Fic: Different Ways To Save Someone [working title]

[BurningWhiteRose]

Action is good. They really need to patrol more often...







Oh, and one more thing...



.



Sincerely,

BWR

[bindingwiccan]

holy shit baby this fic kicks ass!(sorry for the language tehe) i absolutely love it! keep up the good work cutie





-shagster

[numbered words]

I love love love this fic. I just caught up on it and all. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see our old Willow back with the cheeriness and stuff. At least, that's what I THINK is going to happen.











-Kristyn

[gabbles]

Thanks heaps for the feedback guys! It's a really, really big motivator.





Veiled isis moon: Moi? A tease...never! *re-reads last sentence of last update*...ok, maybe a little Glad you're enjoying...thanks heaps for the feedback!



Sammy: Glad you loved it I aim to please! Update after this post...and thanks heaps for the feedback.



Brittney: Hey Nice to know you liked the update...sorry this one wasn't really a soonish kinda update...but it's here now *ducks flying objects*



Chelley: HEy babes Glad to know you're liking...Faith is fun, fun, fun to write *G* Love you babes, and here's the udate you've been hinting for for the past few weeks...



BWR: Wow...that's alot of thuds...hope you didn't hurt your head too badly there Glad you're liking! Thanks heaps for the feedback!



Kels: *tackles* HEYYY! *hugz* Gald you're liking....and here's your update babe!



-Kristyn: Hey Great to know you're enjoying and thanks heaps for the feedback Hmm...maybe cheeryness is gonna happen...maybe not..mwahahaha





Thanks so much for giving feedback everyone

*hugz*

~Gabs

"I'm known as the fat lesbian chick on Buffy. Of course, I mean you stand me next to an actress like Sarah and I look like I'll eat her. *beat* Wait, that didn't sound right. But, you know what I mean."-Amber

[gabbles]

Hey all So sorry it's been so long

*ducks flying pens, pencils, key boards and sharp objects*



You know how RL can get But, like I've promised, this fic is still going



I've also been working on a few other fics and stories...but wont really get into them until this is done (ok, that's a lie...I'm already half way through one *cough* lol)



So, enough of my babble, here's the update!



Note: Ok...this hasn't had any kinda Beta'ing at all. Every last mistake is mine and I'm proud of 'em....*ahem*



Chapter 8:



Previously:

She backed Tara up against the wall and kissed her with a passion that would have shocked the Slayers.







Feeling herself pushed up against the rough bricks of the ally wall, Tara's squeak of surprise was smothered by a pair of strawberry lips. As a tounge slipped across her bottom lip, Tara allowed entry and moaned aloud as Willow's tounge intwined with her own. Snaking an arm around the redheads waist, Tara pulled her closer, needing to feel Willow even closer then she was.



As she felt desire taking over her body, Willow lost herself in the kiss. Tara's hot mouth on her own, Taras arm pulling her closer, her own leg between Tara's, pushing up into the heat of the other girl. Taras leg between her own, returning the favour. Tara, magic and desire clouded her mind and all she could do was kiss the girl.



Tara felt Willow's hand running under her shirt, along the skin of her belly, to end up with her fingers digging in the skin on her back, trails of fire left in her wake. Her mind felt clouded with the other girls touches as she became lost in the sensations when she felt Willow trap her tounge between her lips and suck.



Willow moaned, the taste, the texture of Tara was overwhelming. All her senses were clouded over with everything Tara as she pressed in harder into her, reveling in the feeling. Her hand started to wind it's way up under her shirt.



Something fell over form the entrance of the allyway, and with that, the spell was broken.



Both girls pasued, then a second later, Willow stepped hurriedly away from Tara as if she'd been burnt. Tara, eye's wide, could only stare at the redhead, her chest rising and falling as she took in oxygen. Willow's face went from an expression of shock and confusion, to one of mild anger.



Faith and Buffy rounded the corner, entering the allyway and seeing the two girls. Tara, breathing hard, eyes wide, against the wall. Willow, standing a few feet in front of her, a look of anger on her face.



"Woah, Red, the vamp mess with Tara before you could stake it?" Faith blurted out. She hadn't seen the redhead show many reactions before, normally it was stake the vamp, then go home. Willow looked like she'd just attacked the vamp. Not been attacked.



Willow blinked a few times, straightened her top, avoided eye contact with Tara, and looked over at the slayers, "Yeah...he, ah, decided he didn't wanna be staked." Willow whinced, 'oh, that was brilliant, Rosenburg.'



Buffy gave Willow a strange look, "Yeah, well, they tend to not want to be, as a general rule."



Tara pushed her self back off of the wall, pulling her top back into place. Willow's hands had caused it to ride up. 'Ok, what the hell just happened?'



"Listen, guys, I gotta get home. I'll see you all at school on Monday." Willow threw Tara a quick glance then pushed her way past the slayers and back through the door of the Bronze.



"Oookaay," Faith looked over at Tara, who's eye's were firmly planted on the ground, "Great...umm....you wanna very powerfull body guard to walk ya home, Blondie?"



Tara looked up and caught Faiths eyes. She was in no frame of mind to be able to take care of herself on a walk home. "S-sure. Thanks, F-Faith."



Faith nodded, threw Buffy a Look, gave her a brief, fiery kiss, whispered "Meet ya back in here in 'bout fifteen minutes." And followed Tara out the allyway.

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

Tara walked around the side of her house, having left Faith with a brief thank you by the front gate.



'Well that was...confusing...'



Tara had wanted Willow. She knew that much. The second she'd seen the redhead in the library, she had felt a connection that had blowen her mind. Yet, doing those spells together created such a...feeling of lust and desire that it had clouded Tara. Had stopped her thinking straight. Not that she ever had thought straight. Tara allowed herself a small smirk that faded quickly.

She'd let her guard down. She'd concentrated on her feelings and hadn't stopped to think that the redhead might not feel the same way.



Scratch that. That Willow may not feel that same way. Willow did now feel the same way. People like that did not fall for Tara Maclay. It was the magics. They'd clouded Willow's mind as much as Tara's, and Tara knew that Willow had never really wanted her. It was just a reaction to the magic.



No one wants Tara Maclay. 'I'm worthless. Dad has made me say it so many times, I can't beleive I let myself for one second think it as not true. I thought, maybe, Willow had felt the same...that the connection I'd felt, Willow had felt too. But, god, was I stupid. Willow Rosenburg could never want boring, dull Tara Maclay. But, goddess, that kiss...'



Tara shook her head. 'It was magic that made Willow think that she wanted you, Tara. Nothing more.'



Tara swung her leg over the window sill, then pulled the rest of her body through. She felt tears pricking the back of her eyes, 'I screwed up a friendship that could've been so great. Willow's not even gonna want to look at me after that.'



Tara went to close the window, then realised it would make a noise, so just drew her curtain back and turned towards her bed. And froze. 'Oh, shit...'



Her Father sat, perched on the edge of the bed, his cold blue eye's fixated on her own, "Hello, Tara."



Tara's insides turned to ice and she felt as if she was about to faint.

*****

Willow ran up the stairs to her room, throwing her jumper off on to the bottem stair, her shoes kicked off on the landing, her shirt gone in the hallway, pants and socked dropped by her bed. Opening the door to her ensuite, the shower was turned on, and her bra and undies dropped to the floor.



Slipping into the shower, Willow let out a sigh of contentment as the hot water hit her body. Now she could think.



She was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid.



Ok...so, she'd kissed Tara. Tara's a girl. A hot girl, but a girl nonetheless. Right.

In fact, she'd shoved the girl against the wall and made out with her. In a really hot, steamy, felt so good way...ok, this wasn't freaking her out. Willow mentally crossed off the 'Freak out because Tara's a girl' dot point on the mental checklist she'd started on the way home.



Ok...number two. Why did she kiss Tara?



That was easy. The magic. It was all the magic. That damn connection that started up when they linked hands and shared energy. She didn't really feel some kind of...unplatonic love....for Tara, did she?



Willow couldn't remember the last time she'd felt a real kind of love. She loved Xander. And Buffy. And Giles. Platonically, but love all the same. And yes, she even felt love for her parents. But she'd held back from it. Locked her self away from those feelings a bit, to keep from getting hurt. But still, she did love them.



But none of those was the kind of love that she was thinking of for Tara. Willow Rosenburg was a hardass. She didn't show feelings, or wasn't affectionate. She was the one that, along with Xander, was considered the 'dark' one of the school. Buffy was considered that a little as well...though she still seemed to be rather bubbly, and people often left her off the list of 'scary people'. Though she seemed on be on the list of 'people to never pic a fight with'.



People avoided Willow in the hallway. Averted their eyes and shuffled past her quietly. They weren't really afraid of her. They just didn't wanna get caught up in all the weird 'going ons' that she seemed to be in the center of constantly. Or to be beat up in a really huge way like they thought she had done when her doppelganger vamp self had appeared.



And now, here was hardass Willow, considering puppy love for a girl.



Yay her.



But no...it was the magic. It had to be...it was after the spell where Willow had kissed Tara. So it had to be the magics. Course it was. What else could it be...she did not have feelings for Tara. Anyone she cared about went away eventually. Jesse, her parents...well, her parents, technically, didn't go way. They just went away continuously, only comming back every couple of months and pretty much ignoring her.



So no, she didn't care about Tara. 'Course she didn't. Nothing more then in a friend way.



And with that, she switched her mind off and tried to enjoy the rest of her shower.

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

Giles set his cup of tea down on the table and went back to his office to get the sugar. 'Monday mornings' he grimaced, 'are the abominable.'



Taking a spoonfull of sugar, Giles sat down at the table and swirled it around his cup listlessly.



Tara. Now there was a girl that, for some reason, had been plaguing Giles' mind. She had an...an aura, perhaps is the word, that seemed to radiate gentleness. Something he had seen in Willow before she got involved in all of this. And there was no doubt in his mind that Tara captivated Willow. After seeing the fiesty redhead be so kind to Tara last Friday, Giles had been rather suprised. Not all that shocked to see that Willow obviously cared for the young blonde witch, but suprised to see her show affection.



It worried him. Willow had gone through so much. Losing Jesse, learning all about what really went bump in the night, having to look out for herself since her charming, no good parents had decided she was capeable on her own, having people in the school turn away from her. He had had to watch her lock her true self away and become the guarded person she was now.



Watching Willow do that had been heartbreaking for the wacther. To watch the babble slowly decrease, to watch her once open and innocent eyes take on a guarded, almost non-trusting look, to watch her withdraw into herself and act as if she as indestructable. It was something he had tried to prevent. But he was not what Willow needed.



Perhaps Tara was. He'd heard her babble near the blonde, watched her turn slightly pink from the embarrassment of it. He'd seen the soft look in her eye's as she'd comforted the blonde when they had all been yelling about Snyder.



Perhaps, Tara could save her.



Taking a sip of tea, Giles pondered this.



Getting close to someone when they were involved in what they were at night was not the best thing. For Buffy and Faith, it could not be helped, the Slayer's shared something no one else on this earth could understand. Willow and Xander were already friends, and all five of them, Willow, Xander, Buffy, Faith and Giles, had been thrown together. It could not be helped.



However, Tara had a choice over this. And if she allowed herself to get close to Willow, and soemthing happened to her, Willow would be devestated. There was no doubt of that in the watchers mind.



Then again...closeness could be good. They all had the problem of shutting themselves off emotionally. Never truly letting anyone in. If Willow was prepared to do this...then perhaps it was meant to be.



Something about the two girls seemed to fit.

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

Buffy sauntered casually up to the janitors closet door. Leaning against it, she bought one hand up to casually inspect her nails. And, oh so casually, one hand reached down to the door knob, twisted it open, and, like it was the most casual thing in the world, she stepped into the room.

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

Willow walked up the stairs to school, mind going a million miles per minute. The whole of Friday night had been forgotten all weekend, pushed to the back of her mind...well, untill she'd gotten outta the shower. Then it had all come back to having to be thought about again.



She'd come to this conclusion: there was something between her and Tara. And she needed to figure out what it was.



She also needed to talk to Tara and apologise for pretty much molesting her. And for running off on her. Then maybe they could talk. Or something. 'Im nervous...holy mother of god, I'm nervous. I am nervous. Not something I've felt for awhile. Oh god, there's Tara'



Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Willow called Tara's name.

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

Shutting the door behind her, Buffy turned around, surprised that the light in the room had been turned on. Normally when meeting Faith it was off. Darkness seemed to add...something.



The thought of the light left her mind when she felt the familiar body push her up against the door, and a face nuzzle into her neck, kissing the skin there.



"Hey, Beautiful. I missed you." Buffy all but purred out.



"Mmm...B, you saw me last night. Well, really early this morning..." Faith kissed her neck more.



"Still too long...." Buffy trailed off, 'What's with the light, baby?" She felt Faith pause her movements.



"I wanted to talk to you about something, B." Faith pulled back and looked into her eyes.



Ok...Faith never got serious like this. "What's up, babe?"



Faith blinked a few times, "I think there's something up with Tara." Straight to the point. How very Faithish.



"Well...what don't you like about her, Faith?" Buffy paused. She couldn't sense anything not to like about the shy, blonde witch, "She seems nice enough to me."



Faith bit her lower lip, then continued, "It's not so much about me not liking her, cause I do, or about her not being nice, cause she is. I dunno...it seems as if she's hiding something. About her past or somethin'" Faith felt Buffy tense a little in her arms.



"You think she's evil or something? Why?" Buffy implored, her eye's searching those of her girlfriends.



"Not evil...just hiding something." Faith paused, "She never really says much about her past. Like, she always dodges any questions. I asked her a few last night about her life back where she moved from, and she got nervous and all...dodgy."



Buffy pushed Faith back a bit, "Maybe stuff just happened to her, and she doesn't wanna talk about it?"



Faith, lost in thought, seemed a little oblivious to the defensive tone in Buffy's voice, "Yeah, but...she seemed to be hiding more then that. I mean, when you moved here," still oblivious to Buffy tensing even more, "you weren't like that. Or didn't seem to be, to me. Not that I knew you right when you moved. And when I moved, I wasn't like that. Seems like there's something more."



Buffy pushed Faith fully from her, a slightly peeved look on her face, her posture defensive, "Maybe stuff went down that she doesn't wanna talk about, Faith. Ever though maybe you should just leave it alone?!"



And with that, Buffy slammed out of the janitors closet, leaving behind a highly confused Faith, "What I say?"

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

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Willow called out Tara's name.



Only to be ignored.



'Er..ok..maybe she didn't hear me?'



"Tara!" Much louder this time. Even the students not called Tara turned their heads to look at her.



Yet Tara kept walking. 'Maybe she's pissed at me...or maybe she's disgusted by the whole thing and never wants to see me again. I dont care! I have to talk to her...' And with that, Willow took off down the hallway.





Tara heard Willow call out her name. Twice. Yet she kept going. 'Oh, god, gotta avoid her. Can't see her. Keep your head down. She'll give up anyway. You aren't worth it. Remember that. Always remember that.'



Willow slowed down as she came up behind Tara. Reaching her hand forward, she touched the other girls shoulder, "Tara, hey?"



She breathed a sigh of releif when Tara stopped, slowly turning towards her. Then her releif turned to a look of confusion to see Tara's head down, her hair creating a curtain, preventing Willow from seeing her.



"H-Hey , W-Willow..." Tara's hesitant voice came through.



"Tara....I'm sorry about Friday." Willow started, voice thick with emotion, "I-I shouldn't have kissed you. I'm sorry. I'm also sorry for running off and leaving you right after, and been all weird. I'm sorry...Tara? Please, look at me?" Tara kept her head down, "Tara? Please? I'm so sorry? It's all my fault. I hurt you. I'm sorry!"



Tara's head shot up when she heard Willow say it was her fault.



"I'm really, real-" Willow cut off when Tara looked up. Her mouth hung open in shock and she took in a gasp of air.



Tara's left cheek, her normally white, flawless skin, was covered in a dark, ugly bruise. Yellow, purple, red, green and an almost black decorated the girls cheek bone. With the force needed to create a bruise like that, Willow was surprised Tara's cheek bone wasn't broken. Or at least fractured.



"Tara? How did...that didn't happen on Friday night...your face didn't get hit?" Willow trailed off. She put her hand forward, grasping Tara's lower arm, concern filling her body, "Are you-"



Tara hissed in pain when Willow grabbed her arm, smothering a groan of pain. "Oh god, Tara, I'm sorry." A look flashed over Willow's face. She hadn't grabbed the girls arm hard at all.



Willow looked deeply into the other girls blue eye's imploringly. Gently, Willow held Tara's hand forth with her own and slowly, carefully, pulled up the material of her sleeve.



And gasped again.



The delicate skin was a picture of bruises and burn marks...made by what Willow could only think to be someones bare hand gripping and twisting the skin painfully. Willow's mouth hung slightly open as her eye's...as her eye's filled with tears. 'What...? Am I...do I have tears in my eyes?'



Looking up slowly, Willow saw Tara's eye's once again downcast. Swallow hard, Willow lifted a hand, and as softly as she could, cupped the girls chin. Gently, Willow lifted Tara's face up so that green met blue. The scared, shamed and tear filled eyes caused Willows heart to clench.



"Tara.." Willow said softly, slowly, "How....how did this happen? Who did this to you?"



Tara could feel her lower lip trembling as panic filled her being. No one had ever seen the bruises before. No. That was a lie. People had seen the bruises, but no one bothered to pay attention to them. No one had cared. No one had given her the look Willow was giving her. No one had asked how they happend. It was why her father still made her go to school even though she was still marked heavily from Friday night. He still thought no one cared. She had tried to tell him that someone would notice. But he gave her the loathsome look and told her no one would notice or they wouldn't care if they did. And she'd let her self beleive him. Willow would be disguested after Friday night, anyway. She wouldn't want to care about Tara anymore. Tara had ruined any hope of that happening.



And now Willow was asking the questions that Tara had hoped people would years before. But now it was too late. Too late to stop him. To stop them. No one would care. 'Willow cares. But no one else will. I'm worthless. Oh, Willow, don't give me that look. I'm not worthy of it...why do you care?'



Willow watched the emotions play across Tara's expressive face. She felt...numb. She couldn't beleive the marks on the blondes body. And she'd only seen her lower arm and her cheek. 'Oh, God, what if there's more!'



"Tara, please, tell me. Who did this to you?" Willow looked into blue eye's pleadingly.



Tara blinked a few times, breaking out of her trance. Subconciously, she recognised that Willow still held her hand, fingers linked together in comfort. The though would have made her smile if her mind had not been on other, more unpleasent things.



"W-Willow...i-it's n-nothing." Tara looked at the ground, then back up to meet Willow's eyes,

"I-t's n-n-nothing." she repeated.



Willow felt her heart clench again at the girls stuttering. It had become less pronounced the more the two talked, and it had never been this bad even when they had first talked. Every word was being stuttered. Willow gently squeezed the hand interlocked with her own.



"Tara, it's not nothing. You've been hurt. Somebody's hurt you. That's not nothing." She stepped closer, "Please, tell me?"



Tara felt her heart thudding in her chest. This was too much. Why did Willow care? Hell, she new Willow must've seen something she liked, to have befriended her in the first place. But why does she care? No one cares about her. People don't. It's how Tara Maclays life worked. 'People don't care. They just don't!'



Yet Willow did. But why? She wasn't worth caring about.



"W-Willow, p-please? D-Drop it. I-I-It's n-nothing." Tara tried her hardest to sound convincing. She deserved the beatings anyway. They were her own fault. She asked for them, He said. And she beleived.



Normally, the pleading tone in anyones voice would make Willow back down. Or at least drop the matter. Comming from Tara, normally wouldn't be an option. That pleading tone, and the begging look in her eyes would always make her stop. Except this time. This was not something she was going to let go.



"Tara," Willow's voice was firm, yet soft and caring, "I will not drop this. Something, or someone, is physically hurting you. I can't let that go. Please..." her tone went to the pleading the blonde had just been using, "Please, let me know what's going on? Or at least how this happened." She stepped closer still, and looked deeply into Tara's tear filled eyes, "You can tell me anything. You can trust me. Please."



Tara felt her lip quiver and then felt the tears fall down her cheeks. She never knew someone could care about her so much. Taking a deep breath, her voice catching, Tara replied, "I-It w-was m-my f-father, Willow..."



'Oh, God, why did I tell her?!'



Willow felt something icy slip over her heart. She was expecting maybe a 'I fell down the stairs', or to be told she'd been jumped outside late at night by a vamp. Or a demon. Something she could deal with. But instead, Tara told her, with tears streaking down her cheeks, that her own father had done this to her.



Willow felt the anger building start to rise up in her like bile.





TBC









Edited 'cause I really gotta have it beta'd next time...

"I'm known as the fat lesbian chick on Buffy. Of course, I mean you stand me next to an actress like Sarah and I look like I'll eat her. *beat* Wait, that didn't sound right. But, you know what I mean."-Amber

Edited by: gabbles at: 7/21/04 12:23 am

[amazonaa]

Uh oh. Mr. Maclay is going down. Yeah.

at least i hope he is. Great job with everything.





more soon. please







brittney







~Kiss this axe, bitch!---Tara "Bargaining part 2"~

[wimpy0729]

Oh man! That was written so incredibly well, such a horrible, horrible thing, but you conveyed it so well that it just tore my heart out. There are words to describe the way I'm feeling for that man right now.



I'll just have to say that I'm so glad she told Willow, and now she knows that Willow really does care for her and she is so worth it! Now, let's do something about it!



Oh yeah, btw, the alley kiss was amazing! I'm sure they'll figure it all out. Pleeeeasse, soon, let them be happy!



Can't wait for more!



Wimpy

"There was plenty of magic." ~ Tara

[WickedReds]

Mr. MaClay is so in for it... Willows gonna beat him down...



-reds

[KiwiAlcyone]

Heya Gabs – it’s so great to have you back in action chick! I’ve definitely been hanging out for this one.



I’ve always loved the fact that this fic addresses the reality of what the vampire slaying would do to the Scoobies. You can’t really laugh in the face of vamps, demons and other evil beings, if I were one of them I would truly be messed up.

Okay, so we were all with the hot, steaming witchy love which was truly maginificent and then it was all with the and the



It’s always hard to read when our two girls are operating on different wavelengths, their misunderstandings driving poor kittens crazy and saying “She loves you dammit! Can’t you see that?!!” Extremely well written and plausible to believe that they could think it was just the magicks talking and not themselves, it’s more grounded in reality.



And poor Tara, she’s the one that was going to bring Willow out of her darkness and yet she has such pain in her own life to contend with. I only hope they can help each other.



Go Wills with the opening up of a can of witchy whup-arse on that bastard! although this has the potential to be very bad indeed... Okay, how about Tara just kisses Willow's anger away? I like that plan



Update soon please chick, I love this fic!!



Alcy

Reality continues to ruin my life - Calvin and Hobbes

[bindingwiccan]

omg baby that was wonderful! whats up with buffy though? lol. i love youuuuu :-D





-kels

[BurningWhiteRose]

Im gonna say it again...I have a problem with abusive people. Male or Female...They abuse, I have a problem. I just cant stand the idea that someone would physically hurt another human, which is sort of ironic, seeing as how I was a bully in like...second grade. But man...Wifebeaters, Bullies, Abusive Women (even If ive really never heard of that many, Im sure they exist)...it all sickens me. And War. However, it is all inevitable. I can do nothing to stop it. Damn the weakness. And again with the irony of me once being quite abusive...



Sorry, I'll review now.



Absolutely wonderful. Love the angst. And the part with Giles, how Tara might save Willow. Plus the Faith and Buffy? That was great. Faith was gonna make out with ya eventually Buffy. She just wanted to broom talk for a little.



Cant wait for more. Mr. Maclays gonna get it...



Sincerely,

BWR

***

If homosexuals dont reproduce, why are there so many of them?-Jim David

[thebardgirl]

I'm kind of getting this image of Willow pulling a WWF move with Mr. Maclay on the ropes, and her kicking him senseless...which is slightly amusing from a dream-perspective, but it's also slightly alarming--frightening--that Willow's going to the dark so fast....i mean....wow....



It's like DMW in the third or second season, which is just depressing...cause she's all with the fluffy and cute, and yet, also dark, and mysterious...and hardhearted.



Umm...so that's my take on it all! And i uh, really like the story so far, it's a mind-bender...and i like making my brain bend, well not in a painful break-your-spine way, but you know, the less-agonizing make-you-think way... It's a really cool story, so umm....please update!!



-elizabeth

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see my own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so; my eyes like some fountain with tears overflowed.

[SilverWingedNemesis]

i love this fic!!!



granted not loving the tara gettin the hell beat out of her, but i'm loving that hell beatin willow's gonna give her dad!!!!



*rubs hands together*



hurry hurry more more!!



*grins*



great writing.. must have more!



Nickole

[ChelleKat]

W-O-W.... *jaw drops*



I just have to write a few words here for my lil sis, even if she's heard my insane babblings on AIM already... *giggles*



I am loving this fic for a great many reasons. You'll have to excuse the bizarre imagery here, but it's like a great big, dark, enchanting spiderweb I've been lured into and am caught in. The writer spins the web beautifully and artfully, so talented is she, while I am happily lost amongst each strand.



This fic takes me (just like Willow) to dark places and I love it!



From the beginning to the end of the update, I went through the entire Jossverse range of emotions I would experience watching an episode. Lusty *coughs* feelings reading about W/T's delicious and passionate make out; confused and shouting out 'No, Tara, she loves you!' kinda feelings as it all sours after Willow runs away (from Tara and her feelings); sadness, verging on tears, horrorstruck as I read about Tara's dad suddenly appearing and my heart skipping a beat at the realisation of what would happen; and finally, terrible rage, just like Willow felt, at Tara's father (let's not put into words what I'd like to do to him).



The depth you give the characters (especially W/T) and the fact that you can make me experience all those emotions is a sign of what a truly talented girl you are. Oh, and give me more Faith! Actually, just gimme Faith... *cackles* Love you babes!



*hugshugshugshugshugs*

Chelley

As this ink fades so shall I, its imprint a reminder...

Edited by: ChelleKat at: 9/13/04 11:54 pm

[gabbles]

amazonaa: Mr maclay is certainly in trouble The kittens alone probably wanna beat him with big sticks..hehehe. Thanks for the feedback and I hope you continue to like it



wimpy: It tore your heart out..er...sorry. hehe...thanks for the feedback. Tara telling Willow....something that was a hard thing for Tara to do. But, unfortunately, she may need some convincing that she's worth it...which I'm sure Willow will be all to happy to help with

Glad you liked the kiss and thanks for reading!



Red: Lol....Go Willow Thanks for reading and the feedback.



Alcy: Hi! *waves* since I got the idea for this fic, one of my main wants (besides getting our girls together ) was addressing the darker side of the slaying. So, I'm really glad you like that I'm doing that! The girl's do operate on different wave lengths, but I'm doing my best to get 'em on the same ones! lol. Willow and Tara will help each other...it's how they work lol. Thanks so much for the feedback, Alce. The fact that you like my fic makes my ego go *BOOM* lol. Keep writing, pwetty pwease *bats eyelashes*



Kelsy: hahaha....Like I've said, I'm not telling what's up with Buffy You're gonna have to wait to find out. Thanks for reading babe, and I've finally got that update! *hugz*



BWR: I, too, have a major problem with abusive people. I don't really like writing it, but for Tara, its a reality (a reality for a fictional character...I just confused myself…lol), so I write it.

Abusive people aside, I'm glad you're liking! Giles is an important figure, so I'm trying to use him quite a bit in this fic...and Faith and Buffy...hehe...I love writing them Thanks for the feedback and I hope you continue to enjoy!



Elizabeth: Lol..er...I'm glad to make your mind bend? Hehe...Willow is dark in this fic...but she has her reasons. Her pulling a WWF move...I'd like to see that! LOL...It's great that you like what I'm doing, and I hope you like the update.



Nickole: Hehehe...more more more you shall have! Thanks for the feedback and hope you like the update!



Chelle: *blushes and kicks dirt bashfully* aw, you are too good to me sis. The fact that you like my writing says it all...and again with the blushing. As you know, I like to give my characters some depthe, and I'm glad you think I'm pulling that off. hugzhugzhuzg* Thanks so much babes!









Thanks so much for the feedback everyone, and I hope you like the update!



*hugz*

~Gabs

"I'm known as the fat lesbian chick on Buffy. Of course, I mean you stand me next to an actress like Sarah and I look like I'll eat her. *beat* Wait, that didn't sound right. But, you know what I mean."-Amber

[gabbles]

Ok, I'm so sorry this has taken so long to update! Please forgive me? RL and such can be a bitch....but, here it is (finally)..well, the first half anyway, I present you with, chapter 9A:



Btw....can anyone think of a title for this thing? Or maybe I should wait 'till its finished to ask that...anyway, if anyone can think of something, I'd love to hear any ideas!



Title: Different Ways To Save Someone [working title]

Author: Gabbles

Rating: This chapter is an R. See the notes for an explanation as to why.

Disclaimer: All is Joss', and ME's and all those people...I own nothing...

Pairing: Willow and Tara (who else!)...maybe some others along the way.

Summary: Tara starts her senior year at SunnyD High...but things with the scoobies are different.

Feedback: The best thing in the world





Note1: THANK YOU CHELLEY! I wasn't happy with this update much (I've just had my wisdom teeth out, and am quite drugged up, so it wasn't making much sense! lol), and then along came Chelley and did her thang! Lol...seriously sis, thanks so much. This fic is dedicated to you, as you know, and it wouldn't be half of what it is if it weren't for you. *hugz*

Note2: This update deals with some issues that are hard for some people to read...I'm upping this update to an R beacause of it. Domestic violence is something I don't like writing, but it needed to be done for this chapter. So, a warning: some people may find it hard to deal with some of the issues in the chapter. Just a warning





Chapter 9A:



Her own Father. Tara's own father had caused the bruising on her cheek, and the burns and marks on her arm. Willow was in shock that someone, especially someone's own family, could do that to someone like Tara. The girl was just...the most beautiful person Willow had ever met. And not physically, though she was definitely beautiful in that aspect; her soul was just so... pure. The first time Willow had ever looked into Tara's eyes, she could swear she'd seen the girl's soul. And what she'd seen was so beautiful, so amazing, and gentle, and loving... that it was almost blinding. Willow looked into Tara's eyes now, and all she saw was pain.



A tear slid down her own cheek as she took in the bruise covering almost half the girl's face and the tears that streamed down her delicate cheeks. How a person could even... attempt to break this girl's spirit by doing this was something Willow could hardly comprehend.



And God, did it make her angry.



Tara swallowed hard. Oh god, I just told someone my deepest secret. I shouldn't have told her. Oh god, oh god, oh god!



Tara watched the horrified look on Willow's face. That was it. Willow would never want to be near her now. I just keep screwing up. Tara barely noticed the tears that still streamed down her cheeks and all she could think was. Willow will never want to know me-



And then, she saw it. The single tear that slowly slid its way down the redhead's pale, freckled, cheek.



Willow felt light headed. She leant back on the end of the locker row that was situated behind her, still keeping a hold of Tara's hand. God, she's been through so much. Her god damned fucking father. I'll kill him. I swear to hell I'll fucking kill him. Willow watched the look on the other girl's face. She's so vulnerable, so delicate. She pushed her anger down as much as she could, wanting to comfort Tara for now.



Just as Willow was about to say something, she saw Tara's eyes widen and then look back to the floor, hair shielding her face. A voice that Willow just loved to hate then came from slightly to her left.



"Aww, what's wrong, T-T-Tara?" The mocking tones of Cordelia Chase rang out.



Willow's teeth involuntarily grated together. Cordelia obviously couldn't see her from her position against the lockers.



"Listen, T-Tara, Buffy 'Thinks-She's-So-Good' Summers may have made you think otherwise, but I am what runs this school. And people like you are worthless space in this place. You got that, T-Tara? You-"



Willow was sure the May Queen might have been able to hurt Tara even further with her cruel words, if she hadn't stepped out from her hiding place behind the lockers at that moment. She stood, toe to toe, with Cordelia. However, the second Willow stood up into her personal space, she'd shut her mouth. When Willow had raised her arm to punch the perfect features in front of her, Cordelia had screwed up her face in preparation for the hit.



She'd seen Willow when she'd gone on that freak out at the Bronze; she'd seen her kick some Jock's ass. She was also very well aware that this was going to hurt. A lot.



Willow could feel nothing but rage at the way that rich bitch treated others. Especially now she'd messed with Tara. She pulled her arm back, ready to punch the girl who had treated Tara in such a way, when Willow felt a hand on her arm.



Then Tara's whispering voice in her ear, "P-please, Willow, n-no more v-violence?"



Willow took a deep breath, and stepped back. Cordelia's eyes were clamped shut, looking like she was a second away from wetting herself, "Get lost, Cordelia. Come near her again and I won't step back."



And with that, Willow took Tara's hand and walked her through to the girl's bathrooms.

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

Buffy stormed through the school doors, out the gates, and headed for home. Her mum was away, and she had the basement all to herself. Well, the basement with the nice, big punching bag.



Fucking Faith. What does she know about pasts? So, Tara hides some stuff. She seems 'avoidy'. Aren't we all? "When you moved here you weren't like that.” What the hell does she know?! She knows shit about my past...



Buffy's pace slowed a little, 'Course, that might have something to do with the fact that I haven't told her any of it... but still, she just presumes she knows?!



And with that, Buffy worked her self back up and went home to beat the crap out of a defenseless punching bag. It didn't know what hit it.



Willow gently pulled Tara by her hand through the restroom door, leaving a bunch of gawking teenagers standing in the hall. All were looking from their retreating backs to Cordelia's still shocked face; they couldn't help but smile. It was always fun to see the Queen Bitch herself get taken down.



Willow felt...well...terrible was the word that came to mind. Here was Tara, just telling her that her own father had beaten her up, and five seconds later she goes to punch someone right in front of the poor girl. What type of a person was she to do something like that?! She took a deep breath. She had to calm down, Tara didn't need her to get this angry... but, god, she just couldn't help it!



Tara felt herself shaking and couldn't bring herself to look up at the angry redhead. Staring at the ground, it took her a few seconds to realize that Willow still had a hold of her hand. If she weren't so freaked out, she would've smiled.



"Tara," Willow's voice invaded her thoughts. She continued to look at the ground, “Tara? Please? Look at me?"¨



Taking a deep breath, Tara felt tears in her eyes; she couldn't do it. She flinched when she felt uncertain fingers cup her chin, but relaxed when she recognized Willows soft touch. Gently, Willow lifted her face up to meet her intense gaze.



Willow held back the anger that bit at her at the sight of the blonde's tear filled eyes and bruised face, “Tara? I'm sorry I lost it out there... I feel terrible... but I need to ask you something, and I know you probably don't wanna talk about this... but, I need to know…" Willow trailed off.



Tara nodded slightly, indicating for Willow to go on.



“Tara, has this happened before? Because, I swear, if this is a re-occurring thing-no, screw that-the fact that it happened just this once-"



"No, Willow." Tara forced the words out, causing Willow to shut her mouth at the strong tone in the usually shy girl's voice, "I-It was o-only this once. It's never happened b-before." Tara lied to Willow’s face, and then looked down. She loathed herself for lying to her, and she was unable to look directly at the redhead while she did so. "He w-was drunk, and h-he caught me s-sneaking in l-last night...I s-snuck out to g-go with you g-guys, it w-was my fault." I deserved it.



Willow didn't believe her, and she almost felt guilty at that. Tara wouldn't lie to me...but then, why won't she look at me when she says that? Her dad wouldn't get that angry just for her sneaking out...Oh god, she got in trouble for coming out to meet me...us, to meet us, not just me. Not like she went out just to meet you, Rosenberg, she came to meet us...Okay, not the point. Her dad wouldn't get that out of control for just that. I don't believe her. What about-



“Tara, there was that fading bruise on your cheek, before. How did that get there?" Willow felt her tone grow harsh, “For the first time he ever touched you like that, those are pretty severe bruises." She took a deep breath, feeling the anger at Tara's father grow in its intensity, "Tara, why are you lying? Why are you covering for him? He hit you, Tara! Hell, he did worse then that, from what I can see, he beat you!”



Willow automatically felt horrible for the angry tone she was inflicting towards the delicate blonde. She was angry with Tara's father, not at Tara.



While she had been speaking, she had felt the blonde's hand shaking in her own and felt sick to her stomach at the though that Tara must think she was angry with her. She needed to let her know that she wasn't. She needed to comfort her.



"Tara..." Willow's voice grew soft. She knew what she had to do.



Stepping forward, she bought her free hand up to very gently cup the girl's unbruised cheek. Tara still wasn’t looking at her. She waited to see if she might be able to repair the damage caused by the anger in her tone.



Tara finally looked up at her, and the blonde's face almost broke Willow's heart. Tears were silently streaming down her cheeks; her face was pale, making the bruises even more pronounced.



"God, Tara, I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you," Willow swallowed, feeling the blonde's close proximity. She was torn. She didn't want to have to make her do this. But she had to. "But Tara...tell me, please? Tell me what I need to know?”



Tara looked deep into the emerald eyes that gazed imploringly into her own. The look in the redhead's eyes told her what she needed to know-Willow wasn't angry with her-the tone in her voice hadn't been directed at her. Swallowing harshly, Tara leant into the touch at her cheek.



"W-Willow," Tara took a deep breath, knowing she had to do this, "Willow... It was the one time my f-father ever did th-this. That other b-bruise wasn't him...that w-was an actual a-accident-" She paused for a second and drew out a lie from her imagination without even noticing, "I-I was practicing m-magics, and the sh-shoe I was levitating w-went out o-of control." Where'd I pull that one from?



Willow gave Tara an incredulous look, her voice thick with sarcasm, "Shoe...? Riiight..."



Tara tried to look believable, and failed miserably. She hated, and was hopeless at, lying, "Y-yeah... w-weird story."



Willow decided to accept the blatant lie for now, for Tara's sake. There was no sense in pushing it, it would just upset it all further. And Willow felt she'd done enough of that for now. However, she refused to let it drop all together, for something else was eating at her and she couldn't help it.



"Tara...I still don't understand why your dad lost control so badly... It doesn't make sense. How could he do that to you? How could that simple thing make, or anyone, that damn angry, that...violent? Please, you can tell me. You know that.”



Tara looked nervously to the floor, then back at Willow. She'd already lied, and now she'd have to stretch the truth about this. She hated lying, but she was scared. It frightened her how angry Willow had become. If she knew just how bad it really was, just how would the redhead handle it?



"M-my dad...h-he's always been an angry p-person. H-he drinks a lot, especially s-since my m-mom…he’d always shout, a-and I g-guess I-I pushed it t-too far…” Tara swallowed, her next sentence intended to reassure Willow and at the same time, lull herself into the fantasy of it actually being reality. “It’s not g-going to happen again. He’d n-never hit me b-before, and it won’t happen again.”



“It had better not,” Willow growled.



Tara blinked at the tone in the redhead’s voice. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. And again, it scared her. How could she tell Willow the whole truth if just that got her that mad? No, mad didn’t account for what was coming off the redhead in wave-anger; resentment-that was what Tara could feel.



“Willow…” Tara spoke the other girl’s name softly, bringing up her own hand hesitantly to stroke the redhead’s cheek, “It’s okay. P-Please, believe me, it’s okay…”



Tara looked into the other girl’s eyes, feeling the connection she’d felt the first day she’d laid eyes on the fiery redhead. And suddenly…suddenly everything melted away. All she became aware of was the green eyes staring into her own, warmth and concern radiating from them; of the soft hand in her own left one, and the warmth of Willows cheek under her right.



Willow was about to open her mouth to argue more, to insist that Tara tell her more… but something made her pause. She felt it again…the connection that only holding gazes with the blonde brought. The warmth from Tara surrounded her and all she felt was concern for this girl in front of her. Very in front of me…close in front of me…lips inches from my own in front of me.



The bell reverberated around the tiled bathroom, shattering whatever had just been happening between the black clothed redhead and the bruised blonde standing inches from each other.



“We better get to class.”



Tara sat on the bottom step at the front of the school, eyes fixed to the ground, deep in thought.



So…Willow knew. The redhead’s reaction had scared Tara; she hadn’t expected such... anger to be directed at her father. In truth, she’d expected blame. Like you deserve…



Instead, she’d received…concern from Willow. Concern directed at her.



Tara scrunched up her face, and then flinched as it irritated her bruise. Now, there was a confusing thought all in its own…Willow.



She cared for Willow. Deeply. She knew this. But she didn’t deserve someone like her. She didn’t deserve anything good…yet, Willow seemed to care for her. Maybe Willow was even her…friend. She smiled softly to herself at this. She had a friend. Maybe more…No, Tara, not more. She freaked out after that kiss. Wow…that kiss… she shook the dazed look off her face, No. We may have moments…but they’re…friend moments…hehe. I have a friend.



Tara jumped as she felt someone sit next to her.



“Tara, hey” Willow’s voice reached her ears and she couldn’t help but smile slightly.



“Hey, W-Willow.” She looked up to meet the green eyes-the ones she had so learnt to get lost in-then back to the ground before just that could happen.



Silence surrounded them for a few seconds, before Willow spoke, “Why’re you just sitting here”¨ Stupid! Stupid! What a question…ppfffft. “Why are you just sitting here?” Brilliant, Rosenberg, brilliant.



“I-I’m being p-picked up t-today…” Tara trailed off.



“Oh…oh!” Unseen by Tara, the look on Willow’s face darkened, “Tara, look, come stay at my place.” She blurted it out. Okay, not how she’d meant to slip that into the conversation. She carried on, “You don’t have to stay there…You can’t stay there...please, come crash at my place. I-“



Tara suddenly stood up. Looking quickly at Willow’s surprised face, she said, “My dad’s h-here…I, um… I g-gotta go W-Willow. I’ll see you t-tomorrow.”



Willow jumped up, grabbing the blonde by her hand, “Wait, Tara!”



Tara swallowed hard, “Willow, p-please, I have to go.” She looked pleadingly into the redhead’s eyes, breathing a sigh of relief when Willow gently let go of her hand, “I-I’ll s-see you tomorrow, Will.”



She started to walk towards to car, parked at the front of the school, eyes to the ground. Tara was just a short few steps away when she heard Willow call her name. She paused, looking to the car where she saw her father seated, watching her with an unpleased look on his face.



She turned, only to have Willow standing an arms reach in front of her. The redhead stepped forward and pulled the blonde into a hug.



“Be safe, Tare,” was whispered in her ear.



Swallowing, Tara pulled back, nodded to Willow, not trusting her voice. Holding her gaze for a second longer, Tara turned and walked to the car, sliding into the passenger seat.



She missed the look that passed between her father and Willow.



Willow stood, arms crossed firmly across her chest, glaring at Tara’s father, who glared straight back at her. No one could mistake the look on Willows face. It plainly read: “You Mess With Her, And I Hurt You.”



Tara’s father gave Willow one last reproachful look before driving off.

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

Tara sat in the passenger’s seat, watching the world slide past her window, caught up in thoughts of Willow. The redhead was still… she was still her friend, even after what Tara had told her. She would have been smiling if it weren’t for two reasons; one, it kind of hurt to do so, and two, her father didn’t like it when she smiled.



“Tara,” her father’s unpleasant voice interrupted her thoughts, “Who was that girl?”



Tara swallowed hard, “Sh-she was a-a friend, s-sir.”



She didn’t expect what came next.



“And what exactly have you been telling her?”



Looking up sharply, she took in the image of her father; back ramrod straight in the seat, hands clasping the steering wheel, eyes glued to the road, “N-nothing, sir. I haven’t been t-telling her a-anything!”



“Don’t lie to me, Girl.”



Tara held her breath as they pulled into their driveway. Oh, God. He knows I told her. How does he know?



“Get inside, Tara.”



Tara opened her door, grabbed her bag and walked up to the front door of their house. She heard her father’s car door slam behind her as she slipped the key into the lock and walked in.



Feeling her father walk in behind her, she heard the door shut behind him.



She gasped slightly as she felt his hand grip her bruised upper arm and spin her around to face him. His slate blue eyes held hers in a gaze that she couldn’t tear her eyes from.



“You've been telling her things, Girl, haven’t you?” his rancid breath washed over her, “You’ve been telling her things that are none of her concern.”



She knew it was coming. His right hand backhanded her in the same still tender spot it had done last time. Lights danced behind her eyes as felt her stomach turn, pain exploding across her cheek and jaw as her head whipped to the side from the force of the blow.



Breathe, just breathe.



“You do not tell people our family concerns, Tara. We are your family, and what goes on here is our business, not some little sluts.”



He should finish now. He’d yelled. He’d hit her. He’d insulted someone she cared about. He should be finished. He should let her go, where she’d stumble to her room and lay in there until she had the strength to move and get some ice.



Only he didn’t.



She felt her back hit the hall wall behind her as he pushed her backwards, letting out a breath of air at the impact. Why isn’t he done?



“You’re weak, Girl. Useless. Just like your mother.”



Ah, I see.



She felt his hand wrap around her throat as he pinned her to the wall. It constricted, only just leaving her able to get in enough air, but enough so it hurt.



“Look at me, Girl.”



Tara struggled to open her eyes, and once she did she wished she hadn’t. Her father’s eyes had turned beyond cold. They were filled with…almost with nothing. They held no compassion for the daughter he held pinned to the wall by her throat, the daughter he had just hit for the uncountable time.



“Say it. Tell me what you are, Girl.”



Tara tried to speak, not able to do so with the hand around her throat. She felt the pressure loosen.



“I’m n-nothing, s-sir. I’m w-worthless,” she gasped it out, pain playing with her head.



She felt the tears slide down her face, the pain and degrading words she had to speak too much for her.



“That’s right, Tara. You’re worthless.”



And she felt it again. His left hand this time, backhanding her across the side of her face that had gone untouched last time. The blow forced her head to hit the wall behind her, as a yelp of pain left her lips. She tasted blood as she realized she had bit the inside of her cheek.



“I don’t know what made you think that little girl would care, Tara. What made you think she’d care?”



He’s right…she doesn’t care. How could she? I’m worthless, a waste of space.



“Look at me, Tara.” She once again raised her eyes to look into those of her father’s, “She doesn’t care, Girl. Only we do. Only your family does.”



Tara looked down. That’s not true, though. You don’t care.



“I told you to look at me, Girl. Not to look up and then look down.”



Shit.



Tara raised her eyes to those of her fathers once again.



“If I tell you to do something, Girl, I expect you to do it.”



He’s playing with me. And he’s enjoying it.



She let out a whoosh of air and another pained yelp as she felt a fist hit her ribs. The hand at her throat released her and she slid down the wall, legs to weak to keep her standing.



Her father stood over her, “Look up at me, Tara. It’s disrespectful to look at the ground when a person speaks to you.”



She painfully lifted her head up to look in the direction of her father, eyes not really focusing on anything. She felt dizzy, and she felt pain.



“That’s my girl, Tara. Do as you’re told.”



And then, she felt the foot hit her stomach.



Breathe, just try to breathe.

***







TBC

"I'm known as the fat lesbian chick on Buffy. Of course, I mean you stand me next to an actress like Sarah and I look like I'll eat her. *beat* Wait, that didn't sound right. But, you know what I mean."-Amber

Edited by: gabbles at: 9/14/04 5:38 am

[little miss 666]

uuhhhhh.....



wow! um, holy shite! This update is like *shakes head in awe* it's awesome! lol. You've like killed my vocab babe hahaha



*claps* so well done! This is quality stuff! WHOOOOTT!!



ITS WICKEDLY AWESOME!!





- Bellie

The shape of you

Is etched inside

My bruised and somewhat sculptured mind

[onyxsundrops]

I think you've captured what Tara was feeling (physically/ emotionally) really well. I can only imagine what Willow will want to do when (if) she finds out. Thanks for the update.



Yvonne

[wimpy0729]

Whew! Well, I think you captured that horrific scene all too well. Was it supposed to leave me nauseated and wanting to beat the holy hell out of Mr Maclay? Well, it worked, so great job.



I know it's important to the story, so I'll try to get these cruel pictures out of my head and focus on something good...like when you're going to let them be all happy and kissing and other good stuff, right?



More soon please!



Wimpy

[bindingwiccan]

holy crap babe.. this is just... it was a great update and i expect more soon... you cant leave us hangin for that long! hehe anyways...





love ya,

kels

[russ]

Good to see this story back again. I'm in agreement with Wimpy on the reaction: nauseated and enraged. You've done a very powerful job of getting us inside the head of someone suffering abuse. It's difficult to read, but important that we understand Tara's experience.



One thing that particularly strikes me about this story is how aptly the title describes what's going on. While the scoobies are all about saving folks from vamps & demons, they, each in their own way, need saving as well. Certainly, both of our heroines are damaged by what life has dealt them.



Willow (and Xander) need to be saved from the darkness and violence that life on the hellmouth has brought about. Yours is a much more realistic depiction of how someone dealing with horror on a daily basis would react.



Tara is far from the "pure soul" that Willow idealizes her as. The lifetime of abuse she has suffered has left her soul broken. She has internalized and accepted her father's description of her as worthless, a waste of space. So she lies to protect him, and tries to hide her injuries. This girl will need years of therapy to become whole; it's not going to happen overnight.



So far, Willow doesn't even realize she is in love with Tara; she's at the stage of friendship only. I suspect this latest beating will involve more serious injuries, which will be impossible to hide. How Willow will react is not hard to imagine (Warren got off lightly). This, however, doesn't bode well for either girl's mental health. Far better if Giles were involved, and the weight of law brought down heavily on Maclay.



Then we shouldn't forget the subplot; what's going on with Buffy. Poor Faith doesn't know what she said to set Buffy off, but obviously there's some history there which is being hidden. Until the air is cleared, that relationship is also in need of saving.



I'm looking forward to reading 9b soon.

Russ



When we love and give it everything we've got, no matter what the consequences, we are doing what we were put here to do -- Geneen Roth