Chapter 25

Wesley walked up to the picture in Angel's office and opened it revealing a safe behind it. He twisted the dial on the safe door to the right combination, which Buffy noticed was her birthday. She was standing behind him, holding the receptacle that contained Angel's soul. Fred, Gunn, Cordelia, and Lorne were also in the room.

"Seeing Angel's soul all floaty like that kinda makes me crazy." Fred said.

"Yeah, it's not forever, sugar plum. We're just borrowing it." Lorne said.

Wesley opened the safe door and held his hands out to Buffy. She looked at the white mist for a long moment, feeling Angel's soul warm in her palms and then she handed him the receptacle.

"Don't drop it." Fred said.

Wesley put it in the safe, closed the safe door, then closed the picture over it, concealing the safe. He turned to face everyone. "Angel is gone."

"I can't believe…. it's done." Cordelia said.

"Taking out Angel's soul. Putting it in a jar. I hope we know what we're doing." Gunn said.

"If Angelus knows how to destroy the Beast, it's all we've got." Wesley said.

"Yeah, otherwise, permanent midnight." Lorne interjected.

"He's dangerous." Buffy said.

"I know. I've seen it." Cordelia said. "But we're doing the right thing."

"As long as we're very careful. Before Angelus was ensouled, his viciousness was mythic. You all know his history." Wesley said.

"Killing, maiming, torture…." Fred said.

"Puppies nailed to walls." Lorne said. "Thank you, Cordelia, for that lovely image. But, uh, I think that brings us up to speed."

"There's only one thing Angelus will be focused on: getting free so that he can slaughter us to get to Buffy." Wesley said.

"No. We're Angel's only link to humanity. Angelus will hate us for that. He'll want to make us suffer." Cordelia said.

"He'll want to make me suffer." Buffy said, looking at Cordelia hard. "You're just pawns in his game to turn me."

"She's right." Wesley said. "He doesn't care about us."

"Why would he care about her after all these years?" Cordelia asked acidly.

"Buffy is Angel's link to humanity." Lorne said. "We're just his friends. She's the reason he is who he is. Angelus hates her for it. If killing us hurts her…."

Gunn shook his head. "I'm not a pawn in his game."

"You don't have a choice." Buffy said. "When you all decided this was the best course of action, you put yourselves on his game board. If he wants to give us answers, then he will. If not…."

"Watch the monitor when I go down." Wesley said. "Pay attention to everything he does, everything he says. He'll try to confuse you, to play on your emotions so you drop your guard. If he succeeds…. even for an instant….we're all dead. I spent my life training for this, and I'm still not ready. He's smarter than I am, and a great deal more focused. He'll exploit everything Angel knows about me and go for the jugular. Whatever he's got, I'm not gonna see it coming."

Buffy looked at Wesley. "Do you want me to come down there with you?"

"Let me try on my own. If I don't get the answers we need…."

"I'll give it a whirl." She smiled sadly. "Good luck."

Buffy and the others watched as Wesley walked downstairs into the basement and stood a few feet away from the cage. Angelus was lurking in the shadows. "Angelus."

"Wes. Why the long face? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Should I be?"

"Well, if it wasn't for your incessant pushing, I wouldn't be here. I'm feeling the love."

"The choice was Buffy and Angel's."

"Angel, schmangel. You're the man with the brain."

"You're comfortable?"

"Nice acoustics. Wouldn't hate a chair."

"You'll have to forgive the accommodations. The last time you were free, you terrorized Sunnydale."

"That Slayer…. she's a pistol. I bet you loved seeing her in that sheet. She's a hot one. Quite a way to be welcomed back with a view like that." Angelus closed his eyes and licked his lips. "Mmm…. At least tell me I get congiacal visits!"

They all looked at Buffy. "What is he talking about?" Gunn asked.

"Nothing." Buffy said darkly. "It's nothing."

"I've imagined this moment many times." Wesley said. "Years of study, research…. I've read everything ever written about you…."

"Oh, I doubt you've read everything. How about Buff's diary? Have you read that one yet? That's got the juicy details in it."

"To be one-on-one with the legendary Angelus." Wesley sat in a chair a few feet away from the cage. "As a former watcher, it's a high point."

"Buttering me up. Getting me all relaxed, hmm? Not the most innovative interrogation technique, but…. Ok, I'll play."

"Is it a game?"

"Hey, open book. Anything you want to know. How sweet that virgin gypsy tasted. The special smell of a newborn's neck. My first nun…. now that's a great story."

"We could start there."

"Don't be coy, Wes. You're just dying to know about the big Beastie. Fire away."

"All right. Did you know the Beast?"

"Well, now that's a question. Not a great question. Not even an insightful question. Not a Wyndham-Pryce-worthy question…."

"If you knew the Beast, why wouldn't Angel remember?"

"I don't know. Maybe he doesn't remember the good times. Maybe he won't let himself. So like him."

"When were these 'good times'?"

"When weren't they before he came along?" Angelus looked at Wesley. "Come on, Wes. I'm still waiting."

"What do you want?"

"We all want something, Wes. It's the way of the world. Everybody's got an agenda."

"And you want to tell me mine."

"You want to come down here, get your vital stats on lava boy, play the big hero…."

"I want to know how to kill the Beast. It has nothing to do with being a hero."

"Sure it does, but why now? Can't be because there's an apocalypse coming…. always one of those around the corner."

"Enlighten me."

"Foul rag-and-bone shop of the heart. That's where you live."

"Meaning?"

"You want to impress the girl. Move in, get her to love you, and after a couple days of flowers and chocolate covered cherries," Angelus banged his hands on the bars. "You'll bend her over the kitchen counter…."

"That supposed to rattle me?"

"Kinda bony for my taste, but different strokes…."

"The Beast called you an adversary."

Angelus leaned against the bars, fondling them with his hands. "Bet he loves to rub that shiny bald head against her soft, milky skin. Mmmm…. good…. Come on, Wes. Not like your schoolgirl crush is a secret."

"Charles, remember, we can't believe anything Angelus says." Fred said.

"How 'bout the stuff that's true?" Gunn asked. "Can we believe that?"

"He distorts everything." Buffy said. "He lies with the truth. It's part of what makes him so dangerous."

"Yeah, don't let him get to you, kiwi." Lorne said.

"He's not the only one that's gettin'." Gunn said.

"Charles…." Fred said.

"I know. I know."

"It's just words."

"You've found a vulnerability, exploited it. Well done." Wesley said. "Can we move on now?"

"I'm just getting started." Angelus said. "Tell you this…. all that digging you've been doing on the horny giant? Wrong place."

"And the right place?"

"I could tell you. Wouldn't be sporting."

"But you were adversaries…. you and the Beast."

"Guy like me…. friends, enemies…. hard to keep track."

"If he was an enemy, I'd be doing you a favor in destroying him."

"You know, you're not fooling anyone. Get some new clothes, cool haircut, hit the gym…. you're still the same loser none of the other kids wanted to sit with at lunch."

"Yet you're locked in that cage, and I'm out here."

"So? You've got no leverage. What are you going to do? Kill me?"

"If I have to."

"Wait 'til they drop, Wes, then try that line again."

"I'll put your soul back. You won't talk? No problem. We'll bring Angel back and be no worse off than we were."

"Making you a failure again."

"You want to waste my time, you can rot down here."

"Nice stamina, Wes. No wonder Fred's not interested."

"Whatever your connection to the Beast, clearly you don't know anything that can help us."

"Is this the part where I'm supposed to get defensive, start talking to prove you wrong? What else you got?"

"You must hate it that Angel fights evil."

"Eats you up inside, doesn't it. Seeing all those idiots flock around him, calling him a champion. Anyone ever call you a champion?"

"I do my part."

"Right. Like letting Lilah suck Lorne's brain. Or, here's an oldie but a goodie: Faith. Good job being her Watcher. She turned out to be a peach."

"And you managed to get your soul back, not once, but twice, saving the world several times in the process. Nobody's perfect."

"Then there's kidnapping the fruit of my loins. Smooth."

"He survived."

"I guess you just can't understand that special bond between dad and son, given that your own father's ashamed of you."

"And Connor's ashamed of you. The universe's way of maintaining order, I guess."

"Twerp really gives me the creeps. You?"

"In Cordelia's vision, you and the Beast were standing on a field…."

"Oh, God, yeah. Let's talk about Cordy, shall we? Now, there's a rack to write home about. Too bad about the personality, though. Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap! Oh, God. Oh, Angel. Angel, we can't. I love you, but you were so bad. You ate babies." Angelus scoffed. "Chicks. See, that's why I like my Slayer up there. She's embraced the badness. And we both know that's a literal statement."

"Sticks and stones, sweet potato." Lorne said.

Gunn patted Buffy's shoulder. "We don't have to l…."

"No, I'm ok." Buffy said.

"Like you said…. just little bitty bits of truth twisted all up into lies." Fred said.

"Hey, who's a guy gotta kill to get a drink around here?" Angelus said on the monitor.

Connor walked through the front door, beaten and exhausted. Buffy jumped to life suddenly. "Connor, what happened? Are you all right?"

"They're coming from all over. Too many to fight." Connor said.

Wesley entered the lobby. "He wants blood."

"I'll get it." Fred said.

"Me too." Gunn said. Fred and Gun walked out of the lobby.

"Connor, let's get you cleaned up and into some different clothes." Buffy said, moving Connor towards the stairs.

"Are you ok?"

"Never better."

"You're hurt. What happened?"

"How can you….?"

"You're walking differently."

"It's nothing. I'm ok."

"Angelus didn't…."

"No. Let's just get you upstairs."

Connor followed Buffy upstairs into Angel's room and she turned on the shower for him. He watched her for a minute and then looked at the room. The sheets from the bed were next to the bathroom and the top mattress was askew. "Buffy, are you sure…."

"It's ok, Connor. Don't worry about it."

"He hurt you! Did he do something else to you?"

"No. Connor, just take a shower and come back downstairs. I'll wait for you in the lobby. You want something to eat?"

"Ok."

"Peanut butter and jelly ok? Hopefully Angel has that in his kitchen."

"It's fine. Whatever you want." Buffy nodded and turned to go, but Connor grabbed her hand. She turned back to look at him and Connor pulled her into a tight hug. She let herself be held by him and she buried her face in the place where his neck met his shoulder and collarbone. Connor stroked her hair and back.

After a long moment, Buffy pulled away and left the room. When she got downstairs, Fred and Gunn were headed down to the basement. She went into the kitchen and started searching for the peanut butter and jelly and bread. Lorne walked in behind her. "Hey strudel, how are you holding up?"

"Been better." Buffy said quietly, still searching.

"What are you looking for?"

"Peanut butter."

Lorne walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a big jar of peanut butter. "Here ya go."

"Thanks." Buffy sniffled and tried to hold back the tears.

"Listen, it may not be my place considering you don't know me that well, but can I give you some advice?" Buffy nodded. "Let it go. They both had a hand in making you who you are today."

"I feel so…. It feels wrong."

"Is that why you slept with Spike? So you could feel what Angelus made you feel?"

"I can't even describe how he made me feel."

"Alive. When you were with him, you were truly alive."

"But Angel…."

"You're alive with him too. Whether he's Angel or Angelus, you're his soulmate. Nothing changes that, not even death."

"Why does it feel wrong?"

"Because in the world we live in, most people try to make it black and white, good and evil, right and wrong…. But you don't live in that world. You live in the grey area. It's not wrong to love Angelus and to love Angel. That's true love, snickerdoodle."

"True love?"

"It's true love when you love the bad and the good in a person and he feels the same way back. Both of them do. They just express it differently."

There was a burst of commotion out in the lobby and Buffy and Lorne rushed out to see Wesley running towards the basement. Buffy followed and saw thatAngelus had gotten a hold of Fred and had his arm wrapped around her throat, holding her up to the bars of his cage. Gunn was pointing the crossbow at Angelus.

"I like the way you move, Fred. Do it just a little to the left." Angelus said.

"Charles…." Fred cried.

Gunn dropped the crossbow and charged toward them. "Get off her!"

"Come on, Charles, save her! Come on! Save, her Charles!"

Buffy grabbed the tranq gun from Wesley and shot Angelus in the arm. His grip loosened and Fred stepped away from the bars into Gunn's waiting arms. Buffy shot Angelus again, in the chest this time. Angelus looked at the dart, then collapsed backwards.

"Are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Gunn asked.

"No." Fred said. "I'm sorry. That was so stupid, I…. I should've…."

"It's not your fault." Wesley said. "Angelus is unpredictable. He'll take any opening, no matter how small. It's understandable, but you played right into his hands. Never drop your weapon." Wesley turned and walked back up the stairs.

"Thanks." Fred said.

"So you're ok?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah." Fred hugged Gunn tightly.

"Come, let's go back upstairs. He's gonna be pissed when he wakes up." Buffy followed Gunn and Fred up the stairs. When they got into the lobby, Connor was coming back down the stairs putting on his wrist stake-launchers. "Connor, you're not going back out."

"Somebody has to." He said.

"Connor, you're exhausted. You said yourself there were too many…."

"I want to get out of here, ok?" Buffy walked up to him. "Everybody still looks at me like I'm the one who's connected to the Beast."

"No they don't. That weirdness earlier was about something else."

"What?"

"Connor, don't go back out there."

"What was the something else?"

"Oh, you're as stubborn as your father." Buffy snapped as Gunn walked across the lobby into the office.

"Don't change the subject. Was it about what happened upstairs?"

"Yes."

"He did hurt you."

"No." Buffy sighed. "Connor, everything is fine."

"You better tell me what the hell I just walked in on." Gunn yelled in the office.

"We were just…." Fred said.

"What? Researching?"

"You want to do this, deal with me. Leave Fred out of it." Wesley said.

"You ought to be leaving Fred out of it!"

"Hello, I'm here." Fred said.

"You think I don't see the way you look at her?" Gunn yelled at Wesley.

"Charles, please."

"And you, running off to him every time you need help, like I'm not good enough."

"No, that's not…. This isn't the time."

"I'm telling you, stay away from her."

"I owe you nothing. Not anymore." Wesley said.

"You just take what you want, huh…."

Fred pushed Gunn out into the lobby. "Come on."

"No matter who it belongs to."

"I didn't realize Fred came with a deed." Wesley said.

"Stop it! What's wrong with you?" Fred yelled.

"You don't realize a lot of things, like the fact that nobody wants you here."

"Cause you do such a bang-up job without me." Wesley said back as Lorne and Cordelia came into the lobby.

"Hey, hey, come on, guys. Let's not say anything that…." Lorne started.

"Shut up, Lorne!" Gunn yelled. "Great idea, Wes, stealing Angel's kid. Oh, was losing him a part of your plan, too?"

"Go ahead. Throw some more blame around. It's what you're best at." Wesley retorted.

"You want to say that again?"

"Face it, Gunn, you can't give her what she needs."

Gunn punched Wesley in the face. He stumbled back, but stayed standing. "Charles!" Fred yelled. Wesley punched Gunn twice in the torso. "Stop it!" Gunn grabbed Wesley and pushed him against the front desk. "This is insane! You're doing exactly what Angelus wants." Gunn ignored her as he and Wes continued to fight.

"Oh, for the love of Mike Tyson!" Lorne said, looking at Buffy.

Buffy sighed and headed over to the two men. Fred tried to intervene, but Gunn accidentally hit her in the face with his elbow as he reared back for another punch at Wesley. Fred screamed and fell to the floor, covering her busted lip.

Buffy wedged in between Gunn and Wesley and sent them both flying to opposite sides of the lobby. Gunn looked at Fred and realized what he'd done. "Fred…." Buffy and Cordelia went to Fred's aid and looked up at Gunn. Cordelia noticed the monitor on the desk behind Gunn. Connor was in the basement talking to Angelus. She glanced at Buffy to make sure the Slayer hadn't noticed.