Chapter 8: Hummingbird

Angel, Wesley and Gunn came up from the basement, amazingly slime-free after an exhausting night of patrol. Wesley left his crossbow on the countertop – not bothering to clean it – before making his way upstairs to his bedroom. This display was not lost on Gunn and he frowned as he picked up Wesley's abandoned weapon. He watched Wesley's retreating back disappear before saying to Angel, "Don't you think Wes has been acting a bit weird lately?"

Angel said nothing, although he did share the thought. Lately Wesley had been quiet and distant, always excusing himself and rushing off to his room. The only time he would get downstairs was during their nightly patrols and to get more books. After the third night, Cordelia started bringing him food upstairs and it's been like that ever since. It also occurred to Angel that Wesley's scent was a bit… off, although he couldn't quite pin down what it was about it that bugged him.

"Man, I just can't wait for this to be over." Gunn said. You and me both, Angel thought silently.

"Hey, you're back!" They turned to see Cordelia coming out of the kitchen, a tray of food in her hands. "So how was it?" she asked.

"Demon marathon, but nothing we couldn't handle." Gunn said.

"Is that for Wes?" Angel asked.

"Yes and actually, I was thinking you should bring it up to him today." Cordelia said, thrusting it into Angel's hands.

"What?" he asked surprised.

"Ugh, talk to him! Obviously, something's wrong and we can't keep on ignoring what's happening. I'd do it but I think Wesley would prefer a guy-to-guy talk."

"Then why can't Gunn do it?" Angel almost whined, not really excited with the prospect of having a heart-to-heart with Wesley. Or anybody for that matter. Zilch on the social skills, as Cordy would say.

Cordelia glared. "Duh! You're the one with the brooding experience – you guys can do some synchronised grunting or something. Now go!" She shoved Angel towards the direction of the stairs and made encouraging motions with her arms. However, after barely two steps, Wesley appeared again and descended slowly down the steps. He didn't acknowledge them as he made his way outside, closing the door behind him.

A few silent moments passed when nobody knew what to do before Cordelia said "Well?"

Angel gave her back the tray and followed after Wesley. He saw him standing by the junction to the streets, seemingly with no intention of going further. Only then did he realise how dangerous it was to let Wesley go outside alone. Anything could've happened while they weren't looking.

"Uh… hey, Wes." Angel said nervously as he came up beside him.

"Angel." Wesley countered. He put his hands in his pockets and said, "Before you say anything, I'm fine. It's just that with everything… I needed some fresh air." He concluded. He turned slightly to look at Angel and gave him a soft smile.

Angel realised that it was one of Wesley's genuine smiles after a long time, not ones he would give lately just to be polite, and returned it with his own. They stood enjoying the silence of each other's company and the night sounds of L.A. "We'll get through this." Angel said eventually.

"I'm sure." Wesley responded. What's this?" he asked suddenly, his eyes cast on the ground.

"Hm?" Angel said. He turned to where Wesley was looking and halted. He cursed himself for forgetting all about it – the cross drawn with Chris' blood. "Uh, it's nothing. Let's just go back inside."

"Actually, if you don't mind," Wesley said, "I'd rather stay outside and be alone right now. You can tell Cordelia you did your job and she doesn't have to worry anymore."

Angel cringed. "She didn't send me…"

"Well, thank you, anyway." Wesley said humorously. He felt Angel shuffle awkwardly for a bit, probably to figure out if his work was really done, before walking back to the Hyperion. Wesley waited silently, feeling the cool air around him, and then looked behind to see if there was anyone watching. When he saw that the coast was clear, his smile disappeared; his features turned distant and hard as he looked back to the streets.

Far off in the distance, a dark figure was seen running towards the Hyperion. It jogged the last few steps before stopping in front of Wesley who pulled it off to the side. It took down its hood to reveal a Khagii demon. "Do you have what I asked for?" It boomed.

Wesley took out a vial from one of his pockets but pulled back before the creature could snatch it from him. "I spent a week working on this. I wouldn't like to think it was for nothing."

The demon smirked, revealing rows of sharp teeth, before revealing his end of the bargain. "Here you go," he said, giving Wesley a brown envelope, "these little masterpieces will work as well as the real thing, with added benefits of course."

Wesley peeked into the envelope and, satisfied, gave the vial to the demon. "Pleasure doing business with you." It said. Before leaving, it commented "Bullets filled with holy water – now that's going to do some undead damage." It saluted Wesley and went off on its way.

Wesley watched the demon until it was out of sight and, before going back into the Hyperion, said softly, "I'm counting on it."

-----

As a particularly slow day, Angel had gone to the basement and Cordelia was in her room, leaving only Gunn to man the business. He was testing out a few of their weapons in the lobby when Wesley came up to him. "Gunn, do you have any plans tonight?"

Gunn turned around and put down the sword on the counter. He was surprised and also kind of relieved that Wesley had, at least for now, gone out of his seclusion. "Not really, why?"

"I was wondering if you could help me – I need some more things from my place."

"Sure. After patrol, okay?" Gunn asked.

Wesley smiled. "It's perfect."

-----

"Angel, where are you going?"

Angel turned around to see Wesley coming out of his office, a research book in his hand. "I just need to take care of a few things," Angel said as he righted his jacket collar and hid a collapsible stake under his sleeves. "Will you guys be alright?"

"What? Oh, yes, we'll be fine. Good luck."

Angel hesitated. "Actually, I could just not…"

"Just go, Angel. We're not completely harmless; we can take care of ourselves."

"Right. Well… be careful." Angel said at last. Wesley watched him as he left through the doors and into the night.

"Where's he going?" Cordelia asked as she was coming down the stairs. Wesley looked up and told her what Angel just said.

"So he can go solo while we have to hold hands?" she asked.

"He is a vampire, Cordelia." Wesley reasoned. Cordelia scoffed and made her way towards the kitchen. Suddenly Wesley said, "Actually, I needed to talk to you; privately, in the office."

Cordelia looked at him with a concerned look but his features gave nothing away. "Sure," she said slowly, and headed for the office. Wesley waited until she was inside before coming in after her. But just as he was at the door, he heard Gunn's voice calling out to him.

"Yo, Wes. You ready to go?"

Wesley stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Gunn. "Now?" he asked.

"Yeah. Don't tell me you forgot."

"No, it's just…"

"Excuse me, is this Angel Investigations?" They both turned to look at the man by the door they didn't realise come in.

"Yeah?" Gunn said.

"I need some help," the man said, his hat scrunched up tightly in his fists.

"Gunn, can you…?" Wesley pleaded.

"Yeah, I'll take care of it." Gunn went to greet the client and Wesley entered the office. He saw Cordelia sitting on the couch and she straightened her back slightly when he came in. Cordelia looked at him worryingly while he closed the door slowly behind him.

"Wesley, what is it?"

He didn't answer her. Instead he went to the office inner window – Gunn was talking to the client – and pulled down the shades. Cordelia got off the couch and went up to him, standing silently as she waited for him to speak.

"It's about my brother." Wesley said finally. He turned around and faced her before moving a bit further into the office. "We spoke yesterday," he said softly.

"What? But – how?" Cordelia asked, horrified. "You were here all yesterday. Did he – did he come here?" Cordelia stopped herself when Wesley didn't answer, thinking that she was being too intrusive. She moved closer to him and placed her hand lightly on his arm.

"What did he say?" She asked more softly. Wesley looked at her, seeing the tender concern on her face. Slowly he raised his hand and had it gently touching her check. Cordelia had a confused look on her face, unused to this intimacy from Wesley, but did nothing. He traced it lightly down towards her neck, letting it linger, before he suddenly wrapped his hand tightly around it and pushed her against the door.

"He told me to kill you."

-----

"So you got giant slugs living in your basement?" Gunn asked.

"Yes. They ate through our power lines – we haven't had any electricity for three days," the man said in distress.

"Well, it's a good thing you came to us then. Don't worry; we'll take care of it."

"Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you." The man frantically shook Gunn's hand in gratitude before leaving in a hurry. Gunn wrote down the man's address on a piece of paper before pocketing it. Finally, he headed towards the office.

-----

"Wes-!" Cordelia choked; her eyes wide with horror.

But Wesley seemed intent on not letting her go and only squeezed her neck tighter. Cordelia pulled and scratched at his hand, gasping for much needed breath, but found the constriction gave her none.

"I'm not lying when I say I love you, Cordelia. Really, I do," Wesley said calmly. "But Chris, he told me you're a distraction; you'll break us apart. And we can't have that."

Frantically, Cordelia kicked him in the crotch area, and his hold slightly waned. She sucked in a lungful of air but before she could scream for help, his hands were back at her throat and he leaned crushingly against her to avoid a repeat action.

"If I had to choose…" Wesley continued a bit more roughly. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. But I love him… And I'd do anything for him."

Help! Cordelia screamed silently. She felt herself getting weaker and her eyes started to roll back. Help…

-----

Gunn opened the door. "Wes, what's keeping y-"

"Gunn." Wes said, appearing suddenly in front of him and obstructing his view of the office.

"Are you ready?" Gunn asked, turning away to grab his keys on the counter.

"Yes," Wesley said, putting on his jacket and closing the door behind him. "Of course."