Things That Go Bump in the Night

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Chapter 31
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In place of the normal, relieved jubilation of post slayage survival, the silence on the ride home was oppressive -- everyone aware they'd had a narrow escape. None of them had been prepared for a demon gathering of that size. That, and the fact that most of those demons were still on the loose had everyone uptight, and far from calling the evening a wholehearted success. Every single one of them able to had cast at least one quick, tense glance out the back window, expecting to see hell right behind them.

Doyle sighed heavily, tightening his grip slightly on the woman he held in his arms. She'd come far too close to dying. Though his mind told him she wouldn't have stayed dead, his heart couldn't quite believe it. **She's safe,** he thought, running a finger along her forehead, brushing her hair off her face. The relief he felt at that knowledge ran through him like an electric current. Unfortunately it was short-lived, as it was followed by the unbidden, **for now.** Buffy's off-hand words about poison concerned him; Cordy's condition had not improved, though it had not worsened either.

"I'm telling her," he said suddenly, his voice sounding overly loud breaking into the quiet that rode with them all. "When she wakes up," he clarified, "I'm telling her the truth. It's not fair to her otherwise."

Next to him, Doyle felt Richie stiffen immediately. "No! It's not done."

Adam reached out a hand, restraining the other Immortal. "It is sometimes," he said quietly. "Personally, I wouldn't in this case, but he's the one who has to live with the consequences of his choices."

"But--"

"No, Rich. Only he can decide if the risk of her displeasure if she finds out he knew and didn't tell her, outweighs the risks of telling her."

**What risks?** Doyle frowned, not liking Adam's superior tone. His words echoing his thoughts, he spoke at the same moment as Xander. "What do you mean, 'risks'?" He shared a startled glance with the new Immortal, for the first time since revealing his demon side, him and Xander seemingly in agreement.

Adam sighed, shaking his head slowly. "If she knows she's Immortal will she take extra risks that might bring her to her first death earlier than is necessary?"

"Cordelia?!" Xander asked in shock.

Doyle rounded on him. "You don't know her! Keep your mouth shut."

"Excuse me?" Xander asked in shock. "I think I've known her longer than you have."

"No, Xander, you don't know her," Angel replied quietly. "You knew the old Cordelia. She's changed more than you can imagine."

As Xander lapsed back into thoughtful silence -- sending nothing more than glares his way, Doyle returned his attention to Cordelia -- his princess, thinking about what the two men had said. "It's not as if she's *that* young," he said finally. "From what you've told us, it sounds like young would be better."

Adam nodded to him. "True, but not too young."

"Who's to say what's too young? It's not as if she's a child. She's fully grown -- an adult."

"She's too young," Richie interrupted firmly.

"Look who's talking!" Doyle snapped angrily. "How old were you? Nineteen?"

"Exactly my point," Richie retorted. "Let me tell you; it's a pain in the ass looking 19 forever. Everyone's always telling me I'm too young. 'You're too young to be so cynical.' 'You're too young to blah blah.' It gets real old, real fast." Richie shook his head. "It would be better if she's older. How old is she? Twenty? Twenty-five would be way better . . . and she shouldn't know before hand."

He was less certain now, both Adam and Richie had made good points. Should he, or shouldn't he? "Wouldn't you have wanted to know?" he asked Richie pointedly. He didn't know much, but knew the man hadn't been an 'active' Immortal for very long.

Richie shook his head vehemently. "No way, man!"

Doyle drew back in surprise. "You sound so certain."

". I. I already knew about 'The Game' and Immortals . . . just like she does. That was enough. Not knowing about *my* future as one gave me a peace of mind I wouldn't have had otherwise -- short-lived as that was."

Now Doyle was really confused. **Peace of mind?** "How?" he asked.

Richie shrugged. "How would you like knowing that if you die; yeah, you'll come back, but as soon as you do, you're basically fair game for every hot-under-the-collar, headhunter around?"

That got to him. He frowned again, biting his lower lip uncertainly as he looked back down at Cordelia. She was going to be really pissed at him when the time came -- if he didn't tell her. That much he knew for sure.

**What would I want if it were me? What should I do, Princess . . . hmmm?** he asked silently. **Which would the best thing to do? Which would *you* prefer?**

**

Angel jumped out of the vehicle almost before Dawson had it fully stopped, going directly to Doyle's door.

"Hey!" Dawson shouted. "You could have gotten hurt!"

"I'd heal," Angel shot back as he opened the door.

"Yeah, but I might not survive the heart attack."

Angel ducked his head sheepishly mumbling a quiet, "sorry," before returning his attention to his people. He knew that, though Xander had been quiet after his outburst, neither the new Immortal's tension, nor his anger toward Doyle had decreased. It had been palpable the entire ride to the mansion, and he was certain that given a chance Xander would again contest Doyle's 'possession' of Cordelia.

"Doyle?" he asked quietly as he reached for Cordelia's unconscious form. Suddenly worried when Doyle simply nodded and let him take her, he was relieved when Doyle scrambled quickly out of the vehicle, taking her back into his arms as soon as he was on his feet. He knew if he'd been in Doyle's position, he wouldn't have wanted to let go for a moment. He already didn't.

He followed close behind Doyle who was slowly, silently made his way to the mansion. It wasn't until they were inside, however, that the trouble he'd expected at the car materialized. As Doyle headed up the stairs, Xander strode after the couple.

Angel stepped in front of him.

Xander frowned, glaring at him for a moment, then tried to step around to continue after Doyle and Cordelia. Angel simply stepped back into his path.

"Get out of my way, *Deadboy*
**
**So much for progress,** Angel thought sourly, shaking his head. "No. Leave them alone, Xander."

"Like hell I will. Get out of my way. I'm going up there to make sure she stays alright."

"No, you're not," Angel replied firmly. "Doyle will let us know if anything changes."

"Yeah, right," Xander sneered, "because demons are so very trustworthy!"

Angel's eyes narrowed at the boy's tone, his fists automatically clenching, the urge to strike out nearly overpowering. Consequently, he was distracted by controlling that urge when Xander struck out. The blow startled him, leaving him more off balance than it should have. He stumbled backward, but righted himself quickly, bringing his fist up to knock the boy on his ass. Suddenly, however, he forcibly made himself relax.

"I'm not going to fight with you, Xander."

"Good," Xander replied and nodding once, he headed for the stairs.

Angel stepped in front of him again.

Xander struck out again, only this time Angel caught the young man's fist, holding it tightly in his hand. "I said I wasn't going to fight with you, but that doesn't mean you're getting up there, nor does it mean I'm going to let you continue hitting me."

**

Doyle heard it all, and while he thanked Angel for the interference, the hatred and distrust that Xander now had for him hurt. He knt sht shouldn't. After this was all over he'd be going back to LA and probably never see him again. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the pain. It seemed no matter what he did, no matter how much good he did, it all came down to the fact that his father was a demon.

Then he looked down and smiled. **Except once,** he thought. He would never forget the day Cordelia had confronted him with her knowledge of his demon half. Despite everything she'd ever said about demons, she'd still accepted him after finding out.

**Well, aside from being sorely *pissed* about me not telling her about it,** he thought ruefully. He'd never forget that slap, either! It hadn't beome ome 'girly' slap. Cordelia had put her full strength behind that open-handed blow.

By the time he'd made it to her room and laid her on the bed, he'd come to his decision. They'd agreed that day that secrets were bad. They'd agreed there'd be no more of them. There was no way he could betray that trust, especially not about something this big, this important. When she woke up, he'd tell her. Somehow, he'd tell her.

"Come on, Cordy, girl, it's time to wake up."


TBC