TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBWriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way, but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
Tara winced as Glory squeezed her hand tighter, threatening to crush the bones she had already broken into a fine powder. Blood was pouring down her arm, and tears soaked her face, but she was not about to give the mad god the satisfaction of hearing her cry out.
"Mmm...I'll bet you taste delicious." With a wicked sparkle in her eye, Glory raised Tara's hand and started to bring it up to her lips.
"Tara!"
Glory's eyes narrowed as she slowly turned her head in the direction of the voice. Even through the din of the lowly mortals around her, the goddess still recognized the irritating tones of the Slayer's redheaded friend. The witch. Interrupting her first taste of the Key.
Tara, meanwhile, felt a sudden sense of fear take hold of her heart. Willow was coming, to save her, which in any other circumstance, would have been the most wonderful thing in the world to her. But she was terrified of what Glory might do to her lover if she got in the way.
"P-Please..."
Willow knew she was running out of time. There were too many people between her and Tara, and even from where she was standing she could see Glory starting to turn her attention back to her beloved. She wasn't about to just stand by and let anything happen to Tara if she could help it.
"No!" The redhead put her hands out. "Get away from her, you BITCH!" On that last word, an invisible wave of force exploded from her palms, traveling out in every direction all at once. The unsuspecting people in her way suddenly found themseves being swatted down like flies, the whole throng parted like the Red Sea, and Willow put on her bravest face as she approached Glory and Tara. "Honey?"
Glory let go of Tara, and rose. "Don't interfere, little girl. This is none of your business."
"The hell it isn't!" Willow got right up in the hell-god's face, despite the fact that inside she was so scared she could barely think straight. "I won't let you hurt her anymore!"
Glory seemed to find this particularly amusing. She actually laughed. "LET me? I'm a god, sweetcheeks. How exactly do you propose to STOP me?"
"Trust me," Willow insisted. "There are ways." Of course she couldn't think of any of them at the moment, but she was hoping Glory might buy her act at least long enough for her to come up with something. "I'd advise you to get out of here, before you make me mad!"
All at once the hell-god lurched forward and threw a punch which--if Willow was any judge from her years of watching the Slayer train--would probably have gone right through solid concrete. As a result she imagined that it certainly wouldn't have had much of a problem with her skull.
Only it never connected.
Glory's blow glanced off an invisible barrier that had been hastily erected between the two of them. Her eyes went wide as she realized it was coming from Willow.
"You think this pathetic little trick is going to save your life?!"
Willow shook her hand. "No." The redhead clasped her hands together, and held them up in Glory's face. "But this one might." She closed her eyes. "Fiat...lux...incindie!"
The mother of all mystical flashbulbs went off, just inches from Glory's eyes. It must have been liked staring directly into the sun for that one instant, and even the hell-goddess was momentarily staggered. She took a step back, her vision filled with nothing but stars.
"Witch! What did you do to me?!"
Naturally, it didn't last long. As a god she was practically immune to pain. And where anyone else would have been blinded for hours, assuming they ever regained their sight at all, she had already recovered. She shook her head and looked around for the witch.
"What? NO!"
They were gone. Both of them. The witch had apparently used her spell as a distraction to steal her Key. Now the goddess's blood was starting to boil.
"You'll pay for that!"
*****
Willow and Tara were running for their lives, literally, as they could only imagine what Glory would do if she caught up with them. They were also trying to find a phone, but so far the only one they had come across wasn't working. They were having a really bad day.
Tara was also on the verge of passing out from pain and the loss of blood. Her hand had been broken, she was sure of it, and she knew she had to get to a doctor soon. But that didn't seem to be much of an option as long as Glory was hot on their heels.
"Look," said Willow. They were almost to the street, which gave her an idea. "Maybe we can catch a cab." She put her arms around Tara, who she could tell was getting woozy. "Just hang on, okay? Trust me, we'll be fine, as long as Glory doesn't..."
About that time a blurred figure shot past Willow and Tara, blocking their path just as they made it to the side of the street. Glory rested her hands on her hips, and sneered.
"Nice try, red. But if you really want to stop me, you'll have to do better than that!"
Willow saw movement from the corner of her eye. She turned her head and smiled, as she saw something the hellgod did not. "Okay." She nodded. "How's this?"
Eyes narrowing, Glory followed the witch's gaze. In the next instant, she realized two things. One, standing in the middle of the street was not a good idea. And two, eighteen-wheelers could not stop quickly no matter how hard their drivers tried. She snarled. "Oh crap!"
The massive truck slammed headlong into the hellgod, who was cursing a blue streak as she went flying down the street. She landed on a parked car, shattering the windshield and crushing the roof. She was not hurt but she was pissed off, and stunned just long enough for Willow and Tara to get away.
"You witch!" Glory started to sit up, but then she felt an annoyingly familiar tingling sensation throughout her entire body. "No!" She slapped the side of her head, trying to force him back in. "Not now you idiot!" It was too late. Her energy was depleted, and her concentration had been broken.
The beautiful body of the hellgod rippled, and then metamorphosized into her mortal half, Ben. He rolled off the side of the car and groaned as he hit the ground.
*****
------------------
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@j...
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way, but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
Willow and Tara had no idea what had happened, or why Glory had
suddenly stopped following them, but they were just grateful for the
respite. They were eventually able to find a working pay phone, and
Willow called for an ambulance, which arrived as Tara was on the verge of
passing out.
Once at the hospital, the doctors put Tara's hand in a cast and gave
her some pain-killers. Willow, meanwhile, left her girlfriend's side just
long enough to make one more call.
*****
Giles, who was standing behind the cash register at the Magic Box,
nearly leaped out of his seat as the phone rang. Buffy, Xander, Anya and
Dawn were there as well, all of them anxiously waiting to hear from
Willow. All of them were very concerned about Tara who, as far as any of
them knew, had suffered some terrible fate at the hands of Glory. Dawn,
in particular, felt bad because she believed that, as the Key, it was her
fault Glory was in Sunnydale in the first place.
All eyes were on Giles as he answered the phone. "Hello, Magic Box?" A
look of supreme relief washed over his face. "Oh thank goodness, Willow.
We've been so...what? Yes, of course. One moment." He pushed a button
marked SPEAKER and then sat the receiver back on it's cradle. "Go ahead,
Willow."
"Is Buffy there?"
The Slayer got to her feet. "Right here, Will."
"Is Dawn all right?"
Buffy glanced over her shoulder. "She's fine. What about you guys?"
"I'm fine. Tara was hurt, but I think she's going to be okay."
"Where are you?"
Willow's voice became muffled for a moment. "Buffy, listen. Glory
still thinks Tara's the Key. And I'm pretty sure she's going to come
after us again."
The Slayer nodded. "So get back here, quick. We'll protect her."
"No, you're missing the point. I've got an idea, Buffy. One you're not
going to like."
Giles took off his glasses. "Willow, what exactly did you have in
mind?"
"As long as Glory stays focused on us, she won't be able to find out
about Dawn. I'm proposing Tara and I take her on a wild-goose chase, to
keep her distracted while the rest of you come up with some way to stop
her. I've talked it over with Tara, and she agrees this is our best
chance."
"But where would you go?" Xander asked, getting in on the
conversation. "We're a team, Will."
"The less you guys know, the better."
Gile shook his head. "Let's not be too hasty now, Willow."
"I'm really sorry to dump this on you guys. But..." They heard Tara's
voice in the background, but they couldn't make out the words. "Okay.
Look, the sun's going down. We have to go. I'll try to call you, in the
next couple of days, to let you know how it's going. I love you guys."
The line went dead.
*****
In the hospital lobby, Willow stepped out of the phone booth and
approached Tara.
"How'd they take it?"
"As well as could be expected, I suppose."
Tara put her good arm around her lover's waist. "And how are you
doing?"
"I'm scared, Tara. I mean, we're in trouble." Willow shook her head.
"I don't know about you, but I've never had a god chasing after me
before."
"Speaking of running for our lives, where are we going? And how are we
supposed to get there?"
"I'm not sure about the where. Yet. But I've been thinking about the
how." Willow sighed. "Obviously, we need some help, and unfortunately I
can only think of one person in this town sneaky and underhanded enough
to get us out fast and easy."
*****
"Bloody hell!"
It was the middle of the afternoon, and Spike had just settled in
front of the TV. Without warning, the door of his crypt swung open and
sunlight came pouring in. He had to scramble to get out of the way in
time, and it still caused several exposed places on his arms and neck to
start smoking.
"Don't you people ever knock?!"
Willow and Tara stepped into the crypt, the latter closing the door
behind them.
"I'm sorry," said the blond. "But we need help."
"Tell me about it."
Spike could clearly see a cast on her arm and he smelled her recently
spilled blood. It had been so long since he had eaten a witch, he
realized. He smiled.
Willow either didn't catch the barb, or else chose to ignore it.
"It's Glory. She's after Tara."
"Let me guess, she thinks your chippie is the Key?" Spike shook his
head. "Strike too for the hellbitch."
Willow put an arm around Tara. "We need to get out of town."
Spike shrugged his shoulders. "So, call your Slayer." He was trying to
appear disinterested, and so far seemed to be succeeding. "I'm sure she
or the shopkeep can get you some cab fare."
"Buffy and the others have too much going on right now," said Tara.
"That's why we're doing this. We're trying to take some heat of them, at
least for a little while."
"Now I get it. You're worried about the niblet. If and when Glory
figures out lover-girl here isn't her precious Key, you're afraid she'll
go after Dawn, so you're running interference for her big sis." Spike
nodded. "That's an ingenious plan." He lit a cigarette. "Suicidal, but
ingenious."
Willow frowned. "We're not here looking for your approval, Spike."
"So, why are you here?" the vampire asked. "I know it's not for the
company."
Willow started to say something, and Tara sensed it was going to be
really nasty, so she cut her lover off with a hand on her shoulder. She
smiled as warmly as possible.
"We need a car. Willow says you used to have one?"
Spike nodded. "That's right. A real beaut."
"Do you think we could borrow it?" Tara asked. "Just for a couple of
days?"
"No."
Again, Willow started to speak up, and again Tara stopped her.
"Could I ask why not?"
Spike dropped into his chair and clasped his hands behind his head.
"Because I sold it, that's why. How do you think I can afford to live in
all this luxury?" He frowned. "I can't eat people and steal their money,
like I used to, and the car was the most valuable thing I owned."
"Damn it!" Willow turned to the door. "We're wasting our time here.
Come on, Tara."
Spike sat there, watching them, and then he snarled. "Wait a minute."
He climbed out of the chair and dug into the side pocket of his leather
jacket. "Here." He pulled out a wad of bills. "Take this. I know a
guy...well, demon actually, who owes me a favor. His name is Garlosi, and
he has a shop about two blocks south of here. Mention my name and give
him this. He'll help you out."
"Thank you, Spike." Tara took the money. "I don't...we really
appreciate this."
"Consider it a loan," said the vampire. "One I intend to get back in
spades." he smiled. "Oh, and don't worry, I'll make sure Buffy knows all
about it. We wouldn't want you witches to have a debt hanging over your
heads when you get back, now would we?"
Willow shook her head, then smiled as she gestured toward the door. It
swung open, all the way this time, and once more Spike found himself
getting an unwanted suntan.
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at
least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE
GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb
luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who
thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way,
but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged
into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but
bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
*****
Spike's friend proved to be more of a casual acquaintance, and he
wasn't particularly fond of the vampire. But he was very fond of money,
and found them the best car he could for what they were offering--which
was about half of what Spike had given them. They needed some cash, after
all.
What they ended up with was a small brown car, that had no radio and
no air conditioning, but Garlosi assured them it would get them where
they wanted to go. It appeared to be in a lot worse shape than it really
was, which was on purpose. That way there was less of a chance it would
be stolen, he explained, or noticed by the cops or any else who might be
interested in their progress.
Willow did the driving, for obvious reasons, while Tara sat in the
passengers seat and conjured up a little blue crystal. When spun like a
top it was able to produce music, and she sat it on the dashboard. She
rested her hand, the injured one, in her lap and closed her eyes as a
gentle tune began to play.
On the way out of town they passed the Magic Box. They did not stop,
as much as the two of them might have wanted to, but they did say goodbye
to their friends.
Even if they couldn't hear it.
*****
Night came to Sunnydale, and in a high-class apartment on the good
side of town, minions stood facing a wall while Glory changed her
clothes. The goddess had awakened in a smelly hospital locker room. She
could never understand why Ben insisted on spending so much time around
humans, particularly not the weak and sick ones in the place he liked to
'work'. To her, they were all repulsive.
Glory straightened her slinky red dress and clapped her hands. The
minions turned to face her, but their heads remained bowed. Several of
them were trembling.
"So, what do we know?"
One of the minions spoke up.
"Magnificence, the Slayer has not made contact with the witches since
this morning."
"And the Key?"
The minion cleared his throat. "With the other witch. According to our
sources; they purchased a vehicle, and have left the city. They are
running from you, oh grandiose one."
"Where are they now?"
"I...we, d-don't know, great Glorificus."
Glory's eyes narrowed. "What? You lost her?!" She reached out and
grabbed the little demon by the throat. He began to choke and gag as she
effortlessly lifted him off his feet. "My Key? Are you telling me, you've
lost my only shot at getting off this craphole of a planet? Of getting
back to my own dimension, and teaching those two losers who banished me
here a lesson? Is that what you're telling me?!" She squeezed just a
little bit more, until she heard a satisfying crack, then she tossed his
fragile body aside. "Okay, fine! You want something done right you have
to do it yourself. Somebody, get me a phone."
*****
The next morning, Tara was awakened by a dull, throbbing pain in her
hand.
Still in the cramped back seat of the car she tried to sit up, but
Willow's arm and shoulder were draped across her upper body, pinning her
down. It was a wonderful feeling though, being in the arms of the woman
she loved, and she was just grateful the two of them were in this
together. During her confrontation with Glory she'd been scared for a
variety of different reasons--the strongest of which being the fear she
might never see her beloved Willow again. She should have known better.
"Hey." Tara kissed the redhead on the nose, rousing her. "Good
morning."
Willow blinked. "Morning." She sat up and stretched. "Hey, are you all
right?"
"I'm fine." Tara clutched her injured hand to her chest as the pain
began to dwindle. "Why?"
"You were thrashing and moaning in your sleep. I thought maybe you
were having a nightmare but I was afraid to wake you up."
Tara shrugged her shoulders. "I'm fine now." She looked out the
window. "Hey, Willow?" She didn't recognize their surroundings. "Where
are we?"
"LA," the redhead replied. "Which is another reason I didn't tell
Buffy or Spike where we were going. See, the two of them have a history
with the guy we're coming to meet. A different kind of history,
but...well, it's a whole big, tangled thing. It'd take too long to
explain."
Tara climbed out one side of the car, Willow the other. The two of
them stood there for a moment and stared up at the impressive structure.
"So, your friend lives in an old hotel?"
"Apparently." This was the address, though Willow had been imagining
an office building, rather than anything like this. "Well, since we're
here..." She took Tara's good hand and led her up the stairs, where she
first rang the bell and then knocked several times on the door. "Angel?"
Tara blinked. "Angel? The vampire? That's who we're here to see?"
"I couldn't think of anywhere else to go," said Willow. "Angel knows a
lot about a lot of things. And I'm pretty sure he's got even more
connections than Spike." She looked around. "Besides, from everything
I've heard, this is what Angel does nowadays. He helps people who need
help."
"But he doesn't seem to be home."
"I know." Willow sighed. "And I hope he forgives me for doing this."
"Doing what?"
The redhead put her hand on the doorknob. "Unlock and open."
"Willow." Tara sensed a flare of energy, and she heard a click. She
saw the knob turn in her lover's hand. "You do realize, don't you, that
this is breaking and entering?"
"No it's not." Willow swung the door open. "I didn't break anything."
She smiled.
Tara shook her head as she followed her girlfriend inside.
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at
least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE
GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13 (one scene in this installment is ALMOST R, but...)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb
luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who
thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way,
but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged
into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but
bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
*****
They were in the right place.
A sign told them this downstairs area was, or at least recently had
been, Angel Investigations. And Willow did see something else she
recognized--a rack of brightly colored, mostly tight, and never worn
clothing parked by a desk, covered in make-up and fashion magazines.
"Cordy."
Tara followed her lover's gaze. "Who?"
"Cordelia Chase. I told you about her, didn't I? Xander and I knew her
growing up, and he dated her for a while in high school. She moved here,
to LA, after graduation and started working for Angel." Willow pointed.
"That's got to be her desk. I can't imagine anyone else with that kind of
taste."
"Okay."
Willow raised her voice. "Angel? Cordy? It's Willow!" No response. "I
guess they're not here."
"So what do we do?"
"Angel once told me if I ever needed help, if I ever needed anything,
I could come here. I'm going to take him at his word." Willow sighed.
"Because what I need most right now, is a shower."
Tara nodded. "Me too. But we don't have anything to change into."
"Sure we do." Willow reached for the rack of clothes near Cordelia's
desk, and smiled.
*****
"I don't know."
Tara felt uncomfortable in a tight black skirt and sleeveless top with
a wolf printed on the front. She was used to wearing blue jeans and
tee-shirts, or else a regular ankle-length skirt and a peasant blouse.
This sort of outfit was not the sort of thing she could imagine herself
in.
"I mean, I look ridiculous."
"No." Willow emerged from the bathroom, wearing tight blue pants,
along with an even tighter red blouse that accented her breasts. "You
look...incredible."
Tara recognized the hunger in her lover's eyes. "Willow..."
"Come on. We've got this whole place to ourselves." The redhead put
her arms around Tara's neck. "I don't see any reason not to, do you?"
"Willow, we can't. We have to...oh goddess!" Tara felt her temperature
rising as Willow leaned in and nuzzled her throat. "Willow, please. This
isn't the time, or the place."
The redhead sighed. "I need you, Tara. Right now." She kissed her
lover's lips. "Please."
"Oh goddess, forgive me." Tara allowed herself to be pulled to the
floor.
*****
When the two witches finally recovered and got dressed, they headed
downstairs to see if they could find any food. Tara expressed concern
over the fact that the only thing a vampire would eat, was not something
either of them would find particularly appetizing. Willow assured her
that with Wesley and Cordelia were around, Angel had to have some real
food somewhere in the place.
On their way into the kitchen, a flash of color caught Tara's eye.
"Hey." She veered off toward a desk, where a flyer announced an 'Open
Mike Night' at a place called CARITAS. "Willow, look at this." As the
redhead slid up behind her, she began to read. "All races welcome. No
cover. Three drink minimum unless you perform. Is this for real? A place
where humans and demons interact?"
"We don't even have anything like this in Sunnydale," said Willow. "I
mean, there is Willy's. But it sounds like it's a whole lot classier."
"Do you think your vampire friend would go to a place like this?"
Willow shook her head. "I can't see Angel singing karaoke." She
paused. "Still, it has been a couple of years. I suppose it is possible.
And after all, I have seen stranger things." An image of Angel onstage,
singing, filled her mind. "Okay, maybe not. Still, I guess it's worth a
shot."
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at
least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE
GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb
luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who
thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way,
but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged
into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but
bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
*****
The Host, as he was known to his customers, stood off in a corner,
half-listening to a Layoth demon trying to sing the words to Funky Town.
Unfortunately for all concerned, the creature was tone deaf. And try as
he might the only word he was able to get right was Funky. It made for a
very strange evening.
But the Host's mind really wasn't on his work. Or his customers for
that matter. He was thinking about Angel, and his band of would-be
warriors. There were hard times ahead, one of them involving him. Soon,
he would be forced to make a choice, about whether or not to do something
he had vowed long ago would never happen. He might actually have to
go...home.
Then two people walked in, and took his mind off everything else.
Humans. Females. A blond and a redhead.
More importantly, they were new faces, and he liked new faces.
Normally.
But there was something different about these two. He couldn't read
their auras, or know anything about them really, unless they sang for
him. Even so, he had a sense there was something special about them. He
just could not put his finger on what it was, exactly.
The Host took his Seabreeze in hand and approached the couple. That
much, at least, was obvious to him even without the use of his powers.
They were holding hands, basking in one another's closeness and warmth,
and he almost felt bad intruding. Almost.
*****
Willow saw the green-skinned demon coming first, and her hand
tightened around Tara's.
"Ladies. Welcome. I am the Host. Can I get you anything?"
Willow cleared her throat. "We're looking for a friend. Maybe you know
him? He's kind of tall, has dark hair, and he always wears black. Oh, and
he's a vampire."
"Honey," The Host chuckled. "So are half the people in here. Can you
be more specific?"
"His name is Angel."
"Oh, so you're friends with the angelic one, are you?" He directed
them to a table, and sat down. "I'm afraid he hasn't been in today. But
you never know when he might show up."
The redhead nodded. "Oh, by the way, my name is Willow. This is Tara."
"Charmed, I'm sure. Just call me the Host. Everybody does, and I do
mean everybody."
Willow looked around. "So, does Angel really come in here?"
"Perhaps not as much as some of us would like," the Host replied. "But
he tends to frequent my establishment on a semi-regular basis. Usually
whenever he is in in need of my talents."
"What talents would those be?" Tara asked.
The Host smiled. "Oh, I know what you're thinking sweetness, and you
are sadly mistaken." He nodded toward the stage. "All of my customers are
welcome, and even encouraged, to go up and enjoy themselves, but most of
them also have ulterior motives. You see, I am an anagogic demon, which
means I can see into souls. I can read auras, minds and, as long as the
Powers are willing, predict the future. People and demons come for
advice. Or to find out what sort of destiny awaits them."
"Really?" Willow glanced at Tara, then back to the Host. "You can do
that?"
The Host shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Would I lie to you?"
"Can you do it for us?" Willow put an arm around Tara. "See, we're in
some trouble, and I'd like to know if it's a done deal or not. The end of
the world, I mean."
"I'd be willing to give it a try." His smiled broadened. "But you know
the price."
*****
Tara stood at the rear of the stage and tried to keep her breathing
calm, as Willow was programming in a song for them to sing. The thought
of what they were preparing to do, was enough to send a chill down her
spine, and it was all she could do not to simply run away.
"A-Are you sure about this?"
Willow stood up. "No." She sighed. "But look at it this way. None of
these...people really knows us. And after today, we're probably not going
to be seeing any of them ever again."
"But aren't you s-scared?"
"Petrified. Still, deep down, as long as you're with me..." Willow
held out her hand, and Tara took it. "...I know I'll be all right. No
matter what."
Tara smiled. Suddenly, embarrassment didn't seem like such a big deal.
It wasn't like she could actually die of it, after all, and if the crowd
got ugly...they could handle it.
"Okay. I'm ready. Let's do it."
Taking deep breaths, they both turned to face the bar as the music
started.
When the night, has come
And the land is dark
And the moon, is the only
Light we'll see
Only a few words into the song and Willow could already tell Tara was
beginning to falter. Her words tapered off and her eyes had slowly begun
to drift toward the floor. Willow squeezed her lover's hand more tightly,
and when Tara looked up the redhead was smiling.
Their eyes locked, something seemed to pass between them, and Tara
nodded.
No I won't, be afraid
No I won't, be afraid
Just as long, as you stand
Stand by me
Encouraged by Willow's strength, Tara's own confidence began to grow,
as did the volume of her voice. Soon it was Willow herself who was taken
aback, by the sounds coming out of her lover's mouth. She almost lost her
own place in the song she was so startled.
Oh darlin, darlin stand, by me
Oh stand, by me
Oh stand, now, stand by me
Stand by me
Tara herself could hardly believe it.
Until this moment, she would never have imagined herself able to stand
up in front of a large group of people and sing like she was doing. Her
father always got so terribly angry whenever she would try to sing while
doing her chores, and he made certain she understood how terrible how
voice was, and how much people would laugh if they ever heard it.
Willow, though, knew differently. And Tara believed in her.
When the stars, that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains, should crumble
'to the sea
Willow regained her composure, and elevated the volume of her voice to
match Tara's. She was nowhere near as good of a singer as her lover, of
that she was already certain. But together they managed to acheive a kind
of sound than either one of them could accomplish alone.
I won't cry, I won't cry
No I won't, shed a tear
Just as long, as you stand
Stand by me
Oh darlin, darlin stand, by me
Oh stand, by me
Oh stand, now, stand by me
Stand by me!
Even as Willow and Tara bowed, and the music began to die down, the
entire crowd erupted in applause. They were clapping and whistling, as
well as barking, growling, roaring and every other conceivable sound one
might expect of such an eclectic group of listeners.
The two witches cheeks turned bright red as the stage was swarmed. A
man directed them off one side, out of any potential danger, while a
couple of big, burly demons got the crowd settled down. As the crowd
returned to their seats, Willow and Tara approached the Host at the bar.
In fact he too was clapping by the time they got there. "Excellent,
ladies. Excellent. I've seldom heard a better performance here in my
humble establishment." He picked up two glasses and held one out to
Willow. "Please, accept this imported red fruit juice..." The other, he
offered to Tara. "...and the freshest spring water money can buy.
Compliments of the house, of course."
"That's incredible," said Willow. "I was just thinking about some
fruit juice."
"Me too," said Tara. "Except, you know, water."
The Host tapped his forehead. "Sees all and knows all, ladies. Well,
most of the time."
"Speaking of which..." Willow sipped her juice, it was delicious.
"...did you find out anything?"
He nodded. "As a matter of fact, yes. You've both got a great deal of
power, and that's really going to help you with what's coming. You ladies
are in some pretty hot water. The kind of trouble I generally try to
avoid if I can help it." He glanced nervously toward the door and then
lowered his voice. "Glorificus, huh? I heard she was on this plane, but
I had no idea she was this close to finding the Key."
"You know about the Key?" asked Tara.
"Tell us," said Willow. "We still don't even know what it is."
The Host shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, I only know what They..." He
pointed toward the ceiling. "...tell me. If I were you, I'd head back to
Sunnydale on the double. Something really wicked that way comes, and I
think your Slayer is going to need your help if she wants to win this
one."
"Buffy?" Willow was worried. "What is it? What happens to her? Is it
Glory?"
"I..." Something caught the Host's attention, and he tripped over his
own words. "...think you two had better go out the back way. And
quickly." He hustled them in that direction.
Part 6
Okay, you've had the singing.
Now, the promised fighting.
Enjoy.
BTW, just so everybody knows, I've actually finished writing the story,
but I am going to continue sending it out in installments (though
possibly larger ones) until I have edited the final parts to my
satisfaction.
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at
least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE
GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb
luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who
thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way,
but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged
into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but
bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
*****
Willow and Tara stepped out into the alley behind Caritas, looking
back as they heard the Host close the door with himself on the inside. He
was leaving them out here on their own though neither of them knew why.
There wasn't anything out here as far as they could tell.
"Hello."
Startled, the witches turned to see someone standing in the mouth of
the alley. A wiry, distinguished-looking older man in a dark, crisply
pressed suit. He had gray hair, small eyes, and was holding a walking
stick which he twirled in one hand and he strode toward them.
"You're a very difficult person to find, Miss Maclay."
Willow stepped in front of her lover, her arms outstretched. "You're
with Glory?"
"Yes. I serve the great Glorificus."
"Please, just leave us alone," said Willow. "We don't want to fight
you."
Doc nodded. "Most assuredly. I'd hate to damage the Key at this late
stage. Glorificus would be angered. So, I ask you both, don't make me do
something we'll all regret."
"I won't let you take her," Willow insisted.
Doc's eyes turned solid black. "Do you honestly believe you can stop
me?"
"I can try." Willow clasped Tara's good hand in her own, and held up
the other. All around them the trash cans, stray pieces of wood and
metal, cardboard boxes and broken liquor bottles, every bit of debris
that was not tied down began to rise into the air.
Doc nodded. "So be it." He stepped forward and promptly disappeared,
or so it seemed to Willow and Tara. In truth, he had just moved so fast
neither of them could follow it. The strange little man was behind them,
before either of the witches realized it, and he raised his walking
stick.
A sharp blade extended from the tip. In a sudden motion he slashed it
across Willow's back, and the redhead's blouse cut down the center as it
sliced open her flesh. She screamed. Blood gushed from the wound as he
spun around and thrust the other end of the stick into Tara's chest. The
blond was doubled over, unable to breath, and he grabbed her hair.
"I warned you!" Doc felt the stick being torn out of his hands, and he
jerked his head toward Willow. "You are nothing to me, witch! Give me
that back!"
As Doc came at her, Willow grabbed the stick out of the air and aimed
it toward his stomach. His momentum and her desperation drove the blade
right into his chest and out his back, taking with it gushes of blue
blood and what appeared to be an organ of some sort. He sank to his
knees, gasping one last time, and then slumped on to his side, a long
tongue hanging limply out of his mouth.
"You asked for it," said the redhead. Her back hurt, but at least the
bleeding had stopped.
"It's over." Tara sighed. "Thank the goddess."
Doc's eyes abruptly snapped open. "I do!" He jerked the stick out of
his body and lurched to his feet, catching the both of them off-guard.
"Glorificus requests your presence, Miss Maclay. If your friend here
insists on my killing her first, I'm perfectly willing to oblige her."
Willow stumbled as the pain in her back intensified. Something was
wrong. Hot knives arced up and down her spine and, soon, it was too much
for her to bear. Her concentration collapsed and all of the things she
had been levitating to fall to the ground. She sank to her knees, tears
in her eyes.
"Willow?" Tara could sense her lover's pain, and it scared her. "What
is it?"
Doc cocked his head and smiled. "It's about time the poison took
effect. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps I'd lost my touch."
"Poison?" Willow asked.
Tara felt cold all of a sudden. "Oh goddess, no."
"Don't fret," said Doc. "It's not fatal. Not in small doses, at least.
You'll be fine soon." He smiled. "Believe me Miss Rosenberg, I have no
desire to kill you. I'm only after the Key."
Willow shook her head. "Never!" She gestured, and a trash can lid shot
into the air.
Doc swatted it aside without even trying. "If that's the best you can
do young lady, I'd suggest you surrender. I may yet be persuaded to spare
your life."
"I won't give up!" Willow focused what little power she had left. "I
won't!" She started throwing everything she could find at the strange
little man. Trash cans, and their lids, empty cardboard boxes, and Doc
either avoided it or swept it aside as easily as one might a bothersome
gnat.
Once she had nothing left, in either the way of ammunition or power,
Doc sighed. "My turn. Pity." In a blur of movement he started
forward...only to find himself hindered by a length of packing twine that
had mysteriously wrapped itself around his ankles. He went down hard,
landing flat on his face, and the stick slid out of his hands and went
bouncing down the alley to land at Tara's feet.
Willow's shoulders sagged as she slumped forward, exhausted. It had
taken all she had to keep Doc distracted while she bound his feet, but
she was starting to wonder if it had been worth it. Sooner or later, he
would get up again, they always did, only she didn't have any way left to
protect Tara.
"I'm sorry," the redhead whispered. "I failed you."
Tara shook her head. "Never. You could never fail me, Willow. And I'm
not about to fail you either." She bent down, and picked up the walking
stick. "I'll take care of this." She turned, bristling with confidence,
only to find herself literally face to face with the creepy-eyed Doc.
"I don't think so!" He slapped the stick out of her hands, and grabbed
Tara by the neck. He sneered as he lifted her off her feet. "You are most
fortunate, child. If it were up to me, I would simply rip the Key out of
you right here and now and be done with it. Glorificus would be pleased."
He shook his head. "But since I do not have the luxury of experimenting,
your body will just have to do."
Fear gripped Willow's heart, as she realized this was all her fault.
Because she insisted they run, to get out of Sunnydale in order to
protect Buffy's little sister, Glory had sent this madman after them.
Worse yet, once she figured out Tara was not the Key, Glory would
probably kill Tara, or worse. And as long as she had a breath left in her
body, Willow would not allow that to happen.
"Leave..." Her mind reached out in search of a weapon. "...her..." She
located the walking stick, and it levitated into the air behind the
unsuspecting Doc. "...alone!" With one last, desperate surge of power she
flung it toward the demonic figure, stars exploding behind her eyes as
she succumbed to unconsciousness.
At the last moment Doc moved, slightly, though it was difficult to
tell whether it had been deliberate or just a stroke of pure luck, and
the blade missed him completely. It did, however, catch a glancing blow
off Tara's side before embedding itself deep into the wall. She cried out
as her blood seeped out, though the wound was only a minor one and she
remained conscious, albeit in pain.
Doc's solid black eyes narrowed. "What's this?" With his free hand, he
reached down to get a sample of Tara's blood on his finger. His long,
snake-like tongue darted out and sucked the blood into his mouth, and
after a few moments a strange statement came over his face. "It can't
be!" He abruptly released Tara, and stepped back. "A human? You're not
the Key! You're nothing!"
"The Key..." Willow mumbled. Even though she was still unconscious,
her subconscious mind still seemed to be responding to Doc's words. "Must
protect...Dawn..."
Tara's eyes widened as she turned to look up at Doc, who was smiling.
"Oh goddess, no."
"Of course," said Doc. "Who better for the Slayer to protect than a
sister?" He shook his head. "I sensed there was something special about
her the first time I saw her, when she and the vampire came into my shop.
If only I had taken here then, I could have saved Glorificus all this
time and trouble." He clucked his tongue. "Oh well. If I hurry, I can get
back and inform her of the Key's location before the days end. She'll be
overjoyed to know we still have time to perform the ritual."
Willow and Tara were seemingly all but forgotten as Doc simply turned
and walked away. His body became a blur as he reached the mouth of the
alley, and he was gone.
Tears in her eyes, Tara started to crawl toward Willow. They had to
warn Buffy, to tell her Glory would know about Dawn soon. But first...
*****
Soon thereafter the witches stumbled back into Caritas, where the Host
brought them to a back room and had their wounds tended to. None were
nearly as bad as they appeared, and it wasn't long before Willow, still
dizzy, was asking him for a phone.
"Buffy? It's me."
"Oh, hey Will. Good news. Spike and Xander got hold of some book. I
don't know what it is exactly, but Giles thinks it might tell us
something about the Key, and what Glory wants Dawn for. With any luck,
we'll be able to stop her before she causes any more trouble."
Willow licked her lips. "Buffy..."
"We haven't seen the godly one herself, lately, but something's
definitely up. The vamp and demon population is drastically starting to
decline. There's some pretty bad mojo on the horizon, Will, and I think
the dark forces are starting to jump ship because of it."
"Buffy listen," said Willow. "Glory knows about Dawn."
The Slayer was silent for a moment. "What? How?"
"One of her goons jumped us, and he figured out Tara wasn't the Key.
Now he's on his way back. He may even be there by now."
Buffy's voice became muffled, as she apparently put her hand over the
receiver. "I'm back, Will. You and Tara get home, PDQ. We're gonna circle
the wagons around the Magic Box."
"Right. We're on the way." Willow hung up the phone and turned to
Tara. "Time to go."
*****
Ben stood in front of a mirror in Glory's apartment, his face beet
red.
The last couple of days had been, by far, his worst since coming to
Sunnydale. Not only did he wake up--after 'she' had been hit by a truck
no less--dazed and confused, and have to explain himself repeatedly to
the cops, he finally got to work and found out he had been fired.
"All because of you!" he screamed at the mirror. "You ruined my life,
you twisted bitch!" He laughed. "Yeah, I can hear you! Rattling around
inside my head! You want out? Huh? Well tough! It's my body! And I'm not
going anywhere! You hear me? It's mine!"
Too late, Ben realized he'd played right into Glory's hands. By losing
his temper, his focus was shattered, and in that one instant he lost his
hold on their body.
"No! You can't! You..."
"...lose pal!" Glory slumped forward, her hands cracking the surface
of the mirror. Ben was already beginning to fade. He was like a distant
memory to her. "Damn. Either he's getting stronger..."
"...or the link between you two, is dwindling," said a voice.
Glory slowly turned, to find Doc watching her from the doorway. Even
she had not heard the demon come in, which meant he hadn't knocked. Her
eyes narrowed.
"Where is she? Where's my Key?!"
Doc lowered his head. "Forgive me, Glorificus. I've failed to bring
you the witch." After a moment, he looked up, and smiled. "However, I
have some other news you may find interesting."
Part 7
And the saga continues...
BTW, much of the dialog in these next chapters comes directly from the
show. If I skip discussions (whole or in part) or even scenes, without
mentioning them, you can assume everything otherwise happened as it did
on TV.
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at
least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE
GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb
luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who
thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way,
but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged
into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but
bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
*****
There was much rejoicing at the Magic Box when Willow and Tara
returned. There were hugs all around from Buffy, Xander and Dawn while
Giles stood back and smiled, and Anya tried to appear disinterested. Soon
after,
they got down to the business at hand.
"...and then he took off," Willow said, having just described their
battle with Doc. "I don't know if he's made it back or not, but he'll
find Glory sooner or later."
Buffy nodded. "Here." She picked up a big, leather-bound book. "Giles
got this for you. He said it contains all kinds of protective magic
spells and stuff. What'd you call them?"
"Wards," said Giles, without looking up from the book Xander and Spike
had brought him.
"That's right," said Buffy. "So, you think you can do anything?"
Willow nodded. "I'll do my best."
As the redhead sat down across the table from Giles, Tara approached
Dawn.
"How are you doing?"
The youngest Summers shook her head. "This is all my fault, Tara."
"What do you mean?"
"Your hand, Glory, all of this...it's happening because of me. Because
those monks took the Key energy from wherever it was before, and created
me. If they'd only left things the way they were, everything would be
fine around here now."
Tara shook her head. "No they wouldn't." She reached out and stroked
the girl's hair. "'cause then you wouldn't be here, and we'd all miss
you."
"But you wouldn't. Don't you remember what the monks told Buffy? They
made up all the memories you guys have about me. If I weren't here, if
they hadn't implanted them inside you, you wouldn't remember me because I
would never have existed." Dawn frowned. "But you know what the worst
part is? I still don't know why. No one can tell me what the Key was
designed for in the first place."
All of a sudden, the front door burst open. To her credit, Tara
reacted quickly by pushing Dawn behind her, to get her out of the line of
fire of a possible attack. Buffy and Xander came running, with Giles and
Willow right behind them. But it was not Glory, or any of her minions, as
they half-expected.
It was a hunched over figure, covered in a heavy blanket. Parts of him
were smoking. Spike slammed the door closed behind him and shrugged the
blanket off, grunting in pain. Buffy and the others were startled to see
what appeared to be an arrow sticking out of his chest.
"We've got a problem," the vampire hissed.
All eyes turned to the front of the store, as something shattered a
window. It was another arrow, this one with a flaming tip. Buffy stepped
forward and caught it before it hit anything flammable, then turned to
Dawn. "Hide, now! Get under the table!"
Anya guided Buffy's little sister to safety, while the others went to
have a look outside. There were dozens of men in armor gathering in front
of the Magic Box. They were carrying swords, axes and spears, and several
had bows and arrows. Some were lighting fires.
"We're being attacked by a bloody Renaissance Fair!" Spike shouted.
Then he winced, as he was forced to pull the arrow out of his own chest.
"Quick," said Buffy. "Check the back door!" Spike and Xander went do
to just that while the Slayer overturned a heavy wooden table and moved
it to block the front door.
"Who are these guys?" Tara asked. She glanced over her shoulder, to
see that Willow was sitting cross-legged on the floor, frantically
flipping through a book.
"The Knights of Byzantium," Giles replied. "I recognize those
emblems."
Buffy nodded. "I fought some of them a while back. They said they were
going to do whatever it took to make sure Glory never got the Key. I
guess they decided to make good on their threat."
"We've got a real problem," said Giles. "There are far too many. We'll
never be able to fight them all."
Willow lifted her head, her eyes solid black. "We don't have to.
Everyone stand back." She held up her hand as they moved out of the way.
"Enemies, fly and fall...circling arms, raise a wall!" A ripple of energy
erupted from her palm and expanded ever outward until the entirety of the
Magic Box was sealed under a shimmering, barely visible bubble. She
dropped her hand, her eyes back to normal.
"Goddess, Willow." Tara came to her lover's side. "Why didn't you ask
me to help you?"
"She's right," said Giles. "That's a very advanced and potentially
dangerous spell, Willow. You should be more careful utilizing those kinds
of magicks."
Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Don't knock it." She glanced out the
window. Knights were pounding against a section of the barrier. "How long
will it last?"
"Half a day, maybe," Willow replied. Outside, she saw two men in long,
brown robes holding up their hands as they chanted. "Or until Heckel and
Jeckel punch a hole through it."
Xander came in from the back room. "Perimeter secure. A couple of them
got in, but between me and Spike's headaches we managed to take care of
them." He smiled. "We do have a surprise." He looked over his shoulder,
as Spike dragged an even more regally dressed Knights into the room.
"Bloody poof hits like a girl," said Spike. "But he looks important,
so I thought we'd keep him."
Buffy nodded. "Good. Now we can figure out what the hell's going on."
*****
"You were warned we would return, Slayer."
Buffy and the Knight faced off in the back room of the shop, he with
his hands tied behind his back. He could have made a move if he chose,
but they both knew it would be pointless.
"Took you long enough." Buffy paused. "What are you supposed to be?
Some kind of Chief?"
"General."
"General. In charge of what? Getting captured?"
"You do not frighten me, child. The instrument of chaos must be
destroyed."
Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Are you talking about my sister?" Without
warning, she turned and kicked the head of a practice dummy standing near
her. It was torn off the rest of the body and went flying across the
room, where it struck the far wall and exploded, raining sand everywhere.
"Poor, frightened girl. You have no idea what you've gotten yourself
into."
Buffy considered, very briefly, doing the same thing to him, then she
changed her mind and crossed her arms instead. "Why don't you tell me?"
"Would it make a difference?" The determined look in Buffy's eyes told
him all he needed to know. "What do you know of the Beast?"
Buffy knew he was talking about Glory. "Strong. Fast. Hellgod."
"From a dimension of unspeakable torment."
"A demon dimension, I know. She ruled with two other Hellgods, right?"
Willow, who had been standing in the doorway listening this whole
time, now turned away. She still could not help thinking about how close
Tara had come to being seriously hurt, or worse, by Glory. It occurred to
her that if she had not arrived at the park when she did, her sweet,
wonderful Tara might have suffered the same terrible fate as all those
poor people in the hospital.
"Tara..." The redhead walked over to the table where her lover, along
with Giles, Xander and Anya, was sitting, searching through any texts
that mentioned anything about rituals. The Watcher was particularly
involved in the book Spike and Xander had stolen from Doc's place. Though
he had not been home, Spike described the creepy little demon in detail,
and Tara had realized it was the same one who attacked them in Los
Angeles. Which told them why he had not been present when Spike and
Xander arrived. "Tara?"
The blond raised her head. "Hmm?"
"Can I talk to you over here, for a minute?" Willow went over to the
counter, sighing when she felt her lover's arms wrap around her from
behind. "Mmm...that feels nice."
"What's wrong?"
Willow shook her head. "Nothing. It's just...I have a bad feeling
about this one, Tara."
"I thought I was the one who had the empathy."
"I'm serious." Willow lay her head back on Tara's shoulder and sighed.
"Just in case we don't, you know...make it through whatever's coming, I
want to be sure you know how much I love you."
Tara felt both happy and worried at the same time. "Goddess Willow,
don't talk like that." Realizing her words might have been taken out of
context she became nervous and thus began to stutter. "T-The fatality, I
m-mean. I love you too. More than I ever thought it was possible to love
anyone."
Willow turned, still in her lover's arms, to face her. "You know the
worst part? Even if we do win, and Glory's plan for...whatever, fails,
it's not over. Oh sure, we might beat her, but they'll keep coming. It
might be a demon next, or a group of vampires. Or something else all
together." She shook her head. "But it's never going to stop, Tara. Ever.
As long as we live on the Hellmouth, it's never going to stop."
"What are you saying?" Tara asked.
Willow was nearly in tears. "I'm sorry. Forget it. I guess I needed to
let that out."
"It's all right." Tara leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
"That's what I'm here for."
*****
Both Buffy and Dawn spent some time speaking to the General, and by
the time they were finished the Slayer and her sister were hugging and
holding one another.
Willow sat in a chair, her arms wrapped tightly around Tara, who was
sitting in her lap.
Anya stood behind the counter, keeping busy by doing the thing she was
most comfortable with--counting the money in the cash register. Xander
sat on the corner and just watched her.
Giles, meanwhile, made an odd noise that drew everyone's attention.
"Oh dear." He began flipping through the pages of a book while the
others, including Buffy and Dawn, gathered on either side. The Watcher
removed his glasses. He was looking a little paler than usual.
"What is it?" Spike asked. "Did you find out what the glorious one
wants with little bit?"
After a moment, Giles nodded. He opened his mouth once, twice, and
again, before finding the words. "Glory plans to open a dimensional
portal, by way of a ritual blood-letting."
"Dawn's blood," said Buffy. She felt her sister tense in her arms, and
held her tighter.
"Yes." Giles cleared his throat. What he had to say would have been
tough under the best circumstances. With Dawn actually right there,
watching and listening to him, it was nearly impossible. "Once the blood
is shed, at a certain time and place, the fabric which separates all
realities will be torn apart."
"Yeah, I know the rest." Buffy told everyone what the General had
said. About the Key, and how it would open all the gates between all the
dimensions, sending them crashing into one another and plunging the
universe into eternal darkness. "Question is, how do we stop it?"
Giles looked Buffy right in the eye. He didn't dare let his gaze
waver, out of the fear of seeing Dawn's face as he said the next few
words. "The portal will only close once the blood had stopped, and the
only way for that to happen..."
"Don't you finish that sentence," Buffy warned. "Don't you dare!"
Willow held her hand out, and instinctively found Tara's. Xander put
his arm around Anya.
"Buffy, I'm sorry. Truly I am. But this text is very clear." Giles
took his glasses off and stood up. "If the portal opens, reality as we
know it will cease to exist."
"So that's the trick, right?" Anya asked. "We just have to keep Glory
from opening the portal, so Dawn doesn't have to die." She glanced at
each one of them for confirmation.
Dawn turned and walked away from the table.
"Nice," said Buffy. "Thanks a lot, Anya." She turned and followed her
sister.
Anya blinked at the hostility she was sensing from everyone. "What?"
"An?" Xander pulled his girlfriend off to one side, to once again try
and help her understand what was and was not appropriate. It never seemed
to take.
"I hate to say this," said Spike. "But demon-girl may be on to
something."
Willow nodded. "We just have to keep Dawn away from Glory and
everything should be fine. I mean, you said she's only got a certain
amount of time to do the ritual, right?"
"Assuming my translation of the text is correct, yes."
Part 8
The day grows dark, as Buffy's little sister discovers that no matter how
things change, some stay the same.
TITLE: Tough Love, Revisited
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You can have it, as long as you let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: Major stuff from the 5th season episode TOUGH LOVE and for at
least some of the episodes after it, including the season finale, THE
GIFT.
CONTENT: W/T
RATING: PG13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb
luck.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara go on the run to protect Dawn from Glory, who
thinks Tara is the Key.
NOTE: This story diverges from the story in TOUGH LOVE in a major way,
but elements from it and from some of the episodes to follow are merged
into this tale. You may recognize events, locals, and even dialog, but
bear in mind this is intentional, not some oversight on my part.
*****
<--- I looked like this guy readin it! Wow that was a awesome story!!! 
Thankz for sharing this story! Again I say this was Awesome! 
