(A/N): Yay, on with Part 6.
Dexter, Maine: I HATE THAT PLACE! IM SORRY U LIV THERE, LEVVY! I LUV U!
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2 u all and I hope u get stuff...and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas and all that good stuff and HIT UP ON THE FREE FOOD, PEOPLE! GET DRUNK! GO HUG UR DADDIES!
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Connor's eyes flew open.
BA-BUMP
Lifting a shakey hand to his head, he heard his heart pound and brain thump at the same time. And then he felt it. And smelt it. And tasted it. Blood.
His hand flew to his nose as he sat upright, trying to get all the liquid to quickly flow out. He had always wondered and feared that. If you bled badly from somewhere on your head and you layed down, would the blood just push and pour out or seep right back in and slowly drown you from inside?
He wiped the blood away with the back of his hand and stared at it. Blood had always fascinated him. You could never really get rid of it. It was like water. And it was so red. It was the purest color of red ever known. He wiped his hand on the inside of his pant legs, trying to not let it touch the clean white sheets underneath the covers. And trying to hide it. He knew Angel would worry. But Connor didnt worry. You could never really get rid of blood.
Angel...
That was when he noticed Spike. Noticed Spike staring at him with his mouth slightly agape.
And then, thankfully, Angel was there. He came rushing out of the bathroom, shirt untucked and black tie hanging loosely around his neck.
"Hey, would you mind watching him while I-" He then stopped and spied Connor awake, completely ignoring the strange look on Spike's face.
"Hey, kiddo," Angel grinned, instantly sitting down on the bed next to the boy. He saw the nervous look that was passed to the man behind him. "Oh, thats just Spike. You remember him, dont you? He's safe and harmless." The older vamp looked behind him also, and gave a small smirk. "He knows I'd kill him otherwise."
"Remember you took me on once, old man, and lost," was the quick quip, but he still kept his gaze on the boy.
Angel glared then turned back to Connor, a bright smile suddenly in place, as the boy sat up straighter and shoved his hands under the sheets. "Im a little late but if youre still tired, you can stay here and sleep longer. It's about nine."
"Nine?" Conor looked up at him with an apologetic frown, 'dream' now completely out of his mind. "Im sorry, its my fault you missed your meeting-"
"-Naw," his father smiled, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Dont apologize. Im just so glad youre here. Im taking the rest of the day off if they dont need me." He poked a thumb over his shoulder. "Spike there will be here with you until I return. Sleep as long as you need." He again ran his fingers through the boy's soft strands, practically basking in the image of his son smiling softly back at him.
"Ummm, ok," he got up, looking uncertain. "If you need anything, just ask Spi-"
"-No." Connor pulled back the covers and stood. "I want to go with you."
But his father shook his head, tucking in his shirt. "That wouldnt be wise at all. I have atleast two more meetings before lunch and the types of things we'll be discussing would only upset or depress you and I really dont want you to hear talk like that. Plus, most of the clients here are a little 'iffy'. I dont trust many of them and I wouldnt trust them at all if my own son was in the same room," he trailed off seeing Connor's defeated look. "Only two meetings and then Im most likely done. Spike here will keep you company until then."
"What time's your first meeting?"
"Well, I missed the first one...Who spoke in my behalf, anyways? Would you know?" He looked to Spike who just shook his head as a negative. Probably Eve then, Angel grimaced.
"So...in about an hour my next one would probably start." He knew he still wasnt getting the hang of it all. Wolfram & Hart was a huge corporation that needed constant manhandling and expertise. Angel felt very inadequate. He still felt as though he were failing.
"Then I'll stay with you for the hour."
Angel frowned and opened his mouth to protest, but Connor cut him off quickly. He always was quicker than his father. "Just for an hour then I'll come right back here."
"Connor, I-"
Connor knew instantly how to handle it. "Please?"
And Angel sank, completely giving in, as he saw his son's pleading look. Anything his son needed, he would give, he reminded himself.
"Alright," his father smiled, but then tried to look stern, even though it wasnt exactly working. Connor almost grinned at this. "But after the hour, you follow Spike straight here and dont wander. This building isnt exactly safe. I dont even know, myself, half the things they keep here."
Spike rolled his eyes, but Angel ignored him, tightening his tie. "Do you want to see my office?"
"I saw your office, didnt I?"
Angel grinned. "Not this one."
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The doors slid open to reveal his his very own personal office, great view a gift, of course, from his private non-double doored elevator. Angel secretly hated how the whole building was equipped with two-sided elevators, doors opening from infront and behind. It was absolutely ridiculous and little bit too flashy for his taste. He looked down and grinned as he saw his son's awed face.
Putting a hand to Connor's back, he gently led the boy around, showing off every toy he had.
"Starting off with the little things, this is a stereo system that has a 50-disc changer and the radio channels you can pick to be any station in any country. And this is a radio transmitter box with a small laser screen that pops out. You can basically talk to any high-up official in any part of the world. Oh, here we got one of the highest running quality and most expensive computers ever made on and off the Japanese market."
He led the boy over to a cabinet at the far end connected to the wall. It had doors that reached and connected to the ceiling. "You'll like this," he laughed, swinging the door open. Inside was a huge white box that looked alot like a refrigerator. "My very own fridge, restocked every 12 hours. And if there's nothing in here you like, highly doubtful might I add, you can just..." On the inside part of the door was a small black box with with a red button. Angel pointed to the button. "...push this and one of my operators downstairs will order you anything you like." He grinned again, looking down at his son. "Pretty kool, huh?"
"I thought you werent suppose to push the red button?" Connor smirked.
Angel laughed, tossling his hair. "That button's not so bad,...unless you order tons of food you shouldnt." He gave a mock frown but laughed again. He then closed the door and gently shoved him toward door number 2 next to them.
"This here is one of my favorite little gadgets...Well, not really little..." He swung that door open and inside, Connor saw just a silver box tucked way inside, standing about six or so feet high and made to be pretty thick. It had wheels below it and as he watched curiosly, his father rolled it out and reached for a lever at the top. Angel then pushed in that lever and the whole box just came down, opening up to reveal a giant table that spread out to more than 12 feet long, topped off with short thick poles that had twinkling red lights at the top. The table top itself was black and smooth, looking like a type of glass or maybe translucent type of metal, and ingraved were silver letterings and numbers all over the place.
Angel walked to one side and pressed a letter, a control pad popping out from beneath the table. "Wesley was the one that put this in. I think he stole the design from the old Watcher's Council, but..." He gave a secretive smile. "That'll be just between us, ok? This is a holograph. It can map any location in the world. Pick a city."
"Uhhh...the Congo?"
Angel gave the boy a look. Connor just shrugged.
"...Lets stick with L.A., then." Angel pressed a button on the pad and typed in the coordinates. And then the table was alit, the poles to the sides shooting off thick streams of red and blue. Connor noticed a square above them on the ceiling opened up as well, shooting out a thin blue laser. The strands of light all came together and after a second, right before his eyes was a small 3D replica of Los Angeles, all the buildings accurate and even named.
"This is literally one of a kind because Fred upgraded it to labeling off all the buildings," Angel was saying, playing around with the hook-in remote. "And it can map from the largest to even the smallest...Lets say...Dexter, Maine." He typed and L.A. switched to a very small town. "Yeah, population like thirty."Angel looked over at his son to see if he was impressed, but Connor was only gazing down at the scene, eyes lit up with the lights from the bright hologram. "And like I said," Angel continued, "You can see any sight in the world, like...London." The city popped up, Big Ben towering over everything. "Tokyo, Japan." Everything including Tokyo Tower popped up. "And ummmm Belgium. And Paris." Then the scenes suddenly turned to a jungle-like place, no city or landmarks, just lasered trees and foliage-covered mountains springing into the air. Angel smiled. "There's your Congo, even."
"Can I touch it?"
"Yeah, go ahead," Angel shrugged. "It doesnt hurt or anything. Theyre just laser lights." He demonstrated by swiping his hand through some of the Congo's trees.
Connor let loose a grin as his hand went through a large hill. "Wow, this is kool! No wonder you joined here." Something inside made his stomach churn at saying that comment but he ignored it.
Angel gave a small smile as he switched the lasers off. "You havent seen the best part. Let me show you it." His eyes practically lit up as he spied a remote on his desk. "Here's my favorite." He pressed a button and the wall suddenly shifted, displaying a large flat screen tv hanging more wide than long. No, large was an understatement. This tv was huge.
"Its a 102-inch," Angel rattled off proudly. "Largest and best quality flatscreen ever created to be held in an office. Plasma screen and a resolution that could actually kill. I found out it cost the company over 45K. And its all broadcasting from Wolfram & Hart's very own satellite, so it can get any channel in the world. Now this is my baby."
"..."
Angel paused, giving him a look. "What?"
"Next to me, right?" Connor challenged in mock jealousy. And his father winked at him, putting down the remote.
"No comparison. At all."
Connor grinned.
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From within the confinements of Wolfram & Hart's main archive library, Wesley's watch beeped, indicating it was ten o'clock. He threw off his glasses, letting his eyes relaxed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked to his side, noticing a slightly blurry Illyria staring back at him. "There's a meeting. I have to go to it. Can you entertain yourself...calmly while Im gone?"
The blue woman nodded, stretching out her limbs. "There is an appointment I have to keep also." At his look, she added, "A quiet appointment. Do not unsettle yourself with thoughts of me."
'Unsettle' myself? Wesley wondered as he left the room. The goddess was bewildering him more and more lately. He made his way to Meeting Room 4, spotting a hectic-looking Harmony chasing after him with a mug, but not really caring to stop and turn around. He knew the vampire secretary wouldnt give up and eventually materialize right in front of him. He didnt even blink as she did.
"Hey!" she cried, breathless. "I know you saw me! Youre so mean!"
Wes sighed. "What is it, Harmony?"
"Take this to Angel? He's awake finally and in his main office. He sounds happy too so I want him to stay that way." She looked at him, covering part of her mouth. "Im trying to get off work early," she whispered.
"Well, how thoughtful of you." He took the mug, not bidding a goodbye, and trudged away. He was in such a dreary mood and he knew it was showing. He had almost been relieved when Angel didnt show up to the 1st morning meeting, Eve taking his place, and the thought of facing him at all was causing a bubble of dread to boil in his stomach. Wes still felt guilty about what had happened the day before and wondered if the boss "skipping out" was due to that reason. He walked slowly and stiffly to the office door, breathing deeply and mentally preparing himself-
-for something he would almost never imagine in a hundred years.
He stood in the open doorway, eyes wide and hand clenched around the coffee mug.
Because Angel was twirling. Twirling in his chair. Connor in his lap, looking far too big for that sort of thing, but somehow pulling it off. Connor in his arms. And Angel was laughing. No, Angel was almost looking giddy. Giggles rang out through the large office as Connor was being tickled madly, seemingly held hostage with a grin and trying to escape the vampire, though not much energy was used into it, then propelled swiftly back into the older man's arms.
But Angel and tickling was basically all that was running through the Britishman's mind as he watched the scene in front of him, mouth newly agape. Connor was almost screaming with laughter now like a five-year old as they spun in the chair, tugging on his father's tie to stop the onslaught of touching fingers, but only causing the man to tickle harder and more quickly, laughing himself.
"Yeah, you like that? Make fun of my toys- thats what you get, thats what you get!" Angel laughed some more, grinning wildly.
And Connor only giggled harder, trying to get away but not looking as if he truly wanted to.
The sight made the 4-eyed man breathless.
He couldnt breathe.
He couldnt breathe...
Angel took a break after a moment and let out an uneeded whoosh of air, grinning down at the flushed boy and rocking the swivel chair slowly. Connor looked at him, eyes almost sparkling, still tugging on his father's tie, but more gently now. They murmurred and grinned at each other, teasing each other, then, at the same time, tried to keep a straight face, but only ended up bursting into laughter when they both couldnt hold it for long.
Finally, Wes shook himself free from his paralysis, feeling the unmistakable and somewhat alarming urge to flee from the immortal and his Miracle, and was about to step back and walk away quickly, the rational part of him also not wanting to intrude, but as Angel continued rocking the chair, the vampire spotted him, still standing shocked in the doorway.
However, Angel only nodded towards the mug. "Is that for me?"
Wesley nodded back and, after a second's hesitation, he stepped into the room and placed the warm mug on the desk. "Yes. H-Harmony told me to deliver it. Said you were in need."
A quiet thankyou, and Angel was back to grinning at the slender boy in his arms.
Until a very loud-mouthed and bored-looking vampire strutted into the room, proclaiming what was pretty obvious. "Im bored!" Angel gave him a glare as Connor looked over, curious.
Wesley pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes, uhhh and also...the meeting at ten...Well, its a little past ten now, but we can still make it if we head there now. Meeting Room 4."
Angel sighed, his face falling, and stopped rocking. "Right. Im sorry. I completely forgot."
"Good going, bossy. Two in one day. Deliquients will start looking to you for pointers, you know-"
"-Spike," Angel cut off the snide remarks. "Take Connor back to my room and...Actually are you hungry yet?" Connor shook his head no. "Ok, well," Angel nudged the boy gently out of his arms, albeit reluctantly, even though a blush was clearly making its way across the boy's pale cheeks, embarrassment dawning that a private moment was being witnessed by not one, but two people now. "Follow Spike here back and get some more sleep; you must be tired still. I'll be up to come get you in a few hours. Spike, stay with him," he ordered, voice instantly turning hard as the other vampire was leading the boy out, unmistakably keeping a distance.
"Why do I have to stay there?" Spike whined, turning around.
"Spike," Angel warned, lifting an eyebrow.
Spike spun back towards the door on the side. "Bloody hell. Fine," he growled, walking out, the Miracle trudging slowly at his heel.
Angel stood up and pushed the intercom button. "Harmony, would you find me Gunn and tell him to get in here, please?"
"Gotcha."
Angel gulped down what was cooling in the mug as Wesley tried to search for the right words.
"Angel, I...I just wanted to say-"
"If this is about yesterday, Wes, then calm down," the vamp waved him off, offering a small smile. "No need to apologize. We should both know by now that keeping the past only hurts us in the future." He breathed in deeply and smiled wider. "Besides, I have a favor to ask. Connor will need a proper jacket for when we go out later. I'll give you the cash if you can run out and grab me one for him. Do you have anything else planned? This meeting wont really involve you, will it?"
"Well, actually," Wes placed the glasses back on his nose. "The history of the clients we're meeting today is generally up my alley of work that Ive been studying lately. You might need me to convey that information for whatever they bring up. They certainly wont be happy if those reports are true."
Gunn walked in at that moment. "You needed to speak with me?"
"Yeah. Nevermind then, Wes. Go ahead and tell them all I'll be there in just a second." He turned to the dark-skinned man just as Wesley walked out. "Gunn, now I have two favors to ask. I need a jacket for Connor- he's here uh visiting for awhile," he explained, handing over a couple hundred dollar bills. "Go and buy him a jacket, something warm and...nice."
"Something like mine?" Gunn grinned, showing off the new, thick blue blazer threads.
"...He's just a kid, Gunn. Something less...formal and alot more warmer. Also, I need you to pick up a Christmas tree. Something that actually fits in this office would be nice. A fake tree. No white. Just the traditional green. Actually, get two. I know where I can put the other one."
"A Christmas tree?" Gunn gave him a funny look. "You told us all you didnt celebrate Christmas and that we couldnt put up decorations." You old humbug, he silently added.
"Hey, Im allowed to change my mind," Angel defended himself, looking around the room. "Besides, this place needs to feel the holidays. Its our first Christmas here, after all."
"Its because of the kidisnt it."
"Gunn, just buy me the damn trees and get some good decorations before I fire you!"
But Gunn was already backing out of the room, grinning, holding up his hands in mock defeat. "Alright alright, man! Nice jacket. Nice trees. I got it."
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Connor walked slower than the vampire leading him, looking around the office curiously. A few people had given him weird glances and some had even walked up to him, staring him down, but Spike had shoved them out of the way, glaring back even harsher.
"Keep up," the platinum blonde called over his shoulder, shaking the boy out of his daze. "If you get lost, Angel will fry my ass- and I dont mean that literally, so no pun intended."
They stopped in front of an elevator, it already DINGing as it was about to open, when Spike turned to him, looking slightly apprehensive. "Were you trying to hide it this morning? All that blood gushing outta your nose? And what was that any-" The doors slid open and a hand shot out, grabbing Spike around the neck and flinging him easily through an office cubicle window behind them. Connor leaped back, shocked, as Illyria stepped out, smiling triumphantly.
"I have nothing to do, vermin, so you will entertain me dutifully."
Spike stepped out of the wood and glass, climbing through the shattered office frame, instantly transforming, but as he laid eyes on the blue goddess, the form reverted, and he held up his hands in warning. The man that worked in the office was behind him, still seated and on the phone, acting as if nothing had happened.
"Now look here, Pissy Missy. I dont know what I've done or... if Ive done it or...or who the bloody hell told you Ive done it," he babbled, moving to the side, "but that was absolutely uncalled for and...aggravating ...and you had no right to do it." He switched tactics, now whining. "I landed on wood, you know. I coulda been killed!"
"Entertain me." And Illyria walked forward, grabbing the vampire yet again by the throat and lifting him in the air. "You will entertain me." She threw him, Spike flipping and flying in the air, before landing at the end of the hall. Illyria stalked after, a gleam in her eyes, flexing her fingers.
This went on and on, Spike bouncing from side to side of the hallway, trying to fight back but not succeeding. The goddess delivered a few punches here and there but mostly just continued the act of picking up and throwing.
Until Spike lost consciousness, landing with a plop at Connor's feet, a bloody mass of purple and blue.
Connor stepped back, looking to Illyria, but the goddess had disappeared through a different elevator, seemingly frustrated. The boy looked down at the unconscious vampire weakly, and nudged the unmoving form with his shoe.
His guide was completely out for the count. And he had no clue which floor they were suppose to go to.
He stopped a worker that was walking past carrying what looked to be a small hairless monkey tucked under one arm like a loaf of bread. "Umm, where's Meeting Room 4?"
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Angel walked into the meeting room briskly, already eager to rap up the case quickly. There were five people already seated around the large oval table- two females of the demon kind, two male heads of Wolfram & Hart's own Armed Troups, and Wesley. Lorne was standing at the one of the bookshelves, serving himself a drink.
"I apologize for the time," Angel took his seat, flipping open the case file in front of him. He paused and indicated towards the two empty seats. One, he knew, wouldve been for Gunn. "Are we missing a person?"
One of the demons spoke up. "My partner, Gendall. He's reparking the car. Ticket."
Angel nodded. "OK, then, well I hope he doesnt mind we start without him. Lorne, you can take the other seat. Gunn's running an errand for me." Lorne looked pleased and seated himself and his glass of brandy.
"Alright. Quick introductions. My name's Angel and I run this branch of Wolfram & Hart. My two colleages across from me are Lorne and Wesley Whyndam-Pryce. To the right of me are two of the head patrol men of our own Armed Forces." He looked to them just in case he got the names wrong. "Uh Patrick Tull and...Daniel Nolan." They nodded and Angel turned to look at the two females.
The first woman spoke up. "Im Opeely Lyn and this is my personal advisor Gwith Forn. We're of the Korr-Pokk."
"Empaths," Lorne laughing, leaning foreward.
"You've heard of us?" She looked pleased. And also ready to indulge them all in a great and "magnificent" life story.
Angel just stared at them, eyebrow raised. "Uh could we get down to business please?"
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Connor spied a back-less chair and slid it up to the wall of the meeting-room, sitting down and leaning back. He knew his father was already inside, but he just couldnt bring himself to enter. Angel would surely be mad that he came but...with Spike out, he had no clue as to where else to go without actually leaving the whole building itself.
So he sat. And waited. And strained his hearing to catch whatever they were speaking about inside, but the room was quiet, obviously soundproof. So he continued sitting and leaned forward, shoving his hands under his legs and staring at his shoes. He had done a number on them the night before. Once white with blue stripes, they were almost dirtied gray, the stripes now a definate black. And they were tearing, especially on the bottom where the toes rested. Connor blinked and reached down, tightening his shoe laces absently.
How long would he have to wait, anyways? Most meetings lasted about a half hour or so, but Angel had told him two- and he had two meetings, such a small number for four long hours or more. What kind of meetings lasted for two hours? What could people be talking about that lasted that long? Again, he strained to hear, but getting nothing, he gave up, and continued to stare at his shoes, picking at them lazily.
Until a different pair of shoes, boots actually, walked past. And stopped. Then walked back, facing forward, towards him.
Connor looked up just as he heard the man's voice. No, demon's voice. He was dressed in black and had almost pure white skin, shoulder-length dark hair, and gray eyes. Two green horns protruded from his neck.
"Why hello there."
Connor just frowned, reminding himself Angel would kill him if he talked to demons he didnt know, especially within Wolfram & Hart.
But the demon took no notice and bent down, reaching out to put a hand on the boy's shoulder. Connor flinched away, still staying put on the seat.
"No touching? Very well then. Have a name?" He waited, eyes intrigued, but when Connor remained tight-lipped, he continued. "No? Well, I guess Im lucky. I am Gendall of the Korr-Pokk. Heard of us? Well, Ive never heard of you. All alone? Who do you belong to, child?"
Connor allowed his gaze to shift at the onslaught of questions,staring at the meeting room door, hoping that at any second, Angel would come barralling through.
Not that he needed saving, of course. He could handle it.
And he didnt belong to anybody.
Gendall followed his gaze, his eyes widening. "To someone in there? What a coincidence. I was just headed that way. My mate's in there talking to the man that manages this firm. I dont think I'll go in now, though. Im going to go for a drive. You should come with me."
Connor looked down, turning away. Now he almost didnt care about making his father angry. He wanted to be near him. And get away from this man- no, demon. He studied his shoes some more, hoping his silence would answer Gendall for him and have the Korr-Pokk leave him alone. He just wanted Angel. Thats all. And he wasnt willing to leave. Not yet. He wanted to wait- to only have one wall seperate them...
"Hey, now, dont give me that. Look at me when I speak, child." Gendall reached out but Connor flinched away again, more violently this time.
"Dont." He mentally cursed himself at allowing a word to slip.
But Gendall only sighed, a smile still on his pale lips. "Well, boy, I was trying to be nice but...Let me explain. I dont know your kind...and I know every kind there is. So here, we have a very curious problem. Youre not human; youre not demon. You have a very high amount of power, and thats only what I feel. Pretty amazing, child, considering your not doing anything besides looking at your shoes." He laughed darkly. Connor still didnt look up. "So I have to know, and since you dont like to speak, we're gonna have to do this the hard way. I see you dont like being touched, boy. Im sorry about that."
Before the words even began to sink in, Gendall had grabbed the boy's neck with a demon-clawed left hand, and forced his head up, placing a right palm over his forehead. "Sorry again, kid."
Just as Connor's eyes widened in fear, the left claw left his neck, and his head slammed violently backwards, hitting the meeting room wall, a right hand still roughly planted over his temples. He gasped as a blue light began to flare in between his eyes.
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(A/N):WE STILL HAVENT OPENNED PRESENTS! GYAAAAAAAAA! ALL THE FAMILY AINT HERE YET! GYAAAAAAAAA! CONNOR'S STILL WRAPPED SOMEWHERE UNDER MY TREE! GYAAAAAAAAAA!
But WOOHOO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!