Wesley gaped at the scene in front of him. He had failed. He didn't know what was happening at the front of the abbey, but he could only imagine how his friends were faring against the hundreds of vampires, they hadn't been doing very well when he saw them through the Wolf's eyes. Here she was, cutting the innocent, with Wesley powerless to stop her.
The Wolf turned to stare into his eyes. "I can't wait to introduce you to my sister, I bet you two will get along famously." Her gleeful cackle was the background to her dusting of the seven vamps. The demonic energy wasn't golden this time, but orange. He waited for a repeat performance of what had happened at the hotel. He waited for the building to topple and the blood of the innocent to flow toward an opening in the ground. However the ground and walls didn't budge, the energy just grew and shimmered. It looked instable somehow, like a reaction waiting to happen, but unable to. The Wolf frowned. "They can't all be alive." She looked at her hand, as though trying to find her answers written on her flawless skin. White-hot flashes of electricity snapped within the cloud of unstable demonic energy. Something was happening, and Wesley couldn't believe it was something good. The Ram was coming, his friends were dead. An explosion of white light filled the room. Wesley shielded his eyes and shook with terror, what monster would face him now? He fell to his knees in despair. It kind of hurt…
…
Angelus felt a wonderful glee. Here was every person he wanted most to kill. The slayer Angel loved, the slayer Angel had saved, the cop he had bedded, and his stupid friends. That cop might make a good immortal companion, and he would love to turn her into the thing she most despised, the thing that had killed her father. But Angelus was going to have to go with Buffy, turning a slayer into a vampire was a far better irony. He'd turn Conner as well, let him choose a woman for himself. The whirlwind gang would be back and better than ever.
Angelus blocked a blow from Buffy, keeping Mr. Pointy far from his heart. "I thought we were good Buffy. Are you mad I had some fun with the pretty lady cop?"
Buffy's look of pain and rage was eye candy to Angelus. Spike was battling Faith, Dru had her hands full with Kennedy. Both of the vampires had taken down slayers before and Angel wasn't too worried about them. The other fighters were taking on the crowd of vampires, each time they took one down another was waiting to attack. The werewolves fought next to each other, defending their partner's blind spots. Xander and Kate were employing a similar tactic, while Gunn was swinging solo, running on pure adrenalin and natural rage. Willow's spells weren't doing a whole lot of good, her main focus was on defending herself. Conner was on his own as well, his speed and agility a marvel. He was going to make a great vampire, a task Angelus would set to as soon as he finished off the slayer. He just needed to throw her off her game. "What's the matter slayer, your heart not in it?" Angelus teased
"Keep talking when you're a pile of dust." Buffy said
"If you don't want to get back together just say so, this is a little much."
She was getting angrier, good it made her erratic. "You're going to pay."
"For killing a human being like your witch friend?" Angelus asked "I heard she flayed a guy. I've always loved a good flaying. Heard it was because of her squeeze." Buffy tried to land a poorly timed swing and Angelus grabbed her shoulder and shoved her to the ground. "Would you flay me if I staked Spike?" He asked as he tried to pin her down, only to get kicked in the abdomen for his efforts "I got to say, I was hurt when I found out about that. I thought you were with me because of my sparkling personality, not because of your undead fetish. Or was I just so good in bed I caused the undead fetish?" Buffy's fury was reaching critical levels, he would have her soon, get to taste her once more, but as himself this time, not through Angel.
A flash of white light blinded all of the combatants. Angelus knew a sign of turning tables when he saw one. He stepped back as he surveyed the scene. Vampires were standing stunned, trying to get a bearing on their surroundings and getting staked while they did. Angelus felt his strength weakening, Angel struggling to get control. Angelus ran inside the abbey, he would find the Wolf and have her redo her mojo. Spike and Dru followed his lead.
…
"No!" The Wolf stamped her foot like a petulant child. She surveyed the room, as if her sister were hiding somehow. "My will be done!" She tore a clump of hair from her head. Wesley laughed, a laugh of uncontained mirth. The Wolf couldn't contain her fury. This wasn't fun anymore. "I'll give you something to laugh about. Enjoy hell, because you're fired!"
Wesley continued to laugh, in a very not fading from existence kind of way. He touched his arm, sliding his hand along his flesh, which was flesh. The Wolf gaped. Somehow the energy meant to bring over her sister had gone to him. The sacrifice wasn't working and the energy had needed an outlet, so it went to him. He was corporeal now. The Wolf regained her composure, she would just kill him again, in a far more painful way than last time. She approached him, clenching her fist, trying to reign in her anger, reminding herself she wanted to drag this out.
Angelus and his crew entered. "Wolf," he said "The spell is coming undone."
She heard a note of panic in the confident sadistic vampire's voice and smirked. "Oh no, whatever are you going to do?" She stopped in front of the smiling newly living man.
"You need us! Make it stick!" Angelus grabbed his head, he could feel Angel fighting with all he had. The soul wanted to return, wanted to muzzle him.
The Wolf stopped. Her strength grew weaker every moment she stayed here, and somehow the failed spell had distanced her from her sister. Perhaps her own power was drained by the attempt. Perhaps if she condensed her efforts, released the other vampires and focused exclusively on the whirlwind gang. The Wolf released the vampires fighting outside and was horrified to find it wasn't enough. She grew weaker by the moment, in this place that belonged to the enemy. "Fine," She picked Wesley up by his collar and began to drag him out the door.
The whirlwind gang followed. "Are you going to fix the spell?" Angelus demanded
The Wolf exited to see the last of the vampires fleeing the three slayers, two werewolves, witch, and the four skilled mortals. They turned their attention to her. She dropped Wesley to the ground and stepped forward, ready to destroy her enemies.
"You made a mistake in coming here." Buffy said; the Wolf could read Buffy's thoughts as she left the building and see Buffy meant both this dimension and the abbey
"As did you child." The Wolf was speaking of Buffy's species and their own rise to power in this dimension. She was glad Buffy herself was here.
"You can't take all of us."
"Arrogant child, I can destroy you with ease." Her next words were directed at the whirlwind gang, but she never took her gaze from Buffy. "If you wish for me to reactivate the spell you will not assist me." The Wolf was disappointed she couldn't kill Buffy, Faith, or Kennedy, but she would have to be satisfied with beating them severely and killing all of their friends. Then she would torture Wesley to death and redo the sacrifice, bringing over her sister.
"Let's go psycho."
The Wolf smiled at the blond slayer. She approached her and before Buffy could lift her hand she had punched her in the gut with such force that the woman flew back into Willow, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Buffy moaned in pain as she rolled on the ground. In a single moment the Wolf was on Conner, throwing him into Kate and Xander. She lifted him back up and hit him hard enough to break his jaw. The boy howled in pain. The Wolf sensed Faith approaching from behind and turned to break the woman only to find a knife planted in between her ribs. It was the knife she had tempted Angel with. "Stupid girl," The Wolf said as red blood poured from the wound that looked less like something that came from a living being and more like strawberry juice "There is nothing impure in me." As the last few words were said fur sprouted from her skin and her jaw transformed. Her marble teeth grew and sharpened. Her new form was the shape of a wolf but the size of an elephant. Wesley's idea for Faith to retrieve the knife had been a desperate move, and while the magic in it was strong enough to penetrate her, it wasn't strong enough to actually hurt her. The source of her power was far older than that rinky-dink knife. She brought her snout against Faith with the speed and force to push her down.
Faith's head was spinning, but she could see where the knife was still sticking out of the monstrosity turning away from her. Faith tried to struggle to her feet as she saw the creature take Kennedy's arm in her teeth and lift the screaming girl from the ground. The Wolf shook her.
"Kennedy!" Willow screamed
The Wolf dropped Kennedy to the ground, where the slayer cradled her bloody mangled arm. Willow rushed over to her lover, but was blocked by the Wolf. The Wolf tried to grip the witch in her mouth, but couldn't. Willow's eyes turned black. Her hair went a similar shade and her veins became more prominent against her paling skin. Willow raised her hand and pushed at some invisible force. "Leave!" She lifted her other hand, the black veins bulging.
The Wolf opened its maw and let a horrible sound escape, maybe it was supposed to be laughter. The Wolf retook her previous form, her hair immaculate, and her blue dress still sparkling. She reached out and pushed back at Willow, with only one hand. Her right hand was centimeters from Willow's left. Faith watched Kennedy struggle to her feet. Kennedy tried to walk up to her girlfriend, but fell to her knees, jarring her arm and letting out a scream. The Wolf got a hair's length closer to Willow. Faith ran over to Kennedy and helped her up. They approached Willow and then Kennedy encircled her good arm around Willow. She leaned against Willow and to Faith's shock she saw the Wolf lose her tiny bit of gained ground. Faith gripped Kennedy's abdomen and felt hands grip her shoulders. It was Buffy, with Xander clutching Buffy's shoulders. Gunn, Kate, and Conner had no idea what was going on, but when they saw the Wolf's hand start to fall they each grabbed a section of Xander's right arm. The Wolf's knees started to buckle. She scowled at the assembled. "You are fools."
Willow drew back her right hand and shoved, the Wolf fell to her knees. "Leave this place!" Her voice was thunder again. "Do not return!"
The Wolf chuckled. "The source of the power you draw upon is not a pleasant one. It is not the Powers who aid you. The source of your power demands payment and will cancel out all the good you have ever used her power for tenfold. She will rise from hell and destroy the world she protected for so long through you. You stupid little girl," The Wolf rose and left.
Willow's hands fell to her side and her appearance gradually returned to normal. She gripped Kennedy's good arm and moved it so that she could turn to face the slayer and embrace her. She was careful not to exacerbate her lover's injury as they held each other.
Faith looked for the whirlwind gang, but they were gone. At the front of the abbey only Wesley remained, grinning like a lunatic and touching the walls, ground, whatever he could get his hands on. Faith approached him warily. "Wes?"
Wesley enveloped her in an embrace. "I remember everything Faith. I'm alive. I can feel you. I can feel your heart beating and it's the most beautiful sound in the world. I can feel my heart beating. I can feel air on my skin. I can feel the earth under the soles of my shoes. I can hear people breathing. I can see colors. I forgot what they were, but now I remember. I remember everything. It's all coming back at once, like a tidal wave. I feel it all."
Faith hugged her old watcher back, tears pouring form her eyes. "You're back."
Wesley held her at arm's length, examining her face. Faith was a beautiful woman. He could see the pores of her skin, the structure of her bones, and the story of her life, written in the subtlest expressions. "You're amazing." He said "I can see your whole being, buzzing. You've lived a whole life and it's in you, warm, bright, and humming. I can see you. I couldn't before. I couldn't see anything. None of my senses worked, and now hundreds of them do. I can feel the world, and you, and myself, and a million other things." Wesley kept smiling at her.
Faith grinned, happy tears flowing from her eyes. "I'm so glad." Yet an undercurrent of sadness was in her voice, mind and heart. Angel was gone. Would they be able to retrieve him as well? She tried not to think about this, afraid the hyper-aware newly living Wesley would somehow sense her fear, but he was too caught up the taste of the air and the color of the sky to notice her sadness or fear. She tried to focus on this happy development, and on their victory.
…
Buffy surveyed the room. Kennedy was flexing her healed arm. Willow was healing Conner's jaw. Gunn and Kate were whispering about Angel, forgetting about Buffy's heightened slayer senses. She heard their fear he would return, their fear he wouldn't. Xander was watching Faith listening to the babbling Wesley. She looked happy and Buffy felt a little guilty that it pissed her off. Nina and Oz had gone to find their clothes. They returned with Anne, Fred and the two demons. Buffy watched the six people sit down and look at her. Gunn and Kate turned to look as well. Faith nudged Wesley and they also stared at the blond slayer. Kennedy followed Faith's lead. Willow finished Conner's jaw and then the whole room was focused on just one thing, Buffy Summers. She sighed, the fate of the world, once again, was dependent on her.
"Willow can you undo the curse again?" Buffy asked
"If they stand still for long enough, yeah." Willow said
"Then you'll come with us. We're going after them, and if the Wolf wants to stop us let her try. Kennedy, Kate, Conner, and Xander are coming with. Faith and Gunn I want you to stay here and look after the non-combatants. Just because the Wolf can't get in doesn't mean she won't send somebody to do her dirty work." Buffy remembered Nina and Oz. "Nina, Oz, you guys were a lot of help in that fight. More werewolves would have been even better. See if anybody is interested in being trained. Teresa, have you had anymore visions?"
Teresa nodded. Usually she was starting to go loopy by now, but every time her mind started to slip away she remembered the peaceful feeling she had seen in Buffy's mind and she was fine again. She was very lucid when she spoke to the slayer. "You can't kill Angel."
"If we have to-" Buffy didn't get to finish.
"He has to be at the last battle. He has to be there one way or the other. Even if he doesn't want to be, even if he would rather be dead, he has to be there. We have to follow the rules too."
The meaning of those words hit Buffy like a semi-truck. Angel had to see the final battle, no matter what side he was on. The prophecy demanded it, and Buffy couldn't kill him, even if it would be a mercy. "Okay," She whispered "Is that all?"
Teresa nodded. "You should hurry, try to achieve the ideal outcome."
Buffy nodded. "Let's go." As she led her chosen group away she thought about what Teresa had said. Buffy had never been one much for following the rules. The rules said Angel would see the final battle, but Buffy came to a decision. She was bringing Angel back or she was killing Angelus. Angel had earned that much, screw the rules.
…
Lorne heard the sounds of howling coming from below where Nina and Oz were training the werewolves who had volunteered. Gunn and Anne were sitting on a couch, her examining his bruises and him breathing in her scent. Wesley and Faith had taken Fred back to the room she had shared with Teresa. "Don't be afraid."
Lorne looked at the hybrid who had spoken. He smiled at Teresa. She had convinced him to come back, and part of him was beginning to wonder why. Why had he returned to Angel? He hadn't been much use. "I'm not afraid." Lorne lied
Teresa slipped her grey hand into his green one. "There are many paths available, and nothing is ever certain. We choose where we go, but we cannot see the end."
"Then how do we choose?" Lorne asked
Teresa pointed to Anne and Gunn. Anne had put her lips against Gunn's, and they embraced each other. "With our hearts, we take the path we think is right."
"We think with our brains, not our hearts." Lorne said
"Some of us," Teresa conceded "Others not so much. Buffy won't listen to me, she'll kill Angelus if she can't get Angel back. She thinks with her heart."
Angel, dead. The idea filled Lorne with sadness. He still harbored some resentment for his old friend, but a great deal of good feelings as well. "Maybe she'll break the curse."
"I saw something very important." Teresa said "But I can't remember what it was."
That didn't bode well. "Do you remember any of it?"
Teresa frowned. "I saw a holy man. I saw a doctor. I saw a bartender making us drinks."
"Anything else?" Lorne didn't know what to make of those vague descriptions.
"That's all I remember. We'll know what's to come when it comes though."
Lorne nodded and the pair of demons walked away, leaving Gunn and Anne to their after-battle smooching. The hybrid and the Pylean entered the room he shared with Gunn. There they sat in comfortable silence, waiting for the next storm.
…
Buffy was at the head of their group. Conner was walking behind her and to her right. He took in his surroundings, the tiny signs of what had come through this way. Quor'Toth had taught him everything he needed to become the expert tracker he was. "That way,"
Buffy followed Conner's direction and Willow followed Buffy, standing a little farther behind and to the slayer's left. Xander and Kennedy were on either side of her. Kate brought up the rear. All of them were armed, all of them ready to face three of history's most dangerous vampires. Willow and Kennedy clutched hands. "It's going to be all right." Kennedy whispered
Conner looked at a large industrial building. They were in there, waiting. They knew that he could find them and they had laid a trap. Conner pointed. "There, they know we're coming."
Buffy nodded. "We do this in two waves. Conner and Kennedy are with me. Kate, Xander, and Willow will be the second wave. Our first goal is to take out Drusilla, make it six against two. Try not to take out Angel or Spike unless you have to."
"What if we have to?" Conner asked
"You just answered your own question." Buffy said
The two groups split up, Willow leading her group around back. "Drusilla's mine." Buffy said "Conner you take Spike. Kennedy try to hold off Angelus." The slayer and son of two vampires nodded. They entered the building, which at a glance appeared empty. On instinct Buffy looked up. The three vampires stood on a catwalk of some sort.
"Did somebody order delivery?" A vamped out Spike asked
Angelus dropped to the ground. "Hi honey, did you miss me?" Ignoring Buffy's orders Conner went after Angelus, trying to land a punch or a kick and failing each time. "Come on kid, you're embarrassing your old man." Kennedy rushed forward to help Conner.
Buffy was left fighting both Spike and Drusilla. Fighting Spike took up most of her attention and kept her from staking Dru. Buffy threw her ex-lover into the far wall and tried to plant a stake in Drusilla. The insane vampire danced backwards. "No, no, naughty girl, you mustn't be so selfish." Drusilla laughed as Buffy followed each of Drusilla's retreats.
Willow, Xander and Kate came in. Willow pointed to a crate, which collapsed into a series of giant splinters. Willow sent them one at a time careening toward Drusilla. She would have sent them en masse, but for fear of hitting Buffy. Drusilla dodged each splinter, but she was now having a harder time outmaneuvering Buffy. Dru looked to Spike for help, who was being occupied by Xander and Kate. Spike punched Xander in the throat, he fell to the ground gasping.
Buffy was distracted by Xander's condition and Drusilla took this opportunity to run over to her sire. She gripped Kennedy's arm as the slayer tried to stab Angelus. "Naughty," Drusilla admonished as she snapped Kennedy's arm. Kennedy screamed while Angelus and Drusilla laughed. The two seized each other's hands and ran off, Spike following.
Willow rushed over to Kennedy. She could heal the arm again, but two broken arms in one day was no good. Willow's magic drew upon the body's own strength to heal it. Kennedy would be far weaker now. Kennedy moaned in pain as Willow worked her magic. Buffy was tempted to run after the whirlwind gang, but she knew she had to stay behind with her team.
"We have to go after them." Conner apparently had no such need.
"We stick together." Buffy said "No matter what."
Conner scowled but voiced no further protest. Buffy surveyed the room. Xander was back up. Kennedy was the only one with a serious injury. By the time she was healed Angelus, Spike, and Drusilla would have a decent head start. If the plan was to string them along, Buffy had to admit it was working. They had to corner the vamps or they would continue to slip away and force engagements on their own terms. Eventually someone would get hurt in a way Willow couldn't heal. Buffy decided that wasn't going to happen. This was her game, she made the rules.
...
Faith watched Wesley help poor Fred into bed, she didn't look tired or scared; that was the problem. She didn't have any emotion, she simply looked content. She smiled, but not from joy. She simply kept that small smile on her face as her default expression. Was she getting better? Faith had been told she was, but he woman looked like a shadow of her former self.
"You're going to be okay Fred." Wesley said, Faith was unsure if he was referring to the not quite past danger or her mental state. "Don't worry." That was a pointless thing to say, worry was the farthest thing in the world from this woman's mind.
Fred poked Wesley's cheek. "You're here."
Wesley couldn't contain his grin and in turn neither could Faith. "I am now." He said
Faith saw something, some sort of emotion, pass through Fred's eyes. "When will I be here?" There was definitely something there. "Why did I go away?"
Wesley blinked, a pained expression took control of his features for a brief moment before he returned to his genial grin. "You came back." Wesley said "You're safe now."
"Am I back?" She seemed unsure, which Faith hoped was a good sign It was an emotion after all. "I don't…" She looked at something they couldn't see.
"You're back." Wesley said in a firm voice
"I'm back." Fred realized "But I'm broken."
…
Angelus waited in the meadow for the slayer and her buddies. "The witch!" He paced the length of the meadow. "She's our main threat, we need to take her out this time."
"It's hard to get close." Spike said "What with the magic and all."
Angelus chuckled. "I'm sorry Spike, didn't realize you were afraid of a little girl."
Spike approached his sire. "You want to start something?"
Drusilla laughed. "Oh I like the fighting."
"Yeah," Angelus said "Me to, but I don't fancy being resouled by some uppity witch, so let's put this on hold. You two hold back the other five, I'll take the witch down. Then when they're busy mewling and whining we kill the slayers."
Spike nodded his agreement. "I'm all for getting my third slayer. I got to say I'm disappointed there's a few of them now, kind of makes it less special."
"We could kill them all." Angel said "That would be real special."
"Yes! Yes!" Drusilla jumped up and down. "Kill them all!"
"As soon as we leave pet." Spike promised her
"You want to cut down on the chatter?" Angelus asked "I'd like to know when they're approaching." Angelus listened for the sound of light footsteps. He'd hear Xander first, he was the heaviest and the least well trained. Yet even he with his military training and years of helping Buffy could be subtle when he wanted. Angelus stepped closer to the trees. They should be here by now. There, there it was. Angelus turned to his companions and grinned.
They pretended to be unaware, but they waited for the surprise attack. Nothing was happening. Spike looked around. "Well Angelus, where are they?"
Angelus fell to the ground with a moment to spare. Spike had pulled Dru down, but one of the many sharpened tree branches that had flooded the valley had gone through her arm. "Ow, that wasn't very nice. Mean old witch," Drusilla pulled out the makeshift stake.
Kennedy and Kate tackled Angelus, trying to hold his down. Angelus threw Kate off of him where she impaled her thigh on one of the loose stakes. Angelus grappled with Kennedy while Buffy went toe to toe with Dru. Conner and Xander were going against Spike. Conner held Spike's arms behind his back and pulled the vampire to his knees. Xander helped hold him down. Willow saw Spike was down and headed over to work her spell. Angelus tried to buck Kennedy, but Kate advanced and drove a stake into his abdomen, a non-fatal but painful wound.
Willow gripped Spike's head and muttered some words Angelus couldn't hear. Spike shook violently and burst out of Conner's grip. He ran into the woods. Angelus was disgusted with his cowardice, and finally managed to throw off Kennedy. He ran for Dru and grabbed her hand. He pulled the lunatic after him as they went farther into the woods. He contemplated killing Spike, but decided to wait until after the Witch and slayers were dead. There he was, waiting for them at the edge of the park, leaning against a car.
"Let's go!" Angelus shoved Drusilla toward the car. Spike grabbed Dru and kissed her passionately. "There's time for that later! Let's go!" Drusilla struggled against Spike's grip and Angelus realized something was wrong. Spike pulled out a stake and thrust it into his old lover's heart. She frowned as she disappeared in a puff of dust, carried away by the wind.
"Goodbye Dru," Spike said in a voice full of sorrow and pain
Even though he knew he was in a time crunch Angelus couldn't help but to laugh. "Of course, the bitter irony. Now you're soul boy and I'm free. It's almost worth losing Dru over to see you reduced to this pathetic state." Angelus was upset about losing Dru, but it just freed up more space in his new gang. Maybe the witch and her slayer lover could join.
Spike looked at the residual dust. He seemed almost catatonic and Angelus considered staking him then and there. For over a hundred years Spike had loved Drusilla. Now he had killed her to save a world that had only meant a thing to him less than a tenth of that time. Had he just made a horrible decision? Spike sighed as the last little bits of dust floated away. He ducked away from Angelus's attack. "Do you know what your problem is?"
"This should be good." Angelus said
"You're boring Angelus. You try to hide it behind 'poetry', 'art', and your bloody mind games, but you're just a bloody ponce. You're not some mythic figure, just some boring serial killer. At the end of the day Angel's got you beat, because he's more interesting than you."
Angelus laughed as he dodged a swing from the blond vampire. "That's your breaking speech? All Mr. Broody ever does is bitch and complain." Angelus slammed a hand against his own chest and looked up at the sky. "Oh God," He adopted a Shakespearian manner. "I've got an inner darkness trying to break out. I have to atone for my past sins." Angelus sidestepped Spike's attack and tossed him into the street. He resumed his monologue. "I'm a bad man that nobody can love, but I've want to lay some pretty young cheerleaders." Spike charged Angelus again, but retreated at the last moment, letting Angelus's defensive strike open up his defenses. Spike punched the hole in Angelus's gut from the stake. Angelus stepped back and Spike grabbed his shoulders, bringing his knee into Angelus's face.
Someone grabbed Angelus from behind and tossed him in the air, Buffy. She punched the vampire in the face, then the chest, finally one more strike to the gut. Conner and Kennedy grabbed an arm each and forced him to his knees. Willow walked up and gripped Angelus on either side of his head. She spoke the same words she had to Spike and Angelus felt himself being pulled back in once more. "No!" He could barely muster the will to scream as Angel retook control. Angel blinked and surveyed his surroundings.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked warily
Angel turned to look at Conner. The boy was panting and staring at his father. His expression was unreadable. "Conner are you okay?" Angel asked
"It's him." Spike declared and no one questioned this
"I'm fine, how about you?" Conner asked
"I'm good if you are." Angel was afraid. He was more afraid now then he had been fighting the vampires before Drusilla infected him. He was afraid he would lose all of the ground he had gained with Conner. He was afraid he would lose his son again.
Conner held out a hand to help his father to his feet.
…
Faith wandered from her room to escape the sound of howls escaping from beneath the floorboards. She avoided any part of the abbey where Anne or Gunn might be, exploring their new relationship. It wasn't that she wasn't happy for them, she was glad they had found each other to hold onto in these trying times. It was just that she could be happy for someone from a distance, without having to observe their nauseating gooey talk and loving looks. Faith also avoided Fred's room, not wanting to bother Wesley as he tried to help her remember who she was. Faith realized this limited who she might run into considerably and was fine with that. She wasn't interested in getting to know the refugees, and the demons didn't bother her but she didn't consider them close friends either. Faith just wondered, she considered checking all of the possible entrances to the abbey for signs of intrusion and decided it would be a good way to kill some time. She was halfway to the front door when she heard someone crying.
Faith stopped and listened to the sobs coming from the other side of a door to an out-of-order restroom. She pushed the door open and saw Wesley sitting on the tile floor digging into the veins in his wrist with his nails. Blood stained his fingers and dripped onto the ground. He looked up at Faith and she saw no levity, no wonder, only horror. "I remember everything." He said "It won't leave. Every memory is here like it only happened yesterday, all of them. Do you understand?" She did understand, and she understood how horrible that must be because if she were forced to feel every one of her memories like they had only just happened she would try to kill herself as well. Even just the top five would be bad enough, but all of them?
Faith knelt in front of Wesley, staining her pants with blood. "They'll fade." She had no idea if this was true. "In time they'll fade."
Wesley laughed, a morbid, horrible laugh. "I'm whole again Faith. I'm whole and real and I remember who I am. I'm the boy under the stairs. I'm the kid who broke his leg when he got pushed off the slide. I'm the man who let his charge be seduced by darkness and got showed up by a bunch of teenagers. I'm the bumbling disappointment the council let go. I'm the guy who got tortured. I'm the guy who got blown up. I'm the guy who got fired from the best job he's ever had. I'm the guy who got shot. I'm the guy who hurt the woman he loved. I'm the guy who betrayed his best friend. I'm the guy who got his throat cut. I'm the guy who turned his back on his friends and hates himself. I'm the guy who accepted the darkness. I'm the guy who held the love of his life as she died. I'm the guy who stabbed Gunn. I'm the guy who died. I'm all of them at once, I can't focus on any one pain. They're all here and won't go away." Faith embraced Wesley, letting him weep into her shoulder, his blood further staining her clothes.
"They'll fade." Faith lied, knowing they never truly did "You'll be okay."
…
The Wolf stood at the site of her crossing. She stood over the chasm and held her hand straight out, palm down. She was consumed by hatred, which she accepted because she enjoyed the taste of hate. She lifted her hand to a larger Angel. The air took on a faint yellow glow and the schism in the earth began to shake. Three men climbed from hell, one at a time. A grotesque wizard was followed by an Englishmen, who was followed by a very normal looking young man.
Billy looked at his surroundings. A part of him knew he wasn't real, that he was parts of Billy, but not the whole; that there were things added and taken away to make him suit the purposes of the one who brought him here. Yet very little of him cared. He had only one desire, the one that the Wolf had put in him. He headed for the abbey, following the wizard and the Englishman while the Wolf stayed behind, laughing. She would have her revenge.
