21:10
AN: Merry Belated Christmas everyone :)
Willow paced back and forth in the library. Waiting for Oz to wake up was always kind of frustrating but this time is was worse. All she wanted was to get to Buffy but she knew that if she left without telling Oz then there would be issues. She glanced again at her watch and found only a minute had passed. She put her watch to her ear to see if it was still working. As she did she heard a rustling in the cage behind her.
"Baby I've told you. You don't have to be here every morning, even if you do bring doughnuts."
Oz walked out of the cage and over to the box on the table. As he went to take one Willow grabbed his hand and started to pull him out of the room. Oz quickly snatched the box up and ran after his girlfriend,
" Willow, where are we going to?"
"LA!"
"Um, okay. I guess it's a nice place but I kind of had a thing at the beach planned.
"No, no, no. It's Buffy and Angel. Something about a test and now Angel's in hospital!"
"The Beach will be there tomorrow."
He ran past Willow and had the van started before she even got to it and was off down the road before the door was closed. Willow didn't object. Now that they were confined to the van doing law-breaking limits down the highway, Oz had the chance to get out of Willow what had happened.
"Its amazing the council were actually trying to do the right thing for a change." Willow commented off-handedly
"Still managed to screw up!"
"Well it is the council."
"I wonder what they used to turn him human in the first place, that may have something to do with it."
"Giles told me that he and Andrew researched the substance. There was nothing wrong with it. It was actually the blood of a creature that has re-generative properties. I can't remember the name."
"Who's Andrew?"
"Xander's cousin. He left years ago to work for the council."
Oh, so this creature, if it wasn't a side effect, and I'm having a hard time believing that it was a normal heart failure, I mean as far as we can tell Angel was a very healthy young man when he was turned."
"So what then? I mean I'm all for hitting the books but I honestly don't know what to look for."
Oz was silent through most of the journey. He had many ideas, some likely some not so. He hated to leave her but Oz knew a few people in LA, (The Dingoes played there a lot) actually not all of them were people.
"Will I'm going to drop you off at the hospital. I'd stay but there are a few…people I guess, for lack of a better word, which may be able to help. I'll see what I can come up with!"
Willow nodded silently in response and Oz took her hand in comfort. When they reached the hospital Willow saw hank going up the stairs. She called out to him and kissed Oz goodbye. She ran over to Buffy's father and together they walked inside.
"It is Willow isn't it?"
"Um, yes sir."
"Yes, Buffy talks about you often; you're her best friend Willow. I haven't been very involved in her life for a while now; I guess that is my fault but…"
He sighed and pushed the button on the elevator. Willow was slightly embarrassed at the admission the older man was confiding in her but she took it all in without word.
"I didn't even know she had a boyfriend."
"Oh yea, over two years now…well I guess really only 1 ear but they met 2 years ago. It was very hesitant in that first year but finally they got together."
Willow stopped and turned slightly red as she realised how her words may be correctly interpreted. Hank nodded and glanced at the girl
"It's ok Willow; I guessed there relationship was a little more than platonic. I mean she's been having a complete breakdown since this happened. If I didn't know better I would almost say they were married."
W
illow said nothing but in her head she knew exactly what Buffy's ring meant even if her blond friend didn't.. They reached Angels room a minute later. Xander hugged the red head and both were completely taken aback when Giles joined in on the hug."How are they?"
"No change by either of them. Angel is stable though still catatonic and on life-support and Buffy has been asleep for a few hours now." Giles relayed
"I think she is dreaming of him, I keep seeing her smile. Joyce whispered the last bit
Willow went across and kissed both Angels and Buffy's foreheads.
"I don't know if I can do anything, I'm not advanced enough. I don't think a healing spell would work, I mean I brought some books," she gestured to her bag, "But I don't know if there's anything in them."
Xander, Giles and Andrew looked at each other before grabbing a book each and retreated their minds into the safety of research mode. Joyce took Hank, who was trying to rationalize the use of the word 'Spell', to get some coffee.
"Where's Oz then?" Xander asked as he flicked through the smaller of the volumes.
"He's gone to see some, well he said people but I don't quite think they are. At any rate, he said maybe one of them could help." She relayed Oz's misgivings about Angel's condition
"He thinks it might be mystical then?" Giles concluded
"Dunno."
'Well if it is it wasn't the council." Andrew told them.
"Maybe it was God." Xander imputed,
"Yea, the powers that be wanted one of the world's greatest warriors for the cause to be brain dead." Willow admonished him
Giles glanced sharply at the two friends but shook the thought out of his head, "Impossible." He concluded and continued his research, but he couldn't shake the fact that the teenagers could in fact be correct.
Oz went and spoke with quite a few of his…acquaintances…before pulling up anything of use. A friend of his had mentioned a demon with a link to the higher powers and as a result he was now standing, a little shell-shocked, in a karaoke bar. The demon in question was currently singing on stage. He managed to catch the green guy's eye and when he came off stage, the demon walked over.
"Greetings, you're not all human." The demon pointed out
"Who is now days?"
"Touché. My name is Lorne and what brings you here? Come to have your destiny read? Some insight into your future?"
"Um no not exactly, Beebe told me that u had a link to the higher powers."
"Well in a way. What did you need?"
"A friend of mine, he is…was a vampire he was changed into a human. He was okay but now he's in a coma, everyone thinks it was a heart attack but I'm not so sure. I know the Higher Powers would know the rundown but I need a way to get in contact."
Lorne knew that was the longest phrase the guy in front of him had made. The boy must be a musician, he could sense the gift in him and as a result he could also get a small sense of the guys future without him actually singing. This mission was important to him but there was another element to it.
"Who is this vampire to you? Vampires don't just make human friends or werewolf in your case."
"His name is Angel. He's been a good friend of mine for a little over a year now. He has a "
"Soul, yes I've heard of him. Only rumors of course. Rumor also has it there's a slayer involved."
"For two years now and with him in this state she's not doing much better."
Lorne studied the guy for a few seconds before sighing and writing an address on a mall slip of paper.
"Go to this place and speak these words…a small gift of value may also be handy."
"This place will have what I need?"
"It should but be careful, they are not always accommodating."
"Thanks."
"Oh and…Oz?"
Oz nodded and raised an eyebrow in question,
"If you do get what you seek, don't tell Angel about me or about the powers…that will come in time."
You and Angel would be great friends; you're as cryptic as each other. Oz thought but in reply he only nodded and went on his way. Lorne ordered a sea Breeze and sat down to think. He knew the events of the future would now be altered in some ways but for better or worse he could not tell.
16:30
Buff: cool, i can handle that :P thanx for your continued support
deadbeatsoul: yes, a dream, A dream is a wish ur heart makes :) happy dreams
WarmTea: thanx :)
Blood Thirsty Goddess: Yea, i was kinda sad writting it actually :P glad u liked
Blink49: Oh i'm sorry, but in a way ur right, an ending is now very much in sight but happy or not...not telling :)
lilribbitfoofoo Yes i'm evil. i admit that :P
Kathrine212: dream sequences r fun, anything can happen :P but as 2 happy ending...have 2 wait and c :)
Buffy and Angel forbidden Love: yea keep hinting :P I may take up the hint :P
buffstuff500: oh yes very subtle, im impressed at ur subtleness, hehehehehe. thanx for ur continued support
yummy0o0: oh, i didnt want tears :p
Rebel Goddess: Yes, a few peoplke have said my twistedness is commin out in this fic. still, my cuz said its a good thing :) glad ur liking :)
bunluver22: in response 2 the amount of kleenex i say "Thanks, Send More" hehehehehe sorry 2 get ur hopes up like that. time will tell as 2 the amount of kleenex needed :P