Chapter 6:
3 months later
Angel sat behind his desk flipping through a photo album Cordy had made him on his birthday, before Jasmine, before the coma. He smiled at the pictures of Gunn, Wes, Fred and her frolicking at the beach during the summer, and the pictures of her and him smiling at the camera with a baby Conner nestled in her arms.
Now the girl who was so full of life, even when she dying from crippling headaches because of him, lay in a hospital bed day in and day out comatose. He heard a knock at the door and Bella came in and sat beside him.
"Hey Angel-pie whatcha doin?" she asked
Angel raised an eyebrow "You have to stop spending so much time with Lorne honey"
She giggled "Nah Lorne's the best, besides it's cuter when I say it"
He couldn't suppress a chuckle "Well that is true"
Bella pulled the photo album out of his hands and started flipping through the pages
"Whoa look at Gunn and Wes they look so different!" she exclaimed turning another page
"Is that Fred? And who is the other chick" she asked curiously
"That's Cordelia she was... well is, my seer" he said softly
"She's a total hottie, where is she now?" asked Bella unknowingly
"Cordy fell into a coma because her human body couldn't handle the visions anymore"
Bella covered her mouth "I'm sorry Angel, I didn't know"
"It's ok honey, I wish you could meet her you two would probably be great friends"
"Really, why's that?" she asked
Angel sighed and pushed back the threatening tears "Because your both beautiful, independent, strong, caring, sweet, feisty women" he laughed realising the similarities between Cordelia and little Bella.
Bella squeezed Angel's hand
"You love her madly don't you" sighed the young girl
Angel nodded "I've never loved anyone as much as I love her in my life, and she doesn't even know"
"I'm sure she does Angel, seers know these things trust me" Bella added far too wisely for a 13 year old
"Of course we do duh!" said a voice that was music to Angel's ears.
ENTER YOUR WELCOME EPISODE
Angel woke in a cold sweat, the dream had seemed so real and Cordelia seemed so alive that he reached for the phone hoping maybe it was Cordy's way of saying "Hello I'm awake come give me some attention"
Before he could even grasp the receiver it began to ring and a sharp pain shot through Angel's stomach, he let it ring a few more times before picking it up.
"Hello"
"Angel, this is Dr Holmes from the Sacred Heart Facility I'm afraid I have some bad news"
Angel dropped the phone already knowing that she was gone, and this time he couldn't save her.
He dropped too his knees and sobbed, for the loss that he knew he would never recover from, for the loss of the only woman who had loved him faults and all, for the one person in this world he loved with his entire heart and soul and for loss of the chance to tell her how he felt.
Meanwhile………..
Bella arose to Spike cooking pancakes in the kitchen
"Good Morning chicklet"
"Morning Spikey" she yawned sitting at the table
"I made your favourite, chocolate chip" he smiled serving up the pancakes
"Why, what'd I do?" she asked suspiciously
"Oh nothing can't an un-dead uncle make his slayer/witch niece some pancakes" he replied serving up.
Bella grinned "You're the best un-dead uncle ever"
Suddenly a pretty light twinkled towards Bella and smacked her right in the face knocking her out of her chair.
"What the bloody hell was that!" exclaimed Spike worriedly before helping Bella off the floor
"I dunno, I feel ok…..OH GOD" she screamed falling to the ground
When she came too Spike and Illyria were hovering over her, She quickly sprung up remembering what she had seen when she fainted.
"We have to go, Angel he's oh god this is terrible" she rambled
"Pet slow down what happened to Angel?" asked Spike
"Cordelia's dead" she said sadly
Spike looked almost worried and rummaged for his keys in his pockets
"Get dressed and I'll go start the car" said Spike flatly
Bella rushed to get ready and found Illyria and Spike sitting in the garage in the car, she slipped into the passenger side as Spike finished his phone conversation.
"I'm sure"
"Yeah we're heading over there now"
"I'm really sorry Wes, Cheerleader was quite the woman"
"Ok, see you soon."
Spike hung up his mobile phone and started the engine, they drove in silence to Angels apartment. When they arrived Wesley and Gunn were already standing outside waiting for Spike.
Wesley looked even more dishevelled and Gunn's eyes looked raw and watery as though he was on the verge of breaking down completely.
"I'm so sorry guys" I said softly hugging both of them
"Me too, she was a wonderful woman" said Spike without his usual note of sarcasm.
"Have you seen him?" I asked
"No we were waiting for you" said Gunn sombrely while Wesley knocked on the door.
"Angel are you in there?" called Wesley but he go no answer.
"Do you think he's at his office" I wondered out loud
Wesley nodded "Perhaps he had some paper work to attend to"
"We gotta find him Wes" said Gunn gruffly
We all headed over to Wolfram and Hart in silence, and entered Angel's office to find him sitting at his desk finishing up a phone call.
I rushed over to him and wrapped my arms around him tightly "I don't even know what to say Angel" I said my eyes welling with tears
"There's nothing you can say, what's done is done" he said bitterly
"How did you know what happened? Did Wes tell you?" he asked
I went to tell him about my visions when I heard a voice yell in my head …….They are listening don't say it out loud!………..It was Angel!
"Yeah we all came over right away" I replied hesitantly before replying in my head…..i saw it, I think I'm your new seer Angel
I know….we're gonna go for a walk and I'm going to share something with you that you cannot tell anyone ok.
I nodded still wrapped tightly against his chest trying not to cry for his loss.
"Spike, I need to start funeral arrangements do you think I can take Bella with me, I think she would know what Cordy would've liked" he asked Spike
"Angel is it really needed right now" asked Wes bewildered
"Yeah bro, she's just passed can't we grieve for at least five minutes!" exclaimed Gunn a little angrily
"There's no time to grieve…….I need to make arrangements" snapped Angel
Spike frowned "Do what you have to do mate, just as long as Bella doesn't feel uncomfortable"
"It's fine Spike, whatever Angel needs I'm here to help" I said reassuringly
Spike nodded I hugged all the guys goodbye and headed out the door with Angels arm linked through mine. I kept my eyes low and my expression as blank as possible despite the fact I had Angel in my head commentating our walk to the exit of Wolfram and Hart.
About to make it down to the lobby, For crying out loud why do elevators take so long…..keep your expression calm and a bit sad I guess I dunno um well were almost out anyway……..Can you hear me Bella?
I repressed the urge to roll my eyes and replied as calmly as possible, Yes Angel I can hear you.
Angel: This is kinda weird right
Bella: We are communicating telepathically of course it's freaking weird Angel! I'd like to know whose sick idea of a joke this is too
Angel: Yeah the PTB certainly have an unusual sense of humour not that this is humorous at all
Bella: Let's see they take a Slayer who is also a witch making her a huge demon upper level target, stick her in the most evil law firm in the universe at 13 to be looked after by 2 vampires, a goddess, an ex watcher and a lawyer from da hood and then they make her a fucking Seer too and make her telepathically linked with her goddamn charge!
Angel: Ok watch the language
Bella: Fuck my language Angel we are out of Wolfram and Hart they cant hear me
Angel: but I can and it's inappropriate for a young lady
"You know what's fucking inappropriate Angel your fucking attitude" I yelled accusingly forgetting to converse with my mind
"What attitude?" he asked before
"Your whole attitude, especially now you shouldn't be afraid to grieve Angel…….I know how much Cordelia meant to you" I replied softening a bit and remembering his loss
I flash of pain went through his eyes before they closed down again conveying no emotion "I don't have time to grieve, I have to organise a funeral and run a company" he said so coldly I felt ice run through my veins.
"Fine Mr big shot, I will help you…..for Cordelia, Charlie and Wes not for you" I said fuming and slamming the car door shut behind me.
Angel: That's it sweetheart yell your heart out it makes my turn look more legit
Bella: What your turn? What's going on Angel
Angel: Not yet...i'll explain soon
"Yell all you like it doesn't change the facts" he with a bit more emotion
"Oh I'm done yelling, in fact I'm done talking to you Angel all you will get is yes and no answers from now on." I spat as vehemently as possible
Angel: You are too good at this
Bella: Shut up I'm trying to stay mad at you
Angel: Geez pretend mad honey! Not real mad
I ignored him as we entered the funeral home and were ushered into a room filled with coffins.
"Vamp heaven huh Angel" I joked before I could stop myself
He glared at me and began looking in some of the coffins
Angel: Not funny Bella
Bella: Yeah I know it just came out
Angel: I know, we don't have much time so I need you to listen carefully
Bella: I'm listening
Angel: I have to do something that everyone may not agree with and I want you to let them turn against me
Bella: But Angel, maybe I can...
Angel: No it's too risky, I just need you to know everything I do is for the greater good...Do you trust me?
Bella: Of course I do
I walked over the Angel and clinged to his arm
"I think the mahogany is the nicest, with the silver diamond encrusted handles" I said softly placing my hand on the cold wood
"Lined with hot pink silk, Cordy was hot pink..." he said in a whisper
"I'm sure she would've loved it" I comforted my heart aching for him as the bravado slipped away and the pain was visible in his eyes.