CHAPTER THREE: VISIONS

(Set after the ep 'Billy'.  See note in chapter one about Kat's stupidity about the time-line error)

Cordelia Chase was annoyed.  More than annoyed really.  She was furious.  It had been five days since all of the AI guys had turned into complete psychos because of Billy, and Wesley still hadn't returned to the office.  She had heard the story from Fred about what Wesley had said and done to her, and, honestly she couldn't blame Wesley for feeling sorry for himself, but enough was enough.

She knocked forcefully on the door to Wes's apartment and heard shuffling from the inside.  As soon as the door opened, she pushed her way inside, leaving a startled Wesley standing in the doorway.

"Cordy…now's really not-"

"No Wes," Cordy said forcefully, spinning around to look at him.  "Now is the time to do this.  You've been gone for five days.  I get that you needed time to heal or whatever, but…this is getting ridiculous.  Fred doesn't blame you.  It's not your fault."

Wes shook his head and dejectedly took a seat on the couch.  He ran tired hands over his face, noticing that he hadn't shaved for a few days.

"I attacked her Cordy. I hit her and basically told her that I wanted to…to rape her.  And the only reason that I didn't is because she managed to knock me unconscious," Wes admitted sadly.

Cordy sat beside him a put a hand on his knee.  He tried to shake it off, but she held onto him firmly.

"It's no different to what Gunn tried to do to her.  And she's forgiven you both.  She knows that it wasn't you.  She understands Wes.  You just…you have to forgive yourself," she said softly.

"And if I can't?" he asked quietly.

"Wes, you are one of the greatest guys I've ever known.  Yeah, you were affected by some seriously powerful magick, but it wasn't your fault.  You couldn't have stopped it even if you had tried," she explained gently.

He shook his head, unconvinced.

"Wes," she said firmly, grabbing both of his hands in hers and staring him in the eyes.  "Do you want to hurt Fred?"

He looked completely shocked and disgusted at the idea.  "Of course not!"

"Then there's your answer.  Wes, it wasn't you.  It wasn't you that attacked her.  She understands that."

Wesley shut his eyes, wishing that he could believe her.  Cordy stood up suddenly and pulled on Wesley's hands, bringing him to stand up as well.

"Come on," she said, pulling him towards the doorway.

"What?  Where are we…where are we going?"

"To Fred's."

Wesley tried to stop but Cordy was determined.

"No, Cordy, I can't," he protested.

"Yeah, you can.  Come on."

She managed to drag him into the hall, and as he went to protest again, Cordy grabbed her head, a vision hitting her painfully.  She stumbled but Wesley caught her before she could tumble to the ground.  He held her as the vision continued, trying to keep her standing even as Cordelia's body tried to drag them to the floor.

The vision stopped abruptly and Wesley waited until she had calmed herself.  She looked up at him and he was taken aback as he saw tears in the girl's eyes.

"What is it?" he asked quietly.  "What did you see?"

She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. 
 

"Change of plans.  We've got to get to Sunnydale."

Wesley's eyes widened in shock.  Sunnydale.  That didn't sound at all good.

"Is it Buffy?  Is she in trouble?" he asked gently.

Cordy looked up at him with wide fear-filled eyes.  "She's dying."

(*insert dramatic music here*)