“I thought it would go away by now, but I’m still gettin’ the weirdness. Kinda in waves. When did yours go away?
“Oh, Freddles, about three seconds before I sat down to brunch with Angelina. Did you know that she’s probably the most powerful witch in the industry?”
“Really?” Fred shook her head to snap herself back to the issue at hand. “That’s great for you. I’m glad you’re having so much fun. Maybe it’s just me.”’
“I’ve seen you in the lab. You’re like the kid who won the toy store.”
“I love the lab. It’s huge and full of equipment I’ve never seen or heard of before. It’s not that at all. It’s just that I’m with all these strangers and I miss---.”
Fred was cut off by the annoyingly familiar ring of Lorne’s cell phone. He answered and was off just as quickly.
“I’m sorry Winnie-Pooh. I’m late for my meeting with a handful of some very big wigs. Can you Tivo that thought for me? I’ll catch up with you later.”
The green skinned demon smooched her cheek and was of before Fred could even think of stopping him. It was useless anyway. Lately, Fred saw less and less of her best friend. And everybody else for that matter. A fact that contributed to her uneasiness. As per usual, a ton of work waited for her back in the lab, so she made her way back to it. Each step taking her further from her family.
***********
“How’s it going’, boss-man.”
“Eve, will the idea that this is my office ever seep into your little brain?”
“What can I say? My mommy and daddy never taught me proper boundaries.” She then tossed him her patented look of what-are-you-gonna-do-about-it and sat herself in the chair facing his desk. “Are you tired, Angel? Your haven’t threatened to kill me yet.”
“What do you want? I’m not in the mood for games.”
“Are you ever?”
He shot her a very Angelus-like glare. She like to push his buttons and she knew just how far to go. This expression told her he was on the edge.
“The senior partners aren’t happy with your numbers.”
“And I so want them to be proud of me.”
Eve ignored his comment and continued. “Some key clients walked when you signed on. The ones the firm still has aren’t enough. You’re gonna need to bring in some big guns. Soon.”
Angel sighed. “Shouldn’t you be telling this to the PR department. I’ve got 17 million things that have to be done today. Things that I’m not really sure I should be dong, so could you not bring me things that aren’t my---.”
“The Partners are giving this responsibility to you. You need to get out there. You’ve got to show potential clients who you are. The need to know that you’re the guy that’s gonna make their lives run that much smoother.”
Angel stood up out of his chair. “Smoother? By keeping them out of jail? Providing sacrifices? Making people disappear? Or by not killing them?”
He walked from behind his desk and pulled Eve out of the chair by her elbow.
“Ouch! Your break it you bought it pal. I’m just the messenger.”
The vice grip on her elbow did now release even after they were outside Angel’s office doors.
“Harmony!”
The bubbly blonde popped up from behind her desk. “yes, bossy, er, boss?”
“Tell security to tackle Eve if she tries to come back to my office without my sending for her.” He then pulled Eve close enough to smell his mouthwash. “The next time I toss you out of this office, I’m keeping this arm.”
Releasing her at last, Angel turned and disappeared back into his office. Eve was off again before the door hit the frame.
“Do I want to now what that was about?”
Harmony looked up and saw Wesley holding a coffee in one hand and several file folders in the other.
“Just Angel and Eve’s morning meeting. You know. Threats, angry faces, loud voices.” She sat back in her chair and eyed the doors to Angel’s office. “It’s was a little more intense than usual now that I think about it. Maybe he needs one of those guy to guy talks.”
“I’m sorry. What?” Wes had tuned her out as he began to review the files in his hand. “Oh, right. That’s a good idea, but I’m swamped at the moment. Maybe Gunn has the time.”
“Someone has to. Just don’t let it fester. Festering can lead to stuff like mass murder. Those are never as fun as they say.”
“Hmm? Sure.” She’d lost him again. “I really have to see to this.”
Wesley walked to the elevator and pressed the up button. The doors slid open to reveal Gunn dressed in a very expensive suit.
“Oh, Gunn. If you have a minute, could you talk to Angel. I think it’s all starting to get under his skin.”
“I would, if I had a minute. I’m gonna need a few million extra just to get to all the meetings before lunch. As a matter of fact,” he lifted his wrist an glanced at his watch, “my next one started seven minutes ago.”
Wesley walked inside the elevator and pressed 47. “It’ll have to wait then.” The doors closed and Gunn rushed off to his meeting.
*************
The day had finally crept to a close. Angel sat behind his desk wearing a deeply furrowed brow. Wesley and Fred entered and joined Gun and Lorne in front of Angel.
“Okay, Angel hair. What’s up” Lorne asked.
Angel walked over to his window with the fantastic view. “Every morning , I get up and hope for one thing. I hope for one moment of clarity when I know for an absolute fact that I’m making the right decisions. When we came here, we had all these big ideas about how we’d be helping so many more people. We’d have all these resources. I can’t remember the last time we actually helped anyone. I sign contracts and approve deals. I don’t feel like we’ve accomplished what we started out to accomplish. It’s getting harder and harder to justify being here.”
“What are you saying?” Gunn asked.
“I think he’s saying that it’s really difficult to see the difference, if any. At Angel investigations, we saw the faces of those we helped. We could see the impact we made on people’s lives.”
Fred joined Angel at the window. “Angel, are you thinkin’ we should leave?”
“ I don’t know,” he began to rub his forehead, “I’ve gotten more and more confused the more I think about it. I don’t know what I’m doing or why I’m doing it anymore. I just feel like I’ve lost something.
Suddenly, the lights in Angel’s office began to flicker erratically. The room the filled with a bright white light and faded quickly into pitch-black darkness.
“Whoa! What the hell was that?” Gunn’s voice rang out in the still dark room.
“I’ll call security and check it out.” Angel moved back toward his desk and slammed his shin against something solid. “Ouch! Wait. Where’s my desk?”
“What are you talking about?” Wes asked. “It didn’t disappear.”
“That’s what you say.”
“Somethin’ don’t feel right. I’m thinkin that wasn’t your typical power surge.” Fred felt her way blindly through the room.
A second later, a lamp flicked on partially illuminating a room that was not Angel‘s office.
“I’ve always found that when I’m lose something, it’s best to go back to the beginning and retrace my steps.”
The voice cut through Angel like a hot knife through butter. He whipped around and caught the eyes of a very familiar face. “My God. Doyle?”
****Please review. I could use some input for the next chapter.******
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