fic- Do Your Best and Don't Worry

[Roseriotgrrl]

Yay, an update! You've made me a very happy girl, thank you. The only thing that would make me happier is seeing our two favorite Wiccans in the same room, talking or dare I hope making with more of the smoochies.



I really loved the character of Dr. Kim Legaspi in E.R., I really hope she comes out of that coma soon. Her and Jay seem to flow really well together.



Glad the core Scoobs got a chance to talk a little about what happened. Can't wait for another fantastic update.



~Roseriot~

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

Got distracted for a few days, sorry. Here's the next part. Enjoy!





Part 5



Disclaimers and Warnings: See previous parts. (Now you know I'm getting lazy.)



Author's Note:

There are probably some folks out there going-what the heck, when are Tara and Willow getting together? Soon, I promise. (In a few parts from now, actually.) Why am I taking so long? Well, it just seems like something that shouldn't happen quickly, and given our gal's past, it can't be too easy. I like to think if Hell Bent as the Empire Strikes Back portion of the trilogy-big on story and set up for the final part (minus the Ewoks.)





Summary:

The end of the mission in 1991. Tara and Jay run into a familair face in Chicago.







1991



“Report!”



“Not now,” Billy Joe yelled into his walkie-talkie. He looked over at Max trying to save Devon. He could feel in his bones that it was too late.



Cleo and Claude also stood back, watching and hoping that Max would be able to work his magic on Devon. The healer had saved all of them at one time or another in the team’s almost five year run.



“Come on Max,” Claude murmured under his breath.



Cleo shook her head sadly. The unofficial team leader could see that Max was draining quickly, and Devon was almost gone. She looked over at Jay who knelt stunned on Bob’s platform.



Jay had pulled off her headgear and stared at the unmoving body of Devon. Her bright green hair was soaked with sweat and zombie residue. She didn’t notice.



Cleo moved to stand next to the waist high platform. She reached over and touched Jay’s knee.



“I…” Jay faltered. “I wasn’t fast enough to stop him.” She said, defeated.



“It’s not your fault,” Cleo tried to comfort her best friend.



“It is,” Jay replied flatly. “We should have been more careful. This was his first mission with us. He should have been told.” Jay’s voice began to crack. “He should have been told.”



“He knew Jay. We all know the risks every time. Devon made the choice to join this team instead of waiting for another to be formed. He knew the kinds of things we faced. The places that we go.”



Jay stood suddenly, pulling herself away from Cleo’s touch. The demon fighter hopped down from the platform and headed out of the room.



Max’s sigh caused Jay to pause at the doorway, causing her to pause. “He’s gone.”



Jay resumed her escape up the stairway.



Inside the cellar room, the four remaining team members collected Devon’s body in sad silence.



“God damn it! What in the hell is happening down there!?”

Cleo’s walkie-talkie erupted from her waist.



Cleo looked at Billy Joe. “Devon’s dead.” She said bitterly. “Mission accomplished.” She added as an after thought.







2002



‘The Demon’s Breath’ wasn’t a dive, Tara thought as she and Jay sat down in a booth in the back corner. It was dark and full of smoke and unsavory human and demonic patrons. All in leather, mostly black.



Tara cringed as she felt her foot his something soft on the floor as her hand stuck to the seat. She looked over to an oblivious Jay.



“Why are we here again?” She wiped her sticky hand on a cleaner part her seat. “Couldn’t we meet this guy someplace nice?”



“Huh?” Jay looked at her friend. “Did you say something?”



“Never mind,” Tara grumbled. Cleo had called and told Jay about Kim’s mysterious touch with consciousness a few days ago, which had brought them back to Chicago ahead of schedule. After a brief stop at her townhouse, Jay had suggested they go for a drink.



as Tara looked around the room again. Her eyes fell on Jay once again. Jay who looked a little more lost than she had a couple of hours ago.



“You’re thinking about Kim,” Tara said as a statement, not question.



“Who else?” Jay replied, turning to look at Tara. “That flash of awareness Cleo described. It doesn’t feel right.”



“The love of your life waking up from the coma she’s been in for over a month isn’t right?” Tara asked.



“No. NO.” Jay shook her head. “Believe me, it gives me a little hope but it makes me worry. Demy wouldn’t just let Kim slip away from him like that. Even for just a moment. If he caught and held Jack for so long,” Jay looked away again, “then Kim wouldn’t stand a chance.”



“Maybe it’s not Demetrious then,” Tara supplied.



“I..I don’t know,” Jay replied, looking at the full beer glass in front of her. “There are plenty of people in my past who are looking for payback. But the more powerful ones are dead, or in hell.”



“The past,” a male voice said, causing Jay and Tara to look up. “We always want to put it behind us, but somehow there it’s with you in the present. And it always is causing trouble.”



“Whistler,” Jay smiled, standing. The pair shook hands. “How have you been?”



“Same as always.” The young man in a rumpled tan suit took of his matching fedora. “And how are you Tara MaClay?”



Tara looked up at the young man, eye’s wide with shock.

Jay pulled over a nearby chair for Whistler and returned to her seat. A waitress in a tight cut off green t-shirt and black jeans came over with another beer and was off before Tara regained her composure.



“H-H-H-How did you know my name?” Tara finally got out.



“You’re famous, sweetie. The underworld is abuzz with your return. This whole summer in fact.”



“Really?”



“Oh yeah,” Whistler smiled, sipping his drink. He looked at Jay. “You finally got them to get the good stuff.” He looked at his beer.



Jay smiled and nodded.



“So anyway, yeah, Tara. Willow’s power party got everyone’s attention. Plus, her take down of Rack. Very nice.” Whistler sipped his beer again. “Most people thought that it was the combo of the two of you that would shake things up. No one ever gave you credit as individual powers in your own right. Except for me. And Jay.”



“I always knew that you were special.” Jay smiled at

Tara. “Even more so, now. Not just anyone can come to another reality and take over for their counterpart. Most just come here, kill off their twin, and start a new life.”



“Amen sister,” Whistler drained his drink. The waitress appeared with another. “Thanks toots.” He smiled at the server as she left.



“So this kind of thing has happened before?” Tara asked.



“Sure. Throughout history,” Whistler answered. “You know that old saying about how everyone has a twin? It comes from a time when the walls between realities were thinner, and folks saw a lot of themselves in different versions. Not all pretty.”



“Yikes,” Tara said.



Whistler looked at Tara and Jay. “You two don’t know, do you?”



“What?” Jay asked.



“It’s how you guys became linked. In the past, two of your former selves met and helped each other with an evil twin.”



“No way,” Jay said, laughing a little. “I’ve seen my alternate selves already.”



“You’ve seen a handful punk,” Whistler chided. “And those are today’s versions. I’m talking about two of the earliest incarnations. You and your little posse were all linked at that time by the powers that be.”



Jay looked at Whistler expectantly. Tara was intrigued.



“Okay kids.” Whistler began, “Once upon a time there was a small village in what is now called unified Germany. Said village happened to be next to a hell mouth that was opened by a bad warlock. Bad as in not good at his job.” Whistler looked at the pair, making sure they understood. “Okay, so this hell mouth, not one of the bigger ones on the planet, went on the fritz, thanks to this dude. Instead of opening the portal to hell, he taped into a nearby reality. Your favorite one Jay.”



“Uh, the demon infested, vamp filled one,” Jay shook her head in disgust. “I hate that place.”



“You got it,” Whistler said, taking a long drink from his beer.



“Is that the one with no Buffy, created by Cordelia’s wish?” Tara asked. Willow had told her about the Scoobies run in with her vampire alternate in a reality that a wish Anya granted created.



“No. Although that one is fun in it’s own way,” Jay replied. “Or so I’ve been told.”



“Anyway, ladies,” Whistler regained his audience’s attention. “This little bad warlock was kind enough to warn the villagers that trouble was coming, then he split. After the fist night, many of the other villagers left too. Seems they didn’t like to see themselves as vampires. But a few hung on. They weren’t going to be run off of their land.”



“Oh wait, let me guess,” Jay’s tone was sarcastic. “This little band of merry men was able to close the hell mouth and send all the beasties away." Jay paused for effect. "I bet they even had a witch and a fighter who took care of it. They married and our lines were born.”



“Whatever.” Whistler replied. “You know what happens when you assume.”



“But you’re already an ass,” Jay joked. “I can’t make you anything your not.”



Whistler rolled his eyes. “Funny.” He looked at Tara. “Do you want to hear the rest of this?”



“Yes. Please.” Tara had an earnest tone in her voice.



“At least someone appreciates me.” Whistler looked pointedly at Jay, who chuckled. “Anyway, yes, smart ass over there got the gist of the story. Except it took a coven of witches to close the portal. And it was a group of traveling mercenaries who took down the demons and such. One of the swords for hire fell in love with the head of the coven and a line of slayers was born out of it. I think it was the third line.”



“Wow,” Tara was impressed. “Do you know if..”



“The pair was you and Willow. No, I don’t know the exact match up of who was who. I do know that all of you: Willow, you, Cleo, Billy Joe, Max, Claude, Lucas, the Wonder Twins, and Punky Brewster over there were all part of the fun. The powers that be must have seen something special in you guys because you’re always together somehow.”



Whistler paused, thinking. “Usually, thought, it’s not all of you. Tara and Willow, they’re always a pair.” Tara grinned at the thought of Willow being her eternal partner.



“And Jay is usually paired with either Billy Joe or Cleo or both. But when all of you get together, it’s a big deal. It’s only happened maybe ten or so times in the last few thousand years.”



“Wow,” Tara felt a tad overwhelmed.



“ So I’ve always had someone with me.” Jay shook her head. “Even during the time of Christ?” Jay asked.



“For part of that, even then.” Whistler replied.



Tara looked from Whistler to Jay. “What happened during that time?”



“That’s my most famous past life, as a vampire.” Jay said, finally taking a drink from her beer.



“How?” Tara was surprised. It was the first time she was hearing this news.



“The usual way. Bit on the neck, drink vamp blood. Bam! You’re a vamp.”



“And quite the vamp you were,” Whistler looked at Jay. “I met you once, around 400 A.D. Yikes.”



“How did you find out? It’s hard to get the specific details on past lives.” Tara asked her friend.



“Max’s mom did a reading for me maybe ten years ago or so. She’s a very powerful seer. I was able to get my name and a little history from her reading. I looked up some, asked around for the rest.”



“Who were you?” Tara was fascinated. she thought.



“Bracus. That was my name before I changed. Later it was the Destroyer, or some variation on that theme. I was a Roman captain stationed in Gaul who walked down the wrong street one night and got bit. For the next six hundred years I was a terror, THE terror, of the Dark Ages. I had a gang of vamps, some of which are still around today. Only a few, though.” Jay seemed a little sad at the thought. “Anyway, I got staked by one of Buffy’s past slayer lives outside of what is now London.”



“Wow.” Was all Tara could say.



“So nowadays, the vamps, the ones with brains, that is,” Whistler continued, “they try to make peace with Jay and the clans. Somehow the strong ones can sense her vamp past and they don’t want to mess with her.”



“It’s Isabelle,” Jay explained. “She was my sire and still walks the Earth. She somehow knew who I had been and spread the word. Something about the eyes.” Jay paused. “She told me she could see a little bit of Bracus in my eyes, even after couple of thousand of years had passed.



“I don’t know what to say,” Tara wasn’t really upset, but she was definitely surprised. “Can you tell if a vamp is some one you created?”



“No. But I’ve read enough to know some of them. The Master, for instance, he was one of my early protégés.”



“And he was uglier then,” Whistler added. “His looks got better with age.”



Whistler and Jay laughed at his joke. Tara grinned and nodded. Willow had told her about the Master and Buffy’s battle with him six years ago. And how ugly and scary he had been when he died.



“So Jay are you ready to hear why I wanted to see you?”

Whistler asked suddenly. His tone much more serious.

Jay nodded.



“It seems Mr. Rouse has been spotted in America. Looking around, making calls. No one has seen him in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have something brewing here.”



“Who is Mr. Rouse?” Tara asked.



“One of the may who works for someone looking to score a little vengeance on me or the team,” Jay said, worried.



“And with his connections, he knows about Demy, Tara, and Willow. And if he knows…”



“She does too,” Jay rasped. Her heart felt like it was in a vice, making it hard to breath. She turned pain filled eyes towards Whistler.



“I don’t know. I can ask around.”



“Do it.” Jay spat. “I have to know.”



Tara reached out and touched Jay on the forearm. “Are you okay?”



Jay looked over at Tara. The young woman saw something she never thought she’d ever seen in Jay’s features, fear.



“No, I’m not Tara.” Jay looked away.





TBC....

(Almost to Sunnydale...and Willow)





"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this Wicked Little Town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

I'm having some issues with ezboard right now (in no way related to the Kitten board at all.) Anyway, I've got the next couple of parts ready, and as soon as I get my computer woes cleared up, I'll be posting another part of Hell Bent.



thanks for your patience-

hermistull







"...and if you've got not other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this Wicked Little Town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[hermitstull1]

Okay, weirdness-

After a couple of days of attempts, it seems like the computer gods like me again because I was able to post the previous message. Woo and Hoo!



So without further delay, I give you:



Part 6



Author's note:

A new backstory begins, set in 1993. I know, what's with all this stuff from the past? And can it at least all be the same? Well, it is, sort of. You just have to trust me.



The second part of this update is a little scene between Giles and Billy Joe. It ties in to the new backstory. Plus, I like Giles and Billy Joe. They're fun to write.



I promise more Willow and Tara in the near future. And soon they'll actually be together. (I'm working on a date scene for a few parts down the road.)







1993



“Finally, someplace that isn’t a chain,” Jay said looking around the English themed bar. ‘The Londoner’ was a relatively new addition to Dallas’s bar scene, but Anya had said she worked a wish here and the place was okay.



“So where is she?” Claude asked. He looked around the place.



The bar itself took up half of the space. Next to the bar were three dartboards and two pool tables. Two seating areas, one holding a fireplace and couches were separated off from the main area. There was definite rustic motif, with lots of wood everywhere. Several posters for British beers, food, and sporting teams hung on the walls.



Claude though as he followed Jay towards the room with the fireplace. .



“You know Anya,” Jay replied, plopping down on the

couch. “Probably got called off on some emergency vengeance trip.”



“She is way too into her job,” Claude waved at the server.



“Can I get something started for you,” the young waiter asked.



“Guinness for me,” Claude replied.



“Same here.” Jay said. “And some chips or something.”



“Very good.” The man smiled. “I’ll be back in a jiff.”



“Jiff,” Jay looked questioningly at the retreating from of their server. “Who say’s jiff? Other than you Claude.”



Jay didn’t hear Claude’s witty reply. Anya had just walked in with one of her friends, and Jay’s breath caught.



“Who is that goddess?” Jay asked, dazed.



Claude turned to see what had captured Jay’s attention. The woman was tall and lean, with a slight hourglass figure. Her bright blonde hair was cut in the popular ‘Friends’ hairstyle of the day. She was laughing at something the vengeance demon had said. Her face was lit up with mirth and warmth. Suddenly, she felt Jay’s eyes on her and she looked. Bright green met brown and the world faded just a little.



“Earth to Jay,” Claude laughed. “Drool much?”



“Not as much I have in the last couple of minutes,” Jay replied, not looking at her friend.



“Jay!” Anya shouted from across the room.



“Hey,” Jay replied and waved weakly. Jay thought. Normally smooth with the ladies, Jay suddenly felt awkward and nervous.



“Hey Anya,” Claude smiled and waved. “How ya been?”



“Good. Very good. This grunge thing has been great for business.” Anya beamed. She sat down next to Claude on his couch.



“Claude, Jay, I like you to meet my friend, Daphne.” Claude reached over and shook the hand of the woman now seated next to Jay. “Nice to meet you.”



“Likewise,” Jay replied, taking Daphne’s hand after Claude. A

little spark passed between them.



“You’re not THE Jay. The one they call Killer?” Daphne’s voice was a sweet soprano.



“Yes ma’am,” Jay replied, a little proudly.



“Oh god, here we go,” Claude teased. “Egomaniac alert.”



“A girl should be proud of her achievements,” Daphne rose to Jay’s defense. “And from what I’ve heard, Jay, you have a lot to be proud of.”



“Thanks,” Jay replied blushing.



“How do you know about Jay?” Claude asked, looking at Daphne, then Anya. “Do you work with Anya?”



Both women laughed. “The clans need to keep better track of their people.” Anya joked. “Daphne is a freelance rogue slayer.”



“Really?” Claude was surprised. Most every clan member with special abilities was assigned to a team. It was rare that one was allowed to become a freelancer. Working on missions they selected as they saw fit. Only the best of the best, a handful globally, ever became freelance rouges.



“You must be something then,” Claude was impressed.



“You can say that again,” Jay added under her breath.



Daphne looked over at Jay and smiled. “I could say the same about you.”



Claude and Anya shared a knowing look. They had secretly arranged this sort of blind date between Daphne and Jay. So far, it seemed to be going perfectly.



“So how did you meet Anya?” Jay asked.



“She was cursing this guy who I was sent to take down. A human/demon hybrid in Brussels.” Daphne replied.



“He never stood a chance,” Anya added with glee. “We’ve stayed in touch since.”



“Anya is tons of fun, when she’s not out eviscerating cheating men or demons,” Daphne added quickly. “When she, Halfrek, and I get together, look out.”



“Wild women on the loose,” Anya chimed in.



"I’d like to see that sometime,” Jay said softly to Daphne.



“Play your cards right, Killer, and you just might.” She leaned back a little more into the couch, making bodily contact with Jay.



she thought.











2002



“These young vamps, they never learn,” Billy Joe said, dusting off his clothes. “I mean, come on, look at me.” Billy Joe did a little spin. “Do I not scream demon fighter or what?”



Giles looked over at the younger man who wore, his self described ‘kickin’ vamp ass gear’. A white Stetson on his head, a tight fitting green turtleneck, black jeans, and boots.



The outfit would have been okay, except for the black ‘Star Trek’ t-shirt over the turtleneck, which listed ‘All I ever needed to know, I learned from watching Star Trek’ on the front and back.



“Um,” Giles looked around, hoping that another attack would save him from answering his question.



“Never mind,” Billy Joe said, picking up his stake. “They turn the vampires out so quick here, there’s not time for them to learn anything.”



“That is true,” Giles replied, relieved. “Buffy does tend to take care of most of them just after they rise for the first time.”



“She’s good,” Billy Joe said, motioning for the older man to join him as he began to walk again through one of Sunnydale’s more popular cemeteries. “Up there in the top ten all time.”



“Really?” Giles felt a little bit of pride.



“Yeah. The clans sort of have an informal ranking system for all the slayers. In the combined list-that’s with your slayers and our slayers and warriors-she’s number four.”



“Only four?” Giles was slightly disappointed.



“Hey, that’s the highest for a Council slayer in almost three hundred years.” Billy Joe replied. “You’ve stopped, what, six or seven apocalypses? That is quite a few, but number three, she stopped like fifteen or so before she died.”



“Oh my.”



“From my line too,” Billy Joe said proudly. “Margarat. She was the slayer around the year 1000. Lots of stuff goes down around the change of millennium.”



“Who are the top two?”



“Well, the first slayer is number one,” Billy Joe answered. “From what we’ve gathered, she did so much to save the world that people lost count. She lived a long time, almost thirty. Iantha is number two.”



“Jay’s ancestor,” Giles remembered. The watcher had read the materials the clans had given Willow in Chicago. And the brief conversation he has shared with Claude on their way to the hospital. It had left him with some questions, mostly about the Chicago team, Jay in particular.



“I have some questions,” Giles began. “Questions about your team and Jay.”



“Shoot.”



“Well,” Giles wished he could pause and clean his glasses. “I still don’t understand why Jay left so suddenly in Chicago. It seems odd that she would leave the love of her life while Kim hangs between life and death.”



Billy Joe stopped walking. He looked around. Spotting a bench, he motioned for Giles to sit. The demon fighter began to pace in front of the watcher.



“It’s complicated,” Billy Joe began. “Jay is sort of like Willow. Or like how Willow was when she went after Glory, except that she’s got some years on your girl and that’s taught her when to make a tactical retreat.”



Giles gave Billy Joe a questioning look.



“She can’t sit idly by and do nothing, Giles. Jay is a woman of action. After a time, I’d guess about three days, Jay would have left Kim’s side, gone to prime, and gotten killed or turned. And then we’d all be up shit creek without a paddle.”



“I see,” Giles said, thinking. “She has some self control then.”



“Sort of,” Billy Joe continued to pace. “She learned the hard way the first time, so that’s keeping her in check now.”



“The first time?”



“About ten years ago, Jay fell in love.” Billy Joe stopped pacing and looked at Giles. “I mean, head over heals, stop you heart, catch your breath love. The kind that only happens in romance novels and fan fiction.”



Giles nodded.



“It was her first real love.” Billy Joe chuckled softly. “And Jay had been around the block quite a few times. It’s good she’s pals with D’Hoffryn cause Anya was getting quite a few calls by Jay’s jilted women. But that all changed when she fell in love.” Billy Joe began to pace.



“What happened?” Giles asked.



“It ended badly,” Billy Joe replied. “It was all a lie, I guess.” Billy Joe stopped and adjusted his cowboy hat. “Anya would have given Jay a better deal. It really was all about vengeance.”



“And Jay wound up going to prime?”



“Not by choice,” Billy Joe’s tone was hard. “She was sent by that bitch that said she loved her.”



“Well, well, well,” A male voice said, causing the two men to jump slightly. “Look what lovely chickens we have here.” A tall, thin vampire with a large black Afro leaned casually on a tombstone ten feet away from Giles and Billy Joe. He wore loose bell-bottom jeans with platform shoes. A baby blue Donna Summer t-shirt completed his retro ensemble.



“Looks like you left the hen house in the dust,” the vamp drawled with a light southern accent.



“And that’s what you’ll be fiend if you don’t leave this place,” Giles said hotly, raising a cross.



“Whoa now,” the vamp said, raising his hands. He looked at Billy Joe. “Ain’t he the feisty one?”



“He tries,” Billy Joe replied, smiling. He walked over and shook the vamp’s hand. “How ya doin’ man?”



“Can’t complain, can’t complain,” the vampire replied. “I think I’ve got the formula perfected. Almost tastes real.”



“Wow,” Billy Joe nodded his head approvingly. “Taste test?”



“So far so good. Most of ‘em can’t tell it’s not one hundred percent.”



“Excuse me,” Giles interjected.



“Oh yeah,” Billy Joe smacked his head. “Rupert Giles meet Rufus Jones. The only vegetarian vampire ever to walk the Earth.”



“Really,” Giles was intrigued.



“Yep,” Rufus replied. “Got turned in ’68. Summer of love my ass. Anyway, my whole life I never touched a meat product. After I got bit, I tried blood, but it made me sick. All blood, not just human. Plus the thought of takin’ another life,” Rufus shuddered. “So I started around 1970 to come up with a kind of blood that would still give me what I need, but didn’t have blood as it’s base.”



“And you have the formula?” Giles asked.



“Almost,” Rufus smiled. “Got the nutrients down years ago, but the taste, uh, that’s taken me a lot longer to get down. But I’m close.” Rufus grinned again.



“And don’t think just because Rufus isn’t a true bloodsucker that he’s a softy,” Billy Joe added. “Rufus has helped us out of many a tight spot over the years. He’s a scrapper.”



“I try.” Rufus grinned, revealing perfect white teeth.



Giles could have sworn the vampire blushed a little at the praise.



“So what brings you to Sunnydale my man,” Billy Joe asked. “I thought you didn’t like hangin’ on hell mouths.”



“What always brings my skinny but to you shorty,” Rufus joked, but there was an underlying seriousness to his tone.



“Trouble.”





TBC



"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this Wicked Little Town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

I hope that everyone is having a nice week. I can't believe that Do Your Best is upto amost 1000 views! That's cool.

Thank you everyone who is keeping up with this tale, but I have one request, please give feedback. Good or bad, I can take my lumps.



Part 7

Author's note: Almost to Sunnydale! This is the last part before Tara makes her official return. It's a short part, with a little update on Kim and a little more insight on what might be happening.









Jay and Tara had spread out on the private jet. They were about half way to California, somewhere over a ‘square state’ as Jay liked to call most of the Great Plains. Tara looked over at her friend, busy studying a text so old, that it only existed in Clan copies made in the thirteenth century of the lost original.



Tara watched Jay intensely reading. The Wicca looked out the small window. Tara looked at her watch



She sighed softly. Tara chuckled. She smiled to herself, thinking of all the times she, Kendra, and Jonathan would say something similar.



Tara continued to gaze at the United States passing below her. Tara reflected on what she had learned about her friend’s counterparts in this reality.







Tara glanced back to Jay reading. Looking at the older woman in her blue jeans and green polo shirt, you wouldn’t think ‘future hell god’. But she could be. Tara nodded mentally. Tara looked out the window again







------------------------------------------------------------





Kim’s private room at County Hospital was nice. Much nicer than the average patient would get, but County always took care of it’s own. It was large enough to fit six, maybe seven visitors at a time, with a small couch and reclining chair. The window view was of downtown, not of the parking garage, and didn’t get too much direct light at any time of the day.



Tara walked in with Cleo, but Jay stopped at the doorway, almost unable to move. Her eyes locked on Kim’s sleeping form.



“Jay?” Tara asked.



“Um, yeah,” Jay mumbled, slowly stepping into the room. She made her way to Kim’s beside, opposite of Tara and Cleo. Her brown eyes caught sight of a folded US Weekly on the nightstand.



“So that’s it,” Jay picked up the magazine.



“Yeah,” Cleo spoke softly. “I tried reading it again, same everything, but no response.”



“And Claude and Max?” Jay asked.



“Nothing. Max’s mom offered to fly in from Atlanta to see if she could get anything, but I told her to wait until after you visited.”



Jay nodded, not really listening. “Um, could we have a few?”



“Sure,” Cleo looked at Tara, who silently followed the lawyer out of the room, shutting the door.









“That was intense,” Tara said, as the pair made their way to

a couple of chairs down the hall. “I knew that Jay had power, but it’s so much more than I remember.” Tara had felt the emotions, the magic, everything, thunder off of Jay the moment she laid eyes on her lover. “She keeps it so well hidden. That’s the first time I really felt it. All of it.”



“Claude tells me that she’s gets more powerful almost day by day,” Cleo sat down. “He said when she came back, it was different. It was much more.”



“But not all dark,” Tara said, thinking about Jay.



“No. But not all good either.”



The pair sat in silence for a moment. Tara had known Cleo as long as Jay, maybe even a little longer, but whereas Tara felt a sort of sisterly relationship with Jay, Cleo was more of a teacher figure. They were close, but it was different.



“Do you have a plan?” Tara asked.



“Several,” Cleo leaned back into her chair, resting her head on the wall. “I can’t tell you, you know that. And I’ve got mental shields, or so I’m told, so you can’t read them either. But there are always plans, just in case.”



“How can you?” Tara was a little surprised by the stark reality of Cleo’s answer.



“How can I have plans to destroy my best friend if she becomes hell’s new master? It’s my job. Comes along with the saving humanity part. But if it comes to that, then this mission will be my last.” Cleo’s tone held a bitterness that Tara had never heard before.



The duo lapsed into silence again. Tara leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand, with an elbow on her knee. She looked down the hall towards Kim’s room and blinked. Tara sat up and focused, making sure she saw what she thought she did.



“Cleo,” Tara said, “have Max or Claude checked out Kim’s room?”



“I’m not sure,” Cleo replied, sitting up at the semi-urgent tone in Tara’s voice.



“I can see a spell, or what’s left of one,” Tara said, rising from her seat. “And it’s not good.” She moved down the hall and stood at the door to Kim’s room. “You must not be able to see it on the inside. Probably some sort of glamour variation, but they didn’t bother to mask it in the hall.”



“Can you tell anything about who or what did this? Or what the spell does?” Cleo asked.



Tara concentrated, letting her senses reach out towards the enchanted room. “Black arts,” Tara whispered. “Yes. From this place, here.” Tara swayed just a little, breaking off her attempt.



Cleo waited while Tara collected herself.



“Someone, a human most likely, created this spell using dark magic. It’s keeping Kim in a coma. I think.”



“So it’s not Demetrious?”



“You’d have to get someone more powerful to double check, but I don’t think so.”



------------------------------------------------------------





And they had. Max’s mom had reached Chicago later that same day. She was able to confirm that someone had enchanted Kim, probably as soon as she had left surgery. Someone who wasn’t godly in nature. The spell was keeping her in a coma, and it would be a tough one to break.



“And they’ll break it,” Tara said to herself, looking from the window to Jay. “I know it.”



“You know what?” Jay asked, looking up.



“Nothing,” Tara replied quickly.



Jay set her reading down and stood to stretch. She looked down at Tara. “Almost there champ, how do you feel?”



“Nervous,” Tara spoke honestly. “But excited. And a little scared.”



“All good.” Jay twisted her back, feeling a satisfying pop. “Especially when heading for the most potent hell mouth on the planet.”



“And to the woman you want to love.” Tara added smiling at Jay.



“That too.”





TBC...





"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this Wicked Little Town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming, pt. 2

[Roseriotgrrl]

Just wanted to let you know how much I'm still enjoying your fic. Glad to have an update on Kim, but I must admit I'm getting a little antsy for some Willow/Tara goodness. But I am determined to have patience. Well I'll try anyway. Lol. Can't wait for your next fantastic post.



~Roseriot~

[hermitstull]

Roseriot-

Glad to see you're still enjoying Do Your Best. Willow and Tara together in the next part (thanks for you patience). I'll be posting it sometime over the weekend, probably Friday night.



hermitstull



"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this Wicked Little Town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend, I know I am. Here's the next part of Hell Bent. Enjoy!





Part 8a



Author's note:

Do to the legnth of this part, I'll be splitting it into two seperate posts. The second part will be up on Monday most likely.



Also, I realized as I take this story into Sunnydale, that there is a little blending of a couple of aspects from season 7 into this story. One, the new High School is open and Dawn goes to school there. Two, Anya is a vegeance demon and she's okay with it for the most part. Three, the Magic Box is still open and working. (I know it was already in another part, but I thought I'd make that clear.) As more stuff comes up, I'll make sure and note it. I do want to say that other than a few smaller things from season 7 are in use, I've tried to keep them general and in the background. I won't be using any of the story lines that the show is following in Hell Bent or it's sequal.



Sorry, this part has a little cliff hanger too.







“Tell me, why again can’t we meet them at the airport?” Buffy asked, looking around a decently crowed Bronze. It was a Wednesday night, not a big party night for kids who have school the next day.



“Something about secret location,” Willow replied, sipping her soda. She wanted run around the room screaming to help ease her anxiety over seeing Tara again.



“Aren’t you in the club yet?” Buffy asked. “You seem pretty tight with Billy Joe.”



“Not a full fledged member yet Buffy.” Willow replied with a small grin.



“How are my two favorite ladies this evening?” Xander asked, pulling a stool up to the table.



“Excited.” Buffy replied merrily.



“Nervous.” Willow added stressed.



“Nothing a little shimmy, shimmy, shake on the dance floor with the Xand-man won’t cure,” Xander offered Willow his hand.



“Okay,” Willow replied, surprising both Xander and Buffy.



“Finally gonna show off some of those moves, huh Will?” Buffy asked, nudging her friend with her shoulder.



Willow didn’t respond. She pushed her way ahead of her friends and onto the semi-full dance floor. It was retro night, so the song was something from the eighties, not the best musical decade in her mind, but Willow didn’t care. She just wanted to be active so she could drain a little nervous energy.



Buffy and Xander watched, amazed, as Willow quickly proved she was not only coordinated, but one of the better dancers on the floor.



Willow danced on oblivious. Somewhere in her mind she noted the DJ had moved from the eighties to the early nineties. ‘Good Vibrations’ by Marky Mark took Willow to a new level. Now a small circle had formed around the redhead as she grooved on, unaware of the attention she was getting from her fellow booty-shakers.





From the edge of the floor, three people watched in different states of appreciation.



“Wow, Billy Joe,” Jay said, patting her friend on the shoulder. “Willow never struck me as the cabbage patch kind of girl, but hey, if that’s what it takes.”



“Shut up,” Billy Joe smacked Jay’s hand off his

shoulder. “She’s doing great! I can’t tell you how much she’s

improved these last couple of weeks.”



He turned and glared at Jay. “And you know that for this song, the cabbage patch is perfectly appropriate.” He looked back at Willow. “Just because you can’t do it anymore.”



“Don’t Billy Joe,” Jay warned in a joking tone. “Or I’m gonna have to go out there and show Willow who really is the best dancer. Right now I’m sure she’s under the delusion that it’s you.”



Billy Joe made a sweeping gesture towards the dance floor. Jay laughed and moved onto a relatively unoccupied area and began to dance.





Tara stood, unable to move, unable to breath, as she watched Willow dance. None of her memories had prepared her for just how sexy the redhead could be. She wore loose kaki pants and a maroon blouse that seemed to cling in all the right places. A wave of lust slammed through Tara, causing her to reach for a nearby empty stool.



Tara tore her eyes away. Tara turned. Jay and Billy Joe had garnered some attention from the crowd, creating two small circles on the floor. Buffy had migrated from Willow’s watchers to Jay and Billy Joe's circle.



Marky Mark transitioned into Rob Base and EZ Rock, causing the crowd to let out a cheer. Tara felt herself begin to give into the music, and the urge to join Willow on the dance floor. Her mind may have not made the final decision on whether or not to get back together, but her body was halfway out the door with Willow in tow. Tara stood, mentally preparing herself to enter Willow’s circle.



“Tara?” A British voice asked behind her.



Suppressing a groan, Tara turned and beamed. “Mr. Giles! How nice to see you again.”











“Not bad, not bad at all,” Jay said, looking around the Magic Box. After a couple of hours at the Bronze, the Scooby Gang plus Jay and Billy Joe, moved to a secure location. Billy Joe would be leaving soon to return to Chicago and wanted to meet with everyone to discuss the information Rufus had passed on.



The Scoobies took their usual positions around the large circular table at the center of the store. Tara hung back, just a little, before taking a seat across from Willow. Giles sat on the steps leading to the dark arts loft. Jay leaned on the counter, Billy Joe hopped up onto it.



Jay turned to Billy Joe and asked in hushed tones, “Have you talked to her?”



“No,” he replied. “She teleports out of here as soon as she senses me in the area.”



Jay gave a short nod. “This is dumb. We’ll need her connections.”



“Rumor is she’s on shaky ground with the community.” Billy Joe replied, glancing at Willow and Tara. The pair was trying unsuccessfully to play in cool around each other, and not seem overly nervous. Their attempt wasn’t working.



“I know,” Billy Joe looked back at Jay. “They’re cute.”



“Yes they are,” she replied. “They’re trying so hard to be careful around each other. I hope that one of them will take the first step and get the other talking.”



Giles cleared his throat, quieting the room. “I believe you have some information for us?” He looked at Billy Joe.



“Yeah,” Billy Joe began to swing his legs from side to side on the counter. “Last night when Giles and I were patrolling, we ran into one of our better contacts, Rufus.”



“Rufus!” Jay looked up at Billy Joe. “Does he have the formula?”



“Almost.” Billy Joe pulled a small red vile from his pocket. “He wanted to get your opinion on it.” He handed it to Jay.



“Excuse me,” Buffy broke in, “does this formula have anything to do with what you’re about to tell us? If not, move on. I’ve still got to patrol and pick up Dawn from her friend’s house.”



“Wow, a slayer with a life,” Jay looked at Buffy and winked.



“Sorry.” Billy Joe continued. “Anyway, Rufus was in LA recently, visiting some of his demon buddies. They were in a popular bar there when he overheard a conversation between two Crochenta demons.”



“Crochenta?” Willow asked.



“They mostly stick to the sewers and caves,” Tara explained. “They eat rocks, cement, metal, stuff like that.” She gave the red head a small smile.



“Oh.” Willow smiled back, feeling a little light headed.



“They are sort of the excavators of the demon world.” Jay added. “Pretty much harmless to humans, but demons use them for manual labor. Usually breaking into hard to get tombs and ancient buried ritual sites.”



“So why were they in LA?” Xander asked.



“They had just finished a big job,” Billy Joe’s tone became ominous. “Seems someone needed a lot of grave digging in the area. But only certain graves. Not to old, but not too fresh. And the bodies had to been in pretty good shape.”



“Shit.” Jay said under her breath.



“We don’t know for sure,” Billy Joe looked over at his friend.



“Yes we do. Mr. Rouse is in Sunnydale.”



Billy Joe’s grip on the counter caused his fingers to turn white.



“Who is Mr. Rouse?” Buffy asked. “And what does that have to do with the grave robbing?”





TBC

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[Grimlock72]

This line has me all confused: “No,” he replied. “She teleports out of here as soon as she senses me in the area.” Is he referring to Tara, if so why would she teleport out ?? (and why wouldn't she sense/see him at that distance anyway). If not who IS he referring to ?



Overall I found this fic hard to get into because a lot of new leading charachters are introduced. If you combine new leaders with old know charachters (like Willow or Tara ) it takes a lot of effort to get into/care-for the new ones. Gosh, did that make sense ??



I can't shake this feeling that Jay and friends need Willow and Tara to do something for them, either directly or indirectly. So I have them classed as 'neutral' for now . Yes, I can be paranoid about Willow and Tara... power draws lots of users you know.



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

Edited by: Grimlock72 at: 10/26/02 2:12:41 pm

[hermitstull]

Hey Grimmy-

In the line about teleportation, Billy Joe is talking about Anya. Hopefully when I post part 8b it will be a little clearer. (At least that was what I was attempting to show in this two part post. I'm trying to give Anya and Jay a little bit of history in this part and in the first 1993 flashback.)



I realized after I finished Do Your Best that yes, I did heap a whole pile of new characters into that one story. What I'm trying to do in Hell Bent is to limit it a little more in scope. Willow and Tara are still the key players through out. Jay, Billy Joe, and Cleo (even though she's not involved too much in Hell Bent) are the main new characters that I'm most concerned about and trying to develop more. The rest of the Scoobies are in a more peripheral role and should be staying pretty much the same as they are on the show.



As for the bad guys, all you need to know about them is contained in the shorter flashback sections. Think of them as sort of the moster of the week and a half.



Tara's and Willow's help are needed by Jay and the Chicago

team, because they are powerful, and in Wilow's case, it's not just because of her power, but also her brush with evil.



Thank you for your feedback. I really do want to know if things aren't clear or are working well.



hermitstull

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

Here's the next installment of part 8. I'll be posting a little later this week. Having a touch of writer's block but I think I've got it worked out.



Author's note:

This picks up right up after the last line of part 8a. Sorry for the akward break.











“Zombies,” Tara said softly. She looked over at Billy Joe and Jay, who were trying to compose themselves. Billy Joe was fighting to control his rage, Jay was somewhat dazed. Tara had listened to Jay’s theory on the plane ride, but the reality seemed to be a little too much for her longtime friend.



“Zombies?” Xander asked. “As in ‘no more room in hell’ zombies?”



“Yeah,” Tara replied, looking at the young man, “but they’re way worse than in the movies. And they don’t go to the mall.”



“Yikes,” Xander replied.



“So when can we expect this increase of the undead population of Sunnydale?” Buffy asked.



“Soon,” Jay looked at Buffy. “Mr. Rouse learned from one of the most powerful zombie masters in the last hundred years. I’m sure now that I’m here, the zombies won’t be far behind.”



“Why you?” Giles asked. “And why your team in particular?”



“Among other things, I killed his master several years ago.” Jay answered, not looking at the Watcher.



“The Chicago team was sent to take out Bob, his master, in the early nineties.” Billy Joe began.



“Bob?” Willow suppressed a chuckle.



A scathing look from Billy Joe stopped her giggle mid throat. “Bob worked in eastern Africa. Mr. Rouse was in Europe at the time, looking for buyers and bodies. He disappeared into the underworld as soon as he found out his teacher was dead.”



“Mr. Rouse surfaced several years later. He had teamed with a powerful witch to help send myself, and later Billy Joe, to hell.” Jay’s face was grim. “Several teams have been looking for the pair for years now, but we haven’t been able to catch them.”



“So why are they here now?” Buffy asked.



“Vengeance.” Anya’s voice startled the group. The demon had appeared in the training room doorway. “It’s what they have been about for the last decade. Revenge for what they think Jay did to them.”



“How long have you known?” Buffy asked hotly, looking at Anya as she made her way to the group.



“Not long,” Anya replied sadly. She looked over at her one-time friends, Jay and Billy Joe. “They have sort of a binding spell on me. I can’t sense anything until it’s really close.” She moved a few steps closer to the pair at the counter.



“How have you been?” Anya asked.









The Scoobies looked on, unsure of what was happening. They knew that Anya knew Jay, but they had assumed they were on good terms.



“Anya introduced Jay to the woman who sent her to hell,” Tara whispered to Willow. Buffy’s slayer hearing caught the information as well. She whipped her head around to look at her.



Two pairs of eyes got wide.



“On purpose?” Willow asked. Sure, Anya was a pain, but Willow didn’t think she could be that evil.



“No. She didn’t know that it was all a plan,” Tara replied. “I still don’t know the whole story. Only what Cleo and Billy Joe told me when it happened. I was still pretty young.”



“I take it then that Anya hasn’t’ been on the best terms with Jay and Billy Joe then,” Buffy asked.



“They haven’t spoken in years,” Tara said, looking at the trio by the counter. “And they used to be pretty tight.”









“Okay,” Jay replied neutrally.



Anya shifted from foot to foot nervously. “That’s…That’s great.” Anya replied over enthusiastically. “You look good. Both of you.” She looked at the pair. “No worse for wear from the hells.”



Jay and Billy Joe looked at each other for a moment. Billy Joe hopped down from the counter. The pair turned to face Anya. Suddenly they rushed the demon, pulling her into a group hug.



Anya was overcome. “I was worried.”



“I know,” Billy Joe said, pulling back. “Anya, we know that none of what happened was your fault.”



“She sucked you in just like the rest of us,” Jay added, grinning sadly. “And she was one of us.”



“I know,” Anya wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye. “I’m so sorry.”



“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Jay said.



“And don’t stay away for so long next time,” Billy Joe said. “We had to hear from Malnark about your last few years here in Sunnydale.”



“Uh, Malnark,” Anya shook her head. “Who really needs to curse their neighbor’s toaster’s anyway?”



The threesome shared a laugh. Anya moved to sit on the small step next to the counter, relieved that she way okay with Billy Joe and Jay.









“Woo,” Billy Joe said, composing himself again and gathering the rest of the room’s attention. “So anyway, Mr. Rouse is here in Sunnydale with his zombies in tow. She-bitch won’t be far behind.”



“We’ll need to keep our eyes open and be ready,” Jay said. “Billy Joe will still be returning to Chicago. I’ll be staying here for the next few weeks until this zombie situation gets resolved. Tara will be staying here as well.” She looked at the young woman seating by Willow and smiled.



“I’ll keep my eyes open on patrol,” Buffy said. “Is there anywhere in particular zombies like to hang?”



“No. Mr. Rouse will keep them well hidden until he feels it’s the right time to strike. Unfortunately we have to wait for him to make the first move.” Jay replied. “I’ll be patrolling with you from this point on.”



“What about Mr. Rouse’s partner, the witch?” Willow asked. “Should we be on the lookout for her?”



“Leave her to me,” Jay’s tone caused Tara to shudder. “She won’t make a move until after Mr. Rouse has made his.”



A brief moment of silence fell in the group.



“Well, I’m off,” Billy Joe said, moving away from the counter. He reached into his pocket and gave Jay a set of keys. The rest of the group began to talk amongst themselves.



“How is it?” Jay asked.



“Not bad,” Billy Joe replied. “Faith was right. They never messed with her old place. All it needed was some new furniture. And window.” He gave Buffy a quick look. “Oh, but it’s a studio.” He nodded in Tara’s direction. “Kind of small for two.”



Jay looked over at Tara, getting her attention from trying to look discreetly at Willow. “It’s your choice where you stay, Tara. You’re more than welcome to crash with me. Or hotel it.”



“Um,” Tara wasn’t sure. She felt it was too soon for her to return to Buffy’s house, especially with Willow still living there. Giles had been staying in the hotel during his stay and she wasn’t ready to be near the man who had spent all summer with Willow either.



“You could stay with me,” Xander offered. “I’ve got a guestroom. That’s if you don’t mind living in a bachelor pad.”



Tara smiled, relieved. Xander was a good compromise. She loved Jay, but she was too intense for the young women lately. And staying under the same roof with Willow would let her body cloud her judgment.



“If that’s okay,” Tara replied.



“Sure,” Xander grinned. “Just give me an hour to clean up the place a bit.”











Everyone stood and gathered their belongings. Willow took a deep breath.



“Um Tara,” she asked, taking a step closer. “I was wondering if…”



“Yes,” Tara replied, not hearing the rest of Willow’s question.



Willow smiled. “But you don’t even know what I was going to ask.”



“Oh, yeah.” Tara shook her head. “Duh.” She gave Willow the half smile the red head loved. “What did you want to ask?”



“Um,” Willow suddenly found it hard to think. “Would you like to go out tomorrow? Maybe get some coffee?”



“Sure,” Tara replied, smiling. “We need to talk about stuff.”



“Yeah, stuff.” Willow was floating in Tara’s presence.



“Great.” Tara felt Jay behind her. “So I’ll um, I’ll call you tomorrow at Buffy’s to set up a time.”



“Great.” Willow beamed. She gave Tara a little wave as she departed with Jay and Billy Joe.









“Drool much?” Billy Joe joked at the trio exited the Magic Box.



“Not as much as in the last few minutes,” Tara replied, nudging her friend with her shoulder.



Jay bit the inside of her mouth, pushing down the memories that flooded to the surface.





TBC..

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[aiscool]

I am glad to see this story is progressing nicely, the more I read the more I want to know about the characters (does that make sense?? ). And WT are gonna have coffee!! We all know what happens after coffee

Thank You

A

---

So,will you help me? Willow
sigh.......Is it difficult or time consuming? Anya

[hermitstull]

Aiscool-

Thanks for sticking with the story. More character info on the way-



Hey all-

I hope that everyone is having a nice weekend. As for myself, it's been a pretty rough week, but the Kitten always makes it a little better.



Anyway, here is the next installment of Hell Bent. I figure we're somewhere between half way to two thirds of the way through. Without further ado, I give you...





Part 9

Author's note:

This is a short update that happens in the past. It's a set up for the final section of Hell Bent. Abby from ER makes an appearance as well as a few Council members in name only. It's Willow and Tara free, but important to Jay's storyline.







1994



“Wow, this must be a big deal. When’s the last time you cooked Jay?” Abby asked, sitting down at her neighbor’s dinner table.



“I,” Jay paused, setting down the salad, “It’s been awhile.” She paused, thinking.



“She’s not a bad cook either,” Billy Joe added, reaching for the salad from his position across from Abby. “Jay used to cook for us sometimes when we were out on business.”



“But it has been awhile,” Cleo watched her friend heap a large portion of salad on his plate. “Pig,” she teased. She looked up at Jay as she sat down at the head of the small table.



“It was after that job in Vancouver. When we cleaned out that large demon nest that were after Mr. Hahn.” Jay said, remembering.



Cleo and Billy Joe froze in shock.



“It’s okay,” Abby offered. “I know.” She paused. “At least I know a little.”



“How?” Cleo gave Jay a questioning look.



“Some young vamp was after Abby the other night on her way home from work. She had just got off the El and was chasing her down an ally by this building. I heard her screaming. Now she knows.” Jay shrugged and reached for the salad bowl Billy Joe had abandoned.



“It’s okay, really,” Abby was a little embarrassed. “You know, I’ve seen stuff. Being a nurse at South Side, you see quite a lot. Some of those neck puncture wounds we get from time to time are hard to explain.”



“Does your husband know?” Cleo asked.



“Richard? Hell no. He’d just make some crack about not drinking whatever I did after work again.” Abby looked at the dark haired woman. “It’s okay.”



The sounds of eating filled the room as the quartet enjoyed the first course of their meal. Jay looked around the room at some of her best friends, her heart alive for the first time in years.



Billy Joe and Cleo were her best friends since childhood. For a long time she had cursed the fact that the trio were destined to go into the family business as demon/evil fighters, but now she relished it. They would always be together, always be friends, she was sure of it.



And Abby, what a find. The nurse, a couple of years younger than Jay, had struck up a conversation one day in the hall about nothing in particular and they just clicked. At the time, Jay was a little disappointed when Abby talked about her med student husband, Richard, but that time was brief. Their friendship has blossomed into a solid one. It was something outside of Jay’s normal circle of super humans and demons.



“I have something I want to tell all of you,” Jay began. “I was going to wait until after we ate, but I’m too excited.”



Billy Joe and Cleo exchanged raised eyebrows.



“You excited,” Billy Joe asked. “It must be a big something. Especially if it doesn’t involve monsters in general.”



“It is,” Jay made eye contact with her friends. “I’ve asked Daphne to bond with me. And she said YES!”



Surprised faces looked back at Jay. Billy Joe broke into a huge grin.



“Hell yeah!” He looked at Jay. “I’m so happy for you.”



“Likewise,” Cleo got up and went over to Jay, pulling her out of her chair and into a hug. “You deserve to be happy.”



“Thanks,” Jay eye’s shown with happy tears. “Thank you both so much.”



“Good for you Jay,” Abby said, smiling at her friend as Cleo sat down. “Daphne seems nice. But what exactly is bonding? Is that like another word for gay marriage?”



“No, not really. Bonding can be done any couple.” Jay replied. “It’s sort of a family tradition. People get married, yes, but there’s a special ceremony that represents the joining of souls we call bonding. Not everyone does it. Heck, not everyone is allowed to.”



“All of our families,” Cleo continued, “have a strict set of criteria that you have to pass in order to be allowed to go through the ritual. It’s pretty hard. Plus, it’s rare for someone as young as Jay to be allowed to go through with it. Usually people have to be together for years before they can perform the ceremony. My parents just had bonding a couple of years ago and they’ve been married for twenty some years.”



“So this really is a big deal then,” Abby was impressed. “So when’s the big day?”



“Two months from now, on the twenty fourth of September.” Jay smiled. “And I’d like all of you to stand with me.”



“I’d be honored,” Billy Joe said, his voice full of emotion.



Those being bonded only could have a small number of people stand and speak about their friendship and why the other person should bond with them. Five was the usual limit.



Cleo nodded, overcome.



“Does that mean I have to make a speech?” Abby asked.



“Just a little one,” Jay replied. “I’ll tell you more about it as we get closer.”



“Who else have you asked?” Abby was curious. “Claude and Max?”



“Claude has to be part of the ritual, as part of his family’s tradition. Max already agreed. I called him in Berlin.”



“I bet he was happy,” Billy Joe interjected.



“Oh yeah,” Jay laughed a little, thinking of her friend’s reaction. “He said he was going to stop by London to congratulate Daph on his way back to the states.”



“Who else? Max, Cleo, Billy Joe, me is only four.” Abby continued.



Jay’s smile got even wider, as did Cleo and Billy Joe’s.



“Have you called her?” Cleo asked. Jay shook her head no.



“She’ll be so excited!” Billy Joe said with glee.



“Who!?” Abby asked again.



“Our friend from home, Tara. She’s eleven now, and like a little sister to all of us.”



“Don’t let her being eleven fool you either,” Cleo added. “She’s wise beyond her years.”



“Oh yeah,” Billy Joe agreed, stuffing a forkful of salad in his mouth.





------------------------------------------------------------





“God I hate the British,” Daphne grumbled as she left the pub. She had accompanied Lucas to one of what seemed like a million pubs that filled London. There, the pair had met up with some of Lucas’s former colleagues who still worked for the Council.



“Always the same,” she continued, turning a corner, “blah, blah, soccer, blah, blah, Ireland, blah, blah, the Council.”



Daphne paused, looking at her watch. She continued at a slightly faster pace. “If Lucas is the rebel out of that bunch, I’d hate to see the Council’s poster boys. And that Tavers,” she chuckled, “he’s a piece of work. Any fool can see he’s not on the up and up.”



Daphne headed down another street into an older section of the city. The streets became a little less lit, the air a little more foggy. After twenty minutes of power walking, the blonde rouge slayer stopped in front of an unmarked black metal door. After a quick weapons check, she opened the door and headed into the demon bar.



She surveyed the room, instantly assessing any threats in the ten or so patrons inside. She also noted all the exits made a quick strategy to all of them as she calmly entered, nodding at the human/demon hybrid bartender.



“Can I help you slayer?” The hybrid asked. His accent made the words almost impossible to understand.



I’m not a slayer,” Daphne replied, letting a little of her power show. At one time, the clans had though she might be the one from the prophecy involving prime, since she was a powerful sorceress and rogue slayer. After going to a smaller hell dimension once on a mission, they realized that she wasn’t the one they were looking for. But the trip had given her an idea of how to reap the vengeance she so desperately craved.



The demon bartender, sensing somewhat of a kin, nodded and moved to help a chaos demon at the other end of the bar.

Normally Daphne would have gone after that particular chaos demon, since he was wanted in three countries. Instead, she moved to the far end of the bar where a short human male sat, nursing a glass of red wine.



“You’re a tough one to find,” Daphne said, sauntering up next to the man. “Got teams looking all over the world for you.”



“But you’re the lucky lady who found me,” he replied, not turning around.



Daphne looked into the mirror behind the bar, her green eyes making eye contact with the man there. “I do consider myself lucky actually.”



“Really, do tell.” He replied, sarcastically.



“Oh yes,” Daphne sat down next to the man. “You have something I want. I have something you want.”



“What could a slip of a girl like you offer me?” the man motioned for another drink.



“Something we both want Mr. Rouse,” Daphne said, intercepting his drink and taking a sip. “A little something called payback.”







TBC...





Author's Endnote:

About Tara's age. I realize that her exact age was revealed this season on Buffy, but I've chosen to ignore that, since this part was finished well before that season 7 episode aired.

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[xita]

I am all caught up with all the parts of this fic. I am glad I read it. Yes it's hard to get into because of all the characters and because of the major lack of w/t interaction. I am glad that Tara is finally in Sunnydale and that w/t are about to go on a coffee date. I am glad to see all of Tara feels lust for Willow, but this new Tara is going to have to fall for Willow and likewise. Willow needs to learn to get along with Tara.



And I don't trust Jay and her motives all together much, not sure why but... And also if w/t were together in all these realities whistler spoke about, how come not the one part of this Tara comes from. I guess I can't imagine a reality where Tara wasn't drawn to Willow.



I look forward to the date, soon I hope

-------------------------------

Buffy?

Let's change it, the Discovery channel has koala bears.

[hermitstull]

Hey Xita-

I'm glad to see that you're still keeping up with this fic. And yes, I know that I've kept the Willow/Tara goodness limited, but the date is coming up and there's a heaping helping of interaction and perhaps even smoochies. With story as I've set it up, they just can't get right back together, as you pointed out. But they will, sort of, in the near future.



As for Jay, she's more of a dark hero. I don't like my good guys too good, if that makes any sense. But she does care for Willow, and especially Tara, and won't let anything happen to them if she can prevent it.



The realities....yeah. In the one that matters they're together. My take on alternate realites, born from following Star Trek and other sci-fi, is that it only takes on little thing to change events drastically. And some realities or dimensions carry a little more significance that others in the cosmic sceme of things. Maybe I'll explore what happened in Tara's reality that caused them not to get together. But that fic is in the distant future.



Thanks again for reading. I'll be posting part 10 either on Monday or Tuesday.



hermitstull

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

Here's the next installment of Hell Bent. I was going to come up with something witty to say in this line, but I'm pooped so I'll just post. Nite!



Part 10a



Disclaimers: Violence alert! There is a George Romero-esq description of how to take down a zombie in this part, which leads to the start of a fight scene.



Season 7 alert: Two small parts in this story touch on events in season 7. One: The name of one of Dawn's friends; Two: Buffy working at the new High School. Nothing involving Willow and Tara.



Author's note:

All of the events in part 10 happen in one night. It's pretty long, so I'll be splitting it up into several smaller posts, which will create some cliffhangers. (Sorry!) Personally, this was the hardest section to write for various reasons, mostly writier's block, but I think it turned out okay. Enjoy!







2002



Tara looked at herself for the tenth time in the mirror in Xander’s room. She smoothed down the front of the dark blue blouse and black jeans she was wearing.



“Are you sure I look okay?” she asked.



“You look great,” Xander smiled.



“Thanks,” Tara replied, looking at the young man. She frowned slightly, “Are you sure?”



“Yes. Willow would like you in a burlap sack. It wouldn’t matter.” He paused, as Tara frowned a little bit more. “Not that I’m saying you look like you’re wearing a sack.” He walked over and put a hand on each of Tara’s shoulders and smiled.



“You look great. Honestly.”



Tara beamed. “Thanks.”



“Anytime,” Xander stepped back. “So where are you gals headed tonight?”



“I thought we’d go to the Pump.” Tara said, picking up her small bag. “Maybe catch a movie. I’m not sure. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”



“Yeah.” Xander looked down, putting his hands in his pockets. “Tara, can I say something?”



“You’ve got the ‘after school special’ tone,” Tara replied. “What’s up?”



“Just,” he paused. “Just….just don’t hurt her, okay? She’s been through a lot, ya know? This spring, you, Warren, what she did…”



“I know,” Tara picked up the keys to Jay’s Mercedes E-class she had lent the young woman for the evening.



“She’s okay now. Not one hundred percent, but on the way. If you’re not going to get back together…” Xander trailed off.



“I can’t make you any guarantees Xander. I can’t even make a solid commitment to myself.” Tara twirled the keys on her index finger. “But I can tell you that I feel something for Willow. I’m trying to figure out just what.”



Xander nodded and gave her a small smile. “Have a good time.”



Tara smiled and headed out the door.





------------------------------------------------------------





Willow looked out the window in the living room.



“What time is she picking you up Will?” Buffy asked.



The red head spun around startled. “Geez Buffy! Give a girl a heart attack!”



“Sorry,” the slayer grinned. “What time did you say?”



“At 7:30,” Willow looked down at her watch. “In fifteen minutes.” She looked outside again at the fading sunlight.



A bang from the kitchen door pulled Willow’s attention away from the window once again.



“So like yeah,” Dawn’s voice became louder. “It was totally, eww.”



“I bet,” Jay’s voice replied. “I hated dissection day in school. Funny how the inside of a frog makes you totally grossed out…”



“But a demon, not at all,” Dawn replied as the pair reached the living room. “Hey guys.” Dawn greeted.



“Thanks for picking her up from Kit’s house,” Buffy said to Jay.



“No problem.” Jay smiled. She looked over at Willow who wore a forest green turtleneck with a calf length tan skirt. “You look nice Willow.”



“Thanks,” she replied distracted.



“Tonight’s the big date,” Buffy said.



“I can tell,” Jay replied. “Are you ready to patrol?”



“Sure, let me get my coat.” Buffy headed into the other room.



“I’m off to study,” Dawn said, heading upstairs. “Good luck Willow.”



“Thanks,” Willow didn’t turn around.



“Willow,” Jay’s voice caused her to turn around. “Relax.”



“How can I relax,” she asked nervously, “its Tara.”



“I know,” Jay smiled. “It’s Tara. Not some big exam.”



“But it is,” Willow said looking at Jay. “In a way. If I don’t do well,” she stopped. In a softer tone, “If I don’t do well, who will I spend the rest of my life with?” He eye’s almost pleaded with Jay.



“You’ll do fine,” Jay stepped over to Willow. Giving her arm a

reassuring touch. “It’ll be fine.”



Willow nodded then jumped as someone knocked at the door.



“Good luck,” Jay smiled and made a hasty retreat to the other room.



Willow smoothed down her outfit and went to the door.



Putting a big grin on her face she opened it.



Tara wore an equally large size grin on her face.



“Hey,” they said in unison. Then giggled.





------------------------------------------------------------





“How do you think it’s going?” Buffy asked Jay as the pair sat on top of the main building of the new Sunnydale High School.



Jay looked down at her watch. “Well it’s almost ten. You said that Dawn hadn’t seen either of them yet back at your place. That has to be a good sign.”



“Definitely good.” Buffy agreed. “I hope it works out for them. You should have seen Will and Tara in their prime, Jay. They were so cute together.”



I bet,” Jay said, smiling. “Tara’s always had so much love in her. It’s amazing.”



“Yeah it is,” Buffy agreed. “Especially after meeting her dad and brother.”



“Oh yeah. Her mom was great. Fantastic.” Jay smiled. “She gets it all from her.”



The pair moved across the roof and headed down one of the access stairways into the main building. After a quick sweep, the pair was back outside.



“So is it weird,” Jay asked. “Being back here at high school?”



“A little,” Buffy idly twirled a stake in her right hand. “It’s not exactly the same. Rebuilt after the mayor an all.”



“I heard,” Jay grinned. “I’m surprised, though, that the Master didn’t destroy it. He always hated anything that represented learning. You’d think after a thousand years or so he would have gotten over it, but I guess the Catholic School really messed him up.”



Buffy stopped walking. “What?”



“You know,” Jay continued, unaware of Buffy’s shock. “Overly strict monks praying on the young and defenseless kids in their care. Classic B-movie stuff.” She finally noticed Buffy was not keeping up with her.



“Are you okay?”



“How? How did you know all that stuff about the Master? None of the Council’s records had anything about his pre-vamp life.”



“Oh,” Jay walked back to Buffy. “I know because I was there. In a past life. I created the Master.”



“What!” Buffy took a step back from Jay.



“In a past life, Buffy.” Jay said in a soothing tone. “I was a vampire named Bracus. He was some student on his way home to visit his parents. I needed to feed. He needed guidance after he was turned.” Jay noticed movement farther down the street, but continued to focus on Buffy. “He only traveled with me for fifty years or so. Not too long really. But that’s the past. Literally ancient history.”



“Okay,” Buffy replied, still a little unsteady. “Anya said you we’re cool with the vamps.”



“No, only some of them. Generally, I stake them just like you. Only a few would I consider friends, like Angel or Rufus. And there’s a few….” Jay trailed off, feeling her ire rise.



“Like Spike?” Buffy asked.



“Oh yeah,” Jay replied hotly. She noticed the movement again at the end of the street. It was a group of people, maybe ten or so, heading their direction. Slowly, and with a strange gait.



Buffy looked down the street to the group. Something wasn’t right.



“So why do you hate him so much?” Buffy said, distracted now by the gang getting closer.



“He set my brother Jason up. Got him killed.” Jay replied coolly. Reaching out with her senses, she got the answer she had been dreading.



“Those are zombies,” Jay shimmered. Her casual clothes were magically replaced by fighting gear.



“How can you tell?” Buffy asked. Her slayer senses weren’t tingling very much and the group was still almost half a block away, shrouded in shadow.



“I just know,” Jay said, putting three swords from her back. “Here,” she handed one of them to Buffy. “A bullet to the head is the best way, but we can’t kill like that in a residential area. If you can clip off the top of their head, just above the eyes, that’s the easiest way to kill them. The long way is to take them down, limb by limb, then go for the head.”



“I don’t think,” Buffy began.



“Watch,” Jay said, pulling out the last of her swords. Buffy watched, amazed, as Jay let it go, floating on air. Without taking her eyes off Buffy, Jay sent the sword down the street, mentally controlling it’s path.



The sword streaked down the street, almost invisible to the naked eye. It drove home, spinning slightly as it neatly clipped off the top of the head of the lead zombie. With a grunt, it fell, dead.



Buffy looked from the zombies back to Jay. The older woman held out her hand and caught the sword. She inspected it briefly and put it back over her shoulder.



“That’s a neat trick Jay.”



“It’s what I’m going to teach Willow. How to control deadly weapons magically. It ‘s way more difficult than floating a pencil.” Jay looked pointedly at Buffy. “Any questions?”



The blonde slayer shook her head no.



“Good. Let’s begin then.” Jay spun and ran towards the zombies.



TBC...

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[Grimlock72]

Errrmmm... you kinda skipped Willow and Tara's actual date. Time-block 19:30 - 22:00 kinda disappeared ?? That's sooooo not nice to do .



The disclaimers weren't really needed in my opinion, violence can indicated by rating this fic PG13 or higher. Besides it's not as if we NEVER see Buffy do such things on TV .



Jay caries *three* swords on her back ? That girl certainly comes prepared . Tara checking several times if she looks ok was cute. Willow being scared/petrified of her date was understandable, sad and weird at the same time.



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[hermitstull]

Grimmy-

Oh my, I didn't skip the date! Well, yes, I did skip part of the date that will be sumarized in the next posting later tonight. The most important part of the date is still to come don't worry! (I figured Willow and Tara would take some time to get to the nitty gritty of their situation.)



Um, yeah, Jay is quite prepared. In her world, things are a lot darker and more violent that the land of Sunnydale. Sort of the seedy underbelly of the underworld.



I, too, believe in being prepared, hence the disclaimers. I don't want anyone who shouldn't be reading this sort of stuff reading it.



thanks,

hermitstull

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

Here is the next section of what looks to be three parts to installment ten. There is more of the date and more of the zombies.



Off topic-

If you like Bjork, run, don't walk, and get the Family Tree Box set. I'm listening to it as I post this and it's so totally awesome.



Back to topic-

Without further ado, I give you...



Part 10b

Disclaimers:

Violence alert! Fight scene dead ahead.

Angst alert! Just a little W/T angst. Maybe a 5 out of 10.

Cliffhanger alert! This long section has caused some inadvertent cliff hangers. Sorry



Author's note:

Here it is, the scene that took me longer to put together than most of the others, the date at the Pump. I'm pleased with the end result, I hope you are too.









“It’s so weird, hearing all the gang’s adventures,” Willow leaned back into the booth. “Except that the gang,”



“Isn’t the same gang,” Tara finished, giving the red head a half smile. “I know how you feel.” Tara let her long blonde hair fall forward some, obscuring her face a little.



“Would you like another cup?”



“No thanks,” Willow joked with the young waiter. “Another cup of coffee and I’ll float out of here.”



“Okay. I’m about to go for the night, but feel free to stay,” he motioned to a middle-aged woman filling napkin dispensers. “Sally will take care of you if you need anything else. Have a good night.”



“Thanks,” the pair replied in unison.



“I’d forgotten how much I liked hanging at the Pump,” Tara said, following the waiter with her eyes. “Adam had it burned down. They never rebuilt it afterwards.”



“That would so stink,” Willow replied. “Where did you go after that?”



“Where everyone else does, Starbucks.”



"Ugh,” Willow shivered a little. “Corporate coffee. Yuck.”



“Tell me about it.” Tara gave a small chuckle.



Tara and Willow lapsed into a comfortable silence. They had covered the gamut of conversation over the past few hours. Everything from politics, to television, to how inaccurate Harry Potter was. Each had shared the big moments of their life up, includin college. Some were old, but several were new to the other. They had spent the last hour or so comparing Willow’s Sunnydale to Tara’s Sunnydale.



“So how is Dawn liking the new high school,” Tara asked. She hadn’t spent more than a few minutes with the teenager on the phone since her arrival. They had set up a movie and shake day for the upcoming Saturday.



“She likes it.” Willow nodded. “She’s made a couple of friends that shared a vampire adventure with her.”



“Oh,” Tara joked. “Sort of like a Scrappy Gang?”



Willow burst into laughter. “That’s funny.” She said after a few moments of mirth.



Tara waited as Willow calmed from her laughing jag. “That really was funny,” Willow said again.



“Thanks,” Tara paused, looking a little unsure, she continued. “So you and Dawn are okay?”



“Yeah,” Willow responded without thinking. After a moment reflection, “yeah we are. It took some time but we’re good.”



“I’m glad.” Tara continued. “We can usually forgive the ones we love.”



“What if they don’t deserve it?” Willow asked, her tone suddenly serious and a little sad.



“Everyone makes mistakes Will. Goddess knows I’m no angel. And with magic, with so much power, it can be hard.” She shook her head slightly. “Everyone falters in their life from time to time.” Tara looked at Willow, “But no one is below forgiveness.”



“Have you forgiven your family?” Willow asked, curious.



“I forgave Daddy a long time ago.” Tara leaned back and rested her head on the top of the booth. After a moment, she lowered her blue eyes slightly and locked them with Willow’s. “Will, Tara forgave you last spring. If she hadn’t, we would have never gotten back together.”



“But that wasn’t you,” Willow looked down at the table. “That was the other Tara. My Tara from this reality.”



“Willow, look at me,” Tara’s voice drew green eyes from the tabletop. “I know all that she knew. I feel all that she felt.” Blue eyes softened with affection.



Willow wasn’t totally convinced. “What about what I did? What about what I’ve become,” she turned away from Tara’s intense gaze. “I’m sure you’ve heard what happened after you” her voice cracked, “died.”



“I’ve heard it from others, but if you can tell me, I want to hear about it from you,” Tara’s voice was gentle and full of warmth.



Willow looked up, took a calming breath, and began.





------------------------------------------------------------







Buffy felt like she was watching Xander and Dawn play a video game. Jay was everywhere, cutting zombies like a hot knife through butter. The slayer had only taken down four of the eleven remaining zombies. Jay had decimated the rest.



The older woman was down to the last two. One of which she was trading blows with, the other she attacked with one of her floating swords. Buffy just stood back and waited, not wanting to be accidentally mistaken for a zombie.



Buffy thought to herself.



Buffy wined a little as the floating sword hacked at the zombie, hurting it, but not going for the kill. She looked over at Jay, who passed up an opportunity to finish up the zombie. Instead, the fighter continued to pummel on the walking corpse, almost taking too much pleasure out of what she was doing.



Buffy thought. She reached out with her slayer senses and coughed. She looked at Jay.



Finally, Jay seemed to tire of battling the zombie and with a few quick thrusts, both her opponents fell. Buffy’s slayer hearing caught Jay mumbling something about vengeance and shoes on the other foot now.



Buffy didn’t need her slayer senses to tell her that Jay’s tone and demeanor was not of someone who was in control.



“Jay are you okay?” she asked, reaching out for the other woman.



“Never better,” Jay’s voice replied sinisterly. She turned and looked over at the younger woman.



Buffy suppressed the urge to step back. Jay’s eyes were wild, full of bezerker like rage. She was coated in zombie remnants and obviously was relishing it.



“Good,” Buffy replied calmly. “I think we should call the gang. Let them know we’ve found our zombies.”



“Sure,” Jay said, turning away, looking down the street in the same direction the evil dead had come from. “Call them. I’m going to keep looking.”



“Are you sure that’s wise?” Buffy asked.



Jay’s head snapped around. Her face was contorted in rage. After a moment, she calmed.



“No, you’re right,” Jay said. Her tone was normal. Like it had been before they encountered the zombies. “Let’s circle the wagons.”



Buffy released the breath she had been holding. For a moment, she thought Jay was about to attack her. That’s how out of control she had seemed to the slayer.



Jay nodded at Buffy who pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Hey Xander.” (pause) “Yep. Just got through kicking some zombie ass.” Another pause. “Great. See you in a few.”



Buffy looked up at the taller Jay. “Xander’s going to get Will and Tara and we’ll meet at my house in half an hour.”



“I hope they don’t mind having their date disturbed,” Jay said, giving Buffy a small smile.



“Oh, yeah,” Buffy said, smacking herself on the head.





TBC....

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[Grimlock72]

Heh: Everything from politics, to television, to how inaccurate Harry Potter was. , made me smile



Just when Willow is telling newTara about everything that happened after her Tara died (which takes some courage) she is going some stupid phonecall about some zombies ? Boooooooo. What was the problem with that (too short) pump scene anyway ? Looked fine to me, more W/T talking needed... lots more



Jay is going the DMW way a bit I see, she seems to be able to regain control for now though. Then again, so did Willow up until Tara's dead. Willow best not go anywhere near Jay at the moment, she's probably radiating dark magic at the moment. (and Willow is kinda hyper-sensitive to that)



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[hermitstull]

Grimmy-

Hey, more Pump on the way. And more Willow/Tara goodness. I'm a slow starter, I guess, because we're finally getting into the heart of the overall story, started in Do Your Best, getting Willow and Tara back together. The rest of Hell Bent and the yet to be titled part three of Do Your Best will have a lot more of our girls in it.



It seemed pretty typical Buffy and Scooby of me to have the gang interrupt something so important. I like Buffy, usually, but she does tend to be pretty much an one track kind of gal, always thinking of the job and how she fits into the job, everyone else be damned.



And yes, Jay is very much in the DMW vein, maybe a little more dark.



-----------------------------------------------------------



without further ado, I give you.....



Part 10c

Author's note:

Just a short conclusion to the events, say pre-midnight. The rest of the date and the set up for Jay's story in Part 11.









Willow sat, exhausted, in the booth of the Espresso Pump.



She had just finished telling Tara some of what had gone through her head in May. Some of the thoughts and feelings she hadn’t told anyone, not even the coven in England. She sat forward and rested her forehead in her hands, leaning her elbows on the table.



Through her bangs, she stole a look at Tara. she thought. Willow’s mind went silent.



Tara sat calmly looking at the top of Willow’s head. Some of what Willow had told her she knew from what the Wonder Twins had told her in Australia. Some she had from her own memories from the ghostly other Tara, who had lingered briefly in this dimension before moving on to the heavenly one she was now in.



Tara knew herself. She knew she needed to hear it from Willow to make her own decision about her future with the young woman seated before her. she thought.



Willow continued to sit with her head resting in the basket created by her hands. Tara though as her eyes softened and brimmed with tears.



“Willow,” Tara’s voice was soft. She reached a hand across the table and touched the end of Willow’s hair. “Willow,” she said again.



Willow slowly lifted her head, her wet green eyes reluctantly looking at Tara.



Tara moved her hand from Willow’s hair to caress her cheek. “Thank you. Thank you for telling me. It took a lot of courage to tell me what you did.”



“Yeah, well,” Willow tired to pull away, but Tara’s hand was like a magnet, holding her in place.



“It did. Power is a drug. And for you to step away from that sort of power is amazing in itself. You did some bad things, horrible things because of the power. And the grief and rage.”



“And this is goodbye?” Willow’s voice cracked.



“This is I forgive you.” Tara moved her caress from Willow’s cheek to her chin, pulling her forward slightly. “This is the pain isn’t over, but it will be.” Tara leaned forward, her eyes moving to Willow’s lips. “This is I want to be with you.”



Willow’s eyes widened, then closed as Tara’s lips brushed against hers. It was a soft kiss that spoke of a future that six months ago the red head never thought possible.



After a moment the pair pulled back, slightly dazed.



“Wow,” Willow managed after a minute or so.



“Oh yes,” Tara agreed. she thought.



Willow’s hand covered Tara’s on the table.



Tara smiled at Willow. “We’ve got a lot yet to do Willow, between us, but I do care for you and want to have a future with you.”



“And that’s not..” Willow began.



“This is me making my own choice. Yes, I feel the part of me that was this reality’s Tara, but what I feel for you is my own. I want you to know that. I can’t help but be drawn to you.”



“Good.” Willow smiled.



“But we’ve got a lot of stuff to do yet, Willow. Stuff that could tear us apart if we’re not careful.” Tara added almost cryptically.



“What sort of stuff?” Willow asked, feeling fear pushing it’s way into her senses yet again.



“Hey guys,” Xander’s voice stopped Tara’s reply.



Both women look up, startled, at their friend’s sudden appearance.



“Sorry to interrupt,” he began sheepishly. He could tell that something big was happening between Tara and Willow, and he hated to bring that to a screeching halt, but zombies were zombies. “But they’re Scoobiage afoot. Buff and Jay ran into some zombies tonight.”



“Where?” Willow asked. She noted how Tara had refused to let go of her hand when Xander had appeared.



“Just down the street from the new high school.” Xander explained. “Buffy sounded a little worried to me. She didn’t say it in so many words, but her tone of voice. Something freaked her out.”



“They’re just zombies,” Willow said, sliding out of the booth and gathering her coat. “They’re not even as feisty as vamps.”



“I don’t know, but there was something.” Xander said, leading them out of the café.



Tara lingered just a moment, leaving the money for their check on the table. Turning, she noticed a woman with short blonde hair watching her from outside. Squinting, Tara tried to get a good look at the woman’s face as she turned and headed out of view. Something seemed familiar about her but the Wicca couldn’t place it.



“Tara, are you okay?” Willow’s voice, concerned, pulled Tara’s attention from the window.



“Yeah, sorry.” Tara said, picking up her coat and heading for the door.









“My, my little Tara, how you’ve grown,” the short-haired blonde woman said from a dark doorway as she watched Tara and Willow get into the dark blue Mercedes. The boy pulled along side of the pair for a moment in some drab gray American car, then pulled out in front of Tara’s car.



The woman watched both cars head down the street. “And the company you keep. You’ve always had a fancy for the tortured ones haven’t you?” She smiled and stepped into the streetlight. Reaching for her cell phone, her green eyes scanned the caller id.



Selecting a number, she hit redial.



“It’s me. How did it go?” Pause “Excellent. I assume the Summers girl was disturbed by the display.” Another pause. “Good. It’s all coming together as we planned.”



“As who planned?” A smooth tenor said from behind the blonde.



“I have to go Mr. Rouse,” she said, rolling her eyes, “I have company.” She snapped the compact phone closed.



“Don’t roll your eyes at me, young lady,” Demetrious scolded. “If it wasn’t for me, you would have never gotten this second opportunity.”



Green eyes flashed with anger as she spun to face the hell god. “If it wasn’t for you, that bitch would still be roasting in your hell and I wouldn’t have to be wasting my time in this over rated town.”



“Daphne,” Demetrious’s voice was calm it held a hint of warning. “Let us not forget who you are dealing with here. Who helped lead you to Mr. Rouse all those years ago. He is a faithful servant whose talents aren’t normally shared with the likes of you. It’s our common goal that has allowed you to be ‘in the loop’ so to speak.”



“I have brought my own skills to the table here Demetrious,” Daphne replied hotly. “Do you think that you would have been able to get Jack to Kim so easily without my help? What about the spell? They were looking for you, not me.”



“True,” Demetrious headed toward the coffee shop. Daphne fell into step next to him. “You’re efforts will not go unrecognized in the end.”



“As long as I get what’s left of Jay and that pack of killers,” Daphne’s spat. “They will pay for what they did to my brother.”



The pair entered the Espresso Pump and sat at the same booth Willow and Tara had recently vacated.



“Can I help you,” a middle aged waitress asked. Her nametag identified her as Sally.



“Yes. Two triple espressos please,” Demetrious replied smiling.



Nodding, Sally moved away.



“You know, you just can’t get good coffee in hell,” he said, smiling at Daphne.







TBC....

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

I hope everyone is had a nice weekend, perhaps even a three day weekend with today's holiday. Without further ado, I give you.....





Part 11a

Author's Note:

Part 11 is rather long, so I've split it into two seperate parts. There's a tiny cliff hanger here, sort of. And angst all around.









Jay stood on the Summers’ back deck and looked up into the night sky. Sighing, she reached into the pocket of her jeans and grabbed her cell phone. She and Buffy were waiting the arrival of the rest of the gang, so there was time for a quick call.



After a few rings, Cleo answered.



“Any news Cleo?”



“Unfortunately no,” Cleo sounded tired. “We’ve been working on cracking the spell almost non stop for the last few days and nothing. How are you?”



“Just ran into some of Rouse’s best and brightest.” Jay said sarcastically.



“Great.” Cleo was pissed. “Billy Joe gave me an update as soon as his plane landed. I have a research team lead by Mr. Dean on it.”



“You’re young protégé,” Jay smiled. “Thanks, but this situation shouldn’t take too long to wrap up.”



“Jay, are you okay?”



“Did Billy Joe tell you we ran into Anya? Finally she spoke to us. It was nice. I’m trying to set up something with her for later in the week, vengeance permitting.”



“Jay! Stop. You don’t sound to good. What is going on?”



There was a silence.



“She’s here,” Cleo almost didn’t recognize Jay’s voice. It was so soft and full of sadness. And defeat.



“And I thought,” Jay’s voice became a little stronger, but still upset, “that after all this time I wouldn’t feel anything. And if I did, it would be hate or rage or something that would make it easy for me to do what I have to.” Jay took a shaky breath. “But I don’t. I feel scared, afraid.”



Buffy stopped at the kitchen door. She was on her way to tell Jay that everyone else was here and that they could start the meeting. Buffy could tell that Jay was on the phone and was upset. Her slayer hearing allowed her to fill in the gaps.



“And now. Now is the worst time of all. It’s out of control. I’m out of control. Every day, every fucking day I can feel the darkness, the dark power growing. The things I can do now Cleo, God, I couldn’t of imagined of a year ago. And it’s only going to get worse as we get closer…”



“I know,” Cleo cut Jay’s rant off. “Jay, I know.” She paused,

thinking. “I’m coming out there.”



“NO!” Jay shouted into the phone. Collecting herself, she continued, “No, don’t. I need to know Kim is okay. That you’re watching Kim.”



“Who’s watching you Jay? The slayer and her little gang?

They’re don’t even know. They can’t handle you if something happens.”



“They handled Willow. Besides nothing is going to happen.”



“Handled? I don’t think some Crayola speech will talk you down if you lose control Jay. You knew the Hellmouth would only make things worse, yet you’re there without anyone who can help you.”



“Tara can help me.”



“But she doesn’t know how, Jay. She’s not ready.” Cleo took a deep breath. “I’m coming out there.”



“Cleo don’t.” Jay’s tone filled with menace. Cleo couldn’t believe what she had just heard.



“Fine. I’ll stay here with Kim. But I’m calling you every few hours to check on you.”



Jay took a moment and collected herself, trying to wipe away tears before she had to go inside. She noticed Buffy standing in the shadows of the kitchen.



“Okay.” Jay agreed. “I’ve got to go. Call me in a few.” She snapped her cell phone shut.







In Chicago, Cleo was a near a panic mode as the stoic woman ever came. She quickly scrolled through the phone number list on her cell phone. Dialing the international number, she waited.



“Hello,” a groggy male voice answered.



“Lucas, it’s Cleo. I need your help. I need you to get to

Sunnydale ASAP. And bring Faith.”









Buffy watched warily as Jay entered the house. “What was that all about?” she asked.



Jay walked past her, ignoring the fighting stance the slayer had shifted into and the threat in her tone.



“Jay!” Buffy caught her before she left the kitchen.



“Let go of me,” Jay said calmly. Buffy felt the dark power roll off of her in waves, but she didn’t let go.



“Hey is everything okay in here?” Tara asked, Willow standing behind her. They had been sitting on the couch talking to Giles when they both felt it. The surge of power that had boomed from the kitchen, causing them to scramble up and investigate.



Buffy and Jay didn’t move. Buffy’s hand still locked on Jay’s arm, Jay’s head still turned back to look down at the slayer.



“Jay,” Tara said, stepping forward and touching the back of Jay’s neck. She could sense, as could Willow, the dark storm swirling around her friend. At her touch it seemed to calm a little.



“It’s okay,” Jay said, turning to look at her. “Buffy was just letting me know you guys were here.”



“Yeah,” Buffy said, letting go of Jay’s arm.



“Good.” Willow said, stepping back, pulling Tara with her.



Buffy and Jay walked past as if nothing had happened.



“What was that?” Willow asked Tara softly.



“Jay’s loosing control of her power.” Tara replied sadly. “The big day is coming.”



“Big day?” Willow asked unenthusiastically.



“When Jay travels to prime to dethrone Demetrious.” Tara replied.



“Great,” Willow said as they entered the living room. Willow and Tara sat back down on the couch next to Xander. Anya sat in a chair by the door, Giles on one near the fireplace. Buffy perched next to Willow on the arm of the couch.

Jay stood in the center of the room looking down at the floor.



“Am I the key, of friction and heart ache, and the pain is of no consequence, when I am hell bent, my walls are closing in, controlling me, controlling me, is losing me, you’re losing, control of me, control of me, you’re losing.” Jay’s voice broke the silence in the room.



She looked up, tired and sad. “Iantha said that in one of the poems she wrote after she escaped from prime. She was under lock and key at Council headquarters, which were in Rome during her time. It was when she was her most insane, or so that’s what the records say.” Jay paused. “I think. That part was in Latin, and it’s not one of my better languages.”



Jay stared off into space, sort of looking out the front window. “There’s more, of course. I’ve memorized everything she wrote after she came back. She’s the only one, the only one who could ever know what it’s like. To have been raised on sweetness and light, but to have it turn to the blackest of darks.”



Jay looked at Tara, locking her brown eyes with Tara’s blue. “I had thought that I had reached that low point several times previously in my life, but was I so wrong. First I thought it was when I had dabbled in dark magics as a teen. Then I thought when Devon was killed that ‘this is the worst time ever’. Then when I was sent to hell by the woman I loved, in that instant I thought, I’ll never face anything worse than this. But then the prophecy came along, and then I knew for sure, that I’ve hit the bottom. Now I know, that I’m at the worse place I could ever be. Tonight, on the street with Buffy I knew.”



“What did you know Jay?” Tara’s soft voice asked.



“That Demetrious has pushed me to the brink of insanity.” Jay paused, then added softly, “That if I have to face Daphne that I can’t kill her.”



“Who’s Daphne?” Xander asked. He looked at Anya, who looked away quickly.



“The woman who set Jay to hell.” Tara answered, bitterly.







TBC...

Author's endnote:

Iantha's poetry which Jay quotes is actually the opening lyrics to the song "Hell Bent" by Kenna.

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[MissQuirky]

As you can tell i'm a lil late for the party that is this great story and I'll surely have to kick myself for not reading this sooner, but i'm all caught up with it now! I really enjoyed it, the whole idea you've made is really interesting. There's a lot happening and it sounds like there's trouble ahead w/ Demetrious and this Daphne chick! But i'm lookin forward to it all unfolding.



I'm glad Tara and Willow are gonna try and work things out. Their coffee date went well, and i can tell that they talked some things out, which definitely needed to be done. But yet they still have "stuff" to work out... and if Xander didn't have such bad timing they could be workin on that "stuff". But duty calls, right?



And just for the record this happenend a while ago in the fic but i just had to respond on Jonathan and Anya getting married with the whole traditional blood worms and burlap, just the thought of it made me crack the hell up!



But anyhoo i Love the fic, can't wait 2 read more!

~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

[hermitstull]

MissQ-

Thank you for taking the time and getting into this tale. Things should (hopefully) be moving along pretty well soon on all fronts: Willow/Tara goodness and with Jay's storyline.



And Anya and Jonathan, what a pair! Part of me would have like to see a more "traditional" wedding on the show, oh well. It was good as it was.





Without further ado, I give you....



Part 11b

Under the weather in a big way, so updates might be a little slow for a little while.



Author's note:

We finally get a little glipse of what happened to Jay in a flahsback. (I'm saving the details for the big finish.)



Towards the end of this section, there is a part which sums up, to me, what made Willow and Tara special as a couple. I've watched the show from the first ep, and still do, but theirs is still one of the greatest relationships, straight or gay, on the small screen. It's the little things that speak volumes.







1994



“Tara,” Cleo said, sitting down next to the eleven year old on the steps of her house. “There’s something we need to tell you.”



Tara looked from Cleo to Billy Joe. “It’s about Jay.” She said, not asked. “Something’s wrong.”



Cleo and Billy Joe exchanged pained looks.



“Tell her,” Mrs. MaClay’s voice was soft but firm from behind the screen door. She had just gotten the news herself. “She knows the old ways. Tell her the truth.”



Tara shivered, but not because of how cold it was outside. Her mother only used that tone of voice when something was wrong, really wrong, in the Otherworld, as she liked to call it. The world that had taken Jack and Jason away from Jay when Tara was very young.



“Jay’s dead,” Tara said flatly.



“No, Jay’s not dead,” Billy Joe answered. “She’s lost.”



“Where? Why can’t you find her?”



“We’re not exactly sure where she is champ,” Cleo replied.



“Or when.” Billy Joe added.



Tara gave Cleo a hard look. “Tell me Cleo.”



The older woman sighed. “You remember Daphne? The woman that Jay was going to be bonded to?”



“Yeah,” Tara replied, warily. “Jay asked me to speak for her at the bonding. We talked about it a while ago.” She looked at Cleo questioningly. “Did they break up?”



“Yes,” Billy Joe replied angrily.



Tara was about to ask Billy Joe about it when Cleo continued. “We were at a party. A big party a few days ago. A celebration party for the bonding. Daphne gave a speech about Jay and how they met. At first her speech was sweet, but then it changed and became ugly. Daphne didn’t really love Jay, she had used her to get close to her and us.”



“Oh no,” Tara’s heart went out to Jay. “Why?”



“She wanted revenge. Daphne thought that Jay was responsible for her brother Devon’s death. So her revenge was to use magic and send Jay away.”



“To where?” Tara asked, aghast.



“To some hell dimension.” Billy Joe spat. “We’re not sure which one.”



“But you can find her, can’t you?” Tara pleaded. “I know you have powers like mama and me, I know you can find her.”



“We’re doing our best,” Cleo put and arm around Tara. “No one wants to find her more than Billy Joe and I but it’s tough. There are thousands of hell dimensions out there and we’ll have to check each one.”



Tara choked at the thought. Jay was tough, but it could take lifetimes to look in each and every hell known hell dimension. Jay could be dead long before they even came close to finding her. Dead or worse.



Tara started to sob. Cleo hugged her closer and Billy Joe ran his hand over her head.



“We’ll find her Tara,” Billy Joe said. “I swear to you that we will.”







2002



“And that’s just what they told me,” Tara said, finishing. “I still don’t know all the details of how it happened, or why Daphne blames Jay for her brother’s death.” She looked pointedly at Jay. “All I got was updates until suddenly one day, four years later, Jay knocked on my door.”



“It really was a good speech,” Anya said. Heads swiveled at her voice. “ Daphne's. I was there. It really was. And a shocker at the end, believe me. It’s not easy to send someone to hell like that, unless you’re a vengeance demon.”



“It was a shock to me too,” Jay said, laughing weakly. “I don’t know why no one ever checked. Devon was killed on one of our biggest missions in the early days of the team. Killed by the zombie master Bob in Africa. He had asked to be assigned to an active team by the clans and not wait for one of his own. It happened to be ours.”



“So little brother gets killed on your watch, so big sis is all about payback,” Buffy said.



“Pretty much. No one ever checked Devon’s family history. At least no one from my team. We never knew he had an older sister who was, at the time, the top rogue slayer the clans had, Daphne.”



“She was devastated,” Anya said. “I remember. She told me that her brother had been killed at that he was the only family she had ever known. The only person she had ever really loved.”



“It was sometime later that she learned that Bob had an apprentice, known only as Mr. Rouse. It takes some power to create and control zombies, so Daphne sought him out and they teamed up. She figured that he would be willing to help her get me back for killing Bob.”



“So Mr. Rouse and Daphne are in cahoots,” Xander said. “They’re somewhere here in Sunnydale. We can find these guys and take them out.”



“Zombies aren’t vampires,” Buffy said to Xander. “They’re a lot harder to kill.”



“And they’re this,” Jay said. She went over to the coffee table and picked up a piece of paper and a pen. “I saw it cut into the back of each zombie’s hand tonight.”



The gang watched as she drew the pagan symbol on the paper.



Tara, Giles, and Anya sucked in a breath.



“What?” Buffy asked.



“That’s the mark of a hell god,” Anya said.



“Yes. It the ancient mark of the ruler of prime.” Giles clarified.



“Demetrious is here.” Jay said standing. “Or at least his power and support it. Daphne and Mr. Rouse are working for him.”



“His plan,” Willow said suddenly remembering. “When we were at Max’s club. He said he had a plan so that he could drive you insane and force you to prime.”



“Once there, he could use my insanity to drain my power and help him keep his. I’d never even try to stand against him because I wouldn’t know how.” Jay followed Willow’s train of thought. “I knew that this was a possibility, but I’m not as prepared for it as I’d like to be.”



“Then we just have to help you then,” Xander said. “We’ve been through this sort of thing before.” His eyes glanced at Willow at the other end of the couch.



“It’s not that simple,” Jay said. “I’ve had years of training to learn to control my power, but it’s too much. It starting to overwhelm all of my mental barriers, all of my controls, feeding on my emotions. Daphne knew that my relationship with Kim helped to keep me centered. Without her helping me, my power has accelerated, while my ability to handle it hasn’t.”



“Is Kim some sort of witch?” Anya asked.



“No.” Jay whispered.



“The power of love,” Tara said. “Sometimes it needs more than just the theory behind it to make it work.”



“You mean sex?” Anya asked.



“Not necessarily,” Tara replied, blushing a little. She looked at Jay, “Sometimes you need the day to day intimacies that true love can bring. The little moments that aren’t earth shattering, but are reaffirming, comforting. The actual relationship part of being together. They help keep you calm, centered.”



“Like when you and Willow split up the first time,” Buffy said, “and she went a little crazy with Amy.”



“Sort of, yeah.” Tara looked at Willow who nodded slightly.



“So,” Giles summarized for the group. “Jay’s power is surging. That coupled with the stress of Kim being in the hospital, and the loss of her physical and spiritual presence in Jay’s life has led us here.” The watcher looked at the dark haired woman who stood before them. “Jay, full of dark power and almost unable to control it.”



The demon fighter nodded and looked at the floor once again.



“And the added bonus,” Jay said, not looking up, “the big day is approaching. The appointed day for me to enter prime and make my play for power.”



“Ah,” Xander added. “The ever important day of reckoning. Soon, I’m assuming.”



“It falls within the month,” Jay answered.



“And the fun just keeps on leaving,” Xander looked at

Buffy. “So what’s the plan?”



“We find Daphne and Mr. Rouse and take them down.” The slayer replied. “Even without Jay, the whole zombie thing is still a slayer sort of problem.”



“Agreed.” Giles shifted in his chair. “We can research a way to strip Mr. Rouse of his power over these zombies. With them, and him, incapacitated, it should be easier for Buffy to face Daphne.”



“She won’t stand a chance,” Jay said. “Daphne, though not a magical heavy hitter, still has a good amount of power. And that’s on top of her slayer like abilities.” Jay gave a dry chuckle. “The clans thought that she was the one, the descendent of Iantha at one time.” She laughed again. “Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think.” Jay mumbled.



“So I’ll go in with some witchy back up,” Buffy looked at Tara and Willow.



“You’ll do no such thing.”



Everyone’s head whipped around towards the door. Lucas stood, in another flattering Armani suit, this time in a dark blue, next to Faith in her typical leather outfit.



“Lucas,” Jay grinned slightly at the sight of her friend.



“And Faith, how swell,” Xander added unhappily.



“What up,” the dark slayer greeted.



“So Cleo called,” Jay stated, her tone neutral.



“Yes, and just in time I see,” Lucas read Jay’s fragmented and dark aura. “You are heading for a very dangerous place Jay.” His tone was serious.



“And we’re here to help you out of it,” Faith added cheerfully.



“Great,” Willow said sarcastically under her breath. “Slut bomb to the rescue.”





TBC....

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2

[MissQuirky]

Great update!! Some action is ahead, i can't wait! Hopefully they can track em and kick Daphne and Mr. Rouse's asses!! And with Lucas and Faith's help they'll have a better chance. I like how Willow still has a lil hate left in her towards Faith. Can't wait 4 more!



~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

[hermitstull]

MissQ-

Here's a little more action for ya!







Hey all-

Well after a day and a half in bed, I feel much better, so in honor of my returning health, here's the next part of Hell Bent. (Which is actually turning out to be much longer than I originally anticipated. Stupid muse, being all musey and stuff.)



Anyway, without further ado, I give you...





Part 12a

Author's note:

This is sort of a split screen part. The first three sections happen during the same afternoon. The last two parts happen latter tha same day. (Disco music not included )

And another part that is split into a and b. No cliffhanger.







“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Willow asked Jay. “I know that last night took a lot out of you,”



“No,” Jay voice was firm. She looked over at her young charge, “No, I’m okay. Really. Getting all of that off my chest has helped me to clear my head a little and focus more.”



Willow and Jay were about fifteen miles outside of Sunnydale on a property originally settled by a member of Jay’s clan. One of her many distant cousins still owned the land, even though he worked as an agent in Hollywood. Jay took a few steps forward and surveyed the large field they stood in. It was a bright and comfortable fall afternoon. The field was wide and rolling, more like something you might find in Nebraska, not California. A few trees were scattered in clumps along the pair’s field of view. Calf length grass danced as a light breeze carried just a hint of the ocean from the west.



“I need to show you this,” Jay stopped and faced Willow. “You’ll need this skill in days to come.”



“Okay,” Willow replied unsure. “But levitating objects is pretty basic stuff. I could do that in high school.”



“That’s a start,” Jay said, laying out three of her swords on the ground. “But it’s not enough to get them off the ground, Willow. You need to be able to direct their movement, independently, while striking with power and precision.” The older woman looked to a fence about one hundred yards away.



“See that fence over there?”



“Yeah,” Willow looked across the waving grass to the remnants of a fence in the distance.



Jay turned and looked at Willow. “Fourth post on the right.”



In a flash, all three swords zipped across the field and struck the fourth post on the right of the line. Jay stepped next to Willow and turned back around to look at her handy work.



“Can you do that?” She asked, looked at Willow.



“Um,” Willow replied, biting her lip.



------------------------------------------------------------





“The Twins said to tell you hello,” Lucas said, sipping his tea and looking at Tara.



The blonde smiled. “How are they doing?”



“Fine, fine,” Lucas set down his cup. The pair was seated in the Magic Box, taking a break from training. “They do miss you terribly.”



“I miss them too.” Tara agreed, sipping her tea. “But I was needed here.”



“Yes,” Lucas paused, thinking. “I see that you and Willow have come to an understanding.”



“Yes we have,” Tara smiled. “I’m drawn to her Lucas, like nothing ever before. The Willow I knew, she didn’t have the same spark that this Willow does. Funny how things can be so much the same, yet so different at the same time.”



“Ah dichotomy,” Lucas agreed. “But I’m glad that you have found potential happiness in this reality.”



“I am too,” Tara agreed.



“I must tell you Tara, that Cleo and I have talked. We have decided to change the plan.”



“Plan?” Tara’s spirits fell. “Cleo only told me that she had several plans in the works.”



“Yes, and this is one of them.” Lucas leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Once this business with Daphne and Mr. Rouse is done, we’ll need to begin this course of action. Both you and Willow.”



Tara thought as Lucas began.



------------------------------------------------------------



“Much better,” Jay said, watching Willow control the three

swords at once. In a surprisingly short amount of time, the young witch had gained control over the flight patterns of the three weapons.



“Yeah,” Willow replied, watching as the steel danced in the sunlight.



“Especially considering the binding spell the coven placed on you is still holding,” Jay added.



“Oh that,” Willow said, taking her eyes of the swords, but not losing control. “They told me that I’d still have some basic powers, but I wouldn’t be able to access all of it. It’s better this way I suppose. Magic is a part of me, but it doesn’t have to define who I am.”



“What if I told you,” Jay began cautiously, “that you’ll need all that power in the days to come?”



“What?” Willow spun and looked at Jay, shocked. The swords clattered to the Earth on near the fence.



“Yes,” Jay didn’t look at Willow. Instead she focused on her weapons in the distance. They began to float much as sea birds do on the ocean winds. “At the appointed time, I’ll need you to channel all of that power, plus more into me.”



“Okay,” Willow crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m gonna need just a little more that the vague, cryptic speak that you and your clan pals are so fond of before I can give my thumbs up or down on any unleashing of Earth destroying powers, especially on someone who I kind of like in a totally platonic way.”



Jay chuckled, despite the seriousness of the situation, and told Willow the plan.



------------------------------------------------------------





Several hours later, there was a knock on Xander’s door. “I got it,” he called to Tara, who moved to stand in the doorway of the guest room.



“Hey Will,” he greeted. “What’s up?”



“Hey,” she greeted her friend, “is Tara around?”



“Sure,” Xander stepped back and let his lifetime pal into his apartment.



At the sight of the red head, Tara smiled and stepped into the living room.



“Hey sweetie,” Tara greeted, hold out her hand.



“Hey,” Willow took the offered hand, entwining her fingers with the blondes. “Can I talk to you?”



Tara looked at Willow closely. “You heard.”



“Yeah, Jay told me.”



The pair disappeared into Tara’s room, shutting the door behind them.



“Hey if you need anything I’ll be out here watching ESPN,” Xander called to the shut door.







Tara sat down on the bed, pulling a somewhat reluctant Willow down next to her. For a few moments, neither woman spoke, only holding hands.



“So,” Willow began nervously.



“Yeah,” Tara replied, just as nervous.



A few more minutes passed, neither girl speaking, both lost in thought.



“I want you to know that no matter what I won’t let anything happen to you,” Willow said suddenly. She turned and looked at Tara. “Despite where we have to go, I won’t let the darkness take me again.”



“I know,” Tara replied. With her free hand, she touched Willow’s cheek. “I believe you.”



“Good,” Willow replied, leaning into Tara’s caress.



“And I’ll protect you,” Tara said, enjoying the feel of Willow’s skin on both of her hands. “There’s a reason that we were chosen for this.”



“I know. The whole darkness and light thing. Jay told me.”



“It’s more than that Willow. We’re the only ones who could handle it. At least that’s what I think.”



“What makes you say that?”



“Well for one, Jay’s going to be farther down the path to insanity. Plus she’ll already be in prime by that time.”



“True,” Willow nodded.



“We’ve got the experience with other realities.”



“You do for sure.” Willow smiled at Tara.



“And you too. I haven’t forgot the story you told me about the vampire you in your senior year.”



“But that was just the once,” Willow began.



“Once is enough,” Tara stopped Willow’s sentence by touching her thumb to the other girl’s lips. Willow began to kiss the digit.



“And um,” Tara suddenly found it difficult to think. “The rest of the team will be with Jay. Demetrious would get suspicious if they weren’t.”



“Mmm, hmm,” Willow agreed, sucking Tara’s thumb lightly.



“Oh Willow,” Tara replaced her finger with her lips.



After more minutes passed, they separated, content with just kissing for now. Both knew they weren’t ready to take the next step. Not until their renewed relationship was on more solid footing.



“Whew,” Willow said, fanning herself. “What were we talking about before?”



“Us. Going to the vampire filled, demon infested reality next to this one,” Tara said, pulling her shirt back into a more normal position.



“Oh yeah,” Willow quickly remembered. “But first we have to help Jay and Buffy take care of this Daphne stank and her zombie wielding henchman.”



------------------------------------------------------------





“This is the place the guy in that demon bar was talking about,” Buffy said to Faith. The pair of slayers had spent the night shaking the demon gossip tree for any info on the new players in town.



“Good as place as any to set up a zombie workshop,” Faith agreed. To the casual observer, it looked like on of the many anonymous abandoned warehouses that filled Sunnydale. Two stories of red brick, shattered or boarded up windows, a rickety fence surrounding it, vainly attempting to keep various Sunnydale residents out.



“Same old Sunnydale,” Faith said, looked at Buffy.



“Not quite,” Buffy said, stepping through a large hole in the chain link fence. “Let’s just do a little recon.” She stopped, allowing Faith to catch up. “Got it?” Buffy gave the dark slayer a pointed look.



“Yeah, I got it,” Faith replied. “Just a quick look see around and report back to HQ. No big.”



The pair moved quickly and silently across the broken and jagged parking lot. Buffy, utilizing her slayer strength forced open a side door. Looking around in the dim illumination provided by the streetlights outside, neither girl saw anything out of the ordinary.



“Uh,” Faith waved her hand in front of her face. “What is that smell?”



“Something bad,” Buffy whispered.



“Definitely,” Faith agreed. Pointing to an unstable looking stairway in front of them, the dark slayer led them upstairs.



“And getting badder,” Buffy said from behind Faith, as the stench increased.



“Oh yeah,” Faith agreed as her eyes started to water.



The pair reached the top of the stairs that led them to what looked to once be some sort of office. After a moment of looking, they realized that no one was home at the moment.

Faith spotted a light switch on the far wall. After a nod from Buffy, she walked over and flipped it on.



“God!” Faith gasped.



The office was larger than originally thought and was filled with rotting body parts. On the desk looked to be several magic books and various spell ingredients.



“Lets just grab the books and get out of here. I think we’ve found our place.” Buffy gasped and suppressed her nausea.



Quickly, the slayers took as much as they could carry off the desk. Faith turned off the light and the pair hurried down the stairs. Buffy and Faith dashed outside and into the night, not stopping until they were several blocks away from the zombie factory.



“That was,” Faith began, as the pair sat down on the curb.



“There’s not a word to describe that,” Buffy cut her off.



“And Jay deals with that kind of shit all the time,” Faith continued. “They’ve only let me see a little bit of the business they do.”



“I can see why sanity could become an issue,” Buffy inhaled deeply, trying to dissipate the smell of decaying flesh from her nostrils.



“And just wait B, it’s gonna get even better,” Faith said sarcastically.



“What do you mean?” Buffy asked, concerned.



“I overheard Lucas talking to one of Jay’s team mates in Chicago, Cleo, the one in charge, today. They were talking about the plan.”



“What plan?” Buffy didn’t like were this was heading.



“The plan where you and I stay here and kick some major demon ass while Jay and her pals visit hell.”



“Okay.”



“And where Tara and Willow get to visit a reality dominated by vampires and demons. Something about finding the,” Faith snorted, “solution.”







TBC...

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2



"I am an opera singer, I stand on painted tape, it tells me where I'm going, and where to throw my cape..." Opera Singer by Cake

[MissQuirky]

K ya have my full attention now... this demon reality that Willow and Tara are gonna have to go to i'm not so sure about, or the fact that Jay and others will have to go into hell... lookin forward to more coz i definitely wanna read more! And W/T smoochies... awwwwww!!!



~Ashley~

Willow: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.

Tara: I said quirky.

[hermitstull]

Hey all-

Here's the short wrap up of part 12. Part 13 will be up later this week-

thanks for reading!





Part 12b

Author's note:

This is the end of the same night started in part 12a, just even later. (Everyone's a night owl in this story )







“It never fails to impress me, how different the Pacific is on this side of the world,” Lucas said to Jay.



“It’s all in your perspective, Lucas,” Jay replied. She looked over at her old friend. “You taught me that.”



“I did, didn’t I,” Lucas grinned, looking out over the ocean. He leaned back onto Jay’s Mercedes, studying someone he’d know for almost two decades.



Jay stepped away from the car and towards the long empty stretch of beach. Being just a few miles away from Sunnydale didn’t make this a safe nighttime location for moonlit strolls. But for one of the most feared demon fighters in the world and one of the most powerful warlocks in generations, it was as safe as noon on Sunday.



“And what of your perspective,” Lucas asked, causing Jay to stop.



“It’s just a word with no meaning, Lucas,” Jay replied. “I lost it a long time ago.” She turned at looked at the fine English gentleman before her. “I can’t get behind this plan.”



“You don’t have a choice Jay, or the objectivity.”



“I don’t want to see innocents hurt for the likes of me.” She turned away. “Maybe I should just accept my place in hell and be done with it.”



“That still may be the outcome,” Lucas pushed himself off the car and moved towards his friend. “But I swore to myself that I would try to save you.”



Jay gave a dry chuckle. “Lucas, you swore that thirty years ago before you knew the identity of the person in the prophecy. You probably said the same thing to Daphne fifteen years ago.”



“It matters more to me now, Jay, knowing that I’m trying to save you.”



“And what of the others? Billy Joe, Cleo, and the rest of the team. What about Buffy and her gang? Or your own Faith.” Jay stepped away from Lucas and looked across the darkened sea. “And what about Willow and Tara? What about the plan for them, now and after?”



“After is,” Lucas paused, “After. As for the now, they agreed to help us, to join the clans and work with us to fight evil. We all know the risks of what can happen. Just as you do, just as Devon did, and Daphne.”



Jay sighed and shook her head. “I’m so tired, Lucas, so tired of all of this,” she waved her hands. “Since my return from prime, the prophecy and pain have been my life. I’m ready for it to stop. I want to be the real me.”



Lucas moved again and stood next to Jay. He reached out and pulled the reluctant woman into a hug.



“Soon my friend.” Lucas hugged tighter and felt Jay’s arms move to encircle him, hugging him back.



Jay’s distinctive cell phone ring cut the moment of comfort short. Releasing Lucas, Jay stepped back and reached for the phone inside of the light coat she was wearing. She glanced down at the number and flipped open the phone.



“Any news?” she asked.



Lucas watched as the emotions played across Jay’s face as she listened to the voice on the other end. At one point, he feared for the phone as Jay’s grip on it intensified. Jay pulled the phone away from her ear, as if it stung like a wasp.



Collecting herself quickly, she returned the phone to her head and listened again.



Lucas had heard Cleo’s shouts coming from the phone when Jay had pulled the cell away from her head. Something was happening in Chicago.



“No. Stay there.” Jay finally said. “Send someone else if you need to, but you and Billy Joe stay there. The answer has to be close.”



Lucas felt the vibration of his own cell phone in his shirt pocket. He pulled it out, not intending to answer it, but Faith’s name next to 911, changed his mind quickly.



“Yes Faith,” he greeted. “Hold on one moment would you please.” Lucas returned his attention to Jay, who was ending her conversation with Cleo.



“What’s happened?” he asked.



“There was an attack on the team,” Jay answered, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Everyone’s okay, but they destroyed my club.”



“Is Kim?”



“She’s fine.” Jay replied. She could hear Faith shouting on the other end of Lucas’s cell phone. “In fact, Cleo thinks they’ve come up with a way to break the spell. That’s probably why the team was attacked.” She looked at the phone it Lucas’s hand.



“Don’t you think you should talk to her?”



Lucas placed the phone to his ear, “Yes Faith. Sorry, do go ahead.” After a few minutes, “Excellent work. No, do nothing more tonight. Go home and get some rest. We will all meet tomorrow and come up with a course of action.”



Lucas ended his call. “Faith and Buffy have found Mr. Rouse’s zombie workshop.”



“Good.” Jay nodded. “We can end this. One way or another.”





------------------------------------------------------------





Tara looked over at the red numbers on her digital alarm clock. she thought. She looked down at Willow, who was wrapped around her, using the blonde as a pillow.



“So beautiful,” she whispered, kissing the top of the other woman’s head.



“No, you,” Willow mumbled, looking up at Tara with sleepy eyes. “Hey,” she smiled. “How long have we been asleep?”



“A few hours,” Tara looked back at the clock. “It’s a little past midnight.”



“The witching hour,” Willow teased, letting her hands wander a bit.



Tara smiled, reveling in Willow’s touch. “We should get up. Xander told me before you got here that Buffy and Faith were going out zombie hunting tonight.”



“I suppose,” Willow agreed, slowing, but not stopping the movement of her hands. “But it’s hard. I never thought I’d get this feeling again.”



“Your hand on my butt?” Tara asked, teasing.



“Well, there is that,” Willow grinned, “but I was thinking of the feeling of being with you. Waking up with you, more specifically.”



“It is nice, I must admit,” Tara agreed. “Waking up with you, that is.” She added quickly.



“You know, you’re right,” Willow said, moving her hands to touch Tara’s face and hair.



“About what?”



“About what you said at Buffy’s last night. About the little intimacies of a relationship. They really are special.”



“I like to think so,” Tara pulled Willow a little closer.



“It what made us so great together,” Willow continued. “Just sitting by you in a Scooby meeting, leaning against you, or holding your hand. Walking with you across campus, talking about class. Making pancakes for Dawn. I missed those things so much while you were gone.”



“I never had that, in my world before,” Tara stroked Willow’s head. “I wasn’t a nun, that’s for sure,” Tara blushed a little, “but I never had a relationship based on more than the passionate side of love. It was almost like too much sugar. The high can be great,”



“But after the rush can stink,” Willow finished, understanding.



“I have a little confession to make,” Tara said, slightly embarrassed.



“What?” Willow asked, curious.



“I already told you about how the Willow I knew and I never got together for more than anything other than spells. She was just a friend.” Tara began.



“Right,” Willow drawled.



“Well,” Tara paused. “I have to admit, I always had a little crush on her.”



“That’s good,” Willow replied, slightly confused. “I mean that, hey, good for me right? Since I’m the gay one and all.”



“Yes, definitely very good.” Tara agreed too quickly.



“There’s something more,” Willow pushed a little.



“One night, it was right before everyone left for college, our gang was at Kendra’s house, watching movies, and having a little too much to drink.”



“Under age drinking,” Willow teased, “naughty Tara.”



“Yes, well,” she paused. “Anyway, Anya proposed a game of Truth or Dare. Everyone agreed, since we were all a bit tipsy.”



“Who is this everyone?”



“Well, me,” Tara paused thinking, “Anya, Kendra, Jonathan, the core gang,” Tara explained. “And those who helped us our from time to time, Willow, Oz, Xander, and Larry.”



“Larry?” Willow was surprised.



“He was going out with Xander at the time,” Tara explained. “And helped us out a ton with the Mayor.”



“Okay,” Willow was a little weirded out.



“Anyway, we’d been playing for awhile and it came to Xander’s turn. He dared Willow to kiss me.”



“Really,” Willow was intrigued.



“Yeah, so,” Tara paused and blushed more. “She did.”



“And?”



“It was,” Tara searched for the words to describe it. “It was one of those, maybe next life time kind of things.”



Willow just looked at her, wanting more of an explanation.



“She was straight, definitely no doubt of that. She and Oz were still together the last I heard. But there was something, a tiny little bit of potential there. I could tell, so could she. But neither one of us would have ever acted on it. But if the circumstances had been different, say like in this reality,” Tara paused. “then possibly, maybe.”



“Wow,” was all Willow could say.



“And Whistler did say that we usually are together,” Tara added. “But I guess he meant just in this world.”



“It’s the only one that matters,” Willow said, moving up Tara’s body. “To me.” She leaned in and kissed her love.



A light knocking on the door ended the kiss. “Guys?” Xander’s voice asked.



“We’re up,” Tara called, sitting up a little, but not releasing Willow.



“Good,” Xander said, slowing opening the door and looking in. He smiled when he saw the pair cuddled up on the bed, looking sleepy and happy.



“Buffy just called. She and Faith found the zombie hideout. There’s going to be a meeting tomorrow in the am.” Xander smiled again.



“Okay,” Willow looked up from her Tara pillow. “Anything else?”



“No.” Xander turned to go, then stopped and opened the door wider. “Yes.” He took in a sight he’d never imaged witnessing again. “It warms my heart to see you both together.”



“Thanks,” Tara smiled up at the young man.



“Anyway, I’ll let you get back to sleep. Oh and Willow,” Xander paused again. “Buffy’s bringing an overnight bag by, just in case you plan on a sleepover. She feels bad for ending your date early the other night.”



“Good,” Willow grinned. “And what about your penance?”



“Don’t worry sweetie,” Tara answered. “He and I have something worked out.”



“Indeed we do,” Xander agreed. “Well, I’m going to bed as soon as Buffy drops that off. Good night.” Xander stepped back and closed the door.



“Nite,” Tara called. She looked down at Willow. “Will you stay?”



“Always,” Willow replied, leaning in for another kiss.



------------------------------------------------------------





Across town, Daphne and Mr. Rouse assessed the damage caused by the two slayers.



“I’m a fountain of black in the shape of a girl, you’re the bird on the brim, hypnotized by the whirl, drink me, make me feel real, wet you beak in the stream, game we’re playing is life,” Daphne sang as she looked over the empty desk.



“Poetry?” Mr. Rouse asked.



“Lyrics.” Daphne replied. She looked over at the shorter man. “So what they took?”



“Is exactly as planned,” Mr. Rouse replied, looking up at the beautiful blonde standing next to him. “How long?”



“Probably a couple of days, at least, not more than a week,” she answered. “The slayers will want to get this over with sooner, but Lucas and Jay will vote later.”



“And the slayers will listen?” Mr. Rouse was surprised by Daphne’s assessment.



“I think they will,” Daphne sat down on the edge of the desk. “And that will give us time to build. You can still do that, can’t you?”



“In this town,” Mr. Rouse chuckled, “nothing is impossible. I can’t believe it took me so long to find it.”



“Good,” Daphne replied. “As soon as this business with Jay and her wacky pals is through, we can move on to bigger and better things.”



“Hell on Earth,” Mr. Rouse grinned.



“Hallelujah, vengeance is mine.” Daphne smiled darkly.







TBC...

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2



"I am an opera singer, I stand on painted tape, it tells me where I'm going, and where to throw my cape..." Opera Singer by Cake

[Grimlock72]

Hmm... not sure I like Lucas all that much, me thinks he's not telling the scoobies all he knows or plans to do.

Quote:

---

“And what about Willow and Tara? What about the plan for them, now and after?”



“After is,” Lucas paused, “After. As for the now, they agreed to help us, to join the clans and work with us to fight evil. We all know the risks of what can happen. Just as you do, just as Devon did, and Daphne.”

---

Which puts that quote into a different light. Now I might be paranoid, but I'm fairly sure he has something planned for Willow and Tara which they don't know about and probably wont like (otherwise why not tell them). He no doubt thinks he's doing it for some higher purpose or greater good or such crap.... or just to save Jay, which he seems awfully fixated with. (_The Gift_ anyone ?)



Since Jay seems to be destined to become ruler of prime, I fail to see the point of (trying to) safe her. Safe her from WHAT exactly, her destiny ? Bit confusing this...



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[hermitstull]

Miss Q-

More of the plan will be revealed as Hell Bent moves towards it's conclusion. The actual travel won't occur until the third part of the Do Your Best trilogy (which I still don't have a title for.)





Grimmy-

I see your Hmm with one of my own. I can't say too much becasue some of your questions/obervations will be explained in upcoming parts.



Lucas is personally fixiated on Jay because they are friends and he cares about her, but there is more to it than that. I suppose that it is a little reminiscent of 'The Gift' and the role Giles plays in that episode.



Lucas, just like all of my characters do fight for good, but aren't neccessarily so good themselves. They have sort of a bad reputation. And there are plans for both Willow and Tara that will be explained in the posts to come. It will be both good and bad, that's all I can say without spoiling it too much.





And the future for Willow and Tara....they will be together and will be happy with being together, that's for sure. But will it be an easy road?





thanks for reading-

hermitstull

"...and if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice, through the dark turns and noise of this wicked little town..."--Hedwig and the Angry Inch



"Stinky herbs are a go." Cordelia in Becoming pt. 2



"I am an opera singer, I stand on painted tape, it tells me where I'm going, and where to throw my cape..." Opera Singer by Cake

Edited by: hermitstull at: 11/19/02 4:46:26 pm