A/N: Hi guys and gals. Thanks to those who reviewed my first chapter. I'm not as confident about this story as other's I've written so all reviews are very welcome.

Quick question before I continue. Does anyone know how to re-new the stats thing cause mine is about to run out and I've emailed a few times but havehadno reply. If anyone can help me and my mates we would be very grateful.

Anyways on with the show. Just to remind you- Oz is alone in the park with some nasty things

Chapter 2

Angel dawdled along the dark streets feeling like a teenager again. He was pulled from his reverie by the sound of grunting coming from the children's playground. Cautiously he approached, trying asses the situation but his usual cool approach was thrown off as he recognised the creature's victim.

The boy was pinned to the ground by vampire at each side while a third beat him senseless.

Without another thought Angel ran at the preoccupied creatures and launched his own brutal attack.

Punch after punch, kick after kick, Angel faced the three vampires down. Spotting Oz's discarded stake he took charge and over powered one, staking it through the heart. Looking up at the remaining two he saw them backing away.

"Slayer should keep her eyes open if she wants her friends to stay healthy." One hissed as they broke into a run, heading into the shadows. Angel would have given chase but he had a more important and immediate problem.

"Oz? Can you here me?" Angel searched the boy for signs of life. He was breathing and there was a faint groan in response to which Angel sighed in relief but otherwise the boy was in a bad way. The beating he had taken had resulted in him being almost unrecognisable. The main reason Angel had recognised his was the colour of his hair and his loud shirt.

Looking around Angel spotted Oz's van a little way up the road.

"Keys?" It was more to himself than Oz but gingerly and awkwardly the boy patted his trouser pocket. He was finding it hard to make anything work and it felt like he was getting worse. He didn't dare open his eyes, his head was pounding enough already, the street lamps and the effort would almost certainly kill him, he was sure.

"Ok Oz, buddy, listen to me. You've gotta stay with me. I need to get you to your van so I can get you somewhere comfortable."

"Here" Oz gasped, shocked at how painful his chest was. He wanted to stay where he was. He was comfortable here, or more comfortable than he would be if he was moving.

"No, Oz. We need to get you help."

"Questions." He gasped again.

Angel took a moment to think about his response. What did the boy mean? Shaking his head he realised there were so many meanings. Oz being a werewolf for one. Was he normal inside? Was everything the way it should be or will they notice something strange? They were bound to ask what happened and they would definitely call the police. They always did with something that looked this bad.

"I'll take you to Giles. We can fix you up…… a bit. Can you stand?" He asked managing to get Oz awkwardly to his feet. He got his answer as the werewolf's knees buckled. "Ok, ok. We'll do this the easy way." Angel said heaving the boy from the floor. He knew Oz wouldn't be as heavy as some being a fairly small lad, but he was still surprised at how light the boy was, even as a dead weight.

XxXxX

Giles heard tires screech outside followed by feet pounding down the stairs outside. He froze on the sofa, bracing himself for the children to burst in. Instead a heavy pounding on his door ensued.

"Who is it?" he yelled through the door.

"Rupert, quick. I need your help." Angel's voice vibrated round the courtyard.

Grateful he had no neighbours he flung the door open.

"Oz got jumped in the park. He's in a bad way." The vampire said before the librarian could ask. "I need your help."

"Yes certainly. Let's get him inside."

The men bounded up the steps and between them got Oz inside onto Giles' couch.

"My God. They really meant business. Was he conscious when you found him?"

"Barely. He managed to show me where his keys were and refuse official help. Other than that……" The vampire shrugged. "We need to get in touch with Buffy and Willow. They are going to want to be here."

"Yes quite. The phone is in the kitchen. Numbers are on the wall. I'll start on cleaning up this mess." Giles sighed scanning the lifeless boy. "Oz?"

The werewolf stirred slightly at the watcher's call.

"I'm going to clean you up but I need you to keep letting me know you're still with us until I've had a good look at you. Alright?"

Oz mouthed 'yeah' back at him. He could hear every word the watcher was saying and desperately wanted to speak but his voice wouldn't co-operate with his brain. Nothing would co-operate. It was like being in a sound proof room, dressed in a straight jacket trying to communicate with the outside world.

He felt the watcher return and heard something hard being set down on the table. He heard the trickle of water and the smell of antiseptic before feeling its sting on his already painful cheek.

XxXxX

He sensed Willow outside before she burst through the door. The little movement he managed for her entrance was stopped by Angel and Giles.

"Oh my God, Oz!" Willow ran to his side. "Is he going to be ok?" She looked up at the watcher, running her hand lightly over his hair line, careful to avoid the scratches that littered it.

"He's going to be sore and very stiff but he'll be back to normal in time. He just needs rest and care."

"Shouldn't he be in the hospital?" Willow's eyes scanned her werewolf's face; she desperately wanted him to open his eyes.

"He wouldn't let me. And he's right not to go. They ask too many questions and prod and poke."

"And that's not good." She said flatly.

"If Oz was normal, it would be fine." Angel said softly trying to give the witch a small smile.

"If Oz were normal he wouldn't be Oz." Willow sighed.

"I just can't understand what he was doing in the park." Giles rubbed his eyes, weary from the hour but worried about the boy's condition far more. He'd never seen an attack by vampires so brutal. Every item of Oz's clothing was torn and covered in blood. The boy had cuts and bruises everywhere, he was lucky he didn't have broken ribs, although Giles was sure he had a couple of cracked ribs which was going to make if painful for the boy to breathe properly let alone move.

"Well, he had a stake so maybe he spotted the vamps and decided to deal with them." Angel suggested, having a strong feeling that wasn't the case. He was sure he heard Oz enter the library earlier.

"All three?" The watcher uncovered his weary eyes and looked at him.

"Maybe there was only one to begin with." Angel shrugged.

"Ok what happened?" Buffy and Xander burst through the door.

"Where were you?" Willow asked quietly as she looked up at the Slayer her eyes tired and teary.

"I….What do you mean?" Buffy was taken aback at the question.

"Oz was in the park with Vampires but Angel found him, not you. Where were you?" The witch's voice cracked.

"I….I'm sorry." Buffy voice was tight and small.

"Buff can't be everywhere, Will. I'm sure she was fighting a big bad somewhere else." Xander stepped in before an argument started, concern plain on his face. "Not that I'd normally say this and I'm not planning on making a habit of it but, we're lucky that Angel was around. How is it that you were around anyway?" Xander questioned.

"I always patrol at night. Not much else to do in Sunnydale if you don't……if you're me." Angel struggled not to say 'if you don't eat the living.' He knew after recent events a comment like that wouldn't be well received.

"Angel? You wana fill me in on everything?" Buffy looked pointedly at the vampire as she headed to the kitchen.

XxXxX

Willow sounds worried. Good, she should be!

Whoa! Where did that come from?

Buffy and Angel are probably planning their cover stories. No matter, it'll all come out soon. The Slayer better watch her back, especially if she wants her friends to live any longer.

What? Where the hell is this coming from? I love Willow and I don't want the others to get hurt. Alive is good, alive means happiness. For the most part. God I ache. I never thought anything could hurt more than getting shot or changing into the monster but I was so very wrong. Add those together and it still doesn't come close. This is getting ridiculous. I wana hug Willow and talk to them all but it's like I have no control. I hope they don't begin to think I'm dead.

That would be less fun. If they think you're dead it'll ruin all our plans. They can't know what's happening.

XxXxX

A/N: So gang, whaddaya think? As I said all reviews giving a loving home..

"Catch ya on the flip flop"