Once they got to the hotel Fred went strait to the weapons cabinet. She started looking through them until she found a small ax. She had started muttering to herself. Connor stood by the front door watching her, but he wasn't sure what to do. Angel and Gunn walked in, talking about the demon they had gone to see. They saw that Fred was obviously in a state, and Gunn went to her and said, "What's wrong?"

"It was him. It was Professor Seidel. He was the one who opened the portal, and he was the one who sent me to Pylea. How could he do that Charles? I trusted him, and he sent me to hell. I don't even know why!"

Angel said, "How do you know Fred?"

"There was a book in his office. It explained how to open portals, and even had some pictures of Pylea, and the thing with tentacles. He just sat there and listened to me talk about portals and how I had been sent to Pylea. He pretended to be skeptical, and I kept thinking about how much I wanted him to believe me. How much I wanted him not to think I was crazy."

Gunn turned to Angel and said, "So what are we gonna do?"

Fred gave Gunn a glare and said, "Not we, me. I'm going to go kill him. He's a mass murderer, but in a way that the police will never believe. I'll make sure he never sends another girl away from her family."

Both Gunn and Angel said "What!"

Fred looked at Gunn and said, "I'm gonna kill him, Charles. I'm gonna make it slow and painful. Make him suffer the way I suffered, and the way all those other girls suffered too."

Gunn said, "Let's just think about this Fred. You don't want to kill anyone. It isn't what we're about here."

Angel stepped over to them and said, "Gunn is right Fred. You don't want to do this. Taking vengeance isn't right. There are always other ways. Taking vengeance will not bring those five years of your life back."

Fred looked at both of them and said, "I can't believe the two of you! Did you hear anything that I said! He was the one. He put me in Pylea. How can you expect me to sit around and do nothing!"

Gunn said, "We didn't say do nothing. We just want you to wait for a little bit, and let us think of a way to get him without you killing him."

Fred gripped the ax a little more firmly and said in a deadly calm voice, "Don't try to stop me."

Connor had been watching this whole thing play out, and he was confused. First he was confused that Gunn and Angel weren't getting weapons themselves to go help Fred get the guy, but the more he heard Gunn and Angel talk with Fred the more he got it. He kept thinking about when he had taken revenge on Angel for his supposed crimes, and how mad Fred was about it when he did. He went up to her and said, "You were so mad at me for taking vengeance on Angel that you tazered me and tied me to a chair, and now you want to go take vengeance yourself. I don't get it."

Fred yelled, "It's not the same at all! Angel hadn't done anything wrong!"

"So if he had really killed Holtz, it would have been okay with you that I sent him to the bottom of the ocean in a box?"

"No!"

"Then why is it okay for you?"

Fred yelled "Stay out of it Connor! You don't understand."

"Yes I do."

Fred slapped Connor as hard as she could. Connor felt it, but it didn't really hurt him very much physically. Everyone in the room was silent for a few seconds. Then Connor said quietly, "Okay Fred. I… I'm sorry."

He turned and slowly walked up the stairs to his room. Fred couldn't believe what she had done. She almost never lost her temper especially with Connor. Gunn was looking at her with disappointment in his eyes, and Angel was glaring at her. Gunn said, "Give me the ax Fred."

She handed him the ax and looked at the floor. Gunn rubbed her shoulder and said quietly, "I promise we'll find a way to get this guy. No one hurts my girl and gets away with it."

Fred said, "I…. I think I need to go lay down and think about this for a little while. I need to be alone."

Gunn gave her a quick hug and said, "Okay. I'll come check on you in a few hours."

Fred nodded and walked upstairs.

Connor had walked upstairs and lay down on his bed. The more he thought about Fred hitting him, the more upset he got. He thought, 'Fred hit me. I shouldn't even care. It didn't really hurt, but she hit me. Maybe I was way out of line. Maybe if she hadn't hit me, Dad would have. Maybe she hates me, and thinks that I just get in the way all the time. If that's true, then I should try and stay out of her way. But I thought she… loved me.'

Connor was surprised to find himself crying. He thought, 'What a complete loser I am. I didn't cry when she used the tazer on me, and that hurt a lot. Now I'm crying from a slap that I can't even feel anymore. But I didn't trust her then. I didn't think of her as part of my family.'

Fred was walking to her room, when she passed Connor's room. She could hear him crying. She felt even more guilt then before. She knocked on his door.

Connor was startled out of his thoughts by the knock on the door. He could tell by the knock that it wasn't Angel, and suspected it was Fred. He wiped his face off, and tried to stop sniffling. He said, "Come in."

Fred came in, and looked at Connor. She thought he looked as miserable as she felt. He looked kind of lost. She went over to the bed and sat down. She looked at him for a second, and then pulled him into a hug. Connor found himself crying again, even though he didn't want to. Fred said, "I'm sorry Connor. I lost my temper, and took it out on you. I really didn't mean it."

Connor held onto her tightly and tried to stop crying. Fred started rubbing his back while she held him, and he said, "I… I thought…. You….. (Sniff)… Hated me."

Fred hugged him tighter and said, "Don't ever think that Connor. I love you."

Connor said, "I love you too."

They sat there quietly for a few minutes comforting each other.

When Connor was no longer sniffling, Fred let go of him and sat back. She looked at him and said, "Your face isn't even red."

Connor laughed a little and said, "It didn't really hurt."

Fred laughed a little too and then said, "Good. I'm gonna go be alone for a little while."

"Aren't you gonna go get that professor?"

"Gunn and Angel talked me out of it… for now."

Connor thought about it for a second and said, "If you still want to get him, I'll go with you."

Fred ruffled his hair and said, "Thanks Connor, but I don't think Angel would think that was so great an idea."

Connor nodded and said, "I would still do it for you."

Fred said, "We'll see."

She ruffled his hair again, and went out the door. As she shut the door to Connor's room she saw Angel standing a few feet away. He said, "I'm glad you two made up, but I want you to know it's not okay with me that you hit him just because you were pissed."

Fred looked down and said, "I know. I'm sorry, and it won't happen again."

"It better not."

When Fred looked up, Angel was halfway back down the hall. She went to her room and thought about everything.

Connor had heard what Angel had said. He thought, 'Why would Dad care? He has to know that she didn't really hurt me. If she didn't hurt me, then why was I crying? Maybe she did hurt me, just not physically. How could Angel know that? I guess he knows me better than I thought.'

Gunn was anxiously awaiting Angel's return. When Angel got back downstairs, Gunn said, "We have to do something about this guy before Fred does."

Angel said, "I agree. Let's go take anther look at that website to see if we can find a reason the Professor would have sent all those girls into other dimensions. Then we can go pay him a visit and get a confession."

Fred went to her room for a few minutes, but soon she couldn't stand it anymore. She decided that if Gunn and Angel weren't ready to help her, she would to go see the professor herself. As she was headed for the front door Wesley walked in. She was very happy to see him, and knew that he would understand. She said quietly, "Wesley, I need your help."

Wesley was always more than happy to see Fred, and would do anything she asked, because he loved her even if she didn't love him back. He said, "Of course."

Fred talked him into going to his apartment to talk alone, and they left without anyone else noticing.

Connor decided to go see what was going on downstairs. He found Gunn and Angel looking at Freddie's website in the office. Angel had just found that all the missing girls were very smart, and pursuing a carrier in the field of physics. Gunn thought the Professor was jealous of his students. Angel said, "Well, let's go get him, and see what he has to say."

Connor nodded and said, "Let's go get him for Fred."

Angel said, "I would really appreciate it if you could stay here and make sure Fred is okay. Just kind of hang out and make sure she doesn't leave. I don't want her to do something that she's gonna regret."

Connor said, "I would rather go with you. Gunn should stay here with Fred. I can't make Fred stay if she doesn't want to. Well, I could, but that wouldn't be right."

Gunn said, "I know this will be hard for you to understand Connor, but I need to go get this guy for Fred. She is my better half, and I love her. I need to be a part of bringing this guy down. And before you say it, I know that you love Fred too, but it's just different."

Connor said, "Why don't we ask Fred who she wants to stay with her."

Angel looked annoyed, and said, "No Connor. You stay like I asked you to, and watch Fred. Gunn and I will go get this guy. If you can't stop her from going, then go with her, and make sure she doesn't get hurt."

Connor didn't like it at all when Angel started giving orders, but he also knew there wasn't much he could do about it. He glared and said, "Fine."

Angel and Gunn had to take the sewers since it was still daylight out. Connor went to the kitchen and got a snack while he thought about how unfair it all was. Soon he decided he didn't care what Angel said. Fred was fine by herself, and he wanted to help get the guy. He thought he could beat Gunn and Angel there, because he could take the surface streets, and he could run without Gunn slowing him down. He knew it would be satisfying to beat up the man who had hurt Fred. He hadn't ever beaten up a human, but he knew he would have to be careful not to really damage him. He left the hotel at a run.

Wesley and Fred had reached his apartment quickly. He had asked her why she wasn't going to Gunn, and he was surprised to hear that she wanted to take vengeance on the man who had hurt her. He knew Angel wouldn't go for that sort of thing, and he suspected that Gunn would rather do it himself than let Fred do it. He told her that he would help her, and they talked over some options for Fred. They quickly found the way they wanted to hurt the professor, and headed over to the campus. When they got to the campus Fred said, "Wesley, I really need to do this alone. You understand don't you?"

Wesley nodded and said, "Alright Fred."

Fred got out of the car, and watched while Wesley drove off. She was a little surprised that no one stopped her from walking into the building while she was holding a crossbow, but no one did.

Connor arrived ahead of everyone else. He found the professor working at his desk. As he walked towards the man, Professor Seidel said, "Can I help you son?"

No one had called Connor 'son' except Angel, and he found it made his skin crawl. He walked up to the man with a pleasant boyish smile on his face, and when he got close enough, he punched the professor in the face. The professor fell over out of his chair and passed out. Connor yelled, "Get up."

When the man didn't move Connor nudged him with his foot to see if he were really passed out, or just faking it. He was not happy that the professor had just passed out. He had wanted to really beat him up. He decided he would have to practice punches with Gunn or Angel to help him gage how hard he could punch to hurt a human but not knock them out. He nudged the professor again with his foot and got no response. He found some water on the desk, and poured it on the professor's head. That worked enough to get the professor to groan, and start to roll over. Connor smiled and waited for a few seconds for the guy to completely wake up. While he was waiting Fred walked in. Fred said, "Connor?"

Connor looked like a deer caught in the headlights when he said, "Umm…"

"What are you doing here?"

"Well…. I…"

"Where's Professor Seidel?"

Connor pointed to the floor behind the desk where Fred couldn't see. Fred walked over and saw the professor moving slightly and holding his head. Fred glared at Connor and said in an angry tone, "Go home."

"But I want to…"

"I can see very well what you wanted to do, and I'm telling you to go home right now. It's personal, it's between the professor and me, and it has nothing to do with you. You had no right to come here and do this."

Connor looked very hurt, and walked out the door. He shut the door behind him and sat down in the hallway. He didn't want to leave Fred, in case the professor really was dangerous, but he also didn't want make her any more angry. He could hear her talking gently to the professor, and asking him if he were okay. Then he heard her helping him into his chair. He was so busy concentrating on listening to Fred, that he didn't hear Angel until he was standing in front of him. He looked up startled, and said, "Dad?"

Angel said, "How did you and Fred get here so fast?"

Connor had no idea how Fred had gotten there. He shrugged and didn't answer. Angel said, "I asked you a question son."

Connor said, "We drove."

Angel bent down and yanked Connor into a standing position next to him, and gave him two hard swats. Connor yelled "What was that for?"

"That was for lying. Go home, Connor. We'll talk when I get home."

Angel gave Connor a slight shove towards the exit. Connor was pissed and as he was walking down the hall he yelled "Fine!"

As Connor was walking down the stairs, a very winded Gunn was coming up them. Gunn said, "Connor? Where's Fred?"

Connor was still pissed, and said, "Guess!"

Connor continued walking away while Gunn yelled after him, "This is serious Connor. I need to know where she is! Don't you walk away when I'm talking to you!"

Connor didn't even turn around as he walked out the front door.

Angel walked into the professor's office just in time to see the professor with a smug smile on his face, and Fred holding an empty crossbow, and a very large demon walking towards her with an arrow sticking out of it's chest. Angel distracted the demon by saying, "Hey! Yeah you, the ugly one. Come fight with someone who'll be more of a challenge for you."

The demon lunged towards Angel, and they started fighting out in the hall. Fred had reloaded her crossbow, and was aiming it at the professor. She said, "Do you have any more surprises, or was that the only one you know?"

"Now Fred, can't we talk about this?"

"Talk about what Professor? Did you want to talk about the way you sent me to a hell dimension for five years, or about the way you sent all those other girls away too? I would love to hear why you did it. What did I ever do to you?"

"Well Fred, I felt you were too close to finding out about the reality of other dimensions, and then you would do something dumb like write a paper about it, and let the world know. You would end up making me and my department look like fools for putting trust in you and your theories, but even worse, some people would believe you, and then start to use the dimensions for their own personal gain. I couldn't have anyone encroaching on my side business. I'm sure if you think about it, you can understand."

Fred couldn't believe what she was hearing. She just stood there in shock until she felt Gunn put his hand on her shoulder. Gunn said, "You okay?"

Fred brought up the crossbow, and aimed for the professor's heart. Gunn bumped her arm so that her aim would be off, and the arrow went into the wall. She glared at Gunn and said, "Stay out of it!"

"No. Don't you see Fred? This is wrong."

Fred opened a book she had in her jacket and started to read the words on a page. As she was talking a portal started to open up in the middle of the floor. The professor who had started to walk away was caught close to the edge of the portal, and had to hold onto the desk to keep from falling in. Fred put the book away and said, "Okay Gunn. I won't kill him. I'll send him to a hell dimension, just like he did to me."

Gunn was walking over to help the professor and said, "That's the same thing Fred. He can't survive there."

"Too bad for him."

The professor looked to Gunn and said, "Help me. Please!"

Gunn grabbed the professor's hand and pulled him away from the portal. Fred looked at Gunn and said, "I'll find a way to kill him Charles."

Gunn looked sad and said, "If you do then we can't be together, and I love you."

Before Fred could respond, Gunn put both his hands on the professor's head, and gave it a quick twist. Fred could hear the snap. Once Gunn had broken the professor's neck, he tossed the body into the portal, which closed after him.

Gunn and Fred stood looking at each other, but not saying anything. A few seconds later Angel came in holding part of the demon that he had finally killed. He said, "Where's the professor?"

Fred said quietly, "We sent him to a hell dimension."

Angel smiled and said, "Giving him a taste of his own medicine? Good plan."

Everyone stood there quietly until Angel felt a little uncomfortable and said, "So… are we done here now?"

Fred nodded and headed towards the exit. Gunn followed her, and they all walked home in silence.

Lorne was pacing in the lobby wondering where everyone else was, when a very angry looking Connor walked in. Lorne said, "Hey kiddo, what's up?"

Connor ignored him, and kept walking down to the work out room, and started to punch the punching bag.

Soon after, a weary looking Fred, Gunn, and Angel arrived. Lorne said, "So how did everyone do talking to my contacts? I didn't have much luck with…"

Gunn and Fred started walking up the stairs without acknowledging Lorne, and Angel went to his office and shut his door.

Lorne said to the empty room, "Great to see all of you too. We should all be proud of the way we communicate here at Angel Investigations. Just peachy."

About an hour later, Connor was tired, and went to take a shower. When he was done he went to find Angel. Angel was still in his office, and Connor went in and shut the door. Connor said, "Okay Angel, if you're gonna hit me, lets get it over with."

Angel was startled out of his research. He said, "What?"

Connor used a condescending tone, and talked slowly as though Angel were a bit retarded as he said, "If you are going to hit me, then do it now."

Angel thought about it for a minute and said, "I don't hit you Connor, I spank you."

Connor rolled his eyes and said, "Oh brother. Just do it. I'm tired of waiting."

"Fine. Sit down and let's talk about why you think you deserve to be spanked."

"Can't you just do it? It doesn't matter what I say, you've already decided to spank me, so DO IT!"

Angel stood up and pointed to a chair. He said, "You better sit down and calm down before you make things much worse for yourself."

Connor was having a hard time controlling his emotions after two confrontations with Fred, and feeling like everyone was against him. He went to the chair, but instead of sitting down, he picked it up and threw it at Angel's head. Angel ducked, and the chair broke against the wall behind him. Before Connor could pick up the other chair that he was eyeing, Angel had one foot on the chair, and Connor over his leg. He started spanking Connor and after ten swats he said, "I know it has been a rough day,…'Smack' but you need to control your temper… 'Smack, Smack'"

Connor bit his lip, and decided he wasn't going to give Angel the satisfaction of hearing him yell. Angel kept spanking until Connor started to squirm around and kick his legs a little. Then Angel put Connor down, and pointed to the chair again. He said, "Sit down, and let's talk."

Connor didn't want to talk. He didn't want to be around anyone at all, but his butt was already starting to sting, and he didn't want Angel to turn that into an unbearable burning sensation. He looked at the chair, and looked back up at Angel. Angel said, "I can always spank you some more first, and then see if you're ready to chat."

Connor gave Angel a look of hate and sat down with a little groan. Angel brought his desk chair out from behind the desk and sat down in front of Connor. He said, "Okay son, you want to tell me what the tantrum was about?"

Connor shook his head no while looking at the floor. Angel said, "Okay then, why don't you tell me how you and Fred got to the Professor's office before me and Gunn."

Connor said in a snotty voice, "I already told you."

Angel shook his head and stood up. He picked up Connor, put his foot back on the chair, and put a struggling Connor back over his leg. Angel said, "Wrong answer little boy." and started spanking him again.

When Angel was done spanking Connor a second time, Connor was breathing hard, and had bitten through his lip with the effort not to cry out. Angel put his foot down, and sat Connor back in the chair. Connor yelped once when his butt hit the chair, but then he shut up, and glared at the floor while crossing his arms. Angel sat down too and said in a coaxing tone, "Connor, I can tell when you lie. Your heart beat goes up, and your voice sounds different. You know I've told you not to lie to me, and every time you do, you will find yourself in the same position. Now I'm gonna ask you again. How did you and Fred get to the professor's office?"

Connor was trying not to squirm around in the chair with some difficulty, and finally said, "I don't know how Fred got there."

"How did you get there?"

"I ran."

"Did you know Fred was gone when you took off?"

Connor sat and thought about it for a minute before he said, "No."

"I see. Let me guess. You went to go beat up the guy before we got there, basically just to let out your own frustrations for the day, and Fred found you there."

Connor nodded. Angel continued with, "And then Fred wasn't happy to see you there."

Connor just looked at the floor and tried not to give in to his sudden urge to cry.

Angel said, "Fred slapped you earlier."

Connor nodded and kept his head down as a tear slid down his cheek. Angel said, "She said she was sorry, but you still felt like she didn't love you."

Connor said, "I don't care if she loves me."

Angel said, "Yes you do. You might be trying to convince yourself that you don't, but you do."

"I don't need love. Love is stupid. Love makes us weak."

Angel said, "No Connor. Love makes us strong. Love makes our work worth while. I love you, Fred loves you, Gunn loves you, and even Lorne is starting to love you again. Don't get me wrong here, they don't always like you, but they would protect you from any pain and suffering that they could."

Connor had nothing to say. Angel continued with, "I heard you and Gunn in the hall. You weren't very nice to him."

Connor nodded and said, "I was mad."

"But you did come home, and you were getting out your frustrations on the punching bag when I came home. I think that was a really big step for you. You did the right thing even though you were mad, and angry, and hurt."

Connor looked up for the first time during the conversation and said, "I didn't even think about going somewhere else."

Angel smiled and said, "I'm glad. So now, why the burst of temper here in the office?"

Connor shrugged and looked back down. Angel said, "You're gonna have to do better than that. At least try to tell me."

"I… I was just mad still. I knew you were going to be mad at me for lying about how we got there, and that you would find out that I didn't stay with Fred, and I kept thinking about what you were gonna do. I didn't want you to do it, but at the same time I think…"

Angel said, "What?"

Connor shook his head. Angel said, "You felt bad about the fight with Fred, and you felt guilty about what you had done, so even though you didn't want me to spank you, you knew it would make the guilt go away."

Connor shook his head more violently. Angel said, "I can understand that, Connor. I even think it's pretty normal. Guilt is hard to live with, and it can crush you if you let it. It can drive a person insane if there's enough of it. I was insane for a while after I got my soul back. Pain and suffering help to lesson the guilt."

Connor looked up at his dad and said, "I hate myself sometimes."

Angel pulled Connor over to sit in his lap and hugged him tight when he said, "I hate myself sometimes too."

"Do you think Fred will forgive me?"

Angel thought about the way Fred and Gunn were acting when they had left the professor's office, and he said, "I think she probably already has, but she may seem kind of off for a while, and I don't want you to think that it's your fault. I think something bad happened between Fred and Gunn today."

Connor pushed to get off Angel's lap, and Angel let him stand up. Connor said, "Are they okay?"

"I don't know. We'll have to wait and see, but I want to get back to you. You disobeyed me today when you left the hotel, and you lied to me. You also lost your temper and tossed a chair instead of telling me how you were feeling."

Connor backed up a little out of Angel's reach and said, "I'm sorry."

"I'm glad your sorry, but I'm still going to punish you."

"You already spanked me."

"We can say that we took care of the chair throwing, but we still need to go over lying, and following orders."

Connor shook his head and said, "I don't think you need to. I already know it was wrong, and I won't do it again."

Angel gave Connor a stern look and said, "This is not up for debate son. Come here now."

Connor closed his eyes, and tried to get himself together as he started walking towards Angel. As soon as he was in reach, Angel undid Connor's pants and pulled them down as he pulled Connor over his lap. He started spanking the slightly pink bottom in front of him hard and fast. This time Connor didn't even try to be quiet, because he was done being mad about everything. He started yelling, "Dad please! Owww… Please stop! Aahhh…"

Angel kept spanking until Connor was crying, and his butt was a deep red. Angel pulled Connor's pants back up and sat him in his lap again. He said, "We're done now Connor. I forgive you, and I know Fred forgives you too. I hope you can forgive yourself."

Connor nodded into his dad's shirt and tried to stop crying. Angel rubbed Connor's back and kept hugging him until he was done crying. Connor eventually pushed away, and Angel let him stand up. Angel said, "I think you should leave Fred and Gunn alone for the rest of the day. I'll think up some chores you can do for the two of them tonight. Why don't you go rest for a little while, and I'll come get you when dinner's ready."

Connor went to his room, and lay down on the bed. Soon Lorne came in with some cookies and milk. Connor looked surprised and mumbled, "Sorry I blew you off earlier."

Lorne smiled and said, "We all have our bad days. Some days are worse than others, and it sounded like yours was pretty bad. I thought you could use a little pick me up, so here you go."

Lorne set the snack down on the side table and said, "See ya kid."

Connor smiled and said, "Thanks." as Lorne left his room.