Your Heart Takes the Fall.
A/N: Another Buffy story I came up with while doing my internship, so here it goes.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything (If I did things would have been different) Joss Whedon owns everything.
Summary: Willow was shot by Warren instead of Tara. Will Buffy live without Willow to save her? How will the rest of the Scoobies react? How will Tara handle everything? Furthermore…Will Willow live?
Chapter 1
Tara Maclay and Willow Rosenberg happily kissed in their bedroom inside Buffy Summer's house. Even though Willow had given up on Majick, Tara's love was strong enough to send them floating in the air.
Outside three shots were fired, one coming through the window and going right into Willow's back which was facing the window.
The bullet broke into Tara's concentration, both she and Willow dropped to the floor, Tara landed painfully on her back.
"Geez." Tara said pushing herself up. "What?" she noticed blood staining her blue shirt, and Willow lying on the floor, blood seeping through her white shirt.
"Willow!" Tara cried, "Willow? Willow, sweetie, please wake up!"
Willow remained silent on the floor. Tara was relieved to see that Willow was still breathing.
Tara began to cry. She ran for a phone and dialed 911. "Hello. My girlfriend has just been shot. 1630 Ravello Drive."
"We are already sending an ambulance to that address. Is there a second victim?" The operator asked.
"Yes." Tara managed to say, although she really didn't know.
Tara ran into the bedroom. "Willow?" Willow still did not respond. "Willow?"
Tara grabbed Willow in her arms and carefully brought her downstairs. She sat on the couch until she heard the ambulance siren close by. She brought Willow outside, when she saw Xander run up. "Tara?" he asked.
Tara looked at him, "Willow was shot." She said her voice dull.
"So was Buffy." Xander said, pointing the paramedics to the backyard. "It was Warren."
"Warren, the geek guy?" Tara asked.
"Yes." Xander replied.
Tara nodded and took Willow to the other ambulance.
"Who is she?" the paramedic asked, "Miss…what is her name?"
"Willow Rosenberg." Tara whispered.
"Age?"
"Twenty-one."
"Do you know her blood type?"
"A negative. Just like me."
"Does she have any allergies?"
"Not that I'm aware of. I don't believe so." Tara replied, "What's wrong with her, why won't she wake up?"
"I don't know yet." The paramedic replied.
They got to the hospital rather quickly. Willow was quickly taken into surgery, leaving a distressed Tara in the waiting room. Within a few moments Buffy was also wheeled into one the available rooms, leaving Xander with Tara.
"She never woke up." Tara said. "Willow never once opened her eyes."
"Will is strong." Xander said, "We both know that. She'll be fine."
"Dawn!" Tara suddenly cried, "She'll be home from school soon. I can't let her get home! There is blood all over my bedroom floor, and the backyard, what will she think?"
Xander put his hand on Tara's shoulder. "I'll call Anya and tell her what happened and ask her to pick up Dawn from school."
Xander left and later returned informing Tara that he also called England in hope of getting in touch with Giles, but he wasn't there so he had to leave one of the hardest messages he ever had.
Tara wasn't listening. She kept her eyes on the door that Willow had been wheeled through. She began to pray. "Please Hecate, keep her safe."
The door to the ER crashed opened and a sobbing Dawn ran in followed by a grim Anya. Tara opened her arms, and Dawn flew into them. "It's okay, Dawnie. I promise." Tara whispered.
"I can't lose her again." Dawn sobbed. "I need her and Willow! I really don't hate Willow, I was just mad at her at the time!"
"I know, sweetie. And she knows it to." Tara said, "Can you be brave. We need to be strong. Can you be strong? Buffy has never let anything keep her down, and Willow's the same way."
At that moment a doctor came out of the room where Buffy was. "Who is the family of Buffy Summers?"
Everyone stood, Dawn clutching Tara's hand, "I'm Buffy's sister." Dawn announced.
The doctor looked confused at the young brunette, "Are your parents here?"
"My mom is dead, and my father is in Spain with his new wife." Dawn explained, "Buffy is my guardian with Tara and Willow."
Tara pointed to herself, "I'm Tara."
The doctor nodded, "Buffy was very lucky. The bullet went into her shoulder, and missed vital blood vessels. She will need a sling for several weeks and plenty of rest, but she'll be fine."
"Can I see her?" Dawn asked, not making any attempt to free Tara's hand.
The doctor said, "Yes. She's sleeping, but you can see her."
Dawn once again made no attempt to let Tara leave her grasp, thankfully being one of Dawn's caretakers, she was able to enter the small room with Dawn.
Buffy lay quietly on a slightly bloodstained blanket. Her right arm lay across her stomach, her shoulder bandaged. She otherwise looked fine. "See Dawn. Buffy will be fine soon. That accelerated Slayer healing." Tara said.
Dawn nodded, kissed Buffy's forehead softly, before letting Tara lead her out of the room.
Almost as soon as they exited, another doctor emerged from the room where Willow was taken. "Who is here with Willow Rosenberg?"
"I am." Tara said, "I'm her girlfriend, she has no family in town. I have power of attorney." She and Willow had decided on that just after moving into the Summer's house, just in case something happened, due to the fact Willow's parents never paid attention to their only child, and Tara's family was hell.
The doctor frowned for a bit before saying, "Willow's spine is damaged due to the bullet. We are unsure how much damage was officially done until she wakes up, which could take awhile."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
"Miss Rosenberg hit her head very hard on something. We thought there was possible brain damage, but that seems to not be the case, but she is in a coma. We are unsure if she will ever emerge."
A/N: I don't know if doctors are that rude. I wouldn't know nothing like this has ever happened to me. (Thank the lord for that). This is my third attempt at a Buffy fic and my second attempt at third person (I mostly due first person, I personally find it easier). I am begging you to review. Thanks.