Instant Rewind: Chapter 2

Slowly Angel moved towards his office. He had the layout of the Wolfram & Hart building memorized, even after all of this time. He saw Harmony sitting at her desk. Slowly, he nodded to her and she smiled back.

"Morning boss." She said in her familiary chipper voice. Angel said nothing but continued to his office. He slowly opened the door and closed it behind him. Clicking the lock in place, Angel progressed through the familiar rooms and went straight for his large maogany desk. Placing his briefcase on the ground, Angel sat down in the large leather chair. Without hesitation, he ripped open the drawers and began sifting through the papers and material. There was nothing in them to indicate where he was or what was going on. He turned his chair around and progressed to open his filing cabinet. The key was were it always was, opening the cabinet he sifted through the numerous files. All the files were alphabetical, which he figured Harmony had done, and skimmed over the names. One in particular caught his attention. He pulled it out and let it drop on his desk. Angel began reading the papers within and shuffling through the pictures. Angel had always believed that these demons had been extinct, the Kalan Clan was W&H's most recent client according to this. The file said that a huge clan war was developing between the Kalan and the Maa Tribe. From what was written, Angel figured out that W&H was playing mediator between the two groups in hopes that they would merge into one clan. The Kalan and the Maa used to be the same tribe of demons before the leader of the Maa decided to challenge the Kalan leader. The two groups split and have fought each other for centuries. For the first time in all those years they have decided to attempt to work through their differences. Angel sighed. This was huge. Any number of magicians that work for the tribes could attempt to do this to him. Angel leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. Angel was disturbed by a knock at the door. Looking up Angel watched as Lindsay walked into his office.

"I locked that."

"I have a key." He said in his Texan drawl holding up a key. Angel nodded and placed his elbows on his desk.

"What happened to me?"

"You don't hold back do you?" Angel gave him a look.

"All right," Lindsay said as he sat down opposite Angel, "Last night we went out for a couple of drinks to celebrate the last meeting we had with the Kalan and the Maa Tribes. You being you, can't get drunk but I got a little…not that that matters much. Someone tried to kill you last night. We barely got out. I don't know what they did to you, but you seemed more drunk than I was. I dragged your ass home and left you with your wife."

"That's it?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"No magic or anything happened? Nothing that made the world turn upside down?" Angel asked. Lindsay cocked his eye brow and smirked.

"I swear, nothing like that. Our healers looked you over and said you were fine. So, I took you home." Angel didn't like what he had been told at all. There was no way that that was all. There had to be something else.

"What happened last night doesn't mean anything except who tried to kill you and why." Angel pushed the Kalan file toward Lindsay and gave him a 'no-duh' look.

"That is the obvious answer. I know it was one of the members of the tribes but which tribe? More importantly, why?"

"To be honest, I think that has to do with the fact that we are trying to merge together two tribes who hate each other. There are bound to be members who don't want that to happen. Is there anyway we can get a hold of the negotiators and talk with them?"

"No go. If we even remotely tell them that we think one of their members is trying to kill you they will do more than just kill you…they will end the negotiations and kill us all. You don't accuse your clients of attempted murder." Angel knew that what Lindsay said was true. He needed some underground work done.

"We need to do some underground work. I'm sure we could get Spike to dig around for us…" Angel stopped talking when he saw the look that spread across Lindsay's face, "What?"

"Spike? Are you kidding me right now?"

"No, I mean I hate the man but at least he is good at sneaking around."

"Angel, we can't use Spike, you fired him along with your goodie-toeshoes friends a long time ago…like seven years ago. Now, I will forgive your lack of sense and suggest we use the Black Ops team." Realization hit Angel, he fired his friends. I suppose that makes sense…nothing makes sense.

"Okay, make it happen." Lindsay stood and moved towards the office door.

"Maybe you should go back and see the Healers again. Have them check our your brain." Lindsay smiled once more and then left the room. Okay, so I fired Wesley and the team. What does that mean for me? Well that means I don't have them at my disposal and they probably hate me…great. I guess I'm really on my own in this. The door to his office opened again and a small woman appeared in front of him. Angel looked her up and down. She was a short woman with flaming red hair. Her hair was piled on top of her head with loose curls framing her face. She wore a black suit with a purple silk blouse underneath. Her shoes gave her extra height and she wore a mischevious smile on her face as she studied him.

"Can I help you?" He asked. She walked over the his desk and around the corner. Planting herself on the corner of the desk she leaned into Angel. Angel leaned away from her as she stood up from the desk and sat in Angel's lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him. Her red lips tasted of cinnimon as she probed his mouth with hers. Leaning into his body, Angel sat stone cold. He pulled his arms up and pushed the woman away from him. Moving him off her Angel stood and moved away from her.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" He demanded. She smiled at him.

"Come on, baby. I was worried about you. Harmony told me someone tried to kill you last night. I was worried sick all night, not knowing what happened to you or if you were still alive." She moved towards him; Angel back away.

"I have no idea who you are. How dare you kiss me like that, I'm a married man." He managed to get out before she moved closer to him. Angel stepped behind his couch and continued to watch her.

"Oh please, like that has stopped you before." She tried to move around the couch to approach him but noticed that he was being completely serious. Angel's eyes furrowed as he tried to recall the woman's name. He had no idea who she was just like he had no idea what was going on.

"I don't…I don't remember you."

"Baby, its me…Keri. I'm your secretary…or your love slave whatever you want to call it."

"No, I wouldn't do that…not to…"

"Your wife? Come on, that excuse doesn't work on me or you for that matter and you know it." She tried to approach him again but he continued to move away from her.

"I…whatever was going on between us is now over. I think."

"What?"

"I'm really confused right now and need to think about…things. I think it would be best if we not see each other ever again…I just…" Seeing the look on her face Angel stopped moving. She was being serious; he could tell from the look on her face that what she had just told him was true. Oh god! I'm cheating on Buffy? What the hell is wrong with this Angel!! "I just need to think."

"Okay, maybe you should go to the Healers. Get your brain looked at." She walked away from him towards the door. She opened the door and walked out. Angel watched her leave and then sank on the floor. He had no idea what was going on but whatever it was nothing good was ever going to come of it. Healers. Healers were a good idea. Angel slowly stood and picked up his jacket. Walking out of his office he saw that the woman, Keri was standing next to Harmony.

"Healers."

"Elevator, seventeenth floor." She said to him. Getting in Angel sighed. What in the world was he going to do? There had to be something, maybe the Healers really would be able to tell him if there was something wrong with his mind.

--

The Healers examined him for five hours. They said there was nothing wrong with him. No magic was surrounding him and noone had messed with his brain. By the time Angel made it back to his office, he had missed four meetings and dinner with his family. Angel walked into his office and slowly closed the door. All he wanted was to be alone. Alone with his thoughts. He figured out that no matter how hard he tried no one here was going to help him. He had to find Wesley and try to convince him that he wasn't this time's Angel, that he was the old Angel…the one who was his friends. While he moved through the rooms he realized that he was not alone. He prayed desperately that it wasn't that Keri woman. Rounding the corner Angel noticed that Lindsay was sitting at his desk with a grin on his face. Angel stopped in his tracks and looked at the man he hated. Slowly, he began to move again and instead of forcing Lindsay out of his seat, he slumped down into the chair opposite him.

"What did the Healers find?" Lindsay asked.

"Nothing." Angel sounded defeated.

"Well, at least we know you are not crazy…in a manner of speaking anyway."

"I don't understand. There should be something wrong. I don't remember things at all!" Angel stood abruptly and started pacing the office, "I don't remember anything about this place…other than the working here part. The Buffy and the kids part I don't remember, the redheaded slut I don't remember, you…you are supposed to be dead! I am so frustrated right now! The last time I checked the year was 2003 not 2010. I wish that someone would tell me what the hell was going on!" Angel continued to pace as Lindsay watched him. Concern moved across his features and he stood. He walked towards the large vampire and put his hands on his shoulders.

"Angel stop. What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this place! Nothing here makes sense to me. I am telling you I don't remember anything!" Lindsay sat Angel down on the couch and sat next to him. Lindsay wasn't sure what to make of what his friend was telling him but if he felt that something was wrong, there had to be something wrong.

"Hang on. Let me catch up…you don't remember anything?" Angel glared at him, "Right okay, you just told me that. That doesn't make any sense. You have been here all the time. You haven't gone anywhere, or done anything other than work here and make business better than ever. You are my friend Angel, and if you think something is wrong, then something is wrong. I will do my best to figure it out for you." Friend? Angel sighed heavily.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Just promise me something?"

"What?"

"Try to play along until I can figure something out. And don't tell anyone, they will think you are crazy." Lindsay stood and handed Angel another file.

"What's this?"

"What our underground team figured out. That is your assassin. Use the file as you will." Lindsay began to walk away before Angel stopped him again.

"Lindsay?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you know I was cheating on Buffy?"

"Yes. I cover up for you all the time." Shame overwhelmed Angel.

"I want her fired." Angel stated simply.

"Whatever you want boss." Lindsay walked out of the room leaving Angel to his thoughts.