Splinter

"'You won't be sorry… you just gotta see him'." The very expensive wooden door slammed angrily behind the vampire's mocking mimicked words.



"Oh, I saw him!" Angel kicked at the desk causing it to dent. That was another desk ruined because of Spike. That irresponsible, conceited childe of his crazy childe was good for nothing. It only added more proof that Angelus was crazy.



"Last time I'll fucking listen to Lorne! When will I learn to never trust what he tells me?" Angel growled and slammed his fist into his office wall angrily. He glared furiously at his fist's imprint. Better his office than his apartment. He knew he should be in his room; he hadn't had enough sleep for days now.



"I think I'll cut his head off and let him watch me while I burn his clothes!" He got a truly Angelus smile as he paced around his desk. "Or better yet, make his detached head watch while I dye them the in the darkest black I can find." He chuckled madly. "No one makes a fool out of me!"



Except that Spike had always made him feel like a fool. He had watched his childe all night, enthralled by his beauty and snarling whenever someone expressed the same appreciation. Nevertheless, Spike had been 'dead sexy' in that well fitted suit. Angel knew he should give a lot of the credit to Cordelia but if it weren't for the wearer… Angel tried to snap out. He was good at keeping his emotions in check. Denying what he wanted for so long.



Then when he had finally mastered enough 'valor' to alert *his* grandchilde of his presence, he had barely suppressed an angry growl as he saw that HE had beat him to the act. Angel could literarily feel the two whiskey glasses in his hands begin to grow warm due to the blood boiling in his veins.



He felt his hands itch with the need to crack his knuckles when he saw Hrafen approach the unusually mellow Spike in his confident swagger. He glowered when he realized that due to the background noise he couldn't hear what the two were talking about, especially since Raven had taken them to a secluded place. That unless he wanted to blow his cover, particularly since he wasn't in his best game.



He remembered how a mere human had snuck up on him that night and hid behind him. He wouldn't have noticed if the strange human hadn't begged him not to move. Thankfully, he slinked away to hide in the middle of a group of people flaunting over that kid that Cordelia had made him watch drown a few years back. Angel narrowed his eyes at the audacity. He hadn't even said thank you. Also thanks to him, Angel forgot to read Spike and Raven's lips and almost missed them as they headed outside.



Furthermore, what the hell was that song about? And why did it make Angel feel like an ass?



He had barely escaped before Cordelia saw him. It wouldn’t do well for her to know that he was there. He knew that she was watching Spike as closely as he was… well not that closely since he saw her giving doe eyes to that Jack-what's-his-real-name. Angel snorted remembering how she sighed that time over the kid's heroism and romantic gesture. He had deflated when she snubbed him after he mentioned what *he* had done to save the world. How romantically tragic it was when he let Buffy stab him.



Thus, he avoided her so he wouldn't hear about how she knew why he was there following Spike - because he was not! - and what shade of whatever-color that kid-actor's eyes were. With a last glance at said actor who then had Angel's ungrateful hider taking cover behind him and a mental note to check if the reason the kid's look hadn't changed was because he was a vampire, he exited to the garden and melted into the shadows.



He had never felt as cold before that moment in his entire existence.



He had never realized how much a threat Raven was until he saw Spike initiate that kiss and follow it though. That was it. He knew he couldn't see more of that. So he left.



Angel sighed as he gazed out over the city.



Had he pushed his boy too far? Why was he brooding over it now? Wasn't that what he wanted? Spike finally away from him. If so then why was he feeling like someone had reached into his gut and twisted relentlessly?



~ At least nothing worse can happen. ~ He thought as he sat in his chair and looked sightlessly at the untouched mounds of paper.



The creek of the door opening was his only warning.



"Whoa penis office have we?!"



~ I spoke too soon! ~ Angel groaned hiding his face in his hands. ~ I deserve this. I should learn better than to give fate an open invitation to screw with my life! ~



"I really get the whole being presentable for work, but don't you think you're pushing it too far, Deadboy?"



"Xander," Angel murmured before a thought hit him as he raised his head and gave the smirking boy a withering smile. "Xander."



The boy froze at that cold tone. "Angel?" He narrowed his eye at the vampire cautiously. "You didn't get lucky last night just coz you got yourself some fancy clothes, did ya, buddy?" He gave a weary glance back to the door.



Angel stood up and stretched. He had a fleeting thought about not noticing the sun rising to the middle of the sky as he gazed sightlessly out the window or how long he had stood there. He ignored the irony and instead approached Xander with small but sure steps.



"You know… you coming in is the exact thing I needed." Perhaps Lorne could wait. The vampire was in the mood to settle old debts. He was feeling his headache clear already.



Angel was two steps away from the frozen boy whose eyes kept glancing towards the door.



~ Wonder what he's thinking about? Escape? ~



"Told you he was in here!"



Angel's question was answered when Harmony grinned at him from the door before two others entered. He pulled back blinking at their presence.



"Angel," two voices greeted at the same time.



"Willow… Faith!"



The two women smiled at him. And they were women. Both of them hadn't really changed from the last time he had seen them, but they radiated content and growth. He felt himself calm at the sight of them. Because somehow if those two could get through everything they went through and they were mere gifted children… then there was hope for someone like him. There had to be!



Angel couldn't help but smile at how comfortable those two seemed around each other. He knew that that was something he wouldn't have seen a few years back. He was happy for that they seemed to have had worked things out. He liked them both and was glad to see that they liked each other at the moment. However, now all he could do was wonder if he had as good a chance to follow their path.



That thought brought his gloom back and he pulled back from a smirking Xander and sat behind his desk. Time to change the subject.



"What are you doing here?"



Xander casually sat down while Willow and Faith gave Angel a small smile before taking a seat as well. The brunet boy placed a leg on the other in deliberate arrogance. He didn't like how his girls always liked Angel and were so comfortable around him. He leaned back.



~ I'm here to even the odds that's all ~



Xander looked around the room. "You know Angel, you really should get someone to check your wall… faulty craftsmanship… I could swear that someone punched a hole in it… that doesn't bode well for the CEO of a Firm/Investigations Agency… a supposedly good one."



"Xander…" Faith kicked at his foot. He evaded her with practiced ease and continued.



"Now the desk… if I had a hat, I would tip it for you… but I don’t… it's a work of art." Faith relaxed at that. "Except if it weren't for the kick-like-dent… you feeling okay 'pal'?" Xander hid his grin behind a concerned looked and ignored Willow and Faith's groans and mumbles of 'I knew we shouldn't have let him come'.



"Again?!"



Three heads turned towards the huffing blonde at the door.



Angel rubbed his forehead. ~ Oh welcome back headache… missed me? ~ He tried to tell his head that vampires weren't supposed to have headaches, but obviously it knew better than him because the ache lingered in small pulses.



He opened his eyes and watched helplessly as the blonde vampire stalked into the office and stood near the desk with her hands on her hips.



"What am I going to tell them now?" She shook her head exasperated as she poked at the dent with her expensive shoes. The dent soon became a hole due to the lonely nudge. Harmony sighed. "One can only use 'my boss has romantic problems' once too many times you know!"



"I don't have…" Angel denied.



"You can tell them he was out of hair gel and took it out on the table," Xander cut in happily.



Harmony perked up. "Oh, I haven't used that one yet… they are so gonna buy it too." She placed her hand on one hip and narrowed her eyes at Xander. "You know Xander you should've lost an eye sooner… other than making you super hot… it made you smarter."



She then turned to Angel and pointed out the window. "You can pound on badly dressed people the next time you get in a hissy fit. I won't cover for you again." And then exited the office.



Willow blinked and looked between the bewildered faces. "It's good to see that not even death changed Harmony."



"I think she's good now… or so Cordy says." Angel said absentmindedly as he gazed at Xander. The boy shifted uncomfortable in his seat at the scrutiny. "Didn't notice the eye before… when did that happen?"



Xander self-consciously touched the patch. "Hellmouth… the First's bad boy thought I saw too much… so he decided to mend that problem," he said dryly.



"Just the one?" Angel was curious. Willow and Faith shared worried looks.



Xander smiled bitterly. "Oh, no, he meant to be very thorough… lucky for me Spike got himself some extra oomph and knocked the bastard off before I was forced to buy a Seeing Eye Dog. This is not of the good… seeing as on a Hellmouth I could be buying a Seeing Eye Hell-Dog for all I know!" He grinned brightly and chuckled.



Angel knew from experience that that was not all there was to the story. Xander stilled obviously suffered from that incident. He barely held his tongue though from asking about how easily Xander admitted to Spike saving his life. He was a vampire after all. And if there was anything Angel knew for sure about the brunet boy --Angel shook his head - man now - not only did the girls survive through the worst-- it was that he hated vampires. Then why would he give Spike the credit? Even if that were true. Perhaps Xander had grown in more ways than one?



Angel chose to give him the benefit of the doubt, not to mention he couldn't do anything in front of these powerful women, and changed the subject, or if truth be told return it back on course.



"You were telling me why you were here." He entwined his fingers patiently.



"No I wasn’t. I was diverging before… didn't you notice that?" There was that twinkle back in Xander's eye. And somehow seeing how Willow and Faith relaxed as they saw it as well made it worth while to go against his better instincts and not strangle the 'boy'. "You know Andrew?"



Angel twisted his face in disgust at the memory of the annoying young man. Yet another of Spike's admirers. And how was it that things always pointed back to him?



~ All the roads lead to Spike. ~



"Unfortunately, yes." Angel perked up. "He's not dead, is he?"



Surprisingly the two men had a matching understanding look on their faces.



Xander sighed. "Unfortunately, not. Anyways, the little twerp has been making up elaborate stories, which isn't all that unusual but the strange thing is that this time he's been avoiding to talk about his short stay in L.A. which considering Andrew's past is really suspicious. So since Will and Faith were coming anyway to pick up a slayer…"



"You bothered to come to recruit one slayer. Is there a problem?" Angel cut Xander looking at the girls.



Willow smiled. "Not really. You see the girl was well into the arts…"



"… and a little messed up life wise, we just didn't want any surprises," Faith completed for her. "So G sort've sent the two experts." Willow and Faith smiled acceptingly at each other.



Angel nodded. "But things are okay now?"



"Five by five," Faith said. "As mojo charged messed up kids come, she's okay… she's making arrangements and saying her goodbyes… it won't take more then two or three days to get her ready for her first interdiction to G's class of bore AKA 'What is The Calling'." She rolled her eyes indicating that she had been there one too many times.



"Yeah, and since we were already in town and things went smoothly we thought we'd stop by and say hi… which we haven't … so uh… 'hi'." Willow grinned making a small wave.



"That explains you two, but what about him?" He nodded towards Xander tightly.



Xander sat up indignant. "Hey, 'him' has a name… and 'him' was telling the story 'someone' was whining about knowing before 'you' interrupted."



Angel waved his hand in a 'go on… get it over with' gesture.



"Ok, um, where was I?" Xander blinked. Angel held back a whine. "Oh yeah… I thought Andrew was up to something and since Cord vouched for you after she woke up - which by the way you never thought to tell us about and which we wouldn't have even known about if Wesley didn't slip up over the phone with Giles about Cordelia being in a *coma*! -"



"Xander…" Willow warned.



He waved his hand for her to forget it.



"- I thought it would be best to see what the little geek was up to and ask you if anything happened while he was here."



Angel didn't even flinch at the accusation. Even if it were true. He had asked himself that same question a number of times and every time his mind supplied a different explanation. However, since he was indeed feeling a little guilty he didn't corner Xander by asking him why he didn't just call and ask about Andrew instead of flying all the way here from wherever he was.



"Also, Dana was babbling something about 'cutting the vampire's arms' and how she was now sorry coz he had only wanted to help her and she thought he was someone else… so are you ok?" Willow asked in breathless concern.



So the little twerp didn't tell them about Spike. Angel frowned. They still had no idea he was alive. Question was, should *he* tell them?



Before Angel could form a sentence, or for his mind to supply him with an appropriate answer, his office door opened and a very familiar shriek was heard.



"Oh My God! Harm told me but I couldn't believe her till I saw with my own eyes!"



From behind Cordelia, the rest of the Gang could be seen grinning at their friend's happiness. With no time to spare, the three young women met in the middle of the room.



Cordelia narrowed her eyes at Willow and Faith looking from one to the other. "Are you evil?" That seemed as standard as questions come regarding anyone from Sunnydale, so no one blinked when it was asked.



The brunette slayer and the redheaded witch shook their heads and said in unison. "Nope, you?"



Cordelia shared a grin with them. "Not for a while now." Then she pulled them in for a group hug. With her head between them, her eyes blinked at the back of a mop of dark head of hair and a ridged back sitting in front of Angel's desk. She pulled back from the hug and questioned unsure, "Xander?"



The sound of a deep breath taken was heard before the long form stood up and slowly turned around towards her. Cordelia felt tears sting at her eyes. Xander had a lopsided grin at the ready.



"Hey CC."



Cordelia wiped the tears that had slipped and Xander was stunned when he suddenly found the weeping form of his ex-girlfriend in his arms. Not one to waste opportunities, he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eye relishing the almost forgotten never not missed feel of her in his embrace. It had been forever.



He couldn't believe that he had given this up. The feel of her in his arms was right. A must even. When she finally pulled back, he felt reluctant to let go. It was as if a part of him had returned after a long period of separation and he would rather die than lose it again.



Xander smiled as he let his arms fall back to his sides again.



He looked dopily at her; the goofy grin firmly in place like was expected.



"Now I get to tell all my buddies that I got a hug from The Cordelia Chase! And since you’re a celebrity now, I have the right to embellish!" He tucked his hands in his tight jeans pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet finding himself reverting to the unsure teenager in front of his old friend.



Cordelia narrowed her eyes at him and flung her head back arrogantly falling back to old habits as well. "Like that would matter seeing as all your 'buddies' are girls!"



Xander waved his hand emphatically. "Hey! Don’t forget G-man and Andrew." He thought for a moment. "Don’t forget G-man!"



Cordelia rolled her eyes; she was starting to get curious to see this Andrew everyone had been talking about. From the way Wesley described him he was like an extra concentrated blond Xander. She shuddered. Maybe she would overlook that. She gave Xander one of her trademark grins. "I really missed you, Xan." She touched his eye patch delicately before letting her hand fall down and said with a sniff, "I'm glad you're ok."



Xander was shocked into expressionless for a few seconds, which was a feat in itself, then a small smile found its place on his lips. "Same here, Cord." He rubbed her arm lovingly letting his thumb massage her elbow in a way he remembered relaxed her.



The two gazed at each other while silence reigned over the room and everyone looked at them with varied expressions.



The calm was soon interrupted.



"Lorne!" a growl was heard.



"Eeek!" The green demon squeaked. His ingenious hiding place behind Gunn was discovered as Angel had taken the opportunity of everyone being preoccupied with the reunited two not to notice him. Not like that was something out of the unordinary.



Lorne had sensed the dark vampire's foul mood seeping out of the office long before they entered to greet the visitors. He had figured out the reason to that when Cordelia came by in the afternoon. It was their post Hollywood party meeting where she tells him per usual the events and gossip of the previous Hollywood night. However, there wasn't much talk about stars and starlets today.



She had told him about how Spike had kissed Raven after the dark haired vampire had requested that song. Both Cordelia and Lorne had sighed then at the perfect and romantic choice but sobered up when Cordelia said that Spike had soon after departed with said romantic vampire.



The two had a moment of joy for their friend finally being happy. Though, that moment had been short lived when Lorne had let it slip how he had sent Angel to try and talk to Spike, to really see how Spike was different than how Angel always saw him.



Cordelia had then looked aghast and had taken no time in showing her displeasure by snapping at the poor demon, "Sure! I can guess what he saw! No wonder Harm said that she thinks Angel was banging heads with his office walls! She's just glad it wasn't the desk again. Way to go Lorne!"



"How should I have known that would've happened," Lorne had protested with a whine. "I'm not psychic."



Cordelia had flicked him then with her long, sharp nails. "Duh, doofus, you are!"



Lorne had smiled sheepishly. "Oh, right." Then he retaliated. "Well I don't think that asking every conversation I have to end with a song is very far-sighted especially with Angel-cakes doing a single."



That had made Cordelia relent. "True." Nevertheless, it hadn't made Lorne feel better.



"I'm thinking I should lie as low as my stylish yet comfortable outfit allows for a while. Wrath of scorned easily riled vampire is the last thing I'd want after my beating booty."



Cordelia had snorted as she patted his shoulder. "Don't blow this anthill. Angel claims he doesn't care an ounce about Bleachie, I don't think he'll blow his easily penetrated cover." That had caused Lorne to relax.



On the other hand, at that moment Lorne wished he had never met the lying, deceitful, manipulative actress-seer for he had a very pissed-off vampire in his face and his reliable eight ball wasn't all that optimistic.



Lorne forgot about trying to hide behind the freaked yet confused Gunn. He turned to look at their baffled visitors. Better to do what he was there to do in the first place. "Willow, Faith gorgeous as ever." They women grinned at him but uncertainty was still in their eyes. He ignored that and turned towards Xander. "You, pup, and I will have a talk later about Johnny and a much awaited sequel." Sunny grin for all then the red-eyed demon initiated the ever-successful plan. "Bye now."



Xander blinked. "Wow. Never thought I'd ever see that. Who'd've thought that a green demon in a radioactive Armani suit could run that fast!"



"You should talk about radioactive attire." It seemed that their moment was ruined thanks to Angel playing boogie vamp. Xander crossed his arms patiently at the woman in front of him. Cordelia shrugged looked over his brown jacket and blue jeans. "Or you would've talked about it… any—hey!" She pointed accusingly. "How did you know that was Armani?"



Xander blushed. "Let it not be said that Cordelia Chase had never rubbed off on Xander Harris."



Harmony poked her blonde head in. "Does anyone know what's wrong with Lorney-toons?"



Cordelia bit the tip of her nail and shrugged innocently. That instantly raised suspicion in Fred, Wesley and Gunn and they looked at her questioningly. She mouthed 'Spike' and 'later' and part of their confusion disappeared.



Harmony was oblivious. "He was in such a hurry he didn't even stop to hear about how my dialing-nail broke when I was punching my hairdresser's number." She sniffed at her finger.



Gunn mumbled, "Who wouldn't run." Xander looked at the black man impressed. He made a mental note to talk with this man about Angel sometime.



Harmony glared at the lawyer. "Just coz you were born bald doesn't give you the right to make fun of us who care about their hair!" The she disappeared with a huffed, "And they wonder why people hate bald men, rude much!"



Gunn gaped. "I'm not bald! Why does everyone keep thinking that I'm naturally bald?!" He glared at Cordelia. "It's a cheerleader thing, right?" He pouted. "And I'm growing it back… but does she use her super vampire eye sense…nooo."



"Hey! I noticed," Cordelia protested. Gunn glared reminding her about her own bald comment. "After a lo-ong coma slumber," she said in a small voice. Gunn snorted not moved. Xander was really impressed now.



~ Now this could be the start of a beautiful friendship… two Cordettes in less than five minutes! Better call Guinness. ~



Angel noticed Xander's grin and how his hand never left Cordelia's arm in all of that time and held back a growl. It was true that he and Cordelia had figured out that what they had could never happen - story of Angel's romantic life - but that didn't mean that seeing Harris all over her like they were back together wouldn't bother him. He was owed that! He had a right to be angry! He couldn't beat on Xander because Willow and Faith and now his Gang were here, then that manipulative Lorne ran away like the coward he was. But that was a good thing. Angel still hadn’t bought the black paint.



He flopped down on his comfortable chair and watched while Cordelia finally introduced Xander to Fred and Gunn and heard Xander congratulate Gunn at his excellent Cordette handling and ask if he had any tips about that or hidden gems about Angel? Before Angel could be allowed his right to finally snap he was robbed from that as well when he heard Cordelia's palm smack Xander over the head.



Angel grumbled but no one heard him. ~ And why doesn't she tell him to take his hand off already?! ~



He poked at the papers on his desk. Maybe he could let Wesley handle this paper work. They only seemed to grow. No, he should order him to do them! Yes, because he was the boss. It said so on his card. Not that it had ever been implemented. Angel kicked his foot depressed. His eyes widened when he felt his shoe lodge in the hole.



He tried to pull it back but it wouldn't budge. He wanted to cry. He hadn’t slept. He was hungry. And he wasn’t allowed to kill. And now his foot was stuck. If he didn’t learn from past experience, he would demand fate show him something worse than this. But he wasn't suicidal. Yet. So he started reciting prayers in every language he knew for these people to leave so he can walk to his elevator then his apartment with only one shoe on. He was allowed the small dignity he was left, right?



"Boss, the maintenance team are gonna bring your new desk in fifteen minutes, are those papers done yet so I can send them to the departments?"



Angel raised his eyes to his secretary's helpful smile. He touched the convenient stake in his desk. It wouldn't be wrong to dust her, right? He could do it from where he was sitting. It was easy. And it was like killing a defected animal that lost something essential. A brain was a necessity. But that wouldn't hold in court seeing as she never had one in the first place. Angel perked up. He had super-lawyer Gunn. Gunn didn't like Harmony, more today than ever with that bald thing she said. He just had to make sure that the Gunn didn't find out that he didn't know that the tall man wasn't really bold, too. Angel let go of the stake. No, it was too risky. Life sucked.



Harmony was blinking stupidly at Cordelia's 'cut it out' gesture. The actress noticed that Angel still wore his evening suit. She hoped Lorne did as well and was cementing his doorway and placing sanctuary spells in his place. She made a mantle note to ask him to do hers as well, whenever he came out of hiding that is. The only thing she hoped now was that Harmony would get the message and leave before anyone else noticed that Angel's shoe was stuck in the broken desk. She spared the poor desk carpenters a little sympathy then remembered that Angel's tantrums were making them money so she changed her mind about that. Cordelia sighed in relief when her blonde friend looked at her strangely but dropped the subject and left closing the door behind her.



~ One disaster averted. Now to get these guys out of here before Angel gets the itch to fire us all again. ~



Cordelia started her plan to advise everyone to say his or her goodbyes so they would go out for something to eat and catch up, when apocalypse knocked. Or in fact, barged in.