Connor, wanting to be alone, stole down to the basement, and once again sat beside the rug. He stroked it lovingly, muttering to the dead body beneath it.
"It's alright baby, it's gonna be ok. I'll have you back soon, and then we can be together forever, I promise." He smiled, glancing up to the ceiling, and hearing Angel's footsteps leaving the hotel, his smile widened.
Angel walked swiftly through the shadows, his mind buzzing. He was uncomfortably aware that he had just made a promise to his son that he might be forced to break. He didn't know anyone who could raise the dead, but his life and his son's sanity was resting upon it.
Without realising, Angel's feet led him to the Wolfram and Hart office. He stood for a moment, internally debating whether or not he should go in, before finally swinging the door open and disappearing into the elevator.
Within moments, he was outside Lilah's office, and without bothering to knock, he walked in to find her sitting behind her desk.
"Well well, if it isn't the bestest daddy in the world." She smiled. "Feeling better?"
"Not really. I need you to do something for me." Angel replied, his voice firm and bitterly cold.
"Really? And what would that be?"
"I need you to bring her back. Lania."
"The slayer? And why would I want to do that?" Lilah asked, clasping her hands on the desk.
"If you do, I'll work off the favour. I'll do anything."
"Mmm, that has potential. Ok, we're in." Lilah grinned, like a smug cat. "But if you don't return the favour, we'll just kill her and your lil boy. Deal?"
"Deal." Angel muttered resentfully.
"Bring her body here tomorrow night at 11, and we'll work some magic."
"Fine. But we better get out of here unharmed."
"Why Angel, of course." Lilah replied innocently, and Angel turned on his heel and stormed out, unhappy with the whole situation, but realising he had no choice.
The day came and melted into the glorious night much faster than usual. Suddenly, it was ten thirty, and Angel was pulling on his coat. Connor was holding the loaded crossbow, and pointing it straight at Angel's heart. Fred and Gunn were holding Lania's body.
"It's time to go." Angel croaked, and they made their way out to his car. Lania's body was placed carefully in the trunk, and Connor climbed into the front beside Angel, while Fred and Gunn slid in back.
Moments later, and they were outside the Wolfram and Hart office. Lilah was waiting for them outside the main entrance, and she smiled when she saw Connor holding the crossbow.
"Is that a present for Daddy?" She giggled, and gestured for them to follow her, which they did, down into the basement where Angel had so brutally snapped Lania's neck.
A coven of witches and warlocks was assembled in a wide circle on the floor. Inside the circle, a pentacle had been precisely drawn, and Angel sensed the magic coursing through the air.
"Give her to me." Lilah ordered, the giggles gone. Gunn handed over Lania's body, and winced as Lilah snapped her neck back into place. "There, all better. When she wakes up, she'll be completely healed." She told Angel, who nodded once to show he understood. Then she laid Lania's body out over the pentacle.
The coven started chanting in Latin, becoming louder and louder. They used all manners of ingrediants, but Connor didn't notice, as he kept his innocently blue eyes on Lania the whole time.
Above them, lighting flashed and thunder roared, but it was not loud enough to drown out the chanting of the coven, who were all swaying as one. Angel was dizzy with the magic, but tried to stay alert.
Then suddenly, the chanting stopped. Lilah looked to Connor, who looked confused. He was still clutching the crossbow.
"Go on then Wonderboy, check her pulse." Lilah told him. Connor gingerly stepped into the circle, and knelt beside Lania. He slipped his fingers to the base of her neck, and was amazed to feel her pulse flickering strongly beneath the skin. He looked to Angel with his eyes wide, and threw the crossbow to him. Angel caught it easily, and couldn't help but smile when he saw how happy Connor was.
Lania's eyes slowly flickered open, and she looked dazededly at Connor, who stroked her hair.
"Connor?" She murmured. He nodded, and helped her to her feet, where he held her to him, breathing her in, not ever wanting to let go. He finally pulled away, but continued to hold her hand as he turned to Lilah.
"Thank you." He said simply, and Lilah nodded.
"It's not that simple Wonderboy. You lot can go, he stays." She replied, inclining her head to Angel.
"It's ok Connor, go." Angel told him, and braced himself for the worse. He watched as the others left, and then he turned to Lilah, who smiled wickedly.
"Come on Angel, you've got work to do."