Title: The French Connection
Author: Lily
Rating: PG to PG-13
Spoilers: Bargaining, but really only part one
Disclaimer: pshaw. not mine.
Summary: Yes, the resurrection worked. But no, it didn't wake
Buffy up where she last was (that part seems to have gotten messed
up, no?)...
Author's Note: *la la la* denotes Buffy thoughts
Oz had been sitting in one of the sidewalk cafes for which Paris was so famous. With nowhere that he had to be, having some coffee after dinner could become an activity that lasted for hours. The cafes were one of Oz's favorite things in Paris--he loved sitting at a table outside and just watching the people pass. Some walked very quickly; the ones with places to be and people to meet. They walked with their heads down...probably more aerodynamic. Others walked in groups, speaking loudly in the French that you don't learn in school. The groups tended to take more time in getting places, and Oz had more time to study every face, from the ones in front that he could only think of as the alphas, to the quiet ones in back. The couples walked the slowest, but Oz didn't look at them.
"Monsieur, avez-vous fini?" The waiter had approached his table and was blocking his view of the street.
"Oui..." Oz nodded absent-mindedly, not concentrating. A familiar smell was tickling the back of his throat. Home...but not. He couldn't place it.
The waiter bent to pick up the coffee cup, and Oz's eyes followed him as he straightened. The man moved away and Oz saw the street again. Moving even more slowly than the couples, Oz noticed a patch of blond. He knew what the scent was. Buffy. She was stumbling and looked more lost than any tourist. And she was alone.
Quickly placing some money from his pocket onto the table, Oz bolted into the crowd and grabbed the slayer's shoulder. She turned slowly and looked at him. When their eyes met, he saw nothing. Emptiness. She didn't recognize him.
"Buffy? Buffy, it's me, Oz," he tried, hoping it would jog her memory. Her eyes moved back and forth across his face, but she didn't speak.
"Buffy, can you hear me?"
The words floated around in her mind, not quite registering. She opened her mouth, shut it again, and started to cry even harder. Without another word, Oz gently placed a hand on the small of her back and began to lead her down the street, towards his apartment.
**end two-a**