Willow and Angel sprang apart to see Buffy standing there, tears streaming down her face.. "Buffy!" "Willow, how could you? How could you do this to me?" 'Buffy, look let me explain I -" "Shut up! You've been planning this all along you little whore , haven't you? You botched the spell to restore his soul on purpose, I bet you're the one that brought him out of Hell. So you could have him!" Buffy eyes glittered with hatred.

Willow was crushed by her friend's harsh words. Angel saw the single tear fall from her eyes and he had had enough.

"Listen to me, Buffy, and listen good. You left me. Remember?" "Because we can't be together, cause you can't be happy. That's another thing, how could you take this kind of risk, Willow?" Willow attempted to regain her composure. "It's not a risk Buffy. Because I-" "Could never make Angel happy? I knew that one already."

Angel was furious. "She's already made me happy, Buffy. She's anchored my soul permantely. You never even though to try. You took the easy way out. You abandoned me when I needed you the most. Now, you can think what you want, but I won't let you talk to Willow this way. Get out of this house." "Fine, I'll leave. But this isn't over, Willow." Buffy turned and stormed out of the house.

Willow stood and tried to absorb everything. She knew that her relationship with Angel would cause problems, but it was just beginning to dawn on her how big those problems would be.

Angel placed his hands on her shoulders. "Willow? Are you okay?" "No," she whispered, "I'm not." "Come here." Angel took Willow in his arms and held her tightly. They had been standing like that for a while when Willow looked up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pull him to her for a kiss. Angel pulled her closer and kissed her tenderly. Hesitantly, he broke away.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I don't understand what's happened between us. Are you will to risk their friendship for me?"

Willow looked at her feet and though carefully for a moment. Her answer startled her. *It is worth it to me. I don't understand what's happening between us either. But I want to try and make it work whether they like it or not.* "Yes, I'm sure. Surer than I've ever been in my life." Angel turned away suddenly. "I want to try too. But I'm not ready to rush into things. Not after everything that happened." "I don't want to rush either. But I feel connected to you, and being with you feels right." Willow held out her small hand and Angel took it in his large one. They looked deep into each others eyes and smiled.

They were interuppted when there was a loud knock on the front door. "Hold on, Angel. Let me see who it is."

Willow climbed down the steps and opened the door. Xander pushed past her into the house. "Where is he?" Xander almost growled. When Willow finally managed to get a good look at him she was horrified to see a crossbow in his hands. "Oh, God! Xander! What are you doing?" Willow unconciously placed herself between the steps and Xander. "I saw Buffy. I'm gonna keep you from making the bieggest mistake of your life. I'm gonna kill him." Pure hatred and contempt glittered in his eyes. "No, if you hurt him Xander Harris, I'll never speak to you again." She was interrupted by a series of loud crashes from upstairs. "Looks like Buffy's doing the job for me." Xander pushed past Willow. Willow looked wildly about her and grabbed a large vase and smashed it overXander's hard head when he brushed past her. She flew frantically upstairs and into her bedroom..

Buffy stood with her crossbow aimed directly at Angel's heart. Willow say Buffy's grip on the trigger tighten and dove through the air to push Angel out of the way. The arrow lodged itself in Angel's chest jut inches from his heart. When Willow heard Angel's agonized gasp, something in her snapped. She lunged at Buffy and tacked her, knocking the slayer on her ass. Willow frantically grabbed the crossbow and sprang away from Buffy.

Willow and Buffy stood unmoving with Willow aiming the crossbow firmly at Buffy's heart. "You come near him again, Buffy and I swear to God that I'll kill you. Now go get Xander and get the hell out of my house, you bitch." Though Willow's words were harsh, her voice held an icy calm that forced Buffy to obey. When they were out of the house, Willow locked all the doors and raced back to Angel. Angel lay on Willow's floor in a pool of his own blood, barely concious. "Oh God. Angel? Can you hear me? What do I need to do?"

Angel took a deep breath and forced himself to focus on Willow's voice. "I-I need . . .you . . .call."

"What's the number, Angel? Come on, just stay with me!" Willow clamped her hands over his wound, staunching the flow of blood. "The . . .number . . . 589-8798. You . . . call . . .please . . ."

"Sshh. I'll call the number. Who am I calling?" Willow needed a little more than a phone number. "Whistler . . . he'll know."

*Whistler. Buffy talked about him. I hope he's ncer than what she says.* Willow stretched for the phone, keeping one hand over Angel's wound. She dialed the number and was relieved when somene with a Brooklyn accent answered. "Whister here. What can I do for you."

"Uh . . . look this is Willow Rosenburg, and I'm here with Angel." Her voice broke and she began crying hysterically. "He's hurt. I don't know what to do. He's bleeding a lot. He said you woul help. Please, I don't want to loose him!"

"Okay, listen. First you've got to calm down. I'm on my way, but I'm going to keep talking to you on the cell. How much blood has he lost?" "How do you know where I live?"

"I know these things. We don't have time to discuss that now. How much blood has he lost?" "A lot. It's everywhere." Willow choked on another sob. "Is he still concious?" Whistlers voice was authorative and reassuring. "Barely." Willow's fear could be heard in her voice. "Okay, listen you've got to stop the bleeding." "I'm trying, but it won't stop." "Get a cloth and press it over the wound."

"Okay." Willow grabbed a t-shirt from a nearby chair and applied it to the wound. The bleeding slowed slightly but soon the shirt was soaked with Angel's blo

od. Willow sobbed quietly. *I can't loose him now. I just found him.*

She sobbed in relief whn a short man in clashing clothes forced the door to her balcony open and walked into the bed room, a cell phone at his ear. When Whistler so Angel's poor condition, he dropped the phone and knelt at Angel's side. He carefully pulled aside Angel's shirt. Whistler swore violently. "Who did this?" "Buffy." Willow choked on the name.

"Whistler?" Angel forced his eyes opened to look at the demon beside him. "Easy, Angel. Conserve your strength. Angel closed his eyes and lapsed into unconciousness. "Damn girl," Whistler cursed, "she missed his heart by less than half an inch. Okay, he needs blood." "Blood? But how . . . I could . . . but . . ." "No buts, if he doesn't get blood Angel dies." "Okay, he can have mine." Willow eyes widened when Whistler pulled out a sharp knife. Willow held out her wrist and closed her eyes. "Sorry 'bout this kid, I'll make it quick." He made a shallow gash and Willow gasped in pain. Whistler gently guided her wrist to Angel's mouth and pressed the bloody cut against it. After a moment Angel opened his mout and sank his fangs into her soft skin.

Willow couldn't surpress a moan odf pleasure as Angel fed from her. She couldn't believe how good it felt. It was the most erotic thing she had ever experienced.

Slowly Angel's bleeding stopped, but he remained unconcious. Willow reached out with her free hand and stroked Angel's hair. "Angel, you have to stop now." Amazingly, Angel seemed to hear her and released her wrist and lay still.

Whistler watched in awe as Willow calmed Angel's unconcious hunger with a tamers touch. He shook himself out of his stupor, he could be amazed later. "Okay, now, we gotta get him out of here." Willow looked at him surprised. "Why? You don't think . . .?" Whistler stared at her calmly. Willow paled. "You're right she would, or Faith." "That's right and she'll be back soon. Do you know anyone who has a van? We need a place where Angel can sleep and be safe from the sun." "Oz, but I don't know if he'd come. We broke up recently." "You've got to get him here. Now." Willow stood and few to the phone. She dialed Oz's number and paced about the room. On the fourth ring Oz answered. "Yello." "Oz? It's me, Willow. Look I-" "We have nothing to talk about, Will."

Willow snapped. "LISTEN TO ME! I need your help. Angel is here, and he's hurt. Buffy almost killed him. Please she'll be back , I need your van to move him. Please, Oz." Willow was again choked by anguished and frightened sobs

Oz never could stand for Willow to cry. "Okay, calm down. I'm on my way." With a click he hung up. "He's on his way. What do we do now?" "We need to bandage this wound. Get me the first aide kit and while I'm doing that, get blankets and a pillow for Angel."

"Got it." Willow flew to the bathroom, and returned with a well stocked first aid kit. After handing that to Whistler, she retrieved the blankets from the closet and grabbed her pillows. She grabbed her gym bag and threw a few days worth of clothes in. "What are you doing?" Whistler wanted to know? "I'm going with you. I am *not* abandoning him. Accept it and move on." Oz's arrival prevented any further argument. Willow ran downstairs and opened the door. She pulled Oz inside and locked the door. "Come on, Angel and Whister are upstairs." "Who's Whistler?" Oz asked following her. "I don't know, but that's who Angel had me call for help." Oz stopped short at the sight of all the blood on Willow's floor. "Who did this?" "Buffy did it." "Why? Why would Buffy hurt Angel? I thought she loved him." "She uh, saw him, um with me, and were were, uh kissing." Oz digested that in silence. *I've moved on. She has a right to too. I'm just glad that it's not Xander. The prick.* "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

Whistler took charge. "Okay first, Willow, go make a place in the back of the van for Angel. Oz, I need your help moving Angel downstairs." Willow ran outside to the van and Oz helped Whistler lift Angel and carry him down the steps and to the van. No sooner than they had loaded Angel inside and Willow climbed in with him, did they see Buffy, Xander and Faith coming down the street towards them. "Get this van moving now!" Whistler pushed Oz toward the van door and climbed inside. Oz jumped into and they zoomed off. Whistler looked back just in time to see an arrow bounce off the back of the van.

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