The second the nurse told me Cordelia was awake, I hung up on her, not wanting to waste any time asking questions. I headed out of the lab and to medical as fast as my feet could carry me. Part of me couldn't believe she was awake...the last I'd heard the doctors didn't think she would, ever. I'm not usually one to use the term miracle very often, but it kinda feels like one.
"Cordelia." I said softly, smiling as I walked into the room, "You're awake." I crossed over to the bed. "How are you feeling?" I asked, knowing she was probably extremely confused.
I was relieved when Fred walked in. The doctors and nurses hadn't been much of a help; their temporary presence in my room had been annoying as all hell before I shooed them out, and if anyone could explain to me what was going on, it was Fred.
Nevermind the fact that Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Lorne and...definitely not Connor, he's probably wishing me dead right now, were all either too busy to show up, or just didn't care.
The sad thing is, after the things my possessed body did, I don't blame them.
"How are you feeling?"
Not how, what. What I'm feeling right now is an overwhelming sense of guilt for the huge amount of hell that I put them through while I was M.I.B....
Missing in body, not Men in Black.
"Well, I'm not dead. My nails are done, and someone gave me a new hairstyle without asking, which would piss me off if I didn't like it so much. When did you start wearing mini-skirts?"
"Okay, mini-skirts...around the same time we started working here. Didn't seem like such a big deal, I guess." I told her, even though I wasn't sure I could explain it myself.
"I'm so glad you're back, Cordy." I smiled warmly to her. Wasn't really sure if the comments about the hair and nails were her way of saying she was fine. Not that I was really expecting clear cut answers right now. She just woke up out of a coma. There's gotta be a huge amount of disorientation going on there, right?
"Okay, mini-skirts...around the same time we started working here. Didn't seem like such a big deal, I guess."
Here? Did the gang get lost in an episode of ER? It would be typical, or even expected of Fred to go the medical route and start saving lives that way, but she said 'we'. 'We' implies that Angel Investigations packed up and set up shop here, which makes no sense, even if I am a little out of it.
Oh, unless she's crazy again.
"So um, how are you Fred? Did anything happen over the past few....weeks, that you're not telling me about?"
Like you're writing on walls and hiding under tables like you used to? Maybe with everything that's happened, she's lost it.
"I'm so glad you're back, Cordy."
Scratch that, she doesn't sound mental. There's a huge difference between having an aversion to people, and claiming to run a ...whatever this is. So it's not her, but I know it's not me either.
Things are different now.
"And I'm glad that I'm not dead. I get the feeling I missed you."
"There's actually quite a bit we should talk about...but I think you're probably gonna want to do most of that with Angel..." I said hesitantly.
I knew she wasn't going to like anything I had to say about what had changed, and that she'd demand to see him anyway, so I figured, might as well say that up front. I get why she's confused, and really, can't blame her...I would be too if I were her.
Part of me wanted to be anywhere but in her general vicinity when she found out we'd taken over Wolfram & Hart. You didn't have to be a genius to figure out she was going to go balistic...
"We're all glad you aren't dead, Cordelia." I pointed out softly. "So how are you feeling anyway? Besides totally confused about what you've missed, I mean?"
"There's actually quite a bit we should talk about...but I think you're probably gonna want to do most of that with Angel..."
That means I'm not going to react well. Fred's usually ready to yammer on about everything that's happening with the gang. Whatever this new development is, its big, and I'm going to be opposed to it. Great job guys.
"We're all glad you aren't dead, Cordelia."
Considering everything that happened before I took my long nap, I'm surprised she's willing to speak for everyone when Fred says that she's glad I didn't bite it.
"Then maybe you should start showing it."
Smiling, I got up to give her a hug. It was hokey, and made me think of a family sitcom from the 90's, but it also seemed necessary. Fred was always a true friend to me when I needed her, and now that I wasn't pulling a Sleeping Beauty, I could be grateful for it.
"So how are you feeling anyway? Besides totally confused about what you've missed, I mean?"
I smiled back as she hugged me, returning it tightly for a moment. "Okay, well, I figured that much," I laughed softly, "I was more or less referring to physically. Think you're strong enough for me to talk the doctors in to letting you out of here? I'm pretty sure you don't want to stay here a second longer than you have to right?"
I wasn't exactly sure where I was going to take her. Downstairs probably wasn't the best plan. Not right away, at least. Though I should find out where Angel is, and if he's busy...
I'm not usually the one that deals with this sort of stuff. Angel and Wesley do. I'd just take her home...but there really isn't one...Charles and I couldn't afford to renew the lease on her apartment, and the Hyperion isn't an option. We'll figure that out when we get there.
"I was more or less referring to physically. Think you're strong enough for me to talk the doctors in to letting you out of here? I'm pretty sure you don't want to stay here a second longer than you have to right?"
"I don't even want to stay here if I have to."
Besides, I feel great. Better than great, if there is such a thing, and I wouldnt know what the word for that would be anyway. We'll leave it at me desperately wanting out of my very sterile environment and hope that Fred has enough pull to get me the hell out of this place in a hurry.
"Where is everyone?"
We've established that they aren't mad at me, just too busy for me at the moment. Normally I'd think they're out on a case, but there's a lot that Fred isn't telling me, so anything related to our usual is probably the wrong assumption to make.
"Last I talked to any of them they were all fine, Cordy, so I don't think you have to worry there." I told her quickly, "As for where they are...probably just busy working. I'm sure as soon as they find out you're awake you won't be able to get them to leave you alone." I added, smiling to her. A small attempt to reassure her, since I could tell she was getting worried by my cryptic answers.
"I'd get dressed if I were you. Unless you want to leave here in the hospital gown." I smirked, "I'll just go track down a doctor and get you all signed out."
I just have to figure out where we're gonna go after that's done...Great. Well, I guess I can ask her when we're in the car where she wants to go? Right...that's plan-like.
"Last I talked to any of them they were all fine, Cordy, so I don't think you have to worry there. As for where they are...probably just busy working. I'm sure as soon as they find out you're awake you won't be able to get them to leave you alone."
Working? They're all working here? Clearly I have to stop thinking about this because it's not getting me anything but more questions. Fred knows how to keep a secret, I'll give her that much.
"A little attention never hurt anyone."
"I'd get dressed if I were you. Unless you want to leave here in the hospital gown. I'll just go track down a doctor and get you all signed out."
Sighing, I looked in the mirror. The hospital gown had to go, but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of putting on the clothes I'd worn while I was mystically knocked up. They should have known I was evil by the change in wardrobe.
"Think we can hit up a mall on our way back to the hotel?"
Now, how to address the hotel issue? Just telling her the truth there is the easiest, isn't it? Least complicated, anyway. And with everything to be considered right now? The less complicated the better.
"We can definitely go shopping, but we kinda don't live in the hotel anymore." I said quickly. "Everything changed so fast...and it's going to take forever to explain it all..." I sighed slightly, again worrying about how she was going to take the news that we were now running Wolfram and Hart.
Part of me wanted to just tell her, but I wasn't entirely sure it was my place.
"We can definitely go shopping, but we kinda don't live in the hotel anymore. Everything changed so fast...and it's going to take forever to explain it all..."
Don't tell me it blew up. I'll be pissed if I find out that yet another one of our buildings was demolished because we're a little too good at kicking the dark side's ass. And what the hell am I supposed to do now? After coming back as an amnesiac, and for almost the entire time that I was evil, the hotel was my home. Now that they don't live there, I don't have one.
"I'm going to be pissed at Angel, aren't I?"
I could use a warning. A nice, big, flashing neon sign to let me know that the worst is coming. So far, I haven't gotten one of those. Skirty Fred has been nice, but she's keeping a lot of information from me, and I don't like it when my friends get secretive. It tells me that there's something wrong.
"Uh..." I trailed off slightly, knowing the look on my face between her asking if she was going to be pissed at Angel and then asking me to place everything that had happened on a badness scale probably gave a fair bit away
( ... )
"How 'bout this...if you really want me to tell you, we'll go get you some clothes, we'll stop somewhere for some take-out, whatever you want, and we'll go back to my apartment, and I'll fill you in as best I can. As long as you promise to at least make an attempt at listening to Angel when you talk to him?"
I was the one who brought it up, but Fred is pushing the clothes. Pushing, also known as bribing, is a good way to distract me from the truth. She's smart enough to know that a good spend will sharpen the blow about whatever this big secret is.
"Fair enough."
I can attempt. I've been attempting with Angel for years. If there's anyone who knows how to put in or fake effort, it's me.
"As long as everyone is still alive and fighting the good fight, I can try to keep my wrath to a minimum."
There, I'm making an effort. It's not easy to wake up and find out that there's big news that your friend isn't comfortable telling you about. I'm handling this pretty well. Pretty damn well. And I'm sure that Angel has some explaining to
"Thank you, Cordelia." I smiled softly to her. "I'm probably making everything sound worse than than it really is...you know how I can get sometimes..."
Okay, so true, I could occasionally over-react, but I'm not sure she would believe for a second that this was one of those times. It was at least worth a shot though, a small attempt at relaxing her before she threatened to stake Angel the second she found out.
"We're all still alive and fighting the good fight, I promise." It's just whether we're more or less effective as compared to the hotel that's currently up for debate.
"We're all still alive and fighting the good fight, I promise."
Fred wouldn't lie, so it's reasonably safe for me to assume that they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. Angel's fight will never be over, and if he'd abandoned that...
Let's just say that he wouldn't have been happy to see me. The mission always comes first, and regardless of what else changes, if we're still fighting, we're still doing our jobs. I can deal with things being different, even if it is scaring me a little right now. If I knew what to expect I might feel a little better about this whole thing. Then again, if I knew what was going on, I might feel a hell of a lot worse, especially if Fred's nervous about explaining it.
"As long as you're not evil, I think I can handle it."
"Cordelia." I said softly, smiling as I walked into the room, "You're awake." I crossed over to the bed. "How are you feeling?" I asked, knowing she was probably extremely confused.
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Nevermind the fact that Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Lorne and...definitely not Connor, he's probably wishing me dead right now, were all either too busy to show up, or just didn't care.
The sad thing is, after the things my possessed body did, I don't blame them.
"How are you feeling?"
Not how, what. What I'm feeling right now is an overwhelming sense of guilt for the huge amount of hell that I put them through while I was M.I.B....
Missing in body, not Men in Black.
"Well, I'm not dead. My nails are done, and someone gave me a new hairstyle without asking, which would piss me off if I didn't like it so much. When did you start wearing mini-skirts?"
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"I'm so glad you're back, Cordy." I smiled warmly to her. Wasn't really sure if the comments about the hair and nails were her way of saying she was fine. Not that I was really expecting clear cut answers right now. She just woke up out of a coma. There's gotta be a huge amount of disorientation going on there, right?
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Here? Did the gang get lost in an episode of ER? It would be typical, or even expected of Fred to go the medical route and start saving lives that way, but she said 'we'. 'We' implies that Angel Investigations packed up and set up shop here, which makes no sense, even if I am a little out of it.
Oh, unless she's crazy again.
"So um, how are you Fred? Did anything happen over the past few....weeks, that you're not telling me about?"
Like you're writing on walls and hiding under tables like you used to? Maybe with everything that's happened, she's lost it.
"I'm so glad you're back, Cordy."
Scratch that, she doesn't sound mental. There's a huge difference between having an aversion to people, and claiming to run a ...whatever this is. So it's not her, but I know it's not me either.
Things are different now.
"And I'm glad that I'm not dead. I get the feeling I missed you."
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I knew she wasn't going to like anything I had to say about what had changed, and that she'd demand to see him anyway, so I figured, might as well say that up front. I get why she's confused, and really, can't blame her...I would be too if I were her.
Part of me wanted to be anywhere but in her general vicinity when she found out we'd taken over Wolfram & Hart. You didn't have to be a genius to figure out she was going to go balistic...
"We're all glad you aren't dead, Cordelia." I pointed out softly. "So how are you feeling anyway? Besides totally confused about what you've missed, I mean?"
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That means I'm not going to react well. Fred's usually ready to yammer on about everything that's happening with the gang. Whatever this new development is, its big, and I'm going to be opposed to it. Great job guys.
"We're all glad you aren't dead, Cordelia."
Considering everything that happened before I took my long nap, I'm surprised she's willing to speak for everyone when Fred says that she's glad I didn't bite it.
"Then maybe you should start showing it."
Smiling, I got up to give her a hug. It was hokey, and made me think of a family sitcom from the 90's, but it also seemed necessary. Fred was always a true friend to me when I needed her, and now that I wasn't pulling a Sleeping Beauty, I could be grateful for it.
"So how are you feeling anyway? Besides totally confused about what you've missed, I mean?"
"I think the totally confused part covers it."
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I wasn't exactly sure where I was going to take her. Downstairs probably wasn't the best plan. Not right away, at least. Though I should find out where Angel is, and if he's busy...
I'm not usually the one that deals with this sort of stuff. Angel and Wesley do. I'd just take her home...but there really isn't one...Charles and I couldn't afford to renew the lease on her apartment, and the Hyperion isn't an option. We'll figure that out when we get there.
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"I don't even want to stay here if I have to."
Besides, I feel great. Better than great, if there is such a thing, and I wouldnt know what the word for that would be anyway. We'll leave it at me desperately wanting out of my very sterile environment and hope that Fred has enough pull to get me the hell out of this place in a hurry.
"Where is everyone?"
We've established that they aren't mad at me, just too busy for me at the moment. Normally I'd think they're out on a case, but there's a lot that Fred isn't telling me, so anything related to our usual is probably the wrong assumption to make.
"Are they alright?"
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"I'd get dressed if I were you. Unless you want to leave here in the hospital gown." I smirked, "I'll just go track down a doctor and get you all signed out."
I just have to figure out where we're gonna go after that's done...Great. Well, I guess I can ask her when we're in the car where she wants to go? Right...that's plan-like.
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Working? They're all working here? Clearly I have to stop thinking about this because it's not getting me anything but more questions. Fred knows how to keep a secret, I'll give her that much.
"A little attention never hurt anyone."
"I'd get dressed if I were you. Unless you want to leave here in the hospital gown. I'll just go track down a doctor and get you all signed out."
Sighing, I looked in the mirror. The hospital gown had to go, but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of putting on the clothes I'd worn while I was mystically knocked up. They should have known I was evil by the change in wardrobe.
"Think we can hit up a mall on our way back to the hotel?"
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Now, how to address the hotel issue? Just telling her the truth there is the easiest, isn't it? Least complicated, anyway. And with everything to be considered right now? The less complicated the better.
"We can definitely go shopping, but we kinda don't live in the hotel anymore." I said quickly. "Everything changed so fast...and it's going to take forever to explain it all..." I sighed slightly, again worrying about how she was going to take the news that we were now running Wolfram and Hart.
Part of me wanted to just tell her, but I wasn't entirely sure it was my place.
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Don't tell me it blew up. I'll be pissed if I find out that yet another one of our buildings was demolished because we're a little too good at kicking the dark side's ass. And what the hell am I supposed to do now? After coming back as an amnesiac, and for almost the entire time that I was evil, the hotel was my home. Now that they don't live there, I don't have one.
"I'm going to be pissed at Angel, aren't I?"
I could use a warning. A nice, big, flashing neon sign to let me know that the worst is coming. So far, I haven't gotten one of those. Skirty Fred has been nice, but she's keeping a lot of information from me, and I don't like it when my friends get secretive. It tells me that there's something wrong.
"Scale of one to ten, how bad is it?"
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I was the one who brought it up, but Fred is pushing the clothes. Pushing, also known as bribing, is a good way to distract me from the truth. She's smart enough to know that a good spend will sharpen the blow about whatever this big secret is.
"Fair enough."
I can attempt. I've been attempting with Angel for years. If there's anyone who knows how to put in or fake effort, it's me.
"As long as everyone is still alive and fighting the good fight, I can try to keep my wrath to a minimum."
There, I'm making an effort. It's not easy to wake up and find out that there's big news that your friend isn't comfortable telling you about. I'm handling this pretty well. Pretty damn well. And I'm sure that Angel has some explaining to
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Okay, so true, I could occasionally over-react, but I'm not sure she would believe for a second that this was one of those times. It was at least worth a shot though, a small attempt at relaxing her before she threatened to stake Angel the second she found out.
"We're all still alive and fighting the good fight, I promise." It's just whether we're more or less effective as compared to the hotel that's currently up for debate.
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Fred wouldn't lie, so it's reasonably safe for me to assume that they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. Angel's fight will never be over, and if he'd abandoned that...
Let's just say that he wouldn't have been happy to see me. The mission always comes first, and regardless of what else changes, if we're still fighting, we're still doing our jobs. I can deal with things being different, even if it is scaring me a little right now. If I knew what to expect I might feel a little better about this whole thing. Then again, if I knew what was going on, I might feel a hell of a lot worse, especially if Fred's nervous about explaining it.
"As long as you're not evil, I think I can handle it."
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