Chapter Seven

"Come in," Willow said to Buffy. It was ten thirty in the morning and Willow was dressed and waiting to be released from the hospital.

"How excited are you to leave this place?" Buffy asked her best friend.

"Thrilled, I mean not just thrilled, thrilled thrilled. I miss my bed and my room. I was even beginning to miss my parents and their lack of parenting."

That all changes today and you can rest tomorrow because of the whole lack of school."

"The school is still closed?" Willow asked.

"Yea. I mean how many students have died in that school or have turned up missing or deformed or demon like? How many vampires, invisible girls and other demons have done bad things there and they have closed it because of one death and because a few people where injured? It's about time the school does something; I just wonder why the school changed now. Who made them change their minds?" Buffy thought out loud.

Umm, well, I call her mom."

"WHAT?!?! Buffy asked in amazement. Willow's mother was never around for Willow so this movement surprised Buffy.

"Yea, she kind of got tired of everything you just said minus the demon and vampire and the invisible girl parts. With me being hurt, things hit home with her. The school is jumping on the metal detectors and surveillance camera bandwagon. They won't be installed until the end of next week."

"So this is like a forced vacation?" Xander interrupted Willow. He closed the door and sat on Willow's bed.

"Yea, something like that." Willow smiled. "Why don't the two of you go grab some coffee and chat for a while, you two have talking to do."

"Coffee sounds good." Buffy said, as she looked Xander in the eyes.

"Let's go then. Wil, do you want anything?"

"Yea, my best friends all made up. Now scram! Time is a wasting." Willow said still smiling.

Buffy stood up and left the room with Xander. Silence filled the friends all the way to the cafeteria. They walked over to the counter to order their coffees. Before Buffy could order, Xander spoke.

"Yes, I will have two coffees. One medium hazelnut with just cream and a vanilla with two sugars and extra skim milk." Xander ordered and paid for both coffees. He handed her her coffee and walked over to t able. The cafeteria was nearly empty.

"Must be the calm before the storm. You know, its not the mad lunch time rush." Xander commented.

"Your probably right." Buffy said. She was quiet for a minute before she continued. "Thanks Xand, for the coffee."

"Your welcome. Its kind of an I'm sorry. I blew things way out of control when I heard that Angel was still alive. Granted I'm not Angel's biggest fan, but there is a world of difference between him and Angelus and if anyone knows the difference it would be you. So I am sorry, please forgive me."

"A smile formed on Buffy's face. "You are forgiven, I accept. I also want to apologize for going all postal on you. I-I don't know why Angel is back and I'm a little confused and on edge. Then I saw Giles and-"

"He looked like he got hit by twelve Mack trucks and then plucked by a dozen large beaked birds?"

Buffy made a disturbed face. "God Xander, I was going to say bad but thanks for the imagery." Buffy stopped and dazed into her coffee. "I just wish I understood more. I want to learn and understand more but-"

"That's usually what I'm for. I'm research girl and I guess now I'm spell girl too." Willow said with a smile. Oz was standing behind her with her backpack. "By the way, I am officially no longer a patient of the Sunnydale Memorial Hospital, I am now only a visitor. And you two-"

"Are bestest buddies again." Xander said as he put his arm around Buffy's shoulders and smiled.

"That's nice," said Oz as he sat next to Willow.

"So what are you guys talking about? What requires the help of research girl?' Willow asked with a smile.

"Wil, maybe you should just take some time and rest for a while." Buffy suggested.

"Yea Wil. What about you, me, a big tub of popcorn and some Snoopy time today? I'll even do the dance for you." Xander offered.

"No, I want to help Buffy. What do you need help with?"

"I don't know Wil, maybe they are right. You're kind of weak right now. Plus how can you refuse the Snoopy dance performed by Xander here? I mean it isn't even the holiday season." Oz added.

"No, Oz, I'm serious. DO you see my serious face? I am serious. I mean it, I want to help. Tell me what I can do!"

"Well Wil, when you put it that that way," Xander said as he sipped his coffee.

"Wil, I want to know about Angel's curse. I know it's partially in a different language but could you get it translated for me into English? I want to see it, and know what it means."

"Is that all? That's easy, I can do it and print out a copy for you in like twenty minutes when I get home."

"Thanks. Also, I went back to the school this morning-"

"Buffy went to school on a day when there wasn't any school to be had? Well, if Snyder could only see you know. Buf, when did you become the dedicated student?" Xander joked.

"Anyway, I went looking for information about the curse. What I am about to tell you, please don't tell Giles. I want to tell him when he's out of the hospital that I looked though his things." Buffy then pulled out her copy of the email to Giles from Jenny.

"Wow, Giles has email?" Willow asked.

"Files has seen a computer?" Oz added.

Xander, Willow and Oz all read the email before it was handed back to Buffy.

"Wil, do you remember seeing this email in any of Jenny's files?"

"No, I would have remembered since none of us knew about Giles and his knowledge of computers."

"Uh?" questioned Xander.

"The email. I would have recognized rgiles@sunnydale.edu as, well, Giles' name."

"Oh , ok" Xander said.

"There are a few websites that I found in a folder that I haven't looked at yet. Maybe one of those will have some answers. I will check on that when I get home.

"Buffy smiled at her friend. "Thanks Wil, you rock."

Oz also smiled at his girlfriend as he reached for her hand. "Yea she does."

"So we're off to see Giles now?" Xander asked.

"I'm up to it," Willow added.

"Me too," Oz agreed.

"Let's go then." Buffy suggested. "and remember, not a word to him about Angel or the email or the spells. We're only visiting with him."

Oz and Willow got up and continued to hold hands as they walked to the elevator. They walked in front of Buffy and Xander.

"You know, I'm glad we are so done with that whole fight thing." Buffy told Xander as he put his arm around one of his best friends.

"I know you said that Willow rocks but you also do a little be of rocking of you your own."

Buffy smiled as she wrapped an arm around Xander's waist. "Thanks, you're not too bad yourself."