Chapter Fifteen

Sunday afternoon soon rolled around, and found the small group assembled in the library once more. Giles was keen for them to dedicate time to practicing techniques and organising a more structured offensive against their night foes. Hence the large room was currently cluttered with various activities. Annie was attacking a punching bag that had been brought in, with a focused aggression that was slightly startling. Oz was silent as he practised his aim on a target board to the side of the table where Willow had lined up stakes and weapons of varying sizes, as she proceeded to test the limits of her telekinetic magic. Inside the small office Jenny was busy at Giles's desk, while the Watcher was currently engaging Mike in a sparring match in the middle of library floor.

Willow was worried about what had spurred this urgency and sudden determination in the Watcher. She was sure it had to do with whatever he hadn't told them the other night, and the familiar sense of a looming final battle was beginning to gather at the edges of her mind. Attempting to push it out of her thoughts, she returned to summoning and focusing her magic. However, she did acknowledge the upside to the increasingly grim prospects they faced; Giles seemed to have temporarily forgotten his desire to find a solution to her dimensional problem.

Looking over, the witch observed the flurry of movements as the very capable Watcher blocked and parried the younger boy's blows. Willow couldn't help but flash to the many times he had trained Buffy in the same way; his relentless determination to keep her prepared even when the small Slayer brushed off his attacks with ease and humour, time and time again. How he would fluster in a combination of pride and embarrassment, before affectionately scolding the flippant teen.

She smiled to herself and turned back just in time to see the two stakes she had been levitating chasing each other round in a circle distractedly. Stifling a laugh at the slightly bizarre sight, Willow focused and the objects slowed to rest before her in the air again.

Oz laid down the bow and walked forward to retrieve the knives and bolts from the board pinned up on the balcony. His eyes drifted back to the girl at the other side of the table. He watched as she looked over at Giles and Mike, a distant smile playing across her face. She knew so much. Oz had to remind himself that Willow carried knowledge of a whole other dimension, a whole other life. And secrets could be very lonely things; Oz knew that better than most.

With a small sigh, he tugged the last knife out of the wood. His aim wasn't bad. Of course managing to hit moving, snarling, attacking targets was another thing. As he walked back to resume his stance, his gaze slid over once more to the young witch who was now making tentative movements in the air as she attempted to send the stakes in two different directions simultaneously. Her nose scrunched slightly in concentration. Oz felt a smile hinting around his mouth and quickly looked down at the cross-bolt he twirled in his fingers. He'd found himself wanting to smile increasingly often around the redhead; the curious girl who had dropped into their lives without warning from another reality. Yet he was finding it hard to shake the creeping feeling that she somehow belonged here. The boy steadied his hand and took aim. It was disconcerting, not to have any satisfying explanations for the growing turmoil he felt.

The heavy bag swayed limply and Annie wiped her damp hair off her sweaty forehead. Breathing heavily, she crossed behind the duelling figures and retrieved the water bottle from the card catalogue stand. Her knuckles were red and sore and her muscles stung from her extensive assault, but she didn't feel any better for it. After months of fighting, after all the dustings, injuries, and more losses and close calls than any of them cared to remember, they still kept getting stronger. The vampires kept taking from them to fill up their own ranks. The tide didn't ever turn. It was hopeless; they were extremely few against an ever growing army. The difference between her and her fellows was that Annie accepted that. She didn't hope to win, didn't expect to survive.

She stood and surveyed the room while gulping down the refreshingly cool water. She watched as Oz adjusted the crossbow in his hands, before landing a bolt in the middle of the board. She sometimes forgot how good a shot he was; that he had been doing this for much longer than she had. His head turned slightly and Annie frowned as she saw him cast another low glance at the witch. She still wasn't sure what she thought about the new girl. Granted she could handle herself in a fight, and so far hadn't shown any of the blood-thirsty tendencies of her predecessor in this reality – but not for one second did Annie believe her story. And she still hadn't explained the vampire bite she had shown up with, only a white plaster now covered the offending mark along the side of her neck. The sharp young woman had not missed the stolen glances the redhead snuck at him. Annie wandered back to the bag to vent some of her anxiety. She didn't want Oz to get hurt.

"Right, yes. Good work." Giles straightened up and smiled encouragingly at the boy across from him. Mike lowered the sword and wiped his brow.

"Are we taking a break?" The hopeful tone in his voice was hard to miss. The old librarian was surprisingly good with a blade and after several sparring sessions, the youth was yet to best him.

"Yes, I think that's enough for now. I have to check in with Jenny anyway. Good practice Michael."

The boy sighed and gratefully staggered away. He slumped down in a chair and leaned back to watch the others. "Nice," he commented admiringly as Willow added a small dagger to her floating armoury. She flashed him a quick smile before returning her attention to the blade that had begun to slowly rotate.

At the other side of the table, Annie approached Oz and laid a hand on his shoulder. Out the corner of her eye, Willow watched as he turned to her and she spoke in a low voice that didn't carry. He nodded once and they moved off towards the doors.

"Uh, Willow?"

Her eyes widened with dismay as she looked back to the sight of the dagger that was now spinning wildly out of control. The stakes dropped to the table, Mike shrunk back in his seat and Willow ducked as the blade suddenly flung itself through the air, embedding deep in the wooden balcony just beyond. Mike raised his eyebrows at Willow who was looking slightly shocked.

"Um...whoops?" She shot him a sheepish smile and moved to retrieve the dagger before Giles could accuse her of vandalising his library.

"Guess magic takes a bit of getting used to, huh?"

"True. Although, that's not technically...the first time that's happened." Willow sat down to see Mike eyeing her with awed curiosity.

"Was there a conveniently placed railing that time too?"

"Actually it was a tree."

Mike looked at her for a moment before shaking his head with a small chuckle. He had a nice laugh, young and warm, and Willow managed to form a small grin at the distant memory.

"Well practice makes perfect, we hope."

"Yeah, it's all a matter of focus and…emotional control. Y-You can't let your mind wander or -- well, you kinda saw! Also the more objects you impose your will on, the more the magic pulls on you physically. But hopefully if I build it up gradually then, y'know."

He nodded slowly but looked thoughtful. There was quiet for a few moments and Willow began to feel awkward again, glancing away to the other side of the room. She looked back round when she felt a light touch on her arm. Mike was looking a little embarrassed.

"Listen, um, I'm- I'm sorry I was kind of a jerk before."

Willow stared for a second, surprised and touched at the unexpected apology. "Oh. Oh, that's okay. I-I was kinda a shock to you all. I get that. Forget about it," she assured quickly, a bright smile spreading across her face which was hesitantly returned by the boy beside her.

o0o

His face remained frustratingly impassive as she talked. Annie frowned. Boy, he can do a great impression of a wall when he wants to.

"Look, I'm just saying you need to watch yourself. We all need to be careful." His body stiffened slightly, even as he slouched against the lockers. She sighed and ruffled her hair with impatience. "Okay, whatever! Do you what you want. Like I care." She turned to storm back into the library when he spoke up, low and calm as always, behind her.

"Not sure what it is you think I'm going to do."

The young woman faced him again with a sceptical glare. "Wanna play coy – fine. Whatever this thing is that's going on between you two, just keep in mind we've known her for less than three days. We effectively know nothing about her!"

Oz watched her rant for a minute, still unsure how he felt about this intervention being run on his behalf. There was a pause before he spoke again. "Willow."

"Of course her! Look, it's your life – do what you want. Just tell me you won't lose your head. Giving people the benefit of the doubt tends to go badly in this town."

With that, Annie abruptly walked away, leaving the silent boy to his own confusing thoughts.