FIC: Confrontations

[SciFiAcid]

TITLE: Confrontations
AUTHOR: Kirk Baldridge
E-MAIL: KirkBwriter@juno.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. The more the better.
DISTRIBUTION: You want it? Take it. Just let me know where it is.
SPOILERS: The 6th season, up to and including the last new episode, OLDER AND FAR AWAY.
CONTENT: W/T B/S (mentioned)
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Buffy, Willow, etc..., that's Whedon's dumb luck.
SUMMARY: Tara has a long talk with Spike that leads her to reconsider her separation from Willow.

Spike woke suddenly, the blood pounding in his ears as he tried to determine what had roused him from his slumber in the first place. The vampire sat up and looked around his crypt. It was the middle of the
day and he was feeling sluggish; his energy level was always low until the sun went down.
There was another knock on the door of the crypt. He realized that's what it was. Growling, the vampire threw off his blanket and rolled out of bed. He hated univited guests. On the way upstairs he grabbed a sword, almost as an afterthought, in case it was trouble. Spike shifted to his demon face as the door started to open. He was
ready for anything, or so he thought. But a flash of golden hair led him to a
single conclusion, that wiped all thoughts of combat, the unpleasant kind
at least, out of his mind entirely. He started to smile.
"Come for a nooner love? I think I..." The vampire's eyes narrowed. It wasn't who he thought it was. "You?" His face turned back to normal. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
Tara Maclay closed the door of the crypt behind her. "Nice to see you too, Spike."
"I'd ask you to forgive my manners," said the vampire. "But who are we kidding?" He reached for a cigarette. "I don't imagine you're here for a social call. So what's the what? Some new beastie in town?"
Tara shook her head. "Actually, I just wanted to talk."
"Is that right?" Spike seemed to find this idea incredibly amusing. He smiled. "About what, praytell?"
"You. And Buffy. The two of you."
"What, exactly, is it you're asking me, witch?"
"I know, about you and Buffy. About what you've been doing. She told me."
Spike grunted. "Did she now? Well, that's just peachy. I suppose your whole blasted Scooby club is chomping at the bit to take old Spike to task."
Tara shook her head. "They don't know. She hasn't told anyone else, just me." She frowned. "Buffy came to me because of the things you've been saying to her. She wanted to know what was wrong with her. Why you're
able to hit her, and why she lets you...do the things you do to her."
"Because she likes it, love." Spike licked his lips and smirked. "As for the my hitting her bit..." He touched the side of his head. "...this blasted government chip doesn't recognize her as human anymore. She
belongs with me now. In the shadows. Thanks to you lot, she came back wrong."
"No Spike, you're the one who's wrong," Tara replied. "See, our spell altered her base molecular structure. It's not much, but it's
apparently different enough that it doesn't set your chip off anymore. You see,
Spike? Buffy's still just as human as the rest of us. Your chip is just reading her wrong."
The vampire snarled. "I don't bloody well care. Whatever the reason, she's with me now. She's mine."
"Buffy belongs to no one but herself."
"Since when do you care so much anyway?" Spike looked her up and down.
"Wait a minute! Now I see. You're sweet on the Slayer, aren't you?" He smiled. "I should've known. That's why you two were so chummy at Buffy's party the other day. You're hankering for a piece of Spike's pie,
aren't you?" He chuckled. "What's wrong? Red's not feeding you properly? Oh
wait, she..."
Tara got right in the vampire's face. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Spike!"
"Or what? Who're you kidding, blondie? You're about as threatening as a
paper cut." The vampire sat down. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were protesting a little too much."
"I'm not...we're not..." Tara sighed. "It's not like that. Buffy and I are just friends. I do care about her, though. I would just like to see her happy for a change."
The vampire shrugged his shoulders. "I do my best."
"That's just it. I'm not sure you're good for her, Spike. I know you love her, but you're smothering her. You're turning her into something she doesn't want to be." Tara took a deep breath. "I understand what you're
trying to do, you know. You're trying to make her feel so bad about herself, she'll have no choice but to turn her back on her friends and come to you for support. That's a dirty trick, Spike."
Spike's face turned demonic again as he lunged at her. But then pain erupted inside his skull and he staggered back into a corner, clutching at his head. "Bloody hell!" He lifted his head once the pain had begun to subside, a knowing look on his face. "You're a fine one to talk."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You and Red. I don't blame you for running, but answer me this. What right do you have to be angry at her for having hocus-pocus goodies in the house, or for going out and doing magick with somebody else? You
left her, remember? You're the only person in this whole blasted town who understood what she was going through, who could have helped her through the hard stuff, and even kept her from hurting Little Bit."
"You're saying it's my fault?"
Spike nodded. "In part, yeah. You abandoned her. You ran out on her, just like dog-boy did. And you did it, for the same reasons. For her own good." He stood up and brushed himself off. "So yeah, I'm using Buffy.
Just like she's using me. At least I'm upfront about it. It's what I do. What's your excuse?"
Tara desperately wanted to have a response, but she couldn't find one.
"By the way, you're not exactly innocent in the magick department, are you?" Spike took out another cigarette and lit it. "Remember last year? You put that whammy on the Scoobies, to keep them from seeing the demon
in you? Only it didn't work, 'cause the whole thing was a lie. You nearly got them killed, and I don't recall you ever saying you were sorry to any of them." He stepped closed to her. "Did you?"
Again, Tara was at a loss for words. Loathe as she was to admit it, he was right.
"You wanna know what your real problem is, blondie? It's not me and Buffy. Slayer's a big girl, you know that, and she can handle herself. No, what's bothering you is the fact you're lonely. You wanna be with
Red again, and you don't know how to go about it. You're scared to put yourself out there, afraid she's gonna hurt you again. So what? I got news for you, love. Life is all about pain. You and yours are on this
crummy rock for far too short a time to be worrying about the past so much. Live for the now. Take what you can before someone dumps you in a hole and throws dirt on you."
It made sense. In a warped way, it made perfect sense. "Maybe..."
"No maybe about it." Spike started toward the crypt door, then thought better of it since it was still the middle of the day. "You want her? Go and get her!"
Tara nodded. "Maybe you're right." She grabbed the door handle. "Spike, about Buffy..."
"What?"
"I know you really do love her. But you have to be ready for the possibility that she doesn't love you back, and that she never will. If you keep pushing her, sooner or later she'll push back. And one of
these days the hand she does it with may have a stake in it. Do you understand me?"
The vampire shook his head. "Seldom if ever."
"Goodbye, Spike."
*****

[Pixie]

Wow. Excellent start. Can I assume this is just a start and that there will be more?

[Bobo's Mom]

SciFiAcid -
WOW!! Thematically, I love this piece.

Oddly enough, I have imagined a similar conversation between Spike and Tara. Are you going to take this deeper, or is it a one shot wonder? Either way, good job.
BM

------------------
TARA: Willow and I always know how to find each other!
ANYA: With yoga?
****************
BUFFYBOT: That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, bingo!

[SciFiAcid]

*****
Tara spent the rest of the day replaying Spike's words over and over in
her head.
After all, both she and Willow had abused the magick. She, in fact, put
them all of the Scoobies in danger, and since then none of them had said
a word about it.
But she, at least, did so only reluctantly. Within a few minutes of
casting that spell she was filled with a sense of overwhelming remorse.
After talking with her cousin Beth she ultimately returned to the Magic
Box to undo what she had done, giving Buffy the opportunity to defeat the
demons who would not have been able to threaten them in the first place
if it had not been for her.
Willow, however, never even stopped to consider the possibility that what
she was doing might be wrong. She was uncomfortable because of the fight
she and Tara had, and since she had the power she used it to steal Tara's
memory of their ever having the argument. It never occured to her how
hurt Tara would be if she ever found out what she'd done, or how much of
a terrible violation her spell really was.
"We've both made some mistakes Will." Tara thought back to Buffy's
birthday, to the magick supplies Willow had kept hidden in the house even
after telling everyone she'd gotten rid of everything, and how Willow
refused to give into the pressure of being trapped by Halfrek. Not so
long ago, Willow would not even have hesitated to use whatever magick was
neccessary to help them escape. "I think it is about time I corrected one
of mine." The blonde got up from her bed and headed for the door.
*****
Willow Rosenberg was sprawled out on the couch in the Summers' living
room, with a wet towel draped over her upper face. She had a headache,
which was just one of many reasons she had declined Buffy's offer to come
with her and Dawn to the Magic Box. The youngest Summers was working
there part time to pay for everything she had stolen from Anya, and so
many other places in Sunnydale.
The redhead was awakened by a gentle rapping on the front door. She sat
up immediately, the towel falling off her face and into her lap. She knew
that knock. Only one person knocked like that. She rolled off the couch
and stumbled toward the door, her headache forgotten.
"Tara?" The blonde appeared to be just as tired as Willow felt. "What...I
mean, come on in." She stepped out of the way as Tara did just that. "Is
everything okay?"
Tara nodded as the redhead closed the door behind her. "Yes. I just...can
we talk, for a minute?"
"Of course." Willow gestured toward the couch, and both of them sat down.
"Is something wrong?"
Tara dropped her hands in her lap and sighed. "I'm miserable, Will. I go
home every night, to my place, and it's just my place. I'm all by myself,
and I hate it. I miss you, Will. I miss us."
Willow blinked. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but that
wasn't it. "Tara, I..." She shook her head. "I don't know what to say.
But, what are you saying?"
The blonde held out her hand, and the redhead took it. Both of them
smiled.
"I want us to get back together. I need you, Will. I love you."
"I love you too." Willow stroked her former, and hopefully future,
lover's cheek. "Goddess, Tara. You have no idea how much I've dreamed of
this moment." She bit her lip. "Ever since you left me, I've felt
so...lost, empty. I finally realized, you're a part of me, Tara. Of my
heart, my soul. You're my everything."
Tara nodded. "I know these last few weeks have been hard for you, Will.
And it's not over yet. You have a long road ahead of you, and you just
have to take it one day at a time. But from now on, things are going to
be easier, I hope, and you know why?" She smiled. "Because I'll be there
to help you."
"Can I..." Willow took a deep breath. "Tara, may I kiss you?"
"I think you'd better."
*****

[SciFiAcid]

*****
Willow and Tara were still together when Buffy and Dawn got home from the
Magic Box.
The blonde was sitting on the couch watching TV, while one hand absently
stroked Willow's hair. The redhead had fallen back asleep, with her head
in Tara's lap.
The Slayer and her sister stopped in their tracks when they caught sight
of the couple. It had been quite a long while since they had seen their
friends together, that way, and it came as something of a shock. But at
least this was one of the more pleasant surprises one could receive in
Sunnydale.
Dawn's startled gasp woke Willow. The redhead groaned and sat up, rubbing
her eyes. "Oh, hey guys."
"Wait, did we pass through a time-warp or something?" Dawn asked. "What's
up? Did you guys go and get back together while we were gone?"
Tara put an arm around Willow, and both of them smiled. "Looks that way,
Dawnie."
Dawn turned and playfully slapped Buffy's arm. "I told you we took the
long way. See what we missed?"
"Sorry." The Slayer crossed her arms. "When did this happen?"
"Just a couple of hours ago," said Willow. "We've been talking, and we
both made some mistakens. We're just trying to put it all behind us and
start over again."
Dawn was beaming with happiness. "So it's just like old times!"
Tara shook her head. "It'll never be like it was, Dawnie. That time is
past, and we're different people. But we're going to do our best to make
a whole new life...for us."
"I'm happy for you both," said Buffy. She turned to her sister. "But
you..."
"What?"
"You still have homework to do, young lady. You go finish it, and I'll
take care of dinner."
Dawn was in too good of a mood to argue and sighed. "Fine." She hugged
both Willow and Tara, then stomped up to her room. A moment later, they
heard her door slam.
"I'm going to order a pizza," said Buffy. "Tara, are you staying for
dinner?"
The blonde glanced at Willow, who was nodding very enthusiastically. "I'd
love to."
*****
Willow and Tara stayed up talking, laughing and just enjoying each
other's company, long after Dawn and even Buffy had gone up to bed. Even
though they had been together at Buffy's birthday party they hadn't
talked much, and they had a lot of catching up to do. But eventually Tara
glanced at a clock and announced she had to go back to her place, because
she had a class early that morning.
"You could...umm, stay here," Willow offered. "If you, you know...want
to."
Tara kissed her. "Honey, I'd love to. Really. But besides the fact I
don't think I'd actually get any sleep, it's just a little too soon for
that, don't you think?" She kissed Willow again. "I tell you what though.
Why don't we meet at the Bronze tonight, and celebrate? Just the two of
us."
"Okay." Willow opened the front door for Tara. "Do you want me to walk
you home?"
Tara shook her head. "I appreciate it, but I know the way." She kissed
Willow one more time. "Don't worry. It's just a few blocks. I'll be fine.
See you tonight, okay?"
"See you tonight," said Willow. "I love you."
Tara waved over her shoulder. "I love you too."
She made it home with no problem.
In fact since around the time of Buffy's birthday it had been remarkably
quiet in Sunnydale. Even the vampires seemed to be on something of a
holiday. Buffy had slain only one in the last two days, and he had not
put up too much of a fight for the otherwise bored Slayer.
Of course experience told Buffy and the Scoobies to be wary. This sort of
lull generally meant something big and bad was on the horizon. But, for
the most part, they weren't too worried. Whether it was giant snakes,
rogue Slayers, the everpresent Hellmouth or homesick hellgods, as Buffy
herself had sung, there wasn't anything they couldn't face as long as
they were together.
Tara felt that way about Willow. Which was a big part of why she had been
so hurt. Hopefully, all the pain was behind them now. As she unlocked her
door she stopped, her mind coming completely into focus as she sensed
that something wasn't quite right. But the warning came a little too
late.
A hand reached through the otherwise solid door, and caught the front of
Tara's shirt. Before she had a chance to say or do anything she was
yanked through the door as well.
*****
Tara wasn't sure how or when it happened, but realized that she must have
lost consciousness at some point. It was strange, waking up on her own
couch with her hands and feet tied and a rag stuck in her mouth. She
couldn't magick herself loose either, because she couldn't speak or move
her hands.
The blonde was startled to see someone standing over her; a man she
didn't recognize, with stringy brown hair and wild eyes. He cocked his
head and smiled as he saw her watching him.
"Welcome back."
"See? I told you you could get her. I told you!" The woman's voice came
from somewhere behind the man, but it, at least, was one Tara thought she
had heard before. She raised her head, and saw Amy Madison sitting on her
kitchen counter. "I told you, Rack! I told you!"
Tara blinked. Rack?
"Yes, yes. Nicely done." Rack snapped his fingers--throwing off a little
ball of energy which darted across the room and struck Amy in the chest.
Her body glowed briefly as she fell off the counter and landed in a
crumpled heap on the tile floor, moaning softly. "Enjoy."
Now Tara was worried. Amy she might have been able to handle, but if this
was the same Rack Willow warned her about he was a very dangerous
individual. His powers were very seductive. Willow had been lucky when
she managed to escape his influence. Amy, apparently, hadn't.
"Don't look so scared, blondie." Rack glanced over his shoulder, and a
chair slid across the room so she could sit down. "I just wanna talk,
that's all." He clapsed his hands in his lap. "I haven't seen strawberry
in a while, and I have been led to underestand I have you to thank for
that." He clucked his tongue. "You know it's really not nice to
interefere in other people's business young lady."
Tara jerked her head from side to side, trying to say something. After a
moment Rack touched the gag, which just seemed to dissolve. "W-What are
you doing here? W-What do you w-want we me?"
"Mmm...well now, that's an interesting story. See, strawberry's been
using you like a crutch. As long as you're there to support her, she
thinks she doesn't need me." Rack smiled. "I could just kill you. It
would be the easiest solution, obviously. Then sugar over there..." He
nodded toward Amy, who trembled, her eyelids fluttering as if she was
having a particularly wild dream. "...gave me a better idea. Instead of
just getting you out of my way, I'm instead going to use your influence
over strawberry to my advantage." He rubbed his hands together, the
energy crackling and surging between them getting brighter ever second.
Tara remembered what Willow had told her about Rack. How his power flowed
through her, making time feel as if it was standing still, and taking her
to places she had never imagined. She was both overwhelmed with awe, and
terrified at the same time. The blonde shook her head. "No! Stay aw-way
from me!"
"Or what? Hmm? What could you possibly do to me?" Rack licked his lips.
"I'm really looking forward to this. I can't wait to see what you taste
like, blondie." He moved his hand toward her chest.
Tara gritted her teeth. "Procul!" It took all of her concentration, but
an invisible force slammed into Rack and sent him flying backwards. He
crashed into a bookshelf on the far wall and slid to the ground, stunned.
She then turned her attention to her bonds. "Solvere!" The ropes
magickally untied themselves and dropped away, and she tossed the gag
aside as she rushed toward the door.
"Hey!" Although her movements were clumsy and her eyes glazed, Amy
followed. She grabbed Tara's arm and spun her around. "Where the hell do
you think you're going?"
"Away from you, you crazy bitch!" On the last word Tara clenched her fist
and threw a punch, albeit not a very good one. It connected with with
right side of Amy's chin, and turned her completely around. She landed
flat on her face, and did not move again. "Ouch." She started toward the
door again.
Rack rose behind her, his eyes crackling with energy. "Nobody does that
to me!" He released a bolt of energy from his hand that caught Tara
square in the back. She cried out as a flush of similar energy flowed
through her, and then she collapsed in a shuddering heap. "I
underestimated you, little witch." He approached her. "Obviously you have
more power that I though." He smirked. "This should be fun."
*****
Willow woke suddenly, her head spinning, with a strange tightness in her
chest. She sat up, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and looked around
the room.
"Tara?"
She wasn't sure why, but she had a feeling Tara was in trouble. It was
almost as if her girlfriend--Goddess, she loved being able to say that
again--was calling out to her. The redhead briefly considered trying to
call first, but then changed her mind and stumbled into the closet to get
dressed.
As she was coming down the stairs she found Buffy coming up with a glass
of water in her hands. The Slayer's eyes widened as she saw the look on
her friend's face.
"Will? What's wrong?"
"I think Tara's in trouble, Buffy. I have to go to her. I have to help
her!"
The Slayer nodded. "I'll come with you."
"No, you should stay here with Dawn. I may just be imagining things, but
I don't want to take the chance. Don't worry, I'll call you if I need
help." Willow was gone before Buffy could protest further. The redhead
made good time, and was passing by the Bronze when she ran into,
literally, a familiar face.
"Bloody hell, Red. Watch where you're going."
Willow shook her head. "Not now Spike." She tried to go around him, but
he stepped in her way. "Spike! Don't do this! I'm not in the mood. Tara's
in trouble..."
The vampire's eyes narrowed. "That so?" He glanced around. "Where are
your blasted Scoobies then? Isn't this what you lot live for? The heroic
stuff?"
"It's too late. I don't want to bother them, in case I'm wrong."
Spike spit out his cigarette. "Tell you what, Red. Why don't I come
along?"
"What?"
The vampire shrugged his shoulders. "I owe blondie. We had a chat, and
she's very...persuasive."
"Fine." Willow sighed. "Let's go."
*****
*****
Tara tossed her head back and screamed, the sound muffled by a big piece
of tape.
She had been tied to a chair, with her hands behind her back, and her
body was crackling with energy as Rack's hand pressed against her chest.
It made her eyes roll back in her head.
Rack frowned. "You're only hurting yourself, you know. The more you
resist, the more damage it does. If you would just accept the power,
everything would be fine."
"Why are you fighting so hard?" Amy asked. "It's wonderful. You'll like
it. Trust me."
Tara shook her head. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight much longer.
Her strength was fading, and once it did she would not be able to resist
his influence any longer.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Rack and Amy both turned.
"Tara? It's Willow."
The blonde's eyes widened. 'Goddess,' she said to herself. 'No! Willow,
get out of here!'
"Tara? Honey? Are you all right?"
Rack licked his lips. "Well, well, now isn't this a pleasant surprise."
His body rippled, and then seemed to fade away. "Keep her busy, sugar."
Amy started toward the front door.
"Something's wrong," they heard Willow say. "I know it!"
"Okay. Stand back," said a man's voice.
The door was suddenly knocked off its hinges, and nearly struck Amy as it
fell into the room.
"Knock knock," Spike growled.
Willow moved past him, into the room. "Amy?" Then she saw Tara, her eyes
wide, shaking her head. "Goddess no, Tara!" She started toward Tara, but
Amy got in her way. "Get out of my way!"
"Make me," said the brunette. She smirked. "Who are you trying to kid,
Willow? Without the magick, we both know you're nothing. I'm stronger
than you now!"
Willow grabbed the front of Amy's shirt. "You think I'm kidding?"
"I don't think it's going to matter," said the brunette, a smile growing
on her face.
Rack shimmered into view behind Willow, who was too busy trying to
intimidate Amy to notice.
Spike, however, did. "Watch out, Red!" He surged forward, but was
repelled by an invisible barrier. He had not been invited in. "Bloody
hell!"
As Willow was turning, Rack clamped his hand around her throat. "I've got
to say, strawberry, I'm surprised. A vampire? You've lowered yourself to
associating with leeches?"
"Hey!" Spike slapped his hands against the barrier. "Why don't you come
out here and say that?!"
Rack ignored him. "You came back, strawberry." He smiled. "I always knew
you would. You need it. You need me." His hand began to glow. "And I'm
happy to oblige."
Willow's eyes brimmed with tears as she struggled futilely. She didn't
want this. She didn't want to feel that way again. But without her
magick, the very thing she was trying to avoid in the first place, there
did not seem to be anyway out of this situation.
"T-Tara..."
The blonded jerked her head from side to side. That, combined with the
prodding of her tongue, permitted her to finally loosen the tape over her
mouth. It didn't come off completely, hardly at all in fact, but it was
enough to make her voice heard.
"Spike, come in! Help her!"
The vampire's face contorted, turning demonic as he stepped into the
room. He sneered.
Rack shoved Willow down and moved to face Spike. "I don't have time for
you, leech! This isn't your fight. So leave, now, or else..."
"That's it!" Spike snarled and charged Rack, tackling the big man. He
didn't land a blow or cause any real harm, so there was no pain as the
two of them tumbled over the back of Tara's couch. But then he made the
mistake of punching Rack in the face, the chip went off, and he clutched
at his head, howling in pain.
A pulse of light from Rack's hand sent the vampire flying across the
room. He crashed down on a piece of the broken bookshelf, which went
right through his body. Fortunately for him, since it was made of wood,
the thing was nowhere near his heart. He hung limply, trying to fight
through the pain.
Rack stood up and brushed himself off. "As protectors go strawberry, he's
no Slayer!" His smiled dwindled as he looked around for Willow, but she
was nowhere in sight. Neither, he realized, was Tara. The chair was empty
and the ropes she had been tied with were laying on the floor. "No!"
Willow had apparently used the distraction of his fight with Spike to
free Tara. Then out of the corner of his eye Rack saw a flash of red
hair, and turned to see someone ducking behind the kitchen counter.
"Come out strawberry! I see you!" He frowned when she didn't respond.
"Come now, you're just making things more difficult for yourself! We both
know I'm going to get you, sooner or later!"
Something struck Rack in the back. It didn't really hurt, but it did make
him curious. He glanced down to see a large crystal sitting by his foot.
He bent over and picked it up.
"What's this?"
"Doll's-eye crystal," said Tara. She was standing right behind him, with
her arms crossed. "You do know about doll's-eye crystals, don't you?"
Rack nodded. "They're mystical storage batteries. One this size could..."
His eyes widened. "Uh oh."
"Lacerti...Furtum...Crystallus!"
Rack dropped the doll's-eye, but it was too little too late. His body
jerked as energy burst out of his chest and was swallowed up by the
crystal. As he staggered back, it glowed.
"He's powerless now," said Tara. "It's over."
Rack stared at his hands for a moment, then stomped toward the blonde.
"You bitch!"
Willow stepped in front of Tara, her hands behind her back. "Watch your
mouth!" She brought out and swung a heavy bookend which cracked against
the side of Rack's head. He spun completely around and landed flat on his
face, obviously unconscious. "That's my girlfriend you're talking about!"
"Bloody hell!" Spike bellowed as he was forced to tear the wood out of
his body with his bare hands. "Remind me not to help you two anymore. It
hurts too bloody much!"
Tara embraced Willow. "Goddess. How did you know I was in trouble?"
"Call it woman's intuition," the redhead replied. "Or magic. The
non-casting kind, I mean."
Spike took off his leather jacket, and glared at the hole coming out the
back, the price of being impaled. "You know who I had to kill for this?
Somebody owes me big..." He spun around, and caught Amy as she was trying
to crawl out the door. "...and it might as well be you!"
"No Spike, just let her go," said Tara. He reluctantly did. "Amy, take
Rack. Tell him to get out of town, and if I ever see either one of you
near me or Willow again, it'll be the last time. Understand?"
The brunette nodded. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say. Only, I can't. He's
too, you know, heavy."
"I'll help." Spike put his jacket back on, and grabbed Rack by the
collar. "Bloke like this must have some cash I can nab." He started to
drag the magick-pusher toward the door.
Willow cleared her throat. "Spike, thank you. For your help. I owe you."
"Hey, that's right," said the vampire. "You do. And I aim to collect. One
of these days." He winked at Tara, who shook her head, then he and Amy
were gone.
Tara slumped against Willow. "That was too close."
"What are we going to do with that thing?" the redhead asked, nodding
toward the doll's-eye.
"We'll have to hide it somewhere. Maybe at the Magic Box." Tara sighed.
"But sooner or later, you know Rack will come back looking for it."
Willow nodded. "So what? We've got all his power. And besides..." She
turned Tara's head, and kissed her. "He doesn't stand a chance against
the two of us."
"Mmm...good point." Tara wrapped her arms around the redhead, and kissed
her back.

THE END

Kirk B - - Bardlet #16
Life is much too serious to be taken seriously.
I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parellel universe.
Chaos, panic, and disorder...my work here is done.
I'm going Nucking Futs!

[willntlover]

Yay!! At first I thought you were going to kill Tara. (which would not have been fun) But i love how you changed it around!!
-Will