Willow froze where she was by the dresser and turned back toward the window on the opposite side of the room. "Scuto!" She yelled urgently, focusing on a place inches in front of where Tara was standing. Instantly, a magical shield appeared, knocking Tara forcefully to the ground. There was a loud whooshing sound of rushing wind as a bullet flew through the open window and ricocheted off Willow's shield, falling abruptly to the ground.
"Transferam." Willow commanded as she approached Tara. The shield immediately disappeared.
"Willow you…" Tara said breathlessly. Her eyes darted from the bullet to Willow and back again. Willow tensed a little, unsure of what was to come.
"You saved me." She gasped, and Willow relaxed. "It could have.."
All Willow could manage was a nod. "It was the only way Tara. I'm sorry." She said quietly.
Tara sat up. Willow pulled her close and hugged her tight. They held each other close as tears fell from both their cheeks. Suddenly, Xander burst into the room.
"It's Buffy. She…" He trailed off, seeing the two of them entangled together. "Wait," he said coming closer. "What happened here?"
Xander knelt down and put his hand gently on Willow's knee, following her gaze to the bullet on the floor just metres away from them. He stared at the bullet a moment, then back at Willow and Tara, open mouthed.
"It almost hit me." Tara spoke up, her voice quiet. "Now what about Buffy?"
"She did get shot." Xander said, getting up again and made for the door. Willow got to her feet, and offered her hand to Tara who took it and got up. They followed Xander at a run and got into his car. He drove cautiously, yet fast to the hospital and the three friends raced inside to catch up with Buffy.
A nurse led them to a private room where Buffy lay motionless on a bed, a thin blanket placed over her in a lazy attempt to keep her warm. Xander went to stand by Buffy's bedside. Tara and Willow stood against the window on the opposite side of the room and immediately, Willow began focusing her attention on Buffy. When she made a move to lift her arms slowly to begin a spell, Tara noticed what she was doing and gently pushed Willow's arms back by her sides with her own soft hand.
"No Willow, don't."
Willow finally looked away from Buffy at Tara. "But Tara, she'll…"
"No she won't." Tara answered calmly. "Because I'll do it." Tara focused on Buffy and raised her arms slowly. As she did so, the bullet that had been embedded in Buffy's chest rose up and hovered in mid air, level with Tara's arms. She looked at Xander before letting her arms fall. As she did, the bullet gave in to gravity, landing neatly in Xander's outstretched palm.
Xander looked down at the bullet in his hand then up at the two witches standing opposite him, a big grin on his face. "Well down Tara."
Buffy suddenly took a deep breath, startling her friends. They all looked over at her as she opened here eyes. Xander's was the first face she saw. "What?" She started groggily.
Tara and Willow came forward, hand in hand, coming to stand on the opposite side to Xander on the other side of the bed.
"Tara took the bullet out." Willow said proudly.
The bullet still in his hand, Xander brought it closer to show Buffy.
"Warren." Buffy remembered.
"Yeah." Willow agreed. "He almost hit Tara too."
Buffy turned, looking wide eyed at Tara.
"Willow heard it coming and she saved me." Tara explained.
"Just so long as we're all ok." Buffy said, struggling to sit up in the bed.
Xander rushed to her aid and supported her as she slowly arrived at a comfortable sitting position. Everyone nodded.
"Yep." Willow smiled, her glittering eyes bright.
"I don't mean to rush you or anything Buff, but what do we do about Warren?" Xander asked.
"He's got to pay, for almost killing the both of you." Willow said seriously, her face colouring slightly with hints of rage bubbling through. She felt Tara's grip on her hand tighten and looked over at her.
"No Will." She said calmly, her blue eyes gentle as they held Willow's green eyed gaze. "We've got to let the police handle this one ok?" The colour from Willow's face faded as she relaxed and smiled up at Tara.
"Tara's right." Xander agreed, coming over and placing a friendly had on Willow's shoulder. "Just be happy that Tara and Buffy are alright."
Willow nodded, squeezing Tara's hand and smiling over at Buffy in the hospital bed. "You don't know how much." She whispered.
It was dark outside by the time Buffy was given the all clear to go home. Together, Tara, Willow and Xander helped Buffy back to Xander's car and he drove them all back to Buffy's house.
When the four friends came through the door, they were greeted by a very anxious Dawn. "What happened? Where'd you go? No one was here."
Buffy passed by her friends and gently squeezed her sister's hand. "It's alright Dawn. Everything's ok. You're safe now. It's getting late, come on, we'll take you up to bed." Dawn started up the stairs as Buffy turned back to her friends. "Thanks guys. For everything."
"No worries Buff. Anytime." Xander answered. "I'm just glad you're ok." Willow and Tara nodded their agreement.
"I'll get Dawn to bed, then I'll go out to patrol."
"Oh no you don't." Xander said, putting a hand up in the air.
Buffy put her hand on his shoulder. "Xander, you've done enough today. I couldn't ask you to do any more."
"I'll drop by Spike's. I'm sure he won't mind helping." Xander smiled. When Buffy opened her mouth to speak again, he interrupted before she got the chance. "No arguments Buff. You just get a good sleep and concentrate on being a-ok tomorrow."
Realising defeat, Buffy nodded as Xander left. She turned to face Willow and Tara. "Night guys."
"We'll come up soon." Tara said.
"Night Buffy. Sleep well." Willow smiled.
Hand in hand, Tara and Willow sat on the lounge in the next room.
Willow sighed. "I don't know what I would have done Tara." She admitted.
Tara squeezed Willow's hands and Willow looked up at her. "You don't have to worry Sweetie. I'm not going anywhere." Tara looked at Willow in silence for a moment. "Thank you for saving me Willow."
"Of course." Willow smiled. "I don't know what I would have done without you. You're my everything Tara. I love you."
Tara leaned in, hugging Willow tight. Willow rested her head on Tara's shoulder as the tears began to fall. Tara drew back, placing her hands on Willow's shoulders and studying her face. Her serious expression soon broke into a soft smile.
"What are you crying for Will?"
"I came so close to losing you today." Willow said through her sobs.
Tara reached out and started to wipe Willow's tears away. "You didn't. I'm still right here. I'm not going anywhere Willow. I wouldn't leave you for the world."
Willow looked up at Tara, her green eyes wide. "You wouldn't? Not even after everything…"
Tara brushed her hand along Willow's cheek. "The worst has passed. You're better now. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. You and me." She reached for Willow's hand and squeezed it in her own.
"I came so close.." Willow's barely audible whisper was interrupted when Tara pressed her own lips to Willow's and kissed her softly, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze. They broke apart and Willow squeezed Tara's hand in return, looking up at her and smiling, her eyes glimmering with hope.
"I love you." Both said at the same time, squeezing one another's hands as they headed upstairs for the night.
Willow smiled as she lay in bed beside Tara. There had been times that day when she'd feared she might never do this again. As she closed her eyes, Willow smiled again, looking over at the love of her life, sleeping peacefully beside her. Willow was realising only now when Tara had almost been ripped away from her how much it was that she really loved her.