Chapter 3: The Letter

The story so far: The story of Chris is revealed and Angel tells Wesley to move into the Hyperion for safety measures.

Oh brother,

Has it really been fifteen years? I suppose it has. Time does pass by so quickly when you're not looking. I have re-written this letter a many hundred times, but I fear that my way with words is mundane at best. It was always your area of expertise.

They think I've gone mad, that is why they have locked me here. But be honest Wesley, you always knew, deep down, this is who I am. You've always been too naive and too beautifully full of denial that you would rather seal your natural intuition for our sake. You needed me, as I needed you. You are the one who is truly mad.

Oh, but I miss you so. As rare as they are, I miss your smile, your laugh. Sometimes I think I hear them echoed beyond these stained walls - the innocence resonating through this place of madness. Exquisitely beautiful.

But oh, sweet brother; what I really miss is seeing your eyes; the way they light up and brighten everything around you, like the pure gentle sun you are. I cannot wait to see you again, if only to see that look.

Which brings me to the purpose of this letter. I am coming to see you. Is that not happy news? I found that this place where I am quickly bores me - as inducing atrocious nightmares into the minds of peers and authority alike has long lost its novelty - and without you here, well, nothing's keeping me – except maybe the security system, but that can easily be taken care of.

I have been keeping news of you, as I share your joys and sorrows. To be honest, I applauded your departure from the Council. At best, they are pompous weasels, and I would not like you to be further entangled in their suffocating web. Imagine my surprise though that you have joined a band of demon fighters, led by a vampire, no less! Ah, but he is no ordinary vampire, is he? The infamous Angelus, Scourge of Europe. No worries, brother; even in here, I keep with the times.

Angel. The vampire with a soul; the champion to the Powers That Be. Quite interesting; although I do feel that I am jealous of this demon. Your worshipping glances towards him did not go unnoticed. Tell me, as I am not there, was he my replacement? Did you love him as much as you loved I?

No worries, I will take care of him as I have the others, along with your other new friends. Charles and Cordelia, is it? Soon I will return, and you can come back to me. No one will have you as I have. Besides, I have yet to finish what we started those many years ago. Do you remember still?

I'm nothing if not thorough.

Your brother

(Do I really have to spell it out?)

-------------------

"So why does he want to kill you?"

They were in Wesley's apartment, packing up whatever he needed and putting them in a bag. Wesley stopped halfway through gathering his clothes when Gunn asked the question. He dropped the pile onto the bed but didn't turn around.

"I don't know."

"Someone doesn't just snap. There must have been something-"

Wesley turned around. "I don't know" He said with barely concealed emotions. Gunn looked at him. This was the side of Wesley Gunn had never seen before; he always thought he had the skinny English guy figured out. Gunn let the question go and they resumed the packing.

Some time passed by and finally Wesley said "I'm done here. Let's go."

-------------------

Chris was humming a favourite nursery rhyme while he was cooking when he heard a small beeping sound go off from inside the apartment. He turned the heat down to low and went into the living room. He walked up to the window and stopped by the table that was pushed against it. The sound was coming from a device that was placed on the tabletop. He pressed the 'off' button and it stopped.

Gingerly, he sat down – his tuneful singing never wavering – and looked through the telescope that was perched on the table. It was pointing to the apartment just across the street. More specifically, Wesley's.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" He said out loud. He smiled as he watched his little brother and his friend quickly pack his things in a bag. "Ah, the letter must've arrived today." He said happily.

He watched for a while more before he stood up and went back to his cooking. He took out the Thai-style curry and placed it on the plate that he set on the table earlier. Whistling now, he took out a bottle of fine red wine and poured it in his glass. Finally satisfied with the presentation, he sat down to enjoy his meal. He looked across from him and raised his glass in a mock toast.

The chair opposite was empty, but where the meal would've been served on the table was a small picture frame. In it contained a single photograph of Wesley, the day just before he was sent to be a Watcher, wet behind his ears with absolutely no idea of what he was to encounter. Chris thought it was the perfect one to take.

Their mother never even noticed it was missing. Their father probably didn't care.

Chris smiled. It won't be long now; it was only a matter of time. Soon he will have his brother back, and soon he will complete his greatest art of all.

"Cheers."

Author's note: I can't express how much I love you all for reviewing. They just make me squeal with excitement: )