PART 3

Serena entered the main dance floor of her club and watched 'Bite The Bullet' set up on stage. Dizz, the singer and keyboard player from Britain, looked none the worse for wear after his kamikaze jump into the crowd two nights earlier. The only thing different about him was the fact that his usually pony-tailed shoulder length blond hair was now loose about his face, in what was obviously a vain attempt at hiding the resulting bruise and stitches on his forehead.

The club owner's eyes moved to Matt, the dark haired drummer, who was absently twirling a drumstick in his right hand as he checked over the kit in front of him.

Serena smiled as she watched him. He was a quiet man, so quiet that she'd never even actually spoken to him. That aside though, he was one of the most talented drummer's she'd ever heard play.

"Hey does this sound flat?" Saul asked the other band members and strummed the acoustic guitar he was holding.

"Yes," they all shouted back as a horrible twang filled the air that caused Serena to cringe.

"OK, OK, you don't have to shout," Saul said indignantly. "Geez."

He continued to mumble to himself and Serena grinned. Saul was a terrible moaner but no-one could deny that he played, and partied, extremely well. If he practiced more there was no doubt in Serena's mind that he'd be a great lead guitarist one day but at the moment he was second to Oz.

Serena turned her gaze to the short man who was deep in concentration checking the strings on his electric guitar. As she stood and watched him, her face softened into a dreamy smile. She saw his fingers stop moving and his features take on a slight frown before, without warning, he looked up and stared straight at her. A smile spread across his face and he winked at her then looked back down to his instrument and continued to strum.

Serena stared at Oz in disbelief. Had he just winked? Her surprise turned into a huge grin and she turned back towards her office not realising that Oz watched her go with an equally big grin of his own.

*************************************

Willow and Xander sat down in front of the huge desk and stared at the vampire that sat opposite them.

"Well, what can I do for you two?" Angel asked coldly. "I never thought to see any of you again after…" He stopped not wanting to remember how things had gone with Buffy, it was still too sore a subject.

"Hey, do you think we came here because we had any other choice deadboy?" Xander challenged frostily. "Trust me, there's plenty of other places I'd rather be than here."

Angel's face grew angry and he shoved his chair back roughly as he stood up. Xander began to rise too but Willow put a restraining hand on her friends arm. "Why don't you go and wait outside for me Xander," she ordered gently.

The young man opened his mouth to refuse but Willow added a plaintive, "Please."

Xander looked down at her sad, gaunt face and felt his anger slip away. He knew he couldn't ruin her chances for help. "Sure, call me if you need me." He shot another nasty look at Angel then left.

Angel sighed and sat back down. "So, now he's gone, do you want to tell me what brought you here?"

Willow cleared her throat nervously. "Well, I…I was hoping that you…might be able to help me find…Oz?" she asked optimistically.

Angel looked at her in silence then leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk. "I thought I heard that you were involved with someone else. What happened, didn't work out?"

"You could say that," she muttered. Angel raised his eyebrows questioningly and with a sad sigh Willow recounted all that had happened to her over the last few days.

The vampire's face gradually softened as the details of the events unfolded before him and he held out a box of tissues to Willow when she came to a faltering stop, tears running down her cheeks.

She took a couple of the proffered tissues then wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "So, will you help me?"

After a slight hesitation, Angel nodded and Willow let out the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "Thank you."

Angel stood. "Look, it's late. Come back tomorrow night and I'll see what I can do for you, OK?"

"But…can't I stay and help?"

The desperation on the young woman’s face touched the vampire but he firmly shook his head. "No, I’ll work quicker alone."

He opened his office door and looked expectantly at her. Willow stood and slowly walked over to him. She paused when she got level with him and smiled softly. "Thanks again Angel, you’re a good friend." With that, she left and the vampire sat back down behind his desk.

When he was sure both Xander and Willow had gone, Angel pulled open a desk drawer and rummaged around until he found a small piece of card. He held it up to read the name and number. After a couple of seconds, he grabbed his phone, picked up the receiver and began to dial.

It was answered on the third ring. "Starlight," came a voice trying to be heard over the noise in the background.

Angel hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yeah, hi, I need to speak to Oz."

END PART 3