FIC: Right In Front of You Part 21

["Callistosdarkside" <callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxx>]

Okay, been struggling with the whole issue of how Buffy's gonna deal with
Willow's mishap(total understatement), and after a few revisions, I think I
got it right. It's not the overly dramatic thing I had initially, but I
hope you like it all the same.

Read it here in html:
http://www.geocities.com/callistosdarkside/RightInFrontOfYou.html

-CDS

. Title: Right In Front of You
. Author: Callisto's Dark Side
. Email: callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxx
. Feedback: The more I get, the faster I write.
. Distribution: Can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/callistosdarkside/RightInFrontOfYou.html (My Site),
http://www.geocities.com/last_days_of_pern, and
http://www.peccath.com/extraflamey/mainframe.htm
. Spoilers: All of Season 5, but events take place before some events in
Tough Love.
. Rating: R
. Pairing: W/T & B/W
. Disclaimer: All characters from Angel & Buffy the Vampire Slayer are
copyright Joss Whedon & 20th Century Fox.
. Summary: Willow/Tara fic in which the two love birds must manage to deal
with the consequences of a spell that threatens to tear them apart forever.

Chapter 21


Buffy sat on the edge of the bed, holding Willow's hand. The Slayer's eyes
stayed focused on Willow's eyelids, hoping for the slightest bit of
movement.

"Miss, what did you say your name was again?" The nurse asked as she knocked
on the door. "Miss?" The nurse asked again as she approached the Slayer from
behind and tapped her on the shoulder.

The petite blonde turned her head slightly, "What?"

"Your name, you said it was Buffy Rosenberg, but we couldn't find any in the
records."

"Must be a computer glitch."

"Maybe, but if I could see some ID, then we could clear this all up."

"I don't have any."

"Nothing?"

"I lost my wallet when I was trying to save her life," Buffy sniffled.

"I see," The nurse said sombrely. "I'll just leave you then. If it was my
choice, I would've never asked, but the hospital has rules and."

"It's okay," The Slayer cut her off, "I understand."

"Thank you," The nurse replied as she bowed out of the room.

******

"I can't believe you didn't tell me what was going down," Xander growled,
glaring particularly at Angel.

"Buffy didn't want you to get hurt," Anya explained, her face buried in
Xander's chest.

"She always says that, but I never listen, now Will's in a coma."

"It's nobody's fault," Angel said.

"Where were you?" Xander asked accusingly.

"I was on my way, but couldn't make it in time," Angel explained.

"What? Too busy with your new life to give a damn about the old Sunnydale
gang?"

"Go to Hell."

"Show me the way, you've been there enough times," Xander seethed.

"Guys, guys," Cordelia stepped between them, "Maybe one of you should leave
and cool down."

"Good idea," Angel said cryptically as he headed for the stairs.

"Leaving again?" Xander drawled, "Figures, you never were good enough for
Buffy."

Angel stopped, clenched his fist and ground his teeth, but after a tense
wait, continued forward.

******

"How much for this horse?" Dawn asked.

"200 gorans," The horse-seller answered.

"I'll be back," Dawn replied as she moved out of the stable and found Tara
hidden behind some nearby bushes.

"Tara," Dawn spoke softly, "he wants 200, do you think we can duplicate that
many?"

"Shouldn't be a problem," Tara coughed.

"But you're sick."

"It's okay, we got 60, so we only have to duplicate this sack twice."

"Do you have enough strength?"

"Don't need to. You should have enough for the both of us."

"Really?" Dawn smiled.

"Yeah. I didn't want to scare you before, but you have some real power."

"I do?"

"I think it might be rooted in your ancestry."

"You mean because I'm a key?"

"If you want to put it that way?"

"That's cool," Dawn shrugged. "I've accepted the fact that I'm a ball of
energy."

"But you're more than that."

"I know, I know, I'm human now and that's all that matters."

"Exactly, so let's do the spell."

Tara and Dawn joined hands, their power combining as they chanted the words
to duplicate their money.

*******

"Psst," Cordy nudged a napping Anya in the side as they sat on the hospital
couch.

"What?" The Ex-Demon asked, her eyes opening slightly.

"Why doesn't Buffy just do the location spell now?"

"Because, Willow's the only one with enough power to perform it and they
still need one more ingredient."

"What's that?"

"The hair of a virgin woman."

"Woman? As in not a girl?"

"Yes, that would be the definition, although technically you left out boy
and man."

"Where're they gonna find one of those?"

"Beats me, but women don't liked to be asked if they're virgins. I got
slapped twice already."

"Yeah, it's kinda private."

"I don't see what the big deal is? Find a man like Xander, ask him to have
sex, and you're no longer considered a lonely freak."

"It's not that simple."

"Was for me."

******

Cordy knocked on the open door and waited for a response, but when she saw
Buffy didn't move she stepped inside and closed the door.

"Buffy?"

"What is it?" The Slayer asked, not turning her head.

"I brought something for you."

"I'm not hungry."

"It's not that."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure I could do without."

"I'm not so sure about that."

Buffy turned her head and saw Cordelia holding a locket of hair.

"What's that for?"

"Your spell. I heard you needed some virgin hair, and well, I know someone
who's got just that."

"How do you know for sure?"

"Umm. she's a nun."

"What's her name?"

"Sister. Margaret?"

"You're absolutely sure this is from a virgin?"

"Couldn't be more sure if it came from me, of course it didn't come from me
cuz I'm not a virgin. As for the colour, yeah, it looks like mine in this
dull light, but if we walk outside you can see how it's totally darker than
my hair," Cordy stammered.

"Thanks," Buffy smiled, "Tell your friend I owe her big time."

"No problem, but I think nuns don't keep score. I on the other hand."

"I get it, you can have whatever you want."

"That's okay. This one's on the house," Cordy glowed as she embraced a
surprised Buffy. "Just make sure she gets better."

"I will," Buffy promised, her eyes drawn to Cordy's makeshift ponytail.

******

"Where the Hell's my shoe?" Glory asked, as she looked around the living
room. "You have it, don't you?" Glory looked accusingly at Anna, who was
fixing the blonde goddess another drink.

The little blonde shook her head, keeping her mouth shut.

"Then who has it?"

Anna shrugged her shoulders and brought Glory the drink.

"If you don't have it, and I don't have it, that means that brat Dawn took
it. Ugh. I knew I should've checked her bags before she left. That smirk
she had on was just so smirky."

Anna nodded in agreement.

******

"Is the wind bothering you?" Dawn asked, as she used the reigns to direct
the horse forward.

"Not really," Tara coughed, her arms around Dawn's waist.

"Are you sure? You look kinda cold."

"I'm okay really," Tara lied, her face red from the chilly air.

Dawn stopped the horse, "Liar."

"You shouldn't stop for me. We have to get to the Capitol."

"What's the point in finding a way home if you become a frosty freak?" Dawn
drawled, as she dismounted and searched for something in one of the bags.

"What're you getting?"

"Something for you to cover your face with."

"What about you?"

"Why do you think I stopped?" Dawn laughed.

"So your concern for me was just a ruse?"

"Yup, now wrap this around your face," Dawn ordered, holding up a black
dress.

"Glory's?"

"Yeah, I grabbed it when she wasn't looking."

"It's her favourite dress."

"Why do you think I took it?" Dawn smirked.


To be continued.