The first thing Connor noticed when Buffy re-entered the hotel was the devastation that was written all over her face. Instinctively he reached for Dawn's hand and clutched it tightly, fearing that they had failed and Adamson had become more powerful than anyone could have dreamed.

"What happened?" It was Dawn who spoke, carefully and deliberately so as not to upset your sister. "Adamson is he....?"

"Only human." Buffy told them, her voice ragged and her attention seemingly focused on nothing. "We killed the Garlock demon."

"Then why the funeral face sweetie?" Lorne said with a big grin. "This is a cause for celebration, you know, breaking out the bubbly! Hey, we could even hum a few bars of whatever strikes us! I always say a song to celebrate is a song.....hey, speaking of tall dark and tone deaf where's Angel?"

Buffy almost broke down completely at the verbal mention of Angel's name, but through sheer force of will she managed to hold it together for her own sake as well as Connor's and the rest of the AI team. She couldn't let herself think it was hopeless. If she let herself believe, even for a moment that Angel was gone for good, she didn't think she would be able to handle it.

"Buffy?" Cordelia's voice cut into her thoughts, clearly concerned by the slayer's expression. "Where is Angel? What happened?"

"That demon thing didn't...." Gunn made a sign with his finger across his neck to indicate decapitation and grimaced at the unsavoury thought of it. "I mean Angel's not..."

"He's not dead." She said quietly. She watched as their faces all relaxed slightly. "But he is gone. Adamson....he....he used up what little power Galendil had given him to open a portal to the demon God's dimension and threw it at me. Angel jumped in the way and got sucked into the dimension instead. He's in hell."

"Oh my God," Dawn whispered, now fully understanding her sister's anguish. She took a step towards her and attempted to comfort her, but Buffy all but jumped back, fearing that any physical empathy might cause her to break down completely and she couldn't afford that. She was barely holding on as it was.

"We have to get him out." Connor stated flatly. Everyone turned to stare at him, visibly surprised that Connor of all people wished to help Angel. "Regardless of what he is, or what he's done, he's my father. I grew up in a hell dimension and he didn't save me."

"It wasn't Angel's..." Dawn attempted, but Connor cut her off.

"I know." He continued, smiling apologetically for silencing her, then continuing. "He told me he tried to get me out, and I believed him. If nothing else he said was true, I believe that much. He tried to save me and I owe that to him. I won't let this happen again. We're going to get him out somehow."

"But how?" Fred finally broke in. "I mean, I've been researching this Galendil's demon dimension and it's pretty tough stuff. Not to sound all willy nilly about opening dimensional portals, but even if we could do it, there's no guarantee that we wouldn't all get sucked in, or that we'd ever get back out again."

"There's no 'we' in this here anyway." Buffy stated firmly. "I'm the only one going in. It's too dangerous for the rest of you."

"Oh I don't think so!" Cordelia exclaimed furiously. "Angel's my friend! Do you think I'm just going to sit here, while...."

"Cordelia!" Buffy said sharply. "I call the shots here and if you don't want to listen to me then I will make you all unconscious slayer style do you understand? Nobody goes in there but me!"

"That's my father in there!" Connor said, his voice low and dangerous. He stepped up to where Buffy stood and the two of them stood nose to nose. "I've lived my entire life in a hell dimension, don't you dare tell me I couldn't handle it! I owe this to him and I am not going to let him just sit there while you..."

"Connor," Buffy said softly, "please listen to me. I know how much you want to help Angel but I need you here."

"Why?" He questioned, puzzled by the intense look of pleading in her eyes as she spoke. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Buffy led him away from Dawn and into the corner of the room where she couldn't hear them. "In case I don't come back Connor....I need you....to look after Dawn for me."

"What?" He exclaimed, clearly shaken by the naked fear within her eyes. She truly believed she wasn't coming back out. "You want me to...?"

"I need you to care for her." She insisted. "I need you to keep her safe. You're the only one who can Connor....you're the only one who will. Can you do that?"

Connor nodded solemnly, understanding that in this moment, and from hear after, he officially had Buffy's blessing in regards to him and Dawn. Whether she would be a presence in her sister's life to share that, was unknown and Connor understood the full gravity of that.

"I will protect her with my life." He vowed. She smiled and gratefully hugged him.

"I know."

"Buffy this is crazy!" Dawn interjected, not liking the serious way she could see her sister and Connor talking. This could only lead to bad. "You just can't go galloping off into a hell dimension! How do you know how you'll get back?"

"I don't." She admitted. "But I have to get Angel out. I have to."

"Buffy I spent five years in a hell dimension and if it weren't for Angel..." Fred trailed off unable to finish the sentence as memories of Pylea suffused her being for a moment. Finally she continued. "I owe Angel more than he will ever know for taking me out of that place. I don't like the idea of you going there alone....but I will do whatever I can to help you do it if it might bring Angel back. You have my promise."

"Thank you." Buffy said to Fred, grateful that at least one person supported her decision.

"You sure you don't want a little muscle around as backup?" Gunn questioned. Buffy shook her head.

"You guys are all very sweet to offer, but I can't risk you like that. Angel is my responsibility...and I will save him. I promise."

"I can't just watch you do this Buffy! I can't!" Dawn was nearly in hysterics and not even Connor's soothing arms could calm her down. "I watched you die once right in front of me! I can't do it again!"

"I'm sorry Dawnie," Buffy whispered, tears threatening to overtake her once more. "But I can't leave Angel there. I have to do this. He spent a hundred years of pain and torture in a hell dimension already because I sent him there. This time I'm going to get him back."

"Not to poop anybody's party here sweet cakes," Lorne cut in, "but how are you going to open the dimensional portal? I mean, from what I hear tell on the demon circuit, it's not an easy thing to do. You need a lot of knowledge about these things. Who do we know that could..."

"Wesley." Fred said softly. The entire gang including a very surprised Buffy looked to her.

"Wesley?" She echoed in surprise. Fred nodded.

"If anyone could open a portal to this place it's him."

"You really think Wes'd help us after we..."

"He helped us before," Fred interrupted Gunn. "He'll help us again if we ask him. I promise Buffy."

She nodded seriously.

"Where does he live?"