Title: Fully Qualified

Author: mistymidnight

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Nada, nope, no, zip, zilch, zero, uh-uh, and, uh, not a chance.

Spoilers/Timeline: Post-"Chosen". Same as the last six chapters.

Summary: Ever notice that when you think you've got control, the past comes to bite you in the butt? Poor Willow.

Author's Notes: Yes, I am an evil hypocrite, asking for ten separate reviews in order to continue. Fortunately for all of you, I'm an easily swayed evil hypocrite. You have gidgetgirl to thank for that. )

BTW, gidgetgirl--In all honesty, it puts me off as well when writers demand a certain number of reviews per chapter. Why did I do it, then? Because...good question, actually. I'm desperate, that's why. (This is where I get whiny about the lack of reviews...for the sake of all involved, we'll skip the rant and move on...) ...blah, blah, blah, making no profits from writing...blah, blah-de-blah, reviews are my reward for spending my time writing and updating...blah, blah, blah. Sorry for my immense hypocritical-ness (obviously not a word...). But I won't be sorry for begging for reviews. It's my dignity that's at stake here, people! Please! Feed the starving artist! )

One of Those Days

Willow sat up in bed and yawned, glaring at the radio alarm as it happily announced a stabbing that had occurred on the subway the previous night. "...victim said to be in critical condition. It appears the victim was attacked by a man with severe facial..." Willow slammed her hand down on the radio and swung her legs over the side of the bed, accidentally kicking Maxwell. He gave a strangled meeewl! of unhappiness and ran out of the room as quickly as his little legs could carry him.

Oh, Willow thought, so it's going to be one of those days.

After a scalding hot shower, a lack of shampoo in the bottle, weak coffee (all for the best, she supposed--she didn't want to be too jittery all day), and a car that took three tries to start for some reason, Willow was off to work. Maxwell had been hiding all morning. She gave it until dinnertime that night before he'd even venture near her again. Maxwell, like all cats, was good at holding grudges, but bad at going hungry.

As she drove, Willow realized that she was letting her bad start o the morning get her down. "Bad Willow," she admonished herself. "The day starts over as of...now." She plastered a big, goofy grin on her face. "I am happy," she assured herself. "This will be a good day." She waited. The day didn't feel any better to her. "Music," she said out loud. "Music is good for cheering-up." She turned the radio on and was hit with the same news story she'd heard that morning: "A thirteen-year-old female was attacked by a man wielding a knife as she she rode the subway home after apparently visiting a friend. Despite multiple scratches and stab wounds to her arms and stomach, she is expected to recover quickly. Doctors say that the wounds were shallow and the girl is healing abnormally quickly.She is going to be kept in the hospital for observation in case of an infection."

Willow shook her head. What was wrong with the world today? People stabbing kids on subways...parents hurting their own children...a stopped car right in front of her...

Willow realized what she was thinking and slammed on the brakes just before she rear-ended the car in front of her. A miss is a good as a mile. I guess.

She drove in silence to the office and parked in her usual spot. As she walked toward the elevator, her cell phone began to ring. She fished it out of her pocket and flipped it on. "Hello?"

"Willow? I'm so glad I caught you."

"Erin?"

"Yeah. I'm really sorry, but I'm sick. Throw-y upp-y and all. THere's no way I can come in today."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Erin."

"I'm sorry to be telling you. Well, anyway, Aimee's gonna cover my shift today."

"Oh. Aimee."

"Look." Erin lowered her voice a little. "I know Aimee's not the greatest at filing and stuff, but her heart's in the right place. She'll do what you ask."

"Oh, I'm sure."

"She will." Erin coughed. "Sorry. Gotta go. I had a popsicle a little while ago and I think it's on it's way back for an encore."

"Okay, I'll let you go," Willow sighed. "Feel better."

"I'll try. Bye."

"Bye." Willow sighed again and snapped the phone shut, stepping out of the elevator.

Yep, it was definitely going to be one of those days.

TBC...next time: how Willow's day turns out.

mistymidnight