Chapter 9
Love's Sacrifice
Angel sat at his desk staring at the phone he had just hung up, dumbfounded by Wesley's audacity. Harmony just called to inform him that Wes had called an emergency meeting and the team was on its way to his office. Angel rose from his desk intent on getting to Wes first, but never made it passed the board table, as Wes, Gunn, Lorne, and Spike entered the office.
"Spike, why are you here? There has to be something you would rather be doing than annoying me."
"Well it seems a certain blue demon broke my X-box, Harms all pissy and in no mood to take a tussle, and Buffy's on another continent, so that just leaves annoying you."
"Spike! –"
"Oh don't be upset ya big poof, just because you're fourth on the list."
"Spike I don't have time for this. Wes, what have we got?" Everyone took a seat around the table except for Spike who dropped himself into the armchair in the corner.
"It seems someone, or something, has been killing demons in large numbers in and around the area surrounding Stanford University-"
"I'm sorry, we called an emergency meetin because someone's out there actually doing the job we should be doing? The job we used to do. I'm just not seein the problem here." Gunn's street fighting side was surfacing, a side Angel hadn't seen in a while. It brought back fond memories of fighting side by side, out on the front line as opposed to this excuse of fighting they did within the fancy walls of an evil law firm.
"I'm just sayin we should be callin him a hero, or at least paying him as some kind of outside contractor, don't you think?"
"Gunn, that's not really the issue."
"Then what is mate?" Spike interrupted Wes without apology.
Angel was tired of Spike's constant meddling. "You know, I really miss Casper Spike. Any chance you could still do that wooshing thing now that you're all corporeal? Cause I loved that."
"I know a way to make you woosh, ya ponce."
"Come over here and try it bleach boy."
Wes cleared his throat. "Um, Angel, it's important that we know what out there is strong enough to be killing demons in mass numbers. And we don't know that demons are his only target." Angel was thankful that Wes had quickly interrupted what would have most likely turned into one of his and Spike's usual lengthy tirade of insults.
"Or whether he's stopping to ask pertinent questions like, oh, I don't know, ARE YOU EVIL?" Lorne directed this statement at Gunn. "I certainly know where I won't be walking come sundown. What are you thinking Angelcakes? I know that look. You have a theory."
"So do I. I think its Connor." Now Wes looked at Angel, the knowledge of the secret they shared when it came to Connor passing between them."
"You mean that boy that was here? The one with the superpowers that we were unable to determine where came from."
"So the little bit has taken it upon himself to fight the good fight. Well good on him! Certainly someone should be out there beatin back the baddies. Don't ya think Angel?"
"Wes, I'm glad you brought this to my attention. I'll take care of it. The rest of you all have jobs to get back to-"
Spike raised his hand, "I don't."
"Actually, you're going to go down to the lab and train with Illyria again. That is if you think you can handle her."
"Not like I've seen you take up any trainin time with her. Now that I'd pay to see." Spike bristled at the challenge.
"You don't even have any money. What you do have is what I give you. But if you can't work with Illyria, I'm sure we can find someone else who can."
"You threatenin me? How 'bout I just take a hop across the pond instead of stayin here enduring your unceasing Nancy boy brooding and pissant attitude. I'm sure someone over there would give me a place to crash. Perhaps a place with a nice big comfy bed. Really never did try the bed… "
Angel and Spike were now at the point that always became their stalemate. Angel had control over Spike by providing him the materialistic things he wanted, and Spike asserted his control over Angel by threatening to go after the woman they both loved.
Still staring at Spike, Angel aimed his next statement to the team. "Wes, why don't you stay behind. The rest of you, go do whatever it is you all do."
Wes remained seated at the table as everyone else walked out of the room, everyone but Spike that is. He stayed in the chair obviously intent on staying for the conversation.
"Spike!"
"I'm goin' just not lookin forward to blue beatin…uh I mean, beatin the bugger out of a waspy bit is all. I got a soul now ya see."
"Go, and shut the door behind you." Spike walked out of the room, pushing open both of the double doors and leaving them open in his wake. Wesley stood and walked over to close them, before turning back to look at Angel.
"Wes, what were you thinking? I thought we made it clear that you wouldn't say anything about Connor being my son, and I wouldn't tell everyone about how you betrayed all of us and kidnapped him, setting up the string of events that nearly ended the world. Do I have that right? Did I miss anything?"
"Angel I wasn't going to say anything about him being your son-"
"You still should've just brought it to me, Wes."
"As much as I don't want to dredge up my past transgressions, I think perhaps we should discuss returning everyone's memories. I just don't think it is morally right to continue to manipulate their minds like this."
"Like it was morally right for you to take my son from me?"
"I thought you were going to kill him."
"That doesn't make it right Wes. It just adds your lack of trust to the pot of sins I don't think you really want disclosed to the people who shut you out of their lives. That is, until an impending apocalypse forced them to take you back."
Wes stood quietly looking at Angel, his memories weren't as clear as Angel's whose mind had never been manipulated. Angel figured the reality of words made the sins of the past sharper and more real than the flash from a broken Orlon Window ever could.
"You tried to kill me."
"Yes I did…..And you deserved it."
"I know." Wesley looked up with a haunted look on his face, and slowly turned to leave.
"So then we have an understanding regarding this matter?"
Wesley didn't turn around, and in a whisper only a vampire could hear answered with a resigned "Yes."
"And Illyria? I expect that I don't have to worry about her either."
Wesley did turn around at this statement. "Is that a threat?"
"No, it's just a recommendation that it would be in her best interest if you ensured her silence regarding this matter."
"I have her under control."
"She's not Fred, Wes. You can't possibly predict how she will act. We all knew Fred for years and never knew what she was thinking-"
Wes was visibly angered now and raised his voice at Angel, something he rarely did. "I said I have the situation under control. I, more than anyone knows she isn't Fred, so don't ever think to lecture me about that. Yes, you lost your son Angel, and I would in no way attempt to belittle the amount of pain you feel at that loss, especially for my part in it. However you got to make that choice, I didn't."
"Fred was taken from me, her soul burned away while I watched helplessly as she was gutted by a demon who now wears her as a shell! So don't presume to know anything about my situation. You were offered a way to save your son. No one is going to walk through that door and extend that offer to me. Fred is gone, and all I have left of her is bits and pieces of memories retained by the demon who wears her body. So when I say I can handle her, know that I live it, everyday. I could have killed her for what she did to my Fred, and she knows that I made the choice not to. I am the reason she still lives. Therefore, she is handled."
Angel looked away from Wes and began to gather the file he would need. It seemed they too had come to an impasse, one Angel didn't want to explore any further.
"Well then, I see we're on the same page. I'm going to head out to Stanford to find out if Connor is responsible for these killings. I expect that you can keep things running in my absence?"
"Of course. Do you plan on approaching him, or just skulking in the shadows?"
"First of all I don't skulk, I lurk, and second…. I haven't decided yet."
A/N This is probably the best Angel/Wes scene I've ever written. Let me know what you think. Did I get their voices right?