Chapter Two - Indigestion
Willow burst through the metal doors, nearly pummeling an orderly in the process. Running to the nurse's station, Willow imagined the worse. When she had heard that phone ring, she just knew that something had happened. Tara had snuck out after they'd returned home, for whatever reason, Willow didn't know. The nurse pointed her in the direction of Tara's room. Hands shaking, Willow turned the knob and entered the silent room.
"Hey sweetie," Tara said, turning towards the redhead as she entered. Noticing the panic stricken look on her lover's face, Tara's smile quickly faded, "I-Is everything alright? D-did something h-happ…" Tara's sentence was abruptly interrupted as she was enveloped in a hug by the sobbing redhead.
"When I got the call, I thought…I thought you were…" Willow's muffled voice trailed off as the blonde gently rubbed her back. Willow's tear-filled green eyes met Tara's soothing blue ones and a small smile began to form on the redhead's face. "But you're ok. You're still with me."
"Shh, sweetie it's ok. It's just a scratch," Tara said, motioning to her wound.
Willow placed her hand on the white bandage that now covered Tara's beautiful hair. "But what happened? Where did you go? How could you not let me know that you were leaving? Something could have happened…well something did happen, but something worse could have happened. What if you couldn't protect yourself? What if…"
"Shh," Tara said, covering Willow's mouth with hers. Pulling away from the kiss, she continued "I n-normally love Willowbabble, but if you want answers then these," she said, pointing to Willow's swollen lips, "need to stay closed." Willow made the 'zipper' motion across her lips and smiled at the blonde. "Thanks. Well, I went back to Buffy's grave. I just, I wanted to talk to her. And I guess, I guess I was attacked from behind. I'm not sure how I ended up here."
"Well thank god you did. Who knows what could have happened."
"Nothing did, Willow. I'm fine. You're fine. We're all fine. Its ok, baby. I-I'm sorry I made you worry," Tara said, placing a soothing hand on Willow's face.
Sighing, Willow leaned forward and rested her head on Tara's chest. "I just couldn't imagine what kind of monster would want to hurt you."
Faith threw her bags on the floor of the shady motel room which, for whatever reason, she chose to rent. "Well, guess it's an upgrade from prison," she said aloud, jumping onto the mattress. She cringed as she heard the springs creak beneath her. "Or maybe not." After dropping Tara off at the hospital, Faith had decided to stay in town for awhile. See the sights, maybe fight a vamp or two…help out the Scoobies. Faith chuckled slightly, I'm actually fighting for the good team this time, she thought. Glancing at the clock, Faith sighed. "Well, I suppose a little late-night slaying couldn't hurt," she said, grabbing her trademark leather coat and a stake, "I got a little energy to burn."
Faith headed out to the usual haunts, staking a few vamps in the process, but no big baddies to beat down. Turning the corner, Faith checked her watch. In doing so, she never noticed the fight breaking out in front of her. She heard the screams and looked up. A young woman was being attacked by 3 demons, all covered in blue-green scales. "Hey!" Faith shouted, running to the young woman's aide. The demons released the woman and advanced on Faith. Well, she thought, that's one way to get their attention. "Did anyone ever tell you that you shouldn't play with your food? Indigestion is such a bitch," Faith quipped, punching the first demon in his midsection. As he fell, Faith grabbed his ankle and swung him into the second, causing both to topple to the ground. Faith turned towards the third but a claw struck her from the side. "A fourth? Well now these odds are a bit more my style," Faith said, kicking the demon's feet out from underneath him.
She jumped up and pulled a knife from her jacket, "Ok, as much as I love these little workouts, I got places to go, people to s-…" Faith was cut off as a demon backhanded her. She tried to regain her footing, but she was caught off guard by a fifth demon. "Now this really isn't playing fair." She rose to her feet, but cried out in pain as she felt a hit from behind. The sickening sound of her bones breaking caused panic to rise in her throat.
She tried to stand, but her broken leg wouldn't allow her to. The demons swarmed around her, each taking their turn beating her. Faith used all her strength to push two demons from her. Sprinting, ignoring the pain in her leg, she ran from the circling demons. Fear and anger were her guide as she raced into the night.
Knowing that she couldn't make it to the hospital, Faith was left with only one option. Knocking on that familiar door on Revello Drive, Faith struggled to hold onto consciousness.
As the door opened, Faith's pleading eyes met the worried stare of Willow. "Faith?"
"Help…me," Faith managed to beg, before finally succumbing to the pain and falling in a heap on the ground outside the door.