Alexander

(Author’s Note: In this universe Angel didn’t sleep with Darla. She hasn't shown herself or anything like that.)

“I understand people who drink too much…” Xander sighed as he walked into the Hyperion, followed by Angel, Spike and Wesley. “I understand people who leave a little note on the parking meter that says it’s broken even when it’s not…”

Fred and Alex were sitting on the couches near the front desk, looking through several extremely thick books. They looked over at the returning members of Angel Investigations as they put away their weapons.

“But what I don’t understand is people who worship demons.” Xander finished, leaning against the wall in exhaustion.

“Especially that lur-ite demon!” Spike remarked, wiping some demon gunk off his leather coat. “I mean the stink on that thing!” The vampire’s face twisted as he remembered the stench the demon had given off.

“It’s sad that the only way some people can find a purpose in life is to become obsessed with demons.” Wesley remarked, unpacking his bag of weapons. “Well… we have to be a little obsessed, since our work demands it.”

“Any news from Sunnyhell?” Spike asked, turning to Alex and Fred.

“They’re coping.” Alex replied, sighing. “Taking care of Dawn, dealing with demons… they’re doing the best they can.”

“How are you Fred?” Angel asked, moving towards the young woman.

“I’m… I’m doing okay.” Fred looked down at the pad of paper that was in her hands, which was covered with mathematical symbols and the word “listen”, written over and over again. “I’m a big believer in rules and theorems, formulas..” Fred trailed off, slightly embarrassed.

“What are you listening for? Angel whispered, sitting down next to the young woman.

“The click.” Fred replied. “When it all comes together and makes sense, there’s like a click in your brain and you understand things again…”

“Fred…” Alex whispered. “I know you spent five years in a place where humans cold only be slaves or fugitives… but you home now. You’re safe.” Alex smiled softly at the young woman and hugged her. “I know it’s going to take some time.”

Before Fred could say anything the door to the Hotel opened and a young man in an expensive suit and shoes walked in. Angel and Wesley were instantly on edge. Angel stepped forward. “Gavin Park, attorney with Wolfram and Hart.” Angel practically growled, his arms crossed.

“Pleased to meet you…” the man said, before looking over at Fred, Alex and Xander. “New players?” he asked, looking confused and surprised.

“Well, now that we’ve had this lovely reintroduction… I suggest you piss off.” Wesley said, moving to stand next to Angel.

The man sighed and pulled out a stack of paper. “This is a list of fifty-seven city code violations for your hotel, including earthquake proofing, asbestos and termites. Be advised I filed a copy of this with the city planning office.” The man dropped the papers on a nearby chair and smirked. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Who was that?” Alex asked, moving to look at the papers.

“Wolfram and Hart.” Angel explained. “It’s a law firm that tends to help the demons we fight against.”

“Vision!” Wesley suddenly called out, his eyes going white as he stared into space. “There’s a coin and two clawed demons…” Wesley suddenly gasped and his hand flew to his chest. “Five…five claws. They’re in an herbalist shop in China town.”

Wesley pulled back and his body shook as if in pain. “They’re either Wan Shan Dhole or a Cantonese Fook-beast.”

“Wesley, what happened?” Alex asked, moving towards the British man. “That wasn’t a normal vision!”

It was at that moment that Spike and Angel smelled blood. Alex, picking up that something wasn’t quite right, darted forward and yanked up Wesley’s shirt, revealing five claw marks on his chest. “Something’s wrong with the visions.” Wesley remarked, almost falling over but he was caught by Spike, who helped him over to where Alex and Fred had been sitting while Alex went to get the first aid supplies.

“I’ll call Gunn.” Angel remarked, moving over towards the phone. “We’ll pick him up and go find the coin. Xander, Alex, Fred… you stay here with Wesley.”

“Okay.” Alex agreed as Angel made the call and ran off, Spike following him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wesley was recovering from the claw marks on his chest, due to Alex’s bandaging and the careful application of magic when his eyes flashed white once more and he screamed as his skin broke out in boils. Xander struggled to hold the British man so that he didn’t hurt himself.

“Wesley?” Alex asked, leaning over the other man.

“Demon.” Wesley gasped. “Boil-covered demon… there’s a storefront downtown on the corner of fifth and something… there was a key.” Wesley started to stand up but was stopped by Xander. “I should draw Angel a picture of the key…”

“Why would the visions suddenly have physical manifestations?” Alex asked as Fred dialed Angel’s phone to tell him of the new vision… and what it had done to the ex-Watcher.

“Why don’t we ask them?” Xander asked, looking between Alex and Wesley. “I mean, there has to be a way to communicate with the Powers…”

“It will have to wait until Angel and Spike get the key…” Welsey sighed. “I guess we can call Lorne.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They’d called Lorne and when Angel, Spike and Gunn returned the green demon was attempting to find out what was wrong with Wesley. However the moment Lorne was about to enter into Wesley’s mind, Wesley’s eyes shifted to white and he screamed in pain.

When Wesley’s eyes opened his right arm was severely burned and Lorne was blinking slightly. “These visions aren’t from the Powers.” Lorne remarked, looking down at Wesley.

“Then who is sending the visions?” Wesley asked, looking up at the group.

“I don’t know…” Alex sighed. “But they’d have to have a pretty good reason to hurt Wesley.”

Angel growled under his breath. “I know who did this… Wolfram and Hart.”

“I think I can stop it.” Alex replied, moving to pull a book off the shelves in the office. “If someone in the mortal world is sending these visions then I should be able to tap in to that signal and reverse it.”

“So you can make that person feel everything that’s happened to Wesley?” Gunn asked, staring at the new addition to Angel’s team.

“Yes.” Alex replied, before he started to draw out a circle on the ground using a piece of white chalk. “Wesley, I’m going to need some of your blood… and some of yours Angel.”

Alex wrote in several words in ancient languages in side the circle, leaving a sport for him to sit in. “Okay… let’s do this.” Alex sat down Indian style and closed his eyes, muttering something under his breath in another language.

Slowly Alex’s eyes opened and he looked out at the room, the magic in the spell he was casting enabling him to see the connection between Wesley and the Powers… as well as the connection between Wesley and whoever was causing him to have the painful visions.

Following that connection, Alex found himself going through town, moving closer and closer to Wolfram and Hart… until he was inside, making his way up through the floors until standing in front of a man who seemed to be mediating.

Seeing that this was the man who had been hurting Wesley, Alex attacked. It was simple enough to take away the connection’s effects on Wesley and just a little bit of magic had the man on the floor, screaming in pain as wounds covered his skin.

Another small burst of power and Alex was visible to the lawyer who had ordered the man to hurt Wesley. Smirking at the look of shock on the woman’s face, Alex’s spoke. “Try something like that again and I’ll have everyone in the building screaming in never-ending agony.”

TBC