Part 12
“Linwood.”
“Why the interest in the seer? You’re report clearly indicates that she was killed at the boy’s hands.”
“I may’ve been mistaken.”
“Admitting a mistake? That’s a dangerous thing around here.” Linwood settled back in his plush chair.
“I believe it is a mistake that can be rectified to the benefit of the firm, sir.”
Linwood motioned for Lilah to continue.
The woman cleared her throat. “As I’m sure you are aware, I’ve been attempting to cultivate Angel’s former friend and employer.”
Linwood smiled. “I’m aware that you’ve been sleeping with the enemy.”
Lilah blinked once but remained still. “Wesley is not our enemy.”
“He’s not our ally.” Linwood interrupted.
“Almost. But he’s not Angel’s friend, not any longer. He is beginning to see the value of an association with Wolfram & Hart.” Lilah defended.
“Does he?”
“Yes,” Lilah nodded decisively.
Linwood cradled his chin on his fingertips. “And he believes that the acquisition of Angel’s seer would benefit in our controlling the vampire.”
“He says.”
Linwood held up his hand. “Don’t bother- I’ve read the transcripts.”
“Transcripts? You bugged his apartment without my knowledge?”
“Of course not, we bugged you without your knowledge. Did you think that I would wait for your late reports anymore.” Linwood’s smile became bigger.
Lilah thought of all she said to Wesley, resisting her urge to run her hands all over her body and head trying to find the implant. She stood straighter relaxing her hands- any words of sexual pleasure that she may have shouted were meaningless- she hadn’t told any vital secrets of the firm.
“Then you know what he thinks.” She said with renewed confidence.
“Yes and I, as well as, the senior partners would agree that if he is truly ready to join the firm his presence would be helpful in regards to the son. As for the seer’s importance.”
“He knows them both. He says..”
Linwood held up his hand again. “Yes, it was known before your little extracurricular bed games. The senior partners had already given the order. The seer has been ours for sometime. Coincidently, it was very near the same time the son dropped the vampire to the bottom of the sea. Ironic, wouldn’t you agree.”
Lilah stepped back. “Cordelia Chase is here?”
“A guest on the top floor, the very top floor.”
“We have Angel’s son and his seer?”
Linwood rubbed his hands together. “Better yet, we will have Angel. It’s only a matter of time now. The seer is on our side.”
Lilah narrowed her eyes. ” Cordelia has turned her back on Angel? I don’t believe it.”
“She’s been ‘convinced’ that her recent choices were not what she truly wanted. Of course, there will be a testing time but if all goes as expected she will be freed to complete our plan for her.”
“She’s going to betray Angel?” Lilah couldn’t help but be doubtful.
“Yes and she will bring Angel to us.”
Lilah stepped back thinking, replaying the memories of all her past ‘on hands’ experience of both the vampire and his seer. “You can’t trust her.” Lilah concluded.
“That’s to be seen, she had spent the last month on the top floor and she will be tested before she’s released.”
“Linwood, I agree wholeheartedly that having the seer is a benefit. Wesley has confirmed that she is important to the vampire- with Connor and Cordelia, Angel just may come to us.”
“You doubt.”
“Strongly, as to the seer’s change of sides.”
“The senior partners are convinced that it will be done.”
Lilah took a deep breath, holding her tongue. She started again. “Then I recommend that Wesley be a part of this test. He’s proven valuable with Connor. He knows all of the parties intimately. He’ll know if she is lying.”
“The soothsayers will tell.”
“Still, it couldn’t hurt to have Wesley present. He could be useful. His would be an experienced opinion.
“You think that highly of him.”
“I think that after all that has happened, when faced together that neither will be able to lie to each other or us. If either has truly decided to abandon the mission that they have fought for and suffered for so long, then they won’t be able to hide the truth from each other and then we’ll know the truth.”
Linwood raised in his chair. “So, amplified ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ aside you don ‘t completely trust Wesley.”
Lilah refused to let her blush hit her cheeks. “I’m not stupid, never have been. Wesley was a watcher and a major part of Angel’s mission, I’m good, but I’ll even admit not that good to be utterly sure. My loyalty will always be for this firm. It’s best interest is my motivation. By allowing Wesley to participate in the test, we’ll be killing two birds with one stone, forgive the cliché.” Lilah gave her well-worn perfective smile.
Linwood stood. “I’m very glad to see that you haven’t been blinded to your priorities, especially considering what you would have to lose if you failed us.”
“I’ve always said, ra! ra! Wolfram & Hart! All the way.” Lilah lifted her palms upward.
Linwood shook his head. “Disrespectful, but for the most part your work-product has been good, so I’ll let that slip slide. Set it up. The seer will face the more experienced seers tomorrow and Wesley. We’ll know the truth then. “
Part 13
“We have Cordelia,” Lilah said from her position on Wesley’s chest.
Wesley stopped his caress and sat up in the bed. “You had Cordy all this time?”
Lilah jerked back more at his tone than his actions. “I didn’t know.” She said defensively. “I asked Linwood, I told you I would and he told me. The firm took her about the same time Angel ended up at the bottom of the ocean. Coincidence he said, not related, just one of those wacky things that this business brings” Lilah tried to stop the unease that was building in her belly at Wesley’s cold stare. “She’s been on the top floor for a month.”
“And that means.” Wesley moved further from the woman in his bed.
Lilah shrugged, attempting to regain her normal cool demeanor. “They say she’s now willing to work for us. Things, Powers are up on the top floor- I do know that. It’s not easily accessible, or a desired designation, associates go to never come back. Torture, who knows, who cares, but the firm’s party line is that Cordy’s on our side. I’ve a little more doubt than they have but they have fitted her with an empathic device that supposedly acts as some sort of mind, body polygraph. I’ve suggested that you could tell better if her new choice is real. Can you do it? Oh, by the way, I’m bugged, not by choice, but I am, so if you’re going to declare your love or such, I thought you should know.” Lilah said in cocky teasing tone, regaining her equilibrium.
“Any declarations that I may have contemplated then will just have to wait.” Wesley stood, still staring at the woman. “Cordy was tortured for the last month and now she’s changed sides?” His cool blues eyes bore into Lilah’s.
Lilah wondered why she was nervous, it was just Wesley. She sighed. “That’s what I’ve learned. I…we need you. Wesley. If she gets the clearance from the seers and such, she’ll be turned loose on Angel.”
“I need to see her.” Wesley demanded.
Lilah tugged at the sheet jerking it around her body. “You are hung up on the seer.” Her sharp statement was more like a question.
“I’m hung up on the fact that after knowing the history of Darla and Angelus, Buffy and Angel, seeing Cordelia and Angel together, there is one conclusion that I’ve come to- the vampire will protect what he thinks is his and the soul conversely just makes him more determined and dangerous to those that hurt which he believes to be his or his responsibility.
That vampire is more dangerous than Angelus could ever be. Angelus may have killed for Darla, but only when it wasn’t too inconvenient. Angel, on the other hand, to protect the human Darla’s soul caused a helluva a lot of damage. Angel and Buffy- he dusted Darla without even blinking for that girl.” Wesley shook his head again.
“You’re talking about the slayer.”
“Yes. He killed Darla the first time to protect Buffy.”
“Then she’s the one we should have.”
Wesley stared at the woman. “You have no real idea of Angelus or Angel, do you? You just got a piece of paper and said a ‘whoo’ a prophecy here’s something we need to watch.” Wesley stepped back.
“He chose Darla over Cordelia, he killed Darla for the slayer.” Lilah argued.
Wesley laughed sardonically. “You’re idiots. Angel didn’t choose Darla over Cordelia. He was trying to protect Darla’s new-founded humanity, when that failed he started on a course of action -revenge- basically the destruction of Wolfram & Hart, damn the consequence to his mission or his redemption. “
“He left you all, he left his seer.”
Wesley shook his head. ” He left to protect us, or at least that was what he said, but the truth I expect was it was primarily Cordelia he was concerned with. She was definitely his priority when he did come back and he did come back. It was her forgiveness and acceptance he really wanted- hell- that he needed. He just didn’t realize at the time how much or why. That’s what stopped Wolfram & Hart’s plan from really succeeding,”
Wesley turned at Lilah’s snort. “Oh, you’ll caused harm but you didn’t damage anything not really, in fact that whole Darla is human then she’s not- escapade just brought Cordelia and Angela closer, after that bit of drama and a few rough bumps, they became inseparable, even after Darla came back with the evidence of Angel’s lapse clear in her belly. ” Wesley laughed again.
“The only thing that saved Darla this last time, after she attacked Cordelia, was the ensouled baby she carried. You know, Wolfram & Hart is to blame for Cordelia and Angel’s bond. They pulled together after each thing you threw at them getting closer and closer with each new danger. I’ll wait until I see Cordelia then I’ll judge whether this plan of Wolfram & Hart’s is a valid one or just another example of how you’ll keep making them the most unlikely but strongest couple of this whole game.”
Wesley shook his head. ” Oh, and just for an added thought, Angel, while being a vampire is also a man, a man that recognizes that Cordy is a very beautiful woman.”
“Cordy, Cordelia, who cares,” Lilah jerked her head away.
Wesley turned suddenly gentler, leaning back down on the bed. “Wolfram & Hart and Angel.”
“What about you?” Lilah moving her body closer to Wesley’s.
“Cordelia was a temptation in Sunnydale. She was beautiful and had an amazing self-imposed ignorance of the danger that existed. She was Cordelia. But then as she’s remarked over the years ‘the most unforgettable kiss in a lifetime’ happened and she graduated. If there was ever a chance, it ended in the library stacks of Sunnydale High and I knew my place once I saw Angel and Cordelia together in LA.”
Lilah leaned up caressing her hands up Wesley’s face. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” Wesley jerked away, unaccustomed to Lilah’s emotional display.
“Cordelia, she’s hurt you repeatedly.”
Wesley smiled a soft smile and shrugged. “Only once. Don’t you want to have sex?” He asked trying to get back where he needed to be.
Lilah started to question Wesley some more, but his hand had started to caress downward pulling the sheet off her body.
***
Wesley looked down at the woman cradling his body. He nudged and whispered. Lilah’s sleeping body moved as Wesley’s positioned her on the other side of the bed.
Wesley stood by the bed looking at naked woman curling herself in the covers. Wesley knew what he was doing was right but it didn’t feel righteous. He shrugged and went to meet Angel.
Part 14
Wesley sat in the front pew of the church remembering the first night he came home from the hospital. He remembered standing in the doorway of his empty apartment holding onto the box of his belongings that his friends had packed for him not out of concern or care but to make sure that he never stepped foot in Angel Investigations again.
He had been so sure of the prophecy, so sure in his ability to research that he had believed the unimaginable- that Angel would kill his son. He had lived with his choices because he had believed that he was saving Connor and Angel.
Wesley leaned back in the pew a sickness swirling in his stomach, the same sickness that had appeared and remained when Fred told him that the prophecy had been false- a set up orchestrated by those that wanted the baby dead- that because of his actions, Holtz had taken the baby to a hell dimension.
Wesley had thought that that sickness would never leave. He had wondered how he could’ve been so arrogant in his knowledge that he didn’t question his results or tell his friends. Alone he had destroyed everything, together they would’ve figured it out. Wesley had known that because his friends had done it without him and that knowledge just ate away at his being.
Wesley had wished then that Justine had succeeded in killing him preventing his knowledge of the truth.
Wesley remembered how standing alone in his apartment he had questioned his ability to survive. That’s when he realized that he wasn’t alone. Angel had appeared from the shadows saying nothing just staring at him.
That’s when the doubts went away, Wesley wasn’t going to have to worry about surviving.
“Are you going to kill me?” He asked, not really caring at that moment about the answer.
“Do you want me too?”
“It might be easier.”
Angel laughed harshly at that. “Easier? I don’t want to make it easier for you. You took my son. Tell me, Wesley, had it really been your plan to give him to Holtz.”
Wesley shook his head placing his box on the table. “I would never have done that. I just wanted to take Connor away.”
“How can I believe you?”
Wesley shrugged sadly. “I don’t know.”
“Well, I do. I can’t forgive you, but I won’t kill you.”
Wesley lifted his eyes to the vampire.
“You were used just as I was. I want my son back.”
“I can help you.”
“No, I’ve already taken steps in that regards. I’ve something else in mind for you.”
“What?”
“I want those truly responsible. Attacking Wolfram & Hart from the outside never seems to accomplish much- kill a bunch of lawyers and more just crawl out from under the rocks. This time, I want to take them down from the inside.”
Wesley studied the vampire. “They won’t believe that I’d join them.”
“They will if they think I’d kill you as soon as look at you. They will if they think it’s their idea to recruit you.”
“You had this in mind when you almost choked me to death.”
“Oh, don’t kid yourself, Wes, I do want to kill you. I stand here seeing the loss of my son and a friend’s betrayal. The urge to rip your head from your shoulders is real enough but I need you alive and inside Wolfram & Hart not dead.”
Wesley sat down and poured a drink. “Destroying Wolfram & Hart will not be easy or quick. It could take months if not longer.”
“I can be patient when I need to be.”
“Will you tell the others?”
Angel shook his head. “You have to be cut off completely.”
“Very well.”
That remembered conversation vanished from Wesley’s mind as Angel slid into the pew next to him.
“The Conduits said that Cordelia was out of their reach. Wolfram & Hart must have her. If you can’t get the information from Lilah then I will.”
“That won’t be necessary. Linwood told Lilah earlier today that they have Cordelia, that they’ve had her for the last month. Ironic coincidence to your own disappearance, he said.”
“Where?”
“Angel.”
“Where.” Angel demanded.
“Angel, if I tell you and you go, Lilah will know that I told you. I’ll be useless to you.”
“I’ll kill her and they will just think she told me. Where’s Cordelia?”
“That could work except I need Lilah to get me in Wolfram & Hart. I haven’t met with anyone but her. If she’s dead, I might not be able to.”
“Cordy’s more important.”
Wesley nodded. “Of course but, Angel, they also have Connor.”
Angel closed his eyes briefly, and then focused. “Where are they keeping Cordy.”?
“Angel, if you go after her there’s no telling what they will do to Connor. I need to be inside. And well, there is another complication.”
“What?”
“It’s Cordelia. Linwood said that the senior partners have been keeping her on the top floor, conditioning her.”
“Conditioning?”
“Torture was the implication.”
“I have to go now.”
“Angel, wait. The conditioning or whatever was done has convinced them that Cordelia is now willing to work with them.”
“They’re dead.”
“Who, Angel, the faceless ‘senior partners’? We need a face that’s why you wanted me in the firm.”
“What I want is Cordelia. She will not be held prisoner by them, not any longer.”
“That’s just it, Angel, the consensus is she’s not a prisoner or won’t be one for very much longer. She’ll be let loose and one can predict what the next stage of their plan is.”
“They want her to betray me.”
“Yes and they think she will.”
“Never.”
Wesley shrugged. “I would’ve agreed but Lilah implied without knowing any specifics the top floor houses some very powerful things. Forces that Cordelia, as strong as she is, might not have been able to resist.”
“I won’t leave her there.”
“Angel, tomorrow they want me to see her, they want me to judge her sincerity- me and a roomful of truthsayers. If she passes their test, they will trust her. If she doesn’t I imagine it’s back to the top floor. If that happens, of course, we’ll act.”
“They trust you?”
“I could believe that but I believe the more correct assessment is that it’s a test for both of us.”
Angel stood pacing. “The test is immaterial if I take her tonight.”
Wesley jumped up. “Angel, we need to know if we can trust her.”
“I trust her.”
“Angel, you will always trust her even if she’s untrustworthy, you love her. I need to know, Fred and Gunn need to know. If she’s not because of some power or spell, we need to know so that we can counteract it.”
“We can deal with that if it’s a problem when I have her. I’m going.”
“Angel, please, let me go tomorrow. If Wolfram & Hart is correct in their belief, they will let her go. We can take her then it will be easier than barging in. If it’s not and they take her back to the top floor, then we can barge, burning the whole goddamn place down if we have to.”
Angel stared, his need and instincts fighting against Wesley’s logic. “Tomorrow, I will have her.” He said deciding. “How will you past their test?”
“By being as truthful as possible and by resisting the urge to take her and Connor and run. Can you do that, can you wait until tomorrow?”
“No longer.”
Wesley nodded, relieved for the moment. “Do you want to hear about Connor?”
“He’s alive and he didn’t kill Cordelia, that’s all I need to know for now.”
“Angel, you’re going to have to deal with the fact that your son tried to bury you at sea. He’s starting to trust me. He did what he did because Justine told him that you killed Holtz. Angel…”
“It doesn’t matter now. Cordelia’s is the only one that does.”