Disclaimer: All characters are property of Joss Whedon
Darkness
The alley was dark, making it seem like a black hole of death. The only thing giving it life, the five dead and undead figures fighting the overpowering hoard of demons.
"Gunn, behind you!" Wesley shouted as he watched a demon ambush Gunn from behind.
Gunn turned around to face his attacker silently thanking Wes for watching his back just as he had done for him many times. He quickly swung the axe at the demon with the precision that only an experienced fighter could have, killing it immediately. He then turned back to look at Wes who was fighting, along side Fred, a particularly vicious member of the demon tribe. He seemed to be getting the upper hand until another demon, which Gunn never saw, came up behind Wes.
"Wes!" he shouted out to his friend causing him to turn around to face his own attacker.
Wes turned around abruptly to be face to face with demon that was behind him. The demon swung at him, which he expertly blocked ducking under the demon's blow. He stood up running his sword through the demons chest. As the demon fell to its death Wes turned back to help Fred.
Gunn decided to help Angel and Spike who were dealing with the evident leaders of the tribe on the other side of the alley. He watched as Spike was thrown into the wall then getting up swearing running back to rejoin the fight. Angel, who fought the other leader, was being moved backward as the demon kept swinging furiously at him. Gunn ran to help but was backhanded across the head by the demon sending him flying into a nearby dumpster. When he landed he dazedly looked up trying to regain his focus as the fight continued in front of him. When his focus returned he got up and ran back to help Spike who had just been thrown again hoping Wesley and Fred were not having as much trouble as they were.
"Bloody Hell!" Spike cursed standing up from the ground.
"C'mon Spike, is that the best you got" Gunn commented as he began fighting the demon that had just thrown Spike.
"Yeah, I thought you were the big bad Spike" Angel shouted from near the entrance to the street.
"Shut your face Angelus, you bloody wanker" Spike retorted saying the last part under his breath.
There was a loud snap as Angel broke the neck of his demon as Spike fighting hand to hand with his demon once more with Gunn along side him. Angel ran back as Spike was able to knock the demon off its legs momentarily giving them the high ground. The demon grabbed at Gunn's legs tripping him then was able to get up off the ground. As Gunn now tried to get off the ground once more Spike and Angel rushed at the demon from both sides. As they fought both Angel and Spike, along with Gunn, turned to a scream that echoed through the alley.
On the other side of the alley Wesley and Fred were still trying to deal with their demons. Wesley was able to injure his demon slowing it down but hadn't killed it just yet. He turned when he heard Fred's panicked scream to find that she was locked in a death grip by the demon she was fighting.
"Wesley!" she screamed trying to break free but couldn't.
In an act of pure rage and determination Wesley retrieved his gun from his belt. He aimed at his demon unloading a clip in its torso. When the demon was dead he returned the gun back to its holster on his belt then turned back to Fred who was still struggling to break free.
"Wesley!" she screamed again as he began to run towards her. Too late, just as Wesley began to run the demon grabbed Fred's arm swinging her around aiming her at the nearest wall. Fred screamed out in agony as she heard a fragile crack come from her now injured arm. The demon swung Fred around launching her head first into the wall then turned his attention back to Wes. Fred landed in an unconscious heap on the ground while Wesley started to rush at the demon that attacked Fred. The demon hit Wesley easily like he was nothing more than a fly sending him flying backwards. Wesley got up reaching into his jacket for any kind of weapon as the demon turned back to the unconscious Fred willing to finish her off.
Wesley retrieved the first thing he could from his pocket, which happened to be a stun grenade specially designed by Wolfram and Harts lab department. He pulled the pin and was about to throw it when the demon came running at him again. It grabbed at him as he was trying to throw the grenade. Before he could throw it the grenade detonated sending both he and demon backwards on the ground. The demon picked itself off the ground to face the now disoriented Wesley as he tried to get off the ground. It walked towards Wes easily picking him off the ground by his throat then threw him into the wall. Wesley laid unconscious on the ground a few feet from where Fred had landed, both unmoving and injured.
There was a loud clap that resonated in the alley followed by a blinding flash that momentarily stunned Angel, Spike, and Gunn. Even blinded Angel was able to weaken the demon enough to give him time to retrieve his sword he dropped earlier in the fight. Spike caught on by grabbing the demon when its back was turned pushing it into the now sword wielding Angel. He ran the demon through then sighed in relief. Knowing that the high- pitched scream they heard before belonged to Fred, he could only hope that Wesley had taken care of everything to keep her safe.
The demon that had been attacking Wes and Fred turned around to run towards the other members of their group. As the demon walked further down the alley he came across the now agitated Angel.
"There's more" Gunn commented annoyingly while he and Spike stayed back to let Angel finish the job.
"Bloody hell, do these things ever quit" Spike added as Angel lunged at the demon in full "game face".
The demon hit Angel and he staggered back. When he recovered, he jumped into the wall bouncing off it propelling himself into a roundhouse kick. Kicking it in the head, the demon staggered back giving Angel enough time to retrieve his sword from the demons fallen comrade. When Angel swung at the demon with his sword the demon expertly dodged the blow and hit Angel in his chest making him fly backwards dropping his sword. In doing that Spike joined the fight along with Gunn going on either side of the demon swinging at it but missing it every time as it dodged both of them. When Angel was standing again, he ran to help them sensing something was not right. Where were Wes and Fred, if the demon was here and they weren't…
Angel ran at the demon full of rage knowing part of his team, his family, was injured somewhere. As he approached the demon Gunn and Spike were being tossed aside. Spike was thrown into the wall for the third time that night while Gunn was sent sliding backwards on the hard pavement scraping his arms and back. They both watched from afar as Angel got more furious when fighting the demon. Angel dropped into a roll picking up his sword in the process. When he was on his feet again he swung the sword hard making contact with the demon's head. There was a quick slicing sound then the demon's head and its body fell in separate directions one landing next to Spike.
"That demon really pissed you off didn't it" Spike commented looking at Angel who just stood as still as a statue.
"You have some game tonight" Gunn complimented trying to pick himself off the ground.
Watching Gunn's failing attempts of getting off the ground, Angel stepped forward and offered him his hand. Gunn gratefully took it and got up brushing himself off. Spike stood up as well stretching his arms behind him but still looking at Angel who still stood still.
"What's wrong mate?" Spike asked walking up to Angel and Gunn.
"Something's not right" he answered then started running towards the other side of the alley.
When he got there he was welcomed by a sight he never liked to see, Wesley lay unconscious severely injured and a few feet away Fred. He was soon joined by Spike and Gunn, who took off after him shortly after he began running, both gasping at what they saw.
"They were fine when I was here" Gunn said blaming himself for leaving both of them to help out Angel.
Spike ran towards Fred kneeling down next to her to inspect the damage done to the young women. Angel did the same checking the injuries inflicted on Wesley who laid face down next to the wall. Spike pulled Fred into his lap noticing that her left arm was angled oddly and there was a little blood running out of her ear. He set her lightly back down on the pavement taking extra care not to move her injured arm then looked over at Angel who was busy tending to Wesley.
Angel carefully rolled Wes onto his back and took note of the amount of injuries the man had. It reminded Angel of the time he pulled him out of the burning office building after the explosion following Vocah's attacks. He looked up and down Wesley's body and found that he had multiple burns on his face, arms, and hands but knew there had to be more underneath his clothing. He also noticed a large bleeding gash where his head hit the wall. As Angel looked over his injuries he was still trying to put the pieces together to what had caused all the burns. Then it hit him: the loud sound, the blinding flash. Wesley had used a stun grenade but the cause of the burns, the realization made Angel wince. Wesley couldn't throw it in time.
"What happened to him?" Gunn asked from behind Angel.
"Yeah, why is Fred unconscious" Spike said in annoyance trying to defend the not speaking Fred.
"The flash we saw. It was a stun grenade. Wes must have tried to throw it to get the demon away from Fred but he…" Angel finished by motioning toward the unconscious and burned Wes.
"Oh man…" Gunn said along with Spikes "bloody hell"
Angel immediately retrieved his cell phone out of his pocket and began punching in the number for Wolfram and Hart.
"This is Angel, I need two ambulances now!" he yelled into the phone.
"What is your location?" the Wolfram and Hart associate asked calmly.
"Just trace the call" he answered frustrated.
"The ambulance will be there shortly," the associate said almost mechanically.
"Transfer me to Lorne" he demanded and the associate did so.
As Angel waited for Lorne to pick up the phone Gunn got his own and started calling the lab at Wolfram and Hart.
"Knox, this is Charles Gunn. There's been an accident, I need you to locate Fred's address book and bring it here" Gunn ordered waiting for the reply.
"Ok… wait Fred. Is she ok, did she get injured again?" there was some shuffling of feet then he was back on the phone. "I'm in her office now, her address book right? Ah…here it is. Where are you guys, I'll be there as soon as possible" Knox said after he found her book.
"We're waiting for an ambulance, I don't know what street we're on though" Gunn replied and was about to hang up when Knox spoke up again.
"I'll have the call traced, it should only take a minute. I'll be there as quickly as I can." Knox added then hung up the phone.
Gunn put the phone back into his pocket and looked over at Angel who was waiting for Lorne to pick up the phone apprehensively. Angel jumped a little which Gunn could only assume that Lorne had indeed picked up.
"Lorne, its Angel. I need you to locate Wes's and Fred's medical records and have them ready" he said quickly.
"Whoa, Whoa Angelcakes slow down. You need what and what to have where?" Lorne said willing Angel to slow down his description.
"I need Wes's and Fred's medical records ready for when they arrive" he said slower hoping Lorne would catch on.
"Whoa wait a minute, are Wes and Fredikins ok. Were they hurt, because I'm guessing it is a yes if you need their medical records" Lorne said frantically.
"There's been an accident" was all Angel said followed by silence from Lorne.
"I'll get them right now" he said then hung up the phone.
Angel hung up the phone then waited with Gunn and Spike for the ambulance to arrive, which would seem like forever. Though Fred was still there was a sign that Wesley was waking up when he started to stir a bit. Gunn perked up a little at this improvement but was proved wrong when Wes started shivering uncontrollably, his eyes remaining closed. At seeing this Angel took off his jacket gently covering Wesley with it. He looked over at Fred who had been in the care of Spike and was surprised at how caring Spike could be when a friend was on the line.
Fifteen minutes went by and the ambulance finally showed. One of the firm's medics came running to the scene with his equipment to start treating Wes while the other went to tend to Fred. The medic dealing with Fred put her injured arm in a splint then began to check her vitals. When that was done they quickly put her on a stretcher in preparation for transfer.
"Wait, where is she?" a voice asked from behind Angel and group.
They turned around to find Knox running towards them frantic about Fred. Gunn pointed towards the figure lying on the stretcher and then looked back at Knox. Knox looked back at Gunn then over at Angel who was standing near another figure he couldn't see.
"Is that the demon?" Knox asked concerning the body Angel stood next to.
"It's Wes" Gunn replied bluntly looking over to where his friend laid.
"What happened?" Knox asked angrily when he realized Fred had been injured in Wesley's care.
"It's a little sketchy" Spike replied for Gunn who just stood silently.
The medic who took care of Wes was shaking his head and looking over at his colleague. When Angel noticed he became increasingly worried about his friend and employee's condition.
"We have to get him to Wolfram and Hart" Angel suggested meaning the medical wing.
"He won't make it there" the medic said grimly.
"What do you mean?" Angel asked a little more harshly than intended.
"He's going into something called burn shock, he needs fluids and possibly surgery" the medic described then looked over at his colleague. "How's she doing?" he asked.
"She has a broken arm and a head injury but her vitals are stable" he yelled back over the commotion.
"What did this?" the medic looked back over to Angel.
"Stun grenade" Angel answered simply not taking his eye off Wes.
"The chemicals in the grenade caused some severe burns. He needs a hospital now" the medic said. "Where's the closest hospital?" he added to other medic.
"St. Mathews, about five minutes from here" he said then added "she's stable for transfer, should we take her back to the firm".
"No, keep them together" Gunn said surprising Angel.
"Ok, lets go" the medic tending to Fred said running over to the one dealing with Wes.
They lifted Wes's stretcher and made their way to where the ambulance was on the street. They lifted him into the back and prepared to leave just as the other ambulance came down the street parking next to them. They got out to brief the new crew about Fred's condition before leaving then got back inside the ambulance.
"Knox give me Fred's book" Gunn ordered as he watched Angel prepare himself to go to the hospital with Wes.
"Here" he said handing Gunn the book. "They should take Fred first, she has a head injury" Knox added.
"Did you hear what the medic said, Percy is going into shock. Seen it a lot in my day, bad stuff" Spike told Knox authoritevely.
Angel turned around to look at his group, "Spike stay with Fred, Knox go back to the firm and tell Lorne to meet us at the hospital with the records, Gunn take my car and meet me at the hospital, I will go with Wes" Angel ordered then walked back to the ambulance.
The other medic crew went over to Fred and lifted her stretcher carrying her to the newly arrived ambulance. Spike followed closely behind then jumped in after they got her safely in the back.
Gunn walked back to Angel before he could leave to get his car keys. Once he did he walked over to where Angel parked his car to head to the hospital while Knox got into his company car to head back to the office. He watched from afar as Angel got into the back of the ambulance closing the doors before they made their way to the hospital closely followed by the ambulance carrying Fred. After both ambulances were already down the road he pulled out to follow them, thinking that he might lose either one of his friends tonight.
When they arrived at the hospital Wes and Fred were wheeled into separate rooms as the doctors treated them. Angel just stood outside where they took Wesley looking through the window while they treated him. He could hear the doctors and nurses yelling back and forth making him increasingly worried. His mind flashed back to the time of Vocah's attacks and he was left standing in the ER while he awaited news of whether or not Wes was going to survive. He also remembered the doctors telling him that they were waiting for him to wake up, if he were to wake up. He remembers with perfect clarity that he really thought he was going to lose both Wes and Cordelia that night. Tonight he felt just the same when he found Wes and Fred both unconscious in the alley.
Doing the same thing he did four years ago Angel walked down the hall to where they were treating Fred. He walked up in front of the window to join Spike who just stood there doing much of the same thing Angel had just done. Spike look at Angel for a moment before returning to watching Fred then sighed.
"How's Wes?" Spike asked without looking at Angel.
When Angel didn't answer Spike assumed that Wes's condition was just as bad or worse than Fred's. He cursed under his breath then turned around, walking away from the window.
"Where are you going?" Angel asked.
Walking down the hall Spike answered "Out for a smoke".
Angel was about to say something more when his phone rang.
"Angel" he answered bluntly.
"Hey Angel its Lorne, I'm outside with the papers you asked for" Lorne said.
"I'll be right there" Angel said then hung up.
He walked out the main entrance meeting Lorne who just stood there, his usual cheerful expression glum. Lorne was about to speak when Gunn, who ran up to them, interrupted him. "How are they?" he asked.
"Do you have the papers?" Angel asked Lorne ignoring Gunn's question.
"It's bad isn't it AngelCakes" Lorne said handing him the papers.
"It's bad" Angel said then turned to Gunn. "Get yourself looked at," he ordered.
"I'm fine. Tell me what's going on man" Gunn said.
"They haven't said. Get your injuries treated then meet me and Spike in the waiting room" Angel said then Gunn walked away.
"I'll call you when I hear anything. See if you can get in touch with Fred's parents. Just tell them there's been an accident, nothing more" Angel told Lorne.
"Ok Angel, what about Wes" Lorne said as Angel started walking back into the hospital.
"Wait until we know more, I don't want to bring his father into this. If needed call the Council in London and get in touch with Rupert Giles" Angel said.
"Ok but who's that" Lorne asked.
"An old friend" Angel said turning around to walk back into the hospital.
After Gunn had his injuries looked at the three of them sat in the waiting room in silence. Wincing as he got up Gunn took a moment to stretch before he turned to Spike and Angel. "Want anything to drink?" he asked receiving blank looks from both of them. "I take it that's a no," he added then painfully made his way down the hall. Spike and Angel sat there looking at the wall until Gunn returned. Spike looked over at Gunn as he slowly took a seat wincing when his back touched the back of the chair.
"You ok Charlie-boy" Spike asked concerned.
"Yeah, its nothing. Just scraped the hell out of my back from sliding on the pavement," he replied.
"That's gotta hurt" Spike said.
"At least I didn't get burned" Angel stared blankly at him as Gunn sighed, hanging his head.
Angel was about to say something when the doctor walked down the hall, his face grim. As he neared all three of them sat up quickly, Gunn regretting it when his battered body protested.
"How are they?" Angel was the first to ask.
"We managed to get them both stabilized but only time will tell" the doctor began.
"What do you me only time?" Gunn asked warily.
Sighing the doctor continued. "Your friend Winifred Burkle suffered a severe fracture to her left arm which might need surgery. Other than that her only other severe injury was the concussion she received. She's responding well so I do expect her to make a full recovery. We want to keep her for a few days but after that she's free to go home"
"And Wes?" Angel asked anger creeping in his voice.
"Wesley Wyndam-Pryce suffered extensive burns to his hands and face. Their what we call second and third degree burn's, only time will tell how well he recovers. He has also suffered some minor burns on his chest along with a concussion. But I'm afraid to tell you that his most devastating injury was to his eyes" the doctor paused when all three of them gasped.
"We've had a specialist look at them but I'm afraid that they all say the same thing. The burns were too extensive and the damage done to the irises, corneas, and lenses is irreparable. The burns itself were already bad but mixed with the chemical…" the doctor was interrupted by Spike.
"Speak in bloody English" he retorted.
"Wesley is blind," he said.
Time seemed to stop for Angel as he stood there digesting what he just heard. He looked at Gunn then over at Spike then back at the doctor with a look of disbelief. "How long?' he asked dumbly.
"Indefinitely. The damage can't be repaired, right now we're just concerned with keeping him alive tonight" the doctor said.
"What do you mean?" Angel asked.
"He was in what we call "Burn Shock" when he arrived and we're giving him fluids to keep his blood pressure up but only time will tell. Right now he's unconscious, which is probably a good thing, and we're just waiting to see if and when he wakes up from the concussion. When he does I suspect he will be in terrible pain and will most likely be agitated with his new condition" the doctor explained.
"Can we see them?" Gunn asked finally able to speak.
"Yes, right this way. I'm warning you though we have Wesley on a respirator so it might come as a shock. He has a lot of bandages on his face, hands, and chest. Fred is unconscious and her arm is in traction but she has been in and out for the last hour so I think she's waking up" the doctor said as he led them down the hall then stopped when he made a realization.
"Are all of you family because just family is allowed" he told them.
"Yes" Angel said not convincing the doctor but strangely enough Spike spoke up.
"You two go I'll stay here and call Lorne with the news" he said then sat back down.
Angel and Gunn looked at each other confused then followed the doctor down the hall where he directed them to Wes's room. When they arrived at his room the doctor looked at them and gave them a slight nod before he opened the door. Upon entering they were greeted with the constant buzzing and beeping of the medical equipment that kept Wes alive. Angel was the first to walk up to his bed closely followed by Gunn who involuntarily turned his head away from the sight. Wesley lay motionless on the bed covered with bandages that made him resemble something like a mummy. His eyes along with most of his face were also covered in thick bandages and there was a tube protruding from his mouth hooked up to the respirator. Both of his hands were wrapped up to the elbow with gauze and were propped up on pillows.
Angel went expressionless as he looked at his friend lying in the bed. He couldn't think of a time when he had seen Wes this injured and close to death. He remembered hearing stories about when he was shot but when he went to visit Cordelia promptly told him to leave. The time after that he, unknowingly to Wes due to the mindwipe, tried to suffocate him with a pillow after he took his son. He cringed at that thought knowing now the only reason he did it was because he wasn't really in his right mind. He turned his head when he felt Gunn's presence next to him as he walked up to the bed.
"Oh man" Gunn said exasperated.
He had been trying to count all the times Wes had evaded death but finally came to the realization that this time he might not. The thought of losing a team member, a friend, hit him like a ton of bricks. He remembered how close he came to losing him three years ago when a bullet tore through his gut. 'He will wake up, he has to' he thought to himself not wanting to believe that Wes might die.
"Come on Wes, I will not go through the same thing I went through with Doyle" Angel said quietly to himself in hopes that maybe someone up in the heavens heard him. Hopes that maybe, just maybe, Doyle was up there and willing to lend a hand. Angel couldn't actually remember a time when he had hoped for a miracle except maybe with Buffy and more recently when Cordelia was plunged into a coma. The thought of Wes dying was hard enough for Angel to bear but what hit him more was the thought that when he opened his eyes all he is going to see is black, for the rest of his life.
Not able to look at the battered body of his friend anymore Angel gently put his hand on Wesley's shoulder and whispered "hang on Wes, fight" then turned to leave the room. Gunn limped up to the bed and said "hang in there English, don't you die on us." then turned to follow Angel before the tears threatened to pour from his eyes.
When he exited the room he found Angel walking down to where Fred was so he followed him. They slowly entered the room to find Fred still unconscious but looking much better then she did in the alley. The nurse brushed past them and walked up to her bed to check her vitals while they just stood back out of her way. Fred's arm was in what looked like a splint and there was a bandage on her head where she hit on the wall. They also noticed that the blood was still there from where it trickled out of her ear.
Concerned Gunn asked the nurse "Why was there blood coming out her ear?"
"We think she ruptured her eardrum in the explosion" she said then added "but its nothing to worry about. It grows back and it really wasn't that severe" when she caught sight of their worried faces.
"You can talk to her, she's been responding" the nurse suggested then left the room.
"Fred" Gunn said while Angel remained still and quiet next to him.
Her eyes fluttered upon hearing the familiar voice but she still didn't understand why everything was so black. Her head hurt but what hurt the most was her arm, which she remembered being broken by the demon. She tried one to open her eyes and was relieved that it was success. She regretted it afterwards though when the harsh light seemed to pierce every nerve in her skull.
"A-Angel? Where am I?" she asked groggily, her eyes fluttering open.
"It's Gunn, you're at the hospital," he said.
"Hospital…?" It took her a moment to catch on but then came rushing back with perfect clarity what happened in the alley.
"Wesley?" she croaked as consciousness began to flee.
"He…he's alright" Gunn lied earning a glare from Angel, who thought it best to tell her the truth.
She opened her eyes again to stare into Angel's knowing that something wasn't quite right. His eyes were filled with more emotion than she had ever seen them. The only time she remembered him having that much emotion in his eyes was when Willow came to tell him Buffy had died and more recently when Cordelia sank into a coma.
"You're lying," she said weakly keeping her eyes on Angel.
"Oh man…there is no good way to tell you this. Wes was hurt bad Fred" Gunn said.
Her eyes went wide despite the pain in her head and a single tear rolled down her cheek. 'This isn't happening' she thought over and over. 'He can't be dead' but the pain she saw in Angel's eyes and the hesitation in Gunn's voice already revealed her greatest fear.
"No…" she cried softly.
"He's not dead, he's in ICU" Angel finally spoke walking up slowly to the side of the bed.
"I thought…" she started but couldn't seem to finish her thought.
"There was an accident, he was badly burned. A stun grenade went off in his hands" Angel started to explain. Fred became more teary- eyed trying not to think how much pain Wes was going through.
"The doctors say….the doctors say that he might make it through the night but they're not sure" that's when the dam broke. Fred openly cried now when she heard the truth about Wes but didn't know that there was more to add on to the horrific news.
"His eyes were badly burned. The doctors said there was a lot of damage. He's blind Fred" Angel finished.
At hearing the news for the second time that night Gunn hung his head and silently began to weep. Fred continued to cry draining her of all her energy while she was still groggy from the pain medication. Angel did the only thing he knew to do at the time; he stepped up and placed a hand on Fred's good shoulder, rubbing it soothingly. He looked over at Gunn who turned to walk away in an attempt to compose himself, then back at Fred who had cried herself to sleep. He found the nearest chair and sat down, taking Fred's hand in his own to reassure her of his presence, then sat there and watched over her. He would watch over his fallen comrades tonight no matter what.
Looking up to the heavens he said quietly, "Doyle if you're up there, please help us. Tell the Powers to lend us a hand. Don't let Wes die tonight".