Subject: [BA_Gutter] FIC Together Again 3/21 Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 13:57:34 -0000 From: "sunnyd_lite7" Title: Together Again Author: SunnyD_Lite Spoilers: Follows 'Tangled Webs' which has spoilers to Shells, then goes on its merry way. Rating: PG but there is Spike language – you have been warned. Disclaimer: Joss, ME, Sanddollar, and other corporate types own every conceivable copyright and interest in the characters. They stopped playing with them, so I thought I would. No profit, no foul, right guys? A/N: First off, hugs and doughnuts to my betas Pattyanne and Desota_hia_873. They made sure my ideas resembled sense. This piece will make more sense if you've read Tangled Webs, now on the sandlot. Feedback: Yup Yup love the stuff. Really. Chapter Three Scary as it was to see Angel incapacitated, there was also a nice feeling knowing that she could help, or at least watch over him. This was something that Cordy had done. She still missed the self- assured actress, although it had probably been closer to two years since she had spent time with the real Cordelia. "Would the real Slim Shady please stand up, please stand up," Fred giggled at her thoughts. Cordy and Eminem had nothing in common, unless he'd been demonized like they had. Fred stopped laughing. What was true in a world where you couldn't trust you to be you? It made McCarthyism look sensible. Angel groaned, bringing her attention to the present. They'd been out of blood, but Spike had slipped out, mostly to avoid the research she suspected, and brought back a few pints o' pig. He'd apologized to her, outside of Angel's immediate hearing, of course, that the 'good stuff' would have taken longer to procure. Their bickering had always seemed too energetic to be based on bad blood, oops...wrong phrase. Whether they admitted it or not, they were family. As well as the only two souled vamps. Sure, they drove each other crazy, but they'd been there for each other, at least as far as she'd seen-- the occasional stabbing aside. There was a faint knock then. "Well, speak of, or in this case think of, the devil..." "Why thank you missy. You lot seem to think I've gone soft. Could still kill you all with me eyes closed." She just shook her head at his bravado. "And then who would do a noon run for those little marshmallows when you run out?" "Would just have to keep a bigger supply, that's all. All right, you have your uses. How's our patient doing?" "Nothing beyond groans at this point," was Fred's update. "But they're coming more frequently so I think he's surfacing." "While he's still down for the count, I've been meaning to mention – if you need to talk or punch something, well... you've been through a lot and I know what it's like to be 'away' for a time. Had someone even Illy would respect pulling my strings for a bit last year. Just letting you know." Through his whole speech Spike had been checking out the wallpaper, then he focused his gaze on her. "Just saying, as you listened to me, well...turnabout's fair play." She gave him a small smile. "I remember, I mean I can remember how you helped 'her'. Only, one question?" He raised the inevitable eyebrow until she continued. "Why Gladiator? Russell's alright but Hugh Jackman, or the remake of the heist movie with the Minis..." His turn to smirk when Angel sat up. "Hey there, you're destroying a perfectly lovely moment here." Spike directed the comment to Angel. "What happened? Where am I?" "What a tosser," this was to her. "No points for originality." Turning to face Angel he said, "Take a breath. Can't you tell where we are?" "The Hotel. Is everyone ok? What happened?" "Apparently, YOU had a vision. So is this a power I should be expecting soon? Or are you just trying to one up me?" Fred sat back and watched the two of them. Definitely family. Angel slowly sat up. "A what?" "Vision, or at least that's Percy's and Charlie's conclusion. And if the two of them are agreeing..." "I remember catching you with my wallet, then it was like those pokers your lackey used, but through my brain. Wait a minute...a green demon with orange spots? Is that what I saw?" "Yup, or at least that's what you told us. Fred, luv, do you have what you wrote down? See if we can't refresh Mr. Sleepy's memory." Fred handed Angel her notes, then she asked, "Can you remember anything else? Cordy used to be able to pick up details when she thought about it afterwards." "I had a vision?" "Okay then, from the top." Spike was beginning to use small words. Never a sign of patience as far as Fred could remember. She could understand his frustration, but what had Angel meant about pokers? Spike began pacing in front of the bed in manner that reminded Fred of some of her professors, without the white coats or glasses. "Yes, you apparently had a vision. You described a demon, which the others are researching. You gave a location, that alley off Smith. You said this thing was menacing a group of seniors. Don't know why, such desiccated things. And that's it. No time, no reason. So the brain trust, not getting much further than the location of a Bingo Hall was wondering if your highness had any other information to illuminate the situation. So do you?" "Are you sure it was a vision?" "That's it! Fred, feed him some of the blood. It might help gel his thoughts together like his hair. After that informative session, I need to kill something." With that Spike stormed off leaving Fred with a bewildered Angel. "Want me to heat up the blood for you?" she asked. "Then you can tell me what you remember and we'll see if there are any more details." "But why would I get the visions? I'm not like Cordelia was. I don't deserve them, " Angel muttered. "Deserved throbbing headaches which were about to kill her? I don't think she did either, but she bore them and did what she could to help. And right now I think the 'what' supercedes the 'how'." She stood up and crossed her arms in a position of authority, so she hoped. "So are you going drink your blood or do I have to make airplane sounds, like I used to with my cousin Bobby when he was three?" "I'll drink. I didn't know the firm staff was stocking blood. Nice surprise." Fred decided not to mention who brought the blood, and merely went down to where the others were to heat it in the microwave by the desk. "Any luck?" she said to Wesley and Lorne. "Where are the other two?" "Those two hotheads? You'd think they hadn't been up since five; re- incorporated memories; faced down the Senior Partners and then done a few rounds of research. I wish I had had their stamina when I was doing the shows in Vegas. Would have helped me bunches and saved the tender tootsies." "Re-incorporating memories? What all did I miss when I wasn't me? I've got some memories, like a tape not being completely written over. I remember something about Harmony and really expensive shoes." She shook her head. "You'll have to fill me in later," she continued, "Angel needs some blood." "He's awake then?" asked Wesley getting that intense research look in his eye. Fred decided to head him off at the pass. "Yup, but he's having trouble believing it was a vision. Spike thought some blood would help him." She continued to the microwave and found a clean mug. The cleaners had been more thorough than they'd ever been while in residence. "Always a standard response with vampires. It can't hurt after all. Cordelia's first few interpretations weren't full of details. I think it might be an acquired skill." Wes turned back to his book. "Any luck on why the demon might go hunting?" She decided to get as much info for Angel as possible. "Not yet. It is not part of their previously noted behaviour. Lorne confirmed that the books match what he knows of them. Maybe there will be some clues at the scene. And maybe Gunn or Spike will pause long enough to find them and bring them back." Yup, her fella had gone into command mode again. She'd seen it a bit at W&H, like when Angel had been poisoned by the parasite. When had she last seen it at the hotel? She could recall the tension of the last year, but not the reason behind it. The microwave pinged. She'd worry about that later. Time to bring Angel his blood.