Rating:PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.
Part 18
Willow sat in the emegency room dangling her feet over the edge of the doctor's table. She was furious that they wouldn't let her stay with Tara while she was treated. Instead the hospital insisted that she have her injuries looked at. She was waiting for the doctor to return with the X-rays of her left wrist. She didn't care that it might be broken, because it was all worth it knowing that she still had Tara. She wished she could have absorbed more of the blows for her. Willow was assuming they would admit Tara to the hospital because of her ribs, but she didn't know and it was killing her.
"What is taking so damn long?" Willow asked out loud to no one.
"And I was just gonna ask how you were doing," Buffy said coming into the exam room.
"I'm fine. How's Tara? You didn't leave her alone did you? She doesn't like to be left alone," Willow said.
"No, Will, she's fine. My mom and Dawn are with her. They're gonna keep her here over night," Buffy said. "I'm here to take you to her when you're finished. She's been asking for you."
"Let's go," Willow said jumping off the table.
"You're not done yet," Buffy said stopping Willow.
"I don' t care. If Tara wants me, I'm going to her," Willow said breaking free from Buffy. Just as she reached the door, the doctor came through.
"Where do you think you're going?" The doctor asked stopping Willow. "We have to put a cast on that wrist."
"We can do it later. I have to go," Willow said trying to move past the doctor.
"Will, come on. Let the man do his job. Tara's gonna want you all fixed up when she sees you. The more you cooperate, the faster it will go," Buffy said trying to talk some sense into her best friend.
"Fine, but this better not take long," Willow said jumping back up onto the table.
"How are you feeling?" Giles asked coming into Tara's room, giving Dawn and Joyce a break.
"Where's Willow?" Tara needed to see her. They had separated them as soon as they arrived at the hospital, despite their protests. She wanted to know that Willow was okay, and that Donnie hadn't hurt her.
"She's still getting patched up," Giles said.
"Is she okay?" Tara asked her voice barely above a whisper. She was almost afraid to ask the question.
"Yes, I believe it's just her wrist that got damaged. She should be here shortly," Giles said. "That was quite a speech she gave. How long have you been engaged?"
"About a month," Tara said. "Are you upset that we didn't tell you?"
"No, that is, unless I was the last to know," Giles said smiling at her. He had grown quite fond of her since their first meeting at the barbecue. They had numerous discussions about the magickal texts she had.
"No, we weren't sure when we were going to tell everyone," Tara said. "How long have you been seeing Mrs. Summers?"
"What? Well. How did you know?"
"I'm a people reader," Tara said. "So how long?"
"There was an incident with candy, when Buffy and Willow were seniors in high school, I'm not sure if Willow told you. It's been since then. I guess that makes it over a year."
"Yes, I was informed about the band candy," Tara said giggling. "How you guys don't tell Buffy and Dawn?"
"I'm not sure they're ready to hear it," Giles said.
"Tara," Willow said rushing into the room.
"I'll leave you two alone," Giles said standing up and exiting the room.
"Your arm," Tara said motioning to the cast on Willow's left wrist.
"It's just a little broken," Willow said scooting into the bed gingerly.
"It's a nice cast," Tara said.
"Blue like your eyes," Willow said. "How are you?"
"A few broken ribs, nothing that won't heal," Tara said.
"Am I hurting you?" Willow asked afraid that her being in the bed with Tara might be causing the blonde some pain.
"Never," Tara said easing closer to Willow. "I don't know what I would have done if my brother had..."
"Don't even think about it," Willow said. "It didn't happen, and even if it had it wouldn't have been your fault. It was my fault. I couldn't do anything. I have all these spells in my head that are supposed to protect me, protect you, and I couldn't do anything. I just kept trying to get to you, and the spells wouldn't come."
"It would have been my fault. They wouldn't have even been here if it wasn't for me," Tara said crying.
"Yeah, and if it wasn't for you Dawn would still be up in her room, and I would be lonely, miserable, and depressed," Willow said. "And let's not forget that I wasn't exactly cooperation gal. I didn't listen to you when you told me to leave, and I certainly didn't listen to your father. So it's way more my fault than it is yours. Way more."
"Why do you always treat me so special?"
"Goddesses deserve special treatment," Willow said kissing Tara on the forehead.
"They sent me in to find out if we could come in," Dawn said. "I guess they figured you guys wouldn't yell at a little kid."
"A little kid," Tara said. "You're practically a grown woman."
"Everyone can come in," Willow said smiling, seeing Dawn's beaming face at Tara's comment.
"It's safe," Dawn called out the door.
"We're all getting ready to go home for the night," Xander said. "Is there anything we can get you first?"
"No I'm fine," Tara said. "You guys should all go and get a good nights rest. Thank you for helping me, and saving Willow."
"It's not something you have to say thank you for," Anya said. "I know that much about how friends work."
"Will, are you gonna ride with me and Riley?" Buffy asked.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You can't spend the night here," Joyce said.
"Sure I can," Willow said.
"Miss, you're gonna have to get out of the bed," the nurse said coming in to check on Tara.
"Why?" Tara asked.
"Because it's hospital policy," the nurse said.
"Can I spend the night in the chair?" Willow asked not wanting to leave Tara's room.
"I'm afraid not," the nurse said as politely as possible.
"You can't' make her leave," Buffy said in Willow's defense.
"Buffy it's not her fault," Tara said. "She doesn't write hospital policy."
"But she will be here all night, and she could over look hospital policy so that two people who just went through something very traumatic could be together tonight," Dawn said joining her sister in the defense of Willow and Tara.
"I'll take all the blame if we get caught," Willow said pleading with the nurse.
"I saw nothing, I know nothing," the nurse said exiting the room.
"Do you always get your way?" Tara asked.
"98.4% of the time," Willow said. "I calculated it."
"We're outta here. Call us if you need anything," Buffy said ushering everyone out of the room.
"Good night best friend," Anya called as Buffy pushed her through the door.
"Alone at last," Willow said.
"If it wasn't a hospital and I didn't have three broken ribs I would take advantage of the situation," Tara said.
"To tell you the truth, for once I'm not looking for romance. I just want to curl up next to you and go to sleep," Willow said snuggling up next to Tara as best she could without hurting her.
"That sounds plenty romantic to me," Tara said closing her eyes and letting herself drift off to sleep in the safety of Willow's arms.
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"Oh, Buffy. You really need to have every square inch of your ass kicked."
-DMW- Two To Go
Willow not wanting to leave was cute and you gotta love Dawn and Buffy sticking up for her. 
...or maybe something else...i really don't know for sure... 
