Chapter 3
It was only a few minutes before Connor returned with Anne and several others in tow.
"Angel is that you? I haven't seen you in so long."
Angel noticed how much older and stronger she looked now. Anne had filled him in once about the girl who had saved her life and gotten her started on her path in life. Buffy. She had been a different person back then. But with Buffy's help and name she started over. She had grown into an amazing young woman. A champion for others who are so much like the girl she used to be. 'This may be the hardest thing I have ever had to do,' he thought to himself.
"Angel, hun, if it's even possible, I swear you seem more quiet and sullen than normal. What's up? What did you need to tell me, that you risked daylight to come share it?"
"Anne it's Gunn."
"What has he done now? I just saw him yesterday."
"Anne he is gone."
"NO" she yelled. "He was here just yesterday."
Tears began to pour down her cheeks. Sobs wracked her body. One of gentlemen of the group moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders for support.
"It happened last night. Near the Hyperion. He lost a lot of blood. There was nothing we could do."
One of Gunn's old crew lunged forward at Angel, but Connor jumped in front of him, blocking him for connecting. "You did this," he yelled.
Angel remained calm. "I guess in a manner I did. He helped me take on and kill the most powerful evil group on earth. He killed his target. We agreed to all meet up in the ally north of the Hyperion. But by the time he got to me he was already weak from blood loss. But we had no time to get him help. Seems Wolfram & Hart didn't like that we took out their earthly vestiges. The literally sent a demon army, complete with dragon, to come kill us. He fought to his last breath. He died a hero!"
Anne continued to cry and collapsed to the floor. Two of the men nearest her knelt to hold her. Emotions shown clearly on everyone's faces. They ranged from pain and grief to honor and pride. One of the few that Angel recognized stepped forward. "He would have wanted a traditional group service."
"I know. It's why I came."
"Bring his body to the spot near the old tracks. You know the one. Be there at midnight. We will have everything ready." He was trying to be strong you could tell, but he voice betrayed him, cracking as he spoke.
"I do. I have one more thing to ask of you. His friend, our friend, Welsey also passed. We wish for the same to be done for him." The mention of Wes's name caught Illyria's attention and she looked up. She wasn't sure what Angel was referring to but never the less agreed with a nod of her head.
"Wesley? Isn't he the guy that took the caps to the gut for us? Back when the zombie cops where after us."
"That's him."
"It's the least we could do for him. He nearly died that night for us." The words were soft, but Anne made her stand. Wes would receive an honorable memorial next to his friend.
Nothing was left to be said. Angel knelt down in front of Anne. "Anne, I am so sorry."
She looked up at him a saw the tears shimmering in his eyes. "He knew didn't he? That he was going to die. He came by yesterday and was going on about knowing you can't stop the evil. I thought he was just being dramatic. He always was so good at blowing things out of proportion."
He wiped the ears from her face with the back of her hand. "He had a good idea."
Spike had not said anything the entire time finally spoke up. "We all did. We knew the risks before we set out."
With that she rose from the ground, gave Angel a kiss of the cheek, turned, and walked away; her group with her. A fresh torrent of tears began pouring down her face.
Spike had been watching Illyria for some time and began to notice that she was looking worse and worse. "I think we need to get her back to the hotel. She looks like she could use some rest. Food probably wouldn't be a bad thought for her either. She eats more than Fred did, and Fred could eat anyone under the table. Illyria, do you want something to eat?"
She looked at Spike. It was the saddest he had ever seen her. She looked lost and confused. "No" was all she managed to squeak out before hanging her head again.
"We need to get going. Your right Spike, rest would do her good." 'I hope' Angel thought to himself. "Connor you need to head home. Your parents will be getting worried."
"No they won't. I told them I was going to be out all day."
"They're parents Connor. They worry."
"Fine... but only for a while. I want to be there tonight if that's okay with all of you."
"I have no problems with it, but it will be late."
"Dad I am all but grown. I do believe I can stay away from home for one night without the world crashing down around my parents. They will understand. It isn't the first time I have been out late or been gone all night you know."
"I just don't want you to get in trouble."
"Look if it makes you feel better, I will go home and tell my parents that I am going to be with friends for tonight. They won't mind."
"Okay, but only if they say okay. I don't want to cause you any trouble."
"Dad you worry to much. I will see you later." With that Connor made his way out the front of the building.
Illyria still had not moved from her seat on the column. Spike took hold of her hand and pulled her to her feet. He scooped her up in his arms before she had a chance to protest. Together Angel and Spike made there way back to the manhole cover that was the opening to into the sewer. Angel dropped down first. Then Spike helped Illyria down to him. He followed directly behind her. Angel already had Illyria in his arms, the two of the turned and made their way in the direction of the hotel.
"Maybe we should have had the kid bring her something to eat." It was more a statement than anything. Mainly because the silence was beginning to get to Spike.
"I don't think she would have ate it if he brought it."
"You are probably right."
Soft sounds of snoring escaped from Illyria's lips. "Poor thing hasn't slept in who knows how long. She may be a super girl, but even they need sleep."
"I sure feel like I could use some."
"You too. Funny we don't need it to live, but it sure feels like it right now." 'It feels good to talk, even if it was to Spike,' Angel thought.
"I never thought to ask. What kind of service are the two of them getting?"
"Funeral pyres," Angel responded.
"Makes sense, I guess. Gunn once told me his old grew fought vamps. Best way to make sure your buddy didn't get turned."
"Pretty much."
It was only a few minutes before Connor returned with Anne and several others in tow.
"Angel is that you? I haven't seen you in so long."
Angel noticed how much older and stronger she looked now. Anne had filled him in once about the girl who had saved her life and gotten her started on her path in life. Buffy. She had been a different person back then. But with Buffy's help and name she started over. She had grown into an amazing young woman. A champion for others who are so much like the girl she used to be. 'This may be the hardest thing I have ever had to do,' he thought to himself.
"Angel, hun, if it's even possible, I swear you seem more quiet and sullen than normal. What's up? What did you need to tell me, that you risked daylight to come share it?"
"Anne it's Gunn."
"What has he done now? I just saw him yesterday."
"Anne he is gone."
"NO" she yelled. "He was here just yesterday."
Tears began to pour down her cheeks. Sobs wracked her body. One of gentlemen of the group moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders for support.
"It happened last night. Near the Hyperion. He lost a lot of blood. There was nothing we could do."
One of Gunn's old crew lunged forward at Angel, but Connor jumped in front of him, blocking him for connecting. "You did this," he yelled.
Angel remained calm. "I guess in a manner I did. He helped me take on and kill the most powerful evil group on earth. He killed his target. We agreed to all meet up in the ally north of the Hyperion. But by the time he got to me he was already weak from blood loss. But we had no time to get him help. Seems Wolfram & Hart didn't like that we took out their earthly vestiges. The literally sent a demon army, complete with dragon, to come kill us. He fought to his last breath. He died a hero!"
Anne continued to cry and collapsed to the floor. Two of the men nearest her knelt to hold her. Emotions shown clearly on everyone's faces. They ranged from pain and grief to honor and pride. One of the few that Angel recognized stepped forward. "He would have wanted a traditional group service."
"I know. It's why I came."
"Bring his body to the spot near the old tracks. You know the one. Be there at midnight. We will have everything ready." He was trying to be strong you could tell, but he voice betrayed him, cracking as he spoke.
"I do. I have one more thing to ask of you. His friend, our friend, Welsey also passed. We wish for the same to be done for him." The mention of Wes's name caught Illyria's attention and she looked up. She wasn't sure what Angel was referring to but never the less agreed with a nod of her head.
"Wesley? Isn't he the guy that took the caps to the gut for us? Back when the zombie cops where after us."
"That's him."
"It's the least we could do for him. He nearly died that night for us." The words were soft, but Anne made her stand. Wes would receive an honorable memorial next to his friend.
Nothing was left to be said. Angel knelt down in front of Anne. "Anne, I am so sorry."
She looked up at him a saw the tears shimmering in his eyes. "He knew didn't he? That he was going to die. He came by yesterday and was going on about knowing you can't stop the evil. I thought he was just being dramatic. He always was so good at blowing things out of proportion."
He wiped the ears from her face with the back of her hand. "He had a good idea."
Spike had not said anything the entire time finally spoke up. "We all did. We knew the risks before we set out."
With that she rose from the ground, gave Angel a kiss of the cheek, turned, and walked away; her group with her. A fresh torrent of tears began pouring down her face.
Spike had been watching Illyria for some time and began to notice that she was looking worse and worse. "I think we need to get her back to the hotel. She looks like she could use some rest. Food probably wouldn't be a bad thought for her either. She eats more than Fred did, and Fred could eat anyone under the table. Illyria, do you want something to eat?"
She looked at Spike. It was the saddest he had ever seen her. She looked lost and confused. "No" was all she managed to squeak out before hanging her head again.
"We need to get going. Your right Spike, rest would do her good." 'I hope' Angel thought to himself. "Connor you need to head home. Your parents will be getting worried."
"No they won't. I told them I was going to be out all day."
"They're parents Connor. They worry."
"Fine... but only for a while. I want to be there tonight if that's okay with all of you."
"I have no problems with it, but it will be late."
"Dad I am all but grown. I do believe I can stay away from home for one night without the world crashing down around my parents. They will understand. It isn't the first time I have been out late or been gone all night you know."
"I just don't want you to get in trouble."
"Look if it makes you feel better, I will go home and tell my parents that I am going to be with friends for tonight. They won't mind."
"Okay, but only if they say okay. I don't want to cause you any trouble."
"Dad you worry to much. I will see you later." With that Connor made his way out the front of the building.
Illyria still had not moved from her seat on the column. Spike took hold of her hand and pulled her to her feet. He scooped her up in his arms before she had a chance to protest. Together Angel and Spike made there way back to the manhole cover that was the opening to into the sewer. Angel dropped down first. Then Spike helped Illyria down to him. He followed directly behind her. Angel already had Illyria in his arms, the two of the turned and made their way in the direction of the hotel.
"Maybe we should have had the kid bring her something to eat." It was more a statement than anything. Mainly because the silence was beginning to get to Spike.
"I don't think she would have ate it if he brought it."
"You are probably right."
Soft sounds of snoring escaped from Illyria's lips. "Poor thing hasn't slept in who knows how long. She may be a super girl, but even they need sleep."
"I sure feel like I could use some."
"You too. Funny we don't need it to live, but it sure feels like it right now." 'It feels good to talk, even if it was to Spike,' Angel thought.
"I never thought to ask. What kind of service are the two of them getting?"
"Funeral pyres," Angel responded.
"Makes sense, I guess. Gunn once told me his old grew fought vamps. Best way to make sure your buddy didn't get turned."
"Pretty much."