need to find the Hound of Soroni to raise their army but they don't know where the statue is."
"We're aware of that. Get to the point," Angel said.
"I know where to find the statue and I'll tell you where it is, if you make sure the firm isn't connected to the statue's disappearance."
"Why don't you get it yourselves? What's the firm afraid of?"
"Conflict of interest, the statue's owner is a client."
Wesley sighed. "Should have guessed."
"Look, if you're going to take that attitude, I can just go to the next wannabe-heroes."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Like you know anyone else."
"True. But do you want the information or not? You can come back and bite my head off, if it turns out I'm lying, which I'm not."
"That'd be a first." Gunn shifted his legs.
"There's that attitude again."
"Okay. Give us the name and we'll take care of things," Angel said, he wanted Lilah out of the hotel before things escalated any more.
"That's all I wanted to hear." Lilah handed Angel a thin folder and went for the door. "Tell the twig that she should think about dating some older."
"Just leave," Wesley gritted his teeth.
"You're cute when you're pissed off." With that Lilah was gone.
Angel scanned the papers in the folder. "Looks like our target's called Ăˆliane Montagne, lives on Wilshire Boulevard."
"Great, a penthouse burglary it is then," Gunn rubbed his hands together.
"Should I be worried that you're excited about that?" Cordelia laughed.
- - - - - - -
Mabon sat in a chair next to Fred's bed, his large eyes watching the peaceful figure on the bed.
Mabon chuckled softly as he recalled Fred's drunken rendition of My Heart Will Go On. It was the first time in literally years that he had laughed out loud and Fred had not cared, she had just laughed with him.
Mabon was truly surprised at how sincere Fred was. He could see she was compassionate, almost naive. It was a wonder that after she had been through Fred had not lost her love of life.
Fred was strong. She may not look the part, but in Mabon's mind she was just that strong, caring, happy, someone who would not give up. Mabon remembered a time when he had been called strong for not giving up. But what other choice did he have? A human could always give up, elementals did not have the chance to do that. Mabon was glad that Fred had not given up. She had had the chance many times, but she never used it.
Mabon's face darkened, if he had the chance, his life would have been over more than once. Inexistence, however, was not optional. The only thing Mabon could have done at hard times would have been to evolve into something else. But Mabon knew that he could not do that.
Mabon blinked, he was not about to let unpleasant memories get the best of him. The future held numerous possibilities and Fred was one of them. She did not care about what he was, she cared about who he was. One kind smile and Mabon was her's, willingly.
Fred turned and began to snore. Mabon stifled a laugh. Who would have thought that Fred snored? He settled down on the chair and closed his eyes, determined to finally sleep in peace.
