Chapter one

"Willow come on I know you can do it." Xander reached down and grasped her hand. "Two more blocks to Dead Boys and then we’re home free." Looking over his shoulder to see if their pursuers were close he pleaded his best friend to get up from the ground. "Wills look at me." Bringing his eyes level with hers he held them for a moment. "Two blocks, that’s all I’m asking. Then the king of brood can help." Willow wiped at the tears falling from her eyes and nodded. Trying to stand she cried out in pain, as the cut on her thigh burned in protest.

Xander started running, practically dragging Willow behind. He didn’t know if he could make it two blocks, but he refused to die at the hands of Glory’s scabby minions.

"Lindsey I told you never to come back." Angel approached the young man.

"And I told you; I blew a tire outside the city limits. I tried to have it fixed but all my credit card accounts are frozen, and I don’t have enough
cash on me to get the truck fixed." Lindsey knew this had been a stupid idea. But being so close to LA, and Wolfram and Hart. Lindsey knew that if he were spotted he wouldn’t last the night.

"Born again having cash flow problems doesn’t qualify as a soul saving mission." Cordelia crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Lindsey.
"Plus he has that ‘evil hand’ issue."

Angel rubbed his eyes in frustration. It would have been easier if everyone had gone home early as planned. This confrontation would have lasted maybe five minutes, ending with Lindsey’s ass on the sidewalk outside. But here he was stuck with a group that had to argue things to death. Not to mention Wesley’s new position as ‘boss’...more like boob.

"Cordelia if we throw him out he could get caught by Wolfram and Hart. His death would be on our hands."

"If we throw him out he could get hit by a bus Wesley. It’s not our fault that he sold his soul." Gunn shrugged and sided with Cordelia.

"IN COMING!" The doors crashed open; Xander and Willow came crashing through them with such force they nearly fell down the front steps. Everyone in the room jumped in surprise. Angel ran across the room to help them up when four demons appeared behind the two Sunnydale residents.

"Give us the book." One of the robed demons demanded.

"Give us a break." Xander shouted back.

"Our Glorious Shiny One wants the book, and she will have it. The two of you are nothing, except your fate and hand over the book." Willow crawled further into the hotel, away from the entrance and Glory’s little spawn from hell. The slash across her thigh was still bleeding, leaving a trail of blood as she scooted across the floor.

Angel took a threatening step forward, and the smaller demons took a step back. "Leave!" He roared at the demons, which took a step back.

"Her eminence sent us to get the book from these humans; we will not let her down." The leader of the four said.

Gunn came up with weapons, handing Angel an ax. "I’m giving you one more chance, leave."

Cordelia hurried over to Willow and helped her stand, walking her further away from the door. "Are you okay?" Cordelia wiped the redhead’s hair from
her face.

"There were so many of them, we couldn’t stop..."

"Shh..It’s okay. You’re safe now." Cordelia looked over to Xander who was appeared on the other side of Willow.

"Why didn’t you guys call us and let us know you were in town?"

"We didn’t have time...Giles sent us here, only to have us turn around and go back to Sunnydale." Kneeling down Xander ripped Willows jean leg to get a better look at her injury. "Damn Willow." He moaned.

Angel and Gunn attacked and had the demons dispatched with just a few moves, and now Wesley was helping in the clean up of the slain bodies. Angel rushed over to Willow and kneeled next to Xander to inspect Willows wound. "What happened?"

Lindsey stood back and watched in awe, as Angel’s group took care of the crisis with ease. It was like watching a choreographed ballet. Everyone knew what to do, and when to do it. If it weren’t the words of confusion he would have thought that this was just a drill. No wonder he could never beat them.

"We came to get a book for Giles and Glory’s little goons followed us. After we got the book they attacked. We were so damn stupid! No weapons, no back up plan. Willow tried casting a spell, but they must have had a protection spell or something because it backfired miserably." Xander’s hands were shaking as he told Angel the story. Not only because of what had happened, but also because the whole fight with Glory was pushing the Sunnydale group to the point of an emotional break down. In the past no matter what big bad they were fighting they always knew there was a string chance to win. But with Glory, they had run out of ideas. All but one last chance that the book represented.

"What is going on down there? Why didn’t any of you call for help?" Angel nearly yelled at Xander, as he kept an ear open to Willows pulse beat.

"It’s not like you all don’t have your problems here! Excuse me if I’m wrong Dead boy, but don’t you have a she bitch by the name of Darla to dust? Or some freaky law firm to dismantle?" Xander defended himself and the others. Sure *now* it sounded like the smart thing to do, but in reality the two groups were drifting apart, barley keeping in touch. It really never crossed their minds.

"Angel she’s wont stop bleeding." Cordelia eyes filled with worry. Angel took off his shirt and ripped a piece off, tying it around Willow’s upper thigh.
Picking her up he started handing out orders. "Wesley you need to call Giles let him know what happened. How bad does he need the book?"

Xander looked start into Angel’s eyes. "It’s life or death." Angel nodded gravely, thinking for a moment. "After Wesley calls Giles, I want the three
of you...Xander, Wesley and Gunn to take the book to Sunnydale. Take weapons this time. Cordy come on."

Lindsey waited for a moment, realizing that he was being abandoned. "What about me?" Everyone in the room stopped and stared.

"You can leave." Angel said over his shoulder.

"Angel he can’t." Wesley protested. Angel stopped and swung around. "Fine you stay here. We’ll be back." Everyone jumped going in opposite directions, leaving Lindsey standing alone in the Lobby.
 

Chapter two

Willow cringed as she watched the doctor thread the needle he was going to use to stitch her up. Oh Goddess how she hated needles. They only brought pain. "It helps if you look away." The doctor said.

Willow bit her lip and obeyed. Tears welled in her eyes, and she felt like such a loser for crying. She had faced the end of the world how many times? Never had she shed a tear while in battle. Maybe afterwards she’d crawl into bed, pulling the covers over head, and have herself a good cry. But that was different. That was releasing pent up emotions. This was plan and simply acting like a baby. She wished that Xander were here he could make her laugh. Or Giles, who would give her Fatherly concern. But Angel and Cordelia were out in the hall, two people Willow hadn’t seen in over a year, and she would feel uncomfortable having them see her like this.

So much had happened since the two had left Sunnydale. And Willow still harbored some resentment towards Angel for not saying goodbye. She knew she was being silly, but he had really hurt her feelings. She had considered him a close friend, had risked her life restoring his soul, *and* saving him from hell. He may not know it was her that helped him escape, but still there had been the whole soul thing. Even without that, all that they had experienced together should have accounted for something...right? Sure she wasn’t the love of his unlife, but she had been his friend, something she took seriously.

And Cordelia was another story. While Willow may trust her life in the other girls hands, she really didn’t know Cordelia all that well. She knew the
superficial side of the brunette, that she used like shield. She knew of the girl who loved Xander in her own odd way. That Cordelia was capable of
showing strength when least expected. But Willow could never honestly say she *knew* Cordelia.

"All done." The doctor was taking off his protective glove and gave his patient a caring smile. "Now I want you to stay off that leg and get some
rest. The directions for your medications is in the bag. I want you here in two weeks for me to check on the stitches."

Willow looked down at her leg and sucked in a deep breath. There had to be at least fifty stitches keeping her skin held together. The area around her skin was red and inflamed. It sure wasn’t a pretty sight, but considering all the fights she had lived through she was lucky this was the first time she had ever been truly injured. When blood was involved.

"I’ll tell your friends that it’s okay to come in." With that the doctor was gone and Willow sat on the narrow hospital bed, waiting for Angel and
Cordelia to join her. The brunette was the first to appear, knocking softly on the door. Willow put on a brave face and welcomed her in. Angel followed, looking a little uncomfortable.

"How are you feeling?" Cordelia asked walking hesitantly to her bedside.

"A little tired, I think it’s because of the drugs." Willow squirmed under their stares.

"We talked to Giles. He thinks its best if you stay here for a few days until you can get around." Angel took a seat in a chair furthest from her bed.

"I can’t! I’m needed there. We have to stop Glory, I can’t be here and do that." Willow sat a little straighter, making her head swim in dizziness.

"Willow you can’t help in your condition." Cordelia looked at Angel for assistance.

"This is nothing. You should’ve seen Spike after what Glory did to him. I’m needed there, I will not abandon my friends." Willow edged herself to the
side of the bed, and was ready to haul herself off.

"Willow you can’t walk, you’ll tear open your stitches." Angel stood and blocked her escape.

Stinging words were on her lips. Words that if spoken would put a wedge further between herself and her old friends. Instead Willow sat back,
defeated.

"So Wesley your a what again." Xander asked a smile on his lips.

"A rogue demon hunter." Xander started to laugh, but Gunn’s glare cut off his mockery.

"What do you find so funny?" Gunn turned in his seat to get a better look at the annoying guy that sat in the backseat.

"From what I remember of Wesley he couldn’t last a fight for more than a minute before he ended up on his ass. Just the thought of him as a Rogue
Demon whicha-ma-call-it is hilarious."

Wesley tightened his hold on the steering wheel a little tighter as they headed for Sunnydale. The car ride had been tense to say the least. Gunn and Xander took a immediate dislike to one another, and wouldn’t stop taunting one another. When the annoying youth wasn’t insulting Gunn, he was verbally attacking Wesley. The ex-watcher had always thought Xander was annoying during his brief stay in Sunnydale, but at the moment he was one hundred times worse.

Not to mention Xander looked different than he had just a year or so ago. He looked worn down, his eyes had dark circles around them. He looked like he had be to hell and back. The rational side of Wesley’s mind was telling him that Xander’s induced obnoxious behavior had something to do with this Glory person.

"Xander why don’t you tell me what’s going on in Sunnydale." The young man in the backseat fell silent for a moment.

"Death... We’re up against a God. She’s unstoppable. I mean you should have seen Spike..." Xander looked out the window and fell silent again.

"What do you mean a God?" Gunn asked in alarm.

"She’s a God. She’s scary. She looks human, so it’s not like she has to stay dormant all day. She has consistently kicked Buffy’s ass. Not even Spike can stand up to her. Willow’s tried a few spells and they do no good. We’re all going to die trying to stop her." His words were whispered, and gave the other two men goose bumps. "The book is our last option."
 

Chapter three

Lindsey was bored. They had all left him by himself in the hotel lobby that months earlier he would have been seriously hurt for trespassing in. At first he tried to stretch out on one of the couches, but no matter how hard he tried to sleep he just couldn’t. Then he decided to use one of the office computers to entertain himself, but after awhile he gave up and turned the machine off.

Now he was sitting behind the desk he assumed belonged to one Cordelia Chase. There were a few pictures in cheap frames on the desk. Some she was in, others she wasn’t. There was a picture of a group of young adults sitting outside a burnt down building. They were holding charred papers and smiling faintly at the camera. In another picture it looked to be her parents. Apparently wealthy, with the bored expression that so many of the upper class shared.

Out of all the people that helped Angel on his campaign of good, Cordelia baffled him the most. He knew she had a wealthy upbringing. That even though her parents had some problems when she was in High School, he had no idea how someone like her got hooked up with someone like Angel. It just didn’t click. The encounters he had had with her were few, but the girl had a tongue on her that could bleed a man dry. Lindsey’s lips twitched at his choice of words to describe her, thinking maybe she was in perfect company.

Getting up from the desk he paced. There was nothing to do, and he had no idea if Angel and his gang would help him. Charity, he hated it. And if he didn’t have Wolfram and Hart looking for him he’d never had stooped so low as to coming here. He was tempted to look through their files, but what good would that do? It’s not like he could share what he found with anyone. Plus the need to take Angel out was no longer there. Sighing Lindsey ran a hand through his hair. It’s not that he liked Angel and the rest, but he no longer had the drive to wipe them out anymore.

If he could get there help he’d be on his way, he had no idea where he was going to go, but anywhere was better than here.

Angel and Cordelia drove in silence back to the hotel, both lost in their own thoughts. Willow was laying in the backseat, in deep slumber from the drugs the doctor had given her. Both were thankful they wouldn’t have to fight with the redhead about heading back to Sunnydale again that night.

"I don’t get it, why didn’t they just call and ask for help?" Cordelia asked softly. "They know we’d do anything for them." Angel silently agreed, a
little confused as well. "I know there’s that whole thing with you and Buffy, but if things were so desperate they should have called."

"Do you miss them?" Angel asked softly, keeping his eyes on the road. Cordelia looked over at him, then out the passenger window.

"In a way I guess. But being away from Sunnydale, my past, and them makes me feel free. That I can be myself. When I was with them I was a total bitch."

"I feel the same way almost. At first leaving Buffy was hard, I missed her. But then that faded." Angel stopped, feeling odd sharing his feelings with
Cordelia. "Then I was relieved to be away from all the damage I had caused that Angelus caused. Not having to see the guarded looks they all gave me, or having to deal with the guilt I felt whenever any of them were reminded of Angelus."

Cordelia looked over at the dark vampire, and felt a new closeness to him. Just months ago her friendship with the vampire had been put to its test.
When he had fired her, Wesley and Gunn. Leaving them to fight alone. She still held a slight grudge for what he had put them through. But with every bonding experience like this it healed the past a little more.

"I never said goodbye to her."

"Buffy?"

"No...Willow. I said goodbye to all of them, in my own way except for her. I couldn’t, I didn’t know what to say." Angel pulled into the hotel parking
lot and shut off the ignition.

"Angel that’s not good." Cordelia stated shaking her head. "If it were someone else it may be okay, but it’s Willow we’re talking about. I knew her
growing up, and trust me she didn’t have very many friends. Just Jesse and Xander, and we both know what happened to Jesse. She takes the friendships she has very seriously, and I know she thought of you as her friend."

Closing his eyes and leaning his head back to rest against the back of his seat Angel fought against the guilt. "They didn’t call because we’ve become two separate groups. We’ve all drifted apart, and each of us is to blame." Angel answered Cordelia’s earlier questioned and got out of the car. Opening the back door he scooped Willow into his arms and carried her in the hotel lobby.
 

Chapter four

"You’re still here." Cordelia stated as she walked past Lindsey and followed Angel up the stairs.

"Happy to see me?" Lindsey threw back and followed them.

Rolling her eyes she turned to glare at the handsome ex-lawyer only to find her face smashed against his chest. A very well muscled chest if she wasn’t mistaken.

"Lindsey what’s it going to take to get rid of you?" Angel questioned as he moved down the hall to one of the newly remodeled rooms.

"Just enough money to get a new tire for my truck." Lindsey chuckled as Cordelia stumbled away from him, seeing how she was effected by his close proximity.

"Done." Angel grunted, walking over to the bed and lying Willow down careful to not move her injured leg anymore then needed.

The faint sound of a the office phone drifted from downstairs, and Cordelia rushed to answer it. Leaving Angel and Lindsey alone. Lindsey watched as Angel pulled the covers up over the redhead, and gently tucked a piece of red hair behind her ear. "So who is she?"

At first Angel ignored his question, "Her name is Willow. She’s a friend from Sunnydale."

"Isn’t she kind of young to be fighting demons?" Lindsey studied the young girl as she slept. She looked so damn young and innocent.

"She’s been fighting them for five years now." Angel shrugged his eyes never leaving her face.

"So what happened? You introduced her to the creatures of the night then ditched her to look after herself?"

A deep growl came from the vampire’s chest. "No that’s not what happened. She’s friends with the slayer, and was into the fight before I met her."
Lindsey nodded; showing signs that he didn’t believe the vampire at all.

"Ahh. So you protected her, giving her a sense of security then ditched her." Lindsey knew he hit a nerve, and enjoyed tormenting the vampire.

"Shut up Lindsey." Cordelia’s sharp voice came from the hallway where she had heard most of the conversation. "It’s none of your business why he left."

Lindsey shrugged and walked over to a chair next to the bed and sat down. "Hey just asking. Though I am curious what’s going to happen when he ditches you too? I mean he’s already done that once when he fired you, so what’s to say he won’t leave town one of these days leaving you high and dry?"

Cordelia stiffened as Lindsey voiced one of her insecurities. She was afraid that one day she’d come to work and Angel would be gone. Him thinking that she’d be better of without him. She couldn’t imagine a day without her blood-sucking friend. He knew her better then anyone else, and she would be lost with out him. "He wouldn’t do that." Turning to Angel she tried to ignore Lindsey.

"That was Gunn, they just got to Sunnyhell, and are going to stay a few days. Wesley is going to help Giles with the spell." Angel nodded.

"Lindsey I’ve thought of a way you can get that piece of scrap metal fixed. We’ll need some help while the guys are away. We have a few cases we’re working on, and will need help researching." Lindsey looked up sharply at Angel, clearly the Vampire had lost his mind.

"Angel are you kidding. We can’t have Mr. Can’t-Play-Well-With-Others helping us. He’ll help us into an early grave, or dust pile." Cordelia started to pace throwing evil glares in Lindsey’s direction. "I mean Willow’s here, she shouldn’t have to suffer having him around."

"Cordy," Angel sighed used to her tantrums. "We were over loaded before Gunn and Wesley left for Sunnydale. Now we have Willow to take care of, we need help." Seeing the hard look in her eyes he tried another tactic. "He can be your assistant." Cordy thought about that for a moment, an evil smile spreading across her face. "Is that a yes?"

"That’s a hell yes."

"Wait a minute," Lindsey stood. "I never agreed to help you. And I’ll be damned if I’m her assistant." Lindsey shot an angry glance in Cordelia’s
direction.

"Well Lindsey I see it two ways right now. One you help us, you get that new tire and drive out of our lives forever. Or Two I go down stairs and push my speed dial to Wolfram and Hart and tell them where you are. The choice is yours." Lindsey hated being trapped, but he really didn’t have many options.

"Fine." He gritted out between clenched teeth. Angel nodded at the young man’s decision, like he really had one to make.

"Good. Cordy can you stay here in your room for a few days? I’m going to need help with Willow, and I can’t do that and keep an eye on him."

"Sure thing. Let me go home and get some clothes." Her eyes popping open with an idea. "I can bring some for Red here, see what she looks like in clothing that is fuzz free and don’t just hang from her body." Angel started to nod until he realized what she had said. Willow with tighter fitting clothing.

"Um maybe she’d feel more comfortable in sweatpants or something." His nervousness evident.

"Hell no. I get a chance to play dress up with the witch and I’m taking advantage of it." With a squeal of delight Cordy rushed off to get her things.

Lindsey chuckled at the obvious discomfort Angel was in. Maybe this would be fun.
 

Chapter five

"This is your room." Angel shoved the door open and switched on the light. Lindsey looked around in disgust at the unremodeled room. There was a
definite moldy odor, that almost made him gag.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Consider this home for the next few days." Angel turned and walked our, barely hiding the smirk on his face.

Lindsey dropped his duffel bag beside the bed, and placed his guitar case next to it. Truth be told growing up he survived worse. At least he had a
roof over his head and a bed to sleep in. Perhaps once he got his hands on some cleaning supplies the smell would go away.

The blanket that covered the sagging bed was worn in spots and had seen better days. Inspecting the rest of the room he noticed that there was a connecting bath, that at the moment he just wasn't brave enough to take a close look at. A dresser, that was missing two drawers. Not that Lindsey packed many clothes. It was more a grab and run kind of thing.

If he could just get through these next few days he could be on his way. He could do it. It took a lot to break him.

"You give him the room that had that water leak we didn't know about. The one that smells like something died in it?" Cordelia was sitting next to Willow's bedside flipping through a magazine.

Angel nodded and smiled over at her.

"You are evil. Angelus would be proud." Tossing her reading material on to the bedside table she stood and stretched. "I am wiped out. See you in the morning." Walking to the doorway she stopped and turned around. "If you need anything just holler."

Angel sat in the chair Cordelia had occupied and stared at Willow. It had been two years that he hadn't seen her, hadn't been on the outside of her
life. When in Sunnydale he had always been there, even if lurking in shadows, watched her grow up for four years. So much happened in those years, and God only knew what she went through during the past two.

Physically she was pretty much the same. Her hair was a little shorter. Her features a little more pronounced. But she still had the young fresh look he remembered her by. Angel studied her face closely, never having been this close without her being aware of his presence. She had a small scar on the underside of her chin. But even with that she was beautiful. Not just by looks but also by her whole person. Never in all his years had he met someone so giving and excepting. How could he have broken the bonds of friendship so easily and quickly?

Was he so foolish when he left Sunnydale to think that he'd never see Willow or any of the other Sunnydale residents again? That he could just put them out of his mind and start fresh. If not for the redhead in the bed he would never have had the chance for the fresh start. 'Guess Angelus isn't the only one to blame for being a selfish bastard.'

Leaning back in his seat, Angel prepared himself for the long night ahead of him.

"So what's there to do here?" Gunn asked, half afraid of the answer he would get.

"Well, there's a place called the bronze. Never been there myself, but the last time I was here it was where Cordy and her friends would go." Wesley
answered Gunn's question, not bothering to look up from his book.

"And you were here last two years ago. Great the place is probably crawling with kids."

"You could always patrol." Wesley offered, wishing that Gunn would either leave the hotel room they were sharing, or go to sleep.

Heaving himself off the bed, Gunn fished through his bag for his weapons. "I'm going out."

"Huh-huh." Wesley nodded. "Have fun." Gunn grunted and left the room.

Finding demons to fight hadn't been a challenge. He had just left the room when two vampires attacked. Getting rid of the first with a quick thrust of his stake he concentrated on taking out the second.

After a few blows to the head, and an almost crippling kick to the groin. Gunn dusted the second, only to hear clapping from behind. Spinning ready to attack a came face to face with Buffy. Standing a few feet behind her was Spike and Xander.

"Well at least I know you can fight. But perhaps you should call it a night. I can handle things." Buffy went to pass him, the two males following behind.

Gunn watched as they disappeared down the street, annoyed at how the blonde had talked down to him. His and Wesley's little visit to Sunnydale better be a short one, he reflected. Because if not Gunn was sure to say a few things he would later regret.
 

Chapter six

"Time to rise and shine!" Lindsey heard the overly cheerful voice and wished for the chance to strangle the person it emanated from. Cracking open his left eye Lindsey watched as Cordelia made her way across his room and open the curtains.

With a groan, and an undiscerning growl, Lindsey rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head. He was defiantly not a morning person, and having
Cordelia Chase waking him was just not the way he wanted to start the day. "Go away."

"No can do. We have things to do, clients to bill." Cordelia walked to the bed and ripped the covers from his body. Gasping at the sight of Lindsey only clad in midnight blue silk boxers. "And get some clothes on!" Turning around to escape the room, and almost nude Lindsey, she gritted her teeth at the sound of his mocking laughter.

Going down the hall and stopping in front off Willow's door, Cordelia peeked in to see if the redhead had awoken yet. She was greeted by the still
sleeping Willow, plus slumbering vampire. Sometime in the night Angel must have crawled into bed with the witch and curled his body around hers. Both were deep asleep. <What I would do for a camera, wouldn't Slutty love to have this picture.> A grin plastered to her face she went down stairs to start a new day.

Usually she was never this perky before her first three cups of caffeine in the morning. But with the prospects of having a slave at her disposal
Cordelia had never felt so alive. Especially if the slave was one Lindsey McDonald. She had stayed up late, laying in bed thinking of all the heinous
tasks she could make him do. When she had finally drifted asleep she dreamt of Lindsey dressed in tight jeans, no shirt bowing to her and obeying her every command.

What she hadn't expected was to see Lindsey stumble down stairs, glare in her direction and flop down on one of the lobby's couches. "Don't tell me, not a morning kind of guy?" Lindsey ignored her. "I need coffee, do you want a cup?" She asked sweetly after a few minutes of silence. That had gotten his attention, he nodded stiffly.

"Good the machine is over there, coffee next to it. Make some." Crossing her arms over her chest she gave him what she hoped her no-nonsense look. Lindsey contemplated telling her to screw off, but knowing if he did he might as well kiss that new truck tire goodbye.

Heaving himself from the couch he made his way to the machine and stared at it for a moment. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather have me go buy some coffee?"

"Nope." Cordelia sat herself at her desk and switched on her computer. Lindsey turned back to the coffee maker, not really sure what he should do.
He had never made coffee before, and he wasn't about to admit that to Ms Thing. It couldn't be that hard, hell even his inept secretary had been
capable of making it.

Cordelia watched as Lindsey stood at the maker, looking like a fish out of water. She was enjoying herself immensely. "Need help?" She couldn't help but ask.

"I think I can handle making a pot of coffee."

"Suit yourself....But may I make a suggestion? It'll always helps to use water." Lindsey cursed.

Willow awoke slowly, a feeling of being protected washed over her. Trying to stretch a burning pain shot through her leg, reminding her of the earlier
injury. Turning her head to the side she saw Angel asleep next to her.

Still feeling oozy from her medications, she snuggled back into his embrace. Her eyes fluttering shut, she felt slightly guilty that she enjoyed the
feeling of Angel's strong arms around her. Deciding to mull over the situation later, Willow sighed softly.

Angel opened his eyes when he felt Willow's breathing slowed. He had awoken when she had. Not meaning to still be by her side when she awoke, he felt as though he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Sleeping next to Willow's warm soft form had been heaven. It felt so right being next to her, and was afraid of her reaction of finding him there. To his amazement she rolled back over, scooted closer to him and fell back asleep. Her small sigh of content melted his heart. While Willow was here recuperated he was going to do his damnest to make it up to her for having left with out even a good bye.

A slight smile on his lips, Angel nuzzled his head into her hair and drifted back to sleep.
 

Chapter seven

"How the hell can you eat all that and not get sick?" Gunn watched in disgust as Xander stuffed another Twinkie into his mouth. They had been at the Magic Box all day, and Gunn was getting antsy. He hated being stuck in one place. At least at the hotel there was room to move about. But here with all the customers he was stuck at the table with the rest of the Sunnydale residents.

"It's not bad. You should see the way Buffy and Willow shovel in the ice cream during one of their 'We hate men' thingies. It just gives me brain
freeze thinking about it." Xander said around a mouth full of food.

"You don't say." Gunn rolled his eyes back at Xander.

"So has Cordy gotten her *big break* yet?" Buffy asked Gunn sarcastically.

Gunn clenched his teeth. He knew from his previous conversations with Cordelia that she hadn't been the nicest person back in High School. But from the being around her now he knew that she had changed a lot from the girl she had once been.

"Kinda hard to go to auditions bruised and battered. Not to mention the visions she gets. Puts a damper on the whole having an outside life thing."
Gunn glared at the blonde girl.

"Xander I have to go out back and do inventory. Keep an eye on him." Anya pointed to Gunn as she disappeared behind the curtain. Gunn looked at the empty doorway in disbelief.

"Don't mind anything she says, that's just Anya." Dawn whispered next to him, blushing when he turned his attention towards her. "She's still learning to be human."

"Gunn it seems we may be here for a few more days then we expected." Wesley followed Giles from the front of the store. "There is a vital ingredient that we need, and it seems to be one back order."

"How long?" Gunn eyed Wesley, trying to let him know that this was killing him being stuck here.

"I really don't know." Wesley wasn't paying attention, his noise stuck in a book.

"Great." Gunn looked around the room at the others and almost wished for a layer of vamps. That way he at least had a fighting chance of escape.

"Can you put these folders in the filing cabinet?" Cordy grinned at Lindsey's dark glare, enjoying having him do all the demeaning chores she was stuck with.

Lindsey grabbed the folders, muttering to himself. Opening the top drawer he stood puzzled for a moment. "What kind of system is this?" Setting the
folders that were in his arms on top of the filing cabinet.

"What do you mean? It's a great system. See the Jordan file goes under P. because he wore this horrible green polyester blazer that almost made me puke." Grabbing another file labeled O'Malley she opened the drawer labeled D. "and this one here had really bad breath."

"Wouldn't that be B?"

"No D, Dragon breath." Cordy shrugged. Lindsey growled and started opening the drawers and pulling out folders. "What are you doing?"

"If I have to do this, I am going to do it my way. Alphabetically."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Cordelia went back to her desk, and stared at the computer screen. In a way it was a good thing that he had found something to do. She was running out of jobs for him. Really she had expected more of a fight from him. It took all the fun out of having him at her beck and call. Feeling restless she stood for another cup of coffee. For Lindsey never having made a cup of Java before in his life, it was pretty damn good.

Lindsey watched Cordelia rise and head to the coffee, when she suddenly stopped and gripped her head. "Oh God no not now." She whimpered, her coffee mug falling to the floor.

Not knowing what was happening, Lindsey took a step closer to her. "What is it?"

Cordelia barely made out his words as sounds and images crashed around her head. "My head, please make it stop." Crumbling to the ground, tears were falling down her face.

Lindsey was at a loss. Half of him wanted to help her, the other half afraid that Angel would come down and think that he had done something to his Seer. "Cordelia?" Stepping closer to the weeping girl, he felt awkward and out of place. "Cordy? What can I do?"

"Aspirin...water...please?" Nodding he hurried to where she weakly pointed, coming back to help her off the floor. Guiding her around the broken mug, he got her to a chair. "Need...to write."

"Cordy I really think you should rest."

"Not me you dolt, *you*. You need to write this down." Lindsey quickly found a pen and paper.

"It looks like some kind of school dance. There are blue and white streamers, lots of teens. Smoke...Angel, you. And this huge ugly scaly like thing, that has horns sticking out of his cheeks." Angel came rushing down the stairs, pulling a gray sweater over his head.

"What happened, I heard something break." Looking from Cordy to Lindsey he didn't expect to find the them sitting next to each other. But with their hands around one another's necks.

"Vision." Cordy smiled weakly, trying to stand. "I'm fine. You know all pain one second, they *poof* it goes away." Angel reached for the paper Lindsey had taken notes on, not seeing the way Cordy swayed on her feet. Nearly falling over.

Lindsey noticed though, and barley held himself back from placing her back down in her chair. <Why is she pretending that she's fine when it's obvious that she's still in pain? > Lindsey watched her; ready for her to go headfirst into one of the office desks.

"Guess this means that Lindsey gets to help with the fieldwork." Angel muttered.

"Huh?" Lindsey looked at Angel as though he had grown a third head. "Kind of takes away the whole staying out of sight idea doesn't it?"

Angel shrugged. "I need back up. Willow is stuck in bed and needs someone here with her. And I am not leaving you here to take care of her. So that leaves Cordy here, and you with me. Cordy try and see what schools are having dances."

"Sure shouldn't be a problem, being that it's *Homecoming* time and all. I mean it's not bad enough that I had to suffer through Homecomings on the Hellmouth. But now I'm *looking* for a demon filled one." Cordy sat at her desk in a huff.

Angel cracked a smile at his Seer's outburst. It was a 'Cordy thing' that he was used to. "Lindsey I take it you know how to use a computer." Lindsey nodded. "Good, help Cordy. I'm going to check on Willow. I kind of jumped out of bed and raced down here when I heard the commotion."

Cordelia raised an eyebrow in his direction. "Hmm, I did notice the sleeping arrangements. Is there something I should know?"

Angel glared at her, "I fell asleep."

"Yes you did. In Willow's bed."

"Cordy?"

"Yes Angel?" She answered sweetly.

"Shut up."
 

Chapter eight

"You're awake." Willow heard Angel's voice and paused for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. After he left the bed in such a hurry, she hadn't been able to get back to sleep. After the effects of deep sleep and some good pain killers wore off, Willow felt embarrassed at how comfortable she had been wrapped in Angel's arms.

"Yeah couldn't get back to sleep. Is Cordy all right?" Willow shifted on the bed, wincing in pain as she felt the pull on her stitches.

"Willow stop fidgeting or you're going to tear your stitches open." Angel scolded her, moving toward the bed and helped her into a sitting position.
Fluffing the pillows behind her head he stepped back making sure she was comfortable. "Let me get your medicine."

Willow let out a long sigh, not liking the fact that she was practically an invalid. Plus having Angel wait on her hand and foot made her feel awkward. "You didn't say if Cordy was ok."

"She had a vision." Angel answered from the bathroom as he read the instructions the doctor had left. "I'll have to leave tonight, but Delia will
be here." Willow noted the nick name he had for the ex-cheerleader and wondered if perhaps the two were closer than she expected. <No, if they were he wouldn't have crawled in bed with me.> Willow's face reddened when she realized she had felt a pang of jealousy went she thought of Angel and Cordy in that sort of way. That she would think of him in anyway.

"Here, take these." Angel walked back into the room and handed her a glass of water and a handful of pills. "So as I was saying Delia had a vision,
something to do with a Homecoming dance and a demon. Lindsey and I are going to fight it, but after that I'll be back."

"Lindsey? I don't think I know her." Willow looked down at the fistful of pills and groaned. How was she going to choke all these down?

Angel chuckled. "She's a he, and he used to work for Wolfram and Hart." Willow shrugged her shoulders, showing Angel that she had no idea who they were.

"You know the big evil Law firm I've been fighting for almost two years now." Willow shook her head slowly. "Sorry doesn't ring any bells."

"I can't believe you guys don't know about Wolfram and Hart." Angel stood puzzled, and a little alarmed. Had they gotten that out of touch? "Lindsey, I cut his hand off."

"Oh wait! Cordy did email me something about that. I'm sure he deserved it." Willow felt almost guilty for not knowing the happenings in Angel's and
Cordy's lives. But wasn't it Angel that left without a glance back? Leaving everything and everyone. He may have had a good reason, leaving town to let Buffy get on with life. But still the least he could have done was say good-bye. <No, the least he could do was just leave. And he did that pretty well.> Cordy had been the same. It's not as though she left any forwarding addresses. They wanted a fresh start, and that's just what they got.

Angel could see the gears going in Willow's head. "So I hear that things in Sunnydale are pretty intense."

Willow looked away from Angel. "You could say that."

"How bad is it?" Angel sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out and taking the redhead's hand.

"We can't win. No matter what we do, or how we do it we always lose. I mean not even Spike and Buffy together can put a dent into Glory. She's a God. How are we supposed to destroy a God? Are we supposed to?" Willow slumped back feeling guilty that she was here in LA while her friends were trying desperately to find a way to stop Glory. "I should be with them."

"We are not going through that again. Bed rest, it's what the doctor said you needed, and that's just what you are going to get." Angel stood. "I'm going to let you get some sleep, I'm sure that the medicines will be kicking in soon."

"Angel?" Willow yawned.

"Yes, Willow."

"Thanks for letting me stay here. I hope I'm not too much of a bother."

"You'll never be a bother." Angel returned to the bed, leaning forward and kissing Willow lightly on the forehead. By the time he stood up the little
witch was already asleep.

"Angel Investigations we help the....*what* are you doing calling here?" Lindsey looked up from the pile of invoices Cordelia had him going through at the venom in her voice.

"Spike I don't have time to trade insults with you." Lindsey shifted some papers, pretending not to listen.

"If it wasn't for you and your pathetic love life I wouldn't have been impaled by a piece of metal. I have a scar thank you very much."

"Something wrong Delia?" Angel walked down the stairs feeling the tension rolling off his seer.

Lindsey shrugged and looked back at the pile in front of him. It was really rather fascinating the jobs Angel's group did. There were at least four
demons that they had fought in the last month that not even he had heard of.

"Listen to me you pathetic bleach blond idiot I will not stand here and-." Angel walked over and took the phone from Cordelia's hand.

"What do you want Spike?" Angel nearly growled into the phone.

"Well, hello to you too Peaches. How'd you know she was talking to me and not to Buffy?" Spike's voice answered back over the line.

"Just a wild guess. What do you want?"

"I called to see how the little witch was doing and find out when I can come and pick her up." Angel tensed when Spike mentioned coming to take Willow from LA.

"She'll be fine. But the doctor wants her to get some bed rest. And we both know that if she goes back there now you'll never keep her in bed."

"Don't know about the others here mate, but I know I could keep her in-."

"Shut up Spike. I'll tell Willow that you called." Hanging up the phone Angel turned to find Cordelia glaring at him. "What?"

"I just can't believe that you sired him." Cordelia sat down at her desk.

"I didn't Dru did."

"Angel do you really want to go there?" Cordelia rolled her eyes and Lindsey
tried to keep the laughter from spilling out.
 

Chapter nine

Lindsey let out a moan as he stood from the chair he had been stuck in for the last three hours. He had forgotten how painful it could be to have to sit researching for hours on end. After his first year at Wolfram and Hart there had always been someone there to do all the grunt work for him. He and Cordelia, after several disagreements and a few rude comments, had narrowed the search down to two schools that not only had blue as one of their school colors, but were having a dance that night as well.

More than anything he was overjoyed when Cordelia had announced that she was going to check in on the little redhead. If he had to be in the same room with the shrew for one more second he swore he'd strangle the beautiful brunette, with or without any help from is evil hand. The girl just wouldn't let up, and after the first hour of biting his tongue and putting up with her abuse, he started firing his own rude comments right back. She had looked shocked that he said anything back, and taking a look to see what Angel would do about his rude words, she huffed at the
vampires small shrug.

Rubbing his lower back, Lindsey walked over to get another cup of coffee. He could feel Angel's eyes glued on him, and Lindsey tried to brush it off. He knew that there was no reason for these people to trust him, had the tables been turned he'd be suspicious of them as well. Hell if the tables had been turned he'd have kicked them out in to the streets without batting an eye.

"Don't let this get to your head Lindsey, but you're really kind of good at researching." Lindsey watched Angel for a moment, trying to figure why the vampire was giving him a compliment. "Don't let Cordelia get to you, she's just like that... well to most people... sometimes."

"She's just a pleasure to be around." Rolling his eyes Lindsey took a sip of coffee.

"To tell you the truth I haven't seen her this bad since..." Angel stopped and made a face. "Um High School."

"Let me guess she was one of those self-centered flakes that believed herself to be better than everyone else." Lindsey saw the sheepish expression on Angel's face and knew he had correctly guessed.

" She was...popular.  For reason's still unknown to mankind she dated one of Buffy and Willow's friends, Xander." Angel couldn't help but make another small face, never really liking the boy.

"Poor bastard." Lindsey said into his mug.

Angel knew he said too much, and wished he knew why he had shared with Lindsey anything about Cordelia. Pushing himself from the counter he had been leaning on he walked toward the stairs. "I'm going to check on Willow. You might as well get some rest; you're going to need it for tonight."

"I thought we needed to find out what we're fighting." Lindsey looked back with a questioning look.

"You look like crap Lindsey and I need you rested if you're going to any help to me tonight. Cordelia and I can research the demon." Lindsey was going to argue, but saw the determined look in Angel's eyes and decided it would do no good. With a short nod Lindsey followed Angel up the stairs.

Angel stopped just outside Willow's door and watched Lindsey walk past and on to his own room. He had to give it to the guy; he never lost his cool over Cordelia's lethal comments she sent his way. When Lindsey finally stood up and retaliated it took all his self-control not to start laughing. Though Cordelia had changed drastically from the self absorbed brat she was in High School, Angel couldn't help but think her behavior rated pretty high as the Queen C attitude. That or when Xander was ever around right before they started dating.

"Are you sure there's nothing else I can get for you?" Cordelia hurried around the room straightening everything up.

"I'm fine Cordelia, really." Willow leaned her head back against the pillow behind her. "What I'd like is a nice hot bath."

"Willow the doctor said that you needed to keep the stitches dry." Angel looked up from the book he was reading and saw the determined look in her green eyes. "How are you going to keep your stitches dry in a tub of water?"

"I hadn't thought that far." Willow gnawed on her lower lip. "Maybe I could keep my leg out of the water somehow." Seeing the unconvinced look that Angel gave her, Willow sat back in a huff against the pillows behind her. "If I don't bathe there will be serious hygiene issues you know."

"There are always sponge baths." Cordelia quirked her brow at Angel's suggestion, making him feel like some sort of pervert.

Willow didn't see the exchange, and thought about his suggestion. "What about my hair?"

"We're a resourceful group, I'm sure we can manage to figure out a way to get your hair washed... won't we Angel?" Angel glared over at Cordelia again, turning his attention back to his book.

"So have you figured out what you're up against tonight?" Willow squirmed trying to get comfortable. If she was already getting sick of being stuck in bed, how was she going to last being bed bound? It almost seemed like cruel and unusual punishment.

"Nothing so far, but I think I have found out at least twenty demons that it's not." Angel muttered flipping through a few more pages.

"Oh did I say that it had this strange vein like thing that looked like it wrapped around its neck?" Cordelia flashed Angel an innocent smile.

"No, it would have been nice if you had about an hour ago." Setting down the book he had been reading he picked up another that he had set aside twenty minutes earlier.

"Oops. Silly me." Shrugging off Angel's annoyed look, Cordelia sat on the edge of Willow's bed. "So what are we going to do tonight while Angel and retard boy go out and fight evil?"

"With these stitches there isn't much that I can do." Willow played with the edge of the fluffy comforter. "I feel as though I should be doing something useful to help the others in Sunnydale." Cordelia studied Willow's guilty expression and rolled her eyes.

"They have the book, they have *our* watcher, not to mention another key member of the A.I. team. They have lots of help. You need rest and a break, and I insist on a chick flick night." Rising from the bed before Willow could protest, Cordelia stopped next to Angel's chair. "Angel I'm going to rent a movie and grab the usual essentials for a girl's night in... You don't need me for anything do you?"

"Oh not at all Cordelia." Angel commented sarcastically, lifting up the book he had been researching, hoping she'd take the hint.

"Good, I'll be back in an hour." Leaning over Cordelia whispered into Angel's ear. "Perhaps while I'm gone you could give Willow that sponge bath." Cordelia stood quickly, laughing at the growl that her friend sent her way. "TaTa, you two behave now you hear?" With a wave Cordelia hurried out the door.

Lindsey tried to sleep, honestly he did. But after what seemed to be hours he only succeeded in getting the scratchy sheets tangled around him. With a sigh of annoyance he sat up against the headboard. Could things get any stranger?  He was stuck helping Angel and Cordelia, and besides the verbal battle he had going with the stuck up princess, it really wasn't all that bad. Interesting in fact. Lindsey had once thought that Angel's little followers worshipped his every move, but in reality that wasn't the case at all.

And even though it seemed that Cordelia had been put in charge of him, it seemed that she had become bored with ordering him about. It had been easy figuring out her little game fast. She wanted to get a reaction out of him, giving him jobs she probably thought he would protest to, just as long that he held his tongue Lindsey knew that he'd be fine. Where her little game had been easy to solve the girl herself was a puzzle. The little he knew about her just confused him more. When he had first met her, he was positive that Angel kept her around just for eye candy. But the times,
though few that they were, she let her guard down he realized that there was something in that head of hers besides the latest fall fashions.

One of the things he loved about being a lawyer was figuring people out, find out what made them tick, and what could make them go off. Lindsey bet that Cordelia would make a great study. Too bad he wasn't going to around long enough to figure the girl out.

He hoped that the englishman and that street kid came back soon. It wasn't safe staying here with the amount of people that Wolfram and Hart hired to follow Angel and his troop. But really what else could he do? He had no cash; his credit cards were frozen so even if he could get that new tire he wasn't going to get far. What in the hell was he going to do?

First things first. He had to live through that night, fighting at Angel's side. Then get his truck fixed, after that he'd worry about what how he was going to make it out of LA alive.

"I swear to God if I have to listen to that idiot say one more thing my brain will turn to mush and ooze out of my ears." Gunn muttered to Wesley while glaring over at Xander. "The kid is so damn annoying."

Wesley looked up at Gunn's object of scorn and had to silently agree with him. Xander had been a nuisance the second he came crashing through the hotel door with Miss Rosenberg. But Wesley knew that nothing would get accomplished by verbally agreeing. "Yes well it seems that he's been through a lot these last few weeks. I suppose the stress is just getting to him." <That and the apparent lack of oxygen to his brain. >

"Please tell me that we'll be outta here soon. I feel like some sort of leper here, the only ones that haven't been hostile to us is that other Watcher dude and the kid...what's her name?"

"Dawn." Wesley answered, picking up another book and opening it.

"Yeah that's it, Dawn. Have the rest always been so..."

"Anti-social, narrow-minded, inconsiderate, self-absorbed, insensitive, rude?" Wesley shot out, not looking up from his book. Gunn picked up a
decorated dagger from a shelf nearby and tested its sharpness.

A hand shot out from behind and grabbed the dagger from his hands. "This is not a toy. You break it you buy it." Anya rested the sharp object back on the shelf and went over to her boyfriend's side.

Gunn growled, "yeah, all that."

"Yes to some extent, but never this bad. Once they get to know you it won't be that bad." Wesley looked up and pushed his glasses back up his nose.

The bell over the door rang out, and Spike sauntered in. "Wussy, Pun still here?" Gunn stepped in the vampire's direction, but stopped when Wesley placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's not worth it."

"You may not think it is, but from where I'm looking it looks like a great plan to me." Pulling his arm free from Wesley's grip Gunn slammed out the door. Wesley let out a long sigh; this was going to be one long week.

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