South Attic, Thursday Night

[demonbelthazor]

Cole sat on the couch, drumming his fingers on its arm. After finding Phoebe in a faint last night when he'd returned from working with Alphonse to use alchemy to try to change Angel's blood, he'd told her to stay in bed today. But, to his complete lack of surprise, when he'd come back from visiting Angel and checking on the blood drive, he'd found her gone.

And the kittens weren't talking.

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[sensethevisions]

She had tried to get back home before Cole did and when he hadn't come looking for her, she had assumed that it meant he had been too busy and hadn't realized she was gone.

That assumption disappeared when she walked in... and saw that look on his face.

[demonbelthazor]

He didn't need to say anything. The look he gave her said it all.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe bit her lip and stayed standing there.

"Camulus called," she finally said.

Yes, she was supposed to be on bedrest... but her teacher and employer had been missing for three weeks and he was finally back.

[demonbelthazor]

"He's back?" Cole said. "Wait...." He guided Phoebe to sit down at the kitchen table, where take-out from Luke's Diner, steak tips and a spinach salad, was waiting for her. "Eat first. Then tell me."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nibbled at the food as she talked to him.

"He has no idea where he's been for the past three weeks or what happened."

[demonbelthazor]

"No idea? But he's okay?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "He seems okay, just a little grumpy about the whole thing, which, you can't really blame him. He goes to sleep Monday night, three weeks later he wakes up in his Sarcophagus in the middle of the street." She took another bite. After a moment she looked at him. "He wanted to make sure that I knew he wouldn't just disappear on me like that and worry me... oh, and he needed assurance that I had left his students in mostly one piece."

[demonbelthazor]

"Huh," Cole said. "I wonder what happened." He watched her eat for a moment, then said, "Janet said you need iron -- that's why I got you steak and spinach salad. I told her about you fainting last night."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked at him. "You told Janet I fainted?" She looked confused. "Love, why?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Because I was worried," he explained. "People sometimes faint after giving blood, and since Janet was running the blood drive and knows doctor stuff, I asked her if you should do anything. She said to eat red meat and dark green leafy vegetables."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe thought about that for a moment and then nodded, getting up and going over to put her arms around him. "I love you."

[demonbelthazor]

"Love you, too," he said, turning his head and kissing her cheek.

[sensethevisions]

"Still upset with me for leaving?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I'll spank you later."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe snickered. "Promises, promises."

[demonbelthazor]

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

[demonbelthazor]

<---

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looks mildly innocent. "Would I do something like that?"

[demonbelthazor]

"You tell me," Cole murmured playfully.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe kissed his chin and pulled back to look at him.

"I would never do such a thing... except maybe on Thursdays..."

[demonbelthazor]

"How convenient," Cole said. He was glad for the distraction of flirting with Phoebe so he didn't think about the note that he'd found from Angel. But, hello, girlfriend was an empath, so she could probably sense something was troubling him.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe pulled Cole to the couch and sat him down before sitting next to him.

"Talk to me."

[demonbelthazor]

"What?" he said, his turn to be innocent.

[sensethevisions]

She shook her head and sighed, making herself comfortable in his lap so he couldn't go anywhere. She tapped her head and then placed his hand over her heart.

"Liar," she whispered softly.

[demonbelthazor]

He sighed, but hugged her close. "I saw something I don't think I was supposed to see today," he said. "A note from Angel."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe tightened her arms around him. "What did it say, love? Obviously it was strong or else you wouldn't be so upset."

[demonbelthazor]

He rested his head against her shoulder. "It said 'I know you can prove to everyone you're stronger than I was,'" he said softly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe stroked his hair as her eyes filled with tears.

Angel didn't think they'd be able to save him.

She swallowed. "You're both very strong," she whispered softly. "You're not going to lose him, Cole, I ... I know you won't..."

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know why he has so much faith in me," Cole said. "I know he's done terrible things, too, but he didn't have a soul then. I did."

[sensethevisions]

"He has faith in you for the same reason I do, Cole. Yes, you had a soul, but tell me... what were you taught most of your life? These were things you were taught. And now, now you're teaching yourself other ways and other things." She stroked his face. "You were taught that you were supposed to kill me... but your heart taught you to love me." She kissed his shoulder. "Angel...Angel knows and understands, love."

[demonbelthazor]

"Is it selfish of me to want Angel to live because I need him?" Cole said, looking down. "I need him to help me, and the others look to him for how to deal with me, too. I mean, that's not the only reason, but...."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head. "No, baby, it's not, because it's not the only reason you want him to live. A big part of you still looks to him as your means of survival." She ran a hand through his hair. "He's your friend, someone who believes in you, one of the few that do. He's important to you for many reasons and you don't want to let go of that."

[demonbelthazor]

"Your belief keeps me going," Cole said, lifting his head and kissing her hair. He was silent for a long moment, then said, "I wish I could find Darla for him. I still feel guilty about all this."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe tightened her hold on Cole, fear flashing through her for a quick moment.

"He wouldn't want you to go after her and endanger yourself like that," she said haltingly.

And I'm not nearly as strong as Callisto is.

[demonbelthazor]

"I can handle her," Cole said gruffly.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe wasn't sure how to respond, but finally, she decided to be honest. "Angel thought he could handle her, too. I just got you back, Cole," she whispered. "I don't want to be... I'm not strong enough to sit by your bedside while others try to save you. If anything happens to you... I'll go after that bitch and any spawn she has myself."

[demonbelthazor]

Cole shook his head. "That's not going to happen, sweetheart," he promised. "For one thing, Angel thought Darla had a soul. I know better. I don't have any plans to run off and confront her, but I do want to find out where she is and see if she's still a danger to him...or you."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe stroked his hair, not knowing if she was comforting herself or him. "Not... not right now, alright? Besides, why should she be a danger to me? She doesn't even know who I am."

[demonbelthazor]

"She's a vampire, you're a witch," he said, squeezing her tightly. "That's what it boils down to. And if she finds out how much you've done to help Angel, she'll be pissed."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe swallowed. She hadn't thought about that. "I can't not do the right thing just because it may put me in danger," she whispered. She may have even sounded convincing. "First thing's first, we get Angel better."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm sorry, love, I didn't mean to scare you," Cole said. "Don't worry. I won't let her or anyone else hurt you. And you're right. We focus on Angel getting better for now."

[sensethevisions]

"I'm not scared of that bleached-blonde bimbo," Phoebe said in a slightly convincing voice. "I'm not. I know that we can help Angel... I'll study more in the book tonight, we'll save him, Cole."

[demonbelthazor]

"I'll provide moral support," Cole said, giving her another squeeze.

[sensethevisions]

"You're more than moral support, soulmate," she said softly, holding onto him. "You are my strength. I couldn't do stuff like this without you."