Chapter two - Consulting the watcher

After getting out of bed Oz heads into the bathroom to get ready for school. Turning the shower on high he set's the water temperature to as hot as he can stand without it looking like cooked lobster afterward. Taking his time he washed his body then his hair. As he rinsed the shampoo from her hair he just stand's under the hot spray of the water letting it run over him as he thought back on some of the things he and Dru had talked about the night before.

Wondering if he could found anything out about some of what she had said. Plus about the way's that werewolves and vampires weren't that different. Coming back to himself when the water started to run cold. He shut it off and got out. Heading back into his room to dried off and got dressed. Once dry he walked over to the dresser getting out a pair of medium colored blue jean a plain olive green t-shirt , socks and green silk boxers.

After he got dressed he went into the kitchen to make a piece of toast. Getting the butter and a knife out as he waited on it to pop back up. Grabbing it when it did he quickly buttered it while it was hot. So the butter would get into all the lil crannies of the bread. Looking at the clock he saw he better get a move on it he wanted to see Giles before school started.

Popping the piece of toast in his mouth he let the tiniest of moans out as the melted butter hit he taste buds. Grabbing his keys an book bag as he walked out of the kitchen thought the living room and over to the front door of the apartment. Reaching the sidewalk and where his van was parked ,he opened the door hopping in. Starting the van backing out he was on his way to school eating his toast on the way.

Arriving at the school's parking lot 10 minutes later he found a spot pilled in shut the van off an headed inside to the library and Giles. Peering thought the two small round windows in the double doors to the library making sure that none of the others where there yet. Letting out a sigh of relief that know one was there he heads inside looking around wondering where to start.

He throws his bag down on the nearest research table than heads for Giles' office to see if he was in. It was still early yet so maybe he wasn't here at all. Rounding the Connor to have a look inside the office he sees Giles asleep on his desk again. Smiling to himself he walks over and lightly shakes him calling out his name softly, Not wanting to startle him, " Giles , wake up man. You fell asleep at your desk again." Giles stirs at the sound of Oz's voice." Err , ah yes, quite right."

Rubbing his eyes with one hand as he felt around for his glasses with the other." Your here early, what time is it by the way?" Finding his glasses he cleaning them before placing them on his face. Sitting up a bit more now. Smiling Oz looks a this watch ." It's about 7:00am I'm early I wanted to talk to you about something. But if you need some time to pull yourself together? I'm cool it can wait til later. " Rising from his chair Giles walks over to the small kitchenette area in the far corner to make his morning tea. "No, no it's alright. What was it that you wanted to discuss with me ? Tea?"

Nodding Oz says, " Yea please." Giles takes two tea cups white with blue flowers down off the shaft above the small Bunsen burner placing them on the corner top. Turning to his side he reaches over to the other end of the shelf to retrieve the box in which he keeps his tea's. Placing an Earl Gray tea bag in both their cup's as he listens to what Oz had come to speak to him about. "Thanks. I wanted to know what you knew about vampires? Like really know about them?"

Pouring the water in their cups as it had whistled while Oz had been speaking. He hand's Oz his returning to his chair with his as he ponders what Oz had just asked him. Wondering what could have brought this on. Oz walks over and takes a seat on the couch against the wall saying, "Thanks." As he take a sip waiting for Giles to answer. The tea was hot and felt good as it went down Oz's throat with a nice soothing smell. Giles sits back in his chair sipping at his tea as well as he thinks. Placing his cup down on the desk he takes his glasses off and begins to clean them as he says," Well there are the watchers diaries, and other books that were used in my training. There are also some rare tomes I have collected over the years since I completed my training as well. Why do you ask?"

Taking all that in Oz nods as he sips his tea trying to figure out just what he wanted to say. Knowing he didn't want to say anything about Dru being back in town. Or the fact he had talked to her all night long. And or the fact he was s'posed to meet her again tonight as well." Well I got to thinking last night when I was out walking around drinking. What do we really know about vampires? What it's like to be one? Or what happens to them when their turned? I mean to their soul. And what it's like to live and have a demon inside? And just that how I'm not much different then they are. In that I have the wolf crawling around inside me all the time too. I don't know I was just thinking is all."

Giles just sits in his chair looking a bit taken aback by all this and what Oz had just said to him. Clearing his throat he take's it one thing at a time. "Yes well I'm sure we can find something on what you're looking for. But I really must say that I don't advise that you be drinking .. Or, or walking around Sunnydale at night . But you are an adult and I am sure not going to tell you how to live your life. I can only be here for you if you need help or advise such as now. Now what you have said makes sense. And I do not know why we had never thought of this before. But I must ask what's brought all this on now? What's the urgency now? You have been dealing with your wolf for over a year? What's brought on this sudden interest?"

Oz drinks the last of his tea placing the cup on the stand next to him. "Thanks Giles I know you care about us all like we're your children. And I appreciate it since my own parent aren't around it means alot to me. But for the past week I've been doing some thinking *Laugh* that's all I've been doing since Willow and I broke up. I've done nothing else it's like I can't turn my brain off or something. So I got to wondering ya know, what's the different between the wolf and being a vampire with a demon inside."

Placing his own finished cup of tea down Giles sits up in his chair thinking a minute. A few minutes later he speaks again." I am sorry to hear about what's happened between yourself an Willow as I do see you all as my own. But it would seen something good has come of it. I myself never thought to view the situation with your wolf in this manner before." Just than the five minute bell rang." You better head on to class now. As I'll shell consult my books to see what I can uncover, come back after school and I'll show you what I've discovered."

Smiling Oz rises from his seat." Ok later. And thanks." "Yes, yes you're more than welcome." Oz nods as he walks out of the office grabbing his bag on the way out the library's double doors and his first class of the day. After a minute Giles gets up as well and heads to the book cage to began his research. Later that afternoon Oz returned to the library to see what Giles had come up with for him. Entering the library not seeing Giles out in the main room he heads over to the office . Giles wasn't there either but a note lay on top of a pile of books. Walking over he picked the note up reading it to himself.

" Dear Oz,

Here is what I have uncovered so far on the subject that we discussed this morning. I hope that they will be of some assistance to you in your search for understanding. I've had to attend a last minute teachers meeting. I do apologize for not being here to help you with the research myself. Take those with you as I will also check my books at home farther for anything that may help as well. Began with those few here and as always I'm here to help if you need it. Come by in the morning to see me and we shell discuss what you may have found. I am most eager to find out myself.

Good luck,

Giles"

Smiling to himself at all the books Giles had found in just the few hours he had been at it. Putting as many of the books in his backpack as would fit. He carried the rest out to his van walking to the passenger side door. He opens it putting the books in his arms on the seat. And his bag on the floor shutting it he jogs to his side opening the door and hopping. Starting her up he head's home. Arriving10 or so minutes later at his apartment he pulls into his space shutting the van off. Hopping out retrieving the books he heads upstairs to his second floor apartment.

Opening the door to his place he nudges it open all the way with his hip, kicking it close behind him. Walking thought the living room to the kitchen where he set's the books on the old light blue with sliver specks Formica topped table. His book bag on one of the chairs of the same colors all of which were trimmed in sliver, it was an original set. Walking back out in the living room seeing he needed to clean up a bit. He begins to pick up the beer bottles that line the coffee table and the end tables, a 3 piece matching set.

He had gotten at the Salvation army along with the sofa and chair , and his kitchen set as well. Everything else had come from his parent's house before they had moved. It wasn't much but it was home. Walking the trash back out to the kitchen putting it in the big trash can. Grabbing a 20 oz bottle of coke out of the fridge he heads down the short bear hall to his bedroom.

Deciding to take a nap before he had to meet with Silla later. Smiling to himself again he shakes his head sitting down on his double bed looking around his pretty plan room as he takes his shoes off. He had never hung anything on the wall in the rest of the house but in his room he had a couple poster up. Nothing fancy one was for his band " Dingoes ate my baby " an the others were black light poster. Which he no longer had the black light for.

Standing back up to take his clothes off leaving him clad only in his boxers. He pulled the some what heavy black cretins closed. Opening the soda taking a long drink he set the alarm clock for 6 pm. A couple hours before he had to meet up with Dru. Pulling the dark purple velvet cover back he climbs into bed with its black sheets. Laying down he gets comfy as he pulls the cover back over himself he was asleep within minutes.

Waking to the first sounds of the alarm. Oz stitches out his lean muscular body hitting the alarm clock as he does. Throwing back the covers he gets out of bed , grabs his soda off the nightstand where he had sat it. He pads into the kitchen to make something to eat. Glad he had the trust that his parents had set up for him. So he could pay his rent and buy food. The money he made from the gigs with that band played for anything else he wanted or needed. Going with a ham & cheese sandwich as dinner. He gets out the ham, cheese, soft wheat bread, mustard and mayo from the fridge placing them on the table.

Grabbing a butter knife from the dish drainer opening the mayo and the mustard bottles. He took two pieces of bread out of the bag laying them out side by side. He put mayo on one piece and mustard on the other closing the bottles when he was done with them. He opened the lunch bags that the ham & cheese were in. Unfolding them from the paper wrap they where incased in. Placing a piece of cheese on the mustard side and the ham on the mayo side. Before flipping them over so both side were covered in the condiments slapping both sides together taking a bite.

Putting his sandwich down to put the stuff away back in the fridge. Getting a glass out of the cabinet putting ice in it from the freezer. He poured the rest of his soda in it from earlier. Settling down at the table with his food and one of the books that Giles had given him. It was a book on general demon stuff not as old looking as some of the others but the pages told of it age. Yellowing and brutally feeling thought the paper it was printed on was thicker than what was used today. Though the leather bonding was well care for smooth to the touch. Most of the info inside he knew already from helping Buffy, some he didn't.

There was a large section on vampires, but again it had mostly stuff that he knew, but with some obscure parts he didn't. Thought Dru had mentioned them. About an hour later he was done eating as he looks over the last page of the book. Deciding that he would need to take notes to keep it all straight so he didn't forget any of it. He put it aside til he could get to it later once he had gotten some legal pads to keep the info on and neat. And he really had the time to put into it. But right now he had to get in the shower and changed to meet Dru.

Rising from his chair he finished the last of his soda putting the glass in the sink. Heading back to his room to get his clothes and get in the shower. Once he finished his shower he got out and dried off. He brushed his teeth, combed though his hair. Before rubbing it roughly again with the towel to get it all Spiky. Squirting some gel in his hands he rubs it into his hair slicking the sides back. He spray's it with fast drying hair spray. He had chosen a blue t-shirt with baggy pants for the night. Once he had gotten dressed socks and shoes too. He sat down to paint his nails again before he had to leave also fast drying, black of course.

After he was all set to go he did one more check in the bathroom mirror not stopping to think why he did it. Walking back out to the living room he grabbed his keys out of the kitchen and out the door he went hopping in his van heading to the park and Dru.