Chapter two
"So, peaches comes out, piss drunk, and pukes right on the Queen's lap." Connor laughs at the Spike's narrative of how 'peaches' was in the old days. Angel in the hallway about to enter stops at the doorway when Spike speaks again.
"So you hate peaches, eh?" he said in a light tone.
"Uhh, not really...not much as I used to."
"Yeah well, he has his moments." Spike blew out smoke as the cigarette he held left his mouth. "You want a drag?" Spike held it out to him.
"Connor." Angel rushed in but tried to make himself seem casual. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah." Connor jumped up at the sound of his name. He walked passed Angel out into the hall.
"You're nothing but a bad influence." He told Spike with his finger out stretched into the other vampire's face.
"Oh come on. Look at him, he's so corruptible."
"Yeah...I know." He said quietly then walked out into the hall where Connor waited for him. "Come on."
"I wanted to ask you something." Connor said as they walked the halls of Wolfram and Hart
"Okay."
"What was with Fred, she smelled different. I mean the outfit was cool with the hair and the eyes but I don't remember Fred being the kind of girl to where something like that...and you called her something else. Why?"
"It's not Fred." Angel looked down as they walked.
"What do you mean?"
"Fred was possessed by a demon named Illyria, that's what you say. Fred is dead." Connor stopped walking and stood with his mouth half open. Angel stopped walking a few feet ahead, then turned to face his son.
"W-What do you mean she's dead?" Connor wasn't aware of his mouth moving. His mind was flooding with memories his first summer back from Quor-toth. She had comforted him and explained things to him with what seemed like infinite patience. "She's gone, Connor."
"Oh." Connor processed the information until his mind returned mostly to normal. "I tried to- ... can I see Cordelia?" Angel shut his eyes for a moment then returned his gaze to the floor. Before he could say anything that might comfort his son, Connor spoke.
"No! She's alive! She has to be."
"I'm sorry, Connor."
"No, liar!"
"I'm not lying. She never got out of the coma. She died."
"You're lying..." Connor rested his back to the one of the two walls and slid down. He brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Some employees stopped for a moment to stare but after receiving a glare from Angel they continued on with their routine. "You're lying." He repeated softly. Angel crouched down to be at eye level with his son.
"Connor-"
"It's all my fault" he whispered.
"You know that's not true. You can't help everything that happens." Angel spoke half saying it for himself as well. He sighed not knowing what else to say. "Come on. "he grabbed the skinny arm of his son and pulled him up gently. "It's okay." He led Connor up to his room ad sat him on the couch. Angel got him a glass of water then sat next to him. "It'll be over soon. The evil."
"What do you mean?" Connor spoke after sipping at his water.
"The senior partners. I'm going to try and-"
"Is that why you took this job?" Connor interrupted.
"I guess it was part of it, but hopefully if we succeed the senior partners will have stopped. All I have to do is find out about this Circle of the Black Thorn."
"I want to help."
"No." Angel said quickly.
"Well that's tough but I'm helping. Whether you like it or not." Connor said it without strength, there was no confidence in his voice at all but Angel stayed quiet.
After his son had fallen asleep Angel draped a blanket over him. Connor stirred but was in deep sleep. Angel sat in a chair opposite him and watched him sleep until dawn.
"Hey."
"Here's your assignment." A watcher held up a folder for Faith to take and she skimmed over it quickly.
"L.A?"
"Your assistance is required."
"I doubt that."
"Never the less. The council would feel more comfortable if they had an experienced slayer in the area. Plane ticket is all there and ready." Faith sighed and said under her breath.
"Well this ought to be interesting."
The smell of scrambled eggs, and bacon reached Connor's nose. He opened his eyes slowly letting them adjust to the sunlight.
"You're awake." Connor heard Angel's voice over the back of the couch. He raised his head to look over the end and stare at his father.
"It looks like it...you cook?"
"Yup. You want some?"
"It's not full of blood is it?"
"Nope. Just fat." Angel got up and served him a plate chock full of greasy goodness.
"Your friend called...James." Connor's face went hard.
"Is he okay?"
"He's better...he dropped the charges."
"...least he could do." Connor grumbled.
"Do you want to-"
"I don't feel like talking." Connor plopped down on a chair and ate greedily. The phone range just then and Angel answered it as he watched his son eat.
"Hello...Harmony?...what?...I'll be right there." He hung up. "You up for seeing an old friend." He said to Connor.