AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wohoo! I'm up to 20! Decided not to bring Bruce into this chappy. The "main" part of it turned out to be so long that I thought I'll write the part later (most likely the next chapter).

The song featured in this chapter (or the first verse of the song, to be exact) is, like Lorne tells us, the Suo Gan, also known as the Welsh Lullaby. I have no knowledge as to who originally wrote the Welsh lyrics, since the song seems to have been around for quite a while. If you do a search for the lyrics, you might also find the English translation, but I opted for the original thing (Welsh is a pretty language).

CHAPTER 20 -THE WELSH LULLABY-

Fred sat next to Mabon's bed, watching the seemingly sleeping elemental. Once in a while he would stir and breath out weak protests at some unseen assailant. Fred wringed her hands. She did not dare to touch Mabon, every time she did that it only served to him even more distressed.

Fred shook her head in frustration. The thought that her friend was in pain and she could nothing more than whisper sweet nonsense into his ears was infuriating. She wanted to get her hands on Bruce and make him sorry for what he did to Mabon. Clenching her hands into tight fists, Fred swore silently that she would make Bruce pay dearly.

Suddenly Mabon cried out softly and moved his head to one side.

Fred rose halfway up from her seat. "Mabon?"

Tears ran down Mabon's face. "Please... I swear, I'll do it... Just... make it stop."

A shaky hand came out from beneath the covers laid over Mabon's body. The elemental gasped, his face strained. A small convulsion went through Mabon's before he eased back onto the bed.

Fred became aware of something flickering in the periphery of her vision. She turned around to see a single candle burning on a table behind her. She got up went to blow the candle out. She then returned to Mabon's side, he was crying.

"Mabon, please wake up. Look at me."

Mabon turned his head towards Fred's voice and his eyes opened.

Fred smiled at him.

Mabon's lower lip quivered. "Fred?"

"I'm right here, Mabon."

"Fred, I'm so sorry."

"No. You have no reason to be."

"I tried, I tried so hard. I promised that I would not do it... I failed you."

Fred leaned closer. "You didn't fail anyone."

Mabon closed his eyes and shook his head. "No. They were right... I'm nothing but a dirty, weak freak."

"You're not."

"I am. Taro!" Mabon wailed and the candle on the table practically burst out in flame.

Fred stepped back as Mabon was engulfed why blue light. His wail turned into a scream of sheer agony.

"Mabon. Mabon, you have to stop. You're hurting yourself! Mabon, stop!"

Mabon gasped and sank deep into the covers and added pillows Cordelia had brought to make the bed more comfortable, he was terrified.

Fred fought the desire to hold Mabon. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Fred, he'll never let go."

"Bruce?"

"He's going to hurt you." Mabon was falling asleep again, part of Fred believed that he was not aware of things as they even now. "You have to go, I do not want you to get hurt."

"He can't hurt me, you're being delirious."

"He will find a way... I have to..."

Fred buried her head in her hands. What would it take for her to convince Mabon that everything would be okay?

Just then Lorne's voice came through the door. Soon a familiar green face peeked in.

"Hi, peachy-face. Do you mind, if I come in?"

"No, go ahead."

Lorne carefully closed the door behind him. "How are you doing?"

"Bad."

Lorne sighed. "Thought as much." Lorne stood next to Fred and looked down at Mabon. "Poor sparrow. How's he been feeling?"

"He's in pain. Did you-"

"Yeah, I left Wesley with a few number he can call. I'm sure we'll have an alchemist here soon."

"Thanks, Lorne."

"It's nothing." Lorne glanced at the candle. "Why's that burning?"

"Mabon lit it, twice."

Lorne moaned.

Fred looked up at him. "What is it?"

Lorne pulled up a chair and sat down. "I can't tell you all the details, they're a little sketchy even to me. But when Mabon sang at the club, the thing I felt coming off of him the most was fear. There were flashes of memory from times when he'd been afraid. That Francis guy, you know about him right, he would try to make Mabon light a candle on request. With that collar on he can't do much more. But sparrow would never do that."

"You knew about this? Lorne, why didn't you tell me? We could've-"

Lorne motioned Fred to keep her voice down. "Would you like to have all your unpleasant memories aired in front of everyone? Honestly kitten, I didn't believe that Bruce was going to come after Mabon. And even if I had, what difference would it have made?"

"I don't know..." Fred sighed. "What does the candle mean, if you can tell me?"

"Mabon broke. He'd fought back for decades, but something happened with Bruce that made him give up."

Fred felt tears escaping her eyes. "Oh, Lorne."

Lorne held out his arms and enclosed Fred into a gentle hug. "It'll be okay, peach. I know that as long as you don't give up on him, there's hope."

"I don't know what to do."

Lorne looked at Fred and smiled. "I have an idea." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single sheet of folded paper and handed it to Fred.

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Notes?"

Lorne nodded. "I didn't just pick up bad memories from Mabon. I know that this song has always managed to calm him down in a tight spot."

Fred turned the song around in her hands. "I don't even know what language this is in."

"It's Welsh. Ever seen that movie, Empire of The Sun?"

"Yeah, I have."

"This is the song right in the beginning of the film. It's called Suo Gan. I'll help you sing it, if you want."

"I'd like that."

Slowly Lorne began to sing and Fred joined in. Unsure of how to pronounce the words she followed Lorne's lead.

"Huna blentyn yn fy mynwes,
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon;
Breichiau mam sy'n dyn am danat,
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron;
Ni cha dim amharu'th gyntun,
Ni wna undyn รข thi gam;
Huna'n dawel, anwyl blentyn,
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam."

As the first verse came to its end, Fred could see a hint of a smile play on Mabon's lips. The elemental was far more relaxed and breathing easier.

"It worked."

Lorne leaned back on his chair. "I hope you're not mad at me."

"I was, for a while. But I know you didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"Everyone tries to do their best. Sometimes it just isn't enough."

"Yeah. Lorne..."

"What is it, sweetie?"

"He did it for me. Bruce was threatening to kill me and Mabon bargained to go with him if he didn't hurt me or the others." Fred sniffed.

"You feel guilty?"

"How could I not?"

"Well, in my opinion, you have no reason to feel guilty." Lorne smiled. "If I was you, I would be happy to know that there's someone in this world that cares more about you than anything else."

"But..."

"If Mabon could speak to you right now, what do you he would say?"

Fred fell silent for a moment. "He... He wouldn't want me to be sad."

Lorne was about to affirm Fred's estimation, when a knock came from the door.

"Yes."

"It's me," Wesley's voice replied. "The alchemist is here. Can we come in?"

Fred wiped at her tear soaked face and got up. "Yeah. Come in."

Wesley stepped through the door, followed by a short, young woman with waist long hair. Lonre smirked and shook the woman's hand.

"Merri, I knew you'd come."

The woman chuckled. "Well, you need my help, and who am I to say no?"

Lorne turned to Fred. "Fred, this is Meredith, if anyone can fix this, it's her."

"Hopefully I'm worth all that trust, Lorne. Now, where is he?"

Fred moved aside to reveal Mabon. "Here."

Meredith walked next to the bed and bend down to take a closer look at the elemental. With incredible care, she pulled back Mabon's left eyelid and examined the pupil.

She tiled her head and straightened her posture. "Any idea as to how the chemical got to his system?"

"Angel mentioned seeing something that looked like puncture marks on his arm," Wesley said.

"How many?"

"I think he said five."

Meredith's eyes narrowed. "Laboured breathing, heightened sense of touch, enlarged pupils, interventions... I've heard about one mix that could be behind this. But to my knowledge it's only made by-"

"Shadrar?"

Meredith's brow shot up. "Yes. In that case I definitely know what this is. How long ago do think he was injected?"

Wesley mused, "well, Mabon was captured nearly three days ago. It's been a few hours since we got him back..."

"Five doses within three days. Lucky for you he's an elemental, anything less than that and he might very well be dead, or catatonic."

"He's been highly disoriented ever since we found him."

Meredith shrugged. "Wouldn't expect anything less. With all the pain the drug induces, your mind becomes very blurred."

Fred looked pleadingly at the alchemist. "Can you fix it."

Meredith sighed and looked away. "I'm afraid that there's no known antidote for this. If I'd try anything, I could only make it worse. But the good news is, that the effects are temporary. I'd say it should wear off in one or two days."

"That's good to hear." Wesley nodded. "We're very grateful for your help."

"I'm just sorry I couldn't help more. I'll see you around, Lorne."

"Bye, Merri. You're welcomed to have free drinks at the club anytime!"

Meredith exited the room. Fred sat down on her chair, relieved to know that there was an end in sight. Then her eyes caught the glint of metal under the covers and her face fell.

"We have to get that thing off him."

"I agree," Lorne said. "It's only making things worse. I'm going to have to see if I can contact a metallurgy demon to take it off."

"Yes. I'd imagine they're the only ones that can dispose of the metal they make."

"Do you think one of them would help us." Fred turned to Wesley.

"And get a shot at outdoing another one of them?" Lorne laughed. "In a heartbeat."

"I read that they are quite boastful when it comes to their skills. Some of them might be interested in disposing of the collar for us."

"I'll start calling up my contacts right away. You don't mind if I use your phone to call long-distance?"