Chapter 4
Fear Is Your Biggest Enemy
Do Not Let It Win
Angel had arrived at the mansion one hour after Cordelia did. Buffy and Spike were in L.A. right now so it was empty except for her and Kathleen.
It was 1 o'clock in the morning and Angel was banging on the door.
"Cordelia I know your in there. I'm sorry I flirted with the nurses Cordy. It was a hormone thing, you know what I mean. You know that men do and say stupid things whenever the testosterone comes out to play. Our brains fall out of gear and become stuck on the gear known as stupid. It wasn't really my fault anyway it was those nurses that were telling mom how handsome and cute the men were that she had around her. Those nasty pheromones were in the air and I heard the weirdest sound Cordelia. I heard something go plop. You know what it was Cordy. When I turned around it was my brains that had fallen out and were on the floor."
Angel could hear her on the other side of the door. She wasn't as angry as she was when she first approached the door. In fact he had been able to get her to laugh with the last one.
"Come on Cordy, please open the door. If you don't open the door right now I am going to sit hear and bang on the door all night, no I take that back, I am going to sing something over and over again." He waited for awhile. Nothing happened so he sat on the step and leaned against the door and commenced with the torture session.
He banged out a little tune on the door then stopped and sang "Oh Cordelia How I love to feel yea. Ohhhh Cordelia how I love to feel yea. Ohhhh Cordelia how I love to feel yea."
He kept this up for an hour. His voice was starting to go when he saw two people coming up the driveway. It was a man and woman dressed in their night clothes. They stopped right in front of him and he jumped up. Cordelia we have company out here, I think there our next door neighbors.
"You got that right sonny. We are your next door neighbors that can't get any sleep because of you. Now what is going on that your carrying on like this?" The man said. He was a balding man in his early 70's and a spare tire around the middle. It was just a slight one but his short stature made it stick out more. His wife was standing with her arms folded under her ample breasts. She was a typical grandmotherly looking woman. A little over weight with streaks of gray going thru her hair.
"I'm sorry I didn't think anyone could hear me since there is so much space between the houses." Angel was wishing that Cordelia would come out.
"I'm Angel Martin and my wife, who is on the other side of the door, is Cordelia Chase-Martin. We live in L.A. most of the time."
"Well believe it or not we are the Joneses. I'm Robert Jones and this is my wife of 30 years Dorothy Jones."
Dorothy stepped forward. "Now I want you to tell me what is going on and we will try to fix the problem or else I don't think anyone in the neighborhood will get any sleep tonight."
Angel started to explain what had happened. He left out the part of the link between Cordelia and himself instead he picked Fred to blame it on.
"I tried to say I was sorry and it was just my stupid male hormones that made my brains fall out and flirt with those women but she won't listen to me." "Okay Mr. Martin I am going to go in and talk to your wife." Dorothy said. She went up to the door and knocked on it. "Mrs. Martin this is Dorothy, your next door neighbor. I want to talk to you. Let me in please I promise that I won't let your husband in." Angel heard Cordelia come to the door and open it. She opened it just enough for Mrs. Jones to go in.
"Now young lady why are you so mad at your husband?" "You know why, I heard him telling you. He always tells me that he loves me then he goes and flirts with the first women that comes along." "Come now Cordelia you know how men are. If I got mad at Robert every time he looked at another women like that our marriage would have never lasted as long as it has. Your husband admitted to you why he does it. All men do it Cordelia because they have the same hormone. It either causes their brains to fall out or the part that helps them to differentiate between right and wrong freezes up so that it can't function. You better get used to it Cordelia because men can't help themselves anymore then we women can stop ourselves from passing up a sale on clothes or a pair of shoes."
"But how can I ever trust him again if he flirts with every good looking woman that comes along." Cordelia was almost crying.
"Cordelia Chase-Martin, shame on you. You know that the only reason you are so angry is because your pride was hurt. Your pride is the only thing that is making you angry. Your pride was hurt because you cannot except the fact you are not the only woman in the world or the most beautiful woman. I want you to stop and think about something Cordelia. Is he here trying to get you to forgive him or is he at the hospital trying to make a date with the Nurse?"
Cordelia got a strange feeling that she was talking to Dr. Martin.
"Mrs. Jones by any chance would you happen to know a Dr. Mary Martin?"
"Yes I do. Mary and I met through the doctor that was treating her for her cancer. We were in the waiting room together when we just happen to strike up a conversation. I was in the Doctors office for my annual check up. You see I had breast cancer five years ago. Well to make a long story short Mary and I have been friends for a while now. She called me this evening. When I told her that it sounded like you were at the mansion and her son was trying to get his wife to forgive him she asked me to talk to you. She also suggested why she thought you were so mad at your husband. She also said that it was important that you put this foolishness aside and come home because Fred and Wesley needed you two."
Cordelia was quiet for awhile. Then she got up and picked up the bags she had for Kathleen.
"Thank you Mrs. Jones. If you should need any help don't hesitate to call me. I and my family will be going home where we belong now. There are two people there that need us right now." Mrs. Jones got up from the chair and opened the door while Cordelia grabbed a few bags and gave them to Angel who was standing there with his mouth open. Cordelia picked up Kathleen and closed the door behind her as she walked out. She made sure that she locked the door then went to her van, strapped Kathleen into her car seat while Angel put the bags back into the van. Angel stopped her from getting into the van.
"What happened that you have changed your mind about me?" Cordelia looked at Mrs. Jones then turned back to Angel. "I had a conversation with a woman that had many years of experience." She went over to Mrs. Jones and gave her a hug and kiss on her cheek. "Thank you Mrs. Jones. I'll tell Dr. Martin that you did a good job."
Cordelia went back to the van and got in. "Hurry up Angel we have two dear friends that need our help." She closed the door then and started the engine and pulled out of the driveway. Angel turned to Mrs. Jones and hugged her. "I don't know what you said but thank you. Robert would you lock the gates when you leave. Thanks." Angel jumped into his car and followed Cordelia back to L.A..
The first thing Mrs. Jones did when she entered her house was to call Dr. Martin.
"Hello Mary, this is Dorothy. I thought I would just let you know that they are on their way home now and everything is okay." "Thank you Dorothy. I knew that if anyone could do it you could. I'll see you in a couple of months Dorothy, bye." Dr. Martin felt she could sleep in peace now that she knew that Angel and Cordelia were on their way home.
In the morning Dr. Martin was up and checking on all of the equipment that she needed to take care of Wesley. The hospital bed had been set up in Fred and Wesley's bedroom. The king size bed had been taken out and two twin beds were brought in. One for the R.N. and one for Fred. She had a list of drugs, some of which were being delivered today along with Wesley and others that she had to pick up at the pharmacy that she dealt with. The nurse was due to arrive by 11 A.M. It was now 10 A.M. so she went up and down the hallway knocking on everyone's door.
"Get up everyone it's 10 A.M. we have the RN that will be here soon and the ambulance is due by 12 noon. I am going to start breakfast and I will expect everyone downstairs by 11."
Dr. Martin went downstairs to start breakfast and was surprised to find everyone already downstairs and at the dinning room table.
They all stood up and said together "Where have you been? We've been up since 9 o'clock."
They all started laughing then and Angel pulled out her chair for her. Giles came down a few minutes later. He took his usual seat next to her. "You were saying something dear?" Giles said with a slight grin.
"You knew about this didn't you?" "Guilty as charged my dear. Now lets eat because someone said we have a lot to do today." Dr. Martin reached under the table and pinched his love handle.
"Oww! What did you do that for. It was their idea not mine. Angel tell your mother to stop picking on me or I'll sick my slayer on her." Giles said as he started serving himself and his wife.
"Leave us kids out of this. Momma and Daddy need to settle their own problems. Besides if us kids get involved then actual deaths could occur and you wouldn't want that would you?" "No Buffy we wouldn't want that. Especially since your going to give me my only chance at having grandchildren." Giles said as he stuffed some French toast in his mouth.
"What do you mean your only chance at have grandchildren. Now that were married you have Kathleen...as...your...grandchild. My goodness I can't believe I said that."
Everyone at the table was looking at them. "And when did this happen Mother dear?" "Yes Giles, when did this happen?" Buffy and Angel asked.
Giles looked at everyone and stood up. "Mary and I came to L.A. several weeks ago and had Father Barris perform the wedding. Then we went home. Mary, being who she was wasn't comfortable with us living together as we were and neither one of us really wanted a large wedding. Now were sorry if we disappointed everyone but Mary just wasn't up to getting ready for a large wedding. And frankly neither was I. We decided that Mary and I were going to keep my apartment in Sunnydale so that we could have some R&R once in a while. It's nothing against you young people but sometime we just need some peace and quiet." Giles sat down then.
Buffy and Angel exchanged looks. Angel got up then and went to Giles who stood up again and faced him. "Please let me welcome you to the Martin family Rupert. Congratulations." Angel hugged him and they patted each other on the back then he went to his mother. "Mom congratulations. I am sure you will be very happy together." He gave his mother a kiss and hugged her. Angel went back to his seat then.
Giles looked at Buffy who was still seated with her mouth open. "Don't you have something to say Buffy?" Buffy stood up and ran upstairs. Spike went after her.
"Sit down Rupert lets let Spike handle it for now. Buffy has all of the hormones controlling her thought processes right now and you just gave her news that another woman has taken her second Daddy from her just like her first Daddy." Giles sat down and they all finished their breakfast. Gunn came downstairs and was holding the hand of a woman. She was dressed in a nurses uniform. The men all stood up.
"Everyone I would like to introduce you to Cylindia. She is the woman that I have been seeing." "Well it looks like we won't need that second twin bed in Wesley's room. Welcome to the group Cylindia please have a seat." Dr. Martin said. Gunn guided her to the chair next to his. Cordelia went to the kitchen to get another place setting for her.
"Fred Cylindia is also going to be the R.N. that will help me with Wesley. You may recognize her as one of the nurses that took care of me while I was in the ICU. Cylindia is taking off for several weeks to help us and if Gunn makes his moves fast enough I will be able to talk her into working with me permanently."
"Does Cylindia know all about us Gunn?" "Yes she does and I already took her to Lorne and she passed with flying colors. Cylindia this is Angel who is married to Cordelia on his right. The next person that usually sits there is Connor, Angels son. The next person is Fred who is Wesley's wife, the man and woman across from Fred is Mr. and Mrs. Burkle, Freds parents. Rupert Giles is next to Fred and he is with Dr. Martin. I'll introduce you to the rest when we see them." Cylindia said hello to everyone.
"Gunn we were just informed that Giles and Mom are now married. Buffy didn't like the news so her and Spike are upstairs right now. Speaking of Buffy and Spike here they come Giles." Angel said as he watched them return to the dinning room.
Buffy came over to Giles and Mary and stood by them while Giles stood up.
"I'm sorry I acted like such a child Giles. I am truly very happy for you. Spike made me realize how selfish I was being. Can you forgive me?" Giles picked her up as he hugged her. "I can never stay mad at you for long Buffy. After all you are my special little girl. Unlike your biological father I will never abandon you." He put her down then after they hugged each other again. Buffy turned to Mary then. She bent down and hugged her. "I apologize for my childish display Mom. Please forgive me." "No apology is needed Buffy." She gave Buffy a kiss and then made the sign of the cross on her forehead. Buffy gave her a kiss again then went back to her chair to finish her breakfast. Gunn intoduced Buffy and Spike to Cylindia as they sat down.
Cordelia was looking at everyone packed at the dinning room table. "You know Angel we have to go shopping for a larger dinning room table ASAP. Our little family just keeps on expanding. Can you imagine how crowded it will be once we start adding children to the table. With Fred and Wesley's twins and Buffy and Spikes baby we won't have space for everyone. Before you know it Kathleen will need to have her own chair at the table. And Cylindia hasn't even met Willow and Tara. They were up earlier Cylindia and went out shopping you will meet them later this afternoon. Then we have Xander and ."
"Why don't you and the other girls go shopping tomorrow and I'll take care of Kathleen."
Angel said.
"That sounds good to me. We better finish our breakfast and clean up so that we can focus on Wesley when he gets here." Cordelia poured herself and Angel some more coffee and finished eating her breakfast. "Before Wesley gets here Cylindia well have to show you where everything is and Mom can show you the clinic that her and Fred are so proud of."
"That will be good but I think it would be best if Dr. Martin and I take some time to discuss Wesley first. I would like to see where he is going to be also." Cylindia said in between bites of her breakfast.
"That's a good idea. As soon as you're done we can go." Dr. Martin said. She saw that Cylindia had finished her plate and was ready.
Cylindia took one more sip of her coffee then stood up. She bent over and gave Gunn a kiss. "I am going to most likely be busy for the rest of the day so I'll see you later. I'm ready Dr. Martin." The two ladies left then and went directly to the clinic. Dr. Martin stopped and turned around. "Fred would you join us please since this is your playpen also?" Fred was always excited whenever she got to show off the clinic. She quickly got up from the table and joined them.
Buffy and some of the men helped Cordelia to clear the table and clean the kitchen up so Toby did his part by cleaning up the floor under Kathleen's highchair. She picked up her daughter then and cleaned her and the highchair up and let Toby get the rest.
The men were helping to dry the dishes and clean the dinning room table while Cordelia sat down and picked her daughter up and placed her in her lap while she cleaned her up. Toby in the mean time had finished with the floor and was now cleaning up Kathleen's feet by licking them. He had her giggling all of the time as his rough tongue tickled her little feet. Everyone was watching her. For some reason the sound of a baby laughing always gets the attention of everyone else and they start laughing also. Cordelia and Toby were done cleaning Kathleen up so her mother took her upstairs for her midmorning nap. Buffy followed them upstairs so they could talk.
Angel saw Spike watching them go upstairs. "It won't be long Spike and you'll have one also." "Angel I can honestly say that I can hardly wait. I guess this is what it's like for women. They know they are going to be in a lot of pain to bring their baby into the world but you don't really mind that much when you know what you'll have afterward."
"Have you been experiencing any of her morning sickness or anything else?" Angel asked Spike.
"Yes I most certainly have. The morning sickness is past now though and it wasn't so bad with that special tea. Buffy is having big mood swings though that are giving me a hard time. I have to constantly watch myself." "What do you mean watch yourself?" Angel asked.
"Angel, don't you remember what it was like to be with both Darla and Drusilla? If you raised your voice to either one of them the other would practically stake you." "Now that you mentioned it yes I do remember although Angelus took most of that." Angel laughed as he remembered those days. "Yea well it's not so funny when you take Darla or Drusilla and times it by four. Sometimes I just go downstairs and cower in the darkest corner I can find. And that's nothing compared to when all three of them are experiencing PMS at the same time. During those times I just go to my old home in the cemetery and hide." Spike shuddered at the thought.
"I'm going to the back and wait for the ambulance why don't you join me?" Angel told Spike. As they walked out of the hotel they saw Giles and Gunn talking. "Hey guys were going out to the back to wait for the ambulance, come and join us." Gunn and Giles started towards the back to join them.
When they all sat down they just sat without saying anything. All of a sudden Spike started snickering. He tried to stop but he couldn't he just continued to laugh behind his hand.
"What is so funny Spike? Tell it to the rest of us, we could use something to laugh about today." Gunn said.
"If I tell you Angel promise not to jump me and do extreme bodily damage to me." Spike said as he continued to try to stop himself from laughing.
Angel thought about it for a minute. "Okay I promise."
Spike still hesitated so he got up and stood behind Angel so that he would be closer to the doors.
"Now that Giles is married to Mary when are you going to start calling him Da?"
Angel jumped up and ran after Spike who was already halfway up the stairs and through the doors. Spike was almost to the clinic where he knew Dr. Martin was. Angel tackled him from behind and had him by the neck. Spike was able to turn the tables on Angel by grabbing his head and flipping him over his shoulder.
By this time Dr. Martin came out to the lobby along with Cylindia and Fred to see what all of the commotion was about. Cordelia and Fred came out to the balcony overlooking the lobby just in time to see Connor come running in and helping Spike. That gave Gunn the courage to jump in and help Connor and Spike. Now there were three men on top of Angel and holding him down on the ground. Cordelia saw an opportunity that may not come by again. She ran back to the room and grabbed a long feather that she had on her dresser. She ran downstairs and went to Angel.
"Hold him tight guys." Cordelia started to tickle Angels nose with the feather. He started sneezing over and over again.
"Cordelia stop that." Angel yelled in between sneezes.
"Are you ever going to flirt with other women again?" She tickled his nose again. "Please stop Cordelia. I told you I wouldn't do it anymore and I said I was sorry." Cordelia went to his left foot and took his shoe and sock off and started tickling it. Without any warning Angel threw everyone off and pulled Cordelia tightly to his chest. He started tickling her. When he finally stopped she had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.
"Had enough?" "Yes Angel." "Good because I'm worn out." Angel turned over and rested his head in her lap. He jumped up though when he heard the ambulance pull up to the back of the hotel.
"The ambulance is coming." Angel told everyone. Dr. Martin turned to Fred. "Everything ready upstairs Fred?" "Yes, everything is ready." "Okay then lets go." Dr. Martin was followed by Cylindia and Fred as she made her way over to the back entrance. As they arrived at the back doors the ambulance was just pulling up. Gunn and Connor were there to assist them. The sun was right overhead so Angel had to stay back by the steps.
The ambulance driver asked Gunn "Is this the home of Angel Investigations?" "Yes sir you have the correct place. Connor and I will help you bring Mr. Price in because he has to go up to the second floor." "Thanks the help will be greatly appreciated." The driver opened the back doors and pulled the bed out of the ambulance. While the driver had the end of the bed Connor and Gunn helped to lift the right and left side while the other man controlled the other end. They let it go all the way to the ground then pulled it up and locked it in place. They then proceeded to take Wesley into the hotel.
As they brought him into the lobby Angel approached the bed and told them to stop for a second. He looked down at Wesley. Wesley put his hand up and Angel grabbed it.
"Welcome home brother." "Thank you, it's always pleasant to come home where the family is. I missed all of you. I guess it's my turn to be taken cared of." Wesley was sounding weak and his hand went limp in Angels hand.
"Okay men lets take him upstairs." Angel said. They all started moving the bed towards the elevator. They were just barely able to fit it in the elevator along with one man the rest had to go up the stairs and meet them on the second floor. Wesley's parents were in his bedroom waiting for them to bring him in. When they finally came in their were so many people that they didn't have the time to even see him let alone talk to him. As they brought the bed next to the hospital bed Angel and the two ambulance attendants went to the other side of the hospital bed and Gunn, Connor and Giles got on the other.
"Okay men on three we will slide him over to the hospital bed." They all nodded yes.
"One, two, three." They all lifted Wesley and moved him over to the hospital bed at the same time. The ambulance attendants gave Dr. Martin some papers to sign then they left. Cylindia moved in then to take Wesley's vitals and to make him more comfortable.
"How are you feeling?" Dr. Martin asked him.
"I'm tired and feeling a lot of pain in the left side of my chest and back." Dr. Martin felt along his ribs where they had separated them in order to remove the bullet from his heart. He winced in pain. She could feel the wires that held his ribs together.
"This will hurt for awhile Wesley but I can't do anything about it. It will hurt less and less as time goes by though. What your feeling is the wires that are holding your ribs together. When we opened your chest we had to separate your ribs so we could get to your heart and to make them go back to their original position we had to use wire. Some people are bothered by them a lot and some never feel them except for the first few months." While Dr. Martin was talking to Wesley Cylindia was placing all of the monitor tabs on him so they could record his heart beat. He had to stop talking for a minute when she placed a thermometer in his mouth.
Cylindia gave Dr. Martin the chart she had written all of the information she had just gathered on Wesley. She took a few minutes to check the chart.
"Well Wesley this information Cylindia just gathered on you says that you are doing pretty good. Besides the medicine that we are giving you to prevent blood clots I am going to give you some vitamins that will help you to regain your strength and build your blood up again. I do not want you to have any more morphine though. That ended when you left the hospital. I am sure you know that it is too easy to become addicted to it. What I will do is give you some Tylenol."
Dr. Martin gave him two Tylenol and some water. "Now do you think your up to visiting with people or would you like to be left alone for a couple of hours to sleep?" "I want to see everyone." Wesley said with a smile.
Dr. Martin got up from the side of the bed where she had been sitting. "Okay Wesley I am going to go and take a nap myself. If you should need me Cylindia knows where I am." Dr. Martin gave him a kiss on his forehead and made the sign of the cross on his forehead. Then she left. The past few days had been almost as exhausting for her as it was for Wesley. Giles went with her to their bedroom and tucked her in.
"Would you like me to get you something to drink like hot tea?" "No I think I will just go to sleep. Thank you though. Give me a kiss then I want you to go and keep an eye on Mr. Price. I don't want him to get Wesley to upset okay." "Yes Mam. Go to sleep now." Giles gave her a kiss and then got up to close the drapes then left and closed the door. He went down to Wesley's bedroom as he had promised and monitored Mr. Price.
Mr. Price was still sitting in the corner with his wife as everyone else stepped over to the bed and gave Wesley their get well wishes. Most of the Scubby gang was going to be leaving in a couple of days since Wesley had survived and was doing better. Xander and Annya hadn't come because they both had jobs. Xander was in the middle of a construction job and Annya wouldn't leave the store closed. Even though Angel had given her and Xander a million dollars each she still worked. She said she liked seeing the numbers increase in her savings account.
When Giles returned to the room most of the people had left except for Angel, Cordelia, Fred and Wesley's parents. Cordelia and Angel were on either side of the bed and talking to Wesley. Giles could hear Wesley talking to them, 'I don't know why I'm the one that always gets shot or hurt.' "Well Wesley it couldn't be that you're to slow because Angel has been shot a lot more than you and he's fast. So I guess all you can do is chalk it up to pure luck." Cordelia gave him her million dollar smile as she said it. "I tell you what Wesley I am going to do you a big favor and let Fred be your personal maid. I will take care of everything for now. But we are going to all have a serious discussion on hiring some help to keep this place clean. We can't have Kathleen and your two crawling around on dirty floors can we. So you just rest and get better. Is their anything special that you want for supper?" "Yes, I am craving a chocolate milk shake. I want it nice and thick with a little whip cream on top and a cherry on top." Wesley said as he licked his lips.
"If Mom says it's okay then you shall have it, after you have something more nutritious. How about some Chinese food?" "Yes that sounds good." Wesley said with a smile. "This being shot is starting to pay off now. All it took was getting home for the dividends to start coming in." He started to laugh but stopped as he grabbed his chest. "I don't think I'll be laughing too much for a while, that hurts too much."
"I'll see you later Wesley and tonight I'll bring Kathleen to come and see you." "Thank you Cordelia." She gave him a kiss on the cheek then left.
Fred left with Cordelia to help her with supper. Wesley was now alone with Angel, Giles and his parents. Wesley put his hand up and grabbed Angels hand. He could feel Angels strength coming into his hand. He could feel him putting all of his courage into his hand. Wesley needed that courage. He needed it to withstand the pain and the memories of that terrible night.
Angel never took his eyes off of Wesley's. He saw the pain and the memories flood his mind. Wesley seemed to want to say something to him so Angel put his head down to him so that what he said would be heard only by Angel.
"Angel I would like for you, Cordelia and Dr. Martin to join Fred and I this evening before you go to bed. I want to pray the rosary with you. Go and tell Fred what I've asked. She'll explain. Dr. Martin knows about what Fred will be telling you. I only want you three to join us okay?" "Okay Wesley. I am going to stay here though while your parents are visiting with you. If your father starts to upset you I will escort him out." "Thanks." Wesley said then he let Angels hand go. Angel stepped away from the bed and took a chair and sat in the corner that was furthest away from the bed. Cylindia had gone downstairs to make a pot of hot tea to bring up to the room so Angel, Giles and Wesley's parents were the only ones in the room.
Mr. and Mrs. Price stepped over to the bed now. Angel pulled chairs over for them then went back to sit in the corner. Mrs. Price hugged her son before sitting down. Mr. Price kept his distance and did not attempt to hug Wesley or even shake his hand.
As Angel watched them he wondered why the man even bothered to come over to the states. He had the compassion of a single celled amoeba. He couldn't figure out what his wife ever saw in him. Angel listened to the heart monitor. As soon as his father approached him Wesley's heart rate started to increase.
Angel tried not to listen to the conversation but some things could easily be heard since Mr. Price's voice would go up in volume. "Yes Wesley I think it would be best if you were to come home to recover and possibly stay in England. You can work at Watchers headquarters and perhaps one day take over my position. It's clear that you can no longer be a benefit to Angel Investigation. Once you are home you will be able to see how preposterous working with a Vampire is." Giles had heard Mr. Prices remark also. Without saying anything he placed his hand on Angels back to give him his support. When Angel looked at him Giles made a motion as though he would like to cut Mr. Prices throat.
Angel waited for Wesley to say something but he said nothing. The backbone that Mrs. Price had grown had apparently crumbled once she was away from Dr. Martins support. Neither one said anything to Mr. Price. "Come Felicity lets let him rest now." Mr. Price said as he started to leave. Mrs. Price stood up and looked at Wesley with sadness and pity for her son in her eyes, but she would not speak up or go against her husbands wishes.
Angel approached Wesley but Wesley turned away from him. For some reason he couldn't bring himself to look into Angels eyes. Cylindia came in then. She offered Angel some tea but he declined using the excuse that he had to go and talk to Fred.
When Angel went down to the kitchen he found all of the women working together to prepare supper. "Fred and Cordelia could I speak to you outside on the patio for a few minutes please?" They both said yes and joined him outside at the table.
"What's up?" "Fred Wesley asked me if we would join him tonight to pray the Rosary along with Mom. He told me to come and talk to you about it and said that you would explain everything. I didn't think that his church believed in giving much thought to Christ's mother."
"Angel and Cordelia Wesley wanted it to be kept a secret until he was ready but I guess now he really needs this. Wesley has been taking lessons from Father Barris to convert to the Catholic Church. The church of England is a lot like the Catholic church so Father Barris said he didn't have to learn too much. He knows that you and Cordelia pray the Rosary everyday as part of your penance and he has seen how doing this has brought a change to you."
"What change is that?" Angel asked. "Well Wesley told me that he noticed how you except criticism much better and you honestly try to incorporate what you have been told into your life. Your more calm and you don't get mad very easily and best of all you laugh and play more then you used to."
Angel didn't know what to say. He thought about what Dr. Martin had said when he was recovering from his crucifixion. 'Your suffering has won God four souls back into the fold.' Since then his son also joined the church, Spike had started to attend church and now Wesley was taking lessons from Father Barris.
Angel put his hand on Fred's. "Thank you Fred. Wesley asked that we join him in your bedroom before we go to bed. I am going to go up and keep Kathleen company and give Connor a break. He got up then and led the ladies to the back doors and opened the door for them. Cordelia and Fred went back to the kitchen and Angel went upstairs. His heart was light with the news about Wesley and he took three steps at a time as he went up to the second floor.
Within the next 15 minutes Angel and Connor came running down the stairs with Kathleen and Toby in tow. Angel put a blanket on the floor and laid down on his side with Kathleen leaning against him. Connor took Toby outside to go potty then came back. Toby made a beeline for Kathleen. He sat down next to her so she could grab onto his hair and ears and he could lick her toes and make her giggle. Angel let her do pretty much whatever she wanted except for putting her mouth on Toby's hair. After awhile Angel started to get sleepy and he made Kathleen lay down next to him.
Cordelia didn't hear any noise coming from the lobby so she came to check on her daughter. She found everyone sleeping peacefully and worn out along with Toby on the blanket and Connor on the couch.
Cordelia went back to the kitchen and told the girls what she had found. They all went out to take a look. You could hear a collective 'Awwwww.'
Mrs. Price was getting bored with nothing to do. Wesley was sleeping now. After her husband went to the room to take a nap Felicity went back to her sons room. She had spent the last hour with him talking about England and giving him news on some of his friends from school. She decided to go and see if Dr. Martin was downstairs. She found the girls busy in the kitchen making the supper for tonight.
"Fred would you happen to know where Dr. Martin is?" Fred turned around when she heard her name. "Mrs. Price hello, uh no I don't know where she is, Cordelia do you know where she is?" "Yes, she went to the pharmacy to get some more drugs that she had ordered for Wesley. Giles went with her. She should be back any minute now."
"Can I help do anything?" Felicity asked. She wanted to keep busy or else she would be thinking about what her husband had said to her son. Felicity hated herself for being so weak. Her son was to old to be taking orders from his father but her husband had been bullying them for so long that they automatically gave into whatever he wanted.
"Would you start setting the table Mrs. Price that would help us a lot. I'll get Connor to help you. We have quiet a crowd here so it's going to take some time. Were going to set things up as a buffet. Were going to need wine and water glasses also coffee cups for later. It's a good thing we went shopping for a larger dinning room table. It has enough sections to it so that we can accommodate this large crowd or take them out and store the sections so that it fits the regular group."
Cordelia went over to Angel, Connor and Kathleen. Mrs. Price followed her. She saw them all sleeping on the floor and the couch. Toby had jumped onto the couch and was sleeping on top of Connor.
"My, my Cordelia you have quiet a family. Would you mind if I hold your daughter?" "Sure, I'll get her for you. Would you mind changing her for me? I have everything down here that you'll need. You can go into Angels office over here and change her. There is a bassinet in his office with everything you'll need. Angel and Connor get up it's almost time for supper and we need your help." Cordelia picked up Kathleen and gave her to Felicity. "Connor would you start setting the table please. We need 15 place settings. You'll have to take out the good china because that is the only one that has enough place settings. Mrs. Price is going to help you as soon as she finishes changing Kathleen. Angel I need for you to clear these cabinets and place cloths over them. Were going to serve dinner buffet style."
Connor got up and let Toby out for awhile. He had enclosed a section of the back garden with a fence so that Toby could get a little exercise by himself. Connor started bringing all of the silverware, cups, saucers, plates and glasses out. Cordelia had to special order a table cloth for the table but that wouldn't be ready for another week so she bought several smaller ones for now. When Felicity was done with Kathleen she put her in her highchair then helped Connor set the table.
Dr. Martin and Giles came in just as they were finishing setting the table. Dr. Martin put the drugs away in either the refrigerator or a cabinet under lock and key. She had, had another key made for Cylindia while she was out. Spike was the only other person that had a key to the cabinet.
The dinner was ready and everyone had to be gathered. Connor took a tray of food up to Fred's room for her while she followed. Wesley was awake and had been playing a game of cards with Cylindia. Connor put the tray on the table. "You're lucky your up here, it's a big crowd down there. I'll see you guys later. Come on Cylindia dinner is served. Would you see if Gunn is in his room and I'll get the rest." Cylindia left to get Gunn while Connor went to everyone else's door.
The women had made a dinner of baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and corn and a salad for those that didn't want potatoes. Cordelia had also made several loaves of what she called her Irish bread from her batch of yeast from Ireland. She was very proud of her yeast that she carefully tended to, to keep it alive.
Everyone lined up at the buffet tables to dish up their food. Cordelia brought out a thermos of warmed blood along with mugs already filled for Angel, Spike and Hunter. Cordelia had started making her own baby food by using a small grinder. She had already fed Kathleen and just had given her something to chew on or rather gum to death. Kathleen was starting to teeth and wanted to bite down on everything. She was starting to give her mother a hard time when she was nursing.
When everyone was seated Dr. Martin tapped her glass with her knife in order to get everyone's attention. She waited for everyone to stop and look at her.
"If no one minds I would like to offer a prayer of thanks for Wesley's safe return to us and for a speedy recovery." Since no one objected they all joined hands and Dr. Martin offered a prayer for Wesley and thanks for the food.
Dr. Martin had noticed how Mr. Price had noticed how the three Vampires at the table had joined in and had made the sign of the cross before and after the prayer. He was shocked by this behavior but chose not to say anything yet. Both Giles and Dr. Martin were keeping an eye on him and waiting for inevitable remarks. Falicity knew that her husband was going to say something soon so she tried to keep the conversation light and said that she would like to see some of the sights here in California before they had to return to England. Most of all she wanted to see Disneyland.
"Do you really Felicity?" Dr. Martin asked. "Yes, I've heard so much about it for so long but my husband never had the desire to come here to see it. Since Wesley needs his rest I thought maybe we could go to see Disneyland, Sea World and Knotts Berry Farm." "Don't be ridiculous Felicity, your not a child anymore. They have some marvelous museums here and I've heard a lot about the Los Angeles Library. We can go to some of the museums tomorrow." Felicity gave into her husbands decision meekly. "Yes dear."
Dr. Martin and everyone else was surprised at how insensitive Mr. Price was to his wife.
"I think going to Disneyland is a great idea Felicity. You know I have always devoted such a large portion of my time to either going to school, or working that I've never been able to see these places. I for one would like to see these places also. If you don't mind though I need to stay here for the next few days while Wesley is recovering from the surgery. He is still at a critical point in his recovery and I don't want to be far from him in case something should happen. This is Wednesday so why don't we make a date of it to go on Monday. Hunter could I impose upon you to stay here and keep an eye on Wesley while I go and recapture some of my childhood?" "Sure Mary that won't be a problem. Mike will be busy at the office so I won't be able to do anything with him."
"Your going to let a Vampire take care of my son?" Mr. Price blurted this out so quickly that he caught everyone off guard. Mike was sitting next to Hunter and he put his hand on hers under the table.
"Of course Mr. Price. Hunter is more than qualified to take care of Wesley. She has been a Doctor for longer than you and I have been alive. She has helped me repeatedly in taking care of Angel and when I was beaten and raped she took care of me when I came home from the hospital. She also helped me to get through the psychological damage of the rape and I can assure you that both Fred and Wesley have confidence in her as well." "But Dr. Martin she is a Vampire, a demon, she could turn on my son at any moment and as any of these Vampires could." Mr. Price said with what sounded like hatred.
"Mr. Price, all of these people or Vampires as you refer to them, have been given their soul back. Which means that their resident demons no longer control their bodies. I was sent here by St. Michael to help Angel understand who he was and that he was Gods champion in this world. All of these demons, as you refer to them, have devoted themselves to helping humans. Both Hunter and Spike have started to take instructions to become Catholic. There is not one person that is sitting here at this table, except for yourself, that does not love and respect Angel. Can you say that for yourself Mr. Price?"
"Since you are the one that has control over my sons recovery and out of respect for you I will concede to your wishes." "Thank you, Felicity you can count on going to Disneyland with us on Monday. If anyone else wants to go they are more then welcome. I am sure that Fred wouldn't mind taking care of Kathleen if you and Angel want to go also Cordelia. We can go as soon as it starts to get dark and if I'm not mistaken I believe they stay open until midnight."
"That sounds like fun. I've always wanted to go in those Alice and Wonderland cup and saucer ride and getting it going so fast that we can make the girls get dizzy and puke their guts out." Angel said as he laughed at the thought. "You mean thing. Just wait until we get to some of the other rides then we'll see who gets sick. You've never been on a roller coaster ride have you?" Cordelia asked. "No, I never had the guts to try it." Everyone laughed at Angels saying that he never had the courage to do something.
Buffy looked to Spike to see if he wanted to leave or stay until Tuesday. "We were going to leave on Sunday but I guess we can leave on Tuesday instead." Spike said. Buffy gave him a kiss and said thank you.
Dr. Martin was watching Angel feeding Kathleen her Jello when she saw a look of concentration appear on her face. "Falicity watch what happens to Angel when Kathleen finishes delivering her package." Falicity turned to watch.
Angel suddenly smelled nuclear waste. "Ewwwww, Nuclear Waste in the house everyone hold your nose." Angel reached into his pocket and pulled out a wooden clothes pin and put it on his nose. When his daughter saw him with the clothes pin on his nose she reached for the clothes pin and said Daddy just as clear as a bell.
Angel jumped up and danced with her around the table. "My daughter said Daddy. Not Mommy but Daddy." As Kathleen heard her Daddy say Mommy she copied him. "Mommy." Cordelia jumped up and was clapping as everyone else did.
Dr. Martin looked at Felicity. "They're happy now but pretty soon they'll be wishing she would stop talking when all of the Mommy whys start." "I know, sometimes I wanted to just tell Wesley to go play in the street. He wanted to know about everything that existed between the sky and the earth. He would drive me crazy." Felicity said.
"Angel you had better take her upstairs before the paint starts peeling from the fumes." Cordelia told him when she saw Spike, Connor and Hunter holding their noses.
Angel took his daughter upstairs and cleaned her so that she smelled nice and baby fresh. Before going back downstairs he thought he would share the good news with Fred and Wesley.
He knocked on the door and waited. It took them a minute to answer. Fred opened the door. "Come in Angel we were just finishing our supper." "I came to tell you about Kathleen but I think you have something more important to tell me." Angel had seen Wesley's eyes. They were all red and swollen. "What's wrong Wesley? Is there any thing that I can do to help?"
Wesley couldn't look at Angel when he told him what he had to say. "Angel, my father has told me that I am to go back with them to England. He said that I wouldn't be of anymore use to Angel Investigation."
"Yes I heard him. Do you want to go back to England Wesley or do you want to stay here where you are wanted and needed?" Angel asked him point blank.
"I want to stay. But I don't know if I will be of much use to you from now on. I don't think I can fight anymore. Ever since I woke up from the surgery I've felt a terrible thing growing inside of me Angel and I don't know what to do about it or if anything can be done." "And what is that Wesley?" Angel already knew what he was going to say. He had met that terrible demon many times himself.
"I'm afraid Angel. I feel the fear growing inside of me like a cancer that is spreading. It is growing and has almost completely obliterated my courage. I don't even have the courage to tell my father no. I became like a young boy again standing before him and being told what school I would attend and what I would study. At home in my fathers house no one refused to do what he told us. He has bullied and belittled both my mother and I for as long as I can remember. I don't want my children to know such treatment." Wesley said with tears in his eyes.
"Wesley do you want me to handle this for you?" "Yes Angel please." "Okay then I will handle it. When I start though I want you to follow my lead. Your mother is a nice person and I don't want to hurt her feelings but it may be impossible to avoid. I can explain things to her later.
And Wesley." "Yes." "You are still needed here at Angel Investigation. Even if you were to become a paraplegic you would still be wanted and needed." Angel came closer to Wesley and put his hand further up his arm and Wesley did the same. It was a handshake of brothers.
"We have been together through too much Wesley for me to think you are a coward. You stood by my side when Kathleen was born, you've stood by me and didn't give up on me when Angelus had taken control of my body, you gave me Cordelia at our Wedding. I love you like a brother Wesley and I will help you to find your courage again. I am going to tell you just one thing about this to help you and I want you to, as Mom says 'meditate' on it. You have nothing to fear but fear itself and right now fear is your biggest enemy don't let it win." Angel hugged him then.
"I came in here originally to tell you something and I almost forgot. Kathleen spoke her first words. Guess what it was?" For the first time Fred spoke up. "Don't tell me she said Daddy?" "Yes she did and later she said Mommy but she said Daddy first."
Angel picked her up again and pointed to Wesley. "Can you say Wesley, this is Wesley." Kathleen thought about it then she pointed to Wesley and said Wesy. "That's right he's Wesy and this is Fred." But Kathleen couldn't get her mouth to work right yet in order to say Fred. She hid her face against her Daddy. "That's okay you've said a lot today for a start but best of all you said Daddy first and you will always be Daddy's little girl." Angel tossed her in the air and made her giggle. He had Wesley and Fred laughing now. "I'll see you two in a couple of hours." Angel left then to go downstairs. "I'll be back in a minute Wesley." Fred said as she picked up the tray of dishes and followed Angel downstairs.
As they arrived at the top of the stairs Fred called to Angel. "Angel can you stop for a minute please?" "Sure Fred." "I want to thank you for saying what you did. Wesley is so scared right now that he will appear to be less than he is in front of his Father. He just needs time to recover from these wounds that seem to have gone farther then just his physical heart." "It's no problem Fred. It's like Giles said when I tried to thank everyone after I was crucified, 'no thanks are necessary we're family'."
They went downstairs then and Fred went into the kitchen. Cordelia took the tray from Fred. "You can go back to Wesley Fred we have enough volunteers." "Thanks Cordelia. Wesley wasn't too hungry. His heart is kind of heavy right now." "I understand honey you just go back and just be there for him because that is what he needs most right now." Fred hugged Cordelia and said thank you. She went upstairs then and climbed up on the bed with Wesley and just let him rest his head on her chest.
Wesley lifted his head and poked at her breasts. "These are getting softer now and fuller. I guess it's one of the benefits of being pregnant." He smiled up at her. "Yea, benefits for you. There throwing my balance off. I feel like I'm going to fall forward." Fred said. She pushed his head back on her chest and turned the TV on. His talk with Angel seemed to have lightened his heart a little and he was more at peace.
Thirty minutes later Dr. Martin came in with Gunn and Angel.
"Okay Uncle Wesy it's time to take a little walk." Wesley smiled at them. "You just had to tell them what she called me didn't you. Now I'm going to have everyone coming in here and calling me that." "Of course I want everyone to know how smart my daughter is." Angel laughed at Wesley. He pulled the covers down and offered Wesley his hand for support as he put his feet over to the side of the bed. They waited while Fred put his slippers on.
"Okay speedy lets do a few laps up and down the hallway." Gunn said as he helped Wesley with his robe. Wesley took a more firm grip on their arms then they started. They went slowly at first then as Wesley loosened up a little he was able to go faster.
"Not to fast Wesley take it easy for now." They did as Dr. Martin said. As they arrived at the end of the hallway and at the elevator Wesley started to tire. "Let me stop for a minute guys so I can catch my breath." Wesley's legs started to feel like they couldn't hold him up and he started to go down. Gunn and Angel let him sit on the floor and lean against the railing. They all sat on the floor while he rested, including Dr. Martin. After five minutes Dr. Martin got up. "Okay guys lets take him to his room." Gunn and Angel pulled Wesley up. He held onto them at first then they had to hold him up. He just barely made it back to his bed before collapsing to the floor. Angel picked him up and placed him onto the bed. Fred took his slippers off and Gunn and Angel took his robe off. Wesley was breathing hard.
Dr. Martin came over and placed the monitor tabs back on his chest. She watched it for awhile then listened to his heart. When she was done she sat down on a chair that Angel gave her.
"You're doing fine Wesley. Your heart sounds good and the monitor shows me that your lungs are working well. Tomorrow Angel and Gunn will help you to get up twice and take that little walk. If you're a good boy and do all that I tell you, which includes eating what you are given, then I'll let you come downstairs to join us for Supper on Sunday. I want you to take a little rest for now and well see you in an hour." She left then with Angel and Gunn in tow. The nurse came back in and took his vitals. She wrote everything down on the chart then went to sit on the couch and opened her book to where she had left off. Fred went into the bathroom took a shower and got ready for bed.
At 10 o'clock Dr. Martin, Cordelia and Angel came up with their Rosaries. By unspoken mutual consent Dr. Martin was going to lead and also read the mystery of the appropriate day. She dismissed Cylindia and told her she could stay with Gunn if she wanted to since Fred was in here. When she walked out she said goodnight to Wesley and Fred.
Dr. Martin took a seat next to the lamp. Fred got up on the bed and let Wesley lean on her as he did before. Cordelia and Angel sat on the couch together with Cordelia leaning on Angels chest and his arm wrapped around her. Dr. Martin began with the sign of the cross and everyone followed her. Thirty minutes later they were done. Dr. Martin looked around at everyone and found both Wesley and Cordelia were sound asleep.
Angel picked up Cordelia and said good night and Fred slipped out from underneath Wesley's head. She fixed his bedding and placed a blanket on him then put the head of the bed down so that it was only slightly elevated. Then she dimmed the light over his bed and said good night to Dr. Martin as she left. The last thing Fred did every night now was to say goodnight to her babies. "Goodnight my little ones. Your Daddy is home with us and everything will be okay. Angel will fix everything like he always does." She patted her tummy then went to sleep.
The next morning Buffy, Willow and Tara took their turn at making breakfast. They made loads of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages and bacon. Instead of setting the table they had left the dishes and silverware on the cabinets they were using for the buffet. A restaurant size coffee maker had been brought out from the basement and was busy making coffee.
Today Dr. Martin, Cordelia and Angel joined Wesley and Fred in their rooms for breakfast. There was so much to take upstairs that they used a cart instead of trying to take it up on trays.
"Breakfast is served everyone." Angel said as he brought the cart in and put it at the kitchen table.
Wesley was just coming out of the bathroom with Fred's help. He was using his walker in order to exercise more. Dr. Martin saw Fred coming out of the bathroom also.
"Fred I hope you're not helping him to get up or bending over a lot. That is what Cylindia is here for." "I'm being careful Dr. Martin."
Wesley made it over to the table and sat down heavily. Cordelia and Angel handed out the plates full of food. "Sit down and eat everyone before the food gets cold." Cordelia said. She poured coffee for everyone then sat down and started on her own breakfast.
"Where is Kathleen?" Wesley asked.
"I'm letting her Aunt Willow and Tara take care of her." Cordelia said.
They finished their breakfast and Dr. Martin noted that Wesley finished all of his breakfast today. He hadn't been eating very well at previous meals. She saw him starting to slump in the chair a little.
"Angel would you help Wesley to get back into bed. I think he is getting tired now." Angel got up and went to Wesley. To Wesley's surprise Angel just picked him up and placed him in the bed. "Thanks for the ride." Wesley said as Angel deposited him on the bed and took his slippers off. It was a little chilly in the room so he opted to keep his bathrobe on. Angel pulled the covers up.
Wesley saw Cordelia loading up the cart with the plates and coffee. "Your not going already are you?" "Would you like us to stay for awhile and keep you company?" Dr. Martin asked.
"Yes I'm bored being up here all by myself." Wesley put on a poor me face. "My poor baby. I guess we can stay for awhile but then I want you to take a nap." Dr. Martin said. Wesley was happy now that they were all taking a seat. Angel pulled the couch over so that they could sit on it and Fred got up onto the bed with Wesley as usual.
"So what shall we talk about?" Angel asked after they stared at each other for a minute.
"I want to hear about what happened when you and Cordelia were in Sunnydale for the summer after your first office was blown up and Wesley almost got himself killed."
"I'll let Cordelia tell most of it because I was out of it most of the time. After those demons broke my back I wasn't thinking too well at first." Angel said.
"Well it all started out with Giles calling us to come and help them in Sunnydale. It's been a while but wasn't it because they had some demons that they didn't have any information on and they didn't know how to fight them." Cordelia asked Angel. "Yes they thought I might know about them."
"Well anyway to make a long story short Angel was out patrolling by himself and a group of Benxi demons had attacked Buffy's, current at the time, boyfriend as he returned home. Angel heard all of the racket and came to save him. While Riley returned to the Magic Box where we had all gone for a meeting, the Benxi demons attacked Angel. I must say though even though you were almost dead yourself you still managed to kill all of them." Cordelia had turned to him in a congratulatory manner. Angel looked at her and raised his arm to make a muscle. "What can I say I'm Angel, 'The Magnificent'." They all laughed at him since he was usually modest about his abilities. Cordelia poked him in the ribs.
"As I was saying, Angel was attacked. After we got him to the mansion Buffy came in with Hunter. Hunter was a lot different back then and Buffy had to beg her to help him. After several hours of working on piecing him back together again she came out and gave us the bad news that his back was broken and it could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for him to heal. She told me what to expect and left. Angel couldn't move at all, he could barely speak for that matter. Hunter had inserted a tube into his stomach so he could be fed blood and he was hooked up to a bag of blood to go into his vein. Because of a bad injury to his head he was unconscious for almost three days. He would come out of it for a few minutes once in a while then go back into a coma again. After spending so much time with him I was able to pretty much guess at what he was trying to say but most of the time he couldn't be understood because he often spoke in languages other then English and even then only one word at a time.
After about a week he was able to stay awake for longer periods of time and I had myself a captive audience. He couldn't get away from me when I continued on with the magazine article about 'Getting to know your Boss'. After that I started reading some of his books to him. Every so often I would stop reading and ask him a question about his life or he would ask me a question. As far as I know we now know everything about each other. That summer, I think, is when we fell in love with each other, we just didn't know it yet."
Dr. Martin was watching Cordelia and Angel. Unconsciously Angel had started to play with Cordelia's left breast. "Angel would you please stop that." "Stop what?" Angel asked in surprise, he honestly didn't realize what he was doing.
"Stop playing with Cordelia's breast while she is talking." Angel pulled his hand away and turned bright red. Fred turned bright red also but she was laughing along with Wesley and Dr. Martin.
"I am sorry I truly didn't realize I was doing it." Cordelia leaned against him again and said "That's okay Angel you suffered a lot in order to have the right to do that. Why don't you just give me your hand so that it doesn't start wandering again."
Cordelia settled back against his chest again and held onto his hand this time. "Well where was I." "You were telling us how you passed the time by reading to him while he recovered." Fred said.
"Thank you Fred. It turned out that Angel took almost three months to recover. He did it slowly and before he regained feeling and use of each part of his body he would be in a lot of pain. I panicked the first time. We were having a meeting with the Scoobys and he started to experience a lot of pain in his shoulders and back. I finally had to call Hunter over and she came and put him into a certain position that helped to alleviate the pain. She also gave me some pain pills that were real strong. They made him go catatonic and he would have a hard time talking again until they wore off."
"Excuse me Cordelia but how in the world did you handle him by yourself. I'm guessing that no one stayed with you 24 hours a day. How did you take care of him like giving him a bath or what about taking care of his bodily functions. You didn't have any training in these things did you?" Dr. Martin asked.
"No I didn't but I did have Reilly and Giles. One day, not to long after the attack, they came over to see if I needed any help with him and with Reilly's help we figured out a way for me to lift Angel from his bed to his wheel chair. Reilly showed me how to pick him up so that I didn't take on the bulk of his weight. It was kinda like a fireman carry type thing. I was very proud of myself actually. As for taking a bath I had to do that for a while since he was in bed for a long time. We were both kind of embarrassed at first but we quickly got over that since I did it every other day. As for his bodily functions he didn't have any and I can tell you with all honesty that I was sure glad for that." "Why were you so embarrassed about giving him a bath?" Fred asked.
"Fred we were just friends at the time and it was a long time before he even got up the nerve to even kiss me. But you should have seen the look on his face when I came in, for the first time, with a container full of water, soup and towels. His eyes went wide as saucers. He was still paralyzed from the neck down so he couldn't do anything about it and I had to clean him since he was still dirty from the attack."
"I wasn't embarrassed because you would see all of me. I knew you were still a virgin and had never seen a mans body before. I was worried that after seeing me you would expect all men to look so magnificent and then when you had your first sexual encounter you would be so disappointed that you wouldn't have a good time." Angel looked at his Mother, smiled and winked.
Cordelia turned around and just looked at him. She couldn't believe her ears. So she grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. "You are so full of it you know that. I have never seen anyone so conceited before. I thought I was bad. I'm a meek little lamb compared to you. Are all men like that Mom?" "Not all men Cordelia. A large percentage of them are but not all."
"I was only kidding, can't you take a joke?" Angel said as Cordelia continued to hit him with the pillow.
They were quiet for a while after that. Wesley spoke up then with a question that Dr. Martin knew was on his mind. "Angel." "Yeah." "Angel how do you do it?" "Do what Wesley?" "How or where do you find the courage to keep on coming back for more after you've been beaten so badly that you almost cease to exist?" Dr. Martin knew that it had cost Wesley a lot to ask this question.
Angel was quiet while he thought carefully about his answer. "Remember what we talked about when we were here and Cordelia was having those terrible bouts of depression. I asked you to chain me up when you saw it coming over me as well?" "Yes, I remember. You almost walked into the sun light that last time." "During that time Wesley I couldn't control myself. The depression was controlling me and working on the weakest part of me. My weakest point is that I get tired of fighting the good fight and I too frequently want to just chuck it all and commit suicide. I've wanted and came very close to committing suicide many times.
When I was beaten and dragged behind that truck in the desert I was more afraid then I've ever been before Wesley. The gravel was digging into and under my skin. I could feel pieces of my skin being ripped away in chunks. When they stopped I couldn't even stand by myself anymore I was so weak from the loss of blood and the pain. At the time I thought that what had just happened was the worst pain that I had ever experienced but I was wrong Wesley, I was so wrong. When they held onto my arms to make me stand up and forced me to watch them bring my crucifix to me and I realized what they had planned for me they actually laughed.
When they hammered those nails into my hands and feet Wesley I wanted to die. If courage was kept in a container then my container was bone dry. I had no courage to endure what was happening to me, but Wesley, somewhere deep inside of me I found the courage that I needed to continue. What I saw and heard was Cordelia calling to me. It was then that I knew where courage comes from. Do you understand what I am saying Wesley?"
"Yes Angel I understand now. Courage comes from love. Love for our fellow man or love for someone special in our lives. I understand now what they say of God. 'He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.'" Wesley turned to Fred. "Now I have Fred and our children and I think that when I need it my container of courage will be full again." Wesley pulled Fred's head down so that he could kiss her then he put his hand on her stomach and kissed their babies.
Without taking his eyes off of Fred he called out to Angel again. "Angel I still want you to take care of my father and tell him that I'm not going anyplace." Wesley looked at him then. "I understand Wesley, it won't be a problem. I just hope Wesley that you and I have hopefully learned enough from our Fathers mistakes so that we are better Fathers." Angel started putting the dishes on the cart then. Cordelia helped.
As they went out of the door Angel turned to Wesley. "You didn't say whether you wanted me to come and give you a shower or if you would be satisfied with a sponge bath from Cylindia?" "I think Cylindia can handle it. Thank you for the offer. I look forward to our twice daily walks." Wesley gave him a smile then turned his attention back to Fred.
Dr. Martin followed Angel and Cordelia out of the door and closed it as she left. She walked fast until she caught up with Angel and Cordelia. "Angel stop for a minute please." Angel stopped and turned around. "I wanted to tell you that you did real good in there. What Wesley talked to you about was on his mind a lot and that is what has been making him so tired. I think he will do better now. Cylindia has told me that his wounds are taking too long to heal. Where I cut into him should already start to show healing but there not. Hopefully it will now." Dr. Martin put her hand on his arm. "I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you." They continued downstairs then.
Everyone split up for the day. Dr. Martin even went out for a short time to get out of the hotel for a while along with Cylindia. Hunter came over and kept watch over Wesley. When she went into his room she noticed a marked difference in his outlook. He didn't seem to be so tired anymore in fact he wanted to get up and walk around a little. "Come on Hunter you're strong you can hold me up if I should fall." "No Wesley and that's just that. If I should catch you out of bed I am going to take you over my knee and spank you. Do you understand?" "Yes Dr. Hunter, I understand." Wesley said with a bowed head and his lower lip sticking out. Hunter laughed at his little game then turned and left to go downstairs.
After a few minutes she heard a loud bang. She went running up stairs and found him on the floor in the hallway. "Wesley are you alright?" "Yes I'm fine I just tripped over my own two feet." Hunter quickly lifted the bandages and checked to see if any of the staples or stitches had come out. Everything was okay so she helped him back to bed.
When she had him back in bed and covered up she stood to the side with her arms crossed across her chest. "Wesley Wyndham Price do you remember what I said I would do if you got out of bed?" "Yes." "Do you agree that I owe you a spanking?" "Yes. But I know you won't do it." "Your right, I won't do it now because of your condition. I promise you that sooner or later you will be healed and then I will fulfill my promise when you least expect it, and if you think that I won't do it ask Angel how long I remember things and whether I fulfill promises. Now I want you to take a nap."
Two days later Wesley was doing so well that Dr. Martin let him come down to supper with everyone else. Angel stood by his side as he walked over to the dinning room table with only a slight assist from Angel. He hung onto his arm for extra support just in case. Mr. and Mrs. Price sat across from Wesley and Fred. Spike sat next to Wesley so that he could hear if his heart started to beat too fast. Hunter was next to Fred. Dr. Thompson had been unable to join them tonight since he was working late. He had told Hunter he would try to make it in time for desert. Fred brought Wesley's food over to him then sat down. Kathleen had already been seated in her highchair and Angel was feeding her as Cordelia warmed up the mugs of blood for the three Vampires. She had bought 3 large mugs that were colored and were specifically for Angel, Spike and Hunter. They had learned quickly that Mr. Price did not like seeing them drinking blood in front of him.
The ladies had fixed baked fish for Supper along with salad and a choice of corn, peas or french cut green beans. The conversation at the table had been kept light and those that were going were talking about their trip to Disneyland on Monday. Mr. Price and Giles had been talking about the business at the Watchers headquarters. Felicity had been quiet during most of the meal unless someone asked her a question but she never chose to join a conversation. She would always look at her husband when invited into a conversation as though she was asking him if it was okay to speak to them. As the meal came to a close Mr. Price finally chose to address Dr. Martin.
"Dr. Martin may I ask how you think Wesley is doing?" "Yes of course Wesley is doing very well now. That's why I let him join us for Supper." "Do you think it will be safe for him to travel to England now or should we wait for one or two more weeks." "It will be another two weeks before he can exert himself like that. May I ask why you need to know this. I wasn't aware that he wanted to go for a visit so soon." Dr. Martin asked innocently.
"I might as well let you know now. Wesley will be coming back to England with us permanently. It's evident that he can no longer be of any use to Angel Investigations. So I have decided that he should come home and take over my position at the Watchers headquarters eventually. Of course since Fred is his wife she will be coming also."
Dr. Martin was amazed at the audacity of this man. "Wesley is this truly what you want?"
She wanted to give him a chance to face his father and refuse him. "No Dr. Martin it isn't but I will obey my fathers wishes." Wesley wouldn't look at her or his father. Wesley's obedience to his fathers wishes was so ingrained in him that he would not stand his ground and refuse to do as he wanted. Wesley like his mother had been bullied by his father all his life. The two ideals of standing up to his father and being a man and of being a respectful and dutiful son were at war within Wesley.
No matter how intelligent a person is when words of ridicule and abasement are heard constantly thru out a persons life they start to believe it. This was Wesley's problem. When his father was around he slipped into this mode, of submissive and dutiful son, when he wasn't around Wesley became the man that everyone had come to know and love.
"Mr. Price this is against my better judgement but if Wesley wants this then he will be able to go in two weeks and not before that." "Thank you Dr. Martin while we are waiting for you to get better Wesley we can work on your passport." Everyone was quiet then. Felicity never raised her eyes or her voice once.
Angel was quiet thru out the conversation. He pretended to be busy with his daughter. After a while he turned her over to Cordelia and addressed Wesley's father.
"Mr. Price." "Yes." "Mr. Price I understand that you don't see me as anything more then a thing to be observed from a distance and I guess that's why you haven't used my name or spoken to me. But Mr. Price I can assure you that Wesley isn't going anyplace. Wesley is going to stay here in Los Angeles with his wife. His children will grow up with mine and he will continue to help me in taking care of Angel Investigations. If you have a problem with accepting Wesley's and my decision then I will assist you."
Angel sat down again. "Are you going to let this thing talk to your father like that Wesley? Have you lost all of your manners and honor by living with these people and these Vampires?"
Wesley just sat at his chair and drank some of his coffee. Dr. Martin could see a physical change in Wesley as he heard his father speak of Angel and the rest of his family in such a derogatory manner. His love for Angel and the rest was quickly filling the container that housed his courage and was previously empty.
"Father since I have come here to the United States and started actually working with Angel and Angel Investigation I have become more of a man then I could ever hope to be under your tutelage. I've worked with Angel and the rest to rescue hundreds of people. I was shot during a mission to rescue a young teenage boy that thought it would be neat to become a Vampire. While I was in the hospital Angel was successful in turning this boy around and making him understand that this wasn't a game he was playing.
When I came home I found that I had lost my courage to fight the good fight. The pain had somehow driven it out of me. So I turned to the man that I have seen display more courage than any human being that I have ever seen. I asked him how he does it Father, I asked him how he can continue to have so much courage to face such great odds.
I feel that I should explain what I have seen this man go through Father then you will understand why I see anything that you have gone through as pale in comparison.
Over two years ago Father Dr. Martin came to us and told us that she had been sent by God to teach Angel how to deal with Angelus, his demon. As a side job she proved to Angel that he is still a man, a living, breathing human being. All of what she used to prove to us that Angel is still a living, breathing human being was based on scientific fact. Because of the demon he shares his body with his body is just super efficient. His heart still beats, but only once every five minutes. His body still takes in oxygen just less frequently. And as you can see father he can reproduce himself.
Not to long before Angel and Cordelia married a group of teenage Vampires kidnaped him and tortured him beyond human endurance. They new that Dr. Martin was a nun at the time so they thought it would be funny to crucify him. Since Angel can't die except by fire, decapitation or by a stake thru the heart he was forced to endure the crucifixion that Christ did. He wanted to die but he couldn't so he had no choice but to endure it.
Repeatedly Father I have seen this man endure great pain but get up again and fight over whelming odds, sometimes with his friends by his side and sometimes by himself.
I asked Angel where he found the courage to go on after being wounded repeatedly. He said he found that courage came from his love for us, for his wife and daughter, for his fellow man. I have never seen any evidence of love from you Father, not even for Mother. It's from Angel that I have learned what it is to be a real man father, not you.
I now have a new and loving family Father. I have a wife that loves me and I love her. We have twins slowly growing within her. I have been told, through Dr. Martin, that I will be the last to leave this world and join my friends in heaven. The job of making sure that the next generation of Angel Investigation has the education that it needs has been given to me. I might as well also tell you Mother and Father that I have chosen to convert to the Roman Catholic faith. I am also an American citizen now."
Wesley went to his Mother and knelt beside her. He took her hands in his and said, "Mother please stay here with me. I know that you and Dr. Martin enjoy each others company and we have more than enough room here for you. I can have one of the rooms fixed up so that it is like ours and it will be like a studio apartment. Most of all Mother you will find out what it is like to feel loved all of the time."
Felicity looked at her son with tears in her eyes. "Wesley I know that you will find it hard to believe but at one time your Father was like you. He loved me and showed it every day. He was especially loving and caring when I was pregnant with you. It's because of what I know your father is really like inside I have to refuse your offer. I promise to come for a visit when your children are born though." Felicity stood up from her chair and hugged her son. "I am so very proud and happy for you Wesley that you have found such loving friends." She kissed her son then sat down next to her husband again. Mr. Price said nothing.
This had all been too much for Wesley and when he tried to get up he fell to the floor. Dr. Martin came running to his side as did Angel. "I guess showing so much courage took a lot out of me." Wesley was breathing hard but didn't seem to be getting enough oxygen. "Take him to his room Angel where we can put the monitors on him and give him oxygen." Angel picked Wesley up in his arms and took him to his room. Dr. Martin and Cylindia followed him.
Dr. Martin checked under his bandages to make sure he wasn't bleeding then took out her stethoscope and listened to his heart and lungs. They sounded just fine and she chalked up the incident to too much exercise and excitement to soon.
Cylindia and Dr. Martin removed his shoes, pants and shirt and placed the covers over him. "I want you to sleep now Wesley. You've had enough excitement for the day." "Yes I think I have also. Would you send Fred in please. I sleep better when she is with me." "Yes I'll send her up in a minute. Good night Wesley." "Good night Dr. Martin."
"Wesley." Dr. Martin said before she closed the door. Wesley opened his eyes and looked at her. "Wesley you did good, hopefully your father will think about what you said and change his ways." "Thank you Dr. Martin." She left then and closed the door. Cylindia recorded Wesleys vitals then picked up her book again and curled up on the couch once again.
TBC...