~Oz~
As soon as we went by Giles's the first night, I could sense that there was
something that he wasn't telling us. Maybe Buffy could too; she always
seemed to have that capacity as Slayer. Probably Angel. And Willow told me
as much. It was one of the things that I simply got used to over the years,
the sixth sense that being a werewolf gave me. Whatever he wasn't telling
us, wasn't good.
The same feeling crept over me the next morning, when I walked into his
apartment. Willow gripped my hand tighter, looking at me with large, worried
eyes. It was obvious that Giles hadn't bothered to sleep. It was obvious
that there was something very big at stake here. Possibly even bigger than
what had been at stake before. His place was trashed and his words were
hurried, almost as if he were scared to waste more than a second on speaking
when he could be looking something else up.
Buffy showed up then, and it was the three of us; all of us concerned about
Giles. I could see that Buffy was getting anxious just by looking at him,
and noticed that old look come into her eyes that said she was about to force
him to explain himself. Willow apparently noticed it too, because she laid a
gentle hand on Buffy's arm.
"Giles," she spoke quietly before Buffy had the chance to, "Is there anything
that we could do?"
He looked a little relieved, possibly knowing what Willow had just saved him
from-- a worried Slayer is not always the most calming influence around, I've
learned-- and nodded tightly. "Yes, as a matter of fact. I'm having a bit
of trouble locating a few books that I need. Perhaps one of you could call
the remaining numbers and see if someone has it?" I nodded, lifting my hand
slightly. Giles sent me a tired smile of thanks, and then directed his gaze
back towards the girls. "And Willow, Buffy. There are some magick supplies
that I've run out of, that I believe we'll need. If you could possibly go
down to the store and pick them up, I would appreciate it. And if you would
stop by the donut shop and get enough for all of us, that would be wonderful.
The list for the supplies is on the table. So are the phone numbers, and so
is my wallet. Oz, if you don't find anything with those numbers, do you have
some contacts that you could try?"
I dipped my head.
He turned away, signaling an end to any argument that was going to come out
of Buffy. She sighed and shook her head almost imperceptibly, then picked up
the papers lying on the desk. "Fine, Giles. But the supplies and donuts are
on me, and you're explaining when I get back."
He exhaled heavily but didn't contradict her, and we left as quietly as we
came in. The mood between the three of us was somber, and I knew that we
were all wondering what exactly it was that he was trying so hard not to tell
us, trying so hard to protect us from.
Wondering how much protection we needed.
Buffy handed me the sheet of paper with the phone numbers on it, and turned
to Willow. "Come on. Jelly donuts are waiting to be bought." Her voice was
heavy, resigned.
Willow looked at her sympathetically, then leaned over and gave me a light
kiss on the cheek. "I'll meet you back here in a while?"
"I'll be here," I agreed, my eyes locking with hers. As far as I could tell,
she was one of the only beautiful things left in a world with too much
horror. I couldn't to look away.
And I didn't, until she was out of my sight. Then I turned and headed for my
van.
There were phone calls to be made.
* * * * * * * *
"The Pudendum Scrolls? Yeah, I've heard of 'em." Mick laughed mirthlessly.
"I guess they're some sort of heavy-duty all-purpose monster guide, ya know?
But I don't know where they are. Sorry, Oz. Why do you need 'em, anyway?"
"Heavy-duty, all-purpose monster guidance," I answered vaguely, stepping
around the question. "Well, thanks. I'd better..."
"Hey, you still gettin' married?"
"In three months." I nodded to myself, a little surprised. Two days ago,
all Willow and I talked about were wedding plans and now both of us had
virtually forgotten.
"It's about time," he agreed, amused. "Am I going to be gettin' a wedding
invitation?"
"Yeah." I stifled a yawn, forcing myself not to hang up. Why did everyone
ask that? I paused. Why was I feeling so rude? "We're sending them out in
a few weeks."
"Cool. Talk to you later, Buddy."
"Later."
We disconnected, and I stared down at the list Giles had given me. Not a
single number had panned out. There was only one more person that I could
think of to try, and it seemed like even a longer shot than saving the world
again was. I sighed, dialing the number.
After two rings, someone picked up. I smiled. "Hey, Jordy. What's goin'
on?"
He laughed. "Hey, Oz. Man, I haven't heard from you in a while. You still
marrying that chick? Willow? She was pretty cool."
He could talk faster than any fourteen year old that I had ever met. I knew
I had to put a stop to it while he paused to take a breath. "Yep, still am,"
I confirmed cheerfully. "And yes, you'll be getting an invitation. But I'm
really calling for another reason. Is your mom there?"
"Yeah. Talk to you later. Tell Willow hi." I heard him set down the phone
and then, a moment later, heard him scream, "MOM!!!!"
She was scolding him for screaming in the house, even as she picked up the
phone to greet me. "Hello, Oz! Why, I can't remember how long it's been
since we've heard from you. Jordy says you need to talk to me?"
"Hi, Aunt Maureen." I sighed, feeling a headache coming on, and reached up
to rub at my temples. "Yeah, I do. About something pretty big. I need a
favor, if it's possible."
"Well, go ahead. Name it. You know that your Uncle Ken and I would do
anything for you, sweetheart." She paused expectantly.
"Well, this is a really long shot, but..." I sucked in my breath. "Would
happen to know anything about a book-- actually several books-- called the
Pudendum Scrolls?"
I waiting for her apologetic response, and let my mouth drop open when it
didn't come. "Why, yes. Actually, it's not me that has it; I was visiting
one of my friends recently... Do you remember Bonnie Walter? It was our
bridge night, and saw the books lying on her table. She had just bought
them. I was thinking of purchasing them from her for the book store, but if
you need me to, I'll just get them for you."
I exhaled, feeling the pressure let up from my chest. "Yes. Thank you so
much, Aunt Maureen. I really don't know what to say."
"You never did say much to begin with, though, did ya, Honey?" she teased
lightly.
"No, I guess not," I chuckled. "If you could just let me know how much they
are, I'd be happy to pay any amount that she quotes."
"Well, if they're that important to you, you can have them for free." I
could hear the smile in her voice. "And no arguments, hear? This is just
one of those many things that an aunt does for her favorite nephew.
Especially one that she's, however indirectly, managed to curse for the rest
of his life." She let out a peal of laughter.
"You don't need to. I really don't mind payin--"
"I'm sure you don't, but you're not going to," she said resolutely. "Call me
back in fifteen minutes, and I'll tell you when to come and pick them up."
"All right. Thanks again."
"No problem. Would you like to talk to your Uncle Ken?"
"I'm really sort of on the clock right now," I said regretfully. "I'll call
him later?"
"Of course. Love you, Honey!"
"Love you too." Love you love you love you love you could worship the ground
you walk on, my favorite aunt. Oh, God, I was starting to hear Xander in my
brain.
We hung up, and I sat and stared at the phone for a few minutes in awe, a
buzz filling my blood. A moment later, after the feeling passed, I snatched
up my keys and headed out to the van. I needed to get back to Giles's.
We were back in business.
As soon as we went by Giles's the first night, I could sense that there was
something that he wasn't telling us. Maybe Buffy could too; she always
seemed to have that capacity as Slayer. Probably Angel. And Willow told me
as much. It was one of the things that I simply got used to over the years,
the sixth sense that being a werewolf gave me. Whatever he wasn't telling
us, wasn't good.
The same feeling crept over me the next morning, when I walked into his
apartment. Willow gripped my hand tighter, looking at me with large, worried
eyes. It was obvious that Giles hadn't bothered to sleep. It was obvious
that there was something very big at stake here. Possibly even bigger than
what had been at stake before. His place was trashed and his words were
hurried, almost as if he were scared to waste more than a second on speaking
when he could be looking something else up.
Buffy showed up then, and it was the three of us; all of us concerned about
Giles. I could see that Buffy was getting anxious just by looking at him,
and noticed that old look come into her eyes that said she was about to force
him to explain himself. Willow apparently noticed it too, because she laid a
gentle hand on Buffy's arm.
"Giles," she spoke quietly before Buffy had the chance to, "Is there anything
that we could do?"
He looked a little relieved, possibly knowing what Willow had just saved him
from-- a worried Slayer is not always the most calming influence around, I've
learned-- and nodded tightly. "Yes, as a matter of fact. I'm having a bit
of trouble locating a few books that I need. Perhaps one of you could call
the remaining numbers and see if someone has it?" I nodded, lifting my hand
slightly. Giles sent me a tired smile of thanks, and then directed his gaze
back towards the girls. "And Willow, Buffy. There are some magick supplies
that I've run out of, that I believe we'll need. If you could possibly go
down to the store and pick them up, I would appreciate it. And if you would
stop by the donut shop and get enough for all of us, that would be wonderful.
The list for the supplies is on the table. So are the phone numbers, and so
is my wallet. Oz, if you don't find anything with those numbers, do you have
some contacts that you could try?"
I dipped my head.
He turned away, signaling an end to any argument that was going to come out
of Buffy. She sighed and shook her head almost imperceptibly, then picked up
the papers lying on the desk. "Fine, Giles. But the supplies and donuts are
on me, and you're explaining when I get back."
He exhaled heavily but didn't contradict her, and we left as quietly as we
came in. The mood between the three of us was somber, and I knew that we
were all wondering what exactly it was that he was trying so hard not to tell
us, trying so hard to protect us from.
Wondering how much protection we needed.
Buffy handed me the sheet of paper with the phone numbers on it, and turned
to Willow. "Come on. Jelly donuts are waiting to be bought." Her voice was
heavy, resigned.
Willow looked at her sympathetically, then leaned over and gave me a light
kiss on the cheek. "I'll meet you back here in a while?"
"I'll be here," I agreed, my eyes locking with hers. As far as I could tell,
she was one of the only beautiful things left in a world with too much
horror. I couldn't to look away.
And I didn't, until she was out of my sight. Then I turned and headed for my
van.
There were phone calls to be made.
* * * * * * * *
"The Pudendum Scrolls? Yeah, I've heard of 'em." Mick laughed mirthlessly.
"I guess they're some sort of heavy-duty all-purpose monster guide, ya know?
But I don't know where they are. Sorry, Oz. Why do you need 'em, anyway?"
"Heavy-duty, all-purpose monster guidance," I answered vaguely, stepping
around the question. "Well, thanks. I'd better..."
"Hey, you still gettin' married?"
"In three months." I nodded to myself, a little surprised. Two days ago,
all Willow and I talked about were wedding plans and now both of us had
virtually forgotten.
"It's about time," he agreed, amused. "Am I going to be gettin' a wedding
invitation?"
"Yeah." I stifled a yawn, forcing myself not to hang up. Why did everyone
ask that? I paused. Why was I feeling so rude? "We're sending them out in
a few weeks."
"Cool. Talk to you later, Buddy."
"Later."
We disconnected, and I stared down at the list Giles had given me. Not a
single number had panned out. There was only one more person that I could
think of to try, and it seemed like even a longer shot than saving the world
again was. I sighed, dialing the number.
After two rings, someone picked up. I smiled. "Hey, Jordy. What's goin'
on?"
He laughed. "Hey, Oz. Man, I haven't heard from you in a while. You still
marrying that chick? Willow? She was pretty cool."
He could talk faster than any fourteen year old that I had ever met. I knew
I had to put a stop to it while he paused to take a breath. "Yep, still am,"
I confirmed cheerfully. "And yes, you'll be getting an invitation. But I'm
really calling for another reason. Is your mom there?"
"Yeah. Talk to you later. Tell Willow hi." I heard him set down the phone
and then, a moment later, heard him scream, "MOM!!!!"
She was scolding him for screaming in the house, even as she picked up the
phone to greet me. "Hello, Oz! Why, I can't remember how long it's been
since we've heard from you. Jordy says you need to talk to me?"
"Hi, Aunt Maureen." I sighed, feeling a headache coming on, and reached up
to rub at my temples. "Yeah, I do. About something pretty big. I need a
favor, if it's possible."
"Well, go ahead. Name it. You know that your Uncle Ken and I would do
anything for you, sweetheart." She paused expectantly.
"Well, this is a really long shot, but..." I sucked in my breath. "Would
happen to know anything about a book-- actually several books-- called the
Pudendum Scrolls?"
I waiting for her apologetic response, and let my mouth drop open when it
didn't come. "Why, yes. Actually, it's not me that has it; I was visiting
one of my friends recently... Do you remember Bonnie Walter? It was our
bridge night, and saw the books lying on her table. She had just bought
them. I was thinking of purchasing them from her for the book store, but if
you need me to, I'll just get them for you."
I exhaled, feeling the pressure let up from my chest. "Yes. Thank you so
much, Aunt Maureen. I really don't know what to say."
"You never did say much to begin with, though, did ya, Honey?" she teased
lightly.
"No, I guess not," I chuckled. "If you could just let me know how much they
are, I'd be happy to pay any amount that she quotes."
"Well, if they're that important to you, you can have them for free." I
could hear the smile in her voice. "And no arguments, hear? This is just
one of those many things that an aunt does for her favorite nephew.
Especially one that she's, however indirectly, managed to curse for the rest
of his life." She let out a peal of laughter.
"You don't need to. I really don't mind payin--"
"I'm sure you don't, but you're not going to," she said resolutely. "Call me
back in fifteen minutes, and I'll tell you when to come and pick them up."
"All right. Thanks again."
"No problem. Would you like to talk to your Uncle Ken?"
"I'm really sort of on the clock right now," I said regretfully. "I'll call
him later?"
"Of course. Love you, Honey!"
"Love you too." Love you love you love you love you could worship the ground
you walk on, my favorite aunt. Oh, God, I was starting to hear Xander in my
brain.
We hung up, and I sat and stared at the phone for a few minutes in awe, a
buzz filling my blood. A moment later, after the feeling passed, I snatched
up my keys and headed out to the van. I needed to get back to Giles's.
We were back in business.