Author's Note: I did some editing in the last two chapters, so anyone who
read them earlier might want to check it out.
Willow wished she was back in Sunnydale. Or possibly anywhere that was not a dinky, tired gas station in a town somewhere between Nowhere and Nothing. The shack of building looked like it had fought an apocalypse - and lost. Magneto was somewhere in there on the payphone, trying to find his friends. Willow hoped he would hurry up. She wanted to at least leave Tara a message. Something like, "I'm all right, don't worry."
Magneto was coming out of the shack. Willow looked up from her shoes, which had previously been drawing patterns in the gravel. He looked little less tense and a little more confident. Willow guessed that he had been able to contact whoever he was looking for. Hopefully this was the first solid step in getting out of this mess.
"Did you talk to your friends?"
"Yes. Thankfully, my contacts have remained in place. I understand that they have continued my work in my absence. It won't be difficult for me to locate where they are. Given that, we should go on our way."
"Sure. Just give me a minute to call Tara. I need to tell her I'm okay."
"I would not recommend that. I highly doubt she is aware about what transpired at the facility, while our pursuers would be keeping close tabs on any of your friends. Calling her is an unwarranted risk."
"You called your friends."
"I called my contacts," he corrected. "They specialize in not being noticed by the authorities. Your friend would not have that experience. Or equipment, for that matter."
"You'd be surprised at what Tara can do. I'll just be leaving a quick message. Won't even talk to her."
Willow turned to go use the payphone, ignoring his protestations that she was being foolish. Maybe it was little risky, but she had no idea when she would be able to use a phone again.
The phone looked about as functional as the rest of the place. Willow slipped a few coins into the slot and dialed Tara's number.
"Hello, this is Tara Maclay."
"Tara, it's me. I'm okay. Good bye," Willow moved to put the phone back into the cradle.
On the other end of the line, Tara was both relieved and concerned to have heard from her girlfriend. Willow had called every day of her trip until yesterday. Now she was only getting a brief message? Was she in trouble?
"Wait! Willow, what's wrong?"
Click.
Tara stared down at the now silent phone. What had her girl gotten into?
Willow closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She'd given Tara more questions than answers, but at least Tara knew she was fine. For now.
Willow joined Magneto in their stolen car. She knew he wasn't happy with her decision to contact Tara, but he had allowed it. If he had really wanted to, he could have stopped her.
She slumped in the seat, wishing she was home at Tara's side, where she belonged.
Willow wished she was back in Sunnydale. Or possibly anywhere that was not a dinky, tired gas station in a town somewhere between Nowhere and Nothing. The shack of building looked like it had fought an apocalypse - and lost. Magneto was somewhere in there on the payphone, trying to find his friends. Willow hoped he would hurry up. She wanted to at least leave Tara a message. Something like, "I'm all right, don't worry."
Magneto was coming out of the shack. Willow looked up from her shoes, which had previously been drawing patterns in the gravel. He looked little less tense and a little more confident. Willow guessed that he had been able to contact whoever he was looking for. Hopefully this was the first solid step in getting out of this mess.
"Did you talk to your friends?"
"Yes. Thankfully, my contacts have remained in place. I understand that they have continued my work in my absence. It won't be difficult for me to locate where they are. Given that, we should go on our way."
"Sure. Just give me a minute to call Tara. I need to tell her I'm okay."
"I would not recommend that. I highly doubt she is aware about what transpired at the facility, while our pursuers would be keeping close tabs on any of your friends. Calling her is an unwarranted risk."
"You called your friends."
"I called my contacts," he corrected. "They specialize in not being noticed by the authorities. Your friend would not have that experience. Or equipment, for that matter."
"You'd be surprised at what Tara can do. I'll just be leaving a quick message. Won't even talk to her."
Willow turned to go use the payphone, ignoring his protestations that she was being foolish. Maybe it was little risky, but she had no idea when she would be able to use a phone again.
The phone looked about as functional as the rest of the place. Willow slipped a few coins into the slot and dialed Tara's number.
"Hello, this is Tara Maclay."
"Tara, it's me. I'm okay. Good bye," Willow moved to put the phone back into the cradle.
On the other end of the line, Tara was both relieved and concerned to have heard from her girlfriend. Willow had called every day of her trip until yesterday. Now she was only getting a brief message? Was she in trouble?
"Wait! Willow, what's wrong?"
Click.
Tara stared down at the now silent phone. What had her girl gotten into?
Willow closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She'd given Tara more questions than answers, but at least Tara knew she was fine. For now.
Willow joined Magneto in their stolen car. She knew he wasn't happy with her decision to contact Tara, but he had allowed it. If he had really wanted to, he could have stopped her.
She slumped in the seat, wishing she was home at Tara's side, where she belonged.