"Angel, it's going to happen tonight, in the Hyperion of all places. I couldn't tell what time, but it looked pretty dark outside." Cordy gasped for breath from running to Angel's office. She had finally got the phone call that they found Connor and were on their way. They would be at the Hyperion by 9:00 tonight.
Angel stood up quickly, shooting his chair into the wall behind him. "Get everybody in here now," he ordered, then started to pace his office. How could they have found Connor? Why would they want to kill him? That isn't what they're about? It doesn't matter, no one's going to hurt my son. I'll kill them with my bare hands. "We go in tonight. They're going to be at the Hyperion. Make sure nothing happens to the boy, he's the most important thing. They crossed the line, trying to kill an innocent. Get him out by any means necessary," Angel snarled, vamping out.
Buffy exchanged glances with Xander and Spike. "Angelcakes, you don't mean that. They're still humans," Lorne said, trying to calm Angel.
"I said exactly what I meant," he growled, pacing the room.
"I understand, Lorne, but you didn't see what they plan to do to that poor boy. They're little more than animals." Cordy shuddered, hiding her face in Angel's chest, but not before Buffy saw a satisfied smile cross her lips.
Buffy realized she was right, Cordelia had gambled everything on tonight. She couldn't wait to see the bitch's face when she lost.
They accessed the Hyperion from a back delivery ramp and moved into position on the upstairs balcony. They didn't see anything downstairs, no light, no movement, nothing. Suddenly lights come on and several large men appeared. They shoved a slender brown haired person across the room.
Buffy went to move but Xander stopped her. A larger group wearing robes moved into the lobby where they tied up the hostage. They started to chant in low murmuring voices. Angel motioned everyone to quietly move closer. Spike snuck down to get in a position to release the boy. Just as everyone was about to attack, he wiped the blindfold off the boy's face to reveal - Eve.
Time seemed to stop, then start again as Angel walked down the stairs. "What's going on here?"
The crowd removed their robes to reveal SWAT-like uniforms. "This woman was found, trying to drug and kidnap a group of people. When interrogated, she said her orders were to bring them here as part of a set up for somebody called Angel. I assume that's you?" the man in charge responded. Angel nodded as his eyes narrowed. "We were on another sting operation when this hostage situation took priority. We determined that someone close to you was supposed to supply the intended victim." He finished his explanation, waiting for Angel to supply the missing pieces.
Angel whirled around, looking at Cordelia as his face morphed. He jumped up to the balcony and within an instant, his hand wrapped firmly around the bleached blonde seer's throat as he lifted her into the air.
"Angel, what are you doing? You're acting crazy," she gasped, clawing at his hands.
"So, Cor, tell me more about this vision you had and the sacrifice," he whispered in a voice that made her shiver. His eyes glowed amber as they stared at her with disgust.
"I told you exactly what I saw Angel. Maybe the Sr. Partners found a way to hijack my visions again," she tried to explain. Her eyes widened, realizing her mistake. She wasn't supposed to know about that. Angel tried to spare her the memories of the Partners using her and the horrible things they made her do. Cordelia felt helpless when her visions couldn't help, kept leading them on false trails, and then after Connor and the rape the world crashed in around her. She barely hung onto her sanity. Angel demanded that Cordelia got a fresh start and wouldn't remember anything before returning from being a higher being before he would take over W&H. His eyes narrowed when the pieces fell into place, fury rushed through his body as he backhanded her, throwing her into a wall.
"Angel, calm down." Wesley tried to diffuse the situation before someone got hurt.
"Shut up, Wes. You don't know what's going on here. So, stay out of it. Cor, the Sr. Partners have done this before, huh? Now, how did you know that? You couldn't unless you worked for them. Or, were working for them all along, you bitch," he roared, storming toward her, fist.
"Fine, you asshole. Yes, I work for them does that make you happy? The Powers didn't make me a higher being, they put me in a cell to keep me away from you. They thought it would make you snap out of it and go back to that bitch over there. The Partners offered me a way out and more power than I could ever dream of. You were so easy, Angel, so pathetic, you cried to see me. Only thing I had to get rid of, was that sniveling brat of yours, and that was easy enough. I was almost home free when you became Angelus, until that geek Willow showed up. We went for Plan B - Connor. He was the perfect incentive to convince you to take over W&H, where you made compromises everyday. The winged avenger of the people sold his soul for an easy answer to his problems. But, that stubborn thing wouldn't let go, so I made sure to help it along a little at a time. That's right, Angel. The demons from the visions that you fought to protect, they weren't the innocents. You killed the innocents. Your soul is holding on by a thread and when it lets go I'll have more power than Miss Saves the World over there. Your precious Connor's on his way here no and if I give the word and he's dead." Cordelia gave him a maliciously smile, brushing her clothes off and fluffing her hair.
He growled jumping on her, but she threw him away from her as if he weighed nothing. "Angel, she's lying. Connor's safe, I promise," Buffy yelled across the balcony. Angel turned searching for Buffy, a question in his eyes. "I have him somewhere safe Angel. I promise I'll explain everything later."
"She's lying, Angel. W&H gave him a new life. Did you think we can't take it away just as easy," Cordy taunted. Angel moved toward her, just as the clock in the lobby struck midnight. A large vortex opened above Cordelia. She stared up at it her face frozen in fear. "No, I can still make it happen. You can't do this to me. Nooo!" The vortex pulled Cordelia inside before snapping closed, leaving only silence behind.
Eve watched with huge frightened eyes, wondering what would her fate would be now the Partners chance had lost. Her contract had run out as well, she never imagined they could lose. What does one wear in hell?
"Angel, are you okay?" Buffy asked quietly, putting a hand on his arm.
"All this time, everything was a lie and she was behind everything. I deserve to be punished this way. How could I've been so stupid? What do I do now?"
"Oh for crying out loud, Angel. I'm sick of your woe is me crap. You're 250 years old, when the hell are you going to grow up. Do you ever think of anyone but yourself? I thought your first thought would be about your son, stupid me. When you can pull your head out of your ass and want to talk I'll be at home." Buffy marched off with Xander and Spike following her.
Gibbons waited outside the hotel. He opened the car door for them to crawl inside where they found Connor waiting for them. Buffy squealed happily, grabbed his shoulders and kissed his face. "Baby, I'm so happy to see you."
"Hey, kid, you look good." Xander gave him a pat on the back.
"Who's the young un?" Spike asked, shrewd cerulean eyes glanced from Connor back to Buffy. They noted the close resemblance to Dawn, and the distinct combined scents of Buffy and Angel.
"It's a long story, which I'll tell you another time."
"Babe, are you okay? I thought you were going to do some serious damage in there," Xander asked, concern clear in his eyes.
"Yeah, I just got pissed and I'm tired of that crap. He needs to get his priorities straight, and until he does I don't have anything to say to him," she said, regarding Angel.
"Angel huh?" Connor guessed.
"Yeah, I had to tell him you were okay. He was about to come undone. I was worried it might put him over the edge." Buffy admitted. "But when it was all over, he was in his brooding, poor Angel mode, so fast I was dizzy, and then pissed."
"You should've seen her tell off Capt. Forehead. It was priceless. Wish I had me a video could have watched it over and over, 'twas better than Passions."
Connor laughed at Spike's nickname for Angel and said, "Capt. Forehead, that's a good one." Buffy gave him a stern look, forcing him to look away with a smile still on his face.
"Gus, did the others move in on the W&H building?"
"Yes, we were able to take it down since the focus was on the Hyperion. We got everything we needed and then some. Our people will be busy for months going through the paperwork and getting it straightened out."
"Will anything happen to Angel's team?" Xander asked, he liked most of the AI.
"No, they were working under the assumption they were doing good work. With your help we should be able to separate the employees that should be punished," Gibbons told them.
Buffy understood what he wasn't saying. The Powers haven't decided what the team's fate would be.
"What do you think about giving Spike a team here? He has the capabilities and can teach a team everything they need to know. LA would make a good training ground to circulate people through. Maybe we could leave Trina here as a second, since she knows how the division works and can bring him up to speed." Buffy threw out for discussion. Spike shot her a shocked look. Her eyes sparkled as she gave him a sly look.
"We could probably work with that. Like I said Slayer it's you division. Do what needs doing. You haven't disappointed me, yet. You even managed to tame XXX her," Gibbons said, laughing.
"Oh, I wouldn't say I tamed him, but he's good at following orders. Gotta keep a little wildness in my man," she teased. Gus and Spike looked at Xander; whose face took on the look of a man remembering something the other men would pay money to know.
"Wesley, can I talk to you?" Buffy asked, as she stuck her head in his office door at W&H.
"Oh Buffy, come in. I was just cleaning out my office. We are moving back to the Hyperion."
"I heard." She watched him start to pack several large books off his desk. "Wesley, you don't want to take those books with you, trust me."
"Buffy, these books have invaluable information in them, which will provide us with whatever information we seek. It will allow us to better do our work." He looked down his nose at her as he spoke.
"Wes, didn't you ever wonder about those books? Especially after everything, you've learned. Tell you what let's take a little test?" Buffy asked expectantly.
"Fine, Buffy. Although, I don't see where you're going with this line of questioning." He hoped if he played along, she'd leave him alone.
"You and I both know a Polgora demon is dangerous and violent correct?" Wesley nodded his head suddenly feeling sick to his stomach. "Ask the book about them and see what information you get."
Wesley brought a large red book up to his face, and said into it - "Polgora demon." He opened the book. There written on the page was information and a detailed picture. Wesley read the text, then stopped to look up at Buffy. "But, this is preposterous, this information is untrue. The book says they're non-aggressive and will only attack when provoked. The spear in their right arm will only be released as a defense in times of great peril. This is outrageous and totally inaccurate," Wesley exclaimed his face full of concern.
"The information you've been working with came from an evil source. Did you expect to be able to use it to do good? They set this place up for Angel getting the rest of you as an added bonus, knowing he wouldn't come without you. The books fed your need for knowledge. Gunn allowed them to brainwash him to finally get what he always wanted. The very thing he envied about you and Fred - brains. He didn't want to be muscle anymore. He wanted brains in an area that no one else had any experience. W&H used Fred's love of science against her. Her curious mind and the unlimited resources available proved fertile ground for them. Her experiments and prototypes are ending up in the hands of terrorists and violent demons. Lorne's helped put the top names in entertainment souls on unbreakable contracts Nothing you've done is what you thought," she explained, sympathetically. Wesley's shoulders slumped as his eyes became sad and distant. He felt the words from his childhood; his father telling him he would never amount to anything. "I'm sorry, Wesley. You deserved to know the truth, and I don't know the others that well. It'd be easier for them to learn it from you. You're a family and have to depend on one another to get through this. You had your hearts in the right place, but your approach was wrong. If you believe in what you're doing then you don't it to get paid. It makes you no better than those people who want money for protection. It isn't right, Wesley. I'll try to see if there's a way to help your team get back on its feet, but it may not be exactly the same way did things in the past. We can talk again after you've had a chance to settle back in at the Hyperion." Buffy walked over and hugged him. "It'll work out, if your heart's in the right place. Think about it and I'll be in touch."
"Thank you for telling me the truth. I'll think over everything that you've said and talk with the others," Wesley told her politely.
Buffy stood at the elevator door when Angel walked up. "Buffy," he exclaimed.
"Hello Angel," she said crisply.
"Can I talk to you for a minute, please?"
She searched his face, seeing the earnest look in his eyes and sighed. "Fine, but I don't have a lot of time. Cage's waiting for me at home, and we have plans for this afternoon." They were taking Connor hang-gliding.
"I understand. It'll only take a few minutes, please." He led her back down the hall to his office. "I wanted to apologize, and ask how Connor's doing." Angel motioned for her to take a seat on the couch beside him
"He's doing fine, Angel, and he's who you should be apologizing to." Buffy stared at the man was once her whole life.
"I did what I thought was best for my son, Buffy. You won't understand until you have a child that you'll make any sacrifice for them," Angel implored.
"That's so much crap, Angel. What would've been best is for you not to have thrown him out to survive on his own. To leave him vulnerable for Cordelia to seduce and rape. She twisted his heart into pieces; he had no one but her. You weren't there for him because you were too busy sniffing after Cordy. He came to you didn't he, Angel, and told you she had your soul, but you didn't believe him. You knew he didn't rape her because you saw them that night, he felt you. You didn't want to believe that she would choose him over you. As for having a child and sacrificing, well you're wrong on both accounts. I gave my life for Dawn, and she's only my sister. But, guess what Angel, Connor's mine from the day you stole. You should stop doing that, it doesn't work out well for you," she snapped at him.
"That's impossible, Darla was his mother. I was there," he exclaimed, standing up from the couch to stare down at her in disbelief.
"Oh, for goodness sakes, Angel. How could two vampires create a human child? The Powers put him in Darla because he had to be born; he's important. Because of what you did, I couldn't carry him or he would've died. So, don't you dare tell me about sacrifice, my baby was stolen, delivered by an enemy and raised by you. You allowed him to go through hell once he actually came back from hell. Don't you remember what you went through, Angel? You were little more than an animal. You expected Connor to be a normal teenager and understand this world. Holtz brought him up to hate demons, especially you. Angel, were you so self-absorbed that you couldn't see the hurt scared little boy in front of you. I did, the minute I saw him. He was so lost and broken. They did what you asked and gave him new memories, but left a little toy surprise inside. They wanted to be sure that they could use him as a pawn. W&H could walk into his mind and program him to do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. That's what you sacrificed for your son," Buffy yelled at him.
"Buffy, I want to see Connor. I need to explain why I did what I did. Help me, Buffy, I love him and I still love you. We can be a family. We have a son and can help him heal together." Angel smiled the same smile he used to give her when she was a teenager.
"Connor doesn't want to see you. He isn't ready and I'm not going to push him to do anything. When he's ready, he'll come to you. Don't try to stalk him, Angel, or you'll push him further away. You're his father and deserve to be in his life, but only if he wants you there. As for us, that's never going to happen because I love Cage. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I'd never leave him, especially for you. He treats me as an equal and a woman. You never did that, Angel. You wanted the wide-eyed teenager who worshipped her creature of the night boyfriend." Buffy turned to leave, having said all that she wanted to.
"Buffy, please don't go. You know you still love me, don't punish me for past mistakes." Angel walked over, grabbing her as he tried to kiss her. He knew he could make her remember what they meant to each other. She was angry and didn't mean what she was saying.
Buffy pulled back, pushing Angel away with all her strength, causing him to fly across the room into a wall. "You asshole, who do you think you are? Don't ever touch me again, or I'll forget that you're my son's father. Get it through your head, Angel; I don't want you, it's over. It started when you walked away and it ended when you stole my son. Good-bye, Angel." Buffy spat at him, slamming the door she left the room, nearly knocking it off its hinges.
She walked down the hall singing 'Freedom' softly as she got onto the elevator. Lorne stopped as he came around the corner. "Man, that little piece of sunshine has a voice like honey. No wonder she's such a sweetie. Maybe, I can open Caritas again and get her to sing for me. Poor Angelcakes, has a long road to travel before he realizes that little sweetheart is out of his reach forever. Hmm, wonder how Connorkins is going to feel about that? It ought to be interesting to watch Twinkie's life unfold."
"Cage, Connor, you guys home?"
"We are out here, Mom." Connor called from the deck. Buffy walked outside to find them sitting in lounge chairs, sunning themselves, drinking iced tea.
"Well, aren't we lazy," she said with a smile at the picture they made.
"We were just waiting for you, babe. How'd it go? Anybody give you any problems?" Xander said, pulling her into his lap.
"I explained everything to Wesley. He was devastated, but I think he'll be okay. You know stiff upper lip and all that. Ran into Angel." She watched Connor stiffen in his chairs. "It's okay, Con. We talked and I explained a few things to let him know that if you wanted to see him, you'd let him know." Connor relaxed with a heavy sigh. "I promised that no one would hurt you again, and I always keep my promises. Now, are we ready to go? I just need to change my clothes. Con, why don't you go start the truck; you can drive. We'll be out in a few minutes." She couldn't help but smile as Connor took off for the door.
Xander laughed as he followed her into the bedroom. "You always know the right thing to say to him. I can see a lot of you in him; he's a great kid. Anything I need to know you couldn't say in front of, Con?"
"Angel thought Connor and I should be a package deal, you know a two-for. I set him straight and told him I had the man I wanted, and wouldn't give you up for him or anyone else." She pulled him down for a kiss.
"Well, I'm glad, cause I would hate to have to stake Connor's father to get my woman back. I love you, Buffy; I'm not about to let you go. You know talking about two-fors, wouldn't mind giving Con a little brother or sister someday." Xander grinned as they walk out the door.
Buffy stopped to stare at him in shock. "Even with everything we deal with?"
"Yeah, life is for living. It's the ultimate rush, especially life with you. I can see you now, waddling around, barking orders and us running around getting you pickles and ice cream," he said laughing.
"Oh you, I wouldn't waddle, Slayers do not waddle." She pouted looking at him from underneath her lashes.
He kissed her. "Think about it, babe. Think of how much fun we'll have practicing until we decide to try for the real thing."
"Well, if you put it like that, how's a girl to refuse?" She gave him a naught smile as she climbed into the truck.
The End {Maybe - Hope you enjoyed it}