Fred

Fred paced around her lab in the Wolfram and Hart building. Everyone had gone home for the night except for her and Wesley. Wesley was in his office sorting through some ancient artefacts that had been delivered to Human Resources earlier in the afternoon, while Fred was finalising an experiment she was working on.

'There's something missing. Something I'm forgetting.' She mumbled as she paced around her tables and a stool that she'd knocked over earlier and hadn't got around to picking up.

Wesley appeared at the door. 'Something you've lost?' He enquired.

'I don't know. There's something missing in the formula, I just need to find out what it is.' Fred replied, still darting around to various benches and tables with vials of different coloured liquids.

'Well, I was going to ask if you wanted a ride home.' Wesley said. Fred stopped and looked over at Wesley who stood leaning against the doorframe.

'Aww, Wesley that's really nice of you but I don't know how much longer I'm going to be here. I could be here all night.' She laughed her "Fred" laugh and Wesley sighed, preparing to leave.

'Alright then.' He paused, listening for noise. 'Are we the last ones here?' he asked.

'Yup, I think so.' Fred answered. She paused, then put down her conical flask of yellow liquid on the lab counter. She walked over to Wesley. 'You know, my brain's kind of frazzled right now. Maybe after a good night's sleep I'll be able to finish my experiment. Just let me pack up and I'll come with you.'

Wesley smiled. 'I'll help.' Together they packed up the lab and turned off everything that was on, the lights, the machines in the lab and they closed the door behind them as they left, turning off lights as they made their way to the lift.

'Have you got anything planned for your Thursday night?' Wesley asked Fred as the lift arrived and they stepped inside. She shook her head.

'Just sleeping.' She smiled her warm smile, and directed it at him. The doors closed and they rode to the carpark below.

'Oh, did I tell you about the artefacts that got delivered earlier?' Wesley asked suddenly, getting excited.

'No…' Fred replied, sounding a little inquisitive.

'There were at least 20, and they were all so fascinating. I managed to categorise all of them since this afternoon and create small identification cards so I know what time period each piece is from.' Wesley paused for a moment. 'I'm boring you aren't I?'

'Oh no, Wesley, no. I understand how much you're interested in this type of thing; I'm just so tired. I've been working all afternoon on this experiment, racing round the lab trying to find the missing substance to complete the formula.'

'That's understandable. Come on.' The doors opened and they stepped out into the carpark. Wesley led Fred over to his car and they drove out together in silence.

Fred switched on the radio, softly. 'Is that alright?' she asked.

'Of course.' He replied as he pulled out into the traffic. After driving several minutes with nothing, Fred spoke.

'Wesley, is there something between us?' Wesley tried not to sound surprised with his reply.

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, is there like, some sort of chemistry between us. People in the office have been talking, and I've overheard a few people in the lab saying something about us denying what's really there. Do you know that they're talking about.'

Wesley couldn't deny it any longer, so he responded telling Fred exactly how he felt. 'I love you Fred, I always have. You know that, right?'

'Really?' Fred asked, kind of surprised, but not shocked.

'Yes. I've loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. You can't tell me you haven't noticed.'

'I've noticed, it's just…' Fred began. Wesley looked away from the road and at Fred for a few moments. 'I should probably tell you then, that I…' Fred was cut short by a blazing horn. Wesley jerked his head around to see a jeep bounding towards them on the wrong side of the road. Wesley swerved, trying to miss the oncoming car, but was unsuccessful.

The jeep clipped the tail end of Wesley's car and spun them around three times. Fred screamed and Wesley desperately tried to control the wheel. The car continued to spin, and Wesley struggled to hold onto the wheel. As they neared a corner park, they hit the curb and the car leapt into the air like a grasshopper. It continued spinning for two more revolutions before violently slamming into a tree. It landed then rolled onto its side, with the passenger door facing the ground.

Fred was trapped. Wesley managed to free himself by climbing out the broken car window. He tried to pull Fred out, managing to get her free eventually.

The driver of the jeep came running over, screaming and asking if they were hurt.

'Fred. Come on Fred, please.' Wesley tried talking to her, but it didn't seem to be helping. The man helped Wesley get Fred out of the car and they laid her carefully on the grass near a bench.

She was bleeding from a gash on her forehead and her clothes had been torn a little from the impact. Shards of glass ha cut into her delicate skin and as her eyes remained closed, Wesley feared the worst.

'Is she alright?' the man from the jeep asked Wesley.

'Does it look like she's gonna be alright?' Wesley shot back. 'Get away from us.' He desperately tried to wake Fred, gently shaking her shoulders and whispering to her. 'Fred, come on, wake up. Fred. Fred!'

Then Fred's eyes opened. Wesley caved.

'Oh God, Fred.' Tears welled up in his eyes and he tried not to let them fall on her face. She looked up at him with her big soft eyes and Wesley could see that she was struggling to breathe. In the dark of the night, Wesley was left with nothing but streetlights and the single lamp in the park to watch his beloved Fred die.

As tears began to form in Fred's eyes, she struggled to speak. She knew that she had to tell Wesley what she'd tried to tell him in the car. And she knew that this would be her last chance.

'I…' she began.

'Fred…' Wesley whispered, almost crying. He couldn't believe that this was happening.

'I… love… you.' Wesley held her close, kneeling by her side.

'I love you.' He told her, smiling. 'I love you so much.' A tear dropped onto her cheek and he gently wiped it away.

'I… love… you.' Fred's final words, a repetition of her declaration of love for Wesley. As her soul left her body and drifted to Heaven, Wesley could be seen hunched over the limp body of his beloved Fred, in the darkness of the night next to his overturned car. The driver of the jeep could do nothing but stand back and watch as Wesley cried for the loss of his Fred. His Fred, the most important thing in his life. And she was gone.

A/N: Okay, not exactly killed by a thing, but in an accident. I just wanted the Fred/Wesley situation to be the other way around than in the show. I wanted Wesley to mourn for Fred, as she lies dying, not the other way around. I thought it worked out okay, even if it went off track a bit. (The fight to the death theme thing) But I hope you like it anyway. Can you guess who's next?