Author's note: Italics are scenes from the past, either childhood or recent (some past scenes are taken from previous chapters). Bold is Chris talking in the present.

The story thus far: Wesley had a nightmare and decided to loosen up at the pub. There, he meets his brother.

Chapter 7: Because I'm Broken

"So, where's the package?" the man asked.

"I don't have it anymore." Chris said simply.

"What!" the man growled.

Chris smirked. "You see, the stone was actually a vital ingredient in this spell I made. So I used it." Quickly, Chris took out a gun and killed the man. "Sorry, but your services are not longer required."

Christopher knocked on the door and entered the occupied drawing room. "Father?" he said hesitantly.

He waited for Roger Wyndam-Pryce to finish what he was doing and turn his attention to him. "What is it, boy? Speak up - I don't have all day!"

Chris put his hands behind his back and started. "It's Wesley. I saw him entering your study..."

His father immediately stood up and bellowed. "What!"

Chris stood straighter as he finished quickly. "He took something; it looked like a scroll."

"That thieving little monster! Where is he!"

"In his room, I think." He said, hastily getting out of the way. Chris watched the fuming back of his father as he went to the direction of Wesley's room, no doubt to give him a piece of his mind. Only when he was sure that his father was gone did he allow his smile to break out.

The door swung open and Angel rapidly entered the pub, his eyes searching frantically before they finally fell upon Wesley sitting alone in a booth. Giving out a relieved sigh, he came up to him and said, "Wes."

After a beat, Wesley looked up from his drink at him. "Angel." He said softly. Angel looked around once before he slowly sat down opposite, and they stayed like that in silence for a few moments. He could faintly smell another man's scent on him, but decided not to say anything.

"I'm sorry." Wesley said finally. "I just… needed to get out."

"Come on, let's go home." Angel said coaxingly. He got up and waited for Wes to follow him before they walked back to the Hyperion together.

Chris watched on from his bedroom window to the manor's garden where Wesley was kicking about with some of his friends. He scowled at the sight, of Wesley being with someone other than him.

Wesley was his. And no one could take that away from him.

Wesley came down the stairs and found that everyone else was already awake in the kitchen.

"Well, look who's finally decided to join the land of the living." Gunn said.

"And the kinda dead." Cordelia put in, looking not so subtly at Angel.

"Hey!" Angel said, but didn't retort. Instead, he turned to Wesley. "Eggs?" he offered, tilting up his pan.

"Thank you." Wesley said smiling, joining them at the table.

"Do you love me?"

"Of course, Chris – you're my brother."

"But not enough…"

"Hm? I didn't catch that – what did you say?"

"Nothing; It doesn't matter. I'll fix it."

"…?"

As soon as breakfast was finished, Gunn left to hang out with his old crew while Cordelia trained with Angel down in the basement. Wesley came down and watched them as he waited for them to finish one sequence before asking, "Cordelia, does the company computer have an Internet connection?"

"Of course, for the research stuff. Why?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to check my e-mail." Wesley smiled and left them to themselves as he walked back up to the lobby. He went behind the reception area and sat in front of the computer. However, instead of doing what he said, he entered a chatting website and logged in as 'Ex-Watcher'. Before long, a private message box appeared:

- WESLEY?

- ARE YOU THERE?

Wesley looked at the words on the screen for a moment before replying:

- YES.

- . . . GOOD.

Chris had no doubt in his mind that right now father was doing things to Wesley he wouldn't wish upon himself. He regretted that he had to get Wesley in trouble but he knew that it would be worth it in the end, for both of them. He waited for so long, and it was finally his chance. He remembered how he caught the bird asleep and snapped its neck. It was that easy.

He entered his father's study quickly, not knowing how much time he would have. Quickly he scanned the book titles in the bookcase before his eyes fell upon one particular volume. Taking it out, he opened it to the page he discreetly marked last time and put it on the desk. The spell was there, staring right at him. He hastily took the pen and paper from his pocket and copied everything down, his hands shaking with adrenaline. Finally he finished, and put everything back where it was before leaving the study, trying to walk away innocently even though his heart was pumping rapidly in his chest.

---

It was almost evening and Chris went downstairs to get ready for dinner when he was stopped by a soft sniffling sound. It was coming from the closet under the stairs. He stared at the door for long time before coming closer and touching it gently.

"It's okay." He whispered. He didn't know if Wesley heard him or not, but after the words were said, the sound stopped and nothing but silence came from the other side.

- ARE YOU ALONE?

- Y E S .

Chris entered the house bleeding from his nose; scrapes and bruises covering his arms and face. Wesley followed him up the stairs and into his room. "It's that wanker, Craig. He ambushed me; he and his friends beat me up."

---

"Right now, I'd like nothing better than to see that bastard dead."

---

As the priest delivered his words of faith, Wesley finally turned his attention to the person across from him, their eyes instantly connecting; and in that moment realization and understanding dawned. A tiny shrug of the shoulder, a flicker in the eye.

---

"What happened?"

"I killed him."

---

Both brothers knew that Craig's death won't be the last.

---

"I killed him for you."

"I know, Wesley."

- I 'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LOVES YOU.

"Oh my god, what have I done?" Wesley said with confusion, holding his head in his hands as if that would make it go away.

It was then Chris realised something he didn't count on happening. "It fades…"

"What?" Wesley said breathily, all the energy in him lost.

"Never mind." Chris said. "Come on, let's get you something to drink and we'll talk about this. We'll get through this together. I won't leave you."

- THEY'RE A DISTRACTION.

He didn't have to wait a long time before an opportunity showed itself to him. Chris watched as Wesley entered the pub's toilet before making his move. Casually, he went over to Wesley's booth and the unoccupied drink. He sat down and took out a small package from his pocket, releasing from inside the powdered substance into Wesley's drink. He had finally succeeded. This time it will work they way it was supposed to – permanently.

He watched as it sizzled before disappearing quickly, and smirked as he left to return to his seat by the bar.

- YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO .

15 years ago...

Chris stabbed the boy in his dorm room and watched as he fell slowly to the ground, his horror-filled eyes staring back at him. He didn't know him, but god did it feel good to have your hands drenched in others' blood. It was beautiful.

"What the…?" said a voice from behind.

Chris quickly turned around to see John by the doorway. Realising that he was caught, he ran and Chris quickly gave chase, lunging at his feet and making them both fall to the floor.

They struggled furiously, the knife hovering slightly above John's eye, taking all his might to stop it from piercing. For a moment, Chris staggered slightly and it was enough of an opening for John to throw off his advantage and hit the hilt of the knife on Chris' head, making his forehead bleed.

Roles reversed, John was now on top of Chris, trying to choke him into unconsciousness. Chris struggled to breathe, his eyes full of hate as he tried to reach for John's face. Suddenly, John slackened and Chris pushed him off him. It was then he saw Wesley standing over him, and realised that he stabbed John with the abandoned knife.

"Wesley…"

Wesley outstretched his hand and helped Chris up. "Are you ok?" he asked, not at all bothered with Chris' bloodied state.

Just then, they heard voices coming up the stairs. Chris looked around and said "Come on", leading Wesley by the hand to his room. As soon as he locked the door behind them, the screams started.

"Chris…" Wesley said in a worried voice. Chris turned around and saw Wesley frowning while holding his head as if in pain. Chris reached out to touch his cheek. He stared into his brother's eyes.

"Your mind will be too fragile once the potion's effect fades." He reached out for the knife and Wesley gave it to him unquestioningly. Then he plunged the knife deep in Wesley's shoulder, enticing from him a shout of pain. When the insistent banging began, Chris continued, "1will make you forget... for now. Give you new memories. Promise you'll wait."

Through his tears, Wesley said, "I will. I promise."

Chris smiled tenderly as he released the knife, eliciting a small grunt of pain from Wesley, and smeared his lips with the blood. He leaned closer to kiss right below Wesley's eye. Moving to his ear, he chanted softly: "Ovlay mu ego sum varga seele, pandor niya vomi hortuva."

Chris moved his head back to look into his brother's eyes. "I started this, I'll finish it. Then we can truly be together. Just us."

Before the door crashed open, he pushed Wesley who fell hard on the floor. People were coming in shouting but Wesley ignored them, oblivion finally taking over his subconscious.

- ­KILL THEM.

"Hey, what're doing?"

Wesley looked up to see Gunn standing in front of the reception desk, holding his hubcap axe in his right hand. He was waiting for an answer but Wesley just looked at him distractedly, nothing revealed on his face. He looked back at the screen at a new message:

- KILL THEM ALL.

Wesley closed the window and turned his attention back onto Gunn, his face impassive before they softened.

"Nothing."