So this extra long chapter is to make up for short nothings in a while.
Also, Psycho17, I am working on the Once More, with Feeling chapter! Its really freaking hard btw ;-; Songs are hard to write and conversate through text.
REVIEWS ARE NICE GUYS.
QUIZ ON DIE PROFILE FOR VICKY'S FATE.
"Alright, bird. I think we've had enough of the Looney Tunes for now." Spike spoke softly and calmly as he guided her away from me. I looked up to observe his sharp features while I could, he wasn't looking at me really. It was odd to me to see him do that to anyone that wasn't me but at the same time I appreciated he wasn't rough with a woman that had obviously lost it.
I looked back to see Buffy in my face now. I jumped a little as she placed her hand under my jaw and tilted it up, she looked there for a second before she turned my head to the side and inspected that area. It reminded me of how Auntie Joyce had inspected me when I ran into her house. It was like she was looking for some sort of give away that the facade had cracked and my skin was just a suit or something.
"Uh...You need something, Buff?" I asked warily as I watched Spike speak to the receptionist and the woman was carried off. He turned around and made eye contact with me. He quickly looked away and walked over towards us, this time watching Buffy with her inspection.
"Checking for any tags, Slayer?" Spike sounded off, sarcastic as he pretty much collapsed into the chair next to me. I looked back at Buffy to see her roll her eyes and take a step back.
"Nah. Just...making sure she was fine." Buffy finished slowly and nodded to herself. Turning back around and speed walking up to Giles who was also scrutinizing me and my movements. It felt incredibly peculiar. Riley wound up stepping into their little conversation circle too, he eventually looked back at me. Well I say looked what he was really doing was just flat out staring. Like I was a hamster running in an exercise wheel.
I looked at Xander and Anya speaking among themselves then to Willow and Tara also talking amongst themselves. If anything Will and Tara were more animated but in a happyish way. It made me feel warm inside to see everyone
A cold hand softly put itself over my exposed knee cap. The jeans Id been wearing were a little worn down from their years of use, the knees had given away sometime last year during spring break. It squeezed softly as I looked up to its owner, Spike was just staring forwards. I was puzzled for a moment before it dawned on me that he was still mad about the whole me dashing out bit. However it also seemed that he now understood why.
Hours ticked by before we were allowed to see her in the hospital room. Really only Willow came in with us, everyone else gave a word of encouragement and left the hospital room one by one. Spike stood outside, waiting for me I guess.
Buffy and I spoke after we left her room, we were trying to decide who was going to stay at the house with her. Buffy voted it should be her while I refused saying that I had less responsibilities. It made more sense for me to take some time off from College, my father would understand if he'd ever call and check.
"Buffy, the slayer's responsibilities aren't taking care of her mom. Its to protect the innocent and all that...stuff. I can take care of her." I stuck out a hip and peered at her. She seemed to fumble for words of reasons why I couldn't be left alone with Auntie Joyce.
"Y-you...You just can't!" She mirrored my strength but crossed her arms. I narrowed my eyes even more so as I took in her defensive posture and the way she was avoiding eye contact.
"What aren't you telling me?" I leaned forward to find she leaned away and frowned deeper.
"Nothing." She said quickly and glanced at my facial expression.
"Oh my god, you are so lying to me right now. What happened at the stupid factory!?" I could feel my voice get louder as the feeling of worry and despair started to hit me harder.
"Nothing." She spoke quickly again looking around at the faces turning. I glared at her.
"If you don't tell me, so help me god, I will scream." I hissed at her as her mouth hung open.
"You wouldn't. I-it'd scare mom!" She hissed back incredulous as she motioned to the room. She was knocked out at this point, they wanted to run a few more tests on her noggin but she'd been in so much pain that they'd simply knocked her out for them.
"You wanna bet?" I raised a brow as I crossed my arms over my chest and slowly opened my mouth.
"Fine!" I took in a breath and let out a screech before she slapped a hand roughly over my mouth.
"Nothing to see here...other sickly peoples." She exclaimed to the waiting room as she turned around and glared at me. A few stares lingered but most looked back down as I shrugged innocently under her glare.
"I think its best we just...told her, Buffy." Giles's voice sounded off behind me, making me jump. I put a hand to my heart as I spun around to glare at the silent brit.
"Good grief, Giles. You almost gave me a heart attack." I took in a deep breath and let it out as he continued to look seriously at Buffy.
"Fine." Buffy sounded incredibly unhappy as she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the hospital. I frowned as we went by Spike and Giles stopped to talk to him.
"Okay so...look. I may have...found out whats going on with you and all." She seemed to be taking her time, choosing strings of words to put together. I raised a brow as I leaned on the grey hospital wall.
"The whole 'its in you' fiasco, well. As it turns out there is something in you. I mean I went there last night and I ran into this blonde chick...she really wants whatever it is."Buffy pursed her lips as she shook her head.
"Oh! I might have seen her. Curly hair?" I asked curiously, Buffy looked up at me and nodded slowly.
"Do you know like who or what she is?" She asked hopefully. I shook my head no.
"Well the it is supposed to be a key. The monk dude who talked to me kinda died in between details but basically, something...in you...opens doors." She explained awkwardly as I deadpanned at her.
"...I'm a key now? My big thing is opening a door? Why is that a big deal?" I threw my hands up in exasperation. There were so many more important things right now, like Auntie Joyce or fuckin', Harmony living with Spike.
"We have nooo idea." Buffy let out a little snort as she seemed to think about it.
"Oh by the way, Harmony thinks you're out to get her." I paused and told her as she froze then busted out laughing. It was happy and jovial as the sound bounced off the walls and back into my ears. I loved the sound mostly because it made me laugh.
"Holy crap, seriously? Thats great." She snorted as she leaned over, laughing still. I nodded with a large grin on my face.
"You know, I genuinely expected this talk to be a lot more serious between you two. I suppose the high expectation was a fault of my own." Giles reprimanded as our laughter quieted. He didn't sound genuinely annoyed but more like he was amused by the fact we were still okay.
I shrugged, the smile disappearing as Spike came out behind him. We didn't make eye contact and at this point I felt like there were things I couldn't and shouldn't tell him. Like it'd just disrupt more and more lives without any need. He'd throw a fit then Harmony would some how get involved and it'd just turn into a mess.
"Coming home or playing with Summers some more?" Spike asked me with a hopeful tone colouring his words. I shrugged and looked at Buffy who just looked back at me. There was no way in hell she'd want to stay here by herself.
"I'm going to stay with Buff for a little while longer." I nodded and slid my arm around hers. She smiled back gratefully at me, I knew things were tough on her but we could easily weather them together. Both Spike and Giles nodded. They understood. Sorta.
A few days passed us by, turning into a full two weeks by the time we'd moved all my shit back into my room at the house. Auntie Joyce was back but resting nicely as Buffy and I went over to the Magick Box. It was around 5 or 6 at night and the sun was just starting to set as we walked.
The whole debacle with the blonde haired woman looking for me seemed to have slowed down to a halt. Buff and Giles thought that either she was out of ideas or had given up...honestly I thought she was just waiting. My dreams had become increasingly dark and dreary when she came into the picture.
Dreams weren't to be shared with anyone other than Giles or Buffy at this point, we didn't want to scare anyone. Last night's was a little terrifying. I was scared awake just by the sight of the grey skinned...thing. I'd heard Lei-ach come around at some point but words had become mumbled these days. Buffy and I often slept in the same bed if either one of us had nightmares. I tended to have them a frequently and it seemed like she was having the same relationship issues I was, with Riley.
"Well what are you getting her then?" Buffy asked curiously as I shrugged as my feet hit the hot pavement. Apparently Tara's birthday was coming up super duper soon, according to Willow anyways. The whole deal with Auntie Joyce allowed mine to be pushed back and celebrated on the actual date instead of what felt like light-years ahead of time.
"Something...that...Witches like." I replied airly as I thought about it.
"Hah! I'm not the only one who doesn't know." Buffy exclaimed and clapped her hands.
"Oh my god, you were trying to steal gift ideas!" I mirrored her actions and mock-glared at her. She grinned back unashamed.
"Its hard to shop for a girl that doesn't really do anything but magick." I rolled my eyes and looked back at her as we turned the corner and waited for a green light to cross the street.
"Just do something...magick. I mean she hasn't really expressed a like in anything else." I looked both ways and shrugged to Buffy as we crossed and hit the other side.
"Just feels like a cop out, you know? I mean we even forgot there was a party." She explained sounding a little ashamed with the fact we'd forgotten. I nodded at her words as she pushed on the blue peeling door and we strolled in.
"We've been kinda busy, Buff." I replied gingerly, looking around to see if the two wiccans were here already. Instead I just saw Anya and Xander kissing with Giles moving boxes to the back. Buffy and I broke apart as I shut the door and she went to go talk to Giles about blondie.
"Hey Vicky." Xander greeted me with a smile when he finally broke away from Anya. I flashed a little wave as I followed Buffy and Giles to the table stacked up with books.
"...I have narrowed it down somewhat." I tuned in to find Giles talking. We all looked down at the over piling books that were all open and flipped through. Some had little markers of varying colours.
"Holy crap." I whispered as I took in just how many books there were.
"Your definition of narrow is impressively wide." Buffy raised a brow and spoke appreciatively.
"At least he color coded them." I muttered and sat down as Giles nodded quickly in response to my statement. Man was organized.
"Well, you didn't give me much to go on. She-she looks human, so the mug shots aren't any use, and, uh, you can't be more specific about what she's like?" Giles went over the things we knew, exasperated with the two of us not being any help.
"She was kinda like Cordelia, actually. I'm pretty sure she dyes her hair." Buffy supplied excited with her new found fact.
"Probably not the only thing thats fake about her." I snorted at Giles scoffed.
"Right! That one, of course. Our work is done." He clapped.
"Oh! Giles, have you ever heard of a Lei-ach demon?" I'm pretty sure I spat on the end of that but it seemed to hit a note. I watched his face light up as he nodded quickly, searching through the pile.
"It'll be in there. Have fun searching." He handed me a book and smiled pensively at me.
"The answer is somewhere here. It's right in front of us and we're too blind to see it!" Xander added in melodramatically and slammed his hand down on the table after staring at our book pile for a second. I jumped at the bang while Buffy just gave him an exasperated look. We all looked over at Giles for a possible reaction to see a scolding look come around he opened his mouth right as Xander put his hands up into the air.
"I'm helping, I'm reading, I'm quiet." He finished with a whisper and turn a book around to stare at it thoughtfully. Giles sighed as he took a box and began climbing some stairs to the loft. The table lapsed into silence as we all sat around flipping pages. I was on the index pretty much.
"So ... what'd you get her?" Buffy questioned looking at Xander. I looked to, propping my head up on my hands. I was a little curious.
"...Huh?" Xander questioned at looked at the two of us.
"Shes talking about Tara's present." I supplied having been in the same situation many times before.
"Didn't you say you had one for her?" Buffy recalled and tilted her head at him. He had said something like that at the dorms when we'd packed all my stuff out of Buffy and I's dorm.
"Yeah, that was a tangled web of lies, sweetie. I'm not really sure what kind of thing she'd ... I mean, I don't really know her that well." Xander snorted then finished quietly.
"We were just saying the same thing when we walked up. Shes not really said anything outside of Wicca stuff." I nodded and looked at Buffy for support.
"Yup." Buffy agreed and nodded as well.
"I mean, she's nice though." I added quickly feeling a little bad that none of us knew anything about Will's girlfriend.
"Yeah! Yeah, nice ... nice. I-it's just, I-I sort of..." Buffy saw where I was coming and agreed speedily. We were all trying to cover our asses at this point.
"I don't necessarily get her ... but she's really nice." Xander tilted his head and sighed.
"Yeah. There's ... just that thing." Buffy named the issue we all had with her.
"That thing." Xander agreed.
"That ... thing of not understanding-" She continued.
"Half of what she says?" Xander fixed the rest of the sentence for her.
"As for example. But she's super nice." Buffy tacked the last bit on and we all became bobble head dolls again as we agreed.
"Definitely!" I said.
"You betcha." Xander recited.
"Just kinda...obtuse." I finished airly. Both Buffy and Xander agreed. We went back to look at books, I'd gotten to the first chapter now. Carnivorous demons. Just what I wanted for dinner.
"I just hope we fit in at the party, not awkward or anything amongst the Wiccan folk." Buffy spoke into the book. I shrugged, looking at my own book.
"We'll be fine. Wills there anyways, shes our...string. To Wicca!" I placed words together carefully and patted Buffy's shoulder.
"With Willow it's like, she's got this ... whole new thing in her life. But she's still Willow, so I can always figure her out. But Tara, I just know she likes Willow, and she already has one of those." Xander sighed as we found ourselves in the same conundrum as before. Buffy groaned and slammed her book shut.
"Ugh! I have a present-buying headache. Tara's damn birthday is just one too many things for me to worry about." Buffy cussed and glared at the books we had to look through.
"Hey, we're in it all together anyways. We can figure it out." I sighed as Buffy nodded, still glaring at the pile.
"Relax. You should take a few minutes. Train or stretch out. You should do something to ... work off the tension?" Xander suggested with a question as he looked back at me for advice. I put both of my hands up, I had no idea.
"Hell, if I know. Maybe she'd like a spa thing?" I added and looked between the both of them. Buffy frowned as the door opened behind us and closed with a louder noise. I jumped and swiveled back to see Spike. He'd gotten a little pissy with me and Harmony as the days rolled by. I kept staying with Joyce and Buffy, ignoring his letters and calls and general presence. I'd gotten nothing but a few smacks on the bottom while the blonde bimbo was getting shit thrown at her according to him.
"Ugh." Buffy commented with some disgust as he sat down next to me and pulled my book away to look at it. He was pretty much silent. Buffy rolled her eyes and went back to mumbling gift ideas to herself.
"New monster into eating people?" He asked me with a raised brow, looking away from the book and handed it back. I shrugged.
"Its a Lei-ach demon." I replied as Spike raised a brow and snorted at my pronunciation.
"No need to spit." He wiped his cheek as I glared at the vampire.
"Just help me freakin' look." I snipped out as I stared harder at the book, trying to ignore him. A few minutes passed before Giles came around again, looking for results this time.
"Ah..Spike. How pleasant. Anyone come up with anything yet?" Giles and Spike greeted each other with less than happy pleasantries.
"Well, candles, maybe, or bath oils of some kind." Xander answered. I nodded.
"What if we all put in for a huge gift basket?" I added looking back at Buffy then Xander.
"Hmm... Maybe. I mean I saw a really cute sweater at Bloomy's ... but, I think I want me to have it." Buffy nodded to herself as she put a hand over her heart.
"And you are talking about what on earth?" Giles looked absolutely puzzled looking toward Spike for an answer first. He put up his hands.
"Hey, don't look at me. I thought I was looking for a demon." Spike replied with all of 0 commitment as he put his head back into the books.
"Tara's birthdays coming up." I supplied sadly. Giles looked to me with a raised brow and took a sip of his tea.
"Mhm. We're at a loss." Buffy put her head down on the book and spoke to the floor hopelessly.
"You're in a magick shop, and you can't think what Tara would like. I believe you're all profoundly stupid." Giles scoffed as my mouth opened.
"Rude." I commented, miffed. I wanted to do something outside of magick.
"Well, we don't really know ... the kind of things witches like. What, are we gonna get her some cheesy crystal ball?" Xander tried to explain for all of us as Giles walked over to the counter.
"Bloody well better not. I've got mine already wrapped." He warned. We all sighed and went quiet. The door opened and closed again, this time a blonde guy came through. He had a beard and kinda a dopey looking face but he also seemed happy-go-luck with the way he bounced. I didn't pay much attention until he started to look through the books on the table. I raised a brow as he flipped through them.
"Um. Hello." I greeted awkwardly as I slid a hand across the table, trying to close the books as he opened them.
"Are all these magic books?" He asked looking at Giles. I raised a brow, he seems to be deaf.
"Uh, private collection. Uh, books for sale are against the walls over there." Giles gestured towards the wall with his cup, the boy nodded and continued to flip through the ones that I hadn't moved away.
"So all these books got spells in 'em? Turn people into frogs, things like that?" He laughed awkwardly and looked up at the rest of us.
"You've got to be bloody kidding me. Seriously?" We all stared back dubiously as Spike snorted. It had no visible effect on the guy. He kinda creeped me out to be totally honest.
"Yeah, we're building a race of frog people. It's a good time." Xander responded sarcastically with a nod. He grinned back at him and laughed.
"So, uh...You two witches? Hey, don't do a spell on me now." He motioned to Buffy and I with a grin still going.
"Don't worry. We won't." I replied as we stared back at him blankly, what a fucking moron. Spike just smacked a book against his face and tried to hold back laughter.
"Was there something in particular you were looking for?" Giles stepped in at this point, asking him warily. It seemed like he didn't hear Giles whatsoever, he just kept on chuckling. We all turned to look at the two actual witches of the group come in, they were laughing.
"Whatta you know." He was addressing them now, cutting into the conversation. I felt a twitch occur in my eyebrow, it irritated me when people did that. Tara saw him and stopped laughing immediately. Instead she just looked alarmed.
"What's the matter? You don't have a hug for your big brother?" We all stared at them as Tara looked more and more alarmed as he walked towards her. I couldn't quite see the resemblance.
"Willow, this i-is Donny." Tara spoke softly, the look of fear and discomfort was pretty evident on her face.
"Hi." Willow shook his hand, friendly.
"Nice to meet you." He replied and smiled back at the redhead.
"And, uh, these are my-my friends. Theres..Spike and Victoria and uh, thats Xander. Then Buffy." She finished off strong as she gestured to us one by one. Spike nodded at him while the rest of us waved as our names were called.
"What, uh, all of you hang out? Wow. That's more people than you met in high school" He gave he an awkward friendly punch on the arm as she nodded.
"Think the boys a frog who turned human?" Spike leaned over and whispered.
"Hes kinda freaking me out to be honest." I shrugged and whispered back as the door opened again and this time a man and woman came in. The woman looked hesitant and quiet while the black-haired guy just looked pissed. Like that was just his natural expression...permanent frowny face.
"Look what I found!" Donny sounded excited as the pair came in.
"This-this is my dad, oh. And cousin Beth." Tara motioned to frowny face then the girl. She looked like she was in her 20s to be honest.
"Hes kinda like...forever pissed off? Ya feel?" Spike leaned over and whispered in my ear again.
"Oh my god, I was just thinking that!" I replied with a little more volume to my voice than I meant. I slapped a hand over my mouth as Spike snickered to himself.
"I'm sorry?" Tara's father questioned warily, his body was half way out the door.
"Oh uh Sorry. Nothing! Toodles." I gave him a quick wave as he slowly nodded and closed the door behind him. As the door closed, everyone went back to individual conversations. Spike instead broke out into full body laughter.
"Shut up!" I smacked his shoulder and grumbled as he laughed with his head on the table.
"You sounded like a high-class ninny. 'Toodles, M'lady!', 'Pip pip! Cheerio.'." He put on a girly accent and made the motions of curtsying in his seat as I crossed my arms and glared at the books.
"Piss off." I grumbled as I picked up a book and started flipping through the pages. The night passed us by in a heartbeat, Buffy and I went back around 12 AM. Spike declared he had to walk us and eventually we gave up trying to lose him after taking the third wrong turn.
Auntie Joyce was still asleep when we got back, I checked over her pills and water and laid down. Buffy slept in her own room this time. It felt like the storm just about over now. I didn't have any bad dreams particularly, just Buffy then Xander punching thin air which lead me to believe it was total BS. Like that'd ever happen.
Auntie Joyce was coherent this morning. Enough to the point we felt like it was okay to relax a little and even head over to the magick shop a little later on to train with Giles and discuss the attack plan if there was any thing to be worried about.
"Its kinda cool how we walk to these things together now. I like it a lot more than wondering where you've been for the past 3 days." Buffy pushed me softly with her shoulder. We were both in active wear, tank tops and athletic shorts with pony tails to match even. Honestly, I looked more like Auntie Joyce and Buffy than I did with my dad.
"Well I thought it was about time for family moments." I shrugged and looked away from her. I'd always felt bad about the middle of the night disappearances. She'd wake up and I'd just be gone.
"I'd say so. Now time to get down to it." She clapped her hands together as I pushed on the door and walked in in-front of her. We all sat down at a now bookless table.
"Ooo Giles. You cleaned up." I said with a giggle as I put my elbows on the table.
"Hm? Oh yes." He looked up from his book, distracted as he nodded at me. He stood and opened his mouth to start when Willow came in, she was rushing.
"Hey. Am I late? Did I miss any exposition?" She speed walked and sat down. We smiled and shook our heads at her.
"No, no, no, no, nothing earth-shattering to relate. I just have a few thoughts, and, uh, wanted to make sure that we were all on the same page." He came around to lean on the back of an empty chair.
"Well, first of all, I want to talk to you about ... safety. Um, this creature could be-" Giles started again, trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Will be." Buffy corrected.
"Will be coming after Buffy, and possibly all of us." Giles nodded and continued.
"Righto." I added in merrily as he glared at me.
"Enough. Now, I may have a lead on this monk that Buffy spoke of. There, there are a few orders that I-I've read up on-" He scolded me and continued. I waited and felt something fly into my eyes. I wasn't sure what it was and as quickly as it came, it left. I wasn't even sure if it'd really happened. I tried to look around the room covertly to find everyone staring at Giles again. Okay, I just had a crazy person moment.
"I-I'm sorry, where was I?" He gathered his thoughts.
"The monk." Buffy supplied.
"Yes, um, I'd like us all to start looking at these orders, I-it's possible whichever one this monk belonged to was wiped out entirely. Also, Buffy, Victoria. Time to train." He turned to us after assigning reading. We nodded and stood, following him to the back room.
We'd been sparring for a while before Buffy thought it best to work separately. I kept flinching and freezing each time she threw up an arm or leg in my general direction. It was the left over reactions of the Drusilla incident. The injuries themselves had healed almost perfectly, it was really only if she stepped on my foot that anything actually hurt. However, after the third time I froze, she decided to it was best to stretch.
"You've gotta work on that. You can't freeze in real time." Buffy sighed as she started to stretch her arms, pulling them up in the air.
"I know, Buff." I replied and followed her motions. She stood and looked past me at the door, frowning. I turned around and saw nothing.
"You all good?" I questioned warily. She nodded slowly, turning back around to the punching bag.
"Yeah. Just thought I saw something." Buffy replied softly. I nodded and bent over to stretch my legs. Suddenly she whirled around and looked like she was trying to block the air.
"Buffy?" I watched her, worried, and took a step forward. I was stopped by something holding onto my arm. Looking back, I couldn't see anything holding it. I tugged and the arm just kinda dangled there while Buffy struggled, I kept hearing growling over her. Oh god. I've gone nuts. Its official. I pulled harder and watched as it did nothing. The stupid thing was just hanging out in the air, it felt like something was squeezing it but nothing was freakin' there. I finally just yanked the damn arm and found it moved with a snarling noise.
"HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, WHAT THE HELL?" I shrieked as I stared at the four deep scratches that the air had apparently left behind. The sight had my conscious mind kicked out and let in what semblance of fighting instincts I had. It was fuckin' on now. As I thrusted my foot out in front of me I figured I'd hit it when I was pulled down to the floor roughly. I heard Buffy fall to the floor, kicking.
"Giles! Something's in here!" Buffy was yelling for him as I started to just hit at the air randomly. I could kind of get where it was from the fact it was trying to roll me under it, I wasn't having any of that. I could feel legs, arms, a torso. As we moved all around the floor.
It wrapped it's hands around my throat, closing off my only means of air. I was starting to freaking panic. My hands were just scratching wildly at the air near my throat when I gained some intelligence and punched it in the balls...it let go!
I took in a deep breath right as I stood and felt it wrap a hand around me and throw me into the padded wall. Not as bad a bookshelf. I stood up shakily and grabbed an axe looking thing off the weapons wall, starting to swing it around wildly. Buffy was upright now but it looked like she being held back by something. I kept swinging the axe around as I ran-stumbled towards her. I got to her when she was let free.
She turned and kicked at the air, then grabbed it and threw it. The wall shuddered and shook. I turned back around to swing again when it was pulled clean off of me, the weapon was just fucking swaying around all nilly-dilly in the air by itself.
I tried to gauge where it'd swing when the axe seemed to be knocked out of it's hands. I could hear some growling and masculine yelling but it was all mixed up in my ears. All I could see in the room was Buffy and I.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of there, towards the front room where it looked like a mild hurricane had hit. Everyone was standing in crouched position, looking around for something or anything really.
"Where'd it go?!" Anya was swinging a standing magnifying glass crazily around herself. We all looked around, I was breathing heavily. Giles reeled back as something punched him in the face. It did nothing more afterwards, just messing with the lot of us.
"It's over there!" Xander yelled from the floor and pointed over towards Giles.
"Wow!" I exclaimed sarcastically at his comment. Anya closed the counter behind her, still swinging.
"How many are there?" Giles called out towards us I shook my head. I head no fuckin' clue. For all I knew there was one and he was just incredibly skilled at fucking with people.
"I've already been injured once this month!" Anya called out from behind her fort. I rolled my eyes, it seemed I'd gotten my punch back with this thing. It was about damn time.
"Shut up!" Ordered Buffy, we all paused, listening. The door opened and everyone turned to see Tara walk in, she looked anxious and then panicked as she looked up.
"Vicky, behind you!" She pointed behind me as I tried to think of what to do to get away from whatever the hell it was. I decided and dove, landing hard on my stomach while Buffy turned and punched. It hit the wall behind us for sure. She pulled me back up and we went essentially back to back as we shuffled close enough to the point I could feel her skin. I was continuously surveying the room.
"Tara, where is it? Can you see it?" Buffy called out, I was trying to listen for any growls.
"Oh, god." Tara mumbled as she came forward, I was about to cuss her out when it obviously hit Buffy in the face, pushing her back into me.
We acted as a team, she reached forward and grabbed at the air as I grabbed the chair next to me. She nodded, her hands shaking as they gripped the air. I raised it above my head and brought it down with enough force to kill a grown man. The chair itself seemed to shudder in slow motion to the point the wood simply shattered onto whatever it was.
I could hear Tara talking as Buffy pulled her knee up, letting go of it's arms. I could see the imprint on her leg as she made impact. All of a sudden it formed as it ran past Buffy and I, it was the same demon I'd seen in my dreams. Puss filled sores and all! Though now it's back was bleeding, there were slivers of wood sticking up.
I turned around to look at Tara right as it's fist made impact with her face. It's hit has a resounding thud as she goes down. It turned back to Buffy and I; she tries punches it, but she reacted too slow as it grabbed her arm and throws her to the floor.
"HOLD IT STILL." I yelled over the confusion and growling as they start to roll. I picked up a larger piece of the shattered chair and ran, picking up momentum. I was going to pile-drive this sucker into it's back. I see Buffy nod at me in the corner of my eye as she grabs it's shoulders, I slammed the wood into its back.
The creature howled with pain and anger as it tensed. I grinned for a second until it swung at me with the force of ten angry gods, I could see why though as I sailed across the room. I'd shoved that thing right through it's chest.
"What in god's name is that?" I heard Tara's dad ask as I stood up. The world spun a little but it was better than before for damn sure. I cracked my back a little as I heard Spike speak,
"Lei-ach demon. Fun little buggers. Big with the marrow-sucking." My head swiveled around to see the brit walk out of the training room casually. He winked at me as I rolled my eyes.
"When did you get here?" I asked incredulously. Leave it to him to appear after a fight.
"Who did you think saved you from the big baddie with an axe, pet?" He raised a brow, looking at me. My mouth formed an O as I thought back, that made a lot more sense.
"I don't understand." Tara's father spoke again, sounding confused. I walked up to the front area and stood next to Buffy, she was staring down at Tara with her arm's folded.
"I'm not sure I do either." She replied sounding a little pissed off.
"Well let her explain." I spoke softly as I motioned to Tara as she sat on the floor shaking her head. I felt bad for the girl.
"I'm sorry. I'm s-s-so sorry. I was, I was trying to hide." Tara continued as Willow came up and kneed beside her.
"I didn't want you to see ... what I am." She motioned to herself as she looked at Willow. Buffy looked at me, I shrugged. I had no idea.
"Tara, what?" Will questioned as she reached for her.
"What do you mean, what you are?" Buffy looked back at the girl and waited. She seemed unable to speak, opening and closing her mouth like she was caught on a loop.
"Demon. The women in our family...have demon in them. Her mother had it. That's where the magic comes from." He determined and motioned to Tara, still on the ground.
"We came to take her home before...well, before things like ... this started happening." He continued on point at the dead demon. It'd started to bleed a little from the wood.
"That was a good shot." I muttered, Buffy mhm'd appreciatively as we took in the dead demon. It seemed that it's last bit of life was used on hitting me.
"You cast a spell on us, to keep us from seeing your...demon side. That's why we couldn't see our attackers." Giles thought out loud and turned to us, explaining why we were blind as hell.
"Nearly got us killed." Buffy looked back at me then at my arm and hands It'd all started to bleed a little. I shrugged, it happens.
"I'll go. I-I'm very sorry." Tara scrambled to her feet then sort of bowed her head at Buffy and I. I raised a brow at her actions. I don't think Will would ever forgive us if we let her leave.
"The camper's outside." Her father nodded towards the door, turning to guide her out. The rest of her family sort of nodded and stood there silently like annoying mimes.
"Wait! Go? I, she just did a spell that went wrong. It-it was just a mistake." Willow grabbed Tara's elbow, the sight and sound of her desperation made me sad.
"That's not the point and it's not your concern. She belongs with us. We know how to control her ... problem." He finished quietly. I took in the scene as Willow became more and more distressed.
"Tara ... look at me. I, I trusted you more than anyone in my life. Was all that just a lie? " She was holding onto Tara still. Staring up at her.
"No!" Tara was starting to get teary again.
"Well, do you wanna leave?" Will was looking for a way to keep her girlfriend with her and I couldn't blame her.
"It's not your decision, young lady." Her father tugged on Tara's arm slightly, glaring at Willow.
"I know that! Do you wanna leave?" She hissed at him and turned back to Tara. She shook her head, full out crying now as she wiped her face on her sleeve. I frowned and pulled on Buffy's shirt. She looked back at me, mirroring my frown.
"You're going to do what's right, Tara. Now, I'm taking you out of here before somebody does get killed. The girl belongs with her family. I hope that's clear to the rest of you." Her father declared self-righteously.
"It is." Buffy stated neutrally looking back at the family.
"You want her, Mr. Maclay? You can go ahead and take her." I felt my mouth drop open as fury flushed through me. Well I wasn't about to let her go. I took a step forward towards them.
"Wait!" I reached out to Tara right as Buffy put an arm on my shoulder. I glared at her as she shook her head, she wasn't actually letting her go, oh thank goodness.
"You've just gotta go through us." Buffy declared as I stood tall again, nodding. Tara started to smile and I could see Willow's grateful one come over her face.
"What?" He asked incredulously as he looked between the two of us.
"You wanna take Tara out of here against her will? You gotta come through us." Buffy motioned with her head towards me as I looked back at the man.
"Damn right." I glared at him as he scoffed.
"Is this a joke? I'm not going to be threatened by two little girls." He said with some disgust. I scoffed as the insult hit.
"Excuse you?" I almost puffed out my chest as I thought about getting in this guy's face.
"Now you've gone and done it." I heard Spike sigh in the background and flipped the British version of the bird in his general direction. I could feel the scold coming on from Giles after this.
"She'll claw your eyes out." Buffy noted next to me as he rolled his eyes at the two of us.
" And ...you're not just dealing with, uh, two little girls." Giles declared as he came to stand next to us.
"You're dealing with all of us." Xander called out from behind the three of us.
"'Cept me." Spike stated sounding a little bored. If there was ever a time he'd killed a really great and heroic moment, this...this was the time.
"'Cept Spike." Xander repeated in a sigh.
"I don't really care what happens." Spike added in as I rolled my eyes at his words.
"This is insane. You people have no right to interfere with Tara's affairs. We...are her blood kin! Who the hell are you?" He asked sounding angry now as he took in the group.
"We're family." Buffy took my arm as she said it. I shrugged as he looked from her to me.
"Its true." I nodded as his face darkened more.
"Daaad. You - you gonna let 'em just...Tara, if you don't get in that car, oh you don't even want to know what will happen..." Donny stepped forward this time, angry. I stepped forward as well. He wasn't about to scare her with me standing there. I had a thing for bullies trying to scare someone else. It was one of those mental hot spots that got my anger lava flowing.
"Back up." I stated and crossed my arms.
"I swear by god, I will beat you down." He glared down at me. I raised a brow and leaned into his face, I was just begging for him to do something at this point.
"And I swear by your full and manly beard, you're gonna break something trying." Xander sounded off the warning.
"Oh? Is she going to break my bones?" Donny rolled his eyes and looked away to be met with a Spike close by.
"Nah, thats more mine or the Slayer's area." Spike replied soundly.
"What happened to not caring?" Donny scoffed as he took a step back. Spike merely shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Well. I hope you'll all be happy hanging out with a disgusting demon." Beth, her cousin declared as a stab at her. It kinda pissed me off.
"E-excuse me. What kind?" We all paused and turned as Anya called out from the very back.
"What?" Apparently Beth had no idea there were different kinds.
"What kind of demon is she? There's a lot of different kinds. Some are very, very evil. And some have been considered to be useful members of society." Anya finished proudly as she smiled at Xander. Awe. Okay. She'd grown on me in the slightest bit right there.
"Well, I-I ... what does it matter?" She stuttered, taken aback. Stupid Beth.
"Evil is evil." Tara's dad declared as the whole family nodded. This seemed to be the general consensus.
"Well, let's just narrow it down." Anya declared as Xander nodded. Alright. I was game.
"Ohh...why don't I just make this simple." I heard Spike sigh from beside me, When I turned, I saw his fist fly into her face and panicked as her head jutted to the side.
"SPIKE!" I tackled him from the side but it was too late. It felt like running into rock then landing on the same damn rock.
"Hey! Hey..." Willow was angry as first, and so was I. I ended up punching him in the mouth by the time it occurred to me that she didn't sound angry anymore. She actually kinda sounded relieved.
"He hit my nose!" I looked back at Tara's muffled voice as I straddled Spike. She hadn't popped a tail or a fang or a weird cyst on the side of her face or anything. She looked entirely human. I knew from pure experience that hitting a demon of any kind caused their darker side to come out immediately.
"She's human." I mumbled as Willow moved Tara's hands from her face.
"Its quicker, in'it?" I looked back down at Spike and glared at him. He was clutching his own nose at this point from where I'd hit it, the vamp face was up and about. Though, if anything it seemed I was much more loosey goosey with the punches after fighting invisible...then visible demons.
"You're not supposed to hit people." I continued to glare at him as I stood, holding down a hand to pull him up. Instead he did one of those cool trick things where he rolled back and jumped up himself. I'd really only ever seen Buffy and vampires pull that off successfully.
"I could say the same to you." He sounded miffed as he took his hands away from his nose.
"There's no demon in there. That's just a family legend, am I right? Mm. Yeah. Just a bit of spin to keep the ladies in line. Oh, you're a piece of work. I like you." Tara's family just looked angrier at this point while the female looked surprised.
"Think you'd believe something like that, Vic?" Spike grinned at me as I rolled my eyes.
"Not a chance in hell." I replied and looked back to the family in-front of us.
"I'm not a demon." Tara looked happy at Willow and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey Buff...I figured it out." She looked back at me with a raised brow.
"Spa day. Gift basket." I put my hands out in front of my face to spell it out and nodded with each word. Buffy started grinning and nodded back. She looked over to Xander who looked back at us hopefully as he opened his mouth.
"No. No stealing the idea either." She shook her head at him.
"Damn it." He frowned and looked down at the floor. Poor Xander. I guessed that he'd want to share the gift with us. It wasn't happening.
"Well...Mr. Maclay, I would say your business here is finished." Giles looked back at the family. They all glared harder at Tara then at Buffy and I. We just crossed our arms and glared back.
"Tara..." Her father started.
"Dad ... just go." She shook her head at his attempts. He submitted, only to paused at the door.
"Magic." He spat the word out like it was the devil's curse.
"Are you happy now?" Beth hissed as she gave Tara a dirty look. I glared harder at the brunette.
"Well I sure as hell will be when you leave." I hissed at the girl. Again...can't stand bullies. Its the die hard protector in me.