A/N: Last chapter sniff sniff told you it was shorter than my last story.

What has the mist revealed? Will Oz and Willow ever make up?

Chapter 8

"Dear God" Giles exclaimed as the light faded and revealed its secret.

"Are they…….?" Xander couldn't bear to finish his sentence.

Tentatively Buffy stepped forward, she swallowed hard as she reached out and touched the newly human flesh. She snatched her hand back and stifled a cry. It was real, it was all real. The wolves were no longer wolves.

"They're all dead." She murmured.

"Oz?" A small cry came from Willow's lips.

The pile of bodies shifted causing the gang to jump.

XxXxX

Angel watched the Slayer's face. Such fear and sadness in her eyes, he felt his chest tighten. He so wanted to go to her, to comfort her. Come on Oz, buddy, don't do this to them. Pull through.

He positioned him ready to jump if he needed to.

XxXxX

A hand edged out from the pile of bodies. Instinctively Buffy grabbed it and pulled.

Willow recognised the cord bracelet instantly. "Oz!" She called as the rest of his body was pulled into view.

Oz fell over one of the bodies as he jumped back from Buffy's touch.

"Oz are you ok?" Buffy moved to help him up.

"Uh, not really." He said shakily moving away from her again.

"Are you hurt?" Buffy looked round at the others for help. Xander and Giles were avoiding looking at Oz. Willow tugged at her clothes trying to make Buffy understand. She looked back at Oz and for the first time she realised the poor boy was naked and more than a little self-conscious about it this time. She'd seen Oz's 'half-monty' as Xander called it but this was definitely different. Ok, where to look, where to look. No NOT THERE! Ok concentrated on his face. HIS FACE!

Oz looked over at Willow and back at Buffy in horror at his situation and the pile of bodies he'd just been pulled from.

Fumbling for things to say Buffy watched helplessly as Oz scurried into the undergrowth.

"Oz wait!" Buffy called as Willow ran up behind her. "Will, I think maybe he needs alone time."

"Yes, I'm sure the boy is more than a little in need of some privacy. Tonight must have been very embarrassing for him." Giles said solemnly.

"On so many levels. Is it possible to wash your entire eyeball and brain of memories?" Xander said.

"Not now Xander." Willow snapped. "Do you think he's gona be ok?"

"He's Oz. He is usually. He'll be cool, right?" Xander looked to Giles.

"Well if almost being turned into what he hates permanently didn't upset him being trapped under a pile of dead bodies must've scarred him for life." Buffy said grimly.

"Yes, quite." Giles nodded looking down at the bodies.

"So what do we do with them?" Willow gulped.

"I……I suppose we bury them." the librarian shrugged.

"I'll do it." Buffy said quietly.

"I'll help." Xander offered solemnly.

"We'll all help." Willow's eyes were glassy with tears.

"We'll do it right." Giles looked to the bush ahead of him. He was now sure Angel was there, there had been too much rustling when Oz ran for it just to have been him and he saw the nervous way Willow had kept looking at that bush after she'd emerged. Silently he thanked the vampire for what ever part he'd played in helping and hoped that he was watching Oz.

XxXxX

Angel watched as the Slayer searched for somewhere to look. He smiled a little to himself as she began to blush in the dark. He felt sorry for the boy, showing your dark, demon side was bad enough without being naked afterwards to boot.

The Vampire took off after the boy as he streaked past, making as little noise as possible.

"Oz" He growled in the dark as he began to catch up with him. "Oz will you just wait!" He grabbed to boys arm causing Oz to fall over.

Oz panted as he struggled to sit up.

"Here" Angel put his coat round Oz's shoulders, "You look like you need this. Not that many people would notice in this town."

"How long you been in that bush?"

"The whole night." The vampire pulled the werewolf to his feet. "You ok?"

"Other than incredibly embarrassed and naked, I'm good." Oz pulled the coat tight around him, it was far too long but right now he didn't care.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Home and hide." Oz nodded to himself as they walked through the woods.

"I meant about Willow."

"I know" he sighed. "I just need time to think about things. You know. It might not look like I spend time thinking but it's a fundamental part of my week….."

"And Willow's not giving you that time?" Angel prodded. He didn't like doing it but he knew Oz needed to talk no matter how quiet he remained in company.

"Not in the sense of leaving me alone. I know she's sorry but coming up to me every day, waiting at my locker isn't giving me what I need."

"Have you told her this?"

Oz merely nodded sadly. Both men sighed and walked in silence until they reached Oz's house. Oz pulled on some clothes, took a deep breath, rubbed his hands across his face and headed back downstairs to where the vampire was waiting.

"Thanks" Oz said quietly as he handed Angel back his leather duster.

"Are you going to be ok?" The Vampire asked threading his arms into his coat.

"About what?"

"Going to pretend it never happened?" Angel's mouth tweaked into a small smile.

"Pretty much." Oz jammed his hands into his pockets.

The vampire turned to the door.

"Um, Angel….." Oz called.

Angel nodded at the silent 'thank you' Oz had just given. "Look after yourself." With that he turned and melted into the dark streets of Sunnydale.

XxXxX

Willow waited by Oz's locker every morning for the rest of that week. When she had seen him he just said "Hey" and passed right by her. Other than that it was business as usual. No one had mentioned that night. It had been traumatic for all of them.

Today was different though, this time she had to make Oz listen, she had to talk to him. She hid round the corner from his locker and waited. When he finally did appear she tried to look surprised as she approached him.

"Oz! Wow. Look at us. Running into each other – as two people who go to the same school are so likely to do now and then."

Oz tensed his jaw and turned to her. He really didn't want to have a conversation with her, he didn't know how he felt about her and he knew that's where this conversation would head.

" Hey" he said, turning away from his locker and her.

"Oz, wait. Please. What I did, when I think, that I hurt you….." She grabbed his arm, stopping him from leaving.

"Yeah you said this stuff already." He said solemnly.

"Right. But… I wana make it up to you. I mean if you'll let me, I wana try." She almost begged.

"I just…..you can leave me alone…………… I need to figure things out."

"But maybe we could talk about it we could……" Her voice sounded so desperate Oz struggled not to hug her.

"Look, I'm sorry this is hard for you but I told you what I need. So I can't help feeling like the reason you wana talk is to feel better about yourself. That's not my problem." After a beat Oz turned and walked back up the corridor leaving a desperate Willow even more sad and confused.

A/N: That'sallfolks. Hope you enojoyed it. Please let me know what you all thought. Thanks to all who'vevisited my storyand to those who've taken the time to review.

Until next time.

"Catch ya on the flip flop."