DISCLAIMER: don't own anything I swear… if I did the show would still be on and everyone would be happier… heh ate chocolate cake… okay, I don't own the book or the writing's in the book Anna's Ashes (could be a hint to who shows up in this chapter, to those of you who are sharp…. Which I'm sure you all are…) I also don't own any lyrics and/or otherwise for the bands Evanescence or Linkin Park again I ask the bands don't sue me, ur my heroes! And I'm poor…. Sigh…. So very poor…
CHAPTER #2 FORGIVE. NEVER FORGET.Giles picked up the phone with a frown. No one ever called this number. It was only for major emergencies. He worried about Buffy first of all but when he saw an unfamiliar number his frown deepened. He picked it up "hello?" he asked. "um, hi, I'm a friend of Oz's." Karen said confused with the accent. "is this a Mr. Giles?" she added.
"Well, yes, but I really don't have the time to talk right now." Giles said taking off his glasses and wiping them with his cloth. "It's really important." Karen said reassuringly. Giles was thrown off by the Texan accent asked after a second. "Why aren't I talking to erm… Oz?" he asked getting worried. "Because he's unconscious and has been for a week or so." Karen said sadly.
"Oh my, what happened is there anything I can do?" Giles said putting down his glasses and walking over to a table to pour himself a scotch. (which he deserved having just dealt with evil Willow; and was now finding out about poor Oz.) "I need to get a hold of a Miss Willow Rosenberg."' Karen said frowning. "I, I'm not sure if you can or not…" Giles said frowning with the situation.
Willow was at a retreat dealing with killing Warren and going evil. "It's important. We…we don't know how long he has." Karen said he eyes welling up. Giles was floored. He hadn't expected it was indeed, that bad. "Give me the directions and I'll pass them on." He said looking down. "The closest town is Kenbridge. But we are in Cuckoo's Valley, in a ranger's station called the 'cuckoo's nest'. Tell her to meet us at the airport and we'll fly her in. Just give us a call when she gets there and we'll pick her up." Karen said quietly. "I'm guessing the sooner the better." Giles said sadly. Karen didn't and probably couldn't answer. Instead she gave him her number and hung up.
A few days later Karen got a phone call from Giles again. He told her that Willow would be at the airport in a little under an hour. Karen had thanked him a grabbed her coat.
When Karen had landed a beautiful woman standing off to the side caught her off guard. She had bright red hair and was wearing long black pants and reddish high-heeled shoes. She was wearing a purple turtleneck and a long black coat. But the most striking thing about her was the amount of pure sorrow in her eyes. Tears smudged her make-up and she looked tormented.
Karen got out of the plane and walked toward her. "Willow?" she asked. Willow had a lost look on her face but, she bent down and picked up her bag. Karen led her back to the plane and they both got in. The ride to the ranger's station was silent. Karen glanced at Willow only once. A single tear had fallen down her face and her gaze was elsewhere.
Oz was dreaming again, he blinked and found himself in what looked like a room. His senses where going crazy and he was disorientated by the blinding smoke, His first instinct was to run but then he heard something, a small whimper. Oz frowned and looked around.
He entered the closest bedroom and found a little girl curled up on the bed crying. He cautiously walked toward her. She looked up at him and stared for a few seconds before going back to crying. Oz picked her up and attempted to carry her out of the house. But she kicked and screamed. "I can't go!" she cried. Oz stared at her for a second.
"Mommy lived here, she died right there." She said pointing to the bed. Oz stared at the bed. A rush of sympathy ran through his body. But the smoke was getting darker and thicker. "we have to get out of here." He said to her. "NO!" she screamed. Oz looked her square in the face. "you know. Your mom will always be with you,. No matter what anyone says. Do you think she would want you to die in here?" he asked her softly.
The little girl shook her head and allowed Oz to carry her out of the room. She cried the whole way. He then quickly exited the house. He put her safely onto the grass across the street and they watched the house burn the ground. He looked down at her and she still had tears in her eyes. Then he looked around for any sign of her parents. When he saw no one he looked into her eyes and asked. "What's your name?" "Tara" the little girl whispered.
Oz raised his eyebrows. Willow's Tara! He thought looking at the tiny brunette. She was wearing a white bed dress and her hair was in a French braid. Her soulful chocolate eyes bore into his.
Oz suddenly found himself the recipient of a large hug. Oz was stunned at first and then found himself hugging back. There they stood in front of the blackened ruins of a once large house in the middle of nowhere. It was pouring rain not another soul in sight.
Karen landed the plane. The ride had dragged. Willow hadn't said a word. When the plane had come to a complete stop Karen looked at Willow who stared back before attempting a small sad smile. "Thanks" she whispered as she got out.
Mary had run up the landing strip to meet them. She took Willow's small bag and everyone started walking towards the little house. "I'm Mary" Mary said smiling and holding out her hand. Willow took it and looked over at Karen. Karen suddenly realized that she hadn't introduced herself yet. "I'm Karen" she said smiling.
"How is he?" Willow asked. Talking for the first time since they had met. Mary looked grave. "The same." She said quietly. Karen held the door for the 2 other people and let herself in. Mary led them to where Willow would be sleeping. She carefully placed her bag on the bed and left the others to got check on dinner.
"I'm guessing you want to see him." Karen said softy. Willow wasn't sure what she wanted. She still felt numb with total shock of everything that had just happened in so short of a time frame, she had lost Tara, killed a man and now the first person in the world she had ever truly loved was in a comma.
She set her jaw and then hesitantly nodded. Karen allowed Willow to follow her into Oz's room. Willow took a look around, there was a guitar case leaned in the corner. A smile crossed her lips for the briefest of seconds and finally her eyes landed on the pale lump under the sheets that was Oz. His eyes were taped shut. That was the killer.
When Willow turned around for an explanation tears pricking in the back of her eyes. "The doctor said they would dry out if they weren't closed." Karen whispered tears in her eyes. "His eyes were open when this happened!" Willow exclaimed tears now running freely down her face.
She thought of Oz's beautiful green eyes, forced to be taped shut, covered up. Suddenly anger bubbled up inside her and she ran over and ripped the tape off his eyelids. His eyes suddenly shot open and she screamed. They were lifeless, none of Oz was in them like she remembered them, and oh she remembered them well.
(Always e.-)Dear my love
haven't you wanted to be with me
And dear my love
haven't you longed to be free
I can't keep pretending that I don't even know you And
at sweet night, you are my own
Take my hand
CHORUS:
We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the mornings light
We'll be half way to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name
I have dreamt of a place for you and I
No one knows who we are there
All I want is to give my life only to you
I've dreamt so long
I cannot dream anymore
Let's run away, I'll take you there
Chorus
We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the mornings light
we'll be half way to anywhere
Where no-one needs a reason
Forget this life
Come with me
Don't look back you're safe now
Unlock your heart
Drop your guard
No one's left to stop you
Forget this life
Come with me
Don't look back you're safe now
Unlock your heart
Drop your guard
No one's left to stop you now
Chorus
We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'd only hold us down
So by the mornings light
We'll be half way to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name
She gasped for air when the sobs came and backed up and into the corner. This wasn't her Oz. Her Oz was full of life and knowledge. This wasn't him. It was just a body. He might as well be dead. She backed into his guitar case and screamed. It was his but, he wasn't in it. He was gone.
She couldn't take it anymore and the darkness came again. She started to get black roots. But she was too tired to do anything about it. Finally she just gave up and threw herself onto the bed and wept. Karen who was too stunned to say anything that might be helpful just left her to herself.
He was cold. Willow thought after she had calmed down, normally her was so warm they were always so close, their fingers always entwined. Suddenly she saw the light. She was going to help him wake up if it cost her life to do it.
She started doing what was now instinct she rubbed his entire body to get the circulation running in his limbs again. She was on a mission, and she wasn't giving up until her wrapped his arms around her once more.
Oz was sitting on a bed. Her was braiding little Tara's hair. "Where did you learn how to do this?" she asked feeling the finished part. A small smile crossed Oz' face. "Kumara, my singer friend taught me." He said finishing the last cornflower braid. He held up a mirror and let her see. "Thanks Daniel!" she exclaimed turning around and giving him a hug.
"You can call me Oz." Oz said frowning at the use of his first name. "I can sing." The little girl said changing the subject. "My mommy taught me," she added. "Really?" Oz asked smiling at the cuteness. The little girl nodded shyly. "I used to sing for Willow, until I got shot." Tara said proudly. Oz opened his mouth, how did she know she was shot? He thought frowning. "What?" little Tara asked shyly Oz shook his head, "nothing."
"And I believe you play guitar." Came a familiar voice from the doorway. Oz's head shot up. He knew that Irish accent. "Hello my little bam bam." Doyle said walking into the room. He was holding a guitar case. "Not again." Oz said hitting his head and remembering the night Doyle got totally drunk; started to quote the book ANNA'S ASHES, and if he recalled correctly had sworn the main characters had been Barney and Betty Rubble.
"Just kidden around man, nice to see you again." He said coming over and giving Oz a good-humored pat on the back.
"Hi Allan!" Tara said grinning. "Hi Tara, remember that conversation we had before about calling me by my last name?" Doyle asked softly. Tara frowned. "'Yes, Doyle…" she said after a second. "That's me girl." He said cheerfully coming over and giving her a hug.
"I don't mean to break up all the love in this room, but where am I?" Oz asked frowning. Doyle stopped ticking Tara and looked at him for a second. "Yer… in between." He said after a minute. When Oz was silent he added. "Yer not dead or alive at the moment."
"So I'm gonna die?" Oz asked, confused. "They aren't sure yet." Doyle said sympathetically. "Who's they?" Oz asked. "The powers that be." Tara chimed in from the bed. "What happened?" Oz asked. "A brick wall ran into your head." Doyle explained. Oz frowned.
"No silver?" he asked frowning. "Well your leg gotta a shot o da stuff." Doyle said sadly. "Did you do that?" Doyle said changing the subject and pointing to Tara's hair. Oz nodded. "Can I sing?" Tara whined.
Doyle smiled. "Here man, play ere a song." He said handing Oz the guitar. "So your dead?" he asked Doyle as he took the guitar. Doyle nodded. Oz took the brand new guitar out of the case. He looked at Tara to see what she wanted him to play. She looked thoughtful.
Doyle smiled. "Yer good with kids" he said. "So are you… surprisingly." He added "Hey believe it or not buddy, I was a grade three teacher, before I left the mother country." Doyle said grinning. "Isn't the mother country England?" Oz asked frowning. Doyle frowned. "Whatever." He said waving his hand and sticking to his previous comment. "What'd a do bring your flask to school?" Oz asked raising an eyebrow. "Only once or twice!" Doyle said defensively. "It was a rough time, man." He added. Oz nodded. "I'm sure it was." He said sarcastically.
Oz finally gave up on Tara naming a song and just started playing something. He used his pick to go in and out through the six strings in intricate patterns with various pitches. Suddenly Tara started singing. It was a song he didn't expect to hear from a 6 year old. Suddenly they were on a stage.
Oz had his good old electric guitar with him and Tara was all grown up and shouting lyrics. She was dressed in tight red leather pants and a black tank top. Oz smiled to himself… it had been so long since he had actually preformed anything on stage. He missed the rush of energy he got from playing at gigs. He loved the feeling of being a part of a band, not having to rely on yourself for all the noise and having people back you up. He had forgotten how good that had felt.
That and Tara was really awesome to play with, her voice was so versatile. She was so different from the stuttering girl he had met 2 years ago, she was confident and un afraid. He knew part of that was Willow's doing but he wondered why he had never seen her act even somewhat comfortable being outside and around people. Every time he had been around her, her unease had flowed out of her in waves. The wolf had always sensed weakness and that was probably why it had attacked when caught off guard. Oz frowned, he was drawing to conclusions, he hadn't even known her a full day. Maybe she had been different when she wasn't around him or near him. Oz shook his head and forced himself to stop thinking and just get sucked into the song, his heart soared for the first time since Sunnydale.
I cannot take this any more
Saying every thing I said before,
All these words they make no sense,
I find blessing ignorance,
Less I hear the less you say
You'll find that out anyway….
I find the answers aren't so clear,
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense
I find blessing ignorance less
I hear the less you say you'll find that out anyway… over and over again…
(Oz solo while Tara head bangs)
Everything you say to me
I need a little room to breathe
Everything you say to me
I need a little room to breath…
These are the places where I can feel…
Torn from my body…
My flesh it peels…
During this night, we can cover what we are…
Waiting alone, on a night like this,
Feeling this hate I have never missed…
These are the demons that I face.
Blood keeps on pouring and pouring and pouring…
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up!
Blood is pouring…
Shut up!
Blood is pouring…
Shut up when I'm talking to you…!
Shut up!
Blood is pouring…
Shut up!
Blood is pouring…
Everything you say to me
I need a little room to breath
Everything you say to me
I need a little room to breath
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge and I'm about to…
BREAK!
Then for Oz his dreams went to black again.
woot!L.P. party (head bangs)! review plz!