More charity fic

[cornerofmadness]

Finally I have more of the story I'm doing for southernbangel (sorry it took so long) and her generous contribution to charity this year.

In chapter one Angel says goodbye to Connor as his son heads for Scotland for a summer semester aboard, and to finish healing his wounds from the big battle. So here's chapter two of Soul Desire. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Two

Dawn waited outside of the teahouse for Buffy, partly irritated, partly nervous. Buffy was late; no big surprise there. The nervous part came in because it was after dark in a sort of dangerous city that she barely knew. It was like hanging out in LA or something. There could be more mundane types of evil, like muggers and rapists for all Dawn knew. She was less prepared to handle them than she was a vampire.

The sisters had left Rome with Andrew still in tow, after Buffy had finished worming her way into the Immortal’s confidences so she could slay him. They joined Giles back in London only to find him grating under the administrative role of Head of Council. With Dawn and Andrew’s help in setting him up with text messaging and the Internet support, he delegated some authority and joined them back out in the field.

Their first mission was in Scotland so Buffy could handle an infestation of a type of Fuath called a Peallaidh in Perthshire. To the Peallaidhs, all she could say was ewww, ugly covered in shaggy blond hair with nose-less faces and long spiky tails. After slaying the Peallaidhs, Buffy had wanted a fresh start to wash off the slime of the Immortal and opted to check out reports of a pack of cu siths menacing the cosmopolitan, if industrial city, of Glasgow. Giles thought it was a thin lead at best but he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to go back to London. In fact, he relished relaxing a bit and giving Dawn lessons in Gaelic and several other languages he knew.

Dawn loved spending time with Giles and was having a good time in Glasgow. She tried to get as much as she could out of her time with Buffy because in August she was heading to college at Stanford. It was decided that in order to save funds, they’d take advantage of the deal California offered its native children. Giles finagled it so it appeared she had been living with a witch friend of his so not to interfere with her native status. Dawn had wanted to go to UCLA but given the unrest in L.A., Buffy had vetoed it. Palo Alto was considered a safe distance away.

As if to prove the disarrayed state of L.A., Angel had called Giles briefly to tell him that he and Spike had survived and Giles had tried to apologize for his grievous error in judgment in not sending help right away, not until some of the Slayers had prophetic dreams. Dawn knew Giles blamed a lot of the deaths on himself. Dawn was really glad neither vampire had been killed. In spite of what they had done to her sister over the years, she had a fondness for them both.

“If you’re heading back to campus and don’t want to walk by yourself, I could walk you to your dorm.”

Dawn startled at the sound of a male voice. Stupid! Dropping your guard at night. Dawn turned and studied him for a moment. He was just a hair shorter than her and thin enough to be mistake for a lamppost. He didn’t look threatening. There was something almost sexy about his sleepy blue eyes. She noted he was actually breathing. Vampires usually forgot to fake that. Still, if he wanted to not scare girls at night, he should probably lose the shirt that said Some days it doesn’t pay to chew through the restraints . The heavy wood cane he had in one hand surprised her.

“I’m waiting for someone,” she said, hoping he was the easily discouraged type. She didn’t want to deal with some horny American tourist.

“I’m hoping it’s not them.” The young man nodded to the six young men heading their way, wearing out of season football fan garb. Large and beefy, they would have been scary at night even without their game faces on.

“Oh crap,” Dawn muttered, digging in her purse for a stake as she wondered if she even had the strength to shove it through a chest that thick.

She couldn’t believe her eyes as the teen stalked right over to the ugly crew, limping a little, and said, “You picked the wrong couple to prey on.”

Did he have a death wish? Did he assume she would have his back? The vampires just blinked at the little guy for a moment, not used to humans who didn’t run screaming at the sight of them and less used to humans addressing them menacingly.

One of them with a reddish crew cut laughed. “Pipsqueak, we’re going to do your girl then kill her. Hell we’ll probably even do you. You look like you’d make a good bitch.” Or at least that’s what Dawn thought he said. It was hard to understand the Scottish accent sometimes.

“Why do I think you were just as disgusting when you were alive?” the teen asked, then, using the cane as a prop, kicked the vampire so hard between his legs something ruptured or so Dawn figured from the howling and the blossom of blood on his pants. She didn’t know one man could do that to another without at least flinching a little.

The teen left that one lying there as the others converged on him. She was used to watching Buffy fight and even her sister didn’t quite match his intensity. He was a little more like Faith, so obviously enjoying himself, in spite of one leg obviously hurting him. One of the vampires rushed Dawn and she surprised the creature by not running and screaming. It hurt a little as he yanked her to him but Dawn used his strength against him, driving the stake home. She turned away from the dust and saw the young man killing one vampire as another came up behind him.

“Look out!” she yelled.

He barely looked over his shoulder when dust enveloped him. Dawn saw her sister behind him. Buffy flipped her hair back, giving the young man a curious look.

“Care to tell me how you move like that?” Buffy asked. “It’s not something you see every day.” She gave him a look that suggested maybe he really was a girl and they had found a new Slayer.

“I could say the same about two women wandering the streets at night with stakes in their pockets,” he retorted, shaking dust from his hair. “Are you Slayers?”

Dawn didn’t know what to say and obviously her sister didn’t either. Normal people didn’t know about Slayers. Buffy’s eyes narrowed.

“You know about Slayers?” Dawn blurted out and Buffy’s hot look turned on her.

Buffy glanced back at the young man. “I think we need to talk. Why don’t you follow us?”

He hesitated, unease evident in his eyes. “I don’t even know you.”

“I’m Buffy and she’s my sister, Dawn.” Buffy’s tone didn’t seem friendly but the young man lost his nervous look.

“Oh, the Summers. My dad’s told me about you,” the young man said brightly and infuriatingly, he didn’t elaborate. “I’m Connor.”

“Your dad knows us? Who’s your father?” Buffy asked, looking just as uneasy as Connor had a moment before.

Connor’s eyes took in the surrounding area and the gaggle of young girls who headed their way blissfully unaware they had missed a pack of vampires by mere moments then he frowned. “I think that ought to wait for a private place, along with the rest of the conversation about what you and I are.”

Dawn wasn’t surprised when her sister agreed. Slayers didn’t usually fear random young men and probably felt safe enough bringing them home. Dawn wondered if that was an oversight. Slayers weren’t bullet proof after all and what if Connor was some kind of freak? Ever since the Immortal, Dawn felt her faith in her sister’s judgment just a little shaken, even if she knew now why Buffy had been acting kinda sleazy.

No one said much as Buffy led the way to their rental home. Dawn felt a little nervous with how almost predatory Connor seemed as his eyes swept over the small house they shared with Giles and Andrew. Dawn was glad Andrew was somewhere that wasn’t here tonight. He made her lonely for Xander who was geeky without being as annoying as Andrew.

There wasn’t room for a library, not with four people needing bedrooms in the house so the living room had been divided into a TV watching area and a work area with books and a desk. Giles was making use of the latter. Giles raised an eyebrow at them as he looked up from his books long enough to notice Connor. His eyes flicked to Buffy, looking for answers.

“Giles, this is Connor,” Buffy said, her voice tight. “He fights like a Slayer, and told us his father told him about us.”

Giles put the book aside and plucked off his glasses. Dawn was surprised by his intensely curious expression. “Really? Is your father a Watcher?”

“Actually it was my adoptive father, Daniel Holtz, who first told me about Slayers,” Connor said, flopping on the couch. “It didn’t mean much to me until I met Faith. I’ve never met anyone that was so close a match for my fighting style. That was so cool.” He smiled and Dawn suspected when he said ‘cool’ he meant ‘hot.’ “Later, Dad, the real one, told me about you, Buffy.”

“Okay that still doesn’t tell us how you move like you do or who your dad is and Faith’s never mentioned anyone like you,” Buffy said, perching on the arm of the lounge chair. She looked ready to pounce, if need be.

“I know but I’m trying to figure out how to tell you without sounding crazy,” Connor said, his brow wrinkling.

“We have high crazy tolerances,” Dawn assured him.

Connor shrugged. “Okay. I’m the son of two vampires, one of them being Angel. That’s how I move like I do and that’s how I know your names, Dawn and Buffy.”

“There’s crazy and then there’s ludicrous,” Buffy said, her eyes hard as stone. Dawn knew Connor had just crossed a very dangerous line. “That isn’t even funny. Where did you hear Angel’s name?”

“Every day growing up in Quor-Toth,” Connor said, still looking nonchalant as if he didn’t get there was a pissed off Slayer at 6 o’clock.

“That’s another impossibility,” Giles said. “Quor-Toth is the darkest of the dark realms. It has no entrances or exits, which makes it far worse than the Hellmouth or Glorificus’ realm.”

Dawn knew that last bit was really for her and her sister’s sakes as much as Connor’s. “My sister doesn’t have a big sense of humor where Angel is concerned,” she said in warning.

“Yeah, I can see that. You invited me here to talk. I’m telling you the truth but to be honest, I didn’t expect that you’d believe me,” Connor said, not exactly worried but looking uncomfortable.

“You’ll find my sense of humor isn’t very good these days period, Angel-centric or not,” Buffy growled.

Connor nodded. “May I borrow the phone? I’ll pay the charges.” Connor didn’t really wait for an answer. He got up, crossed over to the desk and took the phone in front of Giles. He punched in the long string of numbers for an international call. “Hey, Dad, it’s me...yes, I know what time it is. I’m with some friends of yours. They don’t believe me when I say I’m your kid, like I’d make up anything so gross....don’t get huffy, Dad. You’re a vampire. It’s gross.”

“Do you honestly think that pretending to talk to Angel will make us believe you?” Buffy growled, snatching the phone away from him. “Whoever this is, you can stop pretending now. You might not know it but this is a very cruel jo...Angel?” Buffy nearly dropped the phone and Dawn understood the feeling. She hadn’t considered Connor was telling the truth but he at the very least knew Angel. It was stunning. Buffy’s eyes were huge when they turned to Connor. “You really called Angel.”

“Don’t hang up on him. I need to talk to him when you’re done,” Connor said, going back over to the couch.

Dawn sat with Connor, looking at him as if she had never seen a boy before. “Angel’s really your dad?”

“He really is.” He didn’t seem thrilled by it.

“How is that possible?” Giles asked as Buffy demanded to know the same thing from Angel. Giles got out from behind the desk to allow her some room to talk.

“I’ve always assumed the ordinary way but I don’t want details.” Connor made a face.

“But sex with vampires doesn’t do anything,” Dawn protested, blushing a bit.

“Angel would no doubt argue that,” Connor replied, an Angelus-like smirk crossing his features.

Dawn glared at him. “That isn’t what I mean.”

“I know.” He smirked again. Okay so maybe he was Angel’s kid, she conceded mentally. “I think there were prophecies involved.”

“That might explain a few things,” Giles said, squinting at Connor as if to take in every nuance of this rare child.

“So what exactly are you if this is true?” Dawn hoped that didn’t sound as rude as she feared it did.

Connor shrugged. “Not a clue. Something sort of demonic...in a good way, if you know what I mean.” He glanced over at the pale-faced Buffy. “Probably not the best thing to admit to in front of a bunch of Slayers.”

“Just one Slayer. I’m sort of normal,” Dawn said, knowing that was a joke.

Buffy dropped the portable phone in Connor’s lap and collapsed in the lounge chair.

Connor picked it up. “Dad? Yeah, she doesn’t look so good...I’m fine...yes, Dad, I’m behaving myself. I’m doing everything you did when you were my age...how is it my fault that’s not reassuring? I’m to blame you were a perv? Yes, Dad, I’m going to class. That’s why I’m here....archeoastronomy with ley lines tossed in, remember?”

“Archeoastronomy?” Giles asked, his blue eyes brightening. “Ley lines? You’re studying those, too?”

“Yeah. Looks like my choice of study has impressed Giles...my leg’s fine, Dad, just twinges a little. It’s healing fine,” Connor said into the phone then handed it to Giles. “Dad wants to talk to you.”

Giles’ eyebrows arched. “Oh, really?” He took the phone. “Yes, Angel?...somehow I don’t think that’ll work. Did anything that happened in Sunnydale give you the impression that teenagers listen to me?”

“Oh, cut me a break, Dad!” Connor groaned, his cheeks pink. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

Dawn tapped his arm. “I know how you feel. Buffy is always telling people to watch out for me like I’m twelve. What happened to your leg?”

“That demon attack in L.A.,” Connor replied. “It’s almost better.”

“Oh.”

“I might be able to do that,” Giles was saying. “His field of study is fascinating. Connor, here.” Giles surrendered the phone.

“Dad, I can take care of myself. Holtz started leaving me alone in hell when I was like five years old. I’m pretty sure I can handle Glasgow,” Connor said disdainfully, rolling his eyes. “I’m hanging up now, Dad...well, I didn’t go advertising I’m the Destroyer. I saw a football gang of vampires menacing a beautiful young woman and I went to save her, only she really didn’t need much saving...I mean it, Dad, I’ve gotta go. There’s a bunch of shocked people just staring at me and we’re running up Buffy’s phone bill...okay, I’ll email you later. Bye.” Connor hung up. “Is Angel always such a pain in the ass?”

“You really think I’m beautiful?” Dawn blurted out, ignoring Connor’s loaded question.

“Dawn!” Buffy snapped. Connor just nodded as if not daring to verbally address Dawn’s question lest he rouse the Slayer more. Buffy got up and came over to Connor, touching his hand. “I can’t believe you’re real.”

“I’m real and I’m really the son of Angel and Darla.”

“He said something about Wolfram and Hart bringing her back to life,” Buffy said, her voice as flat as soda left open in the fridge for a week. It worried Dawn.

“This is so fascinating. I’d like to ask you questions,” Giles broke off, a flustered look settling over his features. “Sorry, I forget not everyone wants to be studied.”

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind so much,” Connor said. “The only other person curious as to what I am tried to dissect me. So long as you don’t want to try that, we’ll be fine.”

“No dissecting,” Giles promised, a hint of a smile on his face.

“You never tried to study me,” Dawn said, surprised at how disappointed she was at that. All of the sudden it felt like the good old days where she was just Buffy’s bratty sister and nothing more. “I’m mystical, too.”

Giles took off his glasses, cleaning them while Buffy shot her sister a ‘shut up’ look. “I suppose we’ve always considered you entirely human unless in key form.”

Connor studied Dawn curiously, obviously wanting to know more. “That’s what Angel’s friends thought about me, too. They were wrong. Dawn can share my study time unless, of course, there are things that require nudity.” Connor glanced at Dawn, studying her intently. “On second thought, she can join in at all times.”

Buffy slapped him on the back of the head with the well practiced hand often used to bring Xander to bear over the years. “Keep the hormones in check around my sister or I’ll do it for you,” she warned.

Connor’s eyes widened. “I think we’re back to dissecting me, Mr. Giles.”

“Buffy has the skills and strength to do it,” Giles said with a little smile.

“And she’s insano-girl when it comes to me, again like I’m still twelve.” Dawn eyed Buffy sourly.

“You’re not going anywhere naked, Dawn,” Buffy said wearily. “Connor, I...I don’t even know what to ask you. I can barely think.”

“Well, I can always come back another day when you’re less shocked. I’ll be around for a few weeks,” he offered. “I’m betting Mr. Giles will have a list of questions as long as I am tall.”

“He knows you already, Giles.” Dawn grinned.

“Bring your text books. I’d be interested in your course work,” Giles said, obviously excited at the proposition.

“Sure,” Connor looked over at Buffy. “I think maybe I ought to go now. I’ve done enough damage.”

“Yes, I think you should,” she replied, not looking at him.

“Uh, okay,” he said uncertainly as if he hadn’t really thought things were that bad. “Let me give you my address and phone number and get yours. Better give you my email address, too.”

“You have email? Sorry, who doesn’t, right?” Dawn shrugged sheepishly. “It’s just that Angel was never that good with technology so I just assumed...”

“No big. Yeah I have email and it’s not even ‘DieAngeldie’ any more,” Connor smirked again. “And Angel even has email himself. He’s discovered emoticons. It’s truly disturbing.”

“Yeah, that is.” Dawn traded the information with him and watched him go. “That was too wild.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Buffy got to her feet. “I’m going out on patrol.” She left in a cold, quiet fury.

“We probably shouldn’t have let her go,” Dawn fretted, her eyes on the front door.

“I doubt we could have stopped her,” Giles replied, regret in his eyes.

Dawn shrugged, knowing he was right and hating it. “She told me once Angel listed not being able to have kids as one of the reasons he wasn’t good for her. I can’t imagine how hard this is on her.”

“Very, I would imagine.” Giles looked at the address Connor left behind. “And now the genie’s out of the bottle. Pretending otherwise won’t do much good. Still...I’ll talk to Connor on days Buffy is out and about as much as I can.”

“Good plan. I’ll be there to help you,” Dawn said, knowing she’d probably be the only thing saving Connor from hours upon hours of testing.