Chapter Six – Feels Like I'm Starting All Over Again

(Thanks to Michelle Branch, "Goodbye to You")

Dawn watched as Giles got up from the floor. That must have hurt, she thought, and then shrugged it off, because Giles seemed to always end up on the floor somehow, whether it was from someone knocking him out or his clumsiness. She always thought it was kind of cute. And from the look on Willow's face, so did she. Willow gave the man a hand up. Very curious indeed, Dawn concluded. She'd have to ask Willow later what they were discussing when she came into the room.

"Have you seen Connor?" Dawn asked the two adults.

"No," they answered in unison, still not looking at her.

Obviously it was something important, because they ignored her, as usual. Leaving the room, she looked around until she heard two people talking in the training room. As she entered, she saw Connor smiling at a girl not too much older than she was. And this girl was stunning. Blonde hair, blue eyes, killer body, probably a slayer, because that was all that lived in the place. He'd be attracted instantly. It's in the blood.

She didn't want to jump to conclusions, so she entered the room cheerfully, trying to catch Connor's attention.

"Hey, Connor," she called out.

He turned to her and smiled. The woman next to him did not. As a matter of fact, she shot daggers her way.

"It's time for the meeting," Dawn said as she looped her arm around his, trying to tell the woman that Connor was taken.

"Dawn, this is Celeste. She's from California also."

"Great, lots to talk about then. Come on, Wes and Faith will be waiting."

"Wait, you know the slayer?" Celeste asked Dawn.

"Yeah. Faith and I go way back. Like the time she tried to kill my sister."

Celeste looked at her strangely, like Dawn had lost all sense. "But she's the slayer."

"Trained slayer. Lots more out there now. Faith was channeling the evil side of the force then."

Connor stared at her puzzled. "What force are you talking about?"

"Star Wars," the girls answered in unison.

"You're deprived, boy," Dawn added, tugging on his arm to follow her.

"Bye, Connor," Celeste waved as they left.

"She's cute," Dawn ground out as they walked to the library.

"She's OK. Said that I might spar with her later. Kind of hard to find partners to do that."

"I'll bet," Dawn sarcastically whipped his way.

"I'll find someone else. No problem."

"Good boy."

Wesley and Faith arrived as Dawn and Connor were taking their seats.

"Not hungry any more?" Willow asked Faith as she sat down at the table.

"Well, now that you mention it, I could eat again."

Wesley rolled his eyes, pulling her down beside him. "Behave."

"I always do."

"Willow brought some volumes I thought we'd look over. We'll let Dawn and Connor read the ones in English, and the rest of us can study the others."

"I can read some of them," Dawn pouted.

"Hey, put me at the kids' table because I can't understand a word in any of these books," Faith replied as she lifted a dusty volume in her hands.

As Giles started handing each one of the researchers books, Wesley went into research mode, forgetting about Faith to study the text in front of him.

"This looks familiar," Cordelia said from the doorway.

Faith wasn't angry with the woman. A little frustrated that there wasn't an obvious way to break the link, but she just couldn't take it out on Cordy. And the fact that she was one of Wes's best friends in the world too. Although by the look on his face and the anger in his heart, at the moment it wouldn't be wise to mention that little fact.

"What do you want, Cordelia?" he asked.

"A chance to help. And the fact that we have another problem brewing."

"Cordelia, I am glad you are here to help, but we need to get down to researching a cure. Is there something you can contribute?" Giles asked as he rose from his seat.

"I need to talk to Wes, alone."

Faith didn't think that was the greatest idea in the world, but Wes immediately got up from his chair to follow her out the door.

No hitting.

I remember.

Be nice.

Wesley turned to glare at her for interfering. She knew he wouldn't harm Cordelia physically. But he could harm their relationship beyond repair with just the wrong words.

Wesley led Cordelia to a point not too far from the library and leaned up against the wall. He really was not in the mood for one of her tirades. And he really did not want to listen to her apologize again for the trouble that she had caused.

"The other problem, Wes. I was just in Robin Wood's office. You will not believe who was there."

"Nothing would surprise me anymore," he answered.

"Wesley, if I may have a word with you."

Cordelia immediately jumped in front of him, to protect him from the one man he did not need to see right then. His father looked exactly the same as he did the last time they had talked. Same dress, same haircut, same kind of suit, everything in perfect order. When Wesley thought about what he looked like, he knew his father would be disappointed to say the least. He stood there in worn out jeans, faded blue t-shirt, with at least two days' growth of beard. Anyone in their right mind would give Wesley a wide berth. But his father didn't show any kind of emotion on his face.

"I thought my fist told you to scram," Cordelia told his father.

When Cordelia's claws came out, he didn't envy the recipient of the attack. He had managed to stay away from it for the most part, but Angel hadn't. It wasn't a pretty sight when one was beat up not physically, but with her harsh, biting words. Her fists were at the ready though, ready to defend Wesley.

"What do you want?" Wesley asked nonchalantly, arms crossed over his chest.

He didn't want to give his father any kind of information on what was going on. He had to protect Faith. His father needed to know nothing about their relationship. He would damn it, berating Wesley for even thinking of touching his slayer, much less sleeping with her and getting her pregnant.

"Wes, what's going on?" Faith said from the doorway of the library.

Wesley stood up straight from his spot along the wall, moving over to shield Faith from his father. Cordelia moved right along with him, still not moving out from in front of him.

"Wesley, I would like to speak with you alone, if you may."

That calm voice coming from his father wasn't all that uncommon. He even could keep it that calm as he verbally berated his only son for mistakes that he claimed Wesley made. Faith tried to move around Wesley, but he grabbed her arm to stay her.

"Hey, Giles sent me out to get you," Connor said as he came up behind the three.

Even the boy noticed the tension in the hallway, especially how Cordelia held her body ready to do battle.

"I don't think that will be possible," he replied to his father.

Connor moved past Wesley and Faith to stand beside Cordelia. He wanted to fight his own fights, especially the ones with his father. But it would take too much explaining at the moment to call off his guard dogs in the form of Connor and Cordelia.

"Roger, what on earth are you doing here?" Giles asked from the back of the pack.

"Rupert. So nice to see you. I just came to see my son."

Wesley could see Giles's eyes moving over the group. He'd been in enough battles to know that it wasn't a happy reunion between father and son.

"You were supposed to be in England taking care of the Harrison matter. It slip your mind?"

"No, it did not," Roger ground out.

Willow peeked her head out also, seeing everyone gathered.

"We are dealing with an urgent matter, Roger. Time is of the essence," Giles added, obviously trying to calm the situation.

"In Giles speak I think that means get lost, asshole," Cordelia finished as she moved forward.

Wesley grabbed her arm to stop her forward momentum. As he did that, Faith slipped around him quickly to come face-to-face with his father. This could not end well, he concluded.

"I know of so many ways to hurt you," Faith started.

"Faith, no," Wesley implored her to stop.

She didn't move a muscle as she looked up into the familiar eyes of a stranger.

"You come near him again, and you'll see how many," she threatened.

"So this is the dark slayer. Still evil?"

"Roger, you know from my discussions that Faith is redeemed," Giles wanted the older man to know.

"I think you're a fool, Rupert. This girl is nothing but trouble. We should have put her down when we had the chance."

Wesley knew it would be no good if he struck his father. His father could not take away what he had with Faith. He just wished he could throw it in his father's face, just to see his reaction.

"Yeah, I'd like to see you try it now, bastard," Cordelia told him, really wanting to punch his father.

Wesley moved forward to take hold of Faith just in case she decided that it was worth it to smash her fist into that smirking face. But instead, she took his hand and held tight, moving to stand right in front of him. She then brought their joined hands up and lightly kissed then, all the while looking Roger in the face.

"I'm in charge now, Roger. The council voted on it. And you'll do as I say." Giles had moved forward also, temper starting to rise.

"Wesley, what in blazes are you doing with that, that girl. She almost killed you. When the council finds out about this, there will be hell to pay." Roger looked as if he could keel over at any moment when he saw how lovingly Faith treated him.

"Do you really think I give a fuck about what the council thinks about me?" Faith answered. "Anyone comes after me or my loved ones, there will be hell to pay, and lots and lots of pain."

"Wesley, when you've come to your senses, we'll speak. I really do not think that whatever you are doing with that girl is appropriate."

"I think Wes told you to piss off," Cordelia finished his thought. "Great. I've been hanging around you way too much. Now I curse like you," she smiled back at Wesley.

He couldn't help but acknowledge her comment with a quick smile back in response.

"Roger, you will go back to England on the next available flight. If you even try to encourage any problems for Faith with the council, I will personally see to it that you are dismissed. Are we clear?"

Giles was the one that had worked up a full head of steam. Willow came up behind him, taking his hand in hers to calm him.

"Rupert, this is unnatural, as you know. A watcher cannot get that close to his slayer, no matter what the circumstances. Unless you condone the practice."

Giles's fist shot out, slamming into the older man's face, taking him down to the floor with one punch.

"Go, before I lose any more of my patience."

From the looks of it, Giles had lost his patience. Wesley would not like to be on the receiving end if Giles really did lose his patience. From his memory, he remembered that the older watcher really did pack a wallop behind his punches, to borrow a phrase from Faith.

Roger got up from the floor, and quietly walked away from the bunch in the hallway.

"Hey, am I supposed to do all the work in here?" Dawn called as she strode out of the library. "I missed something, didn't I?"

"Bloody hell," Giles cursed as he brought his fist up in pain.

Faith snorted, leaning into Wesley's chest and bringing his other arm around her. She controlled herself, he cheered. He hoped it was for him and not just because of their link.

"It wouldn't look good if I killed him, now would it?" Faith answered out loud.

Willow fussed over Giles, looking over his hand. "Ice. You need ice. Why did you hit him so hard?"

"Because he pissed me off."

The rest of the research team laughed as they returned to the library. Willow scooted off to grab some ice from the kitchen while the rest returned to their books.

"So, I need a book, Giles," Cordelia announced.

"That you do," he responded by handing her one. She sat it down on the table as she looked at the title. "In English. Those other languages just give me the hives."

Before Wesley could take his seat, Cordelia came around and wrapped him in a hug so tight he couldn't breathe. He had missed her hugs so much, not remembering the last time she had given him one.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered in his ear.

"Hey, quit copping a feel," Faith quipped as the two friends clung to each other.

Cordelia finally let him go. "I hope Willow brings enough ice."

"Clocked him too?" Faith asked.

Wesley looked into his best friend's eyes, astonished that she would use her fists to hit someone.

"Felt good at the time. Now it just hurts like a son of a bitch." Cordelia shook her hand lightly as she gritted her teeth at the pain.

Wesley placed a quick kiss on her forehead and handed her a volume to read.

As Willow looked over a spell book, she kept checking to make sure that Giles's hand wasn't swelling. The punch that he threw would have knocked down even Angel. She never knew that Giles could get that angry. Sure, she'd seen him mad, but the angry times she could count on one hand.

"We haven't talked in a while. You're the head of the council now?" Willow started, wanting Giles to feel comfortable around her again.

He seemed to pull back from her some after what happened between the two of them hours earlier.

"Yes, a couple of months ago as a matter of fact. I'm supposed to take the position as soon as I'm finished here."

"Makes you want to wrap this up, huh?"

"Not especially. After seeing what I'll have to deal with, it's a wonder why on earth I agreed in the first place."

"You'll do a great job," she answered, not adding the part about going back to England, away from her probably. "So what is with Wes's father? Gives me the creeps."

"As he should. He is not a very nice person. And I believe that there are some serious issues between father and son, although there are just rumors," Giles told her as he lowered his voice.

"Let me look at that hand again," Willow inquired as she took the ice off of it.

"You've looked at it every ten minutes. It's fine."

"I like taking care of you, Rupert."

Willow looked at Giles now, wanting him to respond to her usage of his first name. He smiled shyly, pulling his hand back to pick up another book on the stack.

"OK, food now. Or I go psycho," Faith announced to everyone.

"Too late," Wesley added as he got up from his seat, taking her hand in his.

Willow longed for the days when they would research, whether at the library or at the Magic Box. Whenever Tara would take her hand, all the bad things would go away and everything would make sense. Now nothing made sense.

"We do need a short break," Giles agreed with the slayer.

Faith's stomach growled loudly, which made the two teenagers laugh.

Giles hastily got up from his chair, looking like he wanted to not be alone with Willow. Boy had she screwed up big this time. Giles didn't want to continue what they had started, and was embarrassed to tell her so. How could she get his friendship back without him talking to her? She'd have to corner him at some point. The one thing going for her at the moment was his presence.

After dinner, the group sat back down again, minus Faith, who just wanted to lie down and rest. Wesley understood that since she had a horrendous day. He was surprised that he didn't fall over asleep too. Neither one had gotten enough rest in the past week. Every time he went to sleep, he worried about what had happened when he tried to strangle her.

"Faith sleeping?" Cordelia inquired as she sat down beside him, book in hand.

"Yes. She's had a terrible day."

He wanted to tell Cordelia the good news, but just didn't see at the moment how he could. Indirectly, she was responsible for the whole situation they were in, babies and all. Should he thank her or yell at her?

"Explain something to me. You two are having a relationship? I'm just not getting it. Is it the link? Did I cause this?"

"Yes, I'm sorry you're not getting it, no, and sort of."

Cordelia looked at him like he'd grown two heads, like only she could. "Wes, she hurt you. She hurt me. She tried to kill Angel."

"You weren't around when I had to break her out of prison. The real you, I mean. She's changed. I just never realized how much I cared for her until I had to spend every waking moment with her."

"Oh, so you had the hots for her when you were in Sunnydale?"

Did he have the hots for his slayer in Sunnydale? Good question, and one he could not answer. Sure, she was beautiful, but deadly. She was his charge, a sacred duty that he wanted to help her fulfill.

"Not exactly. I'm not sure what she was to me. I think I kept her at a distance because of what she could have been. I hated her there for a while."

"Really, no," Cordelia exclaimed sarcastically.

"No, not after that. Right after the council dismissed me. I blamed her. It was more my fault than hers. Time does heal all wounds."

"Not when they deal with that thing you call a father, they don't."

He couldn't believe her defense of him. She had stood in front of him, ready to take on his father while he sat and watched. But that was Cordelia. When she felt that her family was threatened, she took action. At least the old Cordelia did. The one that he worked with right after he came to Los Angeles. After Connor arrived, he didn't know what to think of her anymore.

"Next time, I will deal with him."

"Not without me standing right next to you. We're family, remember?"

Wesley turned away so she couldn't see his pained expression at her proclamation. He longed for her to say that so many times after he took Connor. She never even acknowledged him after the incident. He could have taken her fists or her biting words. What he couldn't take at the time was her silence. He had lost her because of that one act. Could he gain her trust again?

"I know. It's been a long time since anyone has said that. I miss it. I missed you. Look at those two over there," Cordelia pointed out as he looked towards Dawn and Connor, heads together in discussion.

"If things hadn't gone they way they did, they would have never found each other. Sometimes things do work out in the end, huh, Wes."

"Yes, they do."

Cordelia laid her head on his shoulder, sniffling her tears away. Things were different, but now he could talk to Cordelia, not feeling guilty for what he did. They both had tried to fix a problem, only to end up on the wrong side of right. Now they both could make it up to each other by solving this mystery before anyone else was hurt.

Faith lay in bed, tossing and turning. The dream she started having was disturbing to say the least. She was trapped. She couldn't escape. Wesley was yelling for her, not finding her. Everywhere she turned, someone bad popped up, turning her away from his voice. Until she saw at the end of a hallway a light. She ran as fast as she could, throwing the door open. She couldn't scream the sight was so horrible. The blood spread across the floor, reaching her feet as her hands were covered in it. Sitting in a chair in the middle of the barren room was Wesley, neck wound gaping, blank eyes staring at her.

She struggled to wake up out of the horrible dream, only to be held down in the bed by strong hands. Now fully awake, she realized that she wasn't alone. There were several figures in the room with her. She didn't see the syringe plunge into her arm, only felt the stinging as it entered her body uninvited. It took only moments for the drug to take effect, bringing darkness in its wake.

Cordelia dried her eyes on a napkin as Wesley picked up another book. As he reached over to grab another dusty volume, the dream hit him full force, throwing him back against the wall. He had never had one of these dreams awake. Faith's dreams only were shared if they were both sleeping. But this one was so strong, it managed to crack his skull against the wall behind him.

Everyone gasped and screamed as he slid to the ground, still caught up in what she saw. He couldn't see what anyone else was doing in the room.

"Giles, what's wrong with him?" Cordelia screamed.

He scrambled up from the ground, pushing everyone who had gathered around him out of the way. As he ran down the corridor with Connor close on his heels and the others not far behind, he felt the needle go into her arm. And he knew that he'd be too late this time.

"Connor, find her," he yelled as he staggered against a wall.

Whatever they had injected in her was taking effect, taking him under with it. He didn't even feel it when the ground hit him full force.

Robin had sulked around, trying to avoid the gang in the library. The confrontation between the woman Cordelia and Wesley's father had confused him beyond belief. He didn't understand why she would hit him like she did. Obviously she knew much more about the relationship between father and son than he wanted to know.

His mother's watcher had told him to stay clear of the man many years ago, and he had complied. He just didn't see why though. The older man looked harmless.

Going to the kitchen after hours, he heard a noise in the next corridor, so he decided he better check it out. A couple of the girls had decided one night to sneak out and go dancing. He had read them the riot act, but knew that teenagers will be teenagers, and that they probably would try it again sometime.

As he rounded the corner, he noticed the far door closing. That door led to the outside. So as he trotted to catch up with one of the errant slayers, he noticed that something wasn't quite right. It was too quiet. Sure, some of the girls weren't back from California, having been hurt in the battle to take back Los Angeles. Some had even died. He held himself responsible for their training. Methods would have to be changed, even before Giles had told him that they would.

Opening the door, he concluded that whoever was in the hallway had gotten away. As he turned to unlock the door to get back in, a knife came slashing down on him, catching him in the stomach. He rolled down a flight of stairs before coming to rest against a wall. In pain, he looked at his surroundings in a daze, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. He knew he needed to move, but the blood seeping out of his wound wouldn't let him. He'd be dead quickly if someone didn't find him.

TBC

Next: Is Robin dead? Who took Faith? What did her dream actually mean? Lots of questions to answer, most of which I won't in the next chapter, but hey, it's a mystery now. Go with the flow.

Author notes: I was getting bored. I needed to get out of exposition mode and into action mode. I went round and round trying to figure out who should punch Roger's lights out. I went through every scenario. I took the least likely person and let him do it. I hope it worked. So read and review. I want to finish this up soon, because there are two other fics I want to work on.

Thanks to: All of my favorite reviewers!! Thanks for staying with me. To pari106, tp96, Insane Sketchbook, and Steph and Slayerfan and everyone else who can keep up to date. You guys keep me on my toes!!

Questions: Steph—thanks for the info. I thought that she was taller. Also, I have written something along those lines and just submitted it to It is NC-17 and has my favorite couple in it. The name of it is "Sunlight" and it's under the pen name of Crayonbreaky Gal (shameless plug, shameless plug). I was working on points of view, so I did this exercise and that's how it came out. So, if you're not old enough to view this, don't because that would just be wrong. So please check it out if you can.

Insane Sketchbook—The shoes always throw me. I can't tell sometimes. And I'm sorry. I'm all out of my quota for killing people. Anyway, I can't remember exactly who Rona is. Was she the whiny one? Oh, wait, they all were. Makes you wonder why anyone hated Dawn for her attitude. I didn't know that you haven't seen Season Five of Angel. This shouldn't spoil you too much, since I just wiped season five off the face of the planet with this fic. It didn't happen in my little world. Wait until you see "Lineage". It's all about Roger, Wes's father. It's one of my favorites. He's an SOB to the nth degree.