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Wesley downed his fourth glass of scotch, the liquid burning down his throat. Running a hand over his beard and then through his hair, he went over his plan again. He had thrown his diaries away and packed up most of his belongings. Now, all he needed was Connor. While he had a feeling Ashleigh could be in danger from Angel, the prophecy centred on Connor, which placed him in immediate danger. Wesley had to get him away from Angel and as soon as possible. He just hoped that in the long run, Angel and Cordelia would forgive him for what he done. If Cordelia was still here, she would have eventually made him tell her about the prophecy. But she wasn't and Wesley was left alone to carry out one of the hardest things he had ever done in his life: betraying one of his best friends

An hour later and Wesley had Connor in his arms, heading back to his apartment, but it was no easy feat. He had to get permission from Angel to have Connor stay over his place, which Angel allowed. But then, Wesley had to knock Lorne out because he had read the ex-Watcher when he was humming. Following that, everyone returned to the hotel and Wesley only just managed to slip out with Connor when Lorne was starting to come around. Now, he was adding the final things to his car, Connor strapped to his seat. Slamming the door shut, Wesley was about to get into the driver's seat, when someone caught his eye: Justine stumbling across the park, bruised and bleeding

"Justine, what are you doing here?" Wesley asked, moving to her side

"You were right, Pryce. Holtz turned on me," Justine replied, falling into his arms

"Come on then, we have to get you medical attention"

"No, I just need to do this"

In one fluid motion, Justine was behind Wesley, gripping him in a chokehold, as she ran her knife along his throat. Dropping Wesley aside, she grabbed his keys and jumped into the car, driving away, as Wesley clutched at his throat, trying to stem the bleeding, watching as Justine drove away with Connor

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"Wesley did what to you?" Fred asked

"He knocked me out," Lorne replied, "I read him while he humming. He's visited Holtz twice this week and also…"

"What is it, Lorne?" Angel asked impatiently

"He's taking Connor away. Far away"

A look of rage overcame Angel and he grabbed his coat, putting it on as he left the hotel, getting into the Plymouth and tearing away from the car park, racing towards Wesley's apartment. But when he got there, the ex-Watcher wasn't home, most of his belongings were missing and his car was gone. Growling and slamming his fist through the wall, Angel get back into the Plymouth, swinging around a corner and coming across two heavily armed SUVs, which he knew belonged to Wolfram and Hart. One of the SUVs drove away, as Angel took down the driver of the second and got in, driving away after the first

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Justine swung around a corner and speed along the road, as Holtz stepped out before her. She applied the brakes, coming to a stop as he hopped in, before looking over his shoulder at Connor, who was giving them both a strange look each

"Who are you?" Connor asked

"My dear boy, we're your new parents," Holtz replied, "From now on, you will be known as Steven Franklin Thomas Holtz"

"Where's Wesley?"

"He's been indisposed," Justine replied, "Angel will be after us"

"Then I suggest we step on it"

Justine put the car into gear and drove off. Meanwhile, Fred and Gunn arrived at Wesley's apartment, rifling through what left of his belongings, trying to figure out why he had kidnapped Connor. Gunn kicked over one of the bins, dispelling a few diaries. Crouching down, he opened one of them and started to read

"He's got diaries for each one: Angel, Connor and Ashleigh," Gunn said, as Fred joined him, reading another diary, "This one on Connor dates back to his birth"

"Well, he's got some notes on here about a prophecy surrounding Ashleigh, but as it turns out, it's about Connor instead"

"Yeah, says here in the Angel diary that…oh holy crap. I know why Wesley kidnapped Connor"

"Why?"

"Because Angel was gonna kill Connor. Look, right here, it's all Wesley's translations and diary entries"

"That's why he's been huddled in his office," Fred said

"Yeah, looked like the prophecy was coming true," Gunn continued, "Wesley believed that Angel would kill Connor. That's why he took Connor

"We have to let Angel know. And we've gotta find Wesley"

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Angel swung around the corner, following after the SUV, as another two joined them. They came to a stop, when a silver car flew past. Angel recognised it as Wesley's, but apparently, so did Wolfram and Hart, as they started to go after Wesley. Angel floored the gas, flying pass the first SUV and catching up onto Wesley's tail, as he swung around a corner. Angel tapped the rear end of the car, making sure he didn't put too much power in the move to flip the car. The car started to turn, as Angel struck again. This time, Wesley turned down a sudden corner, coming to a stop near a desolate area. Holtz and Justine got out of the car, the former carrying Connor, as Angel stopped and leapt out of the car. Wolfram and Hart stopped nearby, soldiers piling out and forming a line with Lilah at the front

"Stop right there or I'll break his little neck," Holtz threatened

Angel pulled up short, as Wolfram and Hart readied their guns. Holtz had one arm around Connor's neck, but making sure he was still able to breathe. Angel then slammed his fist into a soldier's face, taking his gun and turning it on Lilah

"I can't die, but you can. Back off"

"I fall, my men open fire and your son dies," Lilah shot back

"Hand Connor over," Angel told Holtz, keeping his eye on Lilah

Before Holtz could reply, Sahjahn appeared amongst the group

"Kill the child," he ordered Holtz

"What are you gonna do about it if I don't?" Holtz asked, "Angelus, you have a choice for your son: with me, he gets to live. I think you know the other choice"

"Take him then," Angel said after a few torturous minutes of thinking

"I shall raise him as my own. He'll never know about you," Holtz said

Bored of the whole proceedings, Sahjahn raised his hands, as a large magenta portal opened up before everyone. It was surrounded by gold lightning, as dark clouds brewed about inside the portal

"You're looking at Quor-toth, the darkest of dark realms," Sahjahn said, "The longer the child is alive, the more of this world Quor-toth will devour. Kill him!"

No one made a move. Then suddenly, Holtz grabbed Justine and threw her towards Angel, before sprinting away towards the portal. Angel shoved Justine aside and raced after Holtz, just as he leapt into Quor-toth with Connor in his arms. Angel dived after him, but a bolt of lighting struck him in the chest, blasting him back, as the portal closed up and faded away

"Hmm, impressive," Sahjahn commented

He faded away, as Lilah smirked at Angel's prone form, before heading back into the cars with her men, leaving Angel lying there on the ground, as the tears ran down his face and he stared at the spot where Quor-toth had been a minute ago

"Connor," Angel whispered painfully

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Angel trudged into the hospital about two hours later, greeting Fred and Gunn

"He's alive," Gunn said, "I think he wants to see you"

Without saying a word, Angel headed into the room, where Wesley was lying on a bed, his throat bandaged and his arm hooked up to a drip

"I got told about the prophecy. I understand all that you did and why you did it. But Wes, you know me. I'm not Angelus. I love my children. I could never kill them, no matter what. Thanks to you, I've lost Connor"

Rage overcame Angel and he grabbed a pillow, placing it over Wesley's face

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU TOOK MY SON!"

Orderlies burst in, trying to remove Angel, but he threw them off, forcing the pillow down. Gunn burst in and with the orderlies' help, successfully removed Angel, as Wesley choked in air, while Angel was being dragged away

"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, PRYCE. YOU'RE A DEAD MAN! YOU HEAR ME, YOU'RE DEAD! YOU'RE DEAD!"

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