The F in Pike Chapter 32

Uncomfortable Conversations

Author's Note: So, I submitted the sequel to this for consideration for an award on Wattpad. Yes, apparently they do that for fanfic. But one of the requirements is that I say whether it's exclusive to the platform, and at this time it is. As a way of making sure that I could get an opportunity with them, I'm going to wait until the awards are given before I post in anywhere else. If I win, I might not post it here at all. I don't think I will but I'll wait until I know for sure. If you want to read the sequel story, I encourage you to go over there once this is done.

I really hope that he can help us get somewhere.

Faith, Angel and I make our way into the room and close the door behind us.

Because if he can't get anywhere with Dawn, I'm not sure what we're going to do. I mean, we have an almost plan, even if we don't really know how to go about it yet. But I'd rather not have to do anything to Dawn other than make her see the path she's heading down is bad for her if I don't have to.

We find a place to be, Faith and I making sure to keep enough distance between us, and face each other.

I just hope he can help us.

"So... how's it going?"

Faith and I look at each other.

Not entirely sure how to answer that but I'll try.

"As good as we can be, I guess."

"I appreciate you coming to help us. We all do. We know you have your own things going on and all."

I should probably ask.

"Speaking of your own things..."

Angel goes there before I have to.

"Wolfram and Hart don't know I'm here. I made sure of it. Connor and I have a line to each other that's outside the firm's influence. Which, I have to ask, how did he get involved in all this?"

He should probably know everything I guess.

"It was Dawn."

Faith kinda picks up the story.

"Apparently they met at Stanford, mostly by chance. We don't really know all the details exactly, but Dawn got herself into some trouble with a vampire and Connor tried to help her out of it."

"I'm guessing it didn't go well."

He always was pretty observant.

"No but we think that was mostly Dawn's fault. She..."

Faith doesn't necessarily want to finish that thought, so I do.

"She's changed a lot since Sunnydale, and especially since going to college."

Angel looks at Faith.

"Since you guys broke up."

Angel knows about Faith and my sister?

"You know about them?"

Faith explains.

"I told him about us back when it was happening. He's my friend, we talk."

I look between Angel and Faith.

I didn't know.

"Oh..."

Faith kinda shifts uncomfortably.

"She didn't exactly take our break up well, and I think Connor was on the receiving end of that."

In more ways than one. Should I mention what happened between his son and my sister?

"And now she's completely gone off the rails. She doesn't listen to anyone, plus with her powers and everything..."

"Powers?"

Faith and I look at each other before I explain.

"We think she has the power to manipulate reality. To change things into the way she likes it or wants it."

"Change it how?"

"Apparently, she turned a vampire human again... then back into a vampire."

"Which is why Connor asked me about a vampire to human transformation using blood."

"And we think that she was able to merge two people so they have to share the same body."

"Who?"

"Pike, that guy you met when you first came in? He's an old friend of mine and currently Faith's boyfriend."

Faith points out the exception.

"Kinda."

"Right... but... Dawn merged him with this super powerful... whatever he was named Wrath who was coming after Dawn."

Faith adds one that I forgot.

"She also altered the memory of her roommate so that the roommate didn't remember her."

Right...

Angel takes a moment to consider everything.

"I can see why you have her locked up then."

Faith moves a little closer to Angel as she speaks.

"Which is why we need your help. She's kinda crazed right now. She thinks the world is out to get her and that she can use her powers to fix it. You helped me when I was at my worst, and you helped Connor at his."

"You're hoping I can help her too."

We both just let that hang there before he asks the obvious.

"Have either of you gone in to talk to her?"

That makes me look at Faith who is looking right back.

"We've kinda been holding off, hoping that you could help her."

"And it has nothing to do with the fact that I can smell the two of you on each other right now?"

Faith and I can't help but look at each other.

Damn it, I forgot that he could do that.

"That's... complicated."

"I'm sure it is. But I'm guessing that Dawn knows about it, and that's why you've stayed away from her so far."

"It's not the only reason. This is going to sound weird, but... we think that the reason you can smell us on each other, is because of Dawn."

He looks at us both with a confused expression.

"Willow thinks that Dawn's powers might've some how caused us to do things we wouldn't normally do."

"How's that?"

Faith tries to explain.

"We... we don't exactly feel anything for each other when we're not... physically touching each other."

Again it makes him look at us strange.

I kinda don't blame him.

"Like right now. Us being in a room together isn't a problem."

"Not unless we actually touch each other are we anything more than friends."

"And how is that Dawn's fault?"

"Because Willow says that whatever makes us feel that way when we touch, has some kind of weird reality bending part to it. Maybe it isn't Dawn at all and it's some kind of fluke, or she didn't do it on purpose, but until we know..."

Angel sees where we're going with this.

"You don't want to push her buttons."

"Which is why we were hoping that you might have better luck."

He takes a deep breath despite not needing to breath.

"Okay... I'll do what I can."

He turns to leave.

I shouldn't send him in there without all the information. Dawn might use it against him. I have to tell him.

"Wait..."

He stops and faces us again.

"There's something else."

"There always is."

They both look at me, Faith not sure what I mean.

"What are you talking about B?"

"Connor and Dawn... they have... a history."

He watches me for a second.

"What kind of history?"

"B, maybe we shouldn't..."

This couldn't be more awkward.

I look at Faith before responding to him.

"A sexual one."

Angel reacts the obvious way.

"What?"

God the way they're both looking at me.

Faith shifts at the mentions of it.

"Dawn mentioned it when we first ran into Connor. Apparently, she and Connor hooked up. We didn't get any details or anything, for obvious reasons. But she said that she and Connor had a third person involved."

He takes a long moment to consider what I just said.

"As if our lives weren't complicated enough."

Just then, someone opens the door.

"Is she here?"

Wait, is that...

"Candy?"

End of Chapter 32