So it was that Wesley felt like an interloper as he watched from the door behind her. As the last few rays of light shot over the horizon, he leaned against the door post, appreciating the beauty of the skyscape in front of him.
"Come outside, Wesley." He started. She didn't turn. "The view is better from the edge."
He moved forward to join her and they watched in silence as the sun bid farewell to another day. When it was gone, Hannah drew a deep breath, and turned to face him.
"What is it Wes?" she asked.
"The drug," he said hesitantly. "It's addictive."
"I know," she said quietly. "I can feel them eating it up and enjoying every bite."
"The longer you take it, the harder it will be to stop. Not only will you have withdrawal, you'll have several thousand people inside you withdrawing at the same time."
"I can't stop, Wesley. I can't do it. Not again."
"We'll keep working on it," Wesley said. He hesitated again. "When we have time."
"I understand," She nodded. "You can't spend all your time helping one person."
"We'll find a way," Wesley said. "And until we do. . ."
He held out a needle. Hannah looked at it, then rolled up her sleeve and held her arm out to him.
"Would you, please?" There was a vulnerability in her voice that he hadn't heard before. "I can't."
He took her arm, and as gently as he could, injected her. She shuddered, and looked away from him. When she looked back, he saw the same Hannah that the rest of the world saw most of the time.
"Let's go down," she said matter-of-factly. "It's getting chilly up here."
{A needle full of a silverish liquid pierces an arm, and then empties into it.}
Wesley came back into the lobby, only to find Lorne and Angel lifting Cordelia off the floor. Fred came in from the office with a glass of water and some pain killers, and held Cordelia up so the seer could take them.
"Nest of Othac demons in an abandoned garage about five blocks from here," Angel said to Wesley, throwing him an sword and crossbow. "You and I will go."
Gunn started to protest, but Angel held up a hand. "Executive decision. Just in case something goes down while we're gone. Put Cordy to bed here."
Gunn nodded and moved to help Fred get Cordelia to her feet.
"We may as well walk, Angel," Wesley suggested. "It's not far and we might be able to do some reconnaissance of their territory before we get there that we couldn't do in the car."
Angel nodded, and the two headed out into the Los Angeles night.
{Hotel hallway, Lorne outside of Hannah's room.}
Lorne had stayed in the lobby for a few minutes, until the sounds of Fred, Gunn and Cordelia had faded out down the hallway. He stood slowly, trying to process his thoughts into some semblance of order. He walked slowly to the stairs.
He'd kissed her. And he'd liked it. And he wanted to do it again. And he had no idea what to do next. He found himself outside her door, unable even to knock.
"Who will buy my sweet red roses,
Who bloom for a penny?"
He smiled. She had liked it too. He opened the door and stepped into her room. He knew what she wanted, and the knowledge gave him the confidence to face her.
He took her in his arms and kissed her; felt her melt against him. He deepened the kiss, pouring into it all the passion he had and received the same back from her. She broke the kiss to breathe, gasping as his mouth trailed down her neck.
"I thought I was going to lose you," he said between kisses.
"You won't." It was an empty reassurance, and she knew it. "You won't."
Hannah forced those thoughts out of her head as Lorne pushed her back on to the bed. He followed her, his hands moving over her, and thinking at all stopped being an issue.
{Cordelia's room.}
Fred finished setting the alarm to the time Cordelia wanted, bid the other woman goodnight, and joined Gunn in the hallway. She could tell just by looking at him that they were about to have a conversation she wouldn't like. He followed her back to her room, and entered without asking for or receiving an invitation. She stepped into the bathroom to change, hoping he would take the hint, but he was still there when she came out and crawled into her bed.
"What is it Gunn?" she asked, somewhat sharply.
"It's Wesley," Gunn admitted. "I'm worried about some of the stuff he's done lately."
"What? Coming up with a drug to save a girl from insanity?" Fred demanded. Her eyes narrowed. "Or is it just that such activities require him to spend a lot of time with me?"
"It's not just that," Gunn insisted. He sat down on the bed, and sat back against the headboard. "He risked Hannah's life tonight. When she was unconscious. And that's not even taking into account what might have happened in Angelus. . ."
"But he didn't. Wesley does what needs to be done. He always does. That doesn't mean he doesn't care."
"I've seen him order people to their deaths, Fred," Gunn shuddered at the memory. "I don't want to see what will happen if you, if we break his heart."
She gaped at him, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Get out," she said flatly. She rolled over, refusing even to look at him. "Get out of my room."
"Fine." He snapped and sat up.
{The Hyperion from the outside, traffic goes past at normal speed.}
A purple orb appeared out of nowhere and hovered above the old hotel. It hung motionless for a few moments, and then it exploded, dousing the hotel in a purplish haze.
{Fred's room}
Gunn never got farther than sitting up before he collapsed back against the headboard, fast asleep. Beside him, under the covers and still facing the wall, Fred slept too.
{Cordelia's room}
Her headache was gone already. She'd have to remember these pain-killers for the next time TPTB paid a visit. She really hated these beds, but somehow, she was falling asleep already. She would definitely remember these pills.
{Hannah's room}
Hannah slept quietly, her head nestled into his chest. Lorne lightly ran his fingers through her hair. He yawned hugely, and his red rimmed eyes slowly closed.
{Gunn flops back against the headboard. Angel and Wesley take on a horde of demons. Cordelia collapses from a vision. Fred walks away from Gunn. Lorne and Hannah sleep.}
* * * * *
A.N. "Who Will Buy?" is still from Oliver.