Act 2: Healer of the Broken Heart
© 2003 by Chris Regan
Shopping Trip
Garmon was sitting on a side table next to the sun streaked French windows in the kitchen; it was around ten in the morning when she came down the stairs yawning, stretching and looking for coffee. But no one was up she looked at the cat "I wish you could talk! I see the coffee pot, but I don't know were the coffee makings are."
He looked at her then said, "Look in the cabinet above the pot."
She stared at him for a moment then opened the cabinet and found filters, grinder and a can. After looking in the can she saw it was half full of fine coffee grounds. She slowly, busied herself making the coffee. "Cat, where are the cups?"
He stretched "My name is Garmon! Not cat! The cups are in the cabinet next to you!"
"I'm sorry I did not mean to anger you Garmon."
He looked out the window for a moment, "It's not your fault I didn't get much sleep; Being a step-father for first time, I just don't know."
"You're worried about her and the kittens."
"Yea, I am."
"I can relate I'm worried about Angel."
"That one is a basket case."
"Why do you say that?"
"At two this morning he came banging on the door covered in human blood."
"Where is he now?"
"He is in the other down stairs vault after he bathed they were up talking until four AM then Spike locked him in. He has been staying here more than at his place he even left some clothing."
"I met Angel a long time ago when he first came to Wolfram and Hart that was about two years ago."
"Yes, I met Bubba when I was in high school I didn't know he was a vampire then. I fell in love with him instantly."
"Is that why you came back to save his ass again?"
"Oh, I love him, but I never realized how much he needs me."
"Or how much you need him, I would wager."
She blushed, a bright red as if she had been found out."
"It shows that much?"
"Only to Spike and I," he seemed to give her a smile, as he started to wet his paw then clean his face.
She turned and opened the cabinet got a cup down she said, "Do you want a cup of coffee?"
"Yes I will take a cup; Spike puts it in that big green soup mug, he mumbled about not wanting me to get my head stuck."
She turned and looked at him "How do you want it."
"I want Quarter coffee, four spoons sugar, and the rest cream."
She made it and brought the coffee over to the table sat the green mug down in front of him, as he started to drink she sat down.
She thought I feel a little queer talking to a cat, "Is Spike up yet?"
He raised his head out of his cup, licking the coffee off his mouth, "Not yet when three comes he is up."
"OH."
"When he is awake he is playing it!"
"Playing what?"
"The music" he got up licked his whiskers "Come on."
She fallowed the cat and heard Barry Manilow's Weekend in New England floating out of a vent.
"He's been plays that a lot over the last few weeks."
She smiled with tears swelling in her eyes then said, "Let's go." Once in the kitchen she started to cry with the cat staring at her.
"He is in love with Buffy."
"OH, he says that name in his sleep…"
Grabbing a tissue from a box on the counter blew her nose and changed the subject, "Let's walk about the grounds."
She looked around outside, as she strolled though the rose garden. She saw a few roses that had late blossom on them.
"He came out at night and planted each rose bush himself as he talk to some one he called Buffy."
"At her place in Sunnydale she had roses." With a deep breath she said "We can't do anything for him right now but maybe in the future. Let's check on Tristana."
"I warn you Mona may be on guard duty."
"Yes, I know she has strong feelings for the little female and her kittens."
"Yes she does I have a feeling they have met before in another life."
She was on the porch out side the kitchen when the phone rang. She went in and answered it. "Hello this is Cordyela Chase."
"Ah Miss Chase I heard you were returning to earth."
"Excuse Me." "Who are you and what do you want?"
Appletree smiled to herself, "I am Inspector Appletree, Miss Chase. I want to leave a message for Spike.
"Let me get paper and pen," she pulled a pad and pen out of a holder on the counter "OK I am ready."
"Tell Spike Inspector Appletree wants to see him at the morgue."
"What time?"
"12 sharp tonight you and Mister Price should be there too." Cordella had a chill come over her like some one had walked over her grave.
"I will tell him you called Inspector Appletree." She hung up the phone.
There was still coffee in the pot she got up and poured a cup. That was when she heard the kittens crying. She got up and wandered into the laundry room as Tristana was wandering in from the direction of the garage.
Tristana looks at her, Cordella says "After you."
Tristana nods and walks in with Cordy fallowing.
Cordy pulled up a pile of clothing and sat there sipping her coffee. As Tristana walked over and got in the box and as she did. Cordy hear a number of low voices say "momma, momma."
It was a few hours later that Spike got up and left his room, and he found Garmon laying in the sun, and a cup on the table, "Were Cordella?"
"Laundry room, been washing, and watching Tristana and the kittens, they are moving around the room today. She has made peace with Mona too!"
"Well, that a surprise."
He walked around the kitchen, and got himself a cup, poured blood into it, heated it, took a sip then walked toward the laundry room. At the Laundry room door he saw piles of laundry folded and sitting on the only table in the room. Cordy sitting in a chair, backwards watching Tristana retrieved an adventurous kitten barely old enough to have its eyes open, and Mona was watching over all of them.
She looked up "I see your up."
"Yea, thanks for doing my laundry."
She had a sad smile "Your welcome."
"What is the matter Cordella?"
She took a breath "It's just I use to…"
"You did his laundry."
"Yes."
She cleared her throat then said, "You got a call from an Inspector Appletree, she wants to meet with you, Wesley and myself at nine tonight at the morgue."
"Did she say what it was about?"
"NO, she just wanted to see us, what spooked me was that she knew that I was here."
"Yea she spooks me too! Some times it has to do with her smile like she knows a secret that I'm not privy too."
"How about we get dressed and go shopping."
She gave him a smile, he could tell that her heart was not in it, but it was something she needed to do. It was about that same time the guys wandered in, "Spike you up?"
"Yea we're in the Landry room." They walked in expecting to see piles of dirty clothing "WOW look Whistler."
"Yea, I see Clem."
"You have been busy Cordy, lookin good."
She smiled at them "Thanks."
"Get your coffee while we get ready."
"OK Spike."
"A… Spike what about Angel Garmon said he is here I don't want him to know I'm back."
"Yea well I will unlock his door before we leave and he will be at work before we're back."
"OH okay."
It was and hour later that they drove into the mall parking lot. Walking thought the large halls there were clear cases with large vehicles made from legos which fascinate the four of them. Cordy went into J.C. Penny's found some boots that looked great on her then wander through out the mall while the guys were studying the construction of the Lego's. She saw a Mervyns and walked down the mall, and a long the way she saw a number of cutie little hole in the wall shops; the type of shop that the younger set shops in, having cutie styles that she fell in love with. While the guys gawk at the legos and talked about the other females that were wandering around.
"Spike come here please."
One woman said to Spike, "Your girl friend is calling, and glaring at you."
"No she's not my girl that is my boss's girl, only he doesn't know it yet. She just wants me to pay the bill for her clothing?"
"Yea right, what ever you say."
By the time she was done all the guys were tired and loaded down with bags and boxes as they walked to the car
"Thanks for taking me out shopping I needed a change of ward robe I get so tired of white. Let's get mocha's then you guys come up to the manor and we can talk and plan what we do say Wednesday."
Watching them as they left the mall was a man and an old lady.
"It is time."
"Are you sure Gwen?"
"Yes Armand she is the second one of the prophecy. The root shall branch where there were two roots there will be four. The demon shall be lost in a stream of blood and confusion; the second root will care for the third root. The fourth root dreams of a lost love as her time grows near. I spoke to Jana the master slayer is showing all the signs."
"Okay Gwen I hope your right."
Spike stopped at Starbucks they got drinks and they went to his place, after setting all Cordella's purchases down in her room they picked up there mocha's from the kitchen counter.
"Mocha! is that mocha I smell?"
"Don't tell me you like mocha's?"
"Why of course who doesn't?"
"I thought you might you little scoundrel."
"Clem hand me that green cup in the sink." He did, taking the top off her cup she poured a small amount in the cup put the lid back on. Then said to Garmon come on and headed for the den once there she sat the cup on the tile in front of the French doors then she sat in one of the big overstuffed chairs sipping her coffee.
"Spike tell me how Angel has been."
"From what I've seen and heard from Harmony he is really mixed up."
"Is Harmony still his secretary?"
"Yea but how did…"
She gave him a look "Yea I know… you have been keeping and eye on him."
"Neither she nor I… Who am I trying to kid, he has been changing since your death."
Spike scratched his head "He killed Grogan and signed that dam paper so he could find out who was in The Thorn…"
"I know Spike."
Looking down, "He hasn't been the same, but it isn't like he is turning into Angelus."
"It isn't something we can fight, out right" said Cordy.
"Yea it is something else that looks were-wolfish but with the vampiric teeth and hands like you would see in the old silent movie Nosferatu."
Wesley and I saw him a week ago change he didn't see us, but I think he scented our presents, he had this strange smile. That said 'Catch me if you can" you know not much shakes us up these days, but…"
"But it is like seeing Fred when you know that there is only Illyria living in the shell."
"Yea"
"Harmony is here in LA, but like my self she is on the wagon."
"That is good to hear." said Cordy.
"Cordy" said Clem "Last Thursday I thought he was going to rip our heads off we where at the Bucket of Blood drinking and he came in. One of his informants found out that Whistler and I have been gathering information on Buffy and the folks that were in Sunnydale. I thought he was going to blow a gasket, I have never seen him like that before" Said Clem.
"Why were you gathering information? And for whom were you working for?" Cordy asked.
"For the last few years we have been working for this old vampire by the name of Alden Smith. He is a historian of sorts his theory is that one of the oldest vampire family's and the slayers are related. He has found a connection between the vampire of one breed and Moll Maundrell aided Whistler.
"That is interesting guys, I and Harmony found a bunch of information along the same lines; that is why I was going to London later this next week."
"I'm going to London to knock the hell out of Buffy and Angel if…" Cordella's eyes had a red fiery look that none of them had ever seen before.
"Wow girl calm down, there is no good you getting all riled up over what might or might not happen."
She looked down at that moment, Garmon jumped up in her lap. She petted him then said "I know your right Spike, but doesn't the thought of the two of them getting back together angry you?"
"Angry me, yea, makes me want to kill him definitely, and believe me I would, but the last few years with everything that Buffy and I have gone through together; I trust that she will choose to be with me and not him."
"You're rather trusting aren't you?"
"Perhaps, but she believed in me when all the others wanted to kill me, so I feel she deserves the benefit of the doubt."
"You might be right Spike but… I have difficulty trusting him because he has had so many women."
Spike smiled "Yea he had many woman, but went Buffy died."
"When she died he ran away."
"Yea, but when you died I saw him go into a deep depression, if it had not been for the vision I think he would of fallen apart."
"Yes… well… maybe…"
"You're the first one that he was really in love with; without taking her to bed first or biting her."
She looked at him then said, "Then what about Buffy?"
"Buffy, I think, she may have been his first true crush. Harmony and I have become close as work colleague she tells me, she heard them argument in his office and saw the two of them have other fights the last time Buffy was in Los Angeles."
"Spike, what are your feelings toward Angel?"
Taking out a cigarette and starting to light it as he thought, then closed the lighter slowly. "Some times I think of him as the brother I never had, I like to bug him its fun.
"You were mooning around Buffy for a long time" said Clem.
"Yea, I guess I was, I the poor vampire of the family and the lady. That was a laugh for others in the demon community. Angel was fine until he found out she was sleeping with me. If he had known I was there listening…"
"He has been mooning over you Cordella" said Whistler.
"He has?"
"Yea, you are the one that kept him on the strait and narrow all the time you were alive" said Whistler.
"Yea, he was reckless, he didn't have you if it had not been for that vision he wouldn't have had a purpose after your death."
"Spike we need to get moving, have you called Wesley?"
"No, I guess, I better" he picked up the phone and dialed "Wesley, it's me I got a call from Appletree, she wants us to meet her at the morgue at 12 tonight."
"Find, see you there."
"Yea," He hung up the phone "He had some one there I think it was Harmony."
"Wesley and Harmony are together."
"Cordy we all need some one."
"I guess so. What happened after Sunnydale went down?"
"I don't know Harmony has the scoop on what happened after Sunnydale went down. Why don't I bring her over on Wednesday night?"
"It would be great to see her but I get the feeling there is some thing that you aren't telling me Spike."
With a deep sigh "There is more, It's funny Angel was like a rock after your death but Harmony and I both saw a change in him it was at that time he started prowling down in the archives. He became secretive later we found out it all had to do with taking out The Thorn.
That was when I started to look through the files myself, and found the histories of the slayers. It appears that the slayer line split. There were two one known as the first slayer and another that was hid from the Watchers. How Wolfram and Hart knew about this other one was not said.
"But Spike how could there be two?"
"I don't know how…"
"Cordella how could Willow give the power to the entire potential slayers?"
"I don't know Spike."
"How did Harmony find out, Harmony caught me down there in the files reading."
"You read."
"Yea when I choose too; she and I joined forces then we got the rest of Angel's gang in on it. Yea Harmony was spying for the Slayers, they wanted to keep and eye on him in case he turned back into Angelus."
"Cordella there is something else Wesley has been turned into a living vampire."
"I didn't know that there are living vampires all the vampires in Sunnydale were dead."
"Well according to the records you only need a half pint of vampire blood and half pint of human blood that is mixed then you give back half to each party and you have a male or female version of a vampire, but they live and can walk in day light."
"What about Buffy, she made it with two demons?"
"Buffy's family is a special case with a different blood mix."
"What is so special about her Blood?" said Cordella
"Well according to the scientific reports Buffy's blood is mostly human with a combination of were-creature, vampire and some thing else that not even Wolfram & Hart have seen. It was described as having a shine to it and an energy or life of it's own none of there scientist have ever seen. They were only able to see it under a high power microscope.
For a moment she was stunned "That would mean that Angel has that strange substance in his blood, I know that he bit her once when he was shot with a poisoned arrow."
"Yea, I heard about that"
He could see that she was pretty stunned. Changing the subject "I'll bring the paper work on the slayers tomorrow, this is as good a place to store the copies that have been made as any, then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday you can catch up on your reading
Spike looked at the clock, and said "we need to go."
He and Cordy walked the guys out, "Guys thanks again for taking me shopping" said Cordy.
"Any time Cordella" Said Clem.
"Yes window shopping was fun" said Whistler.
in the shimmer from the yard lights, they watched them walk a crossed the lush green lawn, then Spike and Cordy got into his car and drove away.
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