A month of secret dates later, Charli still had not told Shelby. It just never felt right, the moment never came. It was going so well. She and Oz had so much fun talking and laughing and being together that it didn't seem important to mention. Charli knew that Shelby had every right to know that she and Oz were together. She decided one Saturday that she would tell her, no matter what, over lunch. "What's going on? You're acting really weird today," Shelby commented, sitting down at a patio table at Café Express. "I need to talk to you... about Oz..." Charli paused, trying to read her best friend's expression. "And me." Shelby's eyes flashed, registering what Charli had said. It was easy to see that she was trying to decide where this was leading. "What about you and Oz?" "Well... we sort of... are sort of... like... together," Charli stammered. She waited. "What was that all about you wanting me to talk to him? So you would feel better about going behind my back and stealing my boyfriend?" "Ex-boyfriend," Charli reminded her. "And that's not the point. I do want you two to be friends, and this relationship is pretty recent. I've been trying to get you to talk to him since you broke up!" "We're supposed to be best friends! You should have been able to tell me... but... why Oz?" she demanded. "Shell, you moved on, and said Oz should do the same," Charli spoke calmly. "He needed someone to be there for him after the way you acted on Thanksgiving... a friend. And it just so happens that I was that friend! He's so good to me! I really, really like him," Charli pleaded. "Do you? Or are you just lonely and desperate because Riley left?" she asked coldly. Riley was Charli's ex-boyfriend, and when he left for the Army, it hit her pretty hard. "How could you say that? Do you really think I would use him?" She was more than angry, she was hurt. "I don't want to talk about this. Just... go and have your Oz, but leave me alone." Shelby turned and left the café, leaving Charli speechless... and the check.

Oz was walking to Charli's in the dark. She had sounded pretty upset when she called. He was with his band, but he thought he could hear a tear in her message. Turning down her street, he saw her, standing on her lawn. She waved. Focused completely on Charli, he stepped into the street. In a flash of bright light, he felt a ton of weight crash into his left side. He was thrown onto the hood of a car, and landed with a painful thud on the street. In an instant, Charli was at his side. She held him close to her, calling his name. Her voice sounded distant, and he heard the car drive away. "Hey, watch out," he murmured before losing consciousness.

Charli waited nervously in the lobby of Sunny Dale General Hospital. She had called Giles, and now waited alone to hear from the doctor. Giles arrived shortly, followed by Alex, Kimberly, Rachel, and... "Shelby!" Charli cried, running to hug her best friend. Tears were pouring silently from her eyes. She had forgotten that Shelby hated her, but seeing her friend so torn up, Shelby had forgotten, too. They hugged for several minutes. "What happened?" everyone asked when Charli was sitting down again. "He was hit... a car... drove away..." she sobbed.

Oz awoke to see Charli leaning over him, smiling. He looked around. He wasn't lying in the street where he expected to be. "Oh no..." he murmured, acknowledging the hospital room. "How are you?" Charli asked. She was sitting by his bed, and looked like she had been there for awhile. Her face, though beautiful, was stained with tears. "I'm hit. You know, wow! It's odd... and painful." He smiled anyway. "How long have I been here?" "All night," she replied, yawning. "How long have you been here?" "All night." She kissed him softly on the forehead. "Hey, I have a question for you," she said, matter-of-factly. "Yeah?" "Didn't your mom ever tell you to look before you cross the street?" He laughed. "As they say, people do crazy things when they're in love." Charli looked slightly startled. He had never told her he was in love with her. A dreamy, happy expression flashed across her face. "So when do I get out of here?" he asked. "Um... tomorrow morning. You're all banged up," she said sympathetically. He looked disappointed, but not in a staying-overnight-at-the-hospital way. "What?" she asked. He shook his head, smiling slightly to himself. "What?" she pressed on. He laughed, turning somewhat red. "Nothing," he repeated. "What?" Nikki demanded. Oz looked uncomfortable. "I just... was hoping..." he paused. Charli's rapt attention made him chuckle again. "I was hoping that tonight would be the night we... well, you know..." His face was completely red by this time. Charli grinned a thoroughly evil grin. "We what?" she asked innocently. "You know perfectly well what." "No, I don't know what you're talking about," she insisted. "You know... have a - a slumber party. Yeah, a sleepover." Charli laughed, and Oz's face turned a deeper shade of red as Alex and the rest of the gang entered the room. All of them looked at the couple, confused, making Charli laugh even harder. Oz groaned and covered his face with a pillow. "Did we interrupt?" Kimberly asked. "Alex, did we..." "No, you guys are totally welcome... So what's the latest?" Charli asked as Shelby began whispering to Rachel in the back of the room. "Um, Oz? I want to apologize for the way I've been acting," Shelby said. It took everyone by surprise. "Kim, come on, let's go find a candy machine and beat the crap out of it," Alex said, leading a confused Kimberly from the room. Giles and Rachel followed with pretend interest. "Oz, do you want anything? A drink?" Charli asked, leaving his side for the first time all night. "No thanks," he replied. "Well I am dying for a soda," she said, backing out of the room. She cast a meaningful look at Shelby, silently thanking her for forgiving her and making peace with Oz. "Oz, I'm sorry," Shelby said, sitting in the chair previously occupied by Charli. "Don't even worry about it," he said. "I wasn't exactly charming," he shrugged. "So... can we be friends?" she asked hopefully. He nodded. "Do we have a truce?" Charli asked, returning. She set down the soda can and lay down on Oz's bed, careful not to hurt him. Shelby laughed. "Yup. I'm uh - I'm going to leave you two alone now." She quickly left the room. Charli laughed, too. "That's what I always used to say when dealing with you two," she sighed. She could tell he was growing tired again. "Say it again," she whispered, placing her hand lightly on his chest. "Say what?" "That you're in love with me." "I'll do you one better," he said, closing his eyes. "I love you." He fell asleep. Charli whispered, "I love you, too," hoping he would hear her in Dreamland.

Oz woke early the next morning to find that Charli was still lying faithfully by his side. Her head rested on his shoulder. For several minutes he watched her, admiring the innocent peace on her face... her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open. Her breath was steady and created a quiet rhythm in the room. Oz kissed her softly on the forehead, afraid to move anything else. He wanted to let his angel sleep. Then he remembered. He told her he loved her. And she said it back. But it felt like a dream. Had he just imagined it? He couldn't decide. Before he could contemplate the matter further, Charli began to stir. She slowly opened her eyes to see Oz staring down at her. He smiled. Suddenly Charli seemed very confused. She jolted upright, looking around the room. Recognizing the hospital, she relaxed. Oz groaned. Charli's elbow was resting on his chest very uncomfortably. "Oh, God, sorry Oz!" she said, jumping off the bed. "Oh, hey, guess what day it is!" She was very excited. "Tuesday?" "You get to go home today!" Oz did a happy dance - as much of one as he could, being bed-ridden and sore. "How are you feeling," she asked. She could tell every movement he made hurt him. "I feel like I'd be better off dead," Oz said groggily. He had meant to say fine. Why didn't he lie? Charli fussed over him until the nurse came in. She looked surprised to see Charli. "Ma'am, what are you doing here?" she asked sternly. "Just visiting," Charli smiled innocently. The nurse frowned. "I see that. Visiting hours begin at 11:00a.m. sharp. It is," she paused, looking at her watch, "8:23." "Well then I'm here to pick up this patient. He won his parole hearing with early release for good behavior. Dr. O'Shaughnessy was a fantastic lawyer; I will recommend him to all of my friends!" The nurse's frown deepened, but as she flipped through Oz's file, the look increased to one of loathing. "I see... Well, Mr. Osborne, it seems that you are free to leave. I'll have to doctor come and remove your IVs. In the meantime, Miss... ?" "Reagan. Charli Reagan," Nikki said, extending her hand politely. "Yes, Miss Reagan," the nurse repeated, ignoring Charli's gesture. "You may wait outside." "Oh, no, I'd like it if she stayed," Oz said hopefully. The nurse looked skeptical. He added in a melodramatic tone, "Please, it would really ease the... the pain..." "Very well," the nurse said with what was unmistakably hatred in her voice. She backed out of the room, glaring at Charli. "I hid in your bathroom while Security was making its rounds," Charli said, answering Oz's unasked question. They both knew Sunnydale General was under strict supervision. He smiled. "That's my girl." Dr. O'Shaughnessy came into the room, smiling. "I see you've met Ms. Kensington," he chuckled. "Oh, yeah. She's fun," Charli said sarcastically. The doctor busied himself, removing IVs from Oz's hands. He unhooked him from the machines set up beside his bed. "Don't try a whole lot of activity right away," he said as he worked, "nothing exhausting. You weren't hit too hard, but you'll be very sore for a few days." He looked at Charli. "I'll make sure he gets lots of rest with no strenuous activity," she smiled. "I take good care of the ones I love." She stole a quick look at Oz. So it wasn't a dream, he smiled to himself. She really does love me. "Just to be safe," the doctor continued, "we're sending you home in a wheelchair. Use it," he stressed. "Ok, we'll have lots of fun with it," Oz joked. "Ooooh, maybe if we can find another one, we can have races!" The doctor frowned, but laughed all the same. Oz had been one of his more interesting patients, and Charli was definitely the most fun visitor to have ever been in the hospital. Even at her worst moment she was strong, kept a level head, and possessed a special kind of childish optimism - not quite naivety, but definitely uncharacteristic of an adult. Charli wheeled Oz happily out of the hospital. He got out of the chair at her car and stood up for the first time in over two days. It was strange, and his legs were feeling very battered. "I think you still might be a little broken," Charli commented, helping him into the car. She climbed in on the other side. "Where to? My place or yours?" "Will you stay with me? I mean, wherever we go, will you stay?" he asked, rather sheepishly. "I won't leave you for a second," she smiled and pulled out of the parking lot. She headed to his house, figuring it would be nice for him to be around all of his things. The hospital was a pretty impersonal place. Oz watched her drive idly, not paying attention to her direction. He was surprised to find them in the parking garage of his building. He began to get out of the car, habitually. "Don't even," Charli said sternly, rushing to his aid. "I think I can walk to the elevator," he said. Charli let out a small "tut, tut" unfolding the wheelchair for Oz to sit in. "I will not be getting into trouble with Dr. O.," she said, purposely patronizing him. She rolled him into the elevator. "Besides, it's fun taking care of you. Makes me feel kind of... special." Oz leaned his head back far to look at his love. "You are the specialest thing that has ever happened to me," he said, "and I'm not just saying that because you hid in a hospital bathroom just to stay with me." She kissed him, laughing. "I've never kissed anyone upside-down before. I like it," she said. They spent the rest of the elevator ride kissing upside-down.

Charli spent the next few days fussing over Oz. She gave in to his pleading and let him walk around the apartment, but followed him closely everywhere he went. The only place she didn't go was the bathroom, though he commented that it was dangerous for him to shower alone. She declined, reminding him that Dr. O'Shaughnessy had said, "No strenuous activity." She was happy to massage all the sore out of him, from back to legs. Even when they were just sitting on the couch watching TV, she ran her fingers through his hair. Oz loved how much attention she paid him, how she loved to treat him like a child. It wasn't over-bearing or twisted; it was almost like a game to her. Oz thought she might be feeling responsible for him getting hit by the car, but she insisted that even if it hadn't been her fault, she would take care of him exactly the same. The third night after Oz returned from the hospital, he and Charli (who had been sleeping in a chair by his bed every night) were sitting up late on his bed. He wasn't so sore anymore, and most of the bruises had begun to go away. Charli lay near the foot, listening to Oz play his guitar. She watched his hands move over the guitar to form different chords. He repeated the pattern, and it sounded wonderful to her. She listened as he delicately strummed the instrument, his left hand carefully holding the strings. It seemed so simple. All he had to do was hold the strings down and then play. But Charli knew better. She watched his concentrated expression carefully, his tongue between his teeth. She could only guess how many hours he spent learning the chords and patterns. She paid close attention to his hands. Something about his hands really did something for her. Oz looked up at her suddenly, watching her study him as he played, and smiled. "You look so happy."
Charli looked up. "I am," she returned the smile.
"You like it?"
"I like everything you play. I'm a groupie," she said.
"Well, would the groupie like to learn how to play something?"
Nikki looked a little surprised. She had never thought about learning to play herself. She liked listening so much, it never occurred to her. Well, she thought, maybe I could be good at this.
"Um, sure," she said timidly.
Oz set his guitar next to him and patted the bed in front of him. Nikki scooted to sit in front of him. He placed the guitar in her hands. She held it carefully, examining it, running her fingers lightly over the strings.
"Where do we start?" she asked curiously.
"How about some easy chords, and then maybe an easy song?"
"You're the teacher."
Oz put his arms around her to show her how to place her fingers on the strings. He put her index finger on what he called the D string, her middle finger on the G, and her ring finger on the B. He exhaled, his breath lightly tickling her ear.
She strummed the guitar as instructed, but was disappointed with the sound she made. She looked back at him, dismayed.
"It's ok," he said, smiling at the cute, troubled expression on her face. "Your fingers are right, but you're not pressing hard enough. Like this," he said, placing his corresponding fingers on hers tightly.
She strummed again and a clear note came from the guitar. She turned around, a wide grin spread across her face.
"Congratulations, that was an A chord," he said, kissing her cheek.
"Can we try another one?"
"How about an E minor?" Charli agreed to learn an E minor. He placed her fingers on the fret again, and she strummed. The only sound she made was a loud buzzing. She was very disappointed.
"Looks like I need help again," she said dejectedly. He placed his fingers over hers and when she strummed the second time, the pleasant sound of the chord filled the room.
"Perfect," he said, kissing her cheek again. "Now, to play a song, you have to make a strum pattern."
"A what?"
"A strum pattern. You strum the guitar to a certain beat, like this," he said, demonstrating. He handed her a guitar pick. He showed her how to hold it, then took her left hand and moved it over the strings in a pattern several times. "Got it?"
"We'll see," she said, preparing to play her first pattern. She started to move her hand in imitation of Oz's, but the sound wasn't quite right. She looked to him for help.
"It was a good start, but you lost the beat in the middle. I'll show you again," he said. He took her left hand in his and started to strum, but she dropped the pick.
She blushed with embarrassment. She wasn't as good as she'd hoped she'd be. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to..." she broke off, avoiding his eyes. "I'm afraid I'm not very good."
He lifted her chin with his hand and kissed her softly. "You're doing great." The sincere look on his face told her he wasn't lying. She relaxed back into his arms, allowing herself for the first time since the accident to put her weight on Oz.
"Play me a song," she said sweetly.
Oz thought for a moment, then began to pluck out a song Charli recognized immediately. Oz sang softly into her ear.

Could you whisper in my ear
The things you want to feel?
I'd give you anything
To feel it coming.

Do you wake up on your own
And wonder where you are?
You live with all your faults...

I want to wakeup where you are,
I won't say anything at all.
So why don't you slide?
Yeah, I'm going to let it slide...

Don't you love the life you killed?
The priest is on the phone,
You're father hit the wall,
Your ma disowned you.

Don't suppose I'll ever know
What it means to be a man.
It's something I can't change,
I'll live around it...

I want to wakeup where you are,
I won't say anything at all.
So why don't you slide?
Mmmm mmmm slide...

And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete,
Little pieces of the nothing that fall.
Oh may...
Put your arms around me!
What you feel is that you are,
And what you are is beautiful,
Oh may...
Do you want to get married?
Or run away?

And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete,
Little pieces of the nothing that fall.
Oh may...
Put your arms around me!
What you feel is that you are,
And what you are is beautiful,
Oh may...
Do you want to get married?
Or run away?

I want to wake up where you are...
I won't say anything at all...

Yeah slide
And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete,
Little pieces of the nothing that fall...
Yeah slide
And I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete,
Little pieces of the nothing that fall...

Oh, oh slide...
Yeah, slide between the sheets of all the beds you never knew,
Yeah slide...
Why don't you slide into my room?
Just slide into my room
Oh yeah we'll run away, run away, run away...