Title: Laid Up
Author: Dreamer
E-mail: DreamerV966@aol.com
Rating: G.
Dedications: To Charibob, who's platipi still plague me, and to my Mom, who broke her ankle, and inspired this story. (I'm so sorry Mom. I never wanted to see you get hurt, and if my ankle could be broken instead of yours, I would trade places in a second.)
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, they belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, and all others who stake a claim. Only Dr. Elena belongs to me.
Author's Notes: Well, lets see, Buffy and Angel are not together, Spike is not in love with Buffy (I will not allow that in any of my Fan fic) Tara has not come on the scene, and maybe never will. Willow was the one who brought Angel out of hell, and she restored his soul to him. To those of you waiting for the next in the series of W/S stories, I have writers block, but I will be adding to that soon. Hopefully, this will break the block.

Angel picked up the phone before it even stopped ringing the first time.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Angel? It's Giles, Willow broke her ankle, and is laid up in the hospital. She's going in for surgery tomorrow, because a piece of the bone broke off, and they have to reattach it."

Angel blinked before answering, "I'll be there in an hour." He hung up the phone and left.

***
It took Angel less than an hour to get to Sunnydale. He broke every speed limit on the way there. Ever since Willow brought Angel back from Hell, he felt very protective of the little red head. He couldn't help but wonder how she broke her ankle. Angel pulled up in front of the hospital, and strode in the doors. He stopped only to ask where Willow's room was, and headed straight there. When he got to the room, there was Willow surrounded by the Scooby gang. And Spike. Angel took no notice of the rest of the group, he was too focused on Willow.

"Willow," Willow looked up to see Angel. He could see the already pale girl was paler then usual, and the tight expression on her face told him she was in pain. "Are you all right? How did this happen? Where are your parents?"

Willow smiled at the dark hair vampire's hurried expression. She took a deep breathe before answering, "I'll be fine, and my parents are away." Her face took on a stony expression. "They know what happened, Giles got off the phone with them right before he called you, but they're staying in Holland, and continuing on to Spain as planned."

Angel face pinched together as he frowned. "But who are you staying with while your ankle gets better? And HOW did this happen?"

Buffy spoke up then, "She's staying with me, and she broke her ankle walking though my room." Buffy at least had the heart to look ashamed as she continued, "The room's kinda messy, " Xander snorted at this, and Buffy glared at him, " and she broke her ankle trying to step over the clothes on the floor."

Angel now looked angry. "She is not staying with you, you are the reason she got hurt. She can stay with me in the mansion." His tone of voice was that of a very pissed off vampire, and no one cared to argue with him when he was feeling that way.

Angel sat down and talked to Willow for a while, not noticing that Buffy was getting very jealous. They all left soon though, visiting hours were over.

Angel reached over and squeezed Willow's hand, "I'll be waiting for you when they take you to my house tomorrow." Willow smiled at that. Angel threw nods at Giles and Xander, and a very cold glare at Buffy, before turning and leaving. He had to go. He had to go make up a room for Willow were she could be comfortable.
***

Willow arrived at the mansion not long before dark. Giles and Xander were there, but Buffy was not. She was still pissed at Angels attention to Willow, and the way he talked to her, and the way he paid no attention whatsoever to her in a loving manner. Angel scooped Willow up as soon as she was in the door. He carried her to her room and sat her gently on the bed.

"Do you need anything?" Angel asked, concern written all over his face.

"No, I'm fine," Willow answered. Angel still looked worried, but he accepted her answer, for now. Xander and Giles came in the room. They both sat down in the chairs
Angel had placed near the bed.

Willow smiled. "Anyone want to sign my cast?" she asked shyly. Xander and Giles nodded yes, and moved over towards her. They each took the marker and carefully wrote messages on her cast. Angel couldn't disapprove of Xander, not when he acted so nicely to Willow, and he could tell the boy had genuine feelings of remorse for her condition, and concern at how she was feeling. Angel took the marker next and added his message to the collection.

When he was done, Willow leaned over and read the messages out loud, "I hope you feel better, and this I quote, You are my best friend, and always will be, I hope. Yours till the Ice screams, Xander." She smiled at Xander's rhyme, and went on to read what Giles had written, "To the best student and friend that an out-of-work librarian ever had, I hope that you feel better soon, and don't hesitate to call if you need anything. With love, Rupert Giles." Willow looked over at Giles and gave him a grin. The she went on to read Angel's. "To the little red head, I hope you feel better soon, I want you to come to LA to visit. Always remember," and then the writing was in Gaelic. Willow looked over at Angel, "What does the rest say?"

Angel smiled, "It's an old Irish blessing."

Willow nodded, "Thank you," and looked at all of them, "thank you all."

Willow yawned and the guys took that as their sign to let her rest. They backed out of the room as Willow started to drift off. The three men went downstairs and looked at one another. Giles ran a hand through his hair, and said, "We have to go." Angel nodded his understanding, the Slayer was expecting them back at Giles house. Giles and Xander took their leave and Angel went back up to Willow's room. She was sleeping soundly, and Angel sat down beside her to watch her sleep.
***

When Willow woke up, she turned to see Angel sitting on the chair beside the bed, sleeping. He was smiling, which made Willow wonder what he was dreaming about. Buffy probably. Willow looked around and saw a pile of books beside her bed, where she could reach them. She also saw at the bottom of the pile a book that translated Gaelic to English. She wondered if Angel put it there. She reached over and picked up the book. Willow looked up the words and began putting those words in an order she understood. She really wasn't paying attention to what the words said, and when she was done, she read them over. Willow nearly gasped at the meaning of Angel's "blessing". Roughly translated it said, "When the moon is out and the stars are bright, behind you I always follow. Even though you think you're alone, I am right behind. When you are in trouble, I will be there, to fight whatever plagues. In one hand I hold my sword of love, the other my shield of care. For it is only this that I find, will defeat that which troubles you dear. My love remains yours until I die, which will be only in eternity. I patiently await the day that you find that you too love me. Always your friend, and admirer from a far, Your Angel." Willow thought the poem was sweet, if a little corny. She turned to look at Angel. He was still asleep, and still smiling. According to this poem, Buffy wasn't the one he was dreaming about. He was dreaming about her. Willow put the book back beside the bed. She pulled the covers up around her, and closed her eyes. It was only fair that if Angel was dreaming about her, Then she should go to sleep and dream about him too.
***

When Willow opened her eyes again, she was standing in a field of soft grass. There were trees in the distance, and she could hear birds singing. It was daytime, and she looked down at her ankle. She was standing on it, which must mean it wasn't broken. Willow sighed. She was dreaming. At least it was a nice dream, instead of some scary nightmare. Far away she could see someone walking towards her. He had dark hair and as he approached Willow could see it was Angel.

"Angel, you're out in the daytime," Willow said.

Angel shrugged, "It's a dream." Then he smiled broadly at Willow.

*Wow, he's really hot when he smiles, but then he's hot all the time," Willow thought. *Hey, if this is a dream then I can kiss him and it won't matter, Angel won't even really know about it.*

Willow leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Angel's neck. She stood on tiptoe and planted her lips on his.
***

Angel felt surprised that Willow was kissing him. He automatically wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. The birds around them chirped and sang as Angel deepened the kiss. Angel pulled away to look Willow in the eyes.
***

*Damn," was Willow's first thought as she woke up, *It was just getting good. * Willow looked over at Angel. They were both breathing hard, even though Angel didn't technically need to. Angel took a minute to meet Willow's eyes.

Willow smiled at him, "I just had the greatest dream. I was outside, and you were there, and the sun was shining and you were walking around in it like anybody else."

"You kissed me," Angel blurted out. He was surprised that she had the same dream as him.

"Huh? Well, yeah but how would you know...Oh Goddess, you had the same dream." Willow said.

Angel just nodded his head.

"So what do we do now?" Willow asked, afraid to hope for the answer she wanted.

"How about pick up were we left off?" As Angel said this he leaned across the bed towards Willow. Their lips touched ever so softly and Angel was quick to capture Willows mouth and deepen the kiss. Willow moaned slightly at the back of her throat, but didn't pull away. Angel mentally smiled as Willow wrapped her arms around him. Angel kneeled on the bed and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting the little red head slightly. He set her back down and eased some of his weight on top of her, but only enough to make kissing less awkward. Angel started pulling up Willows shirt to rub his hand across her stomach and breasts. Willow groaned again at Angel gentle touch. Just then, Buffy burst through the door to Willow's bedroom.

"What are you doing?!?" Buffy yelled.

The couple jerked apart at Buffy's cry. Willow blushed and Angel started to take a step towards Buffy but she stopped him with he next statement.

"Don't. Even. Come. Near. Me. You are the biggest jerk I know. How dare you cheat on me, with my bestfriend? And you," Buffy pointed at Willow, "are nothing but a slut. I hope you two are happy together." Buffy stormed out before either of them could say anything. Angel gave Willow a look that said, "We'll finish this later," and rushed of to try and explain to Buffy. Willow settled down beneath the sheets. She doubted that she would get any sleep, but she could try. Willow smiled as she started to drift off, *At least I have someway to keep busy while my leg heals.*