A/N: Finally, we're getting to the fourth season. There are scenes here that I wrote word for word. Others are extended scenes, while others are my own. Enjoy, my fellow Angel fans!
Ashes
Chapter 3: The Search and Rescue
Three Months Later...
Lilah collapsed on Wesley's body, panting heavily. Both adults were covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Faces set in masks of pleasure.
"That didn't suck," panted Lilah. Then she added with a smile, "Well, maybe a little."
"Perhaps that's something we can expand on next time."
Lilah chuckled as she traced patterns on his chest. "What makes you think there will be a next time?"
Wesley's hands slide down her spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps on her feverish flesh. "Because you can't resist me."
Lilah grabbed a fistful of Wesley's short brown hair as she licks his neck. Wesley closed his eyes, and groaned in pleasure.
"I think you have that backwards," Lilah said before giving one last nibble on his jaw bone. Wesley looked disappointed as the brunette minx got up and began collecting her scattered clothes.
"Where are you going?"
"Snack breaks over. Time to get back to work," Lilah replied with a saucy smile.
Wesley mockingly smiled back as he watched the naked woman begin to dress. "And Wolfram and Hart does its best work after dark."
Lilah kept her smile on her face as she began to button up her blouse. "The sun's bad for your complexion. Ask Angel... Oh, right, you can't because of the whole wanting to smother you with a pillow thing."
Wesley didn't even wince at the personal burn. "Wouldn't think kidnapping his son would have such a negative effect on our relationship."
Lilah sat down in a chair, and began pulling on her nylon stockings. Her voice had a normal, comforting tone of a concerned girlfriend as she spoke.
"You thought you were doing the right thing. I hear that can be confusing. Have you tried talking to him? Maybe when he gets back you could-"
Wesley chuckled, his grin shocking the lawyer. The rare sound had her stomach fluttering with a strange warmth.
"What?"
"I have no idea where Angel is, Lilah, or what happened to him. And I really couldn't care."
Lilah was surprised. She didn't know if this was yet another part of the little evil/good game they often played. It could be a lie, to throw her off the scent. Though she had a gut feeling that Conner had something to do with his father's disappearance, she couldn't be sure where Angel was now or what happened.
"Wow. That was cold," Lilah said as she walked back over, sitting down beside her naked lover. "I think we're finally making progress."
Leaning forward, Lilah tried another tactic. Less subtle.
"Come on. Doesn't it bother you just a little bit? The not knowing?"
Wesley's eyes remained cold as he replied, "That part of my life is dead. It doesn't concern me now."
Lilah for a brief moment looked sad. The hope and light she's tried to seduce and crush seemed to be working. It saddened her to see the him this way. That, in itself, surprised her more than anything.
"No, it doesn't," Lilah at last agreed.
Leaning down, she gave Wesley a gentle kiss. But as she pulled back and tried to get up, Wesley roughly grabbed her by her shoulder length brown locks and pulled her back down for a passionate kiss. Both eagerly gave in to the passion, rubbing their hands all over each others bodies. But Lilah quickly took control of the kiss, ending it on a soft note.
Wesley watched as the lawyer walked out. He waited a few moments after she at last left the apartment. When he was satisfied that she wasn't coming back, he got up and slipped on some under-ware and a pair of jeans. Grabbing the key out of his dresser drawer, he casually walked over to the closet.
Unlocking it, he opened it to a shocking scene. Bars kept a hateful Justine from escaping her tiny, sound proof cell. She was on her knees, gagged, with her hands handcuffed behind her. A metal coller with a chain kept her still. A metal bucket sat next to her, clean for the moment.
"It's time. Let's go for a boat ride."
A
"Gunn, keep your eyes on the road," Fred chided as Gunn looked up to the roof top of the buildings for the hundredth time.
"Sorry. Just checking if Junior is keeping up."
"He's fast, just like his father. Don't worry about it."
Gunn shook his head, still annoyed that Connor was joining them to interrogate the supposed witness to Angel's disappearance. The boy was a loose cannon, having no patience for the art of getting the info from seedy characters. If Conner lost his temper and tried to kill this lead, Gunn wouldn't be able to do anything about it. The whole vampire strength gene was definitely running against him. Only Angel could keep the punk under his thumb.
"Well, as long as he doesn't lose it and kills our only lead, I'll be fine."
"I told you that I would keep an eye on him," Fred quickly reminded him. Gunn chuckled.
"Babe, I can't even keep that boy in check. And I'm a man!"
Fred crossed her arms, giving Gunn an annoyed look. Realizing how that came out, he quickly tried to back pedal.
"What I'm trying to say, is that... Like... You are the woman and you're strong but very... very lean and I'm... big."
"Right. Are you trying to get thrown into the dog house?"
Gunn tried his charming smile on his intelligent girlfriend. Despite her irritation, her lips twitched. Soon, she was smiling back, not able to resist his charms.
"Stop it! I want to be mad with you, not melting into a pool of butter."
"Ah, come on! You know that my charms cannot be resisted. You're a lucky woman to snag me. Cause I got all the chicks all over my stuff."
"What do you mean by all over your stuff?"
Gunn winced, again putting his foot in his mouth. As he tried to smooth that little blunder over, Connor listened closely as he leaped from rooftop to rooftop. He smiled as Fred gave him a hard time. The way the extremely petite and tallish girl got the big guy to stutter was hilarious. It was nice to see someone put Gunn in his place.
But that wasn't his focus at the moment. His mind had to be kept on his timing when approaching the vampire who possibly saw him with his father at the Bluffs that night. Everything had to be perfect so that he wouldn't be on the two persistant people in his life radar.
His mind went back to that fateful night, trying to remember if he heard or smelled anyone when he attacked his father. He thought for sure that he was a few steps ahead on everything. But if that vampire did see him, he could easily dispose of it. If it was human, that would prove a hard situation. Humans were off limits. Unless they pushed him to a corner.
But that wasn't the case now. It was a female vampire apparently. And vampires were dangerous. Anything could happen while questioning her. An accident. No. She attacks him. That would work out better. He had to kill her. That would make a good cover story. Even gaining him some sympathy from Fred.
But first, he had to see if the demon knew anything. Of course he would kill her either way. She was a killer after all. But he had to make sure that she didn't talk to the others.
Connor pushed himself harder. He had to hurry. All the things he did to avenge his father would soon come unraveling if he didn't silence this menace. This new life he had with Gunn and Fred would be for nothing. Sure, he could never call them family, especially since they willingly worked with that murderer, Angel. But he did have a certain attachment to them. It was true that both Gunn and himself didn't get along much, but Connor still admired the street fighter for his skills. And Fred, well, she had become almost like a sister. Loving, protective. And pretty. Really pretty. Pretty hot.
Connor shook his head, stopping his mind from going down the gutter. His teenage hormones rushing with the adrenaline. He needed to do something to relieve the tension. Thankfully, Gunn pulled over next to some old, dark buildings. Connor smiled.
Leaping down next to the truck, Connor grabbed a weapon and began to head inside. But Gunn grabbed his arm, something he did not like at all.
"What?" Connor all but growled.
"Don't use that tone with me! I'm trying to help ya, Connor. I'm not your enemy," Gunn stressed. Fred looked between the two nervously.
"Fine," the teen grumbled, forcing a emotionless mask over his raging feelings.
"This isn't your usual vampire dusting thing. Tonight is different. This chick is supposed to have seen something when your dad disappeared. So instead of rushing in and killing, we're going to ask some questions."
"Sure, sure."
"Connor, I mean it. Don't lose your cool. This is our only good lead we've had for awhile. As much as you hate it, this vamp has to live. Understand?"
"Yes! Can we please go now?"
Gunn snorted. "Well, since you did say please. Now, the plan is that we go in nice and quiet. Wait! Connor!... Damn it!"
Both Gunn and Fred chased after the young man. But unfortunately, Connor inherited the speed gene too.
A
It was dark and calm as the rented scavenger boat moved through the calm waters. Wesley stood vigilantly at the helm, playing both captain and helmsman. His face was grim as the radar had yet to pick up a signal for anything metallic. Justine stood by the sea charts, glaring at her captor.
"So, what's it gonna be tonight, Cap'n? Bicycle? Old tire? Or maybe we'll get real lucky and catch us a nice shopping cart. Oh, here's a wacky thought! Why don't you swim down there yourself?"
Justine's remarks did nothing to break Wesley's concentration. "No contact. We'll try the next grid."
Wesley set the boat on auto, then walked over to the sea charts. Justine grimaced, moving away. Picking up a marker, Wesley began to charter their next course of action.
"Do you really think finding Angel's gonna change anything?"
"Everything changes," Wesley replied.
"I guess anythings better than sitting in a cage with nothing to do but to fill my bucket," Justine said bitterly.
Being as casual as ever, Wesley walked back to the helm, setting the next course.
"Perhaps you should've considered that before slitting my throat."
Justine smiled mockingly. "The great Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. The shining beacon of all that's good and pure. But, oh, wait, no. That's before he started banging the enemy and keeping the slave girl in his closet."
Wesley looked over his shoulder and replied, "You were always a slave, Justine. You just couldn't see the chains."
Mockingly, Justine put her hands together in a praying motion, kissing the tips of her fingers as she bowed. "Thanks, swami. I'll meditate on that."
Wesley turned his head as he went in for a low blow. Using her own personal feelings as a weapon against her.
"You think she'd be disappointed?"
Justine blinked, slightly confused. "Who?"
"Your sister," Wesley replied. His eyes shown with a mixture of guilt and pleasure as he taunted her with painful memories. "That's where it all began, isn't it?"
Justine turned around, fighting back tears.
"Sister murdered by a vampire. Consumed with the need for revenge."
Justine whipped around, glaring at the back of Wesley's head.
"For justice!"
Wesley turned slightly, his eyes unwavering. "Is that what you call it? Turning a son against his father?"
"Angel got what he deserved."
Wesley looked back at the ocean, his eyes haunted. "We all get what we deserve... You and Holtz deserved each other."
Justine looked at the wrench by the charts on the counter. She felt the anger build up as Wesley continued.
"You two have so much in common. Pain, loss, lack of anything approaching humor."
Justine smiled, slowly reaching for the large wrench. "Oh, I don't know. We had a few laughs. Getting you to steal Angel's baby, now that was a good one."
Her finger tips now were touching the handle. She quietly tugged on it, getting the tool closer, and closer.
"Better than tricking Connor into sinking his father to the bottom of the ocean?"
Justine's hand now had a good grip. "Well, that was worth a couple of yuks, too."
"Not much of a plan, though, was it really? Easy to figure out which door to kick in when Angel went missing."
Justine curled her lip as she picked the tool up, it's weight heavy enough to kill him in one bash. Human or not, she was going to shut him up.
"And not much harder to persuade you to betray everything Holtz had given his life for. Not that it was worth very much. Well, you should know. You're the one that ended it."
Angry with the truth of his words, Justine rushed forward, wrench raised high. Wesley calmly stopped her with a simple threat.
"I'll take away your bucket."
Justine stopped, lips trembling. Was he bluffing?... Throwing down the wrench, Justine stomped back to her corner by the charts. Wesley smiled as they continued on in the search for Angel.
A
Angel's watery prison in no way stopped his hallucinating mind to wander. Dreams of loving Cordelia, having the whole gang back together, Cordelia telling him that she was in love with him... They were perfect, that is, till the dreams beagan going south. Way south. He drained Cordelia in one dream, snapped his traitor son's neck in another. Everything slipping away, turning into ashes.
But, the one part of his starved brain did remain sane. That sane part had allot to think about. Other than his dark past, of course. In a way, being sunk down to the ocean put things into perspective. The world was cruel. Filled with cruel beings. And fate had a way of screwing with your life.
Take him and Cordelia for instance. He was completely in love with the fiery and stubborn woman. And from the vibes of his last phone call with her, she might be feeling the same way. Lorne certainly thought she did.
Yet fate stepped in, using his teenage son as yet another cruel twist in his path. The one thing he thought he would never have was the weopan used to bring the vampire down. One moment, fate was giving him everything he wanted, the next thing he knew, it was snatching his freedom and preventing him from actually having the gifts it presented.
Opening his tired, chocolate brown eyes, Angel watched as an angel fish swam by... Then get eaten by a shark. In a way, it had a symbolic meaning of his miserable life. It could be said that the little show proved that fate was standing somewhere laughing at him, and the tricks that it loved to play on the vampire.
The strain from just opening his eyes and having a look around began to put him to sleep, where nightmares was ruled by his hunger for blood and violence. Angel's thin shred of sanity began to slip some more as another nightmare took hold.
A
Fred sighed as Gunn went back to the office. The lead had turned up dead... Literally. Thanks to Connor. But Fred couldn't blame him. If he said that the vampire attacked him, then he had the right to defend himself. Even if she was the last trickle of hope they had.
Deciding that sitting around and doing nothing wasn't going to help matters, Fred decided to call Lorne yet again. He did say that he had some contacts that might help them in finding Cordy and Angel.
Dialing his cell number, the tired former physicist waited. Her call was answered, but not by Lorne. A deep, grouchy voice greeted her.
"Lorne's phone, who is it?"
"Um, hi! I'm a friend of Lorne's. Can I-"
"He's busy getting make up on. He's about to get on stage, so call back later."
"No! Wait, please. It's kinda a emergency."
"Sure it is... Alright. But don't take too long."
Fred waited, curling the phone cord around her finger. She didn't have much hope of talking to Lorne. Last time someone told her that, she wound up getting the go-around.
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, the body guard, a tall big bald fellow, walked up to Lorne who turned out was getting his stage make up on.
"Now, now go easy, Mabel. Remember, they're payin' to see the green."
Lorne noticed his tall mean looking body guard standing there. Gulping, he tried to put on his award winning smile. The guard handed the cell phone to the surprised demon.
"You got two minutes till show time," the guard gruffly said.
"Thanks sweetie... Bonsoir."
Fred smiled with surprise. Gunn, who was leaving the front office, saw the Texan motion to him excitedly.
"Lorne? Lorne! Hey, it's Fred. I've been trying to get ahold of you."
"Oh, I'm sorry, hon. I've been booked out the 'wa' and past the 'zoo'. If I get any hotter, they'll have to stamp me out."
Fred smiled understandably as Gunn impatiently 'mouthed what did he say'.
"Lorne, I know you're busy, but we really need your help. We had a lead, but it, uh, kinda died. Did you talk to your connections? Have they heard anything about Angel or Cordy?"
"Not a peep. But if I miracle ear anything, I'll send up a smoke signal."
Lorne nodded as the body guard impatiently motioned to his watch.
"Oh, that's my cue. Take care of yourself, and, uh, make sure Fluffy's gettin' enough love."
"Lorne?" Fred quickly said. But the connection was gone. Feeling irritated, Fred hung the phone up harder than usual.
"He have anything?" Gunn questioned hopefully.
"No. And who's Fluffy? Are you Fluffy?" Fred asked Gunn with a confused look. Gunn's eyes widened.
"He called me Fluffy?"
"He said, 'Make sure... Wait... You don't think he was referring to anything... of mine that's fluffy, do you? 'Cause... that would be inappropriate," Fred said with disapproval.
Gunn sighed, crossing his arms. "Like deserting us? No leads, no clients. Pretty soon, no roof over my smooth, delicate head."
Fred smiled as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I can make you a paper hat."
Gunn smiled as Fred chuckled. She gave an extra hug before continuing.
"It's gonna be okay. Angel and Cordy are out there somewhere. And no matter what the Powers That Screw You throw at us, we're gonna find'em."
A
"You found Angel?" Lilah said incredulously.
"Lilah, Gavin's work with the psychics has uncovered some invaluable Intel in a variety of unexpected areas," Linwood, the CEO of the L.A. branch of Wolfram and Hart said. His beady brown eyes looked angry as he looked at Lilah's surprised expression.
She couldn't believe that weasal, Gavin, would sink even lower to make her look bad. Being spied on while she did certain things on her personal time was sick.
Linwood stepped forward, noticing that Lilah wasn't stepping away. She looked him head on. Her courage didn't make her look better in his eyes. At least Gavin knew when to look down and cower like a dog when told too.
"Care to enlighten us?"
"What I do in my personal time is none of Gavin's business," Lilah responded coldly as she glanced at Gavin. Her rival smiled smugly at her.
"But everything's my business," Linwood replied in a dangerous tone. Lilah gave a stunning, but chastising smile to her boss.
"I'm not sleeping with him for information."
Linwood returned her with a mocking smile of his own. "Please don't tell me it's the chiseled jaw. If you have his confidence, we can play it to our advantage."
Lilah's eys hardened while her voice remained passive. "He doesn't know anything. There's nothing to take advantage of."
Linwood shook his head. Gavin looked pleased as his boss seemingly put the bright brunette in her place.
"Except you."
The sound of the elevator ding stopped the interrogation from going any further.
"Staff meeting in an hour. Don't be late," Linwood said calmly, though his tone had a threat in it. "Gavin."
Lilah watched as the puppy dog followed his master to the elevator. Her gaze never left them till the elevator doors closed. She then smiled, knowing that those two short men had no idea that she had an ace up her sleeve.
A
"Solid contact. Definitely metallic."
Justine sighed. "Probably more junk. Could be anything down there."
Wesley stopped the boat, setting the anchor down. Turning around, he gave her a look that was impossible to argue with.
"Better have a look then."
He then threw the goggles to the red head. She pressed her lips tightly before going down below to change into her wet suit. Wesley looked out into the darkness, praying that they struck gold this time.
Ten Minutes Later...
The water was some what murky as Justine explored the bottom. She felt nervous, remembering a Discovery show talking about sharks and when they fed. Murky water was one of the warnings to divers, usualy a place where Great Whites did their hunting. Especially at night.
Her heart pounded as she caught sight of a faint, large siloute up ahead. Knowing that Wesley wouldn't let her up till she had proof that the metallic object wasn't Angel, kept her going. If it was a shark, she half hoped that it would eat her, ending her imprisonment at the Wyndom-Pryce abode.
But as she got closer, she realized that is wasn't a shark, but a rusting large rectangle box. She knew it was the blood sucker, feeling relieved that the search was finally over... and resentment since once again Angelus would be free to walk the face of the earth while Holtz was nothing more than worm food. Swimming up to it, she used her large flash light to peer into the small glass window. Angel's pale, grey face was there. She found him.
Some Time Later...
Wesley eagerly waited as the small crane lifted the heavy coffin up. He couldn't hide his excitement of fining the one person who still probably wanted him dead. Though he was bitter against his family, he couldn't bare the thought of one of them coming to any harm. That part of his heart hadn't changed in the least.
When the box was finally lowered onto the deck, Wesley quickly unhooked the cable wire. Grabbing the torch, he briskly began working on breaking the seals. After a little time, he was finished. Grabbing the lid on one side, Wesley looked up at Justine, who just stood there with an obstinate expression on her face.
"Justine," Wesley said urgently. "Come on!"
Unwillingly obeying, Justine came over and grabbed the other side. Both lifted the heavy lid and removed it. Wesley then grabs some bolt cutters, and begins to chomp through Angel's metal bonds. He glances at Angel's pale greyish face while doing so, growing more worried with the ghastly sight. His eyes were cold, his body far too still. The cracks under his left eye and chin don't go unnoticed. He desperately hoped he wasn't too late to save Angel's mind. Going without blood for so long had chaotic effects on a vampire's brain.
"Congratulations. You're the big hero. Maybe your friend's will throw you a party. I wander what the cake's gonna look-"
Suddenly, Angel opened his eyes and grabbed Wesley by the throat. His eyes were almost pitch black, full of menace. Any recognition in them was not there.
Slowly and hesitantly, Wesley reached up and grabbed his wrist. Their eyes connected, and for a breif and frightening moment the former watcher wasn't sure if he would be alive much longer. That fear was laid to rest as Angel's grip started to weaken. His eyes flutter shut before his seemingly lifeless hand released the Englishman's throat. Wesley sighed, looking up at Justine.
"Help me get him down below."
A
Connor slowly walked in to the Hyperian, hoping that he could slip in unnoticed. But apparently that wasn't going to happen tonight. Gunn and Fred were waiting for him, sitting on the blue island couch. Both slowly stood up, looking tired and worried. The teenager sighed, waiting for the inevitable verbal beat down.
"This gonna be the yelling thing again?" Connor asked warily. He looked at Gunn with suspicion.
"No. No yelling," Fred replied.
"He looks like he's gonna yell," Connor insisted. Gunn sighed.
"I do not," Gunn replied in a controlled, even voice.
"He always looks like he's gonna yell," Connor pushed, bracing himself for yet another yelled lecture. In a way anticipating goading the older man.
"I'm not gonna yell!" Gunn replied, raising his voice. Fred decided to change the topic.
"Where have you been?"
FLASHBACK...
Connor opened the basement door. His prisoner didn't move. Closing the door behind him, he confidently strolled over to the sleeping figure on the old mattress. Putting down the bag of fast-food, he quietly sat down, and looked at the sleeping woman.
Her hair had lost some of its luster, though it still was soft and alluring. The blond color was fading, revealing the true color at the dark roots.
Connor gently stroked her hair, wandering what was it about this girl that prevented him from killing her. At first, taking Cordelia was a spur of the moment thing, a plan B. If he wasn't able to catch his father, then he would use Cordelia as his revenge against the vampire by letting her stay here to starve.
But the plan went through perfectly, allowing him to not follow through with plan B. All he had to do was get Justine to help him get rid of the ghostly witness, leaving him free of suspicion.
His eyes closed as he remembered coming back here, finding Cordelia scared and very angry. A battle ensued. Connor would have been defeated if if it wasn't for her inability to use her powers all the time. She was still getting used to it, leveling the playing field between them. But her fighting skills impressed him, preventing him from killing her then and there - despite that she was half demon.
Her first month of imprisonment wasn't easy, though. Not for either of them. Cordelia would switch between begging to know what happened to Angel and asking for Connor to let her go. Her pleas causing a weird ache from his concious. Then back to fighting and yelling. He finally had to put a collar on her and make a chain leash that was attached to the wall. The reason being that she almost escaped by pouncing on him as he brought her her lunch one day.
It came to him after that event that feeding Cordelia three square meals a day kept her strong and healthy. A prisoner to be wary of. So, he broke it down to one meal a day, cutting back her human and demonic strength she's slowly aquired.
Cordelia began mumbling in her sleep, causing an involuntarily smile. For some odd reason, he found it indearing, in its own kind of way. The way her full lips pouted when she didn't get her way in her dreams, mumbling about shoes and clothing.
Watching Cordelia gave him a sense of peace. Even though each day he would tell himself that it was time to put her out of her misery from being part demon, he couldn't go through with it when he laid his eyes on her. In a way, she had become like a pet. One that would shout at him, then be nice and sweet, telling him that Angel and her loved him and always will. A love hate relationship that was so very new, and yet familiar with the one he had with Holtz.
"Angel," Cordelia mumbled, throwing a arm over her the side of the bed. The smile Connor had soon disappeared. Jealousy took root as he listened in more.
"I love you. I think I always have."
Connor snatched his hand away from her hair as if it burned him. He couldn't understand how she could love that monster!
"Mmm, Angel," she groaned.
Connor stood up, glaring at her. The urge to hit something burned through his body. Turning around, refusing to give in the temptation of taking his rage out on her, Connor stomped over to the wall and punched it. A loud smack echoed as the concrete wall cracked.
Cordelia awoke with a start, her eyes wide with fear. She blinked a few times before finally seeing the teenager. Connor could smell her fear, though she bravely acted as if seeing him didn't bother him. Not many warriors could look him in the eye as she did.
"Well, so much for sleep."
"I got you something to eat," Connor mumbled.
Cordelia looked down and looked at the take out bag. Her mouth instantly watered when the smell swamped her senses. With a unashamed starved look, the brunette snatch up the paper bag and opened it, smelling the contents with happy relish. It wasn't Chinese, but the whopper with cheese, french fries, and the bottle of water was nothing to complain about. Especially since she only got to eat once a day, which was taking away pounds that didn't need to be lost.
Connor watched as Cordelia began to scarf down the food. Guilt tugged at him, knowing that the one meal a day was unhealthy for her. But until he decided for sure if he was going to let her live or die, he had to keep her weak.
"What happened to your arm?"
Connor blinked as Cordelia's curious voice interrupted his brooding thoughts. "Huh?"
"Your arm. What happened?"
Connor looked down at his self, inflicted wound. It was almost healed completely, the tear in his skin nothing but a thin scratch now.
"Vampire," he simply stated.
"Wow. Guess all that training you got from psycho Holtz really didn't pay off."
Connor let the insult slide. Something that he would have not done three months ago.
"So, have you decided to kill me tonight or not?"
Connor's mouth twitched. Every night, he's told her that he would kill her tomorrow, releasing her pure soul from her contaminated body. Cordelia seemed confident that she would survive. This both irritated and amused him.
"Not yet. Still thinking of a way that's not too messy."
Cordelia took a unlady like gulp from her water before resuming with the conversation.
"Well, good luck with that."
Connor looked down and smiled. Cordelia sighed, hating how their somewhat playful, morbid, and resentful verbal banter was the only thing to get such a gentle smile from the teen. For three months, she's been starved, at times beaten, and tortured with the not knowing what happened to Angel. In her heart, she knew that Angel was still alive. (As alive as a dead guy can be.) But the unknown scared her more than this unstable boy.
She wanted to hate him. She really should, considering the crap he's pulled. But as hard as the former Queen of Mean tried, she just couldn't. To her, he was still that little precious bundle that once filled the A.I. gang's hearts with joy. And to see him struggling with what he's doing, broke her heart. The vision she had recently didn't help at all as she tried desperatly to look at this boy as the enemy he was. For what she saw shed some light on what was in his heart. Darkness and light warred over his soul, twisting his logic up till everything he thought of didn't make sense.
"Connor, let me go."
"You know I can't."
"Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
"I already told you," Connor grumpily replied. "You're part demon which-"
"Oh please! Don't patronize me."
Connor looked away, crossing his arms in defiance. Cordelia supressed a smile. His sulking was so Angel. But to tell him that would earn her another punishment.
"Connor, I can tell you why you can't kill me."
Connor didn't reply. Instead, he slowly turned his head, giving her his attention.
"You know that killing me would be murder. You know that I'm not evil. And despite what you think, not all demons are evil. And not all humans are good," she added with a hint of distain, her brain zeroing in on Holtz's image. Shaking her head, she continued to make her case, "Take Lorne for instance. He helps put people on their right paths. Not to mention that he tried to help us when your mother was pregnant with you."
The mention of his mother caught his curiosity. Holtz had always told him that he was the Bastard son of two vampires. Both evil and murderers. Deep down, he always was curious who his mother was, and how she died. It was something that his father Holtz never told him, or couldn't stop it from growing.
"As for me, I became part demon to help people. Those visions that I have - I'm able to bare them because of the demon blood inside of me... And you, Connor - like it or not, you're the living and breathing product of two vampires. Out of them came the most cherished baby I have ever known. If they had never came together, I would never have known you."
"They were murderers, demons," Connor breathlessly whispered.
"Yes. But your father - he has a soul. He saves people daily, not to mention that he's a champion! As for your mother, she... she gave her life so you could live."
Connor paced back and forth, his face stuck in a troubled expression. Then he stopped, his shoulders tense. After a long pause, he slowly turned around and walked toward Cordelia. Her heart beat accelerated, but she showed none of her fear as Connor sat down beside her.
"What... happened to her?"
Cordelia smiled sadly as she told the tale of the events that happened that brought Connor here. She gave full detail of when Darla showed up pregnant at the hotel, how she almost killed her, and how Angel discovered that the baby inside had a soul.
Connor listened without interrupting. His face looked hard and stern, but his eyes spoke volumes of the pain and awe of how he came to be born. When finished with the story, Cordelia studied Connor as he sat there quietly.
Everything he heard seemed unreal. How could the vampire love him? She didn't have a soul, yet she sacrificed herself for him to live.
Connor's lips trembled as he was over come with emotions. Cordelia slowly put her arms around him, holding him as he began to cry. She rocked him back and forth, talking softly to him. But Connor wasn't ready to let this happen. He didn't want to let go of this hate that Holtz nurtured in him. He tried fiercely to convince him that it was all a lie, closing the doors that Cordy had opened in his heart.
"Let go of me!"
Cordelia instantly released him as the teenager jumped up, rushing to the door.
"Connor, wait!"
"Don't try to use that demon magic on me! I know what you're trying to do!"
Cordelia shook her head as her eyes began to well up with tears. "No Connor. I'm not trying to-"
"Both my parents are demons. And both got what they deserve.."
Cordelia felt her lungs constrict. "Connor... Is Angel... Is he?"
Connor smiled cruelly. "He's dead."
The words echoed over and over in her mind, playing upon her secret fear. And try as she might, Cordelia couldn't block the words that were spoken with such deadly accuracy. The young brunette groaned as the grief took hold. Curling into the fetal position, Cordy began to sob over the deepest loss in her life. Connor opened the door, and left the brunette to grieve over his lie.
END OF FLASHBACK...
"Out," Connor replied curtly as he passed the two. Gunn sighed.
"We were worried," said Gunn, trying once again for civility that he didn't feel.
Connor froze. Slowly, he turned and looked at the two. Strange to say, but he honestly felt guilty for putting them through all this worry.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't run off alone. You'd think I'd learn that by now."
Gunn smiled, patting Connor on the shoulder.. The teenager genuinly returned the smile.
"It's that big melon. You're dad's got one just like it."
Connor stopped smiling. Gunn didn't seem to notice the change as he went on with the similarity's between them.
"Angel's always flyin' off. Gettin' himself into trouble."
"I'm not like him," Connor replied, his voice taking on a sharpened edge.
"You're not as strong yet, but-"
"Like I care what you think?"
Fred looked between the two as the tension became thick. The young beauty recognized the look in Gunn's eyes as he stiffened.
"What'd you say?"
Uh-oh. Fred quickly put herself between the two, smiling at Connor.
"It's been a long night. Why don't you go wash up?"
Connor slightly relaxes. He looks at Fred, then Gunn. After a short pause, he shakes his head.
"I'm fine."
Fred and Gunn watched as the teenager ran up the stairs. The tension in the air slowly left, leaving Fred a little drained. Gunn on the other hand was alert and ready for a fight, his muscles tight and coiled.
"I try to be nice, and you see what he does? He just keeps pushin'. It's like-It's like he wants me to lose it!"
Fred smiled with understanding as she leaned closer, looking up into Gunn's face.
"He's just testing you. With Angel gone, you're the alpha male."
Gunn grinned. "Damn straight."
Fred gave her boyfriend a saucy grin as she laid her hands on his chest. "Don't let it go to your head."
Gunn wrapped his hands around her tiny waist. Leaning in, he replied huskily, "That's not the direction it's flowin'."
Fred giggled pleasantly as she met Gunn half way. Their lips met, soon growing passionate. The make out session soon came to a halt as the phone began to ring.
"Let it ring," Gunn encouraged as he leaned in for another kiss. Fred smiled as their lips barely brushed.
"What if it's a client?"
Gunn sighed. He looked at the phone with a menacing glare as he slowly pulled away from Fred's grasp.
"Then the big dog better close the deal." Gunn grabbed the phone and said, "Angel Investigations."
"Gunn, it's Wesley."
Gunn's spine stiffened. He couldn't say anything at first, too shocked that Wesley would call there.
"Wesley." Gunn acknowledged. Fred gasped at the mention of Wesley's name. She quickly was by Gunn's side, eager to find out what was going on.
"I realize that I am the last person you wish to speak with, but I have something rather important to tell you."
"Like what? 'Cause I can't think of-"
"I found him."
"Found who?" Gunn said between clenched teeth.
"Angel."
Gunn felt his mouth go dry. Fred grabbed his arm, thinking something was wrong.
"Charles? What's wrong?"
"Angel. Wesley's found Angel," Gunn replied slowly.
"Angel?... How? Where? When?" Fred rushed Gunn with all the obvious questions. Gunn quickly shushed her and asked Wesley the same thing.
Wesley then went into detail of the last three months of what went down. How Connor tricked them all, and how Wesley got ahold of his accomplice, Justine. Gunn's hands trembled when he heard how Angel was sunk down the bottom of the ocean in the metal box.
When Wesley was done, Gunn managed to find his voice.
"How is he?"
"I'm afraid he's not doing well. The damage done from going without blood for so long is seemingly severe. I've managed to get him to drink several jars of pigs blood, but he still seems to be out of it. We'll be making port soon."
"Do you want us to meet you there?"
"No. It would be better if you took care of certain things at the hotel first."
Gunn nodded. Oh, things were definitely going to be taken care of.
"Don't worry about that. I'll handle it. Just bring Angel back in one piece."
"Right. Be careful."
Gunn smirked as he thought of ways of beating Connor to a bloody pulp. "I will be... And Wesley?"
"Yes?"
"You... you did a good thing here, man. You didn't have to do this."
There was a weighty pause. "Yes, I did."
Gunn slowly hung up the phone. By now, Fred was in a tizzy. Calmly, Gunn settled her down and told her the sordid story told to him. Her face paled as the tale went on. When finished, Fred couldn't say anything. Not at first.
"Fred?"
"All these months... Connor knew."
Gunn tenderly touched her cheek. "Yeah. He hoodwinked us all."
"Angel's been down there, alone, starving."
Gunn wrapped his arms around her shaking body. "Shh. The point is that he's back. Wesley's bringing him home."
"What about Cordy?"
Gunn shook his head. "Wesley doesn't know. But he said he's lookin' into it."
Fred pulled away from Gunn's arms, her eyes cold and collecting. "We have to do something about Connor."
"Don't worry. I've got it covered."
"No," Fred said, shaking her head. "We have to do something!"
Gunn stood up, trying to reach for her. "Fred, no. I can handle him by myself. You need to-"
"No, Charles! He's too strong for you. We have to work together. And I just know the way to do it."
Gunn watched as Fred walked over to Cordelia's desk, searching through her drawers. She smiled sadistically when finding what she was looking for.
"We'll be sneaky. Just like what he did to his father," Fred said as she held up the tazor. "I just need to make him a snack first."
A/N: My favorite parts are coming up! I love when sweet, innocent Fred goes warrior on Connor. Then when Angel comes, ooooo! R&R please!
