Chapter 29
Later on, Buffy and Dawn sat close on the couch. Dawn was wrapped in a throw blanket, and Buffy had her arm tight around her, the other holding Angel's hand and Conner was sitting in front of Buffy's legs, leaning back.
There was some activity as Xander lead some people from the coroner's office down the hall stairs. They wheeled Tara's covered body on a gurney.
"If you can just sign this." One of the guys said handing Xander a clipboard.
"Sure."
"Call this number tomorrow and we'll have more information."
"Ok, thanks. Thank you."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Xander just nodded, folding the paper from the clipboard, then headed to the living room and sat down on the coffee table, facing Buffy, Angel, Dawn, and Conner. "So, that's it."
"The police left?" Buffy asked.
"Coming back tomorrow with more of their pretty yellow tape."
After a few moments of silence, Buffy said, "We need to find Willow."
"Yeah. She's seriously off the wagon. Warren's a dead man if she finds him." Xander said.
Dawn looked up. "Good."
"Dawn, don't say that." Buffy said.
"Why not? I'd do it myself if I could."
"Because you don't feel that way."
"I do. And you all should too. He killed Tara, and he nearly killed you. He needs to pay."
"Out of the mouths of babes." Xander said quietly.
"Xander." Buffy said.
"I'm just saying, he's about as bad as any vamp you've sent to dustville."
"Being the slayer doesn't give me a license to kill. Warren's human."
"So?" Dawn asked.
"So the human world has it's own rules for dealing with people like him." Angel said.
"And we all know how well the rules work." Xander said.
"Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't."
"We can't control the universe. If we were supposed to, the magic wouldn't change Willow the way it does. And we'd be able to bring Tara back." Buffy said.
"And mom." Dawn said.
"There are limits to what we can do. There should be. Willow doesn't want to believe it and now she's messing with forces that want to hurt her." Angel said.
"All of us." Buffy added.
"I just, I've had blood on my hands all day. Blood from people I love." Xander said.
"I know. And now it had to stop. Warren's going to get what he deserves. I promise you. But I will NOT let Willow destroy herself."
"So where do we go? She could be anywhere." Conner said.
"Maybe the magic shop. There could be some kind of locating spell." Buffy said to Angel, then she looked at Xander. "Angel and I can go if you."
"No, I'll go. It's ok." Xander said.
"Dawn and Conner can't stay here."
"Let us come with you." Conner said.
"No, it's too dangerous."
"But it's Willow. She needs us." Dawn said.
"She does. And you'll both help her. Lots. But first we have to get her home in one piece."
"But."
"Dawn, I'm serious. You've been through enough for one. ever. Okay? You should be somewhere you'll feel safe. Both of you."
"Fine, I want to go to Spike's."
"Me too." Conner added.
"All right." Buffy said.
"What? Not all right! After what he did to you before you found out you were pregnant?" Xander said.
"Xander!" Buffy said. She looked at Conner and Dawn. "I'll get your coats."
She went to the staircase and Xander and Angel followed her.
"You're not really leaving Dawn and Conner with Mr. Attempted Rape and the winner of the Ms. Psycho Killer Pageant?" Xander asked.
"They'd never hurt Dawn. Spike physically can't. And they wouldn't. They both love Dawn."
"After that night, I'd say all bets are off on what he's capable of."
"She feels safe with him and Faith. Right now, they're all we've got."
Buffy opened the door to Faith and Spike's apartment. "Spike? Faith?"
Clem jumped up and threw the potato chips everywhere in the process. "Suffering cats! Where did you come from!?"
"Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you."
"Woooo, it's, it's ok. You all just snuck up on me, that's all."
"I spilled your snacks." Buffy smiled apologizingly.
"Don't worry about it. Not like I need any more of this." Clem pointed to some of his loose skin. "Hi."
"Hi." Dawn and Conner said.
"Can I get you guys something? I was just going to mix up some Country Time."
"We were looking for Faith and Spike actually."
"They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"They left town."
"Oh."
"They just took off?" Dawn asked.
"That's why I'm staying here for him. Sweet pad like this goes empty a few days; you'll lose it for sure. Plus I don't have a TV." Clem looked at the three. "I'm surprised they didn't tell you. They were kind of in a hurry. I guess. You sure I can't get you something? I have Bugles and Liverwurst and."
"We're fine, thanks, but you could do us a favor? You think Dawn and Conner could hang out here with you for a while? I have some stuff to do and I don't want them to be alone."
"I still don't see why we can't." Dawn started.
"Dawn, I told you both why." Buffy said. She turned to Clem. "What do you think?"
"No problem. I'd love the company." He looked at Dawn and Conner. "You like Parcheesi?"
"Sure." Dawn said.
"I've never heard of it." Conner said.
"Of course not. From what Spike told me, you haven't lived in this world very long. That's ok, we could rent videos. I've been dying to watch 'The Wedding Planner.'"
"Either way, I'm good." Dawn said.
"Me too." Conner said.
"Here, you guys take the comfy chair."
"I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." Buffy said to Dawn and Conner.
"Ok." They said in unison.
"Thank you." Buffy said to Clem. She turned to go, but turned back. "Did they say why they'd left and when they'd be coming back?"
"Spike and Faith? No, only that they could be gone a while. They had a huge fight and Faith left. Spike went to find her, but she had left town. He got so mad that he just left."
"Oh." Buffy said. "Ok, bye." Buffy walked down the stairs to the parking lot and out to Angel.
"So?" he asked.
"They're gone."
"Then who's watching Dawn and Conner?"
"Clem. He's a friend."
"Oh."
"Are you feeling any change? Can you talk?" Xander asked as he helped Anya over to a chair at the table.
"It's wearing off." She replied. "Willow was here earlier. Put the whammy on me. Then she went straight to the dark arts books. Sucked them dry."
"Look Anya, something terrible has happened."
"I know. Tara."
"Willow's out for blood, big time. We need to find her before she finds Warren. Can you think of something? A locator spell..."
"I don't need a spell. I can feel her."
"You can."
"Feel her. Her thirst for vengeance is overwhelming."
"Is that, like, left over from your vengeance demon days? That you can sense her?"
"Not left over."
It took Xander a second to catch her meaning. "Oh."
"Yeah."
"When?"
"When do you think?" Anya asked bitterly.
Just then, Buffy and Angel came in.
"Anya says she knows where Will is." Xander said.
"A spell?" Buffy asked.
"Not exactly. Seems Anya got her vengeance on again."
"Oh." Buffy and Angel said together.
"So, Willow's all wrathy. Why don't you go to her? Isn't that your gig?" Angel asked after a beat.
"Normally I have to, but she doesn't want me." Anya said.
"She wants to do it herself." Buffy finished.
"Yeah."
"Anya. We don't have much time. Which side of this are you on?"
Anya hesitated.
"If you know where she is, you can help us." Angel said.
"I'll help, but I'm helping Willow. She's close to him, in the woods."
They ran through the woods in search of Willow, Anya in the lead. Suddenly, Anya stopped, eyes wide.
"What's happening? What do you feel?" Buffy asked.
"She's stronger now. Close." Anya replied.
"What about Warren? Has she.?" Angel asked.
"He's still alive. She's not done though."
"Let's move." Buffy said.
They ran faster than they had ever tried to before. They had gone a little ways when Anya stopped and looked around. She pointed to a clearing. "Over there."
They started running again. As they neared the clearing, they could hear Willow.
"I said CAN YOU FEEL IT?"
"Please, God... I did wrong, I see that now. I need jail. I need... but you, you don't want this. You're not a bad person. Not like me."
"Willow!" Buffy called.
"When you get caught, you'll lose them too. Your friends." Warren continued. "You don't want that. I know. you're in pain but."
"Bored now." Willow said.
Buffy, Angel, Xander, and Anya burst into the clearing just as Willow tosses a hand in the air and Warren's skin went flying off. Willow looked at them then back at what was left of Warren. His remains then set on fire and burned away quickly.
"Oh my God!" Xander said.
"Willow, no! What did you do?" Buffy asked defeated.
Willow turned her head slowly and looked at them. "One down." She looked at Warren's burnt remains and they disappeared. Then, so did Willow in a swirl of black energy.
Buffy and the others just stared in horror at the place where Warren had been.
Later on, Buffy and Dawn sat close on the couch. Dawn was wrapped in a throw blanket, and Buffy had her arm tight around her, the other holding Angel's hand and Conner was sitting in front of Buffy's legs, leaning back.
There was some activity as Xander lead some people from the coroner's office down the hall stairs. They wheeled Tara's covered body on a gurney.
"If you can just sign this." One of the guys said handing Xander a clipboard.
"Sure."
"Call this number tomorrow and we'll have more information."
"Ok, thanks. Thank you."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Xander just nodded, folding the paper from the clipboard, then headed to the living room and sat down on the coffee table, facing Buffy, Angel, Dawn, and Conner. "So, that's it."
"The police left?" Buffy asked.
"Coming back tomorrow with more of their pretty yellow tape."
After a few moments of silence, Buffy said, "We need to find Willow."
"Yeah. She's seriously off the wagon. Warren's a dead man if she finds him." Xander said.
Dawn looked up. "Good."
"Dawn, don't say that." Buffy said.
"Why not? I'd do it myself if I could."
"Because you don't feel that way."
"I do. And you all should too. He killed Tara, and he nearly killed you. He needs to pay."
"Out of the mouths of babes." Xander said quietly.
"Xander." Buffy said.
"I'm just saying, he's about as bad as any vamp you've sent to dustville."
"Being the slayer doesn't give me a license to kill. Warren's human."
"So?" Dawn asked.
"So the human world has it's own rules for dealing with people like him." Angel said.
"And we all know how well the rules work." Xander said.
"Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't."
"We can't control the universe. If we were supposed to, the magic wouldn't change Willow the way it does. And we'd be able to bring Tara back." Buffy said.
"And mom." Dawn said.
"There are limits to what we can do. There should be. Willow doesn't want to believe it and now she's messing with forces that want to hurt her." Angel said.
"All of us." Buffy added.
"I just, I've had blood on my hands all day. Blood from people I love." Xander said.
"I know. And now it had to stop. Warren's going to get what he deserves. I promise you. But I will NOT let Willow destroy herself."
"So where do we go? She could be anywhere." Conner said.
"Maybe the magic shop. There could be some kind of locating spell." Buffy said to Angel, then she looked at Xander. "Angel and I can go if you."
"No, I'll go. It's ok." Xander said.
"Dawn and Conner can't stay here."
"Let us come with you." Conner said.
"No, it's too dangerous."
"But it's Willow. She needs us." Dawn said.
"She does. And you'll both help her. Lots. But first we have to get her home in one piece."
"But."
"Dawn, I'm serious. You've been through enough for one. ever. Okay? You should be somewhere you'll feel safe. Both of you."
"Fine, I want to go to Spike's."
"Me too." Conner added.
"All right." Buffy said.
"What? Not all right! After what he did to you before you found out you were pregnant?" Xander said.
"Xander!" Buffy said. She looked at Conner and Dawn. "I'll get your coats."
She went to the staircase and Xander and Angel followed her.
"You're not really leaving Dawn and Conner with Mr. Attempted Rape and the winner of the Ms. Psycho Killer Pageant?" Xander asked.
"They'd never hurt Dawn. Spike physically can't. And they wouldn't. They both love Dawn."
"After that night, I'd say all bets are off on what he's capable of."
"She feels safe with him and Faith. Right now, they're all we've got."
Buffy opened the door to Faith and Spike's apartment. "Spike? Faith?"
Clem jumped up and threw the potato chips everywhere in the process. "Suffering cats! Where did you come from!?"
"Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you."
"Woooo, it's, it's ok. You all just snuck up on me, that's all."
"I spilled your snacks." Buffy smiled apologizingly.
"Don't worry about it. Not like I need any more of this." Clem pointed to some of his loose skin. "Hi."
"Hi." Dawn and Conner said.
"Can I get you guys something? I was just going to mix up some Country Time."
"We were looking for Faith and Spike actually."
"They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"They left town."
"Oh."
"They just took off?" Dawn asked.
"That's why I'm staying here for him. Sweet pad like this goes empty a few days; you'll lose it for sure. Plus I don't have a TV." Clem looked at the three. "I'm surprised they didn't tell you. They were kind of in a hurry. I guess. You sure I can't get you something? I have Bugles and Liverwurst and."
"We're fine, thanks, but you could do us a favor? You think Dawn and Conner could hang out here with you for a while? I have some stuff to do and I don't want them to be alone."
"I still don't see why we can't." Dawn started.
"Dawn, I told you both why." Buffy said. She turned to Clem. "What do you think?"
"No problem. I'd love the company." He looked at Dawn and Conner. "You like Parcheesi?"
"Sure." Dawn said.
"I've never heard of it." Conner said.
"Of course not. From what Spike told me, you haven't lived in this world very long. That's ok, we could rent videos. I've been dying to watch 'The Wedding Planner.'"
"Either way, I'm good." Dawn said.
"Me too." Conner said.
"Here, you guys take the comfy chair."
"I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." Buffy said to Dawn and Conner.
"Ok." They said in unison.
"Thank you." Buffy said to Clem. She turned to go, but turned back. "Did they say why they'd left and when they'd be coming back?"
"Spike and Faith? No, only that they could be gone a while. They had a huge fight and Faith left. Spike went to find her, but she had left town. He got so mad that he just left."
"Oh." Buffy said. "Ok, bye." Buffy walked down the stairs to the parking lot and out to Angel.
"So?" he asked.
"They're gone."
"Then who's watching Dawn and Conner?"
"Clem. He's a friend."
"Oh."
"Are you feeling any change? Can you talk?" Xander asked as he helped Anya over to a chair at the table.
"It's wearing off." She replied. "Willow was here earlier. Put the whammy on me. Then she went straight to the dark arts books. Sucked them dry."
"Look Anya, something terrible has happened."
"I know. Tara."
"Willow's out for blood, big time. We need to find her before she finds Warren. Can you think of something? A locator spell..."
"I don't need a spell. I can feel her."
"You can."
"Feel her. Her thirst for vengeance is overwhelming."
"Is that, like, left over from your vengeance demon days? That you can sense her?"
"Not left over."
It took Xander a second to catch her meaning. "Oh."
"Yeah."
"When?"
"When do you think?" Anya asked bitterly.
Just then, Buffy and Angel came in.
"Anya says she knows where Will is." Xander said.
"A spell?" Buffy asked.
"Not exactly. Seems Anya got her vengeance on again."
"Oh." Buffy and Angel said together.
"So, Willow's all wrathy. Why don't you go to her? Isn't that your gig?" Angel asked after a beat.
"Normally I have to, but she doesn't want me." Anya said.
"She wants to do it herself." Buffy finished.
"Yeah."
"Anya. We don't have much time. Which side of this are you on?"
Anya hesitated.
"If you know where she is, you can help us." Angel said.
"I'll help, but I'm helping Willow. She's close to him, in the woods."
They ran through the woods in search of Willow, Anya in the lead. Suddenly, Anya stopped, eyes wide.
"What's happening? What do you feel?" Buffy asked.
"She's stronger now. Close." Anya replied.
"What about Warren? Has she.?" Angel asked.
"He's still alive. She's not done though."
"Let's move." Buffy said.
They ran faster than they had ever tried to before. They had gone a little ways when Anya stopped and looked around. She pointed to a clearing. "Over there."
They started running again. As they neared the clearing, they could hear Willow.
"I said CAN YOU FEEL IT?"
"Please, God... I did wrong, I see that now. I need jail. I need... but you, you don't want this. You're not a bad person. Not like me."
"Willow!" Buffy called.
"When you get caught, you'll lose them too. Your friends." Warren continued. "You don't want that. I know. you're in pain but."
"Bored now." Willow said.
Buffy, Angel, Xander, and Anya burst into the clearing just as Willow tosses a hand in the air and Warren's skin went flying off. Willow looked at them then back at what was left of Warren. His remains then set on fire and burned away quickly.
"Oh my God!" Xander said.
"Willow, no! What did you do?" Buffy asked defeated.
Willow turned her head slowly and looked at them. "One down." She looked at Warren's burnt remains and they disappeared. Then, so did Willow in a swirl of black energy.
Buffy and the others just stared in horror at the place where Warren had been.