Unexpected Consequences: A Willow and Tara novel.
Please read the Disclaimer before continuing to remain in the site or reading the stories. These stories contain adult material with scenes of women loving women. Consider this story to have an R rating. If this is illegal in your state or you are underage, please go to a more appropriate site now.
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Disclaimer: I don't own any Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters. No copyright infringement is intended. Original characters are mine.
Pairing: W/T... eventually
Angst Rating: Highest rating... buy stock in Kleenex
Rating: PG 13 for adult themes and eventual W/T goodness.
Unexpected Consequences
© December 2001
By Lisa Countryman
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
‘This is so unfair,’ Amy thought as she scurried around inside a pile of garbage. She’d been hiding there for what felt like hours. Her memories of living as a rodent gave her a slight advantage over Caedo. He didn’t know how to use his feline body or his enhanced senses. Amy, on the other hand, knew exactly how to use her body and her senses. ‘Like I can’t smell him waiting out there?’ she thought grumpily. ‘Move on already,’ she added in her thoughts. She wiggled next to a crumpled milk carton. It reeked of rancid milk, but it created a small space where she could take a breather.
Caedo shifted his weight and sighed. He now had a glob of something stuck to the fur near his tail. ‘I’m gonna’ enjoy killing her,’ he thought angrily. ‘How could Rack do this to me?’ He growled and went to the garbage pile and poked at it.
Amy scurried deeper into the pile. ‘I really miss my cage, my safe warm, dry cage.’ Her foot stuck to something and she squeaked. ‘Gross!’ She shook her paw, flinging coffee grounds and grease everywhere inside her tiny air pocket. She heard something to her left, and her beady eyes widened. Something was digging its way toward her. She inhaled deeply and realized the rat she had faced earlier had returned. ‘Just what I need.’
Caedo was tired of waiting. He shivered and decided to bite the bullet. ‘Okay, Amy, where are you?’ He balanced on three legs and pawed through the garbage. Every disgusting bit of garbage that his paw touched made him angrier. He pulled back a discarded pizza box and saw a rat. He pounced and then hissed when it bit his paw. ‘You bitch,’ he thought as he swung his claws out and slashed the rat. ‘Hey, I could get used to these.’ He slashed the rat again.
The rat squeaked and snapped it teeth at Caedo. The warlock pressed his paw on its head and bit the rat’s neck. He heard the satisfying crunch as the rat’s neck snapped. ‘Stupid junkie,’ he thought. Just when the warlock thought Amy was finished, he saw another rat scurry out of the garbage pile and scamper down the alley. He paused, watching the unnatural gait of the escaping rat. ‘Oh, gross!’ He gagged and wondered how to spit using his thin, tight, cat lips. ‘A real rat was in my mouth!’ He swiped at his mouth with his paw and winced when he rubbed garbage across his face. ‘You are so dead, Amy.’ He spun and trotted after her.
*****
Willow looked at the clock nervously. She and Buffy had been talking about seeing Brianna, and the discussion made her miss Tara even more.
"Go check on your honey," Buffy said with a smile.
"What?" Willow spun back to Buffy and bit her lip guiltily. "What? I was listening."
"Go check on Tara before you strain a neck muscle turning to see the clock." Buffy closed the text and pointed at the door.
"Okay." Willow smiled brightly and jumped to her feet. "Say bye to the others." She spun and jogged out of the cafeteria.
Giles saw her leave as he came back with a tray laden with different desserts. "Gone to check on Tara?" he asked as he put the tray on the table.
"Yeah." Buffy stared at the collection of desserts. "Um, did you pick up a sugar addiction while you were in England?"
"Dawn couldn’t decide." Giles rolled his eyes. "She assured me you and the others would help her eat this pile of wasted calories."
"And she was right." Buffy grabbed a slice of devil’s food cake. "Chocolate!" She sank her fork into it and took a huge mouthful. "Umm, this is good," she mumbled with a mouthful.
"I’ll take your word for it." Giles sipped his tea. "Blasted Americans, they don’t even know how to brew a decent cup of tea."
"We are the blasted Americans," Dawn said as she sat next to him. "Hey! I wanted the chocolate cake," she whined.
"You can have the chocolate pudding or the chocolate milkshake," Giles pointed out. "Or the frozen yogurt."
"Yeah, but I wanted cake." Dawn folded her arms over her chest and glared at Buffy.
The Slayer wrapped an arm around the plate of chocolate cake. "Then have the carrot cake," Buffy suggested.
"I was saving that for Tara," Dawn said. "She loves it." She looked at the door expectantly. She wanted to go check on the blonde witch.
"No, Dawn," Buffy said gently. "Tara and Willow need some time alone."
Dawn nodded but her concern was obvious.
"Here." Buffy pushed half the chocolate cake over to her sister.
"Thanks," Dawn said as she took a bite.
*****
Rack smiled triumphantly as he walked around Tara. He studied her. She was beautiful, with a voluptuous body and flawless skin. He frowned. "How did you heal so quickly?" he asked in a gritty whisper.
Tara spun and faced him. "Clean living." She crossed her arms loosely over her chest.
"Oh, I’m gonna’ enjoy this." He rubbed his hand together anticipating the power he was going to take from her. "I’m gonna’ know you better than you know yourself." He reached out his hand.
"You don’t get to touch me." Tara backed away and held both palms toward him.
"You agreed," he said angrily. He rubbed his fingers together in front of his scarred face. "A deal’s a deal. Now lower your hands so I can take a little look around."
"The deal was I give you my power." Tara’s hands began to glow.
Rack licked his lips. He could feel and taste her power. It was sweet like honey and cream and vanilla, and just standing near her was making his pulse race. "Okay," he agreed. "Give it to me." He held up his palms toward her.
Tara smiled and flexed her fingers apart. Tendrils of energy hit Rack’s hands and he shivered. She lowered her hands and he dropped to his knees.
"Don’t stop," he ordered. It was ecstasy and he needed more. It was as if he was experiencing hours of magical highs all at once. Time seemed to slow as Tara’s warmth filled him. The tiny dose of Tara’s magic left his body quickly and he screamed as his belly cramped. "What did you do?" he demanded as he fell forward and crawled toward her.
"It hurts, doesn’t’ it?" Tara moved another step away. "To want something that badly and to know you can only have it if I let you." She imagined Willow craving dark magic and the thought made her shiver. Her gaze hardened as she watched Rack begin to go through exaggerated withdrawals.
"We had a deal." He broke into a cold sweat.
"Yes, we did," Tara agreed. "But you never said I had to give it to you when you wanted it."
"You bitch!" He pointed a shaking hand at her and sent a bolt of green energy at her.
Tara blocked the blast with one hand, and then pointed the other hand at him and sent a burst of energy at him. It impacted and he rolled onto his back and exhaled with relief.
"What are you?" He climbed to his knees, reeling from the pleasure, but still shaking from the pain.
"It’s more addictive because it’s pure." Tara ignored his question and went to the wall and leaned against it.
"What are you?" he demanded again. His instant high was already fading, and the pain in his belly was worse than before.
"That’s what it feels like for them," Tara said calmly. "Only it isn’t over so quickly."
He staggered to his feet. "Tell me what you are?" He stumbled to her and grabbed her arm. He didn’t like having someone else control him, so he sent a wave of dark magic toward her.
Tara raised an eyebrow.
"You’re not here!" Rack backed away and his eyes showed his fear. "What … how?" He doubled over as his stomach threatened to empty.
"I can stop now," Tara suggested. "Let you come down and break the cycle." She moved toward him with her hands cupped as if holding out water to a man dying of thirst. "You can let me keep this." White energy pooled in her palms and swirled enticingly. "And I’ll let you leave Sunnydale forever." He had hurt the woman she loved more than she valued her own life, and he had their child murdered, yet Tara’s gentle heart wouldn’t allow to her kill him without giving him one more chance. She pulled her hands apart and the energy disappeared.
"We had a deal." He grabbed her by the throat, his eyes wild.
She struggled to break his grip, but his fingers clenched her tightly.
"I want it all!" His hands glowed red as he ripped her power from her.
She screamed as he forcibly took the energy that the goddess had given her. Her face redden as his gripped tighten.
His eyes rolled back into his head and he levitated a few inches off the ground. "More," he insisted as he gripped her throat and gave her a brutal shake. He could tell she was holding back, and he wanted it all. If could take her magic, and then offer it to his clients, he’d have the most powerful, intoxicating, and addictive product in town, that is, if he was willing to share it. "Give it to me."
Tara couldn’t breath. She knew it was only her astral body, but the pain in her ethereal lungs felt real. She opened her tearing eyes and gave him what he wanted.
*****
Amy rounded the corner of the alley and ran toward the Rack’s hidden lair. She thought if she could just find a place to hide, maybe one of Rack’s clients would realize she was a witch and they could turn her back. She saw a small sewer grate and decided that was a good place to wait. ‘Please, no more rats,’ she thought as she scurried toward the opening in the street. A sharp pain hit her. It felt like her hip had suddenly burst into flames. She jerked away from the pain and spun to she Caedo looming over her. In her haste to get to the sewer grate, she hadn’t heard him approach.
‘Now, you’re mine,’ the warlock-turned-cat thought as he took another swipe at Amy.
Amy squealed as she darted away from his paw. She scrambled toward the sewer but the cat leapt over her and blocked her path.
‘Why aren’t there ever any stray dogs around when you need them?’ she wondered as she stared into his golden eyes.
Caedo moved back and forth looking for an opening so he could finish Amy off. Her hip had a set of jagged slashes from his claws and the blood was dripping down her matted fur. He knew with just a few well placed swipes she would be dead and he could take her broken body to Rack.
Amy still had a few tricks up her furry sleeves. She waited until she saw Caedo’s eyes dilate, knowing that was an unconscious reaction a split second before a predator pounced. When she saw his pupils widen, she dove for the cover of the sewer. She slid between the grates and felt a burning sensation on her butt. A second later she splashed into the standing water in the sewer tunnel. She swam the few feet to the edge of the water and climbed onto the narrow walkway.
‘What did I do to deserve this?’ she wondered. ‘Oh, yeah, nearly got Willow and all her friends killed. Who knew karma was so immediate?’ She shook her body, sending showers of sewer water all around her. ‘My tail!’ she thought miserably. She looked down at her tail and saw that it was missing the last inch. The burning sensation must have been from that. She looked up at the sewer grate and saw Caedo peeking down at her. The end of her tail was dangling from his mouth.
‘How do I get her now?’ Caedo wondered. There was no way for him to squeeze between the narrow bars of the grate and he didn’t have any idea where to access the sewer directly.
Amy rubbed her tiny feet over her face as she sat huddled in the sewer. She was soaked, but for the moment she was safe. A loud splash echoed from the far end of the tunnel, and Amy realized there might be predators in the sewer that were much more dangerous than Caedo.
Another splash came from the tunnel and then Amy saw the surface of the water ripple. Something was coming toward her in the water and it sounded big.
Caedo would have smirked if his cat lips could have curled up on the edges. Instead, he took a step back so that Amy might try to escape out the same grate she had just plunged through. If the witch-turned-rat didn’t, she would probably be eaten by whatever was in the sewer with her. He was laughing inside his mind. A purr erupted from his throat and he froze. ‘Guess my body knows how to do some things naturally,’ he mused.
"Nice kitty," a voice said from behind him. "Com’ere, pretty kitty."
Caedo spun and saw a vampire crouched over and coming toward him. The warlock-turned-cat hissed and backed away.
"Come ‘ere," the vampire said as he edged closer. "You’re not a kitten, but I bet I can ante up with you."
Caedo was in shock. He knew vampires and other demonic gamblers used kittens as currency, but he’d never expected to be rounded up as a furry poker chip. He hissed and backed further down the alley.
"Nice kitty," the vampire said as he cut off Caedo’s path.
Caedo scanned the alley for some escape. His keen eyesight spotted something in the corner next to the brick wall. It was a broken crate, but part of the crate was still nailed together forming a crude cross. He growled and ran between the vampire’s legs and sprinted for the debris. He dove behind it and nudged it upright with his whiskered nose.
The vampire watched in stunned amazement, and more than a little amusement. He shielded his eyes from the makeshift cross. "Well, looks like this kitty’s more than he seems." He edged closer. "What do we have here?"
Caedo growled deep in his throat.
"Easy, I’m not gonna’ use you for barter." The vampire chuckled as he watched the black cat trying to wield a cross twice his size. "Gotta' be better uses for you."
Caedo saw a small ground-level window beside him that was slightly ajar. He knew the building housed apartments, and he hoped the window was a private dwelling. He scrambled through the opening and dropped to the floor of a laundry room. He looked up and saw the vampire trying to reach in, but his hand couldn’t cross the barrier into the room.
‘Finally, something goes my way,’ Caedo thought as he wiped his grimy feet on a pile of laundry.
A door opened and an elderly woman came into the small room. "What’s all that racket? Well, hello precious," the old woman said as she scooped Caedo up before he could so much as growl. "You need a bath," she said as she carted him over to the large wash tub.
Caedo’s leg dangled as the old woman stuck him in the sink and turned on the warm water. ‘This wont be so bad,’ he thought. He sat patiently as the water filled. The warm suds felt good as the layers of street grit washed from his fur.
"What a good boy," the old woman said. "Sitting so nice for me." She scrubbed his fur, getting all the sticky residue from between his toes.
‘Now this is more like it,’ he thought as she lifted him from the sink and dried his fur. He purred contentedly.
"Let’s get my precious something to wear." The old woman opened a cupboard revealing a stack of cat-sized dresses.
‘Oh, god, put me back out with the vampire,’ Caedo thought as the old woman grabbed a pink sequined cat-gown. ‘This is hell,’ he decided. ‘I’m dead and in hell. This old bat’s gonna’ dress me like a Barbie reject.’
"Now, where did I put those slippers?" the old woman asked as she dug through the cupboard. "Ah, there they are, right next to the fairy princess crown."
‘Screw this!’ Caedo bolted out the window and scrambled behind a dumpster. He peeked out, noticing that the vampire had moved on looking for easier prey.
"Kitty?" the old woman called out the window. "Come back, precious," she said forlornly.
‘Not in this lifetime,’ he thought as he trotted toward the sewer grate. He pressed his face against the bars and peered into the darkness. His cat vision allowed him to see a large snake churning in the water. ‘Well, Amy, looks like you got yours.’ He backed away from the grate feeling quite smug now that he was clean and Amy was apparently snake bait. His skin suddenly felt like ice. He hissed and spun, his fangs bared and his tail fluffing like a bottlebrush. He looked up to the top of the closest dumpster and saw Amy perched on the flat surface of the garbage lid. The witchy rat used her nose to shove a large vat of something off at him.
‘You little bitch,’ he thought as he jumped out of the way. He looked down at his fur and saw that he was covered in used cooking oil.
‘Ha!’ Amy thought as she looked for another refuse projectile. She saw a bag of garbage and tried to nudge it out of the garbage dumpster, but it was too heavy. She needed something big enough to squash Caedo.
‘I’m gonna’ enjoy killing you.’ Caedo leapt up to the edge of the dumpster. His oily feet couldn’t take hold and he fell back to the cold ground, landing with a snarling hiss.
Amy paused and perked up her rounded ears. She lifted her head and her whiskers twitched. There was something in the air, something other than the stench of garbage.
Caedo felt it too. He froze and slowly turned back down the alley.
‘Magic,’ Amy and Caedo thought at the same moment. The rat and the cat locked eyes for a brief instant and then turned toward the pull of the magic.
The air was charged with energy. The atmosphere crackled with power and Caedo’s hair stood on end despite being covered in oil. ‘Rack’s up to something,’ he thought grimly. ‘Something big.’
‘This is bad,’ Amy thought. ‘Really bad.’
Caedo looked up at Amy and decided he’d better finish the job or risk facing the dark dealer’s wrath. He jumped up the dumpster, this time landing with three of his feet over the lip. It was enough, and he pulled his wiry body into the dumpster.
Amy squeaked in shock, and before she could burrow under the trash, Caedo snatched her up with his needle sharp teeth. She squealed as she felt his incisors puncture the skin of her neck. It was her worst nightmare come to fruition. Years spent as a rodent had filled her mind with the instinctive fear of cats and now her life would end in a filthy alley, in the sharp teeth of a cat. She struggled, but that only made his teeth sink deeper. ‘I miss my cage,’ she thought as Caedo jumped from the dumpster and tossed her battered body onto the pavement.
Caedo swatted Amy with one paw, relishing the way she squealed in agony. He picked her up by the scruff of her neck and tossed her into the air. She landed with another pitiful squeak and he pounced.
‘Maybe there’s something to be said for being a cat.’ He swatted her and rolled her over so he could enjoy the fear in her beady red eyes.
‘Just kill me,’ Amy thought as her entire body shook.
Caedo poked her with his paw, keeping his claws retracted so he could prolong his fun. He had no intention of killing his new toy any time soon.
*****
Willow quietly pushed open the door to Tara’s room and was greeted by the sight of a nurse sitting at the blonde witch’s side.
"Willow, I’m glad you’re back," the nurse said as he climbed from the chair.
"What’s wrong?" Willow rushed to the bed and studied her lover. Tara’s face was relaxed and her chest was rising and falling in a familiar rhythm.
"She’s resting," the nurse assured Willow. "We had a little excitement earlier, and I didn’t want to leave her alone."
"What kind of excitement?" Willow’s eyes searched Tara’s face for any new injury.
"The warlock came back, but I scared him off." The nurse moved to the top of Tara’s bed and adjusted the IV. "She’s been resting ever since."
"Why didn’t you come get me?" Willow’s tone was harsh and demanding.
"She’s fine," the nursed replied in hushed tones. "I’ll have Diana check her again if you want, but right now what she needs most is rest." She pointed at the dark rings under Tara’s eyes. "I didn’t think having her poked and prodded again would be very restful."
"Oh, well, yeah." Willow sat next to Tara and caressed her bruised hand. "She should sleep."
"You should too," the nurse pointed out. "You look exhausted."
Willow nodded.
"Call if you need anything," the nurse said as she left.
"I have everything I need right here." Willow leaned over and kissed Tara’s cheek. "I love you, baby." She scooted closer and rested her face on the bed next to Tara’s hand.
*****
Rack’s fingers gripped Tara’s throat. Her vision began to blur as her power flowed into her hands and she closed her eyes.
‘I love you, baby,’ Willow’s voice echoed inside Tara’s head.
Tara’s eyes shot open and she focused on Rack. A surge of power knocked him across the room and he landed next to the filthy couch.
"You want it?" Tara rubbed her throat as she stepped closer to him. "Then take it. Take everything you’ve ever given … take it all." She held both fists toward him as if she was fighting to contain something, and she was. She was drawing in every bit of pain his addictive magic had ever caused, every bump, every bruise, every pang of withdrawal came to her and she focused it with her own powerful essence. She molded it like a blacksmith forging a sword and when she was shaking under the weight of the vile energy, she opened her hands and released the horrific weapon.
Rack howled in agony as his body took on decades of pain, pain he had caused. He rolled onto his side and his back arched as electricity coursed through him in burning waves.
Tara’s body continued channeling the years of misery. She wasn’t experiencing it like rack was, but the residue made her muscles quiver.
"Stop," Rack begged as blood rolled from his nose.
"You wanted it all." Tara moved closer, her eyes trapping Rack in place. "You’re going to get it."
He levitated into the air and the pain was so intense his muscles shook in excruciating spasms causing his body to arch in a grotesque reverse bow, so that the back of his head and the back of his legs nearly met. The muscles in his belly were stretched to the limit as he bent in half backwards, and still Tara sent energy into him.
"No more," Rack begged. The blood from his nose now mingled with two steady streams of blood from his eyes.
"Oh, I have plenty more." Tara stepped closer and pressed her hand to his forehead. "You wanted to taste my power?" she asked calmly. "You wanted to know what I am?"
His entire body shook and his jaw clinched so tightly his molars cracked in the back of his mouth.
"Do I taste like strawberries?" she asked as a wave of white energy entered his forehead.
It was too much, and his ears oozed blood. He coughed up blood, but with his mouth closed, it couldn’t escape. It shot out his nose in convulsive red bursts as he choked on the tangy liquid.
He wanted to beg, to plead, but he couldn’t open his mouth with his jaw clenched tight. He squeezed his eyes shut and hoped Tara would run out of power soon. Tears mingled with the blood in his eyes. A warm rush of moisture between his legs let him know that he had lost control of his bladder.
Tara pulled her hand back and his body fell to the floor in a quivering mass.
He was sobbing as he twisted his body into a fetal position and whimpered. His eyes were still tightly closed and the smell of his own urine filled his nostrils along with the coppery smell of his own blood. He took a deep breath and coughed up mouthfuls of mucus thickened blood. He’d been a fool to face the witch, or whatever she was, but he’d escaped with his life. He pried open one bloodshot eye and saw Tara standing over him.
"We had a deal," Tara said politely. "And I haven’t even begun to give you my power." She spread both hands over him and inhaled deeply as she drew in the full power of the goddess.
"NO!" Rack screamed. His bladder emptied again and he crawled toward the door.
"A deal’s a deal." Tara sent out twin bolts of energy.
It hit him in the middle of the back and he bellowed in agony as he lifted into the air. "No more…" Rack pleaded in a hoarse whisper.
He continued trying to crawl, by it looked more like swimming as he struggled in midair. He began gasping in short bursts as his chest felt like he was being ripped in half. He had heard of that particular sensation, he had even caused it a few times. The heart could only take so much magical energy, and when it over-filled it would burst. It was a painful and messy end, but at the moment, he’d welcome the release of death.
Rack’s body hummed and then began to glow as his system began to reach critical mass. He screamed a long, drawn out howl that didn’t sound human. His skin turned red, and then blisters appeared as if he was burning alive from the inside out.
Tara’s body hummed as well. She was channeling more power than she would have thought possible, but still she sent the bursts of magic into his body. It would end here. The threat to Willow would end this night, no matter what the cost.
"Do you want the pain to stop?" Tara asked.
Rack nodded his head as he hung limply in the air.
"How many of your junkies wanted the pain to stop?" Tara asked as she pressed her hands on either side of his skull.
He didn’t get to answer because the pain that washed through him was worse than anything Tara had done to him so far. He could only bellow like a calf being slaughtered as she sent wave after wave of magic into him like the surging sea battering the shore during the worst hurricane imaginable.
Tara’s body took on a white glow that spread outward until Rack’s entire lair was inside it. The light grew brighter until it was like a tiny, white-hot sun and then it flashed before imploding on itself. The explosion rocked the surrounding buildings, breaking out windows and setting off car alarms for a half-mile in every direction.
Dust boiled up like a bizarre volcanic eruption from inner space. Debris rained down from the sky and littered the floor of the alley and covered it in powdery white ash. Where Rack’s lair had been, only a deep, scorched crater remained.
Caedo and Amy had been a few blocks away, and yet the concussive wave from the explosion had blown them both across the alley. Amy’s tiny body slid under one of the dumpsters and she hit the wall with a muted thud. She opened her round red eyes and licked her lips tasting blood.
‘Whatever that was, it was big.’ Amy knew a magical disaster when she felt one, and the explosion was definitely mystical. The smell of ozone permeated the air and there was a static charge that made the rat’s hair stand on end. She crawled to her feet and decided to get the hell away from Caedo. She’d go toward the event horizon of whatever had just happened. If something major went down on the mystic plane, there was a chance Amy could tap enough residual energy to heal her wounds. She knew she couldn’t turn herself into a human again, but right now she had more pressing concerns. Her shoulder had deep puncture wounds and she had scratches and bites over most of her furry body.
Caedo had been tossed into the brick wall. His slightly larger mass made the concussion from the explosion throw him further and harder. He was dazed, and as he fought to focus his gaze, he saw Amy disappear around the corner at the end of the alley. She was limping, but she had a good head start.
‘Not so fast,’ he thought as he scurried after her.
‘Dear goddess.’ Amy followed the cloud of dust to the epicenter of the mystical occurrence. She knew this place, and yet the landscape looked foreign covered in white ash and broken debris. ‘Rack’s lair,’ she thought as she climbed over piles of rubble. She felt a sense of overwhelming dread as she reached the edge of the crater. The center of gaping hole ripped in the landscape was exactly where Rack’s lair had been. Nothing remained. It was as if the building, the earth, and the very air itself had been ripped to shreds.
‘Mystic battleground,’ Amy thought as she remembered reading about a few such historical events. Most took place out in the wilderness, away from populated areas where the magic could be unleashed to its fullest. She remembered one such battlefield in Tunguska. Miles of trees had been flattened, and nothing had survived within the inner perimeter.
‘Sweet goddess,’ Amy thought as she studied the crater and the air above it. A huge spherical shape the size of a small building was visible, though the section in the air was probably only visible to witches and other magical beings. Whoever had battled here had contained the force of the magic, probably so half the city wouldn’t be killed. ‘Rack wouldn’t have bothered,’ Amy thought with a gulp. ‘Whatever did this didn’t want innocent bystanders killed … and it was probably here to get Rack.’ She shivered as she tried to imagine being locked in the sphere when the mystical event went critical. She couldn’t imagine anything or anyone surviving the explosion.
*****
"Something isn’t right," Willow said as she ran her hand down the side of Tara’s face. "She should be awake."
"Will, she had surgery. She needs sleep." Buffy moved to the edge of the bed. She had just woken Willow up, and the redhead was groggy and worried. Buffy didn’t want her friend overreacting. "Look at her, Willow. She looks … sleepy."
"She’s angry, and in pain." Willow rubbed Tara’s hand. "Open your eyes, baby." She kissed Tara’s temple, just above her ear. She knew if Tara was sleeping, she would answer her request. "Wake up, darling."
Both witches loved sleep, but their hearts often seemed to beat in synch. No matter how soundly Willow slept, all Tara had to do was ask, ‘Baby, wake up,’ and Willow’s body would respond. It was the same when Tara was the one sleeping. At the moment, Tara was either ignoring Willow, or Tara’s essence wasn’t there at all.
"Tara, I need you to wake up," Willow said forcefully.
The blonde witch continued sleeping soundly.
"Something’s wrong." Willow turned to Buffy. "Go get Cassie."
The Slayer hesitated. Tara looked fine, she looked rested, and she looked like Buffy wished she looked. Buffy hadn’t slept that soundly since she’d been half Dawn’s age.
"Buffy, go," Willow said harshly.
The Slayer spun and hurried from the room.
Willow kissed Tara’s cheek, letting her lips linger. "Okay, so now would be the time when you wake up and embarrass me by proving Buffy right." She combed her fingers through her lover’s hair. "Come on, bring me down a peg. Embarrass me, vex me even." The redhead closed her eyes and blinked a tear away. "Just open your eyes and do it now." Something was very wrong and Willow began to panic. "Oh, goddess, Tara open your eyes, now!" she said angrily.
The blonde didn’t even flinch, and Willow knew with absolute certainty that Tara was not just sleeping.
"Baby, please," Willow begged. She squeezed Tara’s hand and willed the blonde to open her eyes.
The door swung open behind her and Willow turned to see Cassie and Buffy coming into the room.
The seer took one look at Tara and staggered to a stop. "Dear goddess, get Diana. Now!" She grabbed Buffy and shoved her back out the door.
"What?" Willow stood but kept Tara’s hand in a firm grip.
"How long?" Cassie rushed forward and held both palms over Tara’s forehead. "How long has she been unconscious?"
"I … I’m not sure." Willow felt her panic double. "Why?"
"She’s gone again," Cassie said as she rested her fingertips on Tara’s temple. "But … not like before." She frowned. "I’ve never seen anything quite like this."
"What does that mean?" Willow demanded.
"I have no idea," Cassie admitted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Caedo had followed Amy. He moved stealthily along the side of the surrounding buildings until he was a few feet from her. Whatever had destroyed Rack’s lair had left the smell of light based magic thick in the air, and Caedo wanted to leave. But he wanted something else more; he wanted Amy dead. He pounced, letting out a snarling growl as he landed on the rat.
Amy felt Caedo’s weight hit her and her face hit the cold pavement sending up a puff of the white ash that covered everything. She took in a gasp of air and coughed as the powdery dust filled her lungs. She was going to die; that much was sure. In the back of her mind, she knew she deserved whatever she got.
Caedo rolled Amy over and looked into her eyes. The two locked gazes as Caedo lifted one clawed paw and prepared to end Amy’s life.
"You like to attack helpless victims, don’t you?" Tara asked as she climbed over the lip of the crater. She was spotless, despite the ash covering everything within view. Even Amy and Caedo had picked up enough powdery residue to make them look like washed out photographs. Tara was spotless, and the contrast made her stand out like a beacon in the darkest night.
Amy squeaked, not really knowing why, but she thought that maybe Tara was angry enough with Caedo to distract him.
Caedo hissed, sensing the malice in the beautiful blonde’s eyes. He lowered his paw and looked down at Amy’s battered frame.
"Get away from her," Tara ordered. She was surging with power, and she could see things clearer than ever before. Amy’s aura was easily recognizable, but that might have been because Tara had known the witch longer as a rat than as a human. Caedo’s aura was black and his treachery was obvious in his shifting eyes.
He looked at Tara and then lifted his paw again to slash Amy’s throat. He never got the chance.
Tara leapt through the air. As her body left the ground she transformed into a tawny cougar. She landed a few feet from Amy and Caedo, but it was close enough. Tara swiped one massive paw through the air and sent Caedo flying. He hit the alley wall and Tara was on top of him in an instant. She let out an enraged roar that blew Caedo’s fur to one side and warmed his face. Her primal form allowed all of her grief and wrath over Brianna’s death to come bursting out in its purest, most raw form. Tara had become a mother lioness, and Caedo was the creature that had killed her precious, defenseless cub.
*****
"Call her back," Cassie told Willow. "Beg her, yell at her, threaten her, lie to her, just get her back." The seer stood next to Tara’s bed and pressed her palm to the unconscious young woman’s forehead. "Tara, get your ass back here, now."
"Why are you so scared?" Willow asked as she held Tara’s limp hand.
"I told you to call her back," Cassie said abruptly. "Do it!"
"Tara, come on, baby." Willow leaned over her lover and whispered in her ear. "I need you to wake up. Come on, Tara. Wake up."
"She’s dumping mystical power. It’s running out like someone opened a damned floodgate, " Cassie said as she moved to the monitor next to the bed. "Her heart rate is slowing and her BP’s dropping." She looked toward the door and sighed. "Damn it, Diana, hurry."
"Tara, you listen to me, wake up," Willow ordered harshly. "Open your eyes. Damn it, Tara, do it!" She took a deep breath and hoped Tara would forgive her. "Tara, come back right now. I can’t live without you."
Cassie lifted her head and stared at Willow. She looked back down at Tara’s monitor, but nothing had changed. In fact, the blonde witch’s BP was still dropping.
The door swung inward and Diana pushed into the room. "Cass?" The doctor headed straight for her partner. "What’s wrong, sweetie?"
"Tara’s essence isn’t here," Cassie explained rapidly. "She’s connected, so it’s not like before, but goddess help her, she’s losing energy faster than I’ve ever seen."
"How bad is it?" Willow asked. She was massaging the back of Tara’s neck with her fingers. The blonde loved the tender affection and Willow would often wake Tara up using that method.
"I can literally see her reserves draining," Cassie said. "It’s like trying to launch the space shuttle using double A batteries. She just doesn’t have this kind of power to spare."
"What happens if she runs out of magic power?" Buffy asked from the doorway. "No more witchy powers for Tara?"
Cassie locked Buffy in her gaze. "She dies."
*****
Caedo looked up into Tara’s snarling jaws. His body shook violently as he stared at her glistening, two inch white fangs. He knew she could bite him in half with one snap of her powerful jaws, and one glance at the unbridled rage in her eyes made it very clear she wanted to do just that.
Every muscle in Tara’s body ached to tear Caedo into tiny pieces. It would be so easy. Her claws were razor sharp and ready to strike, and her fangs would sink into Caedo’s tender flesh with ease. She could make him suffer, she could make him pay, but then she heard Willow’s voice in the back of her mind.
‘I can’t live without you,’ Willow’s voice echoed through her mind and the words calmed Tara’s soul. She pressed her golden paw on Caedo’s chest and flexed her claws. Her thick talons broke the skin of his chest even through his dense fur.
He mewed in pain and tried to bite her paw, but his tiny mouth was ineffective against her might.
Tara looked down at his black nose and white whiskers and thought of Miss Kitty. She couldn’t kill such a helpless creature. She growled and moved away from him and lifted her massive head toward him.
His cat body shimmered and then morphed back into his naked human form.
"You’re a sentimental fool," Caedo said as he backed away from Tara. "What? You couldn’t kill a cute little kitty?" He shoved his fist at her and sent a flash of fire at her.
Tara growled and the flame bounced back as if it had hit an unseen barrier. She crouched and lowered her head. Her ears flattened against her head and a low, rumbling growl vibrated in her throat.
"Fine." Caedo raised his hands in surrender. "Can’t hurt the big bad lion." He glanced over at Amy. The rat had managed to crawl a few feet, but she was losing blood quickly. "I can still kill the rat." He pointed his bloodied hand at Amy.
Tara pounced, uncurling to her full, deadly length. Her huge fangs caught Caedo at the base of the skull and her massive muscles drove him to the ground. She heard the sickening crunch as her incisors severed his spinal cord. She lifted her head, and dragged his body to the edge of the alley and dropped him.
Amy decided she wasn’t going to wait around and watch Tara devour Caedo, no matter how much appeal the idea had. She limped as quickly as she could toward the street.
Tara was still in her primal form, and that left her thoughts instinctual and vicious. She looked over to where Amy was crawling away and the predator in her mingled with the memories of Amy’s binding spell. Tara growled as she galloped after the injured rat. Tara’s mind saw the spilled blood coating Amy’s matted fur, and she remembered being helpless after Amy’s spell. That helplessness had allowed Caedo free rein, and that had cost Tara her beloved Brianna.
Amy felt the ground shake as Tara made the last few steps, and the rat knew she wouldn’t escape. She also knew she didn’t deserve to get away. She slumped to the ground and rolled over, baring her soft underbelly to Tara.
Tara roared. Her pain and anger reverberated as she arched her neck and let her emotions flood into the primal cries. It felt good to release the pain into something so instinctual, and then that instinct focused on the prey at her feet.
Amy saw the hatred in Tara’s eyes. ‘Okay, the cat is dead and now the bigger, meaner, scarier cat is going to eat me,’ Amy thought. ‘Out of the frying pan, into the even bigger frying pan.’ She flopped onto her side and took a few shallow breaths. ‘Fine, kill me, maim me, whatever, just do it in my warm cage.’
Tara pressed her paw onto Amy’s chest and pinned her to the cold, wet pavement. She studied the rat. Amy’s treachery had left Tara vulnerable, and that had cost Brianna’s life.
Amy squeaked and closed her beady eyes, resigned to her fate. The cold asphalt was rough against her back and bits of gravel ground into her wounds.
No matter how angry Tara was, she could recognize a victim when she saw one. Amy was a junkie, a pawn in Rack’s game. Amy had also broken the binding spell in time for Tara to perform the refero spell. That act had insured Brianna’s return. Tara snarled, bearing her fangs and then she growled.
Amy let out a startled wheeze and then her body suddenly felt warm. She watched as Tara changed from a cougar to her natural form. It wasn’t until the pressure from Tara’s hips on her legs registered that Amy realized she was also human again.
"Tara?" Amy asked timidly. "You aren’t gonna’ rip my throat out, are you?"
Tara stood and looked down at Amy. The dark-haired witch was naked, which allowed Tara to see the jagged tears in her skin as well as several deep punctures.
"I’m not gonna’ kill you, Amy," Tara said quietly. Her voice shook with pent up rage.
Amy shivered, now noticing that she wasn’t wearing any clothing. "Um, you’re not gonna’ go all lesbo on me are you? Cuz, well, I’m really not up for anything other than a ride to the hospital, and no offense, miss kick-ass-witch, but you’re really not my type."
"You need to leave Sunnydale," Tara said. "And you need to stay away from Willow."
"Well, being out of Sunnydale will make staying away from her a whole lot easier." Amy cringed as she sat up. "Ouch. Don’t suppose I could get that ride to the hospital before I skip town?"
"They’ll be coming," Tara looked down the alley. "They’ll take care of you."
"Who?" Amy followed Tara’s gaze and listened intently. "Oh," she said when she heard sirens in the distance. "Guess an earth shattering explosion draws some attention, even in Sunnydale." She looked over at Caedo. "I doubt he’ll last that long."
Tara walked over to the warlock. The blonde witch was still spotless, her outfit pristine, and even when she knelt in the ash next to Caedo, her jeans somehow remained clean. "You’re dying," Tara said casually.
His eyes narrowed. It was the only movement he could manage. His spine had been severed high enough to ensure that he couldn’t move his arms or his legs, and his breathing was slowing as the blood drained from the deep gashes on either side of his throat.
"You don’t have long." Tara reached over and pulled a discarded, grimy rag over his lower body. "If I were you, I’d ask the goddess for forgiveness." She stood and went back to Amy.
"If he were you, Willow would be a really crappy lesbian." Amy wheezed and pressed her hand to a gash on her ribcage. "What with him being a guy," Amy clarified. She saw that Tara was not amused. "And I’ll just be asking the ol’ goddess for forgiveness. How ‘bout that?"
"It’s over," Tara told Amy.
"I’m leaving town," Amy said as she hugged a newspaper to her body and leaned against the wall. "Right after I pass out." She closed her eyes and sighed.
"I meant your addiction," Tara said as she grabbed another scrap of rag and handed it to Amy. "You’re clean. I gave Rack your withdrawals." She saw Amy’s eyes shoot open. "You can walk away from dark magic. If you use it again, it’s because to chose to, not because you ‘have to.’ I’ve given you what I wish I could have given Willow."
"Why didn’t you?" Amy asked.
"I didn’t know I could," Tara answered honestly. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall next to Amy. Tara was exhausted, and she wondered how it was possible to feel like she was going to pass out when she knew her actual body was already unconscious.
"No offense, but you don’t look so hot." Amy studied Tara. "I mean, you’re all clean and spotless, but you look a little fuzzy."
Tara opened her eyes and gave Amy a curious glance.
"No, I mean literally." Amy waved her one good arm at Tara. "You’re kinda fuzzy around the edges."
Tara looked down at her hands and frowned. He body was indeed fading in and out, like a television with intermittent reception. She held her hand up near her face and gasped when she realized she could see through her palm.
*****
"What’s going on?" Buffy asked. She didn’t like mysteries, and right now, everything about Tara’s condition was a mystery.
Diana held her clear crystal over Tara’s forehead and frowned. She didn’t like what she saw. The crystal flickered with white light, and each flicker was dimmer than the last. Tara was losing power with each passing second.
"What happens when it goes dark?" Willow asked. Her voice shook because her heart already knew the answer.
Diana looked up and caught Willow’s eyes. The doctor’s expression said what Willow’s heart already knew.
"No," Willow whispered, willing it to be an awful nightmare.
"When did you last cast?" Cassie asked as she kept her hands pressed to Tara’s brow.
"I haven’t used dark magic. I swear. Is that why she’s sick?" Willow’s mind raced. "Maybe Amy’s spell…"
"Calm down, Willow." Diana interrupted before the redhead could launch into full-scale babble. "We need to know if you can still cast light based spells, not dark magic."
"I, I don’t know." Willow’s forehead crinkled as she considered the question. She hadn’t really cast any light based spells since long before Tara had left her. "I can’t remember. Is it important?" she asked earnestly. "I’ll try, if she needs me. I’ll try anything."
"The other day when she was spotting, you’d been together, right?" Diana asked. "Did you cast during…"
"Yes! I levitated big time!" Willow nodded. "I practically hit my head on the restroom ceiling." She nodded excitedly.
Buffy slowly turned and studied Willow. One eyebrow rose high onto the Slayer’s forehead. "Restroom?" she asked as she suddenly remembered the two witches taking an incredibly long restroom trip at the co-op deli.
"Tease me later, Buffy." Willow was too worried to blush. She gave Cassie and Diana her full attention. "Why?"
"Tara’s energy levels are almost depleted," Diana explained. "She left her body, and I have no idea why she’d do that, but if she doesn’t get back soon, she won’t have the energy to come back at all."
"And if she doesn’t get back, her body dies," Buffy correctly guessed.
Cassie nodded grimly.
"What do I have to do?" Willow asked.
"You have to give her your energy while you guide her back," Cassie said. "Her link with her body is fading. She’s lost focus. Whatever she’s doing, wherever she is, she’s not thinking about her body."
"Oh goddess, I can’t make her leave Brianna again," Willow whispered. She couldn’t imagine seeing the same raw pain in Tara’s eyes again.
"She’s not on the mystic plane," Cassie said. "She’s on this plane…" The seer paused, not quite sure how Willow would take the next bit of information. "I think she’s projecting."
"But you said you’ve never seen this before," Willow said angrily. She pointed at Tara’s prone form and waved her hand. "Projecting is a common spell. I’ve done it; hell, even Buffy’s done it. It’s not a big mystery deal."
"I’ve never seen someone project a solid form," Cassie said bluntly. "There’s a silver cord leaving Tara’s body, like typical projection, but this cord is thick and pulsating with incredible power, power that’s draining from Tara’s body as we speak."
"She’s in a mystic battle," Buffy said as she stepped closer to the bed. "I read about it. Mages, they can project a solid body, it’s called manifestation. They send themselves to do battle. That book I read explained that the body provides the energy, and the spirit keeps it focused. If the mage runs out of energy or loses focus, she’ll die."
"Tara’s not a mage," Willow insisted. "No. Mages fight demons and face evil and, and, well, no. It’s dangerous, and no. I won’t let her be a mage." She crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. "No. I forbid it. Tara is not a mage."
"Yeah, that’ll work." Buffy said under her breath. "I shoulda’ tried that when those damn Watchers told be the whole destiny deal…"
"We should hurry," Cassie said as she continued studying Tara’s aura. "She’s losing the link, and if that happens, Willow won’t be able to help her."
"What should I do?" Willow asked as she caressed Tara’s hand.
Diana looked over at Buffy and nodded toward the door. "We need privacy for this. It should only be priestesses and family."
"Buffy is family," Willow said firmly. "She stays."
"Whatever you need," Buffy swore. She moved behind Willow and rested both hands on her best friend’s shoulders. "I’m right here."
"Okay," Diana said. She looked at her partner. "Let’s do it."
"Buffy, you keep your hands right where they are. Send your love and support to Willow." Cassie began drawing down power from the divine. She held her palms toward the ceiling and hummed as she focused her own essence.
"Willow-lovin,’ Got it." Buffy nodded. "The platonic kind, right?"
Willow’s head whipped around in shock. "You got any other Willow-lovin’ floatin’ around that I should know about?"
"No!" Buffy blushed. "Just clarifying."
"Just send your love," Cassie said with a shake of her head. "Family feelings."
"Got it." Buffy squeezed Willow’s shoulders and pointed her toward Tara.
"What do I do?" Willow asked. She studied her silent lover and her chest clenched. Tara looked like she was sleeping, and Willow wanted nothing more than to awake her with a kiss. ‘My sleeping beauty,’ she thought despondently.
"Tell her what she means to you," Diana whispered. "Put your hands here on her temples, and tell her what she is to you." The doctor guided Willow’s fingers onto Tara’s temples. "Focus on the love you share, send that love to her."
"Is it that simple?" Willow asked. She edged closer and looked down into Tara’s regal face.
"Pretty much," Cassie said quietly. She took a handful of herbs and sprinkled them over Tara’s prone form. "The rest is up to her."
"She’ll hear me?" Willow nervously ran her fingers through Tara’s hair.
"These herbs will help connect the two of you." Cassie sprinkled some of the herbs in Willow’s hair and over her back. "Plus they’ll help put your mind in sync with hers."
"You can do this, Will," Buffy said as she squeezed the redhead’s shoulders. "You love getting all mushy about your wicca-gal."
Willow nodded and focused on her lover. "Tara, honey you have to come back. You’re my Tara, my everything."
"Let your heart call hers." Diana tugged Tara’s gown down and lifted the protective amulet into view.
"Baby, I love you," Willow whispered intensely. She inhaled sharply as she felt a tugging deep in her belly. She watched as a white tendril of light left her chest and entered Tara’s. She leaned down and pressed her lips to Tara temple, wanting some things to be for her lover’s ears only. "Tara, I never knew what it meant to be in love until you taught me. Don’t leave me alone, baby. I can’t do this alone. I’m not strong enough." Her voice broke as tears ran down her cheeks. "Please don’t make me live without you."
Buffy took a step back. She could hear the heartbreak in Willow’s voice and each word felt like a stake through her heart. She thought about losing Angel, but then she realized, she’d moved on without him and survived. She looked down at Willow. The redhead looked tiny and fragile without Tara at her side. The tiny strand of light intensified as Willow gave herself to Tara; she would do anything to bring the blonde back.
"Tara, you have to come back," Buffy whispered. "You just found each other again."
"Come back," Willow pleaded. She sent her love to Tara in warm waves of energy. "Tara, if you don’t come back, what will Brianna do?" She pressed her lips to her beloved’s ear. "Listen to my voice and follow it back. Find me," she begged. "Find me," she repeated, this time an order. The link to Tara flashed brightly like signal flare, and Willow lost her balance and had to grab the side of the bed with one hand to stop from falling to the floor. "Feel me, baby, and follow me back." Another flash of energy left Willow and entered her fallen lover. She pressed her forehead on Tara’s wrist and sobbed. "Don’t leave me, Tara, not again."
‘Oh, god,’ Buffy thought. ‘I could lose them both.’ She steadied the shaken redhead and held her up until Diana slid a chair over her for. ‘Tara, come back. She needs you like she needs air.’ She shivered, realizing how true that was. Willow could no more live without Tara than she could live without oxygen.
*****
Amy watched Tara’s body become translucent. "Wow, that’s some trick," the former rat complimented.
Tara held both hands out and stared at them. She was disappearing and her mind was clouding.
"You fought Rack and Caedo and didn’t even blink." Amy sat with her back against the alley wall. She was as exhausted as Tara felt. "Why the vanishing act now?"
"I’m done here," Tara said hollowly. She looked at her ash-dusted surroundings and frowned. "There’s no reason to stay." She relaxed, finally letting go of the focus she’d been holding. It felt good to stop fighting. She felt like she was rising into the air, becoming one with the air.
"Okay, that is not good." Amy frowned as she watched Tara slowly levitate even as her body disappeared. "Speaking of not good…" She looked down at her bloody wounds. She turned toward the end of the alley and sighed. She could hear the sirens getting closer. "Hurry up," she said grumpily. "Just my luck." She rubbed her face with her one good hand. It was a nervous habit, and it made her look even more the rat she used to be. "Tara decided not to kill me, and now I’m gonna’ bleed to death before I can leave town."
*****
Tara drifted. She had no body, no physical sensations, and most of all, no pain. She was energy, and it felt more extraordinary than anything she’d ever imagined. She thought about Brianna, and instantly felt herself drawn off in one direction. She could feel her daughter, and she knew if she could only hold on a bit longer, she’d be with her baby.
A sharp pain flashed through Tara’s essence and she stopped. She felt Willow. She’d recognize her lover’s essence anywhere, and right now, her lover was in pain.
‘Please don’t make me live without you.’ Willow’s words echoed through Tara’s essence.
The call to find Brianna was strong, but Willow’s call beckoned Tara in the opposite direction. The pain intensified, Willow’s pain. Suddenly all that mattered was going to Willow, finding her, making her anguish stop. She felt other words, but couldn’t make most of them out and then Willow’s thoughts crashed down on Tara.
‘Find me,’ Willow’s thoughts washed through Tara.
‘Willow?’ Tara wanted to go to her lover. It hurt not to be moving toward Willow, but Tara didn’t know how to get to her lover.
‘Feel me, baby, and follow me back,’ Willow’s presence was distant, but Tara could feel the love and strength flowing toward her.
‘I’ll find you,’ Tara promised. ‘I’ll always find you.’ She focused on her love for Willow and suddenly she was soaring through eternity toward her lover. She moved faster than thought, but as she neared Willow, she struggled to find her. ‘Oh, goddess, Willow, help me.’ Tara realized she wasn’t quite sure how to get back to her body.
*****
"Cass?" Diana went to her lover’s side and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Can she handle this?" the doctor whispered as she nodded toward Willow.
"She doesn’t have Tara’s power," Cassie admitted quietly. She was watching as Willow sent a steady stream of energy into Tara’s body. Most of that energy was quickly draining through the mystic cord that rose from Tara’s body and disappeared through the ceiling and out to wherever Tara’s essence currently was.
"You can do this," Buffy whispered. She wondered if it was a lie. She wanted it to be true, and for the moment that was enough. "Get your girl back, Willow." She focused, trying to give Willow some of her own strength. The hardest part for the Slayer was knowing that her own superhuman strength meant nothing in this particular battle. On this battlefield, Willow was the strong one.
Willow lifted her face with considerable effort. She squeezed Tara’s hand and trembled. "Tara, you have to find me. I can’t come find you this time." She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as fresh tears flowed. "I don’t know how," she admitted. It broke her heart. Willow had sworn to always find Tara, and now she had failed her.
A tiny flicker of electricity hummed from Tara’s hand to Willow’s. It was so minute Willow almost didn’t register what had happened until the brief shock reminded her of the first time she and Tara held hands. It was a muted version of what happened every time she and her lover touched, a recognition between mated souls.
"Tara!" Willow’s second wind kicked in. "She’s here."
"Cass?" Diana asked hopefully.
The seer studied Tara. She had to calm her own frazzled nerves because her fears were clouding her visions. After a moment, she relaxed enough to see that Tara’s essence was back. Unfortunately, it was very weak.
"Baby?" Willow caressed Tara’s cheek. "I’m here, darling. You found me." She was crying harder now, but mingled with the fear fueled tears were a few hopeful ones as well.
"Will?" Tara asked in a barely audible, hoarse whisper. She was too exhausted to even open her eyes.
"Oh, Tara." Willow kissed her lover’s cheek, then her temple, and then she pressed her lips to Tara’s forehead. "I’m here, love."
"Willow…" Tara groaned as she turned her head toward her partner.
"Shh, I’m here." Willow’s throat ached as gratitude flooded her. "Rest. I’m not going anywhere." She kissed Tara’s temple again. "Just don’t go anywhere. Stay with me."
"Will," Tara coughed as she struggled to open her eyes, but somehow it was beyond her ability. "You’re safe," she whispered. "I made sure," the blonde mumbled.
"What is she talking about?" Buffy asked.
"I think you were right," Diana said as she guided Buffy away from the bed so Willow could have some privacy with her lover.
"She’s been in a battle," Cassie agreed. "She was protecting Willow."
"Rack…" Buffy leaned around Diana and stared at Tara. The blonde looked frail and weak, and Buffy couldn’t imagine her facing the warlock, and certainly not facing him alone.
Tara’s eyes fluttered open. Her gaze darted side to side before resting on Willow. "I found you," she whispered.
"Yeah, you did." Willow smiled and squeezed Tara’s hand.
"Come on. Let’s leave them to talk." Diana led Buffy and Cassie from the room.
*****
Diana, Cassie, and Buffy went to the cafeteria to find the others. Anya and Xander were sharing a milkshake while Giles sat with Dawn and helped her with her homework. The young teen was thrilled to have his help with her English homework, deciding that having a ‘native speaker’ had to be a big plus. Giles resisted the urge to point out that Dawn was a native speaker as well.
Anya jumped to her feet as soon as she saw Buffy. "How is she?"
"Tara’s fine." Buffy smiled and sat next to Dawn. "She’s back from her little journey and Willow is taking care of her right now."
"In the hospital room?" Anya smiled seductively. "Wow, didn’t think the witches went for the public sex thing."
"I doubt Tara’s up to that at the moment," Diana pointed out.
"She’s taking care of her other needs," Cassie added.
"Oh…" Confusion covered Anya’s face. "What other needs?"
"There are other pressing needs." Giles looked up from Dawn’s essay. "Emotional needs, offering comfort and such."
"Yeah, and Tara is way too shy for anything else," Xander chimed in.
Buffy blushed as she remembered what the witches had apparently done at the deli.
"What?" Anya asked. Her keen eyes caught Buffy’s reaction and she had her own unique radar when it came to all things sexual. "What do you know?"
"Not the time or the place to discuss this," Buffy looked over at Dawn.
"Like I don’t know these things." Dawn rolled her eyes. "The book, remember?" she asked her sister. "I know what they do."
"Book?" Anya’s eyes lit up. "There’s a book about Willow and Tara and I haven’t seen it? Why wasn’t I informed?"
"Oh, dear lord." Giles stood and pulled off his glasses and began frantically cleaning them.
A young nurse hurried up to the table and interrupted. "Doctor White, we’ve got a report of a building collapse across town. We’re asking all physicians to be on standby."
"Of course," Diana said. She looked at her partner. "Cass?"
"Let’s go," Cassie hurried over to the nurse. "Do they know what happened?"
"Some kind of explosion," the nurse replied. "They think it might have been a drug lab. An entire half block of abandon buildings was destroyed."
"Was anyone hurt?" Buffy asked. She sometimes forgot that non-hellmouth tragedies occurred in Sunnydale.
"We don’t know, but the destruction is pretty severe." The nurse spun and hurried toward the ER.
"I need to go lend a hand," Diana said apologetically.
"Yes, of course, go." Giles shooed her away. "We’ll monitor Tara’s progress."
"Page me if you need me," Cassie said as they hurried away.
"Maybe you should slay drug dealers," Anya suggested.
"I don’t think this particular case requires Buffy’s services." Giles watched his two friends leave. "Besides, I’m certain the police will handle whatever they find."
*****
The ambulance bay was a flurry of activity. The doctors and nurses had everything set up for multiple casualties. They’d received reports of a huge explosion that had leveled several buildings. The first ambulance rolled up and several doctors rushed forward as the doors opened.
"What to do we have?" the lead trauma doctor asked as he helped pull the stretcher out of the ambulance.
"One patient, multiple lacerations and puncture wounds," the EMT said as he helped guide Amy out of the rig. "BP’s stable, good breath sounds, and no loss of consciousness." He shot Amy an angry glare. "Unfortunately," he added in a harsh whisper.
"Hey, this really hurts," Amy whined. "Can someone give me something for the pain here?" She grabbed the doctor with her good hand. "Hello? Pain? I need some drugs."
Cassie grabbed Diana’s arm and nodded at Amy. She could see the dark magic lingering around her as well as bits of astral injuries cause by light based magic. "Diana, she’s…"
"I feel it," Diana whispered. Magic was pouring off Amy in waves. Diana moved closer. "Any more victims in route?" she asked the EMT.
"We found one DOA, but other than him, she’s it." The EMT pushed the stretcher toward the main entrance. "And she’s banged up, but nothing too serious."
"Hey, did you see the stab wounds, pal?" Amy yelled. She winced and began coughing. "See?" she whined. "I can’t even yell without nearly dying."
"Want me to take her?" Diana asked the head physician.
"Sure," he said with a look of thanks. He was happy to be rid of the complaining woman. "Do a full blood panel," he suggested as he stepped aside and let Diana take Amy. He raised an eyebrow as he nodded toward her filthy condition. "And get her some clothes."
"And pain medication," Amy complained. She shifted to one side and tried to rub her butt. "My poor tail," she whined.
"I’ll take care of her." Diana hurried alongside Amy as they entered the hospital.
Cassie went to the opposite side of the stretcher and studied Amy. As soon as the EMT settled Amy onto an exam table and left, the seer pinned Amy in her gaze.
"What were you messing with?" Cassie demanded without any preamble.
"Look, I don’t do drugs." Amy rolled her eyes and sighed. She winced as Diana began poking the deep shoulder wound in her shoulder. "Ouch! A little warning would be nice." She groaned. "Okay, ouch. Still waiting on my medication."
"What kind of magic were you messing with," Cassie asked her bluntly.
Amy froze like a rat cornered by a cat, which given recent events, she knew a great deal about.
"You reek of dark magic, so don’t even try to lie to me," Cassie said.
"Demon?" Diana asked as she pointed at the claw marks down Amy’s arm.
"Cat," Amy replied as she settled back into the bed.
Diana raised both eyebrows skeptically.
"A big cat," Amy corrected. "Well, not so big, but I was a lot smaller." She frowned. "And it bit my tail off. Can I have some drugs? This really stings."
"Maybe we should do a drug panel," Cassie suggested as she stared at Amy.
"I got turned into a rat." Amy glared at Cassie. "Then I had a run in with a cat."
"Was he wearing a hat?" Diana suggested with a smirk.
"Very funny." Amy closed her eyes and sighed. "Aren’t you supposed to be doctoring me?"
"Yeah," Diana relented. "You’re gonna’ need a lot of stitches. Most of these cuts aren’t too deep, but they need to be cleaned and then stitched so you don’t scar as badly." She lifted Amy’s arm as she prodded the deepest puncture wound. "This one may have torn some muscles around the joint. We’ll need some x-rays to rule out any damage to the bone and maybe an MRI to check the soft tissue."
Amy nodded and looked almost bored. "So, are you doctor too?" she asked Cassie. "And how the hell do you two know about magic?"
"I’m an x-ray and ultrasound specialist," Cassie explained. "Doctor White is an OB/GYN."
"Whoa!" Amy sat up and tugged her gown higher. "I didn’t get bit down there. Shouldn’t I have a doctor that knows how to treat the outside of the body?"
"I’m a fully trained physician," Diana said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I’m probably the only doctor in this hospital that knows what you are."
"And what is that?" Amy asked snidely.
"Cass?" Diana asked her lover.
"A witch," Cassie said as she studied Amy’s darkened aura. "You’ve been playing with dark magic, and you like it."
"Oh," Amy said and then swallowed with a loud gulp.
"So, what happened out there?" Diana asked. "They said a drug lab exploded. I can’t really see you needing street drugs." She carefully cleaned the deep wound on Amy’s shoulder.
"Let’s just say I won’t be sticking around town after you patch me up," Amy answered.
"Someone after you?" Cassie asked. She went to a nearby cabinet and took out a few suture trays for Diana.
"Not as long as I leave." Amy sighed.
"This is a local anesthetic. It might sting," Diana warned as she rolled Amy to one side to work on her upper back where her ribs were slashed.
"Sting my ass." Amy cringed as Diana gave her the shot. "That hurts like hell."
"What happened to the building?" Cassie asked.
"I’m not exactly sure," Amy said honestly. "I’ve never seen that kind of power." She wiggled her head until she was comfortable against the pillow and then covered her eyes with one arm as Diana continued working on then other side. "Never thought Tara had it in her," she said with a yawn.
Diana’s hand froze mid stitch. She looked over at Cassie and they exchanged worried glances.
"What?" Amy asked, sensing the change in mood. She opened her eyes and tried to look behind her. "I don’t have a tail still, do I?"
"You’re name’s Amy isn’t it?" Cassie asked coldly.
"Yep." Amy yawned. "You a psychic?
"As soon as I finish cleaning you up, you’ll need a new doctor," Diana said as she cut the suture and began another.
"What?" She twisted her head so she could see Diana. "Where am I gonna’ get another doctor who won’t think I’m nuts talking about magic?"
"Your bigger concern is whether or not you want to trust your life to Tara’s doctor," Diana said honestly. She snipped the suture and began another.
"Wha—" Amy sighed and relaxed into the pillows. "Great. Just how many other ways can my night suck?"
"I could have Willow pay you a visit," Diana said pointedly. "I think she’d like a word with you."
"I saved Tara’s ass," Amy whined. "She’d be dead if I hadn’t removed that binding spell."
"Which you put on her," Cassie said in a growl. "That’s one of the worst things a one witch can do to another. It’s a violation."
"Maybe another doctor would be a good idea," Amy said with a forlorn sigh. "I really don’t need a lecture."
"Why don’t you just go back to Rack?" Diana asked sarcastically.
"Well, duh," Amy said as she looked at Diana like she was an idiot. "Tara killed him."
"I think you’d better tell me everything that happened." Diana finished the last stitch on Amy’s back and moved around so she could work on her arm.
"Well, first I got turned into a rat … again," Amy began.
"By Tara?" Cassie asked with a smirk.
"No." Amy rolled her eyes. "By Rack, before Tara killed him and destroyed half the block."
Cassie moved over and rested a hand on Diana’s back as Amy related the rest of the story. It took a while, and Amy didn’t have many details about Rack’s destruction, but it was enough for Cassie and Diana to realize that Tara had harnessed incredible power, power that should have destroyed her when she killed Rack. Neither knew how or why Tara had survived, and the possibilities worried them. Tara had apparently survived a mystic battle of epic proportions, and Diana wanted to know how.
As soon as Amy was transferred to a room upstairs, Diana and Cassie called to check on Tara. She was doing fine, so the two older witches decided to investigate. They drove across town to the explosion site and used their medical identification to get past the police barriers and into the worst area of destruction.
"Sweet goddess," Cassie said as they surveyed the damage. The damage was incredible. Windows were broken out, bricks broken loose, and tiles were blown off of roofs a few streets away from the worst of damage. As they rounded the corner and saw the debris field, Cassie’s legs went weak.
"Cass?" Diana steadied her lover.
"Oh, goddess," Cassie stared slack jawed at the sphere-shaped area that had been completely pulverized. "No…" she whispered.
"What is it, honey?" Diana asked as she continued looking at the damage.
"Tara’s not a mage," Cassie whispered. "Sweet goddess, help us. She’s so much more." She hugged Diana and pressed her face onto her lover’s shoulder and quietly sobbed.
End Part Twelve