Title: Things Fall Apart (1/ ): Story 14 in the "Who I Am, What I'll Become" Series

Author: X_tremeroswellian

Email: X_tremeroswellian@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: Cordelia, Angel, Wesley, Kate, Gunn and Dennis all belong to Joss Whedon. Clayton, Crystal, Trudi and Brian are mine.

Rating: R for language, content and mentions of violence.

Distribution: Anyone with previous permission may take it without asking. Anyone else, just let me know the link. People looking for previous parts: the whole series thus far is archived at: www.geocities.com/angel_roswell/whoiam.html.

Spoilers: Up through "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" and the first 13 stories in this series.

Timeline: Takes place immediately after "The Trick is to Keep Breathing."

Summary: All hell breaks loose when a fed-up Cordelia takes action.

Category: Story

Subcategories: Angst/friendship/suspense

Feedback: Is greatly appreciated.

Dedication: For Julia, who's been wanting more C/A interaction in this series. Enjoy!

Author's Note: This part is kind of short. Sorry.


Things Fall Apart (Part One)

Kate Lockley sighed and rubbed her forehead wearily as she glanced from her files to her wristwatch.

"Do you ever take a break?" Gunn asked, glancing down at her from his spot on top of the counter at the Hyperion Hotel's front desk.

"Not when there's a psychopath out there who's killed at least fifteen people and tried to kill two others, one of whom I know," she informed him.

"So where's the British guy, anyway? Wasn't he supposed to be here awhile ago?"

"He and Oz took Cordelia to some party so she could see her boyfriend and get out of the apartment for awhile." She looked at her watch again. "And he's not late. He said he'd be here by 10. It's only 9:57."

As if on cue, the front door of the hotel opened and Wesley walked in and headed towards them, a grim expression on his face.

Kate rose to her feet. "What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid we have a problem." He glanced from her to Gunn. "Cordelia is missing a bracelet. She didn't notice it was missing until this evening, but she remembers she had it on the night she was attacked."

Her eyes widened. "Damn," she muttered. "She's sure she had it on that night?"

Wesley nodded.

Gunn looked back and forth between the two of them. "That supposed to mean something?"

"He takes things from his victims to remember the murder by," Kate said quietly.

"But he didn't actually murder--" Gunn stopped mid-sentence and realization crossed his face. "Shit."

"Exactly," Wesley said with a sigh.

"Did you tell Cordelia?" she asked.

"No...I didn't want to frighten her any more than she already is."

Gunn raised an eyebrow. "If she's scared, she's doing a good job hidin' it. I was at her place the past three afternoons and she seemed all right to me."

Kate and Wesley exchanged a look. "Cordelia is very good at hiding her true feelings," Wesley said quietly.

"All right. So what next? We step up security at her place?"

"That's probably a good idea," Kate agreed.

"Cordelia's not going to like it. She's already resenting the fact that we're being so overprotective. Gunn, maybe you could have some of your friends keep patrol around her building? So she doesn't know?"

Gunn nodded. "Will do." He headed off.

Wesley moved around the desk and reached for a stack of files. "Let's get back to work."

Kate watched him in concern. He looked even more tired than she felt. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just worried about Cordelia." He took a deep breath. "She's safe for now, though. Oz won't let anything happen to her."


Cordelia straightened her shoulders and held her head up high as she walked into the Jaded Mirror for the second time that night. The crowd was considerably decimated from what it was earlier, and she was somewhat disappointed. No matter. She focused her mind on the task at hand and ignored the appreciative stares from the lingering men clientele of the club.

Clayton was standing with a couple of male friends in the corner of the room and she allowed herself a small smile as she headed towards him. He didn't see her until she was standing directly in front of him.

"Clayton, why are you standing in the corner? I thought you always liked to be the center of attention," Cordelia said, glad to see the surprised look on his face.

"Cor. What are you doing here?" he asked with a smile, his gaze darting around the room.

"Well, I thought I'd come by and surprise you. Surprise, surprise," she said sarcastically. She looked at his friends. "I'm Cordelia Chase." She flashed them a wide smile and was rewarded with their smiles in return.

"Clay, darling, what is *she* doing here?"

She turned to face Crystal, who was staring at her with disdain. "Wow, look. It's the blond bimbo barbie with the blow-up boobs." Cordelia sneered at the woman. "I'm glad you're here, Crystal. I never got a chance to tell you the other night how tacky the whole bleach-blond, fake nails, fake persona thing was."

"Oh, please." Crystal rolled her eyes. "Could you be more of a child?"

Cordelia smiled. "How old are you, Crystal? 25? 26? I'm 19. Which means when your career is over in about 5 years because your hair is turning gray or green from all the highlights and bad dye jobs, and your skin is all wrinkled from all your tanning sessions, *I'll* still look as good as I do right now." She waved her hand at the other woman dismissively and turned back to Clayton. She removed the teardrop earrings from her earlobes and tossed them back to him. "Oh, and in case you hadn't guessed by now, we are *so* over. I have better things to do with my time than waste it on a jerk like you."

"Cor--" Clayton protested.

"'Clay, darling,'" she imitated. "Save it for someone who gives a rat's ass. I've known better men than you. I've *dated* better men than you." She turned to his friends, who were wide-eyed with disbelief. "He's a really bad kisser. Thank God I had the good taste not to sleep with him. Boys, you might want to get yourself a higher class of friends, because let me tell you, he is as low as they get."

"Oh, look who's talking," Crystal said, her eyes narrow.

Cordelia glowered at her. "Don't try to out-bitch me, Crystal. You don't stand a chance. I am the be-all and end-all supreme ruling bitch, just ask around." She looked at Clayton again. "Have a nice life."

Without another word, she turned and walked away from him, not stopping until she reached the door. She climbed into the backseat of the cab again. There was only one thing left to do now. "Take me to the Hyperion Hotel."


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