Healing

Part 53

By the time Wesley had come out of the bedroom, Giles had returned from the shop. He was sitting at the table with the witches going over their notes. If they ever found out the information they needed they could have the potion ready in no time. All the ingredients for any of the ones listed were now in the apartment, as well as several different kinds of containers to hold it.

Wesley gave Giles a dark look and then sat down on the farthest seat at the table he could get from the man. He noticed how the older man seemed to shrink in on himself and he smiled. It served him right, after the way he had behaved. Betraying a friend's trust was unforgivable.

"I have the information about the spell used on Angel. I think we should call Xander and Spike, as well as Buffy. I don't wish to repeat myself, so I will answer any questions when they get here. In the mean time Willow, Tara, could you begin preparing this potion here. It's the one we need to restore Angel's control over the demon."

"Sure. We can do that."

Willow and Tara got up and left the two English men alone in the dining room. Giles stood and headed for the kitchen as well but was stopped by Wesley’s voice.

"Rupert, if I could have a word with you?"

"Of course. What is it?"

Wesley motioned for Giles to take a seat. Once he was seated, Wes took off his glasses and set them on the table. He looked Giles straight in the eyes and then Spoke.

"You disgust me. You told me things that were not your business to tell. What happened to Spike, while appalling, was none of my business. I do understand your reasons for doing so, but the ends do not justify the means. Xander and his mate trusted you to keep their confidence. You didn't. I had a talk with Xander today, he's a remarkable young man, Rupert. He told me not to give up on Angel, and that if I wanted Angel to fight for me, I had to be willing to fight for him as well."

Giles said nothing but he did look sufficiently chastised. That wasn't enough for Wesley though.

"You knew that Angelus could hear every word you spoke. Do you realize that he now knows what was done to Spike? Of course you do. You have had the privilege of keeping a vampire in your bath before. So you also know, that every time you baited me, made me doubt my feelings for Angel, that he could hear it, that Angel could hear it as well. Did it please you? To know you were hurting him? He's not Angelus, Rupert. He's not the one who murdered your girlfriend, who tortured you until you broke. But you know that as well. Don't you?"

"Yes. I know that."

Wesley put his glasses back on and pounded his hand down on the table.

"Then damn it man! Why do want to hurt him?"

"Because Buffy loves him. Because she will never love me the way she loved him. Does that make you happy? Are you satisfied now?"

Wesley closed his eyes and shook his head. He stood up and headed for the door. Before he opened it he turned back to look at the defeated man sitting slumped at his table.

"Rupert, you are a blind fool. Anyone can see that the girl loves you. Open your eyes before you lose any chance you may have with her. Oh, and you should pray that Spike is as forgiving as I am."

Once outside, Wesley pulled out his cell phone and dialled Xander and Spike's house. He wanted to get everyone here as quickly as possible and get this over with. The sooner he was back in LA with Angel the better he would feel. The phone was answered on the fourth ring.

"'Ello?"

"Spike, it's Wesley. We've found the cure for Angel. Can you and Xander come back?"

"Is Ripper gonna be there? I have a few things to... discuss with him."

"Rupert is aware of the situation. And yes he is here."

"We'll be there in a bit."

"Thank you, Spike."

"Sure mate. The sooner Angelus is gone the better right?"

"Exactly."

Wesley hung up with Spike and dialled the Hyperion.

"Angel Investigations, we help the helpless."

"Isn't that supposed to be hopeless Gunn?"

"Hey, English! How are you doing?"

"Good, good. Things should be settled here by the end of the night. With any luck, we'll be in LA by morning. Even if I have to put Angel in the trunk to do so."

"Damn. That bad huh?"

"Let's just say, Cordelia at a shoe sale is more fun."

"Now I know you're shitting me. Nothing could be that bad!"

Wesley and Gunn shared a laugh. It was exactly what Wes needed. To touch base with his co-workers and friends in LA. Being in Sunnydale made him feel every bit the insignificant little puppet he had been when he was sent here to be Faith's watcher. He had grown up a lot since then, he was nothing like that pathetic little man, anymore. In LA he made a real difference in the fight against evil, he had a lot to contribute and his colleagues took him seriously. No one here seemed to see that. Except Xander, and possibly Spike. Of course he was pretty sure Rupert was beginning to figure it out.

Giles had called Buffy while Wesley was outside. She said she would make arrangements for Dawn to stay with Janice and her Mom and then she'd be there as soon as she could. After Giles hung up the phone he made tea and then watched as the girls finished adding the last ingredient to the potion. All they had to do now was let it sit over a low heat for thirty minutes. By which time, hopefully Buffy and Xander would have gotten there. Giles was not looking forward to seeing Spike anytime soon.

Spike was grinning when he hung up the phone. Visions of bloody mayhem flashed through his head. Oh, he knew he couldn't actually kill the watcher for his indiscretion but he could make him squirm, make him think that a proper thrashing was headed his way. If he'd learned anything from Angelus, it was that a good mind-fuck could be just as rewarding as physical torture if done properly. And he planned on doing it properly. He'd let the man stew in his own imagination, wondering what kind of torture was awaiting him.

Xander knew that look. It was the look Spike got when he was being particularly sneaky. He didn't envy Giles at all right now, he knew his lover was planning something to get back at the man. He wasn't worried, he trusted Spike not to hurt him. At least no more than he deserved.

"Planning something Blondie?"

"Just a little revenge, a little torture, nothing much luv. Why do you ask?"

Xander chuckled.

"You have that evil glint in your eye. Makes me want to do naughty things to you."

Spike leered at his mate and then tossed him his jeans.

"Keep that thought in mind, we have to go to the watcher's. It's time to set things right with Angelus."

"Cool. Let's go then."

The two were dressed, out the door and in the car in minutes. Xander wasn't wasting anytime, he wanted Angelus gone yesterday. The sooner the dark haired vampire was soulful and back in LA, the better as far as he was concerned. Angel never brought anything but trouble when he visited. Even though it was nice to get to know the new Wesley, Xander was looking forward to the minute they left.


Once everyone had gathered at the apartment, plans were made to administer the antidote to Angelus. Spike was all for stabbing him again, a procedure that Xander silently agreed with. Hell, he'd volunteer to stick the bastard if he thought anyone would let him do it. In the end, it had been Wesley who suggested that since it was administered through the blood stream in the first place, the cure would need to be given the same way. Spike smiled maniacally.

"I simply meant, that a needle would suffice, Spike. I know how disappointed you must feel."

Spike couldn't help but chuckle at Wesley. The man was a bit uptight, and he still had issues with Xander kissing him, but he had a dark sense of humour that Spike could appreciate and he had knackers on him to take up with Angel, especially knowing that this sort of thing could happen.

"Won't say I'm not, I'd like a chance to stick the bugger but so long as you get him all soul-having and out of my town I'll live with the disappointment."

The bathroom was not big enough for the entire group to squeeze into, so Wesley, Buffy, Xander and Willow went to administer the potion and guard the vampire. Xander trained his crossbow on him while Buffy held a stake at the ready. Willow stood at the door, ready to cast a protection spell if anything should go wrong. Wesley slowly approached the growling vampire with the syringe.

Angelus was not a happy vampire. He could tell that his time was up, and he hadn't even caused one death. The only guilt he would cause his soul to remember was the torment of his lover and his childe. It wasn't enough, not by a long shot. Wesley injected the potion into Angelus's arm and stood back. The four watched as the vampire's eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped down into unconsciousness.

"Was that supposed to happen?"

"I'm not sure Xander, potions were never my strong suit. Miss Rosenburg?"

Willow looked at the still form of the vampire and scrunched up her nose in thought.

"Maybe, Tara knows a lot more about this than I do, but vampire physiology is weird. Sometimes you can't predict the side effects of a spell."

Buffy wasn't impressed. She had finally gotten over the pull Angel had on her, and now she just wanted him gone. Her life was just so much easier when he wasn't here. She still loved him but not in that way anymore, he was her first love, her first lover and she would always feel something special for him, but her affection lay with someone else now.

"Lets move him downstairs."

Buffy didn't wait for a response, she just dragged the vampire from the tub and hoisted him up. Wesley grabbed his legs and together they carried Angel down to the living room and put him on the sofa. Tara, Spike and Giles looked at him sceptically.

"Should he be passed out like that?"

Giles hadn't expected the vampire to be comatose. Neither had Tara.

"I, I don't think so, maybe we should look at the spell again?"

As Giles and Tara headed for the kitchen, Angelus sprung up off the couch and lunged at Spike. He was the closest, and Angelus really wanted to teach a Spike a lesson. Before anyone could react, Xander was between the two vampires and hit Angel hard enough to send him flying back toward the couch.

Wes was stunned, he hadn't even seen Xander move, he was that fast. Buffy was torn between attacking Angelus or Xander. Both were setting her slayer senses on maximum. Xander had his bow in his hand once again and was aiming it at Angelus with deadly accuracy. Spike, still in shock merely held onto Xander and tried to figure out what the hell had just happened.

"Well, that was certainly interesting. Xander, how did you do that?"

"Spike and I have some news, we were hoping to tell you guys earlier but with all the bullshit, well... we didn't. Sorry Wills."

It was Giles awed exclamation that broke the news.

"You're mated! You've taken on aspects of his demon, such as speed and strength. My Lord, I knew it was possible, but to see it..."

Buffy spun to glare at Xander and then Spike.

"Does this mean he's a demon? Cause I warned you not to hurt him, and turning him, I think counts as hurting."

"Buffy, I'm not a demon. Still soul having, still breathing and everything. We'll explain it all later okay? Right now we have a vampire to contain."

The vampire in question began thrashing and howling as the potion took effect. Angel fought his demon for control, he fought for his freedom and for his lover. Wesley had given him the strength to hold on, to fight back. The others had done what they could, it was up to him now.