A Star’s Second ChanceBy: AstronSoul
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Buffy characters, wish I did though.
Summary: It's the next morning, what are our lovely couples doing?
Distribution: Tara is recovering with Willow by her side, the gang is about to all come together, but what is happening with Donald?
Chapter 25: Revelations and PaybackThe nurse quietly walks into the room, smiling when she sees the redhead passed out in the recliner next to the bed; doing her best not to wake anyone as she check’s the blonde’s vitals.
After she finishes and grabs an extra blanket for the woman in the chair, she notices that the two women were holding hands as if their lives depended on it.
‘Maybe their lives do depend on in’ she thinks as she slowly shut the door and walks back to the nurses’ station.
A few minutes later the actress starts to stir, her body wanting to stretch on instinct but stops as she grunts in pain looking down at her stomach.
Remembering what happened the day before she sighs, then looks over to the right side of the bed and couldn’t help but smile; her Willow was right beside her as promised.
Watching the redhead for a moment, Tara thinks back to before she met the woman who was by her side now…
~Flashback~“TARA!” a voice yells through the brand new house as the movers bring in the last bit of furniture from the trucks, “TARA!”
A slender figure was trying to find her daughter to see where she wanted everything, “For goodness sake woman where are you!”
Rounding a corner she finally finds the blonde hunched over a large box of pictures, “What are you doing sweetie?” the woman asks as she bent down to see a pile of discarded photos; all of the girl’ father being thrown away.
Wiping her brow the young woman stands up right, “Hey mom, I am getting rid of trash, don’t need these pictures too many bad memories. So do you like the house?”
Looking around, the taller woman smiles at her daughter, “It’s amazing and huge, and I can’t believe you can afford this, let alone we will be living here. You have really done well for yourself sweetheart.”
Grinning, Tara moves around the boxes to hug her mother, “We deserve something really nice after what we went through, it won’t ever be a worry for us again mom, never.”
~End Flashback~Smiling sadly the blonde gives the redhead’s hand a squeeze as she closes her eyes again.
“Mmmmm going back to sleep baby or just relaxing?” came a groggy voice from the recliner and droopy eyes were half open looking at her.
Turning her head and giggling at the sight of the wild hair on top of her girlfriend’s head, “Just relaxing love, I didn’t think they would allow you to stay with me?”
Sitting up but not letting go of the blonde’s hand, Willow smiles, “I am your adoptive sister if anyone comes in asking, the nurse helped us out so I could stay. How are you feeling sweetie?”
Moving slightly and feeling a twinge the blonde cringes a bit, “Better, well as good as person can be from getting shot. Willow, did Clarrise help us yesterday?”
“Yes, she actually did, and apologized to me while you were in surgery. Maybe she is turning a new leaf?” the redhead unconsciously starts rubbing her thumb over the back of the actress’ hand.
“That’s odd of her, then again what happened was a bit nerve wracking, did they catch whoever did this yet?”
“No baby, not yet but they are scouring the city, they’ll find him honey, you are safe now.” The professor stands leaning over the bed and giving the actress a soft kiss on the lips, just as a nurse comes in’ making Willow jump back.
Chuckling the nurse grabs the clipboard at the end of the bed, “Lucky it was me and not some other nurse” smiling as she looks at the clipboard, “How are you feeling today Ms. McClay?”
“Tired but good, thank you for letting Willow stay.” The smile on the actress’ face showing how sincere she was
.
“You are welcome, far be it from me to stand between to people in love, I think my own girlfriend would have my head,’ winking she set the clipboard down and starts checking Tara’s pulse.
“Well you have a lucky girlfriend then,” states the redhead before she looks at Tara eyes widening at the raised curious brow the actress gave her, “I mean that she is lucky to have you, um that you two are lucky to have each other cause’ I have a great girlfriend already, I mean um…”
The nurse kept her head down trying not to laugh at the babbling from the smaller woman, knowing exactly what she meant but seeing the blonde’s face she wanted to see what would happen.
“See I am very happy with Tara, I was just…”
“Willow sweetie, calm down you are not in trouble, and she might hurt herself from not laughing if you don’t stop.” The blond said smiling and pulling Willow closer, “She knows what you meant and so did I, I was just teasing you.”
Pouting the redhead looks between her girlfriend and the nurse, “That is so not fair ganging up on me.”
“Sorry Ms. Rosenberg, but that was just too entertaining. Ever think of acting yourself?” Standing the nurse writes on the clipboard, and then starts to check the actress’ blood pressure.
“Me act?” shaking her head Willow grunts, “I would be too shocked to speak if I tried that.”
Giggling then groaning as Tara moves her free hand to her side, “Ohh okay, no giggling or laughing too much that hurts.”
“You will have to take it easy for a while Ms. McClay, your vitals are good. I am going to go and notify the doctor you are awake, someone will bring both of you breakfast soon.” Swiftly the nurse puts everything back and then leaves the room.
“I am not looking forward to hospital food.” The actress states as she scrunches up her nose.
Giggling Willow sits on the edge of the bed, “Did you notice she said breakfast for both of us, I get one too so we suffer together.”
Smiling Tara nods and cuddles into her girlfriends side as best she could, feeling the woman’s fingers comb through her hair, she closes her eyes sighing in content as they wait.
****************************
The apartment filled up with the smell of toast, eggs and bacon as Marie stirs from her sleep to find the spot next to her empty
.
Slowly she sits up, stretching instinctively as the sheets fall away from her body; neither she nor her partner had heard the news of what happened the day before yet.
Quickly she threw on some shorts and an oversized t-shirt to go into the kitchen, finding Fang working over the stove.
“Hey baby, oooo breakfast!” kissing the tall woman on the cheek, Marie pulls out a stool and sits at the counter.
“Morning sunshine, how do you like your eggs?”
“Over medium please.”
Smiling Fang nods and cracks two eggs into the skillet and puts a lid over them for faster cooking, “How did you sleep sunshine?”
“Very well, though I woke up to an empty bed, not very fun.” Giving a playful pout at her girlfriend, until Fang walks around and gives Marie a deep good morning kiss.
Pulling back and grinning Fang walks back around the counter, “Better?”
“Much” smiling Marie pours herself a glass of Orange Juice and then notices Fang’s phone has a missed call, “Hey babe, you have a missed call…”
Handing the phone to her girlfriend and watching as she listens to it.
All sorts of emotions crossed the woman’s face from anger to sadness, “We have to go now!”
Fang quickly got the eggs, done cooking onto a plate and on the counter before she rushed back to her bedroom to get dressed.
Looking bewildered, Marie scarfed down her perfectly cooked eggs and then ran into the bedroom, “Sweetheart what is it?”
Looking up from her drawers, there were tears in Fang’s eyes, “My cousin was shot on set yesterday that was Willow calling me. We have to get to the hospital.”
Quickly slipping on a bra and tank top, with Marie following suit they were out the door in fifteen minutes and driving to the hospital.
Noticing the tense position Fang was in as she drove, Marie rests her hand on the woman’s thigh “She’s a fighter hun, I know she will be okay.”
“Thank you sunshine”
The car fell silent as they made their way to the hospital.
****************************
Men cladded in black bullet proof vests swarmed into a motel about six blocks away from where the shooting occurred.
Thanks to an anonymous caller, police received a tip of where Donald McClay could be staying; having made sure the building was cleared without notifying his room.
One man motioned for the maid to come to the door and knock and ask if he wanted room service, a feint yell from behind the door refusing the services could be heard.
Then the maid quickly left to make it to safety.
One of the men closest to the door holds up his hand with three fingers up, slowly bending each finger counting down to one; as he hit one they broke the down the door and swarmed the room.
Finding Donald McClay in bed with a shocked look on his face as fifteen assault rifles were pointed at him; cursing himself that he didn’t have fast enough reaction to get to his gun to at least take out a few first.
“Hands up where we can see them!”
Quickly he complies, and just as fast as his hands were up, a man flipped him over and cuffed his hands behind his back.
“Donald McClay, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Tara McClay, and the murder of Ron Anderson….”
Donald zoned out the rest of the officer reading his rights as they pushed him out of his room and down the hall.
All officers following close behind just in case he tried something stupid.
As they got outside, news reporters, vans and the like were there filming the exit of the man that shot Tara McClay and murdered a stage hand.
He didn’t try to hide, as they were putting him in the car he yelled, “HOMOSEXUALS ARE A SIN AND SHOULD BE WIPED FROM THIS EARTH!!!”
One officer before he could say anything else, gave him a hit over the head as a warning to shut up; then they shut the door leaving him in the back seat with camera’s flashing in his face.
****************************
Fang pulled into the parking lot and threw her 2002 Chevy Cavalier into park, quickly both women jumped out and went inside.
Approaching the Nurses’ station, they both notice Faith was there.
“Hey Faith, how is she?”
Turning to face them, Faith gives a small smile as she motioned for them to follow her, “Tara is fine, they removed the bullet last night and she was stable throughout the night.”
They stop in front of the actress’ door and hear talking on the other side, and then some giggling.
“I wonder if Red stayed all night…” Faith mused quietly more to herself as she pushed the door open to see both women making sculptures out of their hospital breakfast. “And here I was wondering if she was tickling you to death!”
Both women look up as Willow jumps, “Heh, well can’t torture her with tickles, so we sculpted.” The redhead holds up her tray and laughs.
Stepping out from behind Faith, Fang looks at her cousin and is relieved to see her smiling; quickly she walks over and gently hugs the actress.
“I am so glad you are okay Cuz, I was worried when I finally got Willow’s message this morning.”
“I’m fine sweetie” noticing Marie was by the door, Tara gives a hand motion, “Come on in Marie, I won’t bite but be careful Willow might.”
Suddenly the room busted into laughter as Marie smiling weakly came into the room.
“Thank you, I am glad you are okay…well oh you know…” the girl looks down at her feet not sure what to do; then she feels strong arms around her from behind and she looks up into those amber eyes.
“Hey sunshine, it’s okay. She’s gonna be fine and you are with me the world is right for once.” Kissing the girls cheek then smiling at her cousin.
Tara seemed to watch with a small smile as her cousin interacted with her former employee, wondering when they had gotten together.
Shaking her head she looks at Faith, “Thank you Faith for being there for Willow. She told me everything from after I was shot, and I think I want to lift the restraining order off Clarrise.”
“WHAT!?!” was the collected yell of everyone in the room to Tara’s statement.
The actress waited for everyone to calm down, “You heard me, she showed last night that she can be mature. How soon can it be lifted?”
Rubbing the back of her neck, Willow wasn’t sure what to think but supported her girl. “Faith, if Tara wants it lifted, then it gets lifted. Can you contact the studio on Monday?”
“Sure Red, I’ll get it lifted as soon as I can, I hope you know what you are doing T.” Moving back Faith plops into a chair and pulls her phone out to text her girlfriend.
“Thanks Faith” turning to her cousin and Marie, “When did you two get together?”
Grinning Fang slowly walked over to her cousin with Marie still in front of her, “Remember when I asked her out?”
As the actress nods, Fang begins to explain the events that led up to her and Maries relationship.
****************************
Sitting in a jail cell wasn’t what Donald had in mind for neither his morning or day, nor being questioned to death and finding out that they matched a fingerprint of his to one on a bullet casing that was left at the scene.
They had found his gun, which he had stupidly kept to use later again and he knew he wasn’t getting out of jail anytime soon.
“Here’s your lunch, try and not choke on it, I want to see what happens at your trial.” An officer slid a tray towards him with what looked like a fried steak and mashed potatoes.
Picking it up, Donald sneered as he sat on his bed and picked up the small plastic fork, “Well at least I get fed for free now and I don’t have to pay for it.
He begins eating, dreading what is coming next.
TBC
Hope you enjoy this update!!!!