***
At the Hyperion, Wesley and Dawn flank Xander as they enter the hotel.
"Can we help you?" Gunn asks, in the shadows above them with a crossbow.
"We know where Angel is," Xander says. He waits a few seconds. "Wesley is here because I trust him. This is Dawn and I'm…"
"Xander Harris from Sunnydale…what happened to you?" Fred's voice chirps from nearby.
"The Hellmouth. Will you help us?"
"Why should we believe you?" Gunn questions, still wary.
"Because I'm telling the truth," Xander replies, staggering slightly from exhaustion. Dawn automatically steadies him.
Fred leads Gunn into the lobby.
"Is he okay?" Fred asks Dawn.
"He doesn't sleep much…it gets to him sometimes…come on, Xander…"
Wesley realizes that Xander's eyes have glazed over. He allows himself to be led to the sofa. He is unresponsive but sits down, obediently.
"Xander? Xander, focus, remember?" Dawn tries to get through to her friend.
"Huh? Oh yeah." Xander's face shows clarity.
"What are you guys trying to pull?" Gunn demands.
"Xander has some sort of gift…he knows things and he knows where Angel is," Wesley says, speaking for the first time.
"Cordelia's fine. She's not with Angel, but she's okay…" Xander announces, his eyes on Fred.
"Where is she?" Gunn asks.
"She's all around you. She's just not…tangible anymore. She's always around, though," Xander replies.
"What about Angel?" Gunn asks, hoping for a more definite answer.
Xander's eyelids flutter. He turns to Dawn. "Can you tell them?"
"Sure, Xan…" Dawn leads him to a sofa a few feet away. He curls up, shaking.
"He gets really tired around a lot of people." Dawn huddles with Wesley, Gunn and Fred.
"Okay, I don't know you guys so don't get mad if I'm inconsiderate to your feelings. I'm just the messenger from Xander to you," Dawn says.
"It's cool. I think everything needs to be overlooked until we find Angel," Gunn says, suddenly, glancing at Wesley.
"Okay. This is what Xander told me. Angel's son, Connor or Stevie, whatever, thinks that Angel killed his foster father, Holtz. In reality, this red-headed chick…"
"Justine," Wesley gasps.
"Yeah," Dawn nods. "Justine killed Holtz with a knife, making two little incisions so it looked like a vampire killing. Connor wanted revenge so he and Justine trapped Angel in this steel coffin and dropped him into the ocean. Angel's at the bottom of the sea."
***