Well, i'm back and with another update. Go me
. Now, it's pretty long, but i didn't plan it that way, this part just didn't want to end
Heh. Anyway, here's part 25. Hope you like. And a
big thank you to everyone who left feedback.
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Part Twenty-FiveNext dayWillow woke to the sound of voices. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying and after a moment or two, finally opened her eyes. She found Tara standing with a doctor at the foot of her bed and rubbed her eyes sleepily, before speaking.
Willow: Tara?
The blonde’s head turned slightly to look at Willow and the redhead panicked when she saw the expression on Tara’s face.
Willow: What’s wrong? What’s happened?
Tara: Nothing, sweetie. It’s okay.
The doctor leaned closer to Tara and whispered something in her ear. He pulled back, smiled at Willow and left the room.
Willow: Tara, what’s wrong?
She heard her girlfriend sigh and watched her walk towards her. Tara sat on the edge of the bed and took Willow’s hand in her own.
Tara: Something happened to doctor Lexis last night.
Willow: What do you mean?
Tara took a deep breath and met Willow’s gaze.
Tara: H-he was killed. M-murdered.
Willow: What?
Tara: The p-police don’t know much yet…. Only that our f-files were taken from his briefcase. They said that s-someone claiming to be an officer c-came into the hospital yesterday, demanding to see our f-files, but whoever it was didn’t h-have any ID s-s-so they refused to give them out. They th-think that whoever it was killed doctor Lexis to get hold of our information.
The redhead frowned, trying to take all of this in.
Willow: Why would anyone want our information?
Tara shook her head.
Tara: I-I don’t know.
The door of the hospital room burst open and Faith and Buffy ran in.
Faith: The hospital called us, said it was an emergency. What the heck happened?
Noticing Willow’s somewhat shell-shocked state, Tara answered.
Tara: The d-doctor that w-w-was looking after Willow-
Buffy: Doctor Lexis?
Tara: Y-yeah. He, um, he w-was killed last night by someone who was after our information f-files, the ones that Wesley wrote up for us w-when Willow first came into the hospital.
Faith: What?
Buffy: Why?
Tara: W-we don’t know.
Faith: Do they know who killed him?
Tara shook her head.
Willow: You know, I’m really starting to think that Fate has it in for us. Big time.
Tara: Will….
Willow: No, seriously. I mean think about everything that’s happened…. You’re mom, the man who was supposed to be your father…. All the things we’ve gone through….
She heard Willow sigh and spoke, coving the redhead’s hand with her own.
Tara: The important thing is that w-we’re still here…. W-we got through it…. Together.
Willow: I’m just not sure how much more bad stuff happening I can take. I’ve already almost lost you too many times, Tara.
Buffy and Faith glanced at each other. The brunette nodded towards the door of the room and they slipped out quietly, giving Willow and Tara some time alone.
Willow: I don’t know what I’d do if….
She trailed off as she felt unshed tears sting her eyes and then let them flow freely. Tara frowned and crawled further up the bed, taking Willow in her arms. The redhead buried her head in the hollow of her girlfriend’s neck and sobbed, quietly.
Tara: Shh….
She rocked them both back and forth gently and whispered to Willow, her stutter fading as she spoke from her heart.
Tara: Nothing is going to take me away from you, okay? I won’t let it. Whatever’s going to happen, bad or good, we’re going to get through it. Together. After everything that’s happened, do you really think there’s anything that’s going to be able to tear us apart?
Willow: I just….
Willow lifted her head slightly to look at Tara and the blonde brushed her thumb over Willow’s cheek, wiping away the tears there.
Willow: I don’t want to lose you.
Tara: And you won’t. Ever.
Willow: Promise?
Tara smiled and leaned forward, kissing Willow’s lips, lightly.
Tara: I promise.
Still sniffling, the redhead buried her head in Tara’s shoulder again and after a while, Willow’s sobs died down and her body no longer shook. The room had been silent for, how many minutes? They didn’t know, but Willow’s voice broke the silence.
Willow: Tara?
Tara: What is it, sweetie?
Willow: I’m craving feet food bars again.
Main Street – LaterFaith slammed on the break as someone sped out in front of her and beeped the horn, rapidly.
Faith: Jerk.
She shook here head and then continued her journey towards her and Tara’s apartment. Buffy had fallen asleep almost as soon as she’d gotten into the car. They had spent most of the day at the hospital with Willow and Tara. Xander and Oz had dropped by and Wesley had arrived not long after Faith called him and told him what had happened. They had then spent the following three hours going through all the reasons why someone would want to get Willow and Tara’s information so badly, but hadn’t really been able to come up with anything. Tara and Wesley were still with Willow at the hospital, but Xander and Oz had left a while ago. Oz had gone back to the garage to see how long he had left before he was fired and Xander had said he had some stuff to sort out. Tara had asked Faith to pick her up some clothes from the apartment and if she could pick some up for Willow as well, because going to the redhead’s house would only mean her parents asking questions that they wouldn’t be ready to hear the answers for.
Faith pulled up outside the apartment and leaned over, gently shaking Buffy’s shoulder.
Faith: Buffy, we’re home… B, wake up.
The girl in the passenger seat stirred slightly and after a moment, opened her eyes.
Buffy: What?
Faith: We’re home.
Buffy mumbled something and then closed her eyes, falling asleep again. Faith sighed and shook her head. She climbed out of the car and made her way to Buffy’s side, before opening the door and picking the other girl up, into her arms.
Faith: The things I have to do.
She chuckled to herself and made her way down the driveway of the apartment, slowing her pace, as she got closer.
Okay, I’m pretty sure I didn’t leave the door open.Faith stopped, tightening her hold on Buffy as she looked at the door for a moment, before she slowly began walking again. She stopped once more in front of the door, pressing her foot against it and pushing it open. From where she was standing, everything looked fine, so Faith walked inside.
Faith: Oh god.
Wesley’s HouseHe had just settled down in front of the television with his usual cup of tea when someone began knocking frantically on his front door. Breathing a round of “bloody hell’s” and, after checking his watch, “Dear lord’s”, he got up to answer it and found a very panicked looking Faith on the other side.
Wesley: Faith. What’s wrong?
Faith: The apartment. Someone broke in. I was taking Buffy back and picking up some things for Willow and Tara and the door was open. Someone’s been there. Completely trashed the place.
Wesley: Dear lord…. Did they take anything?
Faith: I don’t know, I didn’t stay around to look. Just came straight here.
Wesley: Where’s Buffy now?
Faith: Asleep in the car. I didn’t want to wake her. She’s hardly had any sleep since Willow went into the hospital.
Wesley: I see. Well, bring her in here and put her on the couch. Leave her a note, we need to go and check the apartment, find out what they took.
Faith nodded and ran back to the car. She returned moments later carrying Buffy and walked past Wesley, putting the blonde carefully down on the couch. She grabbed a pen and paper and quickly scribbled down what was going on and where she and Wesley were going, before putting on the coffee table next to the sofa and following Wesley out of the house.
Faith and Tara’s apartment.They had arrived at the apartment around fifteen minutes earlier and Wesley had almost dropped dead when he saw the state the apartment was in. The lock on the door had been kicked in, also dislodging it from its hinges, and the sitting room had been totally ransacked. The TV was lying screen down on the floor, the table it sat on not to far behind it. The bookshelf that had stood in the corner was also on the floor, the contents spread out everywhere and thing had been taken out of draws and thrown everywhere. Three of the seats now lay on there back and Faith’s stereo was lying in a heap on the floor, completely destroyed. Photo frames with pictures of them all in had been thrown to the floor and, most of them, smashed. Wesley made his way into the kitchen and found a similar mess there, while Faith checked her bedroom. After a moment, she called out to Wesley.
Faith: Wes, come and take a look at this.
Shaking his head in confusion, mixed with shock from seeing the apartment this way, he left the kitchen and walked through the messy sitting room, towards Faith’s bedroom.
Wesley: What is it?
He stopped in the doorway, taking in the sight of the brunette’s room. All the doors of her wardrobes were open, as were the draws of the dressers beside the bed, some of the draws laid scattered on the floor, and everything that had been in them, and the wardrobe, had been carelessly thrown everywhere.
Faith: You know, for once I’d like to see a tidy burglar, one that cleans up after they’ve stolen what they want.
Wesley: What did they take?
Faith looked around and then shook her head, turning back to Wesley.
Faith: I’m not really sure. Can’t tell when everything’s like this.
Wesley: Have you checked Tara’s room
Faith: Not yet.
The elder man started to leave the room, but suddenly stopped in the doorway when he noticed something he hadn’t seen when they first entered.
Wesley: Faith….
The brunette frowned when she heard the tone of his voice and she got up off her bed. Once she was beside Wesley, Faith followed his gaze and her eyes widened. Someone had written something along the archway between the hall and the sitting room in, what looked like, blood. Faith raised an eyebrow.
Faith: Blood? They could have at least been original.
She spoke the words aloud as she read them again.
Faith: The end for The Called Ones is neigh. He is coming and nothing will stop him from getting what he wants.
Wesley took his glasses off and began cleaning them frantically with the bottom of his sweatshirt.
Faith: They was here.
Wesley: What?
Faith: The person who killed Lexis. They were here. Us, that’s what they want, The Called ones, and whoever it is wants us dead.
There was a moment of silence before Wesley spoke, his voice thick with sarcasm.
Wesley: You got
all that from what they wrote?
Hospital – Next MorningTara was lying on her side, on the bed next to Willow, watching intently as her lover slept.
How can anyone possibly look that cute when they’re asleep? All innocent and sweet…. Messy hair, lips parted just a little bit, the little freckles that lie between the bottom of her neck and the top of her chest, the birth mark on her shoulder that you can always just about see and that’s almost exactly the same as the shape of....She sighed contently as Willow shifted closer and Tara tightened her grip on the redhead, as if she was afraid to let go in case Willow disappeared and she’d be left alone again.
There was a knock at the door and the blonde groaned, disappointed at the thought of having to leave the safety of Willow’s arms, which were currently wrapped around her waist. Tara sighed again, this time in regret, but as soon as she began to move, she knew it was a mistake, because now the sleeping redhead was refusing to let go o her. The blonde’s movement had cause Willow to move with her and when Tara moved back, her leg draped over her girlfriend’s hip, pinning her to the bed. The redhead’s upper body was now resting on Tara’s and she’d buried her head in the crook of the blonde’s neck. Realising she wasn’t going to be able to move anytime soon, she called out in a hushed voice, so she wouldn’t wake Willow, and hoped whoever was outside the room had heard her.
Tara: Come in.
The door opened and doctor Monroe walked in, smiling when he saw the two girls cuddled up together on the small hospital bed.
Tara: S-sorry, I c-couldn’t really move.
Doctor Monroe: That’s quite alright, I was just dropping by to tell you that Miss Rosenberg is being discharged and that she’ll be able to leave later today.
Tara: R-really? She’s going to b-be so happy.
Tara paused, thinking about what she had just said.
Tara: Oh, I-I-I didn’t m-mean-
Doctor Monroe held his hand up, cutting her off and smiling at her.
Doctor Monroe: I understand. There aren’t many people who actually like being in hospital.
His smile widened.
Doctor Monroe: Even I don’t like being here sometimes, but lets just keep that to ourselves, these four walks and your sleeping beauty.
Tara chuckled and nodded her head.
Tara: Your s-secret’s safe w-with me.
Doctor Monroe: Good. Now, when you’re both ready to leave, can you ask Miss Rosenberg to sing out at the reception desk?
Tara: Sure.
Doctor Monroe: Thank you. Well, I’ll leave you and sleeping beauty alone and wish you all the best.
He smiled again and said goodbye, before leaving the room and closing the door. Tara grinned to herself, as she turned her head to look at Willow again.
Thank god she’s allowed out. Now every time I was to kiss her, I can, instead of being put off by icky feet food breath.Wesley’s HouseBuffy had woken up about half an hour ago and had been instantly bombarded with information about the previous night. She sat in silence for a moment, trying to take it all in, which was proving to be quite difficult as she had only woken up a little while ago and Faith knew what she was like in the mornings.
Buffy: Someone broke into the apartment?
Faith: Yes.
Buffy: Trashed the place?
Faith: Yes.
Buffy: And wrote a threatening message on the wall? In blood?
Faith: Yes and yes.
She blinked a few times.
Buffy: Well, they could hav at least been original.
Faith: That’s what I said.
Buffy: Huh. Weird.
Faith sighed and flopped back into her chair. She’d just had exactly the same conversation with Buffy five times and the brunette was mentally, and physically, drained from having to explain it over and over again and was relieved Buffy had finally taken it all in. Or so she thought.
Buffy: Someone broke into the apartment?
Faith groaned in frustration and threw a pillow at Buffy, who simply ignored it when it hit her.
Buffy: And trashed the place?
Hospital – Later. Tara watched as her girlfriend pulled her hair back and tied it in a loose ponytail, leaving a few strands down, resting alongside her cheeks.
Willow: I’m
so glad I’m going home.
The blonde didn’t hear Willow’s comment, she was too busy looking at the redhead and had, once again, managed to loose herself in the beauty of the other girl. Even standing there in the horrible greenish-blue gowns you had to wear in the hospital, she looked beautiful.
Willow: Tara?
Tara snapped out of the trance she was in and met Willow’s questioning gaze.
Tara: Hmm? W-what?
The redhead giggled.
Willow: Are you okay? I’ve been calling you for ages.
Willow couldn’t help but smirk. She’d caught Tara staring at her a little while ago and now her girlfriend looked like a dear caught in the headlights.
Tara: I-I-I um, I’m f-fine.
The redhead turned to face her and chuckled, receiving a glare from the blonde. Tara stuck her tongue out and watched as Willow turned back to her bag, and continued to pack the few things she had with her at the hospital.
Willow: And just what is it that’s so captivating I had to stand here yelling your name fore ten minutes?
Tara’s trademark crooked grin appeared and she pushed herself up out of her seat, slowly walking towards Willow.
Tara: Captivating is only one of the words I’d use.
The redhead smiled and pulled the zipper on her bag closed, as she felt her girlfriend’s arms encircle her waist.
Willow: Oh?
Tara rested her chin on the other girl’s shoulder and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent that was purely Willow. The redhead wrapped her arms around Tara’s, resting them there.
Willow: There are other words to describe what you were staring at?
Tara: Oh yes.
She whispered the words into Willow’s ear, grinning and opening her eyes when she felt the slightly younger girl shiver.
Tara: I can think of quite a few actually, but I’d have to start with beautiful. She’s definitely beautiful.
Willow chuckled and closed her own eyes, as she felt Tara begin to place feather-light kisses on her neck in between her sentences.
Willow: Ah, so it was a person you were so captivated by.
Tara: You think something normal like….
She trailed off, looking around the room.
Tara: Something normal like bed sheets would captivate me?
Willow: Maybe. If they had little chicks on.
Tara frowned for a moment, before giggling.
Tara: You think baby chickens are captivating?
Willow: Well, they’re interesting. All fluffy and cute.
Tara: It wasn’t the bed sheets, but the person I was looking at
is cute.
Willow: Yet another word.
Tara: One of many.
The blonde took hold of Willow’s wrists and spun her around, before placing both hands either side of her on the table behind the redhead, pinning her there. Willow grinned and wrapped her arms around Tara’s neck loosely, before the blonde leaned forward and went back to placing kisses along Willow’s neck.
Tara: Cute….
Kiss.
Tara: Smart….
Kiss.
Tara: Funny….
Kiss.
Tara: And sexy, are a few others I’d use when describing her.
Willow: Hmm…. Are you gonna tell me who she is, or keep me in suspence?
Tara: I’d rather show you.
Willow: Show me?
Tara didn’t answer, she only lifted her head a little and then captured Willow’s lips in a passionate kiss. Her hands moved from the table to the bottom of the redhead’s back, pulling the other girl closer and then running her fingers up her back, lightly. She heard Willow sigh into the kiss and pulled her closer, running her hands through fire-red hair. After a long moment, Tara pulled back, leaving a few feather-light kisses on Willow’s lips, and rested her forehead against her girlfriend’s. Willow, eyes still closed, let out a shaky breath and nodded slightly.
Willow: Right. Show me.
She giggled and opened her eyes, feeling her heart beat faster when she found blue ones looking back at her.
Willow: I guess I know who you were staring at.
Tara grinned and kissed Willow again.
Tara: And what does she think?
Willow: She thinks she must be the luckiest person in the world to have someone so amazing in her life.
The blonde placed another few kisses on Willow’s lips, before replying properly.
Tara: Suck up.
Faith and Tara’s apartmentFaith, Buffy and Wesley had returned to the apartment earlier that day in the hope that they would be able to clean it up a bit before Willow and Tara got home from the hospital. They had called Xander and Oz to ask for their help as well and they had happily complied. Faith had told them what had happened when they arrived and, luckily, it hadn’t taken as long as it had with Buffy. Faith was busy sorting out her and Tara’s rooms, with Buffy’s help, Wesley was putting things back where they belonged in the kitchen and Xander and Oz had the job of cleaning up the sitting room and the hallway. Xander was spending most of his time on his hands and knees on the carpet, trying to get some sort of stains off it. He frowned and threw the small brush he was using in the bucket of water beside him.
Xander: Wesley, I know I’m going to sound like a housewife when I say this, but I’m gonna say it anyway. These stubborn stains just won’t come out!
Wesley sighed and made his way into the sitting room.
Xander: And my hands are getting all wrinkly from the water.
Wesley: Oh, you poor dear. Would you like me to drop everything I’m doing and run out to buy you some nice pink rubber gloves?
Xander looked down at his hands, completely missing the sarcasm in Wesley’s voice, and just shook his head.
Xander: No, it’s okay. We should probably clean this place up first.
The elder man rolled his eyes.
Xander: Just help me get rid of these stains.
Wesley got down on one knee and looked down at the reddish coloured marks on the carpet, his face darkening when he realised what it was.
Wesley: It won’t come out because it’s blood.
Xander: Blood?
Hearing their conversation, Oz strode into the sitting room and stood behind Xander.
Wesley: Faith, can you come in here.
Faith walked into the room moments later, Buffy following closely behind.
Faith: What is it?
Wesley: Did you see this before?
The brunette looked down in the direction Wesley was pointing and shook her head.
Faith: No.
She scrunched up her face.
Faith: Is that-?
Wesley: Blood. Yes.
Wesley frowned and looked up from where he was.
Wesley: It hasn’t dripped off the archway because we’re not underneath it.
Faith: If they cut themselves to write the message, could that be the cause of it?
The girls’ mentor looked back at the stain.
Wesley: Unless they stood her for a while, deliberately making the stains, no. They’re too big.
Buffy: So…?
Wesley: So, whoever it was either poured pigs blood everywhere or…. Or killed something, dragged it back here and used its blood to write the message, and while they were doing that, whatever they got the blood from-
Faith: Was dripping on the floor, leaving the stains on the carpet.
Wesley: Exactly.
Xander: How can we know for sure?
Wesley paused for a moment, thinking it over.
Wesley: Buffy, does the college have a science lab?
Buffy: Yeah, a huge one. Why?
Wesley: The blood on the archway is still pretty fresh, if we can get a sample you can take it down to the lab and test it.
Buffy held her hands up and shook her head.
Buffy: I wouldn’t know where to begin. If you want that doing, Tara’s the science wiz.
Faith: She is?
The blonde nodded.
Faith: I didn’t know that.
Willow: Didn’t know what?
Everyone’s heads turned to the door, where they found Willow and Tara standing, looking at them. They all looked at each other, a little nervous, before Faith and Buffy walked forward, smiling, and embraced both Willow and Tara.
Faith: Welcome home.
Willow: It’s good to be back.
Buffy: Hospital food a no-go then?
Willow made a face.
Willow: Please, don’t talk about it. I’m still reeling after my thirteen feet food bars.
Xander: See? I told you they weren’t all that bad.
Willow: Xander, they’re disgusting. I only ate them because the icky hospital food was like rubber and the fact that I crave weird things when I’m in hospital.
Xander got up and made his way over to the girls that had just arrived back.
Xander: Oh, you know you love them really.
She chuckled and mumbled “icky” into his chest as he hugged her. Tara, however, was standing stock still, looking at something over Xander’s shoulder.
Tara: W-w-what….
She trailed off, unable to go any further because of her stutter, and lifted her hand to point to what she was looking at. The archway with the bloody message written on it. Wesley rose to his feet and walked towards Willow, who was now also looking at the message, and Tara.
Wesley: Ah.
Willow: Wesley, what the hell is going on?
Wesley: I think you two should probably sit down while we explain.
Willow took Tara’s hand and led her into the living room, sitting them both down on the couch. Wesley and the rest of the group also walked back into the sitting room, Wesley sat across from Willow and Tara, Faith perched herself on the arm of his chair, Buffy sat in the last free chair and Xander and Oz stood beside Faith. The redhead looked at them expectantly, never letting go of Tara’s hand.
Willow: Well?
Faith: When I came back here to pick up some things for you last night, I noticed that the door of the apartment was open. I had Buffy with me as well, but she was sleeping and I was carrying her in, so I wanted to be careful in case some nutcase had gotten into the apartment. Anyway, I kicked the door open and found this place in one hell of a mess.
Buffy: Turned out her nutcase theory was right.
Faith: Someone had gotten into the apartment, trashed the place. What they’ve taken…. I don’t really know yet. We’ve just kind of been concentrating on cleaning things up before you got back. Wesley figured stressed wouldn’t do wonders for Willow right now, which is why we didn’t say anything last night, but they haven’t taken what I would have expected. TV, stereo, DVD player….
Willow: And the threatening message on the wall? And what the hell are the stains on the floor?
Wesley exhaled loudly and took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes.
Wesley: Faith and I noticed the message when we got here, after she came to my house and told me. It’s blood, that’s what they used to write it, and the stains on the carpet are blood too.
Willow and Tara sat in shock for a moment, trying to comprehend everything that had been said.
Willow: Someone broke into the apartment?
Tara: A-a-and trash the p-place?
Faith almost fell off the end of the chair Wesley was sitting in.
Faith: Oh for the love of…. Don’t start that! I had enough trouble with B.
The two girls on the sofa looked at Faith, somewhat bewildered, before turning back to Wesley.
Tara: So w-what do w-we do now?
Willow: Call the police?
Their mentor shook his head.
Wesley: They’ll be too much to explain to them.
Willow: Well we can’t just sit here. Someone is after us, someone wants us dead. All you have to do is read the damn message to see that. Whoever it is, knows where we all live and they’re trying to scare us, make us think giving up would be the easies thing to do…. Someone has already died because of us. First that, now someone turns up here and steals stuff, seemingly personal stuff-
Faith: What makes you say that?
Willow: Well, whoever it was hasn’t taken any of the expensive, valuable stuff, so that’s really all it could be.
Wesley nodded slowly.
Wesley: Strange.
Willow: As I was saying, first doctor Lexis was killed because someone wanted to get hold of our information, then the apartment was trashed, and someone left threatening messages in blood on the wall…. Someone is trying to get to us, the four of us, The Called Ones, and they’re making it personal. Taking things that might mean a lot to us…. What next?
Buffy’s face paled and she jumped up out of her sleep.
Buffy: My mom….
She broke into a sprint and ran out of the apartment, the rest of the gang following closely behind.
TBC.............
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~ Jen
I'd like to take a moment to talk about something that's happened lately. I'm also in love. It's a very special thing and I'm really rather proud of it. Yes, I'm in love with my own breasts. I feel no personal shame about this; in fact, I think this is the one. It's going to last. ~ Ruth
by snuggle79 » Sun Dec 22, 2002 10:08 am 
Thanks for taking the time to update 
So, first off, i just wanted to say thank you. 
Well, hopefully you won't have to miss it for so long next time. 
I really hope RL gets better for you 
Most happy Willow is finally awake!!
The stranger...Sounds like he is interested in the whole gang, but not quite sure why he would need the papers from the hospital.
Buffy was not really thinking when she was in full panic-mode about her mother. They really need to talk. Faith is blaming herself for something that happened when she was a little kid and defenseless. I'm glad that Buffy's mom is ok. 
Then again, pretty much everything scares me
