Author: Vona
Title: Evanescent
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy owns Angel.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Post-Soulless. Angelus escapes from the little cage, wreaks havoc with the group, particularly Fred. Slight Buffy crossover with Willow, Faith, and Drusilla.
Pairing: F/G, W/F, some A/C, and a slight bit of Faith/Gunn.
Feedback: This is my first Angel fic, so please be kind. I do adore feedback though.

Evanescent
Chapter One Escape

Fred Burkle stared in the mirror, brushing her long, brown hair away from her bruising cheek. Charles had done it. Her Charles, her Gunn had caused the bruise. She carefully place a cold washcloth on the sore jaw, wincing at the contact, but knowing this would stop the swelling. She heard a light rap on the door and a softly Bristish accented voice call through, "Winifred?"
She turned her wide brown eyes on Wesley.
"Come in."
Wesley entered and stopped in front of her. He tenderly touched her cheek, the bruise. Fred's eyes filled with salty, stinging tears. Wes glanced away, guilt and blame taking him over.
"I am so sorry, Fred."
Fred lifted his downcast head to meet her eyes, unaware of Gunn's presence behind her.
"It's not your fault, Wesley. You're not the one who hit me."
"But if I hadn't gotten in a fight with Gunn..."
"You were defending yourself from Charles. You didn't start the fight."
Wesley leaned forward and pressed his lips on her forehead.
"I still apologize."
Both fell quiet and stared at the reflection in the mirror. Fred was facing it again, her back to Wes. He stood behind her, unable to take his eyes off of her. His heart constricted with the amount of love he felt for this girl.
"You are so beautiful, Fred." His voice was husky and quiet.
"No, oh, Wesley, I'm not." She looked down. He ran his hand down her milky white neck, the part that was exposed.
"You are so unaware of your beauty and power over men. You're intelligent, an understatement really, and you are completely oblivious. That just adds to your attractiveness."
Fred shivered at his touch and his words. She could feel the blood rushing up to her cheeks, coloring them a pretty shade of pink. Her eyes darted up to the mirror and caught Wesley's gaze. Her breath caught in her throat. He lowered his mouth to her bare shoulder and put his arms around her waist.
"If you would let me, I could love you so deeply and so completely, Fred. I need you, to keep me sane, to keep me human."
Fred could hardly tear her eyes off of him.
"Wesley, " she stuttered.
"I've said too much and made you uncomfortable. Forgive me?"
Fred turned and kissed his cheek gently.
"The gang is waiting for us in the lobby for the meeting about Angel's soul. We should get back." She sent him a fabulous smile that gave him hope. Fred pulled her hair into a ponytail and started to walk to the door. Gunn dashed into the lobby, waiting for the other two to make their entrance.

Wesley came in last, ignoring Gunn's glare, Cordelia's untrustful stare, Connor's blank look, Lorne's worried glance, only meeting Fred's sympathetic gaze. He leaned against the counter, sort of set off way from the others. Gunn tried to catch Fred's eyes, but she looked steadily at her clasped hands. Wesley spoke first, "Maybe a locater spell would find his soul."
"How will that work? They find people, not souls." Cordelia questioned.
"Souls are in general the life of people, other that their organs, that is."
Gunn shook his head. "I'm with Cordy. It won't work."
"And what do we do about Angelus in the meantime?" Lorne asked.
"He'll stay locked up until we find the soul."
"Which we're still at square one on finding it." Gunn replied, snidely.
Fred spoke up, quietly, "I think Wesley is onto something. Something like a locater spell. Angel lost his soul before, in Sunnydale, right, Wesley?"
"Yes."
"Didn't a witch put it back?"
"Yes."
"She's even more powerful now."
"You think we should bring Willow here?"
Fred nodded, raising her dark brown eyes to meet Wesley's blue ones. She turned away.
"It's stupid, I know."
"No! It's the best idea we've heard all night."
Fred's whole face lit up from Wes's praise. But the joy was cut short.
"Uh, guys?" Connor interrrupted. They ignored the teenager, Wes continuing, "I'll call Willow and see if she can come to Los Angeles. It'll be dan..."
"GUYS!"
Wes stopped and looked at the boy.
"What?"
"The bars in Angel's cell are bent. I don't think he's in there."
"What? Why?"
"Because on the wall written in blood it says, 'DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD KEEP ME HERE? I'M A VAMPIRE, SUPER STRENGTH. COMES WITH THE DEAL. SEE YOU SOON, GIRLS. ANGELUS-GUESS I'M NOT SO ANGELIC, HUH?"
Fred gasped and Cordelia shuddered. Wesley grabbed a cross bow, Gunn a scmiter and Connor an axe. They hurried down the stairs and searched the basement. He was gone in a way only a vampire could.