“Now see here, you can’t just order us around.” Wesley stated. “I want to know what’s going on around here.”
“You want?” Buffy demanded, marching up to the man and slapping him. “Where were you when Willow was kidnapped? Where were you when everyone here was running around trying to find her? I don’t really care what you want!”
“You can’t talk to him like that,” Cordelia shouted.
“I can and I will!” Buffy shouted back and shoved Cordelia into a chair. “This is my town! And you will not come in here yelling at Angel for doing what we all asked him to do.”
“You asked Angel to turn Willow?” Wesley exclaimed.
Buffy turned back on the little weasel and snarled, “Angel, didn’t turn her. Another vampire had already started it. I didn’t want to have to stake my best friend. Angel said she would keep her soul if he feed Willow his blood. We all agreed.”
“Buffy,” Giles started.
“No, Giles,” Buffy turned on Giles. “They have no right coming here after what Willow has been through and try to condemn Angel or Willow for that matter.”
“What did happen to Willow?” Cordelia asked coldly.
“As if you care!” Buffy shouted. “What happened to Willow is none of your business unless she wants you to know.”
“Now see here!” Wesley shouted. “You can’t yell at Cordelia like that!”
“Sit down, Wesley!” Giles yelled a little of Ripper coming out. “Buffy, come here.” Giles said in a more gentle tone.
Buffy walked over to stand beside Giles, crossed her arms and stared coldly at Cordelia and Wesley.
“Now, do you two think we can discuss this calmly?” Giles stared down Cordelia and Wesley.
“Whatever,” Cordelia snapped.
“I just want to know what is going on.” Wesley said.
“Willow was kidnapped four days ago,” Giles started. “Spike called Angel and asked him to come and help us search for her, being as it was vampire’s who took her.”
“Why didn’t Angel tell us?” Wesley demanded.
“Do you want to know what I know or would you like to keep interrupting me?” Giles sighed.
“Go ahead.”
“Fine, I don’t know why Angel didn’t tell you.” Giles answered Wesley’s question. “Angel got here, the six of us split up and searched all over Sunnydale for Willow. Then tonight, Angel came in and told us that he, Spike, Xander and Gunn had went to Willie’s. Angel had impersonated Angelus to get information on where Willow was.”
“Buffy, Anya, and I followed Angel. We meet up with the other three and went into the Master’s old lair. Killed off nine vampire’s that were outside the main chamber. When we entered the main chamber, we found another vampire, a minion, feeding Willow its blood. Angel killed the vampire, and asked Willow if she wanted him to give her some of his blood.”
“But why?” Cordelia asked.
“I’m getting to that,” Giles sighed again. “Because Angel’s soul is permanent, Willow would be turned and able to keep her soul. The rest of us agreed with him because we couldn’t stake Willow. Buffy, as Willow’s best friend couldn’t bring herself to do it. And I have always thought of these children as my own, and I knew that there was no way I would be able to stake the child. When Willow was assured she would keep her soul, she agreed.”
“Dear Lord,” Wesley exclaimed.
“Angel gave Willow enough blood to make her his childe, and I would dare to say that she is stronger than most new born vampire childer.” Giles sat down at the table and rested his head in his hands.
“And just so you two will know, even though you don’t deserve it,” Buffy snapped. “Angel almost died to make sure Willow would be strong enough. He hadn’t feed before we went to get Willow, and when we got back here after finding her. It took almost six bags of blood to ease the bloodlust he was fighting.”
Anya got up when the phone rang, “Magic Box, how may I help you?”
Anya listened for a moment, “Buffy, it’s Angel, he wants to talk to you.”
Buffy nodded and took the phone from Anya. After listening for a moment, “Sure, Angel, I will go and get her some and be right over.” Buffy listened for a few more minutes, then hung up the phone.
Buffy laid her hand on Giles’ shoulder, “Are you going to be all right? Angel needs me to get Willow some clothes.”
“I’ll be fine, Buffy,” Giles said. “Go help Willow.”
~~~~~~~~
The mansion
Angel and Gunn walked into the mansion to hear Willow screaming. Angel ran in the direction of her screams with Gunn following him. Angel stumbled to a stop at the bathroom door. Angel had to bite back a laugh when he saw Spike and Xander’s expressions. If it hadn’t been for the fact that Willow was terrified, Angel probably would have laughed.
Spike and Xander were standing in the middle of Angel’s bathroom, with Willow in the shower, still in Spike’s duster. They were trying to get the duster away from her so she could get the blood off her. And from the looks and sound of it she was having none of it, she was standing there in game face screaming at the top of her lungs.
Which was quite a feat, being as she didn’t need to breathe anymore. Spike was trying to talk her into letting him and Xander get her clean. Xander on the other hand, looked almost near tears, at the fear Willow was showing of him. Poor kid, Angel thought.
“Willow!” Angel shouted over her screams.
“Angel, please, make them go away,” Willow begged. “I can do this by myself.”
Angel walked into the room, “Little one, you are going to need some help getting to the blood on your back.” Angel said gently. “Let one of us help you, please.”
“No,” Willow stubbornly refused. “I can do it myself.”
Angel hated what he was fixing to do, but there was no other way. “Spike draw a bath.” Angel hoped he would be able to get her in the tub, without pulling rank of Sire on her. She had been through enough in the last couple of days. Angel didn’t want to force more on her.
Angel glanced over to see Spike adjusting the water. Xander was looking through the shelves for some bubble bath of some kind. Xander finally found some of Dru’s and poured it into the tub.
“If you don’t want help, then will you soak in the tub so you can get the blood off your back?” Angel asked gently.
“I don’t want to,” Willow whined.
“Everyone out!” Angel ordered. Once everyone was out of the room he turned back to Willow. “Come here, now,” Angel demanded.
Angel watched Willow cringe and hated himself for putting her through this. But there was no choice, she had to get the blood off. When Willow stood in front of him with her head lowered, Angel sighed. Angel reached out and hooked a finger under her chin, then tilted her head back and looked into her eyes.
“You will either get into the tub on your own,” Angel ordered. “Or I will put you in there.” Angel used his thumb to wipe the blood tears running down Willow’s face.
Willow nodded then whispered, “I don’t mean to be difficult.”