Title: Insight
Author: KrisBo5
Email address: KrisBo5@aol.com
[b]Feedback: You can if you want.
Distribution: This is the narrative form of a spec script I had written for BVS, which is registered with the WGAw, so please don’t publish it or reproduce it in any way, shape, or form.
Spoilers: Season 6. Past “Hell’s Bells” but not up to “Entropy.” Around the middle of those, but I’m taking liberties.
Rating: This covers the story in its entirety: PG-13 to NC–17. This includes sex, some mild violence, language. For this part, specifically, I would say R-Hard R, but I’m not sure.
Pairing: Willow and Tara, of course. Buffy and the others are here as well.
Disclaimer: I didn’t create these characters, those kudos belong to Joss and crew. I’m just borrowing them for the story I did write. As for the notebook entries(I changed some words to fit the context of my story – no offense or infringement was intended) they were taken from
Summary: The Scoobies have gotten back together, just not “back together.” Tara’s got some kind of “power.” Buffy’s “gone missing.” And, then there are those pesky demons. . . .
Note: This is a little lighter, a little more comedic, a little less verbose. Really, a straight translation from script-to-narrative format. Without further ado, here it is. . .
Insight, Part Three: Act Two(A) “This is bunk.” Dawn plopped down on a bench, dropping several books on the table in front of her.
Buffy sat across from her, dropping a similar load. “Bunk?” she asked.
Dawn crossed her arms over the tops of the books. “That’s what I said.” Buffy raised an eyebrow. “I mean, where is everyone?” The teen glanced around the Magic Shop, then back at her sister. The Slayer surveyed the shop quickly, then lifted a shoulder. “I thought this was some kind of. . .” Dawn raised her hands and made imaginary quotes in the air “. . . emergency meeting? Yeah, some emergency, right, I mean, where’s Giles?” Again, Buffy non-committed, resting her elbow on the table, her chin in the palm of her hand. Dawn sighed loudly, and then picked up one of the random tomes and started reading.
***
Willow and Tara walked down Main Street towards the Magic Box, their arms linked together, their fingers entwined. The sun was bright and warm, and people swarmed the sidewalks.
“It’s such a beautiful day,” Willow said, taking in a long deep breath.
Tara looked at Willow and couldn’t stop the smile from forming on her lips.
Truly, truly beautiful. . . . “Very beautiful.”
Willow looked at Tara, noticed that the blonde was looking at her, not at the sky or at the sun or at some other nature-ly type thing. Tara meant her. Meant Willow. “Stop,” Willow said, bumping her hip against Tara’s.
Tara laughed and squeezed Willow’s hand tighter. “Never,” she said, pressing a quick kiss to Willow’s lips. Willow’s eyes widened when Tara kissed her. Tara tipped her head. “What?”
Willow glanced away, watched several people pass by them. “I. . . you. . . .” Willow felt her skin flush.
“What?” Tara asked again.
A small smile turned the corners of Willow’s lips. She softly shook her head. “You’ve never. . .” She shrugged. “
We never kissed in public before.”
Tara digested the words quietly. “No,” she agreed.
Willow couldn’t help herself. “Why now?”
Tara took a step closer to Willow. “We’re together. I love you.” Tara smiled. “Now I just don’t care who knows that.”
Willow felt a lump rise in her throat. “Tara.”
Tara’s smile was soft. “That’s not true.” She raised a hand to Willow’s cheek. “I want everyone to know.”
Willow closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. Her heart ached with love for Tara. How she had lasted so long without her, Willow had no idea. But now that Tara was here, was here with her, she wasn’t going to waste one second. Willow opened her eyes and smiled. “Then kiss me again.”
Tara’s smile blossomed a moment more, before she leaned in and pressed another, longer kiss against Willow’s lips.
Willow raised a hand to Tara’s hip, squeezing softly.
Tara. . . .Tara pulled back, planting one last peck on Willow’s lips before looking into her eyes. “I love you.”
Willow felt tears welling. “I love you, too.”
Tara’s head tilted. She smiled and took hold of the hand at her hip. “Come on.”
***
The four demons moved as one, unnoticed and silent, down Main Street. They were oblivious to everyone they passed, their black eyes focused ahead, focused on their goal. As they neared The Magic Box, their pace slowed. They stopped, stared at the building, ground to roof.
Demon-25 turned to the rest, motioned with a gnarled hand. The others made no response; they merely turned from one another and moved towards the shop. Demon-25 followed. With no effort, they scaled the exterior of The Magic Box, up to the roof. Again, Demon-25 motioned to the others, who moved apart, each walking to a corner edge of the roof.
***
Tara and Willow approached The Magic Box at a leisurely pace. Willow wove her arm through Tara’s, her fingers entwined with the blonde’s; her other hand held the blonde’s upper arm loosely, albeit possessively.
“I hope this doesn’t take too long,” Willow said.
Tara smiled. “Me, too.”
Willow continued. “I mean, if it’s end-of-the-world-kablooeyness, okay, I’m all in, but. . . .” Her voice trailed off as she took a deep breath.
Tara squeezed Willow’s hand. “But. . . .”
Willow held Tara’s arm more tightly. “But. . . if it’s, you know, Hell Mouth update, then, well, I’d just rather be—”
“Somewhere else?”
Willow slowed her steps until they both stopped. She looked at Tara. “With you.” She released Tara’s arm and raised her hand to her lover’s cheek. “I’d just rather be with you.”
Tara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Sighing, she opened her eyes and smiled. “Willow.”
***
Once more, Demon-25 raised a hand to the others.
Demon-60 reached inside its robe, then slowly removed a glass-encased object: a replica hourglass.
***
Tara stiffened, a small frown creasing her brow.
Willow’s hand froze. Then, slowly fell away to hang in the air between them. “Tara?”
Tara turned away from Willow, her eyes scanning the street around them. “Did you—” Confusion filled her as she searched passing faces and cars.
Willow released Tara’s arm. “Tara? What is it?” The redhead followed Tara’s gaze, not knowing exactly what she should be looking for. She turned back to Tara. “What’s wrong?”
Tara shook her head softly, almost absently, as she turned back to Willow. “Did. . . did you feel that?”
Willow’s brow creased as she shook her head. “What?”
“I. . .” Tara began. Without thought her hand found Willow’s. “I don’t. . . know.” Willow squeezed Tara’s hand softly, a sign of support, a sign of encouragement. “It was just— I don’t know, it was just. . . .” She shook her head again. “. . . weird.”
“‘Weird’. . . . How?”
Tara stared into Willow’s eyes, their green depths filled with concern. Suddenly the blonde smiled and rolled her eyes. “I don’t— it’s nothing.”
“Tara.” Willow’s tone warned that she wasn’t buying the ‘it’s nothing’ answer.
Tara stared into Willow’s eyes. “Really, Will, it’s nothing.” Willow remained quiet. “I think I’m just tired.” She lifted an eyebrow as her head tilted forward in a conspiratorial manner.
Willow couldn’t help herself: she laughed out loud. She felt a blush rise and she shook her head. “Tara.”
Tara smiled. “Yes?”
Willow took a deep breath, and smiled softly. “You’re sure? You’re okay?”
Tara nodded. “I am.” With that, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Willow’s. When she pulled back, her mouth inches from Willow’s she added, “I really, really am.”
Willow’s eyes gravitated to Tara’s lips, so close to her own.
Oh, geez. . . . She raised her eyes to meet Tara’s. “Okay.” She licked her suddenly-dry lips. “How fast do you think we can get this meeting over with?”
“Fast.”
“
So fast.”
***
Buffy spun around and delivered a solid roundhouse kick to the hanging workout bag. Without hesitation, she jumped up and landed a fierce front kick as the bag swung back towards her. In rapid succession, she delivered blow after blow, never losing balance, never missing her target.
***
The bell over the door at the Magic Box jangled noisily as Willow and Tara entered hand-in-hand. Dawn looked up from the book she was reading. She smiled broadly as she watched the women walk into the shop. “Hey, guys!” she said, her voice sounding as happy as her expression.
Tara smiled. “Hi, Dawnie.”
“Hey, Dawnie,” Willow replied almost at the same time.
Behind the counter, Anya glanced at her watch. “Finally.” She shut the cash drawer. “Every minute closed is profit lost.”
Dawn’s smile turned to a slight sneer before she bounded from her chair and ran towards the two witches. Tara caught Dawn in a hug, smiling at Willow over the teen’s shoulder. “Sweetie,” Tara laughed, “needing air here.”
Dawn released the blonde. “Sorry.” She turned and threw her arms around Willow.
Willow laughed as her arms held the teen tightly. “Hi, Dawnie.”
Dawn let Willow go and stepped back. She took each of their hands in one of her own and smiled. “You guys look great.”
Willow smiled. “Thanks, Dawnie.”
“Can we get on with this already?” Anya stood beside the counter, hands on hips. “If the groping session is over, that is.”
Dawn dropped the witches’ hands and turned towards Anya. “You know what?”
“Dawn,” Tara said quietly.
The teen looked at Tara. “She started it.”
Tara smiled. “Don’t worry, okay?”
“But. . . .”
“No ‘buts,’ Dawnie.”
Dawn sighed, then glanced once more at Anya. She sighed overdramatically. “Fine.” She started off towards the back of the Magic Shop.
Willow followed a few steps behind her. “Dawnie?”
The teen waved a hand in the air. “I’ll get Buffy.”
Anya turned back to the register. “At last.” She glanced at her watch. “Still many hours of money to be made.”
Willow looked back at Tara and held out her hand. “Sit with me?”
Tara smiled and took Willow’s hand in hers. “Always.”
Hand-in-hand, the two witches moved to the abandoned table. Willow pulled a chair out for Tara and smiled. Tara squeezed Willow’s hand briefly and sat, patting the empty chair beside her.
“Willow,” Anya said.
Willow paused, her hand resting on the chair back. She glanced at Anya. “Yeah?”
The Vengeance Demon pointed towards the end of the counter, where a laptop sat. “Can you check that?”
Willow glanced at the counter, noticing several dozen jars filled with all sorts of powders and liquids, as well as a laptop. “The computer?”
Anya sighed. “Of course.”
“Why?”
Anya threw up a hand. “It’s possessed.”
“Possessed?” Willow asked. She heard Tara giggle beside her. The redhead looked at the blonde and shook her head. She kept her eyes on Tara’s as Anya spoke.
Anya sighed and lowered her pen. “It’s not spinning around or anything,” she said, “but it is spitting out information that makes no sense at all.”
Tara smiled softly and squeezed Willow’s hand again. “Go ahead.”
Willow paused a moment longer, then smiled. “Okay.” And then, not caring whether Anya saw them or not, Willow leaned down and kissed Tara softly. When she pulled back, Tara’s eyes were bright, and her smile full. “One Exorcism coming right up.” With reluctance, she released Tara’s hand and walked over to the counter.
Tara watched Willow as she moved across the shop towards the counter, watched as the redhead opened the laptop and prepared to perform her own brand of “magic” on it.
“Where’s Xander and Giles?” Willow asked absently, as she waited for the laptop to boot up.
Anya raised a hand. “Don’t get me started.”
Willow paused. “Okay.” She turned her attention to the items on the counter beside the laptop. Jars filled with powders of all colors, jars filled with roots and herbs and leaves of all varieties. Curious, Willow bent forward and leaned a jar on its side; there inside, a small ‘glob’ of blackish liquid was trying to climb the sides of the glass.
What the. . . .“I mean, is it too much to ask that they provide some form of refreshment if we’re subjected to these mindless meetings?”
Willow set the jar back down and looked at Anya. .“Ooo-kaay.” She turned her attention to the laptop with one last glance at the strange jar she had been examining.
Smiling at the familiar exchange, Tara turned and pulled an aged book from the stack on the table and sat back in her chair.
***
Demon-45 reached inside its robe, then slowly removed a glass-encased object: a small replica Earth and Moon.
***
Dawn re-entered the shop just as the bell above the door jangled. Giles and Xander walked in, hands filled with coffee carriers and donut bags. The teen smiled. “Yummy.”
Xander smiled. “I second that, Dawnster. I even— Will!”
Willow glanced over her shoulder. “Hey, Xander.”
The carpenter hopped down the stairs, his smile widening. “Glad you’re here.”
“Me, too,” she replied, returning his smile.
Xander continued into the shop, passing the last bookcase. “Tara!”
Tara’s eyes widened somewhat at the volume of his voice. “Xander?”
He plunked the two boxes of donuts onto the table and impulsively leaned down and hugged Tara. “Glad you’re here.”
Tara paused briefly, then wrapped her arms around Xander. “Me, too,” she replied, smiling brightly.
Willow’s and Tara’s eyes met and held. Willow tipped her head and sighed softly. Silently, she mouthed to Tara, “Me, too.”
Xander released Tara and sat in the chair beside her. Reaching behind him, he retrieved a folded newspaper and laid it out on the table in front of him. He pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and held it aloft. Glancing at Tara, he smiled broadly. “I love research.”
Tara’s eyes dropped to the paper, and she laughed quietly when she saw that it was the crossword puzzle. “Right. Research.”
Xander touched the pen to his forehead in mock salute, then brought it down to the paper.
Giles walked further into the shop, setting two trays of drinks on the table beside Tara. He gave the blonde witch a smile. “Good morning, Tara.”
Tara smiled. “Mr. Giles.”
Giles cleared his throat and glanced around the shop. “Is Buffy here?”
Dawn grabbed a donut as she plopped down in a chair beside Tara. “Training.” She took a huge bite. “Sthee’s conin.”
Giles glanced at the teen. “Excuse me?”
Dawn started to answer, but Tara put a hand on her arm. “She’ll be right out, Mr. Giles,” Tara said.
Giles nodded and smiled at Tara before walking towards Anya.
Tara patted Dawn’s arm. “Don’t talk with food in your mouth, Dawnie.”
The teen swallowed hard. “Sorry.”
Tara winked and gave her a soft smile before turning back to the book in front of her.
Giles stopped in front of the counter, across from Anya. “How are you, Anya?”
The Vengeance Demon rolled her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest. “How.
Am I?”
Giles cleared his throat. “Eh. . . .”
Willow’s eyes darted towards the shopkeeper, her fingers frozen over the laptop keyboard.
Uh oh. Anya turned towards Willow, raising an eyebrow. Willow’s eyes snapped back to the screen in front of her, her fingers clacking quickly across the keys.
Anya returned her gaze to Giles, shifting from one foot to the other. “How. . . am. . . I?” she asked again, this time in a more contemplative, sing-song voice. She dropped her arms and glanced around her. “Let’s see. . . .”
***
Demon-13 reached inside its robe, then slowly removed another glass-encased object: a small replica sun.
***
By the time Anya had finished the litany of just exactly “how she was,” every eye was on her. Everyone remained perfectly still and quiet, not quite sure if they should make any sound or movement at all.
Willow’s eyes drifted to Tara’s, then to Anya. She took a deep breath.
Okay. . . goin’ in. “Anya?” The Vengeance Demon slowly turned her gaze to the redhead. Willow tried not to cringe under her stare. “Uh, . . . about your computer?”
Anya unfolded her arms and walked over to her. “It’s possessed.”
Willow swallowed. “No.” She shifted her feet. “Not possessed.”
“It is evil though, right?”
Willow glanced at Tara. Tara quickly tucked a stray hair behind her ear and dropped her eyes to the book she held. The redhead looked at Anya. “Well. . . .”
***
Panting loudly, sweating profusely, Buffy stepped back from the body bag, watching it swing wildly from the last assault of fists and feet. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head back, closing her eyes. She took several breaths in through her nose and released them through her mouth, trying to slow her heart rate. After a few minutes, she took one last deep breath and exhaled. She opened her eyes and raised her head. The bag barely swung on its chain, and as Buffy started past it to go into the shop, she did a quick spinning kick that sent it swinging upwards, the chain straining against the ceiling bracket.
***
“What’s a ten-letter word meaning ‘impending dark, suggestive of gloom’?” Xander asked, eyes glued to his paper, pen tapping against his chin methodically.
Tara glanced up from her book. She opened her mouth but was interrupted before she could answer.
“Xander, what exactly does that have to do with the issue at hand?” Giles asked from where he stood across the room.
Anya stamped several pieces of paper as she answered. “He’s determined to finish one.” She sighed dramatically, the sound making it quite clear to everyone in the room just what she thought about that plan.
Xander ignored Anya’s jibe. “Ten letters?” He held up the pen so all could see. “In pen, people. Help me out here.”
Dawn pulled a book off the shelf and turned to Xander. “Here.”
Giles raised a hand quickly. “Please don’t throw that— it’s a first edition.”
Dawn’s expression was a mixture of offended-meets-hurt-by-way-of-angry. “As if I was.” The teen walked over to Xander, book held out in her hand.
Xander took the proffered item, reading the binding: ‘Roget’s Thesaurus.’ He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Ooo.”
Dawn gave Giles a quick look before returning to the bookcase.
Giles shifted his glasses. “Yes, well, do be careful, Xander.”
Buffy walked into the shop, the small towel draped around her neck. “Hey, guys.”
Willow turned away from the computer briefly and smiled before returning to the task at hand. “Hey, Buffy.”
The Slayer glanced at Willow, meeting the redhead’s smile with one of her own. “Hey, Will.” Buffy turned her eyes to the table and found Tara smiling at her as well. “Hey, Tara.”
“Hi, Buffy,” Tara replied, a small blush rising on her cheeks.
Buffy walked across the shop until she was beside Willow. “Hey,” she said, her voice low. Her eyes took in the clothes Willow had on and she smiled mischievously. “Nice outfit,” she whispered. “Looks like yesterday’s.”
Willow’s head whipped around as if Buffy had said something completely racist or homophobic.
Wha— I. Her mouth fell open but no words emerged.
Oh. My. God. She shook her head and quickly glanced at Tara; the blonde witch had her head down. She looked at The Slayer. “Buffy!” she whispered, “that’s . . . that’s just not . . . .” Her words trailed off as she struggled for the right ones to chastise her best friend.
Buffy lifted her eyebrows. “Uh-huh.” Then, she winked and wrapped an arm around Willow’s shoulders. “I’m really happy for you guys.”
Willow laughed and leaned against her best friend. “Thanks, Buffy.”
“All in a day’s work,” she said and stood back. She considered her words briefly before continuing. “Well, aside from the Slayerly carnage, of course.”
Willow nodded. “Oh, of course.”
***
Demon-25 reached inside its robe, then slowly removed another glass-encased object: Buffy's barrette.
***
Giles cleared his throat and sat down beside Xander. “Yes, well then, let’s get started.”
Anya shut the cash drawer loudly. “
Really?”
Giles’ back stiffened. “Anya, if there’s som—”
“You’re ready to start now?” the Vengeance Demon interrupted. “Really?” She waved vaguely at the front of the store. “There’s still prime shopping time to be had.” She glanced at her watch. “We could just keep talking about the ‘morning after sex walk of shame’ some more,” she continued, and then made a point of looking at Willow.
Willow’s eyes widened and she felt the heat of a blush rush up her skin.
Oh. My. God. Despite her best efforts to avoid looking at Tara and giving Anya the satisfaction of knowing she was right about them, Willow glanced over her shoulder towards the blonde.
Tara felt like all eyes had fallen on her.
Oh. My. God. She shifted self-consciously in her chair, turning her back to the counter. She knew her skin was flushed red; her shoulders hunched over, and she pressed her face deeper in her book.
Willow’s heart clenched as she watched Tara. Even though Anya’s comment had been directed at her, Willow knew Tara felt extremely embarrassed by it. She turned back to the Vengeance Demon. “You know what, Anya?”
Anya leveled her eyes at Willow and crossed her arms. She smiled. “Yes, Willow?”
Buffy’s eyes darted between Willow and Anya: Witch and Vengeance Demon. Silently, she whispered, “Oh, crap.”
Tara turned in her chair and lowered her book to the table. She swallowed.
Willow. . . .Willow’s fingers tapped against the counter top as she contemplated her next move. Willow could feel Tara’s eyes on her; she didn’t have to look at her girlfriend to know it. She could feel them. She could feel her. Taking a breath, she pointed at the laptop. “Goner.”
Anya’s smiled disappeared in an instant. The Vengeance Demon’s every financial nerve went on full alert. “What?” She moved quickly towards the redhead. “
What?“Yeah, doesn’t look good.” Willow pursed her lips and nodded sadly. “Could really cost you.”
“What do you mean?” Anya asked. “You’re a computer geek.”
Willow chose to let the last comment pass unanswered. She realized, if she had to be just a little mean to Anya in order to deflect the conversation away from her and Tara’s personal lives, she would gladly take any insult hurled her way. “I
suppose I could keep trying. . . .” Willow let her words trail off slowly, sounding unconvinced.
“Yes,” Anya jumped in answer. “Yes, you should.” She nodded emphatically.
“Well,” Willow said cautiously, as if she were weighing the pros and cons. “Okay. . .” she said.
Anya nodded. “Thank you.”
Buffy’s brows rose in surprise at Anya’s sincere thanks.
Willow felt her chest puff out.
Go, me. She sneaked a quick glance at Tara. The blonde had a brilliant smile directed her way, and Willow took in a deep breath to calm her heart.
Oh, yeah, way to go, me.“Okay, Giles, time is money.” With that, Anya smiled and walked back to the register.
“Uh, yes, well. . . ,” Giles stuttered after a moment. “Shall we?”
***
All four Demons held the objects reverently in both hands. At some silent signal between them, they raised their hands, holding the objects in front of their robed bodies.
***
Buffy faced Giles, leaned back, and rested her elbows on the top of the glass counter. “So, what’s the what? What’d I miss?”
With an overdramatic sigh, Anya responds. “Aside from Willow and Tara having makeup sex and not bothering to hide it?”
Absolute stunned silence followed.
Tara’s eyes widened and her smile quickly disappeared. She glanced at Giles, not too surprised to see the Watcher suddenly cleaning his glasses furiously. Tara looked back at Willow and found the redhead shaking her head softly with an ‘I give up’ look on her face, complete with silently mumbling lips and eyes looking Heavenward. Despite her embarrassment, Tara found Willow’s expression more than she could stand. She laughed out loud.
Willow quickly looked at Tara, more than a little shocked by her reaction. But the way Tara covered her mouth to stifle her laughter and ducked her head made Willow’s smile break loose.
Tara. . . .Buffy turned her head slowly and stared at Anya. Then, she nodded and said calmly, “Yes, Anya, besides that.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” the Vengeance Demon replied with a shrug of her shoulder. “I wasn’t listening.”
***
The demons began to chant, swaying slightly back-and-forth. Demon-60 spoke, the sound like gravel scraping under foot. “Gal-kot, minnust dey Falla, anrak tel, ver benka. Kalvoch tel rahl.”
Gal-kot, minion of the Fallen One, hear us, we beseech thee. Grant us this Time.The hourglass began to glow inside the glass.
***
Willow glanced at Buffy as her fingers continued their dance over the laptop keys. “I’ve been making the usual checks into Missing Persons, but nothing so far.”
Buffy nodded. “Those doofuses were twins, maybe that’ll help.”
Willow tipped her head. “Worth a try.” She typed in a few words. “And maybe sports? I mean, they were all wearing team uniforms, that’s gotta be something, right?”
Giles closed the book in his hands and reached for the newspaper on the table in front of him. “Excellent idea, Willow.” Buffy made a face at Giles, and pointed a finger at herself. “Yes, twins, excellent.” Buffy smiled.
Xander shook the pen in his hand and tried to write again without any luck. He stared through the clear plastic at the blue ink inside. “What’s with this pen?” He shook it several more times before trying to write again.
***
Demon-13 raised its sun-encased box. “Kalvoch tel pahna.”
Grant us this space.The sun began to glow inside the glass.
***
Willow held up her hand. “Hey, here’s. . . this might be something. Three weeks ago, a Coach Pentland went ‘missing’ under what the Sunnydale Police are calling, ‘mysterious circumstances’.”
“Ah, yes, Hellmouth speak for the coach becoming something’s Monster Mash,” Xander piped in.
Dawn turned to Xander. “Gross.”
Giles looked at the carpenter. “Yes, Xander, thank you.”
Xander smirked, then frowned and threw the pen onto the table. “Deader.”
Tara glanced at Xander before reaching for her bag. “I think I have one.”
Giles cleared his throat. “Anything else, Willow?”
“Well,” Willow said, as she scrolled down the page on the screen, “Not too much more about him. But, soon after, several students— all athletes— began to disappear.” She looked over her shoulder. “Do you think he’s—”
“Starting his very own All-Star League of the Undead?” Buffy interrupted.
Tara looked up from her bag. “It explains the uniforms.” Willow caught Tara’s eye and smiled. Tara winked and lowered her eyes back to the task at hand.
Buffy’s brow furrowed. “Can you imagine? Eternal life in polyester pants and stirrups?”
Giles raised his eyes Heavenward and sighed. “Lord.”
***
Demon-45 raised the Earth and Moon encased glass box. “Kalvoch tel ledock.”
Grant us this world.The Earth and Moon began to glow inside the glass.
***
“Sorry, Xander,” Tara said with one last sweep through her bag. She shook her head.
Xander shifted in his chair. “Pen. Anyone.” He raised his hands. “Anyone?”
Giles set the newspaper down and ignored Xander. “It seems there’s a new vampire clan forming, one of the athletic variety.”
From behind the counter, Anya replied sarcastically, “You think?”
As Giles started to answer, Tara stepped in. “S-so, where should we start?” She swallowed. “Looking. . . for them?”
Buffy considered. “Well, . . . student athletes?” She glanced at Willow. “UC?”
Willow nodded in agreement. “Makes sense.” She reached over and idly ran her fingers over the small jar closest to her. “They’d have access to the dorms, the gym, the quad, everywhere.”
***
Demon-25 raised its glass case, Buffy’s barrette suspended inside. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.The barrette began to glow inside the glass.
***
“A writing utensil?” Xander repeated, and clapped his hands once. “Anyone?”
“For Pedwin’s sake!” Anya exclaimed. The Vengeance Demon turned her head left and right, her eyes searching for any type of writing implement.
Willow glanced around the laptop, searching the glass counter top. “There’s gotta be one around. . . .”
Buffy shifted and glanced over her shoulder at the counter.
“Ugh.” Dawn rolled her eyes. “Here,” she muttered as she bent over and shoved her hand inside her backpack. She sifted through the contents, pushing papers and books aside, searching for a pen.
Xander sighed dramatically and stood up. “A pen?” He started towards Buffy and Willow. When he reached the counter, he squeezed himself between The Slayer and witch, bumping them slightly, before he started rummaging around the glass jars.
“Hey!” Anya shouted. “Watch the merchandise!”
“Hold on,” Dawn said, as she tossed items onto the table. “I said I have one.” She frowned into her backpack. “Somewhere,” she muttered quietly.
Xander pushed several jars out of the way. “How hard is it to find a pen?”
Anya huffed loudly and started out from behind the cash register. “Stop manhandling the goods!”
Buffy raised both hands in mock surrender and stepped back as the Vengeance Demon stormed over to them. She backed off, sidestepping Willow until she had moved completely behind the counter, facing her best friend.
“I’m not manhandling, I’m looking,” the carpenter replied, then proceeded to slide a jar into the side of the laptop with a loud
clank.
“Manhandling!” Anya yelled.
Willow reached out to steady the rattling jar. “Guys!”
Tara lifted her eyes at the sound of raised voices and clinging glass.
Uh. . . . She turned to Giles again, worried that the Watcher was calmly cleaning his glasses and softly shaking his head. She swallowed and turned back to the clustered group at the counter.
***
Demon-25 lifted its eyes to the sky and repeated the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
Anya grabbed Xander’s arm with both hands and tugged. “Man! Handling!”
Xander turned to Anya. “Demon! Handling!” he said as he tried to pull his arm from the Vengeance Demon’s grasp.
Tara cleared her throat and slowly stood. “M-maybe you should—”
“Hey,” Buffy said, as she stepped closer to the counter, holding up her hands. “Cool it.”
***
Demon-25 looked from one demon to the other, then lifted its eyes to the sky again before repeating the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
Xander dropped his eyes to where Anya’s hands still gripped him. “Let go.”
Anya looked at Xander’s hand, which now held a small glass jar. “You let go.”
“Got one!” From across the room, Dawn threw her arm up triumphantly. “Told you!”
“Let go,” Xander repeated, tugging on his arm.
“You,” Anya replied, yanking back.
“Both of you,” Giles sighed and stood up. “Let go.”
Tara glanced at Giles, relieved that the Watcher had finally decided to say something.
Thank you.
***
The other demons followed suit, lifting their eyes toward the sky, repeating the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
“Let! Go!” Xander yelled.
“You! Anya yelled.
Dawn stood up. “Xander, here.” The teen cocked her arm back. “Catch.”
***
All four demons repeated the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
Xander took one final, hard pull on his arm, just as Anya released it. Suddenly off balance, his body fell against the counter, his arm sweeping across the glass top as he half-slid/half-crashed into Willow.
***
Bluish-red lightning crashed down from the skies, splitting into four spindly tendrils, striking each glass object held in each demon’s hands.
***
Dawn threw her arm forward, releasing the pen in an arcing toss.
***
As the energy swirled around and through each glass case, the demons repeated the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
Buffy stumbled as she tried to grab Willow.
***
The energy became brighter, more turbulent. The demons repeated the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
Willow tried to balance herself, but the impact of Xander’s body was too much, and she felt herself going over. Her hand grasped blindly for some type of purchase as she fell, but she succeeded only in snagging the laptop as she continued downward to the floor.
***
The energy became blinding in its intensity. The demons repeated the words. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.***
“Willow!” Tara screamed, as she watched Xander slam into the redhead and Willow fall over.
***
Demon-25 raised its voice above the cacophony and shouted the words to the skies. “Kalvoch tel breigh.”
Grant us this prey.The energy suddenly burst from the glass cases, the four tendrils retracting momentarily before striking outwards, moving through the roof of The Magic Box—
***
—coalescing inside into a singular, twisted bolt of lightning.
Without warning, it shot across the room and struck Buffy dead center in the chest.
***
All four demons lowered the glass cases they held. Demon-25 nodded. “Breigh.”
Prey.
***
Buffy felt something strike her chest, felt herself being thrown to the ground by an enormous, unseen force. The Slayer lay on the floor, stunned. She tried to move, but her entire body felt weighted down. She finally opened her eyes, blinking rapidly to bring them into focus. “Ow. . . .”
***
The laptop crashed to the floor, missing Willow’s head by mere inches. Xander landed on top of the redhead, knocking the breath from her lungs. Dozens of jars rained down over them both, glass shattering, the contents exploding over their bodies and the floor. Smoke plumes swirled up around them in multicolored mushroom shapes.
Dawn’ pen landed harmlessly at Anya’s feet.
Tara rushed to Willow’s side, going down onto her knees beside the redhead. “W-Willow?” The blonde waived her hand over Willow, trying to move the smoke away.
Willow turned to look at Tara, smiling softly at the concern she found in her eyes. Her smile turned to a grimace as she felt the weight of Xander on top of her. “Ow. . . .”
In absolute, utter disbelief, Anya stared at Xander. And Willow. And the laptop. And the destroyed merchandise. “I. . . I. . . I should—”
“Anya,” Giles said cautiously, as he hurriedly walked across the shop towards the group. The Vengeance Demon turned to face him, lowering her arms to her sides. He cleared his throat. “Is everyone all right?”
“I. . . .” Anya began, then shook her head. Raising a hand, she snapped her fingers and disappeared without another word.
“Ow.” Xander gingerly pushed himself off of Willow. “Sorry, Wills.”
“It’s. . . okay.” Willow nodded and pressed a hand to her side. “I’m okay,” she said and looked at Tara. “I’m fine.”
Thank you. . . . Tara closed her eyes briefly and released a shaky breath. She opened her eyes and laid a hand against Willow’s forehead.
“Is everyone all right?” Giles asked again.
“Buffy?”
All eyes turned towards the teen across the room.
***
Buffy took a deep breath and tried to move again. She coughed as she finally managed to turn onto her side. “Guys. . . .” The Slayer pushed herself onto her hands and knees; she reached an unsteady hand up and grasped onto the edge of the counter. “What. . . the. . .” she said as she pulled herself up to her feet and turned to the others.
***
Giles frowned and turned towards the counter. “Buffy?”
“Buffy?” Dawn raced from where she stood at the table, skirting around the edge of the counter and register. She stopped suddenly, frozen on the spot.
“Dawn?” Tara asked.
“Dawn?” Giles craned his neck to look over the counter but thought better of it. He followed Dawn behind the glass case, stopping just behind the teen.
Willow tried to sit up, grateful to Tara as the blonde’s arm slipped around her shoulders to support her effort. “Giles?”
Dawn shook her head, her eyes wide in disbelief. “She’s. . . she’s gone.”
***
Buffy stared, mouth agape, at what she saw before her eyes.
Everyone stood completely still.
Frozen.
Statues.
Frozen.
Willow was hanging in mid-air, a mere foot off the ground, her eyes squeezed shut. The laptop hung suspended just off the edge of the counter. Glass jars dangled in the air. Xander had one arm outstretched behind him as his body arched backwards from the counter, inches separating him from Willow. Anya’s hands were frozen in front of her, her eyes wide. Giles, Tara and Dawn stood beside the table, eyes glued to the scene before them.
As Buffy’s eyes moved from Dawn, she noticed an object hovering between them. It took The Slayer a second to realize it was the pen Dawn had thrown. Frozen. In mid-air. Frozen. Buffy closed her eyes in one long, slow blink. She took a deep breath, then opened them.
“. . . fuck.”
TBC
KrisBo5
"Frell that!"
by Take.A.Chance » Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:54 am 
I do believe I heard this personally when you were headed out of the country! Still waiting honey!
It's such a beautiful story, I hope you will continue it.
OMG, she lives! Jeeze Kris, just seems like a year and a half ago I begged for an update! *LOL*
