Re: Fic: Never Free IX

["bslayedw" <bslayed@xxxxxxx>]

This is intense update! I can't wait to see what Willow says to 
Buffy when she comes to. Glad to see more updates on this story!




--- In buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Jophes" <xenarip13@...> 
wrote:
>
> Please see part I for all disclaimers and warnings.
> 
> 
> 
> Never Free IX
> 
> 
> Buffy trails the group as they head into the local cemetery.  She 
> watches as Willow pays mild attention to the slayers in training.  
> The red headed witch definitely seems stronger, but she still 
isn't 
> comfortable with her being here.
> 
> `I'm not sure why, but I have this feeling this is a bad idea.  I 
> know she shouldn't be out here.'  Buffy sighs deeply to herself, 
`The 
> girls look sharp and alert and Willow seems to be holding up.  
> Something just doesn't feel right.  This doesn't feel like a 
simple 
> vamp patrol.  There is something heavy in the air.'  Buffy stops 
> smelling the air.
> 
> "Stop.  Let's hold here for a bit."  Buffy halts the group.
> 
> "How does she know we should stop here?" the small brunette 
whispers 
> to the other girls.
> 
> "Buffy, maybe you should explain that so they can try to learn 
that 
> skill themselves," Willow offers, "Unless it's something they 
don't 
> have."
> 
> "No, they should be able to reach out and sense the slight 
danger."  
> Buffy begins, `However, they can't feel the under current that I 
can.'
> 
> Buffy looks up to see the younger girls looking at her 
expectantly.  
> She shakes her head.  `I didn't sign up to be a teacher.  That 
isn't 
> my job.  I am just supposed to kill things and eventually die 
doing 
> it.'  She sits down on a shorter tombstone.
> 
> "Okay, you have senses?sort of like Spiderman really.  You simply 
> need to feel when something hits a nerve.  It will feel like 
> something is off in the immediate area.  For some I have read it 
is 
> like a chill and for others like Faith it was a buzz in her head.  
> You have to figure out how your sense gets sets off.  Try to reach 
> out and see if something feels other than it should to you."
> 
> Buffy watches as the girls all close their eyes to their 
> surroundings.  They shouldn't do that, but this time she will let 
it 
> go.  It is hard to focus on that feeling at first.  It took her a 
> long time.  Merrick was never satisfied that she had it, but Giles 
> finally became confident that she had it.
> 
> "Buffy, what sets you senses off?"  one of the younger girls asks 
her.
> 
> `Hmm?well slayer what sets your slayer senses on edge besides a 
> certain red head in trouble?'  Her mind taunts her, `Shut up!'
> 
> "Well, for me it's like the bottom drops out of my stomach.  You 
know 
> that feeling that you just went down a hill too fast.  It's like 
that 
> only intensify it by 10 times and you have sort of what it feels 
like 
> to me."  Buffy answers.
> 
> "Do you have that feeling now?  Is that why we stopped?"  Willow 
asks 
> looking at the blonde.
> 
> "Not exactly."  Buffy evades.  "I thought I felt something, but 
I'm 
> not sure what it was really.  That happens too even to us veterans 
so 
> don't be disappointed if it takes you awhile to figure it out."
> 
> Willow watches the slayer as several emotions flicker over the 
> scarred face.  They have been apart for so long it isn't easy for 
the 
> witch to decipher all of them anymore, but one she has always 
known 
> is fear.  She definitely saw fear cross the slayer's face as she 
> spoke.  The witch walks up to Buffy.
> 
> "Buffy, what are you afraid of?  Something has you worried.  I 
know 
> you."  Willow states resolutely.
> 
> "Nothing is wrong?I just?I don't want you out here."  Buffy speaks 
> rashly immediately sorry about it as she sees the pain cross her 
> friend's face.
> 
> "I'll go back and leave you be then."  Willow turns to walk away 
> alone.
> 
> "NO!"  Buffy stops the witch knowing she cannot let her out of her 
> sight, "I didn't mean it like that.  I don't want you hurt and I 
feel 
> that it isn't safe for you out here."  Buffy whispers to the witch.
> 
> "Buffy, when is it ever safe for me to be out here?for you or 
them?"  
> Willow points to the group of three girls.
> 
> "It isn't, but?" Buffy turns away.
> 
> "But what?"  
> 
> "Something isn't right.  This should be a simple stake and go 
mission 
> but it feels wrong.  We should all be going back.  I don't want 
> anyone to get into this."
> 
> "Buffy, this is a small hellmouth with minor demons.  There hasn't 
> been a big bad here ever that we can find."  Willow offers.
> 
> "At least until I got here." Buffy mumbles.  `I know I'm right.  
We 
> need to get out of here.'
> 
> "Buffy, I feel sick to my stomach.  Is that what you mean about 
> senses?"  the short brunette calls out.
> "Yeah, my ears are ringing loudly!" the taller girl screams as if 
she 
> can't hear herself.
> 
> "Shit!"  Buffy runs over pushing the slayerettes out toward the 
way 
> they came.  
> 
> She looks to Willow seeing confusion on her face.  Buffy can also 
> hear heavy pounding foot steps coming in their direction that she 
> knows no one else can hear.  She catches the witch's eyes.
> 
> "Willow, I need you to take the girls and run.  I need you to get 
> them home safe.  I can handle this, but not if I am worrying about 
> these girls."
> 
> Willow sees the sincerity in the slayer's eyes and nods taking 
> control of shepherding the girls toward the cemetery exit.  She 
takes 
> one look back and sees the blonde woman running full tilt into the 
> cemetery.  She hurries the group along listening to them complain 
> about being protected, but she knows deep down that Buffy would 
only 
> do that if there was imminent danger.  Soon, she has them out of 
the 
> cemetery and on the way toward the house.  She halts them.
> 
> "Girls, I trust you to get home.  Do not come back to the 
cemetery.  
> I mean it.  Resolve face.  See it."  They all nod.  "Now, go run 
home 
> and send Giles back with weapons for the slayer?.GO!"  She waits a 
> moment to be sure they are doing what they are told.
> 
> `She doesn't want you there.'  Her inner voice whispers, `Since 
when 
> should I care what she wants?  Did she ask me what I wanted before 
> she disappeared?  No, and now I will do what I want which is to be 
> sure she stays safe.'
> 
> The witch closes her eyes tilting her head to the night sky.  She 
> begins speaking her relocation spell.  The air begins to crackle 
> around her as the power builds.
> 
> "I will land where the battle rages.  I will relocate to where my 
> heart is fighting.  Take me to my love?.take me now!"  she yells 
to 
> the skies.
> 
> In a twinkling flash, the red head disappears from the street to 
> reappear only feet away from where Buffy is battling a 12 foot 
> Cheitan demon.  Willow has only ever seen one in existence since 
they 
> are one of the First's high level demons.  By all right's this one 
> should not be here, not unless the First is close at hand.  Willow 
is 
> brought out from her thoughts as the slayer screams in pain.  
Willow 
> watches as the demon sends the blonde woman flying into the side 
of a 
> mausoleum.  She sees Buffy get up slowly and spit blood.
> 
> "Is that all you got princess?"  Buffy hisses.
> 
> "Give me my master!  You useless vessel!" The cheitan bellows 
before 
> charging the slayer horns first.
> 
> Buffy quickly jumps up over the demon that crashes through the 
same 
> mausoleum Buffy weakened in her landing.  She however misses the 
> spiked tail that catches her in the thigh burying itself deep.
> 
> "Buffy!"  the witch screams in a panic.
> 
> The slayer's eyes flicker immediately to the red head.  Panic 
crosses 
> her face before her eyes flash red and her faces changes.  Willow 
> sees the transformation and recoils from the scene before her.
> 
> `The witch.  We want the witch.  With the witch comes freedom and 
> destruction.'  The First pulls at Buffy's will.  `Give her to us 
and 
> you shall be free.'
> 
> "NO!"  The slayer shrieks, "You cannot have her.  I have that 
> balance.  The deal was struck and you will obey me!"  She feels 
her 
> face change again as she channels the power back into freeing her 
leg 
> which has a mangled hole bleeding profusely.
> 
> The demon rebounds slapping the blonde aside as he stands to full 
> height.  Buffy limps toward the demon.  Perhaps, this is the one 
time 
> she won't come back.  Maybe this is her peace at hand, but it 
can't 
> be.  She cannot let this evil free.  As long as she lives, it is 
> trapped within her.  She cannot die without finding away to 
contain 
> it again.  Feeling light-headed and weak the slayer jumps towards 
the 
> demon grappling and tossing trying to get on its back.  She 
manages 
> to get a few great blows into his eyes so that one is gone and 
oozing 
> down its face.
> 
> Willow regains her resilience when she sees Buffy's new face 
instead 
> of the demon she saw before.  She cannot get a clear shot to help 
her 
> slayer with her in the demon's space.  She waits watching for an 
> opening.  She opens her mouth again in a scream as she sees the 
> cheitan gouge another gaping hole in the slayer's shoulder before 
> dropping her to the ground in an attempt to save its other eye.  
> Buffy bounces off the ground and simply lays there.  The cheitan 
> raises its cleft hoof to stomp the slayer into the earth, but 
Willow 
> will not allow it.
> 
> "YOU SHALL NOT HARM HER!"  She screams to the heavens as her eyes 
> turn to ebony pools and her hair flies around her head.  "BECHAL?
> CRUCIAS?SEVERUS!"
> 
> Willow drops to her knees as the cheitan screeches before turning 
> inside out leaving a pile of gore behind where he once was.  
Willow 
> breathes raggedly pulling her control back to her.
> 
> `Be gone.  I control you.  I am the power and you are merely a 
> conduit.'  The red-head chants in her mind as she feels her eyes 
> return to normal and her strength slowly returning.  She raises 
her 
> head to look for her slayer.
> 
> Buffy pushes herself to her hands and knees placing as much of her 
> weight on the uninjured limbs as possible.  She knows Willow saved 
> her.  She heard the power crackle around her as the First 
struggled 
> to be free of its fleshy prison inside of her.  Willow watches as 
the 
> blonde struggles to stand.  The witch cannot tell how much of the 
> gore on Buffy is from the demon and how much is precious blood the 
> slayer is seeping out of her own wounds.  Willow stands moving 
toward 
> her friend.
> 
> `I know what I saw.  It was not an illusion.  Buffy is carrying 
some 
> evil inside her.  What price is she paying?'  Willow remembers the 
> fiery red eyes boring into her, `It is going to kill her if she 
> doesn't let me help her?perhaps that is what she wants.'
> 
> Buffy manages to get to her feet as Willow gets close to her.  
They 
> stand simply staring at each other for a moment.  Giles rushes 
into 
> the area with Xander right behind him.
> 
> "My God.  What happened here?"  Giles takes in all the fleshy gore.
> 
> "It looks like something rained guts."  Xander offers grotesquely.
> 
> "Willow saved my ass."  Buffy gruffs out.
> 
> "From the looks of you, she did so in just the nick of time."  
Giles 
> breathes out taking in all the damage to the blonde that is slowly 
> healing.
> 
> "Yeah, I thought I had him, but he was little bigger than I was."  
> Buffy tries to smile.
> 
> "What was it?"  Xander asks in awe as he continues to look at the 
> pile of guts.
> 
> "A cheitan demon."  Willow answers, "One of the First's higher 
level 
> demons."
> 
> "The First?"  Xander asks confused.
> 
> Before Willow can answer, she sees that Buffy's eyes are rolling 
up 
> into her head.  Without thinking, Willow rushes toward the slayer 
> catching her as she falls. She wraps her arms around the semi-
> conscious woman lowering them both to the ground as her body 
> stiffens.  Immediately, Willow's head fills with images from 
Buffy's 
> soul.
> 
> <<Willow sees Buffy fighting her way through several Turok Han.  
> Then, suddenly she watches as the slayer takes a fatal wound 
falling 
> to the ground.  Her vision spins as she realizes she can hear 
another 
> voice inside Buffy's head.  One that no one else is aware of as 
they 
> continue to battle.
> 
> "There must be a balance.  What you ask the witch to do will have 
a 
> great price.  She has already unbalanced the scales to bring you 
> back.  We cannot allow this to happen without her life."
> 
> "NO!"  Buffy screams back.  "There has to be another way.  This 
was 
> my choice.  I should pay the price."
> 
> "There is but one other way the scales can be balanced.  Are you 
> willing to pay the price for her?"
> 
> "I have given my life before what would be so different this time?"
> 
> "It wouldn't be your death we seek, but your life.  You must carry 
> the balance within you as it has always been and there is only one 
> way to do this without her life to balance the scales of power 
over 
> life and death."
> 
> "I don't care what it is. I will pay whatever the price.  She 
cannot 
> die.  I cannot do this without her."  Buffy offers.
> 
> "So is shall be.  You shall carry the balance within you.  Your 
witch 
> shall be safe as long as the balance is within you and contained.  
> You shall carry the First's evil within your flesh.  If it isn't 
free 
> upon the land then the balance is struck and the witch shall live 
> freely.  But for you this will be a great struggle of power?you 
shall 
> suffer with this burden?you shall forever fight to remain a 
bastion 
> of good over evil for now that balance lives within you."
> 
> "Any struggle?any burden is worth it for her to live."  Buffy 
> answers, "I shall be your balance."
> 
> "So it shall be done."
> 
> Willow watches as Buffy jumps back to her feet joining the 
battle.  
> She slays and protects the new slayer's as their powers come to 
> them.  She flashes to where Spike is channeling the fires of hell 
at 
> the First.  Buffy leans in close taking his flaming hand.
> 
> "I love you."  She whispers to him as she feels the First slide 
into 
> her soul.
> 
> "No you don't, but it's nice to hear."  He smiles back 
sadly.  "GO, 
> you have what was agreed to."
> 
> Buffy nods to him as a single tear slides down her cheek.  She 
lets 
> go and runs up the stairwell and out above ground.
> 
> Willow watches as Spike burns alive.  She hears him say he wants 
to 
> see how it ends.  She feels the love he has for Buffy.
> 
> "She is worth it, Pet.  The world needs her like it needs you.  I 
> love you Buffy.  I wish that I could be there to help you with 
this 
> evil you have taken on.  I'm sorry Buffy.">>
> 
> Willow sees Spike turn to ash as she feels herself fall back into 
her 
> own mind and body.  She looks down and sees he unconscious slayer 
in 
> her arms.
> 
> "My Goddess, Buffy."  Willow feels the tears fall freely down her 
> face.
> "Willow, let me help you with her."  Giles offers.
> 
> "No," Willow stands cradling the broken slayer to her chest as she 
> feels her muscles tremble, "I will not relinquish my burden to 
> another soul.  She is precious to me."
> 
> Quietly, Willow murmurs a strengthening spell to help her carry 
her 
> love home.  Giles and Xander follow silently behind.  Giles seems 
to 
> have an understanding and Xander will ask him about later.  They 
> watch as Willow gently croons to the unaware blonde slayer held 
> lovingly in her arms.  
> 
> "Now you know, Lil' Bird.  Now, you have a chance to save her if 
you 
> fight hard enough."  Spike forms behind the group.  "Perhaps, you 
can 
> save us all."
> 
> TBC
>




Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                      --'Choices'

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