RoundRobin: Chapter 6 - RedWillow

["amberbensonfan" <AmberBensonFan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

All disclaimers in chapter 1

Chapter 6
RedWillow

Buffy sat in the dark, watching the Doublemeat Palace video for 
trainees. 
She was glad to finally have found a job, but this was less than 
thrilling. 
What could she do though? She was broke and desperately needed a job, 
even 
at minimum wage. And it wasn't like she had experience or education 
doing 
anything else, she reasoned.

"Follow these rules and you'll be a happy part of the DoubleMeat 
family for 
a long time!" The voice on the video reassured her.

<Lucky me.> She thought.

On screen, the picture changed to the DoubleMeat Palace logo, some 
kind of 
creature that was a cross between a chicken and a cow. Buffy frowned, 
wondering not for the first time, how she was going to be able to 
afford to 
take care of Dawn with the wages she'd make flipping burgers.

"Interesting, isn't it?" Asked her new manager as he flipped the 
lights on.
"Oh yes! Like how the cow and the chicken come together even though 
they've 
never met." The Slayer started with a fake smile. "It's like 
Sleepless in 
Seattle if? if Meg and Tom were? like minced."

The manager, a geeky 30 year old with thick glasses and greasy hair 
was 
completely humorless as he switched off the TV and walked behind his 
desk.

"I'm Manny the manager. It's not a joke, it's just my name."
"Right. Y-you mentioned that a couple of times when I filled out the 
application." Buffy responded.
"Why do you want to work here, Buffy? You seem like a sharp young 
woman, and 
there are a lot of other jobs."
"Well, I-I kinda need money pretty quickly? like today? and? and so I 
didn't 
want to go through a lengthy interview process, and I figured this 
was 
probably the fastest... way... to..."

Buffy paused when she caught the stern look on Manny the Manager's 
face.

"Be... cause I ... wanted to be part of the DoubleMeat experience?" 
She 
finally asked, uncertain.

Manny nodded, smiling, and said, "Come on, let's take a tour."
"Can't wait." Buffy responded before she rose to follow him.

***

"The DoubleMeat Palace?" Asked Tara before taking a sip of her 
mochaccino.
"Yup."
"Wow? um, well? that's great Buffy. I-I mean, that you found a job."

The two women were sitting at a small table in the Expresso Pump. 
Buffy had 
called Tara and asked her to meet her there for lunch and Tara had 
readily 
agreed, thankful to be a part of the Slayer's life. She felt that the 
two 
needed each other to deal with Willow's leaving.

Tara was tormented with guilt over skipping out on the redheaded 
witch when 
she was needed most. Now she wanted nothing more than to go to L.A. 
and 
retrieve her love. Buffy was right though, Willow needed time and 
space away 
from them. Tara and Buffy would have to depend on each other for 
support and 
friendship in the absence of the one woman that had always kept both 
of them 
upright.

"Well? honestly I'm not exactly thrilled? but? it's a paying job? 
right?"
"Yes." Tara nodded.
"Not like anyone pays me for saving the world."
"Y-you should talk to the Council." Suggested Tara.
"Uh? no. I don't think they'd be too happy paying me to do? my job."
"W-well? they pay Giles. Right?"

Buffy sighed. She knew a long time ago that she wouldn't live a 
normal life. 
She was resigned to the fact that she'd have responsibilities that no 
other 
human would have to worry about. She just never thought that she'd 
also have 
to worry about taking care of a teenage sister and keeping their 
house.

"I don't think they plan on Slayers living very long? to need income?"
"Oh." Tara stirred her drink. "W-well maybe they'd make an exception. 
You 
don't have your mom now? and?"

Tara didn't finish, realizing she had struck a sore nerve for the 
Slayer. 
Neither said anything for a few minutes, while they busied themselves 
looking over the small menus kept on the tables.

"It's just? so hard. You know?" Buffy softly spoke, finally looking 
up to 
study Tara once more.
"I know."

Again, the two sat in relative silence for a few minutes as each 
thought 
about the last couple of months.

"Tara? I wanted to ask you something? a-and I'd understand if you 
didn't 
want to? it's just that with me working now and Willow gone? there's 
Dawn to 
consider and?"

Tara placed a gentle hand on Buffy's hand and smiled reassuringly.

"W-what did you want to ask?"
"Would you? move back in? with us?"

Tara couldn't help the smile that came over her face. She had loved 
living 
in the house with Willow, Buffy, and Dawn. She considered them her 
real 
family and leaving had left her with an emptiness that no dorm room 
could 
ever fill.

"Are y-you sure?"
Buffy nodded. "Totally."
"Well, you could use some help."
"I don't want you to think I just want you back because of Dawn? it's 
just 
that? Dawn really misses you, and with Willow gone? a-and? I could 
kind of 
use? the company."

The blonde witch warmed to the Slayer's words.

"I think we could b-both use the company." Tara said smiling.

The Slayer let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks so much Tara."
"But on one condition."

Buffy arched her eyebrows; unsure if she wanted to know the 
conditions Tara 
would set down.

"I'm paying rent." Tara told her.
"What?" Buffy shook her head. "No way. I wouldn't hear of it."
"You need the money."
"So true." Buffy said. She paused before shaking her head in protest 
again. 
"But that's not why I asked you to move back in."
"I know that."

Tara leaned closer to Buffy and put her hand back on the blonde's arm.

"B-but I want to help. I make pretty decent money at the Magic Box 
now? and 
actually, if Anya can set it up, I-I might start making extra for 
readings."
"Readings?"
"Tarot Cards?"
"Oh? right."

Buffy sat back and thought about Tara's offer for a few moments. On 
the one 
hand, she really needed the money. On the other hand, however, she 
didn't 
want to take money from Tara if she expected her to keep an eye on 
Dawn 
while Buffy kept up her slaying duties and worked at the DMP at the 
same 
time. Either way, Buffy reasoned, she needed to have Tara back in the 
house, and not just for Dawn's sake. The Slayer needed a friend, 
needed 
someone who understood her pain and guilt over Willow. Buffy needed 
Tara, 
and she thought, Tara might just need her. So if the witch wanted to 
pay 
rent, who was Buffy Summers to complain?

"Okay? you can pay rent. But I won't like it." She joked, crossing 
her arms 
over her chest.

Tara smiled warmly.

"W-well? it could be really cheap rent."

The two women grinned and sat back, easily accepting the new turn of 
events.


***

"Wow! I can't believe you're moving back in!" Dawn exclaimed hugging 
Tara 
with all her might. "Wow!"
"I'm glad to be back." Tara said, hugging the girl tightly in her 
arms.

Tara had always felt close to the young girl since both of them were 
like 
outsiders to the tight group of Scoobies.
She felt like Dawn was her niece, and wanted to protect and take care 
of the 
girl.

The witch went about clearing the rest of Willow's belongings out of 
the 
way, packing them in the back of the closet. Having everything the 
other 
witch had left lying around made Tara want to cry. In order for her 
to 
survive, to stay strong and not run to L.A., Tara would need to clear 
the 
room of Willow's belongings and make room for her own. Tara was 
grateful 
that there wasn't much to pack up, however, as Willow was never one 
to 
collect junk.

It broke Tara's heart to think of her moving back into that room 
without 
Willow there to share it.

<What I fool I was.> She chastised herself. <I think I know so much, 
but 
what do I know? Why did I think leaving her would be the answer? She 
needed so much help? and we were all so blind.>

Tears welled up in the blonde witch's eyes, but she paid them no 
attention, 
letting them fall freely as she moved about the room, sorting out 
clothes 
and setting up her alter.

"You need help?"

Tara looked up from her suitcase to see Buffy standing in the doorway 
and 
smiled, quickly wiping the tears from her wet cheeks.

"You're home." Tara said, her face visibly lifting. "Uh?" She looked 
around 
the room. "No? thanks. I'm almost done here."

Buffy saw the tears, recognized the red and puffy eyes. She had been 
fighting a lump in her own throat since seeing Willow at the bus 
station.

Tara turned away slightly, trying to keep her mind on the unpacking. 
The 
Slayer came up behind her, placing a gentle hand on the witch's 
shoulder.

"I'm really glad you said yes." Buffy spoke softly, the sincerity in 
her 
voice catching Tara's attention.

Nodding, Tara responded. "M-me too. I think I needed this."

Buffy had an overwhelming urge to hold Tara, hold her tight and never 
let 
her go. Never let her go like she let Willow. Like they all let 
Willow 
down. She silently moved to the bed instead, sitting on the edge.
The blonde witch turned, then sat on the bed in front her and took 
the 
slayer's hands in her own.

"I'm glad you asked. I? I think we could both use another friend 
right 
now."
"Yeah?" Buffy agreed. She looked down at their hands and smiled.

Neither said anything for a few moments, both reflecting on the 
friendship 
that they had never fully explored until they both felt lost and in 
need.

"Oh Goddess! Buffy, I almost forgot!" Tara exclaimed, rising off the 
bed and 
gently slapping her forehead.

Buffy was visibly surprised, arching her eyebrows at the animated 
witch in 
front of her.

"What's up?" She asked.
"O-okay? don't be mad for? getting in your business? but I think I 
found you 
another job. A better job."
"A better job?" Asked the Slayer in full attention mode.

She disregarded Tara's comment about getting in her
business.

"A-as a? security guard on campus."
"Security guard?"

Buffy was a little uncertain if she would want to go into that line 
of work. 
In her head it was like being a cop? but not.

"W-well a friend of mine? from my Art History class, asked me if I 
knew 
anyone who needed a job. He's um, I think in charge of hiring or 
something."

Tara waved her hand to explain that she really didn't know what he 
did.

"A-anyway, he's in desperate need to fill a position for night guard. 
I 
think turnover's pretty high?"
"Vampires." Buffy stated.

Tara nodded in understanding.

"I hope you don't mind Buffy? But I told him? that I had a friend who 
w-would be perfect for it. He? he wants to meet you tomorrow. I mean? 
if 
you're? interested?"

Buffy thought about it for a minute. Night security guard on campus 
could 
be an okay job. Better than flipping burgers and smelling like old 
grease, 
she reasoned. Plus, with it being a night position, she could patrol 
too.

"Oh but? what about patrol? I mean? I have to scope out the 
cemeteries too? 
a-and?"
"Well? you get a dinner break." Tara offered, shrugging.
"Hmmm? I don't know."
"It pays $10 an hour."
"Oh." Buffy nodded. "So what's your friend's name?"

Tara laughed, knowing the $4. pay increase would convince the Slayer.


***


Buffy sat on her bed with her legs drawn up, resting her chin on her 
knees. 
Willow was gone. Willow was in LA. The Slayer had to keep reminding 
herself 
that her best friend was gone. She had needed all of their help, but 
never 
got it. Buffy kept torturing herself with thoughts that she could 
have 
stopped it, could have stopped Willow, but didn't. She felt lost. Her 
redheaded friend had always been there to keep things together, 
provide 
support and comfort. She was their brain, their source for all 
answers and 
was always willing to help, willing to put herself in the good fight, 
even 
when she knew how bad the outcome might be.

And now she was in LA, doing what, Buffy had no idea. She wanted to 
call 
Angel, to find out what was going on with Willow. Where she was 
staying, 
what she was doing. Mostly though, Buffy merely wanted to know how 
her 
friend was. She was scared and worried and missing Willow worse than 
when 
she had run off to LA herself that summer.

Buffy absently wiped the tears away from her eyes and sniffled. She 
couldn't believe how bad she hurt. When had she last felt this way? 
When 
Riley left? When Angel left?

<Okay, so add confusion to the pile.> Buffy mused, thinking of the 
torrent 
of emotions that had been flooding through her.

"A-are you okay?" Asked Dawn from the hallway, where the door was 
only half 
way closed.
"Oh?" Buffy started, wiping her face dry with her sleeve. "Yeah? yeah 
just?"
"Yeah, I know?"

Dawn entered the room and looked around as if she hadn't ever been in 
there. 
Truth was though, it hurt her to see her sister crying, hurt her to 
see 
the Slayer so weak and in so much pain.

"So um? new job huh?" Asked Dawn fingering the sleeve of Buffy's 
Security 
guard uniform.
"Yup, I start tomorrow. You'll be looking at one of UC Sunnydales 
finest. 
O-or? I'm actually not sure if anyone actually calls us that?"

Dawn smiled, finally looking at her sister.

"Better money, right?"
"That all your worried about?" Asked Buffy with a bemused smile on 
her face.
"Well? we kind of don't have any? so? plus, hello, fifteen year old 
here? I 
think I need a work permit, which you've already said I couldn't get 
so? 
yes. More money for Buffy means electricity and food." Dawn finished 
smiling broadly, proud of her deduction.

"Don't worry Dawn. Everything'll be fine. I promise."

Dawn's face turned serious again.

"Have you heard from Willow?" She asked.
"No." Buffy replied, sighing.
"Oh."
"I'm sure she's fine."

Buffy wanted to believe that, wanted to believe that Willow's trip to 
LA 
would be a short lived vacation, from which the redhead would return 
healthy 
and happy again.

"Yeah." Dawn nodded.

Neither of them believed it though. Fear had settled into their 
hearts when 
Willow had moved out, and it had been there ever since.

"She's? fine." Dawn added before turning to leave.
"Just fine." Buffy whispered, again trying to convince herself.