Title: Liberation from Bondage

Author: Kate

Fandom: Buffy

Rating: R

Pairings: Xander/Spike, Giles/Ethan

Summary: Wesley is freed from something really, really horrible

Notes: If sexual abuse and torture bugs you, don't read this. Same as Slash.

Disclaimer: All belong to Joss Whedon. I wish I owned Ethan, Spike and Wes but Sigh…not on my best day.

Liberation from Bondage
by Kate

Wesley sat at his desk in the Angel Investigations office. He'd given Angel back his own office, as well as his position in the group. He'd known he'd never be allowed to keep it but it had been nice to think it was his for a while. Wesley sighed and kept researching and translating and listening to the others. They were talking amongst themselves and Wes silently moved about the office getting things ready for the night's patrol and such. He looked up at a throat clearing and found everyone but Angel looking at him. Angel was the only person who didn't give him -Those- looks. He sighed and stepped forward, taking the slip of paper from Cordelia with coffee orders on it. Orders for coffee and breakfast. Again he sighed, pulled his jacket on
and left the office.

He'd noticed he hadn't been asked if he wanted anything and he softly whimpered inside. He was hungry but he did not dare order anything for himself at the café. Although, the donuts looked incredibly good… No, he said to himself. It would only give them more reason to be angry with him and he'd screwed up badly enough this week.

He took his order when it was done, looked one last time at the donuts and sighed for the fifth or more time that morning. He made his way back to AI and found everyone glaring at him. He handed out the food still not saying anything and went back to his books. He knew they didn't care about him or anything he may have wanted except to get his work for the day. He was
engrossed in a translation of a text on a Spine Demon when a donut appeared on his desk. Wes looked up surprised to find Angel standing by his desk.

Angel set a mug of tea down as well leaving Wes looking at him in almost awe.

"You looked hungry, Wes," Angel said as he looked at what he was translating. "I noticed you got even me something but not yourself…"

"I forgot," Wesley said knowing Angel would hear the lie for what it was but unable to say anything else. He ate his donut almost like a starving man, which, in essence, he was. He hadn't had time or money for proper food in the last few days. Too busy doing things for other people. Wesley sighed tiredly and continued to work.

By lunchtime, he was dreading going to get the lunch for everyone. Lunch orders always required walking as so much was ordered. Wesley gave a soft almost whimper when he was given the order. It hurt in a lot of ways…

"English," Gunn called. "Cordelia said you can get her a Diet Soda from the fancy place today too. She wants it from there."

Wesley almost groaned but nodded. He went first to the sub shop to pick up the order and then to the fancy place on the way back to get the diet soda hoping the line wasn't too long today. If the food were cold when he got back, he'd never hear the end of it. Again nothing had been put on the order for him and he dared not order for himself. They gave him their money and it was for them it would be spent. He just went about his day praying he would get back home that night and maybe have time for a peanut butter sandwich before bed. Wesley held no illusions about that though, it would never happen. He had to call Giles soon or his one friend would worry. Giles was at least kind to him and tolerant of his grievous errors and so Wesley tried
not to make him worry. After all, he was one of only a precious few who seemed to care for Wesley.

Wes looked around when he got back to AI. Cordelia caught his eye and pointed out where each order should go as well as each person's change. He simply nodded and put the food on the desks. He knocked on Angel's office door after handing out everyone else's food and was called in.

"I…I have your lunch Angel," Wesley said quietly. He set the sub down on the desk and turned to leave before Angel could see his sadness and pain.

The food smelled so good. Wesley was halfway to the door when Angel's voice stopped him.

"I don't see any food on your desk Wes. Aren't you eating?" Angel asked.

Wesley shook his head no.

"I…I forgot my…"

"I saw it this morning Wes. Why didn't you order anything?"

"I…I guess I wasn't paying attention Angel…Enjoy…enjoy your meal…"

Wesley practically fled the office retreating to his desk in the corner where he was working on a translation. He heard the others laughing over their lunches and he wanted to cry. He was hungry, so hungry but he hadn't been told they were ordering lunch and Louie didn't have anything ready made so Wes would have to go without today. Not that he had money to buy anything regardless. He had told Angel to give Cordelia the raise she begged for knowing it would more than halve his own paycheck. He again looked up sensing Angel or someone leaning over his shoulder. It was Angel. Looking a bit worried but Wes gave a reassuring smile. Or it would have been if his stomach hadn't chosen that moment to growl. Angel looked at him with concern but Wesley looked down. He would pay tonight; he knew it in his bones. They
would make him pay.

Wesley was having a horrible day and he knew it. So far he'd slipped twice.

Angel had seen it both times and his stomach growled telling Angel he was hungry but had nothing to eat. Wesley swallowed, his misery reaching epic proportions. There would be punishment for this. He knew it too.

Especially when Angel went int his office and brought half his lunch out and gave it to Wes.

Wesley felt the despair closing in as they got back from patrol that night.

It had been quiet and Cordelia hadn't had any visions. Wes knew it was time for the punishment. He would now have to pay for the kindness Angel had given him today. He picked up his coat and quietly left. He knew where he was to go and he feared it.

Arriving at the apartment, he swallowed as the door was opened and he was yanked inside.

He woke up two days later in his apartment.

XXX

RING!…RING!!!

The sound of the phone woke Angel at an ungodly hour. Well, at least for a vampire. He fumbled his phone into his hand and growled into it "What?"

"Angel? It's Giles. Do you know where Wesley is?"

The voice on the other end of the phone was almost panicked and Angel had a bad feeling. Wes hadn't come in yesterday. He hadn't answered his phone so Angel assumed he'd gone out and forgotten to call in. But if Giles was calling…

"No, Rupert," Angel said. "Wes isn't here. He didn't come in yesterday either but I know he isn't here. Something wrong?"

"He was supposed to call me the night before last. He didn't. I thought maybe you were working on a case but…"

"No…no we aren't working on anything Rupert. Last night was kind of quiet actually… You think something's wrong?"

"I know something's wrong Angel. Wesley and I have been having at least one conversation a week for the last year. Wesley hasn't called me in two weeks. Look, Angel, I'm sending Xander and Spike down. Spike has a car with blacked out windows and I am so very worried. Try not to kill him. He works with us and he helped me with something…"

"Okay Rupert," Angel said. He could read the man's fear for Wes. Truth be told, he was worried too. Wesley never, ever forgot to call in. If it weren't for the sun, he'd be at Wes' place now. Angel growled and began to pace. He wasn't getting back to sleep. Giles' phone call had effectively curtailed any thoughts of getting to sleep today. Damn he was worried. He'd noticed the other day Wes seemed worried about something. And then when Angel had shared his lunch, Wes had looked almost ashamed. Angel groaned.

He was going to have to get Wes' salary back up where it needed to be so the man could afford to feed himself. Angelus was railing about inside his mind now screaming at him for being an oblivious git and not watching over The Mate. Angel was actually frightened by what Angelus meant by The Mate. In his heart he knew. He'd loved Wesley for a long time now. And damn if Angelus didn't feel the same way. His demon was pissed with him for not watching over The Mate better. Angel really couldn't blame him. He should have noticed how hungry Wes was. How often he took fruit from the kitchen…

"I'm an idiot," he said to himself.

He left a message down stairs that he wasn't to be disturbed by anything today and that he would be going out at sunset. The Powers could go do something anatomically impossible even for them for the day. Angel had something more immediate on his mind; his True Mate's state of health and living.

"Angel," Cordelia called coming up the step and obviously blatantly ignoring his warning.

"Get. Out." He practically snarled. For once Cordelia actually obeyed.

Angel almost called her back as he began to ponder why she smelled of The Mate. It was something confusing him. Angel sighed and sat in his brooding chair but not to brood. No, today, he was planning. Planning on going and getting his mate and taking him away from whatever was hurting him. Making him cry tears on the inside. Angel and Angelus had both smelled his inner tears the other day at lunch. And it was that that made him take Wes part of
his lunch. It was that which finally got his head out of his ass and made him look at Wes and see the hunger he was trying so hard to hide. And oh, yes, Angel had figured out what had happened. No one told Wes they were ordering lunch. No one cared that he would go hungry. That really pissed Angel off. Couldn't they see? Couldn't he see? No, Every time Wes tried to
say something about when they went out to dinner, Cordelia…Cordelia cut him off with a remark about research or money and he suddenly declined. Did he think Angel would let him go hungry?

'Never Again' came form within his being. Angelus would fight Angel to make sure Wesley was eating properly. And for once Angel would not stop him.

He carefully chose his outfit for the evening and laid it out. He was taking Wes on a trip when he found him. Getting him some food in his system and making his poor, over worked one rest. Angel chuckled thinking about it.

He would take care of Wes. Now that he could see the trouble, he would do his damndest to fix it. He sat back in his chair, planning to wait. Knowing William would care for The Mate until he got there. William and his Mate, Xander.

Inside of Angel, Angelus smiled.

XXX

Sunnydale:

Giles ran into the Magic Box looking for Xander and Spike. He saw Ethan sitting against the wall reading and he saw Spike and Xander playing cards at the table.

"Xander, I need you and Spike to go to LA for me," Giles said to the youth. Xander looked up noticing the tone in the older man's voice.

"Giles?" he asked.

"Wesley hasn't called me Xander. Not for two weeks. He…I'm worried abut him," Giles said. Xander nodded. No one knew he called Wes once a week too. The last time, Wes hadn't been home. The time before that, he'd sounded as if he were close to tears.

"Sure we'll go, Rupes," Spike said as he came up from the sewer entrance.

"What do we do with him when we find him?"

"Stay with him until I get there. I know something's wrong. I feel it in my bones. But I can't leave here until after I close the shop," Giles answered.

"We'll find him G-man, Xander said. "We'll keep him safe until you get there."

"Angel will be over at sunset to Wesley's apartment. I think he suspects something's wrong too."

Xander nodded and then he and Spike headed out the door heading for LA.

If something as wrong with his friend…

Twenty minutes later Spike was cursing Xander as the teen drove the Desoto like a mad man towards LA. Spike clung to the dashboard thinking they were all nuts to complain about his driving. Although, he had figured something out. This Wesley person was very important to Xander and to Giles.

And he seemed to be important in a way that Spike knew to be the Good Friend way. Xander was driving hell for Leather to get to LA to be with this Wesley so Spike kept his mouth shut and hung on. He'd get real answers once they got there.

In his own thoughts from the drivers seat, Xander was praying that Wes was okay. No one knew he was Wes' friend. Him and Dawn. Dawn because Wes had been incredibly lonely when he first came to America and Xander was ashamed to admit it but he had and the others had done nothing to help. He'd watched secretly as Dawn got Wesley to take off his tie and play marbles on the floor of the library. Xander had been so shocked when he first heard Wesley laugh. No one in the Scooby Gang was of the impression that he could.

Dawn had been grinning then. They'd moved on from marbles to ice cream.

Wesley walked Dawn to the ice cream parlor. Not in a date way but in a friend way. Besides, Dawn still thought boys were yucky then. Xander had spent an entire Saturday following them around. In that action he'd seen Wesley the man as opposed to Wesley the inept Watcher. The guy was so lonely his best friend was a 12 year old. Dawn was the only person who ever smiled
at Wes either. It kinda shamed Xander as he knew how much just one smile could make in a person's day and yet none of the 'Heroes' as they called themselves could be bothered to even try.

A week later, Xander had come across Wesley at a motorcycle lot working on a Big Dog motorcycle. He'd been nervous at first but finally asked Wes what he was ding. Wes had surprised him by saying simply "fixing my bike".

Xander had felt his jaw drop. Wesley the stiff who always wore a suit was wearing jeans; a t-shirt and hiking boots and he rode a motorcycle. Xander chuckled and had sat by him while he finished. Then Wes had shocked him.

He'd given him a ride on the bike and offered to teach him to ride on his own. Xander had a better memory of Wes than the guy who messed up. He had happier memories than Buffy did. He, Dawn and apparently Giles too had seen something Wes hid from everyone else. Heck, Dawn got Wes to eat Pizza: Gooey, runny, Drippy Pizza and not care that he got it on his starched white shirt. Xander'd had a hard time imagining that but he'd actually witnessed it.

One night when Buffy was out with Willow and Giles, Mrs. Summers and Dawn had dragged Wesley to a pizza place and gotten him o eat it the American way.

Wes had laughed that night too. Xander wasn't on patrol duty that night so he had seen it. Xander had also seen Wes letting Dawn mess with his hair and such. It wasn't slicked straight after an afternoon with Dawn…

Xander looked up as they passed the welcome to LA sign and slowed down.

He realized he'd been driving over 80 miles and hour on autopilot and looking at Spike revealed his Mate had almost shit himself in fear a few times. If vampires could shit at any rate. Spike looked up at him and smiled weakly as they drove to Wesley's apartment building. Xander was beginning to have a sinking feeling. If Angel couldn't reach him and he hadn't called Giles, something had to be wrong. He squared his shoulders and he and Spike walked up the steps to Wes' apartment. Xander knocked politely just in case but had a key.

"Wes?" he called as he knocked. Receiving no answer he opened the door and just froze.

"Oh, my God!"

XXX

"Xander?" Spike said as he ran into the teen's back. He, too, froze seeing the trail of red on the floor. He and Xander both followed it to a bedroom where Wesley was lying on the floor. He appeared to be trying to crawl somewhere.

"Wesley!" Xander cried as he moved to his friend. "Wes, come on, wake up."

"Awake…" came the groggy reply. "Swear it. 'M 'wake."

Xander didn't even bother to answer that one. He simply began to lift Wesley to lay him back on the bed. He froze when he felt Wes stiffen at the touch on his back though. A muted cry escaped the semi conscious man's lips.

"Please no…" Wesley whimpered. "Tried…be good. Swear it. Swear I tried…"

"Xan-Pet," Spike called as he came into the bedroom. "His fridge and cupboards are empty and… Holy Shit!"

"Spike?" Xander asked as the bleached blond sat by Wes' bed. Xander watched as Spike inhaled. Going deeper than the layer of hurt in the scent, deeper than the scent that had hurt him…it was a scent he associated with Xander although he didn't quite know why. Deeper than the sweat and blood scent. Deeper than the man scent down to the scent that Spike had been
shocked to smell on any human let alone this one.

"Spike, what is it?" Xander asked. Spike looked up at Xander in shock.

"He's been mate claimed Xan-Pet. No demon did this t' him. No Demon would dare cross the one who marked this man."

"Who Spike?" Xander asked as he watched Spike shift his stance until he looked like a guard. He couldn't Not guard this human. No way, no how, no way in Hell. The mark was a mark to the entire clan. All in the clan would have to protect this one. This apparently more than slightly special one.

"I…"

"Who Spike. Why wouldn't any demon have dared to do this to Wes? How do you know?"

"Coz I know the bleedin' mark Pet. I know the mark and I'm bound by it to protect him. As for why? You know any demon that would fuck with Angelus the Scourge? Both parts marked this man Xan-Pet. I pity the person who's done this. I pity them for their sheer stupidity. He'll kill them. Soul or no, he will KILL whomever dared t' touch his mate. The Mate."

"Angel marked him?"

"No, Xan-Pet, Angelus and Angel both marked him. Their true Mate. The one that even if Sire loses his soul again will be in no danger. Oh, man is he going to be pissed when he finds out about this. It was a human that did this by the way. Female from what I can smell."

Xander watched as Spike sat quietly near Wesley and began to purr. If what he knew of Vampire hierarchy were correct, Spike would not leave Wes' side until his Sire came and relieved him. Xander felt a momentary flash of pity for the woman who did this as well. At least until he looked at Wes' body. He knew there was damage there. He knew it was bad.

"So," he said to himself as he watched Spike sit with his hand on Wesley's heart. "Guess I'm making the phone calls."

In the quite of the apartment, Xander reached for his cell phone. His last thoughts as he dialed were "Giles is going to be pissed" and "Angel is going to go Apoplectic"

XXXX

"Hello?" Giles said tersely as he and Ethan sped don the highway to LA.

They had left three hours after Xander and Spike had because they'd seen something while scrying together. Giles had closed the shop and told Willow that nothing had better be missing when he returned home. Ethan had thrown some complicated wards up as they left that not even a 12th level mage would be able to disable. Then, they had left for LA with Ethan driving.

"Xander?" Giles said feeling the marrow in his bones freeze.

"Hi G-man," came Xander's voice over the cell phone. "Listen, Spike and I are at Wes' place and uhm…Giles, this is so not good. He's hurt…I think it's worse than we knew. And Spike said it was done by a human female."

Giles let loose with a stream of colorful, anatomically impossible in some cases, curse words in response to that statement. Next to him in the driver's seat, Ethan almost cringed.

"Tell, me, what pray tell do y' mean by 'Worse then ya thought'?" Giles asked as his accent changed. Ethan recognized the change and cringed inwardly. He knew that voice and he pitied whatever made it come out.

"Wes'…Giles, I can't explain it…it's just really, really bad…" Xander stammered out.

"I'm already on m' way Xander," Giles said. A sigh on the other end of the phone and then quietly…

"Thanks G-Man…"

"Don't call me that soddin' name Xander. It's bloody annoyin'" was what he heard in response. Xander swallowed as he hung up. Ripper was coming.

Looking down at Wesley's sleeping from, he sighed. One more person to call and then he could wait. When Giles got there, he and Ethan would be going for groceries and such. Wesley's cupboards were as empty as Spike had said and looking at him, Xander could see he was even thinner than he had been in Sunnydale.

Sighing, Xander picked up the phone mentally rehearsing what he was going to say to Angel when he answered. Nothing he came up with was a good way to tel Angel someone he cared about was hurt like this. Someone he had chosen as his mate. He listened to the phone ring and swallowed when Angel answered it.

"Yeah…Angel…"

XXXX

Furious. He was absolutely furious. Rage boiled through him as he stalked through the tunnels under Los Angeles. He was going to kill for this outrage. He was going to rend and maim and tear and destroy, "DAMMIT!!!" He screamed through the tunnels as he stalked off his excess
steam. Couldn't go to The Mate like this. Couldn't allow The Mate to see the rage. Had to be civil in The Mate's presence. When he got a hold of those who had dared to touch, that which was his, he was going to make them pay.

Angel growled as he walked. Angry for what he had been told by Xander.

Angry with the Harmer…Angry at himself for not seeing it…Damn, how could he have missed it? Wesley's hunger was so painfully obvious now that he thought about it. And the flinching…Dammit he should have known by the flinching.

Wesley had flinched away from any touched lately. How could they not have seen it? How could he not have seen it? Angel sighed as he thought. Maybe Gunn and Fred didn't care but he did. And he had missed this…this terrible, awful thing in the life of his mate.

Angel growled as he found himself under Wesley's building. He had to get to the mate. William was near and guarding him but Angel couldn't stay away a moment longer. Angel growled and walked up to the apartment from the basement. Angel growled as he stalked up the steps fighting his game face down. His Childe opened the door before he even reached it, Spike.

"Sire," the bleached blonde said. "He's resting. It's…it's not good…"

Spike trailed off as he watched Angel begin to scent out Wesley even from the door. He turned suddenly though to a closet and ripped the door right off the hinges. What he found disgusted him beyond measure. Whips, a few ball gags other sex toys obviously used wrong by the blood on them…and Angel could smell Wesley's fear scent all over them. These things had been used on the Mate. But The mate…Wesley…had not wanted them.

"He's been restless Sire," Spike said softly. Angel finally looked at the bed where Wesley lay. He was thin and paler than usual and he looked as if he'd been through hell. There was hardly an inch of skin not marked in some way. Immediately Angel felt Angelus push to the front of his mind and he found himself at Wesley's side gently running his hands over him and inhaling the scents that overlaid one another on him. He froze when he got to That Scent. The one Spike had scented as being the thing that had hurt this human... his Mate. Angel looked up at Spike with a mixture of Pain and rage in his eyes.

"You know the scent Sire?" Spike asked. Angel nodded as he lifted Wesley's upper body into his arms and just held on to him. Spike looked closer and saw the blood tears sliding down his Sire's cheeks. It looked to Spike as if all of Angel's worse fears had just been confirmed.

"Whose scent is it Sire?" Spike asked. Angel swallowed convulsively as he looked down at the bruised and battered body of The Mate. When he spoke, there was a promise of death in his voice as he intoned the name of She who had hurt him Mate.

"Cordelia."

XXX

"Cordelia what?" Xander asked as he came through the door with Ethan and Giles. Angel looked up at them as he took some of the grocery bags.

"Cordelia did that to my Mate. I can smell her all over him."

"Cordy wouldn't…" Xander began. Only to be given the Angelus look. Xander knew in his heart of hearts she would. She had almost done so to him but he had no idea she could be so cruel as to cause the damage Wesley had suffered.

Wesley chose that minute to start to wake up. He felt like there was cotton in his mouth and he heard more voices around him than he was used to.

"Wesley?" Angel's voice spoke over him.

'Angel's voice?' Wesley thought. 'Why would Angel---' the thought trailed off in blinding panic. Angel was here--- Angel would have seen---

"Wes--- Wes, calm down. It's okay. You're safe now. You're safe." Wesley felt a gentle touch on his brow as Angel gently sat on the edge of the bed.

"You're okay love. I swear. You're safe now."

Wesley felt confused. Angel was here. He vaguely remembered Spike and Xander--- Then Giles and Ethan--- Oh, his poor head hurt. But he realized his back hurt worse and he whimpered from laying on it. He immediately tried to turn onto his side and regretted it. It hurt worse there. He'd forgotten the kicks.

"Shh, shh," he heard Angel croon. "It's okay. I'm here now My Own. I'm here." The voice soothed him for some reason. He felt as if he were truly safe. If anyone could protect him, it was Angel. Slowly, he felt darkness encroach on him again. He was so tired.

Once certain Wesley was asleep, Angel turned to look at the others in the room. "William, stay with him. I need to speak to Giles." The dark vampire said as he gently got up. Spike nodded and sent Xander to work heating some of the chicken broth he'd bought. Angel led Giles to the closet of Cordelia's toys. He had two things to discuss with Giles. One would shake the older Englishman that Angel knew. He only wondered why he hadn't made the connection sooner.

"We need to find a way to help him from his trauma. He was sexually abused badly."

"I know that Angel," Giles said. He looked at the vampire seeing something else in his eyes. "What is it?"

"Do you have any children Giles?" Angel asked quietly. Giles looked up at him confused.

"Not to my knowledge, no. Why?" he asked. Something told him the answer was going to shock the hell out of him.

"When I scented Wes to find the Harmer's scent--- I came across something in his scent--- it confused me at first and I thought it was maybe because you had been here earlier but it was still there the further down I went."

"What was it Angel?" Giles asked beginning to have a terrible, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"The scent…the parent Scent on Wesley--- well, it's yours." Angel managed to say. He watched all the color drain from Giles' face as he said it. He'd had a bad feeling Giles didn't know. If he had, Angel had the feeling Wesley would never have been a Watcher.

"You--- You're sure?" Giles asked. Angel nodded. He'd scented deep when Giles came in just to be certain and he was sure. "Oh, God," Giles choked as he walked back to Wesley's still form.

He looked down at the face of the young man and felt rage come over him at the injuries he'd sustained.

"Oh… my sweet boy. My sweet, sweet boy…" Giles gathered Wesley's still form into his arms and cried quietly. This had shaken him. But worse was the feeling of pain that his son had grown up raised by someone else. Abused by someone if Giles was guessing right about what had shaped Wesley into a perfectionist.

"I'm here baby," Giles soothed as Wesley whimpered. "Daddy's here."

He looked up at Ethan's touch, seeing in his lover's eyes understanding and offer to help in whatever he could. Giles gave a smile if thanks. So odd to call himself Daddy in relation to Wesley… But so Right as well.

"You'll help him Giles," Angel said quietly. "We'll both help The Mate."

"Not alone Sire," Spike said from the kitchen. He'd retreated there when Giles had approached Wesley. "Me and Xan-Pet… We'll help you."

Angel nodded and looked at Ethan. "I need you to open a portal for me to the Oracles. I have a message for them I want to deliver. Personally."

Ethan nodded. He went into Wes' small, cramped living room to begin the spell. Angel meanwhile wrote a note on a piece of paper and wrapped it around a rock

"It's ready, Angel," Ethan's voice came from the living room. Angel nodded and sighed. He picked up the rock and took it into the living room. He saw the portal, wound up his arm and threw it as hard as he could through the opening. He sighed as he returned to Wesley's side. He hoped the message was clear enough. It was only two words. Anyone could understand it.

In the dimension where the oracles resided, a note landed on the ground after striking the male on the head. The female picked it up, unwrapped I from its rock and stared in shock at the Warrior's message written in the blood of the one they knew was the mate. Two simple words that destroyed their superiority complex utterly.

"I QUIT."

XXXX

Angel approached the door to the Hyperion feeling his rage coming back.

With him were Spike and Xander. Giles was staying with Wesley. As was Ethan.

Angel could feel the rage sliding off of him as he opened the door and walked into the lobby. Cordelia was bitching about he and Wesley not being there and it angered him. How dare she?

"I'm here now," he said as he and Xander entered the building with Spike behind them. "You can all get out by the way. I'm closing the agency."

"You can't!" Cordelia cried. Wesley is the boss!"

"Wesley is almost comatose thanks to you, bitch," Angel growled. "I'm taking him with me when I leave."

"Where are you going Angel? And what do you mean thanks to Cordy?" Gunn asked. Angel growled low in his throat.

"Ask her about Wesley's bruises and insecurity," Angel growled. "Ask her about the blood I smelled when I walked into his apartment. Ask her why I smelled her all over my Mate!"

Everyone retreated under the almost Roar from Angel as he walked into the office to gather Wesley's things. Spike and Xander followed glowering. As they packed things in to the boxes, Angel looked at Cordelia.

"I quit working for the Powers that Fuck You Over, Cordelia. So, you can go find anther meal ticket and place to work and make your awful coffee. I have more important things to do than put up with liars and shitheads. I'm taking my mate and getting the hell out of this damnable place."

"Who is your mate Angel? Doesn't she live in California?" Cordelia asked coldly. Angel growled low in his throat as he walked over to her.

"No, little seer. HE lives in this godforsaken town and is our Boss. He wont be here for anyone to hurt ever again. His father and I are taking him away from here."

"If you mean Wussly, his father hates him as much as we do," Cordelia said. Angel growled.

"Wesley's real father loves him more than anything Cordelia. And I pity you if you meet him before we leave. He'll raise a demon and feed you to it." Xander said as he and Spike took some boxes of books out to Angel's convertible. Spike came back in for others and took those out as well.

"We'll be packing all of Wes' books to take with us. You can keep the office files and such but the books come with us," Angel said. He was not kidding. He was taking Wesley away from this place. This pain.

"Angel, man," Gunn began. Angel growled angrily and the street fighter backed off. Angel picked up Wesley's personal things himself and turned to go out to his car. He knew Spike and Xander were waiting. Giles would come tomorrow to yelp Angel to pack the rest of the books. Angel turned and snarled one final time as he get into the car scaring Fred who was trying to
chase him.

"Never again Fred. No one else I love will ever suffer this way again.

Goodbye." Angel said as he got into his car and gunned the engine. He looked at Cordelia in the eye before he drove off. The look he gave was a promise of Death if she came near him again. She glared back.

She wasn't going to let this go. Wesley was hers dammit. No one was supposed to take him away from her. And she would not lose her toy. Her favorite toy.

"This is not over Wesley," she said to a picture of them all that she kept. "You belong to me and I will get my property back"

In the shadows, a dark-haired vampire and her doll walked away. Daddy would deal with this threat to The Mate. Daddy would make it all better. He was all-better now too. Still with his sticky sweet soul but now Daddy was there too. Daddy who's Mate had been hurt by the woman with the Eyes.

Drucilla giggled as she walked to Wesley's apartment. Daddy had set a mark on Wesley. It called her and all the line back home. Daddy had a Mate now. A True mate. It was time to be a family again.

XXXX

Angel looked up as they were spoon-feeding Wesley broth. He was ingesting it and Spike had even allowed for some bread tonight. Angel was glad. But his Mate was still too weak to travel long distances in any way shape or form. Like it or not, they were stuck until tomorrow. As to what had drawn his attention, Angel opened the door to the apartment to find Drucilla standing in the hallway holding Miss Edith and a can of chicken broth.

"Daddy," she said as she danced around in the hallway. "I brought some chicken for The Mate. Is he better?"

"Dru…" Angel said feeling Angelus and himself merging more and more and not wanting to stop it. "Come in Princess. The Mate is restin'. We're givin' him some Cow right now but he's said he'd like chicken in the morning."

Drucilla giggled and waltzed into the apartment. She sidled up to Wesley on the bed and looked into his face and smiled.

"He has power Daddy. His false daddy wants it gone into his children but our fox is clever. He doesn't want any children to be used like him. He's made himself forget. Made him clumsy and all fall down."

"What's he made himself forget Princess?" Angel asked.

"Killing darkness Daddy. He can do it. Like your Pretty Slayer he is. All grrr to us."

"Wesley's a Slayer?" Angel asked. Drucilla nodded and hugged Miss Edith.

"Everything's fixing itself Daddy. Don't worry. The King will make them pay…off with their heads." Drucilla growled and giggled sitting by her new Daddy's bed and stroking his face. He'd fallen asleep when Angel had gone to open the door.

Angel smiled thinking the Prophecy of the Scroll had been right. His mate was a Slayer. Angel sat by the bed and sighed. Wesley was in danger if what Dru said was true. He would have to speak to Giles about it in the morning.

He looked over at Wesley as he began to toss restlessly. Nothing he could do to wake him from the nightmares at this stage. But he could hold him through them. Angel toed hi shoes off and lay down next to Wesley. He cradled his Mate in his arms purring. He sensed Dru take the chair as Spike came in and smiled at his two closest Childer. He allowed Wesley to lie against his chest, feeling the thinner man burrow into him and then the sigh as he fell into a deeper sleep.

OOO

Deep below the earth, in a place long forgotten by any religion, a being began to stir. A very powerful being. He didn't know why he'd woken at first. All he knew was that he was needed again apparently. He felt the touch in his mind of one of his chosen. The Slayers…So few? He thought.

Then, when the answer came to him, rage spilled through him. How Dare They?

"Uncle Hades?" a voice asked. Hades turned to Strife and gave a cold smile.

"Wake your uncle Strife," he said. "It is time."

XXX

Quentin Travers stared down at the folder in front of him as he realized Wesley had never returned form America. He should have obeyed the orders but he had not. Now they had to go and get him. Get him back so he could fulfill his function in making more Slayers. He was going to enjoy punishing Wesley. Wesley had certainly brought this upon himself. Refusing to return to England. Travers had some ideas about what to do with Wesley when they got him. As well as Ethan Rayne. That one Travers was going to put back in his cage and lose the key. Ethan would never dare cross him again when Travers finished with him.

"Mr. Travers?" his secretary asked. Mr. Rupert Giles is on line one. He says if you want to avoid him coming here you'll pick up the phone right now."

Travers felt a brief flash of irritation before he answered the phone but knew he'd better. Rupert Giles was a dangerous man when angry.

"Hello Rupert," he said as he answered. The voice that answered was a cold as an arctic wind.

"Get the Council into the grand meeting room. I have something I wish to address with you all. And Quentin…If you don't, I will make your life an eternal and living hell."

Travers swallowed as he began to send for the council main. Jonathan Wyndham-Price arrived quickly, as did the other members of the board. Then, Travers put Giles on speaker. Giles knew his own father was there as well.

"Well, Gentlemen," his voice came over the line. "Lets have a discussion about family, shall we? Lets start with you people. Watchers… A good, God's own group of people eh? Not really. Consider the evidence. You want to kill the Slayers with the best track records. You fire the Watchers who show courage…hmm, and oh, yes. YOU TOOK MY SON! YOU CHEAP SONS OF BITCHES!!! I Swear on al I hold holy if any of you come near him again I'll literally
Raise HELL to make you Limp dicked Pieces of Shit Pay!"

"Rupert!" Arthur Giles exclaimed hearing Giles explode.

"Shut it Father. Did you think I'd never find out? Did you think Angel wouldn't eventually connect the scents? Are you that Fucking Stupid?!"

"Rupert, what are you babbling about?" Arthur demanded. "You have no son."

"One word for you father. WESLEY! Not only did you bastards take my son, you sent him to the hellmouth to replace me…To DIE because you had no further use for him. Try anything ever again and I will summon Beelzebub himself to devour you. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!?!"

The members of the Watcher's Council were stunned into silence by Giles' explosion. Thought of: He was never supposed to know running through most of their heads. But it was obvious he did. And they all began to have a feeling of dread in the pits of their stomachs as they thought of his tone.

That wasn't Rupert Giles. It was 100% pure unadulterated Ripper.

His last words before slamming down the phone were frightening: "Ethan is with me Father. You wont be touching him ever again either. I warn you now, come near my family again, and it will be the death of you."

After that softly whispered promise, Giles had hung up. The Council was now scrambling to get a team in and grab Wesley. He was too dangerous. The prophecy could not be allowed to come to pass. If Wesley succeeded in that, they would lose their power.

OOO

In the underground place, Lord Hades stood with what was left of his family. Ares, Eris, Hera, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Apollo, Cupid, Strife, Little Bliss, Hestia. Poseidon lived but he had been made ill by the pollution in his waters. Something Heph was working on even now. A small number but from this number and the mortals they would chose would come new life and a new age of Gods. It was indeed time.

"They have tried to eradicate half of my Slayers. Something will have to be done with these Watchers."

Hades sneering the words told Strife these Watchers were ignorant blind fools. Fun time.

"Hades, can we do this?" Hera asked. Hades looked at her and nodded.

"Yes," he said. "We can and will do this. And they will die for what they have done. This outrage will not go unpunished."

"Hades?" Hecate's voice spoke quietly. "We need to do this now. They are going after the one who called you."

Hades growled in fury and grabbed his scepter. He had to do this. He had to restore Olympus.
"I, Hades, King of the gods, do so declare the twilight over. Return home, my children. Return to the Mountain."

Bright flashes of light announced the gods going to see if anyone else had survived the Twilight. Hades did so hope, he would need all the help he could get. Including those mortals in the place called LA. Those who guarded his Slayer. Hades sat on the throne in Asphodel a moment longer before he turned and flashed to Olympus himself. He would need the hall of time itself to see all that had been done to his chosen warriors. There would be Tartarus to pay if it was as bad as he thought it was.

XXX

Angel sat gently brushing Wesley's hair for him as he rested back against Angel. In the last two days, Wesley had shown a strong improvement. He laid against Angel now comfortable in his place in Angel's life. When he'd woken clear headed the first time yesterday, Angel had explained the marking and the mate claim.

Wesley understood Angel had to have truly wanted him to give that mark so he was more than happy to accept it. And he was safe. Angel wouldn't let anything else happen to him. He'd been shocked when he was told about his true parentage as well. He could read in Giles' eyes though, that he was loved. It would take some getting used to but he would deal.

"Wes?" Angel said as he finished brushing the soft, silky dark hair. "You hungry? Ready to travel? Want me kill Cordelia?"

"Yes, yes and yes," Wesley replied as he looked up at Angel. He was hungry, he did want to leave LA and he wanted Angel to kill Cordy. He smiled at the grin he got back and then yawned. He was also still tired. He looked up as the door to his apartment was kicked in. Angel and Giles had been expecting it since Angel explained what Dru saw in Wes to him, they'd been waiting for this attack.

Angel grinned and stood in a defensive position. He let the merge between himself and Angelus complete and then he grabbed the first one through the door. His shifted to his game face and bit, draining the man where he stood.

Giles smiled coldly as he pointed a weapon at the Watcher unit that had come for Wesley. They all got into the room and the door was suddenly slammed shut. Quentin Travers spun and found himself facing William the Bloody and Drucilla the insane.

"Naughty man," Dru said to him. "Trying to take Daddy's Mate. Daddy will eat you all up."

"Yes, indeed he will," Angel, said coldly. Giles moved up to his side and they stared at the group of people in Wes' apartment.

"You weren't invited in," Giles said. Not into my son's home. Please get out while you can still walk."

"Wesley belongs to the council Rupert, everyone knows…URK!"

"My Mate does not belong to you bastards, Angel snarled sounding more Angelus by the second. "Get. Out."

"He has to die!" Travers screamed. If he fulfills the Prophecy…"

"Too late for that to stop it Mortal. He's already woken us." A cold voice interrupted him mid-rave. "And you are so dead. You took my Uncle Hades' Chosen and destroyed half of them and made the other half spoiled little bitches. How Dare You?"

Travers found himself looking in shock at the big man in leather who had just appeared. He lifted Travers by the hair and threw him through the door.

"You do NOT touch the Slayer. You serve the Slayers, not the other way around you piece of Excrement!" The big man grinned at the people in the room as he snapped his fingers at the extraction team and they all vanished. He then grabbed Travers by the neck and looked at Giles.

"Your father didn't know Wesley was your son Rupert. As for the other…He was raised to be how he was."

"Who are you?" Giles called after him. The man turned before he flashed out with himself and Travers.

"My name is Ares. Call me if you need me. My Uncle will be looking in on those of his chosen. Including Mr. Rayne and you Mr. Giles. Until later."

Ares flashed out dragging Travers with him. The older looking man had a look of abject terror on his face as if he knew what was coming. Giles couldn't help think it was Poetic Justice. He turned back to Wesley who looked on the verge of sleep and tucked him in.

"G'night my little beloved."