*****

"…I don't want to be so complicated
See my life come undone
Watch it go and let the damage run
I'd change the song now if I could
In the slickness of your blood…"
--Third Eye Blind

Wes walks upstairs.

"Everything cool?" Fred asks. Fred, Gunn, Faith, Xander and Lorne are standing around the doorway to the basement stairs.

"Things are coming together," Wes replies.

"Is there coffee? Let's get coffee. In the library so we can research…" Wes says, herding the group into the library.

"He still makes us research? Damn, Wes," Gunn jokes.

"I call Internet!" Xander says, running over and taking a seat behind the laptop in the library.

"Dammit," Fred and Faith say, in unison.

"I'm on coffee!" Lorne yells, disappearing.

"Dammit," Fred and Faith repeat.

"Ladies?" Wes asks, turning around.

"I'll take English translations," Faith sighs.

"I guess I get Latin," Fred replies.

"What do I get?" Gunn asks, smiling at the group's well-established ritual.

"Can you bring Lindsey down here?" Wes asks, suddenly. "He can pool his knowledge with yours and maybe we can narrow down some prophecies and better leads."

"I can do that," Gunn nods, leaving.

"Do you trust the one-armed guy?" Xander asks.

"Not at all. But he has the visions so I have to at least factor in his input," Wes replies, quietly.

Cordelia and Angel have finally stopped crying. They are holding each other, sitting on the stairs.

"You're not mad?" Cordelia whispers.

"Cordelia," Angel scolds.

"Angel," She replies in the same tone.

"I'm not mad. I wish it could have been different. I wish I could have protected you…"

"It wasn't your fault."

"It wasn't your fault, either."

They both sigh.

"Things are really messed up, Angel."

"Not anymore," He replies. "You're back."

Cordelia hesitates. "But nothing has changed, baby, we still can't be together…"

"But you're okay," Angel interrupts. "You're alive. You're you. I can't be with you Cordelia, but it's enough for me to know that you're okay. Can it be enough for you to know…"

"You're okay. Okay. Okay, Angel. We're both okay," Cordelia nods, her hair bouncing.

Angel smiles. "Spunky. We haven't seen spunk in a while."

"Faith's not spunky?" Cordelia asks.

"Skanky," Angel whispers.

"What about Fred?" Cordelia gasps, amused.

"Spacy," Angel grins.

"You're awful!" Cordy laughs.

"Cordelia," Angel says after a long pause. "I…I do, you know…"

"I know." She kisses his cheek. "I do, too."

"You ready to come upstairs?" Angel asks.

"Not really. I've missed a lot," Cordelia sighs.

"We'll catch you up as we go. We've just got this minor…let's say catastrophe. We throw the 'apocalypse' word around too much." Angel says, taking her hand and leading her upstairs.

"Cool?" Xander asks, covering the cell phone that he has to his ear as he stands in the hallway.

"Yeah, Xan, everything's cool," Angel replies.

"Wait a fricking minute," Cordelia shrieks. "You two are getting along? I don't…I can't…this is some sort of alternate universe, right?"

Xander and Angel glance at each other. "He pays me," Xander says, after a pause. He hides a grin and returns to his phone call.

"Xander's changed," Angel whispers. "He's lost a lot. We understand each other better now. We've both loved you and lost you," Angel adds, walking away.

Cordelia walks up behind Xander, listening to his conversation.

"Willow," Xander is saying. "You don't need to teleport all the way out here…Kennedy needs you there and you know it…Willow, listen, you have an angry spirit after your girlfriend…" Xander acknowledges Cordelia with an exasperated grin. "No, Willow, I don't think you're an awful friend…Willow…Willow! I just needed to know if you've heard anything. Okay. I'll call you tomorrow. Promise. I love you, too." He hangs up.

"Xander, how's Willow?" Cordelia asks, worried.

"She's fine. What's up?"

"I've been out of it for a while," Cordelia replies. "I don't know…how's everyone, Xander?" She touches his cheek below the eyepatch, gently.

"Buffy's alive. Dawn's with her. Willow's in Louisiana with her girlfriend, Kennedy. Giles and Faith's ex are in Miami…" Xander begins.

"But Anya. You lost her?" Cordelia asks.

"It's okay, Cordy, we weren't together," Xander says.

"It doesn't matter. I'm sorry," Cordelia replies, hugging him.

"Me, too. Thanks," Xander nods.

"So, fill me it. What's up with Faith having an ex?" Cordy asks.

In the library, Angel walks in, surprised at the silence. Wes is hiding his face as he studies a large book. Fred and Faith are hunched over the laptop and Lindsey, Gunn and Lorne are flipping through books.

"Researching?" Angel asks, startling everyone except Wesley.

"Preliminary research," Wes replies, not looking up. "How'd it go?"

"Everything's cool," Angel replies.

"Who's in charge here, anyway," Lindsey asks, suddenly. "Is it you or Pryce?"

"Don't answer that," Faith snaps. "What's it to you?" She asks Lindsey.

"I just wondered…if I could get cleaned up. I didn't know who to ask," Lindsey replies, quietly.

"Why are you so…dirty?" Fred asks.

"I barely got out of Sunnydale with anything. These clothes, no truck. I hitchhiked this far and I've been sleeping on the streets until tonight," Lindsey admits.

"Come on," Wesley volunteers, standing up and stretching. "It's almost dawn. Let's everybody take a break. Get some sleep. Faith, you can handle getting everyone settled, right?"

"Yeah. I'll be up to check on you in a few minutes," Faith nods.

Wesley leads Lindsey upstairs to his bedroom. "These should fit you, Mr. McDonald…" He lays a pair of jeans and a shirt on the bed.

"Lilah really did a number on you, didn't she?" Lindsey says. He raises his hands in defense as Wes glares at him.

"I really don't think you should talk to me about Lilah," Wesley says, quietly.

"Is there anybody else here that knew Lilah well enough for you to talk about her?" Lindsey responds. "She was my friend, well, as much of a friend as Lilah was capable of being…"

"Lindsey. Don't. There are things that you don't understand," Wes says, turning away.

"I know that when Wolfram and Hart went down with the beast, you saved her. Then Angelus bit her and you cut off her head…" Lindsey starts.

"Like I said. There are things you don't understand. Leave it alone," Wes says. "The shower's through there. We'll get you somewhere to sleep once you're done."

Lindsey opens his mouth to speak as Wes walks out of the room.

"There's a razor you can use on the counter," Wes says, answering Lindsey's unspoken question.

"Wes. You're not going to sleep are you?" Faith asks, standing outside his bedroom.

"Actually. I think I need some rest. A few hours at least. My head is still pounding…"

"What were those pills you took, Wes? Prescription, I noticed. The same doctor that was taking care of Robin? Dr. Harrison?" Faith asks.

"Yes, Faith. Dr. Harrison prescribed them. They're for my migraines…" Wes replies, vaguely.

"You're lying to me. Why are you lying to me, Wes?" Faith asks, reading something in his blue eyes.

Wes hesitates.

"Wesley. You know I'm not asking to pester you," Faith says, quietly.

"I know. They're strong pain pills, Faith. Oxycotin."

"Isn't that what they give cancer patients, Wes? Isn't that pretty strong for migraines?" Faith replies, stunned.

"The pain isn't normal pain," Wes replies.

"Why don't you call him, Wes. Tell him that you're getting worse…" Faith says.

"There's nothing he can do. It's not a medical problem…" Wes replies, glancing up as Xander and Cordelia appear.

"What's not a medical problem?" Cordelia asks, curious.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Cordy. I'll be back in a few minutes, I need to make a few phone calls before I pass out for the morning." Wes ducks their concerned glances and disappears down the stairs.

"Faith? Is he okay?" Xander asks, quietly.

"He's taking oxycontin for the pain, Xander…that's not good," Faith admits.

"What's wrong with Wesley?" Cordelia demands, worried.

"Lilah, she…she fucked him up. It's a long story, but she messed up his head. She put a bunch of spells on him…" Xander explains, his gaze locked on where Wesley disappeared to.

"I thought she was dead…" Cordelia gasps.

"She had some kind of funky contract with the evil lawyers where she got to come back from the dead to broker a deal with us. She was wandering around, fucking with Wes' head for a few weeks before she got sent back to hell," Faith explains. "By the time anyone found out, she had…damaged him."

"Oh my god. That bitch…" Cordelia says, narrowing her eyes.

"Don't worry. She's burning somewhere. At least Wes isn't burning with her. He's just a little…fucked up," Xander replies. "You going to tell Angel?"

"You think I should?"

"Tell me what?" Angel asks, startling them as he appears behind them.

"Wes. He's taking pain pills. Strong ones. Doctor prescribed pain pills, so he's obviously in enough pain to go to the doctor…" Faith says.

"Wes hates doctors. I'll talk to him," Angel nods.

****

"…Or stay, and let the day just fade away
In wild dedication, take the moment of hope
And let it run, and never look back at all the damage we have done now
To each other…"
--Third Eye Blind

"Angel. I…we…we found something." Lindsey voice wakes the dozing vampire. He recognizes Wes' library. Lindsey and Gunn are sitting across the desk from him, holding a book. Xander is asleep in the corner, his cell phone held open against his ear courtesy of a 'Dawn Summers conference call sleepover' with Willow and Buffy.

"What?" Angel asks, alert now.

"Fred's gone to wake Wes. We can't read the language but look at the pictures," Gunn says, pushing the book out to him. He glances at Lindsey, clean and well shaven.

The book is in an ancient language that Angel doesn't recognize. In the illustrations, there is a color print of a devastating rain of blood, flooding the streets. There are pictures of the devil's mouth sewn closed. There are more pictures of a rift in the earth where vampires and demons are spilling out.

"Fred's getting Wes?" Angel asks.

Fred finds Wes' bedroom empty. She hears voices from Faith's room. Inside, Wes is sleeping on the bed and Faith and Cordelia are sitting by the window, talking.

"We need Wes," Fred says, walking over to them.

"Faith and I have something in common," Cordelia grins.

"Coma," Faith replies. "What's up?"

"We need a translation. Why is Wes in here?"

Faith's eyes soften. "He had a little space out. Smashed his fist through his bathroom mirror. He just…collapsed. I didn't want to leave him."

"I can't believe that Wes still pulls this insomniac stuff. He has serious sleep issues," Cordelia whispers, worried, too.

"Should we wake him?" Fred asks.

"Can it wait?" Faith asks in return.

Wes' cell phone rings and he jolts awake, smoothly.

"Wesley Wyndham?" An unfamiliar voice asks.

"Who is this?"

"This is Riley Finn."

Wes doesn't recognize the name.

"I used to date Buffy Summers. From Sunnydale," Riley continues.

Wes doesn't respond, intrigued.

"Are you there? Hang on…"

Wes, curious, waits.

"Wesley? This is the Groosalug…"

"Bloody hell," Wes laughs. The girls glance at each other, curious.

"No. This is Groo…"

"How are you? Are you in trouble?"

"There is danger coming to you. Despite my parting with the princess it is my duty to join you in this battle."

"Who's Riley Finn?" Wes asks.

"Whoa," Faith gasps.

"I met him in my travels. Angel will remember him…" There is a pause and then Wesley hears Riley speak.

"I was part of the Initiative in Sunnydale. Buffy can vouch for me if she's not still mad…Angel knows me. We've had…encounters in the past."

"Where are you?" Wes asks.

"At a hotel outside L.A. We're fighting either way, but we both figured that Angel would be on the front lines."

"I don't think we're in any shape to be refusing help, Mr. Finn, but I can't protect you from Angel's wrath. We can't tolerate personal issues interfering…"

"I'm ex-military. I understand that the mission is always first," Riley replies.

"Okay. Call me when you get into L.A. We'll arrange some things." Wes hangs up.

"I'm in deep shit," Wes sighs.

"Why who was that?" Cordelia asks, suspicious.

"We have an offer for reinforcements," Wes replies, quietly.

"Oh shit. Riley Finn? Buffy's ex?" Faith asks, pale with shock.

"And Groo."

"Groo?" Cordelia gasps.

"Is this bad?" Fred asks, her mind barely processing the possible conflicts. Riley is Buffy's ex. Groo is Cordy's ex. The two women that Angel has loved have been loved by these men.

"You have to tell Angel." Faith starts to laugh.

"Tell me what?" Angel enters. Cordelia starts to laugh.

"Your news first," Wes says, holding his head as he stands up.

Angel puts the book down on the bed, opened to the page Gunn and Lindsey showed him. Wes leans over it, studying it for a moment. He sits down.

"Wes?" Angel asks after a long pause.

"It's been a while since we have ourselves a real apocalypse," Wes says, not looking up. "We can't stop this."

"What?" Fred asks. Angel sees that Wes' eyes are glazed. He shakes him, gently.

"Wesley, explain."

Wes focuses. "Shit…"

"The book, Wesley…" Angel urges, not showing his concern.

"Fuck the book. We need to call everyone we know. Seriously." Wes' eyes are clear.

Angel sees something in Wes' eyes. "Faith. Take everyone out for breakfast. Now."

"Hell no," Faith retorts, alarmed.

"I'm asserting my authority. Get everyone out of here. It might be the last time you get a break for a while," Angel orders.

Faith hesitates but Cordy and Fred push her. "Okay, Angel, but when I get back I'm making sure Wesley eats a goddamn pancake and you drink at least a pint…" She yells until Angel closes the door on them. When he turns around, Wesley has started transcribing the pages into English into a notebook.

"Wesley."

"I'm sorry, Angel. I guess I got a little crazy there. I'm better."

"What's in the book?"

"It's an ancient prophecy. The language has been dead for…sorry, you don't care. Anyway, it describes the damming of the river of dark power creating an overwhelming backup of energy. It builds up and finally breaks through in a rift. Then there is a battle." Wes sighs. He resumes writing as he talks. "Forces united. Two fronts. Utter devastation. Nothing can survive…"

"Wesley. Keep going."

"It ends with the battle."

"You're lying. We lose?"

"It doesn't say, Angel." Wes looks at him. "It doesn't say."

Angel nods. "Okay."

"I…I don't know, Angel. I really think that we should call in all the help we can get. Riley Finn and Groo have contacted me. They've volunteered."

"Riley Finn? Groo, I respect but Riley Finn? Wes, I don't like that guy," Angel growls.

"He seems to be travelling with Groo and he said that Buffy would vouch for him," Wesley replies.

"Buffy. I hate to call Buffy. The First was really hard on her. And Xander…it's just a real bad time for an apocalypse," Angel sighs.

"Angel. Listen to yourself. There's never a good time for an apocalypse. I think that for the first time we have more than a skeleton crew to fight with. Do you know how many slayers there are, Angel?"

"5,426 in the continental U.S." Angel catches Wes' questioning glance. "I'm a vampire. I know how many slayers there are."

"If there's going to be a battle, I think we have a chance," Wes says.

"No you don't. I can see it on your face. What's up, Wes?"

"I think…I'm going to be sick…" Wes runs past Angel into the bathroom. He returns a few minutes later, paler.

"I think I'm allergic to apocalypses," Wes sighs, sitting down and resuming his transcriptions.

"Wes. You're not up to this, are you?"

Wes looks up, surprised. "What?"

"Faith said you were taking pills. Strong ones."

"The space-outs are getting worse, Angel, and now there's pain. The doctor is helping me keep going. I've…I've been to see some people that think they can help, but there are side effects to all the solutions that I've found."

"Like what?"

"There's a shaman that can restore me, but I'll have to sell my soul. A sorcerer told me of a spell that I can perform, but I'll have to embrace a tremendous amount of power that may well take me to the dark side. The doctors simply tell me that I'm chemically unbalanced and need extensive anti-psychotic medications."

"Wow," Angel replies.

"I was hoping that I could wait a while to decide, but it seems I'm getting noticeably worse."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. What would you do?" Wes replies.

"I'd call the sorcerer, Wes. It seems like the lesser of three evils," Angel replies after a pause. "Get the spell at least and once Willow gets here, we'll see what we can do."

"Okay. Sounds okay."
"So Groo and Riley Finn are volunteering for our cause. That's…disturbing."

"Do you want to call Buffy or should I?"

"I'll call her. Once you finish that translation, you can call Giles. How do you think Faith's going to react if Robin Wood comes to town?" Angel asks.

"I think…she'll survive. We have to put aside all the personal stuff for this fight, Angel. We're going to need all the help we can get," Wes replies.

*****