Chapter 3

While the others were all downstairs, Angel took Wesley to a room they patched up for him and tended to his wounds. They all wanted to be with him, or at least help in some way, but Angel said it would be better if people didn't crowd around him and Giles agreed. Illyria protested the most – surprisingly – saying that he was her guide and so on. Angel suspected that there was something more there, remembering his conversation with Wesley about how he needed her, but said nothing about it. Eventually Angel won out and she just walked away, but not before calling him a few unfavourable names and saying it was her own choice for Wesley's sake, not because Angel told her to. Angel didn't care; he was just satisfied that she gave up.

When Angel was contented that this Wesley was sleeping restfully – at least as restfully as he can – he made his way to the others. He was surprised at the amount of wounds on the man's body. They covered a myriad area of his skin and some were still bleeding, either fresh injuries or older deep wounds that were never given a chance to heal for reasons Angel did not want to think about.

He was surprised that the man could still stand and speak when he did, or even still be alive for that matter. Angel was wrong about thinking that the man would so easily give up his life; as was so boldly proven, the man would fight until the fire died from his eyes.

They look so alike, Angel suddenly thought, this guy, and his Wesley. At first he thought this guy really was him, but that was the initial shock talking. This can't be his Wesley; this man has a heartbeat. He's alive.

As Angel reached the stairs he heard the conversation between the people in the lobby. The first voice he heard talking was Buffy's.

"Wesley's our saviour?"

"Now that's something you don't think you'd hear" that sounded like Xander's voice.

"Hey, he might've been a right ponce when 'e was in Sunnydale but Percy was fighting the good fight with us and he was a right champion. He died doing what he believed in and don't you even dare say that he wasn't good enough." Angel was surprised – and a bit proud – when he heard Spike of all people to stand up for Wesley's name. They must have bonded more than he realized. The next voice that spoke unmistakably belonged to Giles.

"You have to remember – this is a Wesley from another world. Circumstances might not have been the same. Things might have been very different where he came from."

"Very different." Angel said as he came down the stairs.

"How is he?" Buffy asked.

"He's fine; resting." Angel answered before finally reaching the group. Angel then just realized that everyone must've tensed up when the question was asked because he saw them all suddenly relax.

"Shit, man" Gunn said suddenly "Did you see him? He was practically bleeding bucket loads. And it's Wes, dammit! He might be a completely different person but, I can't… stop thinking that it's… him." Gunn slowed as the sentence progressed that before he finished everybody was already thinking the last word in their heads.

The group from L.A. didn't say anything because even they felt that way, and the Scoobies were respectfully quiet because they knew how hard it was to have a loved one die and can only imagine the pain of seeing someone else who looked like them walking the earth. Suddenly Angel turned to Giles.

"Giles, you said that he was alone."

"Yes, I did. I certainly didn't sense any other presence nearby. Why? Was someone there with him?" Giles asked.

"No, he was alone. That is if you count the fact that everyone else there was dead."

"Good God!" exclaimed Giles.

Everyone took in this news silently. Then a small hesitant voice was heard.

"Uh…" Xander started. He paused for a moment before thinking better of it and said "never mind."

"Spit it out, Xander" Angel said. Giles frowned at him but otherwise said nothing. He too was curious at what the boy had to say.

"Well" Xander said "What if – what if we were too late?"

"Whatcha talkin' 'bout?" Spike said.

"What I'm saying is… Giles, you said that circumstances might be different right?" Giles nodded. "Well, maybe the Wesley from that world wasn't fighting the good fight. For all we know he could've been – could be – the bad guy. And all those dead people? There's a chance that he's the one who's killed them."

"No." Angel stated simply.

'"Angel" Giles said "I believe what Xander is saying has some element of truth in it. Even if you don't like it we must consider the possibility that maybe our hero is dead and the person sleeping on that bed is a serial murderer."

"But what about the prophecy?" Gunn asked, not wanting to believe it.

"It said that he is the only one who could save the earth. It did not say 'will' save. These things aren't written in stone."

"Well in that case" Spike said "We just have to find out if he's the real deal or not, right?"

"That's the idea."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Check him."

"It's not that easy, Spike. We need someone who can read him; his aura or soul."

Suddenly it clicked but Angel spoke first. "Lorne, you do it."

"Woah, now hold on there, big fella." Lorne said. "Don't act too rash. You might want to think this through first."

"What's there to think about – you're anagogic, Lorne, you can do it. Read his soul."

"You're putting your faith in the wrong place, Angelcakes. I'm not as great as you'd like to think." Lorne said, remembering how his so-called power failed them during their reign in Wolfram & Hart.

"Lorne, look" Angel said "You helped, us a lot; when we had no one to turn to. Don't forget that."

Lorne smiled at Angel "Thanks, sweetie. But I still don't think I can do it." Before Angel could interrupt him, he continued "He'll need to sing and I don't think he's in any condition to do that, even after he's healed." They thought about it and it did seem unlikely that he would sing in front of a bunch of strangers that he likely thinks were going to kill him.

"Well, if I may?" Giles said. Angel shrugged and Giles took it as a sign to go on "I just spoke to Willow – on the phone – earlier while you were attending to his wounds. It seems that she has arrived back in this plane safely and landed in Italy to stop over at Dawn's. She said she'll be here in about three to four days. We can ask her to perform a spell."

Angel thought about this then said "Can't she come faster? We're kinda in the middle of an Apocalypse here."

"Ah… yes. Yes, forgot to mention that." Giles said apologetically. "I seem to have been too occupied with her return that it slipped my mind. I'll call her again; see what I can do."

With that, everyone dispersed to do their own thing.