Like Father, Like Son Chapter Six, a tv x-overs fanfic

Chapter Six

Casey stepped out of the shower, humming as she dried off with a towel. Britt had spent practically every night roaming the city with Angel, but tonight he had promised her they would go out for an early evening dinner at Chez Marie's. After wrapping a heavy terry robe around her slim figure, Casey went through her closet. She found a long sleeveless sheath dress of pale spring green. Since the night was going to be cool, she also pulled out a thick wrap of white cashmere. She hung both things on the hook behind her bedroom door then started rummaging through the top shelf of the closet for the right purse.

Finally after finding a small one of gold lame, she checked it for the essentials of lipstick, compact, and a few clean tissues. At the bottom she found a small disk. It was a homing beeper that Britt had given her the last time she had used the purse. Absently slipping the bug into the pocket of her robe, she thought with a smile about the wild adventure that had all started with another dinner with the newspaperman.

Britt always seemed worried about involving her in his Green Hornet escapades, but she had never yet turned down a chance to help him. In a way, she had to admit to herself, she enjoyed it even if it did at times get dangerous.

A panicked banging on the front door broke through Casey's thoughts. She ran to the door and peeked through the peep hole. A frightened girl with short red hair stood trembling in the porch light. She banged on the door again, "Please," she pleaded through half-choked sobs, "Somebody, please help me. They're going to get me."

"What's happening?" Casey asked through the door.

"Please let me in," the girl begged, "Please help me." The girl turned away from the door, looking behind her, she screamed. "Help!"

Casey angled so that she could see more, but could see little more than shadows.

The girl banged on the door. "God, help me," she cried, "Help me."

Casey threw the door open. "Come in," she said hurriedly, pulling the girl in. She slammed the door closed, only to find a thick-booted foot stopping it. She turned helplessly to the red-haired girl.

"Sucker," Constance said as she turned a vampire grin on Casey.

Casey screamed.

The moment he arrived at Casey's place, Britt knew something was horribly wrong. Her front door gaped open, the light spilling out deceptively inviting. Inside it looked like a tornado had spun through in a maddening dash. Chairs were overturned and a lamp laid shattered on top of scattered books. Britt frowned. One of the books was lying open, with an Angel figurine sitting on top of it. In the midst of all the chaos, it looked oddly out of place. It was too neat. He picked up the book. It was Bram Stoker's Dracula. "Casey . . . " Britt said under his breath. He strode quickly for Casey's bedroom. If they were lucky . . .

The bedroom was untouched. Casey's evening dress and wrap still hung on the door. On her dressing table was the gold lame' purse, half opened, sitting next to it a compact and lipstick. Britt checked the purse, the beeper was gone.

Britt called his home. "Kato," he said tersely when his valet answered the phone, "They have Casey. Meet me at her place with Black Beauty."

Waiting impatiently for Kato, Britt wore a path in Casey's carpet as he paced back and forth. Finally he saw the long black car pull up. Without waiting for a greeting, he climbed into the car and began to put on the Green Hornet disguise.

"I called Angel. He'll be waiting for us at the hotel," he explained. "Casey has a tracking bug on her." He slid open the control panel behind the back seat and turned on the tracker. A slow beep filled the air.

"Why do we need him?" Kato asked, "We could waste valuable time going for him."

"We could waste even more valuable time if we don't. He is the only one who has experience with vampires and the like. I don't know for sure what we're heading into, but the more help we have, the better."

The garage was filled with activity as the gang was preparing for the ceremony. On the roof Kyle and Chelsea were removing the large pieces of plywood that had been covering the sky light. Inside, Castor and Pollux were busy cleaning. Constance was pulling open some boxes filled with magical paraphernalia. "Hi Connor," she said as he walked up to her. "Ready for the big night?" she asked.

"Yeah, sure," he said uncertainly.

She gave him an encouraging grin. "Don't worry, you'll do fine."

"Yeah, I'm sure I will."

"You still aren't sure about this, are you?" she asked rising to her feet.

"I guess I'm not," he replied.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He was first reluctant, but soon found himself responding to her passion. Before things could too far, she pulled away. She stroked his arms, "That's what I love about you. You don't have any pretensions. It's the ones who think they are all that who fail. You won't," she said.

Then she noted the bag in his hands. "What do you have?" she asked.

"I got something to eat for the lady. I thought she might be hungry," he answered.

"You don't have to worry about her. Soon she won't be hungry ever again."

Connor frowned at her meaning.

"Connor, sweetheart. We aren't going to harm her. You're going to be doing her a favor. You will be giving her the gift of eternal life. That's what most mortals want."

"I doubt she sees it that way."

"Not now, maybe, but she will thank you once you have granted her that greatest of gifts."

"But why her? She hasn't hurt anybody."

"That's why. Her goodness shines like a beacon. As your first she will give you the power to rule over all of us. That's the way it works," she explained as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Anyway," Connor said, "Can I bring this to her?"

"Sure," Constance answered. She pulled out a white robe from the box. "And while you're at it, why don't you give this to her. She should be properly dressed for the ritual."

In what used to be the garage's office Connor found Casey curled up on an old cot that had been shoved up against the far wall. She was holding something small in her hands which she hurriedly hid as he entered the room. He pretended not to notice.

"I have something for you to eat," he said, showing her the bag in his hands.

"I'm not hungry," she answered.

"I didn't think you would be," he said as he set the bag on a battered desk.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry."

"You are?"

"Yeah. I didn't want things to turn out this way. Do you mind if I sit down?"

"Go ahead," Casey replied, making room for the young man.

For a few moments Connor sat next to her in an uncomfortable silence.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked.

"I don't know. It all feels wrong, but I can't stop it. It's all out of my hands."

"You can always do something. I have a feeling this is all being done for you."

Connor nodded his agreement. "It's my destiny."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he said in a very soft voice.

Casey touched the locket that had slipped from inside Connor's shirt. "That's a very nice locket," she said gently.

"Yeah, it was my mother's," he explained.

"Your mother's? May I see it?"

He pulled the locket's chain from around his neck. Casey opened it. "These pictures look they're from the 1800's. Who are they?" she asked, noticing the picture of the blonde woman on the right hand side of the locket and the dark-haired man on the left. "Are they your great great grandparents?"

"No, they're my parents."

"Your parents? How can that be? These pictures must be over a hundred years old. How old are you?"

"Fifteen, I'm going to be sixteen this November."

"But how?"

"My parents are vampires."

At Casey's surprised look, he grimaced lopsidedly. "That's what I mean about destiny. Vampires don't have children, but I was born anyway. There's a prophecy . . . " Connor hung his head unhappily.

"Tell me about your parents."

Connor sighed. "My father's name is Angel. He's cursed with a soul."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that instead of his inner demon controlling him, he controls it. At least most of the time. The curse is that he can never have a moment of pure joy. If he does, he reverts to pure evil." Connor stared at Angel's picture thoughtfully. "He is condemned to remember and feel every person he killed while he was evil. Because of that he's always trying to make amends for all the bad he has ever done. Sometimes, I wonder, why bother?"

"I see," Casey said very simply, not explaining that she knew of Angel and had spoken to the others in L.A. "What about your mother? Is she a vampire with a soul?"

"No, at least not until she was pregnant with me. Then she knew what it really meant to love."

"What happened to her?"

"She died bringing me into this world."

"I'm sorry."

Connor shook his head as he fingered the faded mark on his cheek. "She staked herself so I could be born."

Casey was thoughtfully quiet. "That took a lot of courage. And love."

"For what? To bring a monster into this world?" Connor said bitterly. "All that pain and loss, for what? It's my destiny to destroy this world."

"Are you sure?"

Connor nodded. "Could it be any other way?" he asked. "I will be never like anybody else. I'll always be the child of vampires. I have the blood thirst. There's nothing I can do about it," he said helplessly.

Casey placed her hand on his, "You can say no to that destiny. You can change it."

"I can't. Even if I tried. So what? Nobody will ever accept me. Look at my father. He styles himself as some kind of champion. He spends all of his time fighting demons, vampires and all other kinds of supernatural monsters. He's saved the world many times. And for what? Do you think anybody will ever thank him? No. If anybody ever found out what he is, they'll stake him. Then all he'll be is dust. For all of the good he tries to do, the evil still remains."

"I know how you feel," Casey replied. "I know a man who does the same thing. Night after night, he goes out risking his life to fight crime. Yet if he was ever caught by the police he'd be tried as a criminal and likely sent to the electric chair."

"Then why does he do it?"

"Because he has to. He can't stand by and watch people hurt by those who consider themselves above the law. He feels that the law, that justice, applies to everyone, not just the powerful."

"But what does he get out it?"

"Nothing, nothing but a good night's sleep."

"Hunh?"

"He once told me that it's a matter of balance between good and evil. You can choose to add to the evil, to increase it in this world, or you can choose to add to the good. There's so much bad in this world, isn't it better to add to the good?"

"Even if you don't get any recognition for it?"

"Yes."

Connor stood up. "I have a lot to think about."

Casey gave him a sad smile. "I'm sure you do."

"Uh, Miss, uh . . . " he began.

"You can call me Casey."

"Uh, Casey . . . " he began, embarrassed. "Constance told me to ask you to dress in this robe," he said, handing it to her. He turned to go.

"Connor," Casey said as he started to open the door, "I'm sure you'll make the right decision."

Pulling up to the curb, The Black Beauty barely slowed before the rear passengers' door opened. "Get in!" the Green Hornet yelled to Angel.

"What's going on?" Angel asked. He threw in a large bag that clanked when it landed on the floor next to the Green Hornet's feet. Angel pulled the heavy door closed as the car picked up speed again.

"They've kidnaped somebody. Just like you thought they would," the Green Hornet answered tersely. He glanced down at the bag, "I see you brought some 'toys'."

"Yeah, I did," Angel answered, "I see you have quite a 'toy' here, yourself," he said noticing that a control panel had been tilted from behind the front seat. The control panel was covered with a large number of buttons, tell-tales and dials. Above the panel set in the back of the front seat was a small television screen and a green lit oscilloscope on which was a slowly flashing dot. The angle of the cross-hairs on the screen and the rate of the beeping tone changed as they moved forward.

"That's a tracking device?" Angel asked.

"Yes," the Green Hornet answered. He made a few adjustments to the screen. More to the driver than to Angel he said, "They're on the west side of town. Looks like the Claridge area."

"That's about where we saw them the first time," Kato answered.

"Looks like it. It'd figure. They're likely not to stray from their home base," the Green Hornet said.

"How did you manage to get a bug on them?" Angel asked.

"I didn't," the Green Hornet said, a grim look in his pale eyes, "It's on the person they kidnaped."

Angel nodded his understanding, "Someone close to you I take it."

The Green Hornet nodded, the muscle in his jaw tightening as he fought for control of his anger. "God only knows why they took her."

"So this wasn't something you planned on."

"Of course not," the Green Hornet gritted. "Have you found out anything about this ceremony or ritual they're going to be doing?"

"Yes, I checked with my people in L.A.. The ritual requires somebody pure of heart and mind," Angel began. He glimpsed at the Green Hornet before continuing. It was obvious the masked man cared for the woman the gang had taken. "It is supposed to take place in the dark of the moon, with the climax taking place on the final stroke of midnight. At that time a link will be formed between this world and the netherworld. Literally a Hell Mouth. I've seen one in action before. It's not something you want to see here."

"Exactly how does this happen?" the Green Hornet asked.

"When the Destroyer takes his first victim, the doorway will open, but it will only become permanently open if that victim takes the blood of the Destroyer, thereby becoming vampire in turn. If the victim does not become vampire, the doorway will close."

"I take it then your son is the Destroyer."

"Yes, he's called that by vampires and demons. By those of the Light, he's called the Miracle Child."

"So he has the potential for great evil or great good," the Green Hornet said thoughtfully.

"Yes," Angel answered.

"The Destroyer . . . " the Green Hornet said, continuing his thought, "That could be taken two ways. He could be the destroyer of humankind or he could be the destroyer of demonkind."

"That's how I see it," Angel agreed.

The Green Hornet frowned, not liking where his thoughts are leading. "It looks like we have three chances of stopping this world from going to Hell, literally. We can stop the ceremony itself, or we can stop the 'Destroyer' from taking his victim. If all else fails, we can stop the victim from becoming vampire."

"I agree," Angel said.

"We may have to kill your son," the Green Hornet told Angel.

"I am prepared for that," Angel responded sadly. Then he asked the Green Hornet, "The person they kidnaped, I take it she is close to you."

The Green Hornet nodded. "And before you ask," he said grimly, "I am prepared to do whatever needs to be done to save the world. Even if it does involve killing her. I know that is what she would want."

"Boss," Kato said, "We have trouble."

"What kind?" the Green Hornet asked.

"The Cop kind. I've been listening to the police band. There's cops all over the place. It's going to be tough avoiding them."

"Do what you can. Switch to the silencer."

The deep throated rumble of the Black Beauty's massive engine suddenly silenced to a whisper.

"And go dark," the Green Hornet added.

The view through the windshield dimmed to a pale green glow as Kato switched to the polarized headlights. While from inside the car everything could be seen clearly, from outside the big car had become practically invisible. The Black Beauty had become a silent black ghost.

"Stick to the back ways?" Kato asked.

The Green Hornet shook his head. "No. We don't have the time. We have less than an hour to go."

"I hear you, Boss," was Kato's terse reply.

"Turn up the police scanner," the Green Hornet said, "Keeps tabs on where the cops are. We'll have to try to avoid them as much as possible."

"I don't think that's going to be possible," Angel said as they passed by a police car that had stopped a speeder by the side of the road.

"Maybe he won't notice us," Kato said hopefully.

"No luck there," Angel replied as the police car suddenly tore away from the curb, its siren screaming a banshee wail.

"Lose him," the Green Hornet ordered.

The Black Beauty picked up speed. The police car tried to keep up, but to no avail. It was quickly falling behind.

"We're losing him," Angel said as they rounded a corner at high speed.

Kato shook his head negatively. "We might lose him, but not his radio. They're putting up road blocks." He was silent for a few moments as they listened to the rush of voices and codes over the police radio. "We're trapped. They must've been waiting for us to show up. There's no way through. Not even back."

"Then we'll go forward," the Green Hornet said harshly.

Ahead of them was a line of police cars and a barrier of water-filled barrels. The flashing lights from the massed police cars lit the scene in a surreal kaleidoscope of red, white and blue. Behind the police cars was a forest of drawn guns of every size and shape. The Black Beauty did not slow.

"Uh, Hornet," Angel said nervously, "they got guns."

"No problem," the Green Hornet answered, "the Black Beauty's bullet proof."

"Well, then I'm glad that we took your car instead of mine," Angel commented wryly.

"As long as they don't have anything armor piercing, we should be fine," Kato said, without taking his eyes from the road. Bright floodlights had been brought in so that they could see the grim resolve of the men facing them.

"Damn," Kato said under his breath, "I spoke too soon." A man in Army fatigues stood in front of the road block. On his shoulder was the ugly tube of a rocket launcher.

"Think they'll believe us if we told them we're out of save the world from a demon invasion?" Kato ventured.

"What do you think?" the Green Hornet responded. He flipped some switches. Angel could hear a whine come from the front of the car. "Keep her steady," he told Kato.

"Don't you think we should try some evasive action?" Angel asked apprehensively.

The Green Hornet shook his head, "Nope. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," he said as he pressed a pair of buttons.

A pair of rockets blasted out from the Black Beauty, skimming so low to the road that it was singed by their heat. The solider fired his own weapon, but at the last moment he lost his nerve and dived for cover. The rocket from the launcher barely missed the speeding Black Beauty. Angel was sure he would have been able to read its markings if it had been going by just a little bit more slowly. "Sh . . . t," he muttered under his breath.

The rockets from the Black Beauty blasted through the barrels, sending up a drenching spray of water. Another pair blasted out closely behind them. The Black Beauty followed behind at top speed, sending whatever was left of the roadblock in all directions by the force of its impact. Angel spared a glance behind them. If it hadn't been so close he would have cheered at the sight of the devastation and consternation they left in their wake.

III

Connor stared glumly at his reflection in the mirror. Even though it was dim and cracked it still didn't improve what he saw in it. He'd almost wished that he didn't have a reflection like the others who had gathered around him to admire the new clothes they had gotten for him. The black jeans were far tighter than the oversized baggy ones he usually wore. They uncomfortably hugged his thighs and backside far too much. He was afraid they would split if he dared move in them.

In his opinion, the soft satin shirt of royal blue did not help things either, even though Pollux had cooed that it brought out the color of his eyes beautifully. While the whole outfit emphasized the breadth of his young shoulders and the narrowness of his hips, it made him look too much like Angel. Something that he'd rather not do.

"Now, Connor, dear," Pollux said silkily, "All you need is a touch of mousse and you'll look just perfect."

"You touch my hair and I'll break your hand," Connor growled.

Pollux quickly pulled his hand away with a moue' of disappointment.

"Don't worry, precious," Castor said to his lover, "He's young. I do think he does look lovely though."

Connor gave a big gusty sigh as he turned to regard the others. Castor and Pollux were dressed in matching outfits of tight black leather pants, something Connor was glad they had not been able to foist on him, and full-sleeved black shiny shirts that were open to their navels.

Chelsea had also gone with the all-in-black look. She had dyed her hair completely black and had slicked it back into a hard helmet. Her short black velvet and lace dress was complemented by black net tights and high, thick-soled boots. Black lipstick, eye shadow and nail polish completed her monotone look.

Connor jealously regarded Kyle's clothing. Kyle had washed out the gel out his light-brown hair and had removed all piercings from his face except for an eyebrow ring that sported a devil's head. He looked comfortable in baggy black jeans, a loose black T-shirt and a mid-length black leather coat. Connor wondered briefly if Kyle would be willing to trade, but doubted that he would.

Chelsea stepped forward with package in her hands. "Constance had this made especially for you," she explained. "You're supposed to wear it for the ritual."

Thinking that nothing could be worse, Connor tore open the package. He was wrong. Inside was a long robe of the same royal blue fabric that his shirt was made of. Worse yet were the yellow and red flames that decorated the hemline and wide sleeves.

"Do I have to?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"Sure," Chelsea answered. "Constance had it made especially for you."

Rolling his eyes, Connor slipped on the robe and again regarded himself in the mirror. Perversely, he looked like he had stepped out of a Disney movie.

"You look wonderful, Connor," Constance gushed from behind him as the others parted to let her through.

Constance moved alluringly in a long satin dress that emphasized curves that Connor had never known the girl had. The dress had a low plunging neckline that exposed most of the swell of her high, small breasts, and the long slit along the side showed how long her legs really were. High, spiked heels added several inches to her height. A tall stiff collar of black lace framed her long neck and high-cheeked face. The lipstick that lined her lips was blood red as was her nail polish. Gone was the runaway waif, in her place was an assured woman who exuded pure evil.

"Looks like something out of a bad vampire movie," Chelsea muttered snidely under her breath.

Constance hearing Chelsea's remark, gave her a catty sneer as she slid by her.

"Everything is ready," she said, coming to Connor's side, "Kyle, Please open the skylight. Castor, Pollux, bring the sacrifice."

Constance led Connor to a white marble altar that had been set up in the middle of the garage. Midnight black drapes hanging from the ceiling transformed the shabby interior into a mysterious temple to evil. Black candles sitting in black wrought iron stands made the air heavy to breathe.

The flames briefly danced as the skylight was opened to the moonless sky, but the air was still filled with the cloying scent from the candles. The hairs on the back on Connor's neck rose from the electricity that filled the air. Shadows just beyond the sight of his vision, shifted in and out of solidity as barely heard whispers hissed and giggled insanely around him.

Castor and Pollux appeared with Casey between them as Chelsea and Kyle followed. Dressed in the simple white robes, Casey glowed brightly in the guttering firelight. Her red-gold hair flowed over one shoulder like a living flame. She was supernally calm even though her large brown eyes were wide with fear. Castor and Pollux tied her to the altar, then took their places to her right and left. Kyle and Chelsea stood at her head and feet.

Holding its obsidian hilt tightly, Constance lifted up a silver bright sword and began to chant. The gang joined in the chant, although it was a language that had not been spoken for thousands of years. Its rhythm was like the gushing of blood through opened veins. It was the rhythm of battle drums and violence. It was the beat of lovers' bodies, one meshed with the other.

The gibbering voices became louder as demonic shapes formed out of the shadows. It hurt his eyes to look directly at them and his stomach cramped with nausea. A fetid wind rushed around them, teasing, pushing and pulling. It was rough like thousands of hands, intruding, defying, violent and persuasively seductive. Mad laughter and horrifying growls intermixed with whimpers and soul-tearing cries of agony.

Chelsea, Kyle, Pollux and Castor's faces went vampiric, yellow-green eyes glaring from under heavy brows. They grinned fang-filled grins. Constance's face alone remained unchanged, and yet it did change. It became infused with the triumphant glow of pure evil.

Connor could feel the hunger rise in him. It inflamed his blood, his eyes, his skin, down to his very soul which cried out in anguish. The battle raged inside him. All of his loss and anger warred inside him. All of his bitterness at being ripped from his proper home, the bitterness of being born. There was a tearing, a ripping and he could feel the cold rush of rain surround him, even though his clothes were dry.

He approached Casey. All was silence. The voices had stopped. The air crackled and snapped, but the silence sat heavy like a shroud. The hunger was overpowering. Connor looked down at the bound woman. He could see his face reflected in her frightened eyes. He was a monster. There was nothing he could do. This was his destiny.

"Connor," she said in a whisper.

Suddenly there was thunder and the building shook violently as if struck by a giant hand. Some of the drapes fell, revealing spider webbed brick. A large black car stood in the midst of settling dust and shattered bricks. It was the first one the garage had seen in decades. The Green Hornet and Kato scrambled out, closely followed by Angel carrying a large crossbow. Connor didn't know whether he was angry at the intrusion or relieved.

"Get them!" Constance angrily screamed. A crossbow bolt sent her scrambling for cover.

A chime somewhere began to sound, the heavy bong of a grandfather clock or clarion of a far-off church. One . . . two . . . three . . .

The demons surrounding them slipped sidewise into invisibility, reappearing in front of the intruders. Kato met one with a flying kick, slamming it into a steel pillar. The creature stumbled, then charged the oriental again. Kato pulled out a rod and pressed a button. Expanding out of either end was a long double-edged blade. He impaled the charging creature on one blade, then gracefully danced away as he swung the weapon around over his head. Then in a single quick motion he sent the creature's head flying from its shoulders. Green ichor splattered into the air.

The Green Hornet had selected a broad sword from Angel's bag of toys. Not one given to deadly weapons, he still used it well. Using the brute force of his muscular body, he sliced the demon heading for him in half with a single sweep. Another creature charged him, he swung the heavy blade around, catching the creature across the shoulder, cleaving it from shoulder to opposite hip. Demon blood splashed onto his clothes.

Without slowing his charge, Angel shot a bolt into the monster that stood between him and Constance.

"Chelsea, Kyle, get him!" Constance ordered. Castor and Pollux were nowhere to be seen. "Connor," Constance screamed at the young man, "Don't hesitate, if you do the demons will abandon us. This is your destiny. This is what you, The Destroyer, is fated to do. Do it before the twelfth stroke and we will rule the dimensions."

The voices surrounding him were getting louder. "Do it, do it, do it," they urged.

Four . . . five . . . six . . .

"Connor don't!" Angel yelled at him as his face turned vampire, "Don't do it." He leaped over the acidic slime that had been a demon and fired at Chelsea as she rushed him.

Chelsea barely dodged the bolt Angel fired at her. She quickly recovered but found her headlong charge stopped by a strong grip on her shoulder. "Kyle!" she protested.

"This isn't our scene," Kyle answered in a rush, "I want no part in destroying the world. Do you?" he asked.

Chelsea hissed in frustration. "But Constance . . . "

"She isn't really one of us," Kyle answered heatedly. "Look at her."

True to his words, Constance had changed. She looked no longer human or vampire, but the very embodiment of demonic evil. Black flames of power encircled her head like an unholy halo.

Angel fired a bolt toward Constance. It struck her full in the stomach. She pulled it out with a harsh, ringing laugh, "Fool!" she cried, "Do you think I'm some puny creature that you can destroy with a mere length of sharpened wood?" She threw the bolt back at Angel. He dodged it, but not fast enough. It struck him in the shoulder, sending a shock of agony through his body as the demon taint spread through him.

Constance gestured and Angel found himself hanging in the air. "Little man, so you dare try to oppose me?" She curled her fingers into a fist and Angel screamed as the pain worsened. "I could strip you of your soul or send you straight to hell. You have no power over me!" Angel found himself thrown across the room like a bored child's rag doll.

Angel crawled to his feet, "Connor," he begged, "Don't do this. I love you, son."

Constance hissed at Angel, "I will destroy you," as she opened her hand, "like an annoying flea . . . "

"No," Connor shouted at Constance, "Stop!"

Constance turned to Connor. "You will do as I say!"

Connor pulled Casey's hands free of her bounds. "Get out of here," he told her.

Seven . . . eight . . . nine . . .

He turned to Constance. "I won't become your tool. I won't become a toy of evil! I'm my own man. Not yours. Not ever!" He leaped for Constance.

Constance threw him off, "Fool! You would forsake unlimited power for these puny creatures? Idiot! Do you think anyone is ever going to accept you? Do you believe that anyone will thank you for your pitiful efforts?"

"It's not about being accepted," Connor said as he rose to his feet, "It's not about thanks. It's about doing something right because it is right!" he yelled at Constance. He slammed a fist into her face, the force of his blow sending her tumbling into the remaining drapes.

Constance screamed in outrage, "You dare oppose me? You are not the only one I can use." She raised her hands and Connor's feet left the ground. "I will destroy you for your defiance." She threw Connor through the air. Connor twisted his body in midair, managing to narrowly miss being slammed into a pillar. He slid across the floor, landing near a pile of blankets.

A demon growled as it lumbered toward Connor. Connor reached under the blankets for the hard lump he had landed on. It was the wrist mounted mini-crossbow he had been working on. Hurriedly he put it on and fixed on a mini-bolt. The creature growled, opening its arms to fold the young man in a deadly embrace. Connor fired the bolt directly into its mid-section. It looked down at the small bolt, then whimpered in surprise before falling to its knees dead.

Connor snatched up several bolts. He ran toward Constance, firing them rapid-fire. Constance repelled all of them with a single wave of her hand, sending them straight back at him. Connor rolled out of the way. He had to do something.

Connor spotted the Green Hornet on the opposite of the garage. The masked man had discarded the broad sword for a slender long black rod, the Hornet sting. He pressed a button set in the in the device's handle and it began to emit an earsplitting whine.

Constance began to laugh at his effort, but suddenly she stopped. The hyper-sonic weapon was beginning to affect her. Her shape began to blur and vibrate in sympathy with the weapon's vibrations. "No!" she screamed.

Out of nowhere a demon folded into existence behind the Green Hornet. It slammed a powerful double-fisted blow into the man's unprotected back. The Green Hornet fell, dropping his weapon.

The weapon skittered across the floor landing at Connor's feet. He snatched it up and felt for the button he had seen the Green Hornet use. Pressing the button, he aimed it at Constance. The thing vibrated in his hands more powerfully than he had expected. It bucked so badly that it was almost enough to force him to lose his grip on it. But he didn't.

Constance had no defense against the weapon's powerful vibrations. Like a bad dream she began to fade. "Connor," she begged. No longer looking like an all-powerful demoness, she was again the winsome waif he had met on that first rainy day. "Don't do this. I love you . . . " her voice was barely a whisper as a stray gust of wind swept her misty shape away.

"I am no longer your toy," Connor said defiantly to the shadow that had been Constance, "I am no longer your tool of destruction. I am the vampire's child. I am the Champion's son. I am the Destroyer of all evil."

Connor glanced at Angel, the man he could be proud to call father. "I understand now," he said very quietly.

Ten . . . eleven . . . twelve . . .

On the last stroke of twelve the demons faded away into nothingness.

In the ensuing silence, Casey quietly walked over to Connor who had collapsed to his knees. "Connor?" she asked as she bent next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Connor looked up at her. All of the defiance and bravado had emptied out of him, leaving behind soul debilitating weariness and exhaustion. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Connor shrugged with a tired sigh. Then he handed the hornet sting to Casey. "Give it back to the Green Hornet for me," he asked.

"You can give to him yourself," she suggested.

Shaking his head, Connor replied, "I can't."

"Why?"

Connor shrugged again.

"It's time to go," Casey said.

Connor shook his head. "There's no where for me to go," he said.

"Connor..." Casey began, but the young man turned away from her. He looked so alone and lost. Casey gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze and rose to her feet.

Quickly she crossed the garage, joining the Green Hornet as he came toward her. He walked like every bone in his body ached. A large bruise was purpling the right corner of his jaw. Somewhere along the way he had managed to lose his hat and his overcoat was damp with demon slime.

"Are you doing okay?" she asked.

"Yeah," he breathed heavily as he gingerly touched a split lip. "That sure as hell isn't something I would want to do every day. How about you?" he asked her.

Casey nodded. "I'm fine," she answered very quietly. She handed him the Hornet Sting.

As he folded up the Sting and placed it back into his inner pocket, the Green Hornet asked, "How's the boy?"

"I don't know," she answered with a sad shake of her head.

Kato limped up to the Green Hornet and Casey. "Good fight, hunh Boss?" he commented wryly.

"Right," the Green Hornet said dryly. "You feel like another round?"

"Nah," Kato answered, "At least not right now."

The Green Hornet, Casey and Kato walked up to Angel who seemed to have frozen where he stood, uncertainly watching Connor from across the room. Conner was still kneeling on the floor, staring at the space where Constance had been.

"You do this every day?" the Green Hornet asked Angel offhandedly.

"Not quite," Angel wryly answered, "but it does seem to happen a lot wherever I am."

"Are you going to be okay?" Casey asked him, noticing the gaping wound in his shoulder.

"That's one of the few advantages of being a vampire. You heal very quickly," Angel said, moving his shoulder with a painful wince. He glanced at Connor with a worried look on his face.

"Go to him," Casey said very gently.

"What?" Angel said absently, lost in his own thoughts.

"Go to him. He's your son. He needs you," she answered.

Angel sighed sadly, "I don't know . . . "

"No matter how big he seems or how tough he is, he's only a child. He needs his father. He needs you," Casey said encouragingly.

Angel looked at the Green Hornet, Casey and Kato. They were a team. He missed the others in L.A. It was time to go. His shoulders sagged. He had to do something about Connor.

"I don't know if he will accept me," he said to Casey.

"Try," she encouraged. "I think you've been underestimating how much you really mean to him. Give yourself a chance. And him."

Angel cast a questioning look at the Green Hornet and Kato. "Do you want us to wait for you?" the Green Hornet asked.

Angel shook his head, "No, I don't think so." He added with a crooked grin, "The way you drive, I think I'm better off walking." He squared up his shoulders, summoning up his courage. His eyes on Connor, he sighed, "I think I'd rather be fighting a bunch of demons."

Casey placed a hand on Angel's arm and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "You'll do fine," she said, stepping back to join the Green Hornet and Kato. The Green Hornet wrapped a comforting arm around her waist.

Looking down at Casey, then at Angel, the Green Hornet said meaningfully, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention her involvement in this."

"Don't worry I won't," Angel assured him before he turned away.

Casey leaned her head against the Green Hornet. "Time to go?" he asked her.

For a moment, watching Angel's back as he walked toward Connor, she didn't answer. Finally she said, "Yes."

Angel knelt beside Connor. "Nice outfit," he commented.

Connor looked up at him as if awakening from a bad dream. He shook his head with a questioning frown.

"The robes," Angel said nodding toward the flame decorated robes Connor was wearing. "I never would have thought that you liked flames on your clothes. And robes . . . Who would have guessed?" Angel chanced what he hoped was a disarming grin.

Connor touched the blue satin. "Constance gave them to me. She had them made especially for me."

"Interesting taste," Angel answered noncommittedly.

Connor pulled the robe off and stared at it. Unconsciously he ran the soft fabric between his fingers. "I hate it. It makes me feel like a clown," he said without any heat.

"We all look like clowns sometimes," Angel commented.

"And fools too?"

Angel nodded. "Sometimes frequently."

"I thought . . . " Connor began. "I mean . . . I don't know . . . " he said struggling for words. He sighed, shrinking into himself. "How's Fred?" he asked.

"She's okay," Angel answered.

"She must hate me."

Angel shook his head. "No, she understands. She forgives you."

"How can she forgive me?" Connor suddenly shot out. "How can anyone ever forgive me?" he demanded heatedly. "I can't even forgive myself."

"Sometimes others can forgive us before we can forgive ourselves."

Connor studied Angel's face, seeing the agony of never being able to forget the pain he had caused others..

"I'm very proud of you," Angel continued, "You showed great courage."

"I was tempted."

"We are all tempted. That's where the courage lies. It takes more courage to fight our inner demons than those who cross over from other dimensions."

"But what about next time? And the next?"

"You'll do what's right. You may stumble, but in the end, I know you'll have the courage to do the right thing."

"But . . . "

"Connor," Angel said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. He felt a momentary flinch, but then Connor's shoulder relaxed, accepting his touch, accepting him. "I have faith in you. I always will."

Connor studied Angel's eyes, seeking and finding not only truth but loving acceptance. Looking past Angel, he thought he could see someone. It was a woman. A beautiful woman whose golden hair glowed like a halo. She looked like angel. Radiating out from her were waves of love as he had never felt in his life. "Mother," he whispered.

Hearing him, Angel turned to see what he was looking at. "She would have been very proud of you tonight," he said.

Connor nodded. "She is."

Connor rose to his feet. "I think it's time to go home."

Angel got to his feet as well and stood next to Connor. "I think so too," he agreed. He looked for the Green Hornet and his companions. They were gone. "I'm afraid we missed our ride."

"That's all right. I feel like walking anyway," Connor answered, heading for the hole in the wall, leaving the robes on the floor where he had left them.

Angel started to follow, then turned around. He stepped to each of the remaining black candles, blowing out each one in turn. The garage was wrapped in darkness. Light from a street lamp framed Connor as he waited. He's so tall, Angel thought with pride. He quickly joined Connor.

Connor wrapped his arms around Angel. "I'm proud that you are my true father," he very quietly.

Returning Connor's embrace, Angel looked up into the heavens. "Thank you," he whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.

Arm in arm father and son headed home.