Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Also, now I'll be posting one reaction chapter each day till we get to 'Not Fade Away', so enjoy it people.
dusty112084: Thank you for the review and I do know about Knight Rider, never seen it though. And thank you for the review on 'A new Quest, a new Fellowship' too, and glad you liked the bit with Gandalf being the one to give Angel his Shanshu.
Guest: Thanks for the review, and you're right on both Angel and Spike, that's exactly what they're like.
Chapter 133- Origin
"Let's hope the apocalypse doesn't come too early", Buffy commented as she turned the recording on.
Wesley overlooked Illyria in Fred's old office, then Angel arrived as Wesley said she was either counting oxygen molecules, or an analyzing the petri dish she just put in her mouth, or sleeping. Angel assured Wesley didn't have to do it himself, while he had to get Gunn out, plus Illyria needed to be tested. Wesley said someone might get hurt, so Angel said they'd have Spike do it. Wesley said someone had to guide her, but Angel told him he wasn't her savior, and had to act like he was alive. He walked off as Wesley stared at Illyria.
"Don't think it's that simple for him", Willow said sadly regarding Wesley, as she had the same experience after Tara was gone, and unlike her, it didn't look like Wesley would get Fred back.
"Come on Angel, why do you want Spike hurt?" Buffy asked with a groan.
"He may dislike Spike less, but they're still not that close", Dawn shrugged.
"Why can't they get along?" Buffy groaned.
A middle-aged, upper middle-class couple then sat across from Wesley, revealing to him that a very fast van had hit their son, but he'd gotten right back up, so he was clearly different, and they'd been told this place dealt with strange stuff. They'd lied to their son that they were here for a trust fund. Angel was walking through the lobby to his office when he heard a familiar voice. "Hey, dad!" He turned to see Connor standing there.
Now everyone was surprised again as Xander asked, speaking for everyone. "Connor! Oh boy! Why is he here?"
"No idea", Dawn said.
"Let's watch", Tara said, realizing something.
Angel was shocked when the couple from Wesley's office came out with him, and Connor was actually calling to the guy there. Wesley introduced Angel to Laurence and Colleen Reilly, and Connor was their son. Angel shook hands with Connor, then said they couldn't help the Reilly family.
"Oh", Buffy realized as all the pieces fell together. "This is Connor's new family, and he doesn't remember."
"And his powers still remained", Willow said. "Since he got up from a van hitting him, and that's why his new family is here."
"So fate brought Angel and his son together again", Giles sighed.
"Yeah, but only Angel knows the truth here", Tara pointed out.
Angel then angrily asked Wesley in his office how they'd found this place, and Wesley said a police officer had mentioned them. Angel didn't want to take this case, making an excuse of all the big stuff going on, but Wesley pointed out this is what they were supposed to do, as these were good people. Angel said in that case they needed to get them out due to what this place did to good people.
All winced at that as Angel did have a point, and he was doing this to get his son away from this life.
"Man, he doesn't want to see his son to keep him safe", Xander said. "Poor guy."
"Yeah", Buffy agreed with a sigh. "But I think he should take this case just to assure the family."
"Guess he wants to keep the distance", Tara muttered. "Plus, since Marcus is the liaison, he would know too."
"Huh? Right about that", Dawn agreed. "Let's hope he doesn't do anything."
"Well, this is a mess, again", Giles realized.
"Looks like it", Willow agreed.
Gunn was tortured by the Demon, his chest open and bleeding before the wounds healed themselves, then he sat up as the Demon gave him a bulb, and he headed upstairs.
"Oh my God!" Dawn said in horror as the others watched Gunn in sympathy.
"He doesn't deserve this", Xander muttered.
Illyria knocked Spike down in a training room, but he said she shouldn't punch his face, and he also had a clipboard to write stuff down, but now she kicked his face. Spike dropped his clipboard and punched her hard. Her head turned slightly but she was unfazed, and backhanded him across the room. Wesley then arrived and Spike assured it was a rough start but he'd break her.
"I doubt that", Buffy said, concerned for Spike. "Please take care of yourself, Spike, she is a huge gun."
"Yeah, this must be handled carefully", Tara agreed.
Illyria noted Wesley reeked of frustration and he said he'd a slight disagreement with Angel. Spike quipped how Angel couldn't get laid without going crazy. Illyria said this was insolence but Wesley said he just didn't understand Angel at times, but still followed him due to trusting him.
"Yeah, he does deserve that trust", Willow agreed. "I mean, he has been stupid at times, but he deserves to be trusted."
"Yep, he is a good leader, outside of a few times", Xander nodded.
Angel called in Hamilton angrily about his son, who said they could have gotten information out of him to understand what was happening. Angel wanted Hamilton to tell him, and he said he wasn't a little girl so they won't make love on the couch.
In spite of the situation, that brought some chuckles as Dawn said. "He's evil but funny."
Hamilton assured Angel the Partners wouldn't do anything to jeopardize this profitable relationship, so Angel realized it was a coincidence, but Hamilton said someone else was using his son to send a message.
That was another surprise as Tara wondered. "Who else would know about Connor?"
"I mean, our memories of him were also erased, and so were everyone else's, and who would know or think that this seemingly normal kid is the miracle child they heard of 2 years ago?" Buffy asked. "Plus, how many would even know that he aged fast in Quor'toth? So who could it be?"
"I think we shall find out soon", Giles told them.
The Reilly family was driving back as Connor said he knew why they had gone to Wolfram and Hart, but he didn't care about the lie, and assured they'd get through it.
"Wow, being raised normally improved his personality by A LOT!" Dawn told the rest.
"Well, as unlikeable as he was before, we have to remember, its because of Holtz", Willow reminded them all.
"Yeah, if not for him, things would have been better", Tara agreed.
"That guy was a bastard", Buffy snarled. "And then Jasmine as well."
A demon ripped the back door off the SUV and pulled Connor out of the car, throwing him across the parking lot. Other similar demons went after Connor's parents in the car. The Mother screamed. Connor got to his feet and started fighting the Demons. The Father got out of the car and tried to help Connor. The demons punched the Father, sending him to the ground. When Connor saw them go for his mom, he got to his feet alarmed, and punched a demon so hard, he went flying across the parking lot. He looked at his hands in shock. "Whoa!"
Everyone was alarmed as Xander said. "I think the guy trying to send a message sent them."
"Connor now knows his strength", Giles pointed out.
"Well, super strong doesn't mean he'll connect the dots", Buffy pointed out.
Another demon jumped at Connor from a nearby car top, punching Connor and throwing him into another car. Connor cowered on the ground as the demon started coming back for more, but Angel swooped in from above the car and tackled the demon. Angel engaged two demons at once in an amazing display of punches and kicks, slamming one to the car and breaking his neck, then he raised the other over his head and slammed it over his foot. Connor got to his foot. "Oh, my God!" Angel started. "Connor, listen to me—" "You almost broke that guy in half!" He grinned. "That was awesome!"
"Okay, didn't see that coming", Dawn commented.
"Guess his personality improved even more than we thought", Willow shrugged. "He's so nice and pleasant now."
"Yeah, so looks like Angel did do the right thing, even if it wasn't totally right", Buffy sighed.
Connor found it cool as his parents stood up, and Angel said they could help them, while Angel and Connor needed to talk. Later, the two walked out of the firm's medical wing, Angel assuring his parents were in good hands, or claws, and he was looking into the Demons that attacked them. Connor asked if he was one but Angel said he was a normal guy with enhancements, and Connor noted Angel was a Vampire. Connor took the whole thing really well.
"I'm liking this new Connor more and more, he's so cool", Xander said.
"Yeah, imagine he would have been closer to this guy had his actual father raised him", Willow said sadly.
"Blame Holtz and Sahjhan and Jasmine", Buffy snarled.
Connor's only problem was how to explain it to his parents, then asked Angel if he'd family, and he'd none. He asked if Angel was 500, and Angel wondered if he looked that. Then Connor asked if Angel always made out with other Vampires like in the Anne Rice novels.
"Don't mention that", Tara said. "Just don't."
"Yes, these novels do not really know anything about Vampires and spread lies", Giles scoffed.
"Tell me about it", Buffy muttered. "And I haven't even read them."
Connor asked if Angel had a girlfriend but he couldn't afford to. Connor wondered if all were superheroes here, but Angel said it was boring, and then Spike was thrown through the training room doors. "You filthy harlot! I'm gonna tear your neck out!" Spike rushed back in as Angel asked. "You wanna meet some of my coworkers?" "Okay", Connor shrugged as they went in.
"Don't think he had this in mind", Buffy said as the rest chuckled.
"Yeah, just hope Illyria doesn't go off again", Xander sighed. "Since Spike's goal seems to be to do just that."
"I hope not", Dawn spoke up.
Illyria held Spike's head down with one foot. Angel asked. "Guys, you wanna come here for a second?" Illyria took her foot off of Spike's head and quickly turned to face Angel. Connor asked. "What is she?" Spike got to his feet. Angel said. "She's a... to be honest, I really don't know. She's some sort of ancient demon." Connor asked. "She have any powers?" "Glad you asked. So far, I've established that she can hit like a Mack truck, selectively alter the flow of time, and, uh..." Spike flipped through pages on his clipboard, "possibly talk to plants." He gave Angel the clipboard.
"Good going Spike", Dawn said to him. "Nice job."
"Wonder how much that will help in an actual scenario though", Willow sighed.
"Maybe they can prepare countermeasures if she goes off the rails", Tara suggested.
Illyria told Angel. "I'd like to keep Spike as my pet."
"What? No!" Buffy immediately said as the rest snickered at her reaction.
"You want to keep him as your pet?" Dawn asked.
"Well, yes!" Buffy said as all laughed again while she blushed.
"Now I don't care how powerful she is, if she does that to Spike, she's getting some", Buffy said firmly.
"We'll back you up", Willow assured.
"Thanks", Buffy smiled.
Angel made introductions. "Connor, this is Spike and Illyria. Guys, this is Connor." Connor swung his arms nervously at his side. "Hi." Illyria stared at him, looking up and down his body, then into his eyes. "Um...I like your outfit." "Your body warms." She said to Angel. "This one is lusting after me." "Oh... no, I—I—" Connor looked down, chuckling, embarrassed. "It's just that—it's the outfit." He whispered to Angel. "I guess I've always had a thing for older women." Angel said under his breath. "They were supposed to fix that." "What?"
"Well, Illyria didn't feel offended at Connor lusting for her", Xander spoke up. "Good thing, right?"
"I believe it is", Giles sighed.
"Still likes older women", Buffy muttered. "Well, as long as its not his stepmother or whatever term yo uwant to use, guess its fine, right?"
"Yeah, all good", Dawn nodded. "I like this Connor so much."
"Don't even think about it", Buffy raised her hand.
"Hey! If I want to date him, I will, not that I want to", Dawn said. "Just like him."
"Gotcha", Buffy sighed.
"Like she said, if she wants, she can", Tara shrugged. "Nothing wrong with it."
"Thanks", Dawn smiled at her. "But I don't want to, even if he's cool, he is Angel's son. That makes it weird."
All groaned, not disagreeing with that.
Lorne then arrived and Connor was even more awed at seeing him, and Lorne revealed Wesley wanted them upstairs as he'd Demon info. Lorne walked off as Angel gave Spike the clipboard and followed with Connor, who waved to both Spike and Illyria. Connor revealed he was in college at Stanford.
"Well, damn!" Xander said. "Not Notre Dame, but still a great place."
"Yeah", Willow agreed. "He has a normal life and it's all set."
"Good for him, just hope this is dealt with soon", Tara hoped.
Wesley showed them the Demon pictures and said they were known henchmen of a warlock called Cyvus Vail, and Lorne knew of him too, saying he had metaphorical tendrils all over LA, and Wesley noted he wasn't trying to be anonymous considering he used these Demons. Angel decided to go visit Vail by himself, and it wasn't up for discussion. Lorne and Connor looked uncomfortable at his tone as Wesley looked disappointed while Angel walked off, and later Wesley dialed a number, asking for info on Vail.
"Vail made a big mistake using Angel's son for this", Buffy said. "Now he's going to pay."
"But considering he is a warlock, Angel needs to be careful", Giles pointed out. "They are not to be taken lightly, especially one with Vail's reputation from what Wesley and Lorne say."
"In that case, I think Angel is going to have a problem, because he's angry, not careful", Tara told the rest grimly.
A man sat in a large, elegant chair in a large, well-decorated but empty room. IV drips attached to him hung on a mobile stand. The man, with dark reddish skin and straggly, thinning, white hair, wheezed when he breathed, which he did with the assistance of oxygen tubes. Suddenly the quiet was interrupted when the limp body of a demon was thrown through the door and into the room, landing on the floor and sliding toward the man's feet. Angel walked through the door. "Did you kill all of my guards?" Angel replied. "All the ones I could find." "Mmm. I should have given them the day off." Vail turned a knob on one of his IV drips. "I wasn't trying to kill your son, you know. I simply needed him to understand what he is capable of." Angel asked. "How do you know about Connor?" Vail revealed. "I built him."
"What does he mean built?" Dawn asked. "More cryptic talk?"
"I think I have a feeling I know, but won't say until its confirmed", Willow said with narrowed eyes.
"Right", Tara realized. "Yeah, I think I know what you mean."
"What?" Xander asked.
"Just wait till its confirmed", Tara assured him.
Wesley and Lorne read files Harmony brought them, all on Vail. Wolfram and Hart had done business with him, and he specialized in memory restructuring, mind control and temporal shifts. Plus, they'd paid him a lot for a certain job, and this had happened right on the day they had taken over Wolfram and Hart.
"Oh boy!" Buffy said as all realized what it meant. "He was the one who remade Connor's memories, Wolfram and Hart paid him to do it."
"So that's what he meant by 'built'", Dawn said.
"Which is why he knows who Connor is too", Giles noted. "But why is he doing this?"
"Must have a reason", Tara commented. "Not a good one."
"And now we shall find out why", Willow sighed.
"Could you help me up? I'd have one of my guards do it, but, well, you know." Angel helped Vail to his feet. "Thank you." Angel ripped the oxygen tubes from Vail's face, pushed him back into the chair and squeezed his throat violently. "When Connor was 5, he got lost in a department store." He swallowed painfully. "He wandered off while his family was shopping. It scared the poor child nearly half to death." Angel leaned in, angrily. "That never happened!" "Yes... but he remembers it happening." Angel let go of Vail who continued wheezing. "He remembers screaming in the middle of the store. He remembers his mother rushing towards him. And he remembers his father sweeping him up into his arms." Angel realized. "You built his memories." Vail confirmed. "I did. He is some of my finest work."
"We can see that", Dawn muttered.
"So he did that, and got paid good money for it too, why the hell is he trying to use Connor to get to Angel now?" Xander asked.
"Well, bad guy, clearly never satisfied", Buffy shrugged. "Jackass."
"Yeah, involving what is now an innocent kid is so low", Willow agreed. "Even if you changed his memories, you have no right."
Angel asked. "What do you want?" Vail revealed. "I need someone dead. A demon... named Sahjahn."
"Sahjhan", Giles spoke his name grimly as they all remembered he was the one responsible for the mess with Connor.
"So he's coming back", Tara realized. "Oh no!"
"As if they didn't have enough problems", Buffy groaned.
"Sahjahn." Vail got to his feet, walked past Angel pulling his IV stand behind him. "I believe you tussled with him before. He's a nasty little cur!" Angel snarled. "He's gone. I trapped him in a bottle." Vail opened a cabinet. "An urn...actually." He revealed the urn is inside the cabinet. "It's a morbid thing. Doesn't really go with my decor." Angel snarled. "He's trapped. Let him rot." "Urns tend to break. Long lost enemies tend to return. I need finality to my affairs." Vail held out his right hand, palm up; waved his left hand at it, conjuring a glowing yellow glass cube in the right hand. "Do you know what an Orlon Window is, Angel?" Angel looked at the cube as lights glowed and moved inside. "It's a fascinating little spell. It allows warlocks such as myself to see the past as it once was. You have to be careful with it, though. If it were to break around someone whose mind had been altered, then all his old memories would come rushing back." Angel glared at Vail and started toward him. "Careful, Angel! I gave Connor his happy life." The cube faded into thin air. "Are you certain you can kill me... before I can take it away from him? I... built your son."
"You bastard", Buffy snarled angrily, wanting to rip out his throat.
"He can make good on his threat though", Willow realized. "So-"
"Angel has no choice", Dawn finished sadly. "Goddamnit!"
"So Sahjhan is coming back, and now they have to end him", Tara sighed. "This is bad."
"Tell me about it", Xander agreed.
Vail walked past Angel with his IV rack in tow. "I am not the sort of man you want as an enemy." He grunted, wheezing as he sat in his chair. "Fine. I'll do it. I'll kill Sahjahn." Vail spoke. "If it were that simple, I'd do it myself. No, the prophecy is quite clear. There is only one person who can kill Sahjahn." Angel realized. "Connor." Vail commented. "So...you see our problem. I turned your son into a healthy boy. And now, I need you... to turn him back into a killer."
"Oh you…." Buffy trailed off, now shaking in rage. "Connor is happy! Leave him out of this!"
"I doubt he will", Giles noted, rubbing his forehead.
"So Angel has no choice now", Tara sighed sadly.
Later, Angel told the situation to his team and Connor, adding that Connor could do it because of a prophecy. Wesley was surprised they were entertaining this as Angel said Vail's threats were convincing, and Connor added his family was threatened, not Wolfram and Hart. Wesley started mentioning the spell Vail had done the day they took over Wolfram and Hart, when Connor asked about Sahjhan's strength, and they remembered Sahjhan had nearly killed Angel last time, but Connor was assured Vail would leave his family alone once Sahjhan was killed, so he thought it over for a few seconds and agreed, walking out with Angel.
"He has his powers, but the skills and experience are gone", Willow pointed out. "I don't think he'll be able to do it."
"Maybe Angel fights him and Connor lands the final blow", Buffy suggested.
"That makes sense", Dawn agreed.
"Guess that's how it will go", Xander sighed.
"Wesley suspects something is up", Tara then noted. "Regarding what Vail did when they first joined."
"If he follows the trail…." Giles trailed off, but the implications were clear.
Gunn was being tortured by the Demon, choking on his own blood, when Hamilton arrived, interrupting, and pulled the necklace off Gunn, introducing himself, and started giving a proposition, but Gunn wanted his necklace back, so Hamilton gave it to him and he put it on, the Demon torturing him again.
"Brave man", Tara said, everyone cringing in horror at Gunn again. "Made the sacrifice instead of taking the easy way."
"I think he has learnt his lesson, deals with people like these never go well", Willow pointed out. "But its sad he has to stay in that dungeon and be tortured."
"Yeah, once the Connor thing is done, hope they get him out first thing", Buffy agreed. "He doesn't deserve this."
"Yup, he doesn't, he feels guilty, that's enough", Dawn nodded.
Angel and Connor were in the training room together, but Connor wanted to do it alone due to not being a bully, though he wasn't an idiot if noble. He tried to get weapons but instead knocked them off the wall, so Angel decided best to stay away from weapons, and then gave him tips on how to deal with Sahjhan, assuring he could do this.
"It won't be that simple", Giles said. "Few tips and tricks won't save Connor in a fight."
"Just hope something does", Xander said. "He's a good kid with a good life, all Angel wanted, he has to win this."
"He will", Buffy said firmly. "He will."
Wesley and Illyria walked into the basement archives of Wolfram and Hart files, Wesley commenting reality was changed. Illyria then revealed Fred's memory had changed and she'd changed with it, shocking Wesley that her memories had been chained. Illyria said at places, but she couldn't see the previous one for they were gone, so Wesley grabbed a file and read it, realizing part of the truth, and they both left. What Wesley had read was a contract signed in Angel's blood.
Now all paled as Giles realized. "He has followed the trail, now he will find out what happened."
"And I don't think anything Angel says is gonna convince him", Willow said sadly. "He is not in the best state of mind."
"So, what's gonna happen now?" Buffy wondered.
"Nothing good", Tara sighed.
"All because of that Vail bastard!" Xander snarled.
"Yeah, screw him!" Dawn agreed.
Angel and Connor arrived at Vail's place, and Connor threatened Vail, saying he'll kill Sahjhan, and described what he'd do to Vail if he came after his family again, and Angel was surprised as Vail told him where Sahjhan was, and there was a table beneath a crystal chandelier nearby.
"That sounded like the new Connor trying to sound like the old Connor", Dawn told the rest. "I'm so confused."
"Well, this is a confusing situation", Xander told her. "So you're right to be confused."
"I'm just hoping Sahjhan is ended", Buffy hoped. "But there's Wesley to worry about."
Angel gave Connor some instructions but he freaked out a little so Angel apologized and fixed his collar, assuring he'd be here. Connor walked to the table and saw many weapons and the urn, but when he turned, a wall had appeared between the rooms, and Vail told Angel that now they could see Connor but Connor couldn't see them, adding he'd done this due to Sahjhan's nasty habit of getting away, but assured Connor would make him proud.
"He's on his own", Tara said grimly. "Now what?"
"Now he has to do it somehow", Willow sighed. "That's the only thing possible."
"Looks like it", Giles agreed.
Connor took the top off of the urn, and silvery smoke emanated from it, assembling nearby, forming Sahjahn. He looked around and saw Connor. "Thank you, mortal, for releasing me from my cursed prison. In gratitude, I grant you 3 wishes." "Really?" "Nah. I'm just messing with you", he then added. "I do appreciate it, though." He then stretched his neck. "Ahh... that urn wasn't exactly a day at the spa. I owe you one." Connor noted. "Right. Well, before you start trying to kiss me, I should probably tell ya... you and I, we're, uh...supposed to fight."
"Don't talk to him! Fight him!" Buffy said. "Fight!"
"Guess some common sense is still missing", Xander commented.
"Or he's still taking stock of the situation", Dawn pointed out.
Sahjhan realized who Connor was. "You're him." "Yeah. I'm me. Hi. You can take a moment, if you want." Connor pointed to the table. "There's some weapons and stuff over here if you think you'll need them. Angel was agitated Connor was talking to Sahjhan who said. "Been a while since we've seen each other. How'd Quor-Toth work out for you, anyway?" Connor backed away from Sahjahn. "Uh...worked out great. Thanks for asking." Sahjhan noted. "You know, I've had a long time to plan for this moment. I figured you'd be a lot more... intimidating." Connor shrugged. "Yeah. Well... I figured I was going to Tony Roma's with my folks tonight, but... I'm here. Learn to cope." "I'll work on it." Sahjhan pulled a faster than light punch, knocking Connor to the ground. Upon seeing Connor take a hit, Angel rushed toward the room, but the barrier preventing Connor and Sahjahn from seeing out also prevented Angel from getting in as Vail said it wasn't his fight.
"Oh no!" Willow said, all of them now horrified. "This is very bad."
"Yeah, unless a miracle happens, this is bad", Tara agreed.
Connor groaned on the floor, but got to his feet. "Ow! God, that really hurt!" Sahjhan made a time-out joke but Connor didn't need it. Sahjahn took a couple of swings at Connor, but missed as Connor ducked out of the way each time. Connor punched and connected with Sahjahn's face, and Sahjahn returned the favor, punching Connor and knocking him down. Angel wanted the doorway opened but Vail threatened him with the yellow cube. Sahjahn punched Connor twice in the face; he staggered back, but didn't fall down. Connor threw a punch, but Sahjahn caught his fist before it connected and punched Connor in the stomach before slinging him across the room. Connor swung at Sahjahn, but didn't faze him. Sahjahn punched Connor in the kidneys, sending him to the ground, and circled him. "You know...I went through a lot of trouble to get rid of you. What a colossal waste of time that turned out to be." He kicked Connor in the ribs, sending him flying across the room.
No one made a comment, everyone concerned for Connor. He had a good life, and now Vail was taking it away to save his own skin, Connor didn't deserve this, and neither did Angel.
Why did bad things always happen to good people?
Angel saw Connor splayed out on the floor as Sahjahn approached him menacingly. Angel turned to Vail. "Open it now—" When Angel turned to face Vail, he saw that Vail was frozen in time and wasn't holding the box anymore. Angel looked around the room and saw Illyria standing there beside Wesley, who was holding the glowing yellow cube now. "You changed the world." Angel asked. "Wes...what are you doing?" Wesley snarled. "You sold us out to Wolfram & Hart." Angel warned. "Be careful." Wesley looked at the glowing glass cube in his hand. "Is this your 30 pieces of silver?"
"No, you're getting it all wrong!" Dawn said. "Don't Wesley!"
"Too late for that", Willow realized grimly. "He is unstable, and due to how Angel behaved around his son, Wesley has reached the wrong conclusion."
"He thinks Fred died because they took over this firm", Tara realized.
"Oh no!" Buffy shook her head. "So Connor shall…"
"Looks like it", Giles said grimly.
"Damn it!" Xander said.
"Wes...give me that." Angel approached Wesley. Illyria backhanded Angel, sending him flying across the room. "He doesn't follow you any longer." Meanwhile, in the next room, Sahjahn was sending Connor flying across the room, and he slid across the floor. Sahjahn grabbed Connor by the lapels and lifted him into the air before slamming him on the table. Connor groaned. "These prophecies are turning out to be pretty overrated. I gotta tell you, kid, you're making a good case for the whole concept of free will." Wesley told Angel. "You changed the world." Angel confessed. "He's my son, Wesley. Connor's my son." Wesley looked at Illyria. "Did you trade her? Did you trade Fred for your son?" "What?" "Everything that's happened since we took over Wolfram & Hart, everything that's happened to—" Wesley looked at Illyria, then looked down, "her... Did you know? Was Fred the price?"
"No! Put it away!" Buffy said. "Put. It. Away."
But all knew it was too late now.
"No. Wes... I can explain. Just put that down." Wesley asked. "Why are you so afraid of this? He said it would bring back the past. Will it undo what you've done?" Angel replied. "No. It won't bring her back." "Let's find out", Wesley was about to break it but Angel rushed to him desperately. "No! Please. You have to trust me." Wesley cocked his head. "I can't. Not anymore." Wesley slammed the glass cube into the ground. As it shattered, the cube released an explosion of bright yellow light, sending everyone in the room back from the blast.
"And its all back", Tara said as all stared grimly.
"Its all undone", Willow sighed sadly, and she was sad for all- Wesley, Connor and Angel.
"No", Buffy whispered.
Wesley now remembered everything from the prophecy to taking Connor to getting his throat sliced, to Connor in Quor'toth, to Angel trying to kill him, torturing Justine, having sex with Lilah, and it ended with a broken Connor standing in tears with Angel behind him.
"He remembers it", Dawn said. "He does now."
"It's going to make it worse", Willow told them. "He wasn't in a good state of mind, now with those memories, it will be worse."
Wesley stared at Angel in shock and dismay. Angel saw Wesley reacting to those memories, and remembered his son was nearby as well. "Connor—" He got to his feet. In the adjacent room, Sahjahn had Connor bent over the table, choking him. Connor suddenly reached up and grabbed Sahjahn's throat and squeezed, then used his grip to sling Sahjahn over the table and away from him. Connor got to his feet and struck a menacing pose.
"It's like when he first came", Tara said about Connor's pose, and all realized she was right.
"The old Connor is back", Buffy sighed, all of them wondering how it will go now.
Sahjhan chuckled. "Lucky shot." Connor rolled over the tabletop, grabbing an axe, and faced Sahjahn. Connor now seemed more comfortable in his own skin, fighting evenly with Sahjahn. They exchanged punches and kicks, but Connor stunned Sahjahn with a punch, and seized the opportunity by swinging the axe at his head, slicing it clean off. Connor stood over Sahjahn's body, panting.
"At least the one responsible for ruining his life is gone now", Willow said, everyone feeling some satisfaction there.
"At his hand too, that's a good thing", Dawn added.
"No more than he deserved", Buffy scoffed.
"Question is- what next?" Xander asked.
Noticing the barrier between the rooms had vanished, Angel walked tentatively toward Connor. "Connor?" Connor noticed Angel. "Whoa! You see that? I went a little hard-core there for a second. That guy made me really cranky." He looked at his bloody ax. "Are you OK?" "Yeah. I guess. I don't really like people touching my neck, you know?" Connor rubbed it. "Connor... uh... "Hey, can we... get outta here? I'd like to go back... see my parents." Connor put down the ax. "This whole fighting thing, I'm not... I'm not really sure it's for me."
"He doesn't remember?" Dawn wondered. "How?"
"Maybe the barrier protected him", Tara suggested.
"So, him killing Sahjhan and making the same pose as before, all a coincidence?" Buffy wondered. "Weird."
"Could be", Xander shrugged.
"At least Sahjhan is gone and Connor is still mentally healthy", Willow pointed out the bright side and they nodded, then she pointed out the grimmer side. "Wesley, not so much."
That made them grim again as Giles sighed. "He is going to get worse."
A haggard and very unhappy-looking Wesley sat at his desk in the dark staring straight ahead. Illyria stood nearby. "You betrayed Angel. You stole his son. He tried to kill you." "Yes." "Are these the memories you needed back? Does this now make you Wesley?" Wesley nodded. "At least I know what happened." Illyria asked. "Do you? There are 2 sets of memories—those that happened and those that are fabricated. It's hard to tell which is which." Wesley looked confused, shaking his head. "Try to push reality out of your mind. Focus on the other memories. They were created for a reason." Illyria asked. "To hide from the truth?" Wesley looked pained, then looked into Illyria's eyes. "To endure it."
"Can you?" Willow asked. "Endure it?"
"I think he's barely hanging by a thread", Tara said sadly. "Barely."
"It's all getting to him", Buffy sighed sadly. "All of it."
Angel was standing in front of the window, looking out at the city, when Connor walked into the office. "I thought sunlight burned you up." Angel laughed. "Special glass." "Cool. You should, like, make a whole suit out of it like the pope has." Angel asked. "How's your dad?" Connor cocked his head. "He's fine. They're releasing him now. I should warn you—he's pretty pissed. I told him that you took me out demon fighting and, uh, almost got me killed. He wants to have a talk with you." Angel nodded seriously. "All right. I'll, uh..." Connor then revealed. "I'm kidding! Man, you gotta lighten up. He thinks we spent the whole night doing tests. I told him I could bench press, like, 1,000 pounds."
In spite of the whole Wesley thing, this made them chuckle as Dawn said. "He's so awesome now! And funny! And cool!"
Buffy was going to make another dating quip but Willow's and Tara's and even Dawn's looks shut her up.
"He is Angel's son, so I'm not going to", Dawn reminded Buffy.
"Well, at least he's fine", Xander said. "That's one good thing."
Angel walked to Connor. "What are you gonna tell them about... who you are?" Connor assured. "The truth, more or less. I'll tell them that I'm different. I'll tell them it's... actually a good thing. I'll tell them to stop worrying so much." Well, they're parents." Angel sat. Connor agreed. "Yeah, I know. They'll feel a lot better knowing you're looking out for me." Angel assured. "We still haven't found Vail, but we will." Connor smirked. "I'm not too worried about him. Nothing he can show me I haven't already seen." Angel wasn't quite sure how to take that.
The Scoobies weren't either, since now they had doubts.
"Anyway... I just wanted to say good-bye. I gotta go back to my life now." Connor walked toward the door. Angel stood nervously. "Oh...do you really have to leave? I mean, right now?" "I kinda think I should. I need to take care of my parents. This isn't their world. They really don't feel safe here." Connor looked into Angel's eyes meaningfully. "You gotta do what you can to protect your family. I learned that from my father." Angel watched Connor walk out of his office toward the elevator. Connor pressed the elevator button and waited. When the elevator door opened, he cast one last glance at Angel, then walked onto the elevator. The screen went black.
"He remembers", Willow realized, and then hit them all too. "He remembers it all."
"Why is he still normal then?" Xander asked. "It doesn't make sense."
"Maybe it does", Tara said. "Maybe his new healthy mindset helped him take the older memories better somehow."
"So he remembers and is all good?" Buffy asked and got nods. "That I didn't expect. That's…..something else."
"Why didn't he let Angel know then?" Dawn asked.
"I believe he appreciates everything Angel did for him, and understands why, which is why he is staying away", Giles now pointed out, and all realized that made sense.
"So, that means, other than Wesley and Gunn, this was kind of a happy ending", Xander realized. "Kind of."
"Looks like it", Willow agreed.
"At least Connor is still fine, that mattered most", Buffy said and none disagreed. "Time for the next one."
Connor may have been unlikeable in Season 4 (even if it was understandable initially) but this episode more than made up for it, I loved him in this for sure.
Poor Wesley though, and Gunn too.
Next episode is sooooooo confusing though.
Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter.