“What? It’s true! You guys could wake the dead…in fact…according to a couple of the new vamps I staked last week…you did! …and they were pretty pissed off about it!” Buffy continued…she was on a roll, now!
On that note, Giles decided to put a halt to his charge’s verbal assault…
“Buffy…I need you to come with me and help to get Willow’s things moved to her new room…” he said, taking the Slayer by the arm and guiding her to the door.
“Party pooper…”
Chapter Sixty-eight"Well...I wanted you and I to...you know...but this wasn't really what I had in mind..." Wilow said.
"I'm s-sorry...this is all my fault..." Tara said, burying her head in Willow's shoulder.
Willow placed her hand under the blonde's chin, lifting her ever-so-gently to face her...
"Baby...this is SO not your fault...it's no one's fault...it's just a little bit of an obstacle that we will go through together...so don't worry about it, okay? We'll get through it..."
"How do y-you do that?" Tara said, smiling as she gazed into the red-head's Emerald eyes...
"Do what?" Willow asked.
"Every time I'm at my worst...you make everything alright...how do you do that?"
"Magick." She said, smiling as she descended down onto the blonde's supple lips...capturing them within her own. Her tongue deftly searching out Tara's within the hot, moist, confines of her mouth. She slid her hand along Tara's thigh, past her hip, slipping underneath her shirt, when suddenly...
"Ouch!" Willow yelped, as her IV catheter got snagged in Tara's shirt.
"Baby! Are you okay?"
"Yeah...it's just these damned tubes...they're gettting caught up in everything! I just want to be able to hold you without having to worry about any of this crap!"
Just then, the door peeked open...it was Buffy.
"Um...I think I can help you with that...sorry...Slayer hearing." she said, grinning as she stepped aside, letting the nurse enter the room.
Tara slid out of the bed, straightening her shirt, and walked over next to Buffy.
"This will just take a second...and we'll get that IV out of you." The nurse said, taking a pair of gloves from the box on the wall. She pulled a roll of tape from her pocket and a gauze 2x2. She peeled the tape holding the catheter in place and slid it out of Willow's skin, replacing it with the 2x2 and tape.
"There you go...all set! We'll be bringing in a wheelchair in just a few minutes. We're going to take you down to your new room..."
"Thank you." Tara said, as Willow rubbed her hand where the IV had once been.
Willow tried to sit up to get ready for the move, but was suddenly reminded of her relatively fresh incision...
"Ouch!" she said, holding her hand to her midsection.
Buffy and Tara both walked quickly to her side.
"Will! You've got to be careful! Let me help you get up..." Buffy said, putting Willow's arm around her shoulders with her's around Willow's waist. She gently pulled her up into the standing position.
"Whoa...standing...haven't done this in a few days..." Willow said, feeling generally woozy all over.
"Honey? Are you sure you're okay to be moved? Maybe we should talk this over with the doctor more..." Tara said, obviously concerned.
"I'll be fine...don't worry, okay? Feeling better already!" Willow said, straightening herself up, trying to put on a brave face to comfort Tara...and Buffy.
Thankfully, the nurse arrived with the wheelchair, lining it up directly behind Willow. Buffy eased her down into the seat.
"There we go...let's get you down to your room...Your wife and your sister can bring your things down with them..." she said, pushing Willow out the door...
Seeing Willow leaving...Tara felt the panic welling up inside her again. Buffy could feel the heat eminating off her sister-in-law...
"Ma'am? Could you please wait for a minute...Tara will be going with you." Buffy said.
Tara looked to the Slayer with a relieved look on her face and mouthed "Thank you" as she hurried beside Willow, taking her hand in her own as they walked down the hallway to the elevator.
Giles walked into the room and began helping Buffy gather up Willow's belongings...
"Is everything all set in the new room?" Buffy asked the Watcher.
"Absolutely...I dare say I've never seen another hospital room quite like it..."
"That's great...that's exactly what they need..." Buffy said with a grin as she headed down the hallway to the elevator.
Meanwhile...
The elevator doors opened and the nurse wheeled Willow out...followed closely behind by Tara...
This floor was much quieter than the previous one...in fact...it seemed that there was no one around...
"I think you'll find that this floor will be a lot more peaceful than the ICU...in fact...we've only got two other patients here right now...and they're going to be several doors down from you."
"That's great!" Willow said "I mean...it will be a lot easier for me to sleep and all...what with all of the quiet and stuff..."
"Oh most definitely...okay...this is it...would you mind wheeling her in? My pager just went off and I need to go to the nurses station..."
"No problem...thank you." Tara said, as she placed her hands on the wheelchair, pushing Willow into the room...
A smile spread across Willow's face as they entered the room...
Giles and Buffy had cleaned out the hospital gift shop of every candle that they had...and the room was now filled with the soft glow of candlelight...the drab hospital linens replaced with a crimson colored throw...and soft music playing in the background.
The site caught both women off guard as they both uttered the same word...
"Wow..."
To Be Continued...
Edited by: FIRESIGN at: 11/17/03 8:11 pm