Chapter 4

On the second evening Willow finally came. The Scoobies greeted her with smiles and hugs, the vampires said hello, Gunn shook her hand with a smile, Lorne charmed her with his explosive personality and Illyria just looked at her strangely as if assessing her.

Willow appeared the same as she had when Angel last saw her, if not older, but he knew that looks were deceiving. She is now debatably one of the most powerful witches of her time. If anybody could find out if someone is a fake or not, Willow definitely could.

"Willow, it's nice to see you again. So how was your trip? Pleasant, I assume?" Giles asked.

"Oh, it was amazing. I saw all these things that were just incredible and indescribable, you had to be there. Except for this little headache which I didn't have until like, just now - it could be like a delayed thing - but everything went great!"

"That's good to hear. And I'm sure the headache will go away soon. Why don't you retire for the day and we'll get this done… tomorrow?" that last bit was directed at Angel.

Angel wanted it done as soon as possible but he knew that it wasn't fair on Willow who looked like she needed some rest so Angel let her go. So with Willow going to sleep and Giles looking at the scrolls again, Angel had nothing to do but join the others on patrol.

The next morning Angel went into the kitchen. Everyone except Willow was already there eating breakfast. Angel walked to the fridge and took out a bag of blood, poured it into his mug and heated it before drinking. After a while, Willow finally came in.

"Morning" she said groggily. Willow was still in her PJs and her hair was wild on her head. She walked sleepily and drunkenly and people moved out of her way, Xander giving her his seat. She sat down and breakfast was pushed in front of her.

"Wills, are you ok?" Xander asked her.

"I'm fine. It's just this headache – it's been bugging me all night. It doesn't hurt, just a constant annoying buzz."

"Perhaps this is something we should look into. This headache could be magical in nature." Giles said.

"But you can work just fine, right?" Angel asked anxiously.

"Angel…" Giles started but was stopped by Willow.

"It's alright Giles." Willow said. She turned to Angel and said "Yeah, I can still do it. I'm sure we can take care of this later. Right now there are more important things to do." Willow stood up. "So, where is he?"

Angel brought Willow upstairs while the others stayed back and led her to Wesley's room. Willow stopped at the door and turned to Angel.

"Maybe it's best if I go in alone."

Angel hesitated, not wanting to miss it but eventually he was forced to agree. "Ok, I'll just… be downstairs."

Willow nodded and waited for him to go. When she was finally satisfied that he was gone, she turned back to the door.

The truth was she didn't want Angel to smell the fear from her. The buzzing was louder now and it completely stopped as soon as she touched the door. It was then that she was convinced that whatever the source of her headache was at the other side. She opened the door slowly, and entered.

They waited patiently in the lobby after finishing their quiet breakfast, waiting to know what Willow found out. Not long afterwards, they saw her walk down the stairs. They crowded closer towards her and looked at her expectantly.

First she was quiet while she was descending the stairs, then she looked at Angel and told them.

"Wesley…that – other – Wesley, he's – I – I'm sorry, I couldn't find out… His aura was strange; blurred. I couldn't find out if he's the right one. But Angel…" this time her eyes looked desperate and Angel knew that what she was about to say was not going to be good, "that man, there's… something… not right about him. The headaches are gone now but he's the one, or his aura, has been giving me them. We should be careful; we don't know anything about him. I don't know if he's the right guy, but I felt him… and I got scared. Whoever he is… he's dangerous."

Angel stood alone in the garden. He was in the shade, just shy of the sun's rays. After hearing Willow's earlier words, Angel didn't know what to think, or feel. He was looking outwards towards the busy street when he sensed someone join him.

"Angel? Are you OK?"

Angel was surprised, and a bit disappointed, to find that it wasn't Buffy's voice he heard, but Gunn's. He gave a non-committal shrug but other than that, barely registered Gunn's presence.

"Hey, man, the others are worried about you." Gunn, seeing that Angel wasn't going to say anything, went to stand beside him. He stood quietly for awhile then said "So you're just gonna stand here while the rest of us save the world again?

Angel sighed "You heard what she said. Wesley-"

"Wesley was always dangerous" Gunn cut in suddenly, his voice showing no emotion, "after everything, you knew that. You are too. Never stopped him from believing in you." Gunn turned to look at Angel, "So don't you stop believing in him."

"But that's just it – he's not him. We don't know who that is. We have no idea."

"Then we find out." Gunn said casually. "From what I heard, he's British. Give him a cup of tea and some biscuits and we'll talk days past like merry gentlemen." Gunn said in an exaggerated air.

"Gunn…"

"Tell me one person here who isn't dangerous, in their own right."

Angel pondered on this and said "Xander?"

"Are you kidding? White dude with an eye-patch? And he's mean with the tools! Don't tell me you think that's safe."

Angel finally broke out a small smile. He knew that wasn't as scary as Gunn made it sound but he was content with it anyway.

"So he's dangerous" Gunn resumed back to their initial conversation "doesn't make him the bad guy."

"No, it doesn't." Angel finally agreed. When he said that, he felt like a weight was lifted off him and everything seemed better. He turned to Gunn. "You go right ahead, Gunn. I'll be right with you. Tell the others I'm fine."

Gunn nodded his acknowledgment and with his task done, went back inside the hotel.

It was dark, getting darker. He was breathing, then he wasn't, then he was again. People were screaming, dying – too loud. Deafening. Smiling. Dead, alive, dead, alive. Pain, always pain. Too much too little. A woman, a baby. A woman? Closer, coming closer. Calling out to him. Kill her kill her. Go away! Screams, more screams. Stop it, stop. STOP!

Wesley opened his eyes.

Well, this is the last chapter before I start school for 2006. Updates will still be done but not as frequently as before. (I only just found out that I didn't accept anonymous reviews - silly me - so my brother couldn't review it. It's enabled now, though, so let nothing stop you!)