Untitled, Dammit!
by Victoria P.

When Willow walked into the Magic Shoppe, the unfamiliar sight of Buffy reading a magazine behind the register threw her for a moment.

"What, Anya couldn't be bothered to come back after lunch?" she asked, setting her bag down on the table. She didn't like the ex-demon, but she tolerated her for Xander's sake.

Buffy's face was grave, her voice serious. "We tried to reach you, Will. You really need to get a cell phone. There's, there's been an accident."

Willow froze. Those words were never good. "What-- Who?" <Not Xander,> she thought frantically. <Please don't let it be Xander.>

"A piece of scaffolding collapsed at the construction site -- " Buffy continued.

"Xander! Oh, my God! Xander!" Willow freaked. She headed toward the door.

"Willow, wait!" Buffy called after her. "Xander's fine. Well, he's not dead, anyway. He's got broken arm and some bruised ribs, that's all. Anya and Giles went to the hospital and I agreed to watch the store, since Dawn--"

"You're babbling," Willow pointed out. "I usually babble, but now you're doing it, too."

"Why yes, yes I am," Buffy agreed. "Thanks for letting me know." She wrote something on a scrap of paper. "Room 217," she said, holding Willow's hand for a moment. "Now, go! I'll close the shop early and come by once Dawn gets here."

Willow smiled, though her green eyes were filled with tears. She moved toward the door again, then thought better of it. She pulled Buffy into a quick, tight hug, and then left for the hospital.

Buffy sighed and returned to her magazine.

~Fin~

 

Disclaimer: All Buffy and Angel characters belong to Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, Sand Dollar, Greenwolf Productions, and the Kuzuis; this piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.