I unlike many of the responders am much more intrigued by Tara's comment that "she had waited too long."



I have always been fascinated by the idea of the MadTara left over from the Glory mind-rape. I love stories that address it or in some way rewrite it. While this is not really attempting to do that, it is exploring an oft neglected area of fic that could be written. I'm just loving it and hanging on for more.



ash

Can you help me with this heart in my chest? It ain't perfect, but you should see me use it.

Ok 1. Deeefinately need to discuss this shizit guys! Chat time whoot!



2. I am still kickass YEAH!



3. This update, too, was kickass! I have a couple of theories about the whole Tara admitting herself, and the case and Tara as a witness and such, but I am probably SO far off, it's not even worth giving a second thought. I like the twists and confusion we are all constantly having to go through! Yay for interestingness and awesome writing!



Can't wait for mooore!!

Ashleigh

"...A-and I'm gonna make it up to you. Starting right now."

(Starts to smile)"Right now?"

love the cyrptic keep it up.. keeps me on my toes...now let's see how willow is positive that is tara's hand writing

Alright, I'm gonna throw my theory out here as well. My gut says that Tara checked herself in to look FOR someone, not to hide out. Maybe her sister? I could imagine Tara going in to investigate the conditions, then discovering she couldn't get out quite as easily. Of course, that doesn't explain where the sister is, if she's even real, but anyway, that's where my mind's been going. Am I nuts?



-Cameron

---

What should I be but just what I am? - Edna St.Vincent Millay

i love a good plot twisting... somethings going on in that pretty little head of her's?? let just hope willow can unlock the mystery that is tara's head..



-reds



my banana dances for smut

Tara in a wet shirt, Tara in a wet shirt. Tara in. A. Wet. Shirt. “Of course.”-Willow From Remember to Breath By Yellow Crayon



Now that just sucks- me

Huge thanks to all of the readers and repliers. The next chapter is almost finished; I’m mainly adding/deleting some things.



Chapter Seven Feedback:



Taralicious: Thank you, taralicious, I’m glad you find it intriguing. Willow’s often periods of doubt in what she’s doing, can be compelling and angsty and it’s great that you see it that way.



Grimlock72: Grimmy, thanks for the feedback. At this moment, Willow doesn’t know if it’s Tara’s real handwriting or whether or not it was written by free will. She’s going by what she sees and hasn’t questioned it… yet.



It’s still great that you have a lot of questions and although I can’t answer them all in this reply, I will try to within the story. And …

Quote:

---

One medication to rule them all, nah.... even *I* understand that won't work. It should be interesting to see how Tara does without medication at all.

---

… I will show some of Tara’s behavior and hopefully it’ll be believable.



LipKandy: Thank you, Mel. I’m very happy to know that you’re enjoying the bits of facts/clues that I’m throwing into the story, rather than revealing everything at once. Did Oz make a wish? You know, although you’re kidding, I bet that would make a really interesting story.



Astrangerhere: Ash, thanks for reading. Tara’s comment at the end will be tricky, mainly because no one knows what she’s thinking (talking) about, or even if it’s relevant. But you are the oddball for mentioning that of all the other things happening in the story. Also, you’re right that the idea of exploring a MadTara isn’t something that’s done often, and I hope I can do it right (or at least good enough to be realistic).



VixenyTarasHot: Thanks, Ashleigh. So your theories aren’t worth a second thought? Pfft, no way. I bet you have the whole thing figured out already. You love the twists and confusion? Aww, it’s always nice to know that my twisted mind is good for something.



Cnd1us: Cnd1us, thank you for the comments. I’m glad I could keep you on your toes, and I hope I can continue to keep you there.



Tarawhipped: Very interesting theory, Cameron. I could actually imagine Tara sneaking around the hospital in search of someone, so no you’re not nuts. Thank you for reading.



WickedReds: Thanks, Reds. There are a lot of things running through Tara’s head and Willow will try her best to unlock them, although it may take some doing.



That’s it for replies for now. Chapter eight should be posted (I hope) soon. I’ve thought of shortening it to three pages rather than the normal five, but I haven’t decided yet. Thanks again to all of the readers/responders.



Yvonne

Note: Every P.O.V is happening at the same time except the last section. (I wanted to make that clear *sends a death glare to my “unofficial” reviewer*)



Chapter Eight





Paula Evans was not a very religious woman. In spite of her beliefs, she attended church every Sunday, but the line between devotion and convenience was somewhat blurred. As a child, her southern roots bound her to the ways of Christianity, and as a young woman those roots began to rot with the influence of hatred and scandal.



Left alone in the world, her faith slowly began to disappear, that was, until she met him. Donald Maclay was a preacher in his own right. Charming, considered handsome to some, and devoted to his words and teachings. Little had Paula known how much a small church and a temporary clerical position would change her future. But while the rest of the country continued dancing in the long since burnt ashes of draft cards and concert debris, Paula had settled into her new yet familiar life.



Thumbing through her collection of old vinyl, Paula’s thoughts paused as she switched the record. The chair she settled into creaked, glowing blue against the dark background as the muted television weakly illuminated the living room.



While the soft vocals swept through Paula’s memory, both good and bad, her awareness returned to the present. The former nanny gently smoothed over the picture of her daughter, straightening the bent corners.



Hope was a word she feared but couldn’t let go of. It had been almost nine years since she had seen or spoken to her daughter, having parted at odds over something so insignificant that the reason was now lost to Mrs. Evans. Married and widowed within two years, the thought of children and grandchildren had only started to enter the ex-nanny’s mind as of late. Deeply saddened that her daughter’s existence and whereabouts was only thought of now, after so many years, Paula feared hope even more.



Her old age and the hospital bills piled on the countertop wouldn’t allow her to leave Washington to search for her lost child, and the phone calls she made had been of no help. At least half of the lawyers and detectives in Seattle knew of her case, and most had blown her off as a feeble minded old woman searching for something she would never find.



“Out of their jurisdiction”, they had said over crumpled files and bored expressions before referring her to disconnected numbers and closed doors.



The last lawyer she had met with, though visibly exhausted, seemed interested in helping, although Paula had not been given a definite answer. Mrs. Evans had found Robin Hawthorne’s information on the list of attorneys she had received from the municipal court, and instantly arranged a meeting. Now the former nanny just had to wait and hope.



The telephone rang, vibrating against its plastic base. Nervous eyes watched the private number flash green on the caller ID. After a deep sigh, the older woman grasped the phone before the last ring, and listened through the receiver.



“I got your message,” dignified and somewhat impatient, the caller spoke into the phone, “Now, what’s this about a strange woman asking you questions?” Without any trace of formality, the male speaker waited for a response.



“Nice to hear from you too, Donald.” Angered, Paula tried to calm her agitation. There were reasons why she hadn’t called Donald Maclay in over two years. But she had been right in expecting the number to be the same, knowing how much the preacher was against change. “Have you heard from Tara yet?”



“Tara doesn’t live here anymore, you know that,” Mr. Maclay’s annoyance grew. “What was the woman’s name?”



Daydreaming, the former nanny almost missed the question. “Oh, um,” she worried her lip, thinking, “Ros… Rosenberg.” The name slipped past her lips, “I can’t remember her first name but it was strange.”



“Doesn’t matter,” he grumbled. “What did she want?”



“She was asking questions about Tara, I think she might’ve been a friend of hers,” the thought warmed her heart to think that Tara had friends. Although she had been suspicious of the young woman’s intent and reason for her questions, Paula realized how foolish she had been once the woman had left. The call to Donald was on instinct. After all, who better to know the whereabouts of Tara than her own father?



“I’ll take care of it.” The phone clicked before the dial tone rang in Mrs. Evans ear.



Subconsciously, she wondered if her decision had been the right one. Would it be like the countless other times when Donald Maclay promised one thing and failed to live up to his word? His word, she scoffed. A man of little words except within the walls of his church, Mr. Maclay feared scandal. Treated it like the plague and ran off anyone who posed a threat. Vaguely, Paula wondered how his followers would react if they knew the real Donald Maclay. However, just as quick as the thought came, it disappeared. She was tired of hurting, tired of hating, just so tired.



~~



Willow reread the admissions sheet once more. Tara’s name signed at the bottom appeared original, meaning that no previous name had been erased or covered some other way. Although the redhead had no writing samples from her patient, just the simple fact that Tara’s full name was signed was enough to make the doctor wonder. The doctor knew that she could either stop her research to speculate about the reasons behind the young blonde’s signature or she could continue on with her review of Tara’s folder.



Out of aching curiosity, Willow chose the latter and flipped through to the next page. The pages which lay after Tara’s entrance form were dated before, and consisted of small handwritten paragraphs and a checklist.



Day 1:

Conversation A indicates that there is no evidence of psychosis. Patient appears mentally healthy, but shows signs that she may have suffered a traumatic experience. The word “may” was underlined with a question mark above it. Three numbers followed the last sentence.



The red-haired doctor cleared a spot on her cluttered desk and tore a blank sheet from her notebook to make notes. Recording the triple digits, Willow continued reading.



Patient’s behavior is withdrawn, a common symptom of emotional distress often associated with personality disorders. Conversation A shows…



The shrill noise of her cellular phone ringing startled the redhead.



“Doctor Rosenberg?” The urgency in the caller’s voice made the doctor’s breathing quicken. “I currently have you listed as Tara Maclay’s psychiatrist. Is this Doctor Rosenberg?”



“Uh, yes, it is,” Willow cleared her throat.



“There’s been an incident. The head supervisor would like you to come in,” the receptionist said, speaking over the voices in the background.



“I’m on my way,” without asking what the situation was, the doctor hung up. Grabbing her keys and stuffing her phone and driver’s license into her jeans, the redhead hurried through the door.



~~



Miles away, Donald Maclay slammed down the telephone with enough force to crack the mouthpiece. The sound of plastic against plastic bounced off the picture less walls of his secluded home, and left a bitter taste in his mouth.



“Rosenberg, huh?” He spoke aloud while scribbling the name on a scrap of paper. The hour was late, too late to call out but he would have enough information to get some sort of lead on the Rosenberg woman when the time came.



The preacher was irritated and had been ever since the phone message he had received several days ago. He had severed his ties with Paula Evans years ago and was both surprised and annoyed when the older woman called. How could she, of all people, call him about a matter so insignificant? But that wasn’t true, was it? If the subject had been unimportant, he wouldn’t have listened to the message twice, much less returned it.



Someone was snooping in his family affairs, and Donald Maclay wouldn’t have it. With his anger still boiling in his veins, Mr. Maclay picked up the nearly mangled telephone and punched in a local number.



“I need you to come over,” he waited for the person to recognize his voice. Eyebrows bunching in irritation, he went on. “No… I don’t care if you’re busy, get your…,” he paused when his eyes caught the cross hanging on the wall. The obscenity he was about to utter dissolved on his lips, “Just get over here now.” The dial tone left no room for disobedience.



His rigid spine ached against the hardness of the chair he settled into. Leaning forward until it hurt too much to move closer, he managed to grab a tall, glass bottle from the bottom cabinet of his sitting room. The whiskey burned his throat, sliding down like acid into his stomach. Shutting his eyes, he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the sinful drops before twisting the cap back on and replacing the bottle.



Having stayed secure in his beliefs and actions for the past years, the preacher wouldn’t allow himself to worry. No, it was just an unwanted setback. Secrets were meant to be buried, and he would be damned if any one tried to dig his up. Brimming with righteous anger, he nodded to himself in silent agreement for some unnamed plan.



The door creaked and timid footsteps lingered in the hallway. The housemaid. Donald cocked his head to the side, but otherwise ignored the woman as she scurried out of the house, signaling the end of her shift.



Tires crushed the gravel, kicking rocks and sand across the driveway before rolling to a stop. Donald waited for the harsh sound of a slamming door and was surprised to hear two separate doors shut. Moments later, the preacher found himself gazing upon the figures of two of the poor souls that he pitied.



~~



It had taken Willow twenty minutes to complete the half-hour trip to Pines View. Eyes trained on the main door and nothing else, the redhead jogged up the pathway. Once inside the hospital, the doctor watched new and familiar faces rush around the second floor ward.



“Doctor Rosenberg!” A voice yelled from behind her. Spinning, the redhead saw Doctor Christianson marching toward her. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with the arrogant doctor but knew it was the only way to find out what was happening.



“Follow me, please,” he offered his hand, which shook a little. The powerful smell of alcohol on his breath made Willow grimace and step back, her eyes squinting in realization when she noticed the faint red stain on his dress pants.



Walking beside the other doctor, Willow frowned when they entered room, similar to a waiting room, which had been made into a temporary interrogation area.



Two men were already present, one leaning against the wall and the other was seated facing the door.



“What is this about?” Feeling cornered, the doctor felt the edginess rise.



“We have some questions concerning your patient, Tara Maclay,” one of the men, a 60ish man with dark shrubbery eyebrows, spoke from his seated position. When Willow merely stared at the man, his colleague spoke up.



“A nurse making her final rounds happened to notice something very… strange.” Without revealing what was truly the reason for the questioning, the other doctor shifted against the wall. Hoping to bait the red-haired doctor into slipping and telling them what she knew, he watched the young woman’s expression.



“What exactly are you saying?” Growing more irritated, the redhead fixed her gaze on each member in the room. “Why am I here? What’s wrong with Tar- Miss Maclay?”



Seeing that he wasn’t going to get any information out of the doctor, the standing doctor went on. “It seems that Miss Maclay is missing.” Uttering the words brought a hint of shame into the man’s eyes. It was his responsibility. Every patient was under his care and therefore it was his duty to make sure they stayed put.



How a patient could manage to escape puzzled him. Although the nurse mentioned a fire exit, long abandoned and blocked off after Pines View was established, the doctor knew that there was a considerable distance to the bottom even with the built-in ladder. The escapee would’ve received injuries, therefore making her less mobile. So where was she?



“Our security officers are searching the grounds and the surrounding areas,” Mr. Christianson added from beside Willow.



“Missing?” Every word after was ignored as the redhead focused on the main speaker. At a loss for words, Willow’s shock was clear to each doctor.



“When was the last time you saw, Miss Maclay?” The redhead wasn’t sure who asked the question.



“This afternoon,” clearing the haziness from her mind, Willow’s eyes met those of the men. “I spoke to her, we walked around the courtyard, spoke a little more, and I then I left.”



“Alone?” Doctor Christianson asked, not hiding the suspicion in his tone.



“You’re kidding me, right? What kind of place is this?” The doctor’s eyes narrowed. “What? You think I helped her… that I miraculously helped a patient slip past the security and the cameras? Assuming that you have already checked them, in which case, that question was completely uncalled for.” The glare was directed at the doctor beside her.



“We apologize, Miss Rosenberg. We’re only trying to understand how something like this could happen,” pulling a chair out from under the table, the speaker sat down. “Maybe we should start over.” He cleared his throat and began, less forceful than before.



An hour later, Willow stormed out of the main door of the psychiatric hospital. Her annoyance had deflated into worry. Was there something she had been missing? Had Tara been planning her escape before Willow met her? The doctor fumbled with her car keys as her thoughts ran swiftly through her brain.



Rounding the back of the car, the redhead gasped and jumped back slightly. Startled, relieved, and caught in a moral dilemma, Willow Rosenberg ran a nervous hand through her hair as she regarded the huddled body, nearly hidden and pressed against the back door of her car.



But the answer was clear, wasn’t it? Tara would have to go back. Right?

Edited by: onyxsundrops at: 9/21/04 5:29 pm

Awesome update. All of the point of views were great but I found Paulas to be the best in this update. Maybe it was the way you made me feel her pain and saddness but I loved it. Now I am confident that one of those people in Mr. Maclays house was Donnie but who was the other one? And we can't forget the ending. Tara CAN'T go back. Willow knows that the hospital is not the best place for Tara. I trust she will make the right decision.



southernworm

That was incredible! I'm still catching my breath.



At the end, I just had this flashback of brain-sucked Tara huddled in the chair in the Magic Box saying "I have someplace to be!" Now this Tara has someplace to be and it's got to be with Willow. Please let it be with Willow. And please don't let Tara be hurt. That poor girl's been through enough. But she got out! I know she's not really crazy. Now I can't wait to find out why she had to bust out.



OMG, the description of her dad had me seething in anger. Awesome job.



More soon please. I'm on the edge of my seat!



Wimpy

Holy shit!!! *gets up from shock* What the hell... The ex-nanny is that her mom??? And I'm totally scared of her father... nice description of his anger.. whoa.. and she escaped... Holy shit...I so agree with Wimpy on when she was brain sucked.. and the fact that she's not nuts... Good lord... u got me on a tick..

Update soon...



-reds



my banana dances for smut

Tara in a wet shirt, Tara in a wet shirt. Tara in. A. Wet. Shirt. “Of course.”-Willow From Remember to Breath By Yellow Crayon



Now that just sucks- me

ARRRGGGHHH....how could you just left it there?! wat kind of a person are you?!....humph...your mean...leaving us with the question if willow will take her or not. well, in my opinion, i think she should take her...yep, she should take her home...ok, enough of the inner child. i really like your story, and keep writing for the love of god.



Vaya con Dios.

Time for Willow to take a daring risk, and give Tara sanctuary while she tries to work out what the heck is going on. It's all a mystery, but more pieces are showing up - a very unwelcome piece in the form of Donald Maclay. Grrr. Now what I'm wondering - did Tara know that was Willow's car? Something tells me yes, which kind of suggests that - no matter what mental state she's in - she's planning pretty clearly. Did she perhaps know Willow would be called when she scooted, so hid out and waited for her to arrive, then hid by her car and waited for her? If so, she's intentionally putting a lot of trust in Willow.



Very much looking forward to seeing Willow and Tara sit down together - somewhere safe - and try to work out what's what.

Chris Cook

Through the Looking-glass

A Willow and Tara for every world.

What a cliffhanger... can't believe you left it there.



Mrs. Evans calling Mr. Maclay might have been a mistake. He is so evil! He's got to be the reason Tara is in Pines View. Especially after what Willow read in her real patient file, "a traumatic experience"... As unethical as it is, Willow needs to pack Tara up and take her some place safe until she can sort things out.



Great update!

oh damn....that is totally the best update ever!! OMG i just read it three times it was so good!! and we knooooow that willow is going to go 'fuck you pines view!' and get tara the hell out of there so that she can figure out whats going on...ooo i cant wait until the next update!! awesome job!



~mel

'The Cat in the Hat' is fine, just not during sex.--Alyson Hannigan

Holy Shiznittle what a freaking awesome update! Willow definately is taking Tara with her right?! She like.. has to! Uh huh, it's settled. *resolve face* haha



And oh man I'm worried for Willow.. Mr. Donald man is gonna go psycho minister on her ass... No bueno.. Get the two girls far far away from the hospital and Mr. Maclay! Ok well I know we all can't get what we want.. so I guess I'll just let you write the story however you want... lol



Seriously though you're doing an awesome job at this story and you're keeping everyone hooked and begging for more!



Ashleigh

"...A-and I'm gonna make it up to you. Starting right now."

(Starts to smile)"Right now?"

Yes! She escaped! I believe I am with everyone else on the answer to whether or not Tara has to go back. Willow knows Tara is not crazy and she does not belong in Pines View. I am still kind of shocked with the scene of her mother. I think she made a huge mistake calling Tara's father. And somehow, I am not surprised that her father is the reason she is in there. This story just gets more and more interesting. Update soon ... especially since you left us with Willow's dilemma.



~Mika

That'll teach me to challenge her. ~Tara ... ~Something New by Ophelia11

wowies, I don't think we need to have a group discussion, seeing as we all know what the answer will be...NOOOOOOO she can't go back, hells no.



But we should talk about Donald, I knew that bastard would be in the story!



...Traumatic experiance, eh? I'm betting it's all Donald's fault, burrying secrets all right...



7 PM Central US time, be there, or be straight!



-Rei

"I am vindicated, I am selfish I am wrong, I am right I swear I'm right I swear I knew it all along. And I am flawed but I am cleaning up so well, I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself so clear." -Dashboard Confessional

onyxsundrops



Your fic is amazing, and gets better n' better with every update, I love it.



I'd been reading it for a while now without leaving feedback, my bad , but no better time like the present to make up for it.



I think Willow should take Tara with her, now more than ever with Mr. Maclay planning to do something that *I think* will be very, very bad; and I believe that Tara will open up more with her, because it's very clear that she already trust her with the whole waiting for her and all.



So I'll be waiting for the next update; more soon please?

Shimatta! I can't believe you left it there. Please don't send Tara back, she needs to be with Willow. Especially now that her nutball old man is after her. You won't send her back will you?



This is still one kick-ass fic!



*Waits for another update*

To be forgotten is worse than death.

how did THAT get in THIS thread



I found myself wonder WHAT traumatic experience Tara might have suffered. Her mother seems to be alive and in not too bad health, although she mentions hospital bills. Or would those be bills for Tara's hospital ? That would hardly make sense though, since it's obviously Donald MaClay who wants Tara out of the way. Predictable religious nutcase for sure, if he was REALLY such a good christian person he would not HAVE any problem now would he ??



What does Paula Evans want to find anyway? It seems to me she already knows where Tara is, if not Willow surely informed her on that. So what is left to find ?? Why did she try both Private Investigators and public officials to get her case resolved ? (besides PI's cost money, where would that come from?)



Willow can easily take Tara home, the hospital doesn't have much say in that. Her stay is voluntary remember. That is probably why she got sedatives, to keep her from chosing to check out. Yeah I'm not very trusting towards such hospitals, I know



How would bringing Tara back inside the hospital help her in any way ? The only reason to do that would be if she was severly injured during her escape and needs immediate medical attention. Anything below that can be handled by Willow, assuming medical training in the US is the same as over here she should have sufficient basic/MD skill for that.



What makes me most suspicious about the whole Tara-in-hospital setup is; someone(Tara) checking in on their own free will to be sedated and as a result not being able to check-out or change medication before they're taken OFF said medication. Who cares for Tara, who monitors the medical nessecity of her taking sedatives ? Lack of control, that worries me.



I doubt I'll trust Tara being in hospital out of her own free will until I hear that from Tara herself. After she's been of medication for some months and preferably checked by at least two or three other psychiatrists. Hmm.. Giles is one isn't he ??



One thing I *can* guarantee; if Willow brings Tara back into the hospital her situation will NOT improve, likely get worse. Willow is bound to realize that.



Grimmy

--
"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

Edited by: Grimlock72 at: 9/25/04 9:34 am

Dig this,

Another piece or two in the jigsaw puzzle Willow is working on without the picture on the box cover to guide her have fallen into place.

Donald Maclay as a symbol of religious demagoguery, who knew?

He reminds me of the warden in "The Shawshank Redemption", the most dangerous and nasty piece of work on this green Earth, someone who will cloak themselves in religious ideology whilst carrying out the work of hatred, intolerance, and spite.

Charismatic enough for Paula Evans to become enthralled by him for a while, however, and one can't really blame her for that.

Misguided if anything, I would say, as those who are lost need to seek solace and comfort where they can find it.

There is nothing like ending an update on a moral/ethical cliffhanger, either.

Having sworn she had nothing to do with Tara's disappearance, will discovering Tara hiding behind Willow's car give Willow the strength and resolve to finally provide Tara with the support and stable environment which will enable Willow to get to the underlying heart of the matter and provide Tara with some lasting relief from her trauma?

One can only wait for the next edifying update to find out. (me waiting not so patiently for ced update)

A special thank you to all of the readers and responders. I will do individual replies for chap eight (and possibly nine) later. Thanks, again.



Chapter Nine



Willow’s trembling hand stopped in uncertainty. A large part of her wanted and needed to know that what she was seeing was real. The other half denied what was so clearly in front of her eyes. Allowing her fingers to graze the blonde’s shoulder, at last, the young doctor’s strangled intake of breath confirmed what she knew was real.



Shivering under the gentle touch of confirmation, Tara clutched her arms tightly around her knees. The blonde heard Willow’s heavy breathing and froze.



“Is there a problem, ma’am?” Met with the harsh brightness of a guard’s flashlight, the doctor froze as well. Willow’s eyes darted around, working off the temporary blindness before focusing fearfully on the security officer.



He stopped on the passenger side of the doctor’s car and lowered the flashlight to examine the interior, checking both front and back seats. Seeing nothing, the officer raised the light back toward Willow and aimed at her midsection rather than her face.



The redhead’s eyes flashed downward, meeting the almost lost gaze of Tara’s. Dark and somewhat pleading, the patient’s eyes burned into those of Willow’s.



“Ma’am?” He stepped forward, releasing the strap that securely held the baton to his belt. “Is something wrong?” The guard made another quick check with his flashlight.



“No,” Willow hoped the simple answer would satisfy the security officer. When he stepped closer, walking down to the trunk and beginning to round the back of the car, the doctor quickly met him before he could see the blonde on the ground.



“Yes, actually…,” she paused, “there is a problem. I, uh, well… I forgot where I parked my car.” The doctor frowned in false helplessness. Moving to the man’s side and effectively diverting his attention so he was facing away from the car, Willow continued. “I could’ve sworn it was on the east wing, but now that I think about it I’m pretty sure it’s on the west.” She pointed to the other section of the parking lot.



“It’s dark out. I’ll walk you.” Clicking off his flashlight, he and Willow left the car and Tara behind. The doctor didn’t look back, fearing that the guard would follow her gaze. The dim glow from the parking lot lights made it possible for the two people to get to the other side of the street without any problems.



“Oh, I can see it,” Willow pointed to a dark car several feet ahead, “I got it from here.” She quickened her pace, “Thanks for walking me.” The doctor hurried toward the anonymous car.



The guard fell back, slowing his steps. “Not a problem,” he smiled, intending to wait until the young woman entered the automobile.



Pretending to unlock the door, Willow’s heart pounded when her hand gripped the door handle. If the owner had an alarm it would be impossible to convince the officer that it was her car. Stilling her breaths, she pulled the handle and nearly fainted when the door opened effortlessly. Silently thanking the trusting person that would leave his or her door unlocked, Willow slid into the driver’s seat.



Nodding once more and satisfied enough to leave the woman alone, the guard turned and strolled back down the parking lot. When the dark silhouette was out of sight, the redhead left the car and sprinted back to her own vehicle.



Exactly where she left her, Tara remained huddled against the car. The red-haired doctor searched her brain. If she alerted the guards patrolling nearby, they would immediately take the blonde into their custody and return her to her room. The problem was that Willow wasn’t sure if the guards would properly handle Tara, meaning they would not drug or physically harm her.



Voices in a distance shook the redhead from her thoughts. Trusting her gut feeling, which burned with anxiety and fear, Willow did what she thought was right.



“Tara, can you hear me?” Willow asked, unlocking her car doors before another guard or someone from the hospital walked by. “Can you move?”



The blonde’s head rose, revealing a small bruise on her cheek that darkened red and blue under the weak lighting.



Wincing sadly and guessing that the injury was from the Tara’s escape, Willow reached into her car and slid the driver’s seat upward toward the steering wheel. “Tara, I’m going to need you to get into the back, on the floor.” She didn’t like the idea, but knew that if anyone happened to be walking by or if there was a checkpoint set up at the gate, her plan wouldn’t work. She prayed that if there was some sort of inspection, the guards would do an extremely poor job.



Tara uncurled enough to show that she understood and wordlessly crawled on her knees until she managed to get a grip on the cushioned seat. Nervous hands helped her into the car. “Sorry, I know it’s uncomfortable,” the doctor whispered and shut the door. The redhead wasn’t sure how much time she had and hastily slipped into the tight fit of the driver’s seat.



Every mile that the car sped away from the Pines View gate, jeopardized Willow’s career.



Think Willow. The doctor glanced through the rearview mirror. They were fifteen minutes away from downtown Seattle, carefully weaving through the late night traffic. What am I doing?



Tara had yet to say a word, balled up on the back seat and gazing intently out of the window. Her eyes took in the sights, which may have seemed unappealing to other viewers. But having spent a large part of her existence away from car lights and flowing landscapes, the blonde had grown unused to the sounds of nature and everyday life.



Willow wasn’t sure when it started, but when she took another glance into the mirror she noticed that Tara had begun to silently cry. In that moment, the redhead got her answer. She might not know every single detail there was to know about Tara Maclay, but it didn’t matter. While watching the streams of water cascade down the blonde’s flushed cheeks, nothing mattered except freedom. Tara was free from the boundaries of Pines View. From the pale walls and zombie pills that constituted treatment in the so-called doctors’ mind.



Shifting into a faster gear, the redhead sped home.



~~



Sluggish, Robin stumbled down the steps, almost tripping over her briefcase at the end of the staircase. She had received a surprising, and confusing, phone call from her roommate five minutes ago, and had hurried down the steps to meet the redhead. Willow hadn’t said much; actually she didn’t say anything other than telling Robin that she was on her way home, and that she had something important to tell her. No, show her, yes that was it. The dark-haired woman’s sleepy mind was slow to catch up with her body as she swung the door open, staring out into the night.



Minutes later, Willow’s car pulled into the driveway, her tires screeching a little. Robin watched as her best friend shut the driver’s door and opened the back. The redhead reemerged with another person, who all but molded herself into Willow’s body.



The strange blonde’s features seemed familiar to the prosecutor, but she couldn’t place the familiarity. Dressed in a white outfit that was stained with what Robin thought was dirt and grass, the visible bruise on the woman’s face alarmed the prosecutor.



“Willow, what’s going on?” Robin stepped back as both women entered the house. Clarity slowly began to return to her mind and nearly all traces of sleep were gone.



“Let me get her upstairs and then I’ll explain everything, okay?” The prosecutor noticed the young blonde woman’s frightened and tired eyes and nodded. Willow returned five minutes later, quietly descending the stairs and pulling her roommate into the kitchen.



Taking a deep breath, the doctor explained the facts as she knew them, finishing wearily. Her roommate was silent, eyes wide in disbelief.



“Say something,” the silence unnerved Willow. She trusted Robin. To her, the other woman was like a sister and she knew that it was the same for her best friend.



“Are you crazy?” Incredulous, Robin switched between staring at the ceiling and at the doctor. Willow shot her a glare, “Okay, bad wording,” the young woman admitted. “Willow this isn’t legal. Yeah, sure, some hospitals have out-patient programs but that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to just take them home with you.”



Different scenarios ran through Robin’s mind, mostly centering on the consequences of Willow’s actions and how it would impact her best friend and the young woman upstairs.



“I didn’t… okay, well, I did. What was I supposed to do?” The doctor asked with a frown.



“Willow,” the dark-haired woman rubbed her forehead, “there are people looking for her. The police, the hospital staff, and what about Giles? I’m sure he’ll be hearing about this one way or the other.”



“I’ll deal with Giles when the time comes.” Having never considered her mentor’s reaction until now, Willow couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty, but she quickly pushed her feelings aside. She was trying to help someone, Giles would understand… if he knew.



“You’re not going to tell him, are you?” Recognizing the guilty expression on her friend’s face, Robin knew what the redhead was thinking. “So what are you going to do? Hide her in the closet every time he stops by?”



“I never expected this to happen, it’s not like I had some kind of plan worked out. She was… and,” defeated, Willow slumped into a nearby chair. “I couldn’t leave her there.” She finished miserably.



Robin’s features softened. It wasn’t that she intentionally wanted to upset her best friend; she was only trying to help the doctor understand that harboring an escaped patient would be daring. Although, in the back of her mind, the prosecutor was sure that the redhead was well aware of the problem. Willow had the tendency to act on impulse, especially when it was for or about a person or situation she thought was important.



Running fingers through her black hair, the attorney relented. If it meant a lot to Willow, it was important to her as well. Moving forward to wrap her arms around the redhead, giving the doctor a comforting hug, Robin sighed lightly as she pulled back.



“Get some sleep; we’ll worry about it in the morning,” she checked the clock on the microwave, “the late morning.” Receiving a weak smile from her best friend, the prosecutor ushered the young woman up the stairs, following her, “Goodnight,” she whispered, aware of the sleeping woman two doors down.



“’Night,” Willow mumbled, suddenly exhausted as her friend closed the door to her room.



Being that the spare room was currently in shambles, and was usually the hottest room in the house, Willow knew it was either the floor or the chair in the corner. The option to bunk with Robin was open, but the redhead knew how wild the attorney slept and also knew that she would wake up aching.



Creeping into the room, having lingered in the hallway for some time, the doctor observed the young woman in her bed.



Tara’s features relaxed peacefully under the moonlight shining through thin curtains. The blonde was a mystery to Willow, even with the open file on her desk. Papers and scribbled words couldn’t tell the redhead what was really happening inside Tara’s head. Or what dreams would haunt her that night.



Carefully arranging some extra blankets onto the floor, Willow settled onto the carpeted area and sat up on her knees to once again check on Tara.



Caged for most of her life, Tara was a beautiful creature, wounded and so far from reality. What would happen after the creature had won her freedom?

Yay! Willow took Tara with her! It is wonderful that Robin is so understanding. I just wanted to thank you for posting, Yvonne. I will write more feedback later, but for now, it is bedtime. You have your update as promised.



~Mika

That'll teach me to challenge her. ~Tara ... ~Something New by Ophelia11

At first, I shuddered at the idea of Tara in a mental institution, but I look forward to seeing where you go with this.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

So, at last the die has been cast and Willow starts down the path from which there is no return.

Once the sparkage recognition factor had been introduced, Willow had no choice as how could she turn around and deliver Tara back into the hands of her jailers?

With Tara out of the stultifying environment of Pines View, perhaps lucidity will return to at least a portion of her mind and Willow shall be able to lovingly extract some semblance of just what led Tara to the incarceration.

Tara is indeed a beautiful creature and now, unshackled, shall rise up to become the butterfly she has the capacity to be.

OMG!! Willow really did it! I'm all happy and nervous for them at the same time.



How is she going to explain this? I have a feeling Robin is going to come in handy with the legalities...and the blonde did look familiar...hmmm.



Poor Tara crying had me almost in tears too. Now she's safe in Willow's bed, where hopefully she'll feel safe and loved, at least eventually, right?



Can't wait to see what's next!



Wimpy

Yay! Willow took her away from the awful place. It does indeed put her in a dilemma with her position though. But who cares eh? She's out, free, and hopefully never going back to Pines View. Looking forward to Tara coming out of her shell.



Nice update!

go willow....go willow....woohoo for taking tara with her...that was so the right thing to do. but how shes going to explain everything should be interesting to see....but with robin as an attorney who will probably figure out that tara is paula's daughter...that should help out A LOT!! hopefully..but i guess well hafta wait and see.



~mel

'The Cat in the Hat' is fine, just not during sex.--Alyson Hannigan