Rude Awakening

[da_lilah]

A flicker of light pierced the gloom as I began to awaken. My eyelids fluttered open, and I squinted, trying to adjust to the new light level. I could hear people talking, dull murmurs, muffled in some way. Ok, this was not what I expected. Not at all. Where the hell was I? And why couldn't I go back to that dream I was having?

"Come on, I bet you

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[da_lilah]

"Good morning Ms. Morgan. Welcome back."

I heard the words and somehow it put me even more on edge to see her smiling at me like that. Reminded me if a time when the circumstances had been somewhat reversed...

"We are all very pleased you're here. - I know it's a bit confusing - but it's going to be better soon - a lot better, Darla."

Now I was in the position of the confused, disorented subject being let of of her cage for a while. I didn't like it one bit, but then again it beat languishing in some hell dimension like before the last time they pulled me out and dusted me off.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Take a moment to adjust and we will discuss everything."

I raised an eyebrow at Miss Preppy. Who the hell was she fooling with the customer service act? But I accepted the robe from her, slipping it on, and cinching it closed.

"I've brought some of your preferred brand of bourbon, I thought you would be needing it during our chat. When you are ready we can go up to my office where we can discuss things further." I

[bitch_eve]

"You've done your research."

I nodded. "You know that Wolfram and Hart doesn't do anything half way Ms. Morgan. Everything is done specifically and accurately." And always with a motive.

I took the glass from her and passed it off to one of the demons that I had brought with me. I couldn't help but smile. "Why Ms. Morgan, what makes you think that I want to be your best friend? I never really had use for them."

I dismissed the demons and looked at her. "I think allies is more what I'm after. That and I your services are needed at the moment." Poor thing looked highly confused. "Let's head to my office and I'll have everything explained, including how you got where you are currently."

I tilted my head and looked at her with a hint of sincerity. "Are you able to walk or would you like a chair for the time being? I can have someone wheel you up to my office if you like."

[da_lilah]

"Why Ms. Morgan, what makes you think that I want to be your best friend? I never really had use for them. I think allies is more what I'm after. That and your services are needed at the moment."

"Well, good. Glad we got that out of the way. Friendships are so overrated. As for being allies? I'll reserve judgement, thanks. Until I get put back into the loop."

"Are you able to walk or would you like a chair for the time being? I can have someone wheel you up to my office if you like."I narrowed my eyes at her, was she implying I was weak? Or did she really have concern for me? I shrugged and began to walk up the corridor. Sure I was a little unsteady on my feet, but I needed the muscles to get used to being active again anyway

[bitch_eve]

I just looked at her. "You will see Ms. Morgan that the loop has not only changed but has been completely redesigned."

Gratitude is what this woman so needs to learn. Eventually she will see, soon she will see that I can stuff her right back in that box and not look back.

"Walking is fine."

I shrugged. "Your choice. I don't need you falling on that pretty lil face of yours. Not after you were just restored."

"Wait...how did- I'm alive? And not 'walking dead' alive?"I stop mid step and turn to look at her, slight amusement on my face. "Why yes, Ms Morgan. You are in fact one of the living...again. You are flesh and blood human. But you are still bound by this firm as I'm sure you clearly understand

[da_lilah]

"Your choice. I don't need you falling on that pretty lil face of yours. Not after you were just restored."

Pretty lil face of mine? Condescending much? Interesting, though. Didn't seem like the kinda thing a young college age girl would say. I filed that little tidbit away for later.

"Why yes, Ms Morgan. You are in fact one of the living...again. You are flesh and blood human. But you are still bound by this firm as I'm sure you clearly understand.""Of course, I wasn't born yesterday, or today for that matter. My body and soul is the sole property of Wolfram and Heart forever and ever, yadda yadda, do I get a cookie now

[bitch_eve]

"Of course, I wasn't born yesterday, or today for that matter. My body and soul is the sole property of Wolfram and Heart forever and ever, yadda yadda, do I get a cookie now?"

I laugh and look at her. "Would you like oatmeal or chocolate chip?" I can snark right back at her. I swear she's got the snot stick shoved so far up her ass it's not funny.

I could tell she didn't like me, or didn't know what to think of me. Hey, it's all good to me. I don't need to be on her good side. She's mortal, I'm not. Nuff said.

"Eve? You must get some wicked Adam jokes thrown your way. And liaison to the Senior Partners? Never heard of one before.""I get a few. Mostly apple jokes." I shrugged. "That's usually before they realize who and what I am." Now I'm just so much more. I licked my lips and looked back at her. "I'm the eyes and ears of the partners. That's it in a nutshell. They want something done they have me relay it to the big boss. Anything happens down here that I think they should know about I report back." I shrugged. "That's what I

[da_lilah]

"I get a few. Mostly apple jokes...That's usually before they realize who and what I am...I'm the eyes and ears of the partners. That's it in a nutshell. They want something done they have me relay it to the big boss. Anything happens down here that I think they should know about I report back. That's what I was originally created for. Now, is an entirely new ball game."

A pretty little speech, and a touch on the unnerving side. She was their eyes and ears? What was she, omnipotent or something? Probably Eve just liked to use hyperbole overmuch. Still, I wasn't about to give over what little power I might have left in the firm if I could help it.

"Time has been rewound to fix mistakes that were made. In short. Angel fucked up."

A year? I was kept 'offline' for a year? Twiddling my thumbs, when I could have been doing something productive? Well, no wonder Angel fucked up with noone like me around to keep the proverbial fires licking at his heels.

What had this liaison done with him all year? Had a rummage sale?

"Angel single-

[bitch_eve]

I laughed at her sarcastic tone. "My thoughts exactly. Then again this is Angel we are talking about, he seems to be a pro at fuck ups." That vampire has spoiled everything he's ever touched. They could rewrite history over and over and he would still ruin everything.

"Not for all? So, how I fit in?"And here we go

[da_lilah]

"Angel has all memories, as well as the knowledge that every one of his friends were killed in the last fight before the rewind. He also knows that it was the Partners that brought them back and just as easily take it away..."

So, the others had died for him. Wesley, Gunn, Fred, Cordelia and who knows who else? Wesley. I'd always said Angel would be the death of him. I hadn't been wrong on that. The man had been stubbornly loyal even when he'd been cast aside like yesterday's leftovers and branded a traitor. He'd still, underneath it all, believed in Angel and believed in the mission. Just like the others, all fools. Well, too bad I'd missed the big finish.

"You, obviously, have all of your memories up until you were put into storage. I will have someone fill you in on everything you need to know."I nodded, everything was always on a 'need to know' basis with this firm. If you wanted more you had to go and dig it out for yourself. Obviously I was going to have to spend some time in Files and Records and contacting my own sources to

[bitch_eve]

I took a sip of my drink to hide my smug look. I had gotten to her. That was the point, she needed to understand the severity of this assignment.

"This is Wesley's. I presume that my being back has something to do with him then?"

I sat back down on my desk and looked over at her. "It's good to know that being out of the loop didn't dim your whit's Ms. Morgan." I licked my lips and crossed my legs. "Your assignment is Mr. Pryce. Since the rewind he's been a bit...lost so to speak. I guess being dead would throw anyone for a loop."

I got up off of my desk and opened the door. "It's about time." I took the clothing from the man standing on the other side of the door. I walked over and handed them to Lilah. "You'll see these suit your taste. Mr. Pryce's office is down the hall, third door on the right." I walked back over to the door and held it open for her. "I'd like you to go see him now."