Alright, I guess I own an explanation of what is happening. There are two threads in this story.
The first involves the individuals who showed up in the alleyway after they dropped the bomb on the Black Thorn(Angel, Gunn, Spike and Illyria + a few stragglers like Andrew, Giles, and Dana.) I wanted to see if the characters could pick up the pieces and still stick to the path that Joss had set them on. Just so there is no confusion, and I add to the confusing by forgetting that the breaks in the story wouldn't work, I will sum up where all the characters in the first arc are.
-Angel/Connor – Angel is recovering from his battle with the dragon, minus his arm. Connor gets to take care of him and nurse him back to health…I thought it would be ironic.
-Illyria – Still trying to deal with Wes' apparent death and the further emergence of Fred's personality…I miss Fred.
-Gunn – A long time ago, when Gunn saw himself in the White Room and duked it out with the Panther/Little Girl that had become his clone, I thought that wouldn't it be cool if the individual from the White Room switched with Gunn, leaving him trapped there and the "Panther" to live Gunn's life. However, with the fall of Wolfram & Hart and the other "Gunn"s death, the real Gunn could be released to pick up the pieces unharmed.
-Spike – Spike will almost always be the center of my writing when he is in a scene. I love the savagery that he brings. He too is hurt, but not as bad as Angel.
The second arc revolves around Wesley. Obviously, the character that I wrote as Mr. Neal was Wes. Chapter 2 was a separate story that I wrote for just him and his trip back to the Deeper Well. The important things to understand about this arc is that Wes is hurting from the loss of Fred, but when all is said and done, he is a soldier who is able to see the big picture. Angel sends him back to the Well for two reasons. 1. To return Drogan.(The Battlebrand is more than he seems) 2. So Wes can keep an eye on the Well.
Wes also takes along a little muscle that is yet to be revealed. The original title of the Wes arc was "Sanctuary" which I plan to give Wes(more in the literal sense, not the emotional/figurative)
Chapter 3 was also geared for this arc. Garrison has ties to Wesley through the Watchers and they will eventually join up. Chpt 3 was just a brief intro to the characters before I threw them with Wes. I'll link the two of them soon.
Well, I think that is it. I may go into the first Chapter and put in some verbal breaks to help clear the flow up a bit. Thank you everyone for the review posted and those just sent to me…I really do appreciate the feedback. Feel free to critique the story, the writing, or whatever you can find wrong with me right now. I'm used to it…I'm married to a crazy pregnant woman.
"Oh honey, I didn't see you there behind me!"
"Uhhhhh…No. I was just kidding hon. Your not crazy."
"Hey, stop it. That hurts"
Well, I gotta go. Here is the next chapter with Angel and Connor. Enjoy.
Chapter 4Connor flinched as he pulled out a shard of glass from his father's upper thigh that had to be at least six inches long. He quietly placed it on the floor next to approximately ten other fragments just like it and went back to his grueling task. Eleven down and…how many more? It seemed like everywhere Connor looked, Angel was either tore open or impaled with something.
When Connor had first started pulling the shrapnel out of his father, Angel had been there with him, but after the second one, a foot long scrap of metal lodged in his stomach, Angel had passed out. Connor had been able to work faster when he didn't have to hear his father's groans of agony. Angel had been stoic, but that had lasted only about thirty seconds when Connor had to twist the metal fragment to dislodge it.
Ten minutes later, Connor surveyed Angel and didn't find any more visible pieces sticking out of him, even after turning him over, which itself brought a low moan from Angel. With that task done, Connor used a small knife he had found behind the counter to cut Angel's ragged shirt off.
It nearly took Connor's breath away to see the damage that his father had endured. Ironically, the small puckered scar, that was the only sign that Angel had once had a left arm, look to be in the best shape. It was a pinkish white with blackened streaks running through it, but as a whole, it looked fine for the spot an arm once connected.
"…Connor…"
Angel breathed his son's name than actually spoke it.
"I'm here Angel." Connor said, kneeling down and grabbing his father's hand.
Angel struggled to speak; his mouth moved, but no words came out. Finally, he let out a small gasp of breath.
"…sorry…you shouldn't…be here…"
"Hey," Connor said, giving his father's hand a firm squeeze, "I'm going to let that slide because you haven't really had a son before. When I was little, I wasn't around too much and then we really didn't see eye to eye later so…I mean we're family right? That's what we do for each other."
"I mean, we just found each other again…I think we both have some healing to do and I think I have to have you there to help me through it. Besides, it's not like I'll have to take care of you when you're old, with the whole dress you and wipe your butt thing…
"
Connor realized that he was talking more than he usually would, but he didn't know what to do other than talk. He had no idea what to do next. Should he try to move somewhere more secure? He wasn't sure if Angel could handle that and even though he hadn't heard any pursuers in some time, he knew they were out there and he wouldn't be able to fight and keep his dad safe.
Though it was still raining out, daybreak was coming and Connor didn't want to chance getting caught outside if the clouds broke.
One thing was sure, Angel needed to be secure while he healed and he also need to …
Feed.
Something deep within Connor flared to life. A revulsion for vampires that his father…no, Angel was his father…something that Holtz had instilled in him. He was torn internally as he looked as his father lying on the couch.
I have to help him, but how? What do I do next?
Kill him! You will have no better chance. When he gains his strength he will try to kill you…drink your blood.
"No" Connor thought, "He wouldn't do that. He's my father."
Connor knew he was right; his father would never purposely hurt him, let alone try to feed on him. He knew immediately what he needed to do.
Pulling the small knife that he had used to take his father's shirt off, Connor carefully drew the blade across his wrist, scoring it deep enough that blood easily pooled, but not deep enough that it couldn't be stemmed.
As the first drop of blood dripped on Angel's lips, he immediately began opening his mouth like a suckling babe, however, once the realization of what was happening came over him, he snapped his mouth closed, his eyes widening in…what? Not surprise. No, it was fear.
Undaunted, Connor forced his wrist to Angel's lips. Angel struggled to turn away, but Connor grabbed his hair and forced him to look at him.
Eye to eye with Angel, Connor spoke. "You are going to drink."
Angel pleaded with his eyes and then tried to turn again.
"No" Connor said, suddenly angry. "You are going to drink. I can't carry you out of here and fight at the same time. Besides, you have spilt your blood for me before. Right?"
Connor loosened his grip on Angel's hair, "I learned one thing since I left you…That you do what is right for your family, even if it hurt you, and it usually does, because you are family."
"We are family Angel. You are my father."
All of the anger drained out of Connor as he finished, "And I am your son."
Connor realized that Angel had stopped fighting him, but he still had his mouth closed. Angel stared into his eyes for what seemed an eternity, but in truth, it couldn't have been more than ten seconds.
Closing his eyes, Angel began to slowly feed on the steady stream of blood that flowed from Connor's wrist.
All through the time Connor had carried Angel till the moment that he had removed the final piece piercing his father, Angel hadn't shed a tear, yet now a steady stream flowed from his eyes.