After the Confession

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Angel series except my own.

To silvi-hc : I was trying to show how it hurt for Angel to see that horrified expression on Gunn's face. Angel thinks Gunn is disgusted at the thought of wanting a vampire. That's why Angel is hurt. I'm sorry if that wasn't more clear, but thanks for the great review.

Thanks also goes out to Pylea Princess and BlackCat200.

On to the story...

Three parts of the team stood awkwardly, each waiting for the other person to speak first. Just when they had found some semblance of order and had settled into a somewhat normal routine, something happened to throw the team off kilter again. Granted, whatever this was couldn't be helped. It wasn't like Angel and Gunn had planned to become attracted to each other. It just happened. Nevertheless it had happened and it would affect the entire team. In fact, it already had.

Wesley slung the satchel containing the items they required for the counter spell to send the demon that was about to be raised back to wherever it came from. They had a job to do now. The uneasy conversations that were sure to take place would have to wait until later. He handed them their weapons, making sure to avoid as much eye contact as possible. He then headed towards the front door, stopping first to throw a glance over his shoulder.

"Are you both coming," he asked quietly, before continuing through the doors leading to outside where the car was parked.

When he was gone, Gunn turned to Cordelia, his eyes wide and anxious. "Please tell me that this day didn't just happen," he said morosely. "Tell me that I didn't just make a fool of myself, twice, in front of you guys. Tell me that Angel didn't just hear what I told you."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "When did we start lying to each other again Gunn…oh wait…I bet you can answer that one," she commented airily. He winced at that. "Sorry. I'm sorry. You so don't need to hear this from me right now. Come on let's go, before the English Patient has a coronary." She dangled her ax down to her side as she walked briskly away from him.

Gunn inhaled loudly. "Nah it's alright…I deserve that I guess," he admitted, hurrying to catch up with her. He pulled on her arm just as they were on the walkway leading to the street. "Did you see the look in his eyes? He looked kind of hurt didn't he?"

"Well it could be the I'm so disgusted look you had on your face as soon as you laid eyes on him," she quipped, pushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. An expletive flew past his lips. "Yep, that about covers it right there. You are in a load of that."

"You think I can fix this…if I…you know…apologize," he asked hopefully. Cordelia almost melted at the hope shining in his eyes. He had it so bad for Angel that it was ridiculous. If he wasn't so stubborn and all macho then they wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. Still she could understand his reluctance. It was probably frightening and more than disconcerting to wake up one day and realize not only were you attracted a guy, but you were attracted to a guy who was not exactly part of the living world.

"Yeah you can fix it," she assured him. "But we have work to do first." She walked quickly towards Angel's car and got in next to Wesley. Seconds later, Gunn jumped into the backseat. Cordelia turned to look at him behind her. "After this, maybe you guys can talk."

"Yeah…talk," he responded unenthusiastically.


Angel climbed up the ladder leading to the outside world, muttering to himself all the way. He pushed hard on the trap door above him and when he felt it give way, he slid it aside and pulled himself up. He studied his surroundings, noting that he appeared to be in the laundry room of the college dorm. He just hoped it was the correct dorm. Then he realized that yeah it was. He recognized the posters on the walls promoting condom usage and various sports affiliated posters that also littered the walls. He had to come to this same dorm a couple weeks ago to help out a couple college students who had unknowingly invited vampires into their dorm room. He chuckled bitterly. Maybe this dorm was cursed or something, just like he was. His jaw clenched hard then. He did not want to think about the curse right now because that would lead to thinking about sex, which would in turn lead to thinking about him. And that he couldn't do…at least not now.

He jogged up the stairs quickly, pushing those thoughts out of his mind for like the zillionth time today. He walked down the hallway, his eyes scanning for the correct room number Wesley had listed on the notepad. He continued down the long hall, ignoring the scared looks he was getting from carrying a broadsword around in broad daylight. He couldn't stop to explain why he was walking around with a medieval weapon. He had to stop those kids from raising that demon. He had just passed the door and he slowly walked backwards. He looked up at the room number and focused his sensitive hearing. He heard various voices chanting in Latin and that was all he needed to hear. He kicked open the door and began stepping through the doorway, all eyes turning to look at him, the chanting ceasing immediately. Angel turned and looked at the doorway curiously. How could he have entered the room without an invitation? That meant one of the people in this room was a vampire. He rolled his eyes at the stupidity of these kids.

"So you guys wanna tell me why you want to raise a Hadean demon," he questioned, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Cause I'm kinda thinking Hadean, word derived from the god Hades, you know the god of the underworld. Didn't that clue you in that what you're doing is a bad idea?" One of the guys stood up quickly and attacked Angel with supernatural speed, pushing him back into the hallway before he could even see the face morph in front of him. Angel hit the wall hard and he groaned. He responded instantly though, punching his attacker in the face and then backhanding him, sending the vampire back into the room.

Angel quickly entered the room again, slamming the door shut behind him. He swung his weapon swiftly, cutting the head off of the vampire, watching as the dust fell. "See that's another thing. Don't invite vampires into you room?" The kids continued to give him frightened looks, their eyes moving from the dusted vampire and then back to Angel. "Don't worry you're safe now. Well, you will be as long as you don't finish that ritual." He walked towards them and he stopped in his tracks as the three boys backed away fearfully. Then the door was bust open and the rest of the team entered the room, complete with weapons drawn. "It's okay guys. We got here just in time."

His friends just stood there staring at him. "What…what are you guys looking at," he asked tiredly.

"Um…your face Angel…you're still…you know," Wesley clarified for him.

Angel touched his face, feeling the ridges, and then he cursed. "Sorry…I didn't even realize," he said, his face turning back to human form. He turned to reassure the three boys that were cowering on the other side of the room. "I'm sorry I scared you. I'm not going to---." Two of the boys inched past him, running straight to the door, pushing Cordelia and Wesley aside to run out.

"You're welcome," Cordelia called out darkly. Damn ungrateful jerks. Angel saves their hide and they just leave without even a thank you. Why do they do this again? Oh yeah, to fight the good fight, to save people.

Gunn walked over to Angel, his heart hammering in his chest. "Hey you alright," he questioned, concerned. Angel's eyebrows rose at that question. "Yeah I do care," Gunn stated firmly, answering the unspoken question in his friend's eyes.

"Hmm…really…could have fooled me," Angel responded acidly, dropping his sword down to his side. "Because earlier you couldn't even stand the thought of me touching you. Earlier you had that look that clearly stated that the thought of being anywhere near me would cause you to lose your breakfast. So please tell me another lie Gunn…tell me all about how much you care."

"Angel don't do this…just don't," Cordelia pleaded from the doorway.

"Don't what Cordy…tell the truth," Angel said heatedly, his eyes flashing angrily now at her. His eyes returned to Gunn, ignoring the pained look on the man's face. "There's not a lot of that going around these days." He brushed past Gunn and stalked to the doorway, halting when Cordelia caught his arm. "Let me go Cordelia," he whispered harshly. "I'll meet you guys back at the hotel."

Gunn spun to follow Angel, eager to stop him before he walked away from him. He couldn't let him leave, not like this. Then Gunn felt something hit him in his back, a hot searing pain going through his entire body. He let out a shout and he hit the ground. He rolled over on his side, peering at the source of his pain. One of the students, the one guy who hadn't run out of the room in fear, was watching him with angry eyes holding some sort of wand. Gunn closed his eyes tightly against the pain. He vaguely felt someone touching his arm. Then Wesley was over him, calling his name. He felt Wesley being pushed aside and then it was Angel's voice that was calling to him. He heard the sounds of footsteps running away, but he could barely move his head to see if that really was the guy getting away. He could hear Cordy shouting obscenities out in the hall at the guy. He tried to move to get up, but the pain was too intense. He forced his eyes open and he saw him, leaning over, his eyes filled with terror, his large hands holding his face so tenderly.

"I'm sorry…we need to talk…but I'm not so sure I'm up for it now," Gunn wheezed out, embarrassed when a tear rolled down his face. What the hell did that guy do to him? Gunn groaned again and then his eyes rolled back in his head, giving into the darkness pulling at him.

Angel looked at Wesley, the ex-watcher's face mirroring his fear. "Wesley what's going on…what was that…thing he hit Gunn with," Angel asked anxiously.

"I-I'm not sure," Wesley sputtered, shaking his head. "I'll need to check my sources. The books on Hadean did speak of a wand of some sort, but I thought it was just a conjuring tool. I didn't think it could be used as a weapon per say."

"Well here's living proof of that right here," Angel said icily. Wesley visibly flinched. Angel reigned in most of his anger. "I'm sorry Wes, it's just he's and I'm---."

Wesley placed a comforting hand on Angel's arm. "It's alright Angel," he assured him. "I should have checked this out more thoroughly. Don't worry we'll find a way to help him." Wesley glanced at Cordelia, waving her over with one hand. "Help me get him to the car Cordy. Angel take the sewers and we'll meet you there."

"No…don't---," Angel responded quickly, pulling Gunn more into his arms. Cordelia's eyes widened at Angel's actions and her heart hurt for him. She shared a quick look with Wesley. He too noticed the unnecessary possessiveness of the vampire.

"Angel, we might get there faster in the car and you can't go out into the sunlight," Wesley said patiently, speaking slowly as if he was talking to a small child. "We'll take care of him. Go on Angel."

Angel shook his head in refusal. "I'll help you get him to the main doors and then I'll double back," he said stubbornly. He lifted Gunn into his arms, barely registering the dead weight of the man in his arms. He walked out the door without a word leaving his friends staring at him dumbfounded.

"Wesley did you see how he…he's…oh my god Angel is---," Cordelia stumbled, shocked at the vampires actions. She hadn't realized just how much emotions Angel had invested. She guessed that he was physically attracted to Gunn and she knew he at least liked him as a person but this. He was acting like a man who was…could she even think it?

"He's half in love with Gunn…yes I noticed," Wesley remarked dryly. "Come on let's follow him. We need to get to the hotel."

"But Wesley this is more---," she began again.

"Yes I know Cordy…it's more than we can handle right now but we have too," Wesley interrupted again. "We have to find out what's wrong with Gunn. Then we deal with the 'teenage angst fest' that has become a part of our lives."