FIC: Off Course (5/7)

["Kimber" <kacoe@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

All previous disclaimers apply.

Chapter 5

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Buffy closed the door quietly so as not to wake any of it?s sleeping
occupants. She gingerly unbuttoned her coat and reached to take off her
scarf. She felt it being taken off for her.

?You?re really late.? Willow whispered. ?And judging from your movements,
hurt too.?

?Didn?t know I had a curfew.? Buffy whispered dryly. ?Besides, it comes with
the job.? She turned around finally. ?What are you doing up so late? Only
Slayers and creatures of the night are supposed to be stalking around at
this awful hour.?

?Witches too.? The Wicca smiled. ?Don?t forget witches and scoobies.
Lifetime membership in the Scooby gang has its responsibilities.? Willow
flinched a bit when she saw the large tear through the fabric of Buffy?s
shirt and the blood angrily staining it. ?Bedroom, go. I?ll get the kit.?

?I?ll be fine, Will. It?s just a little scrape and a whole lot of blood.?
Buffy smiled hoping that she?d sounded reassuring.

?Still, go. I?ll meet you there in five minutes.? The Wicca smiled at her
best friend. ?Now, shoo.?

?Yes, Ma?am.?

The Wicca smiled back at her and padded toward the kitchen.

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A soft knock came at the door moments after Buffy entered her room. ?Come
in.? She looked up to see Willow open the door quietly. ?Hey you.?

?Hey, yourself. How are you feeling?? The Wicca sat on the bed and patted
the empty spot next to her.

Buffy complied and sat down. ?Okay. It?s really not that bad, see?? She
moved her shirt to the side. ?Just a scrape.?

?Okay.? Willow placed the med kit at the foot of the bed. ?I just wanted to
make sure. I know how you go around acting all ?brave Slayer? sometimes when
you?re really hurt.?

?I am of the good. Promise.?

The Wicca stood. ?You, uh, must be really tired from patrol and all.?

?Will, no. I. . .? Buffy stopped mid sentence and ran her hand through her
hair nervously. ?You left.?

The Wicca nodded. ?I did.?

?Why??

?Why not?? Willow shrugged. ?You weren?t exactly open-book-Buffy, so I
thought you could use some time alone. To think.?

?I don?t know how to do this.? The Slayer admitted.

?Talk??

Buffy shook her head. ?Let you in.?

Willow nodded slowly. ?I see.? She walked up to the blonde slowly as if she
were ready for her to bolt any minute. She extended her hand and sighed with
relief when Buffy took it and stood up. When she saw that Buffy was just
going to stand there she moved in slowly and wrapped her in a hug.

?Will, I think. . .?

?Shh.? The Wicca chastised. ?Don?t think. Just. Feel.?

?Tall order.? The Slayer sighed. She pulled away and noted the frown on
Willow?s face. ?Sorry.?

?Buffy, can?t you turn the ?inner Slayer? off for a while??

?Huh??

Willow sighed. ?You?re ?inner Slayer?. The part of you that?s telling you to
close everyone out and seal yourself away. Lock all the doors and the
windows cause there?s a storm a brewin. . .? She placed her hand over the
Slayer?s heart. ?In here.?

?No, no storms. It?s pretty quiet in there actually.? Buffy dodged.

?That?s the problem. It?s been quiet in there for way too long.? Willow
countered. ?Rely on me, lean on me. Open up a little. I promise it won?t
hurt a bit.?

Buffy backed up a pace. ?Will,?

?Buffy, why do you do that? I get close and you back off. Literally.? She
slumped her shoulders a little. ?You know, you?re tearing down all the
confidence I worked up before coming in here.?

She ran her hands nervously through her hair again. ?Sorry, I just can?t
think with you this close to me.? Her eyes went wide. ?God, did I really
just say that out loud?? She smiled and shook her head. ?Will, what are we
doing? What am I doing??

?Can you just put tape over the inner Slayer?s mouth for like five minutes
and allow yourself to feel??

?I can?t get this close to you. It?ll never work. I?m flattered really, but?

The Slayer?s words were halted by the Wicca?s lips pressed to hers. She
resisted somewhat poorly out of a general knee-jerk reaction. As soon as she
started to settle into the kiss, the Wicca backed away.

Buffy touched her lips. She could have been hallucinating but she could
swear she still felt the electricity of the kiss lingering there like a
physical force.

?Don?t be flattered, don?t be sorry. Be Buffy.? Willow stated simply as she
enveloped the Slayer into another hug.

After a few moments, Buffy relaxed in the Wicca?s arms. If she thought twice
about what she was doing she probably would have run away. I?ve done enough
running, the Slayer admitted to herself and returned the hug.

?Better?? Willow whispered into the Slayer?s hair.

Buffy nodded slightly. She knew if she spoke, her voice would betray her and
let Willow know just how. . .

?Nervous?? The Wicca whispered.

Buffy smiled and pulled back. ?How do you do that??

?What?? Willow smiled.

?Know how I feel, what to ask. What to do.?

?Well, two out of three isn?t bad. If I really knew what to do then you
wouldn?t have left before.?

?Ever consider that you really did know what to do and that?s why I left??

Willow shook her head. ?No, I didn?t.? She reached over and tucked some
stray hair behind the blonde?s ear. ?Buffy, did you ever. . .?

?Think about us?? The Slayer smiled at the shocked expression on Willow?s
face. ?Sort of, but. . .I couldn?t let myself go there, ya know? A lot of it
had to do with Tara and respecting your relationship but it had to do with
me too. How I inevitably screw up any remotely good relationship in my life.
I couldn?t do that. Not with you.? She looked at the redhead in anticipation
and in fear. Fear that she would bolt out the door any moment because the
Slayer really had screwed things up between them beyond repair.