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Heal All Wounds

By Rach

SUMMARY: They say time heals all wounds, but sometimes, time alone just isn't enough.
DISCLAIMER: Joss owns everything, and while his big white board may say 'kill Wesley', we all know he wouldn't dare … he's just a big fluffy puppy underneath it all!
DISTRIBUTION: A Whole New World, anywhere else that has my stuff … otherwise, just ask!
DEDICATION: To Lara, for the fun chat on Sunday night that left us the only ones in the room … hope you enjoyed those Kettle Chips! ;)
RATING: R
FEEDBACK: Please!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Set post-Orpheus, but Cordy's pregnancy revelation didn't happen. I needed a gap, damnit, too much is going on for relaxation!

****

Wes flicked the cap from his beer and collapsed onto the couch. Propping his feet on the coffee table, he gulped it down and slammed the bottle down on the table. Sighing, he closed his eyes and relaxed into the couch. Everything had been so up in the air that he hadn't had time to sleep for days. Angelus, Faith, Willow … Lilah … Angel had sent him home with instructions not to come back until either he'd slept for a day straight, or he got a phone call telling him to do otherwise. He'd protested, of course, but Angel was insistent and he didn't have the energy to argue.

He'd almost nodded off when he noticed a soft knocking at the door. He was surprised he heard it. Yawning, he ran his hand through his hair and pulled the door open.

"Hi," Fred smiled, a little nervously.

"Fred," he blinked, and stood back from the door to let her in. "Is something wrong? Do you need me back at the hotel?"

She shook her head. "No, everything's fine. Quiet, for a change. It's just a waiting game right now, I guess." She looked down, playing with her fingers. She paused a little between each sentence, making small talk. "I just wanted to come over here. Talk to you."

Closing the door, Wesley smiled. "Then please, sit down. Can I get you a beer?"

"That would be real nice," Fred nodded. As he pulled a couple out of the fridge, he handed one to her and sat down next to her. She sat quietly for a minute or two, before turning to face him.

"Wes … everything that went on between you and Lilah, it's none of my business, I know that. But I can see that you loved her and I just wanted you to know that I'm here if you want to talk."

Wes was quiet. He'd grown so used to keeping things between him and Lilah away from everyone that now here she was, offering the chance for him to talk and he couldn't think of anything to say. He stared at his beer. "I loved her. You're right. I spent so long telling myself that she was nothing more than a good fuck, something to take away the pain of being abandoned by you all."

Fred grimaced, remembering the conclusions they'd all jumped to about what happened with Connor. "I know I deserved it; I don't hold a grudge. I was stupid, I shouldn't have done it … I know all this now. But at the time, Lilah was there and I was depressed, and before I knew it…" he trailed off. "There was definitely love. Not that I ever admitted it to her."

"And now she's gone?" Fred prompted, quietly. "I didn't react in the best of ways when I found out, but I know how much it hurt you. I could see it in your eyes when you and Charles told us. How're you holding up?"

"I'm still here, aren't I?" Wes smiled, sadly, and gripped Fred's hand in his own. "It means a lot to me that you came."

She grinned, and squeezed his hand back. "Well, you mean a lot to me." Suddenly she winced, and a hiss escaped her lips.

"Fred?" Wes turned to her, concerned. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I just have a cut on my back. It's been there a while, it's not so bad now."

Wes set his beer down on the coffee table and placed his hands on Fred's shoulders, twisting her slightly. "It's obviously still causing you pain. Let me take a look."

She nodded, and unbuttoned her shirt far enough that he could slip it down over her shoulders. The gash on her back was healing, but still looked nasty.

"So, doctor," she laughed. "Will I live?"

Wes smiled, and stood up. "I think you'll survive. I want to put a dressing on it, though." Heading into the kitchen, he reached for the first aid kit. "You should have had it looked at right away."

"I didn't want to worry anyone."

Settling back down behind Fred, Wes poured some antiseptic wash onto a cotton pad. "This might sting a little," he warned, before wiping the pad across the damaged skin.

Fred hissed again. "You're not kidding," she whispered. "Would it be easier if I took this off?" She glanced round at Wes, who nodded slightly.

"Perhaps."

As Fred unbuttoned her shirt, Wes looked at the floor, the ceiling, the walls … anywhere but at Fred. She threw the shirt onto the floor, and Wes was forced to continue working on her back, trying to ignore the overwhelming urge to kiss her senseless.

While he worked on cleaning the wound, Fred closed her eyes. The stinging on her back had calmed down to a dull ache and she concentrated on Wesley's fingers, moving across her skin with confidence. Her mind wandered, thinking about the tingles that it would give her if those hands were on other parts of her body. Her breathing became shallow as Wesley moved in closer behind her, and after a while she noticed that he'd stopped cleaning.

The cotton pad lying discarded on the floor, Wesley gently kissed Fred's neck, making her shiver. His hands slipped down her back and settled around her waist, continuing to kiss her.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed into Wesley's arms as he continued to kiss her, until he paused. Turning around, she smiled and leant in towards him, gently kissing him on the lips. As she pulled away, she saw a look in his eyes that she'd never seen before, and what followed became a blur to her. She yanked his T-shirt over his head, and he tangled a hand in her hair, continuing the kiss. She stood up, pulling him with her, and wriggled out of her jeans without pulling away from him.

His arms reached behind her and unhooked her bra, at the same time as she unbuttoned his trousers. Slipping an arm under her knees, he lifted her up and carried her towards his bedroom, stopping only to push down the door handle with his elbow.

He dropped her onto his bed, and kicked off his boxers, kneeling above her, staring at her with awe. Fred smiled and hooked an arm around his neck, pulling him back down towards her. As he teased her with kisses, Fred arched her back up and into him, begging for more.

****

Fred woke up, and immediately sensed the body lying next to her. It took a split second for what had happened to come rushing back to her, and she smiled to herself, turning her head to look at Wesley.

He looked peaceful and happy for the first time in months, and Fred smiled again. Knitting her fingers with his, she turned onto her side and pulled their hands close to her chest. Snuggling back into Wesley, she closed her eyes and settled back into the covers.

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