Part 5

"Willow? Willow, can you hear me?" Michael was hovering over an unconscious Willow as Nikita did her best to calm Birkhoff down.

"What’s wrong with her?" the young man cried. "Why isn’t she waking up? What was the glow that we saw?" Birkhoff was riddling questions off without even waiting for an answer, but that was okay since Nikita and Michael didn’t the answers anyway. They had never seen anything like the ball of energy and the fact that the red head wasn’t waking up was not making any of them feel any more comfortable with the situation.

"Willow, it’s time to wake up now. Come in you can do it." Michael was relieved to hear a moan come from the teenager on the floor. "That’s it Willow, it’s time to get up. You got Birkhoff all worried about you and you know how much you hate that."

"Yeah, can’t stand a person who broods. Already have one in my life," was the weak reply. As soon as he heard her speak, Birkhoff ran and knelt by her side. Michael sat back in order to allow him more room. Birhoff helped Willow sit up.

"Let me guess, I passed out right?" Willow said when she saw the worried faces on her friends. When they all nodded, Willow put her head down. "Damn, hate when I do that. How long have I been out?"

"About fifteen minutes," Nikita answered joining the others on the floor around the girl. "You had us worried."

"I’m sorry," Willow said giving the blonde woman a reassuring smile as she felt her energy returning to her. "I knew the spell would take a lot out of me but I thought that I would have time to recover before you all got here. I didn’t realize how long it would take." Willow tried to stand and felt slightly dizzy as she got up. Birkhoff held her, along with Michael to the couch.

"What exactly were you doing?" Birkhoff asked, concerned over the girl that had taken his heart.

Willow could see the worry that was in the other’s eyes but couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth. (How do you explain that you had to help a friend by giving him back his soul?) Willow looked down at her hands, unable to stand the looks of concern that they had for her. (They are so worried about me and I can’t even tell them the truth. I’d be canceled in a heartbeat just because, who would believe me about Sunnydale. I mean the whole vampire and slayer thing is a bit much if you never knew those things existed.)

"Willow, what was the spell for?" Nikita asked gently, sitting on the couch beside the young witch, taking her hand in her own.

Willow shrugged. "It was just a protection spell. You know, for when you and Michael go out on a mission," Willow lied. She was never very good at it and she could tell that the others weren’t sure if she was telling the truth. They didn’t know a lot about magick, but they were pretty sure that what they saw was not part of a protection spell. There was too much power.

"Willow," Michael was about to admonish the girl and get her to tell him the truth when he got a good look in her eyes. Michael had seen that look too many times, it was a look that Madeline had perfected. It was one that said that no matter what, they would not be getting any more information out of her. Michael sighed as he reached out and pushed a lock of hair out of Willow’s face. "Next time just be careful okay. I don’t like the idea of you doing something that could be dangerous to you."

"It wasn’t that dangerous Michael," Willow lied. "I was perfectly safe. I’ve done that spell a few times now." Willow hoped that they wouldn’t question her anymore since she felt bad enough about lying to them.

"Are you sure," he asked again, still not sure of her well being.

"Yeah, I’m fine really." Willow turned to Birkhoff, who was sitting by her side to see him still looking worriedly at her. She put her hand against his cheek and he covered it with his own. "I’m fine Birky. I really am." Willow placed a kiss on his lips, reassuring him.

"I was so worried when I saw you pass out and then when we couldn’t wake you, I felt as if I had gone numb." Birkhoff was near tears and Michael and Nikita looked at each other, surprised. They had never seen so much emotion from the boy that had grown up with Section being his only family. They credited the young girl in front of them with finally giving Birkhoff what he needed most. Love.

"I know and I promise that I won’t do that particular spell again." (Well, that’s not exactly a lie. I felt the spell work. I saw Angel and felt him get his soul back. I just can’t believe I was too late.) The other three took Willow at her word. "So I guess tonight is a bust huh?"

"Well, I really think that you should get some rest," Nikita told the girl as she went into her nurturing role that often occurred when she was with Willow. "We can get together another time."

"How about tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel." Michael and Nikita laughed while Birkhoff just looked confused, not really understanding the joke. Willow continued laughing as she walked with the others to the door, her arm wrapped around Birkhoff’s waist. "I’m really sorry I worried you guys. I didn’t mean to."

"Just be careful next time," Birkhoff replied. "I don’t think I could stand it if I lost you."

Willow gave Birkhoff a light kiss. "Don’t worry, I don’t plan on going anywhere. Really I’ll be fine." Birkhoff nodded his head, realizing that Willow was indeed okay, even though he knew that she was hiding something from him. He gave her another light kiss before heading out the door, waiting just outside for Nikita and Michael.

"I want you to take care of yourself," Michael admonished the young girl before giving her a hug. "Don’t make me have to kick your ass."

Willow snorted, "Like that would happen, old man." Michael just grinned as he placed a kiss on her forehead. Then it was Nikita’s turn.

"If you need anything, just call me. I’ll be right over okay?" Nikita told her, taking Willow into her arms.

"I will, not get. The night is still young, so go have fun. Don’t worry about me." Nikita smiled, also placing a kiss on Willow’s forehead. The three operatives left, Willow locking the door behind them, finally allowing herself to take a deep breathe.

Willow walked over to where she had performed the ritual. Tears began to form as she remembered the sight that had greeted her as she felt Angel’s soul go through her. She started to clean up the items that she had used as the first tears began to fall. With every ingredient that she picked up, Willow felt another piece of her composure break down. Finally Willow collapsed on the floor, both from exhaustion, the energy she had used for her spell, and the knowledge of what was happening in Sunnydale at the same time that she was performing the spell.

As she was performing the spell, Willow had felt Angel’s soul go through her, and with it, she had seen what had happened since she was gone. She had seen Angelus taunting Buffy as the two of them were fighting with swords in front of a blue statue of some kind of demon. Acathala. She saw Angel as his soul came back to him as he looked over at Buffy. A vortex was appearing behind him. She saw Buffy cry as she gave him a kiss and asked him to close his eyes. She felt the sword as it entered him. As Willow fell back into unconsciousness, the only thing she could think about was that she had been too late to save her friend from a fate that she would never have wished on him. She dreamt that night of an angel in hell.