Xander shifted on the hard plastic chair and gave the two police officers a sidelong glance. "So far so good." He thought observing that the older one was still calmly on the phone and the younger one was still trying to impress that ER nurse. His eyes darted back to Willow who sat across the aisle from him apprehensively rocking back and forth in her chair. Oh how he hoped against hope that she hadn't added any embellishments to the story they had cooked up. With a faint smile he
gave her a quick "thumbs up" and leaned over toward her.
"Uh-huh." Came the barely audible reply.
"You should think about getting into stock car racing." Xander held an imaginary microphone and pointed at her. "And the winner is Ragin' Rosenberg in number seventeen."
"What do you think they're talking about? You think they know? I bet they know. Oh no, they know." She gave the policemen a second fast, worried peek and turned back toward Xander with the same expression as a deer caught in the headlights. "They're coming back. Oh man... bright light and rubber hose time."
"Alexander Harris?" The older one stated looking at his notepad.
"Yes sir, that's me." Xander said jumping to his feet.
"You say you live at 633 Second Street?"
"Ah, yes Sir."
"Are you aware that your mother tried to file a missing persons report on you?"
"A-a-a-a missing persons? But I'm not missing! I'm right here!" Xander nervously waved his hands around. "Yup! Right here...."
"I think you better call her." The officer interrupted. "The desk Sergeant said she had to be escorted out of the station this morning
when he told her she had to wait twenty-four hours to file a report." He raised an eyebrow. "Said you were a runaway."
"Runaway?" Xander laughed nervously. "No that's not..."
"You still in school?"
Xander gulped and nodded his answer.
"And you found the victim out on Oceanview? Three miles outside the city limits." The officer stared at Willow. "And your 'friend' just 'happened' to be driving by. You flagged her down and brought..."
"Officer Hanna... phone for you." The ER receptionist called out.
The officer frowned at the interruption and jerked his head toward his partner. "Will you get that for me, Jim?" He turned his attention back to Willow. "And you just happened to be driving by, correct?"
"A-a-a-a yes, Sir." Willow squeaked. "I was just driving by. I do that a lot, drive by things and people. Everybody always relies on me to drive by, because that's what I'm always doing... you know... just driving by."
"I see." Officer Hanna referred to his notes again. "And neither of you know this John L. Blanchard?"
"No Sir." Xander and Willow replied in unison.
"You're sure of this?"
Xander held his hand up in a 'I swear' motion. "Nope, don't know him. I've never even been to Louisiana."
Officer Hanna pulled the noose a little tighter. "How do you know where he's from? Did you go through his wallet?"
"Yes!" Xander answered in tandem with Willow's "No!"
"All right you two. Let's get the stories together..."
Officer Keck came up and tapped his partner on the shoulder. "Don...come here a minute." With an annoyed frown Hanna walked halfway across the waiting room with Keck where they had a low conversation.
"Oh, that was good Xander." Willow whispered. "Now what am I gonna do? I'm going to get arrested for giving a false report and lose my scholarships cause I'm in jail and have to work in an office until I'm old and gray with carpal tunnel and never..."
Something snapped in Xander. "Well too bad. That's what you get for hanging around with a fuck up."
Willow's jaw dropped. Xander had never spoken to her like that before and it went through her like a knife. "X-x-xander... what did you say?" She stuttered.
Harris leaned forward. "You heard me. And by the way, your little dissertation on 'driving by' didn't help either." He sat back and crossed his arms. "But hey! That's okay, you'll slid out of that one."
"We're done." Officer Hanna muttered as he approached the two. "The Chief says this 'hit and run' is tied in with a case upstate." The two policemen exchanged glances. "So it's getting turned over to them."
"Again." Officer Keck muttered. "So thanks for being good Samaritans, and Harris - call your mother." With that the two abruptly turned and left.
With a heavy sigh Xander plopped back down into his seat, leaned forward and put his head into his hands mumbling. "God I'm tired." Several minutes passed in silence as Willow stared at her longtime friend her confusion growing as her hurt feelings combined with Matt's words from that morning.
"If you guys don't straighten up he'll be riding with us in two weeks."
Willow blinked back a tear and leaned over to touch him but a soft snore told her that he had dozed off. She withdrew back into her chair and looked at him, biting her lip as his appearance hit her. Buffy had relayed the fact that Xander had been a little bit - 'bit' in the park but... Willow shuddered. Splatters of orange demon blood covered his clothes along with smears of dirt and grease. One knee was ripped out of his jeans and why were his shoelaces and socks missing?
Harris awakened with a start as one elbow slipped off his knee. Blinking and staring around the waiting room he got his bearings and leaned over to rest his head on the adjoining seat back.
"Xander? You okay?"
"Uh.. huh. Yeah, just tired."
"Are you going to call your mom?"
Xander opened his eyes but did not raise his head. "No. I'll call her when I get to Sam's place."
Willow's chin quivered. "So you're really going to leave us?"
"Yeah."
"Xander, we need you. Please... don't... go... please... we... need" Willow's voice trembled and faded out.
With a sigh, Xander sat up and rubbed his face. "Get real, Will. I'm a fifth wheel and you know it. Between Giles and Buffy and you and Oz and Wes and let's not forget Dead Boy..."
"Is this about Angel?" Willow whispered.
With a rough shake of his head Harris abruptly stood. "Why does it always has to come back to him?" He exhaled with a hiss and jammed his hands into his pockets. "It's been almost an hour since they took John up to surgery, I'm gonna go see if they know anything yet."
"You, you didn't answer me." Willow stood and looked him in the eye. "And, and mister you're going to answer me because I have my 'I want an answer' face on and, and if you don't answer me I'm going to start crying." She turned away and wiped her eyes. "Like more than I am now."
Xander reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Look Will, I'm sorry I... I'm just sorry. It's not Angel." He drew her around and hugged her. "Not Angel completely, it's a lot of stuff."
Willow went into a full blown cry.
Harris bit his lip and hugged her tighter. "Remember how you felt when we called you 'Old Reliable'?" Willow nodded and raised her head looking a little confused at the question. Xander released his hold and brushed her hair from her face. "Well, imagine how it is to be just as reliable but nobody notices."
"We notice you." She said taking his hand tightly in hers.
"Only when I screw up. Only when I'm not as smart as you, or strong as Buffy, or whatever as 'you-know-who'." Xander pulled his hand away from hers. "But Matt told me I was 'good' right off the bat, just from what
they had heard on recon. That means the bad guys know it but my friends..." He finished the statement with a low snort and a shake of
his head. "I'm gonna go check about what's happening with John."
"Thank you." Willow whispered as he turned.
Looking over his shoulder, Xander paused. "For what?"
"For keeping us safe on Trick or Treat night until Giles got the spell lifted. For getting into the armory to get that missile launcher so we could destroy the Judge." As he turned back toward her she took his hands back into hers. "For going with Buffy all those times like when you went with her to try and save Jesse and getting Giles away from Bad
Angel. For the million times you helped with the research. You didn't have to do any of that, but you did." She took a step closer and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Xander, for always being here."
Xander felt a lump in his throat. As Willow drew away he bowed his head and stared at his shoes trying unsuccessfully to work up a flip
'Xanderism' to keep from crying. He pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her and rocked her so she could not see his tears. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"It's okay."
"No it's not." Quickly wiping his eyes he led her over to the chairs and sat down beside her. "Will, it's a real good deal. I get room and board and Sam's gonna teach me how to handle the dogs and maybe how to fly and, and I'd be an idiot to pass it up."
"But you're not out of school yet and you're not eighteen yet. Willow softly pointed out.
"In less than two weeks I'll be eighteen and I bet there's schools in Louisiana. He reached over and patted her on the knee. "I've got it figured out. Don't worry."
Willow bowed her head. "They know how old you are. Buffy told Matt and Wesley told the other two."
"Great." Xander muttered under his breath.
"Please stay. We need you. And I'll talk to everybody else and tell them to start..."
"No, don't do that." Xander interrupted.
"Why not?" Willow asked genuinely confused.
"Ah, it's a 'guy thing'."
"Ego, huh?"
"No... ah, yeah maybe."
Willow nodded. "I get it." She looked at him sadly. "Is.. is that part of why you're... you know."
"Don't look at me like that Will." Xander said while picking at an imaginary spot on his jeans.
"Look at you like what?"
"Like you did when we were in the third grade and you dropped your cupcake."
Willow brightened a bit. "Oh, I remember that. It was Tammy Dawson's birthday and her mom had brought in those cupcakes with those sprinkle thingies."
Xander smiled at the memory. "And you were trying to count how many sprinkles was on yours and you dropped it. And then you looked at me real sad, until I split mine with you." He reached over and stroked her cheek. "And that's the way you're looking at me now."
"Is it working?" She asked hopefully.
"Will, I know you'll miss me, but..."
"And so will everyone else." She exclaimed, reaching out for his shoulder. "I didn't tell you, but Buffy whacked Matt big time when he
said you were leaving. And Giles, well he said something like he should let her thrash him some more. And Wesley ran two red lights because you were missing."
Xander half smiled. "Two red lights?"
"Uh-huh, and a bunch of yellows."
Putting his head into his hands Xander shut his eyes and though about the last twenty-four hours, trying to sort out his feelings. He knew dropping out of school this late in the game was idiotic, but leaving was such a tempting proposition. He wanted out of Sunnydale, but he already felt pangs of guilt at leaving his friends high and dry. The
Mayor's ascension, whatever that was, it was going to be bad and he should stay to help. But there were other places that needed just as much help.
"Xander?"
Harris opened his eyes and turned to Willow. "You want half my cupcake?" He smiled as her understanding of his comment dawned on her and she began to wiggle in her chair.
"You... you're staying!" She squealed launching herself toward him and folding her arms around him in a joyful hug.
"Yeah Will, I'm staying." He laughed patting her on the back. "At least until after graduation."
She withdrew revealing a pout plastered on her face. "And then?"
Xander good-naturedly aped her expression. "And then we'll see. Heck, maybe we can all go. You know, call it a training exchange." Xander broke into a smile. "Yeah, that's the ticket. You, me and Buffy will go to Louisiana for the summer and they can send Matt and a couple of Alliance guys here to work with Wes and Giles."
A look of wicked conspiracy crossed Willow's face. "That would be way cool you know, to get Giles and Matt together."
"I don't know Will. They were like oil and water last night. Or gas and a match - take your pick." Xander interjected.
With a flip of her hair Willow disagreed. "Naa, they're just alike." Her smile faded as she looked at the clock. "It's almost five. You think they're okay?"
Mentally calculating the time passed since they left the bakery Xander blew out a loud exhale. "They've been out there over an hour and a half. Tell you what, I'll check on John you go out to the van and see if you can raise 'em on the radio. At a quarter after we'll head back out there. That will give us an hour to check things out before sunset."
Willow drew herself up to full height and saluted. "Got it, Captain Harris!"
Returning the motion as seriously as possible Xander smiled as she trotted out of the waiting room. His expression faded to a worried frown as his hand went to Junior's wallet in his jacket. Pulling it out he
flipped it open and stared at the picture on the driver's license. "Can I borrow a quarter to call my mom?" He asked the photo. With a nod he mumbled "Thanks." and began to dig out the coin. Catching sight of a snapshot of Sue and Sheri he traced his finger around their faces then quickly snapped the wallet shut as the possibility of having to carry through with giving this to Junior's widow crossed his mind. He glanced back at the clock and gulped. "Oh man, I hope they're okay."
******
"Chocolate creme a la glace? Yes, je pense bien, ma chere." Junior's voice became a coo as he spoke with his daughter. "Now, you be good for Grandmere and Ma'am Jo... Yes, yes... now let me talk to you mere again." Blanchard bit his lip and exchanged a glance with Andy as he waited for Sue to come on the line. "Ray has da perimeter secure?"
Wesley glanced up at the light and then over at Junior in the passenger seat. From what he had gathered from one side of the conversation everybody was safe back in Louisiana and another team with access to a
plane had flown in from Lord knows where. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and stole a glance at Rupert in the rear view mirror. His compatriot sat stiffly in the backseat staring out the window, his face
a mask. Wesley was unable to discern whether he was lost in thought or trying to close his mind to all.
The line of traffic began to move forward and then stopped again after they had advanced five car lengths. "Au revoir." Junior snapped the cell phone shut and impatiently glared at the left turn signal. Giving his head a shake he leaned around and nodded to his brother. "Ray and group sept just got there, pulled off da Galveston job. Charlie has diverted Luis and team two from da Memphis recon, ETA for dem twenty-three-hundred CST. Uncle Michael reported in. A hour ago he was up da bayou half through Illinois, his ETA will be 'bout
oh-seven-hundred tomorrow." He stared blankly at the ceiling for a second and exhaled with a shudder. "And Sheri, half-hour ago... she told
Sue dat a... dat da wind made her shoes hot, hot."
Andy pursed his lips and nodded at the information. "And so, it goes to her." He leaned forward as a frown crossed his face. "How mere be?"
Junior shrugged. "Good as can be. She be better when we get to da 'opital and see how poppa is." With an brusque wave of the hand to
Wesley he added. "Da light has turned again Watcher - let's go."
"I'm going, I'm going!" Wesley sputtered back. "As soon as the vehicle ahead of us clears... there, now."
"You drives like a vieille." Andy snapped from the back seat.
"Lik'a what?" Buffy asked from the far back of the van where she was crammed with the weapons bags.
"An old lady." Matt translated from his position on the floorboard behind Junior.
Buffy giggled and poked her head between Andy and Sam. "So everything's okay back home?"
"Maybe yes, maybe no." Sam said with a shrug. "But da bloodsuckers are in for a surprise, yes?"
"Yeah, sounds like the cavalry is hot on it." She observed.
"You got that right sister. Fuck with the Alliance and..... SHIT!" Matt scowled up at Rupert. "Kick me again, Old Man and I'll.."
"I don't appreciate your coarse language." Rupert growled. "You need your mouth washed out with soap."
"Been there, done that, hated it." Matt shot back. "When I was seven...eight, stepdaddy number two used 'bout a half a box of Spic & Span. It didn't work."
Buffy screwed up her face in disgust. "Ain't that, like poison?"
"Guess so." Matt answered still glaring at Rupert daring him to respond to the next line forming in his mind. "I was sicker than shit for 'bout a week."
Rupert clenched his fists and his teeth and stared out the window. Inside Matt's weapons bag the radio squealed to life. "Get that sister! Sounds like Red's checkin' in!" Matt shouted, half rising. Buffy dug the radio out and tossed it over the seat as Willow's voice came on."
"Uh, guys? Yeah, umm... Over."
"Hey Red! How's John doin'? Over."
Everyone in the van held their breath.
"Um, I don't know. Over. No not over. Uh... Xander's coming out here. He was checking. I tried to get hold of you guys about ten minutes ago. Then Ring acted like he had to go... you know... go out."
"How far are we from there?" Andy asked impatiently as Willow rattled on.
Wesley tightened his grip on the wheel. "About fifteen minutes, more or less."
Andy reached out and smacked the back of Wesley's seat. "Make it be less, Watcher!"
Xander came on.
"Matt? You there? Over?"
"Talk to us man! Over"
"No news is good news. Over."
The hunters looked at each other with uneasy optimism.
"You guys done for the night? Over." Xander asked covertly.
"He's good." Andy said with a smile. "Never know who be lis'ening."
"Yeah man, we be done. ETA, fifteen. Over, out."
"They won talk to him. He's not a relative." Sam muttered chewing on the
end of his unlit cigar.
"Is Xander really going with you guys." Buffy asked.
"At eighteen." Sam confirmed with a nod. "He's coming down to da Island to live with me and Joellen for training." He waved his cigar
absentmindedly. "You know, he would do good with team teree."
Junior rubbed his chin and nodded in agreement. "Carlos is pretty much laid back and dat would put his home base close to his famille."
"Reality check guys, Xander's still in school." Buffy flipped her hair. "So he can't go, we won't let him, right Giles?" Rupert continued to stare out the window until Buffy tapped him on the shoulder. "Giles? You
in there?"
"Where else would I be?" He mumbled outloud while thinking. "And another serving of sodded mess heaps onto my overflowing plate...."
"I don believe you." Andy muttered. "Da kid can do what he wants. When his bir'hday comes he be his own maitre."
"He already is." Junior interjected. "He held his own last night and today. I would trust him on my crew."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Let me get this straight. This 'is' Xander 'Harris' we're talking about?"
Junior's face darkened to a scowl. "Fille, da rookie has more stones than dat bloodsucker we set da catahoulas on dis morning. It ran from da fight, But Xander... he stood da ground when..."
"Oh... no..." Rupert began.
"THE WHAT YOU WHAT? Buffy screamed as she started to crawl over the seat. Rupert and Andy both grabbed her by the shoulder and tried to push her back.
Junior unhooked his seat belt and turned completely around. "Da vampire dat was spying on us! Xander said it was da 'good' one, but bullshit... der be no 'good' ones!"
Matt stood in the center of the van to help block the Slayer who was doing her best to come over the seat while waving her fist toward Junior and swearing like a sailor.
"CHILL OUT SISTER!" He yelled in her face then back over his shoulder toward Junior. "Did you get it or what? Ring
and Peekon looked like they didn't scrap."
"My shot missed."
"YOUR WHAT!!! YOU SON OF A..."
"BUFFY!" Rupert roared in her ear. "CONTROL YOURSELF!"
"MY SHOT!" Junior barked back while pulling the trigger on an imaginary crossbow. "It ran toward the beach and den Roth showed his chew and we did not give a damn 'bout dat one no more."
Matt stuck his finger in Buffy's face. "Listen up Sis,"
She slapped the offending digit away and threatened. "Next time you'll pull back a stub."
"I said listen to me. Your dead pal's okay." Matt said in a low voice. "He probably hit the water and went under. They do that you know - it's not like they need the air."
"And da dogs would not follow it into da water. Dat's da way I trained them." Sam interjected.
"Buffy, they are right." Rupert's voice had an edge to it that conveyed his aggravation.
Buffy sat back on her heels and inhaled between her clenched teeth. "Thanks a lot Giles." The slayer's eyes seemed to be on fire as her gaze went from face to face. The four hunters were looking at her like she was crazy. Wesley kept nervously glancing at her through the rear view with a worried expression on his face. Giles... what was that look all about? Half annoyance, half sympathy. "Wesley! Pull over and let me out. I'm heading over to the beach."
"Sounds lika plan." Matt mumbled as he twisted around to sit back on the
floorboard.
"No Buffy." Rupert said quietly. "We have to get to the hospital without delay." He turned in his seat and in the same calm voice reiterated. "Without delay." She opened her mouth to contradict but Rupert waved his
finger at her and then pointed at Wesley. "We will be there in eight to ten minutes, then Wesley can take you on to the beach. You will make better time that way."
Buffy clenched her fist and punched the seatback in frustration. "Allright." She growled flinging herself back into her spot amid the bags. "But if anything's happened to Angel.... anything.... you guys are gonna wish you never came to Sunnydale."
Andy whirled around in his seat, his jaw line taut with anger, ice in his voice. "Let see, only Le Bon Dieu knows if my poppa is gon live or die; my aunt, my cousin, both dead; my mere, my femme, my famille being hunted. Mais Slayer, you can say with truth, I'm already sorry I came here." He turned back around and waved a hand at Junior. "Oncle Michael était correct. Ces personnes sont sans valeur."
Junior slowly shook his head. "Les observateurs sont compétents. La fille? Bien, elle doit juste grandir." Shooting Buffy a disgusted look he settled back into his seat.
"Now 'what' was that all about?" Buffy snotted from the back of the van.
Rupert picked up a discarded fast food napkin and began to clean his glasses. "Andy said we are worthless, Junior answered that you need to, ah.. grow up."
"Yeah, right." She crossed her arms and gave him a quick nasty look. "This just ain't fair."
"Buffy is an extremely competent Slayer." Wesley piped in. "Yes exasperating at times, especially when Angel is concerned. I realize it is a very difficult thing to understand, but as her Watcher, I've accepted it and.."
"Yes, yes. Just drive Watcher." Junior interrupted.
Sam turned around and patted the seat to get Buffy's attention. "Slayer, What has happened, has happened..."
"You start in with some 'kay say-ra' crap I'm going out the back window."
Sam's eyebrow shot up. "I don know what you mean by dat. But I do know dis, you must open you eyes and see others or you will someday be
alone."
"Thank you, Obie-Sam." She cut back.
"Soit." Sam muttered as he straightened back around. He made a motion with his hands as if brushing dirt off them and began a low conversation with Andy.
Rupert half listened to the men for a minute picking out a word here and there but unable to follow the mixture of Cajun patois, pure French and Alliance slang. He glanced at the dashboard clock, five-eighteen. Only
twenty-four short hours ago he had noted the exact same time as he had entered his flat. Then, the only thing on his mind was deciding if whether or not he had time to make Sara's stew. Now, a day later he was riding across town with allies he would have never dreamed of finding himself with; allies that had turned his world upside down. Xander was
leaving and Angel might have been destroyed; Willow had embraced their style with open arms; Wesley had accepted their leadership after only minor squawking and Buffy was no longer the center of his existence. He had a son. Oh God... he had a son who he never knew about. This stranger that sat hunched over before him was his own, but yet - still a total stranger.
Rupert leaned over and tapped Matt on the shoulder. "When's your birthday?"
Matt raised his head and sneered. "Why you ask? Gonna send me a card or something?"
"Is it that scenario so far out of the realm of possibility?" Rupert asked trying not to show his hurt.
"You tell me. My take on it is: too little, too late, so why bother?" Matt curled his lip even higher. "Unless you just want to know so you can check your bar notes. Backdate nine months.."
"Forget it." Rupert snapped.
"You don't remember her, do 'ya?" Matt waited a second for a response then straightened up with a sarcastic laugh. "No problem Old Man, no problem. She ain't worth rememberin' anyway."
Rupert shot forward shoving Matt into the back of Junior's seat. "How can you say that about you own mother!"
Matt returned the shove. "You're one to talk."
"You damned insolent..."
"There's the hospital, just ahead." Wesley shouted over the two. "So would both of you be so kind as to.."
"STUFF IT!" Both Giles barked in unison.
"Control yourself Giles." Buffy taunted from the rear.
"Worse than two bickering old women." Wesley spit, speeding up even as he made the turn into the hospital driveway. "Junior, what do you say we tie them both in a sack and drop them into a deep river?" He hit a speed bump with a jolt that sent everyone lurching in their seats.
"Whoa!" Junior grabbed the dashboard "Poc a' poc, yous getting better Watcher." He raised his voice a bit. "But if I had a bon sack dat big I would not waste it on doze two."
"Point taken." Rupert hissed loudly. "There's Xander and Willow. Now Wesley, would 'you' be so kind as to stop somewhere, sometime in the near future!?"
Wyndam-Pryce whipped the van into a space a row over from the hunter's van and kept the motor running as everyone piled out. Buffy tossed each one their weapons bag and crawled forward over the empty seats hopping into the space vacated by Junior. "Let's go Wesley." She ordered.
"Roll down your window and call Mr. Giles over." Wesley ordered back.
"Wesley!"
"What's thirty more seconds..." He began then held his tongue as Buffy swore under her breath and complied. "Hey Giles! Wesley wants 'ya."
Rupert waved an acknowledgment and after a minute broke away from the group. As he stuck his head in the passenger window Wesley gave him a nod. "We'll meet back up at the library at about nine... ten."
Rupert acknowledged with his own affirmative motion. "Very good, between
nine and ten. By the way, Sam was correct in that the hospital staff would not give Xander any information. Mr. Blanchard was taken to
surgery within minutes after they arrived."
Wesley's attention shifted to Xander leading the Blanchard sons toward the ER entrance. "Junior left his cellular in here, please call us when you know anything."
Buffy began to impatiently tap her fingers on the dashboard.
Rupert withdrew and shot the Slayer an exasperated look. "As soon as we know, you will. Now go, before Buf... before you lose daylight."
Buffy rolled the window up before Rupert had even finished. He stepped back and the van pulled away. Rupert waited until they were pulling out of the lot before he rubbed his neck and allowed his posture to slump. Sam and Willow sat in the grass strip at the edge of the lot with Ring between them. A sad expression crossed Willow's face and she reached over and draped her arm around the catahoula's shoulders.
"I know how you feel. I lost a whole tankfull of fish when Angel went bad. I know fish aren't really like a dog... well they're not anything like a dog... but it's kinda the same thing."
Sam pulled his last cigar out of the pack and smiled at Willow. "Ah, fillie everyt'ings vat a vient.... it comes, it goes, yes?" He lit his smoke and nodded. "Peekon is still on da hunt with Teresa and T.Paul, just not in dis world."
"Red, gimmie the keys back will 'ya?." Matt stood beside them, still wobbly but doing his best to act nonchalant.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked him as she handed over the keys. "Maybe Giles should take you in to see the doctor?"
"Yeah, right." Matt muttered. "I can take care of myself, Red. Don't need one of their three hundred dollar check ups." He glanced sideways, rolling his eyes toward Rupert as he approached. "And I don't need him to hold my hand." He reached down to pick up the bags from where they had been heaped. "I'm fine."
"I'll get doze." Sam said waving Matt back.
"Whatever, knock yourself out." With that Matt dropped the bags and headed back to the work van.
"Did they... like, you now - play nice?" Willow asked optimistically as Rupert veered away from them and followed Matt toward the van.
Sam snorted. "Two tomcats in a tote." He reached out and patted Willow on the shoulder as she started to rise. "Leave dem be. Instead you give me you report."
Willow settled back on the ground. "Well, we got here and I laid on the horn and they came out and took John..."
Sam sat puffing on his cigar, mechanically scratching Ring's ears as Willow began. He gave a slight nod of approval as Rupert entered the front of the van and closed the door, then he turned his attention back
to Willow's account of what had happened there.
