Wesley Wyndam Pryce (wes_the_watcher) wrote in btvsal, @ 2009-12-15 20:12:00 |
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Who: Bella and Future!Wes
Where: Wesley's Home
When: Dec. 11, 2018
Wesley sat at his home, nursing a drink while he waited for his wife to return home. She was still at it after all these years, working at the hospital at all hours and still working with her group to try and give others a fighting chance on surviving things like vampire attacks and demon clawings. While he might not be an active Watcher anymore (he couldn't be after what happened), he still tried to keep up and help out where he could, even if he wasn't as young as he used to be.
If there was anyone who'd really be able to give Bella insight into Gwen's...well, life, she supposed...it had to be Wesley. Damon might not have been a P.I. anymore, but he still knew how to track down a phone number and address. It wasn't so hard, really. She'd called the Watcher just before driving over, explained who she was, and asked if she they could meet to talk for a while. She didn't say it was about Gwen...though maybe that was understood. Either way, it was only about twenty minutes before she was standing on his doorstep.
Wesley answered the door when she knocked. "You know, it's amazing how much you look just like I remember," he remarked. "Then again, I suppose jumping through time will preserve ones looks like that." He, on the other hand, hadn't stayed the same. His once black hair was now salt and pepper, with a big helping of salt, with dark rings around his eyes that had basically become permanent over the years due to so many sleepless night. His eyes, however, were still a clear and sharp blue. He stepped back so that she could come in.
She remembered Wesley as...well, actually, a startlingly attractive older man in comparison to...most...older men. Especially when they ran the risk of that whole stuffy, British thing. He'd changed, though at least there weren't any visible physical scars to make her wonder. And, all things considered, he was still a rather attractive older man. She just preferred her older men to look...younger. A bit closer to her own age. Somewhat. "It helps." Stepping inside, Bella smiled slightly. "So does a daily moisturizing routine. But I didn't really come here to talk skin care. How are you?"
The 'daily moisturizing' bit made him a smile a little as he shut the door behind him. The years had been kinder to him than what one would have expected, considering his lifestyle. He just felt lucky to be alive and in fairly good health. So many others weren't. "I'm doing alright, I suppose. Not great, but alright." There were specific reasons why he would never be great, though, no matter how happy he was in any moment. "How are you adjusting?"
She nodded with a casual shrug. "Depends on what we're talking about. If I could just...somehow become anonymous again, it'd be great. But I don't think that's going to happen any time soon." She folded her arms over her chest, looking around but keeping most of her attention on him. "I've been catching up with my family. And...old...friends. I guess that's a plus."
"I assume you've seen Gwen then," he said, trying his best to keep his face as neutral as possible. If he had misinterpreted things and she hadn't, well, then he would have to explain a few things before she did. If she already had, well, he'd have to explain what went so horribly wrong.
"Yeah..." Bella said slowly. "Actually, that's kind of why I'm here. I figured you'd have most of the answers she won't spill. So...." She clasped her hands loosely behind her back and eyed him speculatively. "What happened? She mentioned...people around her getting hurt, but.... She's just...." Just what? "Not...Gwen."
He sighed. "She started to push people away after what happened to Andrew," he started. "I think that she couldn't handle the idea of anyone leaving her in any sort of way, anymore. It all started back with her wife." Wesley wouldn't even say the woman's name, anymore. "Well, it started with her father, but it got bad after that. After Andrew, well, she pushed everyone away before they could leave again. Me, included." He looked away. "I feel like I failed her. She won't even talk to me if I go by her place."
"She's not staying in that place. Not much longer." Bella refused to let her. "And she can't go on that way she is...it's...a freaking mess. She'll just waste away. Or get herself killed. I won't let that happen. So she can push all she wants, but she can't stop us all."
He looked back at her. "You'd be amazed. You wouldn't believe what she said to everyone. You know she's lying to make you go away, but, it still hurts." Still, he didn't want her to be there. He didn't want her to die.
"If she knows she's lying and we know she's lying, what's the problem? I mean it, Wesley. I'm getting her out of that dump. You can help me or not, but I've got more than enough room at my place. If she doesn't want that then...I can see if my friend would be willing to let her stay at him place for a while. He just moved out, so the apartment is vacant. She can the place to herself...but at least she'll have electricity. Heat. Running water. It was like...like she WANTED to suffer."
"She does want to suffer for things that aren't her fault," he said to her. "I want to help, Bella. I do. I'll help in any way I can. I'm just giving you the warning. It won't be easy, and, eventually, she'll try to push you away. She thinks she's responsible for Andrew's death."
"What the hell happened to Andrew? And are we talking about the guy that was in love with...Ami? That Andrew? The one everyone made sure I didn't get near for a while? What the hell does he have to do with Gwen?"
"You missed a lot, didn't you?" Well, he forgot. It's hard to keep up with which Bella knows what, after all. "It sounds strange, but they ended up together. They had been friends forever, though, so they were already close. That might have been why Ami even knew him in her version of the future. He was killed out on a patrol with her. He knew magic and, by that time, could more than defend himself, but he was caught by surprise. She kept blaming herself, if she had been fast enough or strong enough, she could have done something. She couldn't understand that, unfortunately, in our 'line of work' that these things just...happen. He was the one she opened up to after her ex-wife. So, it took a lot away from her."
Bella could only sigh. It was a simple enough concept. They were Slayers, but they weren't indestructible and they couldn't save everyone. If things were that easy, well, they'd be out of a job. Still, when things got personal...it was different. But Gwen and Andrew? She'd seen him in passing maybe once and...of all the people she could think of, he would have been the last she'd have expected Gwen to go for. And he'd dated Ami. Maybe she should make it clear that if she died, Damon was still hands off. god, how incestuous could one family get? Oh. Right. Abbi, her half-sister, apparently had a thing for Brayden, her half-brother. Didn't matter that she didn't remember them. It was still a little fucked up. But that wasn't the point right now. "She's gonna have to get over it. I mean, hell. Skylar actually did kill me, and...she's still being a contributing member of society. NOT that I think they're the same. At all. But she's doing this to herself."
"Well, maybe you can get through to her in a way that none of us could," Wesley said simply. At the time, Gwen hadn't WANTED to hear anything reasonable. It had been as simple as that. It was almost as if she had brainwashed herself into her line of thinking. Maybe she would listen to Bella, though. "I'll help, though. In any way possible. She cans stay with me if she doesn't want to stay with you." She had lived mostly with him for years, anyway.
"I'll let her know. Or...you can come with me." She added the last part hopefully - not for her benefit, but maybe for his. Not that Gwen in her current state would really brighten anyone's day, but...she got the feeling it wouldn't matter half as much as just...seeing her.
He nodded. "I can do that." It had been a while since he had even tried to see her. The last time, she wouldn't even open the door. "If she'll let me in."
Bella laughed at that with a roll of her eyes. "Please. Are you for real? Whether she opens the door or not, I'm getting in there. You don't really have to worry about that if you're with me."
"I suppose that is true," he said with a slight smile. "I'm personally a little too old to be doing things like kicking doors in, but I guess you still can do that."
"Yeah. Still eighteen. No osteoporosis yet. We're good." She flashed him a smile and, well, figured that was all she'd really come to talk about. But as she turned, something else occurred to her and she paused. "Hey, Wes? Have you.... I mean...does the name Lindsey McDonald mean anything to you?"
Wesley narrowed his eyes. "Yes. He used to work for Wolfram & Hart a while ago. He quit and mostly went off the radar. I'd be amazed if he were still alive, considering how short of lives ex-Wolfram &Hart employees have. Why do you ask?)
She thought about telling him, but...what good would it really do? Things were confusing enough as it was. She had the feeling he'd only confirm Lindsey's story anyway. "No reason. Just a name I came across. Anyway, I'll call you when I go see Gwen next time, okay? It'll be soon. She wanted me to talk to Patience for her and...I'm sure she'll be wondering how that went."
He nodded. "I'd be surprised if Patience didn't want to come along as well," he said, more as a musing than anything. "Do call when you are ready. I'll be waiting."