Buffy squealed happily as she jumped into her new Celica. Her mom had bought it for her 17th birthday. She decided to take Willow for a spin to the Bronze althought it was only 5 minutes away. "Buffy why on earth are we driving to the bronze?" "Gotta run up the gas mileage!" Buffy said smirking. After a few turns Buffy entered the intersection which led to the crowded Bronze parking lot. Willow put her hand on the radio knob and looked up after she was satisfied with the song. All of a sudden a car came racing by. Willow's eyes widened as she saw the car's headlights come closer and closer until she thought she could reach out and touch them.
"OH JEEZUS SHIT!!!" Buffy yelled as she swerved and hit a metal pole. Electrical wires collapsed, sending silver sparks everywhere. Glass shards flew in every direction. The loud car alarm rang annoyingly and the bumper had flown to the other side of the street. Inside the two girls were severly hurt. Blood was everywhere and out of the corner of Buffy's eye she could see Willow's body hanging on top of the dash board. The two girls yelled and whimpered for help and slowly their screams died out as they slipped into unconscousness.
Angel was out walking that night. He had to sort his mind of all the issues with Buffy. The night of the prophecy he realized she might not be around so long and that maybe he should try to make it work. She was driving him crazy! Some days he was positive he was gonna talk to her. Other days it was, *Hide until you know she's asleep*. He loved her more than anyone in all his 240 years, but he didn't know how to deal with it. His thoughts were interupted by a loud crash and an ear piercing scream. The scream sounded strangely like Buffy's, which caused Angel's stomach to drop to his feet. He turned on his heel and ran frantically to the sound. As he turned the corner he saw a red car smashed against a pole. He walked past collapsed wires, and shards of glass which cracked beneath his step. Angel ran over to the smashed car and his eyes widened as he saw Buffy's head painfully positioned on the steering wheel and Willow hanging out of the car windshield.
"Oh no..." he whispered and ran for help. Angel ran up and down the vampire polluted streets of Sunnydale, whipping his head around so much his neck hurt. Finally he found a nearby policeman guarding the Bronze, and he explained the accident. The two ran over to the wreck, both men breathing heavily. Angel stared in the window that was now cracked and pieces of glass peeked up from the bottom. "Angel..." Buffy whispered as she slowly opened her eyes. "I'm here, you'll be alright, just stay with me ok?" *Am I lying?* he asked himself.
Her body was slumped over the wheel and her head had severe cuts that covered her angelic face. Her eyes were black and blue from the collision and her soft lips were smothered in blood. Angel's heart wrenched seeing her like that. She was so injured, and all he could do was stand there.
She just nodded slowly and tried desperatley to keep her eyes open. Her eyelids felt like two feathers being pushed down by two ton weights. Her vision soon blurred and watered out of terror. Soon the paramedics arrived and with extreme effort got Willow out of the car and rolled her frail and bruised body onto a stretcher. Buffy, who didn't look as seriously injured as Willow, was wheeled next into a seperate car. The look on her face burned into Angel's mind, like the cross mark she had left on his chest the night at The Bronze. It was the look of pure terror and lonliness he'd never forget.
Angel began to follow her, hoping to let her know he was there. But the same cop he reported the accident to, stopped him by grabbing his arm. "You have to go to the hospital by yourself." He stated turning back to his papers. Then Angel heard Buffy scream his name and cry as the door closed to the ambulance. Whenever Buffy said his name, he immediatley turned into a big pile of puppy love. Which was the total oppisite of his vampire vesage. Angel stared at the cop with concerned eyes, the same eyes that made Buffy shudder with every heart warming glance.
"Please I need a ride, I can't run in enough time, she needs me..." Angel swallowed a huge lump in his throat. He's never cried in the past, but this time he couldn't blink back his tears. All he could think of was the terror in Buffy's tortured face. All he wanted to do was cradle her and make her cuts and bruises heal with his embrace. One single tear rolled down his handsome face and he wiped it away, ashamed. The police officer saw the man's anguish and tilted his head to the car. "You know her right?" Angel just nodded solemnly. "Get in. I'll drive you." With that the weary vampire climbed in the car and the two drove to the hospital, sirens roaring.
Angel stared blankly out the window, thinking about Buffy's face covered in cuts and her head dangling from the wheel. He shook his head desperatley trying to rid himself of the images, but it didn't work. He preyed she'd be ok, he'd never been more scared in all his years on earth. Not even the night of the prophecy, because somehow deep down he knew she'd pull through. But now he wasn't so sure. He wished with all his heart he could of had been with her, just to kiss her again, to be near her, to hold her in his arms and have her emerald eyes stare back at his.....but that might not happen now. Not because of the books that enforced laws about vampire and slayer relationships. But because of a foolish accident, that could of been prevented.
Angel stepped out of the cramped car and stretched. The night air stung his face making him know this wasn't a terrible nightmare, it was a harsh reality. He watched as the two girls were unloaded like luggage into the Intensive Care Unit. Buffy's eyes were still searching around, terrified, looking for a familar sight. Angel tried to run up to her but she was rolled away to quickly for him to catch up. Angel walked sadly to a pay phone and dialed the library's number.
*Please be there* he thought listening to the constant ring. Finally a very groggy and tired watcher picked up at the other end. "Hello?"
"Giles...it's Angel...Buffy and Willow.." he swallowed back another block in his throat, "...they've been in a car accident, you have to come down to Sunnydale hospital. I'll be in the ICU...please hurry."
"Oh my...what happened?" Giles said tossing on his shoes.
"I'll explain when you get here. Just come. Bye." Angel hung up the reciever and stood there staring at the numbers.
He kept having painful flash backs of the sight he just saw. The thoughts caused his whole body to ache from sadness. The policeman tugged on Angel's firm shoulder and guided him to the elevator which led him to Buffy's floor. The cop who's name turned out to be Hank Turner turned to talk to a doctor standing on the outside of Buffy's room. It was covered by a pale, blue curtain, the same color that matched her face in the car. After a few moments a brown haired and brown eyed doctor approached him, Hank trailing behind. "Hi, I'm doctor Carter, I'll be Buffy Summer's physician." he shook Angel's trembling hand. "Willow Rosenberg...she'll be with Dr.Benton, you'll meet him later. There's really no need to worry ok? We're going to do our best." he said trying to comfort the distraught man. "I'm Angel...Buffy's friend. Will she..and Willow... be ok?" he asked searching the doctors eyes for a hint of encouragment. Carter looked down at his brown clipboard. "Buffy...yes...she has a broken leg...some scratches, bumps, but Willow...she's torn alot of stuff internally....I don't have any details. Where are the two girls parents?" "Their both on vacation.." Angel replied with a grumble in his voice. He wasn't exactly sure, but if this whole thing was vampire related which he highly doubted. He didnt want to be the one to explain to her hysterical mother how her daughter ended up here. "Well...you can see Ms.Summers now if you like." Carter said pointing to a closed curtain. "Thanks I will.." The two exchanged friendly glances and the handsome vampire walked towards Buffy's room.
He swung the curtain open and was greeted by an overly bright, white room with machines, and a constant beeping of a respirator. His eyes met the sight of Buffy laying with an I.V in her wrist and her leg in a rather large cast. Her green catlike eyes were closed and twitched as if she were having a nightmare. He pulled up a wooden chair and sat next to her. Angel stared at her face. She had a small white bandage on her cheek and stitches on her forhead. She'd made it through easy, considering how Willow might be. Her head now shook from side to side and then her eyes flung open and she kept saying his name over and over. He grabbed her hand and put his arm around her, hopping onto the hard hostpital bed."It's ok I'm here...shh..." he said softly stroking her soft blond hair.
He wanted to do more, but afraid he'd hurt her. With the huge white cast she, nor him could hardly move anything. She sobbed onto his shoulder and then moments later her breathing got softer and he felt her body relax. Angel layed her back on the bed and went to sit back down again. *She must of had some dream to be that shaken up* he thought to himself as he leaned back on the uncomfortable seat. His eyes slowly closed but now Giles came in flustered and panting exhaustedly.
"I ran all the way here. Is she ok?" He said crouching down near her bedside. "The doctor said she was fine...but..." he stopped. "But what? Angel tell me!" The watcher shouted in a whisper. "Willow might not be." the vampire looked down. "They took her in for surgery. You might want to tell...what's his name.." Angel said now staring at Buffy. "Xander?" Angel nodded. "Well Willow's parents are in Canada...and Buffy's mom is at a gallery convention...Guess Xander's the closest thing to family." and with that Giles walked out and towards a pay phone. Angel leaned back in his chair and fell into a restless sleep, his mind still had re occuring thoughts of Buffy's face covered in blood and Willow's body hanging out of the car painfully.
He awoke to the sound of Buffy screaming hysterically. The restless vampire shot up from his chair and ran over to her sitting down next to her. He was so close he could feel her body tremble with extreme fear. "Buffy what's the matter?" he questioned holding her hand and occasionally kissing her forhead. "I don't know...the accident..... I cried for your name and you never came, I screamed for Xander, and he wasn't anywhere, I screamed for my mom, she didn't come....I thought I was going to die alone, I was so scared I was never going to see you again." Her eyes watered and she bawled, holding her face in her bruised hands.
He rocked her gently."Shh...I'm here, you'll be ok. I promise. Shhh...just get some rest." he held back a river of tears that had been aching to explode all night. He couldn't believe she felt that strongly about him. He knew she loved him, the feelings were mutual but he never knew she feared he'd leave her like that. Now he knew he had to make it work, for her and for him to, as much as he hated to admit it, his life wasn't anything without her.
"Just call my name and I'll be I'll be there to protect with an unselfish love that respects you, just call my name and I'll be there."
Xander sat at home watching re-runs of an old Joanie loves Cha Chee tv show. *Why can't it be Buffy loves Xander?* he thought as he shoved a bowlful of marshmellows in his mouth and chewed solemnly. He was still upset over Buffy. Sure she turned him down gently, and danced with him a little at the Bronze, thats what he said he wanted, to dance with her. But now every time she danced with him, he still wanted more. He let out a loud groan. *At least I didn't say date me...* he thought. As he bent down to grab some chips the phone rang. He walked into the kitchen scratching his forhead and picked up the reciever.
"Ya?" he moaned into the phone. "Xander, it's Giles." "Hey Giles. Got some weird slayer endeaver for me to research?" "No...worse...Willow....and...Buffy...they've.." he paused at the other end, anticipating the young boys reaction. "Giles come on what is it?" "They've been in a car accident....Buffy's ok...but Willow's still in surgery, please come down to Sunnydale Hospital." "They what! Oh god...." Xander felt like he'd been hit with a two ton block. "Just come to the icu , I'll be waiting, and hurry." The watcher hung up and turned back to the waiting room.
Xander didn't bother to hang up the phone. He threw on sneakers and ran all the way to the hospital in his sweatpants, yes he was shirtless, but he didn't care, he needed Willow to be ok. Without her to comfort him, and be with him he'd be lost. He ran through alley's franntically, and approached the towering hospital. He ran in the waiting room and asked the receptionist where the ICU is. She told him reluctantly as she stared amazed at this frantic, shirtless boy. He hurried into an elevator and ran down the halls which led to Willow's fate. He saw Giles sitting outside of a room talking to a doctor.
"Giles....I'm here...Willow? How is she?" Xander panted crouching down to catch his breath. "We're still not sure...." Giles murmered. "You might want to talk to Dr.Benton further down the hall...." Doctor Carter filled in. "And who would he be?" "Lemme show you." The ruffled haired doctor said leading the boy to a tall, dark man in a white uniform. "Hi..." Xander mumbled staring down at the doctor's shoes. Benton just stared at him like he was a circus freak. "Willow...Willow Rosenberg? How is she? I'm her friend..I need to know." the tall boy was holding back tears the size of Niagara Falls. His eyes watered heavily and he turned to blink them away. "Oh...Xander Harris I presume?" The doctor noted. Xander just nodded. "She's out of surgery but still uncounscious. She has some internal bleeding, bumps, bruises, and a broken collarbone. She should pull through...come with me." he said grabbing Xander's hand pointing him to a closed door.
He slowly turned the cold, silver knob and entered a white room, with machines hooked up everywhere. Willow was sprawled out on the bed. Her head was wrapped in gauze and she had bandages everywhere. Her face looked ghost white, and her eyes were closed tightly, covered by bruises. This time the dam broke and his tears which had been welling up inside fell down his face as he stroked the cheek of his beloved friend. He sniffled and sat at the edge of her bed staring at what seemed to be a lifeless form, compared to Willow's bubbly, and energetic personality. He grabbed her hand tightly, as if her hand was the only way to save her. "Willow....please....pull through...I need you, I can't move on without your smile. Please try to come out of this. Willow...please..." thats all he could get out. He sat on the floor and curled his knees up to his chin and cried. "Please don't leave me.." he whispered and he fell asleep.
A few hours later Giles walked in quietley to see Xander's sleeping form huddled into a ball by Willow's bed. *Poor kid...his best friend might be dying...* Giles shook his head. He remember what it was like when he was a teenager. His father made him read all slayer loir and prophecies until he memorized them, he never had to deal with this. The watcher shook Xander lightly and he stared up at him with puffy, bloodshot eyes. "Hmm?" Xander shook his head confused. "Come on, let's go in the waiting room." Giles knew if something happened to Willow while he was there, the boy would be truamatized for life. Xander just nodded and backtracked out staring at Willow again. Her body seemed to be more pale under the dim lighting, and the slow beeping of her resperator rang out through Xander's mind as he sat in an uncomfortable chair praying for his friends life.
Angel slumped in a chair near the door of the waiting room. A cool breeze kept floating in as case after case of sick people came through the door. All Angel could think about was what Buffy said. *She was scared I wouldn't be there for her....I haven't been there for her, after we said goodbye in the Bronze I haven't been there for her besides the Prophecy and Xander had to tell me* he shook his heads and closed his eyes, desperatley wanting to sleep and escape the problems that clogged his mind. But it was no use his eyes may of been closed but his mind was racing with thoughts.
His eyes flung open as a being sat next to him. The being was a tear stained, puffy eyed, and also shirtless Xander. Angel just nodded his head at him and pushed himself from the chair. The two were known enemies. Angel had won Buffy's love and Xander was the sore looser. But now the poor boy had more than Buffy to worry about. Angel walked slowly to Buffy's curtain but was stopped by Dr.Carter. "Can I talk to you for a second Mr?" "Angel...just call me Angel, what?" he replied annoyed, wanting to see Buffy. "Buffy can leave tommorow but she needs someone to keep an eye on her, I assume you can pick her up ." Angel's eyes searched the floor. "Tommorow night..I can..I...... work..during the day." "Oh...well we can keep her until then, but you need to sign the release form." The two talked more about the legal stuff and finally
Angel walked into Buffy's room. He took a deep breath and walked further and sat on the same chair that had brought him to sleep. A soft moan escaped from Buffy's lips as she slowly opened her eyes. It was as if she could sense Angel there, even in her sleep. He took her hand and kissed it softly, letting her know he was there. Buffy smiled a little, even the simple movement like that made her feel exhausted. "How are you feeling?" he whispered. "Better....your gonna stay the night....right?" she slurred. "Yeah.... your going to be staying at my house tommorow...their gonna let you go." Angel replied pushing a lock of hair from her forhead. "Oh....good..." she tried to get comfortable in the hard bed. "You get some rest..." he said kissing her forhead and leaning back in his chair. When he knew she was asleep he quietley left, afraid he wouldn't make it home before sundown. He caught a glimpse of Xander slouched in a chair, his head resting on the wall and Giles curled up on a day bed sleeping. *They'll watch her, I'll be back soon* and with that he left.