Author: Katie
Disclaimer: The BtVS and Angel characters don't belong to me, but to
Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc.
Rating: PG - British System
Feedback: Oh Yeah! I need it - I can't write if I don't know that
someone is reading!
Distribution: If you want it, just let me know.
Dedication: To Krys for betaing this. To all those who wanted it.
Notes: A sequal to 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vampire'.
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Angel raced through the doors a mere second before Spike. He stopped
abruptly and scanned the area, his eyes finally fixing on Giles.
Then
he was on the move again, crossing the floor in three quick strides.
"Willow?" His question came out as an anguished sigh.
"She's fine," Giles almost smiled as he saw the relief flood through
Angel, before disbelief set in.
"How can she be fine? She lost so much blood," Angel looked
to Spike,
who nodded in confirmation.
"She's having a transfusion," Giles assured him. "The stake
missed her
vital organs."
"Where is she?" Angel wouldn't believe until he saw her for himself.
"She's with Cordelia and Xander," Giles did smile now. "Anya
went to
get some coffee...and magazines."
"What happened to the Slayer?" Spike hated to be the one to bring
her
up, but he figured that someone had to.
"I saw her leave," Angel said tightly. "I never want to see her again."
"Yes, well... ah ...That is quite understandable," Giles conceded.
"Shall we?" He motioned towards the corridor.
"Let's go," Angel and Spike followed Giles past the many rooms,
some
doors open, some closed.
"Willow?" Angel asked tentatively as they stopped outside an open door.
"She's sleeping," Cordelia informed him as she stepped away from
the
bed, allowing Angel an uninterrupted view of Willow. "Come on
Xander,"
Cordelia tugged on his arm.
"What?" Xander snapped, tearing his eyes away from Willow's pale face.
"Let's go find Anya. Even hospital coffee has to be better than
what
I'm used to," Cordelia said, not unkindly.
"Thanks," Angel whispered as she passed him on her way out.
"No problem," Cordelia squeezed his arm briefly before grabbing
Spike
and motioning to Giles to follow.
Angel crossed the floor and sat by Willow's bed. He raised his
hand and
then hesitated for a moment before gently tracing her face. Her
skin was
almost transparent, and she looked more fragile than he could ever
remember
seeing her.
"Angel?" Her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey sleepyhead," he dropped a kiss onto her lips and squeezed
her hand
tightly.
"I'm fine," Willow insisted, answering the unspoken question she
could
see in his eyes.
"This is getting to be a habit," Angel attempted to sound lighthearted,
but it didn't quite come off.
"It's the influence of the Hellmouth," she whispered, glancing
at the
open door.
"Or the influence of Buffy," Angel crossed the floor and closed
the
door. "Did you tell anyone what happened?"
"Xander said something about building a tiny fence," Willow smiled.
"He said that to Buffy, once, before...before..." She broke down,
sobs
racking her tiny frame.
"It's okay. Please, don't cry," Angel held her gingerly,
afraid of
hurting her, but Willow just clung to him tightly, burying her face
in his
jacket as she cried. Neither of them heard the door open again.
"Oh God ...Willow, I'm so sorry," Buffy stood in the doorway,
tears
streaming down her face, her eyes red and puffy.