Kim was pushed to one side, "Outta the way gorgeous, platelet." Spike glanced to the oncoming train, then the two women on the track and back to the train. "Oh bollix." He put on a burst of speed for the tracks. When he got there he caught Willow in one hand and yanked Tara up hard. Tara let out a scream as her ankle got dislodged. Then the train whizzed by cutting off both the sound on the other side and the assembled groups vision.

On the other side of the train Spike calmly stood up and brushed his clothes off. Willow looked up at him, "Why?"

Spike bared his teeth, "Don't you think I'm going soft. It pays to keep the slayer... guessing. Plus, you get killed, she has nothing to fight for. Don't get used to it."

With that he sauntered off. Tara was curled up in a ball of pain. "M-my ankle, he... he broke my ankle."

Willow looked down and scrunched up her face, "How'd you managed to stuff a softball under your skin Tara?"

Tara had tears streaming down her face as she laughed, "Not funny... hurts... w-would you l-l-like me to break yours?"

Willow slowly stood up and shook her head, "No...that's okay, I'll sit this one out. Do you think you can stand on it?"

The train finished passing by and the group of Scoobies and Chicagoans made their way over to were Willow and Tara were. Tara rolled her eyes, "Yes Will, maybe we could go dancing too, and then a little mountain c-climbing. And that'll just be t-tonight."

Willow started to respond and then closed her mouth, "So then it hurts?"

Kerry interrupted, "Tara, can you put your weight on your left foot?" Tara nodded and rolled into position with a wince. "Okay, take my hand."

Tara frowned, "I don't w-want t-to... you know... throw off your balance... or, or anything."

Kerry smiled, "Trust me. Okay. Grip my left hand. There we go." Kerry planted her right foot and her crutch and slowly pulled Tara up.

Xander and Willow moved in and each took one of Tara's arms and slung it over their shoulders. Kerry re-arranged herself, settling her clothes back into position. "Don't put any weight on it at all. It looks like the bone didn't break cleanly."

Xander piped up, "Take it from someone with much bone breaking experience, clean is good, un-clean... baaaaddd..."

Tara finally spoke up again, "C-can we...we just get to the hospital... before... I pass out?"

Everyone was still standing there. Kerry took a deep breath and hurfed it out. Kim smirked and took a step away from the chief. "Well, what the hell are you lolly gagging around here for then? Get a move on it before you have to carry her there without her help. What are you all ten year olds?"

Kim laughed out loud as the troops got moving promptly. Kerry elbowed her in the gut, "Not helping the image here Miss Legaspi."

Kim smiled, "They have a tight bond huh? I mean, even the Vamp there helped out Tara and Willow."

Kerry nodded, "From what William said while intoxicated they've been through a hell of a lot. Some of it even caused by him." Kerry leaned on Kim's proffered arm. "Thanks." Kim smiled as they climbed back to the house. "You know, I'm gonna have to quit my job."

Kim nodded slowly, "I thought that you would have realized that... uh... you were the one who brought up the whole... moving here."

Kerry rolled her eyes as they got to the house. "It's just hitting me. I've spent most of my..." Kerry trailed off. "Okay... so... they left without us."

A British accent spoke up from behind them. "Excuse me, but are you looking for someone?"

Kerry closed her eyes, and mumbled, "Don't you think the friggin' plot is thick enough all ready. Tara and Willow are started on the process back to couple hood. Anya and Xander have magically reconciled off page, Spike is evil, Buffy is depressed, we're all happy and not fighting. It's a party."

"Stop"

Everything stopped except for Kerry.

The voice from booth spoke again, "Look, would you like it all to get fixed in a satisfactory manner or do you want shoddy workmanship that is going to disintegrate after a few more episodes? Hmmm...?"

Kerry put her hands on her hips, "Don't you think the train thing was a bit much?"

"Why do you say that?"

Kerry shrugged, "Kinda been over done. You could have tied her to the track. Would have made it just a little more clichéd."

"Uh huh... and how would I accomplish that. Yes, of course, she'd have to do it herself...oh wait. Only two hands."

Kerry rolled her eyes, "She could, oh my god, she could use magic. Go figure."

The voice in the booth started to sound a little...peeved. "Would you like to finish the story? Maybe put a little...romance...in there." Kerry shook her head, "See, you're even getting less subtle. I'm assuming that was a thinly veiled dig. You know, everyone thinks Carol wrote that book." The voice in the booth snorted, "Well thank you but I'm very much fine right here. Everybody loves me. Now you...gotta keep their attention or no one reads you. Fade into the background. How about them apples."

"Well, I could make you an even bigger bitch."

Kerry laughed, "I dare you. And what's up with me letting a bloody killer be a bloody killer. I mean... sure I'm rough around the edges but I mean... c'mon... be re..."

The voice in the booth interrupted Kerry. "Start"

"...sonable."

Kim turned to Kerry, "What did you say?"

Kerry frowned and shook her head. She turned to where the voice came from, "Hey, I'm Tara's Aunt, how nice to meet you."