Buffy sat up on her bed and stared at the crutches the doctor was holding up. "I have to walk...with those?" she asked pointing to them. "Yes..for about 3 months." Dr.Carter said smiling and handing them to her. She'd always hated crutches and stilts, they made her uncomfortable and unable to slay. Sure she'd never been in stilts, but just the thought of being that high up, or supported by something so thin gave her the wig. She slowly walked around in them and made her way past the pale blue curtain which she was entrapped in the past night.
She couldn't wait to see Angel again. She vaguely remembered them talking but she knew she was to stay with him, which she didn't mind at all. Who wouldn't? Buffy hobbled to the receptionist and saw Angel standing there signing papers. "Hey!" she said happily standing next to him the best she could. He smiled at her and finished the forms. Buffy almost melted right there, those smiles always left her breathless. "All set." he said and handed the papers to the nurse. The two shook hands with Dr.Carter and exited.
Buffy shivered as the cool night air hit her face, it was like the impact that hit her car. She tried to block the whole thing out of her mind, but all she could think about was seeing glass fly and Willow's body hanging out of the car. She blinked back tears at the thought of Willow. The doctors wouldn't let her see her, they thought it'd be to painful. She did catch a glimpse of Xander sleeping in a chair. She figured he'd had close to no sleep so she left without saying anything to him. Her thoughts were interrupted by Angel's hand on her back. Her hair stood on end, her body became tense with love. She smiled up at him as they walked slowly to the old abandoned warehouse where the incredibly gorgeous vampire lived.
He opened a large metal door which led to a warm, cozy apartment, which definitley fit his personality. It was dim lighted with fancy sculptures, and a beat up couch. It had a bed and a mirror, the usual, you'd never guess a vampire lived there. He took Buffy's bag and laid it on the bed. "Thanks for having me here." Buffy said quietley struggling to sit on the bed. Angel smiled and helped her lay down. "It's ok, I like having company." he turned to go back to the couch but Buffy grabbed his hand. "Please stay here..." "I..I'm right over here." he said staring at the couch. "No..I need you here.." she said pointing to the bed. Her eyes pleaded with him, almost glazing over with tears. He gave in and crawled next to her putting an arm around her shoulder. She snuggled into his chest and he pulled the soft red covers over them and they both fell asleep.
Glass fell everywhere as Angel's body was flung out onto the car, his back hit a sharp piece of glass. He howled in pain as his body turned to dust. Buffy sprang up from bed screaming. "ANGEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!" her body heaved with heavy breaths. Angel's eyes shot open and he sprang up, making his head spin . He shook his head trying to rid himself of dizziness and put his arms around Buffy, holding her and rocking her. She was still hyperventilating and her body shook with sobs. "Shhh it's ok...I'm here...shhh." he stroked her hair and kissed her forhead lightly. It took her a few moments to calm down but she eventually fell back to sleep. Angel felt her body relax and he leaned against the bed post still holding onto Buffy tightly. He stroked her hair and gripped her waist as his eyes drooped and he drifted to sleep.
Morning came and inside was Buffy and Angel wrapped in eachothers arms, both of their eyes closed peacefully and Buffy had a pleasent smirk on her face. Angel's eyes fluttered and opened. He stared down at the sleeping slayer and smiled. She was so beautiful when she slept, so serene and peaceful. He kissed her shoulder and leaned back again. She started to move beneath his arms and her eyes slowly opened. Buffy stared up at him and smiled. She kissed him sweetly on the lips and layed her head back on his hard chest. Angel hesitated as he kissed her, he knew how tough it would be to have a relationship , maybe he shouldn't care. He saw what happened ,how quickly her life could end, he was going to make it work. And with that he smiled down at her and his head fell back on the pillow.
Buffy sprang up from her bed violently. Sweat drops poured from her forhead and tears from her eyes. She breathed in deeply and whispered "It was just a dream." The restless slayer didn't have the strength to go back to sleep so she got up quietly, grabbing the crutches and wobbled into Angel's kitchen. She found a clean glass and poured some water. She slowly sat down at a beat up wooden table and thought about the accident. A warm tear fell down her cheek thinking about Willow. She remembered the last sight she saw before they crashed. Headlights coming closer to them ,then a metal pole and the sight that upset her the most ,the look of terror on Willow's face as they hit it. Buffy shook her head to try to rid herself of the thoughts that now plagued her mind. *Was the driver drunk?* she thought.
A car came out of nowhere speeding, the guy had to be, who could of missed her car? But anyway it was a hit and run, that guy had just left them both there to die, if Angel hadn't come along....at that point Buffy was sobbing loudly. Angel's eyes crept open at the sound of crying and sniffling. He squinted his eyes and slowly got up. His heart ached as he saw Buffy's tear stained face and glossy eyes staring painfully back at him. He pulled up a chair and sat next to her with his arm around her. She stared up at him with eyes coated in pure terror. He knit his eyebrows and held her close to him. "Buffy tell me what's wrong?" he whispered softly. She sniffled. "Where would I be without you? I'd be dead....the three would of taken my life, the master would of, the accident would of, if it weren't for you...." she paused. "I'm just so scared you'd leave me..." she stared at him, her eyes shown with love and fear. A huge lump was slowly building in his throat as he listened. He swallowed it back best he could and hugged her. "I'd never leave you, I'm always here, you know that." She clung to his chest and put her head on his shoulder. He carried her carefully back to his bed and layed down next to her hoping sleep would cure her worries.
Xander's blood shot eyes sprang open as he sat up from the uncomfortable chair breathing heavy. He had just had a terrible nightmare about Willow...she dreamnt she had died. It was a sick thought but it was the harsh reality. Xander shook his head and walked to Willow's room. She was still there, her color looked better and the beeping of her resperator was more frequent. *Maybe she will pull through* he thought hopefully. He turned towards the door but a sound made him freeze in his tracks.
It was a soft moan escaping from Willow's trembling lips. He snapped his neck towards her bed and walked over to her. "Willow? Can you hear me? Willow?" Xander asked frantically gripping on to her frail hand. "Hmmm...Xander?" she whispered softly staring up at him with terrified eyes. "I'm right here..." he swallowed back more tears. This time they were of happiness not the sadness he had felt just minutes ago. He reached for the buzzer to call a doctor. He turned back to her and stroked her forhead. "It'll be alright." Minutes later Dr.Benton came in with Dr. Carter trailing behind him. "She's awake." Xander said smiling happily. The two doctors just nodded and stared at their clipboards and examined Willow which for Xander seemed to be a lifetime. He wanted Willow to be ok, to be at her house goofing off with him and Buffy. Finally Dr.Benton broke the silence. "She seems to be ok, vital signs are good, she healed nicely. I should say she could go home tommorow, under someone's care." "I'll watch her." Xander replied staring at Willow's confused look. "Good, she'll be ok. You go home and for heaven's sake put some clothes on." the doctor said smiling and walked out. Xander squeezed Willow's hands once more and walked out.
Xander paced the waiting room impatiently waiting for morning to come. All he wanted now is for Willow to come home and things could start getting back to normal. *Normal? This is Sunnydale, normal is 2 or 3 vampires grabbing a midnight snack.* He didn't care what normal was right now, he just needed Willow. Over this whole time he realized how beautiful and alive she was and how he didn't treat her as well as he should. *All I talked about is Buffy...god she must feel like...I did with Buffy and Angel..* his thoughts drifted further, until he found that maybe he liked Willow more than he thought, maybe as a girlfriend..