Chapter 6
Oz-wolf was pacing his cage, growling at the humans that were on the other side watching him. He stopped his pacing only when he would grab the bars, shaking them to test their strength. He could smell the blood running through them and it was driving him insane. Finally, he gave up his pacing, because the people outside weren’t paying him any attention, and curled up in one corner to fall asleep.
Buffy, Xander and Faith were aware of Oz-wolf’s actions from the periphery of their vision, but paid no mind to him. They were focused on the absence of a certain red-head. Xander had told Buffy about his conversation with Willow before he came over and she was concerned when he said that he could tell something was bothering her.
"And she didn’t say anything about why her and Angel had changed their minds last night," Buffy queried.
"Nope, not a thing," Xander asked. "But she was definitely upset over something."
"Do you think she knows about," Buffy almost said her and Oz, before remembering that Faith was in the room, "well, you know?" Faith didn’t miss the hesitation and was curious about what Buffy has done that might upset the tiny hacker.
"Know about what, B?" Faith couldn’t help but inquire. "What have you and Xander been up too?"
"Nothing, F, " Buffy replied shortly. "Xander and I haven’t been up to anything.
"So then why would Willow be upset with something that you aren’t willing to tell her, unless it’s," Faith’s eyes grew wide at what she was about to say. "Now way, B. You and Oz," Faith said, only in jest. Her mirth was interrupted when both Buffy and Xander looked over at her sharply. "Holy shit. And I thought I was the big ho."
"Faith, it’s not what you think," Buffy tried to explain. "There isn’t anything between Oz and I." Faith looked over at Buffy, her disbelief apparent. "Really, I mean, Oz loves Willow and I love Angel. And that’s the way it should be."
Faith folded her arms in front of her, "But, there is something there, right?"
Buffy looked over at Xander and saw that he wasn’t going to help her get out of this situation with Faith. While he might have been willing to keep it from Willow, to protect his friend, he didn’t condone what the two of them had been doing together. (You’ve dug the hole, Buff, now try and climb out.) Buffy glared at Xander for a minute before turning back to Faith, who was still waiting patiently for an answer.
"There is something, but it’s not what you think," Buffy told the other slayer. "I mean, it’s like we are in love, or even under the impression that we love each other."
"So what, it’s only for the sex," Faith replied sarcastically. Buffy looked at the floor, nodding her head, unable to look Faith in the eyes. Faith laughed at the thought of Miss Good Girl Buffy sleeping with her best friend’s boyfriend. (And everyone thinks I’m bad. Well, I am, but not that bad.) "My god B, it is isn’t it?"
"Well yeah," Buffy admitted meekly. "But, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just that, well, Angel and I can’t do," Buffy started to get embarrassed, "well, you know, because of the whole happiness clause. I just needed someone to hold me without having to worry about him turning evil."
"Okay, I can buy that," Faith said. "But what’s Oz’s reasoning. No curse with Willow to worry about." The answer came from Xander this time, surprising Faith. (He knows and he hasn’t told Willow. This is just get stranger and stranger by the minute.)
"Oz does it because then he won’t feel the need to pressure Willow," Xander explained. "And he knows that, with Buffy, there isn’t a fear of emotions on either part."
"So, let me get this straight. B and Oz are doing it so that there relationships don’t get complicated by sex hanging over their heads?" Buffy and Xander nodded. "And now you think that maybe Willow might know, because she and Angel never bothered to show up at your house last night?"
"It’s possible," Buffy answered. "Xander called and said that he saw the two of them on the way over together, but they never arrived."
"Yeah, but knowing Red, not to mention Angel, don’t you think if they had found out, they would have confronted you?" Faith pointed out.
"Yeah, they would have," Buffy slowly replied. "And, I’m pretty sure, that we would not be having to watch a wolf tonight. At least not a live one." Buffy looked over at the cage where Oz-wolf lay sleeping, picturing in her head Angel’s reaction to the two of them together. It wasn’t a pretty sight and she knew that Angel would kill both of them if he ever found out about Oz and Buffy together.
"Xander, you said that she said she sounded a little upset, even told you nothing was wrong," Faith continued her line of thinking. "Does that sound like how Willow would react if she even suspected anything was going on?"
"Actually, no," Xander admitted. "She would be pissed off. She’s got a fiery temper when she is truly pissed."
"So," Faith finished, "something else was probably bothering her and she just wanted some time alone. Your secret is safe B." Buffy looked at Faith when she said that. She still wasn’t sure if she could trust the brunette slayer.
"Is it," she asked fearfully. "You aren’t going to rush out and tell anyone you could find what I am doing?"
"Nah," Faith assured the blonde, "not really my place to. It’s your life, and lie, B. Besides, it’s not like I don’t have a few skeletons in my closet."
Buffy was tempted to hug the other girl, hoping that Faith was
true to her word. (I don’t know what I would do if either Willow or Angel
ever found out. Maybe I had better talk to Oz tomorrow and see what we
should do. Last night was way too close for comfort. It may be time to
stop our meetings.) Buffy didn’t like the idea of her not seeing Oz anymore,
not because she loved him, but because she liked the feeling of someone
holding her. The two of them would just have to be more careful. Make sure
that they spent more time with Angel and Willow. Buffy convinced herself
that what she and Oz were doing was only for the good of the relationships
they were in. (It will make them stronger in the long run. It will.) Buffy
looked up when she heard the library doors open to see Giles coming in,
carrying coffee and donuts. She smiled at him as she took hers from the
watcher, now sure that she was doing the right thing.