Authors Note: Whoa. Talk about a long time between updates. My bad guys. _! Rest assured I'm already working on the next installment. Hope you guys like it.
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And now for the disclaimer... I still don't own anything. I'm still not makingany money off of this.
Tara stood inside the chemistry lab unmoving for many moments as she stared at the doorway. She was stunned. He had left. Part of her had thought she would be able to get him to see reason, or at least guilt him into changing his mind. As she looked towards the empty doorway though, her brain connected all the dots for her frozen body: Her brother had signed a death warrant.
Tears welled up in her eyes and the air crackled. Before she realized what was happening she was walking. Within moments of her feet moving, she was running. Tara was on autopilot.
The Scooby gang had effectively laid out it's plan: Buffy would patrol with Angel later, Willow would hack into the city's network and track any murders that fit the Gorch brothers M.O, Giles was going through his chronicles to find any inconsistencies in the brothers activities and Xander was assigned to weapon whittling duty. The team had all agreed and went their separate ways for the remainder of the lunch hour. Buffy and Xander had vacated the premises and Willow had a sneaking suspicion that the pair had decided to skip out on their afternoon classes in order to go to the Espresso Pump. Giles was in his office and the redhead was currently hacking her way through the Sunnydale City Morgue's files.
The hacker sipped her Coke as her fingers flew across the keys at light speed. She was not finding anything to suggest that the Gorch brothers had started their killing spree, only found one killing that fit the pattern that the brothers usually left behind. As she tapped away at her research, Willow felt something unpleasant settle in the pit of her stomach. She swallowed hard as the feeling overcame here and shook her head in an effort to dispel it.
Her attempts failed, and she continued to work, pushing the growing anxiety she was feeling aside. When it became too much to ignore, Willow stopped. Cracking her hands, she felt the anxiety turn to grief. Something was wrong. Willow couldn't put her finger on it, but something had happened. Her heart pounded and she shot out of her chair, knocking it back noisily. She was vaguely aware that Giles had called out to her from his office questioningly.
Willow began pacing, ignoring the Watchers voice. The air thickened for a moment and Willow became aware of the root of her feelings: "Tara", she whispered. She didn't know what, but something was wrong with her friend. No sooner had the name past her lips and the girl strode through the library doors. The redhead turned to face her and they both stopped. Blue met green and the distance between their bodies vanished. Whatever unsettling feeling had been coursing through Willow dissipated then. She reached out and their fingers danced together before intertwining. Their connection sparked energy once again and a dull hum sounded throughout Willow's core.
Her eyes searched Tara's in an attempt to gauge the situation. It was a silent communication between the two girls; the tightening of hands, the fluttering of eyelashes, the gentle ebb of the ocean inside the blonde's eyes. They stepped into one another and embraced. The hacker cradled the taller girl in her arms and waited for the tears to flow.
Tara laid her head against Willow's shoulder and let out a sigh. Her body trembled as she fought off the pain that was surging through her heart. Her thoughts were muddled and jumbled together. Oz, -Donnie, blood, fighting,- her brother, -pain, hurt, war,- her oldest and best friend,- torture, The Traid, her clan,- the gentlest boy she knew,- the rites of passage, the challenge,- had surrendered. ... the death.
Willow could feel the torrent of emotions wash over her friend and she had to hold back the gasp of shock as she became in tune with Tara's turmoil. The redhead didn't know what was happening, but Tara's emotions were scattered all over the place. Fear, anguish, heartbreak, terror.. Willow could feel the terror radiate off of the blonde in waves. She pulled her closer and held her tighter.
Neither girl moved for what felt like an eternity. When she was sure that Tara was calming down, the girl pulled back gently and let her hands travel up rest on the front of the blondes shoulders.
"Tara..."
She spoke low, her voice full of compassion. When Tara could not meet her eyes, Willow raised hands to the back of her friends neck. Her touch was soft and she let her fingers caress the creamy skin beneath them. Her thumbs moved timidly up to Tara's jaw as she cautiously moved to raise the girls face upward. Her friend complied immediately.
They were in their own world together, bound in a bubble and unable to focus on anything else. The atmosphere between their bodies was thick with tension, albeit a comfortable one, and the distance was practically diminished. They shared the air within their lungs freely.
Tara's eyes had never looked so deep as they did in that moment.
"Tell me what happened" the redhead uttered, transfixed with the sea of blue before her.
Their bodies had moved at their own will. Both of Willow's hands cradling her neck and face lovingly; Tara's hands gripping the redheads waist and hips strongly. They held each other in place, not demandingly but assuredly.. Intimately.
"Willow"
It was quiet. So quiet that if she hadn't have been so acutely aware of Tara's every breath at that moment, Willow probably wouldn't have been able to hear it. Tara's voice was lulling, a contrast to the chaos surrounding her.
"I'm s-sorry. For, f-for just showing up l-like this. I don't even k-know why I came h-here."
The hacker shushed her. "It's okay", she whispered.
"I j-just started walking. A-and the, uh, the n-next thing I knew.." Tara trailed off. She hadn't even looked up from the floor on her voyage to the library. Her body moved on it's own accord, directing her through the hallway, down the stairs and towards the large wooden doors. She had almost no control.
Both girls were entranced and failed to notice the librarian walking into the room. His steps were gentle against the floor as he treaded into the foyer, face in the book he was reading. Giles looked up from his reading material and was ready to question Willow about her research when he saw the two girls. "Oh" he let out to himself, both startled and unsure of the situation he had intruded upon. Again, neither girl noticed.
"It doesn't matter" Willow spoke, "please.. tell me what happened"
The redhead let her left hand fall and rest atop her Tara's arm, which, as Giles noted somewhat awkwardly, was still wrapped around Willow's waist. The man backed up slowly into the doorway he had come in from seconds earlier. He stayed close to the doorframe inside his office, noting the atmosphere magically and unsure of what to make of it. 'Best to stay close by in case' he rationalized to himself, setting his book down on the side table near his desk.
The blonde shifted uncomfortably as thoughts of all the secrets about her family boiled against her skin. She was silent for several moments, opening her mouth only to close it seconds from the inability to explain. Tara could not reveal her family.
"Tare.." the redhead pleaded.
Chest heaving, the blonde swallowed hard. "M-my family.." she forced out.
Willow noted the deep hesitation in the other girl and ideas started to form inside of her mind, though she remained silent.. waiting.
"I-I.. W-Willow.. I. Can't explain. I'm sorry, I s-should not have come h-here"
Before Tara had a chance to try and turn away, Willow moved her arm back to take the hand against the front of her waist. She rested it on Tara's, fingers mingling once again, whispering: "Don't"
Green eyes shone brightly towards the blonde and Tara found herself unable to flee.
"I'm glad you came"
The Wiccan released a breath, "It w-was like I d-didn't have a choice. I'm, I'm happy you w-were here"
"So am I"
In an action of joint shyness, each girl bowed her head slightly. Given the closeness of their stance, naturally, their foreheads collided. It was not painful, but it served as a reality check. Becoming aware of the proximity simultaneously, each girl took a small step back.
"Is your head okay?" Willow flailed, "ah! Worst friend ever goes to me. You're sad and here I am bonking you on the head"
Tara startled herself as she chuckled, surprised her could find the laughter in her body.
Her chuckle turned into a laugh as Willow started rambling about head injuries.
The redhead broke into a smile at the laugh, "Are.. I mean. Are you okay now?" she asked hesitantly.
Tara sighed, "I will be" I have to be, she added silently, "T-thank you, Willow"
The blonde reached out and squeezed the girls hand.
Unsure, and unsettled, by what had gotten her friend so upset, but happy to see her looking more lively, Willow squeezed back and flashed a smile, "Always"
A loud cough, followed by the clearing of a throat was heard through the room. Both girls turned to see the Watcher. "Giles!" the girl let out, surprise lacing her voice, "What are you doing here?"
He quirked his eyebrow to her as if to say, 'Really?..'
"Oh! Well Duh! What kind of question is that? You can't have a functioning library without a librarian. I just meant that I didn't see you before just now. I mean not since I saw you before. Which was a while ago, because you were in your office. You were, right? In your office I mean… weren't you? " The girl babbled nervously. She paused before opening her mouth again.
"Willow, while I find your ability to communicate correctly for extended periods of time without oxygen both endearing and impressive, I'm afraid I must stop you there." He interrupted, holding his hand up. Rolling his eyes lightly, he laughed wryly, "Good Lord, it must be contagious. Yes, I was in my office"
The young hacker let out an anxious laugh, "Right. Kay, good then." She had yet to let go of Tara's hand, the Watcher noted as he looked at the two girls.
"Pardon my manners. Were you looking for something, Miss?" Giles asked, feigning innocence. He had a fairly good idea of who the young blonde girl standing in the room was.
Willow face palmed.
"That's right! You guys haven't met. Giles, this is Tara. Tara, this is Giles. Buffy's Watcher"
The man choked on the air he was breathing at the nonchalant manner in which Willow had disclosed his position.
"I mean. What I meant to say is that this is Giles, the school librarian. In case you haven't met him yet. And he is in no way affiliated with Buffy of any of her Slayer duties whatsoever" she added quickly, aware that she was in trouble.
Tara chuckled; Giles frowned.
Willow flashed a large, hopeful smile.
"Yes, well. I suppose everyone else is aware," Giles added, cleaning his glasses as he made his way towards the girls. "Tara, good to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you, it's high time I get to match a face to the stories"
He smiled warmly at the girl and offered her his hand, which she took shyly.
"T-thank you Mr. Giles. It's g-good to meet you as well. And, you- you don't have to worry. I w-won't tell anyone about your p-position. You know, as librarian and all."
Giles chuckled at the young girl. He nodded his approval, "Yes, well. I'd wager you might be about the only one" he noted, casting a sidelong glace at Willow.
The redhead shrunk under his gaze and blushed.
"Willow informs me that you've become her teacher, of sorts, in the world of spell craft?" He asked while moving to lean against the table in the room.
"Y-yes, sir." The blonde answered hesitantly, "W-well. N-not quite."
Giles quirked an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"N-not yet" She added, uncomfortable under his attention.
"Tara thinks it's important for me to have a thorough understanding of energy before we move onto anything involving actual casting. I mean we've done a few things together. Lots of meditation and control based activities. The other day! I floated a feather!" The redhead chimed in, smiling proudly, "Right now though it's a lot of history and foundation stuff though. Respect the elements, everything is connected, balance is imperative.. That kind of stuff."
Giles eyes widened and he looked towards the young blonde, impressed. "I must say, that's a rather mature outlook on the craft. Have you a coven? How long have you been practising?"
Curiosity and awe laced his tone and Tara smiled.
"N-no, Mr. Giles. M-My mother was v-very powerful. She's taught me since I can remember."
"So you're a natural witch then? The magic is in your bloodline? That's quite fascinating, I must say" he let out excitedly.
Tara shifted a bit, but answered none the less, "Y-yes. M-my family has deep r-roots where the magic is c-concerned."
"You'll have to forgive me," he said, practically glowing, "it's been quite some time since I've encountered a natural witch, let alone with an established bloodline. Do you happen to know how far your ancestry reaches back? Magically, I mean. "
"At l-least 12 generations, S-sir."
Giles looked between to two girls, a look of astonishment etched into his features.
He brought his hand up and ran it through his hair, "You mean to tell me you have 12 generations of magic in your history? That's.. That's quite a bit of power, I'd imagine"
Tara's blue eyes connected with his as she spoke, "I prefer to t-think of it as having quite a history to respect."
She could feel the emotions in his aura. She sensed a shadow and it troubled her, "To have power is one thing. To understand it is another. I s-share with Willow what I believe. The beauty of magic does not lay in how much power you attain- "
"But in how you choose to wield it" Willow finished for her with a smile.
The Watcher broke into a slow, wide grin.
Willow shot a proud look towards her friend and squeezed her hand. "You two would get along well I think," she supplied, "You're both such big worry warts"
Green eyes sparkled with mischief as she teased the two. She could see that something silent had passed between Giles and Tara. When she had initially told him of her new tutor, she knew he had been worried. It was obvious that whatever fears the man held before, they were going away very quickly.
"Well I must say, from what I've heard I can say quite confidentially that Willow couldn't have found a better tutor. I, for one, am quite pleased she's found you."
His voice was soft and compassionate, "It certainly is quite the pleasure to meet someone interested in the balance of elements, rather than the power that can be derived from them. You're welcome around here any time you see fit." Giles smiled as he motioned to the library, "And not just for the purposes of Sunnydale High's less than adequate selection of literature."
"Not to interrupt the formalities, but Willow? I don't suppose you've found anything that suggests what the Gorch brothers might be up to, have you?" he asked hopeful.
"No such luck," she answered, "I'll keep looking though."
"Yes, good. Well, I'll leave you both to it. Call me if you need anything, and Tara?" He called as he retreated to his office.
She looked towards him tentatively.
"Welcome to the group"
Next chaper will be up soon! What'd y'all think!
Thanks for reading :)