You need to find a way...

[cordys_bitch]

I watched Faith leave and fought the urge to follow her. It was weird, the connection we had while we were having sex seemed to disappear the moment we put our clothes on. Except, maybe it didn't, because I swear she looked at me before walking out and I know I watched her until she was out of my line of vision. She had to be a slayer, and maybe I

Comments

[undead_handsome]

Connor walked right up and dropped himself into a chair with that strange blend of awkward and graceful that only someone young and lanky like he could pull off. There was a quick flash of sadness, though, when I realized that all of Connor's coordination and physical ability had been developed and honed through hardship and hunting demons, not from playing Little League or climbing trees.

Did kids still climb trees?

I tried to relax as best as I could, but it was still Connor, still my son sitting in front of me, something I never thought I'd see again. Especially not with the last time we'd been this close having involved a very large knife and Connor's throat.

"Yes, sir. I was hoping maybe you could help me figure out what is wrong with me. A friend of mine suggested that maybe the answers I'm looking for could be found here. That you guys sort of specialize in the abnormal?"

Frowning, I tried to think through the path that must have brought Connor from his happy, normal family life over in some suburb miles from L.A., all the way back here to Wolfram & Hart. Nothing was going even halfway well in the last few days, and the possible dragging of Connor back into this world was the worst, as far as I was concerned.

"Well, uh," I stammered, "we do deal with all sorts of different, um, unusual cases. I'm not sure, though, what a firm like ours can do for--"

"Do you have a wounded animal in here? I swear I smell blood."

My eyes widened. How did Connor pick up that scent? He shouldn't have even gotten the slightest hint of it, not now. Unless... Unless there had been something I'd missed when I'd made my deal with the Senior Partners.

"Sorry. I have this weird thing where my senses are kind of amplified. Oh, I was hit by a van doing like 50 and I survived. Not more than a scratch on me. The doctors couldn't explain it and I'm thinking that maybe I'm not just an average college kid, you know? Can you help me figure out why I'm a freak?"

I sank back into my chair and sighed. So there it was. I'd secured a normal house, a normal, loving family and a history that was full of affection and support and all the things any teenager grows up with. Apparently, though, I hadn't changed Connor, at least beyond his memories. And his personality, too, if I was any judge of the casual, bright way he spoke and held himself, even having to deliver news like that.

"Well, I don't think it's time to go tossing around a word like 'freak', Connor. You, uh, don't look like any kind of freak to me, y'know? And I'm sure you've heard stories about adrenaline and the weird strength and things it can give to people during crisis times. Maybe that's what happened with you and the van."

Okay, it was a hell of a reach, but I had to try something.

"Maybe if we had a clearer picture of things physically-- um, healthwise, you know... we could figure out what's going on, huh? Just give me a second here."

I picked up the phone and dialed-- well, okay, I used the automated voice menu thing-- to get the Infirmary on the line. Once I'd let them know I was bringing a new client down for a full physical and workup, I turned back to Connor.

"Okay, we've got some great doctors on staff here, so if it's all right with you, we'll see if they can tell us anything specific."

Connor let me lead him down to the Infirmary, both of us quiet the entire trip. The doctor there told me that the exam would probably take some time, and that they'd call me when Connor was finished. One more reassuring pat on Connor's shoulder, and I was shooed out of the exam room.