Between the Darkness and the Light
By LivY
Feedback: Sure.
Distribution: Just ask.
Spoilers: Everything up to the Gift is game.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, not even the shirt on my back. Please don’t sue cause all you get is the $2.50 in my bank.
Summery: What if Tara never revealed Dawn as the key at the end of Tough Love?
Special thanks to Rayne’s Shooting Script site and Psyche Transcript site for the episode dialogue.
Note: thoughts are in [ ] and emphasis are in * *
***
BUFFY: What are you gonna need?
WILLOW: I don't know. They gave me a lot of stuff to ... keep her calm.
They both look at Tara, still being fed by Dawn.
WILLOW: (quietly) They said I might have to restrain her at night. But ... sometimes she's fine. She looks at me, and ... she's fine.
Tara makes an unhappy face.
BUFFY: I'm sorry I couldn't-
WILLOW: It's okay. I can do this. I'm gonna take care of her. Even if she never...
Dawn looks up at this.
WILLOW: (softly) She's my girl.
Buffy looks sympathetically at Willow, looks at Dawn and plays with a lock of Dawn's hair.
BUFFY: I understand.
WILLOW: (nods) I know you do.
They give each other small smiles.
WILLOW: (to Tara) Hear that, baby? (Tara looks at her) You're my always.
Willow kisses Tara on the forehead. Tara smiles.
Suddenly the entire outside wall smashes to pieces, exposing them to the outside. Dawn and Buffy jump up in alarm. Sunlight streams in.
Glory appears in the window, which is now just a broken frame with shards of glass hanging in it.
GLORY: I told you this wasn't over.
TARA: No. The place is cracking! It's cracking! Cracking, no, no, no!
Dawn looks anxiously at Tara as Willow tries to calm her.
DAWN: No, Tara, it's okay.
***
Glory laughs and starts after them. Willow holds up her hand while wrapping her other arm around Tara.
WILLOW: (Russian) Air becomes FIST!
Glory goes flying backward, off the side of the building into some bushes.
BUFFY: Run!
The four of them take off through the door and out of the building, various students get knocked down as the four of them head for the main road. Just as they reach the street, Glory appears out of nowhere.
GLORY: Okay, slay-runt I want my key! Or else I'll do what I did to her (Points to Tara) to all your stupid friends until I find it.
TARA: Oooh, big shiny truck.
Glory looks to her right, too late, as a huge semi smashes into her. The four of them run off in the other direction.
BUFFY: Regroup at Xanders.
Glory lands on her back on top of a parked car, smashing its roof in. She starts to sit up, and then stops with a jerk.
GLORY: No! Not now, you idiot! Let go-
She morphs into Ben.
BEN: -of my body!
Ben rolls off the car onto the ground, looks around. He's wearing Glory's dress.
BEN: Oh, god.
At Xanders apartment the whole gang is sitting quietly and listening to Dawn's retelling of the earlier events, while Buffy is looking out the window scanning for Glory and her Minions
DAWN: So, we're all like eating our food when Glory rips through the wall all dramatic and stuff, she's about to make a move when Willow goes Wicca on her and sends her flying halfway across campus. The four of us jet, and then whoosh! All of a sudden Glory's standing right there in front of us all skanky and blonde and thinkin' she's all that just 'cause some bumpy heads kiss her stinky feet ... (pauses, very quietly) She does have nice feet. A-and she's comin' right at us, and Tara points out that a truck is coming then, wham! (smacks one fist into the other hand) Hell-bitch in orbit.
Buffy turns around and looks at the gang.
BUFFY: That shouldn't have slowed her down for more than a second. She'll be coming for us again and she'll go through each and every one of us like she did Tara until she gets to Dawn.
The gang looks at Tara, who is being held closely by Willow and they all contemplate a future like that, lost and alone in their own minds and forever being taken care of by some stranger that they will never know.
GILES: We'll find a way to beat her. There must be something in the Book of Tarnis that we've missed, something we can use against Glory.
ANYA: At least we know the truck method works.
BUFFY: (ignoring Anya) We don't have the time! She's a God, she's not going to sit back and lick her wounds. She'll come for us again and again and again, so lets not be here when she knocks.
XANDER: Are you saying we should run?
BUFFY: We can't beat her and if we stay, we die. A show of hands for that. (everyone looks down) Nobody goes home, nobody tells anybody we're leaving. We'll gather some supplies and then we're gone.
XANDER: (quietly) What about wheels? I don't think everybody's gonna fit in the Xandermobile.
BUFFY: (turns around to look out the window) I'll take care of that.
***
Ben running into the main room.
BEN: You have to let me out.
Dawn follows him in. The others begin to gather.
DAWN: Ben?
BEN: You don't understand, I gotta get out, open a door now!
Buffy and Spike run up next to Dawn.
BUFFY: What happened?
DAWN: I-I don't know, he just freaked out.
BEN: (frantically) Let me out!
BUFFY: Okay, W-Will, open a door.
Willow turns away from Tara to see what's going on.
BEN: No! Aaaah!
Ben puts his hands to his head and suddenly morphs into Glory, who turns the movement into a stretch. She slowly brings her arms down and looks around. Buffy and Dawn stare in horror. Buffy pushes Dawn behind her. Glory looks around in surprise. Willow scared, reaches for Tara and moves in front to guard her. Glory begins to smile. Xander and Anya shocked with what just happened.
GLORY: Well, what do you know? Little Ben finally did something right.
GREGOR: The beast.
GLORY: Hey, it's Gregor.
She grabs a hubcap that's hanging nearby and throws it like a Frisbee. It flies into the general's chest. Everyone stares. Gregor falls forward against his bonds, dead.
GLORY: Now it's not. (turns to look at Buffy) Okay, Slayer for the last time. Where. Is. My. Key?
BUFFY: Try checking under the doormat.
GLORY: (evil smile) Okay, you had your chance now it's time for you all to die!
Glory goes for Buffy but just at this moment the clerics penetrate the barrier and the knights rush in.
DANTE: (looks at the general) They've killed the general. (notices Glory) The Beast! Attack!
A battle erupts. The knights attack both the Scooby gang and Glory. Buffy is keeping the knights off Dawn while Xander and Anya are holding their own. Willow is slowly loosing ground as she tries to defend herself and protect Tara. Glory is cutting through the knights like butter. She bumps into Willow, picks her up by the throat and lifts her up off the ground.
GLORY: The key?
Willow chokes out a simple no as blood drips from her mouth.
GLORY: Fine, then you get to join your lover.
Glory places her free hand to Willow's temple. Huddled nearby, Tara see's this her heart screams for her to save Willow but her mind is still scrambling for clarity, then by sheer will the fog lifts for a moment and she tackles Glory at full hilt. Knocking Willow from her grasp, Tara and Glory end up as a heap on the floor. Unfortunately Glory gets up first and grabs Tara by her neck, lifting her up with no effort.
GLORY: I've had it with you witches and since I've already sucked your brain, I really don't need you alive.
With a sickening crunch Glory crushes Tara's neck. She unceremoniously drops Tara's limp body to the floor and heads towards the gang, knocking away the knights along the way.
GLORY: Okay, who's next?
Willow gets up, still groggy notices Tara's body and crawls towards it.
WILLOW: Tara? (sees the neck at an odd angle and feels for a pulse) Nooo!! Tara! TARA!
Willow cradles Tara's body as she brakes down and cries. A few seconds later she looks up, her cheeks streaked by tears. She looks at the chaos surrounding her, her friends fighting, the knights dying at the hands of Glory, her lover's dead body in her hands and in that moment all that kept her control in check snapped. Her eyes turned to black as she chants in Sumerian, the air around her electrifies. Lightning erupts from her and ripples through all the knights and Glory like an electric net, holding them a couple of inches of the floor as they wreath in agony. The rest of the gang, unaffected by the lightning, slowly moves towards Willow.
BUFFY: (concerned) Willow?
WILLOW: It ends now!
The floating bodies start to shake more violently sparks of light slowly rises out of each of the bodies. As the spark rises out of Glory's body, she morphs back to Ben. The bodies fall into lifeless heaps onto the floor as the sparks combined into one and explodes into a bright flash causing everyone but Willow to cover their eyes. The light dissipates, Buffy walks over to Willow who is still cradling Tara's body. She kneels down and looks at Tara, checks for a pulse. Not finding any, she looks up and shakes her head to the rest of the gang.
BUFFY: I'm sorry Willow.
WILLOW: We can fix this. We have to fix this. There has to be a spell.
GILES: I'm sorry Willow but I don't think there is anything we can do with the extent of damage she suffered. Life and death are very dangerous things to mess with magically, she even said that the magical and the medical should not be crossed.
WILLOW: I just killed a hundred or so people a second ago (starting to scream) so don't lecture me about LIFE OR DEATH!
GILES: Alright, but we don't have the resources here and by the time we get back to the magic shop, the damage to her brain will be too long, so what you bring back may not be Tara. (Buffy and Dawn share a look)
WILLOW: But we have to try!
GILES: Yes, but we have to think, would Tara want that? Would she want to return in that state?
WILLOW: (sobbing) No
She hugs Tara's body closer as her tears overwhelm her.
***
Buffy's house. Willow is lying on Buffy's bed, obviously still crying as discarded tissues surround her. Buffy knocks lightly on the opened door to get Willow's attention and then walks into the room.
BUFFY: Hey Will, I made breakfast. Do you want to comedown and have some?
WILLOW: (turns to look at Buffy, then shakes her head) It hurts, Buffy. It hurts so much that I can barely breath with out her.
BUFFY: (sits down on the edge of the bed) I know and I wish I could say that it does get better but...[it doesn't really does it?]
WILLOW: I don't want it to get better because if it gets better, it means that I'm forgetting and I don't want to forget. I want the pain to continue forever if it means I'll remember her forever. She was my everything.
Willow begins sobbing again. Buffy takes her best friend’s head, puts it on her own lap and starts stroking her red hair.
BUFFY: You don't forget, you never forget. You just learn to deal with them being physically gone but they'll live inside you forever and no one can take that away.
WILLOW: Did you...with your mom?
BUFFY: I'm trying.
Downstairs, Giles is in the kitchen looking at a sheet of paper with three phone numbers on it, two of them scratched out after begin dialed but with no results. Taking a deep breath, he picks up the phone and dials the last number. After two rings the line picks up
GILES: Hello, is Mr. Maclay there?
MACLAY: Speaking.
GILES: This is Rupert Giles from Sunnydale and I'm calling with news about your daughter, Tara.
MACLAY: (vehemently) I have no daughter. (hangs up)
GILES: Bastard.
Just as he is about to dial again, Buffy walks into the kitchen.
BUFFY: Is Dawn at school?
GILES: Yes, I dropped her off.
BUFFY: Did you get a hold of Tara's father?
GILES: Yes, I just got off the phone with him. He wouldn't even acknowledge her, then he hanged up. (pause) How is she?
BUFFY: The same. It's gonna be awhile for her to deal. Her girlfriend died after saving her life and in a fit of rage she killed a hundred or so knights. She has both grief and guilt to work through.
GILES: And what about you?
BUFFY: (a weak smile) I'm fine... You know what, no I'm not fine. I'm the poster child for the opposite of fine. I've had to deal with two deaths in less then two weeks, I am responsible for the key that holds all the dimensions together, my best friend is falling apart up in my room, and my destiny involves me killing all that is Unholy to protect this stupid world. Giles, I'm twenty years old. I'm suppose to be going to parties, dating football players, shopping for cloths with my friends, my biggest worries right now should be what I want to major in school, not if we will even live past tomorrow. It just never stops, does it? It will keep on coming and coming, there will always be one evil after another. It's not fair.
GILES: No, it never is.
Giles takes a hold of her as she starts to cry.
***
"...Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust..."
The gang is walking away from the burial plot with Buffy literally holding up Willow, when Tara's father appears out from behind a tree.
WILLOW: Mr. Maclay.
He slaps Willow across her face. Buffy grabs him by the collar of his shirt and the rest of the gang is ready to jump too.
WILLOW: (quietly) It's okay guys. Buffy, let him go, please.
MACLAY: This is all your fault, witch. You and your friends corrupted my daughter. She would still be alive if you had let me take her home where she belongs. Now my daughter is dead and it's all because of you and your magic. What do you have to say for yourself, huh?
WILLOW: [She would've hit him or at least screamed at him, hell she would've sent him flying out of Sunnydale without the benefit of a plane but she just didn't have the energy to deal with this right now, so all she could do was say] I'm sorry, I loved her very much and I'm sorry. (turns to Buffy) Please let's go home now.
BUFFY: Yeah, come on lets go.
The gang heads towards the cars.
GILES: Xander, can you take the girls home. I have to finish up the paper work here.
XANDER: Sure, Giles.
At Mr.Maclay's car, he unlocks the door and starts to get in when Giles comes up from behind, grabs him, turns him around and slams him against the side of the car
MACLAY: Now, you just wait a...
GILES: Shut up and listen, and listen very carefully. I don't know who do you think you are or where you got the gall to walk in here Holier-then thou and start pointing fingers. I don't pretend to know what are the specifics that occurred in your family but what I do know is that you manipulated and lied to Tara. You made your own daughter believe that she was a demon and told her that she should be afraid of herself. You were her father for God sake! The woman that I had the privilege to know for too brief a time was intelligent, funny, gifted, and was happy here. If you didn't see that then you don't deserve to be her father. (turns to leave, then stops) One more thing, if you ever come near anyone of us again (grabs the hand that Mr. Maclay slapped Willow with and breaks it at the wrist) I'll break all the other bones in your body. (leaves)
***
Willow is sitting in the corner of the upstairs balcony with the "private collections," reading her journal. Downstairs Anya is helping Giles close up the register.
ANYA: That's the forth time she's read through that thing.
GILES: She just doesn't want to forget, that's all. The journal helps her relive all their moments together.
ANYA: Well, human memories are unreliable but then the written word often lies though.
Giles shakes his head and locks the cash tray in the cabinet below. Upstairs, Willow flips to the next page of the journal, her favorite journal, actually. This was the first journal that Tara had bought for Willow. She had seen that Willow went through the first journal in less then a week. Willow remembered explaining to Tara about the lengths of the entries.
WILLOW: I want every second we spend together recorded, documented, indexed, and footnoted.
TARA: Well, I hope not *every* detail is written down. We wouldn't want someone to accidentally read this and find out about some of our more intimate activities.
WILLOW: (mischievous smile) Well, at least they might learn something.
They both fell into a pile of giggles after that, which then led to those previously stated activities that will never be written. The next day Tara came to Willow's dorm with a box full of journals and cases of pens. She said that she wanted Willow to have all the room she needs for the time that they will be spending together. Then she gave Willow one of her special I-Love-You-So-Much smiles that was especially reserved for Willow.
WILLOW: (crying) I miss you so much. I can't do this without you.
GILES: (from downstairs) Did you say something, Willow? Are you all right?
WILLOW: No, nothing Giles. I'm fine.
GILES: Well, I'll be done in about five minutes, I can drop you off at Buffy's if you want.
WILLOW: Sure, Thanks.
Willow closes her journal and starts to pack her stuff in her bag and realizes that her pen is missing. It's the one that Tara had inscribed with Willow's name on it. Willow scrounges around looking for it and then notices a shiny object partially hidden by a piece of fabric hanging off the corner of the shelf. She removes the fabric, revealing her pen and a clay jar underneath. Willow recognizes some of the symbols carved of the side of the jar.
WILLOW: [It looks like really early Greek. Something about the "well of time". No, that not right, it's the "will of time."]
Her curiosity piqued, Willow opens the jar. She finds two scrolls rolled up inside, after slowly pulling them out, she carefully unrolls them.
WILLOW: (looking at the scroll) Oh My God!
TBC
-------------------------------
Now before you all lynch me, good will come out of this.
Many apologies for my errors. Any one want to volunteer for my Beta read cause as you see I need one.
======================================
Between the Darkness and the Light (part2)
by: LivY
Disclaimers: Same as above.
Note: thoughts are in [ ] and emphasis are in * *
***
In the back training room of the Magic Shop, Buffy is pounding the punching bag while Giles is on the nearby couch looking at the shop's ledger.
GILES: (without looking up) You're still dropping your elbow.
BUFFY: Giles, do you notice something weird about Willow?
GILES: (looking up concerned) No, is there something wrong?
BUFFY: No, it's just that I haven't really spoken to her lately. Every time I see her she's head first in one book or another and whenever I ask her something, she just mutters something half-heartedly.
GILES: Yes, now that you mentioned it, I did notice that she has immersed herself in her studies. I guess the work helps her. (looks back down at the ledger and furrow his brows) Would you excuse me for a sec?
He gets up and walks to the front, where Anya is just finishing with a customer and Xander is helping a lady in the front.
ANYA: (to the receding customer) We thank you for your patronage, please come back with your money again.
GILES: Anya, why do we have a $300 bill for a Dragon's Talon?
ANYA: Cause someone ordered it.
GILES: Yes, I know but there are only two spells that actually uses this ingredient and neither of which would we want to sell it to the customer for.
ANYA: Actually, I don't remember selling that to anyone cause you know, I would remember charging them a fortune for it. (takes out a pad of paper from underneath the counter and flips through the pages) Willow has it, she ordered it and it's under her tab.
GILES: What would Willow need it for... Oh, dear. The Scrolls of Kronos.
ANYA: The Scrolls of Kronos? I though they were lost on Atlantis or something.
Giles runs up the latter and frantically searches for the jar. Finding it hidden in a corner, he quickly opens it to find that it's empty.
GILES: Bloody hell! (runs back downstairs) BUFFY!
Buffy runs out from the back all ready to attack.
BUFFY: What?! What's wrong?
GILES: Buffy, we have to find Willow, now! Anya and Xander stay here and try calling her at her dorm and Buffy's place. If she comes in, keep here until we get back.
The two run out of the shop and gets into Giles car. They screech down the street, scaring a couple of people and take a hard right, barely missing the lamppost.
BUFFY: It may help if we get to where we're going alive. Where are we going anyways?
GILES: We have to get to Willow before she invokes the Scrolls of Kronos.
BUFFY: The what of who?
GILES: The Scrolls of Kronos gives those who invoke it, the ability to bend the will of time.
BUFFY: Again with the Huh?
GILES: There is a spell on one of the Scrolls that will allow Willow to travel in time. Actually, only to the past because the future hasn't happened yet. But Willow would be able to go to any moment in the past and alter it. I assume that she's going to go back and try to save Tara.
BUFFY: Maybe we should let this happen, you know if we can save Tara. [if it works maybe I can save mom too]
GILES: You don't understand, if she alters the course of events, the present as we know will cease to exist. The now that we are will die and a new present will emerge.
BUFFY: How do we know that it won't be better?
GILES: We cannot take the risk. In the new timeline, Glory may have gotten hold of the key or we can all be dead or vampires. There's too much uncertainty.
BUFFY: Okay. Where are we going to find her?
GILES: Well, she's going to need something that's from the moment that she wants to return to.
BUFFY: [Tara!] The cemetery!
***
At the cemetery, Willow finishes pouring a white powder in a circle around Tara's grave. She then turns to the headstone.
WILLOW: Soon, honey. Just one more thing and I'll be seeing you again.
Turns her head at the sound of Buffy calling her name and running towards her.
WILLOW: (Russian) Encapsulate!
A blue energy field surrounds Willow and Tara's grave just as Buffy arrives.
BUFFY: Willow, don't do this!
WILLOW: I have to. She's my life!
GILES: (who just caught up) You don't know what's going to happen if you change the past. You'll risk all our futures.
BUFFY: I know what you're going through. I want my mom back too but not at the cost of maybe everyone's life!
WILLOW: I don't care, as long as she lives.
She opens a pouch and sprinkles the grind up blue powder of the Dragon's Talon on the floor.
WILLOW: (In Greek) Hand of Kronos, I invoke thee. Allow me the gift to bend the will of time and return me to the moment I desire.
Willow shimmers and then disappears, along with the energy field.
BUFFY: WILLOW!!
***
Ben running into the main room.
BEN: You have to let me out.
Dawn follows him in. The others begin to gather.
DAWN: Ben?
BEN: You don't understand, I gotta get out, open a door now!
Buffy and Spike run up next to Dawn.
BUFFY: What happened?
DAWN: I-I don't know, he just freaked out.
BEN: (frantically) Let me out!
Then suddenly time freezes. Willow shimmers into sight. She looks at Ben and then at Tara, both still frozen in place. She walks over to Tara and places her hand on Tara's cheek.
WILLOW: Baby, I'm gonna get you back. I might not be able to get your mind back this way but it doesn't matter I can't live without you. I'll take care of you forever. (kisses Tara on her lips) I love you!
Willow turns and walks over to the still form of Ben. She takes out a knife that's been enchanted by the Dragon's Talon.
WILLOW: This is all your fault. You were the vessel of Glory. I kill you, I kill her, and then she can't kill any of us. (one last look at Tara) I know I’m right.
Willow plunges the knife into Ben's stomach. A giant ripple emits from the wound. As the ripple passes over the future Willow, she disappears at which point time resumes itself.
BUFFY: Okay, W-Will, open a door.
Willow turns away from Tara to see what's going on.
BEN: Aaaagh!
Ben clutches his stomach and crumples to the floor. Buffy sees this and runs to his side.
BUFFY: Ben! What's wrong?
Buffy moves Ben's arms and see's the knife protruding from his stomach.
BUFFY: What the Hell is going on!?!
***
TARA: [So dark, so very dark. Can't find way out. Must find way out. Help me, Willow! A Light! Follow the light. Must go to the light, it will lead me out.]
Tara's mind struggles towards the white light, each step is like walking in molasses with a constant pressure pushing down upon her. As she approaches the threshold between the darkness and the light the weight is lifted from her mind. Once crossed Tara suddenly appears to be standing in a white room without any definable edges. Tara looks to the distance and notices two figures walking towards her. At first look they seem to be miles away but the perspective in this, wherever this is, must be deceiving because in the next second they're practically right next to her. Tara stares wide eye at the two figures. They appear to be males but what was unique about them was that they had gold skin with blue veins that you can see faintly underneath the surface of the skin.
TARA: W-Where am I? And w-who are you?
ORACLE1: We are Oracles. We are the eyes and voices for The Powers That Be.
TARA: (pointing up) The p-powers that be, you mean G-God?!
ORACLE1: Yes and No.
Tara is confused and just as she was about to ask the so-called Oracles to clarify the second one interrupts.
ORACLE2: That is of no importance, what is important is that there is a disturbance in the flow of time.
TARA: (even more confused) What has that got to do with me?
ORACLE2: You are the reason for it.
TARA: B-But I didn't do anything. At least I don't think I did anything. Everything has been so hazy.
ORACLE2: I didn't say that you did it, I said that you are the reason for it. The actual cause of the incident is your fellow Child of Light.
TARA: Who?
ORACLE1: Your partner, lover, girlfriend.
TARA: You mean Willow, what did she do?
An image appears between them like a movie projection. It's of the gang at the gas station. Buffy is huddled over a fallen Ben with Xander helping her, Willow is holding onto a scared Tara, Anya and Dawn seems to be looking after Giles. They all seem to be talking hurriedly but no sound is heard.
TARA: What’s going on? H-How can I be there...?
The Oracles don't reply and continue to look at the silent images, so Tara takes their cue and return to watching the events unravel. She sees's Buffy move Ben's arm to reveal a dagger patruding from his stomach, then the images fade away.
TARA: Are you saying that Willow...? No way! Willow would never kill anyone, why would she want to hurt Ben?
ORACLE1: Unbeknownst to you, Ben is Glory's vessel and it is her hand that has wronged Willow.
TARA: W-What you showed me didn't look like she had just stabbed Ben.
ORACLE2: Not that Willow, a future version of Willow had gain access to a spell that allowed her to bend the will of time. She came back to stop Ben before he turned into Glory, who in turn took a life.
TARA: She doesn't have the ability to perform a spell of that magnitude. She knows it'll be too dangerous.
ORACLE1: Her passion is strong, and her love is one of the strongest add on her desperation and her powers amplified triple fold. The level of difficulty becomes irrelevant.
TARA: (understanding) It's me, isn't it. Glory kills me and Willow comes back to try to stop it.
ORACLE2: As a result of her foolhardy actions the flow of time has been disturbed. Once moved cannot be returned but the balance must be regained.
TARA: I-I understand. I have to die.
ORACLE2: That will change nothing, she will simply come back and do the same. No, Willow is the cause of this and so she shall be the one who should be dealt with.
TARA: No! D-Don't hurt Willow. It's not her fault, she did it because of me.
ORACLE1: That is why you're here. You are to decide the fate of the future. How it regains it's balance will be up to you.
TARA: I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me.
ORACLE2: (pausing as if listening to only something he can hear) Self-sacrifice.
TARA: B-But I thought you said that...
ORACLE2: You will not physically die but the life that you've had with them so far will be forgotten. You as a person will not change, your skills and past knowledge before them will remain intact.
ORACLE1: In essence the life that you have up until now will cease to exist. A death but not. The Powers That Be will settle with that. We will help you with Glory's demise at the appropriate time and without anyone being injured.
ORACLE2: But at the moment of Glory's demise your memories of the time spent with them and theirs of you will be erased. You will just be another Sunnydale student living her life.
ORACLE1: Once your decision is made, you will set in motion, what needs to be done. We will return you to before and you will not remember any of this happening.
TARA: (looking down) If it's the only way that none of them gets hurt.
ORACLE1: It is.
TARA: Then… I agree.
***
GLORY: (evil smile) Okay, you had your chance now it's time for you all to die!
Glory goes for Buffy but just at this moment the clerics penetrate the barrier and the knights rush in.
DANTE: (looks at the general) They've killed the general. (notices Glory) The Beast! Attack!
A battle erupts. The knights attack both the Scooby gang and Glory. Buffy is keeping the knights off Dawn while Xander and Anya are holding their own. Willow is slowly loosing ground as she tries to defend herself and protect Tara. Glory is cutting through the knights like butter. She bumps into Willow, picks her up by the throat and lifts her up off the ground.
GLORY: The key?
Willow chokes out a simple no as blood drips from her mouth.
GLORY: Fine, then you get to join your lover.
Glory places her free hand to Willow's temple. Huddled nearby, Tara sees this her heart screams for her to save Willow but her mind is still scrambling for clarity. Then one of the knights who look surprisingly like the human version of one of the Oracles, gets a hold of Dawn.
KNIGHT: Brother Dante, I've got the key!
Hearing this, Glory drops Willow to the ground, who's trying to get more air through her battered throat, and heads towards the knight. Tossing aside anyone that got in her way, Glory gets to the knight in less then second. Buffy sees this and tries to fight her way to Dawn but is bombarded by knights who seem to have come out of nowhere.
GLORY: I don't like it went people touch my stuff.
She takes a hold of the knight and throws him through the wall. She then grabs Dawn's hand and runs out of the gas station with her, leaving nothing but a trail of bodies behind.
BUFFY: DAWN!!!
Buffy goes on a fighting frenzy but with the key and Glory gone, the knights start to dissipate and eventually the last ones are taken out by Buffy. Hoping to catch up, Buffy rushes out and freezes in horror. The ground is littered with the broken bodies of the Knights. No sign of Glory or Dawn. The rest of the Gang spills out equally horrified by the carnage.
WILLOW: We... we have to...
SPIKE: The car! Check for the keys!
Spike and Xander rush to Ben's car. Willow cradles Tara, who's sobbing at the confusion and horror of what's happened.
Buffy trembles, tears filling her eyes. She collapses to her knees, totally shutting down. Her promises meant nothing. She's failed, totally and completely.
WILLOW: Buffy...?
XANDER: They're not here!
SPIKE: We'll have to boost it! Find something to cut the wires!
WILLOW: Buffy, we... we have to look for Dawn. We can't let Glory... Buffy?
Buffy isn't responding. Willow's concern quickly gives way to fear over what's happening to her friend.
WILLOW: You have to get up. We need you. Buffy, please... Buffy? Buffy?..
***
Dawn is still alone up here. She looks down, around, then back up and SCREAMS, someone is standing before her on the platform. It's Doc. He's dressed formally, in a black suit.
DAWN: You... can you help me? Untie me...
DOC: Oh, sweet girl, I can do magic!
DAWN: Please help me... she's coming...
DOC: Well she seems to be running late, is the thing. And if her splendidness isn't here to bleed you...
Dawn's face drains.
DOC: Yes, it's all coming together at last. (beat) Hey kid. Wanna see a trick?
With a theatrical flourish, he produces a gleaming knife. And a terrible smile. Then one of the Oracles appears behind him.
DAWN: (noticing the Oracle) Help me! Please!
DOC: (turns) What are *you* doing here!?
ORACLE1: (a faint smile) I made a deal with a lady.
DOC: Well, I made a deal with a God.
He lunges at the Oracle but with a simple thought from the gold figure, Doc is sent flying off the platform and hits ground with a wet crunch. Dawn stares in shock. The Oracle waves his hand in front of Dawns face causing her to pass out. The second Oracle joins his brother. Both of them observe at the events unfolding below.
ORACLE1: It's almost time.
ORACLE2: I know.
ORACLE1: Brother, you act like you don't care but I know that they are amongst your favorites, so I ask why?
ORACLE2: The Powers That Be will it, so it will be. (scowling) We do not question we just merely do and we have done our part to protect them all.
ORACLE1: Their love is strong and their souls destined to be together. They will simply find each other again.
ORACLE2: We shall see.
Down below, Buffy is wailing on Glory with the hammer. Glory's face is bloody, she is dazed. A blow sends her to her knees, an uppercut puts her right on her back.
GLORY: Stop it...
BUFFY: You're a god...
She slams it into Glory's face.
BUFFY: MAKE it stop.
And again. And again. She raises the hammer -- it has blood on it as well -- and hesitates. Glory, bloody and defeated, morphs into Ben. He is equally battered, and looks up helplessly at Buffy.
BEN: I'm sorry...
BUFFY: Tell her it's over. She missed her shot. She goes. She ever *EVER* comes near me and mine again...
BEN: We won't. I swear.
A moment, and Buffy raises, eyes still on the boy. Then she turns and bolts. Ben coughs, trying to sit up, despair in his eyes. He lies back down...
BEN: (laughs bitterly) Guess we're stuck with each other, huh baby?
Suddenly there is another figure looming over him. He squints to see Giles, squatting over him.
GILES: Can you move?
BEN: Need... a minute… She could have killed me.
GILES: No she couldn't. Never. And sooner or later, Glory will re-emerge and make Buffy pay for that mercy, and the world with her. Buffy even knows that, and still she wouldn't take a human life. Because she's a hero, you see. She's not like us.
BEN: Us?
Giles coldly clamps his hand over Ben's mouth and nose. Ben struggles feebly for a while. Then stops. Giles' expression never changes. Buffy climbs up the tower, not noticing the exchange below, unties Dawn and carries her down. Along the way Dawn regain consciousness.
DAWN: Buffy! S-Someone was up there...
BUFFY: Shhhh, it's okay, it's over.
The rest of the gang is gathered around the base of the stairs. As Buffy descends from the final step the gang embraces Dawn. Buffy surveys the situation.
Buffy: Is everyone alright?
Nods all around.
Buffy: We should help the victims, see if anyone of them were injured. Xander go find a phone and get some ambulances here.
The group splits up to go in search of victims. Giles and Willow are sifting through some fallen crates when Willow notices a blonde girl huddled by a broken crate. They lift her off the debris and Giles does a double take when he sees her face.
GILES: I know her...
At this point the blonde girl regains consciousness.
TARA: Mr. Giles...?
GILES: I've seen her around the Magic Shop. She shops for ingredients there.
TARA: W-Where am I? How did I get here?
WILLOW: (to Tara) Hi, my name is Willow. We’re here to help. Are you okay?
TARA: I-I think so...ouch! (looks down at her hand) Oh my God! What happened to my hand!?
WILLOW: Giles, she doesn't sound like she's been brain-sucked.
TARA: B-Brain-sucked?
GILES: It's Tara, right? You've just been through a big ordeal. Why don't we get your hand looked at by the paramedics first, then we'll talk later.
They guide her to the just-arrived ambulances, where the rest of Glory's victims are being looked over by the paramedics. Off to the side and invisible to everyone, the Oracles watch the rescue efforts.
ORACLE1: It is done, Brother. They do not know of their past.
ORACLE2: Yes.
ORACLE1: You know why, don't you?
ORACLE2: (a pause) Yes.
With no further explanation the second Oracle disappears.
ORACLE1: [No one ever tells me anything.]
He then follows his brother in suit and disappears. Unseen by anyone, the eyes of Doc's body opens and black mist pours out of them. It hovers above the body for a second and then hears a cop approaching. It heads towards the cop and seeps into him through the eyes. The cop tries to scream but no sound escape, he's already been consumed. It is him now.
TBC
-----------------------------
You can tell that I watch way too much Star Trek with the whole lets use time travel to save whatever that needs to be saved plot device that I threw in there.
==========================================
Okay before we get on to part three, I do have to warn you the quality of writing in this chapter isn’t that good, not that my previous chapters are extraordinary by any means. You know how people say “write what you know,” well since I’ve never experienced a relationship as intense and meaningful as Willow and Tara’s I can’t even begin to do it justice. Now if it was about breakups, I can write you a Stephen King sized novel. Not that there will be break ups, adversity yes cause adversity creates drama.
CaptMurdock: The Doc in my story is not what I think the real Doc is like. I changed the character to fit into my story. I used him because I was using the shows’ actual dialogue and he was already in there and I was just too lazy rewrite the entire thing with a new character.
For those of you who are still awake after reading all that, we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
Between the Darkness and the Light (part3)
By LivY
Disclaimers: same as before.
Note: thoughts are in [] and emphasis are in * *
***
Next day at the Magic Shop, the gang except for Dawn is sitting around the table. Anya is showing off her engagement ring to everybody who will listen when Tara walks in with a cast on her hand. She hesitates a bit to gather her nerves before approaching the full table.
TARA: Umm, Hi. M-My name's Tara. I've seen you guys hang out here before and I wanted to come by to t-thank you all for helping me last night. (pause) You guys aren't like everyone else, you're different, and you understand what really goes on in Sunnydale. There is something here that everyone refuses to see. I can feel it and somehow I know that you can too. S-Sorry, I'm not making any sense. Um, I should go. Thank you, again.
She heads out of the Shop. The rest of the gang is a little speechless until Spike breaks the silence.
SPIKE: 'Bout bloody time we get some appreciation for what we do around here.
Glares from around except for Anya who nod in agreement and smiles.
SPIKE: What?! Like you weren't all thinking the same.
***
Later that day at Sunnydale Campus, Tara is looking at the bulletin board and writing down some phone numbers. Willow walks by and notices her, before thinking about it she gently taps Tara on the shoulder.
WILLOW: Hey, Tara.
TARA: Um. Hi, Willow.
WILLOW: Sorry that we didn't show our appreciation for your appreciation of us, it's just that most of the time we don't get...(realizing that continuing would reveal their Scooby secret, Willow quickly changes the subject) How's your arm?
TARA: It's okay, itchy though.
WILLOW: I was heading to lunch, would you like to join me?
TARA: I can't, I got to check out some of these rooms. My room is under investigation because there's a big gaping hole in the wall. I don't even know how it got there. I'm currently staying with a friend from my Wicca group but she's sorta driving me crazy.
WILLOW: I tried the Wicca group too but had to quit because they had no idea what they were talking about and it started to get aggravating. Giles told me that you buy ingredients from the Magic Box, do you...do spells?
TARA: Yeah, some.
WILLOW: Me too!
TARA: (smiling) My friend, she's all talk with the witchcraft but just another w-wanna-blessed-be. So I need a new and more permanent place to stay then a sleeping bag on her floor.
Off to the side and invisible to everyone, the Oracles watch the exchange.
ORACLE1: Looks like they will be together sooner then you anticipated.
ORACLE2: (frowning) Destinies may not be able to be denied but it can be delayed.
Back to the conversation between the two girls.
WILLOW: If you want, you can...
At this moment Buffy walks around the corner and interrupts.
BUFFY: Hey, Will.
WILLOW: Hi, Buffy. Tara, this Buffy. Buffy, you know Tara.
Buffy: Yeah, Hi.
TARA: Hi.
BUFFY: Will, I came looking for you hoping we can go for lunch.
WILLOW: Actually, I was just asking Tara if she wanted to go for lunch. Why don't we go together?
BUFFY: Hey, the more the merrier.
TARA: Thanks but gotta go room hunting.
WILLOW: (explaining to Buffy) Big gaping hole in her dorm and I was going to...
BUFFY: You can stay at my place. [why did just offer a complete stranger my place to stay? I don't know her but somehow I know that she's not dangerous. She has this familiar and easygoing presence.]
WILLOW: Huh? [She doesn't even know her and she offers her house to stay in. What am I thinking, a minute ago I was about to offer my own place for her to stay. This is weird, I have this pull towards her.]
TARA: Huh? [She doesn't know me and she offers me a place to stay?]
BUFFY: Well, as long as you don't mind putting up with my annoying little sister. I have the space, so if you want to.
TARA: Um, Okay. I mean T-Thank You, Thanks a lot. Don't worry, nothing can be worse then who I am staying with now.
BUFFY: Good, then it's settled. Now, there are three burgers with our names on it.
The three walk off.
ORACLE1: Nice save, Brother. (Turns to look in another direction) It's coming.
ORACLE2: I know. Let's hope time is on their side.
ORACLE1: Well he does owe us several favors.
***
Sunnydale Police Department, the cop from the construction site walks into the busy building.
PETERSON: [Glory, that idiot! She is beyond incompetent and then that stupid Oracle ruined my chance. I could've consumed *all* the dimensions but now the time has passed and I'm stuck with just sucking this one dry.]
Another officer stops Peterson after getting off the phone.
SANDERS: Hey, Peterson, there's been a vandalism report at Sunnydale University. You want to take a look at that?
PETERSON: Got it. [And I'll come back and drain you later.]
***
Tara's dorm building, Willow is walking and chatting with Tara as they approach her door.
TARA: Hey, thanks for helping me move in to Buffy's. I just need to get the last of my books. (opens door and is surprised by the cop standing there) Oh...
PETERSON: Can I help you ladies?
TARA: T-This is my room. I-I just came to get the rest of my stuff.
PETERSON: I'm Officer Peterson, I was sent to investigate this. (points to hole) Do you know what happen? [Looks like Glory's work, what would she need with this insignificant girl]
TARA: I d-don't know. I was in the hospital for this (show cast) and when I came back, that was there.
PETERSON: What happen to your hand?
TARA: An-an accident.
PETERSON: [There's something about her. She's hiding it, no it's being restrained but not by her. I can feel it fighting against its binds. I can smell the power. Maybe Glory did have something here, I'll have to keep an eye out for her.] Well, I'm done here but if you have any more information, here's my card.
He hands her his card and then leaves. Tara stares at the door.
TARA: [There's something wrong with him, He's...dark.]
WILLOW: (looking at the books) Wow, you've got some pretty heavy-duty stuff here.
TARA: Huh? Oh yeah. My mom handed down a lot of the stuff.
WILLOW: How long have you been practicing?
TARA: Always, I mean, since I um, was little... my, my mom used to, she um, she had a lot of power, like you.
WILLOW: Oh I'm not...I don't have much in the way of power.
TARA: No, you do. I can feel it. [That was weird, major deja vu]
They gather the books and then leave for Buffy's place.
Knock. Knock. Buffy opens the door.
BUFFY: Hey, Tara, Will. You need help with those?
TARA: No, thanks. This is the last of my stuff.
BUFFY: Well, here's your set of keys. The rest of your stuff I moved to the your room, it's the last one on the right. If you need more room, the basement is pretty much all storage space. We go grocery shopping on Wednesdays, you should start coming with us. Everything in the kitchen is up for grabs and that goes for Xander, Anya, Giles, Willow, and Dawn too.
As if on cue Dawn comes in through the door.
DAWN: I'm home.
BUFFY: Speaking of the annoying one. (yelling) We're in the kitchen. (to Tara) If we run out of anything just put it on the list on the fridge.
DAWN: (walking into the kitchen) Hey, you must be Tara. I'm Dawn, the little sister that no one ever listens to.
BUFFY: (rolls her eyes) We'll talk about the rent and stuff once you've settle down, okay? Dawn why don't you show Tara the rest of the house, while I'll get us dinner. Willow, you gonna stay for dinner?
WILLOW: Yeah, sure.
DAWN: C'mon, you gotta see my room.
The three of them minus Buffy head on upstairs. Willow goes to Tara's room to put down the boxes while Dawn gives Tara the grand tour, starting with her own room.
DAWN: This is my room, the coolest one. Buffy's room is the one next to it, it's pretty lame. The bathroom is across the hall and the one on the other end of the hall is... (quiet) my mom's.
TARA: When does she get in? I'd like to thank her for letting me stay.
DAWN: She passed away.
TARA: I'm sorry, I didn't know.
DAWN: (with tears) It hurts.
TARA: I know. I lost my mother when I was seventeen. [I don't know why I'm telling her this but I feel protective of her.]
DAWN: Does it get better?
TARA: I'd like to say yes but honestly I don't know. I still see her face and every time I look into a mirror I see her reflection in me.
Dawn walks up to the doorframe of Joyce's room, realizing that this is a private moment Tara heads to her new room. Willow is looking through one of the spell books.
WILLOW: You have some stuff that even Giles doesn't have, can I borrow some of these? (babble mode) Hey I know, why don't we try a spell together, one day that's if you don't mind. I know that you just moved in and you probably want to settle, you know what never mind.
TARA: It's okay Willow, I'd like to try a spell with you. (smiles)
***
Sunnydale PD, Peterson pulls in with his patrol car just as Sanders leaves the building.
SANDERS: Hey, what was the deal at Sunnydale U?
PETERSON: Looks like a prank gone overboard.
SANDERS: It's the end of the year, the kids are just itching to get out. I'd just wish they'd spend their energy on something more productive.
PETERSON: Yeah, like feeding me.
SANDERS: What...?!
Peterson grabs Sanders by the throat and brings his face close to the other officer. His eyes turn black and then white energy drains from Sanders eyes into Petersons.
***
The next day at the Summers residence. Buffy is walking downstairs in her pj's and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
BUFFY: [That stupid vampire ripped my leather coat. If he wasn't already dust and home for worms, I'd kill him again. Wait, is that coffee I smell? That better not be Dawn because if she's still here then she's in trouble, which means I'm in trouble] Dawn! That better not be you down there.
TARA: (from the kitchen) No, Dawn already left for school.
BUFFY: [Right, Tara's here now] (walks in) Oh, good morning Tara.
TARA: Morning. I'm making breakfast, eggs to be exact, would you like some?
BUFFY: That’ll be great, thanks!
There's an awkward silence as Tara cooks while Buffy waits. In the background the white mini TV on the counter reports on some Albanian rebel attacks.
TARA: There's coffee in the pot. Um, late night, huh? I heard you coming in last night. I'm a light sleeper.
BUFFY: Sorry that I woke you.
TARA: It's okay, I know a good remedy if you're having problems sleeping.
BUFFY: Thanks, I'll think about it.
Back to awkward silence. On the mini TV, the local news report comes up.
REPORTER: In local news, a tragedy has befallen the Sunnydale PD. Officer Thomas J. Sanders was found in a coma on the parking lot of the police station by fellow officer Robert Peterson. He was rushed to Sunnydale Central, where doctors have yet to find the cause. Family members released a statement thanking everyone for their support and prayers. On the sports front...
***
Later that day at Sunnydale University, Tara is walking out of class with a late thirties male professor.
TARA: Thank you Mr. Martin, I really appreciate the extra time you're giving me to makeup the exam.
Notices Willow standing across the hall and gives her a small wave. She parts with Mr. Martin and head towards Willow.
TARA: Willow! What are you doing here?
WILLOW: Actually, I was waiting for you. You know how you said you wouldn't mind us doing a spell together and I was wondering it I can take you up on that offer. I found this really cool spell that we can do to test our abilities, so how about it?
TARA: [she's so cute when she's excited] Um, okay.
WILLOW: My place tonight, okay?
TARA: I'll see you there.
The two girls head off to their respective classes.
***
That night at Willow's dorm, she hears a light knock on her door. Willow opens the door to reveal Tara. She steps aside to let the shy blonde in. Tara sees a circle of twine and various charms and crystals on the floor.
TARA: What is it exactly that we're going to do.
WILLOW: It's a synergy spell, it'll show how synchronized our energy flow is. A bit of our energy will float out, combine into one and change colors. Each color represents a level and whichever level it stops at, will show how compatible our energy flow is. Plus it'll be a neat little light show.
The two girls sit inside the circle holding out their right hands palms up while taking hold of each other’s left hand. As they chant a spark of energy rises out of the palm of their hands and begins to intertwine until it combines into one spark. Then it starts to change into the various colors of the light spectrum.
TARA: Wow…
WILLOW: Let's see what color it stops at. Giles and me only got to blue.
The spark continues to change colors and glow brighter until it starts to blind both the girls, then all the lights in the room blows out along with the spark. Both girls sit in the darken room in shock.
WILLOW: Whoa... I don't think that was supposed to happen.
***
At the Magic Shop, Willow is flipping through the text with the synergy spell and checking the level ratings. Not finding what she's looking for she closes the book and walks over to the counter where Giles is working.
WILLOW: Giles, remember when we did that synergy spell?
GILES: Yes, I believe we got to the third level while not spectacularly high it is enough for most spells that we need.
WILLOW: Well Tara and I tried it last night and when our energy combined it got so bright and strong that it blew out all the lights in my room.
GILES: Wow, I've never heard of such compatibility.
WILLOW: (smiling proudly) [I knew it! I knew that we had something strong together. When I held her hand last night it felt like my skin was on fire.]
GILES: If your combined powers were this strong perhaps it would be beneficial to bring her in to our group. She could be helpful in terms of what we do.
WILLOW: Well she is living with Buffy, it's gonna be hard to keep on lying to her.
BUFFY: (walks in after training in the back) I heard my name, whatcha talking about?
GILES: We were talking about Tara and how when casting with Willow they can achieve extraordinary levels of power.
WILLOW: We were also thinking about telling her about us, you know the whole Scooby thing cause then we can work on stuff to help you fight the good fight.
BUFFY: It is going to be hard to keep on making excuses for my patrolling at night but we're not sure how she's gonna deal with the whole supernatural evil Hellmouth bit. Let's think about it a little more before we make any decisions, okay?
Buffy turns and heads back into the training room. Willow looking a little disappointed, looks up at Giles with pleading eyes.
GILES: I promise I’ll look into this.
WILLOW: Okay.
GILES: As for you and Tara, you two should be careful, mystic energy as powerful as what you described can be dangerous and will probably set off some one's radar.
WILLOW: (rolls her eyes) I know, I know. Magic is not a toy. Sheesh!
***
Willows knocks on Buffy's door, Tara answers.
TARA: (surprised) Willow!
WILLOW: Hey.
TARA: Um, Buffy went out already. You can wait if you want.
WILLOW: Actually, I came looking for you.
TARA: (smiles) Oh, really.
Stepping aside to let Willow in.
WILLOW: I was thinking about the spell that we did, it was stronger then it was supposed to be. Since it went off the chart, I'm thinking that our energy must be really in-sync. So maybe we can do more spells together.
Tara nods and smiles.
***
Later that night, Buffy is walking into her house after patrolling and fiddling with her shirt, which has a noticeable tear in it.
BUFFY: [Damn! That's another forty dollars down the drain and I just got this shirt last month. Need to do some serious shopping for new wardrobe. (notices Willow and Tara asleep together on the couch.) Are they snuggling?! Nah, they were probably doing a spell together and must have dosed off, that's all. Well, it's sleepy time for this Slayer.]
Next Morning, Tara wakes up with Willow still sleeping on her shoulder.
TARA: (smiles) [She's so beautiful. There's something familiar about her. From the moment I laid eyes on her there was a connection. Every time I look into her eyes, I loose myself in her. It's too bad that she'll never feel the same about me.]
Tara caress Willow's cheeks and then pushes a stray strand of hair away from Willow's face and loops it behind the red head's ear. At this moment Willow wakes up.
WILLOW: (smiling) Hey, there. [She's so comfortable to be around and she smells so nice]
TARA: (freaked) Oh my God! I'm-I'm s-sorry, I didn't mean...
Tara quickly runs upstairs into her room, leaving a slightly dazed and confused Willow lying on the couch. Just as Tara closes her door, Buffy comes out of her room and goes downstairs.
BUFFY: Most have been one hell of a spell you guys did last night. (looking around) Where did Tara go?
WILLOW: (furrowed brows) [Did I do something wrong?] Huh? Yeah, it was pretty intense and she went back upstairs.
BUFFY: Oh well, I'm making breakfast, you want some?
WILLOW: Sure, I'll help.
Upstairs, Tara is frantically changing her clothes.
TARA: [Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! She felt me touching her. She probably thinks that I’m a freak. I knew that I shouldn't have touched her but it felt so natural. Argh! What’s going on with me? I've never felt anything so intense in my life.]
Tara grabs her books and head on downstairs. Buffy walks out of the kitchen and sees Tara going towards the door.
BUFFY: Morning Tara. Willow and I are making breakfast. Stay for some.
TARA: [I can't face her now] Um no thanks, I have early classes.
Tara leave just as Willow walks out from the kitchen looking confused and disappointed.
***
Later that day at Sunnydale U. Willow is standing in the hall, across from Tara's classroom, waiting for the blonde to be dismissed. Tara comes out of the class, noticing Willow, she quickly turns and walks in the other direction. But Willow had already saw Tara coming out and runs to catch up with the blonde.
WILLOW: Tara, wait up.
TARA: (awkward) Hey Willow, I didn't see you.
WILLOW: Is there something wrong? It seems like you've been avoiding me.
TARA: Um I've just been busy with all my makeup work, that's all.
WILLOW: Well, you know what they say, all work and no play make it a dull day. How about a coffee, the stimulus will help you stay up for the studying.
TARA: I can't...Um (looking down) I have a study group.
WILLOW: (disappointed) Okay, How about we get together later?
TARA: (dismissingly) I guess.
She hugs her books to her chest and walks away.
That night at Buffy's house, Tara is studying on the dinning room table while Buffy is looking over some bills with the TV on and reporting on how there are increasing amounts of these mysterious comas case in Sunnydale. The phone rings and Buffy picks it up.
BUFFY: Hello?
WILLOW: Hey Buffy, it's me.
BUFFY: Hey Will, what's up?
WILLOW: Is Tara there, I need to talk to her.
BUFFY: (a little disappointed) Yeah, just a sec. (to Tara) Tara, its Willow. She wants to talk to you.
TARA: (hesitant) Um Thanks. (takes the phone from Buffy) Hello.
WILLOW: Hey Tara, are you busy tonight cause I was hoping that we can try something from the book of Magus.
TARA: I can't. I have to umm...(tries to think of excuse)
WILLOW: Okay there's definitely something wrong. What's going on between us? You've been avoiding me like a plague and I want to know why? Did I do something, I'm really sorry about spilling the thing on you last time.
TARA: No, it's not that. [You'll never understand what I feel for you]
WILLOW: Then what is it? (no answer) Can we at least get together and talk about it. How about we meet at the Espresso Pump? Then we can clear this up.
TARA: I really shouldn't.
WILLOW: Please, I don't want to loose you, you're the first person I can really talk magic to.
TARA: Okay, I guess. I'll meet you there in twenty minutes. (hangs up, then to Buffy) I'm going to meet with Willow at the Espresso Pump.
BUFFY: (a little disappointed that she wasn’t invited) ‘kay.
Tara grabs her coat and leaves.
***
In a secluded part of the Sunnydale Park, a young couple are making out on a bench when Officer Peterson walks up to them.
GUY: Hey, we weren't doing anything, really!
PETERSON: No, it's okay. It just means there's more energy that I can feed off of.
Then his eyes turn black and picks up the guy. Peterson sucks the energy out of the guy's eyes as the girl screams. Tara, who is nearby, hears this and despite that all her instincts tell her to run away she heads towards the sound. She quickly runs up to the guy and girl lying motionless on the ground. Tara feels for a pulse point but then notices the eyes and the fact that they are completely blank. Both the pupils of the guy and girl had turned white. As her hand passes over the guy's eyes white energy seeps out of it and goes into his eyes and then the pupils regain some color. Tara quickly pulls back and looks at her hand in shock. At this moment Peterson walks out from behind the tree he was using as a hiding place. Tara sees him.
TARA: Y-You have to call for an ambulance and help them! (notices his eyes that are still black and starts to inch away from him) Y-Your eyes, you did this! W-what are you?
PETERSON: What I am is that I'm still a little hungry. Luckily for me I have you as a dessert.
At the Espresso Pump, Willow is playing with her empty cup of coffee. She looks up at the clock on the wall.
WILLOW: [She's forty minutes late. She's never late maybe she's brushing me off again. Well not this time, we have to clear this up. There's something strong between us, I don't know what it is but we have a connection of sorts and I don't want to loose her]
She heads towards the pay phone and smiles politely to the girl who just hung up. She rummages through her bag to find a quarter and then dials Buffy's number.
BUFFY: Hello?
WILLOW: Buffy, is Tara still there?
BUFFY: Willow? Um no she left an hour ago to meet up with you.
WILLOW: Well, she not here. It shouldn't take her this long. Oh my God! Buffy, what if she got attacked. She does have to pass by the cemetery to get here. (a little hysterical) What if she's hurt? The coma cases, we still don't know what’s causing them. What if...
BUFFY: Will... Willow! Calm down, okay. I'm sure she's fine. I'll go look for her.
WILLOW: I'll help, I'll meet you at...
BUFFY: No, go to the Magic Shop and wait for us there.
Back at the Sunnydale park. Tara looks around, hoping for a way to escape, as she continues to slowly inch away from Peterson.
PETERSON: You can try to run but you won't get far.