After Buffy told the group about Dawn, she retreated to the training room while the others tried to research. It wasn't easy. They were still reeling from the idea that Dawn wasn't really Buffy's sister.
"I think they're all taking it rather well," Giles said, interrupting Buffy's rampage on the punching bag. She stretched her arms behind her and Giles walked further into the room toward her. "Although I suppose the real test will be when they next see Dawn."
"I know," Buffy said. "I'm not so worried about Will and Tara, or Xander even. But Anya…"
"We'll deal with that when we come to it," Giles said. "Hopefully it shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"Glory may be insane, but if she sees any of them even shoot Dawn a weird look, she'll find her key," Buffy said. "I just…I know they needed to know, but I'm just worried."
"Understandable," Giles said. "We all will be doing everything we can around the clock to help keep Dawn safe and to stop Glory."
"Buffy. M-Mr. Giles."
Tara stood in the doorway of the training room and they both waited for her to say whatever she needed to say.
"Teach me to fight," she said. Giles and Buffy looked at each other, confused. Tara walked further into the training room.
"What changed?" Giles asked.
"I think it was easier before—easier to be selfish and choose not to fight—when I thought the key was some thing, an object," Tara said. She looked down at the floor. "But the key…it's…I mean…Dawny."
"I know," Buffy said quietly.
"You're certain about this, Tara?" Giles asked. He removed his glasses and approached her. "You know what you're risking if you ever face Glory."
"None of us really know what we're risking if we face Glory," Buffy said.
"Death and dismemberment?" Tara guessed. Buffy smirked.
"I guess that's one possibility," she said.
"You said it yourself," Tara said to Giles. "We'll all do everything we can around the clock to protect Dawn and stop Glory." He nodded his head. "I'm sure about this. I-I want to learn. I want to help."
"Very well," Giles said. "We can start your training tomorrow I suppose. Glory hasn't made any direct confrontations. We can assume she doesn't even know the key is a person. As long as she doesn't, that is an advantage."
"Not much of one," Buffy said.
"Yes," Giles agreed. "For tonight we should continue with the research."
He headed back out to the shop area and Tara turned to follow him. Buffy stepped forward and grabbed her by the arm.
"Tara, thank you," Buffy said. "This means more than you know."
Tara simply nodded her head and looked around the training room. It was a place she was going to spend a lot of time in. But it would be worth it. Anything would be worth it as long as Dawn was safe.