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Buffy and other characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, et. al and used without permission. No copyright infringement intended & no money earned.
"We have to find a way into Wolfram and Hart. Since, you've dealt with for three years; I figured you could give us the scoop." Buffy watched his face and sighed internally. Please, just give us what we need so I can leave, I don't have time for all this.
"What does Wolfram and Hart have to do with you? Have they threatened you in some way?" Angel growled and Angelus rose up inside of him. He screamed for Angel to take their mate and leave. Damn you, soul-boy, for once have some balls. She's ours and it's about time you reminded her of that fact. She's right there in front of you all golden hair and soft skin. You remember the way her skin feels don't you, boy? And the way her body came alive when we touched her, tasted her, fucked her. Come on, don't you want to just sink into her, fangs and all? Mmm, remember the way her blood tasted on your tongue? Come on grab her and run to the nearest bed. Angel vamped out as he struggled for control. His body responding to his inner demon's taunts.
"Angel," he heard Buffy's voice, "are you alright? What's with the bumpies, anyway?" For a moment, she could swear Angelus was looking back at her.
"Sorry, it's just that W&H have been a thorn in my side for a long time. I just don't want you involved with them." He knew as soon as the words left his mouth that he'd screwed up, big time.
Buffy moved in a blur across the ten feet that separated them. "You listen to me, Angel, if you don't want to help fine, we can get the information from someone else. But, are you listening closely? You have no say in who or what I'm involved in. Now, if that's all the help you plan to give then just, just fuck you."
Yes, yes that's it, that's my girl. See she wants to fuck, too! Angelus shouted in his mind.
"Come on, Xan, this was a mistake. I'm sorry I dragged you here. It was nice to meet the rest of you."
Xander got up, taking her hand as they walked toward the door. "Gotta say, babe, I like you all riled up as long as it's not at me."
His voice just a low rumble to everyone else but Angel heard every word then he noticed the tattoo across Xander's neck. Damnit, I can't believe that Powers expect me to help the man in her life.
Just as he was about to call them back, Wesley called out. "Buffy, please wait, regardless of what others have said 'I' would like to help you. In fact from what I see the Powers expect that very thing. Angel Investigation is under my management and as far as I'm concerned you're our newest client."
She turned to look across the lobby at her former Watcher. "You've grown up nice, Wesley, thanks. I don't know any Powers, but I guess that you can thank them too."
She looked over at Xander with a question in her eyes.
"I go where you go, babe."
His hand came up to caress her cheek. Buffy smiled at him with thanks and some other emotion shining in her eyes. They walked back inside while everyone waited for an explanation.
"W&H have a client who's selling a bomb to someone here in LA. They're her lawyers and we need to get inside to find out if there's any information on the buyer."
Cordelia started laughing. "You're what, 00Buffy, now?" She quieted when everyone gave her a dirty look. Damn her, why couldn't she stay dead. This is my life and I'm so not making room for her. She watched Angel closely throughout this whole interchange. I can't believe him, he act as if I'm not even in the room. Hello, big and beautiful right in front of your face. Why's he so stubborn? He should've told me that he loves me, by now. I could play the surprised but delighted friend. I mean how stupid can you be, friends who just happen to screw each other every night. No one's that oblivious; of course, I want more, what woman wouldn't.
"Do you know who their lawyer is? It would help to determine the best approach?" Wesley waited for the needed information.
"It's some woman named Lilah Morgan. We've run background checks on her but she really isn't the issue here. We need access to her files and we can't get through to them." She watched differing emotions cross Angel, Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn's faces at the mention of the name. "From the looks on your faces, I'm guessing she's not very nice. I don't care if she's Attila the Hun's mother, we need those files. The bomb we're trying to find is nuclear. It could take out LA. The woman who has it's coming to LA in two days, and any help you can give us would be great."
"Angel's the only one I know who has successfully broken through their security. Can you tell them how you did it, Angel?" He looked at his friend expectantly.
"No!" The others started to protest. "But, I can show you."
There were several moments of complete silence. "Fine, we go in tonight just tell us when and where to meet you," Buffy accepted.
"No, just you. I'll have a hard enough time getting the two of us in and out safely. Bringing another person just increases the odds of them catching us."
"I'm pretty good at getting out of tight spaces. If she goes, I go." Xander looked the vampire straight in the eye and crossed his arms across his broad chest.
Great now she has them fighting over her. What do they see in her? She's like a munchkin from the Wizard of OZ.
Fred listened to the discussion, while her eyes remained on Cordy. I hope she doesn't do anything stupid. Buffy seems nice, certainly not the witch Cordy made her out to be. That uneasy feeling she had ever since Cordy's vision only grew worse. Fred looked over at Buffy who gave her a friendly smile. Well, I like her no matter what Cordy says.
She wasn't the only one who was picking up the bad vibes coming from the seer. Lorne was ready to dive into a huge martini glass.
"We will meet you here at 10:00 tonight. The building should be empty by then right?"
Angel nodded because he didn't think he could form words.
Choking down his anger, jealousy and hurt, Angel asked Buffy. "Could we talk a moment, in private?"
With a small sigh, she agreed. Angel started walking to his office, with Buffy reluctantly following. As soon as the door closed, Angel pulled her into his arms and bent down to kiss her.
She turned her face away. "I'm sorry, Angel, but I can't go down that road again. Truth is, I really don't want to."
Lifting her up until their faces met. "Then tell me you don't love me anymore."
Buffy touched his cheek. "I can't." A huge smile spread across his face. "I'll always love you, but Angel, I'm not in love with you anymore. Too much has changed in my life in both our lives, we can't go back. I'm not the starry eyes teenager anymore. The man who'll have my heart, will accept me as an equal. He won't try and make decisions for me and most of all he respects me."
"And 'X', that man you brought into my home, by the way, he does all that? Do you love him, Buffy?" He couldn't keep the belligerence out of his voice. Angel couldn't even comprehend what she was saying to him.
"We aren't the same people anymore, Angel. You created a new life for yourself. You're with Cordelia. She not my first choice but it's your life. That's what I'm doing, starting a new life and yes, Xan's a big part of it. He understands me, Angel, and no matter what I've done, he never gave up on me. I wish only good things for you, can't you do the same?"
He sat her down, afraid if he kept her in his arms, he'd push her against the wall until she thought of nothing but him.
"I don't know if I'm that strong, Buffy. Seeing you here, alive and with someone else is almost more than I can handle. I'd like nothing more than to disappear this very minute."
"That has always been the problem, Angel. You leave when it gets tough. The only time I did that was when I had no other choice. Please, just let it go. Stay with Cordelia or find someone new, but let me go. You are only hurting both of us. Maybe you and Cordelia are the right mix, I don't know. The only thing I'm certain of is that we aren't. It hurt to accept that fact, but you know what I feel much better now that I have."
Angel searched her face while she looked at him. He saw warmth and caring, but not love. "Just leave, Buffy. I can't handle anymore of you telling me how great your new relationship is. Is he that great in bed?"
She slapped his face sending him back against the desk. "You're sleeping with Cordelia; I dare you to tell me that you aren't. I can smell her all over you. If you really want an answer, then yes he is. Xan can make my whole body tingle with just his voice. Are you happy now, Angel? Do you want me to continue? I could tell you all the things we've done to each other but I wouldn't waist my breath. I'll see you at 10, if you can get over yourself long enough to help."
Buffy wrenched open the door and stomped out. Xander looked up quickly moved across the room to reach her side.
"Just get me out of here, Xan, before I do something he'll regret."
He threw her over his shoulder causing her to laugh.
"I meant let's leave, not that you had to carry me, you goof."
His hand came up to caress her pert rear through the supple leather pants.
"But Babe, this is much more fun. It was nice talking to you, catch you later," he called over his shoulder.
Buffy waved at them. "Bye guys." She started laughing again when Xander started to nibble on her side. "Uh, we, we will... see... you at 10."
As soon as they made it through the doors, Xander pulled her into his arms and Buffy pulled him down to her waiting lips. They ignored the people on the street who stared as they walked by.
"Damn, cuz has got it going on. If I had a woman like that I'd chain her to me," Gunn said and Wesley and Lorne nodded in agreement.
All four of them watched the obvious passion and caring the two lovers had for one another. Fred thought they were perfect for each other. Now, that she had seen and met Buffy, she thought the pretty blonde was too strong for Angel.
Angel could see them clearly from his office door and overheard Gunn's words. You damn coward, you had her in your arms and did nothing. He's out there with our mate, taking her home. He's going to do all the things to that luscious body that we should be doing
Cordelia took Angel's hand to pull him upstairs. He never said a word. In his mind, Angelus kept showing him images of all the ways they could have Buffy. Inside their room, Cordelia quickly undressed them. He stood nearly catatonic, while scene after scene ran through his mind.
She pulled him over to the bed then with a small push sent him onto his back. Straddling his hips, she placed his hands on her breasts.
"I'm yours, Angel, all yours. You have me, right here. I'll never leave you."
His body responded to her, but Angelus continued to taunt him.
You would replace our mate with her? Someone wants to tell you what to do and how to live. Look at her with her hair dyed to try to match hers. You're pathetic. She even thinks to control you here. You just lay there, while she does whatever she wants to you. Remember Buffy? How you fought for dominance? She's a worthy partner for us not this. If you have to have her then at least act the man. That's what Buffy wants, a man.
Angel roared flipping Cordy beneath him. Her eyes widened in shock at his aggressiveness.
"What are you doing?"
He never said a word just grunted, while he continued to dominate her.
"What's the matter with you?"
Cordy's was getting worried. This wasn't going the way she had planned. He should have declared his undying love by now. She had rescued him after Buffy's rejection. Instead, he was using her like she was little more than some common whore. Angel's rough treatment equally shocked and thrilled her. Cordy felt her body respond to his shocking treatment.
"Oh, yes that feels good. Where did you learn that?" she choked out, while she pulled in quick breaths of air.
He ignored her as he strived for his release, uncaring if she found hers or not. Buffy's image kept flashing in his mind. He imagined it was her body beneath him then Cordy's would replace it, and he couldn't stop his need to punish her for that. A loud slap echoed in the room. It left behind a clear handprint on the seer' buttocks.
She screamed, "Angel, what, the hell's, going on?"
A hand once again came down on the other cheek. Slaps used with other lovers for stimulation, he now used as punishment. When he dealt another hard slap, she buried her face in the pillow to drown out her scream. No way am I letting them find us like this. If I scream too loud, Gunn and Wesley will come and check it out. She bit into the pillow when he continued to slap and use her roughly. He gave one final snarl, before shoving her away from him.
Cordelia turned her head to glare at him, only to find herself alone. Slowly working her way into the bathroom, she turned the shower on as hot as she could stand. While the hot water hit her body, Cordy tried to figure out what had just happened. He acted more like Angelus than Angel. It was as if he hated me, as if he blamed me for whatever had gone wrong in his life. Somehow, this is Buffy's fault; everything was fine until she showed up.
Cordelia fell to the ground just as she stepped from the shower. She clutched her head and started to scream as the vision hit her A tall blonde woman took a briefcase from a man. The man grabbed Buffy. Shots rang out in the air. Buffy and Xander kissing, and Angel watching them then walking into the sun.
"No way are you taking a sunbath for her. There has to be a way to stop the bomb and send Buffy Summers back to where she belongs. Come on, Cordy, think."
She paced the bedroom while she talked aloud.
Angel had looked down at Cordy's body with disgust. He wasn't sure who disgusted him more her, him, or the both of them. Angel couldn't understand why she thought he would want or need sex when his emotions were in such an upheaval. He had just learned that Buffy was alive, and had seen the proof of it. Angel suddenly stopped walking through the tunnels, quickly turning around to rush back to the hotel to search for what he needed.
"Wesley, when you told me you knew Buffy was a live, were you the only one that knew?"
"No." Angel sighed. "Fred brought it to my attention then I called Mr. Giles. She only found the information by chance."
Wesley turned to look at Fred in explanation when he turned back to Angel, he was gone.
Why wasn't Cordy surprised to see Buffy? She thought she was dead like the rest of us, or so I thought. But, she didn't show any surprise when Buffy showed up. She just acted just angry and spiteful, but why? There's something going on here, and I'm going to find out what it is.
Buffy and Xander briefed Gibbons on the meeting with Angel and their plans for tonight. After picking up some handy toys, they headed back to Buffy's apartment.
"Are you okay, babe? You haven't said much since we left the hotel?"
Xander looked down at her as they sat curled together on the couch.
"Yeah, I just didn't really enjoy the trip down memory lane. Didn't much care for all the crap from Angel and Cordelia. I know it's shocking to see me alive, but what was all that about? He acted like we're still together. The last time I saw him was at my Mom's funeral. Xan, I asked him to stay and he still left me. As for Cordelia, she acts even nastier than she did in high school. You'd think I'd done something to her personally."
He tilted her head back so he could see her face better. "Buffy, she's jealous. She feels threatened by you and your ex, and well he's just trying to hold onto you. How do you feel about him after seeing him again?"
She nipped his chin with her teeth. "I think the same as I told you before, he's my past. Angel was a big part of my life for a long time, but I've found that I like what I have now."
Scooping her up in his arms, he headed for her bedroom. Buffy nibbled on his ear telling him what she wanted to do for him, to him and with him. Xander fell with her onto the bed, he stopped her teasing words with his lips and hands. They stroked her mouth and body, letting her know just how much he liked her words. They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring each other's bodies. Finally falling asleep hours later, only to wake to the alarm.
Buffy looked down at the man sprawled across her bed and smiled. A bright beautiful smile that made her eyes sparkle. Her fingernails slowly traced his tattoos one at a time. Xander didn't move as Buffy branded his skin with her touch.
"If you don't stop, we aren't leaving this bed, bomb or no bomb." he growled softly.
"That's no way to encourage me to stop, Xan. In fact it has the opposite effect, what do you say to a shower? We can pretend it's the one in Switzerland. You do remember that shower, don't you, Xan?"
Her hand caressed the muscled cheek of his tight rear. Xander moaned; his head buried in his arms waiting to see what she would do next. This woman was unlike any he had ever known. She was so responsive and giving. Buffy did things to his body that were unbelievable; he couldn't get enough of her and didn't see anytime in the future that he would.
Buffy smiled at him. "Are you ready for that shower now?"
She jumped off the bed to run into the bathroom. Xander lay on the bed for a few minutes in a daze before he could rouse himself to join her.
They walked into the Hyperion at 9:45; both were dressed in black from head-to-toe and carrying large duffel bags. They were relaxed but alert and ready for the night's mission.
"Wonder where everybody is?" Buffy looked at the deserted lobby in question. She wasn't sure who lived at the hotel other than Angel and Cordelia. Thinking of them seemed to cause them to appear, the couple walked down the stairs. Cordelia had her arm linked through Angel's while she gave Buffy a condescending look then turned back to her lover.
Angel showed up in their bedroom several hours later to apologize to Cordy. He begged for forgiveness then showed her how much he meant it. She was happy and confident that he had finally snapped out his funk and realized that she was the one for him.
I knew he would come around and finally admit his feeling for me. Soon he'll tell me then everything will be perfect. Buffy will become a bad memory for the both of us.
"We're ready to go whenever you are, Angel." Buffy's voice was businesslike, while she held his eyes and Xander's hand.
Angel glanced down at the clasped hands then back again. "Let me grab my coat and we can go."
Cordy stopped him from walking away. She slid up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, forcing his head down to her waiting lips. She devoured his mouth, pressing her body flushed against his. She reminded Buffy of one those annoying dogs that humped your leg, and you just couldn't shake them free.
"For luck and to remind you what's waiting for you at home," she said in a loud stage whisper that everyone could hear.
"Don't worry, Cordy, I have every intention of coming back there are so many things I want to say to you."
He grabbed his coat quickly moving for the door. "We can take my car, its parked out back."
Buffy looked at him closely; something was wrong here but she wasn't sure yet what it was.
"We brought the bikes; we'll follow you in case we need to leave separately. Are we going in front, back, top, under, where?" Xander responded.
Something was off here and he wasn't going to have their only transportation dependent on this vampire.
"Suit yourself; there's a building directly across the street from W&H. You can get to it from one block over; meet me in the ground basement." He swept out of the building, his coat billowing behind him.
Buffy and Xander moved toward the door.
"Oh, Buffy, if he gets hurt, I'll find a way to make you pay," Cordelia called out.
"Whatever, Cordelia; he's a big grown vampire that can take care of himself. If you're through beating your chest, we have somewhere to be."
Cordelia's eyes narrowed as she watched them exit the hotel. She wasn't about to allow some nobody like Buffy Summers dismiss her like that. Before she could think, another nasty thought a vision hit: her body crumpled to the ground as she clutched her head as screams repeatedly tore from her throat.
Wesley and Gunn walked in half an hour later to find her passed out at the foot of the stairs. Blood from her nose and ears marred her face. They rushed over to her checking her pulse.
"She's still alive. I don't understand it. I thought her vision didn't affect her like this anymore. Gunn, call an ambulance, while I try to get her to respond."
Gunn took off for the office. Wesley tapped Cordy's face lightly, when that received no response, he slapped her hard. Cordelia groaned; her hands came up to rub her temples.
"Cordelia, can you hear me?" Wesley asked.
"Of course I can hear you, Wesley, I'm not deaf."
She pushed him away as she sat up; her hand felt under her nose to come away with blood on it.
"What, the hell, is going on, Wesley? Why are the Powers doing this to me? The visions aren't supposed to hurt anymore. Wesley, I haven't floated or glowed, nada in over two weeks." Tears slid down her cheeks as fear raced through her body.
"Let me call Lorne, perhaps there's something he can tell us if you sing for him. Do you know how long you were out?"
Cordelia looked at her watch and her fear grew larger. "About a half an hour," she mumbled.
"What did you see in the vision, Cordelia?"
She didn't want to tell him. Cordelia didn't want to say any of the words for fear it would come true. Buffy and Angel were in each other's arms in the sunlight. He kissed her and told her, he would always love her, had always loved her, no one else. Then she saw flashes of Angel's life - him making love to a blonde with long hair, a wedding and the cry of a child. Cordelia couldn't stand it; Buffy was about to walk into her life once again and take everything.
"Cordelia, what did you see?" Wesley demanded. "Your visions are messages of what is going to happen. If you don't tell us, we can't ensure that they do. Now, no more of this posturing, tell me what you saw, immediately."
Cordelia was shocked at Wesley's vehemence. He had never spoken to her like that before, no one had really. Lorne walked into the hotel at that exact moment. He watched the power struggle between the two friends with surprise.
"Hello, my little cheese doodles. Why all the bad karma in the air?" he joked.
"Lorne, I'm glad you're here. We found Cordelia passed out and bleeding. She refuses to tell me what she saw. We need you to read her to find out why the pain has returned."
Wesley was telling Lorne something with his eyes, which he quickly understood. If Cordy sang, he could read not only her, but her visions as well. A certain fact she wasn't aware of, yet.
Angel led Buffy and Xander through the tunnels under the Wolfram and Hart building. He stopped below an elevation shaft. The problem was the bottom-most part was over twenty feet straight up and the walls were solid steel and slick; there was nothing to use as a handhold. Xander dropped his bag at his feet quickly digging through it. Angel watched with interest as he pulled out some type of gun with a large barrel.
"You can't fire that in here. It'll bring Security down on our heads. I knew you shouldn't have come with us."
Xander just ignored him as he aimed the gun up the shaft. Pulling the trigger, a low pop sounded, followed by another, seconds later. A net spread out above them with a long rope descending from its middle.
"After you, beautiful lady," Xander smiled at Buffy.
She grabbed the rope pulling her up easily hand-over-hand. Xander pulled something out of his bad and pitched it to Angel, who caught it reflexively. Angel looked down at a small square package.
"You said they can detect you're a vampire. Put that over your heart, and you'll radiate the thermal scan of a human. It even looks live your heart's beating."
Angel reluctantly applied the device hating the fact Buffy's lover was so helpful. At the top of the shaft crowded together, Angel explained they had to pry open the plate to get to the doors. They found themselves on the twenty-first floor of W&H. Angel took off at a fast pace toward the stairs. Lilah Morgan's office was on the twenty-eighth floor. Quietly moving up the seven flights of stairs, Angel listened at the door before moving into the hall.
"If anyone comes, I'll take care of them. You two just get the information."
He slipped into a large office at the end of the hall. Surprise was clear on his face, when Buffy moved to the computer and quickly started to type. Angel didn't think she even knew how to use one since Willow had always handled those tasks.
"I'm in now to find Mr. B-Bomb. Xan, I need a second set of eyes and the scanner hooked up."
Pulling out a small device no larger than a palm pilot does, Xander attached it to Lilah's computer. "We are lucky, our two big bads are just part of her regular customer list. Not nice people, but nothing supernatural. Trying to access some of those files sends my spidey sense crazy, not to mention they need some kind of access key. Ah here he is, there is a meeting set up for Tuesday at 1:00 with all three. Now let's see if we can get anymore on him, like a picture." Fingers moving over the keyboard, a few seconds later up popped a picture of a slender non-descript man. He looked like anyone you'd see on the street or at work. Buffy sent all of his information to the scanner and logged out.
"We got company, from the clicking of the heels, I'd say it's Lilah. Just hide and let me handle this. I'll meet you back at the hotel."
Buffy and Xander moved under the desk as they listened.
"Angel, what do I owe the pleasure?" a sultry voice asked. Lilah looked him over and noticed something different about him. "I don't see why you insist on breaking in here; it's not like you can get to anything useful. You wouldn't be coming here just to see little ole me now, would you? I thought you were enjoying the pleasure of your seer in your bed. Don't tell me you're tired of her already. What's the matter, Angel? Won't she let you do those yummy things vampire so enjoy during sex?" Lilah taunted.
She sashayed toward him, eyes hot as they roamed his body. She had always wanted a ride on this particular vampire. Her hands moved of their own will to caress his body.
Angel picked her up slamming her against the wall as he pressed his body into hers.
"Oh, Lilah, are you saying you want to make an alliance with the enemy? What would the Sr. Partners say?"
He let his fangs scrape her neck as she moaned. Lilah wrapped her legs around his hips. Angel's hand smoothed up her leg to find only smooth bare skin.
"Now why would you be coming to your office so late at night with nothing under your clothes? Or is this how you always are? Do you really practice law here, Lilah, my girl or is it another much older profession?"
She moved to scratch his face when he caught her hand.
"Ah, let's see what treasures you hide under all that spite," he purred.
Buffy shivered, he sounded and acted like Angelus. I have to hide here while they do it against a wall? I'm so telling Gibbons and I better get an extra bonus for this.
Xander had to hold her back when she heard Lilah shriek and tearing cloth. They only heard heavy panting now then a thud on the desk. Paperwork fell to the floor in front of them as they watched misc. items shoot down to the floor.
"I want you right now, Angel," Lilah huskily demanded.
Bending forward over her body, Angel held her hands above her head. With his other hand, he motioned for Buffy and Xander to leave. He began stroking Lilah's body to a fever pitch as she writhed and moaned on the desk. Her head thrown back, baring her neck for him. Moving as if he were going to mount her, Angel shoved that computer off her desk.
Buffy and Xander slipped out closing the door at the exact moment the computer crashed. They moved swiftly back down the basement to their waiting motorcycles. As they sped away from the building, Security rushed into Lilah's office. They found her tied spread eagle on her desk nude. The four security men weren't sure how to approach the usually hostile lawyer; she wore a very satisfied smile on her face. Angel wasn't far behind Buffy and Xander, he had only stayed long enough to give Lilah a nice little bite to remember him.
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