Author: Katie
Disclaimer: The BtVS and Angel characters don't belong to me, but to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc.
Rating: PG - British System
Feedback: Oh Yeah! I need it - I can't write if I don't know that someone is reading!
Distribution: If you want it, just let me know.
Dedication: To Krys for betaing this. To all those who wanted it.
Notes: A sequal to 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vampire'.
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Angel returned to the hospital to find Spike sitting in a chair next
to Willow's
bed, Cordelia asleep in his lap. Spike was stroking Cordelia's
hair with one
hand, his other holding one of Willow's.
"Did she wake up?" Angel asked quietly, dragging another chair
up to the
other side of the bed and taking hold of Willow's other hand, being
careful
not to knock the tube in her arm that was replacing the blood she had
lost
earlier.
"No. She mumbled a couple of times; probably a nightmare, but
she didn't
wake up properly." Spike shifted Cordelia slightly in an attempt
make her
more comfortable.
"I didn't want her to think that I'd abandoned her," Angel stroked
the back
of her hand with his thumb. "The others all gone home?"
He asked.
"Yeah. Nurse threw them out, but I told her we weren't leaving."
Spike
smiled down at his sleeping girlfriend. "Cordelia told me about
pretending
to be her sister, you know, last time?" Angel nodded. "So
we did that
again." Spike glanced around the room. "What happened to
the Slayer?" He
asked quietly.
"It's a long and complicated story, and one that I don't plan on telling."
Angel gave his child a grim smile. "Let's just say that she's
getting some
help."
"Help?" Willow's eyes fluttered open. "I've been listening," she confessed.
"You should be sleeping," Angel admonished gently.
"I was. Now I'm not," Willow said simply. "What happened with Buffy?"
"Her mom was with her." Angel refused to say anymore.
"Was Buffy upset?" Willow bit her lip.
"Just a bit," Angel lied.
"I don't want her to be upset," Willow said in a small voice.
"It's not your responsibility," Angel said firmly.
"I know, but..."
"No buts." Angel stopped her words with his lips.
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Angel shifted Willow in his arms, making sure not to put any pressure
on her
side.
"I can walk," she protested.
"No, you can't," Angel answered.
"Welcome home Willow!" Wesley, Cordelia and Spike all shouted
at once as
they entered the office.
"And good-bye Spike and Cordelia," Cordelia muttered under her breath.
"What?" Angel's hearing picked up her words.
"We're going back to Sunnydale," Cordelia announced, for the whole room.
"What?" Angel repeated.
"Just for a few months," Spike explained, pleased to see that
his departure
managed to upset his sire. The soul must have retained some of
the demon's
feelings for his wayward childe.
"Giles rang, today," Cordelia added as she saw Willow's face fall.
"Mrs.
Summers has taken Buffy away for a while, and they need some help."
"He didn't say anything to us." Willow glanced at Angel for confirmation,
and he nodded.
"He didn't want to worry you," Spike wrapped his arms around Cordelia
from
behind. "Anyway, you know me, if there's a chance of violence,
I'm there.
I can still hurt demons, y'know?" Spike grinned in anticipation.
"You will be back?" Wesley asked, his eyes watering as his 'allergies'
got
the better of him.
"Of course," Cordelia gave him a hug, ignoring Spike's slight
growl at the
loss of her warmth. "We'll talk all the time, anyway. You
know, every
time I get a vision?"
"So, it's all settled then, is it?" Angel asked.
"Yeah. We're going tonight," Cordelia watched as Angel placed
Willow down
gently on the sofa, and pulled her into a hug. This time, Spike's
growl was
a lot louder.
"We best be off, pet, before it's too late," Spike pulled her from Angel's arms.
"Jealous much?" Cordelia laughed, but nevertheless she let him
lead her from
the room. "Where are my bags?" Cordelia's voice could be
heard coming from
outside.
"I think I'll just...go home." Wesley dabbed at his eyes with
a freshly
laundered handkerchief.
"Goodnight Wes," both Willow and Angel called at the same time.
"So, alone at last." Angel picked Willow up once again as he moved
towards
the elevator.
"It's a pity I'm not in a position to do anything constructive,"
Willow
smiled, as they traveled down to the apartment.
"Oh I don't know," Angel answered. "What about Scrabble
in bed?"