Angel Season 6

Episode 2: Fragile

Santana sighed. "Look, I want to apologize. I've been really unprofessional today. It's just that... it feels like I know you guys! After Fred dies, I finally come into your lives, and it kind of hurts to see that everything we did together... doesn't exist, and will never exist. But if it means saving Fred, then I'll do anything. Also, Angel, in response to your earlier accusation, the vision becomes public knowledge. And as I am from the future, I already know. There, happy? Now what was the question?"

"What vision?" Wesley asked. Both Angel and Santana waved him off.

"It's not as important as saving Fred," Santana told him, and Wesley looked satisfied with her answer.

"What are the consequences of leaving Fred alive?" Gunn asked.

"Consequences?" Fred remanded.

"You know what I mean. It's gotta change something."

"Well, you guys actually lose a pretty big player," Santana told him before he could dig a deeper hole.

Charles looked confused. "I said if we saved her life... how would we lose a player?"

"The thing that takes over her body, Illyria, is very powerful. She has all your basic super strength, she's pretty wise, and even though you guys have to worry about her exploding, she can alter time a bit."

"Sorry, exploding?" Gunn repeated.

"All of Illyria's power is too much for Fred's body to handle. So she's basically a nuke. But don't worry, you guys are able to transport her power to a different dimension, so we're good."

"So... Fred is still... there? As Illyria?" Wesley asked. Fred looked at him in shock.

Santana shook her head. "Wes, you have to understand, this thing isn't Fred. It wears Fred's body, but Fred is gone. Her soul is destroyed. This thing sort of looks like her, but that's as far as the resemblance goes."

"But... if we got an apocalypse coming up... then we might be better of with this Illyria fellow. I mean, Fred's great, but we could use some extra power on our side," Spike pointed out, between licks of his lollipop.

"Are you serious?" Fred demanded, voice shaky. "Guys, I can hold my own! I'm helpful-"

"Yeah, we're not trading Fred's life for some extra manpower," Angel told Spike.

"However," Charles started, fingers pressed to his mouth. "We could trade somebody else's..."

Ooh, that was a good idea. Santana grinned. "Well, Knox is the expert in all of that, so you'd have to ask him. But I think I also have to tell you that one of the reasons it was so easy to control Illyria was because she had flashes of Fred's thoughts and feelings and memories. I think that might have been why it was so easy for Wesley to hold some control over her, because Fred cared about Wesley. If it's anybody else, we might not have the same advantage."

"Someone who cares about our wellbeing's but is expendable," Wesley thought aloud.

"We could do Spike," Angel offered.

Spike wrenched the lollipop out of his mouth. "Hey! Who says I care about any of you?"

"I don't know how well it would work on a vampire," Santana admitted. "Illyria needs to inhabit a dead body. But you guys are already... sort of doing that."

Fred was looking between all of them, horrified. "You guys can't be serious. I wouldn't wish what happens to me on anyone!" She cried. "Their organs boiled, their soul destroyed... No, no way!"

"Fred, we don't know anything yet. Nothings definitive. We still have to get the information out of Knox," Wesley assured her, taking her hand in his.

"Knox," Santana whispered. "Knox cares about you."

Wesley and Fred looked at her, both slightly uncomfortable.

"But Knox doesn't care about her. He tries to kill her!" Spike pointed out, looking disgusted with the thinking abilities of his coworkers.

Santana was thinking now. "Well, he claims he does it out of love. He thinks Fred is the only person great enough to house a being like Illyria. You guys have to remember, he worships this thing. It's hard to understand, but he does love both Fred and Illyria."

"Even better reason to kill him," Wesley said, rising from his seat. Gunn put a hand on his chest.

"We need Knox if we want Illyria," Gunn reminded him. Wesley sunk back down.

"I don't want this Illyria!" Fred argued, feeing unheard. "Angel, how can you even consider killing somebody just to have more... power at your disposal?"

Angel was rubbing his chin. "It's a gray area," he mumbled. "Any employee at Wolfram and Hart is expendable. Guys, you gotta remember, they're evil."

"But Knox?" Fred asked, her eyes pleading.

"He's trying to kill you, Win," Santana reminded her gently. Fred rubbed her temples. Santana took pity. "But maybe you're right. We don't really need Illyria unless the same apocalypse I'm trying to stop happens all over again. So it might just be best to leave it alone."

"You might have stopped this one, but there's always another," Angel told her. "I'm fact, I think we should treat it like it's definitely coming. Then, we might even have a head start in taming Illyria."

"All right. All in favor of killing Knox and summoning Illyria, say aye," Spike asked, raising his own hand.

"That's not how this works," Angel told him. "Wesley, you check your books for anything we know about Illyria. Gunn and Lorne, you see what you can get out of Knox. Spike, you're coming with me to find Drogyn, for whatever reason. Fred... stay with Wesley."

"I'm the head of my own department, Angel," Fred told him bitterly. "I have my own work to do. Stop treating me like I'm fragile."

Santana stood up. "Angel, do you mind if I stay with her? Because of all the changes happening now, I'm not sure how it's going to affect Illyria's arrival. Fred, it might be best for you to be with someone for now. Last time, it got you when you were alone. It's like one of those mermaids, you know, a siren."

"No, not you," Angel told Santana. "If Fred needs to be watched, she and Wesley can stick together. I don't want you alone with her."

"Well, I don't want to third wheel," Santana argued.

"I don't care what you do. Just stay out of the way," Angel told her, his face too close to hers. She scowled.

"Fine."

"Alright, everybody good with their assignments?" Angel asked the group. People nodded solemnly. "Good. Spike, let's go."

"Wait, can she come along?" Spike asked, hopping out of his chair. "I don't want to go with you."

"You don't have a choice, pal."

"Yes I do. I can chose not to go unless Santana here comes with us. I trust her more than you, anyways."

Angel looked pissed. "Fine. I'm going by myself." He stormed out of the conference room.

Santana nudged Spike. "You should probably go with him. He has a habit of making stupid decisions when he's alone."

Spike scoffed. "Like I have any say in that."

Santana nudged him again. "Come on, white night! We all know you're the real hero here. Do it for Fred."

Spike glanced down at her. "You know, I like you. I'll go. But only for Fred, and to piss him off." He patted her shoulder then jogged out of the room. Santana watched him go.

"Well, we better get to interrogating," Gunn said with a sigh. He and Lorne exited.

"You said Eve knows where to find information on Illyria?" Wesley asked, double checking. Santana nodded.

Wesley nodded at Fred. "All right. Time to find our liaison."

Fred nodded, and the last pair headed off to get work done.

Santana was left alone. She sighed. "Perfect."