February 6, 1999
Jacob Smith watched Willow at the bus stop and considered his options. He could grab her and use her as collateral but that might not get him what he wanted. He doubted the slayer would just hand him back his daughter even if he used her friend as bait. Or worse Anna might decide to attack him and that must be avoided. It's possible that if he made the wrong move Anna could leave town and be entirely out of his grasp. He still planned to grab Willow or another friend at some point if it became necessary.
Jacob sat back and smiled as Willow boarded the bus. First, he'd let Willow lead him to Anna and then he'd get to work on stealing Anna back from the slayers. Once Anna returned to him, he'd punish her. He'd find a way to keep her this time. Make escape impossible. She would pay for the trouble she caused him.
--
"I"m here," Willow said, walking through Angel's door. "The bus took forever."
"Did you find the book you were looking for?" Xander asked.
"Yeah," she said, handing it to Wes. "Is this the book Anna used?"
Wesley quickly skimmed through the pages and then hugged Willow.
He asked, "How did you find this?"
"A friend at the magic shop recognized the sketch I showed her of Anna," Willow said. "She told me the name of the book Anna purchased and got me a copy."
"Great thinking, Will," Xander said.
"Actually, it was Angel's idea," Willow said smiling at him.
"We can get you back to your body without getting the book from Jacob," Angel said. He had called Willow that morning when Cordy had left him alone in the room to take a shower. He'd been determined to find a way to get the book at a minimum of danger to everyone.
"So I guess the PI stuff comes in handy," Cordelia said amused at the way Cordy was practically dancing around the room.
Buffy noted to way Angel's eyes followed Cordy wherever she stood and the way Gus was smiling. She'd never seen that smile before.
"You guys rock," Cordy exclaimed.
Cordy hugged both Willow and Angel. She was so thrilled that going home was finally in her grasp.
Giles looked over the book, "We need to get some supplies for the spell. We can get them from the library."
"I can help with that," Willow offered.
Giles left the house with the book under his arm and Willow at his side. There was a feeling of optimism in the room that hadn't existed in days. Even Faith was smiling slightly.
"So this means we can scrap the Cordy goes badass on Jacob plan?" Xander said smiling at Cordy.
"No, we still have Anna to think of," Cordy said, frowning at the way Angel was glaring at her.
"We can take care of Anna," Angel said. "You can go home."
"I can't let Anna back in her body now," Cordy said. "She has no fight training at all. If she goes head to head against Jacob, it'll go bad. It isn't safe for Anna to return until Jacob Smith is no longer a threat."
Seeing the argument coming Wesely quickly said, "But now there isn't the same urgency as before. We can take our time and come up with a plan."
"There's still research to be done to figure out how to weaken Jacob," Buffy said.
They all knew there was a deadline. There was that obituary in Angel's pocket stating that Anna Smith was going to die tomorrow.
"It has to be tonight," Cordy said.
"Why can't you just get on a plane and get out of town for a few days?" Cordelia said.
"That might be a good plan," Buffy said.
"A vacation has to sound good," Xander said.
"We can leave at sunset," Angel said.
Cordy wavered. She had nixed Angel's earlier plan to leave town but now she was tempted.
"Jacob is going to be a problem no matter where I go," Cordy said.
"But who says you have to face him tonight or tomorrow," Wesley said. "You can go after Jacob on the 8th instead of the 7th."
"Do you really think that will change anything?" Cordy said.
"We have to try," Angel said.
"I can put the plane tickets on Daddy's credit card," Cordelia added.
"If you can make it past the deadline it would change everything," Xander said confidently.
Cordy turned to Cordelia, "Book the flight."
"Oh thank God," Cordelia said finally feeling a little relaxed. She was afraid Cordy might get herself killed. Gus gave her an understanding arm squeeze as he passed by her.
Angel hugged Cordy in relief. Buffy watched and then meet Gus' eyes. They shared an uncomfortable stare.
"We have to talk," Buffy said.
"I know but not now," Gus replied.
"I guess I have some packing to do," Cordy said and turned to Faith. "I could use a hand."
"I'll help you," Faith said realizing that Cordy was up to something.
"Wes, should I be booking a plane ticket for you too?" Cordelia asked.
"I'm not certain yet," Wesley said. "Giles might need me to help with the research on Jacob."
"Wes," Angel said, taking him aside. "If things go bad we might have to choose between saving Cordy or saving Anna."
Wesley looked at Angel and said, "We'll save Cordy."
Angel nodded feeling better that he and Wesley agreed on that point. He didn't feel good about sacrificing Anna though. He wanted to save her if it was possible. He hoped they wouldn't have to choose between her and Cordy.
Upstairs Faith watched Cordy fold some clothes and stuff them in Angel's duffel bag. Faith had no intention of helping Cordy pack. She just assumed Cordy was up to something.
"I need a favor," Cordy said.
"I figured," Faith said. "So?"
Cordy began. "I can't ask Wes or Cordelia because they're too close. I can't ask Angel because he's way too stubborn."
"What is it?" Faith asked.
"I'm not getting on that plane," Cordy said.
"He'll go ballistic when he finds out," Faith said, almost looking forward to the inevitable scene.
"That's where you come in," Cordy said. "Keep them busy while I track down Jacob."
"Why don't you just leave for a while?" Faith said. "You've started packing."
"I'm only packing because they'll get suspicious if I don't," Cordy said. "I have to do this. I can't keep running. I can't let Angel risk his life to stand between me and Jacob. It has to be this way."
"I'll help you," Faith said. "It'll be fun stirring things up."
Cordy smiled at Faith in gratitude.
"If things go bad, you guys might have to choose between saving me or saving Anna," Cordy said. "Save Anna."
Faith stared at her for a few seconds and then answered, "Fine. I'll keep the vamp and the watcher in line."
"Good," Cordy said. "I knew I could trust you."
"Whatever," Faith said.
First, Angel had attempted to befriend her while they were on patrol and now Cordy was suddenly trusting her with her life. Faith didn't trust either of them. She could tell there were things about the future they knew about her. She could tell that they wanted something from her. Cordy watched the conflicting emotions wash over Faith's face.
"Look, I could have asked Willow or Giles or Gus. But I'm asking you because I know you have it in you to do the right thing despite the consequences. You are a good person. I know you don't see that in yourself, and I know you'll have to go through a lot to truly believe it. I am putting my life and Anna's in your hands. I know you can get through to Angel and Wes. I know you are strong enough to go head to head with Angel if you have to. He'll listen. You understand him better than you realize. If you have to, you can ask Gus for help. He'll do what has to be done. And if I can't even save myself in this, I want to save you at least."
"I don't need saving!" Faith said annoyed.
"Yeah, you're doing just fine on your own," Cordy replied sarcastically.
"What's going to happen to me in the future?" Faith demanded. She hated that Cordy seemed to see into her. "What do you and Angel know about me?"
"I can only tell you that you aren't alone, Faith," Cordy said.
"I'm not one of them. And I never will be," Faith said with pride but Cordy knew there was an undercurrent of hurt there.
"Well that's something we have in common," Cordy said. "When things get bad talk to Gus. He'll get it. I promise you."
"I don't need anybody," Faith said. "Let's drop all this Oprah bonding crap."
Cordy took a letter she'd hidden beneath the bed and handed it to Faith, "I wrote this last night when I was waiting up for Angel. Give it to him if I don't make it."
Faith took the letter and said, "You'll make it. You're too bitchy to die."
Cordy smiled and said, "That's another thing we have in common."
"You're really ready to die?" Faith asked suddenly concerned in spite of herself.
"I'll never be ready," Cordy sighed. "I just really hope nothing goes wrong with Jacob, but we're never that lucky."
"Fate can be a real bitch," Faith agreed.
"Yeah well luckily so can I," Cordy replied.
Wesley and Xander left the mansion and went to the library to help Giles with the research. Cordelia went to grab some extra clothes for Cordy. She hoped that Angel would convince Cordy to stay away for a while. So that the others could have a chance to come up with a plan that wouldn't put Cordy in too much danger. Faith left saying something vague about an errand. Cordy stayed at the mansion with Angel, Gus, and Buffy waiting for the sun to set. They were an uncomfortable quartet. Buffy and Gus avoided looking at each other and the pair sitting on the couch in front of them. Angel sat with Cordy sitting beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. She yawned and closed her eyes. All the tension had exhausted her.
"Cordy, Maybe you should get a nap before the drive to the airport," Buffy said. "It's going to be a long trip."
"She's already asleep," Angel noted. He stood up carefully trying not to wake her. Then he picked Cordy up and carried her upstairs. Buffy watched them with a pained expression.
Angel laid Cordy on the bed and silently thanked Willow. She'd given him some herbs that he'd slipped in Cordy's drink. By the time she wakes, up they'll already be on a plane. He pulled up a chair and sat by the bed waiting for sunset.
--
Downstairs Buffy looked at Gus and asked, "What's going to happen to us?"
"I don't know," Gus replied. Last week the idea of leaving Buffy was impossible and now he was beginning to long for a future and a family that might not include her.
"Nothing's written in stone," Buffy began. "Now that we know what could happen we could stop it."
Gus just looked at her. He didn't know if trying to change their future was the right thing. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to change it. Now in Sunnydale he had Buffy but he felt adrift and without purpose. He didn't know how to be happy. Gus thought about his future self who had a family, a business, and some contentment. It was more than Gus thought was possible. Could he find all those things without the heartbreak of leaving Buffy? Could Sunnydale be his true home?
"We can change our lives," Buffy pleaded.
"It wouldn't just be our lives that got changed," Gus said. "There a bunch of people in the future who would be affected."
"You want it don't you," Buffy realized. "That future in LA without me."
"I want..." Gus began.
"You want Cordelia," Buffy accused.
"Don't accuse me of something that hasn't even happened yet," Gus said.
"So it's not my imagination then. You see it too," Buffy said softly as if that would make it hurt less. "He cares for her beyond just friendship."
Suddenly feeling guilty Gus said, "Angel and I haven't talked about it."
"Is that what you want? To be in LA with strangers than back here in Sunnydale with me and your friends?"
"What friends?" Gus said. "I saw that look in your eyes before when you saw me laughing with the others."
"I didn't like being on the outside," Buffy admitted.
"That's how I feel every day when I see you with your friends," Gus replied. "There's a chance for me to have something more than that."
"Why can't you have that here?" Buffy said. "We could try."
Gus thought about it. He loved Buffy. He longed for the future in LA. Gus felt it owed it to Buffy to at least try.
"We can try," Gus said.
Buffy sighed in relief and hugged him. Gus couldn't shake the feeling this could be a mistake. Both of them were too pre-occupied to notice Jacob watching in the window.
