Chapter 4

LA…

Muffled foot steps could be heard as Fred sat, sluntched over the office desk. Fingers traced through her hair while stress ran through her body. She looked up from her seat as the steps became louder.

"Lucy, I'm home."

Fred looked up at the familiar figure standing before her. "Lorne." Her voice expressed happiness and relief.

"Hey there kiddo."

Lorne took Fred in his arms for a long, warm hug.

"Better not be putting the moves on my girl there!"

Gunn appeared from the basement. A towel was slung across one shoulder, he had been working out. He moved towards Lorne and the two shared a quick manly hug. Lorne return to Fred's side a placed an arm around her shoulder.

"Well now, would you blame me?"

"Absolutely not."

Gunn smiled as Fred blushed slightly.

"Your trip ok?"

"Oh, you know, not too bad. People stop staring when you say you're filming the new Star Wars movie and just testing the costume. I don't know what I'm going to do when the last one's released."

"There's always Star Trek conventions."

Fred giggled slightly as she answered. Lorne squeezed her tightly and gave her a large smile.

"Well, I'm not smelling too good here, so I'm going to take a shower. Fred will fill you in on what's been happening. When I get out we'll catch up."

"Oh, I was wondering what that smell was."

Gunn gave Lorne a death stare, walked over to Fred and kissed her on the forehead and went upstairs to shower.

"Thank you so much for coming Lorne. We're kinda at ends as of what to do."

"How's he going?"

They both took a seat in the office. Fred in the chair, Lorne on the table. Fred rested her chin in the palm of her hand as she talked.

"I …I just don't know. He hasn't come out of his room for three days. I've tried to talk to him, but he just lies there. That's why I called you. You were the only one other then…" Tears welled in her eyes, "He talks to you. I've really tried everything, but I'm not her. He won't let me in."

Tears began rolling down Fred's face. She tried to wipe them away quickly. Lorne moved to the ground and crouched in front of her.

"I'm sorry…"

"Oh Fred, there's no need to be sorry. I'm glad you called me. I was missing you guys anyway. Come here sweetie."

Lorne pulled her into a warming embrace. They stayed that way for a few moments until Fred pulled away.

"Oh, I'm ok now." She brushed the last few tears away from her eyes and forced a smile across her face. "We have to help Angel, no more worrying about me. We need to do whatever it takes. I thought everyone was gone for good. But then Angel was back and now you're here. We need to stick together."

Lorne stood and stared at her for a moment. An acknowledging grin moved across his face. "My, look who you've become. So much change in so little time."

"Well, there had to be some growing up. I'm not stuck in some other dimension, I don't need to be saved anymore. Others need saving." Lorne's smile grew. "These feet are firmly planted."

"And look at the beautiful flower that has grown."

"Thank you."

"Well, I guess I might go up and try and talk to him. Get him to say something. Let him know I'm here."

Fred agreed with the decision.

"I don't think you should mention her. He just wouldn't except it. We tried to tell him everything, but he wouldn't listen."

Lorne nodded and headed up the stairs. Fred took a seat on the foyer lounge and rested her head back. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Could they save Angel? She wasn't so sure.

Gunn crept down the stairs, freshly showered. He quietly moved towards Fred and took a seat next to her. He placed his arm around her shoulder and drew her head to his chest. He softly brushed her hair away from her face, periodically kissing her forehead.

"Mmmm, you smell nice."

She looked up at Gunn and kissed him softly.

"Lorne's gone to talk to him. Try to get him to say something."

"Good. They used to talk quite a bit."

"I'm glad his back. Even at the worst of times, he's able to bring some form of happiness."

"I know what you mean."

"He always comes with some kind of hope for good news."

Fred closed her eyes and put her head to Gunn's chest. She listened to the beat of his heart and the hypnotising sound of his breath. Within seconds they were in sink, breathing together as one. Fred could feel herself drifting off when she heard an alarmed voice.

"Ah guys? Bad news…He's gone."

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Angel raised a hand to the door. He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively knocked. He waited for a few moments and knocked again. This time a little louder. Foot steps moved closer to the door and the knob began to turn.

When Wesley opened the door, he suddenly forgot how to breath. His mouth dropped open and his stare became eternal.

"It's ok Wesley, you can breath. I'm not here to hurt you." Wesley continued to stare. He slowly return to his body and started to breath again. "Do you think I could come in?"

"Uhh?" Wesley looked from side to side. He then stepped away from the door and motioned for Angel's entrance.

Angel stepped inside slowly, surveying the room. He walked toward a large cork board hanging from the wall.

"Ahh, no that's…" Wesley trailed off as Angel inspected it closely.

The board was covered in photos and paper clippings. The most recent read "Man in Box Dragged from Ocean. Alive!" Angel glanced over at Wesley who was hiding a picture of himself, Angel and Cordelia. Angel returned his attention to the board. He brought his hands to the several photos of Connor, some with Justine. Each was taken along the coastline and they were all dated sporadically over the past months. He then ran his hand across a large coastal map, mark with coloured pins. Finally he came to a business card. He took it off the wall and examined it closer. There was a logo and the card read "Coastline Fishing Charters".

A scene flashed before Angels eyes. A box was being lifted out of the ocean. When ashore, a mans hand came down to Angels neck to check his pulse. Angel grabbed a hold of his hand. There is a close up of the logo on his shirt, the same as the card. Then came a flash to the side of the boat. 'Coastline Fishing Charters' was written along the side.

"You…" Angel spoke softly, "You did this. You saved me."

"No…well…um…" Wesley gave up, "I just called in a favour."

"Why?"

"I don't think you need to ask me that."

Angel turned to Wesley who was looking at the floor.

"Then how?" He signals to the board, "How did this all come together?"

"A little coincidence, a little luck." Wesley took a seat. "I found out because of, um…" He couldn't say it. "I approached Fred and she told me that you were missing as well and so was Connor. I had tracked down Justine," as he said her name his hand brushed against his throat, "and I found Connor with her."

"How did you know about Connor?"

"I'd seen both of you together in a club."

"How did you kno-?"

"He moved just like you. I knew from the moment I saw the two of you there. It was him."

Silence.

"I know that I can never make up for what I did Angel, but I new that you were out there." Wesley indicates to the board. "Those photos, I've got one for nearly every night you were gone. First they would both go there. Hire a boat, head out and return within a couple of hours. Then, it was just him. He stopped taking the boat out, but every night he returned to the same spot at the exact same time. I estimated the area that he may have been going and then I called in the favour."

Silence again. Wesley finally looks up at Angel.

"They've told you then? About Cordel-"

"It's not true. She's not dead."

"It is true Angel. I'm sorry."

"Don't you do that Wesley!" Angel voice was raised and rage was taking over. "You don't get to do that! You don't get to apologise to me!"

"I'm -"

"SHE'S NOT DEAD!"

Angel smashed his hands against the wall and the board came crashing down. Angel crashed to the floor. He began to hit the back of his head against the wall, saying those three words repetitively. "She's not dead."

"I saw her body Angel!"

Wesley moved closer as Angel put his hands to his ears.

"No! No! No!" Wesley tried to move his hands away. "NOOOOOOOO!"

Angel stood and threw Wesley across the room. Wesley crashed down on his table, paperwork flying everywhere. He slowly pushed himself up.

"They called me first Angel. She still had me written as her emergency contact in her wallet. Guess she didn't get a chance to change it. The called me to the scene. I had to identify her body. It was her."

"No!" Angel slide back down the wall as tears began to stream down his face. "She can't be gone. I still feel her Wesley."

"They found her in her car. They said her heart just stopped. She went peacefully Angel."

"But why can I still feel her?"

"Because you loved her and you always feel the people you love. No matter what."

Angel took the words in. The tears continued to flow and he began to breath for her.

"I want to see her."

Wesley looked sorrowfully at Angel.

"Ok."

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