Fred made a surprise visit to Angel's room with a plated sandwich.
"How is he?" Fred asked Angel.
Right when Angel was about to answer Connor sullenly said. "I'm not hungry." Connor hated being talked about as if he was not in the room. Right after Connor spoke his stomach made a loud growl. Connor was starving he could not remember the last time he even ate.
"You need to eat." Angel told him.
"Thanks Fred." Angel said as he took the plate from Fred and placed it next to Connor on the nightstand.
"Your dad's right sweetie try and eat, it's your favorite a bologna sandwich with no tomatoes." Fred told Connor with a smile.
Connor still had a small soft spot for Fred, it really meant allot to him that she went out of her way to make him a sandwich. Connor looked up at Fred and shyly said "Thank You." as he picked up the plate.
"You're welcome" Fred told Connor with another sweet smile as Gunn appeared at the door.
"The doctor is here." Gunn declared as he motioned the man behind him to enter the room. Fred then made her way out and shut the door behind her as she left with Gunn.
"Jim I'm so glad you were able to stop by I really appreciate it." Angel told the doctor.
"Not a problem Angel" The doctor said.
Connor was not even done with his sandwich, it all happened too fast for him while he was lost in his meal. He looked up at the new man in the room. Who was he? And why was he here Connor wondered.
"Connor this is Jim an old friend of mines whom is also going to be your doctor please do exactly as he asks of you." Angel told his son as the doctor started to rummage through his bag he started pulling out all the items he was going to need and started to put them on the nightstand beside Connor. Connor eyed what the doctor was pulling out of his bag and it started to worry him he has never seen some of those items ever in his life.
"What!..No!." Connor told his father hotly before he erupted in a series of coughs.
"Yes Connor, for you to get better we first need to find out what's wrong, this is not up for debate just do as I say." Angel told Connor a bit too sternly for his liking here he was again feeling like he had no options just like the night Angel had kicked him out of this very hotel. He would never admit it but he was really scared that night. Connor just looked down in defeat as his dad grabbed his plate with a half eaten sandwich and put it on his desk. Dr. Wilson then got a thermometer out.
"Okay Connor I need you to open your mouth so I can put this under your tongue." Dr Wilson said.
Connor was outraged what the hell was that stick and why did he have to put it under his tongue. "Why! What is that thing?" Connor asked not trusting this man one bit.
Angel then got a bit closer to Connor and tried to reassure his son he was safe, Angel sat beside Connor and told him "Son it's okay he is here to help you feel better I trust him and there's not that many people I trust with you trust in that" Angel told his son as he made clear eye contact.
Connor did what he was told and the complete exam was done before he knew it. Dr. Wilson prescribed some medication for Connor and advised Angel that Connor really needed to eat more, he looked too underweight and told him not to worry that Connor should be fine in a day or two due to his rapid healing the average person would be sick for about a week. Jim also insisted Connor have a full physical done and scheduled him in within one week for an appointment. Once the doctor was gone Connor was able to finish the rest of his sandwich.
Connor had no fight left in him. He had given up on himself most of all. His dad was being so good to him even after what he did to him he gave him a watery grave he did the worst thing he thought of and his dad still cared about him he didn't show it when he kicked him out but he is showing it now. It did make him feel safe. Safe was something he was not used to.
" Connor... I want to talk about..what you told me.. to just let you die..why would you say that?." Angel asked told his son the sadness evident his voice.
Connor noticed how sad his father was, it made him feel uncomfortable, he felt the pain in his heart seep though again and just shrugged off his father's question and tried to keep his composure calm but felt his heart start to race a bit as unwanted thoughts filled his head some were about him being back in the hell dimension and others are from the dirty streets of LA. He just saw more bad than good and it scared him to death. He saw love in Angel's eyes and that made him feel a wave of calm through his body just for a second.
"Connor, please talk to me." Angel pleaded with his son as he sat on the bed looking directly at his son's sullen features.
Connor could not take this anymore he was so weak. He couldn't hold back the tears as they started to escape his eyes. He really didn't want to cry but he couldn't control it. As soon as Angel saw the tears he embraced his son in his arms and held him ever so tightly.
"I'm so sorry Connor I promise you that I am going to make things better for you from now..I love you so much." Angel murmured to Connor as he felt him shudder in his arms. Angel rubbed comforting circles on his son's back for awhile until Connor settled down some. Connor pulled away looking down in shame.
"Hey look at me I need you to talk to me." Angel gently told his son as he lifted his son's chin to make eye contact. Connor really didn't want to talk about his feeling he never did before why start now but saw that his dad was unrelenting. He just said the first thing that came to mind. "I'm evil."
"Connor you are not evil not even close." Angel told his son.
"What good comes from two vampires?" Connor asked snotty.
"You are a miracle, believe me if you were evil you really wouldn't care about being evil in the first place." Angel told his son as he en-wrapped his son his arms. Connor started crying then busted out in a series of coughs and had snot running down his nose. Angel quickly handed his son a tissue and patted his son's back to ease the patted his nose but his nose still leaked.
"Blow your nose." Angel told his son.
Connor gave Angel a bewildered look. Angel grabbed another tissue and put it up against Connor's nose.
"Blow out your nose." Angel instructed and Connor did as told.
"Better." Angel said happily as he heard Connor's breathing improve a bit.
Connor merely nodded.
Connor noticed Angel picked up a small red bottle, read the directions and pour some liquid into a small cup.
"Drink this." Angel told his son as he handed him the small cup of medicine.
"What is it?" Connor asked suspiciously.
"It's medicine to help you feel better faster." Angel said.
Connor drank the medicine in one shot; he was disgusted with the lingering taste in his mouth.
"It tastes horrible!" Connor whined.
Angel tried to hide a smile then said "It will help you feel better in no time."
Few minutes passed by before Connor started to feel drowsy from the medicine, he fought hard to keep his eyes open but got lost into sleep.
Angel was glad to see his son was finally asleep he quietly made his way out of the room and went downstairs to the kitchen, he was starving he poured himself a tall glass of blood and drank. Gunn entered the kitchen as well and poured himself some juice.
"How is junior?" Gunn asked.
"Asleep now, has a slight cold but what worries me more is that emotionally he's a mess." Angel said.
"No surprise there after everything he's been through." Gunn said.
"I'm moving him back in and I'm going to make sure he is loved and cared for and becomes a man I can be proud of." Angel said.
"Word of advise Be his dad not his buddy, I noticed over the summer he can be a major brat at times in need of a firm hand." Gunn said.
"I know.. I'm a fast study I won't make that mistake twice, he is a kid my kid that needs me right now, I'm not going to fail him again." Angel said.
The next day Connor awoke tangled within Angel's sheets. He was feeling allot better than the day before, he breathed in his father's scent sensing him near.
Angel had waited patiently for his son to wake up again knowing that he would probably be feeling allot better with his strength up. It kind of worried Angel that his son would run off the first chance he got.
Once Angel saw his son had woken he gently asked. "Hey pal feeling better now."
Connor looked toward his father and saw how much he cared for him in his eyes. He has never had anyone ever care for him like this it made him feel really good. He tried to ignore those feelings all together as he scooted himself up an a sitting position. His body felt so comfortable intermingled in his father's sheets.
As Connor sat back he replied barely audible "Yes." That only vampire ears would hear.
Connor felt like a mess emotionally. He felt like he just really needed to get out of the hotel and get his mind straight he just felt all over the place here and he didn't like it.
"Are you hungry?" Angel asked his son.
Connor quickly nodded and said "Yes." seeing the opportunity to get his father to leave the room.
"I'll go grab you something." Angel told his son with a smile as he made his way out of the room.
Connor took the first chance he got to flee the hotel. Connor had tried to find his old clothing before he left but couldn't he just threw on a pair of boots he found in Angels closet that were a bit to big for his liking and made a dash for it the best he could threw a window. Connor ran towards different directions quickly through LA to make it hard for Angel to track his scent. It was a cool and breezy night as Connor strolled down a part in LA he had never been before. This part of the city was run by a very brutal gang and had the highest prostitution rate. It was a place that Angel would never want Connor near ever.
Angel was not too happy once he entered his room and found Connor nowhere to be found. He returned the food to the kitchen and quickly made his way out in search of his son.
Connor came across a very big vampire he was all muscle, like a body builder but that didn't outmatch Connor one bit, it just took Connor a little while to kill the vampire since he had no weapons with him he just tried to find something pointy enough to stake the vampire in the alley. After he was able to finally kill the vampire he felt someone behind him speak up.
"Wow that was so cool! And really hot!" A really scantily clad young woman said with excitement.
Connor sized her up, she was redheaded with green eyes and wore a very short tight skirt with a transparent tank top that showed off her hot pink push up bra. Connor felt a strange attraction to her he thought she was really pretty.
"You look like a young Hugh Hefner so you wanna get freaky like Hef?" The young woman asked as she got closer to Connor. Connor gave her a confused look before the girl reach forward and gave him a really sexy kiss. Connor was starting to feel new feelings he had never felt before. He just wanted to touch this girl all over. He was pulled out of his hormonal bliss as he heard his name being called out by a very familiar voice his Dad.
"Connor!" Angel yelled out as he ran out toward the direction of his son whom was in the end of the alley with what looked like a prostitute.
Angel looked at the girl and noticed how trashy she looked defiantly not a girl he wanted Connor to ever bring home he then looked over to Connor and noticed pink smeared lipstick on his son's lips. It had given Angel a slight anger sensation at the thought of this whore touching his son.
"The more the merrier, I love three ways." The redhead replied with a flirty smile.
Angel completely ignored her at just took a hold of his son's arm and led him quickly away. It had angered Connor how his father was trying to control his life now. He was not used to anyone being overprotective over him he didn't think he could ever get used to it. Angel led a very reluctant Connor back to the hotel.
Once in the hotel Angel led Connor into the kitchen and firmly sat Connor onto a stool next to a counter. Connor tried to get up off the stool but was only pushed right back down. "Stay seated." Angel said firmly. Connor had to think twice about getting up again but the look his dad gave him convinced him to obey.
Angel really wanted to regain his cool before he decided to speak to his son. He placed a plate of food in front of Connor and firmly said "Eat."
Connor didn't even bother to make any eye contact with his father he just starred at the plate of food before him and ate hungrily.
Connor started thinking about that girl who had kissed him earlier; he really liked how she made him feel it made him want to see her again. Connor was pulled out of his thoughts by his father as he asked "Why did you leave?" Angel asked calmly.
Connor looked over at his father and saw the hurt and disapproval in his features. "Because I wanted to." Connor started out with a bit too much attitude in his voice. Angel knew he had to treat this carefully.
"Connor this is your home..you can't just sneak out". Angel was cut off by Connor who said "I can do as I want."
"They'll be things that I wont allow you to do and that is one of them..you will have rules that you will have to follow with no exceptions." Angel said.
"What? No! Connor told his father hotly as he quickly stood up from his seat giving his father an icy glare.
"Sit Down." Angel told his son with a no nonsense tone. Connor recognized that tone it was the same one Angel had used that night when he was kicked out. Connor slowly did as he was told with a glare fixed on Angel.
"I'm sorry Connor for the way I have handled things ever since you came back to this world. I. I should have been more of a father to you the moment I first saw you. I wont make the same mistake again.. from now on I am going to make sure that you are taken care of and thoroughly educated on things you make not know yet." Angel told his son.
"I can take care of myself." Connor told his father hotly.
"Well, you don't have to anymore..I wont allow it up until you are full grown... I am going to make sure the next few years I have left while you are still very much a child that I do nothing less than my best by you." Angel told his son with his determination set in stone.
Connor could not believe what he was hearing he felt as if he was being demoted, he the Destroyer for goodness sakes and his father, is now calling him a child!
"I'm No Child." Connor told his father clearly looking directly at his father. Angel could have sworn he noticed a small pout after Connor spoke.
"Yes you are... I will not ever lie to you son.. Connor I love you, I will always do everything in my power to protect you." Angel said.
It made Connor feel good after he heard how sincere his father was, he didn't know what to tell his father he just felt ashamed to hurt someone who obviously really loves him. Connor looked down at his lap trying to hold back tears. Angel stepped closer to his son and gave him a secure hug. Connor didn't fight back the affection he actually welcomed it. Connor didn't believe he was a child but saw his father truly believed he was so he just needed to prove to his dad he was no child at all.
TBC
A/N- Hope you enjoyed, please review!