Giles and Xander were returning to Buffy’s house, very thrown by the news that Willow had never made it to the Magic Shop, when they saw Angel lying on the road, awake but disoriented and propped up on one elbow.
“Now, what have we told you about jumping into the barrier without supervision?” Xander said. Angel scowled in response.
“I didn’t jump into the barrier. Willow… hit me in the head with something. I guess it knocked me unconscious… though, I’ve recently been hit in the head with a shovel and it hadn’t done much to me…” Angel mumbled to himself.
“What? Willow would never do that and you know it! You did something with her, didn’t you? I don’t see her. Where is she? Lying dead in a—“
“Xander, if you will KINDLY calm down,” Giles interjected. He routed his attention to Angel. “Are you certain it was her?”
“Yes. I’d just spoken with her, there was no one else around, I turned my back for a second…”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Angel’s eyes were downcast for a moment. “No. She was suddenly chipper when she was so upset before. I didn’t understand, but I passed it off for… I don’t know.”
Giles looked grim. “It’s got hold of her now.”
“I guess it does,” Angel answered. “But my question is, why? Why Willow?”
“Well, she has been dabbling in witchcraft lately. Perhaps she has the potential to be much more than a dabbler, and the Infected is sensing that energy,” Giles provided. “But the question becomes, why didn’t she bite you and make you infected as well? You have power, why shouldn’t it…”
“I’m dead,” Angel reminded.
“Ah. Yes. Well, it’s now even more imperative that we perform this spell. Xander, perhaps you’d better go back to the lib…” Giles and Angel both wheeled around to face Xander.
Xander’s uncharacteristic silence had gone unnoticed until the pair noticed how lost and angry the boy looked in the twilight. He looked up at Giles very slowly and deliberately. “If there is anything you can do to help you remember how to fix this Demon Rabies, do it now. If I can help, tell me what I can do. In the meantime, let’s do this damn spell and get our asses in there to do something. I can’t just stand here anymore and watch my friends sleep forever or get trapped in a house or start beating up allies. We’ve got to stop this now.”
Giles and Angel both stared at Xander for a moment with raised eyebrows. Giles was the first to break the silence.
“Right then.”
“Okay.”
“Angel, you remember the spell?”
“I do.”
“Wonderful. Xander, take the crossbow and go to the Magic Shop to get the supplies we need. You’re not connected to mystical forces, so it won’t come after you, but make sure… it… isn’t… well. That is peculiar.” A smile spread gradually over Giles’ face. “I do believe I remember the other way to kill the rabies. Get the ingredients and I’ll explain when you return.”
Xander did as he was told and was back in less than five minutes.
***
“Xander, remember that you are the key component here,” Giles explained as the three males walked up the path to Buffy’s home. “You are the only one who isn’t associated with the mystical forces. This means that both Angel and I are susceptible, so take no chances. Perform the ritual on everyone in the house.”
“Except Joyce and Cordy,” Xander clarified.
“Except them,” Angel agreed. They paused at the front door. “Be on your guard at all times,” Angel continued. “Someone may sneak up behind you at any time. You may not even see anyone until the last minute.”
“Well, thanks for the comfort,” Xander said sarcastically.
Giles opened the door. He and Angel strode in, with Giles staying downstairs and Angel going up. Xander, unsure of where to go, tentatively followed Giles.
As Giles was about to open the door to the kitchen, it flew open toward Giles and a large, furry animal jumped right past the Watcher, snarling quite enthusiastically. The animal seemed to have quite a hefty gash in its back.
Xander was startled. “Oh, God, Buffy! What happened to you?”
Giles stole an indignant glance at Xander before returning his guard toward the beast. “That’s not Buffy, it’s Oz, you fool.”
“…Oh. Right.”
“He must have changed when the demonic atmosphere of the house got to him. Don’t just stand there…” Oz pounced at Giles with a sort of lazy ferocity that was mildly indecipherable. Giles was able to easily turn the tables and pin the wolf down for a moment. Xander took the opportunity and took the cross out of his pocket and held it near Oz. The wolf, not usually affected by crosses, whined and retreated from the object. A yell, followed by some crashes and bangs were heard from upstairs.
Xander cleared his throat and began his speech. “Mortal rights are not what you possess; nor shall this curse possess you from this point forth. As mortal, I beseech thee and order thee to leave this vessel, never to return until time reaches its end.” A noticeable wind passed Xander and Giles and left through the front door. Oz, though still in his wolf form, fell unconscious, as though the virus had taken a lot out of him.
“That’s kinda depressing, actually. “Until time reaches its end”… I mean, does time even have an end? Isn’t it just one of those eternal…” Xander tapered off at the annoyed look on Giles’ face. “I should probably go help Angel, huh.”
“Yes, I think that would be wise. I’ll just… drag Oz outside and be right there.”
“Oh. Want some help with the Oz-dragging?”
“No, no. I think it’s best if you went to help Angel.”
“Okay dokey, artichokey,” Xander said amiably. He sprinted up the stairs.
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