Title: Family Ties (Sequel to Sold)
Author: UniDagger
Email: sj10113@alltel.net
Feedback: Yes, please!
Distribution: Just let me know.
Spoilers: none
Pairing: W/T, B/S, X/A…you know, the usual *G*
Rating: might be pg-13 now…bad guys, and all that
Disclaimers: Joss and Co. own all.
Summary: When grandma calls, Tara and Willow
rush back to another dimension to rescue her, aided by the slayer. Is it just a
rescue mission? Or is Destiny calling. And if it's Destiny calling, how did she
get their number? Inquiring minds, want to know.
NOTE: No bunnies, and no strange men with cheese slices appearing for no reason.
Buffy woke up and looked around, wondering what had disturbed her. She peered around the dimly moonlit cabin. She could hear Tara breathing evenly, the boat creaked and the water lapped at it's side. Then she heard it. A scraping sound floated in through the porthole. As quietly as she could, she eased out of the bunk and stood still, getting the feel of the rocking boat, before stepping towards the window. Unable to see anything, she briefly thought about waking Tara, but decided against it. She left swiftly, closing the door quietly behind her.
She made her way starboard to peer over the railing and found a grappling hook, the rope hanging down. Realizing it wasn't taut, she whipped around as a hand shot out of the shadows catching her on the chin. Buffy grunted as she was almost sent over the side. Her hands grabbed the railing, as she lashed out her foot kicking behind her, catching her would-be assailant in the chest. The man flew back into the shadows, crashing against the wall. Snarling, he regained his feet and rushed her again.
Buffy's eyes lit up as a warrior haze settled over her and all her worries for her friend were focused into the fists that pounded away at the man who tried to fiend her off. A whirl, and a high kick and the man fell to the deck, unconscious. A flash of metal zipped inches from her face as she flung herself backwards. Another man above, jumped off the roof intending to land on the Slayer, who merely used the man's momentum to help him off the boat.
"Buffy!"
Buffy whirled at Tara's voice as a chain was suddenly jerked around her throat and she was flung off her feat, hitting the floor hard. She gasped, grabbing at the chain as she felt herself being pulled along the length of the vessel. A flash of light flew from Tara's outstretched hands and into Buffy's attacker. The man howled as mystical flames engulfed him. He stumbled as he beat at his clothes then suddenly grew rigid. With a fierce yell, he reached his hands out and began lurching towards Tara. The Wiccan took a step back, then strengthened her resolve, she quickly started casting, sending a blast of wind that pushed him overboard. When the villain was gone, Tara raced to Buffy's side as the slayer freed herself from the chain.
Corwitthen showed then, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead, his hand pressing it. "What..? Are you two..?" He stumbled and fell to his knee, dizziness overtaking him. "Buffy?"
"I'm ok, Tar. Go help him." Buffy assured her, rubbing her throat. She stood up and walked to the first attacker. Upon checking, he was still alive. Buffy hauled him to the main sail and lashed him to it with some of the rigging. The man moaned but did not awaken. "Where's Alvrin?" Buffy asked, looking around. Corwitthen looked worried and tried to stand. "No…sit. I'll look for him. Hold your hand here and don't let go. I'll get some bandages." Tara ordered, then turned to go back into the cabin where she'd seem some clothes that would work for bandages.
"How ya doin?" She asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. Corwitthen smiled tiredly and shrugged. Buffy patted him then looked around. "Run of the mill marauders? Or were they actually after us?" She mused aloud.
Corwitthen spoke and Buffy turned to face him, seeing him pointing at their awakening guest. Buffy set her jaw and took a deep breath before walking over to him. She kicked his leg, "Hey!" The man snarled and flashed his fangs. Fangs? "Geez!" Buffy thought, "Was no one human here?" To the demon-man she demanded, "Who sent you?" The demon remained sullen and silent. Remembering no one could understand her, Buffy swore and wondered where Tara was.
Tara entered the dark cabin and after a moments hesitation, she whispered a word of power and a ball of light appeared, hovering before her. Using the light, she gathered a waterskin and the bandages then turned around. She gasped and jumped back as a figure moved towards her. "Easy Tara." Hearing her name reminded her to breath, she floated the ball towards the man and saw it was indeed Alvrin.
"You s-scared…Are you alright?" The man moved slowly into the room and sat down. "Bump on the head and lots of pounding inside, but I'm alright. Everyone else?"
"Th-they're fine. Um, I have to take these, Corwitthen - he's hurt. But not bad, I don't think." She added quickly. "Go then, I'll sit here a bit then make my way back to the wheel. We'll not want to stay anchored here much longer."
Tara nodded and made her way back to the deck to hear Buffy cursing the man tied to the mast. Well, not so much cursing him as the fact that no one could understand her. "Uh..I can understand you." Tara reminded her friend with a smile. The witch washed the captains wound and bandaged it. "Thank you." He smiled weakly. "You're quite welcome. Now, I think you should go lie down for a bit. You're uncle is ok and plans to get us moving soon."
"I'll rest when this is all over. I better go help him." With a slight nod, that caused him to wince, he slowly made is way to the cabin. "Tara?" Tara turned to face Buffy then walked over to stand beside her. She looked at the demon who began swearing to kill her in very slow ways. Unable to stop herself, she took a step behind the slayer. Buffy kicked the demon in the side, and shrugged at Tara's questioning look. "I can guess what he was saying by your reaction. But now, it's time for us to do the talking. Madam Translator?"
*****
Tara lay back on the bunk exhausted. She didn't think she ever wanted to be an interrogator again. Between the demon's curses and howls of pain as Buffy 'encouraged' him to tell them what he knew, Tara felt her skull was going to split. She raised a still trembling hand to her forehead and sighed. She still hated all the violence and it didn't look like it was going to end any time soon. The High One and his minions knew they were coming for the rebel leader and had sent the assassins to kill them. Well, kill everyone but Tara. They wanted her recaptured and the reward was quite impressive.
There hadn't been any mention of Willow though. Tara had returned to the cabin while Buffy 'got rid' of the beast. She hadn't wanted to see that. All she could think of was that Alvrin had been right, and that Willow was out there somewhere, alone and scared. Maybe hurt. That Shaledon creature had her.
"Tara?" Buffy's voice called softly from the doorway. "Are you awake?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry you had to… I mean, if I hadn't needed a translator…" She stopped. "We needed the information."
"I know, Buffy. It had to be done. Does it help us though? What we learned. I don't see us as being any better off…"
"Well, we know we lost the element of surprise. We know they don't have Willow. And we know we're going to have to move faster if we are going to save your grandmother."
"I-I guess that's good."
Buffy walked closer to the bunk and leaned down to place a hand on Tara's shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Tara. We'll beat this. And Willow…we'll find her. And she'll be ok." Another light squeeze given, and Buffy stood and stepped towards her own bunk.
"Buffy?"
"Yes?"
Tara started to cry. "B-Buffy…"
"I'm here Tara." The slayer returned to her friend's side.
"H-hold…me?" Tara pleaded in a whisper.
Buffy crawled in next to the sobbing girl and wrapped her arms around her. With one hand she stroked Tara's hair, "Shhh. It's going to be ok. I'll make everything ok. I promise."
Corwitthen stood outside the cabin watching the sun peak over the water, a tear in his eyes. He sighed and made his way to relieve Alvrin. He knew the fear and doubt the young woman was going through. Thoughts of his wife and daughter, brutally slain by the Shaledon still haunted him. "I will have my vengeance." He swore under his breath. He looked at the closed cabin door and added, "And so will she."