Work Text:
Angel
"I'll Carry You"
Written by Mark Moore
Author's note: This story starts at the beginning of Act 3 of "A Hole in the World". If you wanna check out my other Angel one-shot featuring Harmony, it's called "Second Chance". I wrote this story from Friday, June 5, 2026, 10:20 PM, to Saturday, June 6, 2026, 2:28 AM. Feedback is appreciated! Enjoy!
The following story is copyright © 2026 by Mark Moore.
In Wolfram & Hart's science lab, Fred dropped a glass beaker. It fell to the floor and shattered. Fred stumbled, holding on to the lab tables as she walked deeper into the lab.
"Fred, you can't be doing this."
Fred stopped at a lab desk. "Please, Wesley, I am exactly the person to be doing this. Something could've been missed." She held her head in pain.
"Whatever it is that's happening, we will stop it, I swear to you."
"I have to work."
"You have to lie down."
"I am not - I am not the damsel in distress. I am not some case. I have to work this. I lived in a cave for five years in a world where they killed my kind like cattle. I am not going to be cut down by some monster flu. I am better than that!" Fred yelled. "But I wonder...how very scared I am." She looked away.
"I swear on my life, we will stop this, but you must be back in bed. That's where I need you to fight."
"Like I'm six years old?" Fred collapsed.
Wesley caught her.
"This is a house of death."
Wesley stood her up and held her.
Fred looked over his shoulder to the source book that he brought with him. "That can call up any book you need?"
"Every one."
"Then bring it. Take me..." Fred lost consciousness.
Wesley laid Fred down on a couch in the lobby. "Harmony! Search my contacts. Call Willow Rosenberg."
Harmony did so. "How is she?"
"Fading fast. Every second counts."
"Hello?" Willow asked.
"Will, it's Harm. I'm putting Wes on."
"Um,...okay..."
Wesley snatched the handset from Harmony's hand. "Willow, I need you to come to Wolfram & Hart's L.A. branch immediately. We have a mystical medical emergency."
"It's not one of the evil people you work with, is it? Because-"
"It's Fred! Please!"
Willow teleported into the lobby.
Wesley dropped the handset on the counter. Harmony dutifully set it in its cradle.
"What's up?" Willow asked.
Wesley gestured at the couch. "Something's infected her, possibly from as far back as the time of the Old Ones. Whatever it is, it appears to be hollowing out her body to use as a shell."
Willow walked over to Fred.
Wesley followed her. "Angel and Spike went to England to search for a cure, but I fear they may not make it back in time."
Willow kneeled down and touched Fred's hands. "I'm not sure I can help. What do you suggest?"
Wesley handed her the book. "You can summon whatever books you may need by using that. I've already-"
"Show me everything." Willow opened the book.
The book started presenting information, which Willow absorbed.
"All at once."
Willow absorbed all knowledge. She dropped the book to the floor. "There's no saving her."
"No!" Wesley cried.
Fred sat up, anxious. "Feigenbaum."
"What?" Wesley asked.
Fred panicked. "I-I have to find him. He's the master of - I have to have Feigenbaum here."
"Who is Feigenbaum?"
Fred stopped, then cried. "I don't remember."
Wesley kneeled beside her and held her while she sobbed. "Shh. Shh."
Fred sniffled. "Oh, isn't it terrible? At a time like this, I'm worried about how shitty I look."
Wesley looked into her eyes. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Willow and Harmony frowned at Wesley's word choice.
Fred smiled. "Do you always like splotchy girls?"
"It's my curse." Wesley kissed her forehead.
Fred leaned on his shoulder.
"I have an idea."
Wesley looked at Willow.
"I could transfer her soul out of her body."
Wesley thought for a moment. "Harmony, check if any department has an Orb of Thesulah laying about."
"There's no time for that. The longer we wait, the more Fred's soul deteriorates. I'll need to transfer her soul directly into another body."
Wesley nodded. "I volunteer. Proceed."
"Wes, there's no telling how two human souls inhabiting the same body will interact with each other. Ideally, I'd need-"
"Someone without a soul." Harmony ran over. "It's gonna be all right, Fred. I'll carry you." She looked at Willow. "Well, go on. Work your mojo."
"You sure, Harm?" Willow asked.
"She just volunteered." Wesley stared at Willow. "Do it."
Willow looked at Fred. "Fred, do you understand what's about to happen?"
Fred looked at a light over her head. "The light...hurts my eyes, but I don't want you to turn it off. But it hurts my eyes. Everything's so bright and hollow. Cavemen win. Of course, the cavemen win."
Willow frowned. "Fuck it." She started chanting in Latin.
Fred was in a feverish delirium, writhing and convulsing. "Oh, God! I sinned. I've sinned, and I'm being punished. I don't know what's wrong. I never got a B- before. Uhh! Sorry. I'm sorry. Make it stop! Why did we go there? Why did we think we could beat it? It's evil, Wesley. It's bigger than anything."
Wesley leaned in closer to her. "I don't believe that."
"Uggh!" Fred cried out as Willow finished her incantation.
What remained of Fred's soul transferred into Harmony's body.
Harmony became disoriented and fell on her ass, groaning. "Why can't I stay?"
Fred's body went still.
Wesley held it in his arms. "No..."
As Wesley hugged Fred's limp body to his, Fred's eyes changed into a crystal blue. The thing started twitching and kicked her body away from Wesley so hard that it sent him across the room and pushed her to the floor. On the floor, Fred's body convulsed as Wesley watched in horror from across the room. Finally, Fred's body stood, but her hair, eyes, and the edges of her face were royal blue.
She looked down at her arm and hand to examine it, flexing her fingers. "This will do."
Willow stared at the thing in horror, then raised a hand. "Maxima clausura."
The thing was unable to move.
"Wesley?" Harmony got to her feet. "Are you okay?"
Wesley stood, his face full of hope. "Fred?"
"Yeah, it's me. Or it's us, I guess. Hot babe's in here, too." Fred frowned. "Hey, you made me say that." Harmony smiled. "But it's true."
Wesley walked over and tentatively touched Harmony's face. "Remarkable. How do you feel?"
Harmony gave him a loopy smile. "A lil fucked up in the head. Nothin' some tacos won't cure." She frowned. "I am on a diet!"
Wesley looked at the thing known as Illyria that was possessing Fred's body, then he looked at Willow. "Can you remove that fucking piece of shit from my girlfriend, please?"
Willow frowned. "I'm not sure I can. And even if I did..."
Wesley stared at her. "Yes?"
"Well, her body's suffered catastrophic damage. It's no longer habitable by...anything living."
"So what does that mean for me?" Harmony asked.
Willow looked at her. "I think you're gonna have to come to terms with the idea that this might be permanent."
"Oh, God." Harmony hugged Wesley. "Bathroom time is gonna be so awkward."
Wesley looked at her strangely.
Gunn ran into the lobby. "Guys!" He paused and looked at Illyria. "Oh, God, no. Fred!"
"It's not her, Charles." Harmony/Fred walked toward him. "Anyway, what's up?"
A bloody, beaten Knox sat slumped in an office chair in Gunn's office. His hands were bound at the wrists with duct tape.
"Gonna torture him?" Harmony asked Gunn.
"Thinking about it."
"Can I help?" Harmony rubbed her hands together excitedly. "I'm really good at it."
"Thanks, but this is kind of personal."
"Why do you think I want to help? Don't you recognize me, Charles?"
"Fred?" Gunn asked her in disbelief.
"Yeah-huh. Well, mostly Harmony and what's left of Fred that didn't get deep-fried. Anyway, if Poindexter here had anything to do with hurting me...her, then I'm in for a big, fat pound of flesh."
Wesley walked into the office. "He's involved in this?" he asked Gunn.
"Pretty sure."
Knox started giggling. "I loved Fred. I really did. She had a warmth that took you in and held you until everything cold and distant melted away. She was the most beautiful, perfect woman I ever met. That's why I chose her. She's the only one that was worthy."
Harmony/Fred pulled Wesley's handgun out of his shoulder holster, pointed it at Knox, and fired repeatedly, killing Knox.
Wesley and Gunn stared at her, momentarily shocked.
Harmony handed Wesley's gun back to him. "Never trusted that little nerd. The rumpled hair; socks that didn't match; the cute, lopsided grin. So totally playing it up. I mean...who did he think he was fooling? Besides all of us."
Harmony sat at her desk in a daze.
Willow crouched next to her and gently put her hands on Harmony's shoulder. "Listen, Harmony...Fred...Fredmony, as one who's been in a position of taking violent revenge, I kinda know how you're feeling. If you ever wanna talk-"
"I'm fine."
"You say that, but I can tell you're fibbing. If you ever wanna talk, I'll be here in a flash."
"Thanks, Will. I'm sorry I was kinda mean to you in high school...and middle school...and elementary school..and preschool."
"Well,...maybe I deserved some of it."
Harmony laughed. "Ain't that ironic?"
Willow looked at her in confusion. "No, it really isn't."
Willow and Harmony hugged each other.
Willow stood up. "Well, I should get going. Kennedy's probably wondering where the fuck I am." She teleported away.
The elevator doors opened. Angel and Spike walked into the lobby.
Angel immediately noticed Illyria. "Oh, damn."
Willow suddenly teleported back in. "Oh, you guys probably don't know what to do with her, right? It's no big. I'll just send her to another galaxy." She smiled and waved at Angel and Spike. "Hi, guys."
"Willow."
"Red."
Willow touched Illyria and teleported away with her.
Angel looked at everyone. "Fred's gone. I know."
Harmony stood up and slowly approached Angel. "That's not entirely true, boss." She put a hand over her shriveled heart. "She's in here."
Angel stared at her in disbelief.
Harmony grinned nervously. "Also, please don't be mad, but I did a kinda-not-so-nice thing that probably violated company policy."
Gunn hesitated. "Me, too."
Later, Harmony sat at her desk, lost in thought, sad despite the unicorn figurines, pink notebook, and feathery pen that decorated her desk.
Angel walked into the lobby. He noticed Harmony, then looked away.
"Angel?"
Angel looked at her, then reluctantly walked over to her. "Harmony." He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. This has been...weird for me."
Harmony nodded. "Preaching to the horse's mouth."
Angel stared at her for a moment. "Yes, well, if you wanna take a few days off to...sort things out."
"It's gonna be an ongoing process, boss. Fred and I have had many conversations already, such as about the sexual relationship that she will inevitably have with my body."
"Okay, I didn't need to know that."
"I can't imagine what you're thinking. First, you lost Cordy, and now you almost lost me...kinda."
Angel nodded. "I miss her so much. I don't think I could have handled..." He paused. "See ya at work tomorrow." He started to walk toward the elevator.
"Where?" Harmony asked.
Angel looked back at her. "That's up to you."
"Maybe here. Between you and me, this brain ain't exactly up to snuff for lab work." Harmony frowned, offended. "Hey!"
Angel left.
Spike walked into the lobby and over to Harmony's desk. "Hey."
"Hey, Blondie Bear."
"So you're in there, huh?"
Fred smiled with Harmony's mouth. "Sure am. It's kinda weird. But we're working things out. Lots of intense negotiations."
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Good night, ladies." Spike walked toward the elevator.
Gunn walked into the lobby. He looked at Harmony, then looked away, ashamed.
"How could you do that? To your friends? To me?"
Gunn walked over to her. "Because I was weak." He scoffed. "Because I wanted to be somebody that I wasn't." He shook his head. "Because I don't know where I fit. Because I never did. Because a thousand other reasons that don't mean a damn, 'cause she's..." He started crying. "I did this, and I'm sorry." He sobbed. "I'm sorry."
Harmony patted Gunn on the shoulder as he doubled over, sobbing.
Eventually, Gunn walked away, heading toward the elevator.
Wesley walked into the lobby. He stared at Harmony awkwardly, then walked over to her. "You were curious. That's why you didn't put it into containment immediately. How things work. What makes them special. You were always searching for what other people couldn't see. You were just curious. I think I hate you a little for that."
"Wes..." Harmony/Fred tried to collect their thoughts and organize them into a reasonably organized organization. "The girl of your dreams loved you. That's more than most people ever get."
"I know. But it isn't enough." Wesley suddenly pounded on the counter repeatedly with all of his might.
"Wes! Stop it! Wes!"
Wesley stopped.
"I appreciate the urge to smash, but that's not helping."
"No." Wesley sighed. "Come on, let's call it a night."
Harmony stood up and grabbed her purse. She followed Wesley to the elevator. Wesley pressed a button.
"Oh, God."
"What is it?" Wesley asked.
"Which apartment do I go to?" Harmony asked.
"Harmony's for now, I suppose. You have the keys. Listen, there will be choices for you to make in the coming days, but...I want you to know...you're not alone in this."
Harmony smiled. Wesley didn't smile back. The doors opened. The three of them in two bodies got into the elevator.
Harmony pressed the button for the basement. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."
Wesley looked at the beautiful woman standing to his left and smiled as the doors closed.
The End