Chapter 7

A/N: Okay here we go next chapter. The only person to get my question right is Rowan Moiraine (hope I spelled it right), the song is "Toy Soldiers" by Martika. So at least other people know the song, so here's my shout-out to Rowan. Please review.

*Tara's POV*

When I awoke that morning, nothing had changed at all except that Xander was missing. I figured he was out with Dawn. Dawn had completed her sophomore year with good enough grades to not be forced to go to summer school so she now stayed at the hospital almost all day. Once in awhile we could get her to go home, but we still would not allow her to see Willow.

"Maybe it would help." Oz mentioned as he saw my eyes open, and scan the room.

"What would help?" I asked.

"You mentioned Angel in your sleep, so did Buffy. Was he contacted at all?" Oz asked.

I rubbed my eyes, "I don't think so. We don't usually call them."

"It might help."

Buffy woke up then, "What did I miss?"

"Oz thinks we should call Angel." I replied.

Buffy bit her lip. I noticed black circles under her eyes, "I don't see how that would help."

"How about Dawn?" I asked

"What?" that was both of them.

"Maybe Dawn could help, if we allow her to see Willow." I explained, "The rest of us aren't getting anywhere, maybe she's the key."

"Not funny." Buffy muttered.

"I wasn't trying to be. I'm serious." I cried, "We really aren't getting anywhere."

*Buffy's POV*

I didn't want to admit it but Tara was right. Dawn was the only one who had yet to try to reach Willow. "Tara, we all agreed that Dawn seeing Willow was not a good idea."

"Well, I've run out of all other ideas." She mumbled, "Do you have any others?"

"I'm with Oz trying to contact Angel and Cordelia." I rubbed my eyes, "I am so desperate right now I'd be willing to call Faith."

"She's still in jail I don't think that would work." Tara reminded me.

"I know, but I am fresh out of any logical ideas." I pointed out, "I'd have to go, I don't have Angel's number memorized, I never call him."

"I can stay here. I'm not alone." Tara said.

"If you think I am leaving you and Oz alone you are seriously loony. The last time I did that he nearly killed you." I pointed out.

Tara touched the new scratch marks just under her right eye, "I didn't know he'd wolf out when I tried without success to find Willow again."

"You seem to bring out the wolf in him." I remarked.

"I'm still in the room you two." Oz said from his corner. "How about I go and find Angel's number for you Buffy and you two stay here."

Before either of us could respond he had left. Maybe him leaving for a few minutes would be for the best.

I saw Tara go over to Willow again. I fear she will never get better until Willow awakens.

*Oz's POV*

I needed to get out of there. It hurts to see the damage I inflicted on that poor girl. I admit I'll never like her but Willow does, and right now Willow is the only important thing.

I don't understand why I wolf out when I'm near her. Yes I do, I still smell Willow all over her and it drives me crazy.

After my last attack I went outside to stare at the not even half full moon, and Xander came up behind me, "No one is mad at you." He had told me.

"Willow is all over her, I can smell it, and I hate it. If Willow is there why can't we find her?" I yelled, "This should have never happened."

Xander smiled sadly, "I don't want to sound like a downer, but Oz, you broke up with her, you ended the relationship, you left. She tried to remain faithful to you. She even did a massive spell, yes it ended up being…well vengeful, but all she wanted was you back."

"Breaking Willow's heart was the biggest regret of my life. That's why I'm here, because I still care for her." I explained, "Why is Willow all over her?"

Xander sighed deeply, "Willow loves Tara. She didn't flaunt it when she started, heck you knew before I did. She just came out and said it during a fight with Buffy, and that's when I found out. For the longest time I didn't understand her, but I knew she liked Willow. In the end it turned out she was one of us, a member of our family." Xander touched my shoulder, "Believe in her, Tara's really a great girl when you get to know her, and she'll do anything to help you, to save those people she loves even lose her own mind."

I remembered what Buffy had said that Tara was willing to have her hand broken and her mind scrambled before she'd betray Buffy or give up Dawn to Glory. "I would have done the same thing."

Walking in Sunnydale during the day is so safe, compared to the night. Who'd of thought a mad man with a gun would come and shoot two innocent people in broad daylight?

I made it to Buffy's house. She had told me that the back door would be unlocked. As I entered I realized that everything was the way it had been left that morning. The dishwasher partway open with dirty dishes still in the sink. Laundry strewn over the living room in various piles ready to be taken to certain rooms. I nearly fell over Dawn's schoolbag on my way to the stairs.

I figured Buffy would have taken over her mother's room so I went into that room first. What I saw nearly made me vomit, there was a huge red stain on the rug, the bullet hole in the window, Willow's blood, that's what it is, my Willows blood.

I quickly left that room. It didn't help all I could smell was Willow's blood. The smell filled the house. I found Buffy's room and rummaged through her things before I found Angel's number. I left as soon as I could. I had to get away from the blood.

*Tara's POV*

I looked up as a very unhappy, agitated Oz entered Willow's room. "Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Her blood." Oz whispered. "Her blood was on the floor, I could smell it. I couldn't get away from it."

That I no remark for. I didn't have the faintest idea how to respond.

"I found Angel's number." Oz handed Buffy a piece of paper, "The smell, I couldn't escape it."

"You still love her." I said, "It's quite obvious."

Buffy pulled out her phone and dialed he number on the paper, "Cordelia?...Oh sorry…Is Angel available?...What? For how long?...No, I haven't seen him…What about Cordelia?...Her too?...No she hasn't been here either…I understand…No I'm sorry I need Angel or Cordelia…If you find them can you have one of them call me…555-6013, that's my cell…Thanks, Fred…Bye."

"Who's Fred?" Oz asked.

"She works with Angel." I responded, "And before you ask, Fred is short for Winifred."

"Angel's missing, so is Cordelia. They went missing the day Willow was shot." Buffy explained.

"What?" I cried, "That's over two months." At that time it hit me, Willow, my Willow had been in a coma for over two months. Two months of silence of nothingness.

"So much for them helping if we can't find them." Oz mumbled, "Now I am officially out of ideas."

Over two months…and we're already giving up. I fear we're never going to get Willow back.

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