{So now you see the reason for the previous chp. If you think you know where I'm going, let me just say: Ha, ha, ha!}
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It took them two days to find him-us. What they told me about what happened only confirmed my fear. If I had called and told them where he was Angel would’ve come intent on murder. I couldn’t blame him, if it had been me, and I didn’t know the reasons Wesley’d had…
I sighed leaning back in the chair. My back was sore and I still wore the clothes from that night. I’d washed the blood form my hands and most of it out of my blouse though it was ruined. Still, nobody wanted to see me walk around all bloody.
The door opened gently and Fred poked her head in. “Hi.” She came in, quietly closing the door behind her. “How is he?”
I yawned stretching my arms then stood up. “He’ll be fine. He lost a lot of blood and his trachea suffered severe damage. It’ll be a while before he’ll be able to speak.” I smoothed the covers pulling them a little higher on Wesley.
I caught Fred’s look and shrugged. “I can empathize.”
“He should’ve come to us.” Gunn spoke form the doorway.
“Gunn…” Fred pleaded. I shook my head.
“He’s right.” I looked at Gunn. “The Father will kill the Son.” I tilted my head just a little. “In his place. You would have done something different?” I could see them both shift uncomfortably with my question.
“Would you go to the one person whom you thought would do such a thing?”
“Wesley should’ve of told us. Maybe not Angel but he could’ve told us.” Gunn stubbornly stood his ground.
“You don’t know Angel.” I replied. “You don’t know what he’s done in the past or what he’s capable of.” I pointed at Wes who still slept.
“He does. He knows Angel better than any of us. He knows of Angelus.” I stared him down and Fred pulled him out of the room. They knew I was right and they didn’t like the taste these circumstances left in their mouth.
I sighed completely drained and exhausted. Lines were being drawn, everyone was taking sides, drawing together, making alliances. Question was; what side was I on?
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I sipped the coffee slowly wondering what I had done to end up here. Was my life going to get better after this or was I not at the bottom of the barrel, yet?
I made my way slowly to Wesley’s room. Fred had said Angel was coming and in a way I was worried about this meeting. Would Angel be able to forgive him? Could I, in his place?
The elevator doors opened on the fifth floor and I threaded my way through patients and hospital staff.
“Code Blue! Code blue!” an orderly in blue scrubs ran past me. I frowned following him slowly. The chairs where Fred and Gunn had been sitting in were empty and my frown deepened. They wouldn’t have left.
An orderly flew out of Wesley's room and I heard all the commotion. I dropped my coffee and sprinted to the door. I ducked a flying fist then pushed my way inside.
“Get off him!!” I yelled at Angel. Gunn and two orderlies were having a hard time getting Angel off of Wesley. I shoved my way to Angel and grabbed his jacket with both hands. The machines were beeping loudly and everyone was yelling. There was chaos all around me.
“Get- off!!” I grunted as I pulled Angel away from the bed. The orderlies and Gunn took his arms and I pushed his chest to get him out of the door.
“You took my son! YOU TOOK MY SON!” Angel screamed pulling out of their grasp as he rushed towards Wes again. I put myself between them taking Angel's weight on me. I hit the bed on my side with a grunt and pushed against him. The orderly grabbed one arm and Gunn barely got a hold of his chest. With his free arm, Angel tried to get Wesley. He flailed and managed to hit me. I fell aside hearing him scream.
“I’ll never forgive you! Never… I’LL KILL YOU!”
I got up slowly hearing the sound of things being knocked over. Fred was still screaming and crying, completely useless. My hip stung and my face felt hot where Angel had hit me. I didn’t think he cared or even felt a little bit guilty about it.
“YOU’RE A DEAD MAN! YOU HEAR ME? DEAD!!”
Angel's voice floated into the room as the nurses and doctor began to help Wes breathe.
He gasped for air looking up at the ceiling. I was worried this would send him into a guilt ridden depression which he wouldn’t be able to pull himself out of.
I stayed another night just a little bit afraid to go back to the Hyperion. After the scene and getting smacked I wasn’t sure how the others would feel if they saw me walk in. Then again, maybe they’d packed all my stuff up and set in the lobby for me to pick up.
Wes shifted uncomfortably in his sleep. He opened his eyes and looked around.
“Hey, you ok?” I sat down by his side taking his hand in mine. I tried to smile hoping he’d smile back or at least try to.
He closed his eyes and when he opened them again they were shiny with tears.
“I know. I know.” I said smoothing his hair back. I lay my hand gently on his cheek and rested my forehead against his. “You did what you thought was right, Wes.” I felt him shake and his arm circled my back.
Once more I found myself in his arms offering comfort.
I felt the loss of the baby, imagining he were mine. Putting Efren in his place and felt the gut wrenching pain Angel probably felt. I thought of Wesley, how he must feel.
“He’ll understand. He will.” I whispered. One day, I hoped, they would get past this.
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I was tired, my eyes felt like I’d poured sand in them and I smelled. I sniffed my blouse and grimaced.
“Oh, so stinky.” I mumbled walking into the lobby. I sighed looking around at the mess of papers strewn all about the reception area and the box. I let out a sigh. None of it was mine, they hadn't packed it up, yet.
“Hello?” I called out tentatively. No one answered. I took a step down then changed my mind. I looked like shit and probably smelled a bit like it, too. I turned going up the stairs to my suite. A bath, a change of clothes and I’d be good.
“Ready to face the firing squad.”
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I walked downstairs tugging on my jackets sleeve and feeling extremely nervous. What would they say? What about Angel? Was he angry that I’d stayed with Wesley? Did he take that as a sign of betrayal? Damn! Why did I have to choose a side?
I had no idea what to expect downstairs and had taken the time to dress- well, was there any particular way to dress for this occasion?
Still, I’d gone through my closet at least three times until I’d found the blouse. It was dark plumb colored with a boat neck just wide enough to hang off my shoulder and quarter sleeves. I wore my cutest pair of jeans with the shiny threaded back pockets. The wide leather belt hung off my hips in a hapzardly fashion over the long hem of the blouse. I carried the leather jacket over my left arm with the strap of my bag over my shoulder. I’d let my hair air dry and it cascaded down my back with its natural wave. I didn’t wear much make up though I had taken the time to highlight my eyes.
I wore the black cuff over the rune still hiding it. With everything that had happened no one had asked about the tings I’d done. Only Wesley knew and he couldn’t speak.
I went down the stairs slowly not really wanting to deal with the situation and, also, so the heels of my boots wouldn’t catch on a step. I really didn’t want to fall, either.
Most of them were in the lobby. I could see Cordelia was back since the Grooselaug was sitting at the reception desk. I stopped at the entrance and looked around. Gunn and Lorne were putting more files away.
“Greetings!” Groo got up and came forward. “How may I service you?”
“What?” I frowned. ‘Did this freak just make a pass at me with his service me question?’
“Oh, easy sweetie.” Lorne came around the reception desk and gently shooed the Grooselaug away. To me he asked; “Where’ve you been, sugar plum?”
“I- uhm.” I smiled nervously and shrugged. Just then Fred came in looking bummed.
“Oh!” she stopped short seeing me. I wondered if they would all have sort of the same reaction.
“Hi.” I said.
“Hi.” She replied.
We stood there, looking at each other uncomfortably.
“Where’ve you been?” Gunn asked as he picked up another set of files.
“Uh, just out.” Fred looked nervously at all of us. I flinched at her glance.
“You,” I narrowed my eyes tilting my head a little and concentrated on the images she was shooting out.
Fred carrying a box. Fred setting it on a chair. Wesley in the hospital room packing. Wesley touching his neck. Fred leaving.
“What did you do?” I asked her. Something about the way Wesley had been standing, his look, it had been… something was wrong.
“I-nothing!” Fred stepped away from me and I snatched her hand to hold her.
“Bull shit! You saw Wes.” I pulled her closer. “What did you do?” I asked once more. I could see her guilty face as she tried to pry my hand off.
”Nothing! I just took some of his things.” I let her go and she avoided my eyes. Gunn came up behind her as she stepped down to the lobby. He held her protectively glaring at me.
“The prophecy was a lie.” Lorne spoke softly. I saw his sad eyes plead with me not to cause more trouble. “It was meant for Sahjahn. Angel was never a threat to Conner.”
I turned my anger on Fred. “You told him didn’t you?” but she wouldn’t look at me. I went down the steps quickly and pulled on her arm to face me. “You told him!”
“Hey!” Gunn shoved my hand away and I turned my anger on him.
“Back off!” I glared at them. Fred gasped and both took a step away.
“You’re so damn happy together cant you let him at least find some peace? If something happens to him…” I warned.
“He’s a grown man, Phade. He made his choices, he can live with the consequences.” Gunn retorted.
“Can you?” I asked though I was mainly asking Fred. She flinched from me and I turned disgusted towards the entrance. At the door I turned back to them looking at everything. It all looked so…fake.
“This is loyalty, then.”
I closed the door gently behind me feeling even more tired. I felt old. Why couldn’t they all forgive?
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I helped Wesley get home wondering if I should even bring up his whole encounter with Fred and her loose tongue. Just thinking about her made me angry all over again. Who could do such a thing?
Wesley touched my arm and I quickly turned my attention to him. The doctor had said there was no more infection and he could begin to speak again in a few days depending on how fast he healed.
‘I can help with that.’ I smiled up at him setting down the bag of medication on his table and hurrying to help him with the box. Even injured the English gentle man in him wouldn’t let me carry it.
“It looks…lonely.” I said glancing around the apartment. “Are you sure you’ll be ok?” I asked.
Wesley nodded and I sighed heavily.
“Ok. If you need anything just-.” I hesitated. It wasn’t like he'd be able to call. “Text me, alright?”
He gave me a small smile and I felt just a little relieved even if it didnt reach his eyes. I hoped he knew there was still one friend for him at the Hyperion. I yawned rubbing my face as I headed to the door. I took my jacket and purse form the chair by his door and yawned once more.
“Sorry.” I apologized as Wes took my jacket and bag.
“Hey, what gives Mr.?” I smiled reaching for my things only for him to pull them out of my reach.
“Wesley.” He ignored my whiny complaint and gently tugged me to the living room as he set my things on the chair again.
“What are you doing?” I asked curiously. “You need something?” I asked concerned. He shook his head ‘No’ and continued past the living room to another door. It was half open and I could see it was his bedroom.
“Hey, now.” I raised my eyebrow at him still going in. What was he going to do to me?
‘Not a hell of a lot the way he is now.’ I thought then wondered. Did I want him to do something to me?
“Huh?” I asked. Wesley motioned to the bed again. At my frown he shook his head pointing from me to the bed and from him to the living room.
“What? No!” I exclaimed. “Are you kidding? I won't take your bed while you go to the couch! You’re the one who’s hurt.” I pushed him towards the bed.
“You stay there. I’m going back to the Hyperion.” Once more he shook his head ‘No’ and adamantly pointed to the bed.
“Wesley!” we struggled for a bit each trying to get the other to rest on the bed.
“Really, I’m n-Aah!” I must’ve pushed him a little too hard because he toppled onto the bed and pulled me along with him.
I tried not to hurt him and we ended up tangled in each other. I kinda laughed and so did he. I sat up quickly at his chocking, worried he was hurt.
“Don’t laugh!” I ordered. He looked at me with this look as if saying; “You think?” then rolled his eyes.
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. It seemed to lighten the mood for the moment and I lay next to him.
“You know. First time I saw you I thought you were some snobby rich man.” I turned onto my side and looked at him with a little smile.
“Kinda thought you were hot, too.”
Wesley turned to me and arched an eye brow.
“Don’t go getting a big head over this.” I said then blushed. “I didn’t mean literally. I meant-. I-. You know what I meant. Quit being smug.” I gently smacked his shoulder.
There was a mischievous glimmer in his eyes and I was relieved to say the least. For the moment every thing else was forgotten.
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