Sometimes things just refused to go fairly. Doyle crossed his arms and sulkily held to the back of the room as Cordelia exuberantly hugged Angel in thanks for her newly bought designer wardrobe. Things had changed for the better, Doyle knew, but he couldn't help feel a pang of jealousy at Angel's attempt to reacquaint himself with Cordelia after firing them all, only to come back wishing to reunite with Angel Investigations. The team was wary but happy to have their ousted leader back but Doyle felt as if he was on Angel's side of the team. Like he needed to gain their trust again.

Part of him felt as if he deserved this, but another part felt as if this was completely unjust for them to do to him. They were upset at him for doing exactly what they were doing right now, just a little ahead of time. Really ahead of time actually... he never actually joined them really. After Angel fired them all they were upset and completely disowned the vampire from their lives. Except him. Instead, Doyle kept the man informed, whether he wanted it or not.

The first night they decided to continued helping the helpless he visited Angel. Letting him know they would continue the mission the visions set out for him to take care of. This was what it was about, frankly. Wesley, Cordelia, Gunn and even himself were all just sidekicks for the bigger picture: Angel. He had to assume he was the only one that really knew this and accepted that this was in fact Angel's gig. They were there to help. So he told him that night that they would be there when he came out of whatever he was dealing with. He was planning to tell all of them that night about what he did, but Lindsey's arrival at Cordelia's apartment forced more pressing matters into his mind.

Later Doyle kept up with the Host every time the man visited the empath for a reading. The Host even transferred some information to Angel for Doyle when Doyle thought it was pressing. He was downtrodden at the results every time but knew he would not stop keeping Angel in the loop. Even when Wesley had been shot, he told Angel. He had to assume that was the only way he knew how to stop the zombie ritual from continuing and how he had shown up at the hospital. It was there he realized the danger of what he was doing for the rest of the team. They were finally meshing into a cohesive unit. They could work together great without Angel, that much was certain, but it was his conversation with Cordelia that made him regret his choices.

"God, I was so worried about you guys." She said as she patched up his cut hand outside of Wesley's room that night.

"We're fine, princess." He had repeated for the countless time that night.

"Yeah...when I heard...I-I thought it was you that got sh-hurt." She confessed with a wince of fear.

"I doesn't matter-"

"Of course it matters! You've been there. You've been there the longest with me. It was just you, me, and Angel once upon a time. I didn't think you guys would have ever betrayed me. He did so now I have only you. If you had died tonight it would be like you betrayed me too. Like you abandoned me too." She said.

"Come on, you know I would never leave ya alone." He replied softly. "And I'd never bet-" Angel's appearance at the door interrupted him. He had realized then that he had betrayed her by informing Angel- the man she no longer trusted- about her well-being. She rose before he could come clean and began to berate the unwelcome vampire. He played the part of angry man, his arm swung protectively and welcome across Cordelia's shoulder but he couldn't stop the swelling pride within telling him his efforts had not been in vain.

It wasn't guilt he felt so much as fear his determined interactions with the vampire would cast him in a bad light with the others. As things progressed and Angel rejoined the team he was almost off the hook for his indiscretions. Unfortunately Angel had taken in upon himself to thank Doyle for all of his efforts to keep in in the light. The change in attitude was not obvious, the emotionally stunted Angel probably didn't even notice as some of the trust they had in Doyle diminished. For some time he at least had Angel's worse off position to feel comfortable with, but that day when he bought Cordelia her new clothing the man's sins had been atoned Doyle couldn't buy off his. Despite being a smaller in scale betrayal of trust, he would have a longer road to work on.

------

A few hours later the newly placed in charge Wes let the two of them return home to Cordelia's apartment. They walked in silence for a painstakingly long amount of time after he had offered to carry the boxes of clothing back to her place. He was a few paced behind her, not sure if he was giving her the space she wanted or if he was merely trying to gather his own thoughts. Either way, he was determined to end this tonight rather than have yet another span of awkwardness between her an him.

"Look Cordelia I know you're upset with-" He said as he caught up with her.

"I'm not upset with you." she countered quickly.

"Come on, Cordy."
"I'm not!" She insisted.

"But, Wes and Gunn-"

"Oh...they're upset with you." She amended quickly. He couldn't help but smile at the way she spoke.

"I don't get why you're not then."

"Because I understand. You were assigned to Angel, not us. He's the one who's supposed to get the visions, not us. You were just trying to perform the job they gave you and stay aligned with us. It must have been hard." She said this mechanically, almost coldly.

"You are upset." He countered.

"Only that you didn't tell me. " She said. "Yet again." She finished under her breath.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"You keep secrets, okay? " She started with a sigh" You didn't tell me you were a demon, I found out. You didn't tell me you were married, she just showed up. And now you didn't tell me you were still talking to Angel. I guess I figured at some point you would trust me-" He grabbed her arm before she could open the door to her place.

"I trust you! God, you're the only person I've ever trusted like this for a long time. Possibly even ever." He almost shouted, exasperated. He calmed himself before continuing, "I've never told anybody I'm half demon before, you were the closest to me actually sayin' it aloud. I li-liked you so much I didn't want ya to know about Harry too. As if I didn't stand a chance already, didn't even think I'd see her again anyway. Then Angel thing was just bad timing..." He finished quietly, suddenly regretting confessing he did in fact fancy her. She merely smile at him as she opened the door finally, allowing him in after her. He sighed and entered. It had been a long day aside from taking care of Harmony, and ex-friend turned vampire of Cordelia's but the small, chaste kiss on the cheek he received seemed to brighten the day into a somewhat good one. He had a long road ahead, but all of a sudden he could most certainly handle it.

Let me know what you think, it's kind of superfluous- though quite like "Disharmony" was- filler before the second season finale arc begins which will be next up. I should note once again that barring a bunch of reviews saying a week is too long to wait I will take about a week-long break after I finish the second season. So this would be after either this Friday or next Monday-I'm not sure but I'll write another Author's note letting you know when the break comes. A week too long? Like or Hate this chapter? Review!