FIC: Desperate Measures 1/3

["wizathogwarts" <mcronin24@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title  Desperate measures.
By mike (mcronin24@xxxxxxxxx)
SPOILERS: Season 6, Grave.
RATING: PG. Some angst. 
DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters belong to 
Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox. 
FEEDBACK: Constructive comments are encouraged. 
SUMMARY: (Buffy/Willow) Buffy and Willow are both devastated over 
their battle and the loss of their friendship.
Authors Notes: What happened after all the BS of the season from 
hells finale. Just my take on one possible scenario.

Dangerous measures
Chapter 1
The Wish.

"Buffy, she's your best friend. I don't understand how you can just 
turn you back on her." Dawn had a firm grasp of her sister's upper 
arms. Only subconsciously aware of the steal corded muscles under 
the smooth flesh.

"Xander is her best friend, he'll take care of her now." Buffy's 
voice was small and distant. Her mind unwilling to face losing the 
closest and dearest person in her life.

Speaking more softly now. "Buffy, Xander can't give her what she 
needs. Only you can." Dawn bent her head down to make sure Buffy 
was looking at her.

"Dawn, I have nothing Willow wants or needs. She thinks I just want 
to be dead and I need my as kicked. Which she did by the way." 
Buffy turned from her sister and Dawn was incapable of doing more 
than just hanging on as Buffy slowly walked towards the couch.

"You said you didn't need to protect me anymore, that you wanted to 
show me the world. Well the first thing you can show me is some 
compassion for the one person that risked her life and soul for 
you." Dawn's voice now rang with a little anger, not the whining 
kind that everyone had gotten tired of but the anger that is born of 
righteousness. 

Buffy paused, peering deeply into her sisters eyes. She stared 
unblinking for what seemed ages. Then she took a deep breath and 
lowered her eyes. Memories of her dearest friend cascaded across 
her memory and she began to mourn. She mourned for the innocent 
times. The frightful times where they supported each other. The 
misunderstandings where they made up and swore never to not talk 
again. And she wept. She put her face in her hands and she wept.  
Her body heaved and was wracked with her sobs and she slowly 
crumbled to the floor and curled into a small ball and wept. She 
wept for her lost friend and she wept for the gaping hole in her 
soul. She wept for the pain of loss. She wept for herself. But 
most of all she wept for that deep hidden part she kept deep and 
buried. She wept for what she refused to acknowledge. She wept for 
dreams unrealized and never to be.

Buffy was so lost in her weeping that she was completely unaware of 
Dawn's phone conversation.

"Xander, Buffy is curled into a ball in the middle of the floor 
crying her heart out. We have to get her and Willow together so 
that they can talk without running away from each other."

"I know you want to protect Willow, but I really believe this is 
something they both need right now. Things will never be right 
until they get back their friendship. It's what kept them both 
alive all these years."

"I know that Xander, but extreme situations call for extreme 
measures. I have an idea, but I'll need Anya."

"God Xander, could you be anymore typical male. You're the one that 
screwed up but and at the first opportunity you try and flip all 
blame to Anya, could you be any more pathetic?"

"Look, I'm going to get Buffy to bed then I'm coming over to your 
place. You call Anya and have her there."

"Xander, if you really love Willow and Buffy, you'll put your 
personal feelings about Anya aside and get her there. I'll see you 
in an hour. Bye"

Dawn hung up the phone and looked down at her sister. Her sister 
who was now sobbing uncontrollably. A site she had never witnessed 
and she suspected only Willow ever had. In spite of all Buffy's 
brave proclamations this morning she knew her sister was deeply 
broken. Just as she knew only Willow could heal her and only Buffy 
could heal Willow.

Kneeling beside her sister's head, she gently raised Buffy's head 
into her lap. She gently stroked her hair and cooed 
softly. "Buffy, let's get you up to bed. You'll be more 
comfortable there." Buffy slowly rose with Dawn's urging. Very 
slowly Dawn guided Buffy upstairs and helped her change. Dawn 
pulled her covers down and tucked the still weeping slayer into 
bed. She handed her sister a wad of tissues and left the box nearby.

"You try and sleep a little bit. I need to run over to Xander's but 
I'll be back shortly. Ok?" Dawn looked carefully for any recognition 
of what she said. Buffy nodded her head weakly and Dawn leaned down 
and kissed her forehead.

It was still mid afternoon and Dawn felt perfectly safe making the 
fifteen minute walk over to Xander's apartment. When she arrived, 
Xander opened the door.

"Alright, I called Anya. She said she would be over after she got 
Giles all settled in. Figure another half hour." He told Dawn as 
she hurried past him.

"Is Willow in the bedroom?" Dawn asked him.

"Yea, I was trying to get her to sleep but I don't think she's there 
yet." Sorrow and frustration filled his voice.

"I'll talk to her. Stay out here and let me know when Anya 
arrives." Dawn walked quickly to the bedroom, closing the door 
behind her.

Xander stared at the door for several minutes pondering this new 
aggressive, take charge girl that he always looked upon as a kid 
sister.

Dawn moved to the figure in the bed after closing the bedroom door.  
She sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out a gentle hand 
and brushed the once again familiar read hair soothingly.  

"Hi Willow, you awake by chance?" Dawn spoke softly.

Without opening her eyes, Willow answered. "Hi Dawnie. Sorry about 
trying to kill you."

"It's OK Willow. A pain like yours makes it completely 
understandable. And you were right, I was a wining baby. But I'm 
not anymore. In fact, I want to help you. Want to hear my idea."  
Dawn voice was soft and teasing. A tantalizing tone permeated her 
words, enough so that Willow opened an eye.

"What do you have planned?" Willow asked cautiously.

"Anya is coming over. Your craving for vengeance is not yet fully 
gone, just under control. A carefully worded wish can help you 
resolve what's keeping you from healing."

"And what pray tell is that?" Willow was only slightly incredulous 
that Dawn would have that kind of insight.

"Buffy has fallen apart over this. She desperately needs your 
friendship back and I know you becoming close again would help you 
also. The problem is that your issues are too painful for you to 
get together and discuss them. You're both too afraid. So tell 
Anya that you wish that you can be alone with Buffy in a comfortable 
safe place until you declare your friendship for each other again."  
Dawn spoke softly but the eager smile on her face made Willow's 
heart skip with a moment of hope.

"Let's see, hiding in bed here with Xander hovering and nagging or 
locked in a room with Buffy where neither one of us talks to each 
other. The latter sounds much more restful. Sure Dawnie, I'll give 
it a shot." Willow's voice barely concealed her hopelessness.

The door opened and Xander and Anya stepped in. Dawn went over to 
Anya and drew her aside.

"Big favor time Anya. Willow and Buffy need this really bad. First 
off, is there enough cry for vengeance left in Willow for you to 
give her a wish?" Dawn spoke softly.

Anya paused a moment. Then looked at Dawn. "None of you would wish 
anything upon Xander for me, but now I'm just supposed to grant 
Willow anything she wants. How is this fair" Anya glared at Dawn 
but Dawn didn't back down.

"Anya, we couldn't hurt Xander as much as we were all pissed at him 
for what he did. But this isn't to hurt anyone, it's to heal.  
Please say you'll do this." Dawn gave her best pleading look and 
finally Anya put her hands in the air.

"Alright, she still qualifies for a wish. What did you have in 
mind?" Anya asked giving into the inevitable.

"Willow is going to ask to be placed in a safe comfortable place and 
that means food, water all the necessities with Buffy until they 
declare their friendship for each other. Can you do that without 
any weird complications?" Dawn asked this last part cautiously.

"Yea, I can keep it simple. Has Willow agreed to this?" Anya's 
voice had now become soft. Her desire to help Willow overriding any 
other immediate concern.

"I've already talked to Willow and she like's it better than 
wallowing around here with Xander hovering." Dawn whispered this to 
make sure Xander didn't hear.

Anya patted Dawn on the shoulder and Walked over to the bed and 
looked down on Willow.

"You have a wish you would like to make Willow?" Anya spoke 
carefully.

Willow sat up in the bed and looked directly into Anya's 
eyes. "Yes, I wish to be in a nice safe place alone with Buffy and 
remain there until she admits that she is in love with me." Willow 
grinned hugely as she finished.

Dawn's eyes widened as she yelled "Noooooo."

Anya gave Willow a knowing smile and said "Done."