Part Twelve

"Cordelia, you have the visions that lead me where I need to go." Angel looked at Cordelia. "If you think you can handle working with me and the two of them, then you are welcome to stay. If not, then I suggest you pack your things too."

"I want to help." Cordelia smiled.

"Fine," Angel said. "Willow are you about ready to get some rest now?" Angel asked when he noticed she wasn't feeding anymore.

"I don't know if I can sleep," Willow whispered. "I keep seeing what was done to me over and over."

"You name what you want to do, Red," Spike stood and held out his hands, one to Willow, the other to Angel. "And that's what we'll do."

"Can I call the gang and let them know I got here safely?" Willow said in a childlike voice.

"You don't have to ask to use the phone, Willow," Angel told the small girl. "This is your home now."

Willow smiled. "Then I'd like to use the phone."

"Come on, Luv." Spike held onto her hand then led her toward the door. "I'll just show you where it is."

"Does Angel have a computer?"

Angel heard her ask as Spike lead her out of the room and smiled. They would need to go to the store to get her some things. When Willow was out of earshot, he turned to Kate. "Did you manage to get her to talk to you?"

"Yeah, she told me some of what was done to her." Kate said, "It wasn't pretty. There was a lot of beating, and they did rape her like you thought."

"Oh, God," Cordelia moaned.

"Don't say a word to her, Cordelia," Angel warned. "You must wait until she comes to you."

"Did she say anything as to why the vampires took her?" Angel asked the only question he didn't know the answer to.

"She said something about them telling her it was because of you and Spike." Kate lowered her head. "I couldn't get all of it out of her. I tried to
question her, but she started talking about being hungry and how she couldn' t do it. Then she fell to the floor screaming. You know what happened after that."

"Poof, don't you have a computer?" Spike yelled from downstairs.

"I swear, one of these days I am going to kill that insolent boy," Angel moaned.

"If you haven't yet," Cordelia grinned heading for the door, "I don't see you doing it anytime in the near future."

"Yeah, he is your mate remember?" Kate followed Cordelia.

"Why me?" Angel asked, looking at the ceiling, then shaking his head, followed the ladies down the stairs.

"We had a computer until Harmony spilt her blood on it and it blew up," Cordelia said.

"Oh, well," Willow started. "I guess checking my e-mail is out, huh?"

"We could always go buy another one, Red," Spike said. "You know, spend the Poof's money."

"No, that's all right!" Willow said quickly.

"Why not?" Cordelia asked, "We should get you some things anyway. You didn't even bring a bag with you."

"No, no, I'll be fine," Willow said loudly.

Angel could tell that something was wrong with Willow and he had a feeling he knew what it was. "Willow, how about if we all go? Cordelia's right, you need some clothes. And who better to buy us a new computer than a hacker?" When she didn't look at him, Angel sweetened the deal. "You could buy any type of computer you wanted."

"I don't think this is a good idea," Willow whispered.

"Why not, Pet?" Spike poured two mugs of blood, then handed one to Angel. "Don't you want to get some clothes and stuff?"

"But, all the people out there." Willow looked at the floor. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"Come on." Cordelia smiled. "We'll be right there with you, and Angel and Spike will growl at anyone that looks at you wrong."

"Willow, it would do you good," Kate said gently. "If you hide away in here, then you're letting them win. Is that what you want?"

"No," Willow whispered.

"Then come on girl, let's go shopping." Cordelia exclaimed.

~~~~~~~

Willow sat in the front seat between Angel and Spike. She really didn't want to do this. She would've been happy to stay at the hotel and let Cordelia pick out her clothes. The closer they got to the mall, the harder she gripped Angel and Spike's leg.

She could hear the buzz of everyone talking, but she couldn't tell what they were saying. It was like she was in a bubble. Her thoughts kept returning to the cavern and what had happened. She could still feel the hands that hurt her.

"I'm not going to be able to do this," Willow mumbled.

"You'll be fine, Pet." Spike assured her.

They didn't understand. How could she walk in the mall with all those people? Someone would end up touching her and she didn't think she could
handle that. And that wasn't even counting what Angel or Spike would do to the poor soul that happened to run into her accidentally.

Willow had seen first hand, with Wesley, how protective the two older vampires were. What would they do to someone who wasn't a friend?

"Willow, are you all right?" Angel gently removed her hand and held it with his own.

Willow nodded distracted, she wasn't really hearing what he was saying. She was staring at the opening of the mall. And all the people she could see coming in and out. She had to stop this disaster before it happened.

"Angel," Willow pleaded. "I can't do this."

"We'll be right here with you." Angel rubbed the back of her hand.

"It's too soon," Cordelia whispered.

"Willow," Kate started. "Would you feel better if Cordelia and I got you some clothes. And you, Angel and Spike went to look for computers?"

There wouldn't be a lot of people in the computer store this late on a Wednesday night. Maybe she could handle that. Angel and Spike would be right there with her. Willow was starting to feel a little better and some of the tension was leaving her body.

Willow turned to look at the ladies in the back seat. "Would you mind?"

"Oh, yeah." Cordelia laughed. "I just hate to buy clothes."

Willow knew Cordelia was just trying to put her at ease. "Just nothing too flashy, please."

"I think I know what looks good on people," Cordelia huffed. "But for now, I 'll just get you some jeans, skirts, shirts, and some shoes. How's that?"

"That would be fine," Willow said. "I don't mean to cause so much trouble."

"Willow, I don't mind." Cordelia went to touch her but pulled back. "Besides, your taste in clothes have changed since we were in high school. I
'm going to have a blast."

"Could you also get me some T-shirts and boxers to sleep in?" Willow asked.

"You got it!" Cordelia exclaimed. "You want silk or satin boxers?"

Willow knew if she could have she would be blushing. "Just regular ones are fine, Cordy." Willow attempted to smile, but she knew she had failed
miserably.

"Get her some workout clothes, too," Angel told the two women. "I want her to start training soon."

Cordelia nodded at the dark haired vampire.

"Angel why don't you drive around to the computer store," Kate suggested. "Cordelia and I will meet you there in a little while."

Willow watched as Angel pulled out a credit card and handed it to Cordelia, "No, Angel, I can pay for it." Willow pulled out a credit card her parents
gave her for clothes. "My parent's left this one for if I needed anything."

By the time Willow looked back up from her purse, Cordelia and Kate were almost to the doors.

"It's alright, Little One," Angel smiled. "I have plenty of money to share."

Spike laughed. "Daddy likes to pay for things, Red. Makes him feel like he can actually do something."

"Boy," Angel started the car and drove around to the entrance where the computer store was.

When she saw there weren't many people on this side of the mall, Willow relaxed. Now if she could just get inside the store without running into
anyone, she would be able to avoid a disaster.

"Come on, Will." Angel held out his hand for her.

Willow gave Angel her hand and let him help her out of the car. Spike came up on the other side of her. Together the three of them walked into the
store. One tiny redhead dwarfed by two vampires, one dark, the other light.

Willow looked around the computer store, then walked over to the laptops. She would just find one quickly, then they could get out of here. As she
stood there looking for the one that called out to her, she heard the salesman come over and start speaking.

She didn't pay attention to him. She knew what she wanted and nothing he could say would sell her a computer she didn't want. Willow turned to walk away, but stopped when she heard a growl.

Spike grabbed the salesman's hand before it could connect with Willow. "Don' t think you want to do that, Mate."

next

back