CHAPTER SIX

There was a low moaning noise next to her. Abigail woke up and gently nudged Lorne, " Lorne, wake up. You're having a dream," she urged him.

Lorne's eyes opened. At first he didn't say anything, " It was more of a nightmare than a dream." He said, " What time is it?" he asked sleepily.

" Nearly seven in the morning. I'm getting up." Abigail climbed out of bed, " I had a crappy sleep, I kept having bad dreams too. Damn Wolfram and Hart." As she stood up, the room swayed a little. Her head and neck throbbed. She glanced at Lorne, " How are you feeling?" she asked.

" Totally wonderful," Lorne said sarcastically, " How do you think I feel?"

" No need to be snappy, I was only being a concerned girlfriend." Abigail frowned at him.

" Well, that was an unnecessary question," Lorne replied, struggling to sit up. His whole body hurt and he wished he could go back to sleep, but if he did, those awful nightmares might come back. He didn't mean to snap at Abigail. They seemed to do nothing but bicker these days. They don't even stay in bed and talk in the mornings like they used to.

" Well then, excuse me for caring," Abigail snapped back and turned towards the door.

" Abikins, wait-" Lorne said but she was already gone, slamming the door loudly. The loudness of the slam jarred him to his bones and she knew it would. She was getting back at him for being a jerk.

What's wrong with us? Lorne asked himself as he reached into the bedside drawer to get a package of painkillers, we're acting like a bickering married couple. She's not helping matters by acting aloof towards me…and I'm not helping matters either by acting like a jerk. But who can blame me? I nearly got my brain sucked out of my noggin. She has to give me some slack.


" Hey," Fred greeted Abigail in surprise, " I'm a little surprised to see you this morning."

" Why is that?" Abigail asked, pouring herself a strong cup of coffee.

" I'd thought you would be upstairs-"

" Playing nursemaid to Lorne? No thanks. You should have heard him this morning, he was being a jerk."

" He just got his brain sucked out of his head and is probably feeing sore. You should cut him a little slack," Fred chided gently.

" Since you're feeling sorry for poor old Lorne, why don't you go be his nursemaid?" Abigail snapped at her. Why was everyone getting on her back?

" I'm…I'm sorry, but I-" Fred stammered. Abigail has never been this moody before. She's been acting weird ever since she and Lorne got back from Vegas.

" Forget it." Abigail said, " I'm sorry Fred, but Lorne's getting to me and I'm taking it on you."

" I've noticed things have been…not right between you two. Lorne told me he's afraid you've been avoiding him."

" That's because I'm avoiding the talking thing. All he ever wants to do is talk about what happened in Vegas. And I'm sick of this subject, so let's change it." She gestured to the opened books on the counter, " Any more info on the demon?"

" No, we're killing it tonight. Or them." Fred paused, " I hope you're joining us. It killed your parents after all."

She nodded, " That would be closure for me. Seeing the thing get killed. My parents can finally rest in peace."

" Great."


Later that evening, towards dinnertime, Angel made some supper for Lorne and bought it on a tray to Lorne's room. Lorne had been napping when Angel came in.

" Oh, thank you Angel," Lorne said as Angel set the tray down, " Abikins not joining me?"

" She's helping Fred out with some research." Angel said, " She told me about the fight you two had this morning."

Lorne nodded. He hadn't talked to Abigail all day-or rather, she hasn't come up and seen him all day. He missed her but he was still weak to walk.

" It wasn't really a fight. It was my fault, I got snappy and she didn't like it and left."

" She's coming with us on a mission tonight. Hope that's okay." Angel told him.

" Look out for her Angelcakes. She's like me, she isn't a good fighter."

" I wouldn't say that, she's staked a few vamps. And she's getting better with that sword of hers. I've been thinking of giving her a few fencing lessons."

" That's a good idea." Lorne agreed but he felt a twinge of jealously.

" How's your head anyway?" Angel asked.

" Smashing. Listen, I know I've been a wee bit jumpy the last couple of days, but did I hear a scream?"

" Oh, it's just Fred. I think it's a Texas thing." Angel said.

" Hmm." Lorne started to eat the food on the tray and put the food tray aside) Well it's all too much sturm und drang for my appetite: Cordelia shacking up with your hell-spawn—no offense. And the hole between my horns—"

" And you're probably a little on edge because of the whole "Slouching Toward Bethlehem" thing..."

" No."

" No? That's good because uh..."

" Sorry. I jumped ahead. That "no" was the one that comes after you asking me to read Cordy again." Lorne said.

" I wasn't— gonna ask you that immediately. I was gonna build up to it subtly."

" I appreciate that, sugar pie, really. But the answer's no. I'm not a champion. I'm just a regular old karaoke-singing empath demon."

" You saw something. If we knew what it was—" Angel started.

" Then Wolfram and Hart would come after me again. And maybe they wouldn't stop with a little gray matter." Lorne said, " and I don't need any more nightmares thank you very much."

" Okay, I'll leave you to it."

" Angelcakes, if you see Abikins anywhere-"

" I'll let her know you want to see her." Angel assured him before leaving the room.