"Eternity"

Based on the Angel Episode Written by Tracey Stern

The following story is copyright © 2023 by Mark Moore.

Cordelia was on the stage in an almost empty theater, wearing an old-fashioned dress, acting in a play. Angel and Wesley were in the audience.

"One day, I might, yes, many years from now - when I've lost my looks a little. Do not laugh. I mean, of course, a time will come when Torvald is not...is not..." Cordelia turned to the back of the stage. "Line!"

"...is not as devoted to me."

"What?"

"...is not as devoted to me."

"Right, right." Cordelia turned back around. "...when Torvald is not as devoted to me." She gave a dramatic sob, then turned her head back towards the prompter.

Cordelia was walking down the street at night with Angel and Wesley on either side of her.

"So? What did you think?" Cordelia asked eagerly.

Angel and Wesley exchanged a look.

Wesley hesitated. "Well, your...projection was excellent."

"Yeah. I could hear every word, and we were way in the back."

"Okay, so I was loud. But was I any good?" Cordelia asked.

Wesley hesitated again. "You...took the role and made it your own."

Cordelia smiled at him. "Really? Thanks." She looked at Angel. "Angel, was I good?"

"I wouldn't say it, if I didn't think so."

"Thanks." Cordelia paused in thought. "You didn't say it."

"I didn't?"

Cordelia spotted someone across the street. "I don't believe it!"

"Hey, you know, it was a night in the theater I'll never forget."

"That's Oliver Simon!"

"Who?" Wesley asked her.

"Only one of the most important talent managers in this town! I was at a party with him." Cordelia looked at Angel. "You were there!"

"Right. He gave me his card."

"What?! I was working him all night, and he gave you his card?"

"He thought I had a quality."

"Look who he's with! Rebecca Lowell."

"Who?" Wesley asked her.

"Raven!"

Angel and Wesley stared blankly at her.

"She played Raven in On Your Own? Big hit television show that was only on for, like, nine-and-a-half years? Do either of you even own a television?"

Wesley had to think about it. "I-"

Angel didn't. "No."

"It was a seminal show. Canceled by the idiot network. I was going to picket them, but I didn't have any comfortable shoes..." Cordelia trailed off.

Angel walked over the hood of the car parked next to them and pushed Rebecca out of the way of an oncoming car. Rebecca rolled clear, but Angel hit the windshield, breaking the glass, then rolled over the top of it and down the street to come to rest in front of another parked car.

"Oh, my god, Rebecca!" Oliver hurried over to her as Rebecca watched Angel get up. "Are you all right, darling?"

Cordelia and Wesley hurried over to Angel.

"Oh, my God! What was she like?" Cordelia asked him.

"Excuse me, are you all right?" Rebecca asked Angel.

Cordelia looked at her. "Oh, he's fine. It was such an honor to save your life, Ms. Lowell."

"Thank you." Rebecca looked at Angel. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Cordelia Chase. I'm so glad you weren't...oh." Cordelia motioned towards Angel. "He doesn't even know who you are."

"You don't know me?" Rebecca asked Angel.

"Sure, he doesn't. I'm sure he'll accept a small reward, anyway." Oliver pulled out his wallet.

"No, thanks."

"We're not gonna be held up here."

"Oliver, down. He doesn't know who I am."

Cordelia looked at her. "He's culturally retarded that way."

Rebecca held out her hand. "I'm Rebecca."

Angel took it. "Angel."

"So...you make a habit of this sort of thing, Angel?"

"Oh, it's only, like, his purpose in life! Angel is the Dark Avenger - only not too dark - happy dark! I have a card in here somewhere." Cordelia started digging through her purse.

"Cordelia."

"What?" Cordelia asked Wesley.

Rebecca saw press and cameras. "Oh, God. Who called ET?"

"Emma Thompson?" Wesley asked.

Cordelia looked at him. "Entertainment Tonight, doofus."

"They're here for the party."

"Oliver?" Rebecca asked.

"This will be all over the tabs come morning, Bec. We might as well just put our own spin on it first, right?"

"Look, I'd like to apologize..." Rebecca looked around, but Angel was gone.

"Oh, he does that." Cordelia offered Rebecca a card. "Here is our card. If you ever need rescuing - or want to pal around or something - call us!"

Wesley grabbed a hold of her arms and dragged her off.

"Let go!" Cordelia yelled angrily.

"Come along."

The next day, Cordelia walked into the office of Angel Investigations, carrying a newspaper. "I made the papers. Last night is all over the front page of the Calendar section!"

"Really. There was a reviewer from the Times at your play?" Wesley asked her.

"What? No! Like a reviewer needs to see some hundred-year-old play! The thing with Rebecca Lowell - I'm in the picture."

"Where?"

"Right there."

"Where?"

"Right there! Next to Rebecca. That's my elbow."

Angel was standing by the open file cabinet. "Guys. Can we just forget about Rebecca Lowell? I mean...we ran into an actor. It's Hollywood. It happens." He looked over Wesley's shoulder at the paper. "We have a nice photo of Cordelia's...elbow and an article about me saving a TV star." He walked towards his office. "Just because the papers want to make it-"

"There is no mention of you."

Angel came back to look at the paper. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Oh." Angel paused. "Well,...that's good, right? I mean this whole high-profile thing really isn't our deal, anyway."

"What are you talking about? First off, Rebecca Lowell hasn't had a series since On Your Own was canceled, and that was almost a season and a half ago!" Cordelia complained.

Wesley smiled. "And they say there are no seasons in Los Angeles."

"We have to use this now, before she's just another E! True Hollywood Story! When word gets out that you're protector to the stars, they're going to be lining up at the door!" Cordelia exclaimed.

Rebecca walked in with two bodyguards. "Glad I beat the crowd, then."

"Oh, my God. No!" Cordelia turned around to face Rebecca. "I didn't mean...um..." She paused. "Coffee? Tea? We don't have anything good here, uh, but our intern would be happy to get you something, Ms. Lowell." She motioned at Wesley.

"Can we talk?" Rebecca asked Angel.

Angel gestured at his office. "Sure. Right in here."

Rebecca looked at the bodyguards. "Stay."

Angel looked at Cordelia. "Stay."

Rebecca walked into Angel's office. He followed and closed the door behind him.

Cordelia walked up to the door to try to listen in. Wesley joined her.

"You're not fond of sunshine."

"I'm a night person."

"Me, too. It, uh, makes it easier to hide."

"Seems like you're in the wrong business, if you want to hide."

"So...you never really saw even one single episode of On Your Own."

"No."

"Huh. Well, stop by. I'll give you a private screening of the episode I...didn't win the Emmy for."

"Thanks for the invitation, but...um..."

"Look. I've been famous since I was fourteen. It's...refreshing to meet someone who doesn't care."

"Seems like you're surrounded by people who care about you."

"They work for me. They're paid to care."

"So. How can I help you?"

"I have a...stack of these at home. All the same - written in blood. He also has my private telephone number. Scary calls in the middle of the night. Most of my devoted fans are harmless, but these-"

"It's not blood."

"Are you sure?"

"Have you tried the police?"

"Oliver has been after me to, but...then I'd just be hand-feeding the story to the Enquirer. No, thanks."

"How do you know I won't do the same?"

"I don't. But I do know that you came out of nowhere and saved my life last night. I know that you didn't ask for anything in return. And I know...I feel safer in this office than I do in my own home." Rebecca paused. "I'm up for a new series. One of those make-or-break gigs for Rebecca's career, part two. I need...peace of mind."

"The car that ran you down was a green, freshly-painted '76 Chevy Nova. I caught the plates, ran the vehicle ID. It was stolen. And I'm sorry, but...I can't take your case."

"Are you insane?!" Cordelia yelled through the closed door, then quickly turned away, pretending to sneeze.

"I don't understand."

"Give that information to your people. They'll find the guy. You don't need me."

A short while later, Angel was still sitting behind his desk, Wesley was leaning in the doorway, and Cordelia was pacing the floor.

"My first big connection to Hollywood, and you practically throw her out of the office. Haven't you ever heard of networking?" Cordelia asked Angel.

Wesley looked at her. "Cordelia."

"No! He can fight off Donkey Demons, who rip people's...guts out, but he can't help one defenseless actress from a psycho?" Cordelia looked at Angel. "What is your thing?"

"He likes her. He's afraid of getting close."

Cordelia looked at Wesley. "'Cause of his curse?" She looked at Angel. "You'd have to get awfully close to her for that to kick in. And in the meantime, you could be helping me."

"The person who needs help here...is Ms Lowell."

Cordelia looked at Wesley. "Right. He could be helping us both!" She looked at Angel. "Think of the karma!"

Wesley leaned on Angel's desk. "This may not be the right case for you. Maybe we can find somebody else to help her."

Cordelia put a hand to her forehead and hunched over. "Oh, no! Not now! God! What's this I see in my vision? Oh. It's a figure - a woman. It's Rebecca. She's in danger. Teeerrible danger." She realized the guys were not impressed and gave up her act. "Great! Just...great. Because Mr. Distance has intimacy issues, I lose my brush with fame!"

Angel sighed. "Oh, Jesus. Cordelia, she is just a person."

"Spoken like a true non-person! Just knowing a star makes your life better. I'd do anything to live in her world!"

The next day, Cordelia was sitting behind her desk in the office. "He took the case?"

"Yes. He phoned early this morning. We're to follow up on the stolen vehicle."

"What made him change his mind?"

"Apparently, he didn't. He was quietly keeping tabs on her all along."

"And he called you early this morning?"

"Yes. Uh, isn't this what you were lobbying for?" Wesley asked her.

Cordelia narrowed her eyes. "How early? Did he spend the night?"

"One assumes."

"Oh, great. He spent the night with the fantasy of millions...all alone, 'protecting' her."

"You're worried about the curse."

Cordelia huffed.

"I wouldn't be."

"Hey, you weren't around the last time Angel went mental. I, on the other hand, was on the first wave of the clean-up crew. He knows perfect happiness, he goes evil. So don't tell me not to worry."

"Angel's moment of true happiness occurred, because he was with you. You realize how rare that is: true happiness? And what are the odds he'd find that with an actress?"

Cordelia was offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was...I meant TV actress."

"Save it. Angel spent the night at Rebecca's. I owe it to that poor girl...to see if he wound up chowing down on my one link to fame."

Cordelia knocked on the door to Rebecca's house, opened it, and walked inside.

Angel walked down the stairs. "Cordelia,...you're here,...and you brought a cross."

Cordelia carefully stayed in the sun shining in through the door. "Along with three double half-caf, non-fat, skinny lattes."

"And a cross."

"Well, judging by the outfit, I guess it's safe to come in. Evil Angel never would have worn those pants. Where is Rebecca?"

"She had a lunch to go to."

"Lunch? It's still noon. Shouldn't that be more of a brunch for her?"

"Well, actually, she was up before dawn, working out."

"So she went to lunch and just left you here to rummage through her things?"

"No, I...told her that I was a vampire, and that daytime patio dining was out."

"Did you just make a joke?"

"I really told her."

"Wow. So do you think she'd still set me up with her manager?"

The next day, Cordelia and Rebecca walked down a street, carrying shopping bags.

"Thanks for coming. I'm sure glad that you could find the time."

Cordelia laughed out loud but then stopped. "Oh, you were being serious? Because big, important stars ask me out for lunch and a shopping spree, like, all the time - in my dreams! Ha, ha."

"I'm just an actress. Like you."

"You're an actress. I'm someone who auditions and auditions and-"

"That's what happens when you first start out. I'm sure you're going to make it really big."

"Yee-hee-hee!" Cordelia exclaimed in delight, then calmed down. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to squeal like that in public. Anyway, thank you for calling. You must have a ton of friends you could have asked."

"Yeah, but...none of them would know what to buy a two-hundred-year-old vampire as a thank-you gift."

"Oh, God! He's impossible to buy for. What on Earth does he need? More socks?"

"So...what's his story, anyway? How did he become what he is?"

"Oh, God. You got eight hours?"

"I got all day."

"Yee-ha-hum!" Cordelia exclaimed in delight, then calmed down. "Uh, I won't do that again."

That night, Cordelia answered a knock on the door of her apartment. "Oh, Wesley."

"I got your pages. What's happening?"

"I think I may have done something terrible." Cordelia paused. "I went shopping with Rebecca."

"And that was terrible."

"Huh? No! That was fantastic! You know they close the stores for her? Oh, and lunch at Mirabelle's. I had the most to-die-for veal filet with a light truffle marinade and-"

"Cordelia."

"Sorry. Anyway, the whole time, Rebecca is real gabby, asking questions about Angel."

"Well, what sort of questions?"

"Oh, you know, where does Angel hail from, what's his favorite color, what kind of aftershave he wears, the exact specific details on how someone could make themselves into a vampire."

"Surely, you don't think-"

"What? That she'd try to maneuver Angel into an exchange of bodily fluids in order to make herself eternally young and beautiful, thus saving her failing career? Gee, now that you mention it."

Cordelia ran into the office, Wesley right behind her. Rebecca ran out of the elevator.

Wesley looked at her. "It's okay."

"Thank God!" Rebecca cried. "Help me. He's trying to kill me."

"You fucked him, didn't you?" Cordelia accused.

Wesley looked at her. "Cordelia."

"What are you talking about?" Rebecca asked her.

"What you did."

"I didn't do anything."

"You must have done something."

"Maybe I gave him something to loosen him up. Now, he's-"

"Loose?"

"Yeah."

"What was it?"

"Does it matter?"

"If he's homicidal, I think yeah!"

"Powerful tranquilizer. Induces bliss."

"Bliss? As in bliss? Sheer contentment? Perfect happiness?"

"It's synthetic. Not true happiness."

"This is good."

Cordelia looked at Wesley.

"He hasn't really turned. It's an illusion."

"He bit me."

"We'll leave the premises until the effects wear off."

"Are you sure they will wear off?" Cordelia asked him.

"Reasonably."

The lights went out.

Wesley looked around. "He's cut the power."

"Where's the box?" Rebecca asked him.

"Side of the building."

Rebecca thought about that. "He's gone out."

"Which means he's-"

"Looks like somebody didn't pay the power bill."

Cordelia saw Angel, ran over to her desk, and picked up the handset.

Wesley looked at her. "Cordelia? I'd lay odds that the phone's dead, too. What do you think?"

"What happens if there's an emergency?" Angel taunted.

Wesley looked at him. "Angel. I want you to listen to me. What you're experiencing isn't real. You've been fed a drug. It's simulating bliss. All that you're feeling is chemical suggestion."

"Angel?" Cordelia asked.

"Name's Angelus."

"I don't wish to take drastic measures, but, unless you listen, I warn you-"

"You're warning me? What happened, Wes? You suddenly grow a pair? That's it. The whole root of your inferiority complex. Good news, Wes, old boy. You don't really have an inferiority complex. You're just simply inferior."

Wesley made a move toward Angel.

"Wesley, no!" Cordelia warned. She approached Angel. "Why don't you just-"

"Just - Just - Line?!" Angel mocked. "'Of course, a time will come...when Torvald is not as devoted to me.' You were really, let me tell you, bad."

"Stop it."

Angel approached her. "Why? You didn't. I've been to Hell, but that was so much worse! You had to be there. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Everybody was laughing. Here's a thought: Maybe you can get Raven to coach you. Then you'd actually suck."

Cordelia backed up. "Back off."

"What are you gonna do? Melt me?"

"One more step, and you'll find out." Cordelia picked a jar up off her desk. "You think this is just water?"

"You're bluffing."

"Am I? You don't think I wasn't ready for this, do you?" Cordelia asked. "Why do I have a stake stashed in my desk, a cross in my bag? I think about this happening every single day."

"That's just drinking water."

"Delivered right to our door...then blessed every second Tuesday by Father Mackie...while you're down in your Batcave, sleeping through the day. You don't believe me? Have some!" Cordelia splashed him with water.

Angel quickly turned his back to her, then he slowly faced her again.

Cordelia raised the jar. "And the Oscar goes to..."

Wesley suddenly tackled Angel with a scream and threw him into the elevator, knocking him unconscious.

Cordelia was sitting in a chair, and Wesley stood near her. They stared at Angel, chained to his bed, as he slowly woke up.

"Are you still evil?" Cordelia asked him, her arms folded over her chest.

"I'm so sorry."

"Can I get another reading on that line, please?" Cordelia asked.

"Rebecca? Is she-?"

"Gone. She won't be keeping you on retainer as her bodyguard. I think it was the trying to murder her that lost you the gig."

Angel looked at Wesley. "I need to apologize."

"There's no need."

Cordelia looked at him in surprise. "Hello?"

"It was the drug. Couldn't be helped. Things were said, that's true...but I think it best if we put it behind us. Move on."

"Thank you."

"You walk a fine line, Angel. I don't envy you." Wesley started to walk away.

"Wesley?"

Wesley stopped and looked at him.

"Nice moves up there."

Wesley left the room.

"Cordelia-"

"Okay. Here's something I never thought I would say to you: Wesley's right."

"I'm-"

"Forget it."

"I didn't mean-"

"Yes, you did. I'd appreciate you not trying to weasel out of it." Cordelia stood up. "Angelus may not be the most relaxing company, but at least he's honest. Shouldn't I expect the same from the not-evil version of my friends?"

"So we're okay, then?"

"I'm too big of a person to let it get in the way of our friendship."

"I appreciate that."

They stared at each other in silence for a moment.

"You're not gonna untie me, are you?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "P-ch-ch!" She turned and walked out of the room.