| Chapter sixteen �So does everyone understand what they�re to do?� Angel whispered to the group huddled together in the shadows. Everyone nodded, and made sure they had all their equipment. Angel checked to make sure Willow was ready, he knew that she ran the risk of getting hurt just like the rest of them. It was the desire to assure himself she was okay that pulled at him, until it became overwhelming. Squeezing her hand, reassuring him more than her, he heading down the alley. �He didn�t make sure I was okay.� Gunn mocked Willow. He received two separate slaps on his arm from Cordelia and Willow. Willow thought Angel was checking up on her because he thought she was a weak link. No matter where she was at, Sunnydale or here, someone always thought she was unable to take care of herself. Frankly she was getting tired of it. They spotted the Patron Demon jumping out from behind a trash dumpster, swinging a broad axe at the Vampire�s head. Ducking the metal object, Angel pulled out his own weapon. �Okay there�s the first Demon, now where in the hell is it�s mate?� Gunn looked around wondering where the other Patron Demon could be hiding. Angel had said that this particular breed stuck together, they hunted with there mates, ate with their mates, and when one died before the other the remaining demon would go insane. That�s why it was so important to kill them at the same time. They were strong suckers, hard enough to kill in their right minds. They didn�t need one to go berserk. �Don�t these Demons know we make plans for a reason? They�re so impolite.� Cordelia was nervous, something about dark, smelly alleyways made her uneasy. �I know what you mean. Angel made us go through his plan like a hundred times. Once we all get it right, the damn demons change it on us.� Willow tried to continue the conversation, knowing that not only would it help calm the queasiness in her tummy, but calm Cordelia�s nerves as well. Gunn wished he could play along, but the beating Angel was getting, made the young man indecisive. Go and help the vampire, which went totally against the plan. Wait for the demon�s mate to show up and continue with the plan, just a little delayed. Or get the group the hell out of there, something the dark vampire would have wanted him to do if things went wrong. �He needs our help.� Willow moaned as Angel was flung up against the brick wall. �Hold up there Xena. Angel didn�t make us repeat the plan some billion times to have us jump in at the wrong time.� Gunn agreed that they should do something. But earlier that night Angel had pulled him aside, saying that if something happened to get everyone to safety and not look back. �Wait, look over there.� Wesley pointed to another shadow a little bit down the alley from where they were huddled. It looked like the demon�s mate was lying up against a darkened wall unconscious. �Well now what?� Cordelia wished she could stretch her aching leg muscles. �I say we split up. The one lying over there isn�t going to put up much of a struggle, and Angel needs our help.� Willow�s eyes were on Angel, watching as he fought to keep his balance. The strength of the demon he was fighting was incredible, and if they didn�t help him now she didn�t know how long he�d last. �Fine you girls take out sleeping beauty; Wes and I will help out Angel. On the count of three. One... two...thr-� The sound of a cell phone cut the dark young man off, and brought the fight in the alley to a stop, before he could finish. They each looked at one another, trying to figure out who the sound was coming from. �I left mine at home.� Wesley stammered. �Don�t have one.� Gunn shrugged. �Mine broke last week when Spike stepped on it.� Cordelia looked at the remaining person, Willow. �Shit!� Exclaimed the tiny redhead, fishing in her jacket pocket. �Angel made me carry it, in case something happened to Douglass. I thought I had turned it off.� �Three!� Gunn jumped up at little earlier than the rest, but it didn�t take long for them to react. Angel couldn�t say he was terribly sorry that they hadn�t listened to him, he was getting an ass beating, and it wasn�t all that fun. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Willow standing over the motionless demon, waiting for the right moment to end its life. Turning back to his opponent he grinned when he saw Gunn�s sword pierce the demon from behind. �The three men surrounded it and attacked at the same time. Willow and Cordelia watched, �So how do we know when they�re going in for the kill?� The redhead was ready to do away with the demon at her feet, but didn�t want to do it at the wrong time. Gunn�s sword arched in the air toward the Patron Demon�s throat. �Now!� Wesley cried out. Willow raised her own sword high above her head, but before she could swing it down to her target, she was brushed aside, and Angel decapitated the demon. She let the sword drop as she glared at the vampire. �How...How male of him.� she looked over to Cordelia, who also stood just staring at Angel. �You did that because?� Cordelia planted her hands on her hip. Angel stared at the two-pived girls in confusion. �What?� �I can�t believe you just did that!� Cried out Willow. �I swear it was like reliving high school gym class all over. You�re like one of those guys that would jump in front of me whenever the volleyball was coming in my direction.� �Oh I hated that. Why bother playing if those testosterone-induced jerks weren�t going to let us touch the damn ball!� Cordelia went on. �This isn�t gym class, and what the hell is volleyball?� Angel couldn�t understand what the girls were getting upset about. He just killed the demon so they wouldn�t have to. �It�s the same thing...well this not being gym class...or volleyball...but why bring us along if you�re going to do all the work. Why not keep us at home knitting dollies or whatever?� Willow picked up her fallen sword and walked away. Leaving Angel a little lost. �I�m so glad I�m not you man.� Gunn Tried to keep a straight face. �You just committed one of the hugest crimes against the feminist movement.� �What did I do? I just killed a demon. There�ll be more.� Angel followed his retreating friends. �Angel I know that you...have feelings toward Willow.� Wesley fell in step with the vampire, not missing the menacing look Angel cast at him. �Of Friendship, yes feelings of friendship. But...Ah...You can�t keep jumping in the middle of her fights. She is capable of handling herself, even against unconscious demons.� Wesley kept his eyes on the ground, knowing the deadly looks his friend was shooting at him. �I think what Willow was trying to explain is; why ask them to be part of the team, if we wont let them play?� �I killed a demon. We kill demons everyday. Why are they so upset about this one? There will be more for them to kill.� Angel was irritated. He saved them from having to make the kill. They should thank him. �Angel I think you�re missing the point. The demon was not endangering the girls, and was quiet an easy kill. They come out with us at night to help. Not be brushed off.� �So you�re saying that I should let them kill. It�ll make them happy?� �Yes...No...You sure do have a flare for being oblivious. If Buffy were standing there waiting for the right time to make the kill would you have jumped in front of her before she could make her move?� Angel thought for a moment. �No.� �So why are you treating our girls any differently? They may not be slayers, but they have been battling the nasties for many years now.� Angel sighed, �So basically I just insulted them both. Making them feel like they can�t even fight against a sleeping demon?� �YES!� Wesley exclaimed, happy that the vampire was finally getting it. �One more question?� �Anything.� �What the hell is Volleyball?� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ �Men suck.� Cordelia huffed as she flung herself onto her bed. �Majorly!� Willow joined her. �I mean why do we bust our asses two hours a day for if they�re going to do all the work?� Cordelia was feeling restless. �I say we go out! We have yet to go clubbing and I say right now is a perfect time!� Willow was going to decline, but couldn�t come up with any reason not to. �You�re on! Should we tell the others?� Cordelia shrugged. �Why not. I mean it�s not like they won�t follow us.� The guys were sitting in the lobby complaining about the workings of the female minds, when Willow and Cordelia came down offering the invitation of bar hopping that night. They all looked warily at one another, knowing that it had to be another female oddity. One minute they�re mad as hell, next they�re fine and making plans for the rest of the night. Of course they agreed, they were too afraid not to. �We�ll be ready in an hour.� The girls dashed upstairs to get ready. Planning on their wardrobe, and where they should go. The only thing that would make the night better is if Douglass going with them. |
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