Impact

That evening Gunn, Fred, and Wesley had Angel gather up Lorne from the lawyers’ offices to hold a meeting at the Hyperion. All the Scoobies were at the hospital visiting Buffy and Giles. He was moved into another room, and all the visitors were now welcome. But Angel Investigations was working on the yellow demon case.

“We’ve gotten nowhere researching the yellow demon in your vision, Lorne, so after our conversation this afternoon I thought we should change our focus to the woman that gave you the vision in the first place.” Wesley said.

Lorne was sipping on another Sea Breeze. The group began to surmise that the glass was permanently attached to the green demon’s wrist. “Well, like I said, she came into my department by mistake. She wanted a book on some kind of prophecy, so I directed her to the correct wing.”

“Did she say what book she was looking for?” Angel asked.

Lorne nodded, “No, and I didn’t ask. Just told her which way to go.”

“And then she just started singing?” Fred asked with confusion on her face.

“Well, she didn’t just burst into song, if that’s what you mean. Like I’ve said about a hundred times before, I was engrossed in Celine Dion’s file, this lady noticed, and commented she liked her, hence the singing of a few lyrics. It really was no big.”

“But then you had the vision?”

“Yes, it sort of blindsided me because I wasn’t expecting it. Here I am, enjoying my afternoon with Celine, and this vision erupts my thoughts. And a scary vision at that, what with the Big and Yellow, and ripping apart of the hotel.”

The group frowned and all shifted around uncomfortably. Then Gunn asked, “Did you see any of us in the vision?”

Lorne again shook his head. “No, just the lobby getting smashed and crashed. Then I came out of the vision.” He frowned. “I went to say something to the lady, but she was gone when I came out of it.”

“She didn’t notice you went trance on her?” Gunn asked.

“I don’t know. She was there singing, and then I had the vision, and then she wasn’t there.”

Wesley pulled out a pad of paper off of his desktop and placed it in on the coffee table in front of Lorne. “Can you draw us a picture of the lady? Perhaps we can find her, and that might get us a lead on the demon.”

Lorne picked up a pen and started to sketch. “She was such a nice lady, or so she seemed.” He frowned as he drew. “I can’t imagine her knowing anything of Yellow, Bald, and Ugly.”

“I’m more concerned now about the book she wanted, and what prophecy she was interested in. If that book and this demon all go together, we could be in some serious troubles.”

“Another apocalypse perhaps?” Angel inquired. He had been pretty quiet all evening, and the group was concerned about him. Wesley told them all not to worry, but they couldn’t help themselves. Bad things occurred when Angel got the grumps.

“I don’t know.” Wesley answered.

“There she is.” Lorne threw the pad down on the table. “I am an artist, but not of the non-verbal kind lady and gents.” Fred laughed out loud at t “W “What about the suits you wear Lorne? Pretty artistic if you ask me.” Gunn joined in her laughter, saying mockingly. “His suits art? Looks more like he’s wearing the yellow demon than seeing him in any vision, if you ask me.”

“Do not insult the threads people.” Lorne brushed invisible dust off of the loud yellow suit, and tucked the hot pink tie back into place.

Angel interrupted the teasing with his quiet voice. “I know this woman.” He now held the paper in his hands. “She’s a nurse at the hospital, one of Giles’ as a matter of fact. Her name is Bunny.”

“Guess we know where to find her then, don’t we?” Gunn jumped up, ready for action.

“No, let me go. I’ll talk to her. We aren’t strangers, so I should be able to find something out. I think she’d talk to me. Alone.”

“Yes, I quite agree.” Wesley added. “Let us know what you find out.”

Angel nodded at the group, and then swept out of the hotel into the night.

It was good for him to have a focus, a case, a demon to squash. A purpose.

At the hospital, Giles was surrounded by the Scoobies. It was nice to know that so many cared about his well being, but he really just wanted them all to leave him alone with Buffy. She was what he wanted and needed. All he really wanted was for his voice to come back, so that he could tell her how much he loved her. He had said many awful things to her in their last argument, and after overhearing her discussion with Angel, he wanted to take it all back. Especially now that he understood.

Buffy was going out of her way to show him in every way she could that she loved him, and she also told him often, soothing his hurts away. He couldn’t wait to hold her close. His cast and sore ribs prevented him from holding her tightly to him, but the day would soon come when the bandages would be gone, and then he’d show her how much he loved her. He hoped he could tell her as well.

The more time passed, the more worried he got that he wouldn’t regain his speech. als also needed to reassure Buffy that it wasn’t her fault. He was the one that let his anger and jealousy get the best of him. He was the one that stormed out into the street without even looking. But he feared that if there was permanent damage, the damage would be Buffy’s emotional state. He couldn’t allow that to happen.

Willow had mentioned they could try magic to restore his voice, but they had all vetoed that idea. At least for now. It seemed that probably there was nothing wrong with his vocal cords. And the swelling in his brain had gone down considerably. The doctor insisted, however, that more time could prove the trick. So for now they all just decided to wait for more time to pass, and for his body to heal on it’s own. Magic always seemed to have a way of creating a backlash, and they’d rather avoid any of that.

“So, G Man, when are they going to spring you from this joint, anyway?” Xander smiled wickedly and raised his eyebrows at Giles. The young man knew that Giles hated to be called that, but there was no way he could get yelled at now. “Ouch!” he exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder. Buffy had socked him in his shoulder. “Don’t call him that.” She smiled at Giles, who smiled fondly back at her.

“Hopefully within a few days.” Buffy answered. She sat on the side of the bed, Giles’ good arm around her. She held his hand in her lap. No words had been said to their friends, but they all seemed to understand that a bridge had been crossed in the Slayer and Watcher’s relationship, and they were all glad for it.

“Have you heard anything from Kennedy?” Buffy asked Willow.

“Oh, yes.” Willow fidgeted in the chair, nodding her head vigorously up and down. “She called this morning from Cleveland. Wood and Faith have started to convert an old warehouse into an office. They thought it could be Slayer Central or something. So far they have contacted 12 new slayers, and Faith and Kennedy have been posting secret notices and the such trying to find more.”

“Secret notices?” Dawn scrunched up her face. “How do you mean? Like secret slayer code or something?” Buffy snorted and rolled her eyes at her sister. “Don’t look at me like that, she’s the one that said it.” Dawn frowned and pouted, resting her chin on her hand.

“Kennedy said they are putting posters in various towns and cities, using the other slayers to travel around searching as well. And using the internet, message boards, school announcement boards, etc. They are asking young girls to contact them if they feel like they have supernatural powers, are stronger than average, things like that, asking them if they want to join a secret society to help them harness the power or some such sort. Of course they get a lot of fakes, but every once in awhile they do find someone. And as more time passes and the word gets out, hopefully the center will really begin to build.”

“It’s strange to think that they, and I guess all of us here, are now the Watcher’s Council.” Xander mused.

Willow giggled. “I just remembered, Kennedy said Andrew is bugging them all with his camera and movie making. He says he’s going to be the next Spielberg.” Giles rolled his eyes at that. What happened to sacred duty, and secrecy? The world was doomed indeed.

“Mind if I come in?” Angel asked from the doorway.

“Hi Angel!” Willow and Dawn said in unison. Xander kept his mouth shut, never one of Angel’s strongest allies, and Buffy just smiled at him, waving him in.

“How are you feeling?” Angel asked the Watcher, and then belatedly realized that Giles couldn’t answer him back. “Sorry.” He mumbled, but Giles just smiled at him, and then nodded his head at the vampire, trying to express that he was okay. Buffy answered for him. “He’s doing much better.” Buffy and Giles gazed at each other as if they were the only two in the room, until Angel cleared his throat, breaking the slayer and watcher’s bonding moment.

Before more could be said, Lilly came into the room, trying to avoid all the elbows and limbs. “Well, Mr. Giles, you’re going to need a bigger room for all these guests.” She smiled at them before continuing. “Unfortunately, visiting hours are over, and you all must say goodbye now. The patient needs his rest. And I do mean patient missy,” she stared pointedly at Buffy. “You should go be with your friends tonight, and get a nice long night of sleep. He’ll still be here in the morning.”

Buffy began to argue but Giles squeezed her hand in his, nodding in agreement with his nurse. Buffy relented, and pecked Giles on the cheek, promising to arrive first thing in the morning. The group all said their goodnights, and trickled out of the room.

Angel lingered in the corridor, waiting for Lilly to emerge from Giles’ room. She smiled at him when she exited. “Hey handsome” he smiled back at her. “Hey, Lilly. I was looking for nurse Bunny. Is she on duty tonight?”

Lilly frowned in concentration. “No, she’s off the next two days I think. Why? Want to break my heart and ask her out?”

Angel chuckled. “No, it’s nothing like that. I just have some business with her, some questions actually. Do you know how I can get in touch with her?”

“Sorry, Angel. I don’t really know her all that well. She’s pretty new here. But you could check the work schedule at the front desk. I’m sure Peggy would tell you when she’s expected. She can’t give out personal information or anything.”

“Of course.” Angel commented.

“But she can tell you when her next shift is I think. Sorry to rush off on you, but I have to get back to it.”

“Yes, of course. Thanks Lilly.” He smiled at her and left to find his friends.

Lilly watched him for a moment, and then clutched her temple in pain. She hastily ran to the employee restroom and washed her face in the sink. When she brought her face up to look in the mirror, her reflection was her her own. Lilly was gone. In her place, Bunny scowled. “You won’t get close, Angel, so don’t even try.” Her eyes clouded to a murky yellow momentarily. She bent and washed her face again, and this time when she looked up, Lilly had returned. She squinted at her reflection in the mirror. “Darn these headaches.” She rubbed her eyes, wiped her face with a paper towel, and then returned to work.

TBC