Chapter 9

…He's Trippin'...

Dr. and Dr. Rosenburg were psychiatrists, and this week they had gone to Houston, Texas, to the big PsychCon at the Houston Hilton, Convention and Visitors Bureau. As often was the case, the pair left their daughter home alone; they had been doing this since she was six years old.

That Saturday afternoon found Willow and Oz in the study "studying" for their big Chemistry test on Wednesday.

Suddenly, the werewolf jumped away from his girlfriend and began to pace around the room in agitation.

"Oz?" Willow inquired as she pouted swollen lips and green eyes gazed at him in curiosity.

Looking out the bay window, the young musician ran a hand through spiky black hair as he looked for any actual or perceived threat. Finding nothing, the young man began to pace once more.

"Oz?" the red headed witch tried once more to get his attention, "What's wrong?"

He spared her an agitated glace as he began to pace once more. "Something's not right," he said with a frown.

"What?" Willow said as she rose from her seat, "What's not right?"

"Don't know," the young man sagged against the door jamb as he looked at her concern clouding his own green eyes.

She tilted her head sideways as she looked at him, "Maybe if we head to the Library, Giles might be able to figure out what's going on."

"Sure lets go," Oz said enthusiastically as he grabbed his keys and wallet from the desk and headed toward the door knowing full well that his girlfriend was hot on his heels.

…We Shall Assemble…

Giles sat at the table in the Library reading another large, ancient tome. His glasses rested long forgotten on the counter near his office. Since it was the weekend, the Immortal relaxed in a comfortable pair of faded jeans and a taupe colored pullover.

His head snapped toward the double doors as they banged loudly. Faith entered with Buffy not far behind. As the dark Slayer reached his table, she hopped up onto it next to his book and tried to read over his shoulder. The Watcher sighed heavily as he looked up at her.

When he noticed Faith's frown, Giles closed the book and looked up at her in curiosity, "What's wrong?"

"Something's not right, G," she said as her eyes darted around the room as though she expected a shadow to jump out and attack them.

Looking to his Slayer, the Immortal's eyes conveyed his question silently.

"She's been acting like this for about an hour and a half," Buffy answered his silent question. "I don't know what the hell is going on," the blonde shrugged.

Giles frowned thoughtfully and was about to comment but was interrupted by the door banging a second time.

Everyone turned, Faith, keyed up as she was, jumped into a fighting stance.

"It's alright," Xander said as he lifted his hands to forestall any violence.

Cordelia and Zack followed him into the room.

Immediately, the May Queen told Giles what had happened earlier and how she still felt restless, as though something were missing.

The older man looked between the two young women, then looked at the others. "Are any of you feeling like they are?" he asked as he brought a hand up, realized he did not have his glasses, then put his hand back down in dismay.

A chorus of "No's" answered him as he walked over to the counter and grabbed the infernal glasses to clean them.

Suddenly, the doors banged once more and Oz entered, Willow rushing to catch up with him.

Zack tried to stay out of the way of the madness so he stood to the side and watched the goings on with hidden curiosity.

"Something is not right," the werewolf said as soon as he reached the group.

"What about the others? Jonathon and Amy," Giles asked as he observed the young people with a deep worry line creasing his forehead, "have you spoken to either of them to see if they had the same symptoms?"

"No," Cordy said with a frown as she pulled her cell phone, "I'll call Amy right now…" she stepped away to make her phone call.

"I'll call Jonathon," Xander said as he pulled his own cell phone from his belt and moved to the stacks.

Not seconds later Xander had the young man on the phone and asked him how he was doing, if he were feeling apprehensive about something.

Snapping his phone closed, the black haired young man walked back to the group. "He says he's fine…" Xander shrugged as he looked over at his girlfriend.

In frustration, Cordelia growled as she snapped her phone closed and stalked back to the group. "I can't raise her," she frowned worriedly.

Faith snapped a finger as though in remembrance, "She did mention something about going to Albertsons for some stuff she needed for the house."

"Ooh, and components for a spell she was working on," Willow confirmed with a nod.

"Okay," Buffy said in general mode, "Oz, Willow, you guys go check her usual ritual spot in the park. Xander, Cordelia, go to her house, see if she made it back yet. Faith and I will check the grocery, she might still be there. Giles, keep the home fires burning in case she comes here."

"What about me?" Zack asked.

Everyone turned to him in surprise, no one expected or asked him to contribute.

"Go with Xander and Cordy, they know you best. If you want to help, don't be useless," she gave him that stern, Slayer look and that told him that she was not the airhead she played in class.