~*Part 8*~

Oz thought Riley would help him.  What was he going to do now?

Riley looked directly at Oz.  "So.  I bet you want to see Willow again?"

Oz nodded.

"She misses you.  She's been watching and waiting for you.  Always watching."

Oz slowly looked Riley in the eyes.  He swore he could see him blink.  Riley's eyes wandered, and Oz noticed something gray out of the corner of his eye.  Of course, a video camera.

Oz understood.  "I'm sorry I couldn't have been there.  But I'm here now.  So, how do I get her to stop looking?"

"If she can't find you...  She can't see you."

The door behind Riley opened unexpectedly, and a doctor followed by two guards came inside the room.  The doctor had a needle filled with anesthetic, and the guards had taser guns.

The doctor spoke.  "Hold him down."

The guards rushed forward and held him down on his stomach, as the doctor came from behind.

******

Tara and Buffy sat in the cold waiting room chairs of the hospital.  They were waiting for something on Willow's condition.

A doctor came into the room, and Buffy was instantly alert.  "Ms. Summers?"  Buffy stood up and they shook hands.  The doctor turned to Tara.  "Ms..?"

"Tara... Tara Smith."

Buffy continued on.  "How is Willow?"  They all sat down except the doctor who remained standing.

"We ran some tests, and we don't know what is making her sick.  We do know she is slowly losing using the energy to live.  She's dying.  I'm sorry.  We're going to continue to run different tests, but I don't think she has much longer.  I suggest you call family, and friends."

"Can we see her?"  Tara asked.

The doctor nodded.  "In about twenty minutes, a nurse will come out and show you to her room."

Buffy sat in silence staring out the window.

"Buffy?"  She slowly turned and acknowledged Tara's presence.  "Do you have a phone number I can use to try and get a hold of Oz?  Where he lives...lived?"

Buffy slowly nodded.  "555-9466"

Tara smiled.  "Thanks.  I promise, Willow will be fine."

Tara went over to the pay phone in the hall, and dialed the number.  A groggy voice picked up the phone.

"Hello?"  Tara recognized her dad's best friend Devon as the voice.  She smiled, and realized she hadn't seen him in a while.

"Hi, this is Tara.  May I speak to Oz?"

"Is this a joke?  I haven't seen Oz in five months.  He doesn't live here anymore."

"I know.  He's back in town.  I thought might have gone home.  So, you haven't seen him?"

"No."

Where could he be?  "Okay.  Well, can you give him a message if you do see him?  Tell him that Willow is at Sunnydale Hospital, 3rd floor."

"Is she okay?"

"I don't think so, Devon.  But I'm going to do whatever I can.  Thanks, but I have to go.  Give Oz my message."  She hung up.

Devon sat down on the couch.  Oz was back in town?  Wait, how did she know my name?  Suddenly there was a knock at the door.  Devon opened it, and Oz ran in and slammed the door shut.

"You are back..."

Oz just went back to the door, and looked outside to make sure no one was following him.

"Oz, someone just called for you.  She said you had to go to Sunnydale Hospital, 3rd floor.  She said her name was Tara, and its about Willow."

Oz turned around at the mention of Willow.  "Is she okay?"

"I don't think so.  How did Tara know my name?"

"I have to go."  He opened the door, stumbled outside, and fell to the floor.  Oz swimmingly tried to stand up, and make it to the car outside.  "They drugged me..."

Devon ran out and helped him up.  "I'm driving."

******

Twenty minutes later Devon and a sleepy Oz arrived at the hospital.  Tara and Buffy were just about to go into Willow's room.

Tara felt the presence of her father, and turned around to welcome him in a hug.  She smiled.  "You made it!  Come inside, you can come in, too, Devon."

Oz looked at Devon's surprised face.  "I'll tell you later."

"I think I may have found a spell to help Willow.  I'm going to go into the astral plane, and try to help her from a different level.  And see what's causing this."

"Are you sure that's not too dangerous?"  Oz questioned.

"You want to come with me?"  Oz nodded, and they sat down on the floor.  "Okay.  Close your eyes, and breathe in and out slowly, focus on Willow.  Only her.  Push aside all other thoughts."