Author: Emilie
Disclaimer: I don�t own Oz or the plot/characters from Dead Last. The people who own it are probably the owners. . . don�t sue me. I have nothing you�d want.
Rating: PG-13?
Notes: This is the first Dead Last fic I�ve tried to do. Basically the major plot of the show is that this band �The Problem� found an amulet that gives them the power to see ghosts. If they make eye contact with a ghost or the ghost figures out that the band can help them then the band HAS to help them with their problem or it could get bad.
Nother Note: If you can think of a title please email me. I can�t seem to come up with one. . . though I probably will as I think about it more. Hehe.

Oz stood in the middle of the club. People swarmed around him like insects and he couldn�t bring himself to move out of their way. He wasn�t sure why he was here, in this club. It was called �The Grunge� and the hygiene of the large room that made up the entire club lived up to its name. The smells of the place almost drove him crazy. Mold, perfume, body odor, sex, sweat. Everything all mixed together and seeming to pulse with the beat of the band on stage.

He had felt something draw him inside here. He had been walking to his motel, ready to go to sleep when he�d felt it. Something drawing him, something not normal and something that he couldn�t explain. He�d followed it, having learned a long while ago it was better to trust the wolfs instincts then his own in situations like this.

Oz was starting to think maybe it was a fluke. Nothing was happening here. The band that had been pounding away and making useless �noise� as Giles would have called it, finished their set and left the stage. The announcer who looked like a Twisted Sister reject came on stage and jumped around nervously. Grabbing the microphone, he said into the mic: �Next up is a band called The Problem so cheer for them or some shit.� He said, then quickly walked off stage.

Oz�s eyes watched as a blonde girl, a guy with spiked black hair, and a guy in a colorful beanie came onto stage. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he watched them, they greeted the crowd and immediately went into their first song.

They weren't bad. The crowd seemed into them, and Oz�s eyes were drawn to them. They had. . . there was something off about them. Not vampires, or demons. They were human, he could tell by the way they moved.

Unconsciously Oz started to push himself toward the front of the crowd, trying to get closer. He started to pick up little details about the way they played their instruments. It was odd, the lead singer didn�t seem to be making eye contact with the crowd. He was staring beyond them, at the empty back of the dingy room. Most lead singers loved to make eye contact. It was a trick of the stage, draw the audience in and you had them for life. Devon had repeated that mantra before every show and had usually gotten three or four groupies a night using that same technique. Now that Oz looked at the other band members. . . they weren�t looking at the crowd either. All of their eyes seemed to be on nothing.

The band played for a good half hour to forty five minutes. All of the songs were original and some of them had the markings of a hit single if they ever got signed. Oz watched the band members closely throughout the whole set, they never looked at the audience. Their eyes always seemed to scan just above everyone�s heads.

When they were finished they quickly thanked the crowd and headed into the back room, Oz followed them. Unsure of what he was going to say, but needing to know what was so special about them that his wolf senses had made him want to be near them.

~*~
�Man that was some crowd.� Oz heard the voices drifting from the back room, along with the sound of packing up instruments and the crinkle of what was unmistakably fast food. Oz could smell the cheese burgers and fries from where he stood.

�Did you see the guy that was right up against the stage? Had those tripped out spikes.� The voice was female, half muffled by the sound of chewing. There was a pause. �He was kind of cute.�

There was a snort and then, �you think anyone�s cute Jane. Your hungry for love and lookin� in all the wrong places. . .�

�Shut up, Vaughn!� There was a snicker. �At least I don�t make out with every groupie who tries to grope me after the show. . . �

�You two are like kindergartners man. Hey pass the apple juice. . .�

�We�re like Kindergartners, Scotty? Apple juice?�

�Hey, its Irish. Bite me.� Laughter. �Did you guys see that ghost in the back of the room tonight? I was trying my hardest to ignore him. . . I think there were at least five in the show. They�re starting to figure out we play in a band. Damn dead grapevine!�

�Yeah, well. I guess we�ll just have to start wearing our shades on stage. . . �

�Hey that could be like our thing!� The girls voice chimed in. �The idiots who wear sunglasses in a dingy club! We won�t be able to see anything.�

Ghosts? Oz�s mind spun. They could see ghosts? Maybe that was why he had been. . . but humans couldn�t see ghosts. Well, unless they possessed you. He�d read about it a thousand times on late night study sessions with the gang back in High school. His heart gave a little jump as memories flooded him. Sitting in the library with Willow, reading books and laughing. Watching Xander cram twinkies into his mouth and wash them down with grape soda.

Shaking his head to get the thoughts out, Oz decided it was probably time to introduce himself. Knocking on the door he heard them shuffle and then the blonde girl opened the small door that led into the room.

Her face flashed surprise and then she blinked. �Hi. Um. . . can we help you?�

As Oz saw them, he realized the that he really didn�t have anything to say. �Good show.�

�Thanks man!� The guy who had been wearing a beanie on stage said, waving a hamburger and a scooby doo mug around wildly.

The guy who had been playing lead guitar and vocals came up behind the blonde, Jane Oz had heard her name mentioned. �Glad you liked it. Well we have to get to a town for a show tomorrow so thanks for the. . .�

�So you guys see ghosts?� Oz cut in. Everything went silent for a moment. Jane�s eyes got huge. The lead guitarist looked startled, and scooby doo mug guy made a choking sound as he attempted to eat a large bite of his hamburger.

�Uh. Wanna come in?� Jane asked, pulling the door open.

Oz shrugged his shoulders. �Sure.�

~*~End 1~*~