*****
"Wesley. Wesley. Wake the fuck up, Wes!" Faith is shaking the struggling man. She woke up when the sunlight hit her side of the bed. She heard a voice and remembered that she's not in jail. Wes was struggling, obviously dreaming, on the bed beside her. Nothing she does can get him to wake up. His skin is still hot with fever and he is sweating.
Her slayer healing has kicked into overdrive. Her leg is fully healed and her scratches are sealed. She is still sore and bruised. She fills a glass she finds in the bathroom with water and splashes it on Wes' face. He continues to struggle within his nightmare, not waking.
"Shit…shit…shit…" Faith curses, unsure of what to do. "You were supposed to get better after you slept…" She mutters, pulling on the jeans and shirt that he bought for her the day before. She tries once more.
"Wesley, wake the hell up!" She yells, loudly, slapping him impulsively across the face. She remembers her strength when she sees the blood start leaking from his nose and his face start to swell. Wes moans and opens his eyes with a dull glare as he brings his hand to his face.
"I thought we had come to an understanding, Faith, but you continue to try and kill me…" Wes says, wincing at the sight of his blood on his hand.
"Sorry…you wouldn't wake up and I panicked…" Faith apologizes. "I'll get you some ice," She offers, turning around and finding Fred standing in the door.
"I heard the yelling. Everything okay?" She asks, suspiciously. "I see that Wesley is bleeding…everything still okay?"
"Fine, Fred. We'll be down in a short while," Wes replies.
She leaves, reluctantly.
"She's worried about you. She thinks I'm going to chop you into tiny pieces and then serve you for dinner," Faith smiles.
"I doubt it," Wes replies, sitting up.
"Well then she thinks I'm going to handcuff you and have my way with you, then. She's got serious evil eyes for me," Faith adds.
"It's freezing in here…" Wes says, ignoring her comments.
"You're sick. You need an ice bath and some chicken soup, maybe?" Faith says.
"A shower and coffee and I'll be better. Why'd you hit me, again?"
"You were having a nightmare," Faith replies. "I tried splashing water on you, but you were really out of it. You feel really hot, Wes. You think Fred has a thermometer?"
"You seem to have healed nicely. How do you feel?" Wes asks, standing up, shakily.
"Stop pretending that you're not sick, Wes," Faith says, flatly.
"I'm sick, Faith. It doesn't change the fact that Angelus is on the loose…" Wes begins.
"Sleeping somewhere…" Faith interrupts.
"Plotting the apocalypse, Faith," He stops her. "I have to work through this. We have to bring Angel back."
"Something's wrong with Cordy," Connor says from the doorway. He is watching Faith and Wes warily.
"Connor. Come in," Wes says, quietly. He glances around, nervous. "Close the door."
"It seems like you're the one in charge," Connor says, glancing at Wes.
"Not exactly. What's wrong with Cordelia, Connor?" Wes asks.
Connor is silent.
"You don't trust anyone. Good plan, kid, but these are dangerous times. You can trust Wes," Faith says, quietly. "If you want to help her, you should tell him everything," She adds.
Connor nods after a pause. "She's pregnant…"
"Sweet Jesus, do you people like complications or what?" Faith gasps, startled. "Sorry."
"Go on, Connor. It's okay," Wes encourages, keeping his face blank.
"I think she's evil," Connor whispers, looking at the floor. "Something in her eyes…something about the things she's asking me to do…I think she's evil…" He turns away.
"It's okay, Connor. I believe you. What else?"
He sighs, obviously torn in his confession. "She wants me to fulfill my destiny. Protect our child…"
"Whoa, now…" Faith interrupts. She closes her mouth once she catches Wes' warning glare.
"Connor," Wes says, quietly. "We'll help you but we need to know everything you can tell us."
"She says that you and the others are going to try and take her baby. She says I should protect her…and kill you all…but…I don't want…I just don't know…"
"Okay, Connor. You are not evil. You know that what she's telling you isn't true…" Wes starts.
"She says you kidnapped me when I was a baby and tried to kill me. She says Holtz rescued me from you before Angelus sent us to Quortoth…" Connor says.
"I didn't kidnap you to kill you, Connor. I was trying to protect you…" Wes sighs, speaking clearly to try and explain.
"Protect me from Angel? The vampire you're fighting so hard to save?" Connor retorts, becoming defensive.
"Connor. There were prophecies. I translated them and found that Angel was prophesied to kill you. They were false, someone had fabricated them to trick me. It was a lie," Wesley replies.
Connor is quiet. "Okay. I don't understand, but I don't understand anything that you people do. I know you help people, not hurt them. I trust her," He says, glancing at Faith, "and she trusts you."
"Unbelievable," Faith breathes, thinking about how things have changed.
Connor glances at her again and returns his focus to Wesley. "Cordelia…I think she's the reason Angelus is free…she knows magic now, I hear her talking. I think she tricked us into doing that spell so Lorne couldn't tell the difference between Angel and Angelus…"
"Wes?" Faith calls, seeing the stricken look on his face.
"She's been using us the whole time…" Wes says to himself. "Connor…"
"You aren't going to hurt her, are you?" Connor asks, quietly.
"Of course not," Wes replies, glancing at Faith. "We'll do everything we can to get Cordelia back. The real Cordelia…"
"You think she's going to kill me for talking to you?" Connor questions, his face blank.
"If she finds out, it's a possibility," Wes replies, honestly. "Can you not say anything to her? Lie to her, Connor, at least until I do a little research. Don't tell her you talked to me or Faith."
Connor nods, understanding.
"You did the right thing. We'll help her, Connor," Wes promises.
He nods. He darts from the room.
"Wesley…"
"Wait, Faith. I need to think," He says, putting a hand to his head.
"I'm going to get a shower, Wes…" Faith says, quietly, noticing the toll that Connor's confession has taken on the exhausted man.
He nods, his eyes glazed as he thinks to himself. She grabs the bag of clothes and retreats into the bathroom.
Faith washes off all the dried blood from the previous day's adventures and allows herself a moment of peace as the steaming water flows over her. She redresses, quickly, feeling refreshed and opens the door. Wes is in the same position as when she left him.
"Wes?"
He acknowledges her with a slight tilt of his head.
"You need to relax…"
"How can you say that after what we just heard?" Wes snaps, his stony demeanor slipping.
"Wes. Take a shower. I'll find you some coffee. You're sitting here running the facts around in your head but you're barely conscious. You know the fever's clouding your judgement. You need to try and shake off your exhaustion…"
"You're right, Faith. I need to gather myself. Don't say anything to the others about…" Wes says, standing up.
"I'm not saying anything. I'll wait for you to come and get me here," Faith replies, satisfied.
"I'll be right back…"
"If you aren't, I'll find you, Wes. Don't fall over or anything. Not again," Faith orders as he walks away.
Wes returns for her in around 15 minutes.
"Didn't take the time to shave, Wes?" Faith jokes, rustling his wet hair with her hand.
"Why start now?" He replies. "Let's make our appearance, shall we?"
"You know they think you're banging me, right, Wes?" Faith jokes, trying to get a smile out of him.
"I assume so," He replies, flatly. "You don't think I'll hurt your reputation?"
"Was that a joke, Wesley?" Faith retorts as they walk down the stairs. Cordelia, Fred, Lorne and Gunn are gathered around the counter in the lobby.
"Morning, lovebirds," Lorne calls, winking at Wes, suggestively.
"Whatever," Faith rolls his eyes.
"Good morning. Was it a nice sunrise?" Wes asks, his face emotionless.
"Gorgeous," Gunn replies. "You feeling any better?"
Fred watches Wes, carefully to judge his reaction.
"I'm still under the weather but my lungs aren't filling with blood…at least I don't think so," Wes replies.
Faith yawns. "You guys got coffee?"
"In here," Fred motions, leading Faith into the small kitchen area. Faith picks up a coffee mug and examines it.
"That's not his. This is his," Fred offers Faith a mug.
"Thanks. Which one can I use?"
"This is for guests," Fred passes her another mug, identical to Wes'.
"I'm not trying to get into his pants, but I don't understand why you care, either. I thought you were with bald hottie out there," Faith states, nodding toward Gunn as she turns to face Fred.
"Didn't you try and kill Wesley the last time you came around?"
"I was a different person then," Faith replies. "Angel…he snapped me out of it. I turned myself in to the police so I could atone for my sins. Wesley was a different person then," She adds.
"He's a different person every day," Fred says, quietly.
"Things change. People change. Good and evil don't change. Sometimes, it's the only thing that's truly true. That's what he's clinging to. That's what we all have to cling to right now," Faith shrugs.
"Something's different about him," Fred sighs, worried. "He's more shut off than I've ever seen him. Did he translate some sort of prophecy last night? Something that freaked him out?"
Faith fills the coffee mugs, silent.
"Faith?"
"Wes will explain everything later. Everything is fine," She whispers to Fred as she passes.
"So, Wesley. How are we going to get Angel back?" Cordelia asks, once Faith has returned.
"I'm about to start researching…I think I have a lead into some Mayan rituals that can locate the soul for us," Wes replies.
"Are we on book detail, again?" Cordelia sighs, annoyed.
"I was thinking that you guys could do some reconnaissance. Go around and see what's left after the last few days. See if we have any connections left or any newcomers. I know it's daylight, but by nightfall, we'll have to be focusing on Angelus," Wes suggests.
"Sounds like a fine idea," Gunn nods.
"I'll go get dressed," Cordelia nods. "I'll take Connor with me."
"Fred and I will take the truck," Gunn adds. Cordelia starts up the stairs.
"What's going on?" Lorne asks, quietly, once Cordelia is gone. "I'm getting serious 'doom' vibes from you, man…" He says to Wesley.
Wes doesn't reply, his eyes glued to the last place he could see Cordelia before she disappeared into her room.
"Wes?" Gunn calls.
"Patience," He replies, simply. He nods for Fred and Gunn to go into the kitchenette. They wait, impatiently for several minutes until Wes says his good-byes to Connor and Cordelia.
"Aren't we…" Gunn begins, once Faith motions that it's okay for them to come out.
"I have some new information," Wes sighs, his cool demeanor disappearing.
"Wesley?" Lorne asks, after several moments of silence.
"Faith? Can you fill them in?" Wes asks, after a beat.
"Hey," She says, taking his arm as he walks by her. "You okay?"
"I need to sit down," He replies, his voice only reaching her ears.
"We'll be right in," Faith nods. Gunn, Fred and Lorne each open their mouths to speak.
"Hush," She says, holding up her hand. She turns to them.
"There's some serious shit going down here. Heavy dramatic shit but you guys can deal with it, right? I mean, everyone's frazzled but you guys can suck it up for the greater good, can't you?" Faith asks, her face serious.
"Whatever it takes, Faith, look at us," Gunn replies, coolly. "Out with it."
"Cordelia's having Connor's kid and she's evil. She's trying to convince Connor to kill us all. The spell she did to restore Angel was a trick. She's playing you guys," Faith explains, her voice low.
"Oh god…are you sure?" Fred gasps.
"You guys saw Wes' face. It's true," Faith replies.
"Connor told you?" Lorne asks.
Faith hesitates.
Lorne sighs. "I could tell the kid was having some kind of inner turmoil," He adds.
"So how do we get her back?" Fred asks, steadying herself visibly.
Faith shrugs. "I'm following Wes' lead. He's playing it cool, so I'm playing it cool. In front of Cordelia, there are no plans to be discussed. Wes is researching it, we're helping but we're coming up with nothing helpful. Nothing is going on when she's in the building, no talking or anything. She's evil. She's not Cordelia anymore."
There is a muffled thump from the other room. Wes rushes in, followed closely by Gunn and Fred.
"Codex of Lamarkan…" Wes mutters, turning to her with glazed eyes, clearly dazed. "It says…'the lost shall be found but it will not be the same…she will signal the change in balance and the loss of the way…the light in the dark shall be extinguished…the chosen shall be guideless and the darkness shall rise…"
"Somebody find that book," Lorne says. "Wes is looking loopy but I trust his book sense…"
Wes puts a hand to his head, still dazed. "The one who was lost will give up everything to return to her beloved…she will change and change the balance in order to unite with her beloved…"
"Beloved?" Who is Cordelia's beloved?" Faith asks, turning to Lorne.
"Angel," Gunn replies, his back to her as he searches the bookshelf for the Codex of Lamarkan. "Good Cordy loved Angel so Evil Cordy…"
"She wants to be with Angelus? Isn't that a stretch?" Faith gasps.
"Found it. The Codex of Lamarkan. Wesley?" Fred calls, laying the book on the desk.
"He's still burning up…he's had a fever since yesterday. Says he can't keep food down," Faith says, helping Wes into a seat. He is lost in feverish thought.
"Shouldn't he be in bed?" Gunn asks. Fred is gone to get her thermometer.
"Damn, Gunn, did you know any of that shit he just told us? Wes is smart…with the books, anyway…"
Faith replies.
"Restoration…" Wesley mutters, clenching his fists.
"Wes?"
He shakes his head in frustration. "Restoration of the lost…"
"Lorne, can't you read people?" Faith asks.
"Sing, Wes," Gunn says. "Come on, English, I know you can do this…"
"Restoration of the lost can only be performed by the one who has loved her…lost her…left her…dammit…"
"Wes, snap out of it!" Faith yells, shaking him. Fred glares at her as she silently slips a thermometer in his ear. It beeps. Wesley doesn't respond to either woman.
"105.6. It's flashing. That's really bad," Fred gasps.
"He should be in the hospital," Gunn agrees.
"Angelus would love that. Free meal," Lorne says. "Let me make some calls…I'm not sure this fever is of natural causes…"
"Why?" Faith questions.
Before Lorne can respond, Wes starts to sing "Rock-A-Bye-Baby" in a dreamy voice. Lorne's face darkens and he turns away before Wes finishes his lullaby.
"Lorne?" Gunn calls.
"Wes…he's channeling for the powers. It seems his closeness to death is making him receptive to their influence…Wes, he's barely in there at all right now…" Lorne replies.
"Closeness to death?" Fred repeats, breaking the silence.
Lorne nods, solemnly. "He crossed over yesterday, during that voodoo spell and combined with the fever…they didn't let him back from the other side for good yet."
"Is he going to be okay, Lorne?" Fred asks.
Lorne doesn't reply. "I'm going to make some calls."
Faith puts her hand on Wes' shoulder, her face concerned. She has a brutal history with Wes, but in the past day, she has come to care about him. She trusts him and she doesn't want to lose him.
"Restoration…" Wes mutters, his trembling becoming violent.
"Man, when Angel and Cordy were missing before, we did alright without Wes…but we need him…right now…I don't know what we'll do if we lose Wesley, too…" Gunn says.
"We aren't losing Wesley. What we need now is a plan to get Angel back…" Faith responds, trying to think of what Wesley would do.
Wes' eyes roll back in his head suddenly as he gasps. Faith's hand is knocked from his shoulder as his head falls forward onto his chest and he begins to levitate off the chair into the air.
"You must stop her…She must not succeed…" A deep voice starts coming from Wes' mouth, as his body shakes, suspended in midair.
"Get out of my friend!" Faith yells, frightened.
"Slayer…you must stop her…she must die…"
"But it's Cordelia! We can't kill her, we have to save her!" Fred protests.
Wes' body shifts to face Fred. "She is not the one you once knew…the one you knew is still alive but on a different plane of existence…she cannot return until the imposter is vanquished…"
"What about the baby?" Fred questions.
"There is no child…" The voice replies. Wes begins to gasp for breath.
"What are you doing to Wes?" Faith demands.
"He is merely a tool…the visions that guide you have been tainted…"
"Why should you believe you, you're killing our friend!" Faith accuses.
"She must be stopped…She is strong, undefeatable in some worlds…she must not take this world…" Wes replies, his body still trembling in midair.
"How do we stop her?" Gunn asks.
"…She is here for her beloved…do not let them unite…restore the vampire's soul…he holds the key…" The voice coming from Wes replies, coughing.
"We don't have his soul, we're just going in circles!" Faith replies, frustrated and worried about Wesley's health.
"She has his soul…his soul is still in the building…" The voice says, as Wes' body is slowly lowered toward the floor as the spirit leaves him. Faith and Gunn catch him before he crashes into the floor.
"Wesley? God, Wes, look at me…" Faith urges, crouching beside his unconscious form on the floor.
Wes blinks, breathing shallowly. He opens his eyes, but they are still partially rolled back in his head.
"Wes. Look at me," Faith repeats, slapping his face gently.
"Faith?" He whispers, his voice hoarse. "Where'd you come from?" He asks, dreamily.
"Shit…" Faith curses.
"Wait…what's going on? Why am I on the floor?" Wes asks, his eyes returning to normal.
"You were channeling some kind of spirit, from the Powers…" Gunn begins.
"What?" Wes gasps, surprised, sitting up.
"We have to keep Cordelia from hooking up with Angelus. She has his soul and once we re-soul him, he'll know what to do," Faith says, condensing the encounter.
Wes pulls himself to his feet. "I'll call Cordelia and see if I can delay her in returning. I'll get the shaman. You guys search her room, tear it apart if you have to, but we need to get that soul back into Angel as soon as possible. Like, yesterday…"
"Hell no. Fred, Gunn, go start searching…" Faith replies, glancing at the couple. They leave.
"Faith, what…" Wes starts.
"Do you know why you were just channeling that spirit? It's because you died yesterday. You died and you're so sick that you haven't fully returned to this world yet. You're dying, Wes," Faith says, upset.
"Dying?" Wes asks, startled.
"Not for long," Lorne says, walking in with a steaming bowl. "I have the magical fever cure, per our lovely friends, the Sisters. Eat this soup, don't throw up for at least five minutes after eating it and you'll be good as new by morning…" Lorne smiles.
"What else?" Wes asks, tilting his head.
"You'll have a glowing complexion…" Lorne adds. "By that, I mean, you might glow in the dark for a few days. A rare side effect, nothing to worry about," He grins, holding out the bowl.
"Do it. You have to be fully in the land of the living before I'm taking you anywhere," Faith says, stern.