Magic Box
"Why didn’t you call us?" Cordelia stood and walked around the shop, looking at different books and statues to avoid Giles’ gaze.
"Spike called Angel," Giles answered. He didn’t know what was going on with these two and Angel, but from what he could tell it wasn’t good.
"Angel works for us," Wesley snapped. "You should have called us not Angel."
Giles rose from his chair and stalked over to Wesley, "Spike called his Sire, we didn’t do anything. And the last we heard, the three of you worked together."
Wesley blushed and looked away from Giles, "That was before he betrayed us."
"Oh, and he became Angelus and terrorized us for months," Giles grated out. "We can forgive, why can’t you? He was trying to protect you. Did you ever think about that? Or was the only thing you were worried about was yourself?"
"I got shot because of him running us off." Wesley tried to push Giles away but the older man was stronger than he was.
"That’s right, he told us about the zombies." Giles nodded, "Did you ever think about what stopped them?"
"What do you mean?" Cordelia turned to face Giles.
"What I mean is Angel ran into one and killed it. Then he went to Kate and the two of them tracked down the man that was raising them and Angel destroyed the statue that was controlling them." Giles rose to look at the woman, "In turn killing them again. Angel was the one that stopped them."
"He didn’t tell us." Cordelia stammered.
"Why should he?" Giles countered. "You two had already condemned the man."
"How do you know all this?" Wesley stood and walked over to Cordelia.
"Angel told us what had been happening the last few months," Giles raised his hand when they went to interrupt him. "Even the bad parts, about the lawyers, he left nothing out."
"Oh," Cordelia whispered.
"I think if you two don’t want to work with Willow and Spike it would be a good idea to head back to LA and clear out of there. Angel is going to want to get Willow out of here as soon as possible." Giles sighed. "And I think it would be best if she didn’t have to walk around with the memories right now."
Outside the Magic Box
Angel stared into the window of the store and debated if he wanted to go in or not. He didn’t really feel up to another battle with Wesley and Cordelia right now. In fact, right now he would be just as happy to rip their heads off their shoulders as speak to them. But he couldn’t do that, it would only make matters worse.
After getting Willow calmed down enough to go back to sleep, he came back here. He had left Buffy and Spike with her in case she had another nightmare before he could get back.
There had to be some way to help her. Maybe Giles knew of some spell or something that could help block the memories. He didn’t want Willow insane like Dru. And Angel was afraid if they didn’t find some way to help her that was exactly what was going to happen.
Angel stood in the shadows and watch them talk. He finally realized that Wesley and Cordelia weren’t going to leave. He had no choice but to go in there. He had been away from Willow too long as it was.
Angel opened the door to the shop and ignored Cordelia and Wesley, "Giles I hope you can help me."
"I can try." Giles stammered, not used to Angel asking for help. "What do you need?"
"Do you know of a spell or something that can block Willow’s memories of what happened?" Angel knew that blocking Willow’s memories of what happened wouldn’t really help her, but right now, until she was a little stronger, Angel didn’t want her to have to go through it over and over.
"What exactly did happen to her?" Wesley questioned softly.
Angel ignored the man and stared at Giles. He wasn’t going to get into another fight with them. And he figured the best way to do that was to ignore them.
"Angel, I can look, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to find anything." Giles removed his glasses and started cleaning them. "It might be best not to though. She needs to work through it."
"That’s what I thought, too," Angel unconsciously rubbed his ribs where he had connected with the wall after Willow had hit him. "But I made her very strong, and she is having nightmares. I really don’t want to restrain her."
"Well then, maybe you should’ve just stake-- " Wesley said snidely.
Angel had Wesley by the throat before the man could finish the sentence. "Never let me hear you even say Willow’s name again. That child would make ten of you. If I ever hear you speak bad about her, soul or no soul, you will find out just why I was called the Scourge of Europe."
"Angel, as much as I agree with you," Giles placed his hand on Angel’s arm. "I will ask you not to show the weasel why in my store."
Angel threw Wesley in a chair and turned to Giles. "Sorry about that."
Giles glared at Wesley, "No need to apologize. I feel the same way."
"You can’t be serious!" Wesley rubbed his throat.
"Don’t push me, Wesley." Giles informed the man before him. "Angel, I’ll see what I can find. When are you leaving for LA?"
"We’ll leave at sunset." Angel walked to the door. "Spike’s going with me."
~~~~~~
Just before sunset
Angel stood in the shadows of his room and watched Willow sleep. Spike had used the drugs he use to give Dru to calm her down, to get Willow back to sleep after her last nightmare. Angel hated having to give Willow drugs, but what else could they do?
Willow had refused to go back to sleep after the last one. And the one thing she needed right now was the healing of sleep. That is, if they could stop the nightmares. The nightmares were going to drive her insane if they didn’t find a way to stop them.
Angel heard Giles, Buffy, and Xander come into the mansion and start talking to Spike. But he didn’t move from his spot. He had promised Willow he wouldn’t leave her and he was going to keep that promise.
Angel watched as Willow stirred. He had to make himself stand where he was and not run to her. He didn’t want her scared of him though, so he would wait for her to come to him. No matter how hard it was.
"Angel?" Willow whispered.
"I’m here, Little One." Angel stepped out of the shadows. "I promised I wouldn’t leave you."
Willow smiled but Angel could see it didn’t reach her eyes. Angel wished for the innocent child that she had been. Willow’s eye’s held no light or laughter. They were just a dull green that had seen too much in her young life.
"I’m hungry," Willow whispered childishly.
Angel smiled at her tone. He walked over and sat on the side of the bed next to her. Angel tilted his head. "Drink."
"Are you sure?" Willow hesitated.
"Do you trust me?" Angel held a breath he didn’t need as he waited on her answer.
"Yes."
"Then drink, Little One." Angel smiled.