Author's Note: This takes place during spring of Season 3.
The nurse opened the door and let the men enter, "No more than five minutes. You can come back in the morning after she's awake."As they approached the bed Giles heard Oz's sharp intake of breath and put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. The doctor had listed her injuries and they had known what to expect, but seeing it was another matter. The site of Willow lying so helpless and battered was shocking.
The various smells of medicine and disinfectants assaulted Oz's heightened senses. Underneath those he could clearly detect the scent of Willow's blood, her fear, and the faintest smell of semen. His stomach churned with a mixture of anguish and worry.
Angel could smell it too, though not as strongly as the werewolf, and offered the only words of comfort he could think of, "They have her medicated, she's not feeling any pain." Looking at her swollen and bruised face that was impossible to believe.
Oz approached the bed slowly, feeling as if he were in a horrible dream, wanting nothing more than to wake up. None of it seemed real. As he gingerly picked up her hand in his he knew that it was. Suddenly this was their reality. He started to speak, but the words were stuck behind the huge lump forming in the back of his throat. He swallowed and tried again, "Hey baby." Bending over he brushed back a strand of hair and kissed her forehead ever so gently, terrified of hurting her.
Xander, Giles and Angel approached the other side of the bed. For the first time ever, Xander was speechless. He desperately wanted to talk to her, let her know that they were all there for her, that they loved her and now she was safe but he couldn't think of any words that fit. Instead he reached out and touched her cheek remaining silent. Tears blurred his vision and he kissed her forehead before turning and walking to the corner of the room.
"Oh Willow." Giles took his place. "Rest well and sleep without dreams." He kissed the top of her head before turning to join Xander.
"Willow you're safe now. I'll be back tomorrow night." Angel told her before lightly squeezing her fingers.
The other men watched as Oz lovingly stroked Willow's hair for a moment before Giles cleared his throat and spoke up, "We should let her get her rest."
Oz could only nod before leaning in to kiss her cheek, "I'll be back in the morning baby. I love you."
* * * In the hallway Oz leaned against the wall, his eyes closed, trying to gain some composure. He broke out in a sweat as a wave of nausea gripped his stomach. The image of Willow in the bed flashed behind his closed lids and words echoed in his mind. Willow was attacked . . . brutal . . . stitches . . . broken wrist . . . multiple contusions . . . two of her teeth . . . was a virgin . . . raped . His eyes snapped open and he ran down the hall to the nearest restroom.
The three men stared after him lost in their own thoughts. "Maybe I should go after him." Xander offered having no idea what he would say that could possibly help.
"No, just give him a minute." Angel thought for a second, carefully choosing his words. "Somebody should stay with him tonight. He's in shock right now but once that fades it's going to be replaced by rage and he could go out and do something stupid."
Giles agreed but Xander was shocked. "Something stupid like what" Try and find the animal that did this to her? What the hell is he supposed to do, wait for Sunnydale's finest to solve the case? We all know how great they are at their jobs. Hell, they'll probably write it off to gangs on PCP and close the file. Meanwhile the bastard that did this to Willow goes free." The emotions were too much, Xander's eyes began to flood with unshed tears. "What if that was Buffy in there? Would you leave this up to them?"
Angel shook his head. He knew that if it was Buffy he wouldn't rest until the attacker had paid with his life, but he was a demon, not a human being with a future and a girlfriend to think of. He wasn't vulnerable.
Giles spoke up. "Xander this isn't a vampire attack or some unexplainable Hellmouth occurrence that the police are afraid to report. This is a crime with a human attacker and a human victim. There's a huge difference where the Sunnydale police are concerned. Right now we don't have anything to go on. If Oz goes off now he's going to pin it on the first person he can justify in his grief-stricken mind and either hurt someone innocent or be hurt. Then what good is he going to do her? To get through this Willow is going to need him, all of us, by her side. The best thing you can do for her is keep Oz, and yourself, from going off half cocked looking for vengeance."
Xander knew he was right but the idea of going home to his warm bed and going to sleep at this point was inconceivable. "I'll stay with him, but in the morning we are going to start snooping around." Giles tried to give him a stern look but the younger man stood his ground just as Giles knew he would. "You can't expect us to sit by and do nothing so don't ask."
Oz returned from the restroom shaky, but more in control. His usually expressionless face was lined with pain and rage. "Angel where are her clothes?"
Angel knew exactly what he was thinking and it scared him. "The police have them." Oz had fully intended on taking advantage of his werewolf abilities. He'd sniff the bastard out like a bloodhound if necessary. Whatever it took to make the man who had done this pay, and pay dearly.
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything."
Xander knew what Oz had been thinking and if the situation weren't so serious he would have cracked a million lame jokes. "Did she say anything at all?"
"She never uttered a word." Angel wasn't sure how to proceed. "I know how angry you are, I am too. But we don't know anything and until Willow wakes up we won't. We can't even ask around until morning."
"I promise you that we won't rest until the guy is caught. But tonight you should try and get some rest. I know that seems impossible, but it's going to get worse before it gets better. She's going to need you when she wakes up." Giles reminded him.
Something clicked in Xander's mind. "Oh man, Buffy. I forgot all about her. When is she due back from her dad's?"
Giles answered with a guilty look, he too had forgotten about the Slayer. "Tomorrow. I'll call her mother in the morning and she can fill her in when she returns. Willow will need her here."
Angel noticed the police officer approach the nurses station and motioned to Giles. The last thing he wanted was to answer the inevitable questions while Oz listened. It would be like rubbing salt in an open wound. Giles had the same thought. "There's nothing more we can do tonight. Why don't we head for home and try to get some rest, tomorrow is going to be a long day. Oz would you mind dropping me off on your way?" The hesitation Oz felt at leaving was all too evident. "Perhaps you and Xander could stop by Willow's house and get a few of her things to bring back in the morning. Maybe you can find an emergency number for her parents there as well."
The idea of doing something useful for his girlfriend, no matter how small it may be, was the right motivation. "Angel do you need a lift?"
"No, I'll be fine. I'll be back tomorrow night after sunset."
Oz was about to walk away when he stopped. "Angel, thank you for being there and everything you did for her. I know I don't have to say it, but I want to."
"I promise you we will find who did this to her and he will pay."
* * * Xander and Oz walked into Willow's house, both of them knowing it almost as well as their own. Xander went into the kitchen to look for an emergency number for her parents while Oz went to her room to get a few things for her. As Oz opened the door he couldn't believe his eyes. There were candles set up all around the room, just waiting to be lit. The covers on the bed were pulled back and a handful of rose petals were scattered on the sheets. There was a short, green, satin chemise laying on the bed just waiting for Willow to come home and put it on. And then he noticed the music playing softly on the stereo. It was that damn Barry White CD, their own private joke.
Oz sat down heavily on the bed and clutched the nightgown in his hands. He brought it to his face, but her smell wasn't on it. It must be new. It was the exact color of her eyes and Oz knew that she would have looked breathtaking in it. Then something on the nightstand caught his eye. It was a box of condoms. Willow had obviously wanted tonight to be their night, THE night. Oz's heart broke a little more as he thought about it, his mind drifting back to their date last weekend.
* * * After the movie Oz drove around awhile before stopping at the Sunnydale make-out spot.
When he stopped the van and turned to Willow she playfully punched him on the shoulder, "Just what kind of a girl do you think I am?" she teased.
Oz tried his best to give her a look of innocence. "What? I thought we could just look at the stars and talk."
"Talk huh?" He nodded as Willow looked at the clock on his dash. She had just under two hours until she was supposed to be home. If she was with Buffy or the gang her parents didn't pay attention to when she came home. If she was on an official date with Oz it was another story. "Isn't this the part where you pop in a tape and suggest going in the back to check out the new speakers you just put in?"
Oz's hand paused only an instant before continuing to push in the tape. "Please, like I would try a line that lame." Willow gave him a knowing smile and Oz fiddled with the dial on his stereo. "Damn."
"What?s wrong?"
"The front speakers aren't working. I really wanted you to hear this song too."
Willow turned to the back of the van. "Funny, it seems that the back speakers are fine. We could go back there Mr. Original."
"What a good idea. Why didn't I think of that?" He gave her a lecherous look as she giggled and got up taking her hand, leading her to the back of the vehicle.
The van was carpeted and he had a couple of huge throw pillows scattered around. Oz sat down pulling Willow down next to him. For a couple of minutes they just sat in silence, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. Enjoying just being near the other, alone.
Oz reached out to brush a strand of hair back from her face and his hand stroked her cheek in a familiar gesture of affection.
Willow sighed contentedly "It seems like it's been forever since we've had any time alone. I've missed it." Oz leaned in and placed a tender, chaste kiss on her lips lingering for just a second as he inhaled her scent. "I've really missed that."
"Me too." Oz laid back on a pillow gently pulling her down and into his waiting arms. Willow laid her head on his shoulder and placed a hand on his chest, stroking him softly through the T-shirt. Oz had one arm around her back and the other rested on her hip. For awhile they just laid like that, talking softly about school and the latest antics their friends had been up to. Simply enjoying the sounds, smells, and feeling of each other. After awhile they both grew silent and Oz gathered the courage to say the one thing he had been wanting to say for months, finally knowing that now was the right time. "Willow," his voice was soft and hesitant, "I love you."
Willow pulled her head up and looked into his eyes. "Oz, I love you too." She leaned in to kiss him and for a brief moment their lives were utterly perfect.
* * * They had plenty of passion and though they had done a lot of things together Oz had always been painfully careful not to let things go too far. And since the failed seduction at Christmas Willow hadn't brought up sex again either. They had been happy, content, and busy falling in love with each other. There was no need to rush.
Now their relationship had reached that level where it was the next logical step. Apparently Willow had decided that this would be the night and Oz knew that unlike Christmas he wouldn't have said no. Finally, they both needed it for the same reason. To express the love they felt in their hearts, not to prove it, or create it.
Oz was so deep in his own thoughts he hadn't heard Xander come in. As he looked around the room his chest ached as he realized all that had been taken that night. "Was supposed to be a big night, huh?" Oz could only nod. "How are you holding up?"
It was tempting to rattle off the twenty different emotions he was feeling but it would be a waste of effort. He knew that Xander was feeling them too. "Honestly, I feel like throwing up again. How is she ever going to get over this? How is she ever going to feel safe again?"
"Willow's a lot stronger than she seems, we both know that. She will get over this and one day she will feel safe again. We'll help her, we'll make her world safe." Oz met his eyes and a look passed between the two men, Xander mistook it for jealousy. "I mean you'll help her. She's your Willow."
It had been a look of gratitude. "You were right the first time. We'll help her, she's our Willow, I'm willing to share. But, for the record I retain all rights to Willow-kissage. All rights Xander." This was the closest Oz had ever come to bringing up their past indiscretions.
"I got it." Xander had been surprised after the Homecoming incident that Oz had not only forgiven Willow and apparently him, but he had accepted their friendship without trying to place conditions on it. But that was just Oz. Xander was grateful that this was the guy that loved Willow and that she loved back. No matter what his feelings were for her, he knew deep in his heart that the two red-heads were made for each other. "Thank you for sharing her with me."
Oz looked down at the floor and after a moment his shoulders began shaking as he lost the fight with the tears he had been holding in. Xander put his hand on his shoulder. "Oz, it's okay man. You have to get it out." Oz turned to face him and when Xander saw the grief that so mirrored his own he did the first thing that came to mind, he embraced Oz and they clung to each other, crying for the woman that they both loved.
* * * Oz pried his eyes open and realized he was in Willow's bed, the smell of her hair was on the pillow. For the briefest of moments he thought it had all been a nightmare. But as his mind and body woke up he remembered what had happened. After they cried, Xander and Oz had sat in her room talking and taking comfort in the fact that they were not alone in what they were feeling. Oz had been so exhausted he didn't even remember when exactly he had fallen asleep.
Xander had fallen asleep on the floor using Willow's teddy bear as a pillow. Oz thought about letting him sleep a little big longer, but he glanced at the clock and it was already 8:30, he wanted to get to the hospital. He got out of bed and just as he was about to shake Xander the door bell rang. Xander's eyes snapped open and he looked at Oz questioningly. "This should be interesting, I'll get it. Call the hospital and check on Will okay?"
It was a toss up between who was more surprised, Oz when he opened the door or Michael when he saw who answered it. "Oz, uhm, hi. I know it's early but I was on my way to work and when I saw your van out front I thought Willow would be awake." When he didn't get a response he decided to be more direct. "Can I see her for a second?"
"I'm sorry. She's not here right now."
It just kept on getting stranger. "Oh, well could you just give this to her?" Michael handed him a spell book. "She forgot it last night."
"Wait a minute. You saw Willow at the Bronze last night?" Xander had joined Oz at the door.
With the look he was getting from Xander and Oz he was afraid to answer. So to be safe he took a big step backward. "Yeah, she said she was meeting you guys but she was early. We hung out and then that one guy came up and they started talking, then they danced for a couple of songs. After that I saw them go outside. She never came back in and I couldn't find her. She probably just forgot about it."
Oz had to remind himself to breathe as white hot anger coursed through his veins. "What guy?"
Michael thought for a second, trying to remember the guy's name. Finally he gave up. "Your lead singer."
"Devon?!" Michael nodded.
Xander grabbed their jackets off the couch and handed Oz his as he slipped his arms into his own. "Let's go. Willow's condition is stable and she's still asleep. The nurse doesn't think she'll be awake for at least another two hours."
* * * Devon was having his favorite dream, the one where Dingoes Ate My Baby were the headlining gig at a sold out show when the annoying pounding found it's way into his subconscious. He tried to ignore it but it kept getting louder and louder. Finally he threw back the covers and pried his eyes open, obviously it wasn't going to go away.
He opened the door to find his lead guitarist and that Harris guy he'd been hanging out with lately. "Dude, you better have a damn good reason for waking me up this early on a Saturday." Oz glanced at the hand holding the door open and saw that Devon?s knuckles were bruised and split open.
Forcing the door open Oz grabbed Devon by the front of his shirt backing him up against the wall. "I need answers Devon."
Devon had never seen him so worked up and decided not to argue. "Okay, ask the questions and I'll give them to you."
"Let's start with what happened with you and Willow at the Bronze last night."
"Huh? Oh that, no big deal. We hung out a little and had some fun. You know, got to know each other better." Devon gave him his best rock star smug smile.
"Fun! Is that what you call it?!" Xander wanted nothing more than to knock each and every one of his teeth down his throat but he decided to let Oz have him first, he would attack whatever was left.
"I enjoyed myself. I think she did too."
Oz was so enraged it was impossible to see straight. "Devon, I'm going to beat you unconscious, then when you wake up I'll do it again. See the pattern? Then maybe I'll let the police haul off what's left." He pulled his fist back ready to punch before Devon stopped him.
Devon held up his hands to ward off the inevitable pummeling he was about to receive. "Oz I really think we have our wires crossed. All we did was hang out, she talked about you the whole time."
"You think this is what this is about?! That I'm jealous!"
"What else would it be about?"
"The fact that you beat the shit out of her and raped her!" Oz yelled in his face.
"What the hell are you talking about? Willow was raped? Is she okay?" The confusion was clear on Devon's face, he was clueless. "Wait a minute, you think I did it?"
Xander spoke up. "Well you were the last one seen with her. And your hand is all busted up."
Devon looked at his hand and shrugged. "I did this yesterday afternoon, I was moving equipment around and smashed it under an amp. Let go of me and we?ll talk okay." Devon put his hand on Oz's shoulder. "We'll figure out who did this, but it sure as hell wasn't me." Oz's grip remained in tact. "Dude, you've known me forever do you really think I'm capable of something like that?"
Oz let go of the shirt, he knew that he wasn't. "Sorry, I just . . . "
Devon cut him off. "Not necessary. I know how much she means to you. I would have reacted the same way. I saw her at the Bronze with that freaky kid. I realized that her and I hadn't really talked that much so I went over to her. I mean since you too have been all blissful I've gotten some killer songs out of you, I figured I owed her thanks for being such a great inspiration and making you so damn happy. We talked a little and then I asked her to dance. It was really hot in there and the band sucked so we decided to go outside. You know, get some fresh air and talk." Devon struggled trying to remember what exactly had happened next. "After about 20 minutes Shelly, groupie of the week, came up and we started talking. She kind of steered me away from Willow, she gets all possessive. Then Willow started talking to this guy and we got separated"
Xander had to restrain himself from smacking the lead singer on the back of the head. "Do you know who it was?"
"Yes and no. I've seen him before but I don't know his name. I think you guys know him though."
Now Oz wished he had punched Devon. "Describe him." Much to Oz and Xander's horror Devon did and they knew instantly who he was talking about.
Continues
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