Chapter Two: Deep Trouble

Justine woke up tied to a chair. The last thing she remembered was drinking in a bar.

She'd done a lot of that lately.

The room she was in was dim and smelled faintly of old books

"Good, you're awake." A somewhat familiar voice came from close behind her.

Wesley stepped around in front of her so she could see him.

She met his steady gaze with wide-eyes.

"You're surprised to see me alive, I gather." He said finally.

"Yeh." She said, tugging on her bonds. "Look, whatever you're thinking, I'm not into games like this."

"No, I suspect you aren't." Wesley said, sitting in the chair opposite of her. "I must admit, I never use to be into them myself." Reaching over to the coffee table, he picked up a dagger with an ornate hilt. "But," he continued, "I'm discovering that things can change very suddenly and it's best to be prepared for whatever it is you might be doing the next minute."

Justine couldn't help but fear the tone in his voice. It was flat and dark. She stared at the dagger.

"Beautiful isn't it? As I recall, you have a certain appreciation for knives." Wesley said dryly.

"You're going kill me right? So… do it. I don't know anything." Justine nearly spat at him. Her bravado was completely, and obviously, false.

Wesley stared at her for a moment. "I haven't asked you anything yet. As far as killing you goes…I'd like to. In fact, I think I'd like that very much."

Justine swallowed nervously. This was not the Wesley Wyndam-Pryce she'd help trick

into giving up the vampire's child and then left to die in an empty park.

This man was cold and she was very afraid of what he might do.

"A body was found. Decapitated. Burned. It hasn't been identified but I think I know who it was. The authorities believe it was a cult or a gang. Or maybe someone really hated somebody else a lot." Wesley shook his head slightly. "But experience tells me that it was probably the opposite that made someone do what he did. I think someone loved somebody very much and had some reason for making sure that somebody didn't come back."

Justine was very pale. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Wesley made a soft noise in his throat and shrugged. "I think you do. I also think that whatever happened, happened with Connor's help. You wouldn't have been able to take Angel yourself, even if you had the help of your flunkies. Besides, it wouldn't have fit into Holtz' revenge without him."

"Justice!" Justine hissed. "His justice!"

Wesley smiled slightly. "So, Connor was involved."

Justine flushed and glared at him.

"Well that gives me some hope then." Wesley said. "Where is Angel, Justine?"

Justine gave a short laugh. "You got me. Connor staked him."

Nodding, Wesley stood and paced a few steps away from the chair. "That would have been the smart thing to do, but when emotions are high, the smart thing doesn't seem to be the first thought. Especially when it comes to revenge obsessed, child stealers." He held the dagger up. "A friend of mine gave me this. He'd just lost someone very, very dear to him and he'd gone away to heal. He brought this to me because he knew I'd like it. It was extremely thoughtful, especially given the circumstances."

Wesley ran his fingertips down the scabbard. "My friend is a good man. He doesn't see himself that way sometimes and unfortunately, no matter how good he is, there are people who don't see him as a good man either. Sometimes even his friends forget."

"You're talking about Angelus." Justine sneered.

"His name is Angel." Wesley said calmly. "And yes, I am."

"He's not a man!" Justine twisted, trying to meet Wesley's gaze. "He's a murdering demon! He killed Holtz!"

Wesley approached the chair and knelt down to stared into Justine's eyes for a moment. "I don't believe you Justine." He told her. "I don't know what happened but I know that Angel didn't kill Holtz and I know he didn't disappear on his own. I don't believe that Connor staked him because I don't think it fits into Holtz' brand of revenge. But I do know that you have the answers I want. And you will give them to me."

"You think so?" Justine laughed nervously. "Go ahead, use that knife on me. I've got nothing left to lose."

Wesley stood. "This is too good to use on you." He placed the dagger on the table. "And where as I think I would like to kill you, that won't get me what I want. However, the human body can withstand a remarkable amount of damage before it finally expires."

Justine stared at him. "You're going to…"

"Torture you? I've never actually tortured anyone before, but I do have first hand knowledge of what it's like to be tortured. There aren't words to describe what it's like, honestly. But it is very effective as a means of getting information." He moved around behind her

"You're going to torture a human being for that thing?" Justine practically screamed.

Without warning, Wesley grabbed a fist full of her hair and jerked her head back. Leaning down, he put his face less than an inch from hers.

"His name is Angel." He practically growled. "He was my friend. He trusted me with his child and with your help, I betrayed that trust! Oh, and let's not forget the fact that you tried to kill me! Yes Justine, I am capable of killing you and I will torture you if you don't tell me what happened. In fact, I don't think that it would bother me in the slightest to do so!" he shoved her head forward, sending her and the chair toppling to the floor.

Justine stared up at him, eyes wide with shock and fear.

"You have 10 minutes to think about that." Wesley told her calmly before leaving the room.

Wesley stood in his bedroom and watched the clock tick away the minutes. On the outside, he appeared to be calm and in control.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The plan had been to take Justine and scare her into telling him what had happened.

Except that when it came down to it, he realized that he was ready to actually torture her if he needed to.

And, in fact, some small part of him wished she wouldn't tell him, at least not right away.

Wesley felt as if a lump of ice had suddenly formed in his stomach. He leaned back against the door and slowly slid down it as his knees gave way.

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Head boy. Watcher. Former Watcher. Ally of a redeemed vampire in the fight against evil.

No more.

He wasn't any of that anymore and the recognition of that fact shook him to his very core.

He'd betrayed his friend. He'd slept, literally, with his enemy. He'd taken a hostage and, even knowing first hand the horror of being tortured, was now preparing to torture that hostage for information.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. He thought miserably.

Are they good intentions? A voice that sounded like his own asked him.

You want information, but is that all?

"She nearly killed me." He said softly.

The clocked ticked off another minute.

Is that all?

Wesley closed his eyes and saw Faith. She was glaring down at him, a shard of glass in her hand. She was smiling, her face a mask of rage and hate.

But her rage wasn't directed at him; he was just an object to vent it on.

"I have reason to hate Justine." Wesley said to the empty room.

Rage Wesley. You have rage. At Justine. At your friends… But mostly at yourself.

"Yes I do." His voice was thick and he swallowed. The nearly healed wound on his throat gave a sudden throb.

The second hand ticked on, another minute gone.

Wesley stood and opened the door.

"Time's up Justine. I hope you've chosen wisely." He said

For both our sakes.