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Angel started hacking away at the slugs as they came at him
"Everyone, get the hell out of here"
Cordelia handed Ashleigh to Lorne, as he led Fred out of the room. The seer then took up her side next to Angel, hacking and slashing at the slugs
"Cordy, get out of here," Angel said
"No. I'm staying here with you"
"Cordy, behind you!"
Cordelia turned around as a slug leapt at her face. She reacted instinctively, catching the slug, as it squirmed in her hand, trying to get to her mouth. However, Cordelia's body started glowing bright white
"Angel?" she said uncertainly
Soon, the bright light completely engulfed Cordelia and she wasn't visible amongst the light, as it spread throughout the entire hotel, bathing it and blinding everyone inside. It only last for a few seconds, but seemed longer than that, as the light slowly diminished and Cordelia staggered slightly, as Angel caught her in his arms
"What was that?" he asked, before looking around, "Whatever it was, it took care of those slugs for us"
"Must be a little bonus the Powers threw in for me," Cordelia said
The couple headed downstairs; where Gunn was busy feeding Fred a bottle of alcohol. She gagged and choked, spitting up the slug, as Gunn stabbed a dagger into it
"What was all that light about?" Lorne asked
"Some sort of cleansing light," Angel replied, "Cordelia created it. From her own body"
"Yeah, baby, Mommy is something special now," Cordelia cooed to Ashleigh
"Extra package from the Powers?" Lorne asked
"Must be and thanks for telling me!" Cordelia shouted to the ceiling
"How'd you know to use alcohol?" Angel asked Gunn
"I figured that it would dehydrate the body," Gunn replied, not meeting his eyes
Angel had a feeling something else was going on, but decided to leave it for now. From there, the entire gang searched throughout the hotel, finding no trace of the interdimensional slugs, the searching taking up the rest of the night. The gang gathered together in the lobby just as the sun was starting to rise
"Everything's clear, there's no sign of those slugs anywhere," Gunn said
"That's probably the least of our problems right now," Lorne said
He was staring up at the ceiling, where a flash of gold energy would appear every now and again. A slug dropped out from one on the flashes, only to score a dagger to the back from Angel
"So that's where those little suckers are coming from? Lorne, would you know anyone who knows a thing or two about dimensions?"
"Yeah, I sure do. I'll get started on it"
Just as Lorne turned around, a flash appeared and a large demon dropped out, snarling menacingly. Angel gripped his sword, standing before the girls, as Gunn joined him, his car-rim axe in his hands. The demon roared and started for them, but something else dropped out of the flash, landing beside the demon and swinging his arm, decapitating it. The body dissolved, as the young boy then raised his arm towards Angel, a wooden tri-barrelled gun tied to his right arm
"Hi, Dad," the boy said
He was about sixteen years old, with short brown hair and blue eyes. He was covered in dirt and was wearing clothes that seemed to have been made from animal leather, a band of small skulls across his shoulders. A curved crude blade was attached to his left wrist, as he aimed the gun towards Angel
"Connor?" Angel and Cordelia said at the same time
'Connor' fired three stakes towards Angel. He angled his body, avoiding them, as Connor threw the gun aside, swinging his blade to deflect Gunn's strike, spinning around and backhanding Angel, then kicking him along the floor
"Are you sure that's Connor?" Fred asked Cordelia
Gunn slashed at his head, but Connor dropped and swept his legs out, before lashing out at Angel. He ducked under the blade, his back to Connor's. They blocked each other punches, before blocking each other's blades
"Can we stop and talk about this?" Angel asked
"No," Connor replied, hitting Angel in the back with his elbow
"Angel, if Peter Pan don't stop his crap, I'm gonna do someth-" Gunn started
Connor did a one-handed backwards spring flip, twisting around and backhanding Gunn, then slashed at his stomach. Gunn sucked his gut in, as Connor kicked him against the weapons cabinet. Gunn didn't get back up. Angel blocked Connor's blade and struck him, as Connor retaliated with a knee to the solar plexus, then kicked his leg out. Angel slid himself between Connor's legs, as the young boy turned and brought his blade down, but Angel blocked and kicked him back, before getting up
"Okay, let's calm down here for a minute," Angel said
Connor glared at him, then spun through the air like a tornado, flinging his bladed arm out. Angel blocked with his sword, as Connor twisted his arm, smacking the sword from Angel's hand and slashing him across the chest. He missed the flesh, as Angel grabbed his bladed arm and tripped him up, bringing the tip towards his throat. Connor struggled to force the blade away, but Angel was stronger, touching his skin with the tip, before snapping the blade off and tossing it aside. He got up and held his hand out to Connor, but he scrambled to his feet and headed for the door
"Connor! No, come back! Connor!" Angel cried, racing after him
Connor ran out through the door, into the sunlight as Angel followed him, but Gunn and Lorne grabbed Angel before he could run into the sunlight and dragged him back inside, as Connor disappeared onto the streets
"I don't believe it," Cordelia said, stunned as she sat on the couch, absentmindedly bobbing Ashleigh on her knee
"Neither can I, honey," Angel agreed, joining her, "He's back. Our son is back"
"You sure it was Connor?" Gunn asked sceptically, "I mean, a few weeks ago, he was a toddler, now he's suddenly a teenager"
"It was that place. Quor-toth. What else could it have been?" Angel said
"We have to find him," Cordelia said, "He's out there in LA. And we all know how dangerous this place is, all with the creepy-crawlies and monsters"
"I'm sure Connor can handle himself, but you're right. Gunn, you and Fred go out and see what you can find. I'm gonna wait here until the sun goes down"
"He's back," Cordelia said, "Our son has come back to us"
"I know, honey," Angel said, wrapping his arms around her, "And right now, he's out in the mean streets of LA. I'm going to bring him back home, right where he belongs"
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