Just In Case
Max waited impatiently in the lobby as Cordelia feverishly stuffed the last of the filing unceremoniously into the cabinet. Angel had grudgingly agreed to let her go early, even though they’d been extremely busy. Max had an early day as well. In between their hectic schedules and Max’s impromptu trip to parts unknown, the girls hadn’t had much chance to get out and enjoy themselves like they did when they first met. And after their bonding session over the woes of Max’s biological idiosynchrocies, they really needed to get out and about. Once the filing was shut away, Cordy leaned over the desk to flip the intercom switch that was wired to Angel’s apartment.
"Hey boss, the filing is done, so if that’s it, I’ll be leaving," she informed him. She glanced up at her friend, a twinkle in her eye. "And if there’s more, screw it, I’m leaving anyway." There was a pause, then Angel’s voice filtered through.
"I don’t know Cordy," he spoke in his gentle voice, teasing as well. "Maybe I should come up and make sure all your chores are done before playtime. Just in case you know." Cordelia rolled her eyes and was about to respond, when a thumping noise caught her attention. "Max!" she shrieked, forgetting her finger was still holding the ‘talk’ button. She let it go and hurried around her desk, scrambling to her knees to check on her friend who had just mysteriously passed out.
Angel had heard the thump above him and the terror in Cordy’s voice. He raced out of his apartment, sprinting up the rickety stairs as if Hell were on his heels. He skidded to a stop in the lobby. Careful to avoiding sun filtering in, he crept towards them as quickly as possible. "What happened?" he demanded as he knelt beside the prone girl. He felt for her pulse, which was strong and steady. She was breathing evenly.
"I don’t know," Cordy sighed. "I was talking to you and she was fine. The next thing I know, she fainted."
"Did she hit her head when she fell?"
"On the floor, yeah," she confirmed. "I wonder what made her faint."
"Maybe stress, hunger, could be a lot of things," Angel mused. Now that he knew Max wasn’t in fatal danger, he allowed himself to relax a little. "Here, let’s get her somewhere a little more comfortable." He gently picked her up and carried her down the stairs, Cordy trailing behind him.
"Well, safe to say, no partying tonight," she sighed again. "Oh well. Always next month I guess." Angel just smiled and kept moving. He deposited her on his couch and Cordy sank to the floor to keep an eye on her friend. Angel went to the kitchen to run a towel under some cool water. He wanted her to wake up so he could check her head for concussion, although he didn’t think it was overly serious. But he, like Cordy, did wonder what had caused the faint.
Max had been idly listening to the banter between her friend and the vampire. She enjoyed hearing him talk and tease Cordy. From what little she’d gathered, it was something he rarely did and it improved everyone’s mood when it happened. Something to be savored. But then, those familiar words had come. ‘Just in case.’ But this time, instead of seeing Sandeman’s face as she had last seen it, another had risen in its place. Little Case, her nephew. And it hadn’t been the sleeping, recovering face that she’d kissed goodbye when he and his father had left for Mexico and points beyond. No, this little face was lifeless, bloodless, eyes wide and…accusing. Max’s knees trembled as she recalled finally, what had been eluding her about her former life. The night she had saved the world, and destroyed her heart and soul in the process. With a little keening cry, she felt blackness close in. Case’s eyes grew larger and more hurt. She couldn’t bear it. She shut her eyes, trying to block the face, anything. And blackness swept over her.
Angel tried bathing Max’s face, but she remained out of it. He’d lifted her up to check her head wound, glad to find that it was completely superficial. After twenty minutes had passed, he began to worry that perhaps something worse was going on. He knew Cordelia was sensing his worry and multiplying it with her own. She’d already suggested calling the ambulance, but Angel had convinced her to wait a little longer. Max hated doctors and hospitals. He wouldn’t inflict them on her if he didn’t absolutely have to. Finally, after a few more minutes, Max moaned.
With eyes still shut, she lifted her hand to her face. She let out a soft moan. Her hand covered her eyes and her body began to tremble. Angel rose up on his knees and was about to speak, but the lone teardrop that rolled down his cheek quieted him.
"Case," she whispered. Angel’s brow furrowed, he knew he’d heard her say that before. It wasn’t until he recalled her life story that he remembered. It was a name.
"Max?" Cordy called softly. The other woman didn’t respond. Cordy exchanged glances with Angel. She shrugged, as if to say ‘you try’.
"Max?" Angel said. "Max, are you okay?" She was trembling worse now, biting her lip to keep back the tears. Angel couldn’t help but react. He slid an arm under her shoulders as the other moved to her waist. He hugged her to him as he leaned forward. "Shh," he soothed. "It’s okay. It’s going to be all right." But his words only served to make her cry in earnest, great body-wracking sobs. The noise was so full of yearning and despair that Angel almost cried with her.
"Case," Cordy whispered. "Who’s that?"
"Her nephew," he answered gruffly. He still held the woman in his arms and her sobs were lessening. A thought flitted across his mind and he groaned inwardly. He recalled what he’d said to Cordy over the intercom. He wondered if one of the things that she couldn’t remember had something to do with the boy. Perhaps she was now remembering. It would certainly account for the reaction. Angel just continued to hold her. Finally the sobs stopped and Angel felt her go limp again. Reluctantly, he let her slide back to the couch, removed his arms, and then turned to face his friend.
"I didn’t realize she had family," Cordy was puzzled. "Beyond her Manticore siblings, I mean." Naturally, with the truth in the open, Max had given her the bare bones of her former existence, which Cordy had been able to accept without a problem. And their recent bout with freaky things of Max’s life had bonded the women even more.
"Case is Tinga’s son," he explained.
"She’s the one that died, right?" Cordy said it so quietly, not wanting to sound harsh and not wanting Max to hear, on the chance that it would set her off again. Angel just nodded. Cordy chewed her lip for a moment. "Okay, I’m going to head home. Probably be best if we let Max rest for a little longer. If she wants to talk, good, if not, you can drive her home. Just give me a call before you come over so I can have the hot chocolate ready." She used his shoulder to steady herself as she stood.
"Yes ma’am," he quipped softly. Not many people got to see the nurturing side of Cordelia Chase. And it was in full force for the woman she now considered her best friend. She just smiled gratefully at him and took her leave.
Angel spent the next two hours waiting. Occasionally, Max would whimper in her sleep and Angel would be right there at her side, in case she woke up. But she didn’t. So he contented himself with rubbing her hand, or her arm, or her cheek until she calmed down again. The sun had fully set, he could tell by both his internal clock and the one glowing red on his microwave. And fitful movements from the couch caught his attention. He was there instantly, not having gone far. Finally, she opened her large brown eyes, luminous with unshed tears. She turned her head to look at him, her gaze filled with torment and guilt.
"It’s okay," he soothed her again. "You’re in my apartment. You fainted." He tried to calm her down, but he could see tension and pain mounting in her smaller frame. "Do you want to talk about it?" The question was a big mistake. Her eyes grew larger and more panicked. Obviously, she was not at all comfortable about relieving whatever he assumed she had recalled.
"No, no," she whimpered. "I can’t."
"Max, it’s okay," he smiled sweetly, hoping to reassure her. "Whatever it is, or was, you can tell me. Believe me, it can’t be worse than some of the things I’ve done." He swore inwardly as she cringed. He was definitely going from bad to worse. He leaned in to stroke her arm again, but she pushed him away and scrambled off the couch.
"I can’t!" she shrieked. He stared at her, puzzled. She shook her head once, then was running for the stairs. Angel watched her for a moment, then glanced down at nothing. He recalled at once that Cordelia had told him that Max had told her that sometimes it was best to let her walk away. That sometimes she needed to go and do whatever she did to calm down before coming back and working things out. Whether it was riding her motorcycle to clear her head, or hanging out in the bar, she sometimes needed time to process things. Angel closed his eyes, seeing again her torment. In an instant, he was on his feet racing after her. This was not one of those times. He was too scared at what he had seen in his face. The Powers only knew what she might do.
She was faster than he was. He knew it. But he had one advantage above her; he could track her smell. And it led him straight to the roof of the Hyperion. As he emerged from the doorway of the rooftop access, the bottom of his stomach dropped out. She was standing on the ledge, leaning forward, her face calm, but accepting.
"Max no!" he screamed as he raced towards her.
Not Within Mission Parameters
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