G'day, kittens.
Wow, it's friday again. Time flies, doesn't it?.
A few replies before the next update, ok?
Tarababy77: Welcome aboard, Aaron. I'm really glad you like the story.
Then I thought Willow was going to do a ER blooper and pass out
Lol. That would have been funny. Hehe
Thanks for dropping by!
highlandlass25: Thanks so much, Amber. Just scroll down, here's an update for you.
MochaVamp: I'm glad you like the angst too. Thanks for your feedback. Hope to see you around again.
cantbefredless: I'm really flattered that you spent money on this story, hehe...thanks for your kind words. PS: did you get your computer back yet?
Thianne: I'm sorry I made you sad, Vale...but they have to go through this sadness if they want to patch things up, don't they? I'm sure you won't find next chapter as sad. Thanks for your feedback.
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Well, here it is...sorry for the delay. Technical problems....you know.
Title: Old fire
Author: Kaia (Karinna)
Email:
klattes@gmail.com
Feedback: Please?? I'll get down on my knees if I have to...
Rating: PG.
Disclaimer: The dialogs from the intro, the characters of BtVS and the whole BtVS universe belong to Joss Wheddon. The story and rest of the characters are the product of the half brain I have left and, of course, I'm not making any profit of it.
Summary: This story starts at the end of “All the way” making slight changes from the original chapters until Tabula Rasa, and drifts off to AU from there.
Spoilers: Come on...the show's been over for years!
Author’s Note:
Special thanks to lady
db for her outstanding job at proofreading, editing and suggesting little details that really work with the story and make everything better. Thanks, my friend!!
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Part Fourteen
Willow woke up completely drained. She sat at her kitchen table cradling a steamy mug of black coffee. Her thoughts immediately drifted to Tara and, after a few minutes, she found herself mixing several different herbs and putting them in a small canister.
“This tea will help Tara’s stomach settle once she’s discharged.” Willow whispered, to no one in particular.
Willow set the canister in her bag and proceeded to take her shower. She was meeting Tara today. This had the potential to be an interesting day.
A few hours later, Willow walked slowly through the long halls of the surgery ward, her thoughts on the small canister in her pocket. She looked down at the brown paper bag in her left hand and smiled proudly. She had been able to snatch away the last cups of applesauce from some cranky EMT at the cafeteria, positive that Tara would rather have the yummy dessert instead of the hospital soup any day. Willow was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t bother to knock on the door before entering Tara’s room. What she saw made her regret that decision instantly.
“Hey, Tara. Look what I…” Her voice faded when she noticed the scene in front of her. In slow motion she became aware of the laughter the two people in the room had been sharing until her interruption. Willow’s eyes traveled from Tara’s to a pair of green eyes framed by light-brown hair attached to the face of a woman she had never seen before. Her gaze continued downward to focus on the stranger’s hands. Hands that were currently holding Tara’s left hand in their own.
Willow felt all the air leave her lungs. She tried to mumble an apology, but it just wouldn’t come. Tara’s expression changed from surprise to confusion as she saw the redhead take a step back.
“Willow?” Tara asked. She missed the surprised recognition in her companion at the mention of the name.
Willow couldn’t respond. She should have thought about this. How stupid of her to think Tara wouldn’t have anyone in her life.
‘It’s been nine years, Rosenberg. Wake up!’ she virtually smacked herself.
“A-are you ok, Willow?” Tara’s voice sounded worried now. She couldn’t tell what was going on in Willow’s head. Her eyes followed Willow’s gaze to her own hand, and realization struck.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll just…” Willow said, pointing her thumb towards the door.
“Willow, don’t. You’re not interrupting.” Tara promptly said, while moving her hand out of the woman’s grasp and searching for Willow’s eyes. “I want you to meet Lindsey. Lindsey, this is Willow Rosenberg.” She tried to keep it as simple as she could.
Lindsey smirked as she stood up. She extended her hand for Willow to shake it and waited for the redhead to meet her gaze.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Willow. I’m Tara’s partner, pleased to meet you.” She casually stated.
The redhead dropped her hand, visibly disturbed.
“Partner?” She turned to face Tara, not really sure she wanted to hear the answer to her question.
“Business partner,” Tara replied hurriedly, giving her friend a glare.
Willow felt a thousand pounds lighter after hearing those words. “Nice meeting you, too” She nodded before turning to address the blonde. “I brought you this” She held the bag to Tara. “I thought it’d taste better than the soup?” She added, suddenly feeling very small.
Tara took the paper bag Willow placed at the end of her bed, immediately searching its contents. She felt her heart melting and the left corner of her mouth turning up when she realized what Willow had brought her.
“Thank you, Will”
Willow’s heart started pounding faster in her chest at the sight of the half-smile she knew by heart. She was about to speak when the voice of the brunette interrupted her.
“I didn’t know you liked applesauce” Lindsay said, grabbing the plastic container to read the label.
“Oh, I love it.” Tara replied, her eyes never leaving Willow’s. “Um, I’m being discharged at noon. I, uh, Dr. Kabalan said everything was ok. Do you think we can talk before I leave?” Tara asked, hopefully.
“Well, I’m not sure we should be talking here ‘cause, hello! Work place! And, and you should go home. Oh! But not like get rid of you home. Home is good, and, and you can rest there so you recover faster and are you sure you want us to talk today ‘cause maybe we can talk some other day when you feel better…”
“I feel fine, W-willow” Tara interrupted mid babble. “And yes, I’d r-rather do this today. That is, um, if it’s ok with you?” Tara could feel the rest of the room blurring around her and Willow.
“Tell you what. I finish here at 1. If you don’t mind waiting for an hour, I can drive you home. If you don’t have anyone already coming to get you, that is. Which, if you do, is totally ok. And, and I don’t mean to imply you don’t have anyone to drive you home, just that if you wanted me to I could, you know, and… ” Willow looked briefly at Lindsay, who was looking back and forth between them as they spoke.
“You should stop me when I do that, Tara” Willow said to the smiling blonde, her brow furrowed.
“I h-happen to think it’s cute.” Tara stated.
“I know. Embarrased Willow equals cute in your book.” Willow blushed.
“Not exactly. W-willow, regardless of the adjective, equals c-cute in my book.” Tara replied, blushing a little herself. “Lindsay w-was going to drive me home, but I’m sure she doesn’t mind. In fact, didn’t you say you had a lot of things to d-do today, L?” Tara begged her friend with her eyes.
“I do, actually”. Lindsay answered, taking the hint. She got up from the chair and started gathering her jacket and purse. “So I should probably get moving,” she kissed Tara’s cheek. “You owe me one, sweetheart. Call me if you need anything, ok?” She whispered into the blonde’s ear, satisfied when she saw Tara nod. “Thanks for taking her home, Willow. Hope to see you again soon.” She smiled and hurriedly left the room.
Willow visibly relaxed after hearing the door close behind Lindsay. She turned back to face Tara. “How are you feeling? Is everything ok?” She asked, her concern showing in her furrowed brow.
“I’m g-good. Everything is going according to plan. I just have to be back in a few days for final check-up and the result from the biopsy, but everything should be fine.” Tara smiled.
“It will be, don’t worry.” Willow smiled back before reaching for her beeping pager. “I should go back to work. I’ll come to get you around 1, ok? Is there anything you need?”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine. Go get your work done. See you later.” Tara replied, leaning back against the headboard.
“Ok, then. I’ll see you later.” Willow turned to leave, her left hand touching the canister in her pocket through the fabric of her coat.
“Oh, Will?” The redhead stopped and turned towards Tara. “Thanks for the applesauce.”
“You’re welcome.” Willow smiled. “I would have brought you a tuna sandwich, too but you’re not allowed to eat that yet.” Tara giggled, shaking her head. Willow only winked at her and closed the door softly behind her.
Tara looked out the window. This was it, she would not postpone this. She would finally have to explain the love of her life why she left and why she didn’t ever try to contact her. Why she did everything in her power to prevent being found by any of them. Her memory drifted to the day she made that decision.
Flashback
Giles turned back to the kitchen island, teapot in hand, and proceeded to pour the steamy liquid into the cups. He did it deliberately slowly, knowing that what he was about to say would hurt the young woman in front of him deeply.
“Mr. Giles…” She stopped speaking when she felt his warm hand wrap lightly around her forearm.
Rupert Giles carefully removed his glasses and put them down next to his cup. “I’m afraid no one really knows the whole story yet, but I will tell you what I was told”.
Sitting down, he took a few seconds to collect his thoughts.
“Two days ago Buffy came home from work to find Willow asleep on the sofa,” A tired Giles began explaining what he had heard from Buffy on the way to the hospital from the airport.
Tara sat there, cradling her cup of tea in silence while listening to Giles. Her heart felt heavier with every word that came out from his lips. She closed her eyes and focused on picturing what Giles was telling her: Buffy trying to get a disoriented Willow to tell her what was wrong after noticing Willow’s unusual muscle weakness and the hint of yellow in her eyes. Willow being admitted to the Hospital after passing out in the Summers’ kitchen. Buffy and Dawn crying after the attending physician told them Willow was in a coma. Giles’s face when he found Willow’s liver failure had been caused by an overdose of Acetaminophen.
“I came over as soon as I could book a flight. Buffy refuses to leave the hospital and Willow’s parents are nowhere to be found.” The watcher said, putting his glasses back on.
Tara tried unsuccessfully to wipe the tears that were trailing down her face. “I have to see her,” she said firmly as she started getting up. Giles’ hand kept her in place.
“You will do no such thing.” His tone was serious now and Tara had never seen him talk to her like that. “Do you understand what I just said? She has enough of that drug in her blood to deal with at least 50 nasty headaches. I’m pretty certain you’re intelligent enough to realize that’s not a mere accident!”
“Mr. Giles…”
“I need you to tell me what happened, Tara!” He was angry. Not at Tara for the break-up or for leaving Willow. Not at Willow either even though he knew, despite of what Buffy had tried to convince herself and everyone, that the precarious medical condition she was in had been self inflicted. He was mad at himself for leaving his children when they so obviously needed him here. He thought he was doing the best for his slayer but remained blind to the rest of his family and their problems. The truth was that he felt guilty.
He had always been close to Willow. She had been the perceptive, smart and reliable daughter he always wanted. He felt connected to her in so many levels, even recognized himself in her most of the time. And he knew he had been a father figure for her, she had let him know that on many occasions by just looking at him.
He loved her deeply, as he loved each and every one of his children. Now one of them was dying and he didn’t know why and couldn’t do anything to help prevent it. This was completely out of their hands and that thought made him feel useless and helpless but most of all, it terrified him.
“I’m sorry, Tara. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s ok. I understand. I d-idn’t think Willow would take it this b-badly, I…” Tara stopped, suddenly cradling her head in her hands, sobbing.
“I saw her at the Expresso Pump a few days ago. She looked so lost, Mr. Giles. I-I couldn’t help it. I tried, b-but I couldn’t. So we came back here and we m-made love, then I panicked and left her here, asleep…”
“Dear God!” Giles replied, understanding reaching her brain. “I can only imagine how Willow must have felt,” he said, mostly to himself.
Tara cringed at his words. Noticing the pained expression on her face he tried to comfort her. “I didn’t mean to blame you for Willow’s reaction. But you must realize that what you did was wrong…”
“I know that.” Tara replied, her voice a mere whisper. She thought for a few seconds before standing and looking up to the older man. “I need to see her, Mr. Giles”
“Sit down and bloody well stop acting like a child” He said, oddly calmed. His voice deprived of intent, his gaze lost.
He focused on the young woman in front of her. “Tara. This is an extremely serious situation. Please try to think with Willow’s best interest at heart.” He paused for a few seconds, his face firm. “I don’t think you and Willow are capable of bringing anything but pain to each other at this point. What am I saying? She’s in a bloody coma, for Christ’s sake! When she recovers, if she recovers,” a solitary tear trailed down his right cheek “you’ll have plenty of time to make it right.”
Tara looked at him wide-eyed. ‘My father may have lied to me for 20 years, but look at how I can destroy. I may not have scales or claws but I must be a demon after all…” The thought brought more tears to her eyes.
“I think you’re right” The blonde woman sighed, her face shifting with determination. “I trust this conversation will remain between the two of us?” She asked, hopeful.
“If that’s what you want, Tara. But…”
“Thank you” Tara’s voice was firm. “I wish I could have seen you under different circumstances” She closed the gap between them to envelop Giles in a tight hug, then turned around and disappeared through the front door. That was the last time she set foot in Sunnydale.
TBC...
by WillowRulez » Sat May 20, 2006 5:47 pm 
I can tell Willow is hurting deeply by this.Tara has a lot of explaining to do. I love this story because it can be really good yet heartbreaking at the same time.
Akyiree
I just started this fic and i must say that so far I'm LOVIN' it! I'll have to come back once I've gotten all caught up to leave a longer feedback!
)
