*****

Faith sits quietly beside Wes' hospital bed, examining the man beside her. The doctor said he was lucky to be alive in his condition. His body was shutting down due to exhaustion and he had a collapsed lung along with several broken ribs. The doctor also said that if he hadn't been brought in, he would have died.

She looks at the IVs in his hand and the oxygen mask on his face and wonders what makes him do it.

Wes lost everything, his friends, his lover, everything that he ever knew and he still almost gave his life to bring Angel back. She wonders what he will do now.

"Faith?"

She jumps up, startled.

"It's me. Cordelia. How is he?" Cordelia asks, standing in the door of the hospital room.

"How'd you know where we were?" Faith questions, suspicious.

"We're detectives, or we used to be," Cordelia replies, her eyes drifting to Wes' unconscious body. "What's wrong with him?"

"What are you doing here, Cordelia?" Faith asks, quietly.

"I saw everything, Faith. I was a higher being. I saw all things. I saw what Wes did…" She starts.

"Don't tell me, Cordelia. I don't care. I don't think Wes cares anymore, either. His eyes…they're empty now. When he came to get me from jail…I don't think any of you are going to be able to get through to him, now," Faith replies.

"I know," Cordelia sighs, stepping closer to the bed. She reaches out to touch him, but Faith stops her.

"Don't, Cordelia. Just don't," Faith says, protective.

"The darkness is going to try and take him…" Cordelia says.

"Lilah's dead, Cordelia. Your twin killed her. She was trying to turn Wes for months, but he didn't waver. He's a white hat. He's a good guy," Faith replies.

"The magic's different. It'll change him. Poison him. He knows it and it's going to kill him," Cordelia says.

"Get out," Faith says after a pause. "Stay away from him if you're going to say shit like that. I'll bring him to see everyone once he's well. Get out, Cordelia," Faith orders, pushing her from the room.

"Faith…"

"Go," Faith insists, closing the door. She returns to her seat beside Wes' bed.

"Faith. She's telling the truth," Wes says, his voice hoarse as he pulls the oxygen mask off his face.

"Wes, you have to rest, leave that on," She says, surprised at his consciousness.

"I will rest, Faith. At my own apartment," Wesley says, sitting up.

"No fucking way," Faith argues.

"The doctors repaired the damage. All they're going to do is watch me. I want to go home. I haven't slept in my own bed in days…I haven't slept for much longer than that. Besides. We have a lot to discuss."

"What?" Faith asks, surprised.

*****

"He's at Mercy Hospital," Cordelia says, tiredly, walking into the Hyperion.

"Why didn't you call us? Why…" Fred starts, stopping her questions after seeing Cordelia's expression.

"Faith's with him. She asked me to leave. She says he'll be by when he's out," Cordelia replies quietly. "I was talking too much, I didn't realize what I was saying until she stopped me."

"Willow's coming. She's about a half hour away," Angel announces.

"What?" Cordelia asks, confused.

"When the shaman turned out to be under your control, I mean the evil you's control, of course…anyway, Wesley called Willow to teach him the spell she used before," Fred rambles. "Willow realized that something was strange about him so she made some calls. Now she's coming."

"I'm a little curious myself as to how Wesley was able to summon me…it's supposed to be impossible, especially using dark magic," Cordelia replies.

"Hello?" Willow appears in the doorway.

"Willow! You're here!" Cordelia hugs the witch.

"My cabdriver was great. He was like the roadrunner. Beep beep," She smiles. "Where's Wesley?"

"Hospital," Fred answers.

"Faith's with him," Gunn adds.

"Faith?" Willow gasps. "Somebody should probably explain."

*****

After introductions and an extended, yet enlightening for all, explanation, Willow leans back in her chair.

"Wow. First thing, congratulations on saving the world. You can never hear that enough."

"What else?" Gunn asks, seeing her expression.

"Everything always gets complicated, but it's going to get even more complicated now. At least for Wesley," Willow says.

"Willow, what have you heard?" Angel questions.

"People are worried. Wesley is doing dangerous things with magic; he's walking too fine a line. He manipulated dark magic to summon a being of good, meaning Cordelia, to earth. That's impossible. It's never been done…"

"But I heard you resurrected Buffy," Angel interrupts.

"She wasn't a higher power, she was in heaven. And if you want to use that as an example, you should probably know that a few months later, I lost my mind and went all evil and almost destroyed the world," Willow replies.

"Oh yeah. Bad example," Angel says.

"Dark magic is like a drug. It's addictive and intoxicating. It changes you," Willow says quietly. "Wesley's in danger."

"It'll kill him?" Gunn asks.

She sighs. "It'll drive him mad, first. Something will snap inside him and the darkness will take him. One of you will probably have to kill him," She says, her eyes distant.

"How do we stop it?" Fred asks.

"I don't know. I was using the dark magicks because I liked it. He drank that elixir and he lost all choice. He's a conduit for dark magic. If he can control it like he did to bring Cordelia back, then great…but it's going to be hellish."

"But you're harnessing your power, aren't you? I can see it in your aura," Lorne explains.

She nods. "After almost destroying the world, I went and trained with a coven in England who taught me how to keep the darkness at bay."

"Would that help Wesley?" Fred questions.

"Can you stay and help him?" Cordelia adds.

"I have to be in Sunnydale. We have an apocalypse of our own," Willow replies, quietly.

"What?" Angel asks.

"The First. We're battling the First Evil. I need to be there," She replies.

"Oh no…" Angel realizes.

Willow shakes her head. "We're handling it. I'm glad Faith is on the side of the good again. We might need her…" She says, standing.

"Where are you going?" Fred asks.

"I need to see Wesley. I'll do what I can while I'm here," She starts. Her cell phone starts to ring.

"Hello? Wesley?" Willow answers, confused. "Oh, okay…I'm in town, though. At the hotel…" She listens in silence for several minutes. "Are you sure? Okay."

"Was that Wesley?" Cordelia asks.

Willow nods. "Faith's taking him home…"

"Not here but home…to his apartment? He hasn't stayed there in days…" Fred ponders aloud, sadly.

"He sounded…aren't you guys nice to him? I mean, from your update, I got that you guys were mad, but…he really saved your asses today," Willow says, confused.

"We haven't had a chance to talk to him," Angel sighs.

"Angel, kind of…shoved him against the wall to snap him out of his trance and we…we were so happy to be alive and back together again that we…" Cordelia begins.

"Forgot him?" Willow gasps.

"Faith took him to the hospital…we're awful people, I know, but we'll make it right…" Cordelia says, flushed.

"I believe you. It gets complicated sometimes."

"Are you going to see him?" Angel asks.

"Yeah, he said he might be sleeping but Faith will let me in and he'll get up."

"I'm coming. I have to talk to him," Angel says, standing up.

"He said that Connor's with them. He said the kid tracked them down," Willow adds.

"Is he okay?" Angel asks.

"Scratch-free. Let's go."

*****

"Are you sure you're okay, Wes?" Faith asks, parking his S.U.V. outside his apartment.

"I'll be fine. I'm sure you're both exhausted as well. Connor? Did she hurt you?" Wes asks, turning around in his seat.

Connor shakes his head. "No. As soon as we walked into the hotel…I couldn't move. Lorne fixed me."

"The powder," Faith says.

"Angel and the others are worried about you," Connor says, quietly.

"They know I'm okay," Wes replies, glancing at Faith.

They go upstairs, Faith steadying Wes with a tight grip on his arm.

"I'm a little out of it. I'm going to lie down. There's a spare bed through there and the couch pulls out. Wake me when Willow arrives." Wes goes into his bedroom. Faith follows him.

Wes sits down, oblivious of her presence and puts his head in his hands.

"Wes?" Faith calls, worried. She sits down beside him. He is crying, softly.

"It's over. It's over now," She whispers, holding him. Soon, she is crying too.

*****

Connor opens the door to Willow and Angel.

"Connor," Angel says, not meeting his son's eyes.

"Sorry I left the hotel without telling you. I was worried about Wesley, too," Connor says, surprising his father.

"I'm Willow," She introduces.

"Connor. They said you were coming. Not you," He says to Angel.

"Angel?" Faith says, surprised.

"Can I come in?" Angel asks, timidly.

Faith hesitates. "I'll get Wes," She replies, turning away.

"Wesley's strange. He made her cry," Connor states.

"He hurt her?" Willow gasps.

"No. He was sad. He was crying," Connor replies, leading Willow inside.

"Wes? Wes, wake up," Faith says, shaking him gently.

"Is Willow here?" Wes asks, tiredly.

"Angel's with her. Can I invite him in?" Faith asks.

Wes is silent. He sits up and sighs. "Yes."

He follows her into his living room. "Come in, Angel."

Angel steps inside and closes the door behind him.

"Willow, you didn't have to come all this way," He says, hugging her quickly.

She looks at him with concerned eyes. "Damn, Wes…I can feel the dark energy…"

He nods silently. "I know, I feel it, too."

Willow takes a few steps away from him.

"I'm sorry. I know this is hard for you," Wes says. Faith and the others watch them in confusion.

Willow smiles. "You and I, we could be an evil force to be reckoned with. My power and your skill…we could be the end of it all."

Wes smiles.

"Wait a minute, guys, what the hell are you talking about?" Angel interrupts.

Connor glances around, sensing something. His eyes darken. "Evil…it's thick in this room…"

"It's going to be hard, Wes, but you're going to have to fight it. The darkness…it's always going to be there…" Willow begins. She stops as she sees blood splatter on the carpet in front of Wes.

His nose has started to bleed and there are swirls of black in his eyes.

"Wesley?" Willow asks.

"You should probably go, Willow," He says quietly.

Realization dawns on her face and she nods. "Yes. I'll call you. From far away…"

"What is going on?" Angel asks, looking to Faith for answers. She shrugs and goes to Wes' side.

"Don't touch me, Faith…give me a minute…" Wes says, his voice a whisper.

"I'm very powerful…it's hard for him to fight the dark magic when he's this close to me," Willow says, backing toward the door.

"You have much to teach me, Willow…I have to learn how to control this…" Wes says, his eyes completely darkened with black, now.

"I'll call…" Willow says. "Angel, I'm going to wait downstairs for you…" She closes the door behind her.

"Wes?" Faith calls.

"I'll be out in a few minutes…I need to compose myself…" Wes says, walking carefully into his bedroom. Connor grunts his goodnight and goes into the extra bedroom.

Angel's cellular phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Angel, it's me, Willow…I know I'm right outside but I shouldn't come in right now…don't leave him alone, Angel, it probably took a lot out of him not to lose control…"

"Hang on, Willow…" Angel says, following Faith into the bedroom.

Wes is sitting in a corner of the bathroom, blood from his nose all over his hands and face. His eyes are blue, but dazed and distant.

"I couldn't save you…I'm sorry…I tried…I tried to love you…save you…" Wes is muttering.

"Lilah…" Angel gasps.

"Angel, wait outside."

"But…"

"He's bloody, wait outside…please," Faith says, quietly.

"Wesley?" Faith calls, softly.

"I didn't love her, Faith…I tried…I couldn't…I'm incapable of love…" Wes says, looking at her with lost eyes.

"It's okay, Wesley. It's all over now, okay? Let's get you cleaned up so you can get some sleep," Faith says.

"No sleep…too much to do…" Wesley murmurs.

"Not tonight," Faith replies, sadly. She cleans his hands and face of blood and gently pulls him to his feet.

"Faith?" He asks, focusing more as he follows her to the bed.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry…Will you talk to Willow before she leaves town? I can't…I need to know what's going on in Sunnydale…"

"Wes, you need to rest. Our apocalypse is over, let's take a break, okay?" Faith replies.

"You don't understand…If Buffy and the others fail, there'll be no chance for any of us…no slayers, no champions, just evil…evil incarnate…" Wes responds, lying down on the bed.

"I'll talk to her, see what's the what, okay? Will you sleep?" Faith asks.

He has already closed his eyes. She covers him with a blanket and turns the light off.

"Is he okay?" Angel asks, waiting by the door.

"He's really out of it. Now that the beast is gone, along with evil Cordelia and Angelus…he has to let himself rest," Faith sighs.

"Gunn and Fred…they told me how hard he's been working. Night and day. He got you sprung from jail?" Angel asks.

"He told me about Angelus and I broke out. Took him out a third story window. I knew something was different about him but I had no idea…Angel, you guys really broke him…I know you think he betrayed you, but it's Wes…he does what's right no matter what…he would do anything for you," Faith says.

"I know. Things get complicated sometimes, Faith," Angel replies.

"He wants me to talk to Willow. Can you stay with him?" Faith asks.

"I'll be right here," Angel replies.

*****

Faith and Willow go for coffee, the slayer needing to hear the whole story once speaking to the witch.

Angel waits in the living room, listening to Wes through the opened door. He hears a sound and goes to the door.

Wes is tossing and turning fitfully in his bed. "No…please…not that…stop…"

"Wes? Wake up, Wes," Angel says, going to the edge of the bed.

"…I have nothing else to give…please…release me…" Wes whispers, trapped in his nightmare.

"Wesley," Angel calls, putting his hand on the other man's shoulder.

Wesley slowly calms down and finally opens his eyes.

"Angel? What the hell are you doing here?" He gasps, disoriented.

"Faith is out with Willow…I was sitting with you…I'm not Angelus," He adds.

"That's what you always say," Wes replies, evenly.

"Are you okay?" Angel asks.

Wesley puts a hand to his head. "When did Willow leave?"

"You asked her to, your nose started bleeding…" Angel begins to explain.

"I don't remember…when she walked in, I felt my control slip…" Wesley replies. He shakes his head, trying to clear it.

"You should be in the hospital, Wesley…I can hear you struggling to breathe," Angel admits.

"I guess I should appreciate your concern. I'll be fine," Wes replies.

"Wesley, a lot has happened. You came through for me, for all of us. You should come home," Angel says.

"I am home," Wes responds.

"Wes, you're part of our family. You don't have anyone else and we need you," Angel says.

"That may be true, but things have changed," Wes replies. "This magic, it's going to kill me," He states.

"You can control it, harness it like Willow does," Angel says.

"I can't, Angel…I can do a lot of things, but I can't do that…I don't trust myself…" Wes states quietly.

"What's happened to you? The Wesley I remember wouldn't give up without a fight. He would use this power for good, he'd find a way around it…" Angel starts.

"That's the thing, Angel. You don't know me anymore. I won't let the darkness take me. Everyone has the capacity for evil and I don't want to know mine. Neither do you," Wes replies. "Excuse me," He says, suddenly. He climbs out of bed and bolts to the bathroom.

Angel follows him and hears the sound of heaving as Wes is sick.

"Wesley? Angel, what's going on? Where is he?" Faith asks, entering with several bags.

"He's in the bathroom. He was having a nightmare and I woke him up. He got sick," Angel finishes.

"You didn't upset him, did you?" Faith asks, protectively.

"Faith?" Wes calls from inside the bathroom.

"You okay?"

"Can you come in here a moment?" Wes asks, quietly.

Faith glances at Angel, concerned, then opens the door and steps into the room.

Wes is standing in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection.

"What's up?" Faith asks.

"Look at this. Just look and tell me I'm not crazy," Wes says, nodding toward his reflection.

Faith looks into the mirror and sees it shimmer as if made of water. "Wow…"

"Keep watching, it's entrancing," Wes says, staring at the mirror.

Faith watches the reflection turn to flames dancing around Wesley and herself. She turns and sees that Wesley's eyes are dulling as he stares.

"Stop. Don't look at it," Faith says, pushing him gently. She is startled as a dark energy knocks her against the door.

"Angel, we could use some help, he's losing it," Faith calls. Angel joins her instantly. He helps her off the floor.

"The flames, they're beautiful…" Wes says, reaching his hand out to touch the mirror. Once his fingertips touch the mirror, they disappear as if he is reaching into water.

"Stop, Wesley, don't go in there," Faith urges. Angel reaches out to him and before Faith can warn him, he is thrown against her, knocking them both to the floor.

"They're not hot…they're delicious," Wes says, reaching further inside.

"Wesley. Stop it right now. You can't go there. It's not for you. Believe me," Willow announces, walking into the crowded bathroom.

"You should just taste them…they're delicious," He repeats.

"Who's calling you, Wesley? Who do you hear?" Willow asks, taking another approach.

"She's in there…she says I should join her…I belong there…" Wes murmurs, flames licking up his arm now.

"Lilah," Faith realizes. "She's trying to pull him to the other side…"

"Who's Lilah?" Willow asks.

"She doesn't love you, Wes, she never loved you…" Faith says, getting to her feet. "You have to remember…don't go yet, Wes, not for her!"

Wes glances around, confused. His eyes are swirling with black.

"Look at where she's taking you, you know something's not right, Wes!" Angel urges, following Faith's lead.

Wes starts to pull his arm out of the mirror, gasping as his eyes fill with black.

"Fight it, Wes, push it away from you…" Willow says, as the room starts to swirl with wind.

"What…" Angel gasps, feeling the power level rising in the room.

"Release me…release me…" Wes gasps, falling to his knees as the wind starts to push the others back against the wall.

Angel and Faith are pushed from the room, only Willow can keep her footing.

"Wesley, let go," She says, before the door slams behind her, hurtling her into Angel's arms.

There is a sound of inhuman howling and screaming from the bathroom before silence.

"What is it?" Connor asks, walking into the room with a yawn.

"Wesley?" Willow gasps, going to the door. She opens it.

"What's happening to me?" Wesley asks, quietly, standing in front of the mirror and trembling uncontrollably.

"Oh, Wesley…" Willow starts.

"I'm too open…I'm letting my guard down and the darkness is finding ways inside…" Wesley mutters as Willow leads him to the bed.

"He has to sleep, you guys…he's too weak to deal with this right now…his mind is too weak," Willow says, stepping away. "I'm hurting him…"

"It's not your fault, Willow…you knew what was happening, you had to come…Lilah's death must have affected him more than we thought…" Angel says.

Faith covers Wes' trembling body with blankets.

Willow mutters several words and a dim glow envelops Wesley's body. "It's a spell to give him peace, let him rest until he's better. The light will keep the evil away so he can recover…"

"You sure magic's the way to go right now?" Faith questions.

Willow turns to the slayer, sadly. "Nothing else can help him now. I have a cab waiting," She says, finally.

"You'll call me once you talk to B'?" Faith asks.

"Of course. Take care. I'll call to check in on Wesley. Let me know if there's anything else I can do." She disappears with a slight smile to Connor.

"Is he going to be okay?" Connor questions.

"We're all going to be okay, Connor. It's just going to take some time," Angel says.

*****