FIC: Right In Front of You Part 22

["Callistosdarkside" <callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxx>]

Long time, I know. Sorry about the wait. It's pretty brief, but I hope you
like.

-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 22


Ben casually walked by the sleeping Sunnydale crew and Cordy as he made his
way to Willow's room.

Standing outside the door, Ben could see Buffy's head resting next to
Willow's shoulder as the Slayer slept in a chair next to the bed.

Ben knocked lightly, but Buffy didn't respond, so he opened the door,
stepped in and locked it tight.

As he approached the Slayer, Buffy suddenly awoke and stood up to confront
the intruder, grabbing Ben by the collar.

"Buffy," Ben choked, holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy demanded.

"I heard Willow was shot."

"How?"

"Through the hospital. I know I don't work there anymore, but sometimes I
go back to visit my friends and one of them mentioned that a Sunnydale girl
was shot in LA."

"So you came all the way here to see her?"

"Yup, but if you want me to leave, I understand?"

"No," Buffy shook her head, slightly confused, "that's okay. I mean, you
came all the way here."

"Thanks," Ben smiled, as the Slayer finally released her grip around his
collar. "So how'd it happen?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"I understand." Ben lowered his head and caught sight of a large bag in the
corner of the room. "What's in there?" Ben motioned towards the bag.

"Nothing. I mean, just girl stuff," Buffy quickly corrected.

"Oh, do you need any other girl stuff? I could get it for you? Plus you
don't have to worry about me being embarrassed, cuz I was a man-nurse after
all," Ben drawled.

"No thanks. I think all I need is some sleep."

"So I guess that would be my cue to leave then."

"Could you?"

"No problem. I'll come back in the morning," Ben smiled, before unlocking
the door and stepping out of the room.

Buffy couldn't help but wonder why the door was locked in the first place
and went to check on the bag to make sure all the spell ingredients were
still in it before heading back to sleep.

******

"So, Willow's parents are in there right now, huh?" Cordy asked, as Xander
stared at the closed door from where he was sitting.

"Yeah," Xander said softly, not taking his eyes off the door.

"How do you think they'll take it?"

"Bad. Is there any other way?"

"No, I guess not." Cordy lowered her eyes and mentally chastised herself for
asking such a stupid question.

******

"You were looking for this friend, Travis, in LA, and Willow was suddenly
shot for no reason?" Sheila Rosenberg asked, trying to digest everything
Buffy had just told her.

"Pretty much," Buffy lied.

"Why was this Travis here?"

"To make a long story short, Tara ran away from home and we had no way to
contact her parents."

"I see, so have you found this Trav. Tara yet?"

"Nope, but we should be able to find her soon."

"This Tara must be very important for you and my daughter to just leave home
without even telling us?"

"Sorry about that, but we didn't have any time," Buffy explained.

"Time," Sheila breathed, "I wish I could turn it back," Sheila said sombrely
as she clasped Willow's hand.

"Me too," Buffy muttered, clasping her own hands over Sheila's and laying
her eyes on Willow's comatose form.

******

"God it's cold," Dawn shivered, as she tied the horse to a tree and scurried
over to where Tara was gathering some tinder in the bush.

"We could make a fire," Tara sniffled,

"Cool." Dawn rubbed her hands together. "Do you think you have enough
power?"

"Don't need to. Only one person's needed for the fire spell."

"Oh, so really it's me make the fire."

"Yup," Tara smiled.

Dawn smiled back, then closed her eyes, exhaled, and began chanting the
words. Within seconds, the tinder that Tara had collected burst into flame
and lit up the area around them.

"Was I not the bomb?" Dawn grinned.

"Yup, you weren't the bomb," Tara teased.

Dawn frowned. "So I guess that means you don't want anything for supper?"

"I mean, you were totally the bomb," Tara corrected in mock haste.

"That's better. I think I'm gonna like being the powerful witch," Dawn said
proudly.

"It was one spell," Tara pointed out.

"Yeah, but every sorceress starts somewhere, right?"

"True, but once I get better, you'll be relegated to assistant."

"Darn, and I was just getting used to the thought of world domination."

"In time, Dawny, in time." Tara sighed, causing both of them to giggle.

******

"Do you ever look up at the stars?" Dawn asked, as she and Tara snuggled up
under the blankets.

"Nope," Tara replied.

"Seriously?"

"Okay, all the time."

"Me too. What do you think of when you look up at them?"

"Well, I used to think of animals and stuff, but now all I can think about
is Willow."

"Really?"

"Yup, we used to sleep out under the stars all the time."

"Must've been romantic."

"Oh, it was. Of course there was the freezing your butt off, but that just
meant we could." Tara blushed, remembering who she was talking to.

"Yeah," Dawn said, realising she had just received too much information.

"Anyway," Tara continued, "the thing I like most about looking at them, is
that you're looking back in time?"

"I know what you mean, it's like my own personal time machine."

"Exactly, it's almost like you can change the past, only you can't."

"Maybe it's better that way."

"So you're telling me you wouldn't change a thing?" Tara asked, playfully
elbowing Dawn in the side.

"Nope, although."

"What?"

"I probably would've brought more tissues with us on this trip."

"Are you making fun of my flu?"

"Of course not, I was talking about the horse."

"Just remember that when you catch it."

"Why would I have to catch it? The horse is tied up," Dawn grinned.


To be continued.