~*-*~

One Week Later

Angel descended the stairs to the rhythmic beating of punches. He could hear the panting and could almost feel the pain being inflicted on the punching bag as the scent of human sweat assaulted his nostrils. Connor was working out.

"No, you're doing it again Connor. Focus the energy, don't go all out. This way won't work."

Angel thought this over for a moment.

Wesley was down there too?

He heard his son reply.

"Nu-uh. Killed those vampires pretty good last night."

"They were weak."

"And I was stronger."

Connor's training hadn't ended when Angel returned. Wesley stuck by his new charge, partly due to the debt he felt to Angel, but mostly because he'd come to enjoy his company. Connor wasn't judgemental. He called things as he saw them, and after the hectic soap opera months he'd lived through and the lessons he'd learned from them, he didn't hold grudges. Gunn and Fred on the other hand had spent much of the time avoiding Wesley, their refusal to forgive being shown by their constant and deliberate absence. They rarely left their room. However the person who was actually betrayed, Angel, cared a lot less about Wesley's presence around the hotel. They were civil with each other, and they both accepted the other's worth. Wesley continued to impart his knowledge.

"Connor, blind fury can't win battles. Channel some of that energy into control and accuracy."

Connor wasn't having any of it.

"But I don't see why..."

"Trust me Connor. Those vampires may have been easy, but you were lucky. Eventually it will get harder."

Connor rolled his eyes. He'd been fighting his whole life. The way he'd heard it, Wesley had only been trained to teach. What experience could he have? Connor was mistaken though of course. Wesley had his fair share of battles, and battle scars. He continued to try and get Connor to understand. As he spoke, his voice took what could only be considered as a terrifying tone.

"Evil will be coming, and they'll be stronger and faster than you and that's when you have to use your wits as well as your strength. Now try it again."

Connor took this all in, and the pattern began again. Connor attacked with a combination of punches and kicks, the barrage never-ending and the punching bag began to wheeze. Wesley raised a hand, and Connor stopped to wait for further instruction.

"Now, if you paid attention, you should be able to hit those same spots in the same sequence again."

"Come on Wes! You've gotta be kidding me!"

Wesley raised his eyebrow and smiled, waiting for an apology. As Connor realised his mistake, Angel watched with fatherly pride.

"Okay, you're right. I'm sorry. I wasn't focusing. I'll practice some more."

"See that you do."

Wesley, continued as he threw Connor a towel and moved over the training area to get some water.

"You've got to be prepared for what's coming ahead. Because if the pattern is anything to go by, whatever we come up against next will be worse than before."

"Never gets easier huh?"

Connor bounded towards the stairs, throwing the towel to the floor. He took the stairs two by two. He stopped midway and nodded in appreciation for Wesley's time and energy.

"You said it."

"I'm gonna go wash up. Spike's taking me out later."

The glee of hanging out on the town with Spike, who was becoming quite quickly Connor's reckless older brother, was enough to make Connor move faster towards a shower. Wesley sighed as Connor left and started to clean up, beginning with the towel that Connor had carelessly left on the floor. Wesley picked it up and folded it once, turned around to put it away and then gave off a dreadful shout.

"You know, you'd think being in a house with me, Spike *and* Connor that you'd be used to this."

Wesley clutched his chest as he staggered backwards. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly for a while, before responding to the cursed vampire in front of him.

"Yes, I will try to get used to being scared out of my wits."

He continued to clean and Angel gave him a hand.

"Still training Connor huh?"

"He has to be prepared."

"So I heard."

Angel paused as Wesley wiped his hands. His major fear when it came to Wesley was that Wesley was hiding something, and that was with good cause too. Angel remembered the last time that Wesley knew about an up and coming evil. It ended with his slashed throat and Connor in a hell dimension. Angel asked cautiously, not wanting to appear suspicious.

"This evil that's coming, is it something I should know about? The result of endless research?"

Wesley understood the suspicion. He raised his shirt and showed Angel the scar that still remained after being shot by a zombie and then raised his head to indicate the scar straight across his throat.

"Result of endless pain. You know more than I do that there's always something out there that's bigger and stronger and will eventually seek us out and try to kill us. Usually me."

Angel picked up where Wesley stopped. They were on the same wavelength, and understood exactly what the other meant.

"We're heading for a big fight, maybe not tomorrow but soon, and now's not the time to slack off because things are easy. I'm with you the whole way."

With the training room fully cleared and looking tidy, Wesley and Angel leaned against the walls and stared at each other for a while, before Wesley finally spoke up.

"So you're actually letting Connor out with Spike?"

Angel laughed to himself.

"More like letting Spike out with Connor. The way Spike's been for the past few days, I could swear that Connor's the more mature one."

"From what I've seen, he gets it from you."

"Thanks Wes."

Angel was smiling at the comment, but Wesley soon put an end to it.

"I was referring to Spike's immaturity."

Angel couldn't be offended. They both laughed together. It was a relaxing laugh, because their relationship had finally reached to a point where they could laugh at each other, and not have it all go badly. After the laughter naturally reached its end, they both spoke.

"You know Wes..." "Angel..."

They paused.

"You go first." "You go first."

They had to laugh again. Angel took a deep breath before starting, emphasising his sincerity, and the importance of his words.

"Wes, I want you to know that although you really hurt me..."

Wesley looked away. He knew this conversation would have to happen sooner or later, not that it made thins any better.

"I still do appreciate what you're doing for me. Helping with Connor, keeping the business running. I accept that I should have controlled my anger, even though what you did was..."

Angel had to stop and compose himself. He was still angry, but he knew what he had to do. If he never forgave Wesley, then would Wesley ever forgive him? Not likely. But Angel needed forgiveness. It was everything he needed.

"I know why you did it but I still can't understand it. Don't know if I'll ever forgive you. But I'm willing to let it go because there are more important things to think about. At least Connor's here and he's alive."

Wesley nodded. They were in agreement over one thing, that was certain. Connor's health and well being.

"I suppose you should thank God for small mercies eh?"

"What were you going to say?"

The worn man, aged by stress and worry, thought for a moment then smiled.

"Just about the same thing, but reversed. I guess we were friends once. Can we still be friends again? A lot has happened."

Angel shrugged and asked the important question.

"Is it enough to warrant the end of a pretty good relationship?"

Wesley didn't think it was. That's not to say he was happy about being smothered when he was aiming for the greater good, but he saw the reasoning. He understood the pain. But he remembered why they were together in the first place. Fighting the good fight. Working the mission. Seeking out the forces of darkness that threaten humanity, wherever they may be.

And all that rot.

From the rising appreciative smile on Angel's face, he clearly agreed. Wesley gave a soft smile and shook Angel's hand to affirm that the water had clearly moved under the bridge and was now flowing into an estuary somewhere. After shaking hands, they stood and rocked on their heels for a moment. Wesley spoke up.

"Is this one of those situations where we hug?"

Angel deliberated for about two seconds before answering.

"Yeah, I don't think I've forgiven you enough for that."

Wesley could deal with this. Forgiveness in this situation was a two way street.

"Right."

With that settled, they sauntered together up the stairs, ready to face the days ahead as part of the same unit.

~*-*~


Author's Note: Three Exams Left!! I can't wait until it's all finally over and I can just relax and chill. Read fanfic, try some vidding, get involved and such. This time next week I won't have to think about anything of consequence for MONTHS. I'm almost there...

I tried updating this hours ago, and all I could get was that sodding "site experiencing overload" crap. Remind me to blow something up. On the other hand, I finished my episode today for a season 8 project undertaken by some BC&S posters. If anyone wants a link, just mail me and ask!

Blue Star Galaxy: "Glad to know Angel wasn't decapitated and dusted"?! You didn't actually think I'd kill him off did you?!! You nutter!