Disclaimer: The spell mentioned in this chapter is from Buffy…it's not mine!
Chapter Eight
"Hello Giles. We are your official wake up call," Xander announced as the four entered Giles' hospital room.
"Uh Giles, where are you?" Willow asked confused.
As the four looked around the room, they saw all of Giles' belongings but the bed was mad and there was no sign of Giles. Oz decided to state the obvious. "I don't think that he's here."
"This is weird," Buffy added.
Just then someone entered the room. "May I help you?" A nurse asked the group.
"Yea, we are here to see Mr. Giles." Willow stated.
"And check it out, he's not here," Xander added.
"Mr. Giles is having some tests done this morning."
"Tests? We just saw him last night," Buffy explained pointing to herself and Willow. "He was fine then, what has happened?"
"That's just the thing," the nurse began to explain as she closed the door. "Mr. Giles had very serious injuries. When he was brought in we did not expect him to survive the night. If he wasn't brought in when he was, Mr. Giles would have died." The nurse paused for a moment. She saw the looks that the four friends exchanged. She then continued.
"His injuries were very serious, life threatening. Now, just a few days later, he is as healthy as a horse. All of us, the doctors and all of the nurses thought he was going to die. The doctor is running tests to double check and to make sure that he is as healthy as he appears. The doctor is also making sure there are no internal injuries."
"When will he be released?" Buffy asked.
"Tomorrow some time. We are keeping him one more day and night for observation. Mr. Giles will be having testing for the rest of the morning. Why don't you come back this afternoon and you can see him for yourself then."
"That sounds like a good idea, thank you," Xander said as they left the room with the nurse.
"Okay Buf, this is the spell." Willow told her friend.
Buffy started at the computer screen as she read:
Quod perditum est, invenietur.
Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.
Nici mort, nici de-al fiintei, Te invoc, spirit al trecerii. Reda trupului ce separa omul de animal!
Nici mort, nici al fiintei.
Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el.
Utrespur aceastui. Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!
"What does this mean?"
"Opps, sorry, I meant to give you the English, not the Latin." Willow explained. With a few clicks of the mouse, the computer screen had the translation:
What is lost, return.
Let him know the pain of humanity, gods. Reach your wizened hands to me. Give me the sword. Gods, bind him. Cast his heart from the evil realm. I call on you gods.
I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this request.
Neither dead, nor of the living, I invoke you, spirit of the passing. Return to the body what distinguishes Man from the beast!
Neither dead, nor of the living.
Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him.
Restore this one. So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!
Buffy stared at the text. She remembered reading it when Willow had tutored her a few days before.
"This is a pretty old spell, isn't it?" Buffy asked her friend.
"Yea, it is. It's powerful too, as you can tell because, you know, Angel isn't all grrr any more."
"You must be strong too. And really smart. Have even taken Latin?"
Willow laughed. "No, but it felt kind of natural. I felt like I was meant to do it."
"Willow the Wiccan, I like it…it's a strong title."
Willow laughed again. "I have been going through Ms. Calendar's stuff as you know. I have found some websites and some books that are pretty interesting. I would like to try some of the stuff I have read. It's really cool."
Buffy smiled as her friend beamed. "That's great Wil. I have an errand to run-"
"Your going to see Angel?"
"Well, I yes. You could come if you want to, then we could go to the hospital together." Buffy suggested.
"No, you guys need some alone time. But not too much alone time. Don't make him go all bad vamp again."
"I promise. We'll never get that close again. I was wondering if I could ask you one more little favor?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Could you print me a copy of the spell?"
"Of course," Willow said as she clicked the print button.
"Thank you Wil. I am off to see Angel, I'll see you guys at three at the hospital, ok?"
"Sure Buffy, I'll see you then."
"And Wil, I'm glad your home."
Buffy turned down Crawford Street and walked towards the old mansion. The street was deserted. The neighborhood was pretty nice. It was upper class neighborhood. Even the outside of the abandoned mansion looked nice.
She walked up the yard and down the stairs that lead into the little garden before stopping.
"Angel?" She said loudly.
With no answer, she pulled back the curtain carefully and walked in. Buffy walked over to the fireplace and saw Angel still engrossed in the same book he had been reading the night before.
"That must be a really good book," Buffy said as she startled Angel.
"Oh, Buffy, hi. What time is it?" He said as he put the book down.
"It's oneish. Thought I'd drop by and see how you are doing."
"I'm good, how are the others?"
"They are good. Willow is out of the hospital and Giles is being released tomorrow."
"That's great."
"Yea, and Xander and I are friends again, so things are good, they are looking up." Silence filled the two of them until Buffy remembered she had a copy of the curse in her bag. "Oh, I almost forgot, here."
"Is this-"
"The curse. This is the one and original. Willow found it on one of Jenny's disks."
"Thank you, and thank Willow too. I just wanted to look at it, and see what it says. I have never really read it or studied it."
"How's your blood supply?" Buffy asked changing the subject.
'It's a little low but I think I can go out tonight to get more, maybe tomorrow night."
"Do you need anything?" Buffy asked wanting to do something for her dead lover.
"No, I think I am all set. What are your plans for the rest of the day?"
"Well, I am meeting the gang at the hospital at three to visit Giles then I am going home, promised mom I would be home for dinner. I want to make dinner for her. I want her to try and relax. Tonight I can come back over after I patrol if you want me to." She explained.
"I would like the company. I am feeling a little better now. Could I go with you patrolling?" Angel offered.
"I would like that. I think mom would like that too. She doesn't like it when I am alone patrolling. I think mom will feel better just knowing I'm not alone."
"Of course you'll be with your psycho, serial killer, vampire ex boyfriend who just came back from a short spat in hell."
"Yea, maybe I won't tell mom your going to be with me. At least not for now."
"I understand."
Buffy offered Angel a smile. "I am just glad your back…and your good."
The two sat in silence for a little while until Buffy looked at her watch.
"Wow, I can't believe it's two fifteen already. I should be heading back to the hospital to meet the gang, and to visit Giles."
"I guess your right. I'd drive you over but I don't think I have my car any more, I haven't seen it."
"Spike took your car when he and Dru got out of town."
Angel shot a confused look on his face. "I guess we should probably talk tonight, while patrolling."
"Gee, I wonder what this talk will consist of." Buffy stated sarcastically.
"I don't know," Answered Angel as they both stood up. "Maybe about the past few months. Buffy, I feel like I've been in a coma."
"No coma, you were dormant while your alter-ego took over for a while," Buffy said trying to keep with her sarcasm."
"Buf, I'm serious. I know what has happened to your friends and to Jenny but there has to be more, right? What else happened?"
Angel inquired.
Buffy nodded her head. "All right, we'll talk. Just promise me," she said as she rested her hand on Angel's check. "Promise me that you will keep in mind this wasn't you who did these things, it was Angelus."
Angel looked in to Buffy's eyes. "I know but, but, it's complicated. We'll talk tonight then."
"Okay. I'll pick you up here, around, I don't know, let's say sundown?"
A smile finally formed on Angel's face. It's a date."