Title: Uncertain Paths by Donna
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, don't sue
A/N: I'm sorry for the lack of updates, RL isn't playing nice at the moment. Thanks for your understanding and the reviews; they're very much appreciated!
Angel softly closed the door behind him as he left Connor's bedroom, he sighed tiredly as he made his way to his own room. Cordelia watched him walk concernedly, worried at the depressed slump of his shoulders and the hurt look on his face. When she walked into his room he didn't even look up, just sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the spot Connor's crib used to be.
"Hey, you okay?" Cordelia asked softly, "I heard yelling, did you tell him that he's staying here permanently?"
Angel snorted, "no, we didn't even get to that part yet."
"Than what was all the yelling about?"
"I, I kind of started yelling at him, God Cordy, he came so close to being killed, what the hell was he thinking, taking those things on all alone!" Angel's voice was a mix of anger and anguished concern.
"Fred found out that a couple was attacked in that alley, around the same time I got my vision."
Angel nodded, "at lease he wasn't just picking a fight, but he still can't try to hunt demons on his own, he'll be killed!" Angel's voice rose, fear and worry colouring it.
"Which is why he's not leaving," Cordelia pointed out dryly. Angel looked sheepishly at Cordelia, who smiled, "how are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know, but however I do it the fireworks aren't going to be pretty, I'm tempted to wait until he's feeling a bit better, on the other hand if I tell him now he won't be able to walk more than a few feet without puking so I won't have to worry about him trying to leave again. Actually I'd better go clean it up, he tried to get up once and made a mess in the hallway."
"Gunn cleaned it up," she smiled at Angel's surprised look, "we drew straws and he lost," Angel grinned slightly, "we thought you had enough to deal with without cleaning up puke, besides it was stinking up the whole place." Angel started to laugh slightly. Cordelia mock-glared at him, "hey buster, that's not funny, what if a client came in, do you really think he'd hire detectives who worked in a place that smelled like vomit!" Angel laughed harder. "Gunn is out with Fred buying new shoes, can you believe the man only owns one pair!" Angel continued to laugh at the look of only half faked horror on Cordelia's face as she said that.
Smiling as he stopped laughing he looked at Cordelia fondly, "Thanks, I needed that, so how and when do you think I should tell him?"
"Soon and flat out, if you wait or beat around the bush when you tell him he might think you're not too serious."
Angel nodded, "thanks Cordy, do you mind staying here and watching him, he should sleep for hours, I need to go to the store and pick up some bland food for him, and some blood for me."
"Sure." Angel smiled his thanks and left.
Connor was slightly disoriented as he woke; he looked around, slightly confused, until he remembered the attack and the details from the day before. Heavy curtains covered his window but the slight glow they let in told him it was morning. Connor winced as he shifted on the bed, his sore muscles protesting any movement, they'd been sore the day before but he'd ignored them, assuming that the soreness would go away along with the strange weakness he had felt. Connor had never been injured for more than a day before, and had only been sick once. He began to panic as he realized he wasn't any better, his ribcage was still sore, and the cuts on it still burned. Connor rolled over onto the side of the bed opposite the wall and tried to get out of bed again, hoping it would be easier than yesterday. It wasn't, he struggled to sit up and then began to concentrate on standing up, his sore body protesting even more. Connor winced as sharp pains began to stab inside his head and his stomach started to churn dangerously.
"Connor, what do you think you're doing?" Connor started violently when he heard a voice so close and two hands come down onto his shoulders, preventing him form rising. Panicking, Connor turned at the waist and tried to lash out at the person behind him, two hands caught his fists easily as the motion sent white bolts of pain flashing behind his eyelids and his stomach twisted. Connor closed his eyes tightly and tried to keep from unloading the contents of his stomach once again, it had been unpleasant and gross the first time, when he opened his eyes he was lying back onto his pillows and was once again staring into the concerned eyes of his father.
Angel opened his mouth to berate Connor for trying to get out of bed again when Connor tensed and began yelling and trying to punch him. "What did you do to me?" Angel was slightly stunned, but easily caught both of his son's fists and held fast.
"Connor, what do you mean?"
Connor struggled to remove his fists from Angel's as he yelled, "you did something to me, you bastard, you had to have, I never get sick and I'm always healed by the next day! Always! What did you do to me?" Fear and desperation coloured Connor's voice and it dropped into a whisper as he finished his last question.
Angel released his grip on Connor's fists and reached with one had to gently squeeze Connor's shoulder and the other to gently lift his chin up so he was looking at him. "I didn't do anything to you Connor, the demon that attacked you secretes a very powerful poison in it's claws, when you were scratched you got infected. The stuff is really nasty, it affects vampires, humans, and many other demons, it's not surprising that you're not immune. Your systems busy fighting off the poison, that's why you're not healing as quickly as normal. It usually takes about a week for the poison to be neutralized, until it is you won't be able to get up on your own, it effects your sense of balance, causes the nausea, tiredness, and headaches, and if you don't keep taking the antidote for it, causes severe muscle spasms.
"So I can leave in a week." Connor broke in, looking relieved.
"No, after it's neutralized it still takes another three weeks for the stuff to get out of your system, until it does you'll be pretty weak."
"If I can walk I can leave, I can take care of myself," Connor insisted, glaring at Angel mutinously.
Angel looked Connor directly in the eye and told him firmly, "you're not leaving, not in one week and not in four, this is your home Connor, and I'm not going to let you live in an un-heated dump and fight demons alone. You need help, and whether you like it or not, a family.
Connor stared at Angel disbelievingly, "you actually think that I'll stay! Not a chance, if I decide to leave you really think you can stop me," Connor asked with a sneer.
Angel raised an eyebrow and continued in an even tone, "you will abide by the rules, and if you break them you will be punished."
Connor glared and started to interrupt, "there is no way I'm going to live in your house and follow your dumb rules!"
Angel glared, "you don't have a choice."
"That's not fair!" Connor yelled, his face turning red.
"Neither is life, deal with it." Connor tried to out stare his father but eventually dropped his eyes.
"Whatever."
Angel sighed and got up, he then walked to the door and turned to face Connor when he got there, "I'll bring you something to eat, and some more of the antidote." There was a small click as the door closed and then Connor was left alone.
Connor spent the rest of the day ignoring everyone when he could and giving one-worded monosyllabic replies when forced to. He ignored Fred when she tried to make small talk, and turned his back on Cordelia when she tried to talk to him about his father, ignoring her hurt expression. Lorne got the biggest reaction; he'd no sooner entered the room than he heard, "get out, demon." Gunn, after seeing the reactions the other three got decided to wait until, "the brat gets a major attitude adjustment."
Around eight Angel came back up to Connor's room, when he walked in Connor was laying on the bed facing the wall and seemed to have no intentions of moving. Angel paused for a moment before going into Connor's bathroom. Connor resisted the urge to ask what he was doing when he heard the tub being filled. When Angel walked back into the room Connor was still facing away, refusing to acknowledge him. Angel swiftly walked over to the bed and placed a hand on Connor's shoulder, Connor shrugged away and rolled onto his stomach. An irritated expression flitted across Angel's face as he flipped Connor over and scooped him up, taking him into the washroom.
"Heh!" Angel ignored Connor's indignant shout, two could play the no- talking game and Angel was a master.
"What are you doing!" Connor glared up at Angel.
He stopped in front of the toilet, "do you need to use it." Connor blushed and nodded.
"I can do it myself." Angel sighed, sure that he would become very familiar with those words as the month progressed.
"All right, put your hands here," Angel guided Connor's hand to either side of the top of the toilet. I'll wait outside, call as soon as your done, don't try to walk out on your own." Connor stared after Angel, slightly surprised. He quickly finished his business before Angel decided to check on him. Connor was about to start walking across the room to the sink when Angel walked back in. He gave Connor an irritated glance. "You're not going to make this month easy are you?"
Connor snorted, "if you don't like it, let me leave."
Angel smiled slightly, "you wish." He crossed over to Connor and grasped his elbow, pulling him to the half-full bathtub. "Lift up your arms."
Connor's face was flooded with heat, "I don't need you to bathe me." His voice had a note of panic in it.
Angel nodded and said in a mild tone, "I know, I'm just going to help you get in and out, I don't want you to slip, you can wash yourself. He quickly helped Connor finish stripping, smiling when his face became even redder. "You do realize I've seen it all before."
Connor glared at the amusement in his tone and blushed even harder. He hated needing so much help. After helping Connor into the tub and pointing out the soap and shampoo he left. Connor sighed in contentment as he slid down into the hot water. It felt wonderful against his sore muscles, although his scratches and scrapes burned a little. He quickly washed up, and then leaned back, deciding to soak. The hot water felt like a blanket and he relaxed for the first time since that morning, and Angel's announcement. It only took a few minutes before he fell asleep in the soothing water. Twenty minutes later Angel walked back into the bathroom, he smiled softly as he saw Connor, it seemed as if the only time he got to see the boy's face free of anger and distrust was when he was asleep. He quickly dried the boy and dressed him in the pyjamas Fred had picked up. After tucking him in Angel went downstairs to work on their latest case. TBC
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, don't sue
A/N: I'm sorry for the lack of updates, RL isn't playing nice at the moment. Thanks for your understanding and the reviews; they're very much appreciated!
Angel softly closed the door behind him as he left Connor's bedroom, he sighed tiredly as he made his way to his own room. Cordelia watched him walk concernedly, worried at the depressed slump of his shoulders and the hurt look on his face. When she walked into his room he didn't even look up, just sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the spot Connor's crib used to be.
"Hey, you okay?" Cordelia asked softly, "I heard yelling, did you tell him that he's staying here permanently?"
Angel snorted, "no, we didn't even get to that part yet."
"Than what was all the yelling about?"
"I, I kind of started yelling at him, God Cordy, he came so close to being killed, what the hell was he thinking, taking those things on all alone!" Angel's voice was a mix of anger and anguished concern.
"Fred found out that a couple was attacked in that alley, around the same time I got my vision."
Angel nodded, "at lease he wasn't just picking a fight, but he still can't try to hunt demons on his own, he'll be killed!" Angel's voice rose, fear and worry colouring it.
"Which is why he's not leaving," Cordelia pointed out dryly. Angel looked sheepishly at Cordelia, who smiled, "how are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know, but however I do it the fireworks aren't going to be pretty, I'm tempted to wait until he's feeling a bit better, on the other hand if I tell him now he won't be able to walk more than a few feet without puking so I won't have to worry about him trying to leave again. Actually I'd better go clean it up, he tried to get up once and made a mess in the hallway."
"Gunn cleaned it up," she smiled at Angel's surprised look, "we drew straws and he lost," Angel grinned slightly, "we thought you had enough to deal with without cleaning up puke, besides it was stinking up the whole place." Angel started to laugh slightly. Cordelia mock-glared at him, "hey buster, that's not funny, what if a client came in, do you really think he'd hire detectives who worked in a place that smelled like vomit!" Angel laughed harder. "Gunn is out with Fred buying new shoes, can you believe the man only owns one pair!" Angel continued to laugh at the look of only half faked horror on Cordelia's face as she said that.
Smiling as he stopped laughing he looked at Cordelia fondly, "Thanks, I needed that, so how and when do you think I should tell him?"
"Soon and flat out, if you wait or beat around the bush when you tell him he might think you're not too serious."
Angel nodded, "thanks Cordy, do you mind staying here and watching him, he should sleep for hours, I need to go to the store and pick up some bland food for him, and some blood for me."
"Sure." Angel smiled his thanks and left.
Connor was slightly disoriented as he woke; he looked around, slightly confused, until he remembered the attack and the details from the day before. Heavy curtains covered his window but the slight glow they let in told him it was morning. Connor winced as he shifted on the bed, his sore muscles protesting any movement, they'd been sore the day before but he'd ignored them, assuming that the soreness would go away along with the strange weakness he had felt. Connor had never been injured for more than a day before, and had only been sick once. He began to panic as he realized he wasn't any better, his ribcage was still sore, and the cuts on it still burned. Connor rolled over onto the side of the bed opposite the wall and tried to get out of bed again, hoping it would be easier than yesterday. It wasn't, he struggled to sit up and then began to concentrate on standing up, his sore body protesting even more. Connor winced as sharp pains began to stab inside his head and his stomach started to churn dangerously.
"Connor, what do you think you're doing?" Connor started violently when he heard a voice so close and two hands come down onto his shoulders, preventing him form rising. Panicking, Connor turned at the waist and tried to lash out at the person behind him, two hands caught his fists easily as the motion sent white bolts of pain flashing behind his eyelids and his stomach twisted. Connor closed his eyes tightly and tried to keep from unloading the contents of his stomach once again, it had been unpleasant and gross the first time, when he opened his eyes he was lying back onto his pillows and was once again staring into the concerned eyes of his father.
Angel opened his mouth to berate Connor for trying to get out of bed again when Connor tensed and began yelling and trying to punch him. "What did you do to me?" Angel was slightly stunned, but easily caught both of his son's fists and held fast.
"Connor, what do you mean?"
Connor struggled to remove his fists from Angel's as he yelled, "you did something to me, you bastard, you had to have, I never get sick and I'm always healed by the next day! Always! What did you do to me?" Fear and desperation coloured Connor's voice and it dropped into a whisper as he finished his last question.
Angel released his grip on Connor's fists and reached with one had to gently squeeze Connor's shoulder and the other to gently lift his chin up so he was looking at him. "I didn't do anything to you Connor, the demon that attacked you secretes a very powerful poison in it's claws, when you were scratched you got infected. The stuff is really nasty, it affects vampires, humans, and many other demons, it's not surprising that you're not immune. Your systems busy fighting off the poison, that's why you're not healing as quickly as normal. It usually takes about a week for the poison to be neutralized, until it is you won't be able to get up on your own, it effects your sense of balance, causes the nausea, tiredness, and headaches, and if you don't keep taking the antidote for it, causes severe muscle spasms.
"So I can leave in a week." Connor broke in, looking relieved.
"No, after it's neutralized it still takes another three weeks for the stuff to get out of your system, until it does you'll be pretty weak."
"If I can walk I can leave, I can take care of myself," Connor insisted, glaring at Angel mutinously.
Angel looked Connor directly in the eye and told him firmly, "you're not leaving, not in one week and not in four, this is your home Connor, and I'm not going to let you live in an un-heated dump and fight demons alone. You need help, and whether you like it or not, a family.
Connor stared at Angel disbelievingly, "you actually think that I'll stay! Not a chance, if I decide to leave you really think you can stop me," Connor asked with a sneer.
Angel raised an eyebrow and continued in an even tone, "you will abide by the rules, and if you break them you will be punished."
Connor glared and started to interrupt, "there is no way I'm going to live in your house and follow your dumb rules!"
Angel glared, "you don't have a choice."
"That's not fair!" Connor yelled, his face turning red.
"Neither is life, deal with it." Connor tried to out stare his father but eventually dropped his eyes.
"Whatever."
Angel sighed and got up, he then walked to the door and turned to face Connor when he got there, "I'll bring you something to eat, and some more of the antidote." There was a small click as the door closed and then Connor was left alone.
Connor spent the rest of the day ignoring everyone when he could and giving one-worded monosyllabic replies when forced to. He ignored Fred when she tried to make small talk, and turned his back on Cordelia when she tried to talk to him about his father, ignoring her hurt expression. Lorne got the biggest reaction; he'd no sooner entered the room than he heard, "get out, demon." Gunn, after seeing the reactions the other three got decided to wait until, "the brat gets a major attitude adjustment."
Around eight Angel came back up to Connor's room, when he walked in Connor was laying on the bed facing the wall and seemed to have no intentions of moving. Angel paused for a moment before going into Connor's bathroom. Connor resisted the urge to ask what he was doing when he heard the tub being filled. When Angel walked back into the room Connor was still facing away, refusing to acknowledge him. Angel swiftly walked over to the bed and placed a hand on Connor's shoulder, Connor shrugged away and rolled onto his stomach. An irritated expression flitted across Angel's face as he flipped Connor over and scooped him up, taking him into the washroom.
"Heh!" Angel ignored Connor's indignant shout, two could play the no- talking game and Angel was a master.
"What are you doing!" Connor glared up at Angel.
He stopped in front of the toilet, "do you need to use it." Connor blushed and nodded.
"I can do it myself." Angel sighed, sure that he would become very familiar with those words as the month progressed.
"All right, put your hands here," Angel guided Connor's hand to either side of the top of the toilet. I'll wait outside, call as soon as your done, don't try to walk out on your own." Connor stared after Angel, slightly surprised. He quickly finished his business before Angel decided to check on him. Connor was about to start walking across the room to the sink when Angel walked back in. He gave Connor an irritated glance. "You're not going to make this month easy are you?"
Connor snorted, "if you don't like it, let me leave."
Angel smiled slightly, "you wish." He crossed over to Connor and grasped his elbow, pulling him to the half-full bathtub. "Lift up your arms."
Connor's face was flooded with heat, "I don't need you to bathe me." His voice had a note of panic in it.
Angel nodded and said in a mild tone, "I know, I'm just going to help you get in and out, I don't want you to slip, you can wash yourself. He quickly helped Connor finish stripping, smiling when his face became even redder. "You do realize I've seen it all before."
Connor glared at the amusement in his tone and blushed even harder. He hated needing so much help. After helping Connor into the tub and pointing out the soap and shampoo he left. Connor sighed in contentment as he slid down into the hot water. It felt wonderful against his sore muscles, although his scratches and scrapes burned a little. He quickly washed up, and then leaned back, deciding to soak. The hot water felt like a blanket and he relaxed for the first time since that morning, and Angel's announcement. It only took a few minutes before he fell asleep in the soothing water. Twenty minutes later Angel walked back into the bathroom, he smiled softly as he saw Connor, it seemed as if the only time he got to see the boy's face free of anger and distrust was when he was asleep. He quickly dried the boy and dressed him in the pyjamas Fred had picked up. After tucking him in Angel went downstairs to work on their latest case. TBC