Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Everything else belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB.

Finished: April 8, 2001

~~ Sleeping Beauty ~~

"Angel?" I ask hoarsely. My heart sinks into my chest and I feel like I can't breathe. Tears immediately gather in my eyes only to spill down my cheeks. Willow guides me to the parking lot where Giles is waiting. While driving, he tells me that Angel was on his way home when a driver ran through a red light at an intersection and hit him from the side. The other driver had called the cops and drove off, leaving Angel hurt and bleeding in his car. Thankfully other drivers kept him awake until paramedics arrived.

We finally arrive at the hospital and I rush up to one of the nurses behind the desk and ask what room he's in and if I can see him.

"Are you family?" she asks.

"I'm his girlfriend." I reply.

"Well the doctor's are still working on him," she says, looking at a chart. "They're almost finished though. It's been about forty-five minutes."

"How bad was it?" I ask.

"Well it would be best to ask Dr. Robinson when he's finished." she says gently.

"Okay, thanks," I reply and take a seat beside Willow while Giles goes to fill out insurance forms and medical information.

"Willow, he's been in there for forty-five minutes," I say worried out of my mind. "What if they can't help him? What if he's hurt too badly? What if...he dies?"

"No more 'what ifs' for you, Buffy," Willow orders. "Angel will be fine. His car is probably in worse condition than he is. The classics were built tough."

Ten minutes later, Dr. Robinson walks out of the doors and approaches us holding a clipboard. "Buffy Summers," he begins as Willow and I stand up. "Are you with a young man named Angel Carter?" Thanks to the Witness Protection Program, Angel has an actual identity. He'd called one of his former clients who worked there with the favor when he'd become human. I'm glad to see that it's valid and everything's in order.

"Yes," I say. "How is he?"

"Well he has lost a substantial amount of blood but we administered a transfusion and an IV drip so he should recover in a few days. He has two fractured ribs and his left hand is broken, which we repaired, and he needed stitches to close a large cut on his forehead and four on his chest, but he should heal with minimal scarring, if any. He's a very lucky man."

"Thank you so much, doctor," I say with a smile and teary eyes. "Would it be possible for me to see him?"

"Well, it'll be a couple hours before the anesthetic wears off," he says, sighing, then smiles. "But I could let you see him for a few minutes. And I'm sorry, but only one of you can go in."

"Oh, it's okay," Willow says. "I'm just a moral supporter. I'll wait here."

"Thanks, Will." I say. "See you in a few."

She sits down as Dr. Robinson leads me to Angel's room. I repeat my thanks as he leaves the room. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight I see.

He is half-lying, half-sitting on the bed with numerous cuts and bruises covering his face and arms and his left wrist in a cast. He looks so small and fragile as he sleeps encircled by the machines surrounding him. I walk slowly and silently up to the bed and take his right hand in mine. The most wonderful sound I hear is the heart monitor, beeping at a steady rate...Angel's heartbeat.

"I know you're sleeping and you won't be awake for a few hours, but I want to tell you that I love you. When Will told me you'd been in an accident, I got so scared. I don't want to lose you...I can't lose you. I wouldn't be able to get over you again. Not that I really did the first few times." I say with a small chuckle. I lean over him and place a light kiss on his lips. "I love you." I whisper again.

I leave him to sleep and step outside where the doctor is waiting for me. "He'll be okay, right?" I ask in a small voice.

"Yes," the doctor says with a smile. "He looks much worse than he is."

I sigh with relief and thank him one last time before heading out to the waiting room. Willow and Giles stand up as I walk toward them with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. They each hug me tightly, Willow first, then Giles, and we go to a small diner nearby for lunch.

I order a small salad and slowly pick away at it while Willow orders soup and a sandwich, and Giles just orders tea. We discuss school, slaying, and Willow's latest spells but my mind keeps wandering back to Angel. *The doctor said he'd be fine so stop worrying!* I scold myself. *But what if the doctor is just saying that to make me feel better? It's probably part of his job description.*

"Earth to Buffy," Willow says, waving a hand in front of my face. "Are you okay?"

I snap out of my thoughts and smile shyly. "Yeah, sorry, just thinking."

"Angel will pull through this, Buffy," Giles says soothingly. He checks his watch. "It's already been an hour...do you want to go back?"

I shake my head. "No, not yet," I reply. "I can't just sit and wait around. Can we go to the shop and train or something?"

"Of course," Giles replies.

"I can't. I have a class starting in half an hour," Willow says. "I guess I'll have to leave you two to the training you two do."

"Try saying that three times fast," I say with a grin.

"Would you like a ride, Willow?" Giles offers.

"Um, thanks but no thanks. I think I'll walk. It's a nice day out and I want to enjoy the lack of vampires." she replies.

Giles insists on paying for the lunch and as he is, Willow gives me another hug. "Beep me if you need anything." she says.

I nod. "Thanks, Will."

Giles and I get into his car and drive toward the Magic Box as Willow walks in the direction of school. We arrive at the shop almost ten minutes later and Anya greets us cheerfully. I say hi as Giles and I enter the training room where we begin training immediately.