by Rob Sorenson

Xander wondered how much more his body could take. The doctors had spent the entire day poking and prodding him relentlessly. He was prettysure by now he had mastered the ability to open his mouth wide, turn his head and cough, pee into a cup and get his blood drawn all at once; sort of like those guys in the circus who could spin ten plates at a time.

Still, seeing Cordy again made him happy. He hadn't seen his ex-girlfriend in nearly a year, and even then it was in dire circumstances. They'd corresponded regularly over the years; it became a weekly ritual for one to call the other late at night and talk. If there was one thing Xander

and Cordy knew about one another, it was their propensity for saying what was on their mind without a lot of forethought. As they'd matured it had become clear that one needs someone like that in their life. It made him feel good that their painful breakup had actually resulted in something positive. Buffy and Willow didn't know it, but Cordy was the first person he'd told about his increasing feelings toward Faith. Cordy had been mortified, of course. She and Faith had barely known one another, but all available evidence pointed to psycho bitch as far as the former May Queen was concerned. Some of this was natural, of course;

she was well aware that Xander had been deflowered by the Dark Slayer shortly after they'd broken up. On some level, as bitter as she acted toward him, Cordelia Chase still considered Xander to be her territory at the time. Hence her automatic negativity toward their current relationship. Xander had been equally mortified to learn of Cordy and Angel's closeness. He'd known they were close friends, of course; in truth his bitterness over the past had dimmed considerably with age. Plus, he knew damned well that Angel was indeed a profoundly important force for good. Still, Xander's seemingly endless capacity for insecurity reared it's ugly head when Buffy's first love was nearby. People gravitated toward Angel instinctively; he had a presence that automatically made people stand up and take notice. Only Buffy, in Xander's estimation, shared that kind of indefinable quality.

In time, Xander had come to deal with the possibility of Angel and Cordy together in a romantic way. If there were anyone else out there who could do a better job protecting her from the evils of Los Angeles--human or otherwise--Xander didn't know who it was. He just hoped she'd never make him too happy. That could be a little scary on occasion.

Angel and Faith on the other hand.....that was something completely different. They had a tight bond, and he knew it was important to her. He also knew why, because Faith hid nothing: Angel had been there for her, and had never given up. She had done terrible things, and few people on this

Earth could identify with the crushing guilt that can result. He did much more than identify with her; he had actually convinced her that redemption was possible. And yet....it bothered him. The woman he loved had an intimate closeness with Angel. That in itself was difficult enough. The fact that the woman he loved was a Slayer was just too familiar for him to be comfortable. He'd spent a good part of his (hopefully) final day in Bellevue dwelling on it, cursing his insecurities. The woman had told him only 1 night before how much he meant to her. She'd comforted him when he didn't think anyone could...yet everything within him went cold the moment Faith ran into Angel's arms.

He was wheeled back into his room to find Cordelia waiting for him, smiling. "Hey. I thought everyone was going to go patrol or something while Willow and Wes work on tracking the bad guys. Not that I'm sad to see you or anything, but what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to catch up some. Plus I never really was a patrol person unless I was with you. I haven't actually seen you in a long time. You look good, Xander."

He chuckled. "When did you start lying to people to make them feel better?"

"No, really. I mean, sure, you're a little bruise-y, but that gives you a rugged look. Plus, I've got a foundation in my purse that'll make those welts disappear." She rolled her eyes. "Believe me, when you do this job, you must be prepared for some facial emergencies. Here, let me look."

"Cordy, I'm not gonna wear makeup."

"Don't be all macho. Spike wore makeup."

"Yes, but he was evil. Good guy Spike left the eyeliner in his crypt and left it there. In fact, I haven't seen it in years."

"Fine. Be that way."

They exchanged smiles.

"It's good to actually see you, Cordy. You look as good as ever."

"Well, duh."

He laughed. "Haven't changed much either."

Her face turned serious. "Looks can be deceiving."

"I get that."

"I'm not thrilled to be here."

"I get that, too."

"I mean, I'm thrilled to see you. Don't get me wrong, it's just..."

"Buffy?"

Cordy looked away, saying nothing.

"She's totally into Spike now, Cord. I mean, Angel will always mean something to her, but it's the past. He was her first love. I know that the first woman I loved who loved me back is pretty special, no matter what."

Cordy blushed and smiled. "I never said I loved you, Xander. Though I might have just a little."

"Wasn't talking about you. I meant Willow."

She threw a pillow at him.

"You bastard! That was just wrong."

Xander covered his face and laughed. After a moment Cordelia joined him. After a few moments, her face turned reflective.

"Xand, can I ask you something if you promise not to freak?"

"When do I ever freak?"

She just looked at him.

"Right. Ok, I promise."

"Ok, I realize that you and I didn't work out before. You and I both know that was totally your fault, by the way."

"Whoa, wait a minute. Yeah, I screwed up, but you avoided me in hallways the first six months we were together. Plus, I seem to remember someone stomping my heart into little pieces on Valentine's Day."

"Oh, come on. I am not the one who kissed Willow. Like, repeatedly. In different parts of the school."

"You should try it. She might just let you these days."

"Ok, first of all, ewww. Secondly, can we get back to my point here? I believe I had the floor."

He nodded with a grin. He was amazed at how much they could make each other laugh these days. He and Cordy were living proof of how things could change.

"If you---ok, let me be generous here--if WE hadn't had our issues back in those days, things might have been different. Do you agree?"

"I don't know. Maybe. When it comes down to it, Cord, I was still pretty into Buffy in those days. I don't think I could have had anything long term with Willow, either, close as we were. It all came down to Buffy."

"Pardon me while I faint with surprise. Are you into Buffy now?"

"Well...no. I mean, we're actually much closer now than we ever were, but it's obviously not like that. I moved on from that a while ago. Kinda like the way she moved on from Angel. It does happen, you know."

"Yes, but Buffy never found you the least bit attractive. She didn't even remotely consider returning your feelings. She and Angel were in mutual love. It's very different from your hopeless infatuation-"

"Did you have a point?"

"Ooooh, I think someone just got Xander back for his smartass Willow comment."

He just stared at her as she went on, smiling triumphantly.

"Ok, my point is, you and I are older. We can actually have a conversation without attacking one another. We're friends. Even in our hottest and heaviest days, we were never friends."

He couldn't keep the lascivious smile from his face.

"For the record, I enjoyed out those hot and heavy days."

Cordy matched his look.

"Right backatcha, buddy."

"If your point was that we're friends now, I knew that already. As to why that is, we grew up. I'm not the geek I was, and you're not the self obsessed snot that you were."

"Was there a compliment to me in there somewhere, Harris?"

"If you look hard enough, yeah."

Yet again they exchanged smiles. Cordy's faded a bit.

"Actually, I've been thinking...if we'd been real friends first, would our relationship have worked out? I mean, post Buffy obsession?"

Xander hesitated for a moment.

"That's a tough question to answer."

"We were based pretty much on attraction. I mean, I grew to care about you a lot. I didn't know what real love was, though. I think I was too young. That's what I tell myself, at least."

She sighed deeply before she finally reached her point.

"The sad truth is, I'm still not all that sure what love actually is."

"You're not in love with Angel?"

"That's just it. I don't know. It's just like it was with you. I care for him greatly...sometimes words can't express how I much I care about Angel. Thing is, Xand, the closest thing to a real relationship I ever had was you, and that didn't work. Maybe I'm just not relationship material."

He rose from his seat in the wheelchair and knelt in front of her.

"Cordelia Chase, you've grown into one of the most beautiful women I have ever known, and I'm not just talking physical here. You're relationship silk."

"Huh?"

"You said you weren't relationship material. I tried to think of something strong and valuable. That's what you are to me. That's what you are to Angel."

She smiled and touched his cheek softly with her fingertips. Xander felt a tingling sensation that made him more than a little uncomfortable, but he was afraid to tell her so. He refocused on his point and tried to block out the memory of touching her more intimately.

"So...you and Angel have been working together for what, five years?"

She nodded.

"Were you guys into each other that whole time?"

"You know the answer to that. Apparently getting over the great and powerful Buffy Summers takes at least two years for all males. We were just friends who worked together."

"Ok, then I'm prepared to answer your question."

"Which one?"

"The one about you and me working out."

"Oh. So.."

"I think if we had shared a friendship as close as the one you and Angel have, we'd still be together. That's assuming that we were at the same place in our lives as you and Angel are now. In other words, no Buffy in the middle. If it makes you feel any better, I think it would've been good. Great, even. You see where I'm going with this?"

Her smile widened. "Yeah. I think I do. You still want me, don't you?"

He rolled his eyes and sighed as he stood up, hands on hips in mock aggravation. She rose and put her arms around him.

"Thank you. For the record, I don't just think we would've been good. I know it for a fact. Lord knows if you do everything else half as well as you kissed...."

He moved away, hands in the air like an unarmed suspect.

"Leaving that one alone. Suddenly feeling a craving for snacks. Wanna hit the vending machines? I've got money now, you know."

"So you and Willow tell me. Think they have any broom closets around here?"

Xander shook himself as if her were having a chill, drawing a laugh from Cordy as they walked out together in search of Twinkies and soda.

One minute after they left, Faith came out of Xander's private bathroom, a deep frown etched on her face.

********************************************************

Angel, Buffy and Spike were seated in the hospital cafeteria. No one was speaking; it was a study in awkwardness. Buffy was quickly tiring of the tension.

"Look, is it always going to be like this?"

Spike and Angel looked at one another and spoke simultaneously.

"Like what?"

Buffy waved her hands.

"You know, all.....tense and stuff."

"Who's tense? I'm not. Angel, are you tense?"

"No."

Buffy exhaled sharply.

"Maybe I'm the one that's tense. We can't afford to be held up by the cops."

Angel shrugged.

"They'll question Dawn, but all she has to do is tell the truth, with a few omissions. She really doesn't know who these guys are. What can they keep her for?"

"I guess. I'm just worried about her. She's royally pissed at me."

Spike took her hand.

"She's royally pissed at both of us, luv. That doesn't mean she can't handle the police. She's a Summers."

Angel nodded.

"She'll be fine."

Spike snorted.

"She almost wasn't. I still don't see why you didn't just come into the hospital when you arrived to warn us."

"Just how would I go about doing that?"

"Well now, you're the almighty detective. How about giving a list of all our names to the reception desk and trying to get a match?"

Angel considered a moment.

"I guess we could've done that, but I had no way of knowing if the hospital was the target. Either way, we got the shooters and nobody was hurt."

"You didn't know the hospital was the bloody target? This is the Scooby Gang. If you want to find us, look in the cemetery first and the hospital second. Chances are we'll show up pretty soon. You're supposed to be an investigator?"

"Yeah, Spike, I am. Right now I'm investigating ways to shut your mouth for you."

Both stood.

"I'd wager you remember how to try, Peaches. Never quite got the job done, though did you?"

"Wouldn't mind taking another shot."

"Enough!!!"

In the intensity of the moment they'd forgotten Buffy was sitting there.

"As I was saying....there is too much tension in here. We're in a holding pattern until Willow and Wesley find us some answers. Until then we need to work off this tension without you two fighting like little boys. So this is what we're going to do.. We're going to patrol tonight."

The vampires looked at one another, then at Buffy.

"Patrol?"

"Us?"

Buffy spoke slowly, as if to children.

"Yes. Us. We're going to be working together and I need to know that you guys can handle it. Plus, I haven't been training and I need to stay sharp. We'll meet at 9:00 tonight in Central Park." She addressed Spike. "The same one we teleported into. I'll find Faith and tell her too. Got it?"

Both nodded grudgingly, as if they were accepting a punishment. Buffy almost cracked a smile.

At that moment all three overheard Cordy and Xander headed their way, their shared laughter echoing in the halls. Cordy was teasing Xander about the old days.

"You and your wandering hands."

"My hands weren't wandering. They knew exactly where they were going at all times."

"You did seem to have a natural talent for that, I'll say that much for you. Now, you couldn't dress or talk very well, but your performance in the dark was lights out."

"Why thank you, Miss Chase. That's gonna buy you a free Coke."

"That's it? I was really hoping for dinner and a movie."

Buffy noted with some surprise that Angel was acting even more tense than he already was as the old high school lovers came through the doors. Cordy stopped in her tracks.

"What are you guys doing here?"

It was Angel who answered.

"Well, it's daylight outside for one thing. Also Buffy is waiting for Dawn to finish up with the cops."

Xander addressed Buffy.

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah. I'm not worried about the cops. I just want to talk to her."

"Why don't we give her a couple of days? She's got some stuff to work through."

Buffy sighed. "I guess."

Faith walked in as Xander was passing Cordelia money for the vending machine.

"You got any cash for me, Xand, or just the ex-girlfriend?"

No one spoke for a moment. Faith sounded distinctly annoyed. Xander dug in his pockets and shrugged.

"Sorry honey. I only had a couple of bucks. Cordy, do you have any cash?"

She rolled her eyes.

"No one in the LA group will have any cash."

Angel flicked an annoyed glance toward Cordy, saying nothing. Xander tried to come up with a solution.

"Ok, why don't you and Faith split a Coke or something?"

"Ewww, gross, Xander. I'm not going to share a can with anyone. You can never tell where people's mouths have been."

Faith's eyes were rapidly widening and Xander suddenly feared for Cordy's safety.

"Ok, anyone here have any money so Faith can get a soda of her very own? Quickly, please?"

Angel passed a dollar over to Faith, who took it without removing her gaze from Cordelia. The machine spit the dollar back out at her twice, and the dark headed Slayer appeared to be on the verge of spin kicking the machine into oblivion when Angel was there.

"I have quarters"

He slipped three in and Faith got her drink. She threw him a grin.

"Always the champion, huh?"

"I aim to please."

Xander rolled his eyes. "So Angel, you guys plan to stick around?"

"I had nothing else to do. What's the matter, Xander? You want to get rid of me?"

"Not saying that, Mr. Sensitive. Just wondering what your plans are."

"I'll stay until we've got this thing with the Council worked out. They dealt me in when they attacked Wes. That ok with you?"

Cordy frowned at him.

"What is your major malfunction, Angel? Xander was just asking you a question."

Angel sighed.

"I'm just tired, I guess."

"Why don't you get some sleep? I'll stay here and keep Xander company until he checks out."

Faith folded her arms, fixing a stare on Angel as the vampire gave both of at the ex lovers a stare for a while. At last he spoke.

"Fine. I'm getting a root beer first. Anyone have any questions they want to ask me about that? Spike? Xander?"

No one said anything as he turned back to the machine. He checked his pockets and turned. looking a little sheepish.

"Ummmm. Faith? Could I have that dollar back?"

As the Slayer gave him his money Cordy turned to Xander with a smirk.

"As I was saying before about cash...."

Angel ignored her, deciding to have a root beer. The words "SOLD OUT" lit up as he hit the button. Xander had taken the last one. Angel threw an annoyed look toward him. Xander couldn't resist. The fact that they were in a hospital made it that much more fitting.

"It must kill you that I got there first. That is what you said, isn't it?"

Buffy couldn't take it any more.

"Faith, we're going to patrol tonight."

"Huh? Aw, come on, B. They don't have any vamps in New York since Blondie left."

Spike nodded. "All the cool ones left right after I did."

Buffy squinted at him. "Don't try to weasel your way out of this." She turned back to Faith. "9 o'clock. Central Park. The bench where we came in."

"Do I have to get naked again?"

Buffy shook her head wearily and walked toward the door.

"I'm going to tell Dawn I'm leaving. We all need some space from each other. When my clone threw me into that clearance rack at Macy's I saw some really cute jeans. I'm going to try them on. The rest of you just..."

She threw her hands around, gesturing aimlessly.

"Get away from each other. Spread out. We all need some space. Xander, Cordy, meet us in Willow's room at midnight. Hopefully they'll know something by then."

***********************************************************

Martineau was straightening his tie, preparing to address the Council one final time before ousting Katzenbach for good. It would be a pleasure to send the sanctimonious German packing. It had only been a matter of time, of course; the old man clearly didn't have the stomach for the kind of fighting that was to be required.

An urgent knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

His assistant walked in, looking harried.

"Sir, we may have a problem."

"Like what?"

"Katzenbach is gone."

Martineau frowned. "Gone? How can he be gone? He's supposed to be delivering a speech to the General Council."

"He didn't show up, sir. We've searched every office. We even searched the restrooms, since we're aware of his illness. He's nowhere to be found."

Martineau sighed. "Is there any way he could know of our plans?"

"Difficult to say, sir. He has full access to all non-Security files."

"Not any more he doesn't. Cancel all his access codes."

"Yes sir."

"Bring me the Travers brothers."

The assistant left as Martineau sat in his chair, deep in thought. He spoke aloud to himself.

"Hans, what are you trying to prove?"

Moments later the two blue eyed young men entered.

"Gentlemen, I've just learned that Katzenbach had left us."

They nodded as Peter spoke. "The Council just removed him as Chairman in absentia and named you as his replacement. Congratulations sir."

"Thank you."

The Colonel stood and paced the office.

"We need to put all our cards on the table here. I want all our forces brought in. If I know Hans, he'll attempt to align himself with the Slayers. It's difficult to say how much he knows, but he wouldn't leave for no reason."

"What could he possibly know, sir?"

Martineau shrugged. "Hard to tell. I do know, however, that we know some things he doesn't. That's why I want everyone called in."

The Travers exchanged glances.

"Everyone?"

The Colonel nodded, smiling a bit despite the unplanned complication.

"Every single operative we have, including the ones Katzenbach cannot know about. As I said, cards on the table. Hans has forced my hand. I damn well intend to play it."

The Travers faces were grave. Martineau went around them and slapped them on the back.

"Don't be so glum, boys. Times like this are why we do this in the first place. Complications are to be expected when the stake are so high. That's the fun."

He smiled.

"That's also why I always carry an ace up my sleeve."

- End Chapter Sixteen -