Trust

by Rob Sorenson

Chapter Seventeen

***** Hyperion Hotel, Los Angeles, CA *****

June 2^nd

“Look, are you sure you’re all right? I understand this is difficult. Why don’t you take some time-“

“I’m straight. Run it down for us.”

Angel exchanged a brief glance with Fred, noting her worried gaze.

“As long as you’re ok to work, then…”

Gunn said nothing, merely staring at the vampire. Angel nodded slowly.

“Ok. Condensed version goes like this: Around the same time we began discovering the murders in East LA, Buffy came upon a vampire wearing the Gem of Amara in Sunnydale. That much you already know.”

Both nodded silently.

“Very shortly after those occurrences, Buffy, Willow and Xander began having dreams. The experiences were different, but the overall message was the same: something unprecedented is supposed to change everything, be prepared, trust each other, yada yada yada. Right about that same time Wes was having the same feeling from his surveillance of Wolfram and Hart. Outside of security personnel and Lilah herself, the entire firm has effectively shut down. That, as we know, is in itself unprecedented.”

“We know about that part,” Gunn said shortly. Angel gave a small smile.

“I know. Sort of working this through as I say it. Bear with me?”

“I already bore you sayin’ yada yada. That’s not enough?”

Fred took Gunn’s hand before nodding her assent for them. Angel took a deep breath.

“Just before our arrival in Sunnydale for the barbecue, Drusilla made a surprise appearance.”

Gunn looked up. “Drusilla…as in your ex?”

“She’s not my ex…strictly speaking.” He looked away. “I mean, there were a few…umm…incidents here and there over the years, but that hardly qualifies as a bona fide rela-“

“Angel.”

“Let’s just call her a vampire I knew well and leave it at that, shall we?”

Gunn and Fred wisely said nothing.

“Anyway, she brought some friends along: according to Spike, recently turned vampires, dressed rather…”

“Skankily?” Fred offered shyly. Angel considered a moment.

“Yeah, that’ll work.”

“So the chances are better than average that Drusilla is our pimp-killer?”

“I’d lean that way, yes. Especially since Xander reports spotting her on Wilshire at 4:00 in the afternoon last Friday.”

Gunn cleared his throat. “All right. Makes sense so far, except…what happened to Rondell wasn’t a vamp style thing.” He hesitated a moment before continuing in a slightly deeper tone. “Too much blood left behind.”

“So you told me,” Angel said gently. “You also said Rondell mentioned the word-“

“Royal. I was there. Tell me that’s a clue.”

“It looks that way.” Now Angel hesitated, hating to violate a confidence…it’s bound to come out eventually. “Faith thinks she knows what it means.”

Gunn looked at his shoes. “And?”

Angel shifted slightly in his chair.

“It’s part of a name.”

Gunn’s head snapped up. “Where can I find him?”

“That’s not the issue right-“

“The hell it isn’t!”

Angel kept his voice even. “We have to focus-“

Gunn stood. “I’m focused. Just point me in the right direction.”

“-on what this may lead to,” Angel finished. Gunn headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Faith’s upstairs, right?”

Now Angel stood. “There are other factors involved.”

“Not to me.” Gunn opened the door.

“Your friend Rondell wouldn’t have wanted this.”

Gunn spun back toward him. “How the fuck would you know what he wants?”

“I’d be willing to bet he’d want his death to mean something.”

“So his killer walks?”

“Gunn, this is bigger-“

“Than the death of my oldest friend?”

There was silence. Gunn swallowed hard. “C’mon, say it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Say he didn’t mean anything.”

Angel spoke softly. “His death will mean everything if you let us work this thing out. If we get proof Royal was behind it, his time will come. I promise you that.”

Gunn shook his head, looking out into the lobby. “How does Faith even know this asshole?”

“She doesn’t…know him well. Not any more, at least.”

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

Xander bounced up and down on the bed, eyeing the motes of dust that floated through the rays of sunlight stabbing through their window. “I hope the maid service isn’t expecting a tip.”

“It ain’t that bad.”

“I guess. Maybe I’ve gotten spoiled.”

“Looks that way.”

He looked at Faith with concern. She was standing in the bathroom, staring with seeming disinterest at her reflection. It had been bad enough that he’d pissed her off; they’d spoken little in the last day and a half. Still, pissed off Faith wasn’t entirely new. Xander could deal with that. Now, though, there was something more. As they’d hit the city limits, everything in her body language had changed. She hadn’t spoken in sentences longer than five words to anyone, and her pallor seemed more like the unhealthy pale it had been during her prison days..

“Are you ok?”

She didn’t bother to turn her head. “Why?” she said stonily.

“Look, I know-“

“I’m good.”

He got up from the bed. “Honey, you just seem-“

Now Faith turned to face him with a glare.

“Leave me the hell alone. Sound familiar?”

He sighed heavily. “I shouldn’t have yelled. I get that, and I’m sorry. It’s just…look, I was kind of thrown by this LA thing.”

She snorted. “Yeah. Thanks for all the understanding.”

Xander was growing annoyed now. “I don’t think an explanation was too much to ask for.”

“You made up your own. What more did you need?”

“I didn’t-“

“Couple of words from Angel and I come runnin’. That was how it went, right?”

“If you were me, what would you think?”

Faith shook her head as she walked toward the door. “I guess I was hoping you’d think enough of me to know better. Talk about asking too much, huh?”

Xander intercepted her. “You never even thought enough of ME to tell me why you wouldn’t come to LA!”

“Yeah, and you’re real big with the sharing.”

“Oh, here it comes. You’re gonna try to turn it around again! Real mature, Faith.”

Faith took a deep breath before speaking softly. “We don’t have time to talk about this right now.” She skirted around him, reaching for the door knob.

Xander pointed a finger at her back. “Hey, congratulations! You jumped from shifting blame to putting it off in like, five seconds. That’s a record even for you.”

Halfway out the door, Faith froze. Slowly she turned back to face him, her face a ghostly white.

“You wanna know so bad?” Feather soft…dangerously so. Xander had to resist the urge to take a step back.

“I just want-“

“In about fifteen minutes we’re all meeting downstairs in the lobby. You’ll get your answers there. You and every-fuckin-body else. Should be a real show. Get there early for a good seat.”

More dust flew from the force of the door’s slam.

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

Fred jerked slightly at the noise from upstairs. “That didn’t sound good.”

Angel looked at his office door. “Everybody’s a little tense right now.”

“Yeah,” Gunn said, having retaken his seat. “So about Faith?”

“It’s not my story to tell. I imagine it’ll come up in the meeting. Short version is this: he can help us get a clearer overall picture. Once he’s served that purpose…” the vampire trailed off.

Gunn simply nodded.

Angel nodded back. “Ok, there are a few more things you need to get up to speed on.”

“We have clues?”

“No…actually, we have even bigger mysteries.”

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

Buffy was hanging up Spike’s duster when she heard the slamming door. “Whoa!”

“Sounds like someone’s got twisted knickers.”

The Slayer turned toward him, leaning against the closet door. Spike turned back to his task, carefully duct-taping the black shade to the window overlooking the street.

“Faith and Xander aren’t talking much.”

He looked toward her. “Well, yeah. Doesn’t take a genius to notice that.”

“I don’t like it.”

Spike turned back to his work with a slight grin. “I’ll let ‘em know next time I see ‘em. Should make everything ok.”

“Dawn’s not staying here.”

This time he didn’t spare her a glance. “Yeah. Stayin’ at Wesley’s, I’d wager.”

“And…you’re ok with that?”

“Doesn’t matter much what I think.”

Buffy sat on the bed. “It matters to me.”

He stepped back from the window to inspect his handiwork. “Does it now? When did that happen?”

She frowned. “How long are you going to keep this up?”

“Don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes you do. This whole being mad at me for no reason thing.”

“Wasn’t mad. Who said I was mad?”

“Fair enough. I’ll go with the French judges and call it pouting.”

That got him to look at her. “Excuse me? I don’t pout.”

“Honey, you pout all the time.”

“Do NOT!”

“How about when Joey chose Pacey?”

“Oh, come on! The whole world pouted over that one!”

“I didn’t.”

“Well, you got the pairing you wanted, didn’t you? Anyway, wasn’t pouting. Expressed dislike of piss-poor writing, is all.”

Buffy patted the bed next to her. “C’mere.”

Spike folded his arms. “What if I don’t want to?”

She pointed a slender finger at him. “A-ha! Pouting! We have confirmation of the pout!”

He forced his expression back to normal. “Take that back.”

“Nope.”

“Do it or I won’t sit next to you.”

“It’s not like I have a problem with it, you know.” She licked her lips. “You’re sexy when you pout.”

Whenever Buffy licked her lips like that, Spike could feel blood rushing from his head.

“Really now?” was all he could think to offer.

“Uh-huh. Now…come sit with me. Don’t make me tell you again.”

Rolling his eyes for effect, he sat down grudgingly. Buffy took his hand.

“You have no reason to be insecure.”

Spike blinked. “Sorry?”

“You heard me.”

He looked away. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

Buffy leaned toward him, reaching for his chin with her free hand and pulling it toward her.

“I have a feeling we’re all about to go through something huge. I need to know you’re with me.”

“Haven’t gone anywhere.”

“I think you know what I mean.”

They shared a long look. Spike tilted his head.

“I love you. That isn’t going away.”

Buffy smiled. “Good. ‘Cause, you know, the pouting is sexy and all…but I’d rather have the actual sex. It’s been almost four days, you know.”

“Has it? Didn’t notice.”

The Slayer raised a doubtful eyebrow.

“Yeah. Right.”

He took the hand that held his chin and turned it face up. Leaning down slightly, he started kissing her palm, then slowly worked his way up, placing his lips gently against each finger. Buffy’s breath caught when he put the tip of her forefinger in his mouth, sucking gently.

“Spike…we…have to be downstairs soon.”

He looked over her shoulder at the digital clock. “What, ten minutes? Plenty of time.”

She smiled slowly. “Not for everything I want to do.”

“Might not get another chance any time soon.”

They stared at one another…then quickly began to undress.

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

Gunn blinked. “Willow?”

Angel nodded.

“As in Gay Willow?”

Fred grimaced. “Hey! How would you feel if people called you Black Charles?”

Gunn’s mouth was still open. “How did…”

“She doesn’t know,” Angel interrupted.

“She doesn’t…how the Hell could the girl not know?! Who did she-”

“Actually, that sounds kind of funny now that I say it. It makes you sound like an Old West outlaw. Black Charles, riding the range…” Fred stopped the fantasy, noticing the other two staring blankly at her. “Sorry,” she said quietly.

“She says no one. Told you it was a mystery,” Angel said.

“Is there a way to get pregnant my mama never told me about?”

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

Willow looked up from her already well-worn copy of What To Expect When You’re Expecting when she heard a knock on her door. “Yes?”

Cordelia peeked in. “Sorry. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

The redhead smiled. “Oh, hey! No, come on in. What’s up?

Cordy gave a half-hearted smile back. “I just…wanted to talk.”

“Oh. Well, sure. You know we have a meeting downstairs in about eight-“

“This won’t take long.” She sat at the foot of the bed, saying nothing for a long moment. Willow frowned with concern.

“Cordy?”

“I’m not sure how to start.”

“Start what? Is something wrong?”

“No, not really…I don’t know.”

Willow had to fight off a smile; in all the years they’d known (and occasionally detested) one another, one constant remained: Cordelia Chase was never at a loss for words.

“You don’t know if anything is wrong, or you don’t know what to say?”

“Both.”

“I see. Well, we can always talk after the meet-“

“I was pregnant once.”

Willow’s mouth remained open, but words didn’t form. Cordy cleared her throat nervously.

“I was eighteen…just a few months after I started working for Angel.”

“I…I didn’t know.”

“With good reason. I had no desire for anyone to know. Of all the freakish things that have happened to me, that was the worst. It was one stone I wanted to leave unturned.”

Worst? Willow thought. “I’m sorry. Did you…lose-“

Cordelia chuckled without humor. “Yeah well…some things are better lost.”

“Umm…ok. Well, you were very young-“

“It was demon spawn.”

Willow had to look away. “Oh.” She turned back quickly, a compassionate expression on her face. “God, Cordy, that must have been awful.”

“One night, I was on a nice date…the next morning, I’m 8 ½ months along with seven little demons eating away at me from the inside.”

Neither spoke for a minute. Cordy stood abruptly, beginning to pace as she continued.

“See, I didn’t know how this could have happened…and it was…it was an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. That’s why you’re freaking me out so much.”

Willow stood to intercept her. “Hey. This isn’t the same.”

Cordy stared hard at her. “How can you be sure?”

“I just…Cordy, I just am. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“I was sure too…but that was daddy warping my thoughts.”

Willow scowled. “I’m not under demonic control. There’s no demon in the world that could manage that any more.”

“He managed with me. Did it with ease, actually.”

“Yes, but you’re not-“ Willow stopped, reconsidering her original choice of words. “You were a lot younger then. Plus, still here, so you must have fought him off.”

“I had help. By myself I’d have been Big Bad Demon Mama.”

“Still..look, this isn’t the same,” Willow repeated. “For one thing, I’m 3 months, not on the edge of birthing at any moment. I’m not even showing…much.”

“Wait, you are?”

A shrug. “A little.”

“Can I see?”

Willow smiled, lifting her blouse to reveal the very slight distention in her alabaster stomach. Cordelia reached tentatively; Willow simply nodded with an embarrassed grin.

“Wow…look at that,” Cordy breathed in awe as her hand ran slowly over Willow’s belly. “It’s real.”

Willow chuckled. “I couldn’t believe it either. Sorta still can’t, actually. Look, Cordy, I understand what you’re trying to say. It means a lot that you were willing to share this with me. Thank you…honestly, I wish I had an explanation that made more sense. I don’t know how I got pregnant, that’s true. Still, this child isn’t evil. It’s the opposite. Somehow, I just know that.”

“And I trust you, Willow. You should know evil…hey, you were there, right?”

Willow didn’t know what to say to that.

“It’s just, there’s a part of me that wants you to be prepared if you’re wrong.”

Willow sat back on the bed. “Ok. What did you have in mind?”

“What do you mean?”

“To prepare me.”

Cordy looked taken aback. “Oh…well…” Willow simply looked at her expectantly. After a few moments Cordy sighed.

“Ok, point. There is no preparing.”

“Nope. If the worst does happen – though every instinct in me says otherwise – I have to hope I’m strong enough to get through it. Like you were.”

They exchanged a little smile. Cordy broke their look, staring at the floor.

“What happened to me was…kind of a blur. Ok, that’s sort of obvious: hello, demon possession? Clarity, not exactly their goal. Still…before I went all goofy…” She fell silent. Willow tilted her head.

“What?”

“I felt…” She paused, again searching for words. “Just for the briefest moments here and there, I felt really…complete? Does that make sense?”

Willow nodded immediately. “Of course.”

“I guess maybe when I put this truly crappy chapter of my first year behind me, I’d pretty much blocked it all…until I heard you were pregnant. All those awful memories kind of flooded back…but then I discovered these incredibly good ones too. And…” Her voice broke.

Willow stood quickly as Cordelia struggled to compose herself. “Cordy, what is-“

“I want to feel that again. That…sense of creating something.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. A lot of people feel that way.”

“I can’t.”

“Don’t be silly. Of course you can-“ Willow broke off, eyes widening. “Oh, God…did the demon somehow…damage-“

“No, nothing like that. I can. It’s just…I can’t.”

Willow blinked in confusion. Cordy huffed.

“Willow, think for a second. Under the current circumstances…”

It dawned on her then. “Oh…OH….” Willow’s face fell. “Oh,” she said sadly.

“That about sums it up.”

“Does he know you feel this way?”

“Until three days ago, I didn’t even know.”

“I see.” Willow glanced at the clock. “Umm…”

“I know. Let’s go.”

They walked together into the hallway. Willow stopped in mid-stride, facing Cordy.

“You know you can talk to me any time, right?”

Cordelia smiled slightly. “Umm…sure. By the way, I’d appreciate it if you-“

“See this lip? It’s all zipped and everything.”

“Thanks.”

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

Gunn ws slouching in his chair. “Xander? What the Hell would Wolfram and Hart want with him?”

Angel merely shook his head.

“Not that it tops the lesbian mystery conception or anything…”

“Maybe they want to use him as bait?” Fred offered.

“Is it me, or does lesbian mystery conception sound like a really bad punk rock band name?”

“Charles, are you even listening to me?”

“What, about the bait theory?” Gunn shook his head. “Been done too many times. I think by now everyone knows that plan sucks. Plus, the walking recruitment poster…what’s his name again?”

Fred scowled her disapproval. Angel couldn’t suppress a smirk. “Major Riley Finn.”

“Yeah, that guy. He says all these double-secret messages mentioned Buffy, Willow and Xander together. Right?”

Angel nodded.

“Ok, so we got a lot of shit that doesn’t add up-“ he broke off, cocking his head toward the ceiling. “You hear that?”

Fred squinted slightly, trying to focus. “Sounds like someone’s pounding a nail into the wall.”

Gunn raised an eyebrow. “I guess…if he was in a big ass hurry.”

Angel closed his eyes. “Ok, let’s go.”

“Aw, c’mon,” Gunn protested. “We got three more minutes-“ he began to bob his head. “Someone’s got game. Man could set his watch to a beat like that.”

Fred grinned at him shyly. “Think it would have to be a stop watch.”

“Hey! I said let’s go. Lobby. Now.”, Angel said as he stalked out the door. Lorne was already there, sitting at a desk with a gin and tonic.

“Angelcakes, are you catching the fire upstairs? I don’t even need a melody to read those two crazy kids.”

Angel growled involuntarily. “Those two crazy kids have exactly two…” The tapping stopped abruptly.

“Minutes,” Riley finished for him, sitting on the sofa with his arms folded.

Lorne grinned. “Gotta respect musicians who don’t feel the need to play all night.”

“Says you,” Fred said quietly…but not quietly enough. She blushed furiously at the men’s stares.

“You tell him, Fred,” Cordy said as she and Willow descended the stairs.

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

“We’re going to be late.”

“We’re not. Very nearly there.”

“Angel’s going to be cranky.”

“That’s a reasonable assumption.”

“So speed up.”

Wes took his eyes off the road for a moment to glance at his now-official girlfriend. Girlfriend. Dear Lord. His grip on the steering wheel tightened at the thought.

“It’s right around the corner, Dawn. Relax.”

She took a deep breath. “Sorry.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you certain?”

A nod.

“All right,” he said doubtfully. Dawn turned with a frown.

“What?”

“I’m sorry?”

“You sounded like you didn’t believe me when I said it was nothing.”

“You’ll have to forgive me: I’m rather rusty at this sort of thing. Was that a REAL nothing, or the patented ‘I want you to show how much you care’ nothing?”

Dawn squinted at him. “You tell me. This is my first, remember? By default, you get to be the relationship leader.”

He grinned as the car stopped at the last traffic light before reaching the Hyperion.. “Indeed?”

“For a VERY brief trial period. Just until I get my feet under me.”

“Right, then. So…”

“Ok, maybe it was the second kind of nothing.”

Wesley stayed silent, eyes fixed on the tail lights in front of him.

“I’m not comfortable with this.”

That got his attention. “Oh. Forgive me…I was under the impression you wanted to stay at my flat. ”

“What? Oh, honey…that’s not what I meant.” Dawn put her hand on his right leg, causing the vehicle to jerk forward slightly. She pulled her hand away.

“Sorry.”

“No...quite all right.”

Dawn raised her eyebrow.

“Maybe I should ask if you’re ok. You don’t usually freak when I touch you.”

“Dawn, I was merely surprised.”

“You’re jumpy.”

“And you’re changing the subject. As relationship leader, I direct you to tell me why you’re uncomfortable.”

“Ok, trial period’s over.”

“Dawn…”

She sighed. “This plan of yours sucks.”

Nothing more needed to be said. The light turned green.

“We’ve been over this,” Wesley said, trying to keep the note of impatience out of his voice as the car accelerated. Judging by Dawn’s look, he knew he’d failed.

“Fine. I’ll keep quiet.”

“I understand your feelings. This is something I loathe as much-“

“Doubt it,” Dawn said coldly, now turning to stare straight ahead. Neither said a word for the next minute as Wesley guided Dawn’s Corolla into the hotel’s parking garage. After putting the car in park, he took a deep breath and reached for her.

“You know I don’t want to.”

Dawn ran her thumb over the back of his hand. “Yeah. I know.”

“Lilah sickens me.”

She forced a smile, meeting his eyes. “And now comes the ‘however’ part….”

He smiled back. “As your anticipation demonstrates…”

“We’ve been over it. I know. Still doesn’t mean I’m going to GET over it.” They began walking toward the front door. “I just…wish there was a way to make this easier for me to handle.”

Suddenly Wes stopped walking, sweeping Dawn in for a long, probing kiss. Once oxygen became an issue, he interlaced his fingers with hers and resumed walking. “I love you.”

She smiled slowly, panting ever so slightly. “Ok, that’ll at least work temporarily.”

They strode, hand in hand, into the lobby. Lorne had scrounged up enough seats to accommodate everyone at once. Dawn observed Willow and Cordelia chatting animatedly…then frowned when she saw Spike and her sister. Both looked a little…frazzled.

“Buffy, are you all right?”

She merely nodded, offering a sleepy smile. Dork, Dawn thought as she smiled at Xander and…what the hell? He was sitting on the other side of Buffy, while Faith was almost directly across, nearest to Angel. Dawn had never seen them sitting that far apart before, and instinctively hated it. Something was definitely wrong.

“Ok, now that everyone has seen fit to join us,” Angel said quietly. Dawn made the appropriate ‘I told you so’ glance to Wesley, who smiled slightly and leaned over to whisper.

“Trust me, if it wasn’t us, it’d be something else.” Dawn chuckled…and stopped abruptly when Angel turned his stare her way. After a moment, he turned his gaze back to the group.

“First of all, I hope everyone got settled in ok. If there’s anything you need, Lorne is the man to ask…so speak now: is everyone comfortable?”

There was silence.

“Good. Ok, we have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s try to keep things as orderly as possible. While all of you were unpacking, I filled in Gunn and Fred on the happenings in Sunnydale, and how they could relate to us. Short version? A few of you are wanted here. We need to know why-”

Xander leaned toward Buffy as Angel went on. “You know, it strikes me that your whole love life is under this one roof.”

She turned slowly. “And…your point is?”

“Well, not quite everybody I guess. Scott Hope didn’t show. I actually thought we’d make a day of it, so I invited Park-“

“Guess who else is going to strike you if you keep talking?”

“Is there anything you two would like the share with the rest of us?” Angel said with annoyance. Xander shrugged uncomfortably, noticing everyone’s eyes on him.

“Not really. I was just pointing out how many of Buffy’s-“ He stopped himself, noticing just how little the Slayer was appreciating his attempt at lightening the mood. “uhh…friends and family are in danger.”

“One in particular at the moment,” she grated. Angel stared hard at both of them for a moment before continuing.

“As I was saying, this will probably work best if we each offer our thoughts one at a time, then discuss as a group. I know there are some ideas out there, but let’s get it all on the table at once. We need a cohesive plan.”

There was general agreement. Angel looked around the room slowly.

“Ok…who wants to go first?”

- End Chapter Seventeen -