Sins of the Father
Chapter Four

He entered the hotel with his shoulders hunched and two books and a file of notes in his arms. He paused inside the door and looked around the lobby. He silently noted the faint red marks of a pentacle on the floor and was reminded of the many times he had been sent out to buy something - anything - to remove stains from the floor. He remembered being roped in by Cordy to scrub old demon goop off the floor. And he remembered the times he had spent at the counter, eating Chinese food and joking with Gunn. He remembered the buzz that hummed around the hotel when something major was going down. He would be researching, buried in dusty books, Fred nearby, her fingers clattering over the keys of her computer. Cordy would be helping him research, occasionally checking on Angel who would hover, awaiting the moment when someone would come up with something he could kill. Gunn would either be out with Lorne checking their sources or watching the activity and making suggestions.

He shook the memories away and walked slowly down the steps into the lobby. Only half his mind was here, the other half was stuck in the middle of a school playground with a smiley teacher and his little girl. She had told him she didn't think the other kids liked her at her old school. What if this was the same? He knew all too well how cruel kids could be. He also knew how cruel parents could be and this was not the first time that his daughter brought back memories of his own less than happy childhood. This was also not the first time he had told himself he would not be like his father. He wouldn't hurt her in any way. The last thing in the world Wes wanted to be was like his father.

Fred appeared by the counter and beamed at him. She scuttled around the counter and hurried over to him, taking the books from him before he could protest.

"We've cleared a desk for you and there's some coffee brewing 'cause I know you like coffee when you work. And I'm ready if you want any 'net research done. Oh, I looked over those notes of yours and I've got a couple of questions about some of it. Charles said if you need any words from the street, he's there. Lorne called, I think he misses us, y'know. But he says he's doing great in Las Vegas and he -"

"Fred," Wesley interrupted calmly. "I wondered if you would look for something on the Internet for me."

She stopped her babbling and giggled, leading him around the counter.

"Sorry. But… It's so good to see you. Less research for me! Not that that's the only reason or anything…"

"Thank you," he answered.

She put the books down on a desk and he sank into the chair. She disappeared with and reappeared moments later with a mug of steaming coffee that she placed beside him. She sat at the nearby desk and opened up her laptop.

"Hey there, English."

Wes twisted in his seat and Gunn nodded at him, handing him the Codex.

"Hello," Wes answered coolly.

"This really gonna help us get Cordy back?" Gunn asked.

"Looks like," Wes replied distantly, leaning over his notes and opening up a book for cross-reference.

"That would explain why Angel was so chirpy last night."

Wes didn't answer and Fred and Gunn exchanged a nervous glance.

"So, your kid at school?"

"Charles!"

Wes looked up and studied the pair steadily.

"I suppose I didn't ask him to keep it quiet. And yes, she's at school."

"How - How old is she?" Fred ventured.

"Seven," Wes replied with clipped formality, returning to his books. "Eight in December."

"Right."

There was an uncomfortable silence and Fred tapped her fingers, wondering if she should ask Wes what research he wanted doing. Gunn was watching Wes, clearly unnerved.

This wasn't English. This was some dumbass who was cold and unfeeling. Someone who didn't seem to have ever cracked smile in his life, let alone laughed. But Gunn knew otherwise. He had watched Wes laugh, grin and giggle like a schoolgirl when he was on morphine to treat the pain of a bullet wound. This was someone who both made him uncomfortable and pissed him off. He hoped that he would stop being like this pretty damn quick, or he would have to have words.

Gunn looked at Fred who was frowning slightly at Wesley.

"Fred, you seen Angel?" he asked conversationally.

"You mean he's not in his room?" she asked, her attention back on Gunn, her frown faded to be replaced by a small smile.

"No. He wasn't there when I got the book."

"Don't tell me I have to drag him out of the ocean again," Wes remarked without looking up.

For some reason, Gunn noticed a touch of the old Wesley in that comment and it caused him to break out in laughter. Not so much at the comment himself, but at the fact he had thought that Wes would remain cold for the rest of the day. Remembering afternoons spent in the company of Wes and Cordelia, he was grateful for the comfort of an old friend when another was missing. Evidently, Fred felt the same and was laughing too. Wes glanced up briefly before looking back at his notes. But Gunn was sure he saw one side of his mouth quirk just a little.

Angel shut the door of the basement behind him and pushed Connor slightly. Connor rolled his eyes in a typical teenage fashion and walked into the lobby with a scowl. He sprawled on the couch and glared at his father. Angel ignored him and went over to the counter, peering at Fred and Gunn who were discussing how to rephrase something they were searching for. Wes was almost invisible behind a haphazard pile of paper, books, scrap notes and coffee mugs.

Fred glanced up with her business smile that broke into one of relief when she saw it was Angel.

"You're back, where've you been?"

"Looking for Connor. He's got a bad cut on his stomach, you couldn't…?"

"Sure," she nodded and left the office, grabbing the First Aid kit. Her face set slightly once out of Angel's sight and she glared at Connor once she reached him.

He was stretched out on the red couch, one hand pressing over his ripped shirt, holding a wound. His eyes were closed slightly and she touched his shoulder, giving him a shake.

"Not gonna use a tazer this time, Fred?" he asked, opening one eye.

"Lemme see," was all she said, pushing his shoulder to force him up into a sitting position. He hissed a little when she pried his shirt from his stomach, daubed in dry blood. "Sorry," she said.

He shrugged and gazed into the distance as she disinfected the wound.

"You should shower and change," she said, a touch of her old feeling for him returning when she saw his vacant, pained expression. "It's not bleeding anymore. You heal fast."

"Just like my dad," he said flatly.

"No, not just like your dad," she replied hotly. "Your dad's a good man, he helps people. You're not like that. But you could be, if you gave him a chance… If you gave yourself a chance."

She turned back to the office and Connor sat for a moment, before standing and climbing the stairs to his old room.

Angel watched him go before glancing at the clock.

"Getting anywhere?" he asked.

"Cutting through all the myths, legends and vague prophecies, it looks like there are two rituals that could help us."

"What are they?"

"One lets us talk to Cordy," Fred explained. "If Lorne were here, he could probably find us most of the supplies, as it is we're gonna really have to look -"

"I'll call him," Angel answered. "See if he can help us out. He'll do it for Cordy. What's the other ritual?"

"The Abandonment of Paradise," Wes replied. "You offer Cordy life on the mortal plane. If she accepts, she can never return to life as a Higher Being. But the choice is hers; the ritual is just the choice. Again, we'd need Lorne's sources."

"Right, then I'll call him. When have you got to pick up Lottie?"

Fred and Gunn's ears pricked, though their eyes remained on the computer. Discomfort meant they had not asked anything more of Lottie than Gunn's initial question, but it seemed Angel suffered no such discomfort.

"In half an hour," Wes said. "I'm quite close to translating the full first ritual, so I'll take it home with me when I leave."

"Or you could just bring her here," Gunn said. "C'mon English, we gotta meet her sometime."

Wes paused, his pen no longer streaking over paper. His eyes remained downcast. He was quite happy to be here to help find Cordy, but it was another thing to bring Lottie here. It would mean he was somehow part of the group again and he wasn't sure he was ready for that, if he would ever be after what happened. But now he was so close to finding Cordy, he wanted to get it done as quickly as possible and he supposed all the resources he had were here, in the hotel. And with Fred and Gunn's help, he was sure he would be finished soon and Cordy would be home. Back with her huge smile and terrible cooking.

"Fine," he stood up. "I'll go and get her."

"No!" Fred said. "I'll go. You carry on working and I'll bring her back."

He hesitated, but after a short pause, he nodded and sat down, allowing Fred to collect his daughter from her first day of school.

"Dad!"

The shout was happy and bursting with excitement and tales that she longed to recount. Lottie's shoes could be heard clattering over the floor of the lobby. They paused and Fred could be heard directing her toward the office. She ran into the office and bounded into Wes's lap. Startled, he grabbed her waist as she toppled back slightly. Her enthusiasm was infectious and he smiled at her.

"Had a good day?" he asked, a slightly sarcastic edge to his voice that was softened by his smile.

"It's so much better than the one in Boston!" she cried. "It was so much fun! My teacher, Miss Monroe, said that if I liked to read, I could borrow books as long as I promised to take them back. I said I would. Then in the English lesson, I answered all the questions and Miss said I was really clever and I said 'That's because my Dad is really clever.' And I said you knew a lot and she said I was lucky to have a smart dad and I said, 'I know.' And I made friends with a girl called Hannah and a boy called Ben and Hannah said I can go to her house one day. Can I?"

"If you like," Wesley answered, shifting her so she was settled more steadily in his lap. "Did you get homework?"

"No," she said proudly. "I finished all the work in class."

"Good. You enjoyed it then?"

"Yes," she said with a bite of impatience. "I just said, didn't I?"

He smiled. Yes she had just said, but Wes remembered that he would tell his father he enjoyed his Watcher classes, even though he didn't. He said it to keep his father happy. Not that his father ever really was happy with anything he said or did. He was happiest finding fault. Which was the main reason Wes had decided never to find fault in his daughter's words or actions without just cause. He wasn't going to crush the vibrancy that had survived seven years with Leonard Manning.

"Yes, you did."

"You hungry?" Gunn asked her, smiling at her babbling happiness and toothy smile.

"Yes please."

"C'mon then, your Dad's translating so how 'bout we go explore the hotel?"

"Can I, Dad?"

Wes looked at her, she had slid her hand into Gunn's, to his obvious surprise.

"Go on then."

She grinned and turned to Gunn.

"I'm Lottie, what's your name?"

"Charles Gunn, but you can call me Gunn."

They headed off toward the kitchen and Fred pushed away from the doorframe where she had been watching.

"Does she look like her mom?" she asked.

Wes leaned back in his chair, pulled his glasses off and frowned.

"A little. Her mother had lighter hair and brown eyes. But she's got her freckles and nose."

"I thought she looked like you. Your hair and eyes. Seems to like books too."

Wes's gaze became distant and he smiled a little.

"Yes, she does."

"Fred?" Lottie looked over the counter, lifted up by Gunn who gripped her waist. "You coming to help us explore?"

She shot Wes a questioning glance.

"I'm nearly finished here," he answered. "I'll call you when I'm done."

Fred followed Gunn and Lottie out of the office, passing Angel as he walked in.

"Lorne's coming back," he told Wes. "Said Vegas is too fake for him."

"So he's coming back to LA?" Wes asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah. As soon as he's back, we can get the stuff for the rituals. We get Cordy back -"

"If she wants to come back."

"Yeah. And we'll have the whole gang back together."

Wes ignored the implications of that simple sentence and raised his eyes to the ceiling where footsteps pounded and laughter floated down.

"I believe there's a game of hide and seek going on upstairs."

"Not my thing."

"Didn't think it was."

His coldness had begun to thaw with Lottie's arrival, but it snapped back into place, though slightly less frosty. Once again, Angel felt nervous. He shifted nervously before opening his mouth to ask:

"Want some help?"