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A hurried explanation followed, Xander wild and gesticulating,
Giles worried
and nervous. It was left to Cordelia and Anya
to explain Willow's condition
as Buffy gathered her mom and Riley. They
went to the hospital in two cars,
Buffy, Joyce, Riley, Xander and Anya in one, and
Giles, Cordelia and Angel
in another. It was a tense journey.
Angel's face shifted between demon and human as his
emotions whirled.
Cordelia reached out and touched his shoulder.
"She'll be okay." Cordelia hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.
"It's my fault. She did this for me.
My soul - it's permanent." Angel hid his
face in his hands.
"How can you tell?" Giles wondered what Willow had done.
"I can feel it, inside." As Angel raised his
head, Cordelia saw the bloody
tears streaming down his face.
"I knew you loved her."
"She didn't." Angel's anguish was palpable.
"I think she did. Look, there's something you
should know. She said she
loved you." Cordelia hoped she was offering
some comfort.
"Really?" Angel wasn't sure how to take this knowledge.
"In front of Xander and everybody."
"I bet that didn't go down well." Angel allowed
himself a grim smile as he
thought of Xander's reaction.
"We're here." Giles's words brought both Cordelia and Angel back to reality.
A reality as oppressing and horrifying as anything
they had ever imagined.
Angel was out of the car door and
running before the car came to a complete
stop.
"Rosenberg. Willow Rosenberg." Angel
shouted the name as he approached
the front desk.
"Uh...There's no record here. You sure they
brought her here?" The desk clerk
squinted as she attempted to search the computer
records.
"Yes. Here." Giles and Cordelia came up behind Angel.
"Oh. This could be it. Was she DOA?"