Chapter 11: Reaction
Buffy was in her usual visitors seat at the redheads bedside. This had become her second home over the past few days.
The redhead had still made no progress, and the machines continued to be Buffy's only company in the room. The others occasionally visited and relieved her off her best friend bedsitting duties, but Buffy didn't like to be away for to long.
She wanted to be there for when Willow woke up, she wanted to be sure that she was okay and not just hear it over the phone. She needed Willow to know that she was there for her, and most of all, that she was sorry that she hadn't seen this coming, that she hadn't tried to help Willow more.
Of course sometimes the slayer had to go to work, or home to check on Dawn. But most of all she just sat, staring at her friend, telling her stories, sobbing emphatically, apologising over and over again.
Buffy had assumed that Willow was beginning to get over Tara's death, or that she was at least keeping her moaning to a minimum when she was constantly drinking. Her magic had settled itself down and she was no longer attempting to destroy the world, or suffering from withdrawals.
It appeared that she was getting better, but Buffy knew it wasn't true.
Looking back she realised that it was just what she had hoped and expected of Willow. Of course she wasn't over Tara, Buffy herself had not yet forgiven herself for Tara's death, never mind Willow forgiving herself.
It was ridiculous. They all really missed the blonde Wicca, but they missed the old Willow even more.
Buffy's thoughts were interrupted as Giles entered the room. He walked directly over to Buffy and placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently, conveying all the love he could in this small gesture.
He leaned over Willow's sleeping form and smoothed her hair out of her eyes.
She had obviously not woken yet, and no progress had been made.
He softly sighed and looked again to his slayer. Seeing her face for the first time in a few days he noticed how tired she actually looked. Dark hollow eyes and pale skin, she looked like death.
"Buffy you look terrible." He blurted out, regretting his tone instantly.
It was and it wasn't the right time for this conversation, he needed her to be aware of what she was doing to herself so that she could appreciate the help he had brought, but putting her into a bad mood was not helpful.
Buffy loudly huffed. "Yea well..." She trailed off, she didn't have anything to say that would end without her breaking down and sobbing into Giles' shoulder.
He softly smiled in return, it was now or never. He could see Faith standing outside the door and knew she wouldn't hang around for to long.
"I brought someone to help us look after Willow for awhile." He softly suggested. His eyes looking straight at Faith and willing her to enter.
She looked at the back of Buffy's head and entered. Buffy looked around and as soon as she saw those hazel eyes she jumped to her feet.
"What the fuck is she doing here?" She growled more than asked.
Faith looked straight into tired brown eyes, her mouth opening in surprise.
"Jesus B, you look like shit."
Before Buffy could shout profanities, Faith continued.
"Lemme help. Lemme look after red here, you need sleep you look real crappy."
Buffy was too angry to take in the words the Brunette was saying. Her fists were clenched at her sides, the knuckles ivory, her wrists shaking.
If people had asked Buffy after, she would have said she had just seen red. But at the time her mind wasn't focussing on a colour, just the traitorous acts of this bitch that stood before her.
Faith had nearly killed Willow once before, she would not do it again. She had been in a coma, and she should never have woken up.
Instead of doing what everyone would have presumed and beating Faith to a bloody pulp, or at least attempting to, she turned around.
Stepping towards Giles, she unclenched her fist and landed a slap across his right cheek with such force that his whole head turned to the side.
"How could you?!" She screamed, punching him in the shoulder.
He was too shocked to immediately reply or attempt to move out of the wave of punches that hit him continuously for the next few seconds. Eventually Buffy's attacks became less forceful and her pitiful hitting shone through.
She fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, hugging Giles' legs close to her.
The surprise was evident on everybody's faces, Giles couldn't handle his slayer being in such distress despite his anxiousness and disappointment in her outburst. He ignored his physical pain and focussed on her emotional distress, falling to the floor and embracing her tightly.
His attempt at giving some vocal reassurance was interrupted by rapid beeping in the room.
Buffy shot up, wiping her eyes forcefully and stared at the redhead.
She was not moving, but her heart rate monitor was so fast the sound almost became a constant sound. Reaching for the button she pressed it multiple times initiating medical support to come.
Faith moved from the doorway and went to the redhead's bedside, her chest was no longer rapidly rising and falling. Aside from the constant crashed beep, there was no sound in the room. As a hoard of Nurse's ran into the room, Faith allowed herself a selfish moment, "Welcome home me." She whispered under her breath.