Drowning

By superninja

All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and WB. This story is not intended for profit.

Takes place during Season 2.

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

"What do you think you're doing?"

Angel's eyes popped open, and he backed away, hovering over Cordelia, whose eyes were now wide open.

"Cordelia?"

Her tone was incredulous as she put a hand between them and pushed him up and away. "What were you doing?"

"I-I…," he stammered. He was totally busted. A heavy silence settled between them, punctuated by the sounds of the waves hitting against the sand.

Her palm came to rest on the side of her neck, and she pulled it away seeing small droplets of blood over it.

"You bit me!"

Angel rolled his eyes, trying to look innocent. The blue moon hung overhead in a cloudless sky, casting an unearthly tone over the beach.

"You stopped breathing, Delia. What choice did I have?"

"Choice? How about not feeding on your former best friend in her final moments?"

"You weren't dead yet. And what do you mean 'former'?"

"How about CPR then! Geez…," she trailed off as she registered their environment. "Anyway," she said uncomfortably. "You're wet. And cold. Get off." She slid out from under him, coating her wet body in sand. "I hate being sandy!"

She stood and started wiping at the thick grime on her arms and legs, trying to peel the thin cotton nightgown away from her skin. Lots of skin, but she was too tired to be embarrassed and she sighed giving up. Glancing over she caught him propped up on one elbow smiling at her.

"It's not funny! Can we just go? I don't want to have to address this creepy biting incident until I've had a shower and a good night's rest."

He stood and dusted himself off as the black leather jacket squeaked in protest against the wetness.

"Do you remember anything?"

Blinking, she put her finger to her mouth and knotted her brows.

"No," she said in a panic, her eyes widening.

"You almost drowned," he told her, watching her look out towards the ocean and shiver in the chill air. His jacket came off and he wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Thanks."

"Sure."

"Why did I almost drown?" she asked as his arm went around her and they walked down the shoreline. She put her head on his shoulder, realizing just how tired she was. Exhausted, in fact. Angel stopped when he felt her go limp in his arms for a moment.

"Hey, Delia," he said, shaking her lightly.

"Hmnh?"

Glazed eyes flickered open as Angel made a decision, gathering her up in his arms he let her settle comfortably.

"I think we need to have you looked at."

Her arm slid around his neck, pressing over his cool skin as he started the long walk that would take them back up the cliff side.

"Okay," she squeaked. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere on the California coast. North of Los Angeles."

"How did we get here?"

"You kidnapped me."

"Really?" This caught her interest. She opened her eyes and looked up. "How?"

"Why do you want to know?" His eyes narrowed.

"It could come in handy."

"You faked a vision, then clocked me when I got close enough."

"Let me get this straight. I clocked you?"

"When I regained consciousness, there was a gun pressed against my back and you handed me the car keys then said if I tried anything you'd hurt yourself."

"Yeah that sounds like me," she answered with a guffaw. "Or NOT."

"It wasn't exactly you. It was you plus one."

"Great."

"Don't worry," he said, huffing a bit as he began up the rocks to where his car was parked above. "She's gone now."

"Greeaaaat."

"Luckily, Wes had given me a spell just before your little 'vision'. You sent Wes and Gunn on a wild goose chase, but I hung back because I knew something was up."

"Ever find out who the 'plus one' was?"

"She called herself Liza," he said, putting her gently on her feet and waiting until she had her footing to let go.

"What did she want with me?" She took the jacket off and handed it back to him as he dug through it for the car keys.

"I'm pretty sure she wanted your body," he replied.

"Don't they all?" she grinned broadly back at him.

"Yeah…" he answered, and then turned away quickly.

Frowning, she wondered why he was averting his eyes and then looked down. Her white nightgown was plastered to her body, back lit by the bright moon overhead. It left little to the imagination.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat loudly. "So why did she try to run me off a cliff then?"

"Because the spell I had was going to drive her out for good."

"One of those 'foul demon, go to the light' numbers?"

" Yeah. I'm thinking if you had died, she would've just escaped again and found another host."

He finally found the keys and opened up the passenger door, waiting until she was inside and then shut it. Sliding into his seat soundlessly, he put the keys in the ignition.

"So I kicked your ass, huh?"

"She was a strong one, all right," he grinned back at her challenge. "A pro. Wouldn't try it at home if I were you."

The car started and Angel immediately turned on the heater. Revving the engine, he directed the fans on her before putting it into reverse and back on to the winding road.

Cordelia curled up and soon was fast asleep.

"Why did you bite me?"

He looked over at her, a little startled by her soft voice. She was in the same position as all along, only her eyes were open. He wondered just how long she'd been lying there watching him.

"I told you. You were going to die."

"Not getting it."

She was probably going to freak, but what else could he do? He looked back at the road and gripped the steering wheel.

"I was going to…you know."

"Still not getting it."

The silence became overwhelming.

"Just say it, Angel!"

His throat felt suddenly dry, so he swallowed and began.

"Your heartbeat had slowed. I wasted so much time finishing the exorcism spell on the demon that I was afraid I was going to lose you and…I panicked…that's all. I panicked and I thought to myself, 'Well Angel, you have a soul now. Who know? Maybe it'll be different this time. Maybe she'll be different…'"

"You were going to vamp me?!" she screamed at him. "Are you NUTS?!"

Her small fists were pounding on his arms so furiously that he pulled over to the side of the road, protecting himself with a free hand. The ignition turned off and he grabbed her wrists to prevent her from hurting herself.

"Look, it WAS nuts. But it didn't happen." She was twisting in his grip, enraged. "Stop it! You're too emotional right now, you'll hurt yourself." Stilling, she looked away from him as he released her wrists. "Calm now?"

Biting on her lip, she swiftly opened the car door and took off running down the road. Angel pounded on the steering wheel and got out of the car following. It didn't take him long to catch up to her.

"Can we talk about this someplace warm and dry? You're going to catch cold."

"Screw you!"

"If I have to, I'll pick you up and throw you over my shoulder."

Halting in her tracks, she bowed her head to the inevitable. Angel was strong enough to do whatever he wanted. Jerking her head back up, she looked deep into his eyes.

"That is the most selfish thing I have ever witnessed in my entire young life."

Hands on hips, he sighed and looked away from her. "I know."

"You, are an asshole."

"I know."

"You wouldn't do it for Darla. Why me?"

"I couldn't lose you. I lost her, and I couldn't lose you too."

"Oh, that's just great. Dead, undead…'It's all Cordelia, what's the difference?'"

Silence again, and she gripped at the asphalt with her bare feet, pulling a few pebbles loose. Her breath fanned out in front of her and she shivered again. He just stared at the ground with his hands buried in his pockets.

"I've never needed anyone before, Delia."

She looked away out over the horizon. A little bit of fear balled in her stomach.

"Over a hundred years," he continued, "and I never needed anyone."

Bravely she let her eyes flash up at him to see him looking at her, but she couldn't hold his gaze. He was doing that 'intense' thing again, damn him.

"Until now."

The ball of fear at the bottom of her stomach rose, becoming something else. A sensation she hadn't felt since…Xander. Sensibility forced her to tell herself that he didn't mean this the way she thought he meant it. After all, they were great friends and he was even her boss. Why would he risk ruining that for some silly romance with a twenty-year-old girl? She didn't even know what to do with the rest of her life, and he has this big mission, this big purpose to fulfill. How would she play a part in it all? And then there was Buffy, his eternal flame. How would they…

"You and Wes…and even Gunn," he continued. "I need all of you…Delia…you okay?"

"For the nearly undead…yeah," she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Besides," he added, "the demon would've escaped if you'd died. A very dangerous demon."

Angel reached out and lightly touched her back, directing them back towards the car.

"Like that's a good excuse. One dangerous demon for another, Angel."

"Well, I panicked."

"Ouch."

He stopped and looked over at Cordelia, gingerly stepping across the asphalt and stopping to brush a stone off the bottom of her foot.

"Here," he said, sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her back towards the car.

"And I can be dangerous, pal. I would kick your ass and that's no joke."

"I'm sure you would," he replied with a slight grin.

"Seriously. And I'm telling Wes and Gunn about what you pulled tonight."

"Delia…c'mon. You'll just freak them out."

"Why should I be the only freak victim? You have to get control."

"I know…"

A pained look crossed his face as Angel carried Cordelia off into the night.