Notes: I have no clue why, but I thought this part should be done from Oz's point of view.
If you hate it, or think it was unnecessary, PLEASE let me know. Thanks.
Disclaimer:Go see part one.
Rating:PG
Innocence Lost, Someone Found -Finding Buffy by Sha
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I found her sobbing in the alley behind the hospital. Her knees up to her chin, her
back against the wall. And the strong fearless leader was sobbing like a child whose heart was
shattered, as if her world had ended. I suppose it had too.
"Hey Buffy, it's kinda dangerous to be out here like this.Can I take you somewhere?"
Buffy threw herself into my arms and about knocked us both over."Oh god Oz, it hurts.The hurt
won't stop. It just wont stop."
I just cradled her in my arms as she sobbed.My heart ached too, the loss of friends hit hard,but
seeing her like this, well it just made it splinter.
When I saw she wasn't going to stop anytime soon, I picked her up and carried her to my van,
ignoring the pain it caused my wrist.Getting Buffy somewhere safe was more important.
"Oz? I don't want to go home.Please, could we just.....I don't know but please I can't be alone
anymore and I can't go home." She looked at me with those beautiful hazel eyes, wet and red with
despair,grief and a small spark of hope.
It was the hope that did me in.Of course, I never have told her no before, so why should I
start now when I was needed the most?
So, I told her, "of course Buffy, you only had to ask.I know of a place where we can go.There
is one condition though."
Buffy allowed a glimmer of a smile."What's that?"
"Well, you have to talk to me.To share with me. NO 'I'm the slayer nothing gets to me for long
so lets talk about something else' crap.OK?"
She actually chuckled then."OK Oz, it's a deal, but I have my own condition to add."
"Yeah, what's that?"
"So do you.Have to share.Everything. No small grunts, no strong silent guy routine.It has to be a
mutual share thingy."
I started to just nod but then realized I would be quickly going back on my word.So, I hugged her
to my side, started the van and told her that she had a deal.
Suddenly I had hope, maybe her world hadn't ended.Or mine either for that matter.Together we
would be ok.
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We arrived to Sunnydale's very own woods. I was about to share a secret I hadn't shared with
another sole. I was about to show Buffy the place I went when things got too much, or I just
needed to play my guitar in peace.Also, since the library blew, my new home 3 days a month.
Parking my van in a secluded area, I turned to Buffy. "Can you keep a secret?" Sniffing a little
she smiled and nodded. "Good, I'm about to show you my secret place. If ever you need me or
just need to be alone, this is where I go. It can be your place now too."
She knew what I was offering and grabbed my hand, the gratitude plain on her face. "Oz, if you
weren't here, well..." I couldn't stop myself, a sliver of fear went through me at her words.
I impulsively leaned forward, and for the second time in my life, I kissed Buffy Summers.
When I think about it and say it to myself, I'm awed. Me, Oz, kissed Buffy Summers and she
accepted it, accepted me. Wow.
Taking her hand, I got out of the van and took her to my spot. It was behind a rock, and looked,
to the unknowing, to be nothing more than a thorn bush behind a rock. Moving the bush aside, I
held it back far enough for Buffy to crawl inside the cave it hid. Crawling in behind her, I let
the rock slide back over the entrance.
The look on her face as she checked out my place was priceless. To say she was astounded is
putting it mildly. I have a good set up and I know it. I worked hard for it and made the security
as good as I could.
Lighting the kerosene lamps, I turned to Buffy shrugging."Just a little place I fixed up." I'm
good at non expression but Buffy read through me, straight to the self pride."Oz, this is beyond
awesome. This is so nice. How in the hell did you get the gates in here?"
I had two gates hung.One to protect me from the things that go bump in the night around here,the
other I had hung farther back for the Oz Wolf. Just in case."Power tools, sweat and some cussing
I'm not afraid to admit. That and I had a friend who owed me. He helped."
"It was Spike wasn't it?" I could only nod.Spike and I had surprisingly become close. Seeing the
tear make a lonely path down her pale face, I rushed to cheer her up. I shared a part of Spike
I doubt she saw much of.
"Yeah well, he had some minions come help.Threatened to turn them over to you and tell you that
they had been peeking in your windows and when you stepped out they would read your diary and
wear your underwear. They were so darn scared they forgot about the whole invitation thing,it was
funny. He staked them when they were done. Felt a little bad about that."
Laughing in almost disbelief,she gasped for air."Oh god,that sounds like him. He knows me, I
would have tortured them if he said they had done that, then killed them. I'm going to miss
him so much OZ.How will I ever survive without him and my mom? HOW!" She began crying hard.
I felt so damn helpless. Kneeling in front of her, I tried to soothe her hurting heart, and soul.
"You'll always have me Buffy.And there is the others. We all love you Buffy. I know I do. Very
much. Wow, that was kinda hard to say. Could you at least give me a smirk for the effort?"
Opening her arms, she held me close.I could feel the wet seep into my clothing, but I didn't
mind. I led her back to the air mattress I had for a bed. Soothing her hair back from her face, I
looked her in the eyes. "Buffy, we need rest. Why don't you get more comfortable and get some
sleep? I'll just stand guard. I have some clothes I keep for wolf tearage. You'll be more
comfortable sleeping in them."
Taking the clothes, she waited until I turned my back. I'm ashamed to say it, but the sounds
of her taking her clothes off and putting mine on kinda turned me on. While I sat there feeling
like I was Xander, she softly spoke. "I'm done, you can turn back around."
My shorts and gumby t-shirt never looked so good. "Oz, could you, would you lay with me? Please."
Swallowing hard, I nodded. Getting into more comfortable clothes myself, I went to the bed and
lay beside Buffy. I wrapped my arms around her, trying to find our position. The one most try
to find when they get in bed with someone new. She turned to face me. Her big luminous eyes
staring into mine. Reaching out, she gently traced my cast. "What will happen when you change?
I know it's still a couple weeks off but I doubt this will fit the wolf."
"I'm a fast healer too.One of the few perks, I think. It should be ready to come off by then. If
not, well, I'm not really sure.First time my arm was broke since being a wolf."
Smiling, Buffy nodded. Closing her eyes, she let the bone deep tiredness take over and sleep
claimed her body. As I too drifted off, I realized something. Without thinking or trying, she
had found our 'couple position'. We fit like it was the most natural thing in the world.Like
that was what we were made for. To comfort and cradle each other. Huh.
The end I do believe.