Author's note: Finally, the next chapter! Thank you for being so patient. I didn't forget about this story – I just had a bit of a writer's block on it.
FYI, about the memory thing, it's still the same so only the few remember Connor as Angel's son.
Please don't forget to review – it's like the battery to my energizer bunny, the lead to my pencil, the… ok, I'll stop now.

The story so far: The gang has retrieved an AU Wesley – supposedly the earth's saviour – but he escaped when he identified Angel as Angelus. On his way, he meets Connor and follows him home. (cough cough not that way you dirty-minded people)

Chapter 6: The Truth

"We'll search within a three mile radius. Buffy, Xander and Willow, you take the East. Gunn and I will take the West." Angel had taken out the city plan from his office and spread it across the reception desk. They were huddled close around it and were setting up a search mission.

"What about me?" Spike asked impatiently.

"You and Illyria can search bars, talk to people, find out what they've seen, heard. Lorne and Giles will stay here in case anyone comes."

Lorne raised his Seabreeze in a mock salute and said "Fine by me, sugarplum. I've had enough excitement for one night." Giles was less than enthused at having to just wait and do nothing as if he was useless but didn't say anything. As they were selecting their weapons, the phone rang.

"Angels Investigations, we help the helpless." Fred said as she answered it. There was a small pause as she listened to the other side then she said, "Ok". She turned around and held out the phone. "Angel, it's for you."

Angel wondered who it was and took it from her. He listened for a while and then said 'thanks', putting down the receiver. He turned back to the group as they were walking away then said "Wait." They stopped in their tracks and turned to face him to hear what he had to say.

"That was a source. He has Wes."

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"So, this is your home?" Wesley looked briefly around the tiny apartment. It was sparsely decorated with hardly any personal effects except for a few things here and there that could easily be replaced or packed up quickly.

"Actually, I stay at the campus. This place is just a temp for the holidays." Connor busied himself with switching on the lights and whatever ritual he does every time he comes back. He returned to see Wesley still standing warily and said, "Uh, why don't you sit down. Would you like anything to drink?" Without waiting for an answer, Connor went to the kitchen for the beverage. Wesley took a seat on the couch, changing his position a couple of times to get comfortable.

When Connor finally re-emerged, he came out with nothing and said sheepishly, "I guess I've been avoiding grocery shopping for too long. Um, why don't you wait here, I'll go out and get something. It'll only be a minute." When Wesley was about to decline, Connor said, "I have to get stuff for my fridge anyway."

Connor quickly said goodbye and left, leaving Wesley alone in his apartment. Wesley sighed and, with nothing to do, switched on the TV to a channel showing two koala bears having a go at it.

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"This is the address?" Giles asked.

"From what we're told, yeah." Gunn said. He parked the car in front of the building and they both got out. Angel wanted to come with but Giles argued that it wouldn't be a smart thing to do as Wesley was still confused. So it was only Giles and Gunn – Giles because he was a Watcher, and Gunn because… well.

They entered the building, taking up the stairs to the third floor. The lighting in the corridor was dim but the area was well kept. They walked on until they stopped in front of the door numbered 219. They looked at each other for a moment before Giles slipped in the key that they retrieved from where they were told it would be, and opened the door.

It was empty.

The television was off.

No one was here.

A toilet being flushed was heard.

So someone was here.

Huh.

They entered the room and closed the door behind them, already planning to be between him and the only safe escape route. When Wesley came out, he was rubbing his face and completely ignored them. Stopping behind the window, he looked at the view below of the empty night. After a few seconds had past, he finally spoke.

"So he is with you."

They knew that it was Angel's source he was talking about.

"We're not here to hurt you." Giles started. "You left in quite a rush. We never had a chance to explain -"

"There's nothing to explain." With that, he rushed towards them and quickly disengaged Giles with a punch. Gunn was able to blink only once before Wesley was on top of him and they struggled for a moment before Gunn was also knocked down. Wesley retrieved his jacket from the back of the couch and exited the apartment before they could even process what just happened.

"He's got a soul!" Gunn shouted. "Angel has a soul!" But Wesley was already gone. Again.

Gunn groaned as he got up, his body hurting where Wesley really let him have it, and went over to see how Giles was doing. He helped him up and asked if he was ok, to which Giles said "splendid".

Gunn was just about to say that Wesley escaped when suddenly Wesley stormed back in and demanded "What the hell are you talking about!"

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"Do you think they'll be ok? He didn't seem keen on talking earlier."

Willow was sitting on the settee in the middle of the lobby with Xander when she asked the question. He looked at her, surprised at the sudden question, but then the look turned to one of fondness. He put one arm around her and gave her a little playful shake.

"'Course they'll be fine. It's G-Man! Well, G-men now. Who says two G's doesn't make a right?"

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Exactly."

They smiled at each other and for that moment their worries were forgotten.

"- and it wasn't even bloody his! Can you believe it! " Spike told Angel as the came into the lobby from the basement. Angel looked bored as Spike continued rattling on. He nodded a 'hi' at the two and walked to the weapons cabinet to put back the axe he was holding, wanting it to be out of his hands before he would be tempted to throw it at a certain vampire.

"And I want to know this why?" Angel asked when Spike paused for his response.

"Why! I'll tell you bloody why. It's because of-"

"Wesley."

"What? No, it's…" But Angel wasn't listening. He was looking at the man who just entered through the doors, Gunn and Giles, both a bit worse for wear, coming in after him. It was as if time stopped for them at that moment as they each took in each other's presence.

Spike stopped talking a while before and was looking at the newcomer as well. Xander and Willow also got off the seat in light of the new turn of events. For a while, nobody said anything, until Wesley took a more few steps into the hotel.

"I will help you," he started, "but when this is over you never come to me again."

"That's all I ask." Angel said.

"No; there's more that you wish of me, but that is something I cannot give you." Wesley walked down the steps and towards Angel. "I'm not him." He stopped a few feet in front of Angel. His eyes turned cold as he said "He's dead. Deal with it."

They stared into each other's eyes, both daring and not backing down.

At that exact moment, Lorne came down the stairs. "Woah, what's with all this bad vibe I'm feeling? It's like a sauna of negative energy in here." He waved his hand around in the air as if swatting it away. He looked to see that Wesley was in the lobby and gave a little 'ah' of acknowledgment, then went to make himself another Seabreeze.

Wesley arched his eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry for threatening on your life."

"Oh, don't worry." Lorne said as he laughed it off. "I get that all the time. You should know what my mother tried to do to me."

Angel shuffled on his feet and asked awkwardly, "So, did they tell you everything?" he asked.

Wesley turned his attention back on Angel. "Enough – cursed by gypsies with a soul, you are now a champion for good, and you need my help for an approaching apocalypse as I am the so-called prophesised saviour. Is there such a thing as an original story line anymore?"

Angel ignored his cynicism and asked softly, "Did they tell you about… our Wesley?"

"Yes." He answered. Then said, "He was weak."

Before the others could react, Angel suddenly grabbed his shirt collar in a tight grip and said menacingly, "Listen here, Wesley was not weak. He gave his life to what he believed was right and-"

"Spare me your ode to the dead man, vampire; I'm just here to get it over with."

Angel angrily released him, wishing that he would at least fall or stumble. But he just stood there, dignified and unfeeling. However, as angry as Angel was that this man, truthfully in his heart he was also partly relieved. It made things easier to remember – this wasn't Wesley.

Giles stepped in. "Well, we haven't told you who everyone else here was; this is Willow, Xander, Spike-"

Wesley interrupted. "So what's this demon you all want me to save you all from?"

Suddenly, the front doors swung wide open, revealing the newest intruder.

"That would be me." He said, and then added:

"Well, not me exactly, but, you know, still evil."