Taking Control
“How
much longer do we have to wait? I’m
tired.” Cordelia whined.
“As
soon as Rupert gets back we will head over to the mansion.” Wesley said as he
continued to look at prophecy.
“What’s
a matter Cor don’t like mingling with the old crowd?” Xander sneered at the
cheerleader. He didn’t know why but he
noticed the second she walked through the door with deadboy that he still had
issues with her.
“Shut
up Xander I didn’t come here to see you.”
She answered.
“Then
why are you here?” he stood up and walked over to her. “The way I see it things are messed up now
because of Deadboy so what the hell is he doing here anyway?” He was mad.
He didn’t think Angel being here would help, if anything, it would
probably make things worse.
Cordelia
stood up ready to defend Angel and got right in Xander’s face. “You know what
Xander, whether we agree or not, those two belong with each other.”
Xander
guffawed at her. “Oh really since when have you been on the Buffy and Angel
band wagon?”
“Since
he kicked her out of his life six months ago I’ve done nothing but watch my
best friend slip further and further away from me and if being with Buffy makes
him happy then I’m going to make sure that he gets what he wants!” She yelled at him.
Xander
took a step forward and they were practically nose-to-nose. “Yeah well Buffy’s
my best friend and I don’t think that he is what’s best for her, so I’ll make
sure that he doesn’t get what he wants!”
“How
are you going to do that Harris?” The
cold hard voice came from the open doorway.
They
turned to the sound of that voice. Cordelia looked at Angel and smirking looked
back at Xander to see a smidgen of fear in his eyes. “Yeah Xander enlighten us as to how your going to do that?” She
crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him smugly. She loved to watch
him squirm.
Wesley
stood up. He knew the relationship between the Vampire and Xander had never
been a good one and he was prepared to step in if he had to.
Xander
didn’t even bother looking at anyone he was too busy staring at Angel and
trying to figure out…demon or Soul.
Angel
ruthlessly smiled at him because he knew what was confusing the boy. He really had to admit that he was enjoying
this newfound oneness with his demon.
It definitely gave him an edge.
He
stepped inside and closed the door. He
sauntered confidently up to Xander who took a step back and swallowed loudly.
Angel
got closer and tilted his head peering at him questioningly. “You’re wondering
if I’m evil, you’re wondering if I’m going to reach over and twist your
meddling neck.” He slapped his hand on Xander’s shoulder making him flinch.
“Angel.”
Wesley said as he moved closer to step between them, he was stopped by Cordelia
who shook her head no.
Angel
ignored Wesley. His eyes were still hard and cold but a smile appeared on his
face. “Don’t worry Xander I’m not evil and I’m not going to kill you either.”
Xander
seemed to relax a little until Angel applied pressure to his shoulder. He winced his body shifting down trying to
alleviate the pain.
Angel
smiled ruthlessly at him and whispered in his ear. “But just know that the
whimpering push over that I used to be…you know never standing up to your cruel
jealous barbs, is no more.” He stepped back to look him fully in the eye, he
released his shoulder and Xander breathed a sigh of relief. He rubbed his sore shoulder and looked at
Angel.
“You’re
right it is my fault that things are the way they are and I’m going to fix
that. But you’re going to stay out of
it and not interfere. Because Buffy is
mine, she always has been and I’m here to reclaim her.” He fixed him with a
hard glare. “I’ll kill anyone who tries to get in my way.”
Xander
had never heard Angel sound so confident and it shook him. He believed him, but he wasn’t about to just
give in. He wanted to make sure that
Angel understood how he felt. “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”
Angel
relaxed his body he understood what drove the boy to defend her probably more
than he did himself. He smiled kindly at him and spoke honestly and from the
heart. “I don’t want that either Xander. And I appreciate the way you look
after her but I’m not running away this time I’m here to stay.”
He
turned away seemingly dismissing him then sat down in the chair and addressed
him. “I would prefer it if we could try
to get along instead of nipping at each other’s heels. Buffy’s going to have a hard time accepting
things and I have to devote my time to her.
I can’t be spending it arguing with you. So do we have an agreement?”
Xander
contemplated what he said and he started to see Angel in a new light. It was obvious that he was completely and
totally confident in what he was doing and what he wanted. He knew that Buffy
had been falling off the edge and even thought it was really hard for him to
admit it, Angel was the best thing for her.
And now that the curse wasn’t an issue anymore maybe he shouldn’t stand
in the way. Maybe it was time for him
to step up and be the true friend that he always claimed to be.
He
walked over to Angel, smiling. “Agreed.”
He
held out his hand and smirked. “Does that mean I have to stop calling you
Deadboy?”
Angel
stood up, took his hand and they shook hands amiably for the first time ever.
“Call me anything you want Harris.” He smirked back at him. “I’ll just call you
Bug Boy.”
Xander’s
checks turned red as Cordelia laughed out loud. “Hey how did you know about
that?”
Angel
sat back down smiling, truly enjoying himself at Xander’s expense. ““Good news
travels fast.”
Wesley
blew a sigh of relief and Cordy was still laughing.
Angel
looked at Cordy and shushed her with his eyes. “Cordy why don’t you and Wes
head over to the mansion and get some rest. Spike’s there so don’t be
surprised.”
“Spike?
What the hell is he doing there?” Cordy said as she gathered her stuff.
“Haven’t
you heard Cor I thought good news traveled fast?” Xander smiled at Angel who
smirked back at him. “Spike’s our own little neutered Vamp.”
“What?”
She said.
In one
hand he took her bag and the other he took her arm steering her outside. “Yeah
come on I’ll tell you all about in the car.” They headed out leaving Wes and
Angel.
“Coming
Wes?” he called out.
“Yes
I’ll be right there.”
“Hey
can we stop at the Bronze I want to check it out.” Cordelia said.
“Sure
thing, but it’s the same old place.” They left and went outside to wait for
Wes.
Wesley
cautiously approached the tense vampire. “Everything alright Angel? Did you find Buffy?”
“Yeah
she was very busy, in between killing her boyfriend and beating the shit out of
Spike we didn’t get to talk much.”
“Oh
dear.”
“Look
Wes I have to talk to Giles, go with Cordy and Xander to the mansion and I’ll
talk to you later.”
“Okay
I’ll see you later then.”
The
second Wesley closed the door Angel sat down and laid his head back, shutting
his eyes for just one second, when the door was thrown open and a frantic Giles
and Joyce stormed in.
“DAWN?”
They called out together startling the vampire in the chair. Angel jumped up scaring them “Angel.” They
both said in unison again.
He
smiled at them. “Are you guys a tag team now?”
Giles and Joyce were thrown off for a second by his humor. Giles shook himself out of his stupor and walked
into the living room “Angel, did you find Buffy?”
“Yeah”
Was all he said and all he was going to say.
No need for them to know what had happened.
“Angel.”
Joyce said.
Angel
swallowed. “Hi Joyce.” He didn’t know
what to expect from his love’s mother.
She had never been mean to him but she never showed her support either.
So he was surprised when she smiled kindly at him and walked up to him grabbing
his hand affectionately.
“I’m
glad you’re here.”
His
eyes bulged. “You are?”
She
laughed softly. “Yes I am. I know that
we haven’t always seen things eye to eye. And I know that I have not always
been the most cordial person to you. But I want to say that I’m sorry for all
that I was wrong and I’m glad you’re here now.”
Her
smiled disappeared and tears formed in her eyes. She squeezed his hand harder.
“We need your help. Rupert explained everything to me and frankly I don’t know
what to do. Buffy is losing her mind and now Dawn is missing!”
Angel
smiled at her. Her words of acceptance meant more to him then he would have
ever known. She was a strong woman, and
like her daughter, had dealt with so much.
He wanted to be the man in their family. He wanted to be there for all
of them. He guessed it was his Irish
Catholic upbringing telling him to take care of his women folk. Frankly, he
didn’t care; all he knew was that with Joyce’s acceptance he truly felt like he
belonged.
He
squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It’s okay Joyce I’m here to help and don’t
worry Dawn isn’t missing.”
“She’s
not? You saw her?” She frantically
asked as Giles took a step closer.
Angel
smiled at both of them. “Yeah, she overhead you guys talking and she was upset
so she came to see me. She’s at the mansion now. I left Spike there to watch
over her.”
Joyce
was both panicked and relieved. She took a step back swaying slightly as her
hand lifted to her head.
Giles
rushed forward. “Joyce, are you okay? Perhaps you should sit down.”
She
waved him off. “It’s okay Rupert, it’s just a headache that I can’t seem to get
rid of.” She sat down on the couch.
She
raised her weary eyes to Angel. “So she overheard us talking. Oh God! She must think I hate her!”
“Joyce
I’m sure that’s not the case.” Giles rushed over to her trying to reassure her.
Angel
sat back down and leaned forward. “She doesn’t hate you Joyce, she’s just
really confused.”
“I
have to see her.” Her pleading eyes stayed focused on his chocolate orbs.
Giles
cleared his throat. “Joyce perhaps you should give her some time to come to
grips with everything that she has learned. She is safe where she is.” He
raised his eyes to Angel’s. “And I’m sure that Angel was straight forward and
honest with her.” Angel shook his head
yes.
She
looked at both men and felt their confidence and it relaxed her. “Okay I’ll
wait but not for long.”
“Good.”
Giles said and made his way to the kitchen “Tea anyone?”
“Yes
thank you Rupert.” She turned to Angel. “So what happened with Buffy Angel?”
He
looked sheepishly. “Well I did find her and she wasn’t exactly happy to see
me.”
Joyce
laughed, “Yes well I didn’t think she would be.”
Her
hand lifted to the dark bruise that was already fading on his forehead.
“Buffy?” She asked.
He
shook his head and smiled at her.
“You
don’t seem to upset by it.” Joyce asked.
“I
deserved it Joyce, every kick, punch and nasty word she threw at me, I
deserved.”
She
looked at him sternly. “Yes you did.”
They shared a warm knowing smile.
“She
was trying to kill Riley when I found her.”
“What?”
Giles and Joyce shouted together.
“Angel
what are you talking about?” Giles came in from the kitchen and handed Joyce
her tea and sat down next to her.
“It
seems that Riley was visiting a vamp whore house.”
Giles’s
face turned red and he almost choked on his tea. Joyce looked blankly at him “Are you alright Rupert?”
“Yes,
I umm...yes quite.” He sputtered
out. “I didn’t know there was one
around here.”
“What
exactly is a vamp whore house?” Joyce
calmly asked as she sipped her tea.
Giles
looked at Angel who nodded, then he answered her. “It’s a place where humans go
and pay vampires to bite them.”
Joyce
looked horrified. “Why on earth would they do that?” She looked at Angel for an
answer.
Now it
was Angel who looked uncomfortable and Giles helped him out. “Joyce some humans
take great pleasure in the feeling that they get from allowing a vampire to
bite them. It’s a stimulant like a drug or ah…” he cleared his throat,
“…aphrodisiac.”
Joyce
looked at him like he was a nut then turned to Angel who looked away
embarrassed. Then it finally dawned on her as to what they were trying to tell
her. “Oh…oh…I understand.” She
blushed. “It’s alright we’re all adults
here there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
She cleared her throat “So Angel, Riley was at this place, doing that?”
He
looked at her once again. “Yes and Buffy found him.”
“Oh
dear.” Giles said he could easily picture her reaction.
“Well
I hope she kicked his ass!” Joyce said
offended that her daughter was treated so callously and by someone that she had
thought was a decent normal guy.
“Joyce!”
Giles said stunned by her response.
Angel
laughed. “Yeah she did, a little too much probably. I ah…wasn’t able to stop her. Honestly…” he looked into her eyes.
“I was enjoying it too much.”
“I bet
you were.” Giles smirked and Joyce smiled at him.
“So
she stopped on her own?” Joyce said
relieved.
“No,
actually Spike stopped her then I stepped in to stop her from beating the shit
out of him.”
Joyce
stood up and started to pace. “See what I mean? She’s lost her mind! She’s not sane!”
Angel
stood up and stopped her from pacing. “Joyce its okay she hasn’t lost her mind,
Spike just said something that pissed her off that’s all.”
“What? What could he have possibly said to piss her
off that much? No stop I take that
back, this is Spike we’re talking about.”
“Look
Joyce, it doesn’t matter, Spike could always use a beating now and then, it
keeps him in his place.”
“Here,
here.” Giles said as he raised his tea to Angel.
“Joyce
I just want you to understand that I’m here to stay.” He stood in front of her and looked deeply into her eyes. He wanted to make sure that she understood
what his being here meant. He didn’t
want to have to fight her along the way. “I’m here to take back what’s mine and
that’s Buffy, and to take care of Glory and keep Dawn safe. I swear to you on
my undead life that I will see that all that happens.”
“I
believe you Angel. I just hope it’s not
too late.”