Chapter Five
The medical ward was far too sterile for Angel's taste. It smelled like antiseptic and death. He remembered a time when one of those smells wouldn't have bothered him, but today it just annoyed him instead.
"She came awake as soon as we arrived. She hasn't shown any hostile signs, but she hasn't said anything either." Wes reported as Angel entered the ward. He had his arms crossed over his chest again and he was scowling. Wes tried to ignore Angel's mood and pressed him for answers.
"Who is she, Angel?"
"A Slayer."
"Yes, I know that," he said curtly. "What exactly happened?" he rephrased, motioning toward the bed the girl was sitting on. She was looking down at her toes, wiggling them and swinging her legs passively. Angel didn't answer for a long time and Wes was beginning to give up hope.
"She was in my head, Wes." he said finally, still looking at the girl on the bed. Wesley sighed and nodded thoughtfully.
"She's a psychic, Angel. She can do that."
"Not just in my head; she was controlling what I did. She almost got me to kill Spike." Angel replied, turning to face Wes with a bit of worry clouding his glower. Wesley just sighed again and looked through the window at the Slayer.
"All quips on Spike aside, she must be quite a powerful psychic. Not many can actually access the motor skills in ones brain." he said softly. Angel nodded in reply. There was a long pause of silence while they watched a nurse bustle about the small room.
"I was wondering how the bruises came about." Wes said suddenly. It was a statement, not a question.
"Bruises?"
"On his neck. I understand the shattered cheekbone and the wound in his thigh, but the bruises seemed out of place." Wes pointed out, leaning against the window of the ward. It unnerved Angel that the only thing between him and a deadly psychic was a sheet of glass. He thought he remembered telling Wesley to contain her…
"Not really. Not when it comes to Spike." he said simply, refusing to look at his friend. Wesley didn't say anything and decided to skip the History of William and Angelus for one night. There was always more time for that later. In any case, the nurse was finished with her duties and pushed open the glass doowr, a small smile playing on her lips.
"She's talking if you'd like to see her, sir." the nurse said as she came out of the room. Wesley nodded at her and held the door open for Angel as they walked through. The girl quickly eyeballed Angel, but her sight ultimately came to rest on Wes. There was silence between the three and Wesley was the first one to finally break it.
"My name is Wesley—"
"Pryce. Your name is Pryce. And he's Angel." she said quickly. Without taking her eyes off Wesley, she lifted a slender finger and pointed at Angel.
"Yes," he replied slowly. "I suppose I can skip the details since you already appear to know them." Wesley glanced at a rigid Angel briefly before moving a bit closer to the girl.
"I knew you were looking for me."
"Yes. We know."
"My name is Angela." she said softly, bringing her hand back to her lap and away from Angel.
Wesley nodded and lightly sat down next to her. "Do you know why we came looking for you Angela?" he asked softly, his voice even as if he were speaking to a child.
"Yes. You want to send me away, so I can be a weapon. But you don't know that they'll kill you. I'll kill you." she said conversationally. Angel took a step forward, but Wesley held up his hand and he stopped.
"I'm not crazy. I know that's what you're all thinking because…well, because I can see it." she said, laughing a little. "But I'm not. I'm sane and regular like the rest of you. You don't know what the Senior Partners will do with me, but I do. I can stop this before it starts. That's why I ran away. I can see the future, but that doesn't mean it can't change." she explained. Wesley looked at Angel and made a little 'follow me' gesture with his head. They made their way for the door, closing it with a click behind them.
Wesley made a motion across the window, "I'm not exactly sure what she's talking about but--"
"What do the Partners want with her?" Angel asked, cutting him off.
"Well, if she's able to control people as you say, there's plenty they can want with her. She's right. She could become quite a weapon." Wesley explained, glancing through the glass again.
"Then we don't turn her over." Angel said simply. Wes shook his head with a sigh.
"It's not that simple, Angel. They'll find her. You know they will."
"Not if we keep her from them."
Wesley looked sideways at Angel for a moment. "A few hours ago, you were happily entertaining the thought of finding this girl and sending her on her way. Now, all of a sudden, you can't stand the idea of turning her over to the Senior Partners. What happened out their Angel? What's going on?"
"Nothing happened, Wes. Give her a room and make sure there's surveillance on her 24/7." Angel snapped coldly. He narrowed his eyes through the window for a moment, then left the Ward without a sound.
Continued...
