Disclaimer: I don't not and will never own the characters of this story. They belong to Joss, I'm just borrowing them for a while. So don't sue.
Feedback: Umm...please?
Spoilers: Umm all the recent ones like Hells Bell, Normal Again, etc. After that it's basically just what I would like to happen.
Rating: R
Chapter 10:
Willow walks down the street with her eyes looking down at the pavement. When she does finally stop and looks up she finds herself standing in front of the Summer’s house. She looks up briefly and then continues walking. ‘Please forgive me for lying guys, I’m sorry.’ She walks for a few more minutes before she reaches the steps of the Sunny Dale police department. She walks up the steps and into the door. Se sees a man sitting at a desk and approaches him. “Excuse me Sir?”
“Yes, what may I help you with tonight?” The man stops writing and looks up at Willow as he speaks.
“There should have been a man brought in about 20 minutes ago, he was involved in a stabbing that took place at the Bronze. I need to see him, it’s extremely important that I speak with him.” Willow looks the man directly in the eyes as she speaks.
The officer looks closer at Willow and notices the blood on the front of her shirt and jeans. “Are you the one who was injured? If so then you should probably be at the hospital right now, not here.”
Willow looks down and tries to put her arms over her blood-covered shirt. “Oh, no Sir. I wasn’t the one who got hurt, that was my girlfriend. This is her blood, not mine. She was hurt very badly and right now se is in the hospital hooked up to machines that are keeping her alive. Please, could I see him?”
“I’m sorry about your girlfriend, I really am but I can not allow you to see him. It’s against policy. Besides the only visitors he would even be allowed to have would be his lawyer. And if he was just brought in then he’s probably with them now.”
“I’m sure this man doesn’t even have a lawyer. He looks like he lives on the streets, he probably couldn’t afford one.”
“Oh really? Are you positive he doesn’t have a lawyer?” The looks at Willow hoping she will catch the hint he is trying to throw her way. “Because I could have sworn his lawyer was this really young redhead. At least that’s what I will say if anyone asks.
Willow looks at him with a look of pure confusion. “No really Sir, I don’t think…” Willow finally gets it and shakes her head. “Yes Sir, I am his lawyer, now if you would please show me to my client now I would greatly appreciate it. We have much to talk about in such a little time span.”
“Of course ma’am, it’s right this way.” The officer comes out from behind the desk and leads Willow to a small room off to the side. “If you could be kind as to wait right here I will go and get your client now.” He turns to walk out the door but Willow’s hand on his arm stops him. “Oh I’m sorry, was there something else you needed before I go? Anything, all you have to do is ask. Would you like some water of something?”
“Oh no thank you Sir. I only wanted to ask you a question if that’s okay.”
“Sure, ask away.”
“Why are you helping me? You don’t even know me but yet you are putting your job on the line to help me.” She looks at the man with sad questioning eyes. “I just wanted to know why.”
The officer looks at Willow and smiles while moving to sit down next to her. “What’s your name honey?”
“Willow.”
“Ok Willow, how about I tell you a story?”
He waits a few seconds before continuing after a nod from Willow. “When I was 16 my sister and I were headed downtown to a movie one night. There was a man who had apparently been following us most of that way, he tried to mug us. Julie, my sister was only 12 at the time. It had taken us weeks of begging before we even convinced our parents to let her come along with me. They were afraid something bad might happen to her. I told them I would protect her and that we would be fine. I was so excited when they finally allowed her to come along. I had just gotten my driver’s license and thought nothing could bring me down. I was wrong, so terribly wrong. We had almost made it to the theater when the man came out of the shadows with a gun. He wanted my wallet but I refused to give it to him, so he started shooting. I managed to avoid the bullets but Julie wasn’t as lucky. She was shot 2 times, both at close range in the chest. She was still alive when we got her to the hospital, but she stopped breathing not long after. They hooked her up to the machines to keep her alive. My parents hated everything about that, they said that it was wrong. The doctors said Julie was brain dead from the lack of oxygen. They said it would be a miracle if she awoke and even if she did she would never be the same. A week after the shooting my parents decided she didn’t need to suffer any longer just because we wanted her here. So they took her off of the machine and 2 days after that we attended her funeral.” The man has tears streaming down his face as he continues. “That was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, saying goodbye to my little sister. I wanted revenge so like you I came here. A officer took pity on me and allowed me to see the man who killed my sister. He said I needed to make peace with myself by seeing him before I could even begin to heal. I feel your pain, I feel the revenge you want against this man.” He stands up once again and walks towards the door. “I can really tell you love your girlfriend, it’s time for you to make peace so you can move on. So you can heal together. I’ll be right back and then you can speak with him.
“Thank you.”
“Your welcome.” The man smiles again and walks out the door shutting it behind him.
Xander, Buffy and Dawn all walk into the waiting room. “Hey Xander, what room did Willow say Tara was in again? I think we should go in before Willow gets back, she’ll want to be alone with her. Besides it’s getting kinda late and we should head home as well.”
“Yeah your probably right Buffy. I think she said it was ICU room 516. It should be right down the hall.”
They all walk silently down the corridor to Tara’s room. When they open the door Dawn breaks down seeing all the tubes and wires hooked up to her beloved friend.
“Buffy, I don’t think I can do this. I can’t go in there and see her like that, it will hurt too much. She doesn’t even look like her herself, I mean its Tara but then again its not.” Dawn leans against the doorframe not trusting her legs to keep her up at this point. “Buffy what if Tara doesn’t wake up? What are we going to do?”
“Dawn, you shouldn’t think or say things like that. She will wake up and when she does things can go back to the way they were. They can go back to normal. Come on Dawnie, I know you have things you want to say to her. There she is, go say them.”
“Yeah I do have things to say but I feel like if I say them then she’ll think I’m giving up on her. I don’t want her to ever think that Buffy.”
“I know you don’t sweetie. Just tell her how much you love and need her. She knows you are giving up on her.”
“Yeah Dawn, Buffy’s right. Those are the things she needs to hear right now, they will make her stronger.” Xander takes Dawn’s hand. “Come on, we can tell her together okay?” Xander pulls Dawn closer to Tara’s bed, Buffy is already sitting in the chair beside the bed.
“Xander? Do you think she will really be able to hear us? I mean can we be certain she’s listening?”
“Well, I can’t tell you that. But you know what I think? You know how it is when you fall asleep in class, it’s like you are sleeping but you can still hear what’s going on around you. Maybe that’s how it is with Tara. She can hear us but she can’t respond. Do you see what I’m saying?”
“Yeah I understand but Tara’s not just sleeping. She’s in a coma. I hope she can hear me but I just don’t know.”
Tara can feel the love all around her. But where is she? Why does she feel like she doesn’t have any strength?
“Where am I? Willow?” “Dawn sweetie, Tara was always a good listener. I’m sure she can hear you right now.” Buffy looks up and gives dawn what she hopes is a reassuring smile. “I have faith that she can hear us. That’s why we have to talk to her, so she knows how much we love her and that we want her to come back.” Buffy reaches out for Dawn’s hand pulling her to stand beside the chair she is sitting in. “You want to give it a try?”
“Okay, I’d do anything for Tara.” Dawn takes one of Tara’s hands into her own while still clutching Buffy’s in the other hand. “Hey Tara. It’s me, Dawn.”
“Dawnie?” “I’m not sure if you can hear me but if you can then please come back to us.”
“Oh, Dawn I’m here. I didn’t go anywhere. I just can’t open my eyes.” “I realize it hasn’t even been 24 hours since that man hurt you but yet I miss you so much already. Everyone misses you.”
“I miss you too Dawn, I’m trying to come back. I really am.” “Buffy and Xander are here too.” Dawn looks over at Buffy no longer able to keep the tears from sliding down her face.
Tara feels something wet on her hand. Tears, Dawn’s tears.
“No Dawn, please don’t cry sweetie. Why won’t my eyes open?” “That’s right Tara, we all miss you. It’s not the same without you around. Willow’s not the same, she’s hurting so much.”
“Willow.” “In fact all of us are hurting. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to protect you Tara, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Oh Buffy, why can’t you hear me? You didn’t let me down, you didn’t know.” Buffy tries to keep her tears at bay but fails. “I’m so sorry Tara, I’m so so very sorry.”
“Hey Tara, Xander here. Buffy’s right you know? Things just aren’t the same without you here. I wish I knew all the right things to say but I don’t. But I do know that you are needed here, you belong here with us. I wish you would breathe so we could get you off of these machines.”
“I’m not breathing? YES I AM! Xander, I’m here just…” “But then again they are the only thing keeping you alive right now. So that makes them vital in my book. Willow says she loves you, she had to go home for a while but she promises to be back soon.”
“Home? She’s not at home. She’s at the police station, you have to go and get her. She can’t be there, not with him. Please hear me!” “Tara? You wanted so much to be back with Willow, and then it happened. My family came back together again. Let her love give you strength Tara, let our love give it to you. We are all here waiting for you. If where you are is where you had to go to heal then you go and heal. We will wait for as long as it takes. We love you Tara.”
“I love you too Dawn, I love all of you so much. I just wish I could move, open my eyes something.” “Please come back to us Tara.” Dawn takes Tara’s hand and kisses it gently. “You get well and then you come back to us. I love you Tara, sleep well sweetie.”
“Wait Dawn, don’t go.” Dawn gently places Tara’s hand back at her side. She then walks towards the door and steps outside. Once he closes the door behind her she leans against the wall and sinks to the floor pulling her knees under her chin crying.
Inside the room Buffy stands up as well. “Come back to us soon Tara.” Buffy leans down and kisses Tara on the forehead then walks towards the door. She stands and waits for Xander silently.
“No wait Buffy, you can’t leave me here all alone. I’m scared.” “Bye Tara, have a good sleep. Please wake up soon.” Xander gives Tara’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“Wait, I’m here. Please don’t leave me here by myself. I’m begging you please!” Xander walks to the door and stands beside Buffy, turning to give Tara one last look before walking out the door behind Buffy. He leaves the door ajar. Buffy sees Dawn sitting on the floor crying, so she leans down and gives her a hug. “Dawn, it’s going be okay. She just needs some time and then when she’s had enough time she’ll come back to us.”
“Buffy, what if se doesn’t want to come back? What if she likes it where she is? I can’t live without her Buffy.”
“She’ll come back Dawn, she will.”
“Can you promise me that Buffy? Can you promise me that she’ll wake up and be the same old Tara?”
Buffy looks at Xander for an answer but he just nods his head. “You know I can’t promise you that Dawn, no one can promise you that. No one except Tara.”
“I promise you Dawn. I’ll come back, I miss you so much. I just wish I knew how to wake up, I don’t know how.” “Come on Dawn, let’s go to the waiting room and wait for Willow okay?” Xander takes one of Dawn’s hands and pulls her up from the floor. Buffy gets up as well and they all head to the waiting room.
Down town at the police station the officer opens a cell and yanks a bruised prisoner from the bed. “Come on, your lawyer is here to see you.” He closes the cell and then leads the man to the room where Willow is waiting for him.
“Lawyer? I don’t have a lawyer.”
“Well, it would appear that you have one now. Right in this room.” The officer opens the door and the prisoner sees a very angry redhead sitting in a chair with her eyes boring into his soul.
“Oh, you have to be kidding me.” He tries to go back out the door but the officer stops him.
“Sit!” The officer shoves him roughly down in an empty chair across from Willow. He looks over at Willow and says, “I’ll be right out side, if you need anything just give me a call.”
“What?!? Are you crazy or something? You can’t leave me alone in here with her.”
“And why is that? You need time alone with your lawyer.” He looks at Willow once again before walking out the door and closing it behind him. ‘Good luck man, your gonna need it’, he adds silently.
Willow gets up from her chair and moves to stand in front of the prisoner. “Nice seeing you again. So how’s things treating you around here?” The man goes to speak but Willow stops him by putting her hand up. “You know what? Don’t even answer that question because I for one couldn’t care less. But I do have one question for you. All I want to know is why. Why did you do this to her?”
The man laughs. “Why did I do what? Why did I gut your little girl friend like a fish? Because it felt good to have her blood on my hands.”
Willow slaps the man hard across the face. “You bastard! What? Do you have ice water running through your veins? Do you not have a heart at all or is it just a block of ice? How can you be so cruel? How can you sit here and laugh about the things you did?”
“Cruel? Is that what you think? I’m not cruel, I just enjoyed shoving a knife into the flesh of your pretty blonde girl friend. So let me ask you a question, did she die yet?”
“She’s not going to die! Something you said, about Tara’s father.”
“Tara? So that’s her name.”
“Shut up. You don’t deserve to even speak that name. Now once again I ask, did Tara’s father pay you to do this? Did he pay you to try and kill Tara?”
“And what makes you think I’d tell you anyway bitch?”
“Oh yeah you’ll tell me, you’ll tell me or else I’ll let my kick your ass again like she did before. You do remember my friends don’t you? The girl who kicked your ass like it was nothing, like you were nothing. Because you don’t remember I’m certain she could refresh your memory. So this is what I am going to do, I’m going to give you two choices. Listen well because I’m only telling you this one time. One you can tell me everything you know about Tara’s father and his whereabouts or two you can tell me nothing and settle for an ass kicking. You make the choice.” Willow waits a few moments for an answer, when one doesn’t come she walks towards the door. “Fine. It’s your choice and you’ve made it. I guess you like being kicked around by a girl. I know Buffy liked doing it and she wouldn’t mind at all about having to do it again.” Willow turns the knob and opens the door slightly.
“Wait, I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“Good boy.” Willow closes the door back and comes back in front of the man to get the answers she wants.
“I don’t know any names. All I know is that I got a letter from a man telling me kill the girl in the picture with the letter. There was also a check for a quarter of a million dollars. There was only a bank’s name on the check. The letter said there was plenty more where that came from if I got rid of her. He told me if I did the deed then I would never have to worry about money again. I was so desperate for money that I accepted his offer. I wouldn’t cross me if I were you.”
“Yeah and I don’t think you’re in the position to be making threats. Take a look around, this is where you are going to be for a while. You might as well get comfortable.”
“So I only have one problem with your story. You’re lying!” Willow slaps the man for the 3rd time in one night. “You shouldn’t lie to me. I’m afraid now I’ll have to get Buffy here so she can show you were lying gets you. She can be here in less than 2 minutes and this time? This time I won’t stop her from killing you. But then again maybe I’ll just let her almost kill you because killing you would be a way out for you. And I for one want you to suffer, to pay for the things that you did.”
“Who says I’m lying? You don’t know what’s the truth and what’s not.”
“I know you’re lying. But I do have to give you some credit, it was almost a believable story. Almost. And I would have believed that story if it hadn’t been for one thing. You ran your mouth about Tara’s father as you ran the other direction after stabbing her. What you think I didn’t here that? Well guess what I did. I know he had something to do with this, I knew even before I came here. I want you to tell me where to find him. I know you know the answers to my questions so why not make things easy and you tell me. Where is that son of a bitch?”
“I only saw him one time.”
“See now we are getting somewhere. One time is way better than none. What else?”
“It was arranged for me to meet him at so he could fill me in on the blanks before I actually killed her.”
“What hotel did you meet him at? Was it a hotel here in Sunny Dale?”
“Days Inn, the one right across from the hospital. There was another guy there too, but he was younger. I just assumed the boy was his son.”
“When did this meeting take place? Give me days, something I can work with here.”
“It was yesterday when I met up with him. He appeared to be very angry at his daughter about something, he said she had betrayed her family and for that she must pay. I asked him what she had done to deserve to die. He told me it didn’t matter and that he didn’t pay me to ask questions that I would never learn the answers to. It wasn’t personal Willow, it was all about the money. Money makes the world go round.”
“Wait, how did you know my name?” The man just sits there, not giving Willow the answer she longed to hear.
“I know more things than you could even imagine little girl.”
“I asked you a question, how did you know my name? Did Tara’s father tell you my name?” Willow get more pissed as the seconds go by. “He did, didn’t he? Where is he now, I know he’s still here. He has to be, he’s waiting for you to meet him. He’s waiting on news of Tara’s death.”
“Yes, I am suppose to met him later tonight. I was to get my final payment when I brought proof that she was dead.”
“Where? Where were you to meet him at?”
“The same place as last time.”
“What time are you suppose to be there?” The man just shakes his head. “Tell me!”
“Midnight, I’m suppose to meet him at midnight tonight.” The man looks up at the clock and smiles. “I know what you’re thinking and you’ll never make it in time. It’s already 12:20, he’ll be gone already. If I were you I’d go where ever you girl friend is, because he’ll find her. And when he does find her he’ll finish the job I started. And to think about it Red, this whole time you were here with me? He was at the hospital killing your lover. It’s ironic isn’t it.”
Willow looks at the man with hatred in her eyes. “I swear by god that if anything happened to Tara while you were here feeding me lies then I’ll be back. And when I do come back you’ll wish Buffy was the one here because I’ll kill you myself. And you thought you hurt before? You’ve never felt pain until I get my hands on you.”
by Drakkenfyre » Sun May 26, 2002 4:51 pm 
at: 7/13/02 10:20:47 pm
*I know you could do it to*. Anyway, have a good night sweetheart. Hope you get some sleep for once. You deserve it. My love to Hunter. It's about to storm here so Imah catch some z's myself. Only sweet dreams 
Sorry, this song came on and I couldnt help myself! 
*snikers*
you 
at the same time. But honestly it really is a song, a song I hate actually. 
KIDDING Laura, no worries 
lol. I'm thinking about you every minute. Hope you get tons better baby!