YELLOW BRICK ROAD
By: Lisette (lisette@chaletian.co.uk)
Rating: PG-13 so far - might change later on.
Distribution: Want, take, have. Just e-mail me first.
Summary: Faith is released from prison - but there's a catch.
Feedback: God, please.
Angel, Buffy, the whole lot, belong to JW, Mutant Enemy, and anyone else who officially owns them. I don't. Big surprise.
Okay, a few notes. Firstly, I haven't seen any of season 3 yet, though I know vaguely what happens. So, definitely after "Billy", and Fred and Gunn are getting with the happy, but "WITW" never happened.
Please, please review - I need to know what people think! I have a fragile ego and it needs bolstering! Thanks to everyone who has already reviewed - you have made me a happy person!
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Chapter Twenty-Seven - The Brothers of Absolom
Wesley was close to tracking down the source of a niggle that had been bugging him for several days now. He was ensconced in his office at the Hyperion, books around him, in, what for him, passed as seventh heaven. The day was sunny, there didn't appear to be any hell beasties bent on the world's imminent destruction, and he rather suspected that Wolfram & Hart had no plans with regard to Connor, after all; they just wanted to keep track of him. And, now that he had got over his watcher = watchers' council mindset, it was to be hoped that he and Faith could genuinely reach a proper slayer/watcher relationship.
The book he had been studying slipped from his fingers, but Wesley paid it no heed. Faith. She was an endlessly fascinating person, and one he was only just beginning to understand. There was no doubt that she had endured a lousy childhood, and Wesley knew as well as anyone the scars that could cause. Despite the traumas of the last few years, it looked as if she would be able to put the worst of it behind her. Even now, she showed signs of being able to get on with her life, though Wesley suspected the path would get rockier before Faith could really find peace.
His ruminations were halted suddenly when the sound of running footsteps alerted him to the fact that there was someone else in the hotel. Somewhat alarmed, he jumped up and out of the office, entering the foyer in time to see Cordelia dashing down the stairs, her face pale.
"Cordy! What's happened?" he exclaimed, catching hold of her as she came close.
"Oh, Wes, thank God!" Her knees seemed to give way, and he helped her to the sofa, by now seriously concerned.
"What is it?"
"Connor. They've taken Connor!" Before he could say another word, the main doors to the hotel swung open, and in strode angel, looking every inch the dark avenger. His black leather coat billowed around him, and his face was set and grim. In his hand he carried a crossbow, and Wesley knew the vampire well enough to guess that there was a multitude of hidden weapons about his person.
"Some sect called the Brothers of Absolom have got him down by the docks, according to the snitch down on 24th Street." He barely acknowledged Wesley, making straight for the weapons cupboard.
"The Brothers of…Of course! I wondered…Angel, where have you been?" Angel ignored him, intent on his job, until a hand on his arm caused him to turn. He looked at the other man, whose face also seemed oddly grim. "Where have you been?" The question was enunciated slowly and clearly, as if Wesley was speaking to a child who might not understand. Angel looked at him blankly.
"Followed them as far as that club on 24th, then nothing. Got hold of the snitch. Now I'm going to get my son." His tone made it clear he would brook no opposition, but Wesley was not swayed.
"You went out. Out into the open, when all of Los Angeles is under the impression that you're dead. That Faith killed you."
"Wesley, I don't have time…"
"Well, if you'd just waited five minutes, if you'd had the sense to tell me what had happened, I could have told you that the Brothers of Absolom would not hurt Connor. In fact, I would imagine they've already taken him back by now." He waved the book he was still holding in his hand in Angel's face. "They wanted to bless him, Angel."
"Wesley, if you don't get out of my way this…" Before he could finish, there was the sound of more running, and Fred and Gunn burst in, Gunn carrying a small bundle.
"It's all right, he's back!"
"Connor!" Angel broke free of Wesley's grasp, and ran to his son, a smile lighting his face as he held the baby close. The others crowded round, rejoicing at the child's return.
"Some monk brought him back," explained Fred, as she patted the small hand waving about. "They just gave him a blessing, he said." Angel stilled, and looked up at Wesley, who stood apart from the small group. His face was grim, his eyes cold. He advanced on Angel, then stopped.
"If anything happens to her because of what you did, I will never forgive you."